The New Year, New Me Myth

‘New Year, New Me’ is a mantra that can destroy confidence and kill your dreams

It’s that time of year again. The ‘New Year, New Me’ slogans are plastered everywhere, promising that as soon as the clock strikes midnight on December 31st, we will magically transform into more disciplined, more productive, and more successful versions of ourselves. Urgh. I hate it.

Can we just call it for what it is? It’s absolute rubbish.

January 1st doesn’t have magical powers. If you enter the new year as the same person, with the same mindset, and the same strategy, you’re just going to get the same results. Also, the New Year shouldn’t change YOU as a person. You’re perfect as you are. If you want to achieve more in terms of your goals and dreams, that’s just changing how you approach goals and ensuring your have the plan in place to help you achieve them. It shouldn’t be about changing YOU!

I mean, if we’re being really frank, the first thing that needs to change is the concept of New Year Resolutions.

Because resolutions are “shoulds.” Goals are “plans.” The reason most resolutions fail (and, let’s be clear, there’s a day dedicated to this called Quitter’s Day – they DO fail!) is that they are built on emotion, not strategy. They are ‘shoulds’ born out of holiday guilt or social media pressure.

  • ‘I should post more on LinkedIn.

  • ‘I should write that book.’

  • ‘I should scale my business.’

But should is a horrible foundation. It comes from a place of lack and deficiency. It’s not a desire to improve; it almost feels like an apology. Do you know what I mean?

But what if we moved from shoulds to goals, from wishing to planning?

If you want 2026 to be the year you actually hit the pinch-me milestones – the kind that lead to book launches at Hatchards or segments on Heart FM – you have to ditch the resolutions and start strategising.

Success isn’t about a changing who YOU are. It’s about a better system that supports YOU! It’s about taking the person you are today and giving them a blueprint that is so robust it works even when you’re tired, even when you’re busy, and even when things don’t go according to plan.

To be frank, I’m not interested in helping you make resolutions. I’m interested in helping you create goals that make you want to leap out of bed in the morning, and I want to help you build a strategy that survives the hardest days and celebrates the biggest wins.

Join me on January 8th at 12:30 PM for my FREE Goal Setting Masterclass, where we’ll actually talk about the power of the plan, and then get to work on the strategy you actually need.

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Let’s talk goal anatomy…

Is your 2026 a dream or a design? Why you need to understand goal anatomy, and why your goals need architecture.

We’ve all been there. We’ve sat down with a fresh notebook, our favourite pen (yes, I have a favourite pen, it’s metal!), and a head full of “big dreams and ideas.” We write down the destination—the book launch, the ‘big talk’, the revenue milestone—and we feel that instant hit of dopamine.

But here’s the cold, hard truth: A goal without a plan is just a wish.

When I look back at my 2025 – from the book launch at Hatchards, Piccadilly with guests Simon Alexander Ong, Joanna Jenson, and Laura Tenison, to the main stage at #SBSEvent2025 (with Google, having lunch with Theo Paphitis, Richard Harpin, and some other legends – I know, WILD). And then there being the first guest on BBC News after the fireworks (I still joke that the fireworks were my warm up act). These are just a few highs. I achieved some amazing things in 2025. And none of it happened because I ‘wished’ for it.

Building your dreams on dodgy foundations

Most people treat goal setting like a game. They do the nice stuff – what they want to achieve, and then they leave it there. This creates a hollow goal. A vague goal. A goal without structure and without foundations.

If your goal is vague, it has no structure. If it has no structure, it won’t survive:

  • The first ‘no’ from a potential client will floor you

  • The exhaustion of the school run will provide you with excuses (I know the school run and mum life is brutal, I really do)

  • The unexpected curveballs life throws at you will make you throw in the towel (and believe me, 2025 threw plenty).

BUT when you have a good, sturdy, well built goal, you take the knocks because you’re looking at the bigger picture.  To build a year that doesn’t collapse by February, you need to understand the anatomy of a goal. This means moving past the “what” and diving deep into the “how.” It’s about creating the scaffolding that supports you when motivation leaves the building – and it will – because life WILL get in the way. It’s about identifying the knowledge gaps and the micro-wins that create a bridge between where you are now and that big, shiny goal.

I’m pretty passionate about this. I mean, I wrote a book about it and work with clients one to one and through my membership. But for the first time ever, I’m running my own goal setting webinar this January to help you create your own blueprint. And it’s FREE.

On January 8th, 2026 at 12:30 PM, I’m hosting a FREE webinar: Make 2026 Work For YOU – THE Goal System You Need!

I’m going to strip back the fluff that doesn’t work and show you exactly how to build a robust, well-structured goal plan that survives the real world. From here, you’ll be able to map out the exact path you need to take to achieve your dreams, so that 2026 will be the year you made the big steps and achieved.

All you need to do is register and join the free webinar on Thursday 8th January 2026. And if you can’t join live, that’s OK too, sign up anyway and I’ll send you the replay when it’s available!

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Goal Setting Series – Who Are You Sharing Your Goals With?

You need to choose wisely to increase your chances of success

It’s widely quoted that sharing goals increases the chances of success. And whilst this is kind of true, there’s a caveat that is always missed. Sharing your goals with the RIGHT people increases your chance of success; sharing them with the wrong people achieves the opposite.

We’ve all done it. We’ve set a huge, exciting goal, and we want to stack the odds in our favour. We’ve heard that sharing a goal can increase the chances of success, but that’s not always the case.

Who are the right people to share goals with?

The short answer is people who get your goals and dreams – or, even if they don’t ‘get’ them, they support you in your mission. They don’t belittle, tell you you’re crazy, laugh, or wait for your downfall. People who do these aren’t part of your cheerleading squad. And it’s not to say that they’re bad people, but we all have very different worldviews when it comes to work, life, and what we want to achieve. There are lots of reasons why our views differ so much, and it can be very difficult for us to understand if we’re ‘hardwired’ to act in a certain way. We can’t change these people – we shouldn’t even try – but knowing what they’re like could well mean you don’t share you goals with them.

Because when we start making steps towards our big goals, the whole situation is fragile. We can feel very vulnerable and unsure. It’s only when we start to make steps forward and gather momentum, with a few micro goals and the associated wins under our belts, does that confidence come that allows us to smile and nod at the less than helpful comments.

Ego boosters?

On the other side, you might have people who make you think they’re supporting you, but they don’t have the energy/knowledge/desire to help you on your quest. These people can be great for an ego boost, but they won’t help you push on through the tricky times, or challenge you to problem solve when things don’t go according to plan.

So, what should you look for when it comes to who to share your goals with?

Goal getters

In short, it’s someone who gets it. Someone who sees what you want, believes in you, asks you how it’s going, and keeps you accountable. Ideally, you’d share your goals with someone who helps you develop them through asking additional questions to help you find those knowledge gaps to allow you to create a blueprint to help you get from where you are now to where you want to be.

What’s key though, is that sharing your goals with the wrong people can be a lot more damaging, and limiting, than keeping your goals to yourself. You don’t need anyone’s permission, or agreement, to go after what you really want, and if that’s the reason you’re intent on sharing, it’s important to challenge this head on. However, if you share your goals with likeminded people and find a partner or network of people who provide good, genuine support, you’re more likely to achieve the big dreams and goals that are waiting for you.

…you need a well structured goal FIRST

But before you get to the stage of sharing and considering/assessing people as accountability partners, you need to make sure your goal is structured correctly. You must have a robust, well structured goal before you invite anyone to hold you accountable to it. A vague goal shared with a great partner will still result in disappointment.

…and as luck would have it, I’m hosting a FREE webinar on 8th January 2026 at 12.30pm covering the subjects above, including goal anatomy!

In my free January webinar, Make 2026 Work For YOU – THE Goal System You Need! I will walk you through the full anatomy of a good goal plan and show you how to identify the right inner circle who will help you execute it.

➡️ Click here to save your seat for the free January Webinar! 

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Goal Setting Series – Are You Thinking Big Enough?

Why it’s your DUTY (oh yes!) to dream big and achieve big things

As January approaches at an alarming rate, many thoughts turn to what we want to accomplish next year. However, what I notice more and more – is that we often pick a goal that we really want to achieve, and then promptly talk ourselves out of it.

What if I don’t achieve it?

What if it’s too big?

Can I even do it?

Well, I have some thoughts on this… but let’s just start by saying that big things happen when people dream big, set big goals, and work towards them. Nothing truly great was ever achieved by playing small…

Playing it safe

When it comes to goal setting, the natural instinct is often to play it safe. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with setting safe goals, but it’s when we limit ourselves from fulfilling our potential that I have the issue.

Because whilst a small goal can feel safe, let’s reframe this, shall we. What if everyone played it safe? What if no one tried to achieve big things? We wouldn’t have the innovations that we do today. But for you, sometimes a safe goal can be the riskiest strategy because it stops you from making big breakthroughs, big leaps forward, and really fulfilling your potential.

Rinse and repeat?

Sometimes, our smaller goals can cause us to stagnant. Perhaps we look for a small growth in our business each year and just push for that. Or maybe our goal is to maintain? I’m not saying burn it all down and start again, but if our goals are small, does it encourage us to think outside the box? To try new things? Explore new markets? Or do we make a deeper groove in our comfort zone and just kind of give up?!

Inspiration?

When we push ourselves towards big, exciting goals, the chances are we need to apply a hefty dose of thought to help us achieve what we want. When those creative juices start flowing, we become inspired, learn new things, and so a really positive cycle begins that helps to fuel our big dreams. And this has all happened just because we decided to think a big bigger. Wild, right?

The simple truth is this: Small goals do not require you to grow as a leader or an innovator. They keep you trapped in the day-to-day grind.

So, what’s the answer? To dream big – for you, your future self, and the impact you can make. You could say, it’s your duty…

The goal setting mindset

Adjusting your mindset can be a game changer, rather than thinking: ‘who am I to even dream this?’, you can think: ‘it’s my duty to dream big and just try’. By doing this, not only could you achieve huge goals, but you can also have a positive impact on yourself, and those around you – who knows what the simple act of dreaming big could do for you and your business?

You might say it’s not as easy as dreaming big… but it actually is! It’s the first step on your journey. By dreaming big and looking at the big goals you want to achieve, you’re opening your mind up to possibility. The action steps and the blueprint that is created during the goal setting and planning process might not be as easy, but this step is!

Bag a place on my FREE Goal Setting Webinar in January: Make 2026 Work For YOU – THE Goal System You Need

Of course, a big dream without a roadmap is just a fantasy. The reason most people fail when they finally try to “dream big” is not due to a lack of motivation, but a lack of structure. The bigger the dream, the better the blueprint needs to be.

We need to move beyond simple resolutions and build goals that are structured and a planned in a way to increase our chances of success.

…and as luck would have it, I’m hosting a FREE webinar to help you with that! Make 2026 Work For YOU – THE Goal System You Need!On 8th January 2026 at 12.30pm, I am hosting a webinar that will take you through the anatomy of a good goal, how to increase your chances of success, and three of the most common blocks that will try and stop you (as well as how to overcome them!).

➡️ Click here to save your seat for the free January Webinar! 

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Being Posh Totty with Alice Rivers-Cripps

For this episode of the Small & Supercharged Podcast, I am joined by a founder I have genuinely been a fan of for years. Alice Rivers Cripps is the creative brilliance behind Posh Totty Designs. If you’re anything like me, you’ve loved her gorgeous, personalised jewellery for ages. I’m a firm believer that if you see something you love in someone, you should tell them, whether that’s a stranger in the street or an incredible business owner. So, it was an absolute joy to sit down with Alice and dig into how Posh Totty grew from a kitchen table dream into a household name.

Why the world of precious keepsakes?

For Alice, jewellery has never been about throwaway fashion; it’s about the deep, emotional stories people stamp into the metal. Posh Totty creates simple, beautiful heirlooms meant to be passed down through generations, capturing the moment a couple met, the birth of a child, or a memory of a grandparent. Alice admits that working in her stores can be a tear-jerker because customers are so eager to share the profound meanings behind their pieces.

Now in its 21st year, the business looks a bit different than it did at the start, but the traditional soul remains. Alice’s workshop features an all-female team of master jewellers who still use leather under their benches, mallets, and steel stamps – tools and processes that have survived for hundreds of years. Alice designs the initial samples, and her team spins them into shiny, finished magic.

From a £60 panic to a Harry Potter cupboard

The seeds of the business were planted after a self-described “panic” at university. Having studied media and performance after failing her A-levels, Alice realised she didn’t have thick enough skin for the brutal world of acting auditions. Running for the hills, she bought a one-way ticket to Mexico.

She arrived with just £60 in her pocket, no place to stay, and no Spanish. After a night of sleeping on the beach, she bought a bicycle, rode around the island, and managed to secure a hotel job that came with a bed. Through the local community, she ended up working with jewellers. Despite the language barrier, seeing how traditional and beautifully simple the silver-making process was changed everything. She knew instantly that is was what she wanted to do.

When she returned to the UK, Alice moved to Brighton, fell in love with its vibrant, creative independence, and set a goal to become a local shopkeeper. She started practicing her hand-stamping by cutting open tin cans and flattening them with a hammer because she couldn’t afford precious metals. Eventually, she opened a tiny shop up an alley for £2,000 a year. It had no shopfront and sold maybe five pieces a week, but it was her dream.

Scaling up with Holly Tucker

Then, the ultimate catalyst arrived. Holly Tucker, the founder of Not On The High Street, walked into Alice’s tiny shop before the platform had even launched. Holly took a punt on Posh Totty, waiving the upfront fees Alice couldn’t afford.

The growth was explosive. Within the first month, Alice went from five orders a week to 30 orders a day. By Christmas, that number skyrocketed to 1,000 orders a day. Alice was pulling in friends and family to help pack boxes in their tiny space like a workshop of frantic Christmas elves. Today, 90% of Posh Totty’s sales are online, allowing them to ship worldwide from their specialised central workshop. While Alice remains a traditional high-street shopkeeper at heart, that digital footprint is what allows the business to truly scale.

Highs, lows, and being your own cheerleader

Every entrepreneurial journey is a game of highs and lows. Alice shared two phenomenal highs from her journey:

  1. The Kosovo Collection: Travelling to Kosovo with Women for Women International to meet resilient women survivors of war. Together, they created the “Share a Hug” collection right before COVID, raising massive funds for the charity.

  2. The Wild Collection launch: Celebrating their stunning collaboration with Hannah Cooper-Dommett at a star-studded London launch party alongside Davina McCall and Rachel Stevens (fuelled by plenty of margaritas and rosé!).

But the lows in business can hit without warning. Just last year, the local council suddenly closed the building Posh Totty had occupied for 15 years, on a Friday night at 9:00 PM, with zero notice. Alice found herself on the front page of the local newspaper and on TV, navigating a massive crisis completely on her own. With 2,000 backlog orders to fulfil and a team of 50 people depending on her for wages, the responsibility was immense. Her team worked from home without proper tools just to keep customers happy. Yet, out of that dramatic low came a spectacular high: they moved into a gorgeous new workshop that Alice admits she never would have looked for had she not been forced out.

Key takeaways from my chat with Alice Rivers Cripps:

  • Compliment loudly: If you see something beautiful or a business you love, say it. Sharing joy makes a tough world a little lighter.

  • Be your own number one cheerleader: When you are starting out, no one else is going to shout about your brand for you. You have to believe in it so fiercely that everyone else starts to believe it, too.

  • Luck favours the prepared: “Lucky breaks” (like being discovered by Holly Tucker) only work if you have put in the gritty work to run with the opportunity when it lands.

  • Pivots push you to better places: Sometimes a crisis, like losing your business premises overnight, is just the universe forcing you into a better, freer space.

  • Attitude is everything: You don’t always need a perfect plan or a massive budget to start. Sometimes you just need resourcefulness, curiosity, and the willingness to say “yes” and figure it out as you go.

To see Alice’s beautiful jewellery collections or find a keepsake with a story of your own, check out poshtottydesigns.com, or follow the magic on Instagram at @poshtottydesigns.

If you love an independent boutique as much as we do, you can also visit their gorgeous physical stores in Brighton (Sydney Street) and Islington (Camden Passage), or spot them in top department store concessions worldwide. Go have a browse and enjoy!

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Languages, learning, and owning the room with Jo Franco

Jo Franco

Welcome back to a very special episode of the podcast celebrating the launch of my new book, You’ve Got This! I hope you’ve managed to grab your copy and are already loving it. If you haven’t got it yet—now is the time!

For this episode, I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with the incredible Jo Franco. Jo contributed to the book by sharing her experiences, and let me tell you, she is a force of nature. She is an author, speaker, TV host, and a polyglot (a fabulous word I’ve just learned!). More than that, she is a business superstar with over 1.3 million YouTube subscribers and the founder of Jo Club, a live journaling movement that helps people connect with themselves and learn languages. I am so grateful she took the time to chat with me! Go listen and enjoy!

Why the world of global business?

My conversation with Jo explored her wild backstory and how she built a global life from scratch. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, she moved to the US at age five. Growing up between cultures and struggling to learn English was initially incredibly painful. But Jo quickly realised that her language skills were a superpower—she became the translator for new kids at school and for her mum’s paperwork.

After getting a business degree in New York, she turned down a “safe” $45k corporate job, moved to Los Angeles with $70k of student debt, and went all-in as a full-time travel YouTuber in 2013. For the first five years, it was a financial scramble. She was couch surfing, living in an apartment filled with rats and cockroaches, and cold-pitching executives before “brand deals” were even a standard thing. But that relentless hustle eventually broke open the world of major brand partnerships, leading to her hosting a global travel show on Netflix.

“An imperfect draft…”

Jo shared a pivotal philosophy when it comes to bringing a big vision into the world. She is a self-proclaimed notebook queen and throws absolutely everything onto paper. But she emphasises that you have to be willing to start with what she calls the “pencil version.”

So many people are terrified of launching a business or a new project because they want it to be flawless from day one. Jo’s view is that people aren’t actually afraid of starting, they just don’t know how to start. And the secret is realising that it always starts with an imperfect draft. Without that rough, messy blueprint on paper, you can’t make the modifications, action plans, and pivots necessary to actually succeed.

Launching Jo Club and pivoting the vision

The launch of Jo Club happened completely organically during a four-month production pause on her Netflix show during the pandemic. Jo started sharing her personal journal entries online, which turned into a 30-day challenge, and suddenly, a business was born. Even while shooting 15 hours a day on a gruelling travel TV schedule, she used her only days off to host live journaling sessions.

But as any entrepreneur knows, the initial vision rarely stays the same. Jo originally launched Jo Club as a low-ticket monthly membership. But by listening to her audience and being willing to move with the changes, she decided to trial a travel retreat in Croatia, without even having photos of the property to show people! It sold out in two emails. That pivot completely shifted the future model of her company, proving that changing your goals based on new data isn’t a negative; it’s a massive positive.

Key takeaways from my chat with Jo Franco:

  • Your superpower is your perspective: The very things that feel like obstacles early on (like being caught between cultures) can become your greatest assets.

  • Write down the “pencil version”: Don’t wait for perfection. Throw your messy ideas onto paper so you have a blueprint to modify.

  • Pivoting is the magic sauce: 99% of the time, your initial business vision will change. True success comes from the ability to make your way through it and adapt.

  • Humility gets you in the room, but ownership keeps you there: Don’t let imposter syndrome or “box-ticking” narratives make you shrivel. If you are in the room, own the space and shine.

  • Your attitude is your currency: When you have no money, no connections, and no resources, a genuine curiosity about others and a smile will change your life time and time again.

If Jo’s incredible journey resonates with you and you’re ready to break through your own mental blocks, set big goals, and create your own action plan, be sure to grab my new book, You’ve Got This! It is available right now on Amazon or in all good bookshops—just search the title and my name.

To find out more about Jo, who is absolutely incredible, go and have a look at her website at joclub.world, or find her on social media at @jo_franco. Go have a good search and enjoy—she’s a total superstar! Bye!

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The Heart & Soul of a Brand: A Chat with the Legendary Emma Bridgewater- SPECIAL EPISODE

Welcome back to the podcast for another special episode celebrating the launch of You’ve Got This! And today,  do I have a treat for you. I had the absolute honour of speaking with the one and only Emma Bridgewater, the incredible founder of her eponymous and utterly iconic brand.

You’ve Got This, Emma Bridgewater!

For those who don’t know (though I’d be surprised if you don’t have at least one of her mugs in your kitchen!), Emma started her business with a beautifully simple intention: to find two specific cups and saucers as a birthday gift for her mum. When she couldn’t find exactly what she envisioned, a lightbulb went off, sparking a lifelong passion for Stoke-on-Trent, the heart of British pottery, where her factory still thrives today.

Our conversation was a true highlight for me, filled with Emma’s warmth, wisdom, and fascinating insights into building a brand that has become such a beloved part of so many lives. Her journey is truly amazing, and the way she speaks about her work, her team, and the enduring spirit of Stoke is beyond touching. This is a lady who really cares!

How Emma Bridgewater the brand was born

Emma’s story, as she says, is startlingly simple. She was looking for that meaningful gift for her mother, but her trip to a traditional china shop quickly revealed a disconnect. The shop had no idea about her mum’s informal, much-loved kitchen.

Standing in that shop, Emma had a kind of ‘hallucination’ – a vivid vision of a kitchen dresser filled with colourful, mismatched pottery, a reflection of real life and personal stories. It struck her that nobody was making what people really needed for their homes.

That vision led her down a path which ultimately took her to where she is today. Fate intervened when a graphic designer friend, gave her the business card of a potter in Stoke-on-Trent named Sam. Following his instructions, Emma made that call, created her initial drawings (a half-pint mug, a little bowl, a milk jug, and a shallow dish – many of which are still in the range!), and took a train to Stoke.

Welcome to Stoke on Trent

Her arrival in Stoke was eye-opening. The post-industrial landscape, a stark contrast to London, deeply affected her and forged a complex and enduring relationship with the city. Emma felt she needed to tackle what seemed like an unsolvable problem: to create and manufacture her pottery in Stoke. The graphic designer, Terry, who connected her with Sam, took a chance on her even when she was waitressing to keep afloat. He helped her remodel her initial shapes, and slowly, production began.

Reviving a forgotten art

Back in London, Emma faced another challenge: decoration. While she had a strong sense of her own taste, she lacked drawing skills, but then she stumbled upon sponge printing, a technique largely forgotten by the factories. With help, this simple yet effective method became a cornerstone of the Emma Bridgewater aesthetic.

Emma scaled quickly. She sampled designs, sold pieces she didn’t want, learned to glaze herself and eventually put together her own collection. All through trial, error, and going again!

The benefits of starting small

Emma shared a brilliant piece of advice for budding entrepreneurs: don’t feel you need investors and huge capital from the outset. Test your product in a very handmade way first. If people love it, then you might be onto something. If not, keep working on your proposition until it really works for you and your customers.

Involved in the whole process

Initially, Emma was heavily involved in the production process, even teaching Sam’s decorators her first patterns and personally driving around the country to deliver orders! This early period was also a crash course in managing cash flow (or the lack thereof).

The scaling process wasn’t as fast as she’d hoped, and starting without a business plan initially freaked out her bank manager. But Emma’s instinct to ask for help proved invaluable, connecting her with resources and guidance along the way.

Business blocks

We also touched upon the inevitable ‘blocks’ in a business journey. For Emma, one of the biggest was juggling the demands of motherhood with a growing business – a constant compromise.

One of the most striking things about Emma is her deep passion for the factory in Stoke and the people who work there. This commitment to manufacturing in Stoke, through thick and thin, has been a guiding principle. For Emma, it’s about the livelihood of hundreds of people, a responsibility she takes incredibly seriously.

Looking to the future, Emma is now focusing on making the factory even more efficient, taking a more engineering-focused approach. It’s an important evolution, driven by her desire to ensure the long-term security of the business and the jobs it provides.

How to navigate challenging times

Finally, I asked Emma for her top tips for aspiring entrepreneurs navigating challenging times. Her advice? Get relevant experience, understand if you’re someone who wants to build your own boat rather than just rowing someone else’s, and most importantly, let your passion drive you. It needs to be bigger than just money- you need a deep love for some element of what you do. And never underestimate the power of asking for help – it’s a sign of strength, not weakness.

If you’ve been inspired by Emma’s story, please do check out the Emma Bridgewater range. And if you’ve read You’ve Got This, I’d be so grateful if you could leave a review!

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Food as Medicine: The Inspiring Journey of Chroma Wellness with Lisa Odenweller 

Food as Medicine: The Inspiring Journey of Kroma Wellness with Lisa Odenweller

Welcome back to a very special episode of the podcast celebrating the launch of my book, You’ve Got This!  For this, I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with Lisa Odenweller, the visionary founder of Kroma Wellness- I’m so grateful she said yes to my interview request!

Why the world of wellness?

My conversation with Lisa explored her journey into the wellness world. While she didn’t initially plan a career in this field, her upbringing in a healthy family laid a strong foundation. After exploring various ventures, it was her own and her daughter’s health challenges that became the catalyst. Witnessing the transformative power of simple dietary and lifestyle changes inspired her to empower others to take control of their health.

‘Just aging’…

Lisa shared a pivotal moment when a doctor dismissed her health concerns as ‘just aging’. This spurred her to seek deeper answers, which not only improved her own wellbeing but also led to her daughter coming off ADD medication simply through dietary changes. This experience changed the trajectory of her life in more ways than one. It became the driving force behind Lisa’s dedication to creating healthy, delicious foods with high quality ingredients, designed to simplify healthy living. This passion led, ultimately, to the birth of Kroma Wellness.

Lisa openly discussed the challenges of entrepreneurship, emphasising the tenacity required. Having founded multiple companies, including the successful brand Beaming, she learned valuable lessons, particularly around fundraising and building a team. These experiences, even the difficult ones, provided the wisdom and humility to found Kroma.

Launching Kroma Wellness

The launch of Kroma Wellness as we see it today took time. Lisa started with a few products to build momentum, but then she pulled them back from the market to refine her vision. This iterative process and willingness to pivot are key to entrepreneurial success- but it takes a lot of belief and bravery to do it! She also shared her unique approach to fundraising for Kroma, which involved a successful beta program that allowed potential investors to experience the her philosophy firsthand. This innovative strategy, focusing on building advocates and believers, ultimately led to significant investment from many incredible women, including from Gwyneth Paltrow.

Key takeaways from my chat with Lisa Odenweller:

  • Personal health journeys can be powerful catalysts for change.
  • Food has a profound impact on our wellbeing.
  • Entrepreneurship requires relentless tenacity and a willingness to learn from setbacks.
  • Building a strong community and allowing people to experience your vision can be key to fundraising.
  • Pay attention to resistance as an opportunity for reflection and adaptation.
  • Trust your gut and surround yourself with the right energy.

If Lisa’s inspiring story resonates with you and you’re looking for more empowering insights, be sure to check out my new book, You’ve Got This! You can find it online and in all good bookshops.

To learn more about Chroma Wellness and Lisa’s incredible work, visit kromawellness.com or follow them on Instagram at @kromawellness.

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Making Sustainability Fun: The Wild Story with Co-Founder Charlie Bowes-Lyon

Making Sustainability Fun: The Wild Story with Co-Founder Charlie Bowes-Lyon (Celebrating You’ve Got This!)

Welcome back to the podcast for a special episode celebrating the launch of my book, You’ve Got This! Today, I share the chat I had with Charlie Bowes-Lyon, the co-founder of  Wild Cosmetics – the company that has truly made deodorant exciting!

You’ve Got This, Charlie Bowes-Lyon

Wild has been a real disruptor in the personal care market, and it’s been fascinating to watch their journey. Initially, securing investment was a challenge because their vision wasn’t about competing in an existing market, which people didn’t really understand. The thing is, Charlie and his co-founder Freddie Ward aimed to create a whole new one market, focusing on sustainability in the bathroom. They saw that consumers were increasingly eco-conscious and that the bathroom was a key area where gains could be made.

Since the initial company was founded, Wild has launched a fantastic range of beautifully scented and effective deodorants and expanded into other bathroom essentials. There’s been a real journey to get to where they are today, and I know you’re going to love hearing about it.

Identifying a need

My conversation with Charlie delved into the origins of Wild and how they identified the need for sustainable yet desirable bathroom products. Before Wild, Charlie’s experience consulting for successful startups and his own side venture in reusable cups highlighted the growing demand for eco-friendly alternatives that didn’t compromise on quality or convenience.

They landed on the bathroom because of the significant amount of plastic waste generated there, much of which isn’t recycled. Deodorant became their starting point, recognising a gap in the UK market for a natural and sustainable option with innovative packaging.  

Disrupting the deodrant market

Charlie shared the challenges of entering a market where traditional deodorants, particularly for women, weren’t seen as exciting- necessary, but not exciting! Wild’s strategy was to be bold and even a little absurd, encouraging social sharing and reinventing the image of a traditionally mundane product. The effectiveness of their natural formula was, of course, paramount.

Securing investment

We also discussed the initial struggle to secure investment. Many investors couldn’t grasp their vision of creating a new market beyond the existing natural deodorant niche. This resilience and unwavering belief in their idea, even when facing rejection, is a powerful lesson for any aspiring entrepreneur. They ultimately bootstrapped and proved their concept by launching an natural deodorant into the mainstream, before securing the necessary funding.

The Wild community

Charlie emphasised the importance of building a strong community. Wild’s VIP group, with thousands of engaged members, provides valuable feedback on product development. This focus on customer connection and co-creation is a fantastic example of building a loyal tribe.  

Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs

For aspiring entrepreneurs, Charlie’s key advice is to launch imperfectly. Don’t wait for everything to be perfect; get your minimum viable product (also known as an MVP) out there to gather crucial feedback. He also highlighted the importance of self-awareness and recognising that the startup journey isn’t for everyone. It can- and usually is- brutal with many ups and downs.

Ultimately, Charlie’s story is one of perseverance and trusting your gut feeling, even when others don’t understand your vision. If you believe in your idea, keep going and find ways to make it work.

Key takeaways from my interview with Charlie Bowes-Lyon:

  • Identify a genuine need and a gap in the market.
  • Don’t be afraid to disrupt and create a new category.
  • Sustainability can be fun and desirable.
  • Build a strong community and listen to your customers.
  • Launch imperfectly to gather feedback.
  • Trust your gut feeling and persevere through challenges.

If you’re feeling inspired by Charlie’s journey and want more stories and insights on navigating the entrepreneurial world, be sure to check out my book, You’ve Got This! You can find it online and in all good bookshops.

To learn more about Wild and their fantastic range of sustainable products, head over to wearewild.com and follow their journey on social media.

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Unlocking Your Potential with NLP Master Dr. Tracey Cole SPECIAL EPISODE

Welcome to a special episode of the podcast celebrating the launch of my new book, You’ve Got This!

On this episode, I had the absolute pleasure of chatting with the incredible Dr. Tracey Cole, a leading coach and trainer of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Timeline Therapy, and Hypnotherapy.

You’ve Got This, Tracey Cole!

Tracey isn’t just a superstar, she’s also a dear friend and someone who has profoundly impacted my own journey. In fact, Tracey trained me to become an NLP Master Practitioner and Master Coach!

Originally a biochemist, Tracey’s passion for equestrianism led her to NLP, specifically to address her own anxiety in the show ring. What started as a personal exploration blossomed into a new career where she now trains trainers and coaches individuals to overcome their challenges.

I was thrilled to have Tracey join me to delve deeper into some key mindset concepts for the book, but also for you here, now, on the podcast! Here is just a taste of what we covered…

The Power of Neuroplasticity

One of the fascinating topics we explored was neuroplasticity, which Tracey explained is the brain’s remarkable ability to change and adapt throughout our lives. She likened our brains to computers that are constantly looking for and creating patterns, whether those are our beliefs, our values, or our memories. The exciting thing is that, unlike a fixed program, these patterns can be altered by intentionally creating new neural pathways. It’s like choosing a different route; instead of always taking the well-worn “motorway” of old habits, we can forge a new path that, with consistent use, becomes just as strong. This is a game changer for everyone who believes you’re born a certain way and that’s it for life… YOU can change!

Understanding and Challenging Limiting Beliefs

We also delved into the concept of limiting beliefs, which Tracey described as patterns that often take root in our early childhood, typically before the age of seven. During this period, we absorb information and beliefs from our surroundings, without necessarily discerning whether they are helpful or harmful. Tracey shared a story about how an off-the-cuff comment in her childhood stopped her from singing publicly for many years, to illustrate the point.

The thing is, limiting beliefs feel just as real as any other belief we hold. The first step in overcoming them, is awareness – being conscious of what we think and say to ourselves, and noticing the thoughts that are holding us back. By asking ourselves whether a belief is truly valid, we can begin to unravel the stories we’ve created for ourselves. Tracey suggested several strategies for challenging these ingrained beliefs too.

Addressing the Fear of Failure

Another significant point we discussed was the fear of failure, which Tracey highlighted is often a limiting belief in disguise. This fear often stems from personal definitions of what success and failure are, and how many of us always view failure as a negative rather than a step in the learning process. Tracey encouraged a shift in perspective, urging us to see failure as valuable feedback.

Developing a Growth Mindset

Finally, we touched upon the development of a growth mindset, which Tracey said can be challenging because our brains are naturally wired for comfort and security. She drew a parallel to the experience of learning to walk – a process that involves stumbles and getting things wrong before mastery is achieved. Can you imagine if babies tried to walk once, fell down, and saw that ‘failure’ as the end point?!

Tracey then explored some fundamental parts of developing a growth mindset. This included gradually expanding our comfort zone in small steps to help push boundaries in a considered way. We also chatted about reframing, a technique I love and use a lot.

To find out more about Tracey, see her website www.traceycolenlop.com

And, if you haven’t grabbed a copy of You’ve Got This yet, you can get it from Amazon here

…and if you have and you’d consider leaving a review, I’d be super grateful!

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