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

How to Market Your Business on a Shoestring Budget | What We Wish We Knew From Day One

Marketing & Branding | What We Wish We Knew From Day One | Real Talk Real Hustle Ep. 7 What does it actually take to build a brand that people trust and how do you get it right from the very beginning? In episode 7, we're joined by Jagz, founder of The Branding Distillery and a branding expert with 24 years of experience. We met Jagz through the Newham Chamber of Commerce networking events, and in a twist none of us planned, she ended up being the judge who interviewed us for the Barking and Dagenham Awards. We won two that night. Now she's back, and this time she's giving us everything. From why your logo is just the beginning, to how to find your audience, use social media with intention, pitch yourself with confidence, and build the kind of trust that turns customers into community. This one is for any business owner who's ever put money in the wrong place, avoided marketing out of fear, or wondered why their branding just isn't landing. Timestamps 00:02:00 - How we met Jagz 00:03:00 - Meet Jagz 00:06:30 - The importance of logos 00:08:30 - What does your audience want? 00:17:00 - Social media 00:25:00 - Storytelling and being real 00:32:00 - How to use different marketing tools 00:40:00 - How to pitch yourself and do market research 00:50:00 - Trust Key Takeaways - Invest in your branding early and put it in the right places. - Know your audience before you spend a penny on marketing. - Your staff are your brand in action, so love them, nurture them, and bring them on the journey. - And don't sit in fear for too long, opportunities don't wait. 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

The HR Mistakes That Could Cost You Everything

HR: What Every Business Owner Needs to Know | Real Talk Real Hustle Ep. 6Nobody tells you about HR when you're starting a business, until you're sitting in front of a tribunal judge with no legal support, no HR structure, and no idea how serious it could get.In this episode, we're joined by Reyhana, an outsourced HR specialist for micro and scaling businesses. We met Reyhana through networking four years ago, and she immediately made HR feel less terrifying, and that's exactly what she does in this episode.We share the story of how a staff tribunal early in our journey woke us up to the importance of getting HR right. We walk through TUPE and what it really means to take over a business with an existing team. We talk about furlough, hybrid working, and why onboarding is one of the most underestimated tools any business owner has. And Reyhana breaks it all down in a way that makes it actually make sense.This episode is for any business owner who has ever thought HR is too complicated, too expensive, or something to worry about later. It isn't. And this episode will show you why.Timestamps00:02:00 - How we met00:03:30 - Guest introduction00:04:30 - How a tribunal got us thinking about HR00:08:10 - Why is HR important?00:25:00 - Navigating TUPE00:35:00 - The challenges of furlough and WFH00:40:10 - What first steps to take with a new employer?Key Takeaways- You don't need corporate HR structures from day one, but you do need the basics. - Document everything, even a simple follow-up email. - Do your people due diligence as thoroughly as your financial due diligence.- Your staff are your greatest asset, so invest in onboarding, communicate your expectations clearly, and lead with empathy.Subscribe and follow along — this is Real Talk, Real Hustle.Follow the PodPodcast Instagram: @real.talk.real.hustleFor collaborations & enquiries: team@empowersoundsmedia.com

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.