Summary
Caroline Laurenson, founder of TL Tech Smart Home Solution and Kind Space, shares her journey of starting a family business and creating a wellbeing Alexa voice app. She discusses the inspiration behind her business, the challenges she faced, and the benefits of running a family business. Caroline also talks about the process of creating her first voice app and the importance of user feedback. She shares her advice for fellow founders and recommends the book 'Playing Big' by Tara Mohr. Caroline's favorite inspirational quote is 'Every cloud has a silver lining.'
Takeaways
Starting a business can stem from a personal passion or a solution to a problem.
Transferable skills from previous careers can be valuable in entrepreneurship.
Building a personal brand and sharing your journey can create connections and opportunities.
Facing fear and taking risks can lead to personal and professional growth.
User feedback is crucial for improving products and services.
Every cloud has a silver lining - finding the positives in negative situations can lead to growth and resilience.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Series Overview
01:55 Caroline's Journey and Inspiration for TL Tech Smart Home Solution
07:38 Creating the Wellbeing Alexa Voice App: Kind Space
10:09 Challenges and Process of Creating the Voice App
14:04 Transitioning from a Career in Engineering to Entrepreneurship
17:29 The Impact and Rewards of Running a Family Business
21:13 Balancing Motherhood and Business Ownership
23:32 Financial Considerations and Advice for Entrepreneurs
27:06 Writing a Book and Future Plans
31:47 Pass It Along Questions: Advice, Book Recommendation, and Inspirational Quote
37:12 Conclusion
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33:25
From Passion to Print: Angela Garwood's Journey into Journalism
In this episode, Jess and Laura interview Angela Garwood, a writer and blogger, about her journey into journalism as a mother. Angela shares that she didn't always want to be a writer, but writing was always a passion of hers. She talks about the importance of having mentors and seeking guidance from experienced professionals in the industry. Angela also discusses the challenges of being a freelancer, including the uncertainty of income and the need to constantly learn and adapt. She emphasises the importance of delegating tasks and seeking help when needed. Angela shares her favourite inspirational quote: 'Clarity comes from engagement, not thought.'
Takeaways
Follow your curiosity and explore different interests to find what brings you joy.
Seek out mentors and guidance from experienced professionals in your industry.
Delegating tasks and seeking help can alleviate the challenges of being a freelancer.
Embrace uncertainty and be proactive in finding new opportunities.
Take action and engage in the process to gain clarity and overcome self-doubt.
Plan strategically and set goals, but be flexible and adapt as needed.
Market yourself and your business by providing value and being authentic.
Overcome the fear of selling yourself by focusing on the needs of your target audience.
Take the leap and figure things out along the way.
Clarity comes from engagement, not thought.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Overview
01:35 Angela's Journey into Journalism
03:19 Discovering a Passion for Writing
09:10 The Importance of Mentors
13:30 Accidental Entrepreneurship
17:39 The Superpower of Being Present
19:47 Challenges and Strategies for Freelancers
22:43 Navigating Fear and Taking Action
27:14 Marketing Yourself and Your Business
33:16 Favorite Inspirational Quote
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34:53
From Stage Lights to Startup Success
Summary
In this episode of the Smart Life podcast, Jess and Laura interview Charlotte Boundy, the founder of Bright Sparks PA. Charlotte shares her journey from being an actress to starting her own personal assistance company. She discusses the challenges she faced as an accidental entrepreneur and the importance of believing in yourself. Charlotte also talks about the training process for her PAs and her vision for the future of Bright Sparks PA. The episode concludes with quick-fire questions and valuable takeaways for fellow founders.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
03:00 From Actress to Entrepreneur: Charlotte's Journey
09:25 The Challenges and Joys of Being an Accidental Entrepreneur
12:23 Training PAs and Building a Vision for Bright Sparks PA
18:08 Believing in Yourself and Trusting Your Own Vision
20:59 Flexibility and Adaptability in the Ever-Changing Business Landscape
25:59 Embracing Rejection and Seeing 'No' as a Next Opportunity
27:58 Book Recommendations and Top Quotes
31:05 Supporting Women Returning to Work After Having a Family
33:41 Conclusion
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28:44
She Believed She Could: Louise Ralph's Path to Success
Summary
In this episode, Jess and Laura interview Louise Ralphs, the creative mastermind behind Lou Paper, a custom wedding stationery studio. Louise shares her journey from studying graphic design to working in fashion buying and marketing before finally pursuing her passion for illustration. She discusses the challenges of running her own business, the importance of having a support network, and the joy of being her own boss. Louise also talks about the difficulties of balancing work and motherhood, and the need to carve out time for herself. In this conversation, Louise discusses the importance of setting goals and the value of writing them down. She also talks about the benefits of getting outside help to evaluate different aspects of her business. Louise shares her experience of balancing work and motherhood, emphasizing the importance of finding trust in childcare and the power of saying no. She offers advice to fellow founders and recommends the book 'Little Black Book' as a valuable resource for working women. Louise's favorite inspirational quote is 'She believed she could, so she did.'
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
00:49 Louise's Journey and Passion for Illustration
03:47 Transition to Self-Employment
07:59 The Challenges and Rewards of Running a Business
11:54 The Importance of a Support Network
14:08 Balancing Work and Motherhood
17:01 Being Your Own Boss: Freedom and Flexibility
19:18 Setting Goals for Business and Personal Life
20:40 Setting and Writing Goals
22:07 The Value of Outside Help
24:36 Balancing Work and Motherhood
26:59 The Importance of Saying No
30:26 Switching Between Mom Brain and Work Brain
34:25 The Power of Saying No
37:06 Recommended Resource: 'Little Black Book'
37:56 Empowering Mantra: 'She Believed She Could, So She Did'
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35:23
Behind the Screens: Mental Health in Modern Workspaces
Summary
In this episode of the Smart Life podcast, the hosts discuss mental health in the context of managing stress in a deadline-driven environment and navigating the complexities of remote and hybrid work. They also explore the challenges of maintaining balance as working parents. The guests, Jonathan Curtis and Laura Bull, share their personal experiences and offer strategies for thriving in high-pressure environments and supporting mental well-being. They emphasize the importance of self-care, setting boundaries, and building a support network. The conversation also touches on the unique challenges of managing hybrid teams and the impact of parenting on mental health.
The Smart Life is a podcast looking at all things Smart Home and IoT. From the latest tech to the bigger questions around the role tech has to play in our lives, each episode, hosts Jess and Thomas will be joined by industry experts to break down the news behind the headlines.
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