Halftime Huddle - in conversation with ...

Episode 018 - Conversation with Lesley Andrew

Welcome back to Halftime Huddle – the midweek moment where small business owners pause, reflect, and recharge. In this episode, host Mark Webb sits down with Lesley Andrew, artist and art therapist, to explore creativity, life transitions, and breaking through the upper limits that hold us back. Lesley Andrew is an artist at her core who spent 11 years as an art teacher before retraining as an art therapist 12 years ago. Now she combines art therapy with confidence coaching to help people express their authentic selves. In this conversation, you'll hear honest, inspiring stories about her journey, debunking creative myths, and the tools she uses to help people navigate transitions in business and life. ## Highlights from the Episode: - **Art Therapy is for Everyone** – It's not just for children. Art therapy helps anxious yet ambitious people, those navigating loss or transitions, and anyone needing to express themselves. When words fail, art steps in. - **Everyone is Creative** – Adults say "I'm not creative" because of childhood messages. Lesley's mission: help people unlock their creativity. You ARE creative—you've just been told you're not. - **A Minute to Learn, A Lifetime to Master** – Archery instructor wisdom that reframes learning. Children find things easy because they have a beginner's mindset. You don't have to be good to start. - **The Messy Middle** – The frustrating stage past beginner excitement where it's not looking how you want. This is where most people quit. Overcoming small technical blocks helps you push through. - **Upper Limit Problems** – From "The Big Leap." You might be about to do something big and suddenly self-sabotage. Recognizing these patterns helps you break through to your zone of genius. - **Learning in Public** – Lesley introduced herself as "an artist with an identity crisis" and people connected more than when she was robotic. Authenticity beats perfection. ## Book Recommendation **"The Big Leap" by Gay Hendricks** – This book explores Upper Limit Problems (ULP)—the ways we self-sabotage before breakthroughs—and the concept of moving from your Zone of Excellence (comfortable success) to your Zone of Genius (transformative growth). A game-changer for anyone hitting invisible ceilings. ## Quotes to Remember: > "Everybody's creative. Part of my mission is to help other people unlock their creativity." > "A minute to learn, a lifetime to master." > "Zone of genius is at the top, zone of excellence can feel like success but it's become your comfort zone." ## About the Guest – Lesley Andrew Lesley Andrew is an artist at her core who spent 11 years as an art teacher before retraining as an art therapist 12 years ago. She now works with adults navigating life transitions—perimenopause, health challenges, identity shifts—combining art therapy with confidence coaching to help people express their true selves. Lesley hosts "A New Pace" podcast (PACE = Pause, Act, Create, Empower) and serves as Specialist Interest Group Coordinator for the British Association of Art Therapists. She practices authentic expression by learning in public and embracing imperfection. **Connect with Lesley Andrew:** - LinkedIn: Lesley Andrew - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesley-andrew/ - Podcast: "A New Pace" (Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube) - YouTube: Lesley Andrew - https://www.youtube.com/@LesleyA - Facebook Group: [Lesley's creative community] - https://www.facebook.com/groups/709921627380084 ## About Halftime Huddle Hosted by Mark Webb, Halftime Huddle is your weekly midweek motivation for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Each episode offers open conversations, practical insights, and real-world inspiration from people actively building and growing businesses every day. **If you enjoyed this episode:** 1. Share it with a friend 2. Leave a review 3. Subscribe for more midweek conversations 4. Reach out if you'd like to be a guest

Episode 017 - Conversation with Emily Braitwaite

Welcome back to Halftime Huddle – the midweek moment where small business owners pause, reflect, and recharge. In this episode, host Mark Webb sits down with Emily Braithwaite, co-founder of Yellow Tuxedo, to explore work-life blend, authentic entrepreneurship, and why the pursuit of “balance” might be holding you back. Highlights from the Episode: Work-Life Blend vs Balance – Emily challenges everything we’ve been told about separating work from life. Learn why embracing the blend creates less stress than fighting for balance. Building Business in Plain Sight – Tired of the “10K months” hype and perfect highlight reels? Emily shares Yellow Tuxedo’s approach of showing the messy reality, sharing when campaigns don’t work, and why authenticity is your competitive advantage. “Is It Making the Boat Go Faster?” –  This one question refocuses conflicts from emotion to shared goals and keeps their partnership strong. Dropping the Facade – Why showing up on camera pre-coffee and unperfect builds stronger customer relationships than polished perfection. Emily explains how facades create barriers and exhaust you while authenticity connects. Marathon vs Sprint Work Styles – Emily and Alan run the same successful business with completely opposite productivity approaches. Discover why understanding your work brain (and working with it, not against it) matters more than following expert advice. Raising Entrepreneurial Kids – How Emily’s 7 and 9-year-old sons are learning about ROI, reinvestment, and business thinking: skills they can’t learn at school but will benefit from whether they become entrepreneurs or employees. Book Recommendation(s) “Rare Breeds” by Sunny Bonnell – A book about doing your own thing, being a risk-taker, and rejecting the noise to stand out. It was the last business book she read before deciding to stop consuming and start acting. Ali Abdaal on YouTube – Emily recommends this YouTuber and storyteller who creates 4–5 minute inspirational videos that leave viewers feeling energized rather than overwhelmed with information to implement. Quotes to Remember: “Stop trying to balance, try and blend it. If you are a small business owner, you’re an entrepreneur and it is your life. You stopped your corporate job to build the life you want. So stop trying to make it separate. It is who you are.” “The minute you put that facade on, you put a barrier in front of you and your customer. Stop trying to be something you’re not.” “Is it making the boat go faster? If it’s not, back away.” About the Guest – Emily Braithwaite Emily Braithwaite is co-founder of Yellow Tuxedo, an online visibility specialist business that helps small business owners navigate the noisy digital landscape without needing expensive marketing agencies. Alongside her husband and business partner Alan, Emily guides entrepreneurs to maximize their online presence using practical, accessible strategies. As a mother of three entrepreneurial children and advocate for authentic marketing, Emily proves you can run a successful business without sacrificing family time or losing your mind – as long as you stop trying to balance and start learning to blend. Connect with Emily Braithwaite: - Website: https://yellowtuxedo.co.uk - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-braithwaite/ - Instagram: @yellowtuxedo - Facebook: @yellowtuxedo - TikTok: @yellowtuxedo About Halftime Huddle Hosted by Mark Webb, Halftime Huddle is your weekly midweek motivation for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Each episode offers open conversations, practical insights, and real-world inspiration from people actively building and growing businesses every day. If you enjoyed this episode: 1. Share it with a friend 2. Leave a review 3. Subscribe for more midweek conversations 4. Reach out if you’d like to be a guest

Episode 016 - Conversation with Kate Llewellyn

Welcome back to Halftime Huddle – the midweek moment where small business owners pause, reflect, and recharge. In this episode, host Mark Webb sits down with Kate Llewellyn, founder of The Content Consultancy and The Content Club, to explore content marketing without the overwhelm. Kate Llewellyn is a content marketing strategist. In this conversation, you’ll hear practical and permission-giving stories about creating content consistently, redefining success around happiness, and supporting entrepreneur mental health. Highlights from the Episode: The MCC (Minimum Content Commitment) Framework – Kate introduces her signature system for sustainable content creation. The magic? Permission to do LESS often means you actually do it CONSISTENTLY. Permission to Repurpose Content – Stop feeling guilty about reusing content. The algorithm means not everyone saw it the first time, you have new followers who’ve never seen it, and people consume content at different stages. The Done List Productivity Hack – Instead of focusing on what’s left undone, track everything you accomplish. Happiness is the Highest Form of Success – Kate shares her lightbulb moment about constantly chasing goals without feeling satisfied. What if happiness IS the measure of success? Do more of what brings you joy. Mental Health Support Gap for Entrepreneurs – Kate co-founded the Mental Health in Small Business Conference to address a critical gap with practical support for entrepreneurs. Content as Continuing Professional Development – Reframe content creation as learning in public. If you can write 1,000 words on a topic, you probably know what you’re talking about. Creating content doubles as professional development. Book Recommendations “The Dictionary of Lost Words” by Pip Williams – Historical fiction about a girl involved in creating the first Oxford English Dictionary. Perfect for word lovers and anyone fascinated by how language evolves. “Coach Yourself Confident” by Julie Smith – A practical guide to building confidence and overcoming self-doubt. Kate’s favorite concept from this book is “humble confidence”. Essential reading for entrepreneurs battling imposter syndrome. Quotes to Remember: “Happiness is the highest form of success. I had this light bulb moment: if I feel happy, isn’t that what I went into business for?” “No one knows how good your business is before they buy from you. They only know how good your marketing is.” “Set a minimum content commitment - this could be as little as one post a week on your hero social media platform. What this really does is it puts a boundary around how much content should I create.” About the Guest – Kate Llewellyn Kate Llewellyn is the founder of The Content Consultancy and The Content Club, a membership community helping small business owners build content confidence and consistency. Kate discovered her calling helping local small businesses with their content marketing needs after taking voluntary redundancy from Palgrave Macmillan. The pandemic prompted her to launch The Content Club, teaching business owners to create their own content with confidence and community support. Kate is also co-founder of the Mental Health in Small Business Conference. Connect with Kate Llewellyn: - Website: thecontentconsultancy.com [https://thecontentconsultancy.com] - LinkedIn: Kate Llewellyn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/katellewellyn/] (her “hero platform” - she’s most active here) - Mental Health in Small Business Conference: https://thecontentconsultancy.com/mental-health-small-business/ [https://thecontentconsultancy.com/mental-health-small-business/] About Halftime Huddle Hosted by Mark Webb, Halftime Huddle is your weekly midweek motivation for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Each episode offers open conversations, practical insights, and real-world inspiration from people actively building and growing businesses every day. If you enjoyed this episode: 1. Share it with a friend who needs to hear that simplification isn’t settling - it’s strategy 2. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify 3. Subscribe for more midweek conversations 4. Reach out if you’d like to be a guest

Episode 015 - Conversation with James West

Welcome back to Halftime Huddle – the midweek moment where small business owners pause, reflect, and recharge. In this episode, host Mark Webb sits down with James West, co-founder of ONLE Networking, to explore relationship-first networking, accessibility in business communities, and why 8 people actually equals 1,200 connections. James West is a former journalist turned networking entrepreneur learned that treating people well before you need them always pays off. In this conversation, you’ll hear honest, practical stories about his journey from unemployed to building a thriving online business network, the mental health lifeline networking provided, and why curiosity beats pitching every time. Highlights from the Episode: The “Married on Second Date” Networking Mistake – James explains why asking people to buy before they know you never works. Hit-and-run networking fails because people need to validate who you are before they’ll work with you or refer you. Dunbar’s Number Strategy: Why 8 People = 1,200 Connections – You don’t need to meet 1,000 people. James breaks down the mathematics of smart networking: 8 genuinely engaged people × 150 connections each = 1,200 potential second-degree connections. Online Networking is More Accessible Than You Think – Who’s missing from in-person networking events? Working parents, full-time carers, introverts, people with disabilities, and anyone more than 20 miles away. James and his wife Kelly built ONLE specifically for people who can’t attend traditional events, including themselves as carers for their special needs daughter. Mental Health and Meaningful Connections – In a vulnerable moment, James shares how networking saved his mental health during a difficult period as a solo entrepreneur. The meaningful connections he found in his networking group became his lifeline when he felt isolated and bereft. Running a business is tough, and genuine community matters. Curiosity as a Networking Superpower – Stop pitching and start asking questions. James’s journalist background taught him that genuine curiosity about people opens doors that sales tactics never will. Book Recommendations “Flip It” by Michael Heppell – James credits this book with helping reshape his worldview during difficult times. The core premise: if the same event happens to 100 people, why don’t they all react the same way? It’s about how you position events in your mind. “The Mamba Mentality: How I Play” by Kobe Bryant – Not about the flash and fame, but about learning to enjoy the process – even the hard parts like ice baths and overtime games. If you can learn to enjoy the worst bits of what you do, that’s when you’re winning. Quotes to Remember: “We ask people to get married on the second date. Hi, you don’t know me. Do you want to buy this thing for 3000 quid?” “The best way to get attention is to give it.” “At a time when my mental health was really poor, networking was the one time I actually felt all right.” About the Guest – James West James West with his wife and co-founder Kelly, (whom he met at a networking event) founded of ONLE Networking (Online Networking Live Experiences), a thriving online business network built on the principle of relationship-first connections. A former magazine journalist and editor, James transitioned into networking after losing his job. Connect with James West: - Website: https://www.theonlenetwork.com/ [https://www.theonlenetwork.com/] - LinkedIn: James West LinkedIn profile [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesonlenetworking/] About Halftime Huddle Hosted by Mark Webb, Halftime Huddle is your weekly midweek motivation for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Each episode offers open conversations, practical insights, and real-world inspiration from people actively building and growing businesses every day. If you enjoyed this episode: 1. Share it with a friend 2. Leave a review 3. Subscribe for more midweek conversations 4. Reach out if you’d like to be a guest -> podcast at agamers.co

Episode 014 - Conversation with Mike Garner

Welcome back to Halftime Huddle – the midweek moment where small business owners pause, reflect, and recharge. In this episode, host Mark Webb sits down with Mike Garner, founder of Stories That Matter, to explore imposter syndrome, finding your authentic voice, AI collaboration, and why everyone has a story worth telling. Mike Garner has spent nearly 30 years "being responsible for his own income" – from translator in France to copywriter to storytelling expert. After 2020's personal traumas became his breakthrough year, Mike discovered that the stories we think are boring are often the most remarkable. In this conversation, you'll hear honest, practical insights about overcoming self-doubt, using AI as a tool (not a replacement), and celebrating progress with done lists instead of drowning in endless to-do lists. Highlights from the Episode: The Neil Armstrong Imposter Syndrome Story Mike shares how writer Neil Gaiman met "a little old man called Neil" at a gathering of achievers – both feeling like they'd done nothing special. That man was Neil Armstrong. If the first person on the moon can feel ordinary, there's hope for us all. From 2020 Crisis to Breakthrough How his mother's death from Alzheimer's and his wife's cancer diagnosis became the unexpected catalyst for finding his voice after 40 years of silence – and why rolling with the punches is sometimes your only option. AI as Your Sous Chef, Not Head Chef Mike's brilliant "meat and veg" analogy: AI provides the structure, but you add the ketchup, the HP sauce, the Tabasco – your personality is what makes content yours. The Done List Revolution Why tracking accomplishments on a Trello board fights negativity bias and helps you see what you've achieved, not just what's left to do. The Anti-Avatar Concept Know who you DON'T want as clients. The massive red flag? "I want to target everybody." Childhood Conditioning That Keeps Us Silent Why "Don't brag" and "Stay in your lane" messaging keeps entrepreneurs from sharing their stories – and how to break free. Book Recommendations: "The Psychology of Money" by Morgan Housel – Life-changing for Mike's relationship with wealth and success; explores how we think about money beyond the numbers. "Storyworthy" by Matthew Dicks – Practical storytelling techniques including the "Homework for Life" practice: capturing one story-worthy moment each day to mine your timeline for hidden gold. Quotes to Remember: "If Neil Armstrong can feel that he's done nothing special in his life, then I think there's hope for us all." "The content that comes out is your meat and veg. But I need to put the ketchup on, the HP sauce. I give it the flavor." "The day I stopped trying to be someone I'm not, I gained so much energy." About the Guest – Mike Garner Mike Garner is the founder of Stories That Matter, a consultancy helping entrepreneurs discover and share their authentic stories. With nearly 30 years of self-employment experience spanning translation, copywriting, and storytelling expertise, Mike brings a history graduate's perspective to personal branding – viewing careers as transformational narratives rather than linear paths. He maintains a 600-day writing streak on 750words.com and a 2,500-day Duolingo streak, embodying the consistency he preaches. Connect with Mike Garner: - LinkedIn: Mike Garner [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikegarner-storytellingcopywriter/] - Website: How to Show Off - Stories That Matter [https://how-to-show-off.storiesthatmatter.co/] About Halftime Huddle Hosted by Mark Webb, Halftime Huddle is your weekly midweek motivation for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Each episode offers open conversations, practical insights, and real-world inspiration from people actively building and growing businesses every day. If you enjoyed this episode: 1. Share it with a friend who battles imposter syndrome 2. Leave a review on your favorite podcast platform 3. Subscribe for more midweek conversations 4. Reach out if you'd like to be a guest