A Facilitator's Journey: Real Life Stories

Join Kirsty and Kurt Lindley as they dive into the life of running a business as a facilitator, trainer, coach, and consultant. They chat about everything from juggling workloads and managing diaries to the ups and downs of cash flow. It’s a candid discussion about the importance of finding balance in both your professional and personal lives, packed with practical tips for building strong client relationships and maintaining well-being.

Kurt is from South Africa, grew up in Yorkshire and puts his family first, always. Kurt's a bit of a procrastinator and a dreamer, always lost in thought or scribbling down poems.

In this episode, he brings his passion for learning and exploring, sharing how these traits play into his professional strategies and personal philosophies.

Kirsty and Kurt touch on several important topics:

1. how effective workload and diary management can keep you on top of your game.
2. strategies for keeping the financial side of your business healthy.
3. why taking quiet periods for reflection is crucial for growth.
4. finding the sweet spot with pricing to keep both you and your clients happy.
5. maintaining your mental health and setting boundaries for a happier, more fulfilling career.

My invitation to you is to grab a cuppa, join me on the pink seat and tune in your ears.

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A Facilitator's Journey is the podcast that looks at how you run your businesses as a facilitator or trainer.

You started this work because you have a passion that you want to share with organisations. However, there is the small detail that you are now running a business and this requires a whole other set of skills and knowledge.

Join me, Kirsty Lewis, Founder of School of Facilitation, as I interview trainers and facilitators about how they manage their businesses. I will explore how people run their finances, price their work, scale up, scale down, decide to retire, market themselves, manage clients, and much much more.

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

To Niche or Not to Niche - That is the question!

Many are told early on in their foray into freelancing that niching is a good idea. whilst logical it can still leave us scratching our heads about how to start, where to start, how to do it and maybe even asking if it is worth it.

In this episode, Cat Hase and I talk about finding our niches and how to discover and refine your niche. We share the value of networking, seeking external validation, and conversing with others to gain clarity. Cat reminds us to stay open to opportunities outside of the niche and the importance of aligning the niche with personal values and interests.

Cat is a creativity coach and helps facilitators and trainers to bring more play into their workshops. Cat loves designing and creating activities. her favourite question is "Do you have any ideas for....."

In this episode we cover the following

1. The Topic of Niching
2. Knowing What You Want to Do
3. Defining What You Enjoy and Don't Enjoy
4. The Decision to Niche
5. Finding Your Niche
6. The Importance of Retreats and Conversations
7. The Moment of Clarity
8. The Value of Conversations in Refining Your Niche
9. Advice for Finding Your Niche
10. Noticing Signs That Your Niche Isn't Working
11. Myth: Niching Means Saying No to Other Opportunities
12. Showcasing Your Strengths Through Niching
13. The Importance of Clear Communication and Marketing
14. Building a Network of Niche Experts
15. The Role of Timing in Niching and Offer Development
16. Investing in Yourself and Your Business

My invitation to you is to grab a cuppa, join me on the pink seat and tune in your ears.

____

A Facilitator's Journey is the podcast that looks at how you run your businesses as a facilitator or trainer.

You started this work because you have a passion that you want to share with organisations. However, there is the small detail that you are now running a business and this requires a whole other set of skills and knowledge.

Join me, Kirsty Lewis, Founder of School of Facilitation, as I interview trainers and facilitators about how they manage their businesses. I will explore how people run their finances, price their work, scale up, scale down, decide to retire, market themselves, manage clients, and much much more.

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

In this episode of the SOF Podcast, host Kirsty welcomes Mark Walsh, an embodiment teacher, and business entrepreneur, to discuss his fascinating journey from running a small business to a multimillion-pound business and back to a medium-sized business.. Mark shares his insights on the nature of connection and the lessons he learned from scaling his business. This conversation is packed with valuable advice for anyone navigating their own entrepreneurial path, balancing work and well-being, and looking to incorporate embodiment into their professional practice.

Key Discussion Points:

1. The Nature of Connection - Exploring how meaningful connections extend beyond words to include physical presence
2. Mark's Business Evolution - The journey from solopreneur to running a multi-million pound company
3. Challenges and Lessons in Scaling a Business - expanding too quickly and knowing when to scale back.
4. Insights on managing stress, maintaining a healthy work-life balance, and creating a sustainable business model.
5. Outsourcing and Delegation - The importance of building a team that supports your business goals.
6. Diverse Metrics of Success - Evaluating success through various metrics beyond financial performance, such as email engagement rates and team happiness.
7. Continuous Learning and Development - The value of ongoing education and upskilling for both personal growth and enhancing team capabilities.

Join us for an insightful conversation with Mark Walsh that delves into the practicalities of embodiment, the realities of running a business, and the importance of staying true to your values and passions.

I invite you to grab a cuppa, join me on the pink seat and tune in your ears.

____

A Facilitator's Journey is the podcast that looks at how you run your businesses as a facilitator or trainer.

You started this work because you have a passion that you want to share with organisations. However, there is the small detail that you are now running a business and this requires a whole other set of skills and knowledge.

Join me, Kirsty Lewis, Founder of School of Facilitation, as I interview trainers and facilitators about how they manage their businesses. I will explore how people run their finances, price their work, scale up, scale down, decide to retire, market themselves, manage clients, and much much more.

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

This episode explores how the inner world of the business leader creates the shape and flow of the business they lead. Our values, beliefs, experiences, thoughts and emotions all lend themselves to the structure, behaviours and outputs of our business.

Dr. Simon Kettleborough is the founding partner of Aephoria, an organisation that helps humans flourish.

We speak about the four different brains we can access to help us make meaning in this age of complexity, the difference between therapy and coaching, why taking a look at our inner world is beneficial.

Grab a cup of tea,

Sit back and enjoy the episode.

About Simon

Simon is one of the founders of Aephoria, a team of talented and committed leadership and organisational development practitioners.

Over the past 26 years, Simon's career spanned consulting, leadership roles in private, public, and non-profit sectors, encompassing Leadership Development, Coaching, Existential Psychotherapy, Diversity and Inclusion, Strategy, and Sustainable Development. He transitioned to self-employment in 2002, establishing businesses in the UK, South Africa, and Brazil. Early in his career, he gained insight into organisational dynamics from within, working in Sales & Marketing, Business Development, and Consulting at Arthur D. Little, Diageo, and British Steel.

Simon has called Cape Town home since 2009 and has previously resided and worked extensively in the UK, France, Belgium, Brazil, and South Africa.

In his free time, Simon enjoys cycling through the Western Cape's forests and mountains or playing keyboards in his 80s rock band.

Simon's social links

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-simon-kettleborough-05b080a/

Website: https://aephoriapartners.com/about/aephoria-core-team/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aephoriapartners7848/featured

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

This episode is all about money and pricing. Listen if you want to stretch your thinking!

Laura Payne-Stanley is a Success Management Consultant and a Coach. She works with private individuals as well as corporates and small businesses to enable them to create and live the life they want.

In this conversation, Kirsty and Laura delve into the intricacies of business success management, focusing on the importance of pricing strategies, the value of personal branding, and the inner work required for entrepreneurs to confidently present their worth. They discuss how to define success, the significance of naming a business, and the realities of financial management, emphasising that pricing should reflect the outcomes delivered rather than just time spent.

Laura shares insights on constructing a desired lifestyle through pricing and the necessity of believing in one's value to communicate it to clients effectively.

Kirsty's Key Takeaways

1. Pricing is the difference between a successful business and a hobby.
2. Construct your life parameters before setting prices.
3. Understanding your value is crucial for pricing confidence.
4. Raising rates is a choice that should be made with confidence.
5. B2E is a new model that combines elements of B2B and B2C.
6. Understanding client needs is crucial for effective pricing strategies.

I invite you to grab a cuppa, join me on the pink seat, and tune in your ears.

____

A Facilitator's Journey is the podcast that looks at how you run your business as a facilitator or trainer.

You started this work because you have a passion that you want to share with organisations. However, there is the small detail that you are now running a business and this requires a whole other set of skills and knowledge.

Join me, Kirsty Lewis, Founder of School of Facilitation, as I interview trainers and facilitators about how they manage their businesses. I will explore how people run their finances, price their work, scale up, scale down, decide to retire, market themselves, manage clients, and much much more.

Key Links:

Visit Laura's website HERE

Connect with Laura on Instagram HERE

Connect with Laura on Linkedin HERE

Visit the School of Facilitation website HERE

Connect with me on Instagram HERE

Connect with me on Linkedin HERE

[email protected]

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