Parents in Business Magazine Spring/Summer 2023

Hello there! Are you ready to delve into a world of business tips and small business success stories? Well, you’re in the right place! Our revamped magazine is back and better than ever, with even more fantastic content to help you on your business journey.

In this issue, we’re excited to bring you a variety of practical tips and insightful interviews. Parental Coach Sandra Trew shares her valuable experience on how to teach children about money. We also share our 10-minute self-care habits that can make a big difference. If you’re struggling with parent guilt (who isn’t?), we’ve got you covered on page 23.

But that’s not all – we’ve also shone the spotlight on small businesses like CRESS and heard from incredible founders like Maggie Bolger, who’s changing the game in childhood development. Not to mention, we’ve got amazing success stories from entrepreneurs like Felix Atkin, who candidly shares his journey in the startup world.

And let’s not forget about our inspiring interviews with the likes of Jeanette Sklivonou, who built a family business from scratch during tough economic times, and Ruth Wrigley, a TV producer with a 30-year career full of celebrated productions. And don’t miss Rob Stone’s story – he went from selling his belongings at car boot sales to building a £14 million turnover empire in just 7 years, all while raising 9 children!

Last but not least, we spoke with power couple Dani and Chris McFadden. They’re leading a global movement to improve family sleep and have a wealth of knowledge to share.

So grab a cup of tea, sit back, and enjoy this issue – we guarantee it’ll be worth your while!

Happy reading!

Bridget Daley Editior and Founder

Contact

bridget@parentsinbiz.co.uk

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Unlock the Secret to Teaching Your Children About Money

Teaching kids financial literacy is crucial for success today. Equip them with valuable money skills from an early age. Sandra Trew, a Parental Coach, shares practical tips.

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Small Business Spotlight

Small business owners share their stories of overcoming challenges and making plans for the future. Meet Carl Morris, Co-Founder of CRESS, in this issue.

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12 Tips for Thriving as a Working Parent of Three with Long-Term, Chronic Illness

Dr Esther Cole and Catriona Harrison-Harvey share their journey of juggling work and dealing with a chronic illness. They share their 12 tips for thriving as a working parent.

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Dealing with Parent Guilt? We Got You!

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Innovation, Passion, and Perseverance: The Inspiring Journey of Sharesy

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Interview with Jeanette Sklivanou

Interview with Jeanette Sklivonou, the founder of Safe ‘N’ Beautiful. Read how she managed to build her successful family business from scratch during tough economic times. Her journey is one of struggle and inspiring determination that led to her incredible success.

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The Great Juggling Act: How Maggie Bolger Masters Both Worlds

Get to know Maggie Bolger, the genius behind b_together and Co-Founder/CEO/ Creative Director of Maggie and Rose. She revolutionises the childhood industry with a modern take on parenting and adolescent development.

Running a business while raising kids can feel overwhelming, and many parents experience feelings of guilt. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Read practical tips on how to overcome parent guilt.

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10-minute self-care habits that can help you be a better parent and business owner Neglecting your mental and physical health can hinder your ability to meet your goals. The good news is that self-care doesn’t have to be time-consuming. We’ve compiled a list of ten 10-minute self-care habits to help you be the best parent and business owner you can be.

We share the Incredible Story of Sharesy: A Tale of Innovation, Passion, and Perseverance. Meet Felix Atkin, Sharesy’s Founder and CEO, who was born and raised in North London and now lives close to his childhood home with his wife and two children. Read Felix’s exciting journey into the startup world as he shares about the challenges and successes he encountered along the way.

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Ergonomic Workspaces for Home: The Key to Combining Work and Physical Well-being

If you are a home-based business owner, having a well-designed workspace is crucial to your productivity and health. We share practical tips on how to create an ergonomic workspace that will allow you to work from home comfortably and efficiently.

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What is a finance function?

Running a business is incredibly rewarding, but it can also be hard. There are a huge amount of tasks to manage on a daily basis, and of course, finance obligations are an integral part of these. Read to discover why harnessing your finance superpower will help you get ahead!

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Interview with Ruth Wrigley

We interviewed Ruth Wrigley, an acclaimed TV producer with a 30 year career under her belt - encompassing celebrated productions like Big Brother, The Only Way Is Essex, and How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria.

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Your business questions answered

Need expert advice to help you navigate the treacherous business terrain? Clare Morris, a renowned Business Support & Growth Adviser, Developer and Troubleshooter, is at your service. She listens carefully to understand what’s happening (or not). Clare answers your questions.

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Interview with Rob Stone

Rob Stone, founder and director of Instaloft, the UK’s largest installer of loft storage solutions, shares his inspiring story of going from selling his belongings at car boot sales to building a £14 million turnover empire in just 7 years. With 9 children ranging in age from 9 to 26, Rob is a true testament to the power of hard work and dedication.

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How to manage risks when employing contractors

Are you considering hiring a contractor for your business? While it’s a great option for short-term projects or to avoid hiring a new staff member, it can come with risks. Questions may arise about employment status, representation of

your brand, client poaching, and potential for relationship issues. But don’t worry!

Tutu Popoola, Founder & Lead Consultant of Sleek HR has you covered in this article.

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COVER STORY

Interview with Dani and Chris McFadden

Meet Dani and Chris McFadden, the husband and wife team behind a global movement to improve family sleep. With three boys of their own, they know firsthand the importance of restful nights. From their base in Kent, England, they work with clients worldwide to provide sleep solutions for infants.

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Are You Allocating Enough Time for Your Mental Health?

It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and neglect your own needs, leading to stress and exhaustion. But taking care of your mental health is essential for your overall well-being and productivity. We share some self-care tips to prioritise your mental health amidst everyday responsibilities.

BOOKS

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Parents in Business Bookshelf

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Discover the ultimate Parents in Business Bookshelf, filled with captivating book reviews and recommendations. Let us share our love for literature by introducing you to the best books for your reading pleasure. Browse through our reviews to find your next favourite read.

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FELIX ATKIN

FOUNDER OF SHARESY

Felix is an entrepreneur, commercial strategist and partnerships executive with a passion for ethical and social causes. Over 18 years, he has launched new products & services for businesses ranging from multinationals to startups, including BT Infinity, innovation partnerships for PlayStation with Netflix, Amazon and Sky and start-up partnerships with Tesco and Walmart. Felix founded Sharesy to use ‘tech for good’ to impact communities across the UK.

www.sharesy.com

MAGGIE BOLGER

CEO & FOUNDER OF B_TOGETHER

Maggie Bolger is a successful entrepreneur. Over the last decade, she has acted as an innovator in the childhood industry and challenged parenting and adolescent development issues in modern society. Maggie is currently CEO & Founder of b_together, a family member’s club with sites in London and Singapore. www.b-together.com

SHONA CHAMBERS MARKETING CONSULTANT

Shona Chambers is a Marketing Consultant and owner of Shona Chambers Marketing, a Marketing Agency based in Nunhead near Peckham. Specialising in helping Small Business Owners and Freelancers with their Marketing.*

www.shonachambersmarketing.co.uk

DR. ESTHER COLE FOUNDER & CLINICAL DIRECTOR

Esther is the Founder & Clinical Director of Lifespan Psychology - The Diverse Practice®, Prestige Award Specialist Therapy Provider of the Year, 2022. She works as a Senior Clinical Psychologist in London, UK, and internationally online with all ages: adults, children and families. She is a mother of three children under 10; and the first Black British Psychological Society Early Career Award winner for her role in initiating and co-editing: ‘Psychological Therapy for Paediatric Acquired Brain Injury’ (Routledge).

www.lifespanpsychology.co.uk

CATRIONA HARRISON-HARVEY SPECIALIST PAEDIATRIC OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST

Catriona is a Specialist Paediatric Occupational Therapist with over 20 years experience. She specialises in disorders of sensory processing and completed in-depth training to become an Advanced Sensory Integration Practitioner. A mother of three, including twins, one of her children has sensory processing difficulties and ADHD, so she can empathise with parents navigating the path of special educational needs.

www.lifespanpsychology.co.uk

Meet the people who have taken part in the creation of this issue

Our trusted panel of contributors give you essential advice on everything from PR to wellbeing and finance.

*Photo credit Portrayed Photography

CLARE MORRIS FOUNDER OF CM RESOURCE

Creating, refreshing, or enhancing your business model. Clare shares business growth ideas and strategies for new, developing, and established businesses. She can help you innovate, evolve and love what you do.

www.cmresource.co.uk

TESSA POLLARD FINANCE FUNCTION EXPERT AND COACH

Tessa is the owner and founder of Neon Consulting, and her passion is to help small business owners break free from their finance fears and build their numbers into an opportunity for discovery. Guiding and supporting businesses on how to approach their day-to dayfinances and how best to utilise their own powerful finance tool to survive and grow.

www.neonconsulting.co.uk

TUTU POPOOLA FOUNDER & LEAD CONSULTANT OF SLEEK HR

Tutu Popoola is the Founder & Lead Consultant of Sleek HR, an outsourced HR & Diversity, Equity & Inclusion consultancy for creative businesses in the UK. She is an Accredited Member of HR Independents and Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)

www.sleekhr.co.uk

SANDRA TREW PARENTAL COACH DIRECTOR & FOUNDER

Sandra Trew is a passionate and experienced professional, having dedicated herself to helping families for the past 30 years. As the founder and CEO of Get Real Parental Coaching, she utilises her extensive knowledge and hard-earned wisdom to empower working parents of young children to create strong, solid relationships with their kids.

www.getrealparentalcoaching.com

Do you feel uncertain when it comes to teaching your children about money? You may

be wishing for a way to help them understand how to make wise financial choices but don’t know where to begin.

Unlock the secret to teaching your children about money Y

ou’re not alone – in today’s modern economy, knowledge of personal finance is essential as they start their lives and careers. But fear not - there are certain methods and strategies you can implement that will provide invaluable skills in managing money throughout each stage of your child’s life cycles. In this article, I will examine the importance of learning basic money management guidelines early on and offer insightful ideas on how to impart simple lessons with great impact in order for you to unlock the key to teaching your children about finances!

When we talk about children and finance, exactly what do we mean?

I was raised in the Windrush generation, where money was not spoken about within my household. Certainly not to children. So how do we learn about money? How do we learn how to respect and value money as children, let alone adults?

Not sure what school, college or university you went to, but where I went, you learnt nothing like that. You did your basic subjects, you left school and see ya.

I was never spoken to about money. How to spend, how to save, how to invest and how to give back. All I did was spend until debt started to mount up, so what do you do? Spend some more.

Some of us, as adults, were never taught anything about money, so spending became a habit. In the society and environment that we are in now, what the children are seeing is tap tap tap with our cards. Children are not understanding we have to WORK to EARN that money which then goes into a bank account in which we can now tap tap tap. To empower the next generation with more financial literacy than past generations, it’s essential to make a shift in how we think and behave when regarding money. Let me explain...

If a child sees you spending (even though you could still be saving secretly), the child will grow up thinking if they want something, they just tap tap tap. If money is a taboo conversation in your household, chances are your child will not have the full concept of how money works. Another thing I often see and, sure enough, have experienced it myself is emotional spending. When you are sad and want to cheer yourself up, down to the off-license you go, or here comes a new dress or suit because you think you deserve it, a relationship breakup, so now it’s out every weekend. These are emotional triggers to money as you don’t want to feel sad anymore, so you cheer yourself up by doing things to make yourself feel better.

Unfortunately, this is not what we want to be teaching our children. We are role models for our children. They are looking and watching all the time. Even when we think they are not watching, they are watching and listening.

Changing mindsets

So how can we change our mindsets to help prepare our children and get them on the right pathway? We first must change the way we think about money. We don’t buy everything we want. Buy things we need. Wants can come later. Have a plan, set goals, and have a vision board of where you see yourself in x number of years. Start writing down these goals and review them regularly. Open different accounts and spread your money around so you know you have a budget for personal spending. Read financial books to get you in the right mindset about money. Stick to the plan/ goals as best you can. If you fall off the wagon, it’s o.k. We all do. Just as long as you jump straight back on, you will be o.k.

Now once you have these things in place, educate your child about money. Be transparent with your child so they learn to trust you. If you have lots of £000000 at the end of the number in your savings account, explain to them it’s not the latest trainers’ money; it’s your future, maybe a deposit for a house or some kind of emergency funds for when they are old enough. If you show them your account and it’s £-000000 in the red, in the overdraft, let them know

we don’t have money for trainers right now but home in on their skillset. What are their interests/hobbies? Not just the child’s, yours too. How can you make additional legal income? What are your strengths? What do people need that you can offer them that they are willing to buy? There are apps now for children (Go Henry is a good one) where they can spend money, save money, invest money and even pay taxes! So you put some money into their account, and they are fully responsible, but you can also see their decisions. This is a good tool to then open conversations.

It’s important that we encourage our children to pursue their passions and find pathways to success. While traditional education may not be for everyone, finding alternative solutions can lead to a life of fulfilment - both personally and financially. As parents, we must be proactive in teaching our children the importance of money and equip them with tools that will set them up for financial success. By encouraging their entrepreneurial mindset, we can open new doors to an unknown future; one where they are empowered by knowledge and equipped for any path life brings their way. Let’s work together to ensure a brighter tomorrow is within reach! ■

Sandra Trew Parental Coach Director & Founder www.getrealparentalcoaching.com

“It’s important that we encourage our children to pursue their passions and find pathways to success.”

IN Conversation WITH...

Jeanette

Sklivanou

From humble beginnings in the UK, Jeanette Sklivonou has always had an ambitious spirit and been driven to make her mark. When life took her to Greece with two young daughters, she seized the moment - founding Safe ‘N’ Beautiful amidst a difficult economic climate back in 2011. Despite various challenges over time, this family business continues to be successful today, inspiring evidence of Jeanette’s hard work and unwavering determination!

Tell us about your journey. How did you get here?

It’s a strange feeling, as if it was only yesterday that we registered our business, unsure if it would succeed, and yet at the same time, as if it happened in a different lifetime! The brand we have today is a curious product of chance and innovation.

Before the crisis hit in 2011, we had another family business in real estate, and everything was going smoothly – until it wasn’t. Suddenly the value of the properties we were dealing with dropped dramatically, leaving us out of work and out of income.

Around that same time, my daughters were at that age when they started playing around with my makeup, and I noticed that the ingredients were far from child-friendly. And Europe didn’t have alternatives that were safe and sustainable.

Putting two and two together, I decided:

I would start a business making and selling beauty products that are safe for children. At the time, I didn’t know it would take off so well, but I had tremendous faith, perseverance and love for the idea, not to mention that we were all driven since our previous family business was no longer operational. Fast-forward to 2023, and we have a beauty empire on our hands, still true to our core family values and still innovating as much as possible. Perhaps the crisis of 2011 wasn’t what any of us wanted, but it was, apparently, what some of us needed to build something new.

What makes you proud?

My family, most of all. Starting a business in the middle of economic turmoil in any country and with children to think of is no easy way to live a life, raise kids, build a marriage. The bonds we’ve >

forged during this time in our family remind me that it was all worth it, all the ups and downs.

What’s been your most successful marketing strategy?

We’ve done a number of different things over the years that have pushed our products to the forefront of the industry. Since we depended on selling through other retailers at first, we had to use a B2B model at first, turning to trustworthy distributors to get our products in front of the buyers – which was a great success. Add to that, given the amount of noise in the industry, working with celebrities and influencers that share your values is a beautiful way to reach customers directly and, at the same time, grow your brand’s credibility. One of our greatest moments was when Ralph Lauren decided to use Snails products at their Milan show in 2013 – a huge hit we never saw coming! So, perhaps the best marketing you can do is to build a brand people you admire will be happy to endorse even without you having to ask them.

create safe products for kids (definitely something you don’t learn in school!), all the way to navigating the murky waters of business relationships. I had to learn how to get in touch with distributors, retailers, suppliers, manufacturers, and settle on the whole supply chain. I didn’t know how to determine the pricing for our products. We had no idea how to market and advertise. We had to figure out the funding. We had to find qualified

I see the two of them turning into two wonderful human beings and I feel inspired to build and leave them a legacy they will be proud of.”

people to hire for our team after a while – a tremendous challenge. I’m sure I’m forgetting about a hundred additional things, too, but this sums it up nicely.

What does a typical day look like for you?

There is absolutely nothing typical about any of my days, but that’s what makes my life so wonderful and exciting. As any other mompreneur can confirm, there is never a dull moment when you have kids and a business to attend to! Slow days are a rarity, but my responsibilities do vary a lot. I spend a lot of time responding to emails and communicating with my core team, but I am also very involved with our network of distributors and partners. Always on the front lines. Sometimes I need to resolve an inventory mishap with a supplier that takes hours, but then I go home early to spend quality time with my lovely daughters and husband. Sometimes, nothing big happens, and I can focus on writing, thinking up new product ideas, and planning for the future.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I don’t have too many hobbies, but I do love reading, even though that is more likely to happen in short sprints given my lifestyle and spending time with my daughters – they’re growing up so fast; I feel thankful for every activity we get to share and every adventure we go on as a team.

Who or what inspires you?

Every roadblock I’ve ever encountered has become a huge source of inspiration and motivation for me – I’ve done my best to harness the power of those challenges to grow and ditch my comfort zone. As for people, I’d have to say my daughters inspire me more than I could have ever imagined possible. They are the reason Snails exist, as I wanted a safer world for them to play in and explore. Every decision we’ve made over the years was defined by answering the question: “What would be the best, healthiest option for my own daughters? What would they be happy with?” I see the two of them turning into two wonderful human beings, and I feel inspired to build and leave them a legacy they will be proud of. ■

So, perhaps the best marketing you can do is to build a brand people you admire will be happy to endorse even without you having to ask them.”

The Great Juggling Act: How Maggie Bolger Masters Both Worlds

Iam Maggie Bolger, a working parent of four and a highly successful entrepreneur. Over the past decade, I have been an innovator in the childhood industry, challenging issues of parenting and adolescent development in modern society. After the huge success of co-founding and serving as the CEO and Creative Director of members’ club, Maggie and Rose, I have now set a new benchmark and opened my own exciting venture, b_together, which launched in 2021.

Drawing on my years of experience and success, I have created b_together to offer a broader range of services to families across the capital and beyond. My new mission is to create a community hub that is welcoming and accessible to all, targeting ages from pre-school to adults.

As a working parent, I know how challenging it can be to balance work life and home life. The juggle is real, and it can be even more intense when you work for yourself, as there is no “clocking off” time, and the lines between work and family can become blurred. However, I have managed to find some balance between the two and hope to share some of my knowledge with you.

I believe it’s essential to recognise the stage you’re at, whether it’s with the business or the baby. Both require a significant amount of time and energy in the early days, which is the inescapable truth. I suggest that you accept that your time will not be your own in the beginning, but trust me, it will be worth it. Invest the time, with the acceptance that other aspects

of your life may temporarily see slightly less of you.

In my experience, the first few years of running a business are the hardest, and the demands on my time have continued even when my businesses became more established. The juggle is real, no matter what stage you’re at. How I spend my time has become the most important lesson for me and has helped in getting that balance right.

Before I had children, I could spend hours working on creative projects, but now, that’s not an option. So, I work smarter and more efficiently. I also ensure that the way I spend time with my children feels like quality time. Even if it’s only twenty minutes, they get my undivided attention. When I need to fully switch into work mode, they understand, and I feel less of that “Mum guilt.”

Of course, life is messy, and things don’t always fit into a neat little box. There

are days when work and family life are chaos. Children and staff might be off sick, and there may be pandemics or teacher strike days. This is where I remind myself of the importance of my children seeing me work hard and understanding that I have interests and passions outside of our family. Being a business owner is all my children have known, and while it comes with some compromise for all of us, I believe it helps to instil a strong work ethic in each of them. They see that there is so much more to life than getting great school grades, and if you work hard, you can work at something you love every single day. ■

Maggie Bolger CEO & Founder of b_together www.b-together.com

Sustainable

outgrown to thrown

What inspired you to start your business?

Whilst shopping for my father’s funeral, I went to high street shops to get my children, then 1 and 3, some formal wear. I bought two outfits, dressing them from head to toe which cost over £150. These outfits were worn for one day, they got muddy halfway through the day as the children were playing outside (shoes scuffed etc.) and within 3 months, they no longer fit. These clothes were also made in Turkey and China. I felt a financial and environmental weight that this is how we are shopping for children’s clothes, and it isn’t right. We did some research and were shocked at how much children’s clothing, barely worn, ends up in a landfill. With the current economic climate, we wanted to create a platform for parents and carers to buy, shop and swap children’s clothing. We created Cress with the aim of extending the life of children’s clothing, enabling families to save and make money and shop sustainably and to create a community.

The principles of Cress.

The non-negotiables that guide our strategy for growth, our communication, and our commitment to our community.

 Pioneering change

Our aim is to make pre-loved aspirational for all age groups. That means addressing and changing mindsets without patronising or preaching. We commit to understanding the things that hold people back from buying pre-loved, to removing barriers, and to encouraging and celebrating the rise of the circular economy. It’s the re-commerce revolution, and we stand right at the front.

 Building community

We know we can’t do this alone, and that an empowered community will open up pre-loved buying and selling to more and more people. Our goal is to provide the platform for this to happen and to facilitate a culture of encouragement and individual success, as well as support, understanding and fun.

 Empowering people

You can make money and do good. Cress puts an end to the bin bags in the attic, the pile-ups of hand-me downs, the never worn and the never wanted. There’s more life and adventure in the clothes our children wear. Through a seller’s profile, parents can easily create new household revenue streams through sorting and selling the pieces that could have ended up in landfill.

From

out, turning children’s clothes into a reselling business that gives back to the community. We talk to Carl Morris, Co-Founder of CRESS.

 Making it happen

Standing for something means more than talking about change. We are proactive in finding solutions for the problems (and disasters) created by fast fashion, particularly the impact of children’s clothes. We track and measure the impact of the work we do to support and educate changing attitudes towards shopping online.

Every sale through Cress is a step towards changing the world.

What does the future look like for Cress?

What sets us apart is the community is at the heart of everything we do. We aim to be a resource for parents and carers and a ‘go to’ place for everything child related. We also are working with local schools and communities on some initiatives close to our heart, including reading and sports, to give back and ensure children have better opportunities across the country.

Our first community initiative, which is already live, is our ‘Cress book club’. We thought of this after speaking to friends who are teachers who shared how many children are not confident readers and do not have access to books. 4 children from every class are going into secondary school, not being able to read confidently. This needs to change. We are sending out a free book, age appropriate (based on the age of children’s clothing ordered) with every sale made through our golden service. And we are encouraging our sellers to do the same. We all have books that are sitting gathering dust, well-loved but no longer read by our children. Children don’t mind if a book is a bit battered; they just want to dive into the world of a new character, fly through space on a rocket, sail the seas

Small Business Spotlight

on a pirate ship, or trek through the jungle, meeting animals along the way. We aim to keep these stories alive and keep their imaginations expanding. Whilst we are starting with children’s wear, we plan to grow. Soon we will be adding children’s accessories and toys to our platform, and in the future, we will add our own sustainable clothes to buy. Our vision is to become a one-stop shop and resource for all parents to find everything they may possibly need, be it clothes, toys, sportswear, presents, party wear, learning resources etc., from birth to teens. We want to improve childhood, with all kids having books and sportswear to participate in team sports and comfortable clothes they enjoy wearing. ■

“Our vision is to become a one-stop shop and resource for all parents

Breaking Barriers: Thriving As a Working Parent with Long-Term, Chronic Illness

Catriona and I met in 2018, whilst we worked for a paediatric rehabilitation centre in SW London as a Clinical Psychologist (Esther) and Occupational Therapist. I was in awe of Cat and saw her as a highly skilled, compassionate OT, and Mum of three children aged 4 and 8, including twins! “How did she thrive and manage to juggle everything?” I thought?

Catriona’s mother died suddenly in late 2017. Soon after, my family and I (Catriona) moved back to the UK from South Africa. I was still in the depths of grief and felt like no one really understood. In our first team meeting, I could see that Esther was different – her calmness, compassion, and authenticity shone through. She genuinely cared and showed great empathy towards me during this difficult time.

Esther’s Illness:

A few months after I met Catriona, I was hospitalised many times for a range of abdominal symptoms and pain all over my body. My kidney function was dropping, and - to my horror - a biopsy revealed a rare condition affecting the kidney filters. At first, I was unable to work and thought my much loved career as a Clinical Psychologist was over.

With two small children to look after, I could barely move or go out. A Professor of Nephrology told me in the lockdown of Summer 2020, after having my third baby, that I would be placed on a kidney waiting list, which was very traumatic. I thought I would be heading for dialysis.

I had been pushing myself to do NHS and private work alongside co-editing a

book with over twenty contributors (Jim & Cole, 2019). This four-year project started when my firstborn (son) was a toddler in 2015. By the book launch in 2019, at The Royal Society of Medicine, having been in bed the whole day, I did not know I was expecting our third child and feeling a tiny bit better each week!

Catriona’s Illness:

I was diagnosed with Psoriasis at a young age and hospitalised many times during my childhood. It is an autoimmune skin disease. It also effects my joints and can make me feel very fatigued. Over the years, I have learnt to manage it, but it has not been easy dealing with the physical and psychological impact.

After my mother’s death, I was also diagnosed with a hole in my heart. This came as a big shock as I thought I would not be around to see my children grow up. However, just like Psoriasis, I see it as another condition to manage and keep monitoring. As I get older, I am more conscious that I need to make the most of my time.

So how do you deal with earthshattering health news as a working parent? Over the years, Catriona and I have drawn from a few theories and research linking back to our work as therapists, to maintain our physical and mental well-being. We have lived it and, although no days are easy for us, we successfully juggle health, work and being a parent; and somehow wake up to three amazing children, who are thriving and growing each day. Here are 12 tips that we hope you find useful.

Meet Catriona and Esther, friends who came together over illness. Here they share their story and day-to-day tips with us.

On physical and mental health well-being

Embrace Flexible Working

12 Tips 1

Being self-employed has enabled us both to choose our hours, for which we are extremely grateful. Whether you are employed, or self-employed, it is important to negotiate hours that work for you, your family, health and well-being. People may believe that more time spent at work equates to greater productivity. If people are burnt out, and come into work for long hours, it is unlikely they will be as productive: employers merely get “presenteeism” from their teams.

Working from home, avoiding lengthy commutes and working compressed hours - or extended hours over fewer days - might dovetail better with any childcare arrangements or hospital appointments. Time your annual leave for when it will be most beneficial and provide rest and restoration.

Ask your employer if you can use sick leave or other types of leave, such as time off in lieu (TOIL) for hospital appointments. Do not feel guilty: take all the accrued annual leave you have after being off sick, on maternity or paternity leave.

Learn to say “No”: DeferDelegate - Delete

Defer – Delegate – Delete: these are three methods to use at work to carve out time boundaries to avoid overwhelm. There are the same number of hours in a day, and more things to do now we are parents and have our health to manage, so it is unrealistic to expect yourself to do everything as the tasks mount up.

Avoid people-pleasing or feeling apologetic about your circumstances, and set boundaries with care and compassion for yourself (and others). You are worth it, and you are good enough. We appreciate this is easier said than done at times when job roles do not feel secure, but it is unlikely we’ll be able to manage if we set unrealistic goals.

3

Resources and Support

As your household, work, and childcare demands increase, ask for help from friends, family or colleagues or, if you have a budget, pay for the help. Expecting you will do it all every day, on top of your paid work - cleaner, cook, nurse, taxi, teacher, laundrette etc. is not realistic and is not a sign of weakness.

Try Herbal and Natural Remedies

One of the best decisions I (Esther) made, was to consult with a Functional Medicine Practitioner. She revolutionised my diet and gave me herbal treatments to remedy my symptoms naturally. We take our vitamins! The default is to go to our GPs. However, traditional medicine (as brilliant as it is) is about fighting disease in a compartmentalised wayorgan by organ – and less about replenishing your whole body in a holistic way.

To our dismay, the NHS is also a post code lottery – after almost 3 years, a locum GP in a different borough discovered I (Esther) had an underactive thyroid. Treatment of this, within a matter of weeks, meant I could work again!

5 6

Check Your ‘Window of Tolerance

Polyvagal theory was first coined by Porges and his experiments with the vagus nerve. It relates to the two branches of the nervous system – the sympathetic and the parasympathetic. These branches are responsible for regulating social behaviour, emotions, and physiological states. This is the body’s way of telling us that we safe or can make connections (parasympathetic nervous system) or if we need to enter into a ‘fight or flight’ state (sympathetic nervous system) because we are scared or angry. At other times, our bodies may withdraw into a dissociative state where we are numb and depressed. Therefore, it is important to ‘listen’ to our bodies when they send us these signals to warn us.

Beware of Burnout

Take 7 different types of rest

Catriona and I initially only knew about physical rest when we became unwell. We did not know there were 7 types:-

• Creative

• Social

• Emotional

• Mental

• Sensory

• Spiritual

Be sure to read up on them and get a variety of rest in your schedule. I (Catriona) find that when I am drawing or painting, singing with the choir I joined recently, or attend church, I can feel rested and restored. Calming or alerting inputs help to feed our sensory systems. With alerting inputs, I feel more invigorated despite feeling tired to start off with.

When we feel stressed or exhausted, we need calm, i.e. taking a bath or listening to soothing music. If we feel the need to regain focus or feel a little sleepy, then we may need more alerting stimuli like a gym session, a walk outdoors or a fitness class. We all have sensory thresholds and profiles which can help us determine what type of person we are and what we are better suited to in terms of activities across the day, and over different settings.

Step Back from Your Thinking

In Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), stepping back from our thinking is called the “defusion” technique. All our negative thoughts and thinking do not have to define us. Think about your thinking and realise thoughts are not facts – they are not always true.

I believed I was heading for a transplant (Esther), but, in reality, I had my third child (in lockdown!), and my kidney function has been stable ever since (touch wood!).

We do not know what is going to happen in the future. Doctors are doing their best with the available medical evidence they have, but a diagnosis does not always equal the same prognosis for everyone.

Carve Out Time

It is natural to dedicate most waking hours to work, the children and hospital appointments. If we do not carve out even 1 hour of the day for activities, rest, or things we enjoy, it quickly mounts up, leading to burnout and exhaustion. Likewise, relationships can suffer if time is not carved out for them. They are like a plant that needs watering regularly. It is more difficult to be spontaneous as a couple when every waking minute is spoken for, so time together takes careful planning and regular watering.

Furthermore, there can be many factors outside our control, or understanding, that impact our recovery. For example, there is emerging research showing the stem cells of an unborn child can migrate to the mother’s damaged tissue and repair it. Could this have happened to me (Esther)? I may never know, but what we do know is it is important to stay in the present moment, and that research is mounting to prove this is linked to happiness.

“When we feel stressed or exhausted, we need calm”.

Get “In The Zone”

It is important to do activities that you enjoy, value and give your life meaning (Miralles & Garcia, 2017). For example, writing this for us gives us a feeling of turning our pain into purpose. For me, (Catriona) being “in the zone” or in a flow state, when I draw and paint, means that time stands still. I am truly present without being consumed by hundreds of thoughts.

Having fun with my kids are some of my (Esther) best moments of flow! Studies have shown that experiencing flow can help guard against depression and burnout. A great way to remember this is that the Professor of Psychology who coined the term “flow state” is Mihaly Csikszentmihaly; and the phonetic guide to his name is: “Me high? Cheeks send me high!”

Plan for the Future

The worst-case scenario is always extremely frightening. In the early days, before you adjust to a diagnosis, you expect the worst outcomes. It is almost more grounding than the overwhelm of uncertainty and hope, to believe in the worst-casescenario. In all honesty, in the back of our minds, we are naturally scared of death or leaving our children and loved ones behind; but it is important that this is only one of a myriad of other possibilities we can conceive of for the immediate future. Embrace every precious moment you can with happiness and joy. ■

Choose Positive People

I (Esther) was unsure how I would earn a living when I was so sick. In the early days, I sent referrals to friends and colleagues. This is how Lifespan Psychology - The Diverse Practice® started - as a one-woman band - and is now a team of 16 or more psychologists and psychotherapists, and growing, with practitioners with heritages from around the world.

In my personal life, as hard as it may be - I try not to spend too much time with people who send off negative vibes – they are drains, so surround yourself with radiators! We always try to do what we can for others who may need support, but if you are made to feel bad at the same time you are helping the person – consider running for the hills!

References

Jim, J. & Cole, E. (2019). Psychological Therapy for Paediatric Acquired Brain Injury: Innovations for Children, Young People and Families. London: Routledge.

Dawe, G., Tan, X. & Xiao, Z. (2007). Cell Migration from Baby to Mother. Cell Adh Migr, 1 (1) 19-27.

Miralles, F & Garcia, H. (2017). Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life. London: Penguin Books.

Dr Esther Cole Founder & Clinical Director Lifespan

Psychology - The Diverse Practice

www.lifespanpsychology.co.uk

Catriona Harrison-Harvey Specialist Paediatric Occupational Therapist

“Perfect happiness is a beautiful sunset, the giggle of a [grand]child, the first snowfall. It’s the little things that make happy moments, not the grand events. Joy comes in sips, not gulps”

.

Sharon Draper Quote

Dealing with Parent Guilt? We Got You!

Running a business can be challenging, especially when it feels like you are not giving enough attention to your kids. Parent guilt is a common feeling among parents juggling work demands and parenting responsibilities. In this article, we explore practical tips on how to overcome parent guilt when running a business.

Set realistic expectations

It’s common for parents to feel guilty about not spending enough time with your children or not being as successful as you hoped to be. However, it’s essential to set realistic expectations and understand that achieving perfect balance is unrealistic. To reduce parent guilt, make sure to set achievable goals, both short-term and long-term, and prioritise what’s most important to you and your family. Remember that success as both a parent and business owner is a journey that requires patience, effort, and persistence. Selfcare is essential to reducing parental guilt as it helps you recharge and boost your mood and become better equipped to handle the challenges of parenthood and entrepreneurship.

Create a Schedule

Creating a schedule enables you to manage your time better and allocate specific hours for your business and your family. Ensure that you map out the important activities such as school events, errands, work deadlines, and family activities. Plan out each day by deciding the time slots for your commitments. This way, you’ll have clarity of your priorities and reduce feelings of burnout.

Learn to delegate

Hiring a virtual assistant or delegating administrative tasks to an employee or freelancer can free up time and improve productivity. Delegating tasks not only allows for more time but also eliminates stress. In parenting, this may mean outsourcing tasks such as house cleaning, laundry, and meal preparation. Additionally, outsourcing can lead to better work-life balance, allowing you to spend more quality time with your family.

Connect with other parents

Connecting with other parents can help you feel less alone in your situation. Attend networking events where you can meet business owners with kids and engage in conversations about your challenges and shared experiences. Join online communities to help you feel more comfortable opening

Focus on quality time

Quality time is critical when it comes to reducing parent guilt. Create opportunities to spend time with your kids and give them undivided attention. When you’re with them, put away your phone and focus on being present in the moment. Take them out for lunch or plan an outdoor adventure. Cherish your family moments and make them unforgettable.

It’s entirely possible to become a successful business owner and proactively care for your family. The key is understanding that it can be done. Embrace these practical tips on how to overcome parent guilt when running a business – set realistic expectations, create a schedule, learn to delegate, connect with other parents and focus on quality time. And most importantly, remember to take time each day to look back and appreciate the progress you have made! Investing in yourself will be beneficial not just for your business but also for your child’s future too! ■

Don’t forget to follow us on our social channels for ongoing inspiration and support around staying focused on building a life you love while prioritising your family. Instagram @Parentsinbiz

Amidst all the hustle and bustle, self-care can become low on your priority list. However, neglecting your mind and body can take a toll on your well-being, causing you to fall short of your parenting and business goals. The good news is that self-care does not have to be time-consuming; we will share ten 10-minute self-care habits that can help you be a better parent and business owner.

10-minute self-care habits that can help you be a better parent and business owner

Practice mindful breathing - Mindful breathing can help you reduce stress and increase focus. Take a deep breath in, hold for a few seconds, and breathe out slowly. Repeat this technique for 10 minutes in the morning, afternoon, or before bed.

Take a walk - Walking is an easy way to get physical exercise, fresh air, and clear your head. Even a 10-minute walk can do wonders for your mood and energy levels.

Listen to music - Music has a unique ability to influence our moods and emotions. Pick a playlist with your favourite tunes, and take 10 minutes to listen and unwind.

Read a book - Reading for pleasure can help you escape the stress of your busy life and stimulate your mind. Find a book that interests you and aim to read for at least 10 minutes a day.

Write in a journalJournaling can help you process overwhelming thoughts and emotions, leading to increased self-awareness and stress reduction. Find a quiet place, grab a pen and paper, and write for at least 10 minutes a day.

Take a power nap - A short nap can boost your productivity, creativity, and alertness. Set a timer for 10 minutes and allow yourself to relax and recharge.

Connect with a loved one

Social connections are vital to our well-being. Reach out to a friend, family member, or partner and have a meaningful conversation for 10 minutes.

Enjoy a cup of teaDrinking tea can be a calming ritual that invites relaxation and mindfulness. Make a cup of your favourite tea, sit down and enjoy your drink mindfully for 10 minutes.

Practice gratitude

- Gratitude has been linked to increased happiness and well-being. Take 10 minutes to reflect on what you’re thankful for and write it down in a gratitude journal.

Stretch your bodyStretching can help relieve muscle tension, improve flexibility, and promote relaxation. Take a few minutes to stretch your body and breathe deeply.

Self-care is essential for all who want to be the best version of themselves. By dedicating even 10 minutes a day to self-care habits, you can improve your physical, emotional and mental well-being. So, whether you choose to take a walk or practice mindful breathing, remember that caring for yourself is a fundamental part of being a good parent and business owner.

“Walking is an easy way to get physical exercise, fresh air, and clear your head.”

Innovation, Passion, and Perseverance: The Inspiring Journey of Sharesy

Felix Atkin shares his story on starting a business venture in the lockdown and where he is now.

My name is Felix Atkin. I’m a North London dad and the Founder/CEO of Sharesy. I was born and raised in North London, and I now live close to my childhood home with my wife and two amazing children.

I want to share with you my journey into the startup world and the challenges and successes I encountered along the way.

Where it all began 2020

It was the height of lockdown in 2020, and I had recently left a role running the commercial team in a health tech business. I took on some freelance work for a game development startup company while my wife, a Deputy Head Teacher in a state primary school, was running a key worker school and setting up remote learning for 320 pupils. This time during the first lockdown gave me the opportunity to develop a spark of an idea that had been brewing for some time.

My wife often talked about the financial issues her school and others were facing with budget cuts and funding, as well as how the school would often sit empty in the evenings, weekends and school holidays. With this in mind, I wondered how this problem of empty school spaces could be addressed.

I saw an opportunity to create a marketplace platform to not only help schools, but other local venues like community centres and places of worship. Think Airbnb, but for community spaces enabling people to put their money back into their local area.

“I saw an opportunity to create a marketplace platform to not only help schools, but other local venues like community centres and places of worship.”

What better time than during a national lockdown to start a business centred around community gatherings. What could possibly go wrong?

Formulating my plan & fundraising success

I initially intended for this to be a social enterprise to support venues in my local area in Barnet, but it soon became something much bigger.

I met my first two Angel investors, Samantha Tubb and Richard Harley, who came from an Ed Tech background. We hit it off on our first video call, and they asked me for a business model and pitch deck. I had neither, so with the help of some friends, I quickly prepared those, along with a ‘clickable

demo’ version of the platform I envisioned.

Sam and Rich quickly agreed to jump in and offered the funding to put a team around me and to start building the platform. This was the beginning of a long lasting partnership where they joined the board and were instrumental in the early decisions to get the business up and running. After three years, Sam continues to be the first person I call in a crisis or to share good news.

As soon as the first lockdown ended, sharesy.com went live with a Minimal Viable Product (MVP) - a basic version of the platform which could take online payments for a venue booking. Within days we were taking our first bookings … and then we entered the second lockdown!

Rather than slowing down, I went straight out to raise a larger round of funding, securing £900k within just 6 weeks.

Sometimes life throws you a curveball

Everything seemed to be going well. We had our founding team of staff, our two fundraising rounds had been a huge success, and then suddenly, everything changed!

In March 2021, my son

was diagnosed with an autoinflammatory disease, and my priorities and focus shifted in ways I could never have imagined. My wife, Vicki, and I spent the next six weeks in a small hospital room with our little boy, swapping every three days to spend time with our daughter at home. It was every parent’s nightmare. Fortunately, the team at Great Ormond Street Hospital were amazing. We were also supported by the amazing team at Spread a Smile, a wonderful charity that brings joy and laughter to seriously ill and hospitalised children and their families during long hospital stays. We later discovered that Spread a Smile shared the same co-working office as Sharesy in Highbury, and we take every opportunity to help them with fundraising or preparing gifts for the children they support.

We managed to get our son on the road to recovery, and the day he rang the discharge bell from the hospital bell was a day I will never forget! We are still navigating our way around life with a child who has an auto-inflammatory disease and the worries that come with it, but as a family, it has made us much more appreciative of

all of the little moments that we sometimes take for granted.

My son’s diagnosis was undoubtedly life-changing, but it also showed me how strong we can be when we come together during difficult times. It certainly puts the stresses of running a start-up into perspective.

Onwards and upwards

Our mission has always been to help local venues become vibrant centres of the community, bringing people together whilst encouraging them to put their money back into their local area. In the current economic climate, never has there been a more important time to support schools and community institutions. We’re now working with over 320 venues in the London area and beyond. We’ve generated over £500k in community bookings, and the feedback from our bookers and venues is consistently excellent.

I am incredibly proud of the team culture we have developed at Sharesy. Our values are to listen first, think big and love the journey. But first and foremost, we aspire to do good. We’re giving back to communities, and that is incredibly rewarding.

If you’re looking for a venue for an event, book with Sharesy and help your local community. ■

“We managed to get our son on the road to recovery, and the day he rang the discharge bell from the hospital bell was a day I will never forget! ”

Felix Atkin Founder of Sharesy www.sharesy.com

Ergonomic Workspaces for Home: The Key to Combining Work and Physical Well-being

Are you comfortably?sitting

When running your business from home, creating an ergonomic workspace is more important than ever. This guide will walk you through the practical steps to achieve a specific goal: working from home comfortably and efficiently without compromising your physical well-being. Let’s dive into how to design a space that enhances your productivity!

Step 1: Assess your needs

The first step in creating an ergonomic workspace is understanding your requirements. Consider factors like:

● The nature of your work: Are you primarily on the computer, doing manual tasks, or making calls?

● Space constraints: How much space do you have available for your workspace?

● Budget: What resources are you willing to invest in creating an ergonomic workspace?

● Childcare responsibilities: Are you the primary or shared caregiver for your children while working from home?

● Answering these questions will enable you to identify your specific needs and constraints, allowing you to create a customised ergonomic solution.

Step 2: Choose the right furniture

Investing in ergonomic furniture is an essential step in creating a healthy workspace. Here is a list of furniture items to consider:

1. Adjustable chair: An ergonomic chair with adjustable height and lumbar support will help maintain proper posture and mitigate back pain.

2. Standing desk: A height-adjustable desk encourages movement throughout the day, promoting better circulation and preventing muscle stiffness.

3. Monitor riser: Placing your screen at the correct height will prevent neck and eye strain.

4. Footrest: A footrest helps to maintain proper alignment and increase overall comfort while sitting.

Step 3: Pay attention to lighting

A well-lit workspace reduces eye strain and improves your overall mood. Ensure your workspace has:

● Adequate natural light to reduce the reliance on artificial lighting.

● Task lighting in strategic locations to focus light where it’s needed most.

● Avoid direct sunlight exposure to prevent glare and overheating.

Step 4: Organise your space efficiently

A clutter-free workspace helps maintain focus and productivity. Some tips for organising your home office:

● Use vertical storage solutions like shelves or filing cabinets.

● Use drawers and trays to store smaller items.

● Create designated areas for different tasks and keep all materials for those tasks nearby.

Step 5: Incorporate breaks and exercise

Taking regular breaks throughout the day can help reduce stress and improve focus. Implement a simple routine that includes:

● Short breaks (5-10 minutes) every hour to stretch, walk around, or grab a healthy snack.

● Longer breaks (30 minutes) for lunch or outdoor activities.

● Simple exercises, like desk stretches or yoga poses, to promote physical wellbeing.

Step 6: Offer family support

Including your family in your ergonomic journey helps them understand the importance of a healthy workspace. Be sure to:

● Educate them on proper ergonomic principles and considerations.

● Invest in ergonomic furniture for your children’s study area as well.

● Set boundaries and expectations for when you’re working and when you’re available to engage with your family.

By following these practical steps, you’ll be on your way to creating the perfect ergonomic workspace at home. Balancing work and physical well-being for parent business owners can be challenging, but an ergonomic workspace will ease the transition and improve your overall quality of life.■

Taking regular breaks throughout the day can help reduce stress and improve focus”

Perhaps the whole concept of finance fills you with fear rather than confidence?

However, by leaving finance unexplored, you are missing out on an incredibly powerful resource for your business.

Running a business is incredibly rewarding, but it can also be hard. There are a huge amount of tasks to manage on a daily basis, and of course, finance obligations are an integral part of these. However, your numbers should also unequivocally act as your invisible right hand person and trusted advisor. Read on to discover why harnessing your finance superpower will help you get ahead!

When you need to know how your business is performing or what steps to take next, the numbers can (and should be) there to advise you. Finance does not begin or end with just tax and payroll, it touches everything, and as your business grows, it is a participant that will never leave your side.

There is a reason why big companies spend time and money building finance teams and developing methods, to not just look after their accounting and

compliance but to manage their risks, funding, management reporting and strategy. Without people and resources in these areas, they would be completely lost.

Many of these tools and resources can be broken down into valuable key elements for the small business environment. I am incredibly passionate about sharing these ways of working with small business owners because they can provide real business benefits.

By gaining clarity on how to approach your day-to-day finances and tapping into your numbers (beyond just compliance), you can gain extraordinary insight into both your business’ performance and its capabilities. It’s like shining a powerful light, brightening the picture and seeing the way forwards to survive and grow.

With a well-considered finance set up and an opportunity to brighten the picture, any apprehension or uncertainty you feel towards the subject of finance reduces considerably. With knowledge and insight, confidence follows.

What is a finance function?

Are you harnessing your finance superpower to elevate your business? You may doubt whether you have the knowledge (or perhaps even desire) to look at your finances beyond your annual accounts and tax return compliance.

As the potential fear of the unknown diminishes, clients feel much more in control of their finances.

What finance goals should I have for my business?

Every business is unique, with their own individual values, industry specifics and, of course, size.

When it comes to managing your finances, your structure and tools should be individually crafted and chosen to not only painlessly fulfil your obligations but to thrive in supporting your business’ ambitions and drive its growth.

By taking even small steps to stop and consider how your finances can add value to your business, you can bring great benefits. However, when you feel ready, I would advocate reviewing your finance set up as a whole, as the potential opportunities are boundless.

When I work with my clients, there are four goals we always focus on –Structure, Efficiency, Visibility and Strategy.

Let’s take a look at each in turn:

● Structure

It is really important to start by looking at how your finance activities are being run. This is what we call your ‘Finance Function’.

We all have a Finance Function – small or large, it is the resources you use for your finance tasks.

The Finance Function may just be you! Doing absolutely everything, but the fundamentals are still the same.

Think about who and what. For example, who does your day-to-day accounting? Is it working well? Who is giving you visibility into your numbers? What system do you use? Is it fit for purpose?

Consider where finance sits in the structure of your business too. Is it involved in the decision making or treated as an afterthought? Every business is unique, but no matter who performs the activities, the concept of finance is integral.

● Efficiency

When your finance processes are efficient, you can generate not just time savings but cost savings too.

Think about what you are doing, why you are doing it, and how you are doing it.

I love a vision/mood board when I am decorating at home, and I find using this type of visual representation is really useful when capturing activities in your business. Perhaps you already use mind maps, and this is a great way to use them.

Essentially, jot down every finance activity your business is performing on a daily basis and take a view at how each one looks and feels. You could even try ranking them in order of efficiency.

The other way to approach this is to consider each of the traditional areas of your accounting and bookkeeping and detail all of your tasks under each subject area. For example:

• Accounts Receivable

• Accounts Payable

• Bank & Cash

• Taxes, e.g. VAT & Corporation tax

• Statutory accounts

• Payroll

You can apply the same questions, considering your answers and ranking your list into an order of priority.

● Visibility

Once you start making improvements, your efficiencies will gain momentum very quickly. I see this with my clients all the time, it feels like one day, we are climbing a mountain, and then suddenly, it all becomes easier, expanding into more and more time and cost savings.

Once you are confident in the accuracy of your numbers and are benefiting from efficiencies, you will be able to use your

financials to provide reliable and valuable insight. There are so many ways you can use this insight to benefit your business - you could analyse cost changes, for example, margins, key customers, your performance over time, the lists goes on.

I strongly believe that by turning the way you think about finance into an opportunity for discovery, the numbers will not only assist in providing you with the visibility to answer your questionsthey will talk to you before you have even asked the questions.

● Strategy

I am often asked by clients whether they need a strategy, and the answer is absolutely yes.

Forecasting the future and building budgets to support a strategy will not only help you to keep on track and in control, they will highlight when things are going off course. By doing this, it will empower you to take steps, or make changes in direction ahead of time - instead of when it’s potentially too late.

When you have crafted a strong Finance Function that is reflective of the energy and passion you have put into your business, you will have your very own finance superpower at your fingertips. ■

Tessa Pollard Finance Function Expert and Coach www.neonconsulting.co.uk

By taking even small steps to stop and consider how your finances can add value to your business”

Lights camera action

Interview with Ruth Wrigley

BAFTA and Emmy Award-Winning Producer, Writer and Director

Ruth Wrigley is a highly experienced award-winning TV producer, having worked in the industry for over 30 years. Her impressive portfolio of acclaimed productions includes Big Brother, The Only Way Is Essex, and How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria, among many others. Ruth now devotes her time to mentoring entrepreneurial working mothers while also writing a book on her experiences as a single mum at the helm of some of television’s biggest shows - with plans brewing for what she believes will be ‘the next big thing’ when it comes to reality TV!

1. Tell us about your journey. How did you get here?

I am married and have two grown-up daughters (31 and 33), both successful working mums themselves, and three grown-up stepchildren. I am a Grandma to five. I started my career as a journalist, moving into radio and then TV in my early twenties, quickly rising through the ranks – until I dared to have children.

Despite my business success B.C. (Before Children) I couldn’t believe how hard it was to be a working mum and how many obstacles I faced. I felt unsupported and undervalued and was definitely

not on any immediate promotion trajectory once I returned to work. I was even told I should count myself lucky to have any job at all, particularly as I had «taken six months off” to have a baby! This is no joke, and I am saddened that 30 years later, not much has changed. Working mothers are still expected to function in workplace systems largely built by men, for men.

2. How do your values show up in the work you do?

My mantra whilst working in TV production was, «It›s only tele, no one dies”. What I mean by that is that it is possible to do your job – your big job – and have a life, too – just keep things in perspective and work on your own terms. Women returning to work can feel overwhelmed by the demands of the workplace – particularly as they are usually thrown in at the deep end with no allowances made for the huge life changes they have gone through. I go out of my way to employ women with kids as I find them to be hard working, committed and all-around brilliant. They just get on with things, and there›s no faffing around (they always have somewhere else to be).

It is simple to get the best out of working mums -just listen to what they say they need in order to do

their job rather than impose any existing structure on them. In my book, I reveal my own experiences and battles and hope the solutions I found will inspire others to do the same. Most career women know how to make their job work when they return after starting a family – it›s just that no one is listening to them. In my coaching and mentoring sessions, I try to get working mums to recognise their true value and kick back against anything or anyone trying to hold them back or make them feel less.

How would you describe your business success so far?

I have had a lot of business success so far, and many awards to prove it, and I actually put a lot of my success down to being a working mum. Yes, it was challenging at times, but it made me a better manager, better at delegating and at negotiating (if you can negotiate with a 2-year-old – a business deal is easy!) and most importantly, it gave me a different perspective, which in turn led to innovative, new ways of doing things, both practically and creatively.

I pride myself on being first and being different. If something doesn’t work for me, I question it rather than just accept „that›s the way it has to be”. Having kids taught me what›s important in life and how to dig deep to find energy reserves I didn’t know I possessed. It also taught me to know my own worth. TV is still dominated by an Eton/ Oxbridge male elite. I am a working-class single mum from Birmingham with a loud and different voice, and it took having kids to give me the confidence to use it. My superpower is that I don›t care what others think of me. This allows me to be brave and take risks. Sometimes I make mistakes and fall flat on my face, and it can, on occasions, make me unpopular. But on the whole, it makes for a breath of fresh air and big hit shows!

What have you enjoyed most about some of the shows you have created?

What I enjoyed most about the shows I created was being first and being different. Big Brother had been a hit in Holland and Germany before it came to the UK. But up until then it was a relatively small show on small channels. In fact, people forget that the first ever series of Big Brother in the UK was on Channel 4 at 11 pm at night. The work I did on the format to make it more compelling in terms of storytelling and bigger in terms of an event ,even proposing the first ever Celebrity Big Brother was deliciously satisfying because I was told, repeatedly, by Dutch men in suits, that my ideas wouldn›t work. To do follow my instincts and be proved right was a real game-changer for me, for the TV industry, and for celebrity culture as we know it today. From then on I stopped doubting myself.

What I enjoyed most about getting TOWIE commissioned was the fact that the idea for it was partly inspired by my kids. At the time, they were no longer watching Big Brother and instead were hooked on an American series called The Hills. I didn›t get it – I could see how „set up „some of the scenes were and said so. They said, „Mum, we don›t care, these people are real’, and that gave me

I have had a lot of business success so far, and many awards to prove it, and I actually put a lot of my success down to being a working mum.”

the idea for a show, which is essentially using real peoples› life stories, where the emotion on display is always real, even if «some scenes are set up for your entertainment.”

The other thing I particularly enjoyed was working as the head of a large team. Running a big show and producing so many hours of television meant I had to delegate a lot. I couldn›t be across all things at all times. I found my reward inspiring other people to rise to a challenge, giving them the confidence to do a job they had never done before or weren›t sure they were up to. I always try to employ people I think are better than me – on the basis that they only ever make you look good. You are only as good as your team, and I have worked with some of the best teams in the business, many of whom are still key players in television in this country and across the globe.

How do you manage your time between family and business?

I think each working parent has to find their own way of managing their time between business and family. For some, it›s working longer days or a shorter week. For others, it›s the flexibility to work whenever, late at night, early mornings, weekends, in order to be available to their family at other times and still get their work done. For me, it was making sure I got proper time off between projects. The nature of my role meant when I worked, it was all consuming, and the only way I could deal with the demands was knowing it was a finite and I would have downtime when I needed it. I worked out very quickly. I couldn›t do it on a three-day week or an average nine to five, so I always made sure I negotiated time out to recover physically and mentally and be with my children. I loved my job, but I also loved being a mum, and I organised things so that I could do both. Key to this, though, was ditching the ‹mum guilt›.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

In my spare time, I love anything to do with being outside – preferably on or near water. I live near the sea, swim in it regularly, and have a boat and beach hut. My mantra now is- if in doubt, go out! I am a big kid at heart, and being close to nature makes me happy and keeps things in perspective. If I have a problem or an idea I need to develop, a long walk or long swim helps unravel my brain. I also love a bit of yoga to completely switch off. Ironically, the other thing I enjoy is watching TV. I am still absolutely fascinated by it and will watch as many hours of it as I can on any given day. I am a real pain to watch

it with, though, as I often shout at the screen or predict what is going to happen next. I can›t quite take off my producer’s hat, and it drives my family bonkers!

Who or what inspires you?

I am inspired by anything new and different, risky and groundbreaking. The person who›s inspired me the most in my life is my Dad. He gave me and my sisters the confidence to do and be whatever we wanted to be, underpinned by the idea that if it all went wrong, we could come home – and for me, that wasn›t so bad. I didn›t understand how rare that was at the time (it was the 1970s when young girls like me weren›t expected to amount to much), and he gave me the confidence to take risks and believe in myself. For that, I will always be grateful.

The person who inspired and helped me the most in my TV career was Sir Peter Bazalgette, who ran Endemol, the company that made Big Brother. He is now chair of ITV. Like, my Dad, he encouraged me to take risks, backed me up and judged me on my talent and skill, not according to my sex or how many kids I had. He didn›t care how I did my job, as long as I did it. He trusted me, and as a result, he got the best out of meand in return, I delivered the biggest show on TV. Other business chiefs would do well to learn from him. ■

Ruth Wrigley

IT’S BUSINESS &

IT’S PERSONAL

WHAT’S YOUR BEST BUSINESS APPROACH FOR THE SECOND HALF OF 2023?

A loaded question, if ever there was one, because we are all different, with varying skill sets, time, and money.

So how can you grow your business and work with intention to produce innovative products or services?

Honesty and bravery play a big part. Honesty in sharing the fears, dreams, and frustrations of going into or expanding your business. And bravery in expansion and growth that may make you feel out of your depth or unsure you’re making the right decisions.

One mental trick I like to employ is remembering the times you felt

most confident, most successful and most happy, whether at work, in your business or personally. It’s a gentle way of training your brain to experience pleasure in a tight spot. Turning towards these feelings so that they become normal, lean into emotions during times of anxiety or change.

Understanding and acknowledging change and resilience

A couple of points worthy of consideration before we dive into my full article, are the impacts of change and the need for resilience in business.

Change is when your business improves, restructures, or transforms all or part of its operations. This can be a stressful time. We have recently experienced a few years of transformation with some expected and some unexpected winners.

One of the big wins has been the sustainability of small businesses and how they have become champions during a global pandemic where bigger similar businesses have struggled.

Some of this I attribute to relationships. The smaller a business, the better you know

your suppliers and customers. Even during growth, you can keep the personal touch, vision and mission front and centre. Whereas the bigger players may have lost key suppliers, be aggressive in their purchasing and therefore squeezing their suppliers out of business, or not showing enough value to their customers.

Right now (April 2023), supermarkets are trying to convince smaller growers to join their supply chain, and these smaller, healthier growers should be cautious. These relationships start well (especially when the need is high), and then the finer points of many pages and complicated contracts are used to drop growers or refuse their product.

Another issue is the workforce, something we took very much for granted that students and overseas workers would be flowing through our country regularly, being able to stay as long as they wished to fulfil farm, health, and retail positions. Building resilience here means being a good employer, maybe B Corp Certified, with flexible working hours, good pay, and benefits. And this can only be achieved with good growth and sales.

Hello, I’m Clare. The Business Coach for Parents In Business. Yes, this is business. But how we feel matters too. Don’t hide – you don’t need to be the smartest or richest, you do need the will to go after what you want. Show you – the qualities you hide could be just the ones your customers want to see. Stay balanced – finding awe can nurture self-belief and reduce the mental chatter.

Which brings me back to the reason for my column.

What’s your best business approach?

To give you a quick way of assessing where you are currently and if there’s any further research or conversation required to start or grow your business, I’ve outlined the four most important elements in the business building process for you.

Envisioning, Assessing, Evolving and Operating

The following is a whiz bang run through of what should take a few hours to cover in enough detail for you to have the framework of a good business model, whatever your stage or size. But this is a great start point and worth considering against the information you already have about you and your business. Be honest. Be brave.

Envisioning

This is my very favourite stage of business discovery. Talking about your motivations, strengths, and weaknesses. And how these play into your entrepreneurial spirit and where you see yourself in 3-5 years’ time. Bringing together your revolutionary business idea, company name and vision.

This stage can often be an area of innovation that you feel uncertain about. It’s key that you gain and show clarity and vision to achieve your desired future.

Assessing

Investigating what your business does and how you intend to make money is the natural follow on from understanding your idea and vision. Your opportunity to look at the market size, customers, and why they would buy from you.

A SWOT analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats is something I recommend

you regularly undertake, as we know things change rapidly, and you need to have a plan when they do.

When you have these answers, it then allows us to understand what skills/people you need – can you partner/collaborate to expand your reach – what money, facilities and equipment are essential, and do we need a strategy for marketing, finance etc.

Evolving

This is where everything connects. Your value proposition: the vision, mission, and goals to deliver your customer solving solution, the service or product importance to your customer and how your goals and mission drive this value.

Your values are hugely important and should show differentiation between you and your competitors. These are your ideals, or principles, that people inside and outside of your business will associate you with and hold you to.

Evolving also considers how you will operate in the next 1-3 years. From your financial, marketing and sales strategies – what are they and what do you need – and more importantly, who is going to do them? Most often, it’s you! So being clear from the start will make life much easier as the months go by and your involvement in the business deepens, and priorities change.

Always be aware of the steps you need to take to guide your customer interactions to your products and ultimately to buy.

Operating

There is a lot of analysis here, something that’s easily overlooked or sometimes not well understood in the set up or pivot stages of business. Therefore, it’s key to be clear about how you deliver your business offering, accomplish your goals and structure your day, week, and month around all of the already mentioned business essentials!

As part of this, you’ll be looking into your customers and their buying behaviours: who are most important, the channels you use to reach them, and how to serve, retain and develop repeat business from them.

And finally, how you grow. How fast, why, and where.

As I said at the beginning, it’s a whiz through what is a complex but thoroughly enjoyable (if you take regular breaks and reward yourself on a job well done after each segment is completed!) way of understanding your business now and moving it through the years and changes that both of you will experience.

Never underestimate life, and what it will throw at you during your time in business. Remember you need to take a walk every day, a holiday (or two), to listen to and look after yourself. Be honest. Be brave! ■ Click

IN Conversation WITH...

Rob Stone

Rob Stone is the founder and sole director of the UK’s largest installer of loft storage solutions, Instaloft. He and his wife have 9 children, with ages ranging between 9 to 26. Rob’s rags to riches journey saw him go from selling his belongings at car boot sales to feed his 9 children to scaling his business into a £14 million turnover empire in just 7 years.

Rob is on track to double the revenue to £30 million in the next 3 years. With his wealth of experience in business development and people management strategies, Rob is now on a mission to help other aspiring entrepreneurs on their own journeys to success.

Tell us about your journey. How did you get here?

I’ve always been inclined towards business, and through the years, I’ve had multiple attempts at creating and running my own companies. When I started Instaloft, I’d reached rock bottom. I was drowning in various consumer debts, and it had reached a point where it was placing me and my family under an immense amount of pressure. I was completely broke but wanted to give business one last try. It really was a make or break situation.

At the time, I was having to borrow money from my dad and was selling DVDs for £1 each at car boot sales just to keep my head above water and make sure I had enough to buy the basics for my kids. I remember one night sitting on the floor of my living room and looking through various business opportunities when I stumbled across an advert for a loft boarding franchise. To be honest, I didn’t have any experience in that area, but I remember thinking, “this is something I can do”.

It was tough because I felt what I had was a great idea, but I just didn’t have any money or access to money to start the company with. That meant I had to do everything on a shoestring budget, and the start of the business was very much a beg and borrow situation. I managed to get a credit card with a £200 limit, and as I couldn’t afford a website, I set up a

Facebook page. I used the credit card to buy a few basic tools and the Facebook page to advertise on local buy/sell/swap groups, and that was how the business got underway, working by myself from the driveway of my house.

How did this affect you and your family?

We were in an incredibly tough place. My partner and I temporarily split up, and I had been living in another house due to the financial situation and the stresses it had put us under. We were very much in limbo, with one child living with me and the rest with her, and she was working all the hours she could to keep them fed and clothed. I was struggling to make any money before I started the company, but once I had Instaloft up and running, just getting one or two jobs a week helped to ease some of that pressure. As we got busier, things became a bit easier, and I was spending a lot of time on the job, often working late into the evening, but it meant enough money was creeping in to make a living and get us by. By the time I had got my third van on the road, my partner and I had fully reconciled, and we got married. I am truly grateful to her for how she supported me back then, and though it was hard and I missed out on a lot of the kid’s early years, we now make up for it each and every day.

You have achieved so much. How do your values show up in the work you do?

I’m an absolute stickler for jobs being right the first time, and I think this has rubbed off on my team, with a lot of them developing the same mentality. I believe in loyalty, and we have people that have remained with us throughout our entire journey. My first ever employee is still with us today. I think these values really come through in the excellent reviews and ratings Instaloft has accumulated over the years.

My first ever employee is still with us today. I think these values really come through in the excellent reviews”

What’s the biggest obstacle you’ve had to overcome?

While it was an incredibly tough road to get where we are today on a personal level and on a business level, I think one of the biggest challenges I’ve ever had to overcome would be a bad hire at a senior level. This was something that I had never experienced before, and for a while, I felt it was tantamount to disaster. While it took me several months to undo the damage that was done, it was also another huge learning curve.

What makes you proud?

Being able to see the people we have taken on doing well and advancing in their careers is honestly one of the best parts of what I do. I’m a huge believer in giving everyone a chance, just as I feel I was given a chance at the start of my own journey with Instaloft. It’s been amazing to share this journey and success with my amazing team, and seeing the way the business has grown when we all get together for company events is truly gratifying. We’ve come a long way from me working alone from my house!

How do you manage your time between family and business?

I place a huge value on quality time with my family, and in many ways, I like to make up for the time I was unable to spend with them in the past. I “almost” always get the little ones up in the morning, get them ready for school and drop them off. Nowadays, I usually collect them from school, too, and find even those few minutes are a great time to bond and chat. I make an effort to keep my weekends free, as for me, that’s quality time, and I enjoy spending it doing things at home with the whole family.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

There’s a range of things I enjoy doing to wind down and take some time out. Everything from art, reading, Lego, gardening, and, more recently, trying to focus on my fitness levels.

Who or what inspires you?

My kids come first and foremost, as providing for them was the biggest motivator in being where we are today with the business. My dad has always been a source of strength and inspiration for me, and even after his death, his memory continues to inspire me to be more than I am and to continue striving for bigger and better things.

Outside of my family, I love the people that promote grit and determination and look up to people like Grant Cardone and Lord Sugar. Building a business from the ground up from nothing at all is incredibly inspiring, and I feel my journey with Instaloft is yet more proof that anything is possible with the right determination and mindset. ■

Rob Stone www.instaloft.co.uk

My kids come first and foremost, as providing for them was the biggest motivator”

How to manage risks when employing contractors

If you’re not ready to employ another member of staff or if you have a shortterm project to complete, engaging a contractor could be a great option for your business.

However, this can pose some risks!

In my experience of advising businesses, some of the questions they are asking are: How can I ensure the correct employment status is in place? Can a Contractor Represent My Brand Correctly? What If they poach my client? What if the relationship goes wrong?

Don’t panic! This article will answer these questions for you.

How can I ensure the correct employment status is in place?

One risk of engaging a contractor is if they could be considered an employee. In 2021, Uber was challenged in a landmark case to define employment status.

Uber considered its drivers to be self-employed contractors. They insisted they only acted as a booking agent between the drivers and the passengers.

Following a dispute, the Supreme Court ruled that due to the fundamental nature of the working relationship, drivers were, in fact, workers.

This ruling had significant implications for Uber. They now need to meet the core employment rights and employer costs for all their workers. They may face compensation costs and have to pay minimum wage and holiday pay. The decision of this ruling will influence the employment status of many selfemployed people.

It’s important to have the correct documents to define the employment status. However, labels are not enough. It’s how the relationship is managed in reality that will ultimately determine employment status.

How Can I Ensure A Contractor Represents My Brand Correctly?

You’ve worked hard to build your brand, attract, and nurture client relationships. You want to be sure that everyone in your business works to your values and represents your brand correctly.

Working with a contractor means they are not employed directly by the company, and so may not align with your brand. This could impact your customer loyalty and your profits.

You can take steps to help a contractor work to your values and represent your brand correctly.

You should ensure your contractor signs up to your code of conduct. This can form part of your agreed contract with them. It gives clear expectations of the required behaviours and service delivery.

If you think a contractor has not followed your code of conduct, you can consider this a breach of terms and can start a dispute resolution process to fix the problem.

What If a Contractor Poaches My Client?

Poaching is when a contractor steals your clients and works with them directly - leaving you with a loss of clients and future revenue. This is a potential risk when working with

contractors as they have access to confidential information about your clients. They may also provide the same kind of work as your company and can sometimes offer lower rates as a self-employed contractor.

You can include a non-poaching clause, also known as a non-solicitation clause, in your contract to protect clients from being ‘poached’. It’s a type of restrictive covenant that aims to stop a contractor from taking your clients. It can also try to stop a contractor from poaching your staff too.

A word of caution! For a non-solicitation clause to be enforceable, it must be considered reasonable. This usually refers to the scope and timescale of the restriction.

Generally, a restriction with no end date would be considered unreasonable. The restrictions should only be in force for a set time following the end of the contract. Six months is a common timeframe.

Also, depending on the nature of the project delivery, you should also maintain some visibility with your clients. I have seen cases where contractors are the only point of contact for clients. They attend all meetings, send all emails, and are the brand’s only visible presence on clients’ sites. This may be problematic for you and makes it easy for your clients to be poached, especially if the Contractor is not trustworthy and looking to undercut you.

What If There Is A Breach Of Terms? Am I Liable?

A breach of terms is when one party breaks the legally binding terms of an agreement. Reasons for breaches can vary, but examples may include:

● Misunderstanding of the work to be provided

● The quality of the work is not as expected

● Delivery deadlines not being met

● Issues with payment terms and processes

A good contract should include clear guidance on the expected quality of work, including who decides when the required quality has been achieved.

You should also include specific timescales. Clarity over payment levels and processes is also important.

If one party believes the other has breached the terms of the contract for services, you may wish to resolve this informally initially before deciding to raise a dispute.

Including a dispute resolution process will help to clarify expectations, resulting in a more amicable resolution. It will also help to save time and costs by following a pre-agreed process.

What If It Goes Wrong?

Sadly, there are times when a contracting relationship goes wrong. Either party can raise a dispute, and dealing with an escalated dispute can be a long and costly process for both parties.

A fair and transparent dispute resolution process helps maintain good relations, so you may be able to continue the working relationship, and including details of how to manage a dispute in your contract will help save time and money.

A dispute process can follow several stages. These may start with informal solutions and progress to more formal action. An informal internal resolution is obviously the best way in terms of saving time and money. Mediation with a neutral party could also help facilitate a settlement negotiation, or you could proceed to court if the breach is substantial and could not be resolved internally, but you first weigh the cost involved and also any potential for damage to your brand’s reputation.

Once the dispute is settled, you will need to consider if the contractual relationship can continue. If it was a minor breach, you may put aside the dispute and carry on. However, if there were multiple issues or the dispute has damaged the relationship, you may need to terminate the contract. It’s important to gain legal advice before ending a contract. ■

Tutu Popoola Founder and Managing Director of Sleek HR www.sleekhr.co.uk

A good contract should include clear guidance on the expected quality of work

Parents in Business Bookshelf

SPRING/SUMMER 2023

The Answer is a Question: The easy way to transform your impact as a manager and a leader

By Dominic and Laura Ashley-Timms

(The Stationary Office)

Work life balance is spoken about like the holy grail by most people. It can be especially hard when you are juggling family and work. How to give either enough of your time and attention without depriving someone has been much discussed in parenting and career forums. Can anyone ever really find the secret?

But ‘The Answer is a Question’ has some great advice on getting the best from people and ourselves that makes a lot of sense. Aimed primarily at managers in companies, the teachings can easily be applied to anyone, even those managing themselves.

How often have you waded into situations to fix things for others when really what they needed was simply guidance and asking some

thoughtful questions as guidance?

The book breaks different management styles into sections, such as command and control and coaching and aims to show how modern working and workers respond better to careful, intelligent management than beating it into people.

If you are looking for a different way of working that gives you back hours in your day, this is a really useful read

Reviewed by Shona Chambers Marketing Consultant www.shonachambersmarketing.co.uk

Break The Rules: The

six

counter-conventional mindsets of entrepreneurs that can help anyone change the world

By John Mullins

Ever wondered what is really behind the success of companies such as Uber, Tesla and Nike? They were launched by people whose mindsets meant they weren’t afraid to break the conventional rules. The good news is these mindsets that can be adopted by anyone, and in this fascinating new book from bestselling author John Mullins reveals how you – or even your children – can be more entrepreneurial in your daily life to make the impossible, possible.

From Marginal to Mainstream: Why tomorrow’s brand growth will come from the fringes – and how to get there first

By Helen Edwards

(Kogan

Page)

If you’re looking for business growth, this eye-opening new book will teach you how to look beyond the mainstream to identify the next big thing. It explores behavioural trends and marginal behaviours that might initially feel unpromising or even “weird” – from home schooling and ice showers to insect diets and polyamory – and argues a compelling case why their commercial potential shouldn’t be underestimated.

Future Skills: The 20 skills and competencies everyone needs to succeed in a digital world

By Bernard Marr

When I write a book review, I always try to keep in mind whether I would personally choose to buy the book. In this case, I definitely would. What you get with Future Skills is 20 chapters, each with a standalone topic. The topics include; Digital Literacy, Data Literacy, Emotional Intelligence and Empathy, Brand of You and Networking, and Time Management.

As with all general business reading, some topics will resonate more than others; for me as a marketer, I found Data Literacy particularly interesting because data really forms the basis of all marketing campaigns, and it’s a topic of much discussion in most modern companies. Over the last few years, there have been some enormous steps forward in how we treat customer data, what is allowed and not allowed, and of course, we are all so conscious of it given the scandals that Facebook has been connected with, from election fixing to war mongering.

Sparking Success: Why every leader needs to develop a creative mindset

By Adam Kingl

(Kogan Page)

We all know creativity is an invaluable skill for business success, but when you’re busy juggling a business and a family, it is easy to feel the pressure to use what little time you have being productive rather than creative. This book demonstrates brilliantly how anyone can be more creative by taking lessons from powerhouses such as Pixar, LEGO and Disney. You’ll find yourself reaching for it whenever you need inspiration for your own creative spark.

It is always worth thinking about what we need to learn to stay relevant in business, and this book gives plenty of practical advice on that. From learning how to collaborate better, often now in a remote sense, to how to consider how to form diverse and representative teams in companies, none of us can afford to consider ourselves the finished product, and reading Future Skills is a great way of keeping up to date with what’s expected.

Reviewed by Shona Chambers Marketing Consultant

www.shonachambersmarketing.co.uk

Husband and wife duo Dani and Chris are passionate about providing muchneeded sleep support to families worldwide. They are infant sleep consultants and, most importantly, parents to their 3 amazing boys: Teddy, who is nearly 5, Rafferty, aged 2 and baby Malachy who is 1.

Chris is originally from Scotland, but they live in Kent, England. They work with clients all over the UK and Ireland, as well as internationally. They love meeting little ones from all over the world. The demand for sleep consultants is insane now, and it’s a thriving industry. So much so that they train other sleep consultants in their other business: The Sleep Consultant Academy.

Tell us about your journey. How did you get here?

It started as Chris’ main business, with me, Dani, helping in the background. Chris had a huge passion for infant sleep, but he wasn’t so hot on the admin and marketing. We were a family business from day one, which was lovely. Bringing different strengths to the table is what made The Mummy & Daddy Sleep Consultant such a success.

Baby

Chris initially ran the business alongside a full-time job. It was a very intense 6 months, and I’m not sure how he did it. But he was determined to get the business off the ground. The nice thing about sleep consulting is that you can work the hours you want to. And it suited lots of families to have their consultation in the evening or at weekends, so it worked well for us.

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whisperers

Sssshhhh

What challenges did you face early on, and how did you overcome them?

One of the earliest challenges we had was trying to work out where to spend our limited marketing budget. Chris nor I had any sales experience. We had this really great service but were weren’t sure what the best way was to attract clients.

The first thing we did was connect with other local businesses. I found a Facebook Group in our local area for business owners. I connected with other local women, who told me what had

worked and, more importantly, what hadn’t worked for them. Marketing is definitely not ‘one size fits all’, but it gave me insight into what my options were so I could assess what the best approaches would be for us.

Finding a network to exchange ideas is so important, even just for your sanity. When you start a business, it’s often just you, so connecting with people that are going through similar experiences is amazing. We set up a WhatsApp group for The Sleep Consultant Academy graduates so they can support each other as they start their new careers.

In 3 words, how would you describe your business journey so far?

The primary driver for setting up our own business was to have more time with our boys. We wanted something that pays well but gives us the flexibility to be with them. But we also wanted something that enriched us, as well as paying the bills! So my 3 words would be Flexible – Grow – Thrive.

What makes you proud?

I am so proud of Chris every day. He had a vision, not just for a business but a lifestyle for our family. If it weren’t for him taking that leap of faith, we wouldn’t be where we are today.

What is your best tip for someone struggling to take their business idea forward?

Figure out what your blockers are and invest in removing that. This is something we teach our graduates all the time. You are going to thrive at so many elements of your business and others you are going to find hard. You can sometimes get stuck and spend lots of time on one element, which can stop you moving forward.

We had an example of this recently. On the course, we help you create your own brand name and logo. But one of our students was struggling as ‘creativity’ wasn’t her strong point. My advice was to pay someone to do it. She found a design student in her local area that created something she was really happy with for about £100. She then went on

Finding a network to exchange ideas is so important, even just for your sanity. ”

to build her own website, write her own copy, and she flew. There were others that designed their own logo but needed some help setting up Google ads as it’s more analytical than creativity. Don’t try and be everything, and recognise when you need a bit of help.

How do you manage your time between family and business?

We are so lucky that sleep consultancy is flexible around family life. My biggest problem is saying no to new clients. I have to remind myself that my primary drive is flexibility with my boys, but I do find it hard to say no when a family I have worked with before recommend me to friends or family.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

We have 3 young boys, so I don’t feel like spare time is a thing at the moment! But when I do, I am a big reader. I am part of a local book club, and I always make sure I carve the time out to go to the meetings and read the book. And my love for Italian food is being adopted by my kids – they love spaghetti and pizza, so we try and eat out as a treat.

Who or what inspires you?

I am constantly being inspired by the amazing women that come and train with us. So many of them leave careers they have worked all their lives to achieve, and then when they have children, they reprioritise. That’s HUGE and very brave. It is now our passion to take these women on a journey to set up a thriving new business but at their pace. It’s important to keep your goals in mind. Some women join us and say they want to work 2 days per week, whereas others want to jump into a massive new venture. Both are achievable. ■

Dani and Chris McFadden themummyanddaddysleepconsultant.com

I am constantly being inspired by the amazing women that come and train with us. ”

Are You Allocating Enough Time for Your Mental Health?

Let’s face it, being a parent is like juggling a dozen flaming torches while riding a unicycle. And if that isn’t enough of a circus act, throw running a business into the mix, and you’ve got a oneperson show that would make Cirque du Soleil jealous. It can put a toll on your mental health, where you become too stressed and weary.

While it feels great to be productive and on top of things, it can often lead to neglecting our own needs, especially when it comes to mental health. It’s time we talked about self-care for parents and a few tips on prioritising our mental health amidst everyday responsibilities.

Make Time for Yourself

With a packed schedule of work assignments, meeting demands, and finding time for fun with your family, It’s easy to neglect self-care. It’s crucial to take a little bit of time for yourself, away from everything else. Even if it’s just 5-10 minutes a day to sit, meditate, read, or practice breathing exercises, it’s essential to make it a routine daily. Put it in your todo list, a reminder, or an alarm to remind you to take that critical “me” time.

Establish Clear Boundaries

No matter how much we love our kids and business, we need space to function to the fullest. Establishing a clear boundary can be challenging, but it helps to minimize the possibility of external stress being pushed into our personal life and vice versa. Hence boundaries are vital to our emotional well-being.

It helps set a guideline that safeguards our personal and career life. Setting boundaries does not mean you neglect responsibilities, but it ensures balance.

Recognise When You Need Help

When we take responsibility for everything, it’s impossible not to feel overwhelmed. You don’t have to do everything every time. Seek help when you can’t accomplish a task. Don’t feel guilty for asking for help from family, friends, or even hired help. Trying to do everything can lead to unnecessary stress that could have been avoided in the first place. It’s okay to lean on others.

Rest and Exercise

It’s tempting to keep powering through the day, even when you’re tired and exhausted. The long-term effect would be damaging to your mental health. Give your body time to rest, schedule downtime, and take naps if necessary. Additionally, exercise, no matter how simple, would help release endorphins that boost mood and combat stress. It can be as simple as taking a walk with your little ones or yoga at dawn.

Adopt a Healthy Diet and Sleep Pattern

Your health is essential to how you function when it comes to working and parenting. A healthy, well-balanced diet and adequate sleep go a long way in promoting sound mental health. Avoid binge eating as a way of coping with stress and adopt healthy nutritional habits. Ensure you are getting 7 to 8 hours of sleep every day. It’s ultimately changing your lifestyle habits and having discipline and the right mindset. Taking care of ourselves as parents should be a priority. Our mental and emotional stability impacts those around us, so setting aside time to focus on our own needs is essential. ■

Seek help when you can’t accomplish a task.

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Hi I’m Angela, founder of Lyons Creative - Graphic design services

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