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  • E7: Support and Community Builds Stronger Businesses with Beverley Poole

    E7: Support and Community Builds Stronger Businesses with Beverley Poole
    2025/06/15

    In this episode of Creating the Curve, Anna Bravington is joined by long-time mentor, connector, and all-around business whirlwind Beverley Poole, to talk about something every founder needs - support.

    Together, they explore:

    • Why technical founders struggle when they try to go it alone

    • How to know what you’re good at and when to outsource the rest

    • The importance of building your “trusty tribe”

    • Why burnout and overwhelm are real threats for early-stage businesses

    • And how founders with ADHD or neurodivergence can work with their strengths, not against them

    If you’ve ever felt like you should be doing everything yourself, this episode will remind you that getting support isn’t cheating - it’s smart strategy.

    From community networking to finding the right mentor, Beverley and Anna share candid insights into what makes support work, how to set boundaries, and how to build a business around what you are best at, not just what needs doing.

    Learn more and join our free community at: https://creatingthecurve.co.uk

    To get in touch with our guest Beverley Poole find her on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/beverley-poole-business-builder/ or her website https://www.aspire4business.com

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    56 分
  • E6: How I Use AI Day-to-Day as a Small Business Owner

    E6: How I Use AI Day-to-Day as a Small Business Owner
    2025/06/08

    Used well, AI can be one of the best ways to help you save time, reduce stress, and get through your to-do list as a small business owner.

    In this solo episode of Creating The Curve, Anna shares her own everyday AI processes, from editing podcasts faster, to getting blog posts written quicker, to researching leads more efficiently, and how AI is helping her balance creativity, productivity, and sanity in a busy business.

    You’ll learn:

    • Why small business owners should think of AI as an “extra pair of hands”

    • How to create pillar content and turn it into 30–40 pieces of marketing (with help from AI)

    • The AI tools Anna uses (and why she loves them)

    • How to make AI work for your style - whether you prefer writing, video, or audio

    • The one mindset shift that helps you get the most from AI tools

    If you’ve been wondering how to make AI practical for your own business - this is a great place to start.

    Learn more and join our free community at: https://creatingthecurve.co.uk

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    36 分
  • E5: Using AI and Custom GPTs to Work Smarter with Frank Prendergast

    E5: Using AI and Custom GPTs to Work Smarter with Frank Prendergast
    2025/06/01

    For founders juggling a hundred tasks, AI and Custom GPTs can be a lifeline - if you know how to use them right.

    In this episode of Creating The Curve, Anna is joined by creative strategist and AI experimenter Frank Prendergast for a refreshing, practical conversation about getting started with ChatGPT and Custom GPTs, without needing to be a prompt engineer or a tech wizard.

    They explore:

    • How to stop overthinking and give things a go

    • What makes a prompt work (and why it doesn’t have to be perfect)

    • Why Custom GPTs can save you serious time

    • How to train AI tools to match your tone, style, and voice

    • The joy of exploring AI with a sense of curiosity, not pressure

    This episode is for founders who want to use AI to make life easier.
    So if you've been lurking on the edge of ChatGPT or thinking “I should be using AI more,” this is your nudge to start exploring.

    It’s not about being perfect - it’s about playing, learning, and making it work for you.

    Learn more and join our free community at: https://creatingthecurve.co.uk/

    To get in touch with our guest Frank Prendergast, find him at: https://www.frankandmarci.com/ or on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankprendergast/

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    1 時間 6 分
  • E4: Stop Selling. Start Solving

    E4: Stop Selling. Start Solving
    2025/05/25

    If the word “sales” still gives you the ick - this episode is for you.

    In this solo episode of Creating The Curve, Anna reflects on the powerful ideas shared by John Tunstall last week and explores what selling really looks like when you strip away the awkward scripts, the cold calls, and the pressure to perform.

    Spoiler: you’re probably already selling in your business. You just don’t recognise it because it doesn’t feel like what you think “sales” should be.

    Anna dives into:

    • Why you don’t need to cold call 100 people to be good at sales

    • How a book from the 1930s still nails modern sales conversations

    • The difference between selling to a business and selling to a human

    • Why understanding your buyer’s pain points is your secret weapon

    • The power of warmth, empathy, and actually caring about the person you’re helping

    Whether you’re introverted, technical, or just tired of traditional sales advice - this episode will help you sell in a way that feels real, natural, and even (dare we say it) enjoyable.

    Learn more and join our free community at: https://creatingthecurve.co.uk/

    To read the recommended book, How To Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie, find it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/0091906814/
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    36 分
  • E3: Why Good Salespeople Ask Better Questions with John Tunstall

    E3: Why Good Salespeople Ask Better Questions with John Tunstall
    2025/05/18
    Sales. Love it or hate it, you can’t grow your business without it. In this episode of Creating The Curve, Anna is joined by John Tunstall - a sales strategist who’s on a mission to fix how small businesses approach selling. If you’re a founder who dreads “doing sales,” this episode will change the way you think about it. John believes great salespeople are like doctors - they ask smart questions to diagnose before they prescribe. You wouldn’t trust a doctor who handed you a prescription without asking what’s wrong. So why do we do that in sales? In this episode, you’ll learn: Why good sales starts with great questions How to spot (and stop) bad sales habits How to approach selling without feeling pushy What “diagnosing” your customer really means Why founders with technical backgrounds can be amazing at sales — once they shift their mindset Whether you’re allergic to the word “sales” or just want to get better at it, this episode is packed with practical advice for selling with curiosity, confidence, and care. Learn more at: https://creatingthecurve.co.uk/ To chat with John, find him at https://www.linkedin.com/in/salesachievement or https://www.intelligentsalesuk.com Or read his book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fearless-Salesperson-Through-Barriers-Success-ebook/dp/B084JQJ659 Link to Innovation South Virtual Campus, mentioned in the show: https://em3.isvc.co.uk
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    59 分
  • E2: The Pre-Grant Mindset That Makes Writing Easier

    E2: The Pre-Grant Mindset That Makes Writing Easier
    2025/05/11
    Grant writing isn’t just about what you put on the page - it’s about what happens before you even start. In this solo episode of Creating The Curve, host Anna Bravington explores the often-overlooked prep work that makes grant writing less stressful and way more effective. From getting into the right mindset to building visibility, Anna shares practical tips, stories, and tools for finding grants and writing them with confidence. You’ll learn: Why your marketing habits shape how you write grants (for better or worse) How to spot what funders really want Where to find the grants that actually suit you The underrated power of being known What to do if you're a bit of an introvert (Anna’s one too!) Whether you’re brand new to grants or just want to stop dreading the process, this episode will help you prep smarter, find the right opportunities, and feel a whole lot less alone in the process. Learn more at: https://creatingthecurve.co.uk/
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    33 分
  • E1: Grant Writing Without the Gobbledygook with Robert Bentley

    E1: Grant Writing Without the Gobbledygook with Robert Bentley
    2025/05/10
    Grant writing can feel like learning a new language - full of jargon, hidden rules, and endless paperwork. In this episode of Creating The Curve, host Anna Bravington chats with Robert Bentley, bid-writing consultant and author, who’s helped businesses secure over £80 million in funding. They unpack the real reasons so many grant applications fail, the biggest mistakes STEM businesses make, and how to make your application appeal to the funders. This episode will explore: The common mistakes STEM businesses make in grant bids Why storytelling (not spreadsheets) wins funding How to get “grant ready” without burning out The pros and cons of using AI to write applications Why your application shouldn’t sound like your product spec sheet Expect practical advice, a healthy dose of humour, and plenty of lightbulb moments - whether you’re new to grants or just tired of writing bids that go nowhere. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by jargon, baffled by bids, or want it to feel less like a chore, this is your episode. Learn more at: https://creatingthecurve.co.uk/ To chat with Robert, find him at https://wessexpartnerships.com/ or buy his book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Grant-Writing-Organization-Techniques-Partnerships/dp/B0D8K5JZGK
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    1 時間 2 分
  • Welcome To Creating The Curve

    Welcome To Creating The Curve
    2025/05/02

    Welcome to Creating The Curve, the podcast made for STEM founders who are brilliant at the technical stuff - but want running the business to feel a whole lot easier.

    In this welcome episode, host Anna Bravington shares what the show is all about: supporting founders like you who’ve come from science, tech, engineering, or maths backgrounds and now find themselves having to figure out sales, marketing, leadership, operations… and everything in between.

    Anna has over 20 years of experience helping 60+ businesses grow, and she knows the real story: most founders are working long hours, not paying themselves properly, and struggling to switch off - even on holiday. This podcast is here to change that.

    You’ll get simple, practical advice on all the non-technical parts of business, so you can build something that works for you - not just your customers. It’s not about turning you into a full-time marketer or ops expert. It’s about giving you enough knowledge to grow with confidence and get to the point where you can hire and manage others without the overwhelm.
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    6 分