In this episode we cover a wide range of topics: how to avoid overwhelm, planning for 2024, finding your support group and networking in a brilliant discussion with Ali Tait.

Ali's links

Websites: https://mibnetwork.org.uk & https://alitaitcoaching.co.uk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MumsinBusinessNetwork

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mumsinbusinessnetwork

Resources:

Find us at https://beyondthekitchentable.co.uk

Free PDF download: https://beyondthekitchentable.co.uk/downloads/

Blog post https://beyondthekitchentable.co.uk/blog

Follow us at https://www.instagram.com/beyondthekt

Email sayhello@beyondthekitchentable.co.uk

Welcome to the Beyond the

Kitchen Table podcast.

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And I'm delighted this week

to have my first guest on

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after the rebrand, Ali Tate.

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Ali Tate is a woman who wears many

hats and I'm going to let her explain

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them to you because I'm just not

sure I could keep up, to be honest.

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So first of all, welcome, Ali.

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Thank you so much for having me, Marie.

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I'm really pleased to be here.

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You are welcome.

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So, first of all, please

tell us what you do.

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The hats that you do wear.

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You're right.

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I do wear several hats.

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Um, but mainly my overall thing

is about helping business owners

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to thrive and grow in their, both

their business and their life.

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And I help people go from

overwhelmed to organized and get

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clear on what they want to achieve

and also the steps to get there.

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And I do that through workshops,

um, simple step by step programs,

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one to one coaching and mentoring.

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Now, the other hat that I wear is

I also, um, run Mums in Business

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Network, MIB Network, which has,

which is a subscription membership

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where we meet once a month for in

person and also online networking.

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And we have a group in Tunbridge

Wells and in Sevenoaks.

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Fabulous.

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And in fact, I am a member of

the Sevenoaks branch and have

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been for quite a long time.

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And we're going to come on to talk about

networking and community in particular.

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Um, but it's a fantastic group.

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And I do talk about John's

podcast from time to time.

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So it's great to have the person behind.

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The, the group on here to talk to.

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So, and can you tell us a little bit

about how you got into doing this?

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Because I'm guessing you

haven't always done this.

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I haven't indeed.

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So before the world turned upside down

with COVID, um, my main business was

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running a corporate event management

agency, which I'd done for 17 years.

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And my whole career prior to that,

well, the majority of my career

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had been within the events world.

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So corporate events, um, reward

recognition, um, exhibitions

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through to all sorts, client

entertainment, sponsorship activation.

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And, um, Basically, I work with many

big brands from major banks through to

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car manufacturers through to fashion

brands and everything in between.

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But clearly that was the wrong

sector to be in during COVID.

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So everything shut down and

I didn't run an event for 18

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months, which was unheard of.

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And I actually saw my garden growing

in the summer, which was amazing.

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So, um.

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I obviously had to pivot quite quickly and

I set up open water swimming sessions at

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Hevercastle Lake and then I was thinking

and I had been thinking for a while it

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was time to change what I was doing.

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I've been in events for so long

and I really knew that I wanted to

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change and have my next chapter.

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And, um, so I did lots of research

and then, um, retrained as a business

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and a personal performance coach.

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Um, and I, pulled together all these

different elements that I own and talents

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and qualities that I had learned and

used and grown with throughout my life.

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And I'm really passionate

about helping small businesses

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to grow and be successful.

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Um, and particularly love

helping busy working parents.

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I'm getting organized because a few

years ago I discovered myself as sole

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care, a sole provider, um, with two

teens and trying to juggle everything.

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So used to having lots of balls

in the air, used to having

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a number of companies going.

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I've started a number of companies

over the years, including a giftware

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company, all sorts of things.

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Things.

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And I've sort of culminated

all those elements in together.

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And then at the beginning of this year in

January, I bought, um, mums and business

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network, uh, which really sort of pulls

together all those elements as well.

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It definitely does.

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And I think one of the things that

we, as women often forget is how many

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skills we've built up over the years.

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And partly in our corporate careers and

also especially having children, you

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get a lot of different skills and they

can be applied in a different area.

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And I love the fact that you may have hit

a roadblock in your events business, but.

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That wasn't going to stop you.

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It's just an obstacle on the way to be

overcome and that you pivoted so nicely.

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And in fact, I thought you'd been

doing coaching for a lot longer

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than you have been doing, because I

think it's the culmination of all of

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the life experience that you have,

that you bring to that business.

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Yeah, and also I think another thing is

I've always had an absolute fascination,

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um, with psychology and life coaching.

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And also my dissertation was about the

life cycle of a small business and how

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that goes through and the effect of

the owner on that business and how that

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changes over the time and experience.

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So there's been definitely been

an interest in those all areas.

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Brought it all together.

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Um, and I guess in a way, part of working

with companies when they're putting

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together events of any kind is a lot

of the time you're guessing under the

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business objectives of what they're

trying to achieve and their visibility

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and why they're doing those events.

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So you're, you're sort of coaching them

through that process and consulting

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with, with, I used to go and consult

in some of the larger financial.

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Organizations as well.

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Um, so yeah, it just pulls

together all those elements.

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Definitely, and obviously that

events business is different

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dealing with big businesses than

dealing with small businesses.

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How have you found the transition

to dealing with smaller

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and more local businesses?

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Um, I have to say I thoroughly enjoy it

because it's so fantastic to see these

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businesses whether they're right at the

beginning, you know, a lot of people

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say, Oh, I've just, I've literally

bought a domain, I've got an idea, I

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bought a domain name to watch these

other businesses grow and develop and

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the pace that they go at and equally

how people Managed to grow that around

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their own lives as well to get that

fulfillment from those businesses.

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Um, and I suppose you're sort of

far more at the cutting edge and

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you can really help people develop

and move forward and grow both

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personally and with their businesses.

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So, and I work with, you know, just

solopreneurs or mumpreneurs, um,

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and entrepreneurs, but also I do

have some clients who have slightly

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bigger companies, um, where sometimes

I get involved with, uh, their...

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Their managers as well to keep that

business on track because it grows because

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You know companies move some companies

can move quite quickly and that can

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outgrow Um a founder's knowledge as well.

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So it's helping them keep track of that

but um, yeah, it's amazing to watch what

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people Both create and start and and how

they progress and their success and just

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watch people come alive as they do that

It's absolutely And what similarities

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and what differences do you see between

the smaller local businesses and the

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bigger businesses that you've dealt with?

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Well, it's really interesting

because You do hear of many of

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the same things that come out.

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People, um, whether they're running

a bigger business or a smaller

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business, a lot of people have never

done something like that before.

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So you do hear from people,

I feel like I'm winging it.

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I'm not quite sure what to do next.

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They feel very overwhelmed.

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They can find themselves procrastinating.

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They want those sounding boards.

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They want to brainstorm.

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So there's many, many.

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themes that run through, whether it's

a smaller company or a bigger company,

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which I always find really interesting.

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But then of course, with a bigger

company, that can then go back down

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to the next level as well, where they

also, those managers of departments also

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have a growing department and sometimes

feel that they need that assistance.

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So definitely there's similar themes.

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Um, I would say that definitely

in the earlier stages of business,

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you've got, people have got that

real drive and they're very clear

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about what they want to achieve

and where they're trying to get to.

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And you then tend to see, um, as

people, as the companies get a little

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bit bigger, they've almost met those

goals, and then they're not quite

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sure about what that next step is.

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So there's, there's almost a pause

where people have to reassess and go.

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Okay, where are not?

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Where am I?

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What's next?

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And how do I get that?

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And so there's these little platforms

as companies grow that you often see.

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I think one of the key things which

you mentioned is when you're, when

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you've come from a corporate world

to running your own business, it can

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feel very lonely and you don't have.

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Those colleagues around you that

can act as a sounding board.

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And so it's really important to

have a support network in order to

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be able to, well, just feel like

you're not winging it the whole time.

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Can you talk a little bit about having

a support network as a small business

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owner and why you think that's important?

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I think it's, I think you're, you've

hit the nail on the head, you know, that

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loneliness in business and also not having

that same structure around you can be

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quite disconcerting, especially at the

beginning until you get into your stride.

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And you, when you work within a company,

you're so used to having people sort of

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bounce off or just talk to during the day

or just say, I'm thinking about this or.

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to sense check things.

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And I do agree with you.

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It can be it's quite hard.

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And so to get this support network

around you is absolutely key.

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Um, and that can be, um, you know,

that's support in your business,

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both you getting support from people,

but you supporting other people.

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It's the interaction with people.

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Um, it's throwing ideas around.

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Um, it's also there's

the other side of that.

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There's obviously, you know, people

that support network around you

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can also be your cheerleaders.

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They can pick you up when

you feel a little bit down.

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Um, they're like minded people.

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Um, so they understand.

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Understand what you're going through

as well, because sometimes, you

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know, you might be talking to your

mom, for example, they've got no

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idea what you're talking about.

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True.

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And they'll sort true err on absolutely

. They err on the side of caution.

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And you know, sometimes you want

people to share your wins with and say,

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I'm so chuffed, I managed to do this

this week, or whatever it might be.

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Um, and also as a result of that,

you get the, the cheerleader side.

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You then get to be known as the go to

person for, for example, for websites,

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for yourself, and very, you know, we

often come across your name in, I don't

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know, Facebook group or something,

where you get referred and you get

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to be known as that go to person.

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And that all comes from your support

network that you build around you.

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And also, I think there

is an accountability side.

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Sometimes as well.

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Um, I think that can be

there if you seek it out too.

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Absolutely.

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And I think one of the things that I've

noticed from being in different groups,

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different networking groups, is they all

have a slightly different angle to them.

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So some of them are slightly more

training focused, some of them

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slightly more networking focused.

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Some of them are slightly more

sales focused, some of them

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slightly more corporate, and.

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I think one of the things which I

struggled with for a while is the fact

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that they're not all the same, and you've

got to find the right group or groups for

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you, because sometimes you'll want, I'm in

several groups and I get different things

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from each of them, but I know talking to

other people in other areas, they often

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struggle to find the right group for them.

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Can you maybe explain a little bit

about how you should go about finding

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the right group and, and knowing

what the right group is for you?

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Absolutely, I completely agree, agree

with everything you say, um, because

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I think it's really hard sometimes

to find which group and also there's

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quite a lot of nervousness as well at

times, people going to new networking

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groups, but I truly believe it is,

it is a try, try, different ones out.

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And obviously now we've got the

online networking side as well as

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the in person and, um, and everything

in between as well, actually.

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So I think it's really, it's that classic

find, uh, phrase of find your tribe.

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But also I think you've got to be really

clear on what do you want to achieve

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from your networking, the time you're

going to spend networking, because

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that also affects it because if you

want to go to, you know, that really

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serious one where you're, you know,

giving your elevator pitch and You have

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to provide two referrals a week, and

it's very referral based, et cetera.

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That might suit you, one part

of your networking strategy.

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Also, there's the other side of

it, where you do really want that

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support from like minded people,

and you get that support network

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around you, as well as any training.

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Um, and I think it's really...

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important to try things out, but

I also think you're quite right by

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having a bit of a mix of networking

groups is really, really helpful.

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But also, as you go through your

business, things also change.

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So, you know, you can, and, and new

groups start up in different areas, or

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you might want to extend your area out

a little bit, or you might get too busy.

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So I think it's a really key It's

a really key part of definitely at

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the beginning, finding, finding your

support network around you, finding

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people who will cheerlead you and refer

you is part of being visible as well.

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Um, I think that's such

a key element of it.

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And, you know, there are brilliant

opportunities for connection and

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collaboration with other people and

with like minded business owners.

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So I think it's try things out,

see what's around, keep your eyes

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and ears open as you move through

your business journey as well.

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And, and also make sure that you are going

to them and you're comfortable enough to

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actually talk about your business as well.

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Um, because it's no good going

along and sort of chatting about

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everything but your business.

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It's finding that group where you

are truly comfortable about say,

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this is what I do and encouraging

that with other people as well

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to talk about their businesses.

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Definitely.

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And I must admit, I went to the chamber

of commerce, um, a couple of months

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ago, and I've been talking about

going for a while and I've always

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shied away from it because I thought

it wasn't quite the group for me.

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And it was really interesting going

somewhere that was out of my comfort

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zone and where I didn't know many people.

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And one of the tactics that I

have used before is to go along

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with somebody that you know.

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So at least when you walk in the room,

you don't feel like a complete lemon.

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The group is not very welcoming because

some of the groups are incredibly

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welcoming, mums in business for one,

but some other groups you walk in and

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everybody's talking in their own cliques.

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And it, you've got to be quite brave

to go up and start talking to people.

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And I can do that, but it's so much

easier if you've got somebody else

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with you to, to give that support.

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I a hundred percent agree, and I think

there's some other tips about that.

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If you arrive there a little, little

bit early, if you're nervous or a bit

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anxious by arriving a little bit early,

that means you are not walking into a

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room that is absolutely full of people.

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So if you, if there's a few people in

the room, it's, it's sort of quieter

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and it's less overwhelming, and you

can go and find somebody to talk to.

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And very often the hosts

aren't quite as busy.

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So they will talk to you and then

if somebody comes in, they'll

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immediately connect you with somebody.

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And I think that can be, um, very helpful

because I think you're quite right.

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It can be a little bit, it can be

overwhelming and you can feel quite

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anxious, but actually there's a few tricks

like going with somebody that you, you

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know, going a little tiny bit earlier.

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Also having a look, very often you get

sent a list of who's attending early.

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So do a little bit of research and

work out who do you want to speak to?

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Who do you want to, to

find out more about?

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And go with that sort of view in

mind that you're going to be as

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curious about other people and their

businesses as you possibly can be.

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Cause that makes conversation

flow a bit easier as well.

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That's a really good point about being

curious about other people's business

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rather than going in and trying to sell,

which some people certainly try and do.

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But the best conversations are ones

where you are asking questions and you

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get to understand what other people do.

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And they're more likely to remember you if

you have asked the questions and they've

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talked about themselves, then if you.

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Just try and sell to them when

they, they might remember you, but

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they don't necessarily remember

you for the right reasons.

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And, and one of the things which

I try and do afterwards is follow

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up with the people that I've

spoken to at a networking meeting.

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I don't always do it, but if it's been

somebody new, I try and follow up and

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just say, you know, these are my details.

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It was lovely to meet you.

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And if I can ever be of any

help, then just let me know.

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And I think, are there any other

tips that you can give in terms of.

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You know, networking and making

the most of those networks, sort of

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gone from support to networking and

often, often they are the same groups

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that your support group and your

networking group is one of the same.

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Sometimes they're separate, but

sometimes the one in the same, but

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are there any tips that you can

give for networking effectively?

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Yeah, definitely Networking is a funny

word because it's actually, I, I think

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networking is all about connection.

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Um, and it's really about opening

those doors to relationships.

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So I think you're quite right.

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It is about support and relationships

and networking with potential

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clients, but also, um, and it's about.

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Starting those and also growing

them because it's a long term game.

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These things are, you know,

it's, it really is a long

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term game of this connection.

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And also, I think part of that is thinking

about what can, what can you give to

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other people and how can you help others?

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So using that place of curiosity and

really finding out about somebody

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else and what they do and what

sort of clients they are looking

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for, or what, what do they need.

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What do they might need some help with

or what are they struggling with can

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then help you say actually do you know

what you need to speak to so and so or so

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and so would be really good and and put

people together because that's also how

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you know that's how those relationships

deepen and how they grow um so never

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think of it as a you know you're not

going to go to a networking and have a one

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hit wonder and just go oh fantastic and

sells people because That's easy, but I

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also think it's so key about making sure

that you do make sure you go and talk

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to people who you don't know, because

once you've been going for a while,

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it's so easy to sit in that comfort zone

and you've got great relationships and

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they're a bit deeper and you know that

these people who are cheerleaders and

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all the rest of it, sometimes it's safe

to stay with them and you literally have

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to go, you know, great to see, I'm going

to come and catch up with you later.

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And make yourself go and talk to other

people or go where somebody, somebody you

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know is, who's with somebody you don't

know, because then they will introduce you

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always, which is a good way to just start

that ball rolling to grow your network.

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And if you're right at the beginning, you

know, just say to yourself, my aim is to

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go and meet three new people or five new

people and connect with them afterwards,

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just to follow that through, or even

meet for a quick coffee if that works.

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Um, And I think, you know, it's important

to remember not to, nobody likes sales

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jammed down their throat or a conversation

dominated by what somebody else does.

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So it really is, think about it as

connection and conversation, um, and

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that flows much, much more easily.

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Um, and I also think it's, as you said

before, about investing the time both at

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a networking event and also afterwards

so that you've made the most of it.

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You've invested your time by going,

you've spoken to different people,

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um, you've been clear about mentioning

your business without it being too

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dominant within the conversation,

but you've got across what you do

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and then you followed up afterwards.

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I think they're really key elements.

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It's amazing how many people have

said to me, well, I went to such

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and such a, uh, networking meeting.

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Um, and it didn't work for me and you see,

because I didn't get any sales from it.

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And certainly I had sales from

not every single networking

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meeting I've been to, but.

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Each group, which I have invested

time in has ultimately led to sales.

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Sometimes it can take a long time.

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And certainly there are people I've met at

networking meetings, and it's been two or

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three years later that I've got a sale out

of it and which is, you know, fantastic,

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but you, it is a long term game.

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It's not like putting up a billboard ad

and getting some kind of immediate return.

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I'm not sure that happens anyway,

to be honest, for most service based

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businesses, it is about the relationships.

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And so I think you've got

to give them time as well.

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I think you're absolutely right.

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I mean, I think that, um, you know,

networking and connection is part of that

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whole visibility and marketing piece.

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They all go together.

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It's just one area of that.

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And.

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It takes a minimum of six months, I

reckon, to start, you know, getting those

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depths of relationships and, and those

connections and collaborations are a

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really key way of building that visibility

and building those connections as well.

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And I think it just, it, it takes a

bit of time to get that moving forward

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without a doubt, but it's so worth it.

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It's so worth it, particularly in a You

know, I, I find, um, you know, within

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the local area, those people around you.

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You know, it's, it's amazing, it's

amazing the power of you all together

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and it's amazing to be part of

something that's so inspiring as well.

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I completely agree and it's interesting

because I've certainly found that I love

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having the support network, especially

locally, people who just get it and who

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can get excited with you or can understand

when something hasn't gone as well.

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In a way that family, , and other friends

who don't run their own businesses,

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they just don't get in the same way.

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I find it invaluable for that.

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And secondly, sales and thirdly,

being known as something.

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So a really good example this week

is the fact that on a Facebook group,

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somebody asked for a website designer.

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And I think it was four or five different

people, including you, Ali, recommended me

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and I think three of those were clients.

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And then to people I know and

who I've done business with, but

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weren't actually website clients.

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But you get known as the person

for whatever it is that you do,

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and it takes time to build that up.

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But certainly I have found it being

invaluable for all, all three of those.

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So thank you.

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I want to change.

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Track slightly and you talked about

the fact that you also help people go

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from, I can't remember what you said,

overwhelmed to organized in business.

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And as we come to the end of 2023

390

guess the first thing is, what can

people do at this time of year when

391

things really start to get busy?

392

And especially if you've got younger

children and you've got nativity plays

393

and you've got Christmas parties and

you've got all sorts of things going,

394

going on, um, what can they do to keep

everything on an even keel and finish

395

the year strong, I guess, first of all.

396

So I think.

397

You're up, you know, this time of year

from September through to December is

398

crazy busy and everyone comes back from

the summer gets back into September and

399

it's almost got a new year feel hasn't

it and it's quite and Then people come

400

in all guns blazing Well, some people

are dragging their feet back into into

401

autumn and some people coming all guns

blazing But it very quickly becomes quite

402

overwhelming and, um, all people and all

find themselves really procrastinating.

403

So I think there's, um, about

trying to keep on track.

404

I think sometimes we can rush around

being real busy fools, can't we?

405

And we're not quite sure what

we're doing and we've got scattered

406

thoughts everywhere and we're

trying to grab hold of it all and

407

we're trying to keep on track.

408

So I think there's a major part

of, um, first of all is just

409

having that little bit of a pause.

410

So just, just pause a little bit if

you're feeling like that and, and

411

literally take a breath and, um, just

slow down a little bit and then just step

412

back and go, okay, everything is here.

413

And just literally taking stock of

where you are and brain dumping it

414

all so that you can literally, instead

of being in your business, we're so

415

busy caught up with the day to day.

416

Sometimes we forget that actually

you just need to step back a

417

little bit and work a little bit

on your business rather than in it.

418

And particularly with this time

of year, it doesn't even have to

419

be, you know, a massive step back.

420

It's just working out, okay,

what are my priorities and

421

what am I trying to achieve?

422

And then planning that in over the next,

you know, October, November, December

423

as we hurtle towards Christmas time.

424

Um, and the end of the year.

425

So I think there's that element

there and being able to just

426

step back and go, okay, fine.

427

How, what have I achieved

in the last month?

428

What am I doing in the next three months?

429

What am I working on next month?

430

Planning out what you're doing each week.

431

So on a Friday, for example, I have

a, um, a membership from Business

432

Accountability Club membership where

we do a planning session each week,

433

which is literally to force people

almost to do that step back and go,

434

okay, what's coming up in the next week?

435

What are my main priorities?

436

And then plan that in and also then

planning it each day, because that

437

allows you, if you've got a million

things going on, you want to keep

438

moving forward in your business.

439

And even if it's the tiniest,

simple step to move forward.

440

By being super intentional with your time

and saying, okay, I've planned my day.

441

And tomorrow I need to do a

maximum of these three big things.

442

And it might be just one thing, but by

doing that and being intentional, I'm

443

really focusing on that particular thing.

444

Then that will help you move

forward in your business.

445

And it also makes you feel better.

446

And it makes you feel like you're actually

achieving things because you're going,

447

okay, I know that I want to do that.

448

I've got all these admin bits here

and I'm going to batch those together.

449

I've got my, I don't know, social

media, and I'm going to batch

450

that together so that you then

can go in this block of time.

451

I'm going to focus on that.

452

I'm not going to multitask, don't

be pulled in by the multitask min.

453

You can't just focus on one thing.

454

And then really, once you know

what you want to do, you can be

455

intentional by sort of deciding.

456

Um, and then detach from everything

else and just do that one thing.

457

And that can really help when

you've got so much going on.

458

Um, a lot of people find the

accountability side is so key to

459

them when they run their own business

and they've got a lot going on.

460

If they find they've got overwhelmed,

it helps to work, you know, whether

461

that's in a, you might be in a

network group, you might have an

462

accountability buddy, you might have

a coach, you might be in a membership.

463

But that accountability can really

be key to help you stay on track when

464

you're very overwhelmed because it

almost makes you, it makes you think

465

about it and it makes you work out what

you're doing and makes you work out

466

what your priorities are that can help

this sort of scattered thought feeling.

467

Um, so yeah, I would definitely say

that the being intentional, decide,

468

detach and do, and then just focus.

469

are really key, but underlying

that is all the planning.

470

Before you do it.

471

Yeah, absolutely.

472

And I think it's also at this

time of year, you have to

473

be kind to yourself as well.

474

I always have my Friday to

do lists for the next week.

475

So I do something similar.

476

I plan the next week, usually on

a Friday, sometimes on a Sunday.

477

And I have, I have an enormous list.

478

And sometimes you can set

yourself up to fail by having.

479

Too many things to do.

480

So I think you have to be kind

to yourself and let you say, work

481

out which are the priorities.

482

And I think one of the things which

was a game changer for me is at

483

the end of each day, I actually

write down what I've achieved.

484

Yeah.

485

And because sometimes.

486

I don't want to do what's on my

list and I end up doing something

487

completely different, but it's

something that needed doing.

488

And to have done that,

it feels really good.

489

And sometimes you can just forget.

490

So sometimes you're reordering things.

491

Maybe that's just me.

492

But at the end of the day, writing down

what you've achieved makes you feel

493

a lot better and more motivated to do

something the following day as well.

494

Certainly helps me.

495

Yeah, I 100 percent agree with you.

496

So that review side, we're

all, many of us are so busy.

497

You can sometimes think, well,

what have I actually done?

498

And you don't know because you don't

take any time to just have a look at what

499

you have achieved and what you've done.

500

And doing that can really

build that momentum.

501

It's really motivating to do that.

502

But I think you're quite right.

503

I think, you know, it's so easy

to get, um, just unrealistic about

504

what you can actually achieve in

the time that you have available.

505

A classic case of that last week when

I wrote out what I had to achieve,

506

I found I had a number of hours and

probably triple the number of tasks

507

that I could fit into those hours.

508

So I think it's, I'm with you,

I prioritize my list and just

509

go, I number it one to four.

510

And if it's number one, I plan that

across the week, and that makes a

511

difference and then I can get to the

number twos because if it's three or four.

512

It's not urgent and important.

513

So, but you sometimes can get some

of those things which aren't urgent

514

and important and they suddenly

become urgent and important.

515

So sometimes just put batching in a bit

of time, even if it's an hour to just

516

tick off those little tiny things that

have been hanging around for months can

517

actually Be helpful because it stops that

they're moving into that stress zone.

518

So, um, yeah, definitely agree.

519

That element of being kind

to yourself, being realistic.

520

I'm really knowing what is priority.

521

I'm really keen.

522

And as we go into 2024, we all think next

year is going to be completely different.

523

I'm going to be really organized and

I'm going to be much more productive.

524

Um, what are your, what are your.

525

tips for going into 2024 and planning

what you're going to achieve in the year.

526

So I think it's super key.

527

Um, I, it's, I think it's a huge

thing to spend a half a day or a

528

day out, which seems so indulgent.

529

If you're a business owner to

spend that time, it will make the

530

biggest difference to your business.

531

If you can actually really have

that overview of what you're trying

532

to achieve in the coming year.

533

And, um, and that's.

534

In all areas, that's thinking about

your strategy, and that's got all the

535

different areas, sales, marketing,

you know, processes and systems,

536

um, you know, whether you need extra

help, because if you know what you're

537

trying to achieve, it's best to get

that help in place earlier rather than

538

later, your finances, your cash flow.

539

And it sounds super serious and super

heavy and like a heavy business plan.

540

It's not like that at all.

541

It's actually taking that time.

542

to step out, work on your business.

543

Um, it allows you to really

look forward and work out.

544

Are you going where you want to go?

545

What's working?

546

What's not working now?

547

What do you want to do more of?

548

What do you want to lose

within your business?

549

And it allows you to

sort of work out those.

550

Those main priorities for the coming

year, but also that then helps with

551

the stress and the overwhelm because

it allows you to create a more simple

552

plan because business isn't complicated.

553

It can be simple.

554

If we allow it to be by being really

clear about what we're trying to

555

do and where we're trying to go.

556

Once you've got that simple plan

you can then set those goals, which

557

will help you keep moving forward.

558

And a tiny bit of progress

is better than no progress.

559

But if you add that up every week or every

day, over 12 months, that's enormous.

560

And it will change your direction.

561

It will change how you

work within your business.

562

And I always think of it as a

bit like a sat nav, isn't it?

563

We wouldn't suddenly go, I'm driving to

Edinburgh with no idea how to get there.

564

Um, well, let's go up into the north

of Scotland because it's easy to know

565

which metal ways to catch, but to go on.

566

But, um, You know, we wouldn't

think of going on a journey without

567

planning our route, and if we need

to stop or pause on the way, or

568

if we need to take any details.

569

And it's exactly the same, just think

of it as these are my simple steps I'm

570

trying to get to here by Christmas 2024.

571

That sounds a bit scary.

572

Um, but it means that you don't

get lost and you can plan how

573

you're going to get there.

574

So it doesn't have to be too complicated.

575

And I love there's a brilliant

quote by James Clear and it's

576

When making plans, think big, and

when making progress, think small.

577

And I love that quote.

578

I think it's so apt about

planning ahead for your next year.

579

I love that.

580

And I love the analogy.

581

I think you can apply it to the

vehicle that you're driving as well,

582

and that you wouldn't go to the north

of Scotland in, well, I was going

583

to say something else, but probably

an electric vehicle, actually.

584

An electric car.

585

You would, you know, you wouldn't, you

wouldn't go on a, on a, A push bike,

586

well, unless you're my husband, in which

case you probably would do, but for most

587

of us, you need the appropriate vehicle

and so it's investing in that vehicle,

588

it's also going to get you there and get

you there in a timely manner, because

589

ultimately you can probably get there

eventually, but you wouldn't do it,

590

you know, walking or on a bike, um, and

do it any, any point as quickly as you

591

might want to, if you want to get there

quicker, then you need to make sure you've

592

got the right vehicle to do it as well.

593

Completely agree.

594

And it's, it's having that.

595

brain space to be able to do that as well.

596

And if you're caught up in the day to

day, it's hard to find that brain space.

597

You need to just give your, your head

a bit of space to think and think it

598

through and scribble and make sure

that everything is in, in place for

599

you to get where you want to in the

right vehicle, as you say, definitely.

600

And I agree with you in terms of

getting away from your desk to do that.

601

So definitely, you know, getting out of.

602

Out of the same building going, even

if it's a cafe or a spa or something

603

for the, for the day to, to plan that

on your own or, or with others, or

604

I've just got a chair in another room

sometimes that I sit and scribble

605

in, but certainly not at my desk.

606

Because when you try and do it at

your desk, it's your brain seems

607

to function in a different way.

608

It seems to be thinking about the

here and now rather than the future,

609

or maybe it's just my brain, but

certainly that's, that's how mine works.

610

I so agree, and also, I find it, and

quite a few of my clients find this, if

611

you, um, if you have a big A3 piece of

paper, or a number of pieces of paper, and

612

you're actually physically writing it, and

writing those thoughts down and planning,

613

sometimes that can be really interesting

to help you get everything down.

614

And I do quite a great, I do an

exercise where, with some clients

615

where we have post it notes everywhere.

616

To capture all of that and then we can

reorder it and um, it's, it's really

617

interesting if you try and do that on

a computer or at your desk, it just

618

doesn't seem to flow in the same way.

619

It's a really interesting scenario.

620

And I know there's definitely been some

research, um, particularly with the

621

overwhelming side where the physical act

of getting things out of your head onto

622

paper acts as this sort of decluttering

method and I, I think that probably

623

follows through when you're trying to

plan out a year because you almost get

624

everything out of your head and that then

gives you that space to then be able to

625

think ahead and work out what you want to

achieve in that, in that time coming up.

626

Yeah, it's funny.

627

I, I tend to plan in quarters.

628

I do plan across the year, but,

um, one of the things I like about

629

planning across the year in, and then

in quarters is that you can separate

630

the bigger tasks across the year.

631

And certainly if you don't achieve

them in the first quarter, you can

632

just keep putting them back, which is

possibly why we end up with quarter

633

four over well, when you suddenly

realize all those things you'd plan

634

to do at the beginning of the year.

635

But it does give you, it gives

you a bit more time and space to

636

achieve the different things that

you want to achieve across the year.

637

Yeah, I totally agree because it's some,

and also having a view of over the year

638

gives you those real top headlines.

639

Then you can plot out, okay, in Q1, Q2,

Q3, Q4, I want to have achieved, you know,

640

my aim is to achieve that, that, and that.

641

Those are my priorities in the quarters.

642

And then you can then bring it right

back and just do the next quarter

643

and the months across that quarter.

644

And then once you've got your month,

it's then so easy to plan your weeks.

645

Because you've got an idea and it's not

too overwhelming because you know that,

646

I don't know, that online course is

going, you want to launch is actually Q4,

647

it's not Q1, even though you're excited

about it and you're thinking about it.

648

That's the way, because what you've

got to concentrate on is this bit now,

649

which might be, I don't know, growing

your audience to be able to launch.

650

an online course or, you know, if you want

a new product, what do you need to do?

651

And you want to launch that new product

in, I don't know, Q3, got to source it,

652

packaging, marketing, all those things.

653

So it's a really, that's, it, it just.

654

It's almost like getting all the pieces

of the jigsaw, writing on all the pieces

655

and then putting them in the right order.

656

That sounds very apt as

we come up to Christmas.

657

Christmas is a time of

jigsaws, definitely.

658

Um, before, I've got some quick fire

questions, but before we get onto

659

those, Ali, can you let people know

where they can find you, your, your

660

website and your social media handles?

661

Yeah, of course.

662

So, um, I'm going to give you two.

663

I'll give you Mums in Business

and Ali Tate Coaching.

664

So, um, it's Ali Tate

and I'm taitcoaching.

665

co.

666

uk is my website and that's

the same on social media.

667

And then for Mums in

Business, it's m i b Network.

668

org.

669

uk.

670

And I'll share that with you,

Marie, so you can go in there.

671

I will put it in the show notes.

672

Yeah.

673

Um, and then on the socials,

it's, it's Mums in Business

674

Network on, um, Instagram.

675

And MIB network on Facebook

and also on LinkedIn.

676

Fabulous.

677

Thank you.

678

Um, nearly forgot about LinkedIn there.

679

Um, so just to finish,

a few quick questions.

680

First of all, um, a favorite

business book of yours?

681

Favorite business book.

682

Well.

683

I think I've got, I've got two.

684

Is that too greedy?

685

No, I let you, I let you have two.

686

Okay, so I absolutely love Eat That Frog,

um, by Brian Tracy, which is the quickest

687

read or quick, quickest listen on, um,

But what I absolutely love about that book

688

is it really is about eating the biggest,

hairiest, ugliest frog stroke task.

689

Um, first thing in the morning,

the one that will either move

690

your business forward or the one

that you just don't want to do.

691

Get it done, get it out

the way and move forward.

692

And I love the simple, the

simpleness of that, but it's so true.

693

Um, and then the other one that I

absolutely love is actually, because

694

I listen to audiobooks all the time,

love audiobooks, , is, Chet and

695

Prosper by Denise Duffield Thomas.

696

And the reason I like

that is I love her ethos.

697

But we can build a business in any

way we like that suits our lives.

698

You don't have to do it the

way everyone else does it.

699

And I absolutely love that.

700

And it doesn't have to be

massively stress stressful.

701

How can you make your business as

fulfilling and as easy for you as

702

possible and to fit around your life?

703

And I really love that about that book.

704

I think it's great.

705

Oh, fantastic.

706

Um, thank you for those

and favorite podcast.

707

It doesn't have to be business.

708

Again, well, I obviously

listen to yours, Marie.

709

I also listen to, well, I listen

to Denise Duffield Thomas.

710

That's a weekly one, as is

Lisa Johnson's, um, one.

711

I like their podcasts, but on

a non business one, I actually

712

love British Scandal podcasts.

713

They're absolutely brilliant,

especially for a long drive.

714

And, um, I, I love those.

715

Those are really good.

716

So that's British Scandal.

717

They're really good.

718

I've not heard of those.

719

I presume they are, what they say

on the tin, they are scandals.

720

They are, and it goes, absolutely, and

it goes from everything from the perfumer

721

affair to, um, Camilla Gates to, uh, the

canoe man, you know, who disappeared and

722

it's four or five episodes and they go

through the story and then at the end they

723

do interviews and it, they are brilliant.

724

Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant.

725

Very good for driving a long way.

726

Excellent.

727

And finally, a piece of business advice.

728

Um, I think sort of continuing

in the theme that we've had

729

today, um, messy progress within

your business is still progress.

730

It's just that keeping moving

forward in very small steps and

731

taking, you know, even it's one

tiny small step forward every day.

732

It's something to keep

that consistency going.

733

Fabulous.

734

I love that piece of advice.

735

That is so true.

736

We often demand perfection,

but actually just making

737

progress is all you need to do.

738

Absolutely.

739

Thank you so much, Allie.

740

That's been fabulous, as

I always knew it would be.

741

Um, but thank you so much for

sharing so freely with us all today.

742

Thank you so much.

743

I've really enjoyed our conversation.

744

It's been fantastic.

745

Thank you.