Unemployed & Afraid

When we become business owners there’s that inevitable moment when you realise you need to get yourself out there - to become the face of your brand, build your personal brand, promote your business etc.  There’s a lot of cultural "stuff", and a lot of inbuilt fear and bias, that will make us not want to put ourselves out there - but we’ve got to block it all out, metaphorically or literally, and crack on - you might be an employee without a personal brand, or a new business owner building both your company and your own profile, or have been in it for a while. It really is never too late or too early to start putting yourself out there, and particularly when the stakes aren't as high.  In this episode your host Kim Kerton shares her own experience of not actively building her brand while working a corporate role, and an eye opening exchange with someone who “shudders” at self-promotion.  If you need a little support and perspective to become who you want to be, to build a brand now or in the future, this episode is for you.  Here is the Tall Poppy Syndrome White Paper by Women of Influence I mention in the episode.  Listen to Aimee McNee share her story on blocking out everyone you know so you can be cringe on Apple or Spotify  Follow Unemployed & Afraid (and get in touch!) on IG , LinkedIn and TikTok Connect with Kim on LinkedIn  Subscribe to the Unemployed & Afraid newsletter at unemployedandafraid.com.au  Join our Facebook Group And show your support for this independent podcast and small business by shouting your host a cuppa at buymeacoffee.com/unemployedpodSupport the show by shouting me a cuppa (or 2): https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unemployedpodSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We left off Part 1 of the chat with Phil Wolfee from Kinex Health talking about the devil on our shoulders when it comes to prioritising wellness as entrepreneurs, the emotion of change that business brings you and some real talk on the financial side of things. If you haven’t heard it yet head back to Part 1, and if you have, let’s get you with into Part 2 where you’ll hear about: The benefits of not niching down Working out what success is for you Establishing if what you’re doing is bringing you joy And why you can’t give enough of your knowledge away If you’re building a business you’ll know it’s all about trial, error, having a go and learning from each other – this podcast is here to support you on the journey through it all. Connect with Phil via LinkedIn Cruise the Kinex Health Website You can find more show notes and transcripts at unemployedandafraid.com.au/episodes. And don’t forget to follow Unemployed & Afraid on IG , TikTok and LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group And show your support for this independent podcast and small business by shouting your host a cuppa at buymeacoffee.com/unemployedpod You can reach your host on email kim@unemployedandafraid.com.au on IG on LinkedIn or via unemployedandafraid.com.auSupport the show by shouting me a cuppa (or 2): https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unemployedpodSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The path to business success is, and should, be different for each of us. If there was an exact path to follow, well, we’d all be doing it. That’s why it’s so important to hear and engage with as many business stories as possible to find the parts that truly work for us, and ultimately carve our own success through a whole stack of trial and error - and you’re about to get an epic story today.   Phil Wolfee, Director of Kinex Health, knows exactly what this journey is like, and he shares with us today the many personal and professional experiences he’s collected on the way, including: When career burnout leads to business creation The cost of not prioritising marketing An honest look at the financial strain of building a business The emotion of change that business brings you And the role caring for ourselves physically plays in our entrepreneurial success   You’re getting this episode in two parts today, as Phil and I really get stuck into some topics that you’re gonna love, so make sure to head over to Part 2 when you’re ready. Connect with Phil via LinkedIn Cruise the Kinex Health Website You can find more show notes and transcripts at unemployedandafraid.com.au/episodes. And don’t forget to follow Unemployed & Afraid on IG , TikTok and LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group And show your support for this independent podcast and small business by shouting your host a cuppa at buymeacoffee.com/unemployedpod You can reach your host on email kim@unemployedandafraid.com.au on IG on LinkedIn or via unemployedandafraid.com.auSupport the show by shouting me a cuppa (or 2): https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unemployedpodSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You’ve been doing all the right things, for a long time, but you’re still feeling stuck and a bit out of control and impatient for all the things you want.  Who said entrepreneurialism was a good idea?! In this episode your host Kim Kerton shares an experience of struggle with impatience and procrastination resulting in a lack of motivation, and how she gets through it, all to help you keep going and growing on your own entrepreneurial path.  If you need a little help getting through a rough patch in your business building, hearing from those also in the thick of it is just what you need.  Follow Unemployed & Afraid on IG , LinkedIn and TikTok Connect with Kim on LinkedIn  Subscribe to the Unemployed & Afraid newsletter at unemployedandafraid.com.au  Join our Facebook Group And show your support for this independent podcast and small business by shouting your host a cuppa at buymeacoffee.com/unemployedpodSupport the show by shouting me a cuppa (or 2): https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unemployedpodSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When we’re so passionate about our business and working so hard, but not yet reaching those milestones, it can be brutal. But one thing we can’t control is the pace at which our journey moves, we just have to keep showing up. In this episode today you’re going to hear all about setting your own pace from the delightful Suze, Founder and Director of muk mat, as well as: Making a product that solves a problem in your life – and turning it into a business Starting with a low-risk model Learning the ins and outs of e-com and marketing Navigating wholesale without having a plan for it The reality of competitors and copycats The personal price you pay through the growing period And the craziest story I’ve heard of a hell moment that almost destroyed Suze’s business Loads of value and insight incoming for you, so don’t forget to share this show with your business buddies to share the love and support me to grow so I can keep bringing you more. Follow muk mat on IG @muk.mat Check their product and store out online at mukmat.com Listen to the ep I mentioned with Mike from Scratch You can find more show notes and transcripts at unemployedandafraid.com.au/episodes. And don’t forget to follow Unemployed & Afraid on IG , TikTok and LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group And show your support for this independent podcast and small business by shouting your host a cuppa at buymeacoffee.com/unemployedpod You can reach your host on email kim@unemployedandafraid.com.au on IG on LinkedIn or via unemployedandafraid.com.auSupport the show by shouting me a cuppa (or 2): https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unemployedpodSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’ve ever been backed into a corner in business, there’s a perspective you need to hear. Because the hustle of the entrepreneur who is living on the edge is like nothing else.  In this episode your host Kim Kerton shares her own experience of being backed into a scary revenue place, and the insight gleaned from it, all to help you keep going and growing on your own entrepreneurial path.  If you need a pump-up to find the next level of what you’re capable of, this episode is for you. If you’re keen to explore a podcast concept for your business email Kim at kim@unemployedandafraid.com.au Connect with Kim on LinkedIn  Subscribe to the Unemployed & Afraid newsletter at unemployedandafraid.com.au  And don’t forget to follow Unemployed & Afraid on IG , LinkedIn and TikTok Join our Facebook Group And show your support for this independent podcast and small business by shouting your host a cuppa at buymeacoffee.com/unemployedpodSupport the show by shouting me a cuppa (or 2): https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unemployedpodSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How does it feel to walk away from one business and build another? We left off Part 1 of this episode with Alex Marlow, Director of Gym Challenge Meals in what can only be described as a somewhat unfair end to a beautiful journey. If you have just jumped into this episode and are like Kim WTF are you talking about – head back to the show feed and listen to Part 1 of this episode with Alex. In this last half of our chat Alex shares a very generous insight into… The process behind preparing to franchise Rediscovering yourself through your business The impact building a business can have on your family Making incredibly hard choices And a surprising twist in the plan, one which came up between the time we first scheduled this interview and when we actually chatted. Make sure you keep listening through to the very end of this episode, as after Alex and I sign off from the interview portion, I’ll be jumping back into your ears to share with you yet another turn in Alex’s journey that happened after we recorded this episode. It’s powerful, real, and deeply personal. As a fellow business owner this story will get into your heart. Connect with Alex via the GCM IG @gymchallengemeals You can find more show notes and transcripts at unemployedandafraid.com.au/episodes. And don’t forget to follow Unemployed & Afraid on IG , TikTok and LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group And show your support for this independent podcast and small business by shouting your host a cuppa at buymeacoffee.com/unemployedpod You can reach your host on email kim@unemployedandafraid.com.au on IG on LinkedIn or via unemployedandafraid.com.auSupport the show by shouting me a cuppa (or 2): https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unemployedpodSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’re a small business owner, you need all the support and encouragement possible. What you do, what we do - it’s brave as hell. Our guest today, and the story he’s about to tell you, personifies this spirit. His name is Alex Marlow and he’s the director of Gym Challenge Meals, and in this conversation he lets us into the deeply personal full circle journey he’s taken, and had to take, across the two businesses he’s developed. This episode is in two parts to ensure you can catch the full episode within windows of listening that suit you, ‘cause I get you’re busy and may not be able to dedicate a full hour right now, but it’s so worth it to come back and listen to Part 2, which is in the show feed for you already, because what Alex has been through since we recorded this (which I'll share with you across Part 2) is both heartbreaking and heartwarming in the resilience it takes. In Part 1 of this episode, you’re about to hear: How one business, leads to another, leads to who knows what The power in perfecting what you have And the lingering and under-reported impacts of the covid years on small businesses Quite simply, it’s a deeply honest conversation about the lifecycle of growth, change and the challenges that can end our businesses prematurely and a personal look into the journey of one of the bravest business owners I’ve met. Connect with Alex via the GCM IG @gymchallengemeals You can find more show notes and transcripts at unemployedandafraid.com.au/episodes. And don’t forget to follow Unemployed & Afraid on IG , TikTok and LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group And show your support for this independent podcast and small business by shouting your host a cuppa at buymeacoffee.com/unemployedpod You can reach your host on email kim@unemployedandafraid.com.au on IG on LinkedIn or via unemployedandafraid.com.auSupport the show by shouting me a cuppa (or 2): https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unemployedpodSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when your business is trucking along, and then the opportunity to make a major change in the day to day comes along - what do you do?  In this episode your host Kim Kerton is giving you food for thought around the structure of your business, why you should embrace making a big change to how you work, and why not being afraid of going from self-employed to employed and back again.   If you need some encouragement to be kind to yourself and stay open through change, this episode is for you. Read the article Kim mentioned on Smart Company  Connect with Kim on LinkedIn  Subscribe to the Unemployed & Afraid newsletter at unemployedandafraid.com.au  And don’t forget to follow Unemployed & Afraid on IG , LinkedIn and TikTok Join our Facebook Group And show your support for this independent podcast and small business by shouting your host a cuppa at buymeacoffee.com/unemployedpodSupport the show by shouting me a cuppa (or 2): https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unemployedpodSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Don’t you just wish you could flash forward and know that everything will work out with your business idea? Self-doubt holds back so much potential in the early days, and our business builders in this episode know all about working through the pain. Caroline & Kelly, business partners in Solmates, share all of the things they wish they knew, how they’ve grown to establish a successful business in partnership and why it’s important to back yourself from the beginning. You’ll also hear about: How a desire for purpose kick started an adventure Finding a partner for the elements you need to make a business thrive The realities of designing and manufacturing a brand new product Managing the planning of a business when there’s no competitors to benchmark against The benefits of DIY when launching And the random skills you develop as a business owner If you want to learn from people who’ve gone before, but who are still in the thick of it, and feel some solidarity and support in your own business endeavours, you’re in the right place. Check out Solmates online via their website Follow them on the socials @solmatesau You can find more show notes and transcripts at unemployedandafraid.com.au/episodes. And don’t forget to follow Unemployed & Afraid on IG , TikTok and LinkedIn Join our Facebook Group And show your support for this independent podcast and small business by shouting your host a cuppa at buymeacoffee.com/unemployedpod You can reach your host on email kim@unemployedandafraid.com.au on IG on LinkedIn or via unemployedandafraid.com.auSupport the show by shouting me a cuppa (or 2): https://www.buymeacoffee.com/unemployedpodSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.