In this podcast episode, host Rob Lawrence interviews Julie Murray, a marketing expert and business coach.

Julie shares practical advice on building a strong brand for small businesses, highlighting the importance of defining a core purpose or "why" before focusing on logos or campaigns.

Julie reveals how brand personality, customer feedback, and founder involvement can shape brand success. Julie also explores the impact of AI on marketing, strategies for overcoming resistance to self-promotion, and the value of clear goals and consistent messaging to help you grow your business.

Listen out for Julie's actionable tips for entrepreneurs, founders, and owners alike, looking to create and grow meaningful brands, products, services, and businesses.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Julie’s Background and Experience (00:01:56) Julie shares her marketing career, corporate roles, and transition to running her own agency and coaching business.

The Importance of Defining Your “Why” (00:04:38) Julie explains why small businesses must clarify their core purpose before focusing on logos and marketing materials.

Uncovering Brand Essence Through Personal Stories (00:06:26) Julie shares how personal highs and lows help reveal authentic brand purpose and target audience.

Branding Is More Than a Logo (00:07:31) Julie suggests that branding goes beyond visual identity and can be revisited at any stage of business.

Rebranding and Brand Audits (00:08:16) Julie advises on reviewing brand relevance, customer feedback, and standing out in the market.

Brand Personality and Customer Feedback (00:09:52) The conversation covers developing a brand personality and using customer feedback to differentiate and improve.

Scaling Brand Culture and Consistency (00:12:03) Julie highlights the importance of brand culture, founder influence, and consistency as businesses grow.

Involving Team and Customers in Branding (00:12:58) Julie suggests involving employees, customers, and partners in shaping and evolving the brand.

Using Customer Feedback as Marketing Content (00:13:52) Julie explains how to collect, use, and share customer feedback and testimonials as marketing material.

Defining Brand by What It Isn’t (00:15:15) Julie recommends clarifying brand identity by listing what the business is not, to sharpen focus.

Finding Brand Uniqueness and Energy (00:17:24) Julie discusses following passion and energy to discover a brand’s unique voice and resonance.

Case Study: The Power of “Why” in Positioning (00:17:57) Julie shares a story about a home care business, illustrating how uncovering the founder’s “why” transformed the brand.

Aligning Passion, Skills, and Market Need (00:21:25) Julie introduces the “IKIGAI” model—success comes from combining passion, expertise, and market demand: what you are good at and what people will pay for.

Breakthroughs in Brand Clarity (00:22:18) Julie describes how clients reach clarity through questioning, reflection, and external feedback.

Balancing Passion and Market Demand (00:23:56) Julie addresses the challenge of when passion doesn’t align with what people will pay for, and the need for honest...

In this podcast episode, host Rob Lawrence interviews Carl Day, an experienced entrepreneur in freight and logistics.

Carl shares candid insights from his career spanning over three decades, discussing the challenges of leadership, the loneliness of success, and the importance of having a supportive network.

He reflects on lessons learned from over-expansion and cash flow crises, raising awareness that financial discipline, honest feedback, and keeping an eye out for red flags are critical to sustainable growth.

Carl also highlights the need for work-life balance, the value of a strong team, and the importance of continuous learning for long-term business success.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Carl’s Career Journey (00:02:10) Carl shares his background, entry into logistics, and early career progression.

Entrepreneurial Expansion and Reality Check (00:03:05) Carl describes rapid business growth, overexpansion, and the tough period that followed.

The Loneliness of Leadership (00:05:02) Discussion on how business success can lead to increased loneliness and responsibility for leaders.

Transition from Team Member to Leader (00:05:53) Carl explains the shift from being part of a team to leading and the challenges of honest feedback.

Importance of Community and Support (00:08:13) Carl emphasises finding a peer community or support network to share challenges and avoid isolation.

Setbacks and Over-stretching the Business (00:10:01) Carl recounts a specific instance of over-expansion, cash flow issues, and lessons learned about cautious growth.

Balancing Ambition and Risk (00:13:25) Exploring the tension between entrepreneurial risk-taking and the dangers of overconfidence.

Red Flags and Sounding Boards (00:14:47) Carl discusses the importance of having people who challenge your decisions to avoid overconfidence.

Sustainable Growth and Financial Controls (00:16:27) Focus on the need for margin over turnover, cash flow management, and avoiding “busy fool” syndrome.

Building the Right Team (00:19:40) Advice on surrounding yourself with people who challenge you and ensuring honest, regular team discussions.

Key Business Metrics and Decision-Making (00:21:33) Carl highlights the importance of monitoring financial health, cash flow, and analysing new opportunities.

Personal Sanity and Work-Life Balance (00:23:32) Carl shares how he maintains personal well-being, the importance of outside interests, and lessons from burnout.

Non-Negotiables for Business and Life (00:26:16) Carl outlines essential boundaries: personal interests outside work and real-time business financial dashboards.

Delegation, Trust, and Leadership (00:28:01) Discussion on the importance of delegation, trusting your team, and distinguishing leadership from management.

Vision, Success, and Pitfalls (00:30:38) Carl reflects on his visionary strengths, the dangers of overconfidence, and the need for balance.

Continuous Learning and Embracing Technology (00:33:32) Carl recommends learning from others, embracing technology, and maintaining a growth mindset.

Top Tips for Avoiding Burnout and...

How can you develop a unique brand personality that stands out?

In this podcast episode, host Rob Lawrence interviews Richard Liverman about effective marketing strategies for startups and small businesses.

Richard discusses building a unique brand personality through curiosity and playfulness with customers. He explains that branding goes beyond logos, encompassing values, purpose, and customer experience.

Richard introduces the Johari Window model as a way of uncovering brand “blind spots”. He also highlights the importance of storytelling—encouraging businesses to be “the show, not the commercial.”

You'll hear practical tips on standing out, communicating your purpose, and ways to practice storytelling. Hear how to embrace authenticity and continuous improvement with branding your growing business.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Introduction & The Fear of Being Boring (00:02:00) Rob welcomes Richard and introduces the challenge of startups fearing generic, boring marketing.

Curiosity and Playfulness in Branding (00:02:46) Richard suggests staying curious and playful, using examples from his experiences and brand evolution.

Branding Beyond the Logo (00:05:44) Discussion on branding as more than just a logo—it's about values, purpose, and the holistic customer experience.

Identifying Your Brand’s Unique Value (00:07:52) Exploring how business owners can discover their unique strengths and “magic” using customer feedback and the Johari Window model.

Features vs. Benefits & The Power of Ordinary (00:10:48) Distinguishing between features and benefits, and realising how your ordinary can be extraordinary to others.

Be the Show, Not the Commercial (00:12:43) Richard explains the importance of storytelling and showing behind-the-scenes, rather than just selling.

Storytelling in Business (00:15:57) Introduction to storytelling as a business tool, with references to Jack Daniels and Donald Miller’s StoryBrand.

Positioning Your Customer as the Hero (00:16:50) Using Star Wars analogies, Richard explains why businesses should be the guide (Obi-Wan), not the hero (Luke).

Practical Storytelling Tips & The Value of Practice (00:20:06) Advice on practicing storytelling, embracing imperfection, and learning through repetition.

Authenticity and Off-the-Cuff Content (00:23:33) Discussing how spontaneous, authentic content often resonates more than polished, rehearsed material.

Standing Out & Personal Branding (00:24:48) Richard shares his approach to standing out, being authentic, and not being afraid to show personality.

Overcoming Fear and Embracing Individuality (00:28:08) Encouragement to break free from self-imposed constraints and embrace what makes your business unique.

Permission to Fail & Redefining Success (00:30:54) Richard discusses learning from failure, giving yourself permission to fail, and defining personal success factors.

Shifting Focus from Self to Customer (00:33:47) Advice on reducing fear by focusing on purpose, vision, and the people you serve.

How to Be Unforgettable (00:35:37) Tips for being memorable: start with why, use body language and tone, and focus on delivery, not just words.

Final Thoughts on Storytelling and Brand Freedom (00:39:13) Encouragement to practice storytelling, seek feedback, and enjoy the freedom of running your own business.

Building Scaffolding & Support...