My guest today is none other than John Lewis of JL Mindset Performance. John and I first met when he was a visitor to my networking group Businesswise. I tell John about how I remember him bouncing in as a guest of one of our business buddies and thinking that he couldn't normally be this energetic at 7am on a Friday!

Turns out he is always that bouncy as I've found out since he's become a member and this year is chair of the group.

We discuss how John got into the business, previous careers, his family and how important they are to him. He has never missed a school play or sports day and we talk about how rare that it.

Then we move onto the topic of mental health, business lessons learnt and everything in between!

Today's guest has one hectic schedule! Not only does she have a full time job but she also has a business that she started during the pandemic!

I met SIlvia Coletto through a client and didn't meet her in person until after we had recorded the podcast and I have to say she really knows her stuff!

We have quite an in depth conversation about how important routine is when you're working from home, how lonely it can be if you don't see people for days on end and how we explain to those who aren't technologically minded, what we actually do!

Silvia came to the UK from Italy on her own after finding that she wasn't going to be able to get a job that didn't come with a zero hour contract.

To find out more about Silvia head to:
Website: https://paidadsschool.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/silviacoletto/

My guest today is Simon Read. Simon is a multi-business entrepreneur who not only runs his two businesses but also fits in his own radio show and supporting his other half with her networking business which means four networking events a month PLUS their social events!

Despite his very busy calendar Simon manages to fit in some golf networking and shares his tips with us for a newbie wanting to attend a networking event.

You can find Simon at any of his links below:

https://accountantsforsale.co.uk/

https://www.financialcareersltd.co.uk/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/simoncread/

On today's episode of Successful Strides I'm joined by the fabulous Louise Hunt Skelley PLY who has had the most AMAZING career ever.

Our conversation got so in depth that we've had to get another date in the diary for part 2!

We discuss her time at school, how she got into tennis, the support of her family, her wonderful husband Chris Hunt Skelley MBE and how they met before diving into a huge conversation about disability!

This means that our conversation barely even scratched the surface of what Louise does now.

The main message of Part One is that if you have a disability, there isn't anything wrong with you. You're not a burden, you're different and you're brilliant but you're not obligated to be the person who educates people on disability unless you want to!

Find out more about Louise at https://louisehunt.co.uk/ 

My guest today has a story to tell and it is one I was quite excited to help him share with the world. 

I had only met Jeff for ten minutes at a networking event before telling him that I wanted to have him as a guest on this podcast. Not only does Jeff have two businesses (and he’ll be back to talk about them with us another day!) but, with two of his friends, he has set up a charity in Swindon called Best Mates.

This charity is one that, like most, was born from extenuating circumstances and for Jeff, those circumstances involved his sixteen-year-old son. 

Jeff shares that story with me whilst sharing more about Best Mates, what they do and what their hopes for the future are. 

He also shares their many fundraising campaigns and more. I’m certain that once you’ve listened to Jeff’s story you’ll want to know more, and you can learn everything at www.bestmates.org or by finding them on their social media platforms.

On the very first episode of Successful Strides with Hannah Edwards, I’m joined by PR expert Fiona Scott, of Scott Media, who joins me to share the story of her business journey and the lessons that she’s learnt along the way!

Fiona and I have worked together for seven years so, having learnt so much from her during that time, it only made sense to me to ask her to be the first ever guest on this podcast.

We talk about Fiona’s career and how she came to be a business owner, family and how she balances time with them and ensuring she meets her client deadlines, networking and following this Fiona shares her top tips for anyone who wants to share a business.

We also discuss the elusive work/life balance and whether that is actually a thing, how people think that you’re going to be able to drop everything to meet as soon as you start working for yourself and the reality of what that’s actually like.

One of the big things we talk about is her stepdaughter, Lauren, joining Scott Media and how that’s been a learning experience for all involved.

Both talk about how social media has changed for them within their business with it not really being a thing when Fiona started in business sixteen years ago to now where it has become a vital part of her marketing.

I surprise Fiona with the fact that I can remember every detail about how we met and began working together considering everything else that we’ve done together in between including road trips over the UK for trade shows and award shows.

You can find Fiona at https://scottmedia.uk/
In her Facebook Tribe: https://www.facebook.com/groups/162841034317598
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefionascott/ 

Find out more about Hannah at https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahedwardsempoweredva/

Successful Strides is a new podcast that takes you on a journey through the world of entrepreneurship and life. 

Your host, Hannah Edwards, of Empowered VA Services, is a virtual assistant and social media manager from Swindon, and she wanted to start this podcast, not only to share her business journey but to hear from a variety of other business owners who have taken the time to sit down with her and share their stories of being a business owner.