Style and Substance (Elizabeth Cairns & Fiona Humberstone)

Hello!

We are excited to bring you our brand new podcast for inspired and empowered entrepreneurs

We’re here to help you sidestep the hustle, keep joy at the forefront of your work and champion a more meaningful and sustainable approach business.

Our first full episode will be coming soon and we do hope you'll join us.

Warmest

Elizabeth & Fiona

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In this first episode we talk about muses, what are they, why you need them, how to find them and we tackle some trouble shooting. We explain the difference between demographics and psychographics and why you need both.

How to get really specific with your muses and why you should, and we talk about the different approaches we take that informs the visual branding and copywriting work that we do.

We dig into how muses mesh with your magic and how they help you craft a business that really works for you.

At the end of each episode we usually tackle a short question from a listener, this week we’re in conversation about these challenging times with the subject…it’s ok if you’re not ok…

We really hope you enjoy this debut episode. Do let us know what you think by dropping us a line on the blogs at www.thebrand-stylist.com or www.elizabethcairns.com we'd love to hear from you. Thanks for listening.

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Is it cliche to say we were inspired to bring this one out?….probably, but we were and it was such a joyful and energising show to record. I didn’t have the heart to edit out the special guest appearance by Fi's lovely Lottie dog, but needless to say she will probably be banned from future recordings...

In this episode Fi and I dig into inspiration, what it can do fo your business, what it feels like when we’re inspired, what happens when it’s missing and how and why we should make space for it.

Fi shares her experience of attending a recent workshop with the incredibly creative Molly Mahon and the wonders that did for her own inspiration, and we share some of what inspires us on a day to day and how we both tap into that.

The question at the end of this episode was posed by a designer asking “how do we stay confident in our designs when we are a creative?” and i’m sure you’ll get loads from what Fi in particular has to share about this.

We hope you enjoy the listen and, as ever, your support really helps get the new show off the ground so do please give us a follow, a like and a great review if you’re so inspired. Thanks so much. Enjoy!

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What does it mean to raise the bar? What's the impact on your self and your work and what responsibility do we have in business for setting a standard of excellence? All these things and more we talk through in this episode. We dig into the value of excellence and the impact it can have commercially on your business. We also explore how the relentless pursuit of excellence can tip into perfectionism and what to do about it instead.

We hope will be and thought provoking and energising show that encourages us all to think about how we can collectively raise the bar.

Enjoy!

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In this episode we are getting into the hot topic of rebranding, drawing on her 20 years of experience in branding businesses Fi has a lot of great stuff to say about it. We cover where to start, the importance of having real clarity and why you need to take a strategic approach so you can rebrand with confidence.

We dig into exactly what you need to consider before a rebrand and the impact it can have on your business.

Fi tells us what you need to be looking at when choosing a designer and how to discern whether what comes back from your designer is right, and what to do when it's not.

We explore how to get best bang-for-your-buck, and how to approach things if you're rebranding incrementally, as well as some of the pitfalls and potential downsides of rebranding.

We talk about all the different elements that make up your brand and which ones have the biggest impact for different types of businesses.

We ask the question "one brand or many?" and offer a few pointers to help you decide the scope of your rebrand.

And of course we come back to what rebranding can do for the creative and commercial success of your business.

It's a really rich episode so we hope you find it useful.

Technical note: We've been working to make it more sustainable for us to record more regularly, so this episiode was recorded remotely with our new set up. We haven't quite worked out the sound yet in Fi's lovely and, as we've discovered 'bouncy' new office, so we hope you'll forgive the slight cathedral effect on her audio. We've found a solution for next time, but we thought the conversation was too good to try and re-record the whole thing.

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In this the last episode of the season we talk about Vitality.

A hot topic for both of us and something we are both absolutely passionate about.

We dig into what we mean when we talk about vitality and why it should be the first priority of any entrepreneur serious about running a thriving business. We explore the detail of those things that can drain your vitality, including some perhaps unexpected culprits and what to do about them. We get into the subtleties of the role the mind plays in managing our energy and some of the practices that help us have more agency over our mind and attention. Early in this episode there's also a short except from the Vitality chapter of The Empowered Entrepreneur.

We really hope you enjoy this last of the season offering and welcome any thoughts or questions so do get in touch on the blogs. www.thebrand-stylist.com or elizabethcairns.com.

Wishing you a very peaceful and joyful winter break.

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We couldn't leave you the whole holiday without something to listen to so we thought it might be fun to do a little Twitxtmas special. In this episode we take a walk back through 2022. What it looked like in the UK and for both of us personally and professionally. It's a fairly personal episode as we talk about family and some of the joys and challenges this year has brought for us both.

As we move into 2023 we wish you a peaceful and joyful New Year and look forward to bringing you season 2 later in January.

Apologies if the audio is still a little echoey as we iron out the kinks in recording in Fi's lovely office but we hope you can still enjoy the content and for 2023 we will have a new set up again so fingers crossed for top notch production.

The audio for reflecting on your year that Fi mentioned can be found here https://www.elizabethcairns.com/work-more-deeply/reviewing-your-year-ywysb and Fiona's brilliant New Year Brand Shakedown can be found in the resources section of her website here https://www.thebrand-stylist.com/worksheets-and-workbooks.

Thank you so much for listening, we look forward to the new season in 2023.

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Welcome back to season 2 and welcome to a new year!

We really wanted to get 2023 off to a good start so this episode we are focusing on goals and how to set some really compelling inspiring and motivating ones for your business not only at the start of a new year but throughout.

We explore the impact of really powerful goals on your business, motivation and productivity. The anatomy of a great goal and what it's vital to include if you really want them to work for you. We chat around how goals interplay with your vision and how to orientate yourself towards more of what you want. ,

We take a look at conventional KPI's in the context of an empowered and inspired business and where our focus could be to make business even more meaningful and enlivening.

We dig into playing with the subtleties of time and how getting the timing right can be a total game changer.

We both talk about how we set varying goals throughout the year and at different points in the business flow to keep momentum going. There's also a word about what you might consider if you're working with a neuro-diversity... and a fair bit more.

We really hope this is a good kick start for season 2 and 2023 and really hope you enjoy it.

As ever, reviews, comments and encouragement more than welcome so do head over to the blogs and let us know what you think and what you're planning for the year ahead, we'd love to hear from you. Enjoy!

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When times are a little tough, keeping your business on track and your motivation high is key. In this episode we explore some of the simple, cost and time effective ways to get some quick wins in your business and give your mojo and your cash flow a boost.

We explore how to raise productivity without succumbing to the hustle or getting overwhelmed with the scale of the challenge.

We think creatively around how to create and structure offerings that work in alignment with your current business to increase your reach and your cut through. How to get some traction and engagement, how to avoid some of the negative pitfalls of social media and importantly how to stay sane when venturing into new territory.

We also talk around how to maintain your sense of agency when the pipeline might look a little bleak and hope that this provides an inspiring and hopefully insightful listen.

We really hope you enjoy the show and if you do then please do take a moment to leave a review, it means so much.Thank you!

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Fi was really inspired for us to do this episode, by a recent experience she had in Fortnum's, she shares that story and others as we dig into the importance of cherishing your clients and ways to do that for small and larger businesses. We talk about the importance of saying thank you and various ways to build and reward loyalty.

We'd love to start a Radical Revolution of Appreciation and hope you'll join us by finding some inspirational fodder in this conversation. We talk about the ways we've felt cherished by varying brands and people and the difference that makes the difference when it comes to that. We talk a little around how we can inadvertently miss a trick to cherish despite best efforts, and how to avoid a few common pitfalls when you really want to reward loyalty and engagement.

We really hope you enjoy this wide ranging conversation and, as ever, please please do let us know what you think on the blogs or by dropping us a line at fiona@fionahumbertone.com or elizabeth@elizabethcairns.com. As ever, thanks for listening.

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Magic!

We know you've got it, but are you trading off it in the best way? Have you fully aligned your business with your strengths and what sets you apart in all it's subtleties and are you putting that front and centre to best effect in your business? If not then you're missing the big trick.

In this episode we dig into the importance of finding your magic, particularly in a crowded market. We talk about what magic means both for you as an entrepreneur and for your brand. We explore about how to do that in a way that makes sense for you and your unique business and what the risks are of not clearly defining and owning the space that you're in.

If you want to find your edge, if you truly want to set yourself apart and you want to lift yourself out of the hum drum and monotony of homogeny, then this is the episode for you.

Enjoy!

Know someone else who need to hear this? Do share and as ever if you like what you hear your reviews make all the difference, thank you!

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We thought we'd round off season two with a meaty one for you. In this, slightly longer than usual, episode we get stuck into what it means to do business on your terms as an empowered and an inspired entrepreneur. Some of the areas to consider when defining what you want work to look like for you and how to keep the bigger picture in mind. We share some of our own stories of how business has evolved for us over the years and how we've shifted the boundaries and our terms to accommodate the changes in family life.

The audio sadly got a little corrupted midway through and was unrecoverable, hence the little musical segway but hopefully doesn't detract from the flow too much.

Happy listening and we look forward to coming back with season three after the school break.

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Welcome back! Season three is here and we are coming out of the gates with a juicy episode tackling the currently hot topic of scaling.

We are both so passionate about running sustainable businesses that are built around what sets you apart and are able to grow without the burnout that seems to feel inevitable these days. We explore the many reasons why entrepreneurs want to scale, the factors you need to pay attention to when growing your business fast and how to do it in a way that preserves the joy and the sanity of the entrepreneur in the process.

We talked for a loooong time when recording so you'll hear the occasional musical segway as we move around this really wide ranging topic but hopefully we've plucked the most useful segments and put them together for this episode. As ever do drop us a line and let us know what you think. Happy listening.

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In this episode Fi is in the hot seat and i'm grilling her on all the things you need to be considering at the outset of a branding project to make sure you get it right from the start. Fi has an incredible wealth of knowledge to share on this topic and I hope you enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed getting into the meat of it with her.

As ever please do let us know what you think by dropping is an email or a note on the blogs.

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This is a juicy one folks, in this episode we are exploring the territory of feedback.

How to give it, how to take it, and how to handle it without it crushing your soul and your confidence.

We dig into the various types of feedback and its use for us in business. What mindset and approach best supports you to stay empowered. What to do when you you don't get great feedback and how to stay proactive and stay out of a failure quagmire.

We ask the question whether it's ever ok to give unsolicited feedback and spend a little time exploring how we deal with and deescalate heated conflict and manage your nervous system and self regulate.

It's broad ranging, deep digging and we hope highly practical. Do let us know what you think, feedback always welcome ;)

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Well here we are at the end of Season 3 and were rounding it off with Purpose. What is it, why we need it and how to find it?

A slightly daunting episode to bring out there as it's such a huge topic and so crucial to the empowered and inspired entrepreneur but hopefully there's some good food for thought.

It was such an enjoyable conversation and it was so uplifting for both of us to connect with our own purpose and reflect on the commercial benefits of working on purpose.

We explore how we manage the intersection between purpose in life and purpose in work as an empowered and inspired entrepreneur.

We talk about the interplay between goals and purpose and what they do for us in business and how goals with purpose feel different from regular KPI's. We explore what constitutes a purpose and tackle the question of whether you should have your purpose front and centre of your messaging. We dip briefly into some of the things that get in the way or pursuing purposeful work and will no doubt have more to say in future episodes, but for now we really hope you enjoy listening and, as ever, do let us know what you think.

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Welcome back to season 4.

We are delighted to be back and in this episode I get to mine Fiona's incredible brain and her wealth of knowledge in the field of colour psychology and branding.

We talk about the origins of colour psychology and how Fiona's work with it over the last 15 years has evolved the original theory to apply it to the field of branding and design.

We explore the benefits of this incredible tool for entrepreneurs and designers alike and uncover the myriad ways in which it impacts business and branding.

There is so much more to explore in this wide ranging and complex subject but we hope we've whetted your appetite for more and welcome your comments and questions so do get in touch.

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Today we tackle one of the most common questions Fiona get's asked in conversations about branding. "How much of my own personality should I bring into my brand?" This is a common blocker for many entrepreneurs, particularly when as founders we feel so close to our businesses. Our own preferences when it comes to style and aesthetic can often cloud our judgement when it comes to what is commercially right for a business.

There are so many considerations when it comes to navigating this territory to get the balance right, and we tackle many of them in this episode. We dig into a few case studies from our own clients and explore how to make the right level of impact when it comes to your brands seasonal personality. We hope you enjoy listening and as ever welcome comments, feedback and questions on the blog.

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We have a slightly different format for you for this penultimate episode of the season. Today I'm talking to Fiona and Cecelina Tornberg about their latest collaboration, a wonderful online course, Art Directing Impactful Website Photography.

We talk about the power of photography for your brand and how to create a truly emotive experience that creates impact on your website and drives that all important impulse to buy in your audience.

We recorded this for a live seminar and Cecelina dialled in from Sweden, so apologies for the slightly glitchy audio quality at points, but we hope the wonderful insights shared make up for the occasion loss of sound quality.

We talk about the importance of creating depth and resonance with your photography and how to do that, we cover some of what's in their new course and what makes their collaboration such a joyful and empowering one for them both. At the end we take a couple of questions from some of the participants who dialled in to the live seminar.

I hope you find it insightful, and if you'd like to know more about their incredible new course you can find details on fiona's website here: https://thebrandstylist.thinkific.com/courses/Art-Directing-Impactful-Website-Photography.

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Oh are we excited lovely listeners?! Just dropping by with a short bonus episode and an invitation for you to our very special September event PURPOSE & POSSIBILITIES, we can't wait to share it with you.

For more information and to book your spot before the early bird discount ends, just hop over to Fiona's website here https://www.thebrand-stylist.com/purpose-and-possibilities

Can't wait to see you there!

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We have long wanted to bring this episode to you as burnout is something that many people are encountering these days. We've chosen to round off season 4 with this one as an invitation to make the most of the coming summer months for rest, rejuvenation and balance.

In this conversation we explore the nature of burnout, how it shows up and why. We explore some of the practical ways to avoid it and why some of us are more susceptible to others.

We look at the importance of taking into account a holistic picture as entrepreneurs and how to create that balance between wider work and life.

We talk about the benefits of a regenerative culture in business and touch on the cycles to pay attention to in order to work in a more sustainable and regenerative way.

It's important to note that neither of us are medical professionals, so please if you are encountering worrying symptoms please seek professional advice and support.

We mention the Resilience Masterclass in this episode. If you're interested in finding out more about how to set your business and yourself up in the most sustainable resilient way possible, you can visit https://thebrandstylist.thinkific.com/courses/The-Resilience-Masterclasses

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Hello lovely listeners, we are back and I cannot believe it's season 5 already.

This week Fiona and I are catching up about where we are at at the start of a new term and the last quarter of the year. Sharing some of our habits and ways we are staying motivated, some of our goals and aspirations and some of what we are really excited about this year. We hope you enjoy this rather more personal episode and will be back to more 'business' next week.

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Welcome back lovely listeners. After last week's more personal episode, we are back to business and talking about creating positive cultures and the ripple effect possible when we show up with intention.

We explore what we can do as entrepreneurs that is aligned with our passion and purpose to make a positive contribution to something beyond the financial economy.

We talk about the rise in B-Corp certification and whether ESG scores are relevant for our businesses.

We share some personal stories of two charities that we passionately support, and the benefits of giving more than just financial support to the things that are important to us.

We really hope you find this an inspiring episode and one that will get us all thinking about the world we want to create and what part we can play in that. This absolutely isn't about creating another tick list of things to do to be compliant or leave us feeling like we're not doing enough but rather, we hope, an inspiring call to arms to anyone who can see the potential in their work to create a more positive future for our wider communities.

If you'd like to know more about the work of Solidarity Sports you can find them at www.solidaritysports.org and Tommy's at www.tommys.org.

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We've been hearing from more than a few people that it's a bit challenging at the moment and we've been asked to tackle the topic of converting clients so in this week's episode we do just that.

How do we make the most of every opportunity that comes our way? How can we prepare in the right way to handle enquiries, deal with the challenge of potentially fewer sales and stay sane while we're at it? We hope you find this both practical and encouraging and if you are finding business a little tough at the moment, hang in there, you've got this!

Fi mentions her brilliant media kit masterclass and is offering listeners a discount till the end of September, so do listen out at the end for details of how to get hold of that offer.

If there's anything you like us to cover in future episodes do drop us a line we'd love to hear from you. Thanks for listening.

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Hello lovely listeners, how are you feeling?

Well if it's overwhelmed then we have a goodie for you! In this episode we start to explore the topic of overwhelm and our conversation goes far and wide. We cover everything from what triggers overwhelm, how we experience it and what we instinctively do in response to some of the potentially more helpful ways to tackle it. There's a whole section in the middle where Fi makes sense of the potential overwhelm of the branding process and how we can take a very clear and logical path through to make it less overwhelming and much more enjoyable. We end with some very simple immediately actionable steps you can do right now if you're feeling overwhelmed. We really hope you enjoy listening and if you do please rate review and spread the word, we really appreciate it. Until next week.

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Well here it is folks, our final episode of season five before we break for half term and we hope you enjoy it.

We've shaken up the format this week and dedicated it to answering some of the many questions that have come in from our lovely listeners. Everything from "how do I deal with growth not being what it was last year?" to "where do I start if I want to become a designer?" and all sorts in between.

We hope it's useful. We want to thank everyone who has taken the time to send in questions and also to review the podcast. It means so much and genuinely makes it all worthwhile to know there are lovely listeners who are finding it valuable. Happy listening and see you on the other side for season six.

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Welcome back lovely listeners, season 6 is upon us and opening up this new season is our conversation about Entrepreneurial Spirit.

Being an entrepreneur is such an exciting space to be in and one that both Fiona and I get so inspired by. In this wide ranging conversation we talk about what it takes to be an entrepreneur, the traits that make entrepreneurs different from other types of people and the upsides and inevitable downsides of that. We dig into our own personal views of whether we ourselves have what it takes to be called an entrepreneur and why, or why not that might be the case. Towards the end we talk about the very tricky balance that confronts so many of us when we need to balance drive and ambition with wellbeing and what it takes to make business these days truly sustainable. We had such fun recording this episode so I hope it's an enjoyable listen. Do let us know how it lands, we'd love to hear from you.

p.s So sorry folks, we discovered a ghost in the edit of the soundtrack which was playing! over the intro it's now been removed so apologies if you couldn't hear us clearly over the music it should now be resolved.

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Welcome back lovely listeners and we are getting into the swing of season six with what we hope is a pretty dynamic episode.

What if the hustle culture, so often glamorised and idolised as the only path to entrepreneurial success, was in fact a toxic trap? Leading you down a path to imposter syndrome and burnout? Imagine a business landscape where worth isn't defined solely by the latest ‘big numbers’ of the income-boasting hustlers, but by something much deeper and more sustaining? That's the world we'll take you into during this intense discussion.

We'll confront the problematic behaviour associated with overcharging and its correlation with imposter syndrome. We'll delve into the importance of rest cycles and the necessity of maintaining integrity within our craft. And, we'll scrutinise the damaging effect of striving for unrealistic goals, exposing the often overlooked connection between money mindset and susceptibility to manipulation.

Lastly, we'll shine a light on the often unspoken aspects of entrepreneurship - resilience, innovation, and empowerment. These are the factors that can truly navigate you through the challenging journey, while maintaining your sanity and fostering sustainable growth. We won't promise you 'get rich quick' schemes, instead, we'll encourage you to listen to your intuition, trust your discernment, and to be kind towards yourself as well as others. So, tune in to this no-holds-barred discussion, it's time to debunk the toxicity of hustle culture together.

We really hope you enjoy the episode, do let us know how it lands and as ever, thanks for listening.

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Join us as we discuss the fascinating world of pricing, its complexities and the challenges it poses for entrepreneurs.

Navigating the world of contextualised pricing is not an easy task. However, understanding the importance of the value behind the services being provided, the costs associated with the production and delivery and the overall business positioning is key. Hear us out as we shed light on value-based pricing, and why pricing for the value being added, rather than simply the time spent, can prove really beneficial for your business.

We start by examining the key factors that should be considered when pricing your product or service - what the market can bear and what feels comfortable for you. We delve into the significance of self-worth and the role it plays in pricing decisions, exploring how it directly impacts the level of responsibility an entrepreneur takes when delivering a product or service.

We further explore how pricing affects service-based businesses and the power of a brand to influence pricing decisions. We talk about the role of pricing in inducing feelings of delight and avoiding dreaded buyers remorse.

We'll debate on the impact of frequent discounts on our perception of value and the art of efficiently handling price increases. 

We wrap up with a reflection on the emotional impact of pricing during challenging times and the importance of aligning your pricing with what is authentic and what the market is doing. We really hope you find it helpful and look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Happy listening

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In this episode we explore the secrets of successful brand positioning and the power of creating a strong strategy. We look at how to set your brand apart in a crowded market and make sure it resonates with the right audience.

We start with the importance of finding your niche or your ‘space’ - a crucial step towards attracting the right clients and building a loyal customer base. We'll take you through the process, emphasising the need for clarity, simplicity and understanding your unique purpose.

The journey continues as we navigate the challenges of narrowing down your offerings without the fear of missing out on potential clients. We explore micro-niching and why assessing your positioning regularly is necessary for long-term success. We share insights on the role of visual identity and the influence of external factors, such as the economy, on positioning effectiveness. We also talk a little on how to make your brand's messaging compelling, clear, and consistent.

Drawing on stories from our fields of coaching and people development field, we explore how to feel empowered and credible in your chosen niche, and combat the dreaded imposter syndrome. We discuss the need for evolving and refining your brand messaging in response to market changes. We'll explore some of the complexities of when, why, and how to consider a pivot in your business. We hope this is inspiring, enlightening and will leave you in a stronger position to position your brand in the best possible way. We really hope you enjoy and, as ever, if you do please like, review and spread the word. Thanks for listening.

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Picture this: you've spent months, maybe even years, perfecting your unique product or service, pouring your heart and soul into every detail. Then, out of the blue, you stumble upon a carbon copy of your efforts being touted by a competitor. How do you handle it? Today, we're taking a deep dive into the murky waters of copying, comparison and competition within the entrepreneurial world.

Inspired by a listener's question, we break down how to handle the experience of being copied, the emotional toll it takes, and the different forms copying can take, such as mimicking branding, ideas, or approaches. 

We'll look at how copying is not only a blow to the original creator but also a stumbling block for the replicator's business. As ever, we share from our own experience as well as valuable resources for addressing more serious copyright infringement. 

The two mentioned in the episode are ACID more info can be found here https://www.acid.uk.com/ and Sarah Watson offers helpful advice on dealing specifically with product design copies on her website here https://www.balineum.co.uk/pages/dealing-with-product-copies

We also address how to approach things when confrontation feels like conflict, especially on public platforms such as social media. In an era of AI and shortcuts often leading to unoriginal content, we champion authenticity in branding and copywriting. We explore how to maintain professionalism and empathy, even when putting down a clear boundary. We wrap up with a word on creating agency in your own space, emphasising the need to take control of our own energy and create a positive impact that ripples. 

We hope you enjoy listening and as ever do let us know what you think and if you like it do leave a rave review, we're always grateful.

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Join us for our penultimate episode of the year as we explore the intricacies of navigating the holiday season with a sense of calm amidst the inevitable chaos. We delve into some of the challenges we might be facing during this hectic period, from balancing work and personal life to managing social anxiety and family dynamics. We'll share a few thoughts on finding tranquility in the mayhem, suggesting ways to take time for yourself and how acknowledging and addressing underlying anxieties can lead to a wholly more harmonious time.

We explore the pressures that come with this time of year, including the end-of-year financial rush, family dynamics, and social expectations. We talk about the importance of understanding our own psychological barriers, managing energy levels, and maintaining clear communication. As we reflect on the psychological impact of setting arbitrary markers, we encourage you to stay grounded and mindful during this busy season.

Lastly, we remind ourselves the signs and symptoms of stress and burnout. As ever we share a few personal stories and wrap up with a word about the power of intention and inner reflection in shaping our actions and mindset. Next week we will be closing the year and the season with a review of the year.

There will be a little bonus meditation/visualisation coming later this week. For those of you who'd welcome a little guidance to carve out a moment of calm to re-centre and come back to your self if things get a little hectic, listen out for that folks.

Spoiler alert - if you tune in with children, this episode mentions Elf on the shelf so if you don't want to spoil the illusion then maybe save this one for a time when little ears aren't listening, its around 14 minutes if you want to skip past it.

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Well lovely listeners we are finally here at the last episode of the 2023. What a year. Thank you so much for all your support of the podcast to date it really has been so wonderful to hear your feedback, answer your questions and of course read all your lovely reviews, it means such a lot.

In keeping with tradition our last episode of season 6 and the year is an opportunity for us to reflect and celebrate. We look back on the highs and lows of 2023, the learnings and the challenges and what we are looking forward to for the year ahead.

So grab a cup of something mulled and steaming and enjoy.

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Hello dear ones,

As promised, if you need it over the coming days and weeks here's a few moments of guided calm for you to enjoy.

Not advised to listen whilst driving so find a few minutes where you can sit undisturbed to give your nervous system a little reset.

It's a sweet and simple just over five minutes guided track which is hopefully just enough time to calm everything down a little and create a little breathing room and space amid the madness.

I do hope you enjoy it.

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Welcome back lovely listeners and Happy New Year.

We're kicking of a New Year and. New Season with our thoughts on the vibe of this year, what we're committing to and sharing a few thoughts on how to create some energy and momentum to pull you through. It's hopefully a lively, uplifting and positive episode, perfect if you need a little boost to get your mojo going as you get back to business.

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Ever felt like a fraud in your own business, waiting for the other shoe to drop and for everyone to realise you're not as capable as they think? That gnawing fear isn't unique to you; it's a widespread experience known as Impostor Syndrome, and it's the topic of today’s discussion. 

Welcome back lovely listeners as we dig into season 7, today we are peeling back the layers of this psychological phenomenon, examining why even the most accomplished of us battle a persistent disbelief in our own success. 

We share our own experiences of Imposter Syndrome and where we see it showing up in our respective industries. 

This episode is a journey through the highs and lows of entrepreneurial life, where confidence often tussles with the silent anxiety of being 'found out.' We touch on the immense energy it takes to maintain a façade and the emotional toll it exacts behind closed doors. 

We explore not only how to recognise Imposter Syndrome, but also the effect on our energy, confidence, and overall mental well-being. We also, perhaps controversially, discuss the value of Imposter Syndrome in business and share some thoughts on how to explore it effectively so that it can act as a helpful guide rather than a debilitating force. 

For anyone who has ever questioned whether they quite measure up, this is for you. 

Lovely folks we've had some technical issues with the sound in this episode so apologies if it's not up to usual scratch, we've done our best and subsequently changed the whole studio set up so hoping it's now resolved for future recordings. Thanks for bearing with us.

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Welcome back lovely listeners

On what is reputedly the most depressing day of the year we wanted to bring a little light, a juxtaposition to the gloom and pop in with a short and hopefully sweet conversation about finding inspiration in these darker months. We share our personal thoughts on how we embrace the delights this season and some of the habits that keep us going until the shoots of spring emerge.

From the beauty of a frost-laden morning walk to the comforting ritual of sipping a hot mulled drink after a cold run, we discuss how to appreciate and find joy in the often-overlooked moments of winter. We talk about hygge, the Danish concept of cozy contentment, and how creating a warm, inviting atmosphere can make the short days and long nights not only bearable but rich and fulfilling.

Our conversation also turns to the spiritual uplift that can come from the resilience of nature and the transformative power of certain frequencies in music, like the divine moments experienced during live performances or the pure sounds of a child's voice. We consider how January, rather than being a month of limitations, can be a time for positive transformation.

We'd love to hear how you make the most of winter so do drop by on instagram or drop us a line at https://www.elizabethcairns.com/style-substance-podcast or https://www.thebrand-stylist.com/style-and-substance-podcast.

Thanks for listening.

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Fellow authors and publishers amongst you will know a book project is not for the feint hearted and producing a beautiful book for business is a labour of love that we are both hugely passionate about. With three best sellers on branding and business between us, we've got a fair bit to say. In this conversation, the first of a few in this series, we are really excited to lift the lid on our own experiences of writing and self publishing. We really hope you enjoy as we share our respective stories of the inspiration behind and the journey of writing 'How to Style your Brand', 'Brand Brilliance' and 'The Empowered Entrepreneur'.

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Welcome back lovely listeners. In this second episode of our self publishing series (more to come next season) we take a gallop through varying aspects of the process of publishing a beautiful book for business. We explore how to tell if it's the right time to write a book and what, in our experience, is needed to pull you through such an epic project. We talk about the motivation required and how that shifts through different stages of the writing process and the importance of knowing exactly what it is you are trying to achieve to support that motivation.

We walk through the basic steps of pulling a well designed business book together and where book design fits into the writing process.

We explore how we know whether we have something worth saying that will add value and the potentially tricky decisions about what to hold back when it comes to sharing your beloved IP.

We touch briefly on the the merits or not of writing and publishing a book over different mediums when you've got something of value to say.

We focus on the importance of knowing exactly what it is you are trying to achieve with your writing and how that affects everything from your motivation, your edit, your ability to discern if you're adding value and when you know the book is done.

We've roamed far and wide in this episode but there's so much more to say so we look forward to getting even more granular next season when we'll explore styling and book design, working with your dream team, a little more on the editing process and more besides.

As ever we really hope you find the episode useful and if you do, please do like, review and spread the word. Thanks so much and we'll be back the other side of the half term break with a conversation about the value of Design fundamental for entrepreneurs.

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All design, good or otherwise, creates an impression. It affects our perceived credibility, opens up or closes down opportunities and influences the confidence we feel about our work. Whether we realise it or not, whenever we are producing any collateral for our brand we are producing design. From pitch presentations to social media graphics and everything in between, so let's get it right.

Understanding design fundamentals as an entrepreneur will help you be more intentional about the impression you are creating with your graphic design and ensure your investment in your brand identity isn't compromised. In this episode we walk you through those fundamentals, so note pads at the ready.

Fi explains the difference between brand design and graphic design, what a complete brand identity entails and what we should be watching out for to maintain the integrity of our beautiful brand identity when we are rolling that out across our businesses.

If you'd like to dig deeper and learn how to apply these fundamentals in more detail then Fi's brilliant course Design for Go Getters will help you do just that. You can find details on thebrand-stylist.com.

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Hello lovely listeners, as we move into spring it feels like the perfect timing for a conversation about flow. Why, along with vitality, adopting the flow principle of The Empowered Entrepreneur is absolutely essential to ride us through tough times and create more ease (and profitability) in our businesses.

In this wide ranging conversation we talk about the key differences between a forceful and flowing approach to business and how to spot the red flags of when you're putting in more effort than you need. We talk about the benefits to flow in work (not leaving out the all important commercials) and wrap up with a couple of quick and easy ways for find more flow right now. So if you feel business is a bit sticky and you'd like more joy, inspiration and a lot less hard work for your buck, then listen in.

We really hope you enjoy.

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So often, particularly with a well established business, we can get into a mode where things feel like they are a little out of control. Whether that's around feeling constantly overwhelmed, not being sure of where the next piece of work is coming from, getting stuck in a cycle of feast or famine, not feeling like we have a handle on how we are being perceived or perhaps where business is headed. In this short but sweet episode we are exploring 5 simple steps you can take to start to regain more of a sense of agency and autonomy in your business, what to focus on to take back the reigns and how to approach things with a more strategic mindset.

We hope it's useful and. as ever, if you like what you hear please take a moment to drop us a review, we so appreciate it.

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This is a hot topic for so many entrepreneurs. When we get into conflict, or emotional situations arise in our business and our instinctive tendency is to fight, flight or fawn there is another way. In this episode we talk around the importance of establishing and holding boundaries for ourselves in our business. We touch on why it is so hard, particularly for women to hold a boundary and some of the underlying principles that facilitate our ability to hold clear and firm boundaries for the benefit of all concerned. There's a few live scenarios in here that you might be able to relate to and in future episodes we'll no doubt get into the nuts and bolts of where we need to consistently set and hold boundaries to make business sustainable, commercially viable and preserve our sanity and how to do that with grace.

As ever we'd love to know what resonates for you and if you love it please do review and share away.

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Welcome back lovely listeners to season 9. After a lovely long break we are opening this season with what we hope is a juicy two parter on the topic of finding your authentic voice.

Both of us encounter business owners who struggle to do this for themselves and their brands and we are so passionate about the potential that finding and using your authentic brand voice can create for your business.

Having a clear, compelling and natural voice enables us to not only connect with our clients and move them to action but also to express the true value that we bring in our business. It enables us to win work, develop relationships, handle conflict more effectively and give us that sense of empowerment that comes from being able to articulate what it is that we want. But it doesn't come easy to everyone. So many of us struggle to find the right words for our website, to write compelling sales copy, to blog or produce newsletters that really connect and this can really hold us and our business back. Over the first two episodes of this new season we are going to be digging into all that. We'll explore some of the things that get in the way of using your voice, particularly if you are a woman in business, we'll cover how we approach finding a brand voice for our clients and some of the practical considerations we need to bear in mind when writing compelling copy that really connects. Happy listening.

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Hello lovely listeners, those of you who have been around for a while will know we are huge fans here of a strategic and well thought out approach to business and this week we're exploring why.

We dig into the difference between strategic and tactical approaches and how it's so often the case that we are reactive or knee jerking in business when a more thoughtful approach is needed. We talk about the reasons why we don't often work strategically and the hallmarks of both strategy and tactics.

MILD TRIGGER WARNING. Head's up folks at the beginning of the episode we talk about Fi's dear sister in law who has just suffered a recent stroke during childbirth and it might be hard to hear. If you want to skip straight to the episode you can jump right in at 8 minutes 15 seconds.

If you would like to support Rosies and the family, you can find the details of her just giving page here:  https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/rosie-and-beau?utm_term=rq3d9enqd

thank you so much for your support. xx

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This week it's all about finding your space lovely listeners. That sweet spot in the market that when you find it opens up possibilities, reduces overwhelm and frustration and supports you to win the right clients.

We explore what it means to find your space, how it fits into the wider picture of the strategic clarity you need to run your business with confidence and intention and some of the key considerations to bear in mind when seeking out that sweet spot.

We talk about the benefits of working within your space both to you the entrepreneur and to your bottom line and our thoughts for those people who are fearful of getting pidgeon holed. We thoroughly enjoyed the conversation and hope you enjoy the listen.

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Hello lovely listeners, we've been paying attention to what many of you are asking for at the moment and it feels like a lot of our community are grappling with some key decisions. Which direction to go? how to shape your business? what is going to be right for you moving forwards...? So today we are tackling the topic of making important decisions. How can we do that in an empowered way? How do we accurately discern what is really right for us and how do we know with certainty what to prioritise to move us forwards in a way that is ultimately going to bring more success, joy and ease to our work?

The art of discernment is a powerful process that features heavily in The Empowered Entrepreneur book and today we are exploring that a little more. We do hope you enjoy the show and as ever your feedback, questions and of course raving reviews are welcome.

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In this our final episode of season 10 we are digging in to some more questions from our lovely listeners, and there's some juicy ones. We explore the challenges of planning effectively, how to remove the worry about whether we are faffing or actually being productive, how to set priorities when life throws you for a loop and how to say what you want to say and continue to show up when energy is lacking...and more.

We always love hearing from you guys and have thoroughly enjoyed this conversation and hope you will too

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Week two of our bitesize summer series is here and this week we are taking steps to reduce the overwhelm that comes from too much noise. Noise creates interference with momentum, distraction from focus, disruption of our own peace of mind and disconnection from our inner wisdom. We will be sharing our individual take on where the noise comes and the impact it has and our challenge this week is a simple one that in just 15 minutes could make a BIG difference.

Happy listening folks.

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This week we are moving away from overwhelm (here's hoping) and focusing our attention on Vitality. Our absolute favourite topic as we both wholeheartedly believe it is the sustaining and driving force of our businesses and what allows us to really leverage their true potential. This weeks challenge is a Vitality Review and you can find all the questions from the review I walk through with Fi over on my blog www.elizabethcairns.com or under the resources tab, just look for 'Vitality Review'.

I hope it's illuminating and do let us know how you get on.

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Welcome back lovely listeners, today we are back and talking about one of our absolute favourite and essential topics CLARITY.

We all need clarity, but at what level?

Brand clarity is one thing, but in order for brand clarity to really have the impact and realise it's true potential, it is ideally underpinned by solid business clarity and, for those of us interested in running business on our own terms, life clarity. In this episode we will dig into the various layers and intricacies of clarity. How do we discern what we need at what time and why does it even matter?

There is a shameless plug at the start of this episode for our Style and Substance Breakfast event on 17th October at Granger and Co, Chelsea. If you'd like to join us in person for some inspirational, in person connection, then you can book via The Brand Stylist Website. https://www.thebrand-stylist.com/the-breakfast-event. We do hope to see you there.

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Renegotiating Boundaries Part 2

Handling Scope Creep, Pricing and When Partnerships Come to an End

We're picking up where we left off form last week and digging back into renegotiating boundaries. This week we'll be talking about how to manage endings - what do you do when collaborations close, relationships and working partnerships need redefining or when you simply can't be at someones beck and call anymore?

How do you elegantly make the shift from working pro-bono to charging what you're worth and how do you tackle the beast of scope creep? Were chatting about all this and more as we close off our two part episode. Happy listening folks.

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Setting expectations and managing yourself and your clients when things need to shift.

Boundaries are tricky to set and hold for many of us, but absolutely essential when you want to do business on your own terms. This episode is split into two parts and this week we are talking about ways to establish boundaries and manage expectations up front, to avoid things having to get sticky.

We are reframing boundary setting, helpful for those conflict avoidant folks amongst you, and we dig into what to consider and how to manage it when life happens and our capacity and availability shifts. There's some tips in there about what to think about when re-setting boundaries in a kind and human way and plenty more coming up next week.

We really hope it's helpful and look forward to part two next week.

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How to Keep things Moving and Avoid Getting Stuck in a Rut.

Welcome back lovely listeners to our last episode of the season before we head into the half term break. As we look forward to the last quarter of the year we are all about keeping the mojo going, maintaining momentum and avoiding that joy sapping, energy draining business limiting experience of being stuck in a rut. We cover a whole load in this conversation including modelling out some of how Fi avoids stagnation in her own business, why frustration can be a handy motivator, the importance of plateauing every so often, why momentum isn't always about be more, do more, have more and how to connect with our innate drivers. There's also a mention of the upcoming breakfast event and a reminder if you missed out on joining us due to being sold out so quickly, we have opened a wait list for the next one which you can find over at https://www.thebrand-stylist.com/the-breakfast-event. If you'd like to be the first to hear of the next event and get priority access for booking then just pop your details on the form and we'll be in touch very soon.

Happy listening lovely listeners, we really hope you enjoy the show.

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Welcome back to season 12 and, after a post half term catch up sharing Fi's adventures in Rome and my recent challenge with mental health, we dig into todays topic; The Dynamics of Successful Collaboration.

If you've ever had your fingers burnt after a disastrous collab, have struggled to make things equitable in partnership or are simply curious about how to get your self in the best possible position for a successful collaboration this is for you. We talk about not only the numerous benefits of joint ventures and why both of us absolutely love having it built in to the way we do business, but also the common pitfalls and what we can do to avoid them. As ever it's candid, far reaching and hopefully useful. If you enjoy the episode please do share with a friend or colleague that might benefit and take a moment to like, and review. Thanks so much.

#howtocollaboratesuccessfully #pitfallsofcollaboration #empoweredentrepreneurship #howtomakecollaborationswork

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Lovely listeners, we're dropping in between episodes this week because both of us are incredibly excited about Fi's new Brand Catalyst Programme and I wanted to give her the opportunity to share that excitement and take the chance to celebrate.

In our conversation we talk about how the programme came about and some of the strategic considerations we have had to make with regard to how it sits within the rest of Fi's work. We talk about Fi finding her flow and the creative unfolding edge of her business and why she is so looking forward to the new year. So alongside the what, the why, and the how of the programme itself, there will no doubt be some behind the scenes insights that we hope will be equally valuable.

Happy listening and we look forward to being back on Wednesday with the next full length episode.

To find out more about the programme you can visit https://www.thebrand-stylist.com/brand-catalyst-programme and if it resonates, I wholeheartedly invite you to take advantage if the whacking great £300 off that Fi is offering if you book before 29th November.

#rebranding #brandcatalystprogramme #brandmentoring #donewithyoubranding

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A luxury brand can be an utterly aspirational prospect for many, but is it the magic bullet it promises to be?

If you want move into this space, there is a whole load you absolutely need to be considering up front.

In this episode we dig into the why's and the wherefores of what it takes to create a luxury brand. Fi talks us through some of the visual signifiers and the critical importance of getting it right. We explore the demands it places on an entrepreneur who wants to sit comfortably in the luxury space, the challenges and the definite up sides.

A must listen for anyone serious about holding their own in luxury sector!

#luxurybranding #colourpsychology #creatingaluxurybrand

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The pursuit of truly meaningful and fulfilling work that puts our skills and talents at the heart might seem an indulgence that we don't always have time for but for us it's a commercial business imperative. Hear why in this episode on finding your authentic work where we dig into the value, not only for you and your business but the wider society and the world. We dig into some of the most common blockers to finding that work and how to begin going about it. Fi explores how this relates to branding and how authenticity is essential for owning your space and running a sustainable business.

For anyone looking for a sustainable, meaningful and ultimately profitable way to do business, this episode is a must listen.

#authenticbusiness #findingyourauthenticwork #findingyourspace

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Is your brand puling it's weight? How do you know, what are you missing out on and what should you do about it?

In this episode I'm picking Fi's brains on realising the potential in our brands and the crucial role of clarity in realising our full potential.

Discover the benefits to the business and the entrepreneur of a brand that is packing it's full punch and where to start in getting real strategic clarity.

#brandclarity strategicbranding #branding

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We are very excited to bring you todays episode as it coincides with the Launch of Fiona's new brand consultancy Studio Theia.

The creation of Studio Theia has been a labour of love, a creative unfolding and a strategic commercial proposition that is, even if we do say so ourselves the epitome of authentic and aligned work. In this episode we share the story behind the brand and insights and inspiration around what's possible when a brand is truly aligned and beautifully atmospheric. As well as exploring the personal and professional journey to the creation of the new studio, we talk about why Fi made the choice to structure the new Studio in the way she did, and the power of working as a collective.

We hope there is boundless inspiration for all of you running businesses with creativity at the heart.

Studio Theia are a multidisciplinary collective of strategists, designers, creatives and visionaries united in their commitment to build truly magical brands.

We create astonishingly evocative brands for businesses in the lifestyle, consumer and hospitality sector and you can find out more at studiotheia.co

or find the studio on Instagram

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Welcome to the final episode of 2024 and in typical Style and Substance form we are reviewing our year. In this conversation we share our highs, lows, learnings and hopes and what we've made of a pretty challenging 2024. Thank you for listening and all your support of the podcast this year, we are excited and inspired to be back in 2025.

Wishing you a joyful and abundant festive season Elizabeth & Fi xx

At the end of the episode I mention my new coaching circle The Rise and Thrive Collective that opens in January 2025. if you're inspired to join me you can find out more here.

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Happy New Year Lovely Listeners, Were coming out of the gates in 2025 with what we hope will be a thoroughly uplifting and encouraging episode where we are waxing lyrical about the benefits of a having a Hype Squad for your business. Hear where our support comes from, how we design for it in work and life and how to avoid becoming too transactional and loosing the magic of reciprocal championing.

We look back o the joys of the Studio Theia launch and celebrate the wonderful Podcast community that have turned out to the breakfasts. We hope you thoroughly enjoy the listen and look forward to a great 13th season and a fabulous new year and if you are free in London on 23rd January do join us at Granger and Co for a thoroughly inspiring start to the year.

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Just before Christmas Fi sound herself on the receiving end of an outrageous comment. With commercial and ethical decision to make and plenty of self gaslighting and doubt in the mix, it wasn't an easy time. In this in depth exploration, hear how we navigated this sticky situation and resolved things amicably all round.

A must listen for anyone who struggles with post decision dissonance, gaslighting themselves or worry about being an overly emotional/sensitive woman in business.

You might also enjoy our past episodes on renegotiating boundaries here: https://apple.co/408wEDy and our conversation on The Art of Discernment here: https://bit.ly/42cNIek.

Thanks for listening!

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Welcome back lovely listeners, in this episode we are talking all things branding and what becomes possible when you get your branding really working for you.

Fi shares her insights from over 20 years in the world of branding to uncover the essentials of what entrepreneurs need to know to empower themselves to make the most of their brand.

So if you're branding something new, rebranding or have big plans for your business this year, this is a must listen. Enjoy.

As mentioned in the episode Fi;s free where to start course can be found in The Brand Stylist Academy here : https://thebrandstylist.thinkific.com/courses/creating-your-brand-course.

Her colour psychology courses can be found here: https://thebrandstylist.thinkific.com/pages/colour-psychology-courses

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Do you run a creative business? Are you reaping the benefits of trading off your creative style? If not, we're here to convince you that its a great idea and a total game changer for the creative entrepreneur. In this episode we dig into the commercial and creative benefits of finding and trading off your creative style. We'll be sharing success stories of entrepreneurs who've really leaned into their creative flare with incredible results and we'll be tackling some of the common misconceptions about niching. If you run a creative business and are frustrated by attracting the wrong clients, feel like you don't have the trust and creative freedom you'd like or are simply yearning to be more authentic in your work then this episode is for you.

#creatiestyle #creativeflair #empoweredentrepreneur #creativebusiness

The links to the other episodes we mention are here:

The Value in your Authentic Work : https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-value-in-doing-your-authentic-work/id1653753664?i=1000677586602

Finding your Creative Magic : https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-your-creative-magic/id1653753664?i=1000661000291

Finding your Magic : https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-your-magic/id1653753664?i=1000597388080

Inspiration : https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inspiration/id1653753664?i=1000587163796

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These days you can barely move for someone promising you a '7 figure income' while you sleep. But is it really the panacea it promises to be? Passive income is something so many ambitious entrepreneurs are chasing, but what does it really take? We are about to get deep, opinionated and personal in this episode where we explore Fi's passive income success story that paid the mortgage. How the pursuit of passive income shifts your experience of what it's like to run your business, the unseen effort that goes into 'passive' streams and more.

We hope you enjoy the episode and if you do please like subscribe and share - thank you.

In the opening of the episode I make a shameless plug for Jo McAndrews work. if you'd like to find out more about her her online course "The Magic of Warm Listening" you can find it here https://www.jomcandrews.com/warm-listening-online-course

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Phew...what a whirlwind the last few weeks has been and a hot topic for us both of late has been energy, how much do we have, how do we keep it high and how do we get it all done? So today to kick off the new season we've got a short and punchy episode where we catch up with our out-of-the-norm escapades over half term and some quick tips for managing your energy.

Back to business as usual next week and in the mean time if you want to check out the Designers Track that Fi mentions you can find details here: https://thebrandstylist.thinkific.com/courses/brand-designers-track.

If you want to get on the wait list for the next cohort of Brand Catalyst you can do that here: https://www.thebrand-stylist.com/brand-catalyst-programme

and please do send us your videos, photos and snippets to be included in our celebration of our wonderful community of female entrepreneurs for our International Womens Day special. You can DM us via insta @styleandsubstance_podcast or email us at elizabeth@elizabethcairns.com or fiona@fionahumberstone.com.

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International Womens Day is coming up this week so it feels timely to explore this topic of Claiming Our Rightful Place as Women in Business and what we can do to step fully and confidently into our authority. We talk about the superpowers we uniquely have as women in business what might hinder our ability to take our rightful place and leave you with some profound words of wisdom from a much loved English treasure.

Apologies for the slightly less than perfect audio quality in the first couple of minutes of the intro, we've sorted it for the main part of the episode so hopefully it won't deter anyone from listening on, and we really hope you enjoy the conversation.

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This special episode, created in honour of International Women's Day is a pulling together of just a glimmer of the wisdom held in our wonderful community of inspiring and empowered entrepreneurs. Rather than hearing from us, in this episode, we hear from you. Thank you to everyone who sent in a submission to be included we have tried to feature as many of you as we can, and whilst it hasn't been possible to feature everyone (we were inundated) we are so grateful to have read your stories and found them utterly inspiring.

Those women who's stories and words of wisdom shared can be found on Instagram here:

Catherine Finkernargel @finkernagelross, Sarah Hobbs @hoskinhobbs, Carla Contreras @chefcarlacontreras, Liz Lloyd @lizlloydjewellery, Ellie Bowie @ellie.bowie , Silvana Olivo @silvanaolivo, Cattie Coyle @cattiecoyle, Robyn Zachary @robinzachary, Zaaheda Dhalech @cinnamonclouds.za, Katie Hawes @edieandchalk, Trisha Patel @trishapatelart, Liandri Fouché @mrs_l.f, Rebecca McKloskey @weave.interiordesign, Sarah rooted in truth, Louise Hayes @louisehayescakedesign, Rachel @rachel.brightavenue, Shim Patel @huxandmu, Alison Reddan @alisonreddandesigns, Lisa Corbett @mindenwoodfloraldesign, Charlotte Hepworth @bespokehomemoves, Gail Jones @gailjonesartist, Kavita Parmar @_xtant_ , Holly Becker @decor8, Sarah Turner @littlebeausheep, Natasha April @sayloviestudio, Catherine Stacey @cat_stacey_jewellery, Brenda Chadambura @brendachadambura

We wholeheartedly encourage you to connect, learn more and be inspired.

Much love and Happy International Womens Day, Elizabeth & Fi

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Let's be real. None of us have limitless budgets that allow us to do everything we'd like on our brand: we all have to make choices. But we do think there is a big difference between a bootstrapping mentality (saving money at all costs and compromising on quality as you go) and the reality of bootstrapping your brand (making smart choices that will move your brand forwards, however tight your budget).

We dig into all of this and more in today's episode where Fi is sharing a wealth of advice and practical tips on where to invest, where to save and how to create the strongest impression with your brand whatever your budget. This is going to be one to bookmark and share and we are so excited to share it with you!

Fi's brilliant and free "Where to start" course that we mention can be found here: https://thebrandstylist.thinkific.com/courses/creating-your-brand-course. Essential viewing if you are creating a brand from scratch, rebranding or wanting to make sure you are squeezing the potential out of your brand.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.