Episode 30 is part two of a new mini series all about Motherhood & Entrepreneurship.This week I’m joined by Susan Ferguson, long time entrepreneur and mum of three, to chat about finding the elusive work life balance- and the boundaries that we need to create to effectively juggle self employment and motherhood.We share our lessons learned after years in business, why being open and honest on social media is so important, and talk a little bit about the shift we’re seeing in more REAL (and less “perfect”) content online.Susan also gives us her top tips for running a business with small kids at home, and shares what has worked well for her- with lots of honest perspective in between.If you’re juggling motherhood and entrepreneurship, trying to grow a business with small kids at home or a small business owner who is thinking about starting a family: this mini series is for you! Episode Links:Guest: Susan Ferguson, Sunshine MediaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunshinemediabiz/Website: https://www.sunshinemediaonline.comHost: Rhiannon Louden, Small Fish Brand CoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallfishbrandco/ Website: https://www.smallfishglasgow.co.uk Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhiannonmIntro/Outro music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

The Self Employed Mum: Mini Series Part OneEpisode 29 is part of a new mini series all about Motherhood & Entrepreneurship.Entrepreneurship is hard. Motherhood is hard. Pregnancy is hard. What happens when the three collide? This episode is all about planning for maternity leave as a self employed mother or mum to be. I'll share my challenges and experience of going through this twice, from planning for mat leave to maternity pay to outsourcing and everything in between- with lots of honest perspective on expectations and the pressure we put on ourselves while pregnant and running a business. Whether you've been through this before, are pregnant for the first time or are planning on growing your family at the same time as your business: this mini series is for you! Episode Links:Host: Rhiannon Louden Website: https://www.smallfishglasgow.co.uk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallfishbrandco/ & https://www.instagram.com/smallfishbigpod/ Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhiannonmIntro/Outro music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

(BITESIZE EPISODE)Episode 28 deals with a major obstacle for most (if not all) female entrepreneurs: imposter syndrome. 90% of women in the UK have felt held back by imposter syndrome and it is especially prevalent amongst women small business owners. In this episode we'll look at why imposter syndrome affects female entrepreneurs more than men/those in professional careers and how to identify imposter syndrome in yourself before I share a five step strategy to dealing with imposter syndrome as an entrepreneur. If you've ever struggled with self doubt, feelings of inadequacy or fear of failure, this episode is for you!Episode Links:The Telegraph Business article: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/women-entrepreneurs/imposter-syndrome-women-careers/Marie Claire article: https://www.marieclaire.co.uk/life/work/how-to-combat-imposter-syndrome-when-wfh-706324Host: Rhiannon Louden Website: https://www.smallfishglasgow.co.uk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallfishbrandco/ & https://www.instagram.com/smallfishbigpod/ Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhiannonmIntro/Outro music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

(BITESIZE EPISODE)Episode 27 is all about taking a break as an entrepreneur: why it's important, why it's challenging, and how to make it happen. I share my top tips for planning ahead to allow yourself to take a proper (guilt-free) break, including what I did to prepare for my REAL week off and what happened to my business while I was gone. Spoiler alert- I survived and so did my business, totally unscathed. This episode is for anyone who runs a business, from those just starting out to those well established (and everyone in between): it might be just the nudge you need to get that next holiday booked, guilt and worry free. Episode Links:Harvard Business Review article: https://hbr.org/2015/08/the-research-is-clear-long-hours-backfire-for-people-and-for-companiesHost: Rhiannon Louden Website: https://www.smallfishglasgow.co.uk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallfishbrandco/ Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhiannonmIntro/Outro music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Part two in a new series of mini episodes titled "Branding Small Business"- these short, actionable episodes are chock full of small business tips, advice and ideas- each one focused on a topic specific to creating a strong brand as a small business. This episode is all about finding your own unique brand values- and the best way to communicate them with your audience. We'll talk through what brand values are and why they're important before we delve into a step by step process for determining what values best represent your brand and how to communicate them effectively with your audience via your website and through social media and content creation. If you're just starting a small business, thinking about a rebrand or want to power up your branding- these mini episodes are for you! Episode Links:Host: Rhiannon Louden Website: https://www.smallfishglasgow.co.uk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallfishbrandco/ Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhiannonmIntro/Outro music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Brand values are a powerful part of your brand identity: they give meaning to what you do, they make your audience feel more invested in your work and they communicate what’s important to you, as a business owner and as a person. Laura has made her brand values front and centre for her business, Fernweh UK, and she feels it’s one of the most important things she’s done to get to where she is today. In Episode 25, Laura shares her business story, from studying design to being inspired by nature and creating a business around all the things she loves most- and how finding and sharing strong brand values has helped her to find her path going forward. She talks us through each of her brand values, how she managed to pinpoint them, and how she uses her website and social media to communicate those values with her audience. We also chat about the importance of authenticity, standing out in your industry, and taking time out to think about the big picture stuff- not just at the start of your business journey, but regularly.Tune in now- and don't forget to let us know what you think by leaving a review or hitting "subscribe" to be the first to know when new episodes air! Episode Links:Guest: Laura Sheriffs, Founder of Fernweh UKwww.fernwehuk.comhttps://www.instagram.com/fernwehuk/https://www.facebook.com/fernwehuk/Host: Rhiannon Louden Website: https://www.smallfishglasgow.co.uk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallfishphotoco/ Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhiannonmIntro/Outro music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Episode 24: Branding Small Business Series- Finding Your USP & Sharing it with your AudienceThe first in a new series of mini episodes titled "Branding Small Business"- these short, actionable episodes are chock full of small business tips, advice and ideas- each one focused on a topic specific to creating a strong brand as a small business. This episode is all about finding your own unique selling points- and the best way to communicate them with your audience. We'll talk about four main points to think about when determining your USPs (plus a bonus category) and all the ways you can communicate to your audience what it is that sets you apart from the competition.If you're just starting a small business, thinking about a rebrand or an established business who wants to power up their branding- these mini episodes are for you! Episode Links:Host: Rhiannon Louden Website: https://www.smallfishglasgow.co.uk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallfishbrandco/ Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhiannonmIntro/Outro music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Pandemic Perspectives (Part Two of Two): lessons learned keeping small businesses afloat in 2020This episode is a collaborative exploration of the silver linings Scotland’s small business community found during a year that challenged our resilience, our ability to adapt and our will to survive as entrepreneurs in the midst of a global pandemic. Bringing 26 small business owners together, across Scotland, England and all the way over in Canada, sharing the unique silver linings of what the past ten months has taught us and the important lessons we will take forward into this new year and the future of our businesses.  This collaboration celebrates ‘community over competition’, passion and resilience- and the ways in which we have adapted to support each other and be there for our communities through incredibly challenging times.This episode features (in order of appearance):Rhiannon (host): https://www.instagram.com/smallfishphotoco/ & https://www.instagram.com/rhiannoneale/Alice: https://www.instagram.com/papeteriebespoke/Alex: https://www.instagram.com/alexfraser_coaching/Heather: https://www.instagram.com/badgalboocha/Hayley: https://www.instagram.com/hayleypalmquistphoto/Emmelie: https://www.instagram.com/weewildmonsters/April: https://www.instagram.com/agateandayre/Lorna: https://www.instagram.com/bizmixer/Jill: https://www.instagram.com/midlifesmarts/Sandra: https://www.instagram.com/chiyaandchai/Shuna: https://www.instagram.com/theteajenny/Cat: https://www.instagram.com/paintspylons/Dana: https://www.instagram.com/diversitydana/Intro/Outro music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Pandemic Perspectives (Part One of Two): lessons learned keeping small businesses afloat in 2020This episode is a collaborative exploration of the silver linings Scotland’s small business community found during a year that challenged our resilience, our ability to adapt and our will to survive as entrepreneurs in the midst of a global pandemic. Bringing 26 small business owners together, across Scotland, England and all the way over in Canada, sharing the unique silver linings of what the past ten months has taught us and the important lessons we will take forward into this new year and the future of our businesses.  This collaboration celebrates ‘community over competition’, passion and resilience- and the ways in which we have adapted to support each other and be there for our communities through incredibly challenging times.This episode features (in order of appearance):Rhiannon (host): https://www.instagram.com/smallfishphotoco/ & https://www.instagram.com/rhiannoneale/Miriam: https://www.instagram.com/mjs_personaltrainer/Denise: https://www.instagram.com/sandstonecastles.marketing/Niki: https://www.instagram.com/hiyapalcards/Jen: https://www.instagram.com/cosyweereads/Laura: https://www.instagram.com/reikicoachingtherapy/Jess: https://www.instagram.com/rocksocial_/Jenn: https://www.instagram.com/blackandwhite.marketing/Neil: https://www.instagram.com/neilthomasdouglas/Rosie: https://www.instagram.com/portraitsskye/Jane: https://www.instagram.com/laserflair/Euan: https://www.instagram.com/popup_spot/Laurie: https://www.instagram.com/your_fairyjobmother/Adele: https://www.instagram.com/willowgrovecoffee/Intro/Outro music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com

Reflections on 2020: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (but mostly the good).Doing something a wee bit different this week and joining forces with the host of my favourite podcast, Abby of Mind Yer Business Podcast. We take turns asking the questions, and have a real, honest chat about what 2020 has taught us about entrepreneurship- from our perspective as female founders and as part of the small business community in Scotland. Abby & I share our biggest lessons learned in 2020, the inspiration we found through networking and the things we want to take forward into 2021. Tune in now for a little end of year inspiration- and lots to think about when you're planning your new year goals. Episode Links:Abby Website: https://mindyerbusiness.scot/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindyerbusinesspodcastRhiannonWebsite: https://www.smallfishglasgow.co.uk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallfishphotoco/ Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhiannonmIntro/Outro music credit: https://www.purple-planet.com