3. What limiting belief was holding you back and how did you overcome it, or working towards overcoming it?

A major limiting belief I had for years was “I’m not original enough”. As I said I was interested in business for a young age but had convinced myself that I wasn’t original enough. This resulted in me thinking for years that I needed a business partner so they could have the original ideas and I would bring the business to life. Then I realised my strengths around marketing, planning and numbers meant I would be great at supporting the more business owners who don’t naturally excel in those areas. Rather than having to find a business partner and being the brains behind one business, I could focus on what I’m great at, and lots of people aren’t, and use those skills to support thousands of business owners to grow successful brands and businesses.

4. What was the biggest mindset shift you’ve had so far regarding your business?

That people won’t pay X for my services. When it comes to mindset shifts that business owners make, money is often mentioned. I started my career in the performing arts, which is an industry that is filled with people who make very little money. I viewed money from that perspective, combined with coming from working class background, and ultimately everything felt expensive. And trust me, if you think something is too expensive you can’t sell it.

After actively working on my money mindset, I began to realise that what is expensive to someone is cheap to someone else. When you are selling, you have to focus on the value you are providing and let the individual assess whether they feel it is a fair price to pay. Now I find it as easy to sell a £200 ticket for PropelHer’s Book Club as I do a £2,000 1:1 marketing programme with me.

5. What’s your proudest moment so far?

Completing my Professional Diploma in Marketing. With no formal training in marketing, I suffered from Imposter Syndrome in my marketing career. Even though I was getting great results and smashing my targets I had that niggling feeling that I was going to get caught out. At the time, I had no idea what Imposter Syndrome was and only now looking back I realised that was what I was suffering from. With no knowledge of Imposter Syndrome, I decided to get rid of that feeling I should train “properly”. When it came to deciding what to do I went for the highest level qualification I could take over the shortest time period possible. It was super tough. I was in lessons with other people who had studied marketing, as well as worked in major businesses, for years. At times, I thought I had maybe set myself an impossible challenge, especially when after the Christmas break I returned to classes and realised how many people had decided to take a break and complete the course over a longer period. As a result, when my results finally turned up and I had passed everything first-time I was so proud. The icing on the cake was that I got to graduate again.

6. What has been your biggest business lesson?

Done is better than perfect! When you are building a business, it is likely that you will have to do so many things outside of your current sphere of knowledge or experience. It is easy to look at the leaders in your field and judge yourself by that standard, but that isn’t helpful.

For me my background in marketing was in some ways was a hindrance in the beginning. I was used to running marketing campaigns that had a budget of hundreds of thousands of pounds and a whole team to deliver. I couldn’t deliver to that standard when it was just me and a limited set of tools.

I started a YouTube channel with an iPhone and praying for a sunny Saturday so I could have some natural light. I started the Free and Figuring It Out podcast with a microphone that was less than £100 and sitting in a cupboard. Both I edit myself, using the software on my MacBook.

Is it perfect? No

Could the production values be better? Yes

Am I creating content that is valuable and helpful? Yes

At the end of the day, everyone starts at the beginning and people will forgive you for less than perfect production values if what you are providing is valuable.

And always remember that you can improve and in fact, not being perfect in the beginning allows you to show the transformation. If you have any doubt go to your favourite YouTuber and then sort their videos by Date Added (Oldest). This will show you their first ever video. I did this with Marie Forleo as I think the production value of her videos today are great, but let’s just stay she certainly didn’t start out that way.