Digital (Gold) Dust

How to be genuinely productive as a business owner, with Louise Miller

It’s productivity Jim, but not as we know it. Now jokes aside, this may be one of the most important conversations we’ve had on the podcast to date. The word productivity or being ‘productive’ has some pretty negative connotations attached to it, but we’re shedding a new light on it, and for good reason. In this episode, we’re joined by productivity expert and the genie for your genius, Louise Miller - where we discuss what productivity really is and debunk a few myths along the way. If you’ve ever felt frazzled by your to-do list, and overwhelmed by the tasks left undone this episode is for you. Here’s a taster of the gold dust we uncover: * Louise shares her journey from a burned out 9-5 employee to helping coaches, consultants, and community-builders make a bigger impact in the world, in a gentler way * Learn about Louise’s radical slower, kinder approach to productivity and how she helps her clients get done what actually matters without feeling exhausted * Why everything starts with a pause * We discuss Gretchen Rubin’s ‘The Four Tendencies’ and how understanding this can help you to identify what support you need * How burn out doesn’t always come from just doing too much, and how our productivity shouldn’t be tied to our value * The one thing Louise wants you to know as a soulful business owner Here are some links to the goodies we discussed in the episode: Gretchen Rubin ‘The Four Tendencies Quiz’: https://gretchenrubin.com/four-tendencies/ [https://gretchenrubin.com/four-tendencies/]  Get Louise's 10 powerful pauses: https://www.louisemiller.uk/ten-powerful-pauses-for-productivity-and-progress [https://www.louisemiller.uk/ten-powerful-pauses-for-productivity-and-progress] Get unfrazzle-d by listening to Louise’s bite-sized podcast episodes: https://www.louisemiller.uk/podcast [https://www.louisemiller.uk/podcast] _______ More about Louise: Louise is on a mission to change the world by helping her clients change the world. She partners with coaches, consultants, and community-builders with big visions, helping them turn ideas into reality, reach more people, and make a bigger impact—all while managing the day-to-day juggle, and being kind to themselves along the way. Described by clients as a "soothing balm" and "magician," Louise's own experience with work-related stress and anxiety inspired her to create a mindful, slower approach to productivity, helping clients focus on what truly matters and get the important things done. You can connect with Louise: Website: louisemiller.uk [https://louisemiller.uk/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisemiller-bettylou/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisemiller-bettylou/]  _______ Are you a business owner on a mission who needs help with building those solid foundations? Then it might be time to give your business the ‘Limelight’ treatment. Find out more: https://www.leatierney.com/limelight [https://www.leatierney.com/limelight]  Thanks for listening in and we hope you’ll get involved in the chats this season. Join our LinkedIn community: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-gold-dust-podcast/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-gold-dust-podcast/] You can also watch the episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@digitalgolddust_podcast/ [https://www.youtube.com/@digitalgolddust_podcast/] Why not hit the subscribe button so that you hear first when new episodes are released, and we’d love it if you could leave a review so we can reach even more soulful business owners like you. In the meantime, if you’d like to connect with either of us, pick our creative brains or discuss the podcast we can be reached in the following places: Lea - https://www.leatierney.com/ [https://www.leatierney.com/] Sammy - https://kohlabcreative.com/ [https://kohlabcreative.com/]

Legally protecting your business, with Lucy Legal

What do growing vegetables have in common with legally protecting your business? Well you’ll have to listen to the end of the episode to find out. Today we’re going to be talking about something that gives most business owners the heebiejeebies. Small print, big impact: this is how to use the legal stuff as a foundation. This is not an afterthought, although this area of business is often treated that way. In this episode, we’re joined by UK based solicitor Lucy Wheeler and founder of the Lucy Legal template shop, empowering small businesses to build a business (and life) on their own terms through making the ‘legal stuff’ less daunting and, dare we say it, even a little bit fun.  Here’s a lowdown of the key discussion points: * We dive straight in with unearthing some legal horror stories, and why legal foundations aren’t just for ‘big’ businesses * We cover what legal foundations you actually need as a small business owner, and how having clear legal boundaries in your business actually builds trust with your clients * How Lucy turned her ultimate dream into reality - and why she’s so passionate about helping other business owners to live their dream lives * The one thing Lucy wants you to know as a soulful business owner _______ More about Lucy: The legal side of running a business can sometimes feel a little overwhelming, boring and expensive!! It can be difficult to know where to start, but it doesn't have to be. UK based solicitor, Lucy Wheeler, founder of the fastest growing legal templates company in the UK, Lucy Legal, has made inaccessible legal jargon easy to understand and complicated legal concepts straightforward, and sometimes even fun! Via the only legal website you'll find which is branded pink, Lucy Legal provides template legal contracts and policies to entrepreneurs and small business owners. Lucy has experience working with businesses from start-ups to those with 7 figure turnover and regularly supports entrepreneurs to get the contractual documents and brand protection they need to get paid, avoid getting sued and grow and scale successfully. You can connect with Lucy: Get Lucy’s Legal Checklist: https://www.lucylegal.co.uk/start-here [https://www.lucylegal.co.uk/start-here] Visit Lucy’s Template Shop: https://www.lucylegal.co.uk/templates [https://www.lucylegal.co.uk/templates]  Get 10% off using code: sammyphillips10 (Sammy is a proud affiliate of Lucy’s templates as she uses them herself and recommends them to her clients, so while she gets a small commission if you purchase using her link or discount code, it also enables her to pass the discount on to you) And keep up to date with small business legal insights by following Lucy on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lucy_legal/ [https://www.instagram.com/lucy_legal/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-wheeler-lawyer/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-wheeler-lawyer/]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lucylegaluk [https://www.facebook.com/lucylegaluk]  _______ Are you a business owner on a mission who needs help with building those solid foundations? Then it might be time to give your business the ‘Limelight’ treatment. Find out more: https://www.leatierney.com/limelight [https://www.leatierney.com/limelight]  Thanks for listening in and we hope you’ll get involved in the chats this season. Join our LinkedIn community: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-gold-dust-podcast/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-gold-dust-podcast/] You can also watch the episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@digitalgolddust_podcast/ [https://www.youtube.com/@digitalgolddust_podcast/] Why not hit the subscribe button so that you hear first when new episodes are released, and we’d love it if you could leave a review so we can reach even more soulful business owners like you. In the meantime, if you’d like to connect with either of us, pick our creative brains or discuss the podcast we can be reached in the following places: Lea - https://www.leatierney.com/ [https://www.leatierney.com/] Sammy - https://kohlabcreative.com/ [https://kohlabcreative.com/]

Finances as a foundation - making this simple, with Elizabeta Ivonciene

In this episode, we’re joined by Elizabeta, founder of Piece of Cake Accounting and a passionate Profit First certified strategist. We delve into the association of money and shame, and dive into why being profitable isn’t just okay, it’s absolutely essential - even if you are just starting out. We break down the financial foundations every soulful business owner needs to build a sustainable business that lasts. We love a fired up conversation, and this one didn’t disappoint. We break down the financial foundations every soulful business owner needs to build a sustainable business that lasts. We love a fired up conversation, and this one more than delivered. Here’s a lowdown of what we covered: * Why ‘profit’ isn’t a dirty word and how it can be baked into those early foundations * Elizabeta calls for business owners to get honest about their financial goals, and calls for us all to let go of the guilt around earning a living * Why undercharging doesn’t help anyone, least of all your clients, and how you can feel more empowered and joyful about your finances with the Profit First method * How to avoid the January tax return panic * The one thing Elizabeta wants you to know as a soulful business owner _______ More about Elizabeta: Elizabeta believes, “Making money is part of creating a sustainable business!”. Her work is all about showing you that, yes, you can have it all – money, freedom and the café you love. She’s keeping your favourite cafes and coffee shops open, by sharing her love of numbers and profit with overwhelmed and money-worried business owners, reminding them that overnight success is a myth. And that any business will make money with small changes and sustainable habits. Her philosophy is simple: there's enough success to go around. The industry thrives on community, not competition. Together we can create a space where everyone belongs - customers, business owners, staff and suppliers. In a culture where being busy is mistakenly worn as a badge of honour – Elizabeta is proud to champion a slower pace and freedom, both in your business and personal life. It’s not unusual for her clients to free up a whole day every single week, or go on a 2-week holiday - without stressing about the shop - after a short time of working together. So, if you’re dreaming about a slower life, having a bigger impact on your community, and more family time – Elizabeta can help you to have your cake and eat it. Follow Elizabeta: Website: https://pieceofcakeaccounting.co.uk/ [https://pieceofcakeaccounting.co.uk/]  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pieceofcakeaccounting/ [https://www.instagram.com/pieceofcakeaccounting/] LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeta-ivonciene-pieceofcakeaccounting [http://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeta-ivonciene-pieceofcakeaccounting] _______ Are you a business owner on a mission who needs help with building those solid foundations? Then it might be time to give your business the ‘Limelight’ treatment. Find out more: https://www.leatierney.com/limelight [https://www.leatierney.com/limelight]  Thanks for listening in and we hope you’ll get involved in the chats this season. Join our LinkedIn community: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-gold-dust-podcast/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-gold-dust-podcast/] You can also watch the episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@digitalgolddust_podcast/ [https://www.youtube.com/@digitalgolddust_podcast/] Why not hit the subscribe button so that you hear first when new episodes are released, and we’d love it if you could leave a review so we can reach even more soulful business owners like you. In the meantime, if you’d like to connect with either of us, pick our creative brains or discuss the podcast we can be reached in the following places: Lea - https://www.leatierney.com/ [https://www.leatierney.com/] Sammy - https://kohlabcreative.com/ [https://kohlabcreative.com/]

If a picture is worth a thousand words, that’s a solid foundation! With Samantha Couzens

"Focus on how you want people to feel first, then use that feeling to guide every creative decision you make." In this episode, we’re joined by food photographer (and newly appointed dog mumma) Samantha Couzens, who has helped her clients to launch apps, land cookbook deals, and get stocked on supermarket shelves. Who better to discuss the value of brand imagery than Samantha? We knew she’d have a ton of gold dust to bring to this conversation so we invited her to join us. Dive into the episode to find out: * Samantha’s journey from starting a food blog to creating feast-for-the-eyes imagery for foodie start ups and household brand names * Why real food matters, and why is so much more than just food * The subliminal power of brand visuals, and the role they play in your business story * How your imagery can impact building trust, loyalty, and connection with customers * Yes, we do touch on the use of AI in the photography industry * The importance of staying true to your values, and not following the trends * Practical tips on how to prepare for a shoot * Lastly the one thing Samantha wants you, dear soulful business owner, to take away from this episode And if you fancy listening to more photography gold dust, check out our earlier episode with brand photographer, Emily Brown: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0nv4nMDc5e4rNZiMkVLAan?si=6cfcb13ff76e43d2 [https://open.spotify.com/episode/0nv4nMDc5e4rNZiMkVLAan?si=6cfcb13ff76e43d2]  _______ More about Samantha: Samantha Couzens is a food photographer for the founders that are doing things differently. She’s helped clients launch apps, land cookbook deals and get their products onto supermarket shelves. From foodie start ups to household brand names, Samantha has helped them show up confidently with imagery they love and that builds trust, loyalty and CONNECTION with their customers. Samantha doesn’t produce imagery for images sake, she loves to explore what food really is - love, community, health, happiness, identity, joy, freedom. You can connect with Samantha: Website: https://samanthacouzens.co.uk/ [https://samanthacouzens.co.uk/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-couzens-767949ba/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-couzens-767949ba/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samanthacouzens_ [https://www.instagram.com/samanthacouzens_]  _______ Are you a business owner on a mission who needs help with building those solid foundations? Then it might be time to give your business the ‘Limelight’ treatment. Find out more: https://www.leatierney.com/limelight [https://www.leatierney.com/limelight]  Thanks for listening in and we hope you’ll get involved in the chats this season. Join our LinkedIn community: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-gold-dust-podcast/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-gold-dust-podcast/] You can also watch the episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@digitalgolddust_podcast/ [https://www.youtube.com/@digitalgolddust_podcast/] Why not hit the subscribe button so that you hear first when new episodes are released, and we’d love it if you could leave a review so we can reach even more soulful business owners like you. In the meantime, if you’d like to connect with either of us, pick our creative brains or discuss the podcast we can be reached in the following places: Lea - https://www.leatierney.com/ [https://www.leatierney.com/] Sammy - https://kohlabcreative.com/ [https://kohlabcreative.com/]

Life in the Limelight - with Anne Jackson

As we continue the theme of building solid business foundations, you’d probably like to see how that comes to life. That’s why this is a practical and soulful chat around what that actually looks like, the process around it, and what it can mean for your business.  For this heart-warming kindred conversation, we are joined by the very lovely Anne Jackson, an anxiety therapist who also happens to be a ‘Limelight’ client. Anne shares the story of her journey from a psychotherapy student to a qualified therapist launching her own private practice. Whether you’re in those early stages of launching or are coming back to those all important foundations, this episode will give you practical insights and some gentle encouragement on how to create your own digital sanctuary. Dive into the episode to find out: * How Anne’s ideas went from feeling like a “knotted ball of wool” to feeling excited about her business, and what was a real game-changer for her * The joy (not stress) of finding your brand voice with the right support * We get down to some real talk about niching, messaging, and how the right brand acts as a client filter * How ‘The Human Shell Cracker’ came to be and the creative magic that followed * Where Anne is now in her private practice and how getting the right support helped her to launch with confidence and conviction * Lastly, Anne shares some helpful tips on how to soothe anxiety and your nervous system as a soulful business owner (let’s face it, we probably all need a bit of that from time to time!) You can connect with Anne: Visit Anne’s digital sanctuary: https://annejacksontherapy.com/ [https://annejacksontherapy.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annejacksontherapy290/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/annejacksontherapy290/]  ______ Are you a business owner on a mission who needs help with building those solid foundations? Then it might be time to give your business the ‘Limelight’ treatment. Find out more: https://www.leatierney.com/limelight [https://www.leatierney.com/limelight]  Thanks for listening in and we hope you’ll get involved in the chats this season. Join our LinkedIn community: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-gold-dust-podcast/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-gold-dust-podcast/] You can also watch the episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@digitalgolddust_podcast/ [https://www.youtube.com/@digitalgolddust_podcast/] Why not hit the subscribe button so that you hear first when new episodes are released, and we’d love it if you could leave a review so we can reach even more soulful business owners like you. In the meantime, if you’d like to connect with either of us, pick our creative brains or discuss the podcast we can be reached in the following places: Lea - https://www.leatierney.com/ [https://www.leatierney.com/] Sammy - https://kohlabcreative.com/ [https://kohlabcreative.com/]