We've all heard the phrase work smarter and not harder, but how do you do that?

This is what I'm diving into with the fabulous Liz Hardwick.

Liz is an award-winning Professional Speaker and Tech Entrepreneur, known for delivering practical, high-impact strategies in AI, Digital Productivity, and Time Management.

With 25+ years’ experience turning “digital” into real human and business benefit, Liz helps individuals and teams work smarter, focus deeper, and achieve more… without burnout. Her sessions combine proven frameworks (including her own), modern technology tools, and actionable tactics – trusted by global names such as BBC, NHS, GSK, Rolls-Royce, and General Assembly. Whether on stage or in a masterclass, Liz inspires lasting change that elevates performance, clarity, and momentum in today’s fast-paced digital world.

We talk about:

- How to manage your emails

- Different time management hacks

- Apps that will maximise your day

The apps we mentioned:

Focus Friend

Todoist

Asana

To learn more about Liz click here

To complete the Confident Leaders Scorecard click here

To find out more about how you can Smash Your Own Ceiling click here

Barbara Nixon shares how to step up to the next iteration of you, so you not only achieve your goals, but you elevate!!

Go to barbaranixon.co.uk to complete the Confident Leaders Scorecard and start your journey.

Welcome to the Smash Your Own Ceiling podcast.

Today I'm delighted to share a great conversation that I had with choir director Maria Mullin.

Maria is the choir director and founder of the Great Yorkshire Chorus. Originally from Liverpool, Maria moved to Yorkshire to study music and has never left!
She is passionate about making music accessible to all and has worked as a freelance musician for many years.

Maria studied music at the University of York, specialising in classical saxophone (in which she holds an LRSM Diploma). This is where her interest in choirs and conducting first began.
Over the years Maria has lead many different choirs - community, gospel, office and school singing groups. She’s also taught piano, saxophone, played with various ensembles and lead music in schools.

In 2018 Maria set up the Great Yorkshire Chorus to be a wonderful new choir based in Saltaire and has been delighted to see GYC grow and flourish. She’s also recently been writing her first musical, Salt, which is currently in development towards a full production.

Maria lives in Shipley with her husband and four children and also enjoys running.

In this conversation we talk about:

- Creating a great welcoming community

- How to juggle a family, a business, and lots of additional projects

- The systems that need to be in place to make that happen

- How to re-think failure

- How to focus on things that move the needle when you're really busy

To learn more about Maria click here

If you're ready for more visit www.barbaranixon.co.uk

Welcome to this weeks episode of the Smash Your Own Ceiling podcast, and I'm so pleased to share an amazing conversation with the lovely Amy Rowlinson.

Amy is the author of Focus on Why and today we chat about:

- The beautiful serendipitous story of how she discovered her Grandfather's story that inspired her book, and purpose.

- What Focus on Why really means

- How to find and tease out your Why

- And so much more.

To learn more about Amy's work:

Website

Linkedin

Linktree

To learn more about Smash Your Own Ceiling visit www.barbaranixon.co.uk

To complete the Confident Leaders Score-card click here

Have you ever found yourself looking at your diary and craving some time for some headspace?

This episode is for you if you're really good at:

Putting everyone else's needs before your own

Saying yes when you really should (and want) to say no

Or find yourself staying involved with things that you really need to be letting go of

If so, you're in the right place because I'm sharing some really practical tips on how to to stop overcommitting.

And for more info visit www.barbaranixon.co.uk

What do you do when you're forcibly separated from your 10 year old son and can only see him via Facetime for an hour a week?

This is exactly what Kate Markland had to deal with, and in this amazing chat she shares how she turned that hour into a global movement.

Kate shares:

• When she realised that a lot can happen in an hour
• How stories can really change lives
• The small steps she took when she was in the middle of adversity to get herself moving again
• How she created a global movement despite what she was going through personally
• How she allowed people to help

To learn more about Kate visit:

Kate's website

StoryQuest for schools

The Adventures of Gabriel

LinkedIn

We also referenced the book: Make Your Bed by Willliam H. McRaven

Take the 2 minute challenge: I'm a huge advocate of sharing things that I find useful to my clients and friends. It only takes 2 minutes to help someone smash their own ceiling and be part of that ripple effect, so is there someone you can share this podcast episode with today? If so, take the 2 minute challenge.

And if you love what we do, hit the subscribe button so you've got us in your pocket whenever you need it.

Finally, if you're a Business Leader and want to learn more, visit barbaranixon.co.uk

Have a fab week

Barbara

In this episode I talk to the fabulous Business and Marketing Consultant Shannon Stone.

And together we talk about:

- How to trust yourself in business

- That making mistakes is actually the point

- The tools that help to move past self doubt

- How to catch yourself doing things right

- How to get momentum whenever you're feeling stuck

- The things to do to market your business that many don't

- The importance of the basics

- The power of consistency and why we don't do it

If you want to find out more about Shannon click here

And if you like this episode please share with someone you think would benefit, and don't forget to hit subscribe so you don't miss and episode.

And if you're ready for more visit Barbaranixon.co.uk

In this episode I'm answering a question:

Barbara, I'm craving headspace right now but I feel as though I'm being pulled in all directions, what do I do?

I get this question a lot...so if you can relate this is the episode for you.

And if you have a question you'd like me to answer in a future episode visit www.barbaranixon.co.uk