In this sixty-seventh episode of My Kind of Business, Alex is joined by Rebecca McCloskey, founder of Weave Interiors, a residential interior designer based in Tring whose story is a lovely reminder that the things we loved as children often hold the clues to what we're meant to do.

In this episode Alex and Rebecca explore:

• The childhood passions and creative traits that hinted at her future work
• Growing up around entrepreneurial grandparents and business-owning parents
• The transferable skills teaching gave her, from planning to client care
• How moving into her own home reignited her love of design
• The long fertility journey and how it shifted her focus and priorities
• Deciding to pursue interior design seriously and completing her course
• Navigating those first projects and imposter syndrome during COVID
• Her nature-led, biophilic approach and love of zoning open-plan spaces
• Creative, local marketing and the challenge of promoting yourself
• Landmark projects and the fulfilment of transforming clients' spaces
• Building support networks and the second business, White and Weave
• Prioritising family, slow growth and protecting her own wellbeing

Key Highlights

• Why the hobbies you loved as a child can quietly shape the work you're meant to do
• How teaching skills like planning, communication and empathy translate beautifully into running a business
• Why home should be a sanctuary, and creating it should feel just as joyful as living in it
• Why authentic client care matters far more than perfect content
• How repeat clients and referrals are a truer measure of success than any metric
• Why slow, considered growth can be the healthiest way to build a business around your life

Connect with Rebecca
Weave Interiors: www.weaveinteriors.co.uk / @weave.interiordesign / Weave Interiors on Facebook

White and Weave (rental property design, installation and home staging): www.whiteandweave.co.uk / @whiteandweave.homestaging

Connect with Alex
alexmccarthycoaching.com
instagram.com/alexmccarthycoaching

My Business Story

In this sixty-sixth episode of My Kind of Business, Alex flips her usual format and turns the microphone on herself, sharing the story of the last eight years in business, the twists, the turns and everything she's learned along the way.

It's an honest, reflective one. Alex talks about growing from a quiet, imaginative child into a business owner, a mother and someone who cares deeply about personal growth. She opens up about the travel that changed how she saw the world, the accidental start of her first business, the leap into coaching, and how motherhood reshaped what she wanted her work and life to look like.

If you're building a business around your life rather than the other way around, this is the kind of episode you'll want in your ears.

In this episode Alex explores:

• Her childhood, early confidence and the curiosity that shaped her
• Why vulnerability matters in personal and professional growth
• How travelling and living abroad expanded her worldview and planted the seeds for her business
• The move from hospitality and export sales into running her own social media management business
• Building confidence online and getting over the fear of being on camera
• How becoming a mother changed her priorities and her whole approach to business
• Why patience and self compassion are underrated parts of success
• Where the business is heading next, including in-person events and new programmes

Key Highlights

• How solo travel built the courage that later powered her business
• The moment self-employment shifted into something aligned with who she is
• Why investing in coaching and starting therapy changed everything
• How motherhood became a reason to build differently, not to slow down
• Her honest advice for anyone stuck at the start: take one step today and trust the process

Timestamps:

00:01 - Flipping the rules to share my personal journey 01:29 - Childhood: confidence, imagination and early work 04:05 - Wanting to travel and work abroad 05:22 - How travel shaped my mindset and courage 06:23 - Meeting digital nomads and location-independent work 09:13 - From a PGCE to export sales and corporate life 11:29 - Overwork, boundaries and seeking new directions 13:43 - Long-term travel and life-changing experiences 17:52 - The fight for confidence and authenticity 19:00 - Moving to Australia and working in tech 20:48 - Back to the UK and setting up my first business 23:16 - Building and scaling my social media business 26:08 - Investing in coaching and facing self-doubt 27:37 - Aligning my business with personal development 28:48 - Starting therapy and shifting my mindset 30:23 - Pursuing NLP and coaching qualifications 31:48 - Navigating the pandemic and evolving my business 34:20 - Launching in-person networking and community 36:45 - Feeling aligned and embracing motherhood 38:18 - Travelling solo in Sri Lanka 40:00 - Meeting Dave and starting a new chapter 44:08 - Pregnancy, unexpected changes and big decisions 46:23 - Balancing family with business 50:23 - Staying purposeful through podcasting and minimal social 53:45 - Patience and trusting my timeline 56:51 - Future plans: scaling gently and in-person events 60:23 - Advice: start now, take one step and trust the process

Resources & Links: Book: The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown

Connect with Alex: alexmccarthycoaching.com instagram.com/alexmccarthycoaching

In this sixty-fifth episode of My Kind of Business, Alex McCarthy explores jealousy in a way that might completely change how you think about it. Rather than seeing jealousy as something to suppress or feel ashamed of, Alex reframes it as valuable information — a signal pointing you towards what you genuinely want in your business and life. If you've ever felt that uncomfortable pang when someone else shares a big win, this episode will help you understand what's really underneath it and how to use it to your advantage.

Main Topics Covered:

• Why jealousy is a normal human emotion, not a character flaw
• How shame often makes jealousy feel heavier than it needs to

• The difference between the feeling itself and the story we create around it
• Why comparison can distort reality and keep us feeling behind
• How jealousy can become one of the most powerful tools for self-awareness and business growth

In This Episode:

• Why jealousy isn't something to fear or suppress, but something to pay attention to
• How shame keeps us stuck, while curiosity helps us move forward
• The difference between experiencing jealousy and believing the stories it tells you
• Why comparing your behind-the-scenes to someone else's highlight reel is never a fair comparison

A simple five-step process for working with jealousy:

• Notice it without judgement
• Get specific about what you're actually jealous of
• Ask what that reveals about your own desires
• Turn the feeling into an open question instead of a conclusion
• Sense-check whether it's something you genuinely want or something you think you should want
• How jealousy can become valuable market research, revealing what kind of work, visibility, pricing, freedom or recognition you're really craving
• Why your feelings can become a roadmap for your next business decision instead of a reason to spiral

Timestamps:

00:00 — Welcome and why we're talking about jealousy

01:08 — Why jealousy is a normal human emotion

03:56 — The shame we attach to feeling jealous

07:42 — Comparison, highlight reels and the stories we tell ourselves

11:18 — Separating the feeling from the meaning you give it

15:10 — The five-step framework for handling jealousy differently

19:54 — Using jealousy as market research in your business

23:06 — Turning envy into clarity, curiosity and action

25:02 — Final thoughts and this week's takeaway

Resources and Links:

If you're looking for more clarity, confidence and direction in your business, I'd love to help.

Whether you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed or ready for your next level of growth, there are several ways we can work together:

Website: www.alexmccarthycoaching.com

Book a Clarity Call: https://www.alexmccarthycoaching.com/clarity-call

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

If this episode resonated with you, I'd love it if you subscribed to My Kind of Business and shared it with another business owner who might need to hear it. Remember, jealousy isn't proof you're failing—it's often pointing you towards what matters most. The more willing you are to get curious about it, the more clearly you'll see the path that's right for you.