How do you build your (*buzzword alert*) personal brand?

In this episode I speak to the person I've titled "Queen of popupability", the brilliant Mel Barfield.

Mel is an award-winning copywriter, speaker & facilitator, Linkedin aficionado & founder of the excellent Indie Business Club podcast. She also recently became a managing partner in the copywriting agency 'Copy or Die'.

But her #1 superpower is knowing how to be seen in all the right places.

In this episode we talk about:

• What it's like to be freelance
• The importance of building your personal brand
• How to be more visible to your audience
• Why you need to be your own best cheerleader
• Why you need to stop telling people you're "new"
• The importance of being yourself
• The joy of meeting like-minded people in the freelance community
• Mel's favourite cheese

More about Mel

Mel is a highly respected copywriter who has proved you don't need decades of experience to be skilled at what you do. Her recent move to Managing Partner at Copy or Die is testament to that.

Mel has made a freelance career by "simply" being herself. She's a regular speaker and facilitator at multiple events and regular columnist for Freelancer Magazine. She also won the 2024 Women in Marketing award for Brand Copywriting and if you're not following her on Linkedin...are you truly on Linkedin?

Mel often talks and writes about themes such as finding your own luck, being yourself online and standing out. She shares so many insights around these areas that it's like attending one of her talks.

This episode is packed with hints, tips and advice that you can act on right now.

She also recommends a decent cheese!

If you love the episode and want to find more out about Mel, here's how:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melaniebarfield/

Podcast: Indie Business Club

Website: https://allcopymel.com/

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

Connect with Chris!

Website: www.chrisjameswriting.com

Learn more about the episodes: https://chrisjameswriting.substack.com/

Youtube: @nopainpod

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/chrislubas/

Sometimes the best thing you can learn in business is knowing when to stop.

In this episode, I speak to my good friend of a couple of decades - Jimmi Nicholls. Jimmi is now MD of media production company CADE Media but before that, he sold his company Attacus Cycling which nearly pushed him to the edge.

His company's podcast, 'The Wild Ones', has almost 400k subscribers & featured on the Netflix series 'Tour de France: Unchained'. He's run 2 successful companies & spent his formative years tearing up the Cardiff rock scene with yours truly!

In this episode we talk about:

• How to chip away at building a business
• Understanding it's ok to change your path
• The parallels between running a business & physical health
• What it's like to sell your company
• How to prevent your business trapping you
• How to stop before your business burns you out
• What being in a band can teach you

More about Jimmi

Jimmi is a highly experienced business owner who has been through pretty much all the highs & lows of building, running & selling a business.

During this episode, Jimmi shares his personal struggles, his history of career hopping before finding his place & what it's like to sell your business.

Aside from the fun of catching up with a mate, it was a real pleasure talking to him. He doesn't hold back & was kind enough to give real perspective on the gritty realities of building a business.

If you love cycling (or very well-produced podcasts) you can find more about Jimmi & CADE media here:

Podcast: The Wild Ones

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Cade_Media

Website: https://www.cademedia.co.uk/

Instagram: @cademediaofficial

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmi-d-nicholls-06b43631/

Connect with Chris!

Website: www.chrisjameswriting.com

Learn more about the episodes: https://chrisjameswriting.substack.com/

Youtube: @nopainpod

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/chrislubas/

You've got to be comfortable with taking risks to run a successful business.

In this episode, I speak with the founder of my favourite magazine (Freelancer Magazine) Sophie Cross about all the fun and games of creating a magazine.

Sophie is a marketer, event organiser, course creator and speaker as well as creating and running the magazine. She's built an awesome freelance community and even finds time to DJ on the side...sort of!

In this episode we talk about:

• Spinning the plates of business & personal life
• Why you need to give yourself a break
• How hard times often force the clearest decisions
• Why you should regularly ask yourself, "Is this what I want?".
• Why you shouldn't be scared to change your mind in business
• How to stop your hobbies becoming work

More about Sophie

Sophie is Freelancer Magazine's founder and Chief Connector. With a background in marketing, her real passion is helping freelancers build their business with support from the network she's built.

She's also a speaker & network event facilitator & this year ran the first Freelancer Masterclass Live (FML) online conference (which you can now book onto for 2027!)

Sophie gave tonnes of insight on all aspects of being freelance and running a business.

If you like what you hear, this is where you can find out more & connect with Sophie:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophcross/

Instagram: @freelancermag

Freelancer Magazine: https://freelancermagazine.co.uk/

Freelancer Masterclass Live 2027: https://freelancermagazine.co.uk/freelancer-masterclass-waitlist/

Connect with Chris!

Website: www.chrisjameswriting.com

Learn more about the episodes: https://chrisjameswriting.substack.com/

Youtube: @nopainpod

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/chrislubas/

Why on earth are you running a business...?

With all the stress & pain it can bring, we've all asked ourselves exactly that question.

In this episode, I speak to Linkedin expert & marketing guru, Gus Bhandal about how you make sure you know your why to get the best out of your business.

Gus is a very witty speaker who oozes experience & chocolate orange in equal measure!

In this episode we talk about:

• Gus's journey from Marketer to Pub landlord to Linkedin Guru.
• Why it's so important to celebrate small milestones.
• How to run your business your way.
• How to keep focusing on your "why".
• The importance of your personal brand.
• How many social media platforms you should be posting on.
• Why music is the great leveller.
• Multiple references to all things orange!

More about Gus

Gus Bhandal is a LinkedIn trainer, speaker, social media strategist, and founder of M-Guru Marketing Agency. He also runs the Squeeze LinkedIn membership community, hosts LinkedIn Local in Birmingham, and is one of the creators of Uplift Live.

Known for his bold orange branding & practical marketing advice, Gus helps business owners use LinkedIn more effectively to grow their profile, build relationships, & win work.

He's a regular columnist (and former pin-up, sorry, cover star) for Freelancer Magazine & loves chocolate oranges.

If that wasn't enough Gus for you, you can connect with him & find out more here:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mguruuk/

Website: https://www.themguru.co.uk

Instagram: mguruuk

Connect with Chris!

Website: www.chrisjameswriting.com

Learn more about the episodes: https://chrisjameswriting.substack.com/

Youtube: @nopainpod

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/chrislubas/

In episode 2, I speak to the truly fascinating mindset & visibility coach, Laura Hayter.

After working as a coach in physical health, Laura pivoted to help entrepreneurs & business owners learn how to get out of their own way to operate at their full potential.

Laura articulates what she does & why it's relevant to business owners so well in this episode. There's tonnes of valuable takeaways in this one!

In this episode we talk about:

• That inner critic in your head
• Why good enough is often good enough
• Why you keep moving your goals
• Why it's important to take time for yourself
• The need to appreciate how well you're doing
• Why you need to find the right network for you

More about Laura

Laura is a highly successful mindset & visibility coach. From 2012, Laura generated a huge Instagram following & subsequent business as a physical fitness coach.

She soon realised that her true calling was helping business owners & entrepreneurs who were all suffering from the same problem - the inability to reach their full potential.

In her own words Laura "...helps business owners dismantle the subconscious patterns that keep them holding back, so they can expand, lead, and scale with clarity, self-trust, and capacity - without burning out or losing themselves".

Laura also runs her own excellent podcast - The Inner Authority where she discusses the subconscious work behind scaling, revenue, visibility & impact for female business owners.

If you loved the episode and want to find out more about Laura, you can find her here:

Instagram: laurahaytercoaching

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/laura-hayter

Website: www.laurahaytercoaching.co.uk

Podcast: The inner authority

Connect with Chris!

Website: www.chrisjameswriting.com

Learn more about the episodes: https://chrisjameswriting.substack.com/

Youtube: @nopainpod

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/chrislubas/

In this episode I'm joined by principal of Ingram Wealth, Rob Ingram. We talk about getting through personal pain while you're running your business & how many times you might've thought about quitting (probably to stack shelves in [insert local supermarket here]!).

We discuss:

- what wealth really means (spoiler alert - it's NOT about money!)

- why young people should care about wealth management

- who holds you accountable when you're your own boss

- how to deal with personal pain while trying to run your business

- how to keep going when you just want to quit

- why believing in yourself is the ultimate cheat code

About Rob Ingram

Rob is the owner of Ingram Wealth where he & his team build mutual trust to foster long-term partnerships where your success is their priority. He provides face to face financial planning strategies to help business owners achieve their personal & business goals.

Rob uses a truly personal approach & takes a genuine interest in all his clients' lives when helping them with decisions to reach their goals. And I can vouch for this as one of Rob's clients for almost 10 years!

It was a real pleasure speaking to him about his business journey & I hope you all enjoy the episode as much as I did recording.

Check out my podcast Substack post for this episode for more on how to use Rob's advice.

To find out more about Ingram Wealth or contact Rob:

Website: https://www.ingramwealth.co.uk/

Email: rob.ingram@sjpp.co.uk

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robingramsjp/

Connect with Chris!

Website: www.chrisjameswriting.com

Learn more about the episodes: https://chrisjameswriting.substack.com/

Youtube: @nopainpod

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/chrislubas/

Welcome to this introductory episode of No Pain No Business.

I'm your host - Chris Lubas & I'll be explaining what he podcast is all about & why you should be excited about what's coming over the next few weeks.

If you're an entrepreneur, freelancer or SME owner that's just starting our or stuck in a bit of a rut, this is the podcast for you.

Each week, guests will cover the struggles, turning points and hard fought lessons it takes to build something that truly matters.

And if you enjoy the episodes, don't forget to follow & share!

Connect with Chris!

Website: www.chrisjameswriting.com

Learn more about the episodes: https://chrisjameswriting.substack.com/

Youtube: @nopainpod

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/chrislubas/