Shows
Starting the Conversation283 | Buying a house as a business owner - Q&A with my mortgage advisor Dan KnottEarlier this year I stepped onto the property ladder, amidst a whole lot of fear and overwhelm about securing a mortgage as a business owner. If you’re keen to buy a home but unsure if and how it’s even possible - this episode is a must-listen! In this episode we break down the mortgage myths and complexities of securing a mortgage if you are self-employed or a Company Director. With expert advice from my own mortgage advisor Dan of Dan Does Mortgages, you’ll learn exactly how to turn your finances into a winning mortgage applic...2024-10-0149 minStarting the Conversation282 | End the year with intention by answering these 3 questionsWhether you like it or not, the final quarter of 2024 is almost upon us which means we're all given a choice - how do we want to end the year? Do we want to limp to the finish line and fall into 2025 or end with intention and set our future selves up for success? I know which I'd rather. If you're in the same boat, listen in for 3 steps you can take today to give yourself the clairty and plan needed to end 2024 strong. Craving support as you strategise for Q4? Join my final goal...2024-09-2421 minStarting the Conversation281 | Create graphics that reach millions of people, without being an artist (with Hannah of Quoted Visually)Hannah's message impacts millions of people each month, but there's very few words involved. Wondering how you can turn your expertise into simple graphics? Whether you're looking to create impactful slides or social media, this episode is for you. Dyslexia and an iPad led Digital Creative Hannah Wilson to working with industry leaders and growing an audience of 100k. In this episode Hannah shares how to become the master of your message. No fancy tools, no design or art degree needed - everyone has the capacity to turn ideas into powerful visuals - listen in for the f...2024-09-1854 minStarting the Conversation263 | From idea to profitable business - my CLIENT shares her honest journey (Sophie Harris of Looking After Mum)What does it take to make your business actually work? Therapist (and client of mine) Sophie Harris talks about the reality of her self-employment journey, from 3 clients an evening with a newborn to growing her instagram by 80,000 followers in a year. Mentioned in the episode: You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero (aff link) Looking After Mum - instagram, website Alice Benham - instagram, website2024-03-191h 12Starting the Conversation261 | #Ads, monetising your social media and brand partnerships with Verity Park of tbh talentBrand partnerships - ever seen it done and wondered how it works, whether you could monetise the following you've built for your business, or what that contract a brand set over actually means? From her time working with the OG Britcrew and Grace Beverley at Gleam to setting up her own talent agency tbh, Verity is on a mission to lift the lid on the influencer world. tbh talent - Instagram, Website Alice Benham - Instagram, Website, 2024-03-051h 01Starting the Conversation259 | Building a million pound business with your husband and breaking the mould, with Rachel & James Harris (StriveX)An annual all-expenses-paid all-employee holiday, business icons sat on their board - Rachel Harris (a.k.a. Accountant She) and her husband James Harris do business differently. They founded their accountancy firm StriveX 3 and a half years ago, and have built it from 1 client to a million-pound valuation in that short time. This is part 2 of their interview. Last week, they chatted about their knowledge, but this week it's all about their story. How they grew their business, how they became one of the top 30 businesses to work for in the UK, and ultimately how they run...2024-02-2039 minStarting the Conversation258 | 2 accountants share the mistakes and strategies we should all know aboutEver wish you could ask the expert all your burning financial questions? As business owners we're often unprepared for the challenges that come with navigating tax, financial growth, and money management, which is why I've invited accountants and co-founders Rachel and James Harris to share their insights. As partners in life and business, these two really are a financial power couple and in this episode generously share their expertise, personal financial habits, and lessons learned from helping 1000s of business owners with their accounting. Tune in this week to hear their knowledge, and make sure t...2024-02-1348 minStarting the Conversation253 | Stefanie from F*ck Being Humble on slow growth, critics and decision fatigueStefanie Sword-Williams is an entrepreneur many of us will look up to - she's an author, Tedx speaker, Forbes 30u30, the founder of two businesses and has worked with some of the best known brands. It's safe to say her career is pretty vision board worthy... but what about the behind the scenes of that? Listen in as Stefanie so generously shares more about the quick growth she experienced at the starts Vs the slower growth her second business has seen, why she prefers to operate as a company of one, how picking a contraversial name worked...2023-12-0559 minStarting the Conversation252 | £0 in the bank to growing a CHEESE business - burnout, cash flow & quitting corporate (with Mako Ndoro of Berry & Brie)Ever see successful businesses online and wonder what the behind the scenes REALLY looks like? Good news is todays episode will give you an all access pass to the reality of one of my favourite entrepreneurs to follow - Mako Ndoro founder of Berry & Brie. Tune in to learn how Mako went from £0 in the bank and working in corporate to taking her business full time, overcoming the challenges of burnout, cash flow and comparison along the way. _____ Berry & Brie - Website - Instagram - Mako's Instagram Alice Benham - Website...2023-11-281h 06Starting the Conversation250 | The 'secret' behind Steven Bartlett's growth, with Grace Andrews - Marketing Director @ Diary of a CEOEver wondered what happens behind the scenes of some of the biggest personal brands? In todays episode I sat down with the inspirational Grace Andrews, Marketing Director for Steven Bartlett & Diary of a CEO, to understand what it really takes to stay at the top of your game. Tune in for an incredibly honest insight into building and maintaining a personal brand. _____ Grace Andrews - Instagram - LinkedIn - TheSocialClimber LinkedIn Alice Benham - Website - Instagram - LinkedIn2023-11-1458 minStarting the Conversation249 | Crowdfunding £20,000+ - the highs, lows & lessons, with Danielle from Flock HereRaising money to fund a new idea or business can feel like such an overwhelming process, but what if there was another route you hadn't considered? In this episode I sat down with Danielle Wallington who just over a year ago set out to raise £18,000 via crowdfunding to fund her app and community - Flock Here. Tune in to learn why it's the route she went down, what challenges she faced both before and during the campaign, how she kept going despite worrying it might not work and the marketing strategy that led to her raising more t...2023-11-071h 09Starting the Conversation229 | Growing three creative businesses and the reality of a book deal, with Nerrisa PrattHow do you get on TV? What's the secret to scaling and sustaining multiple businesses? How do you stay creative when busy? What's it really like to write a book? Today's conversation with the powerhouse that is Nerrisa Pratt answers that and more, as we unpack her highs, lows and lessons. _____ Nerrisa Pratt - Instagram, Untld Project (PR Support), The Bargello Edit Alice Benham - Website, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok2023-03-1457 minStarting the Conversation227 | A decade of entrepreneurship - legal battles, adapting to change and navigating motherhood, with Rosie Davies-Smith of PR DispatchThis is easily the most honest, emotional and inspiring conversations we've had on the podcast. Rosie, PR expert and brilliant human, is a founder I hugely admire - she's honest, funny, supportive and really damn good at what she does. We sat down and unpacked the last decade of Rosie's journey, from the early days of her agency and how to get your first clients to battling legal battles, closing a business and adapting to motherhood as an entrepreneur. I really hope you find this conversation as inspiring as I did! _____ ...2023-03-0156 minStarting the Conversation225 | Building a community of 200,000+ and mastering LinkedIn with Sophie Miller, Pretty Little MarketerSince founding Pretty Little Marketer, Sophie Miller has harnessed LinkedIn and Instagram to build an engaged and relevant community of over 200,000. She's a total expert when it comes to turning followers into fans, showing up authentically and consistently serving value! Tune in to hear more about how PLM started accidentally, Sophie's top tips about LinkedIn growth and an honest insight about her experiences of running a business with an anxiety disorder. _____ Sopbie's LinkedIn, PLM Instagram, Website Alice Benham - Website, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok2023-02-141h 03Starting the ConversationChristmas special with RSM!! (dating an entrepreneur and a festive quiz)It's the final episode of the year so I'm treating you to a Christmas special exclusive with RSM, aka my boyfriend. Listen in for a dose of festive cheer and a window into what it's like to date Alice Benham. I'll be back in your ears in 2023, happy holidays! AB x _____ Ready to get memorable, custom design for your business? Launch a contest with 99designs and save £20 using this link. Website, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok2022-12-1351 minStarting the Conversation182 | My story - school dropout to accidental entrepreneur at 17In 180+ episodes I've told a lot of peoples stories on this poidcast... but never my own. Something powerful happens when we hear the honest and often non-linear journeys of other peoples businesses so in todays episode I'm taking you back and sharing how I went from working as an elf and dropping out of school at 16 to running a business at 17 and wildly burning out. Tune in to hear (what I think is) an interesting story and (hopefully) leave feeling encouraged to keep walking your path, however challenging it may feel. _____ www.alicebenham...2022-05-0334 minStarting the Conversation#5 What do you want to carry in 2022? And what do you want to leave in 2021? | 5 Days of ReflectionWelcome to the final day of 5 Days of Reflection! Now we're so much more aware and in touch with what 2021 held, in today's final instalment we can start to think about what we want to carry with us in 2022, and what we want to leave in 2021. To do this I'll take you through a Stop, Start and Continue framework and this is where reflection is so beneficial because we can use the previous season to influence the next. I'd also encourage you to think about your hopes for 2022 and start to think of you...2021-12-1707 minStarting the Conversation#4 What has 2021 taught you? | 5 Days of ReflectionWelcome to the penultimate day of 5 Days of Reflection. Today we're going to be taking the challenges we identified yesterday and using them to bridge the gap between the past season, and the new season we're stepping into. So we're reflecting on what 2021 has taught us, and we're going to start with you as a person, a business owner, and we're going to be zooming out further and further to capture all the lessons from the last 12 months. I really hope you're enjoying this mini-series of reflection. If you are, let me know ove...2021-12-1608 minStarting the Conversation#2 What has made the most impact? | 5 Days of ReflectionWelcome to day 2 of 5 Days of Reflection. Each day we will be building on the reflection from the day before so if you've not listened to day 1, I'd encourage you to go back and listen to that before we dive into day 2. Today we're going to take 10 mins to look back on the last 12 months to identify what action, or what decisions have had the most impact on your business so we can learn what has helped you achieve those wins from day 1. Come and let me know on Instagram @alice_benham what's com...2021-12-1406 minStarting the Conversation#1 What are your wins? | 5 Days of ReflectionHello and welcome to 5 Days of Reflection! 5 Days of Reflection is here to help you round off the year and reflect on everything 2021 has held. I'll be showing up every day this week for just 10 - 15 mins to help you acknowledge and celebrate everything you have achieved in the last 12 months. I know as business owners it's so easy to move on to the next thing without taking time to stop, but I promise you, making time to reflect helps us grow and take intentional action. Reflecting also helps bring purpose to...2021-12-1313 minStarting the Conversation164 | I started a new business in 6 weeks, here's what it taught meIf you follow me on Instagram you'll be very aware by now that my second business, on paper, launched last week! It's been roughly 6 weeks since I decided to launch a product-based business and it's been quite the journey, let me tell you, so today on the podcast I wanted to let you into what that's looked like, the highs and the lows. My teammate Emily is joining me to ask me some questions about the process as we discuss the unexpected challenges and what we've learnt. I hope you enjoy it! If we...2021-12-0729 minStarting the Conversation163 | A conversation with my MUM(!) about leadership, boundaries and 'balance;This week I have a VERY special guest, Catrina Benham, AKA my Mum. You might remember my Dad has joined me on the podcast so it was only right to invite my mum as well, and I really wanted to ask her about her experience of working as a female leader in a male-dominated environment. So join us for this conversation about leading as yourself, leaning into your strengths and knowing the value you bring. I always love to see where you're listening and what you take from these episodes, so come and le...2021-11-3049 minStarting the ConversationYou are cordially invited to The Small Bizmas Party 2021!It’s been a long couple of years for us business owners, the elf-employed if you will! Sorry, I couldn't resist! We're SO proud of everything you’ve achieved and with that in mind, we’ve decided to throw a party for small business owners who want a chance to relax and unwind with the people who well and truly GET it. So join me, Alice Benham, along with the brilliant Rachel Waring & Ellie Kime my fellow business owners and podcasters who live and breathe small business ownership for an evening of food, drink...2021-11-1702 minStarting the Conversation160 | 3 mistakes I see people make in their marketing strategy and how you can avoid themToday I'd want to talk to you about 3 of the most common mistakes I see people make in their marketing strategy. Now, I'm not here to shame anyone, and these are all mistakes that I've made myself. This doesn't make us bad business owners, we just need to normalise making mistakes and know how to move forward. Marketing strategy is like building an eco-system, so in this episode, I want to encourage you to see how all the elements work together to reach the end goal. After today's podcast if you'd like to lea...2021-11-0331 minStarting the Conversation158 | What is sustainable marketing? 4 steps to market your business sustainablyThe idea of having a sustainable business, a sustainable online presence and sustainable marketing is becoming a more mainstream conversation and I am so here for it! A few weeks ago we all got a taste of what life and business would be like without a number of digital platforms, highlighting the need for a more sustainable strategy. So today I want to walk you through 4 elements that make sustainable marketing strategies. If you are craving or in need of more digital strategy I have two new offerings for you! Firstly, I'll be lau...2021-10-1932 minStarting the Conversation157 | 5 things that have helped me | Part 2In this second episode on the topic of trolling or being bullied online, I wanted to share and discuss 5 things that helped me and continue to help me with what I experienced. My hope for this episode is that if you've experienced bullying yourself that this can bring you some extra support or comfort and if not, to give you a few tips to keep in your toolkit if this does ever arise. I'd love to continue this conversation with you over on Instagram, I'm @alice_benham so come and let me know what you th...2021-10-1222 minStarting the Conversation155 | My last launch sold the least... but it felt the best | BTSMy latest launch had the lowest uptake since I started offering group programmes back in 2019, and for the first time ever, I didn't get a single sign up on the first day - BUT it was the best I've ever felt launching a programme. Join me and my teammate Emily to discuss how we approached this launch, what we've learnt from taking a new approach and why prioritising impact over sales is so key. So if you're pre-launch or in the early stages and it's not all going to plan, then this is the episode f...2021-10-0541 minStarting the Conversation154 | Post-month off catch up anyone?? (ft V exciting announcement!Well, hello! After nearly 5 weeks off, I'm back! So I thought it only right to bring you a bonus podcast episode so we can have a catch-up and share some of my highs and lows of stepping away from my business in August. Coming back to the business this week feels like an opportunity to press reset and I’m looking forward to getting back into a routine, with lots of exciting things coming up! The first of which is a free 3-day challenge, 3 Days to Clarity kicking off next week on Tuesday 14th Se...2021-09-0721 minStarting the Conversation153 | Are you truly productive or are you just busy?As business owners, it’s easy to fall into the trap of seeing busyness as a measure of success, but being busy doesn’t always mean you're being productive. Joining me today is Sarah Boyle - A positive productivity mentor to chat all about how to do the focused work that moves you forward, not just filling the hours. As Sarah so wisely shares in this episode, productivity is a skill we can learn and master not a personality trait, and in this episode, we share 4 top tips to help you kick off September feeling focuse...2021-09-0653 minStarting the Conversation152 | BTS - leaving lockdown with a business in towIt's been a while since my teammate Emily and I did a BTS episode, so for the final episode of this season we wanted to have a quick sit down to have a chat about how we're both feeling coming out of lockdown, and how this looks when you run a business. In the last 18 months, we've thrown ourselves into work but now as we look to our "new normal" we want to establish some new habits to put work back in its place and free up more time for play and rest. Starting the Co...2021-06-1445 minStarting the Conversation151 | Stepping into your confidence with Kira MatthewsConfidence is so key when you run a business because as we know, you can have all your plans and strategies in place but if you don’t have the confidence to consistently implement it, you don't get very far. My guest today is Kira Matthews, AKA Kira The Bold, an incredible coach who helps creatives build unshakable confidence. In this episode, we sit down to chat about all things confidence, how to build it, how to show up as yourself and how confidence is an emotion to step into rather than something to be acq...2021-06-071h 02Starting the Conversation150 | 3 biggest challenges I'm facing in my businessYou know I’m all about sharing the challenges in running a business, especially as we’re in a space that glorifies the shiny stuff and the highlights reel, but there is always so much behind the scenes that you don’t see. I typically share challenges in hindsight, for many reasons, but today I wanted to give you a look at some of the challenges I'm working through in my business right now. I wanted to do this to first acknowledge some of these struggles and then to get really intentional walking myself through them, an...2021-05-3142 minStarting the Conversation149 | The 'scrunch cult' - 9 years of hard work, challenges and sacrifices in the makingIn today's episode, I am sitting down with someone who I've wanted to get on the podcast forever - and that is the brilliant Emma from BeauTie who I'm sure you're familiar with as our resident scrunchie cult leader. Emma is an amazing business owner and a walking example of how success doesn't come to any business overnight, and how challenges and failures can actually be an opportunity to change and pivot. There is always so much going on behind the scenes that we don't see, so while Emma's business has been so successful in th...2021-05-2455 minStarting the Conversation148 | 4 tips for generating features, collaborations and press in your businessHaving your business featured can be a great way to bring more people to your offerings and services. It's also a really fun way of meeting new people and collaborating. So in today’s episode, I’m going to be talking all about how to generate features in your business - that could be going on someone's podcast, getting involved with the press, or collaborating with brands and other businesses. I’ve been on both sides of the equation with this so I wanted to share some of my experience on how to do it, some tip...2021-05-1739 minStarting the Conversation147 | Running a business with chronic health conditionsWhilst having a chronic health condition is not something I have personal lived experience with, I've found that a number of my clients, students, and friends in the business space do and I really wanted to understand their experience further. So joining me for this conversation is Rachel Shillcock - you may know her as Rachilli, to share her experience of starting and running a business that supports her health and what it has looked like to get there. I'm so grateful to Rachel for sharing her story with me and giving some insights to h...2021-05-101h 08Starting the Conversation146 | How I take a month off from my business and you can do the same Taking time off when you run a business, is not easy. This is something I've struggled with in the past, and still do, but this year I am planning to take the whole of August off from my business. I did this last year, and want this to be something I do every year, but practically, mentally, emotionally it does have its challenges. So I wanted to share a bit of what I've learnt and a few tips to help you schedule time off in your business! This episode has been crea...2021-05-0338 minStarting the Conversation145 | Why business is cyclical not linear, self awareness is key and there's no 'one size fits all' of work/life balanceI really believe that self-awareness is key to running a business, if you're a long-time listener you may remember I had a brilliant chat with my life coach, Helen Cottee, about this back in episode 82. So, I was really keen to have Helen back on the podcast to dive deeper into self-awareness, and also to explore a topic that came up in our recent coaching calls. And that was how our businesses are cyclical and work in seasons - We have winter where we are doing all the ground work, and then summer comes and w...2021-04-261h 07Starting the Conversation144 | 5 tips for pivoting or scaling your businessI really believe that pivoting and scaling your business go hand in hand because if you want to scale, you'll most likely be slightly pivoting something and vice versa. I'd say my business has been in this pivoting and scaling stage since the end of 2019, and although there isn't that defining moment where you know you're starting a new phase in your business I realised my priorities had changed. So in this episode, I wanted to share 5 tips I wish I knew as I started to scale and pivot my business. Read more about finding the...2021-04-1933 minStarting the Conversation143 | 5 tips for starting and growing your businessToday I want to bring you not one, but two podcast episodes and this isn't just to create more work for myself, although I've been guilty of that in the past, but to deliver some really specific tips for whatever stage your business is at. So this first episode is all about starting and growing your business and I want to share with you my 5 tips that I wish I had known when I started my business. To see my business journey check out my Instagram post showing how things have grown and why I'm su...2021-04-1931 minStarting the Conversation142 | What to do when you’re struggling to show up onlineGetting stuck in a rut with your content or struggling to show up is totally normal. I experienced this myself about a month ago, where I felt really stuck and frustrated, and then I realised like most things in business, creating content and showing up also ebbs and flows. Today I want to take you through 5 things you can do to start to walk yourself out of that rut by getting clear on your why, your message and your strategy so that you can take action with impact and intention. This episode has bee...2021-04-1238 minStarting the Conversation141 | 3 steps to making Q2 productive and impactful for your businessAs we enter a new quarter, and a new financial year, I wanted to share with you some encouragements that can help make this new quarter as productive and impactful for your business as possible. This year so far has already been a LOT, with a lot of learning curves, so I want to walk you through how you can reflect on Q1, how to set some goals for Q2 that will stretch, but not stress you, and 3 productive habits that you can adopt to smash the next 12 weeks. Thanks to Rachel for the fab pl...2021-04-0530 minStarting the Conversation140 | Are you using Instagram as a tool or a measure of success?Today I want to ask you a question - are you using Instagram as a tool or a measure of success? The latter is a mindset I find myself falling into oh so easily and I know I'm not the only one. Tune into this episode to hear why this mindset is so easy to fall into, how it stops us from building businesses with impact and sustainability at their core and what you can do to put Instagram in its place. _____ STAY CONNECTED Alice (aka me) | Instagram| Website| YouTube2021-03-2933 minStarting the Conversation139 | Is a lack of culture destroying your strategy?When I first head the quote "culture eats strategy for breakfast" it brought the language to something I'd been exploring and processing for months. Strategy is brilliant. It's key in helping you up-level your business with ease... or as much ease as possible. It's what my whole business revolves around. But it's not the only important thing! In this episode I start the conversation around culture - why it limits the impact of our strategies, what it means for us as small business owners and how we keep it front and centre. There's far more t...2021-03-2227 minStarting the ConversationThe future of Starting The ConversationAfter almost 3 years of this podcast and 18 months of conversation starters, it feels right to take a step back and allow the new format to come to life. I'll be back in the next couple of months but until then, be sure to check out my new podcast - Wish We Knew... Accidental ‘entrepreneurs’ Alice Benham and Vix Meldrew sit down to share what they wish they knew about founding and scaling their online businesses. From the start of fledgling ideas up to where they are in their journow, they’re here to show you that the path t...2021-01-1310 minStarting the Conversation137 | A Christmas debrief and what intentions we've set for 2021Tune in to hear what Emily's 'unicorn' Christmas Day entailed, why I refuse to date people who don't have a favourite supermarket and in slightly more important news, the intentions and goals we've set for 2021. The AB Method Collection launches this Thursday (7th!) so be sure to explore the products and join the waitlist to be first in line. _____ STAY CONNECTED Alice (aka me) | Instagram | Website| Podcast | YouTube Emily | Website | Instagram 2021-01-0459 minStarting the Conversation136 | Reviewing 2020 with Emily - did we meet our intentions?We're nearing the end of the year and it's time to look back and review the last 12 months. But where do you start with reviewing a year like 2020? Tune in to hear Emily and I discuss the highs and lows we've faced in the business this year. https://www.alicebenham.co.uk/onit Ep88 | 2020 Intentions Ep105 | What the Flipping Nora is going on? Ep109 | An uncut call with my business mentor and what this season is teaching me Ep122 | Reflecting on Q2 & setting goals for Q3 _____ 2020-11-3045 minStarting the Conversation135 | Why success doesn't always equal happinessIn my first few years of business I tied together success and happiness, assuming that achieving goals within my business would bring my own personal happiness with it. But over time, after achieving those goals and realised how individual those two concepts were, I've begun to realise how separate they really are. In this episode Julia brings some fascinating insight on the tie between success and happiness from why achieving goals doesn't necessarily mean peaks of happiness, how we can begin to separate the two and the difference between happiness and contentment. I left this r...2020-11-231h 04Starting the Conversation134 | Financial fails we've made in our businessesLearning through action is something I really believe in and when it comes to money it's no different. From missing tax returns and out of control spending to pricing wrong and not setting aside profit, I've been there, and so has todays guest - Anna. In this episode Anna I share and discuss the financial fails we've come across in our business so that you can learn from our mistakes and build a healthier relationship with your business finances. This episode is part two of a series around business fails with the first episode sitting over on...2020-11-1647 minStarting the Conversation133 | The role of personal development when you run a businessPersonal development is a phrase we hear thrown around a lot, but what does it really look like? And how do we integrate it into our everyday as business owners? In this conversation Liam and I discussed how personal development has played a role in our businesses coming to life, what it looks like on a practical level, the way it interacts with taking action and why we see it as a constant focus, regardless of how 'successful' things are. Whether you're a little intimidated by it or a total personal development pro, I encourage...2020-11-0954 minStarting the Conversation132 | Fear of success and why as women we struggle to own our accomplishmentsFearing success sounds like a good problem to have, but as women, we can pretty quick to caveat why or how we aren't worthy of success and claim we've just been "lucky". After finding Keri's content on Instagram I knew she was the perfect person to unpack this conversation with me, and have a good chat about how we can own our own success and overcome the fear of judgement. If you're looking for some really practical steps for overcoming your discomfort of being successful then this is the episode for you! _____ ...2020-11-0239 minStarting the Conversation131 | Can FB Ads work for a value driven business? My experience and resultsIn my most recent launch I used Facebook ads for the first time, now believe me when I say, I have been very sceptical when it came to using ads and I didn't believe it could be a good fit for my business. I am now a total convert having seen Facebook ads can be done in a value driven way and be a helpful tool in a launch plan. Joining me today is Matt Rubas, who firstly convinced me to try out Facebook ads and then managed the whole process for me. In...2020-10-2653 minStarting the Conversation130 | What nobody tells you about working for yourselfThere's been a lot of chat on the podcast recently about the reality of scaling a business... so I thought it was about time to take it back and share some of what nobody tells you about starting out. Choosing the co-host for this conversation was a no brainer as Fi is the author of Out Of Office, a straight talking guide on all things freelancing. Reflecting on what we wish we'd known at the start, Fi and I discussed everything from the link between mental health and money to how we've learnt to stay away from...2020-10-0549 minStarting the Conversation129 | Can you make millions and be value driven?I've always been a big believer in the idea that running your business in a value drive way (aka ensuring everything you do lines up with your personal values) is the way to go. As I grow my business I'm interested to see if that changes or if it's harder to sustain as the numbers scale. It was a no-brainer for me as to who to unpack this conversation with as Lisa Johnson lives and breathes her values whilst turning over a £1,000,000+ plus a year. Tune in to this conversation for an honest ins...2020-09-2851 minStarting the Conversation128 | Dating with an online presenceIf you scrolled through my WhatsApp chats you can bet that two topics will shine through - business and boys. Despite being a blend of topics which I find myself constantly thinking about it's not something I've explored on the podcast...until today. Joining me for this conversation are my good friends, Jess & Polly, who know all too well what it looks like to put yourself out there whilst maintaining an online presence. Fuelled by 10pm tiredness and wine this is the episode for you if your a business owner navigating the dating s...2020-09-211h 08Starting the Conversation127 | The reality of scaling a service based businessThe last time Elizabeth came on the podcast our businesses looked wildly different to how they do now. Over the last year, in ways that look different for each of us, we've scaled up our service based businesses in terms of income, impact and personal fulfilment. In this episode Elizabeth and I have an honest conversation about what thats looked like. From knowing how to diversify and dealing with the mindset that's needed to why we wanted to scale and where we see ourselves going from here, this conversation is for you if you're looking to level u...2020-09-141h 05Starting the Conversation126 | Diversity and Inclusion: fear, judgement and not taking action 3 months ago the world got a much needed wake up call around the experience of black people, and the question was posed to us as business owners of how would we work towards a more diverse & inclusive industry. In this episode, Jayne Ashby, coach and founder of The Alternative, and I unpack why taking action is the most important thing we can do, as well as the feelings and fear that might be holding you back and the small changes we can all implement. Whether you have a full diversity and inclusion policy or don’t...2020-09-071h 05Starting the Conversation125 | BTS - we're back!! Fancy a catch up?Well welcome back to the podcast, and welcome back after our summer break! As everyone knows by now, I took all of August off work, so in this first episode back we thought we'd kick things off with a BTS episode as Emily and I reunite and catch up. We'd not spoken in the last month aside from a few "I miss you" DM's and we had a lot catch up on. It turns out we’ve both made some real moves in the last 4 weeks! We've also got such an exciting month ahe...2020-08-3132 minStarting the Conversation124 | BTS - taking a MONTH off - why and howAfter talking about taking the whole of August off for so long, it's finally here! This is the last podcast episode before taking 4 weeks out, so I wanted to share another BTS look at how and why taking a month off became one of my goals for this year. I also wanted to let you in on the the practical side of how Emily & I have prepped for the time away and how I feel about stepping back from my business for some time out. So this is us for the next four wee...2020-07-2726 minStarting the Conversation123 | Why we're all making it up as we go alongLooking at other business owners it's easy to assume everyone knows what they're doing and you're the only one figuring it out as you go, but the more business owners I meet the more I realise we're all trying things out, seeing what works and learning as we go. Joined by Kay, founder of Leafage we chat about how there is no magic formula when it comes to building a business and we're all making it up as we go along, even if it doesn't look like that from the outside. Every business has an un...2020-07-2049 minStarting the Conversation122 | BTS - reflecting on Q2 & setting goals for Q3Welcome to other BTS episode with me and my team member Emily. I’m so glad you enjoyed the first one of this new episode style and I’m excited to share this episode with you, where you’re going to get an inside look at us reflecting on Q2 and setting goals for Q3. As you know, I am big on setting intentions, setting goals and then making these into weekly actions steps. If you want to know about how I take annual goals and break them down check out my IGTV “How I set goals in my bu...2020-07-1335 minStarting the Conversation121 | Are you getting in your own way? The truth about self sabotageAfter mixing things up on the podcast for a few months I'm so excited to be back with a co-host for a big old conversation on a really juicy topic! Joining me today is Ashleigh Frater, mindset coach and all round genius when it comes to self sabotage and why we all get in our own way when it comes to setting and achieving our goals. So what does self sabotage actually looks like? How does it show up and why? We're going to share what it looks like for us in our bus...2020-07-0644 minStarting the Conversation120 | How do you build a digital strategy?I don't know about you, but I find the words 'digital strategy' so intimidating. Those words put together just make me freeze up and what does digital strategy even mean? Well in this episode I want to break this down and walk you through how your digital strategy is simply, the plan you have for how your business is going to show up and grow online. You will have multiple platforms and touch points in your strategy so I want you to get really clear on the intention behind each of those elements and the v...2020-06-2924 minStarting the Conversation119 | How well do you know the podcast? The Quiz!As quizzes have become a staple of our social lives over the last few months join Emily and I quizzing one another about this very podcast to see how knows the show better. There are 12 questions and I would love it of can play along, let me know on Instagram how you do. There's a very good chance you'll score higher than us two! So I hope you enjoy the quiz and let me apologise now for all your cats names that I couldn't remember. _____ STAY CONNECTED Alice (aka me...2020-06-2228 minStarting the Conversation118 | BTS - should Emily move from freelance to employee?An unexpected positive that's happened over the last few months is that I've been forced to get creative with how I record this podcast and it's been fun to mix things up and try out different ways to record and different episode lengths. That said, it's been about a year since I relaunched this podcast with a new format of high / low, conversation starter and quick fire Q's and whilst I've loved it feels like a good time to add in something new. So, we're going to start including some behind the scenes episodes, bringing yo...2020-06-1531 minStarting the Conversation117 | Dear white business ownersThis is by no means a conclusive list but some of the resources I've found educational over the last week... Listen The Stories of Five Protesters 1619 This isn't a trend - Laid Bare Real talk on race and how to be a better ally - EmpowerHer Watch Dear White People - Netflix When They See Us - Netflix Is The Coaching Industry Inclusive - Simone McNish Sign Justice for George Floyd 2020-06-0802 minStarting the Conversation116 | How do you build good culture? How do you treat your team well?I‘m often asked how my team mate Emily, and I have built a good dynamic, and while it’s not completely accidental it’s something that I want to ensure continues and develops as the business grows. While I can say from my experience what I think has helped contribute to that working relationship I asked Hanna, founder of As We Are, to join me to share some of her expertise as a leadership coach. We dig into what creates a good company culture and how to implement it to make a positive work place f...2020-06-0127 minStarting the Conversation115 | Aren’t you afraid of giving it all away for free?Welcome back to the podcast, today I am answering more of your questions and today’s is quite a hot topic in the service based world. That question is, am I afraid of giving away my expertise for free? and I mean putting it all out there, not giving a little bit for free leading to a sales pitch, I’m talking about the content where you are showing up, being of service, giving value and giving your expertise in a free capacity. The misconception is that by giving expertise away for free your discouraging peop...2020-05-2518 minStarting the Conversation114 | How do you build out the packages you offer?As service based businesses we often have multiple offerings varying in price point and topic, and creating that variation in my business has been key for me in moving my business forward. I am so happy to be joined for the second time by Steph of The Creative Shed, who is just a genius in all things operations and strategy. In this episode we discuss the value that smaller or new offerings can bring to your business complimenting what you already have, not cannibalising it. If you're in a place where you have one offering, or...2020-05-1822 minStarting the Conversation113 | Do you have a 5 year plan?You all know I LOVE big picture work. I talk a lot about my approach to business and the power I see in working on, not always working in my business. When I learnt about this differentiation it really clicked in my brain and ever since then I've explored what this looks like for my business. I got really clear on that big picture goal, and how I can always be moving towards it. I know where I want to go and while I do set annual intentions, I know for me, I have to ha...2020-05-1113 minStarting the Conversation112 | How did you get your first clients?We've been mixing it up a lot on the podcast over the last six weeks, but I'm very excited to announce we have now landed on a new format going forward! I know in this time it's not easy to consume long form content, and it's hard to find the time or energy to soak up all the information that's out there right now, but I also notice lots of you, myself included, who want to use this time to move your business forward. So, to meet that need I will be bringing you short, to...2020-05-0419 minStarting the Conversation110 | Being a Sole Trader vs LTDWelcome to the first of two episodes that I'm super excited to share with you. If you are a long time listener of the podcast you will know I have been focusing on the topic of money in my business over the last few months. This has partly been because my business has transitioned from sole trader to a limited company, which, let me tell you came with so many question marks. It's safe to say I could not have done it without the help of my accountant, Ben, who joins me in...2020-04-2737 minStarting the Conversation111 | Putting profit first into actionThe way I manage money in my business has really evolved over the last two years. From spending everything in my account to now, finding a method of managing money that works for me. This change really came about from discovering Profit First and it's approach is now something I'm such an advocate for. If you've never heard of it, this episode will give you a great intro. As an incredibly human way of managing money, it's helped me feel in control and confident with my money. Joined by my accountant, Ben, we share our e...2020-04-2732 minStarting the Conversation109 | An uncut call with my business mentor and what this season is teaching meToday's episode is something a bit different but after this coaching session with my business mentor Jo, I thought it might be interesting to share with you all what this current season is teaching me and how things are looking for me as a business owner. As you know this year I am making some shifts in my business and Jo is playing a really vital role in helping to fill in the gaps in that transition and ensuring that the new business that I'm stepping into, has me thriving, not just surviving and serves my needs...2020-04-2058 minStarting the Conversation108 | Behind the scenes of a launch - planning, marketing, emotions...My relationship to launching has changed a lot in the last year, so I wanted to share with you my process from having an idea, to launching a new product in a way that feels good. Part of this shift came for me came from realising that launching should be simple, and it actually only comes down to a few things. It's showing up, speaking louder and speaking clearly. Joined by Emily we share how we work together when launching, how we test an idea, through to how we support each other and what we h...2020-04-1332 minStarting the Conversation106 | The story of me and Emily - recruitment, training and dynamicThis weeks episode is one that I get so many questions about, so given the circumstances, it was the perfect opportunity to let you all in and share how I recruited for a part time team mate. Joined by Emily, my team mate, we chat about the hiring process, what that looked for both of us, onboarding and give you more of an insight into Emily's role and how we work together. Over the last year Emily's role and our working relationship has evolved and grown, so enjoy this behind the scenes look at where we s...2020-03-3048 minStarting the Conversation105 | What the Flipping Nora is going on?Whilst it's been a weird old week for everyone, it felt right to bring you a podcast episode on a Monday morning as usual. As this podcast is recorded weekly with a guest I've kept to that format as much as possible, but my guest this week (and for at least the next 4 weeks) is my team mate, Emily. So, join us for a chat about how we are feeling and how we are responding to the situation. We've included some book and podcast recommendations below if you have some extra time over the...2020-03-2334 minStarting the Conversation104 | Starting a business young and what that looks like for your relationshipsThis week's conversation starter is one that has been explored before on the podcast, but it's something that's so relevant that I’m really interested to delve into it more with the fantastic Heather. That topic is how starting out young in business impacts your relationships, be that with friends, family, work friends. When I started working for myself I was so focused on what I was doing, I isolated myself from a lot of my friends. So it was interesting to hear Heather’s experience of this time as she became self employed after colle...2020-03-1646 minStarting the Conversation103 | Talking ALL THINGS money in businessIt's time to start talking about MONEY. We all have a different relationship to money and, for me this has changed a lot over the last 3 years. Joined by Ellie, founder of This Girl Talks Money, we share how we've moved from being quite passive about money to gaining awareness to now being intentional with how we spend and what money means in our business. Managing money really is an ongoing journey and no one's perfect! But it's my hope that by opening up the conversation you can start thinking about your money story, and as...2020-03-091h 02Starting the Conversation102 | The next evolution of my business - an inside lookMy business is going through a big shift at the moment. Whilst it's not visible yet, I wanted to share a behind the scenes look at what is happening in my business right now. As business owners it's easy to get in a routine of how we do things because they've worked so far. But, as you know, for me working big picture is so key. For me there are three stages when it comes to making shifts within my business. It starts with a question, or a niggling feeling. The next stage is finding...2020-03-0227 minStarting the Conversation101 | £10k months - my experience, why they’re glamorised and what nobody tells youA '£10k month' is presented as a measure of success, with courses out there selling blueprints of how you can make this amount of money. But what does a £10k month actually look like? Does reaching that financial goal mean you are established or successful? Chatting with Steph from The Creative Shed we look at the noise around this £10k phenomenon and break down what's actually behind this figure and the sacrifices that go into achieving something that sounds shiny but doesn't automatically mean you have a healthy business. Steph has a wealth o...2020-02-2459 minStarting the Conversation100 | What’s grown my business? The 5 things that have played a roleWell here we are! The 100th episode and the 2nd anniversary of Starting the Conversation. I hope you all enjoyed the 7 days of Q&A series - it was a lot of fun to put together, if a little exhausting. To mark this special episode I will be sharing 5 things which when I look back, have made the biggest difference in growing my business. And what would a celebration be without some gifts! Go check out the giveaway over on my Instagram. There 10 brilliant products from past guests up for grabs so GET INVOLVED! This is...2020-02-1720 minStarting the Conversation099 | Moving forward when you're getting in your own wayhttps://www.alicebenham.co.uk/retreat For the final day of this mini series, it only felt right to bring on a guest who has made a huge difference within my business. Sophie French, if you aren't familiar, is a genius when it comes to crushing the 'can't' in your head. After having Sophie as a guest coach on the first Gather + Grow retreat last year I knew that other business owners needed to experience her impact. Which is why I'm not only bringing her on the podcast to discuss how to become aw...2020-02-1620 minStarting the Conversation098 | The best way to set yourself up for the week aheadI’ll be the first to admit I can end the week, knowing I’ve worked all the hours, but not really feeling like I’ve moved my business forward. The solution? Getting intentional about how I set up my week. Something todays guest is oh so familiar with. Faye is a business coach with a SUPER intentional approach to how she sets herself up for a successful week. And let me tell you, it shows. From using a Sunday to prep the week ahead and putting boundaries around your time to matching your a...2020-02-1517 minStarting the Conversation097 | Why rhythm is the answer to work induced burnoutWelcome to a very special instalment in the 7 Days of Q&A mini series where I am sitting down to ask a question to my Dad! If you've been listening to this podcast for a while you will have heard me quote my Dad a few times, as his wisdom has definitely contributed to the growth of this business. One of the many things I find inspiring about my Dad is the intentional relationship he has built with rest, balance and rhythm. Like many of us he has experienced burn out, so he has lots to...2020-02-1422 minStarting the Conversation096 | Building your business relationship first - the how, what and whyWe're at half way point of 7 Days of Q&A and I really hope you're enjoying it so far. Today's episode is with my most frequent guest and good friend, Fiona Grayson, founder of She Can She Did. I've always admired the way Fi has built She Can She Did, giving it her all and making really strong relationships along the way. It was great to have the opportunity to ask Fi more about how she's formed connections and to dig into what building business relationships looks like for her. _____ ST...2020-02-1320 minStarting the Conversation095 | What the behind the scenes of this podcast ACTUALLY looks likeDay 3 of 7 Days of Q&A - I'm so excited to share this one with you. After some months of trying, I have persuaded my team mate and podcast editor Emily to join me for this mini episode! Emily is going to give you a behind the scenes look at the creation of this podcast, sharing the side of the episodes that you don't see. This was a really fun episode to record after a long day of big-picture planning! I really hope you enjoy listening in to this conversation, and as...2020-02-1219 minStarting the Conversation094 | The reality of investing in your businessWelcome back to the second instalment of this mini series, 7 Days of Q&A. Today I am joined by photographer and friend Chloe Williams. My question to Chloe was all around investing in your business as this is a process Chloe has been through and I'm sure you can all relate. Starting out, investing in yourself or your business can feel really scary. So it was interesting to speak with Chloe about this topic as her attitude around investing in her business has really changed and grown to a place where she can now see so...2020-02-1114 minStarting the Conversation093 | Knowing the right step to take when you have ALL the ideasWelcome to the first instalment of 7 Days of Q&A! Everyday this week I will be sitting down with a different guest to ask them one big question. These are people I admire, people I'm very close to and people who have played a big part in this podcast, fast approaching it's 2nd birthday. I know, I can't quite believe it either. First up is Sapphire, who needs little introduction as the founder of The Coven. Sapphire is someone who always has loads of ideas for her business and lots of places she c...2020-02-1020 minStarting the Conversation092 | My story so far - accidental entrepreneur at 17 to digital marketing coach at 21I talk a lot about different elements of my story on this podcast but I realised that I've never actually shared the full story of how I took my business to where it is today. So while this might be a bit of a different episode, I wanted to share my whole journey in one place, for those of you who are curious. From being 15 years old selling wooden signs to my mum's friends to leaving school, to working for myself and burning out to transitioning to coaching, launching this podcast, hosting a retreat and growing my...2020-02-0335 minStarting the Conversation091 | Is burnout a rite of passage? And does busy equal success?This question has been raised before on the podcast but I'm interested to give a real chunk of time and space to the idea that being busy all the time, equals success. With the amount of time you put into your business being glamourised I wanted to explore this conversation with Jo, founder of Mad & Sad Club, who's mission is to show that you can be successful without burning yourself out. As someone who's has done the long hours building my business I am realising that now that hard work isn't the hours sat at yo...2020-01-2758 minStarting the Conversation090 | Why winging it is a viable business plan I have never *ever* scheduled a social media post. My posts and stories are mostly spontaneous, and for me that works. However, everything I put out is very intentional and works towards my goals and big picture intentions. Joined by Lucy Hitchcock we dispel the attitude that to be successful you need to have a packed content plan, have all your posts scheduled for the year and have every detail considered. Both me and Lucy are super clear on how we want our business to feel and the impact we want to have, but...2020-01-2050 minStarting the Conversation089 | Why failure is never the end of the storyFailure is an inevitable part of life, but it can totally suck, right? When you're in midst of the struggle, everyone telling you it will get better just doesn't change how you're feeling, and it's hard to see how things will ever turn around. Chatting with Anna we share our experiences of times when things haven't gone to plan, and how in hindsight having to shift and adapt has had a big impact on our businesses. So you might be in that challenging time now, or relate to circumstances taking you to unexpected pl...2020-01-1345 minStarting the Conversation088 | Intentions - looking back at 2019’s and setting them for 2020Long time listeners will know my first episode of a new year is always focused on INTENTIONS. I'm a big believer in setting intentions for the year, breaking these down to actionable goals by quarter, and then I go even further making these into weekly steps to keep me on track. 2019 was a big year for my business, but it wasn't all easy or shiny so I will walk you through the intentions I set for last year, the actions I took to meet them, and if I achieved all of my goals. (Spoiler alert, I...2020-01-0621 minStarting the Conversation087 | How I review my year - a prompt to reflect on 2019Finding it a bit tricky to carve out the space to reflect on the year to start looking at 2020? I feel you! I'm a huge believer in the power of reflection and intention setting, so in this last episode of 2019 I want to share with you how I reflect on all areas of my business and apply this to my goal setting. Here's a few prompts to get you thinking about 2019 and looking forward to a new decade in 2020... - Reconnect to your big picture - values, impact, audience, WHY. - R...2019-12-1619 minStarting the Conversation086 | How boundaries interact with us as business ownersAs business owners it's easy to feel that we should be on call 24/7 for our clients and exceed expectations every time. This can quickly become draining so it's important to have boundaries in place. I'm joined this week by Kat Horrocks, who is known her work on creating boundaries and the positive impact they can have in all areas of work and life. I'm still working on boundaries and balance myself, and to make this episode super practical Kat kindly did some live coaching with me to demonstrate how we can break boundaries into manageable st...2019-12-061h 04Starting the Conversation085 | Women's only networking - part of the problem, or part of the solutionFemale networking and women only groups have played a big role in my business. Through these communities I’ve made friends, built my business and found a support network. However, since starting this podcast I’ve always wanted to explore if female only spaces are part of the problem, or part of the solution. It’s a big topic & not always comfortable subject to dig into, so when I met Hanna I knew she was the perfect co-host for this episode. Hanna is a leadership coach and founder of As We Are, a platfo...2019-12-0245 minStarting the Conversation084 | Behind the scenes of launching the six week thingLast week was a big week for me, as you might have seen I launched my group coaching programme, The Six Week Thing. While I had intended to use this episode to tell you more about The Thing, I realised it was actually a great opportunity to show you a bit more of the behind the scenes of how the idea came together and how Emily and I planned the launch in 10 days. 10 Days! As you know by now, for me when something feels right, when I have that gut feeling, I need to run wi...2019-11-2527 minStarting the Conversation083 | How to not let your competitors get in your headRunning your own business is a very personal thing, so it’s pretty natural that from time to time we find ourselves looking left and right at what our competitors are doing and compare our business to theirs. The effect of this is definitely something I’m still working through, so I loved having this conversation with Claire to chat through the highs, the lows and the times when you just need to mute and focus on yourself. Everyone will have a different experience when it comes to this topic, for some people it might motiv...2019-11-1956 minStarting the Conversation082 | The power of self awareness // a LIVE session with my life coachI'm mixing things up a bit this week & this episode is slightly different to our usual format! I sat down with life coach Helen Cottee to chat about the power of self awareness when you work for yourself. Self awareness has played a huge part in building my business and creating a space where I can be myself and work at my best, which doesn’t always come naturally. Helen has a wealth of knowledge and practical skills in this area, so we go deep into a model that can helped both of us better unde...2019-11-111h 04Starting the Conversation073 | Stop using the algorithm as an excuse and start using Instagram strategicallySo you're losing followers, your likes are down and you're not seeing our friends posts - blame the algorithms! The Instagram algorithm provides us a convenient explanation as to why things aren’t going our way, but in this week's Small Talk episode I want to break down this ‘excuse’ and take a look at how you can still use the platform strategically. The rise of Instagram stories have changed the game, but I want to show you that there's an option to shift with the changes and keep stepping up your game. Sounds easy right...2019-09-0213 min