Real Talk Real Hustle

How We Survived the Early Years of Business With No Money & No Guarantees

Eat. Sleep. Repeat. | Real Talk Real Hustle Ep. 5 What does it really look like to go all in on a business when you're in your early 20s, in debt, on a survival budget, and the only thing keeping you going is a dream you refuse to let go of? In this episode, we get into the reality of what it took to build our nursery from the ground up. The sleepless nights, the seven-day weeks, the missed holidays, the friends' weddings, the delayed families. The moments we had to ask ourselves: "Do we still want to do this for another six months?" We talk about the sacrifices that come with building something real, the survival budget that kept us afloat, and why choosing your career over everything else at 23 is a conversation women rarely get to have honestly. We also talk about where we are now and how none of it would be possible without the team standing behind us. This one is for anyone who's ever wondered whether the grind is worth it. Spoiler: it is. But nobody tells you how long the road really is. Timestamps00:02:00 - Debt00:04:30 - Do you still want to do it after 6 months?00:06:00 - Life paths and trade-offs00:10:00 - Having a team and support00:15:00 - Confidence Key Takeaways- Know your survival budget and protect it. - Give your business time to develop before you decide it isn't working. - Never quit on a bad day. - And if you wake up every morning dreading what the day looks like, listen to that. Subscribe and follow along — this is Real Talk, Real Hustle. Follow the PodPodcast Instagram: @real.talk.real.hustle For collaborations & enquiries: team@empowersoundsmedia.com [team@empowersoundsmedia.com]

How to Stop Being Scared of the Bank - With Romesh Jeyaseelanayagam

The Importance of Prestart Finance | Real Talk Real Hustle Ep. 4 Message from us: If you're a superfan and have been listening very closely to our story, you might have noticed we had to slightly change the release dates of a couple of our episodes. You haven’t missed an episode, and well done for catching that! The good news is that you get to listen to our conversation with Romesh about the wonders of finance ahead of schedule! Enjoy listening! ______________ What does it actually take to get a bank to believe in you when you're young, you have no money, and you're sitting across the table from a room full of male bankers with nothing but a handwritten business plan and a belief that won't quit? In episode 4, we're joined by Romesh, qualified accountant, finance director, founder of The FD Consultant, and co-host of the Strive and Thrive podcast. He has spent over 15 years working with startups and SMEs, and he breaks down the finance fundamentals every business owner needs to know: from how to approach a bank without fear, to why your value as a leader is the most important asset your business has. We also share some of our own stories from the early days: the knockbacks from the banks, borrowing from family, the boardroom full of strangers we had to sell our dream to, and the one man, Peter Bravery, whose belief in us made it all possible. This episode is for anyone who's ever been scared of finance, avoided looking at the numbers, or wondered whether their business idea is actually viable.  Spoiler: the numbers are not the enemy. They're the goldmine. Timestamps  00:02:10 - Romesh's introduction  00:07:30 - How to overcome the fear of going to a bank for funding  00:10:30 - Small businesses: the backbone of the British economy  00:16:00 - Do all businesses go through the same knockbacks?  00:23:00 - Showing other people your vision  00:30:00 - Make good choices at the start  00:40:00 - Your value as a leader is the most important thing  00:42:00 - Trust your team  00:50:00 - Key takeaways Key Takeaways  * Going to the bank shouldn't be scary, it's just homework you'd do for yourself anyway.  * Know your industry, know your numbers, and pair your passion with structured thinking.  * Your value as a leader is incalculable, so trust your team with the day to day and focus on growing the business.  * And don't shy away from your bank manager. They want to help you succeed. Subscribe and follow along! This is Real Talk, Real Hustle. Follow the Pod Podcast Instagram: @real.talk.real.hustle For collaborations & enquiries: team@empowersoundsmedia.com [team@empowersoundsmedia.com] Follow Romesh  Strive and Thrive Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@StriveAndThriveSeries [https://www.youtube.com/@StriveAndThriveSeries]  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/romesh-jeyaseelanayagam/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/romesh-jeyaseelanayagam/]

How To Build A Community Around Your Business - The Pressure is On

The Pressure Is On | Real Talk Real Hustle Ep. 4We've got the keys. We've got the building. Now we've got 12 weeks to turn a derelict Victorian doctor's surgery into a fully operational nursery, with £25,000, no salaries, and two families who gave up their lives to help us make it happen.In episode 3, we get into the reality of the build-up to opening day. The survival budgets. The waiting list we built while the walls were still being replastered.We talk about the power of community, the courage it takes to collaborate with your competition, and what it really means to back yourself so hard you never even write a Plan B.This is the episode where it all gets very real.Timestamps00:01:30 - The pressure is on!00:03:30 - Community and support00:09:00 - Budgeting00:13:00 - Optimism00:15:00 - Collaborating with the competition00:18:00 - Key takeawaysKey TakeawaysSet a start date, an end date, and track your cash flow obsessively. Ask for help — your network has more expertise than you think. And back yourself so completely that a Plan B never even crosses your mind.Subscribe and follow along — this is Real Talk, Real Hustle.Follow the PodPodcast Instagram: @real.talk.real.hustleFor collaborations & enquiries: team@empowersoundsmedia.comKeywords: real talk real hustle, how to open a nursery UK, female founders, women in business, startup on a budget, small business UK, entrepreneur podcast, community over competition, collaboration in business, childcare business UK, business optimism, asking for help in business, plan B mindset, early years business.

The Hustle Begins! - Business Planning and Believing in Your Vision

The Hustle Begins | Real Talk Real Hustle Ep. 2 What does it actually look like to build a business from scratch? Before you have an office, a budget, or anyone telling you what to do? In episode 2, we take you back to November 2003. We'd handed in our notice, stopped agency work, and set up our makeshift headquarters on Sarah’s bedroom floor in Barking. Armed with library books, a floppy disk, a fax machine, and a Nokia, we got to work. We talk about how we structured our days before we even knew what structure meant, how we hit the streets doing market research by cold-calling nurseries pretending to be parents, and how a chance connection at the job centre led us to the business advisor who changed everything. This episode is for anyone who's ever wondered what the early days of building something really look like.  Spoiler: it's less glamorous than you think, and more powerful than you'd expect. Timestamps  00:02:00 - The hustle begins  00:03:40 - The importance of discipline  00:05:30 - The desk  00:06:00 - Market research  00:10:00 - Networking  00:14:00 - Be shameless Key Takeaways Discipline gets you further than motivation. Structure your days even when nobody's watching. Ask for help with no shame — the job centre, the business adviser, the person who knows more than you. And always, always write it down. Subscribe and follow along — this is Real Talk, Real Hustle. Follow the Pod  Podcast Instagram: @real.talk.real.hustle For collaborations & enquiries: ⁠ [team@empowersoundsmedia.com] team@empowersoundsmedia.com⁠ [team@empowersoundsmedia.com] Keywords: real talk real hustle, how to start a business UK, business planning for beginners, female founders, market research small business, East London entrepreneurs, women in business, startup story, business without qualifications, entrepreneur podcast, small business UK, childcare business, discipline and entrepreneurship.

From Nursery Workers to Business Owners - Who Are We?

Who Are We? | Real Talk Real Hustle Ep. 1 Who are we? How do two best friends of 30 years build a business together, and what does it really take to go from zero to 23 years of entrepreneurship? In this first episode of Real Talk Real Hustle, we introduce ourselves, our story, and the business we've built together: Barney Bears Nursery, a Children's Day Nurseries group with two locations in East London. We take you back to the very beginning: two young women straight out of college, working agency shifts across London, finding our inspiration, navigating neurodivergency, imposter syndrome, feelings of inferiority, and making the bold decision at just 23, with no savings, no business qualifications, and nothing but hunger and drive, to open our own nursery. 23 years later, we're here to share it all. The wins, the pivots, the lows, and the lessons. Whether you're an entrepreneur or just someone who loves a real story told honestly, this podcast is for you. Timestamps  00:01:30 - Who's Sarah?  00:02:30 - Who's Leah?  00:03:30 - What's the business?  00:05:15 - How did we meet?  00:13:00 - First steps into the industry  00:21:00 - Opening a business and taking the leap Connect with the Pod  Podcast Instagram: @real.talk.real.hustle Keywords: real talk real hustle, female entrepreneur podcast, business podcast, children's nursery business, how to start a business, female founders, entrepreneurship journey, friendship and business, startup story, business without qualifications, women in business, small business UK.