Or LISTEN to the podcast on your preferred podcast platform via www.digitalcircus.life today!
We were so happy that the very wonderful David Hatch agreed to join us on the Digital Circus Life podcast, sharing his journey from leaving a highly stressful job in the aerospace and space industry to becoming self-employed, focusing on leadership training specifically for new managers and leaders. His bad experiences with management in his last job pushed him towards starting his own business, aiming to improve leadership skills within the workplace to prevent others from facing similar issues..
David’s story is one that emphasises the importance of understanding your value, knowing when to walk away from detrimental situations, and being patient. His ultimate goal is to make a lasting impact on leadership practices, especially for those newly stepping into managerial roles, through his training programs and his podcast, despite the challenges involved in changing the pathway to that course.
Have you ever been so stressed out at work that you had no other choice but to leave? Or have you ever had to deal with a bad manager in the work place? Let us know about your experiences in the comments…
David Hatch is the managing director of Griffon Consulting Ltd, a company that is helping companies and start-ups meet their project, leadership and management goals whilst delivering with Integrity.
He is also the founder of the Leading with Integrity podcast which you can listen to here.
Do you really care about what people think about you? It's hard not to sometimes..Afterall, we're all human right?!
To mirror our previous episode with Alan we thought we would give Emily the opportunity to have the floor this week for The Digital Circus LIFE. To dive into what makes her tick and to understand how she has found her way into a life of entrepreneurship and adventure with Yellow Tuxedo.
Or LISTEN to the podcast on your preferred podcast platform via www.digitalcircus.life today!
It’s a really candid chat, one where she shares her journey toward seeking a simple, yet for fulfilling life and her desire to be “useful” and to positively contribute to others lives. She also talks about her need for adventure but that adventures need not be off the scale big ones, the small adventures are all part of the fun too.
It’s a great conversation that touches on a few themes like the impact of societal expectations on your personal happiness, why people care about what people think of them and how you can strike a balance between ambition and being content.
This is actually Emily’s second interview for The Digital Circus LIFE. Listen to her interview on her trip to Malawi last year and how that has impacted her life and outlook on business.
So, for a bit of a change over the Christmas break, we decided to not interview any guests for The Digital Circus LIFE podcast and instead turned the camera on ourselves. In the first of two special interviews we decided to ask none other than our beloved Alan Braithwaite to talk about his life and how it feels to be one half of team Yellow Tuxedo. It's quite a big question to ask yourself "Am I happy with my life?" and its fascinating to hear what Alan thinks.
Or LISTEN to the podcast on your preferred podcast platform via www.digitalcircus.life today!
It's a candid interview with Alan. For anyone who has had the pleasure of knowing him both professionally or personally you will know that he really does have a unique type of brain. One that looks to maximise every opportunity that presents itself.
Its's been a rollercoaster few years for us and we've overcome several large obstacles to get where we are today. And still as we sit here now, we're not quite there yet, but....Can Alan say "I am happy with my life?" You'll just have to watch or listen to find out!
Find out more about Alan here..
In this weeks episode of The Digital Circus LIFE we follow the extraordinary adventure of Sheeba Dhallu, founder of Hatchfully Yours, a beautifully unique gifting business that specialises in hand carved eggs as gifts. Her story explains how she quit her job working in Harrods to start a creative business. From aspirations in animation to the creation of exquisite egg sculptures, Sheba's narrative unveils the essence of resilience, determination, and the pursuit of happiness.
Or LISTEN to the podcast on your preferred podcast platform via www.digitalcircus.life today!
Like so many others, Sheeba's transition into the job she does now was not a linear one. Despite initial aspirations in animation and years of studying, fueled by a profound passion for the craft and dreams of working with animation industry giants like Pixar, fate had other plans in store.
After the death of her father her love for animation faded and she decided to follow in her dads footsteps to head into the world of entrepreneurship. And after an Easter time activity with friends Sheeba's curiosity took over and her love of egg carving came into the forefront.
Sheeba is not just an incredible talent, she is incredibly ambitious. She really is going places with her craft. And already the world is standing up to take notice with features on National TV Like Kirstie's Homemade Christmas.
And now years after leaving her employer, Harrods, she now has them fully in her sights as a potential stockist, along with a whole host of other luxury gifting shops and hoteliers for her incredible unique and beautiful gifts.
Everyone should listen to Sheeba's story. Its a real lesson in following your heart and not your head.
Enjoy!
Find out more about Sheeba
Follow her adventure on Instagram and say hello.
Visit her website here https://www.hatchfullyyours.com
The Digital Circus has been a small business membership since its humble beginnings in June 2020. Born out of a place where we wanted to help as many small businesses as we could who were finding themselves standing still due to Covid lockdown, we decided to create a space where we could offer some low level support and training to help up skill business owners in digital skills and online visibility.
Fast forward to now and 3.5years later we have now supported over 200 small business owners in our very own virtual big top and over that time The Digital Circus has evolved massively. Not only is it a space to learn and grow your business online but we are now a bustling, supportive, collaborative community of people helping each other to be the very best that we can be.
Since the very start we have always been an open door membership. We believed that if you are stuck and you need support that now is the time to take action. That being said, we've also recognised that now, with over 90hrs of learning sessions in our resources section in the membership, new members were coming in and feeling overwhelmed by all of the information at their fingertips.
We also identified that we have members within the Circus that have stayed with us since the very beginning and we have developed new sessions to help grow and stretch their capabilities. Having been with us from the start and having built and understood those foundation stones for their online visibility they have advanced. What we actually need to do is help to get our new starters to have a firm grasp of this too before moving them forward and more to their ever growing to do lists.
So with this in mind, in November 2023 we closed the doors to any new members and we have a had a really good think about how we can make our small business membership the best that it can be that serves both our current members growth and will support our new members in the most simple and effective way.
And that is where Foundations was born.
In January 2024 the doors to The Digital Circus will be reopened for one week only for new members to join. Upon joining new members will of course continue to access all of the features and benefits from the full Digital Circus business membership but upon entry will join the six month foundations programme to kickstart their online visibility.
For six full months you will receive a dedicated foundations group session and dedicated support from both Alan and Emily to help you lay the best possible foundations that will set you up for online growth.
We will be covering your digital eco-system and helping you to not only understand how all of your digital assets work together harmoniously, but the actions you need to take to get them working better for you.
Like everything within The Digital Circus we are not talking high level. We don’t just want to tell you what and why to do it, we want to give you the HOW too. There is enough confusing and conflicting information out there on the Internet, you can be rest assured that you will get clear actions and will come away feeling confident in how you can move your business forward.
The other clear benefit of this new approach to joining the Circus is that our cohort based approach will help build you a network of likeminded people who are all on a similar page to you. Add to this the fact that for six months you will have a core group of champions there to help support you as you grow and to collaborate with.
The Digital Circus Foundations is for small business owners who are tired of trying to get their business online without getting the results they want.
If you are a small business owner who is working on their online business visibility strategy in house we want to work with you to get it working better for you.
We are a virtual support blanket for entrepreneurs who want to remove the overwhelm of marketing their business and mastering the tech and would like a little bit of support to get things moving in the right direction.
Chances are that if you are reading this page you have probably tried multiple programmes, groups, courses and quick fixes to get yourself visible. And we’re going to put it out there that nothing has quite worked for you previously.
You cannot expect things to happen overnight with your online visibility and if you are trying to build a sustainable long term business you need to get those foundation stones right. What you build on top of that is completely up to you.
We want you to succeed and we want you to do the actions that you scribble down in your notebook. If we add too much to your todo list you’ll get overwhelmed and you won’t take action.
We also want the things we teach you over the course of these six months together to become muscle memory. We want them to fit in your daily/ weekly/ monthly workflow and that means habit building.
Not only that, this is a real opportunity to get to know your fellow Circus performers and to build some quality relationships as you all grow your business together.
Remember that Rome wasn't built in a day!
First and foremost, being a member of The Digital Circus you will learn how to make your online visibility work for you. We’re big about business on your terms but we also recognise that to grow your business you need to underpin it with black and white technical skills.
We will teach you how to remove the overwhelm and to understand which actions you take to grow you business online should be prioritised over other whilst growing your online ecosystem.
We will show you how to use macro content to ensure that you are front and centre when your customers are ready to find you.
We will also show you the in’s and outs of how you can use social media the right way to effectively build and leverage your audience using the four c’s of community, conversation, connection and content.
When you join The Digital Circus foundations in January 2024 you will benefit from a LIVE 90min monthly group call with us working through a specific foundation stone for your business. Each month you will come away with clear actions to implement in your business and we will be setting monthly accountability tasks to make sure you are staying on track.
On top of your foundations session you will also have full access to all of the other live sessions available to all members throughout the month. This includes a start of the month planning and accountability cal, Q&A sessions, co-working sessions and a dedicated learning session designed to stretch you with your online visibility goals.
You are welcome to join in on as many calls as you want throughout the month but we really do suggest that you commit to joining the foundations call live if you can so that you are able to ask real time questions and benefit from the consistency of taking small actions.
As well as our LIVE calls all members have full access to our training library and can also opt in to our monthly member matchups if you enjoy networking.
Our community space is hosted on Heartbeat which means you can benefit from accessing your full membership suite both from your desktop or via the mobile app.
The Digital Circus is £39 per month or £395 per year. There is no additional cost to be a part of the six month foundations programme but we do recommend that you stick with the programme for at least six months to start seeing the benefit.
The doors to The Digital Circus membership will be opening for one week only in January. With this in mind we are asking for anyone who is currently interested in joining us in the January cohort to add themselves to our Waitlist. When more information is due to be sent out the people on this list will be the first to know and will be first in line to sign up when doors open.
In the world of entrepreneurship, many individuals start their own businesses with a specific goal in mind. They may want to escape the corporate world, follow their passion, or pursue a new dream. However, what happens when that passion no longer fills their cup? This is the topic of today's episode, featuring our good friend and Digital Circus royalty, Nicola Dickinson, who is embarking on a brand new path after years of running her own business. We will explore her motivation for this transition and the lessons she has learned along the way.
Or LISTEN to the podcast on your preferred podcast platform via www.digitalcircus.life today!
One of the most common pitfalls that people face is the tendency to play the'follow the follower' [Earl Nightingale] . Nicola's realisation of this unrewarding game woke her up and inspired her to stop being a follower. She has decided to live life on her own terms and pursue her own desires, rather than conforming to the expectations of others. This powerful statement really reflects her desire for personal freedom and authenticity.
Nicola is currently going through a major transition in her business life. She is in the process of closing down her current business and training for a new career as a forest bathing guide. However, the process of closing down her business has proven to be more difficult and time-consuming than she expected. On the other hand, her training for a new career in Forest Bathing represents a massive difference and a true passion for the outdoors and the natural world.
Nicola's love for the natural world and the outdoors did not always dominate her life. Growing up in London, she had access to open fields and the beach, but it didn't resonate with her at the time. However, after moving to Southampton and being exposed to the sea through her husband's naval background, her appreciation for nature was reignited. The sense of freedom and open space had a significant impact on her, leading to her current passion for the outdoors.
From a young age, Nicola felt the need to belong and be part of a community. This desire for belonging influenced her choices throughout her life. Moving to Southampton and finding a sense of community through work and networking events further fuelled her motivation to be a part of something. However, she eventually realised that she was merely following the expectations of others and not living authentically.
Nicola's entrepreneurial journey began when she trained to be a beauty therapist, working part-time at IBM and eventually starting her own beauty salon. She then stumbled upon an opportunity to create a natural nail polish remover when she couldn't find one in the UK market. Despite not knowing how to create it, she took on the challenge and found her way through networking and learning from others. This problem-solving mentality and the willingness to take risks led her to establish Fresh Therapy Products, a successful business in the beauty industry.
After a few years of running Fresh Therapy Products, Nicola realised that she no longer enjoyed the business and felt disconnected from it. She hated the feeling of following the expectations of others and craved something more meaningful. Through various experiences, such as reading'The Strangest Secret' by Earl Nightingale, she discovered the problem with being a follower and made the decision to shut down her business. This decision allowed her to pursue her true passion for Forest Bathing and live a life aligned with her desires and values.
Closing down her business taught Nicola the importance of getting your priorities and logistics in order. She recognised the need to have a solid understanding of all aspects of her business, including finances and operations. This experience also highlighted the importance of seeking help from professionals and experts in areas where one lacks expertise. By aligning passion with proper planning, Nicola is aiming to avoid making the same mistakes and approach her new venture, The Forest Bathing Company, with a more methodical mindset.
The transition from following to leading has had a profound impact on Nicola's personal growth and overall fulfillment. Her decision to pursue her passion for Forest Bathing has brought a newfound sense of purpose and satisfaction. As she embarks on this new journey, she radiates joy literally in her face, demonstrating the transformative power of following your true desires.
Nicola's story serves as a reminder to break free from the follower mentality and embrace your individuality. Through her journey, she has learned the importance of aligning passion with planning and seeking personal fulfillment. Her experience highlights the resilience, problem-solving skills, and entrepreneurial mindset required to navigate the challenges of business ownership and personal growth.
Find out more about Nicola
Follow her adventure on Instagram and say hello.
Her new website is coming soon!
In a world where we are constantly bombarded with limiting beliefs and societal norms, it can be challenging to find our true purpose and achieve our goals. However, by embracing both our logical and intuitive minds, we have the power to create an extraordinary future for ourselves and others. In this weeks episode of Digital Circus LIFE we chat to Heike Schimanski, mindset for business coach about how she is overcoming limiting beliefs in order to help others.
Or LISTEN to the podcast on your preferred podcast platform via www.digitalcircus.life today!
We asked about Heike about her current goals and she revealed her desire to create the best possible future for herself and others. She believes that when everything falls into place, she can support others, contribute to good causes, and make a positive impact on those around her.
Heike has a clear love for helping others and seeing them thrive. She explains that she has always had a natural inclination to support and uplift those around her. However, she also acknowledges the importance of finding a balance between helping others and self care.
Within this episode Heike shares her journey of self-discovery and overcoming limiting beliefs that held her back from pursuing her true purpose. She highlights the toxic and abusive upbringing that led her to deny her true potential for a long time. However, she eventually listened to the call of the universe and submitted to her purpose, leading her to find fulfillment in coaching and branding.
We particularly love the section where Heike talks about the constant dance between her logical, strategic mind and her intuitive soul. While she possesses a unique ability to connect the dots and see the bigger picture, she also experiences skepticism and the need for scientific proof. She finds that these opposing forces can coexist harmoniously when she is in a good place mentally and emotionally.
Heike reveals her deep connection to Scotland and the strong desire to make it her home. She recalls the moment she first stepped foot on Scottish ground and felt an instant sense of belonging. This led her to make the courageous decision to leave her previous life behind and move to Scotland, where she has found true happiness and fulfillment.
Heike’s ability to combine her logical mind with her intuitive soul has proven to be a powerful tool in her coaching and mentoring work. By utilising both science-based techniques and intuitive guidance, she helps her clients see the broader picture, implement changes, and achieve their goals.
By embracing both logic and intuition, we have the power to overcome limiting beliefs, pursue our true purpose, and make a positive impact on the world. The journey may be challenging at times, but the rewards of helping others, finding fulfillment, and creating a better future are truly worth it.
Find out more about Heike…
Visit Heike’s website- https://www.heikeschimanski.com/
Listen to her podcast Kardamom and Chili
This week on The Digital Circus LIFE podcast we explore the transformative journey of Vicki Brown, a personal trainer and owner of LIVEFITNOW, who turned her health issue into a career path filled with purpose and passion. We will delve into the pivotal moment that changed her life and the steps she took to build a successful business aimed at helping others. Along the way, we will also discussed the importance of balance, discipline, and personal growth.
Or LISTEN to the podcast on your preferred podcast platform via www.digitalcircus.life today!
Vicky's life took a dramatic turn when she fell ill during her final year of school. Diagnosed with a condition called indeterminate colitis, she realised the need to prioritise her health and take control of her well-being. This led her to join a gym and immerse herself in exercise, sparking a deep passion for fitness and personal growth. Vicky's illness, though initially seen as a setback, became the catalyst for a new direction in her life.
With her newfound love for the gym, Vicky decided to pursue a career in personal training. She obtained various qualifications and started working with clients, continuously learning and gaining experience. She was driven by her desire to help others improve their physical and mental well-being, particularly as they age. Vicky wanted to enable individuals to maintain their strength and independence well into their later years.
Maintaining her love for fitness while running a business required careful balance and discipline. Vicky recognised that her career had to evolve beyond one-on-one coaching to reach a broader audience. Embracing the power of the internet, she sought ways to inspire and guide more people in leading healthier lives. This expansion allowed her message of strength and well-being to resonate with a larger community.
Vicky's goal is not finite; it expands as the need for support and guidance grows in society. She believes that people are facing increasing challenges in terms of physical and mental health, loneliness, and overall well-being. As a result, her purpose becomes even more significant over time. Instead of envisioning an endpoint, Vicky sees her role expanding and her impact deepening as she continues to provide support and inspiration.
Vicky acknowledges that the journey hasn't always been easy. There were times when maintaining balance between her personal life and business obligations felt overwhelming. However, she recognised the importance of personal growth and continuously evolving her skill set. By embracing new challenges and refining her time management skills, Vicky was able to find a more sustainable balance and prioritise self-care.
Throughout her journey, Vicky has found strength in the power of community. Connecting with like-minded individuals, learning from colleagues, and being part of a supportive network has been crucial to her personal and professional growth. By surrounding herself with passionate individuals, Vicky has been able to unlock new skills, broaden her horizons, and continue making a positive impact on the lives of others.
Vicky's story serves as an inspiration for those seeking purpose and passion in their lives. Her journey from illness to a fulfilling career highlights the transformative power of embracing challenges and pursuing your true calling. By finding balance, maintaining discipline, and embracing personal growth, Vicky has created a business founded on helping others achieve physical and mental well-being. As she looks toward the future, her purpose continues to expand, empowering her to make an even greater impact on individuals seeking a path to a long, good, and strong life.
In the latest episode of the Digital Circus Life podcast, we had the privilege of diving into the inspiring journey of Lori Weber, the founder and owner of The Mindful Eating Clinic. Lori shared her insights, experiences, and the transformative power of mindful eating techniques in helping others overcome struggles with disordered eating. Let's explore the highlights of Lori's remarkable story and her dedication to making a positive impact on people's lives.
Or LISTEN to the podcast on your preferred podcast platform via www.digitalcircus.life today!
Lori began by recounting her own challenges with disordered eating, a journey that spanned over 40 years. In her teenage years, the prevalent discussions around eating disorders mainly focused on anorexia, leaving little room for broader understanding and support. The lack of resources and a connected world hindered her ability to seek help, leading to a prolonged struggle with disordered eating patterns.
As societal attitudes and information evolved over the years, Lori reached a pivotal moment in her mid-50s. Fuelled by a desire to help others navigate their challenges earlier in life, she embarked on a personal transformation journey. Recognising the need for change, she embraced intuitive eating principles and discovered the power of mindfulness in reshaping her relationship with food.
Lori's personal journey laid the foundation for the Mindful Eating Clinic. Her mission became clear: to guide individuals from a difficult life around food to a happier, healthier existence. The clinic serves as a platform for Lori to share her expertise, tools, and experiences to support others on their unique paths to mindful eating.
Running the Mindful Eating Clinic alongside her existing business, Perfect Pitch Coaching, presented its challenges. Lori candidly shared the juggling act of managing corporate clients, traveling, and simultaneously being present for her mindful eating clients during the clinic's inception, especially during the challenges brought about by the global pandemic.
Despite her outward confidence, Lori acknowledged dealing with imposter syndrome and moments of anxiety. However, she emphasised that these feelings are common and that embracing vulnerability is an essential part of personal and professional growth.
Lori's story is a testament to resilience, self-discovery, and the transformative impact of mindfulness. Through the Mindful Eating Clinic, she continues to inspire and guide others towards healthier relationships with food. The Digital Circus Life podcast is honoured to have shared Lori's story, we truly think she is incredible.
Find out more about Lori Weber...
Lori is the founder of The Mindful Eating Clinic.
Website- https://www.themindfuleatingclinic.com
Instagram- www.instagram.com/the_mindful_eating_clinic/
Listen to the Mindful Eating Clinic podcast here.
Or LISTEN to the podcast on your preferred podcast platform via www.digitalcircus.life today!
In this episode of the Digital Circus LIFE podcast, we delve into Emily's recent 12-day adventure to Malawi. Emily shares insights into her journey, combining purposeful travel, skill sharing, and a touch of personal adventure. Join us as we uncover the motivations behind this expedition and the impact it had on both Emily and the local community in Malawi.
Emily embarked on this expedition with a dual purpose. First and foremost, she sought to make a meaningful impact through skill-sharing workshops with women in business in Malawi. This purposeful approach aimed to contribute positively to the local community. Acknowledging the cliché that there's no such thing as a selfless act, Emily found personal fulfillment in helping others. The expedition became a source of joy and personal growth.
The expedition's format seamlessly blended purpose and adventure. Climbing Mount Mulanje, the tallest peak in Malawi, and engaging in safari activities were intertwined with skill-sharing workshops and school visits, creating a holistic experience.
Part of the expedition focused on education, recognising the transformative impact of sending girls to school in Malawi and the power of education.
Beyond the purposeful aspects, the expedition aimed to showcase Malawi as a destination. Often overshadowed by neighbouring countries in tourism, Malawi's stunning landscapes and unique experiences were highlighted, encouraging others to consider it on their travel bucket list.Malawi, despite being one of the world's least developed countries, is emerging as a rising destination. The expedition team experienced the stark contrast between extreme poverty and luxurious tourism spots, emphasising the need to recognise Malawi's potential as a travel gem.
For Emily , this expedition marked a return to the core values that as a Yellow Tuxedo as a duo has always strived for…adventure and spontaneity. After facing challenges and losing sight of these aspirations over the past couple of years, Emily's journey became a catalyst for rediscovering the joy of saying "yes" to opportunities and embracing a life of adventure.
Emily's 12-day expedition to Malawi was the most incredible opportunity. It was a journey of purpose, adventure, and rediscovery, both for her and Yellow Tuxedo. As we reflect on this insightful expedition in todays podcast recording, it serves as a reminder to embrace opportunities, find joy in purposeful actions, and, above all, never lose sight of the adventure that life offers.
We do hope you enjoy todays small business podcast all about Emilys recent adventure. If you listen to the end you’ll know that she is planning to lead another expedition in September 2024. And if you are in any way interested in learning more about how you can become a member of this next team please do drop her an email at [email protected] and she would be happy to chat through what is involved!
Emily’s trip was through Orbis Expeditions. To find out more about Orbis visit their website https://www.orbis-expeditions.com/
Are you interested in becoming a member of The Digital Circus membership? Join the waitlist today.