Inspirational Creatives

Which markets and communities are you interested in serving?

What is it you are planning to offer?

And what is it that people need in those communities that they aren’t getting yet?

In today’s short action episode, Paul and Emily, creators of the Parent Guide to GCSE membership community, share their lightbulb moment when they spotted a gap in a market they were already familiar with.

You’ll also hear Neil Foley, from the Business Growth Club, about why it’s important to do a bit of research to find out if the gap that you’ve spotted has a market in it.

“Knowledge beats nagging every time” according to Emily and Paul, creators of the parent guide to GCSE.

Spotting a gap in a large market, ex-teachers, Paul and Emily, share their experience leaving the teaching profession to educate parents on how to best support their children going through GCSE.

Emily shares her story falling out of love with her teaching career and falling in love; because of a motorbike.

Emily shares how they managed a time of depression; leaving her career without a job to go to...

Learn how the couple manage their own family whilst running their own dream business community membership model.

And their best advice for stressed out parents…

Items mentioned in this episode (quick access):

[00:42] Introducing this episode on education and mental wellbeing with Emily and Paul.

[03:57] How Emily and Paul met - over a motorbike.

[05:10] Emily talks about leaving her a career and dealing with her depression.

[06:40] Paul shares his side of the story.

[09:08] Emily talks about how anti-depressants helped her initially.

[09:43] Applying for other jobs.

[10:45] Leaving without a job to go to.

[11:28] Where and how Emily got started with her new venture.

[12:30] How the idea for their business was born.

[14:25] Paul shares his side of the story and some of the challenges with teaching.

[15:53] Managing cash flow.

[16:50] Teachers running their own business.

[18:00] Developing confidence selling.

[21:03] Emily explains how they support parents towards supporting their teenagers.

[22:20] The B2 stealth system.

[24:27] Paul describes their success path.

[25:25] The challenges for kids taking exams today.

[26:26] Mocks are very much like a dress rehearsal.

[26:50] Sanity breaks for all.

[29:50] Paul describes NEA (what was coursework.)

[31:08] Resources for small children vs. teenagers.

[31:54] Their active Facebook community.

[32:57] How Emily made sense of vague government announcements for parents.

[35:16] Teaching skills for life.

[38:00] How their members become more independent learners.

[38:40] Doing a series on personal finance.

[39:54] Emily shares how their podcast has helped them to build up their knowledge.

[42:11] How they help those home schooling. The challenges with home schooling.

[44:18] Being effective at the desk.

[46:28] Emily and Paul’s guidance for anyone looking to make their own career leap.

[48:26] Building their website with their founding members.

[49:31] Paul talks about “Ask me anything.”

[50:18] Emily and Paul’s best advice for stressed out parents.

[50:48] Running a competition and Paul’s bespoke revision plan.

[52:17] Their proudest achievement so far.

[53:42] What’s next for Paul and Emily.

© 2020 www.inspirationalcreatives.com | Rob Lawrence | All Rights Reserved

Is now a good time launch a new business, idea or venture?

If you’ve got a new idea for a business, enterprise or venture, this short podcast episode is for you.

In this short action episode, Neil Foley, from the Business Growth Club, shares his thoughts on when a good time to test out and launch a new business idea or venture is; and when not to launch.

We explore some of the more dangerous risks people make when launching a new venture.

And what not to do.

We also look at what type of motivation is the right type - when you are ready to get started.

https://www.inspirationalcreatives.com

© 2020 www.inspirationalcreatives.com | Rob Lawrence | All Rights Reserved

Who expected the events of 2020?

Here we are 10 months in living with COVID, the shock of lockdown, and all sorts of new challenges and opportunities as creatives…

Furloughs, losing jobs, changing careers and new opportunities.

So to bridge the gap of a crazy 2020 so far, I invited back on to the show, small business growth expert, Neil Foley from the Business Growth Club, to understand how, for those interested in navigating their own venture, career or business,

Where to start and what the opportunities are...

I haven’t had much chance to catch-up with Neil since we spoke last year so I though this would be an ideal opportunity to capture our conversation live, so to speak, as I’m really interested to hear his thoughts and how recent events have impacted our world as creative beings and people interested in business, leadership and entrepreneurship.

Hear reasons to be optimistic and positive about the future.

...And how the barriers to creating a business in 2021 are breaking down.

What’s the #1 to be thinking about when putting a new idea or service out into the world?

For many creatives, entrepreneurs and new business owners, knowing which is the right market for their product, idea or service can be critical to early and ongoing succeeding.

Knowing your niche…

Yet many owners and creatives are stuck figuring out which the right niche and then, when that’s identified, what’s the right price to sell their offering?

One option is to look at the competition.

Yet this seemingly easy at-a-glance research can immobilise even the most tenacious business owner or creative….

Why?

Because they become worried about the competition.

In this short action episode, we explore how to find the right niche, experiment with pricing and why you don’t need to worry about the competition…

Starting a small business can be both tough and exhilarating.

Being technically gifted as a master craftsman/woman of your trade is a good place to start.

Yet knowing how and when to start is better…

And it pays to get help.

In this episode, you’ll hear why it’s a good idea to get feedback early on.

And how the right kind of mindset can impact your success when starting out.

I introduce you to one of my closest business mentors, Neil Foley.

Neil shares his best advice with you, from his many years experience, as an advisor, coach and owner, to many businesses.

Neil kindly answers the frequently asked questions often asked by aspiring business owners:

Revealing why pricing is often about confidence and how offering discounts can hurt both you and your business.

(And why you shouldn’t worry about the competition…)

This interview was recorded live at JMS Studios in Hethersett, Norfolk, England.

www.inspirationalcreatives.com/podcast/285-neil-foley

www.businessgrowthclub.net

In this short action episode you’ll learn:

• How consistency and persistence can help you to achieve your creative aims
• The one thing that has kept Aaron and his business going
• What a creative business is really about
• What to do if your ideas are not working

In this short action episode, Phlearn.com founder and photographer, Aaron Nace, shares his wisdom when it comes to creating a life and business you want.

Hear how consistency and persistence can support you towards reaching your creative aspirations and lifelong ambitions.

And what not to do when your ideas aren’t working.

https://www.inspirationalcreatives.com/

In this interview, part two, chat with Phlearn founder, Aaron Nace, we explore pictures of friends, (dressed as clowns) to politically inspired, visually stimulating, images…

And telling stories with composite photos of cuddly creatures playing hide-and-seek with kids…

Aaron is clearly someone who enjoys his life, his work and his photography.

As the founder of Phlearn, Aaron has not only created a world-class professional teaching platform for students around the world interested in Photoshop and Lightroom skills;

He’s created a great place to work for himself and other creatives.

With over 600 tutorials and 1.8 million subscribers on YouTube, and counting, today, the Phlearn platform reaches folks through the power of video and tutorial in 149 countries from their base in Chicago.

In this episode, we explore more of Aaron’s journey, as a photographer and as an entrepreneur, and why he is so passionate about making his life and workplace a fun and exciting place to be everyday.

https://www.inspirationalcreatives.com/podcast/283-aaron-nace

Since launching five years ago, in November 2014, the Inspirational Creatives podcast has grown to over 100,000 downloads with a small yet highly engaged audience dedicated to creating, and leading, a more meaningful life with purpose.

To celebrate, host, founder and creator (curator) of Inspirational Creatives, Rob Lawrence, shares how his podcast has changed his life in the last five years and what the power of a podcast can do.

Get the new Inspirational Creatives app here.

Aaron Nace is an educator and photographer.

In 2011 he founded Phlearn to professional teach students around the world, Photoshop and Lightroom skills.

With over 600 tutorials and 1.8 million subscribers on YouTube, and counting, today, the Phlearn platform reaches folks through the power of video in 149 countries from their base in Chicago.

In this episode we hear how growing up in Hawaii gave Aaron the foundation to become a business owner.

And the daily challenges he’s faced with learning to become a leader of creative people in global and inspirational organisation.

In part one of this two part interview, we explore his love for photography, all things cooking, and the mindset Aaron had to wrap his head around shifting from employee to employer and entrepreneur.

https://www.inspirationalcretives.com/281-aaron-nace

https://www.phlearn.com