Because she can
Megan Rose shares her inspirational business journey
Hello, Ashlie x
Welcome to the second edition of Because She Can. It has been amazing to create this magazine and to speak to so many inspirational ladies who have created something incredible I wanted to create a space for you to take 15 minutes to read these stories and to f
I found that the online space that I was in is a constant scroll hole and I started to feel more and more deflated and less and less inspired. That’s why I wanted to create this safe, gorgeous space for ladies like you who deserve everything and more. Let’s get inspired and start ant and deserve.
Business success
By Megan Rose
Megan is the Founder of Megan Rose Coaching. A Subconscious Biz Coach who’s a mum of a toddler and proud owner of a Cocker Spaniel Megan grew her business to 5 figure months with a newborn baby and solo parenting so it’s safe to say she knows how to be efficient. Megan coaches’ female business owners how to sell through their internal confidence and high self-worth
Megan, thank you so much for being here and sharing your inspirational journey
Please tell us when your entrepreneurial journey began?
In 2019 I was working for a tech start-up growing their business and it hit me that I could put this work in for my own thing.
Later that year, an opportunity came up and I moved to Thailand and launched my coaching business!
Please can you tell me how long you have been in business for?
Since 2019 and my journey was not an 'overnight success'. After a year in Thailand building my wellness coaching business, having events and beach bootcamps shut down due to Covid...
"I started working on my subconscious identity and my business took off."
I moved back to the UK and had to get a job to pay the mortgage etc. I was SO disheartened and felt like the biggest failure. I kept trying different things but nothing shifted until I fell pregnant unexpectedly It was the biggest wake up call and I decided that I was the one who had to change. I started working on my subconscious identity and my business took off just before my son was born and grew steadily after maternity leave.
What inspired you to start your business?
I had my own transformation in health/fitness which initially sparked the idea of wellness coach. But my transformation (which I later identified through the work I do) was on my subconscious identity. I became confident, healthier, happier. I went from someone who was lost in herself and life to someone who had purpose and all I wanted to do was to help other people feel the same. This has evolved through my own journey as I believe we're always learning new things and growing and I just want to help people who have felt how I've felt.
Do you have a routine that you stick to?
NO! Haha and I know that can be odd for an entrepreneur to say. For so long I made my routine be the thing that would "get me success". But my business took off when I was in the midst of early motherhood, exclusively breastfeeding and working around my son It was a huge eye opener to me that business gets to work in any environment as long as your belief system supports it.
"Remember entrepreneurship is not linear."
As my son is now in toddler-hood, I have routines like when he's at nursery and specific call days and deep work days but as a mum, routines can get thrown off at a moments notice so I try not to be too reliant on them as it just makes me more anxious.
What have been some of the highs and lows in your business?
My all-time favourite high is when my son was 4 months old, it was the middle of a (rare )beautiful summer in the UK and I realised I hit my first £5k - actually £6.5k - month.
The chase for the £5k month had been in my head for so many years and to do it as a new mum, going through a painful marriage breakdown was such a proud moment for me. I was driving in the car, music blaring, windows down and I had tears in my eyes, laughing out loud as I thought "I've done it".
I've had plenty of low moments as well, after a really successful launch in November 2022, I had a 'failed' launch and an income dip which really knocked my confidence. It made me realise how I'd placed too much of my worth on my money and had to do a lot of confidence work. I also went through a lot of health challenges last year whilst navigating single motherhood with a baby and burned myself out - not through working too hard but not setting myself up properly with systems and structure - a steep learning curve!! I
think the important thing to remember is, entrepreneurship is not linear You can have the best time and the worst time all in one week. It's so much about a resilient mindset and being able to logically review and see where your gaps and opportunities are without judging and shaming yourself which we do so often as women!
" I'm so grateful for business friendships."
What was the best moment in your entrepreneurial journey so far?
There was one week where I literally became a single mother, was packing up to move house, on the last week of a launch that had 0 sign ups. I remember thinking OMG, I'm holding so much right now. Can I do this?
I ended up moving into a dream cottage that was the perfect home for my healing journey, finishing the launch with 4 people signing up in one week making it my first 5 figure launch all whilst handling a teething baby. It was a lesson in duality and the power I think we have as women where we really are so incredible strong.
What's the biggest lesson you have learnt?
Do the inner work when things are good. Do the inner work when things are bad A lot of people tend to turn to mindset work when things aren't going as well. One of the biggest mistakes I made was not doing it when things were going really well and thinking I'd cracked it - the work never stops You almost need to do this work more as when you start shifting your external reality your subconscious will do everything possible to bring you back into your comfort zone - even if it's good things happening!!
What's the hardest part of building your business?
The loneliness for me. I'm so grateful for business friendships I've built online because no one in my friends or family get it. I haven't yet found online friends who live nearby but I'm really wanting to build that out - especially mum business owners too!
Megan’s top 3 business tips
1. Do the mindset work (I call it identity work) to embed core entrepreneurial qualities.
2. Don't overcomplicate the strategy - it all works - but you need persistence and courage.
3. Be humble. You learn a lot more when you don't get into "I already know that" (this held me back for a long time)!
Bonus: ENJOY THE JOURNEY, You'll never be done, there's always more to learn and refine and you'll want to because you're committed to the evolution. When you realise that the day to day becomes easier.
Please follow Megan on Instagram
Septemberisthebesttimetore-set,re-alignandfinish thelastquarterof2024withabang.
Duringthisovernightstayyouwillcreateastrategyand asalesprocessthatwillseeyoufinishtheyearoffjust asyouwantedtoo. Whatbetterwaytofinishoffthedaywitha twilightspaand2xcoursedinner. Book here
How to grow your business without social media
By Ashlie Bishop
You don't have to do what the 'experts' say to grow your business. As a previous six-figure agency owner I know what it takes to grow a successful business and it is SO much more than just social media. As a service based entrepreneur, you get to do things your way so that you get the freedom to do things the way you want to.
Have you found yourself aimlessly scrolling through social media? I call it the scroll hole or procrastination!
As someone who owned a marketing agency, I still found that I would waste so much time scrolling social media aimlessly. I would refresh my phone a lot to check if the shares had increased, the likes had increased, it was energy wasted as it wasn't moving my business forward and I felt drained after spending sometimes an hour of scrolling.
If you are new to business try not to be consumed by other profiles that make you compare yourself, as this will create doubt, inferior and consequently inaction. There is another way to grow your service based business.
How to grow your business without social media
You might be wondering, well just tell me then how do I grow my business? How do you get clients without social media? Let's be clear I still use social media but as a medium to build connections and drive traffic to other areas of my marketing strategy. I have a cornerstone of content that I drive my clients to including my podcast (How to grow my service based business), my blog and email marketing. What you need to consider is that if social media was turned off tomorrow would you still have a business? If the answer is no then you need to focus your efforts on other marketing channels Your email list, your website, blog they belong to you, no one else.
Speaking, collaborations and PR are key to growing your business. If you are asked to speak, the invitee trusts you and therefore your audience will trust you. The same for podcast guesting and writing articles for publication. You have more opportunities to build authority when you are strategic with your visibility and content creation.
Podcasting is also a great tool for increasing the awareness of your brand. You own your show, you get to demonstrate your expertise and authority within your niche, and gain the trust of your audience. As a business owner you need to build that know, like and trust factor wherever you sprinkle your magic.
So, ask yourself these questions to determine if social media is the place for you, where will you be able to provide the most value without losing the risk of content, followers or resources? Ask yourself, what platform feels good for you? Where can you reach the most people with the most security for your brand and business?
Navigating Neurodiversity at Work and Utilising Your Strengths to Thrive at Work and Home by Laura Gowers
Laura Gowers, is the founder of This is Dyslexia and This is Neurodiversity, she is dedicated to empowering neurodivergent adults to thrive in all aspects of life. With a background as a qualified teacher and SENCO, Laura brings over 25 years of experience in education and a profound understanding of the unique challenges and strengths of neurodivergent individuals. Her initiatives are designed to provide tailored support, resources, and advocacy, ensuring that neurodivergent adults receive the recognition and accommodations they need to succeed both professionally and personally
Laura started her journey whilst juggling being a mum and a member of the senior leadership team whilst trying to maintain a work-life balance. Within 18 months, Laura had built a successful business and was able to hand her notice in to work full time on the business. This was a dream come true and something she didn’t think would be possible at the start of her journey
Laura shares with us some key tips on how to navigate neurodiversity at work and utilise your strengths to support you to thrive at work and home.
What is Neurodiversity?
Neurodiversity refers to the natural variations in human brain function and behaviour, it includes conditions such as dyslexia, ADHD, autism, and many more. It is a fairly new term and was created in the 1990s by Australian social scientist, Judy Singer Embracing neurodiversity means recognising and valuing these differences, not as deficits but as strengths that contribute to the richness of human experience.
Up to 20% of the UK population are neurodivergent and despite increased awareness, significant obstacles persist In recent years, the recognition of neurodiversity has increased, including the understanding of cooccurring neurodivergent conditions. Employers are beginning to realise the immense benefits of a diverse workforce and the unique perspectives that neurodivergent individuals bring to the table.
However, the journey towards fully embracing these strengths is ongoing. A study by Neurodiversity in Business and Birkbeck’s Research Centre for Neurodiversity at Work (2023) found that 65% of neurodivergent employees do not disclose their conditions to employers out of fear of discrimination. Furthermore, the National Autistic Society reports that 45% of neurodivergent individuals lose or leave jobs due to being misunderstood.
Benefits of a neuro inclusive workplace.
Whether you are a one person, small business or large multinational corporation, there are benefits for being neuro inclusive both in terms of how you support your employees and also how you communicate with customers.
Benefits
Enhanced creativity and innovation
Improved employee retention and satisfaction
Attracting a wide talent pool of potential employees
Enhanced team performance
Enhanced brand reputation for attracting customers
Improved customer service
Accessibility and usability appeals to a wide range of customers
Strategies for creating a neuro inclusive workplace.
There are many strategies that can be applied here and care should be taken to consider which ones are suitable for your workplace. It’s important to ensure that your vision is actually applied through your communications and your day to day actions I would recommend introducing several strategies at a time, then reviewing, adapting and refining where necessary and then look to add further strategies. Consider who your ideal clients are and your current employees as the priority and then create an action plan.
How to utilise your own neurodivergent strengths at work
You may have a formal diagnosis of a condition or you may have self-diagnosed. If you have a formal diagnosis, read through your report and look at the professional recommendations. Everyone is unique and it’s important to remember that what works for one person with ADHD may not work for you. A recognition that there will initially be a period of trial and error helps to align expectations.
Some of the general strategies that you can use at work are:
Utilising organisation tools and apps to help you to manage your workload
Consider when you are most productive and organise your day around this Stay informed about your condition. New research is always being published Use assistive technology - speech to text, noise canceling headphones etc Use Apps that are designed to aid focus
Finally, how to utilise your strengths at home
It’s important to remember that your neurodivergence does not just show up in the workplace. To support you at home, you may like to consider.
Establish a predictable routine that provides structure and reduces anxiety
Encourage open communications within your family
Consider using soft lighting to reduce sensory overload
Be mindful of fabric textures of furniture and clothing
Promote self care - relaxation, physical activity and hobbies
I hope that you have found some of the tips in the article useful. If you are a neurodivergent professional, I would highly recommend working with a coach who specialises in supporting neurodivergence. Please do reach out if you have any questions.
Laura can be found on instagram:
@this_is_dyslexia, www.thisisdyslexia.co.uk and www.thisisneurodiversity.co.uk/home
From One Entrepreneur To Another:
The Value of Authentic Relationships
By Ashlie Bishop
Even though Covid was a LONG time ago now, being face to face is something that is a priority for so many business owners.
So how are you building those authentic relationships that will help your business to thrive in 2024?
The following strategies will allow you to build those relationships for mutual benefits.
1 Be genuine: Be authentic, honest, and transparent in your interactions. People can tell when you are not being genuine, and it can damage the relationship.
2. Listen actively: Listen actively and attentively to others. Show a genuine interest in their ideas, concerns, and needs This can help you build a deeper connection and understanding of their perspective.
3. Communicate effectively: Have a system in place that allows you to reach out to your valued contacts consistently. Without this then some of your valued contacts will not be reached out to or reached out to after long periods which could prove detrimental to you in the long term. The use of a CRM system for example can be very useful in this case.
4 Find common ground: Look for common interests or experiences that you share with others. This can help you establish a connection and build rapport.
5. Show appreciation: Appreciate the contributions and efforts of others. Acknowledge their accomplishments and express gratitude for their work
6. Follow up: After a meeting or interaction, follow up with a note, email, or phone call. This can help maintain the relationship and demonstrate your commitment to staying in touch.
7. Build trust and establish credibility: People are more inclined to respect and connect with people who keep their word. Be reliable and follow through on your commitments. Do not over-promise and under-deliver. Set realistic expectations with your business relations
8. Offer value: Look for ways to offer value to others. This could be through sharing resources, providing advice, or making introductions. By offering value, you can build a relationship based on mutual benefit.
Remember, building authentic business relationships takes time and effort.
Are you an owner of a small to medium-sized business? Looking to network in a female only capacity, in a safe and supportive environment? Then you need to come and Flamingle!
North West UK
Find out more
“If you don’t sacrifice for what you want, what you want becomes the sacrifice.”
How to build the know, like and trust
If you want your community to get to know you, you first have to know yourself as a business. This means establishing, living, and shouting about your brand’s values. Your values should bring together your goals and overall mission and serve as a compass that guides your brand messaging on social media.
Remember consistency and engagement matters
If you want someone to know, like and eventually trust you, you have to consistently show up in their lives and engage with them. Like any relationship you build, you need to invest time and effort.
You need to make sure you are leveraging User generated content. In other words, content not generated by you as a brand but by people who love your brand already.
What makes UGC so valuable and genuine is that it’s driven by reallife experiences. It’s not a paid influencer post or ad, but people’s authentic reactions to what you offer.
93 percent of marketers agree that consumers trust content created by people more than brands. By encouraging, finding, and sharing UGC you can increase your KLT (know, like and trust) with your audiences.
Because she learns
I am someone who is always wanting to learn and I do this in a variety of ways I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE listening to podcasts wether I am walking the dog, driving in the car or doing the dishes I am listening to something. Here are some of the fabulous podcasts I would highly recommend, look out for the shameless plug :)
Carrie Green, She Means Business. Every Tuesday she brings out a new episode which she talks all things business
Passion to Profit by Ashlie. Anew episode is brought out every Friday which is meant to inspire and to teach everything from strategy, marketing, mindset, growth, visibility and growing a business around family life
She’s winning podcast - Jennifer Hilton. Jen interviews successful female entrepreneurs to give us a glimpse into how they have done it and how we have all got it within us to do the same.
Reading
Atomic Habits is a great book to take small action but achieve huge results Get Rich Lucky Bi**ch if money mindset has been something you are overcoming this is the perfect book to get you in to the right mindset when it comes to money.
Top 1 things remem Wellness
1. Build up a group o besties that suppo support them.
Make sure that yo to take care of you others.
2. Be consistent. 3. Make your customers feel special and give them a personalised experience.
5.
4. Make sure you are time blocking and put a timer on. If you don’t finish a task, move on.
"It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see."
6.Evaluate your daily routine. Is it working? What do you enjoy? What don’t you enjoy?
7.Remember to celebrate every success no matter how big or how small.
8The more you trust the less resistant you will be.
9.Become the person you want to be in order to succeed.
10.Take time to work on your mindset. Where focus goes energy flows
Would you love to be featured?
We are looking for fabulous ladies like you who would love to tell us their stories, the good, the bad and the ugly of running a business. If you would like to apply please email ashlie@ashliejaynecoaching.co.uk or find us on Instagram @flamingobusinesswithashlie
Fashion: Because she loves fashion
As entrepreunr’s it is easy to fall in to the trap of wearing something nice on top, jogging bottoms underneath, and don’t try and tell me you haven’t done this. Dress like the version of yourself that you want to become, if you want to be a six figure CEO, dress like one. Do you think that Carrie Green goes to work dressed in a tracksuit? No chance. Here are some gorgeous outfits that will have you stepping in to the CEO that you are.
B e c a u s e S h e C a n m a g a z i n e
Copyright 2024. Ashlie Jayne Coaching.