Today’s episode is a very special one because it is officially my 200th podcast episode! I have my lovely husband Paul joining me for an ‘ask us anything’ style episode with questions from my amazing community.
KEY TAKEAWAYS COVERED IN THE PODCAST
- Diane from Shine Business asked what camera I use and about my home studio set up. I use a Panasonic G7/G85 for my camera, I have two LED lights and a tripod that connects to my desk that keeps everything at the same height. I have an AudioTechnic Mic for my podcast and a road mic for interviews and speaking. The camera lens I use is 20mm Lens Panasonic f1.7.
- Diane also asked what eye makeup I use – I use Naked palettes from Urban Decay and also use some from Younique.
- Wendy Hill from Hill Start Nutrition asked what is on our travel bucket list – On Paul’s is Yellowstone National Park and mine is Japan. Wendy also asked if any of my family actually know what I do – the answer is, not really!
- Laura from cruise coaching asked how long it took for me to get consistent clients and income – After the first year or so, I took on a VA to help with consistency which then helped my whole business to be more consistent.
- Nic from In Craft Corner asked who we would have a conversation with dead or alive who would it be – I said Breneé Brown and Paul said Richard Branson.
- Nic also asked if I have any tips for someone who wants to become a public speaker – this has a lot to do with your confidence but know your subject inside and out. Be completely yourself! Start small and just start doing it.
- Jo from The Foodies asked if we had one day’s notice to do a dinner party for lots of important guests, what would we make? – I would make my famous Beef Wellington and Paul would make Sausage, Chips and Beans!
- Karuna from Soul Enterprise asked what questions to ask a marketer you might want to hire – If they have worked in your industry that could be a good thing but they don’t have to have. I would ask what experience they have and what they do, have a look at their own social media and see what it’s like! How are they educating themselves and keeping up with the latest trends?
- Kate from Workflow with Kate asked what is the most ridiculous thing you have ever heard someone say? – People who think they know everything and are arrogant – there is always something to learn and learn from!
- Kate asked Paul what the most useless thing he has ever bought is – some 20cm wide curtains!
- Kate asked what our best pieces of advice are – Paul said don’t get stressed too much about everything, try and be positive and not keeping thinking about the negatives that could happen. I said what if this Is exactly where you are meant to be right now? There is a reason for everything.
- Caroline from Hunkington House Kitchen asked about my daily routine and how I plan it with distractions – It is all about your season of life, be realistic and understand your limitations. Try to get up 15 mins before you know your children will be up to have some time for you. Plan what you are going to do every day whilst looking at your diary and don’t beat yourself up!
- Caroline also asked how I feel giving advice and helping other business owners – It is the best thing ever knowing I can support people with their business and give them ideas to generate sales and improve their business/life. For me, that’s why I do this stuff! I love it so much.
- Leigh from Soul Resuscitation asked what my dream gig is and who I would most like to interview – The dream place for me to speak used to be Social Media Marketing World which didn’t happen but now it would be to do a TED talk. I would most like to interview Breneé Brown.
- Simone from Simone Sumers asked if there was a pivotal point in my life that everything changed – It all changed when I was working as a nursery nurse and started babysitting – they were all pretty successful and had the most beautiful houses. It really opened my eyes and made me want more.
- Paula from Outstand Development asked when I have laughed the hardest in my life – I do laugh a lot but a time that stands out is when I used to have a graphic designer called Matt and we would send each other street talk voice notes.
- Steph from Stephanie Jane Home Alignments asked what I would say to someone who wants to go against the grain – We have been bought up in a society where we go to school, then college, then university, then get a job and there needs to be other ways. You have to be realistic that you can achieve anything! If you are willing to put the work in, you can totally do anything.
- Carol from Caiger Art asked if I think there is a time limit to making a business successful – no not at all! It all depends what ‘success’ means for you.
- Carol also asked do we like the same music? We both like pop and dance music. Paul doesn’t like the old stuff as much!
- Louise from Louise Sims Web Services asked if I were hosting a dinner party, who would I invite – It would have to be Stephen Fry and Chris Hemsworth!
- Kim from Kim Carr Coaching asked if I were in charge of Glastonbury festival, who would the top 3 pyramid stage artists be? – Gorgon City, P!NK and Take That.
- Gail from Gail Sibley Artist asked the first step to take to hire someone – you always think you’re not ready and it is scary! I found a VA near me who I was recommended, we sat down and had a bit of an informal interview. To start with, she did 10 hours a month and it was AMAZING! She freed up so much of my time that I could grow my business and then hire more people.
- Gail also asked how I stay motivated – If you need a break, have a break! But I do love what I do so most of the time I am really passionate and motivated.
- Gail asked if we both have the same hobbies – we LOVE the garden and being out there/doing it. Paul loves to ski, walk and mountains, I don’t. Our joint hobby is probably drinking gin, we are very good at it!
- Biz Paul asked if I were world president, what would my first act be? It would be to install prosecco fountains in high streets and have it come through the mains. Then a 4 day work week as a standard!
- Jennifer Gilmour from Latte and Live asked if me and Paul fall out, does it affect my business? We don’t fall out often but if we do it doesn’t affect the business because I just come away to my office and continue!
- Shannon from Actually Social asked where the weirdest place I have a scar is – I have one on the top of my nose from picking a chicken pox spot and I have one on my leg where I was riding a bike that was too big for me and I fell off. Paul has one on his finger from when he was a maintenance guy at a stately home when he was 18/29, he was cutting some branches off a tree with a bow saw!
- Shannon also asked what the most exciting non-work related trip we have taken is – My very first trip to Vegas when we got married!
- Shannon also asked how we met – I hated online dating but I went back on and we started talking. When we met in real life, Paul looked so much better than his profile!
THE ONE THING YOU NEED TO REMEMBER ABOVE ALL ELSE…
Don’t take things too seriously!
HIGHLIGHTS YOU SIMPLY CAN’T MISS
LINKS TO RESOURCES MENTIONED IN TODAY’S EPISODE
Transcript Below
Hello, and a really warm welcome to episode 200. Can you actually believe I'd done 200 episodes? Crazy. I sent out an email actually the other week saying I've been doing it for over a year and a half.
And I obviously got my math’s entirely wrong because 200 episodes is more like three years, I think. Anyway, today is a very different episode. First off, as you heard from the intro, I have a guest with me today.
Hi, this is so funny. So, this is my lovely husband Paul. Say Hi to everyone Paul.
Paul: Hi.
Teresa: And Paul has been on the podcast before this isn't your debut attending, is it?
Paul: No, it's not. No.
Teresa: We did episode a hundred and we were interviewed by the lovely BizPaul weren't we?
Paul: And that was nice.
Teresa: It was, it was good, fun, and people really enjoyed it.
So when it came to doing episode 200, I wanted to do things a bit differently. But I also wanted to do something a bit fun, which is why the lovely Paul is with me today. But it feels a bit odd. Last time we were being interviewed in a podcast studio by BizPaul. Today, we are crammed in my office, which isn't small, but it feels small to have this in here.
It's really warm. We are both sweating. Because we can't have the fan on. Because it makes too much noise and Paul and I just talking to ourselves, which is.
Paul: Is nice.
Teresa: It's nice. Bit odd.
Very odd, but nice. Okay. So we've got a loaded questions and also interspersed, you will have, uh, questions from my online events. So basically during the online event SOAR that is members only.
I ask people to ask me and I think and this really isn't a ask me anything they we've got some really good business questions. And we've got some really funny, personal, different questions. And basically what's going to happen through this whole podcast episode is we're going to intersperse those in our conversation.
When I say we, we're not gonna do it, Phil's gonna do it. So he will decide where there's a good pause and he will check in a question that was recorded during my event. So this should be fun. Are you ready, Mr. Paul?
Paul: Yes, I think so.
Teresa: So we're going to start off with the serious question. And then we'll, we'll mix up.
Let's see what will fit. Okay. So the first question is from Diane in Shine Business, which she runs with her friend, her friend, her partner, Claire, and they offer training and support to Hair and Beauty professionals. And then, um, in marketing, pricing contracts, HR, et cetera, they also have a membership called Shine Bright.
Okay. So her question was, uh, you mentioned recently that you went mainly from face to face talking events to online and that you had to adapt and invest in camera tech, where the right, you know, this, I hate reading. I hate reading. So this episode is going to be a bit like weird anyway. Uh, we're the exact same here.
So we're the exact same thing here. Told you, can't read. We're just trying to figure out through the tech. It would be really helpful to know what camera you use and anything else that you recommend for your home studio setup. Okay. So that's the first question. She's got a second part question. So the camera Paul is.
A is it Panasonic Windex?
Paul: Panasonic Windex.
Teresa: And we're going to find out and link to the exact one in the show notes. We also have these two lights that are like that. I used to have ring lights. Didn't I, and then big photography lights, but these are like LED or they LED? Two LED lights. And also we've just bought this new thing, I would say technical. What have we done for the desk?
Paul: It's like one pole instead of like, um, having tripod with your camera on it's just one pole that's, um, connected to the table itself. Cause your table rises and lowers down. So yeah, it keeps everything at that height. So when the table goes up, the camera goes up and the mic goes up as well.
Teresa: Yeah. So I have two mics. I have this one that I record, which is audio technic. This is on is for the podcast. And then I have a road mic, which is connected to the camera, which I use for interviews. And when I'm on screen, um, the other thing that's nice is this camera and I'll put the link to the lens in the show notes.
Is that this lens blurs the background and that's really nice, isn't it? Cause it just makes it look so much sharper and better. Yeah. Gives you that that's a field, which is really what it gets so hope that helps. But I will link up to them in the show notes. Also, I must give Adrian Salisbury shoutout at this point because it was his course that I did and he tells you all the tech and how to put it together.
So I will also link to him in the show notes as well. So the other questions I had was, uh, she also really loves my makeup look and in particular my eye makeup. So this is a cheeky question. What I makeup do you use? No problem if you'd rather not answer. I'm more than happy. I'm an open, but you know that.
So I use a few different things. I use naked pallets from Urban Decay, and I also use some from Unique. Um, I'll try and link to them in the show notes. I started using it, forgotten to put my thing on silent. Let me just do not disturb. See, just so you know we're not any more professional on the 200 episodes as we want them.
So, yeah, I use Unique, I use, uh, Urban Decay for, eye make-up just one tip on the only makeup thing. I have really dark eye makeup. So it's the first thing I do. So once I've like put the cream on my face and whatever, before I do any foundation, I put my eye makeup because I can guarantee, like I looked like, I don't know what I looked like.
Like I've been punched in the face or something because it, the darkness is all around my eyes. And then I use a white to get rid of the excess and then I put my foundation on. So hope that helps also I use eyeliner, above and below my eye and I use Urban Decay. I'm looking at Paul, like he knows what it's called a Waterline eyeliner.
That's the one I use. It's really good. Cause I wear contact lenses and we have this trip. We were in
Paul: Vegas.
Teresa: Yeah. We started off in Vegas and then we're heading to Laguna for a photo shoot and there was something wrong with my eyes and my contact lenses and I couldn't wear them and it didn't know what it was.
Um, So basically I had to have my photo shoot with my glasses, which wasn't very happy. And then, and then I took them off some photos, and then we went and paid a really expensive trip to the opticians in Laguna and basically there was nothing wrong. It was my eyeliner and it took days to fix. It was awful.
But anyway, so I now use that particular one, which is good for contact lenses. Okay. Hopefully that helped. So next question. Let's go with the lovely Wendy Hill from HillStart Nutrition. Who's a member. So she's put you both love to travel. What's on your bucket list. There you go. Paul, what's yours.
Paul: Uh, I think for me it, um, Yellowstone National Park.
Teresa: You like mountains and scenery. Don't you?
Paul: Yeah. And the nature and all that kind of stuff. So, yeah. So that would be my, my go-to, which it's quite of crazy. Cause we're not that far when we go over to our friends in LA and we've just never had the chance to go over have we?
Teresa: No.
Paul: Right. Would that be good?
Teresa: Yeah. I think mine I'd actually really love to go to like Japan or something like that. Like we've never been in that part of the world have we?
Paul: No.
Teresa: We tend to go to the States a lot. So yeah, they're probably, but pretty much anywhere right now. I'd happily go anywhere just to be able to get on a plane and travel again. And when does this is on the Workfront, Teresa, do any of your family actually know what you do? Like what do you think? I don't think they. No, not really. I think, I dunno.
Paul: I've got some idea, obviously here you are doing your podcast all the time and yeah, course and stuff.
Teresa: But yeah, I don't think they really,
Paul: If, if you, if you ask the question, I don't
Teresa: What do I actually do? Yeah. I think my dad once said, “I can't believe people pay you to speak. I had to listen to you talk like the whole time you were younger and I can't believe people actually pay to do that now, which is really nice.” Thanks, Dad. Um, so Paul, what's your biggest marketing tip? Now I need to explain this because Paul thinks he's really funny, don't you Paul? Um, and he often like likes to share his marketing tips, uh, because he thinks by osmosis, just living with me, he's now a marketing genius.
So what tips have you got for us, Paul? The listeners are keen to hear your words of inspiration.
Paul: Obviously. Where did he put leaflets question mark and that's, uh, uh, you know, a no brainer really at this day and age, you know, things as things come back like trends and all that kind of stuff. But do you feel that, um, leaflets could come back and it would be.
Um, I don't know, positive action for your company tracing.
Teresa: So the other one that Paul always talks about is he says I need merch.
Paul: Yeah.
Teresa: Right.
Paul: Especially like on a day today, I'm here, sat in here sweating.
Teresa: He constantly tells me I need sweat bands with my name on which I don't think it's going to be a thing. If I have merch, it's got to be like branded vertically gay or something amazing like that, isn't it.
Paul: Yeah. But that's not an everyday thing. People can't just walk around with PK bottles and stuff, but they can walk around with sweatpants on.
Teresa: Teresa Heath-Wareing stuff that's awful. Awful idea. Thanks though. Uh, okay, next question. That we'll go back to the serious one. So, uh, the loving Laura from Cruise Coaching said, how long did it take you to get consistent?
Sorry. Get consistency of clients and income. As in what did the early days of your business look like? I don't know about you, but I don't remember, like, that feels like a lifetime ago.
Paul: Yeah, it does.
Teresa: So I think, I remember actually the reason I took on Katie, my first team member was because it wasn't consistent.
So I would go through the problem of being really busy, getting loads of clients, stop marketing, because I got super busy and I didn't have time. And then those clients have come to a natural end or contract are finish or whatever, and then I'd be panicking then.
Paul: Yeah, it was weird. You wouldn't have a, you wouldn't have consistency at that point.
I don't think here was like where you as a business, wasn't that committed. And then, and then there would be certain times where kind of now, and at Christmas should really slow down.
Teresa: Like, I remember one Christmas, it literally fell on its backside and I was like, what on earth is happening? And then the next Christmas I planned for it and I was so busy. It just didn't make any sense. Did it?
Paul: No.
Teresa: But I think that was probably in the first one, two years. And honestly, I think the minute I brought on Katie to help take some of the strain, meaning I could be more consistent to show up the more my business then started to become consistent with clients, didn't that?
Paul: Yeah.
Teresa: And also like changing some of my products. I think in the early days I would just do anything because I just needed money. And so I would do project-based stuff, whereas not, not now, but in the latter part of the agency, all I do retainer stuff really wasn't that. So they had to pay so much a month and I knew that that was coming in and that helped get consistent.
But in those early days it was a little bit scrappy. And, you know, what's interesting is I made really bad mistakes because I took on business that I shouldn't have. I worked with people that were awful didn't they? And have to them ends up firing them. Because I think in the end of the days, when you're like panicking. Thinking, I need this business, I need the money, which I did because at the point I started my business, Paul and I had only just met, but I lived on my own with my daughter and literally had to pay all the bills and everything until, you know, a year or two later then when we moved in together.
But, but like taking on someone and stepping back a bit and, and having that chance to look at the business really, really helped. So I would definitely recommend maybe thinking about who else you've got your business and who else gonna help. Just to take some of the stuff away from you that you don't have to do.
That would be helpful. Okay. Uh, next question. Uh, we're going to go for Nick, uh, who has In Craft Corner, who's a member. For both of you. If you could have a conversation with anyone dead or alive, who would it be?
Paul: You go first.
Teresa: Okay. So I think I actually I've just changed my mind just about to say Brené Brown.
Cause you know, I love Brené but actually I think, oh no, I change my mind again. I thought Oprah and then I thought Michelle Obama and then I thought like, should it be someone really hot? Like Chris Hampson. Obviously not as hot as you.
Paul: Yeah thanks. That's pretty hot at the moment.
Teresa: Yeah. We're really hot at the moment, but more in a heat way than any other way.
So yeah, I think, no, I think I'm going to go over Brené. It'd be great to talk to her. What about you?
Paul: Richard Branson? I think, um, is one of the first and very few books I've read. So I read autobiography many, many years ago. Um, I was lucky enough when I was growing up. Um, my parents used to take us on holiday every year.
And as I got to my teenage years, we went to the States a few times. And, um, that's when Virgin Atlantic was fairly new. And, um, yeah, so flew on, um, there 74 sevens, quite a few times, and me being into aviation stuff was a, it was a great company, a great airline to fly with and inspire me to kind of find out about Richard Branson and read about him.
I followed him since really.
Teresa: And we watched the other day didn't we watch is in space, which is amazing. And his story is amazing. So I think what we'd have to do is, you know, those conversations would have to be with both of us. So I could talk to him too. And you can talk to Brené. Do you know Brené?
Paul: I've heard her name.
Teresa: He doesn't know who she is. That's fine we can introduce. Okay. Next question. Joe has said, uh, so she's from the Foodies. Who's also a member. She said, if you had one, days’ notice to plan and host a dinner for brunch. Oh, not brunch, a bunch. I thought, oh no, I wasn't thinking brunch. A bunch of important people.
What would you make? So I think, and I don't know if Paul agrees, probably my fanciest thing that I make is my Beef Wellington.
Paul: Yeah.
Teresa: It would have to be some dauphinoise potatoes, some kind of red whiny szou thing. And although it'd be kind of ironic cause I can't eat it cause it's got pastry and I can't eat pastry. Uh, but I'd maybe make a gluten free one for me. What would you make Paul?
Paul: Um, sausage chips and beans probably.
Teresa: So, Paul and I right. I educated Paul when we got together. Didn't I?
Paul: On food? Yeah.
Teresa: Yeah. So basically Paul is he's, he's a military man. He's in the military for a long time and he's very practical. So Paul eats to live. Like, “I'm hungry. My body needs food. I will eat food.”
And it doesn't, it didn't really used to matter to you a whole lot. Did it?
Paul: No, it wasn't.
Teresa: And then I came along and I live to eat. Like, and if I'm going to eat a meal, it has to be the best thing ever. I hate wasting calories. I hate eating something and that was not worth it. So anyway, my high-maintenance cooking came into play and now Paul doesn't cook at all, really because I, the stuff I make you don't want to make, but you do love.
Paul: And I do all the prep with you though.
Teresa: Oh yeah. He's a good sous chef. I'll tell you what's prep. And then I do the cooking, but he doesn't like effort in cooking. You're frustrated, isn't it?
Paul: Yeah. It just takes time.
Teresa: Yeah. So you'd really rather not do all that, but yeah. So I think, I think that's probably the best thing I would cook.
Isn't it? Yeah. Although, no, you told me once that, uh, one of my meals was like, you'd pay money for it. And that wasn't the beef. It was a chicken burger.
Paul: Oh, yeah, that's nice.
Teresa: Yeah.
Paul: That's really cute.
Teresa: Literally just the chicken burger.
Paul: And you do good result to it.
Teresa: I do nice was I'll say I do all my foods. Nice. Well.
Paul: Yeah.
Teresa: Although I'm trying to be healthier and it's not like in the lentils and the beans and that sort of thing. Not for him.
Paul: Nope.
Teresa: Okay. So that's what we've made Joe, uh, so you'd have to choose whether you'd want to go to Paul's sausage, eggs, chips and beans there on my view. I mean, I'm not, not mocking sausage, eggs and beans. It's quite nice. Okay. So next, let's go with another worky question. Two seconds. I scroll down and find it. So this one is, How to hone your message. I have read about doing market research, but don't have time to go around asking folks what their top three challenges are, et cetera. What questions as a marketer might.
Sorry I told you I hate reading. I should make Paul read these what questions to ask a marketer you might want to hire? Especially at the beginning of your business. So that's by now. I hope I pronounce your name right Karuna, that I think that that's right from Soul's Enterprise. They are, they help spiritual abuse and sexual abuse survivors make money and get the relationships they truly deserve.
Amazing. So questions to ask a marketer. So I did a blog on this ages ago. Remember about how to hire a social media person, but, um, let me think, let me think. So for me, if they've worked in your industry, that could be a good thing. That's not to say they have to work near at you. I've worked in so many different industries, so many different businesses, and for me, that's only ever helped because it just means I get lots of experience doing lots different things.
But if they have got some experience, then that is helpful. You want to be asking things like what experience they have, what do they do? One thing that's really important. If someone's going to say to you, I see this all the time. It really irritates me. I see agencies saying we do social media. We really good on social media.
And then you look at their social media and it's absolutely pants. So for me, I wanted to make sure all my stuff was as good as it could be, because it's like, if I'm telling you I'm good at this stuff, my stuff needs to be that good. So if I'm saying I could do Instagram, I need to have a successful Instagram.
If I'm saying websites are super important. If you're a website designer, you'd need to have a good website. So that's the thing I'd be looking at in terms of that. The other thing I'd be thinking about is how are they educating themselves? How are they keeping up with the latest trends? How are they making sure they understand what's going on in the world?
Because again, in my experience, sometimes I'm not saying all agencies are like this. Definitely not. But sometimes in an agency they're not moving with the times as fast as an individual can. Just because, when I was an agency, it's my business. I've got to make sure I am totally up on everything. And that was why I did so much training and learn so much stuff and did all that good stuff. So yeah, I think some of those types of things, but also you've got to get rid of them like when I've got rid of clients, it's because we haven't jelled or I don't love the way they are. So I think if you get on with them, that might be really good.
But also in terms of honing your message, it takes ages, like only just now, do I feel like I'm getting somewhere with my stuff. Cause I've got some help of mine, who's really good with words. But like, yeah, it's only now that I think I'm feeling more confident and it will change all the time. It will constantly change.
So don't panic too much. Just have always in the back of your mind, you know, if my perfect person was reading this what would they think or how would they speak or what words would they use. So, yeah, that's a cool question. Awesome. Thank you. So let me, I'm literally scrolling up and down a spreadsheet here. So the lovely Kate Tredway, she's just started off doing a new business and I'll link to it.
I'm sorry. I've forgotten the name of it. Feel awful now. Kate, what's the most ridiculous thing you've ever heard someone say to me? I don't know. Like, honestly, I'm really struggling to think of something. Can you think of it?
Paul: This is something I said.
Teresa: I mean, that's pretty static for most days for I'm joking.
Um, most ridiculous thing I've ever heard someone say like, oh yeah. See. When it comes to business. Lot of people wind me up a bit when they say when they try and tell people how to run their business in life and they've don't know, and then not being considerate of other people, that stuff gets on my nerves. Doesn't it?
Paul: Yeah.
Teresa: So I don't like that. People who think they know everything and are arrogant, that is not my thing. There is always something to learn and always someone to learn from. So yes, something around those lines would probably be like the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. So I'm sorry, Kate.
That was a terrible answer. Paul, your question from Kate was what's the most useless thing you've ever bought.
Paul: Good question.
Teresa: Okay.
Paul: So we had to purchase some curtains for, uh, dining room, patio doors, and we did lots of research searching for lots of different curtains. Next door neighbors had some really nice ones.
Teresa: Basically installed.
Paul: So we had a look at, uh, try to find those exact curtains. Found the exact curtains got really excited. Um, one evening we measured up and measured twice, obviously, as they always say too. And then put the sizing in on the website and they came out to be super cheap. Thought brilliant.
Teresa: Excellent.
Paul: Ordered them.
Teresa: What's the result?
Paul: And yeah, so they turned up, and the bag turned up and they were pretty light and the bag was pure, fairly small.
Got them out of the packet and offered them up to the window. And they were hang.
Teresa: So I think they should have been over two meters. Cause it's like a big patio window. And I think they were like 20 centimeters.
Paul: So they would like tiny.
Teresa: Literally.
Paul: It was fine.
Teresa: The length was fine, the width it was ridiculous.
Like, yeah, like didn't cover anything. But one thing that Paul has failed to mention in the story. As you know, I love the gin. Now, what doesn't help is that Paul is as bad as I am and we are terrible at encouraging each other. And someone described it to me. It's like likely two naughty children. Who've been left at home for the weekend without their parents.
And we just go wild in the drinks cabinet, except that's our life every day. Not every day, most nights. Yeah. So anyway, we already have quite few gins and we've measured up while drunk and we did it wrong. And the funny thing was, we'd ordered a blind for the kitchen in the same material and the blinds are notoriously hard to get.
Right. Cause obviously it's really specific. And it was bang on.
Paul: Spot on.
Teresa: Wasn't it?
Paul: Yeah.
Teresa: So somehow we've got this thing wrong, but it was hilarious and it's there and we have those up for quite a while. So we did put them up didn't we?
Paul: They were like frame the window.
Teresa: And then we bought some other curtains to go in between.
And then we had like these four curtains situation going on. And that became the story of, you know, don't order stuff while you're drunk, because this is what happened. Anyway, we got rid of them and we, we now have these lights from people buying things that are in the window. So yeah, that's the most useless thing Paul has ever bought.
Um, and then Kate asked, what's your best piece of advice. So you go first what's what advice would you give someone.
Paul: Don't get too stressed about anything is wasted energy, um, and just try and try and be positive about most things, if not everything. And then, yeah. Try not to keep thinking about the negatives that could happen.
Cause again, it's wasted energy. I've wasted so much energy in my past thinking of what could happen or what, you know, what might happen. And now I try not to think of that. Um, just think of positive things. Um, yeah, so that's me really.
Teresa: Yeah. I think we both try and be generally very positive. Don't we, we try and be, you know, as happy as we can most of the time, I think.
Paul: Yeah. Yeah.
Teresa: So, yeah. That's, that's good.
Paul: Well, I think because we'd been through a fair bit when it comes through with divorce and all that kind of stuff, and
Teresa: yeah, we had our fair share of stressed, don't we? And yeah.
Paul: That's what I've taken from that whole situation is to try and be positive and yeah. And not think of what could happen.
Teresa: No. And just wait for it. And then mine, I think kind of really follows on nicely from that. It's like, what if this is exactly where you're meant to be?
Paul: Yeah.
Teresa: Like.
Paul: We know these things happen for a reason.
Teresa: Right. So, whether you believe that or not, it just helps me feel better about it. So whether you think, well, there's no positive in this.
I just think thinking, well, there's a reason for this. It makes me feel a bit happier about that scenario. Doesn't that? And when we look back at all the awfulness, we went through it all led to something that was better and right and good. And you just can't see it at the time. Can you know?
Paul: Yeah.
Teresa: So, yeah. Good question. Thanks Kate.
Caroline: Okay. So I'm Caroline, I'm the owner of Hunkington House Kitchen in Shrewsbury. And my question Teresa is regarding your daily routine. So you've put up on social media in the past, and you've explained to us in the academy that you have your daily routine personally, I would love to start my day off organized.
I just like your advice on when you have two young children and you think that, you know, what your day starts with, how do you try and plan to do that? How hard you can, your routine when you potentially have distractions coming in. I love it. That's a great question. So yeah. And you've raised a really good point that it's all about your season of life, because.
Some people will read miracle morning and be able to get up at 5:00 AM, do all the things and be amazing. Some people who have children will barely be able to get out of beds before the child wakes them. And then they're into the day already. So I think with a routine of any kind, it's about being realistic, it's about understanding your limitations of your home and your life and what sees on your end.
But I think it's about like, even sometimes the really small stuff. If you know, the children normally get up at seven and you can get up seven who might get, and normally get up at like 6 36, if you pick it up 15 minutes beforehand and just use that 15 minutes and do a few small things. So for me, if I only had a little bit of time in the day, I would get up before anybody else I'd go make a coffee.
I'd sit and just breathe. I know it sounds ridiculous. Instead of doing a whole meditation, that might be 10, 15, 20 minutes long. I would just breathe. I would just take a moment then. Maybe journal or just write a few things that I'm grateful for. Again, can take minutes. And then in terms of planning my day, I think one of the best things you can do is look at your diary for each day.
So every single day, I look at my diary and that makes me realistic about what I can achieve, because sometimes you sit there and think. What gets them to do thing, oh my goodness. I should have done this, this and this, and you haven't done it. But actually when you plan your day and you realize, okay, I've got a call, then I've got the school run.
Then I've got to put this thing in. Then I might do my lunch. Then have this, this, this you'll then start noticing actually I don't have that gap or you'll see where there is a gap and you can then say, I'm going to do that thing. So I think for you, cause you've got a busy life and children and all that other stuff, I think it's really super important to realize that, and don't beat yourself up and if you can just do 15 minutes extra then great.
Otherwise, you know, it's not the end of the world. And then the other thing you can do is by the end of the day is to just take a minute again, do the grateful thing again, do the, you know, kind of how was my day maybe, and then if you, it might work at the end of the day better and then plan for the following day, maybe.
So help really helpful since you so much, Caroline. Hi, I'm Lee. So resuscitation and I help people understand how they're designed to create what they want in their life and with themselves. And he blocks the other my way. What I'd love to know Teresa is what is your dream gig? Where would you most like to speak at?
And also who would you most like to interview? Oh, okay. That's a good one. So when I think about my vision board that I did used to have with the speaking stuff on this is really interesting because the place where I used to really want to speak was social media marketing world. And I got so hung up on it.
And if you are slightly woo, then maybe you will realize that like the more you cling desperately onto something, the less likely you are to get it. And I was desperate to speak there. It never happened. And now I'm kind of glad it didn't happen. And actually I'm glad it worked out the way it is, but I think it would have to be a table.
I think obviously I've done a TEDx and that was really interesting how I manifested that TEDx. So let me briefly tell you this story. So I had TEDx on my vision board and I hadn't ever given it any thought ever. Like I wasn't even entirely sure what a TEDx was. I don't think I just knew I wanted, like, that would be an amazing place to speak.
Had it all my visual for ages ended up going to an event where I wasn't meant to be going. So a friend of mine runs a local network thing. I don't really know what local network or I didn't at that point. And she said to me, will you come along? Because it's the first day of doing it, blah blah. And I was like, yeah, I got my daughter.
And I said, I've got my daughter. I don't think I can. And she's like, bring her with you. And I was like, oh, so I went under slight duress, went along with my daughter. And then, uh, while I was there, someone else in the room was talking and said something, something Ted-X Telford. Which is where I live. And I was like, well, so I went up to her during the break.
I was like, what? What's this? And I need to do that please. And she was like, it's application and you have to apply. And it's tomorrow the deadline date. So I went home. I then don't mind sharing had a horrendous day with my stepdaughter, spent the day, mostly in tears. It got to about 7:00 PM in the evening.
I hadn't done anything. You have to record a video, you have to record what you going to talk about and all this sort of thing. I hadn't done anything and just thought, you know what, I'm not going to do it. It's just, I've had the worst day. I do not look great. I'm not going to do it. And Paul said to me, just do it, like just do it.
And I was like, yeah, fine. Did it send it off? Didn't think, but one second I would get picked and I did. And it was amazing. So, so yeah, like it's just so funny how it comes, but, but yeah, I think probably Ted and then who would I most like to interview? Um, that is a good one. Renee, Brian. I was thinking like the Richard Bransons.
The, no, I just love Renee Bryan. I just think she's amazing. I'd love to consider you here. Thank you, Lee. That was awesome. Hello. My name is Dawn summers. I run smelled summers and we help SMEs and SMBs, uh, onboard new employees to make them more efficient. Um, and my question is the way you grew up in the way you live now, it's obviously very different from what you told.
Would you say that there was like a pivotal point in your life where things changed and how did your career change as well? Because usually, you know, like social heritage and stuff. So what was like the changing moment and what do you think was it that made that change for you? Oh, that's a great question.
I, so in case someone's listening and they don't know, you know, as I grew up, we were really poor, uh, from a barely working class family. No, in fact, I was the first one to go to university. No one had ever had their own business. Like it wasn't even considered. I mean, I think the point in which it changed for me was I went to work.
I was a nurse or nurse, which is ironic now because I hate kids, but maybe that's, I hate it. I was a nurse, a nurse, and I worked a private nursery before any grants and government things. So it really was like, you had to be able to afford it, to put your child there. And I started babysitting for these people and I started looking at their houses and I was like, who knew this existed?
Like, cause I didn't, I hadn't come from that. I didn't know anybody that was wealthy. I didn't know anybody that had got a big hive, successful jobs, nice cars. And I started going to these Hayes's and I was like, how do I get this? And I used to buy 25 beautiful homes, the magazine, is it terrified for your posts?
I like that. And I used to go to every one of them and go, what's their job. What do they do? What's their job. What do they do? Like how on earth do I get this? I'm like, yeah, Not that I knew that at the time, but I think that started me on this kind of, I want more, I want more, I want more, I want more. And then the business thing I completely fell into, like I have, I've no idea how by handing my notice in a job, because I'd got a bit fed up of it, not getting another job quick enough and then go, now let's give it a whirl.
How hard could it be? So, yeah, but I think I had a great, there's a great saying that says if I had never seen such riches, I could cope with being poor. And that to me is just bang on. Right. And the minute I saw, what else was out there, I knew I wanted something more. Thank you so much. And that was a great question.
Pull that coming to you next. These are good questions. I love it. I'm Paula. Um, and I run a company called outstanding development and I'm a leadership coach focused on emotional and physical. It. So I put a bit, have a different question. So what stands out for you as the moment in your life when you've laughed the hardest?
Oh, that's brilliant. I love that question. Do you know what? That's tough because we laugh all the time. I say, it's my favorite thing to do. And my husband and I, we Howell constantly at stuff and many a time. Like I I'm one of these people. Right. But we'll, we'll think of something to say, and I am hailing at myself and I'm like, I need to be on stage.
I'm so funny, like hilarious, which is so hilarious. So there was lots of this thing where I had a graphic designer used to work for me and Matt and he's eight and he's really good friends who got on really well. And we always used to send each other, like. Messages of like street talk or gangster, like the most unlikely conversation that I would have.
And I used to have to Google, like give me some street, talk for this or whatever. And I used to send him messages. And this one is in my head. My can't remember off the top of my head. It is going to come to me at some point. Um, and I sent this one message to him. And I was sat in one of my clients at the time conference center for, and basically there was loads of surgeons and doctors in there.
And I am literally sat at my own computer laughing nearly in tears at myself because I can't believe I funny I am, but I find this phrase. It was just brilliant, but no, honestly we do laugh all the time for months. It's really important. You've got to be happy. Yeah. I love laughing. Thank you for all of that was ACE Steph.
I'm going to come to you next. Hi, I'm Stephanie, Stephanie in home alignments and I help families sanctuary the homes to help achieve their dreams and calling what it is that they want it. My question is you coming from a similar background to you as a nation and falling the expectations of education, higher education, um, expectations of families.
What could you say to somebody who wants to go against the grain of that and what's to follow? They got, but doesn't know. I love that. I love that. That's great because I think we'd been brought up in a society of you go to school or you go to college or go to university, you get a job. And I think it's really sad that there's not more entrepreneurial, more doing what you love my member.
In fact, this is, this is awful, but my brother's special needs, as I've said before. And I remember he went to a Korean. Counselor at college. And obviously there's a limit as to what he could do, but he said to him what you want to do. And mark said, I want to do it. I like computers. And he didn't think that mark would be capable of it without even knowing or understanding.
And he said to him, what about Britt? Lay-in because that's a similar aren't they? Right. And mark was like, I don't want a brick layer. And we have to say, he doesn't want a break late. And he's like, well, sometimes mark, you know, you just do a job cause you have to have money. And not because you like it. I just thought, oh my God, that's the most awful thing I've ever heard.
That's the saddest thing I've ever heard, like who wants to live a life where they work in a job and they don't even like it. And secondly, who says he can't do it, FYI, he went on to do it a couple of different levels and he was absolutely fine, but I think the mindset thing's huge. And I, and earlier on in conversation, Baseball said that his son wants to be a YouTuber and he's like a hundred percent.
He could do that. And I think that's the thing it's, it's being realistic about. You can achieve anything, literally anything if it's been done, if it's physically possible, like, you know, humans can't fly without a machine, but if it's been done and it's possible, then yes. But you have got to put the work in and if you're willing to do that, then you can have absolutely anything.
But I would totally say, and I think I'm as a parent more. Pushing the, what do you want to do? What makes you happy? What do you love? So, yeah, I love that question. Thank you. Stuff that was Carol. You're next. Hi, I'm Carol KJ. I have a Cager art as my business and I help people buy perfect abstract art for, to bring their walls to life.
My question is, do you think there is a time limit to making a business successful short answer and you know, I'm not all about the short answer. Why say two words when 20 we'll do? Um, no, no, not at all. And, and again, like, I think this is a great time to bring up the fact of what makes it successful for you.
I think someone else's measure of a successful business is often down to money and it's like, if you haven't hit that money target, then you're not successful. I think for me, Me think about success. And if you said to me, when was my business, or do I deem my business successful? When did it get successful?
Like, yeah, I totally see it successful because I love what I do. I get to do amazing things every day with people that I love and I get to earn some money from that. Do I want it to be bigger and better than it is now? Of course I do. I've got huge ambitions, but it doesn't mean that I don't think it's successful now.
So I think, and again, from something we learned earlier today in our, in one of the presentations, I think when we're just focused on that success goal, I think at the end, we don't enjoy what we're doing and what if for whatever reason completely out of control, you don't get to that thing that you deemed successful.
And basically you've not enjoyed the ride. So I think for me, I once heard a podcast that said, um, they were talking about happiness and Hey, do you know if you truly are happy and have happiness? And this woman said, if this. So if today you didn't move any more forward the way you are, would you be happy?
And I sat there and thought, yeah, I would, I would be happy. I want more, but I would be very happy with what I've got. So, yeah, I don't think there's, I think success is the fact they've even started flipping business quite honestly. And you should high five yourself every day for that. So love it. Thank you, Carol.
That was awesome. I'm coming to Louise next. Hi, I'm Marie Simms and I'm from Luis Sims web services and I create beautiful websites for female entrepreneurs. And my question to you is if you were hosting a dinner party, which two people would you invite and they can be alive or dead. Oh, I like that. Who would I invite?
Hmm, that's a good one. Stephen Fry. I just think he's super smart. You'd have a really good conversation with that. I really like him. And then I feel like, I feel like I've got invite someone like Chris Hemsworth, just because the opportunity to say he's just like, yeah, he's just the best. I love him his ex so yeah, I think for the looks, the Chris Hemsworth and for the conversation, Stephen Fry have picked two males and not a female.
Yeah. Can I, and if I could have another one out of Grenada just to balance the eight, although I put her on the side with the Stephen Fry, obviously I love it. Thank you, Louise. Uh, I'm coming to Kim next. Hello. My name is Kim from Kim Carr coaching and I'm a positive psychology coach who does online planning for businesses and teachers.
My question is you are in charge of next year's Glastonbury festival. Who would your top three pyramid stage artists? Oh, I like that. That's good. Okay. So unless I want my husband to divorce me, I better say someone like Gorgon city. Cause we love dance music and that excellent. I really like them pink just cause like she's amazing.
And then I feel like I've got to mix it up. Who would I have, uh, I'd ask, take back, take that to come back together and have them cause like if enough to take that, like who doesn't love, take that again. Pink, take that. And uh, Gorgon city for the coolness of my husband, these questions, I love it. Love it.
Um, and I love that you love festival scam. I love festivals, but I didn't VIP because that campaign is not, I love it. Okay. Nick coming to you next. Hi, I'm Nick from in craft corner and I create spoke range of accessories and keeps takes me from clothes. My question. Do you have any tips for someone who wants to become a public speaker or speak in front of groups that don't feel like they have the competence to do that?
Yes. Okay. So I think if you want to speak, it is a lot to do with your confidence, because obviously you've got to put yourself out there and you got to stand on stage and you've got to have those conversations, but I think my first tip is know your subject in an app. So if someone asks me to go on stage tomorrow with no preparation at all in front of thousands of people and talk about.
Bananas. I couldn't do it obviously, but if they asked me to talk about marketing on social media or something, I know I could easily fail half an hour an hour on that subject. But I think some of the other things are, don't be scared that someone else is going to know stuff that you don't know because there's loads of stuff.
And you don't know it be completely yourself because if you try and be someone else it's really hard and you can't keep it up. I've had one of the, one of the events I spoke at one of the last ones I did in person. There was a guy there who was a trainer for speakers and he critiqued me very kindly of him.
And, um, and he was like, oh, you know, you say this and do this. And I was like, yeah, that's me. Yeah. I talk fast. Yeah, I do this and I can't change it. So some people will like it. Some people won't like it. So yeah, I would do that. But the other thing, my, my main advice is start small. Just start doing it.
Don't wait for the big stuff. You're not going to get the big stuff without doing the little stuff, because you're not going to be known. And I think often when people decide they're going to be a speaker or an authority or whatever it is, I think they think. I can just get straight on that stage. And I'm not even kidding you.
I have done talks in like bull pit center, things for kids to five mums. I've done talks to three people. I done like I've done loads of really teeny tiny talks, but what it helps you do is get your confidence. And if it gets a bit bigger and makes you realize, you know, what you're talking about, and then you can say, Growing and getting higher up as it were, but yeah, absolutely.
I think you start small and just start doing it. Thank you, Nick. That's awesome. Uh, Gaily there though. Yes. I'm Gail Sibley and artist and instructor and I help, uh empty-nesters and retirees who aspire to develop their, their art by giving them skills and technical skills as well as mindset skills. Yeah.
And my question for you is I'm ready to take my business to the next level. And I know that part of that means hiring help someone to help me many people to help me. My question for you then is when you came to that point and how did you know that point? What was your first step towards hiring. Oh, that's a good question.
So I think your, you always think you're not ready to hire someone. It's a very scary thoughts to go from just you to giving it to someone else. And I think you, in our heads as entrepreneurs, we always think of business owners. We think I'm not ready for this, and I need to earn more, or I need to do this thing, or I need to do that thing.
So for me, it came to a point where I was, because at the time I had the agency and I was getting clients then, and I was getting busy and I was stopping doing things. And then I would lose those clients and I'd panic. And I go, I need to do these things again. And I just knew. If I got another big rush and I just couldn't manage and I needed some other things in place.
So the first thing I did, there's an amazing lady called Jen Lena, who teaches people how to take on VAs. So I actually downloaded a lead magnet of hers and it talked about getting a Filipino VA or getting someone who's over in the Philippines. And at that point, I wasn't ready for that. Cause I don't think I really knew what I wanted to give them.
I didn't understand. So actually I looked in the UK and I looked at someone I knew who knew a VA. So I just very luckily and I guess this is always a good place to start in terms of people who know people and go, who knows a good VA. In fact, just literally the other day in the marketing academy, someone asked this question and I went and met her.
It was an in-person thing at the first time. Because again, this is before like the whole online learning, working thing, I went and met her and she interviewed me and I interviewed her type thing and she sort of said, I don't really know what I need you to do. And she's like, it'll come, it's fine. And I had it for 10 hours a week, which I initially thought was ridiculous.
Not 10 hours a week, 10 hours a month. Sorry. And I thought, what on earth is she going to do in 10 hours a month? Like, that's not going to save me. And then, oh my goodness, I haven't got the faintest idea. It was amazing. Like it was a bite being really open with that. And talking about the stuff you were doing, she started to get systems and processes in place that I never knew I needed.
And then. She was able to take things off of me and free me up and do things consistently. Whereas maybe I couldn't do them consistently. So she came in, but I did it as a, as a BA because I was scared and I was nervous of what if I can't afford to keep her. And the funny thing is the minute she came in, I freed up, I got busier, more money, bought someone else in busier or money, put someone else in and it, and that's how it works.
So when people are starting thinking, I can't afford a VA. I like to think about the exercise of, well, how much do you charge an hour? Right. And I know some people don't know what they charge an hour, so put a figure on it and imagine what you charge an hour and then decide whether an hour of your time.
Messing around doing something that you really don't need to do is worth that, or whether you could pay someone else to do it. And I think the other thing that I say, which I know a few people have, you know, gone. Yes, that's amazing. And in fact, someone said it yesterday. Jennifer said it is what I said to Jennifer is if you're doing something more than once in your business, you shouldn't be doing it.
So if you're doing the same task, the repetitive tasks, more than one. You shouldn't be doing it. Anybody can do it, you know, and you just need to record a video and give it them. Um, and now I have, uh, I still have my VA who I took on all those many years ago. She is in a very different role with me now, but I have two Filipino VAs as well, who work with me.
One specifically does the podcast, one is full time and kind of picks up all the stuff that she can do. I have the very lovely Becky who does quite a lot of hours with me a week, uh, because, and again, different people for different roles. So the reason I have Becky is because I talk so much better than I write, and the Filipino lovely team members everything's done through email or slack or whatever.
Whereas I needed someone like Becky, who I could go. Becky. I've got to do this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this, I don't know I'm gonna do about this Becky go. Right. I can do that. I'll send that to Joanne. I'll do this. I'll do that. And decipher that for me out of me talking. So again, different people for different things.
So I think start small, do look at, you know, Joanne and Sophia are amazing team members. I've had them, I've had Sophia for years and Joanne at least two, maybe, maybe two years now, nearly. Um, they're great. Awesome. So, and honestly, the stuff they take off your plate, anything with the process, anything you do more than once.
Absolutely. VA love it. Thank you, Gail. That's awesome. Mr. Biz, Paul. Uh, I'm biz Paul. I
help people get better at communicating with their customers and clients. And I am a general marketing personality. And my question for you to reset is this.
Imagine if you will, that there is a popular uprising and you have been installed as world precedent.
It's not too far a stretch. This, what is, what is yours first act as world precedent? Oh my goodness. That is a pretty big, heavy question that, oh my goodness. Like does it has to be something serious? No.
Okay. What would I do?
I would just think of what's important to me. This is going to be a long podcast episode.
This is because I would install Prosecco fountains in history. I think that's probably a good thing. And to have it come through the mains, I think that that's definitely something we should have, make everybody jollier and happier. I think, I think that's a good thing. And then obviously like a four day work week standard.
No, one's laid to Whitman four days in the week. Not even business owners. That would be nice. I think, I think you could probably get me started now. There's probably loads of things I could do. There's something definitely ranked plants and the highest plants on prescription. Maybe I think Hayes should definitely be on prescription.
Shouldn't have to pay for them, but all the important stuff, this bull, as you can tell I'm I I'm running for world president max, so yeah. Great question. Thanks for you. I do. I think I'd be dangerous. I'm not trying to the right visit for the job. I love it. Thank you for this fall. That was awesome.
Is that the I've been a member of your academy since May, 2020 and have seen how you answered questions and give them business advice to people with such an of business skills and diversity. And I know that it's only a podcast who don't have a niche and your niche is you and your advice. So I know as a business owner that, um, implementing the advice you give feels amazing as a business owner, I feel empowered to take your advice and then implemented.
And I just wanted to know for you as the person giving the advice, how does that make you feel in your everyday job? Um, I just, yeah. We'd like your take on it really. Okay. Thanks. So that was a DM that I had from the very lovely Caroline from Huntington haste kitchen and Caroline, as she said, has been a member of my academy.
And she said, you know, my job when I'm in there is to give advice and to support and suggest things. And I don't need to stain in terms of a particular sector or anything like that. So, uh, I really love the question and the, Hey, does it make me feel like giving that advice and when people take it, I mean, like it's the best thing ever.
It's the best thing ever knowing that I can support people with their business, that I can give them ideas that are going to generate sales that are going to make them manage it better. That is going to make sense to them. And generally. Improve their business and their life, and hopefully get them one step closer to that dream business that they've been hoping for.
So for me, it's like, that's why I did this stuff. I love it. So, so much. Jennifer Gilmore. And I'll link up to her in the show. Notes has said, if you fall ever fall, like, does it affect your business? So Paul has worked in my business doing various bits for a long time. He does less than I cause you lazy, don't you?
Yeah. Why are you working hard enough for me? Um, um, so you're just busy yet. So, but Paul does a lot in, or has done a lot in the business and we looked at this question and we were like, do you know what? We don't often fall out? Do we know? Cause I'm writing. He knows that we don't also fall out. If we do it's about the kids.
Yeah. Pretty much about each other's kids. Like, cause obviously I have one and he has two, but one still lives at home and it's normally about like parenting step child stuff, which is really stressful. We hate that that's the case, but we kind of just have to go, I guess that's what you get from bringing two families together.
Yeah. With different rules, different thoughts on things. And, but yeah, we don't really fall out very much duly. No, no, we haven't flight very instantly. Yeah. Because I think that that whole, like life's too short thing. I just can't be bothered. I just want to be like, I have life as easy and as nice as possible.
Really? Yeah. But yeah, no, we're pretty good actually. And if it, if we did. It doesn't affect my business because I just come into my happy place, my office, and then work. So it's fine. It's fine. No worries. Okay. So another one let's do the one by lovely Shannon. Shannon's been in the academy since day one. I think I have a link up to her.
So Shannon says what's the dumbest way you've ever gotten the scar. Like I don't have many scars, so my, yeah. So the only two scars I really have are I have a chicken pox scar on the top of my nose where I picked a chicken pox as a child. Yeah. And then I have a scar on my leg where I was riding a bike that was too big for me and I fell off it.
The mud guard bit went into my leg and took out a chunk of my life. But that's it really? Yeah. What about here? Um, I think one visible, visible scar that goes on my finger. That term, when I worked at a stately home, um, and I was like a maintenance going on and I had my own truck. Um, do you a young, how old are you?
That's just before I joined the air force. So I was like sort of 18, 19, something like that. And I used to get the list of jobs to do throughout the week. And my boss used to leave me alone as long as I got the list done. And it was great. I just used to listen to music and headphones and stuff all weekend, whether it used to be nice like it is now.
So it was perfect. Um, so I had a job of, of cutting, um, some big branches off a tree in the middle of a field. Quite deep into, uh, into the park. And, um, I had a big bow saw with big, um, teeth on the blade and, um, I was just, you know, happy go lucky and just kind of went and took, um, uh, put my hand on the branch to hold it.
Um, as I was going to saw the branch and basically just the blade bounced off the branch and then went straight into my finger. And then I just put all, all my effort into my finger rather than the branch. Yeah. And that's probably the only visible one I've got when you say that, that makes me think that people are thinking, oh, what non-visible wants, if you go, no, as in visible, visible ones, you need to see a scar.
Cause obviously I've, I've fallen over a few times skiing, you know, and I smashed your face as much my face, but then you're black, like black, but that's not visible now. Is it? You know? No, sorry. Yeah. Let's clarify that. Just to make sure that we thought, oh my head on your, oh yeah, yeah. And you had open, but there's no scar for that.
No, no. So yeah, we're not, we're not really. Which is funny. Cause I'm really clumsy or I always think I'm really clumsy. It's funny that to have more Scouts, they are. No, I think we're pretty good. And Shannon's also asked, or she's got another couple to, so what's the most exciting non-work-related trip you've ever taken.
Now, this is almost impossible to answer because pretty much all my trips by take a work-related. Although I can say one night, very first trip to Vegas where we got married. That was probably one of the most exciting trips I've ever taken that wasn't work related. Yeah. And it was good for me because I can show you around and stuff, right.
Yeah. Because Paul has been in Vegas a lot and work tape that when he was in the air force, I mean, you know, there's war zones and then they send them to Vegas. They don't feel also about them, but yeah. And that was really amazing. That was a great trip. Wasn't it? Yeah. Yeah. It's not like that again, most of your trips are, I know you went to New York and went on top of one of the twin towers.
Mm. Yeah. That was obviously years ago. But yeah, that was, that was good. Yeah.
Yeah. Paul was really lucky as a child, even though like his parents were loaded, they were really careful with their money and they had like a broad holiday every year. Didn't mean? Yeah. And like, not just going to Spain for the week, it was like, yeah, we did, um, New York, Miami Vegas back then LA back then.
Um, yeah, so, and I'm talking Howard Weiner, so I'm talking Ariel 30 years ago, so yeah. You know how things have changed? You know, I can remember, I'd see, I've got pictures of Vegas when there was nothing from Caesar's palace, all the way up to where scalper is. If you know Vegas on the strip, there was nothing, there was just a massive strip, a desert, weird, crazy.
Whereas all he was from a family that was very full and we had, I think, one holiday and it was. A holiday park in England somewhere. And yeah, so I actually didn't fly on a plane flight was over 18, I don't think. And then when I met Paul, certainly we traveled all the time because Paul being military literally spent his life flying around the world and been to some crazy, amazing places.
What's the, like, what's the best. And that was the craziest place you've been too crazy then they're like, as in like unusual, I think it's probably, um, a bougie in Africa. Um, yeah. And to just see how the locals kind of pass the day and set up barbecues and, and markets on the motorway and yeah. And, and turn it up.
International airport. And, uh, we had people just park in, on bits of dirt ground to park the car for the week while they go away somewhere. Oh man, it's a different world.
Some crazy stuff. Like I was new to military world when I met Paul, I didn't know anybody in the military. And then some of the stories he tells and still towels.
You know, he'll be like, oh, did I tell you that time? That such and such a session? I'm like, no, and yeah, like it's like another world, isn't it. But another world. So, yeah. And I'd love to say some stuff, but obviously, I don't know whether you're alive say some of the stuff, so we'll probably avoid that, but yeah, it's amazing.
Amazing. Um, okay. And then Shannon also asked, how did we meet? So I do think that we, we talked to us before, so I online dating and I hated it. I used to last about five days and then it was like, uh, I cannot cope with these idiots anymore. And I've gone on this new, like, I'd been single for ages. And I went back on the online dating and this guy I'd like, we can't remember who spoke to each other first.
So I like to pretend that Paul spoke to me first. And then his photo was really bad because Paul had been married for a long time and him and his wife split up and he taken this photo from like underneath his chin. So he looked like you'd got about three chitons. The lighting was terrible. Like everything was awful, but because I am not like completely horrible.
I thought this guy seems really nice. We had some really nice conversations. Hadn't we? And then I was like, do you know what I've got to come off again? Cause I can't bear it. So I said to him this, and I'm coming off the dating app again, I don't even know in about three days. And if you want to carry on talking, we can somewhere else.
So we did it. And then when we met, I was like, it was like, how was caffeine? But the wrong way range. Like I turned up and I was like, oh my actual God, this guy is stunning. And yet JC too. We're just dreadful because it doesn't the right to take a selfie. And obviously he didn't want to ask his children or his friends to help him.
So yeah, it was eight. I was like, I have landed on my feet and people are very mean, and yeah, they ask me all the time. How did you get him? Like, that's just a bit Nina. Yeah, yeah. Look at him. Yeah. But yeah, so that we met online and the first few months, long relationship was not easy at all. So Paul lied about how long it had been since him and his wife split up.
It was sooner than I was hoping for. And life was still very difficult here. Wasn't it? With the kids and your ex. And we went through an absolute stormed and we, yeah. So, and then there was many times that pulled them. Uh, which I like to remind them of often. So he likes forget too difficult and he'd go, I just can't do this because I can't have something else to deal with.
Then we'd dumped me. And then a few days later, he messaged me going, I miss you. And then we'd get back together. And people weren't happy. My friends were not happy, but one day he dumped me on the morning of my Nan's funeral, which I thought was nice. Um, he's literally started shaking his head at me. Like he's an amazing guy. He was just going through a horrible time. And that, that funeral I went to. Oh man. I was really inappropriate. It was really bad. I just, yeah, it wasn't great. Anyway. Yeah. Uh, because I was like in a weird mood, so yeah. That's how we met Shannon.
So Gail, how do you stay motivated, especially if one of you is having a bad day, just ask a couple questions. So we'll answer that first. How do I stay motivated? I just love it. And if I, if I'm not motivated, I take a break from being in here and yeah. Just take, you know, take, uh, the afternoon or morning or whatever.
Reset or whatever, don't you? Yeah, don't force it because if you try and force it, you're just going to sit here, get more frustrated, to get more angry that you're not getting on with stuff he needs to get along with. So yeah, I think most of the time, and I think that comes down to the passion. I think that comes out of the thing that you absolutely love.
And I you've had this a lot. Haven't you? Where he left the air force, you do that job and you were very motivated for that job and you've got a really good job, but it doesn't motivate you in the same way, which is hard. Yeah.
And nothing. Well, to be honest, what I used to do, so yeah, yeah. This is where it's just an adjustment time for me.
I think just to work out, that's a lot to do with why we do so much in the garden. So actually Gayle's next question was how do you both up. So do you have both have separate hobbies or both generally enjoy the same interests? So obviously we've loved doing stuff in the garden and Paula's built green for me, which is phenomenal and amazing.
Cause this guy built empathy. Um, and you love doing that stuff, don't you? Yeah. So people think I'm just really lucky in that, you know, but better Paul into making the same thing that he does or another, and then you are a skier. You're very, very good skier. I don't pull likes walking. I don't. Yeah. Uh, Paul likes mountains.
You like sitting on a mountain? I like sitting on maintenance and having a glass of Fez. Yeah. That's what I like. Um, so yeah, so the, our hobbies, we drink gentlemen really good at it and fairs and stuff. Yeah. We don't really have many hobbies. Not both of us together. No, but then your hobbies, aren't ones that you can do all the time.
So when you so cool, we'll go skiing with his friends or I'll go with him and I'll sit on top of the mains, working, drinking affairs while he skis, which is fine by me and gambles that asked what's our favorite film. So Paul and I love laughing. Like, it's our favorite thing, isn't it. And we were thinking about what's our favorite film and we actually think it stepped up.
It is fucking funny. Like it's the one you can just keep watching and watching. Cause it is really funny. Okay. We're getting day in and day out. So I think, I think my last one and then the last one. Yeah, I think that's it. Uh, okay. So our last one is by Carol Cager. Who's key to art is also the academy she put, pull home.
Can you have a section on how to in the academy start with green Hayes's so I can pass it onto my house. Like I have come up with so many businesses support, but they may have people have contacted me going, oh my God, that thing you built, was that a template? Or was that something you bought? And I'm like, Nope, I draw, I like, I have the vision and I tell him what I want and then he creates it, which is amazing.
Carolinas. Do we both like the second music? Uh, to an extent? Yeah, I think so. Yeah. We both liked dance music. Yeah. We both like popular music. Although I did say the other day in the car. Paul was putting on some stuff. And I was like, maybe he'll get into cool in a, um, cause it wasn't like quite modern. I don't mind, like Paul says he has a really big, various sense of tastes.
However, the stuff, old stuff that he doesn't know, old stuff, stuff, that's fine, but not yeah, yeah, no, we do pretty much. It, Paul is obsessed with having music on 24 7. This haste is never quiet. That was something actually really interesting that I had to get used to because the radio radio one, he loves radio one it's on all the flipping time.
Isn't it? Because you just love it. So yeah, we do like similar music and we like festivals, but the difference between Paul old Paul, before Teresa and Paul now is we do VIP festivals because I am not one for something that is a bit I've been. Um, and then the last question to Paul, although I've got two very quick questions.
Do you ever sit down and relax? No. Paul is not very good at relaxing.
No. Well, even while the weather has been nice, just sitting there for a bit, I just feel that I need to get up and do something. Yeah. And he does. So it will be sat there and outside and I'll be reading the book. Paul's not a big reader.
He's not keen. And he'll, um, he'll just get up and then go and look at something or turn something or think of something or yeah, you do not relax easily when we go away. That's the problem. We both relax when we go away and we haven't been able to go away. So that's a bit of an issue. Okay. So Paul final question, obviously, lots of my amazing people who listen to the podcast, uh, there's a big chunk of them that are female or identify as female.
And lots of them also are partners. So what is it like to, what's the best thing and the worst thing about being with someone who runs their own business. Um, the best thing is the way it's opened my eyes up to this world. Um, lots of different people and lots of different businesses that didn't know, I didn't know existed.
And then, because you listened to lots of podcasts as well. So I ended up listening to a lot of subjects that I'd never kind of listened to what I would never have done really. So I think that, and seeing how passionate you are about what you do and, and how good you are at it, you know, that's, that's awesome.
And to be able to do it at home and, you know, run your own business it's yeah. I think it's amazing. Worst things about it is that sometimes you just don't stop. Yeah. Right. I have to keep telling you to come downstairs. Yeah.
You'll come back and just finish. I'm just going to reply to this one email and then half an hour later is still up here.
So yeah. And in some ways that you don't switch off, but then I think you quite like that though, you know, if we have a down day, we had a fairly quiet weekend and I think, you know, I kind of like it when you are busy with work, because you know, your kind of a bit, you've got a bit more energy or I dunno, it doesn't have a similar thing, you know, think you think, and I think this is probably a bit true, but when I'm not working, I'm a bit lost.
Yeah. So I'm a little bit like, no, I'm fed up just it. I just don't want to do it because I don't know what else to do, but since you've had the garden and that's helped us definitely. And we've really, we're a good team. Aren't we, like, I think this is a second marriage thing that we did learn. I think for the first one.
I mean, and again, to take don't take things too seriously. Yeah. And, you know, based on what else can happen in the world, this is really not that bad. So, so yeah, we're pretty good at like working together on things and do things together as a team. Um, and I think what, you know, I wanted you to sort of say, because I know I have lucky I am and how much I, I appreciate the fact that you are so supportive.
And Paul is my biggest cheerleader. He is more of a cheerleader than I am to myself sometimes when I doubt myself and he's like, no, you know, you're going to be amazing. This is gonna be amazing. Um, and I think the kids, you know, Harvey and be a very similar aren't they, you know, they all want me to succeed.
You know, even when I do it myself and, you know, not that I don't want to succeed or where I date myself, whereas I do know that there are people out there listening to this who don't have that support. And honestly, I don't know how they do it. I don't know how they managed to run a business that is hard enough in the first place without them.
Someone on their team to go, you've got this. This is amazing. And to celebrate those things with you, cause that's the other thing, and it's not always about the money either, is it? Yeah. The achievement of some of these things as well. So, you know, I listen to, obviously I can hear over here where all your calls is pretty much, especially when you do a group call and stuff, and you're talking to all these different people and help enema and finding out what they, you know, what they're struggling with and you help them.
Aaron's amazing. I think it's awesome.
Hmm. Thanks. So, thanks for being a guest on the podcast, Paul, would you like to us to link up to your stuff in the show notes? Yes, please. What have you got, have you got a lead magnet field? No, I can, it's a stamped addressed envelope. I can send them a few leaflets and stuff.
Yeah. Yeah. And we want to know where the sweat bands are again or not. Yeah. Please, please let me know if you're listening to this and you back pull up and think I should have branded a sweat bands. And do you think leaflets are right? Uh, go, uh, for 20, 22 to coming back then maybe let us know, but thank you.
Thank you so much as always listening to the podcast. Thank you so much for being here. Obviously I wouldn't be doing episode 200, if it wasn't for you guys listening. Uh, and thank you Mr. Paul, for not only being a guest, but also being an amazing supportive husband. I appreciate it greatly. Thank you. Thank you. And I will see you next week for episode 201.
