A Brilliant Gamble

This will be the last A Brilliant Gamble podcast for a while. As you may know I run another business specialising in leadership coaching and I speak about the future of leadership.Recently my Mum became ill and this, combined with running my other business, being a single mum, home educating and keeping on top of our smallholding has meant I'm spread a little too thin.The archive of past shows will still be here for you and I'm leaving the A Brilliant Gamble Facebook Page and Corporate Escapees Facebook Group open so you can access the resources there AND the incredible insights of the other members.Plus, of course, the courses to help you make your transition out of corporate life and in to the next chapter are still available, plus all the free resources on the website.We will continue to offer support to anyone who signs up to these programmes so if you're planning to make your Brilliant Gamble this year all those resources and courses are still ideal to help you.I will really miss doing the show. I love meeting the guests and being inspired by their stories. And I love connecting with you through social media and your emails to me. But, as my guest this week illustrates, sometimes you have to acknowledge your own limits.Silvina Marchisio talks about her year long journey with depression and anxiety. She shares her personal experience of dealing with burnout in a foreign country and how visual thinking and visual metaphors help her share her own thoughts along her journey back to the world.Today she's embarking on a new business as a Graphic Facilitator and is helping others suffering burnout to get themselves better, with the help of the lessons she learnt and the beautiful inspiring images she's producing.

Do you get that little voice in your head that tells you you aren't good enough, no one likes you, you don't fit in….or any number of other delightfully undermining jabs?My guest today, Leah Steele, is the expert in Imposter Syndrome. A sufferer herself through her years as a lawyer she eventually developed techniques to deal with her demons and is now helping others to do the same.In our interview we talk about the signals she missed that she was suffering overwhelm and burnout, and how now she is helping others get out of this cycle.Leah speaks from personal experience and not, as she says, from the mountain top, so there's lot of practical advice and suggestions to make a difference without having to run away from your real-life responsibilities at work and at home!You can find out more about Leah's programmes and read her blog on her website.Click the link to get your free Escape the Rat Race Checklist from our website, where, in addition to downloading the list, you can get email support from me. There are also a bunch of blogs there to help you as you transition out of corporate life and start doing something you love for a living instead.Stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and the Corporate Escapees Facebook Group.

In just under a month, the next wave of Extinction Rebellion protests begin around the UK and elsewhere (w/c 7-Oct). Whether you've already been involved or you have other ways of responding to the climate crisis, the question many of us ask is, how can we, as individuals and as owners of small businesses, have any real impact? That's why I wanted to speak to today's guest. Zoe Cohen is a former NHS Trust board member who became a very successful executive coach. Zoe has now pivoted her life to focus as much as she can on activism and peaceful civil disobedience to push for the much needed system change to tackle the existential threat we face from climate and ecological breakdown. In our interview, Zoe talks about her values and how she stays connected with them; the sacrifices she's made to stay congruent with those values and how we, as individual citizens and small business owners, can make a difference when in comes to the future of our planet. She also explains why she got arrested and how those of us who don't want to see the inside of a police cell can still help. Even if you don't have a strong sense of ‘calling' like Zoe, I think you'll be fascinated to know how she's combining her two greatest passions: safeguarding the future of our one, shared planetary home with enabling and encouraging people to shine and to take action. This is a long interview - we cover her transition from corporate life to running her own business to her latest pivot AND we talk about what we can each do to make a difference. I hope you will set aside time to listen to the whole thing and be inspired by Zoe and the work of others like her. Stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter, the Corporate Escapees Facebook Group and of course, the website. Follow Zoe on LinkedIn and Twitter. Articles by Zoe Cohen Where were all the Coaches when the planet warmed by 3 degrees? How to declare your very own Climate Emergency An Open Letter to Coaches, the Coaching & Coaching Psychology Professional Bodies and Coach Educators “Heading for Extinction” with Dr Gail Bradbrook - This is the original ‘Heading for Extinction and what to do about it' talk from Dr Gail Bradbrook, one of XR's founder's from last year. There are now more up to date versions of the talk. ICF webinar - The first of three webinars for coaches. IPCC Report - This is a huge 100s of pages thing in full, but there are loads of articles summarising the key messages, etc. Here are two as tasters: UN Secretary General's speech in September 2018 There is no safe level of global warming

It's September and many of us are thinking “Why does the holiday have to end?”. Well, maybe it doesn't. On today's show I speak to Phil Quinnan who stepped off the hamster wheel, not to start a business, but to take some time to reflect and reconnect with himself and his family in the Italian countryside. In our interview we talk about how he came to this decision, how he made it possible and the lesson's he learnt by taking a year out. Phil has really embraced his local community in Italy, becoming part of the village, learning the language and allowing the Italian lifestyle to change his attitudes. I'm sure you'll enjoy this interview and, perhaps, feel ready to take a Brilliant Gamble like this yourself. If you want more support working out how to escape the rat race, my 12 Ways To Transition course is the thing for you. It helps you work out your specific challenges – financial and time constraints, for instance – and then work around them so you have an exit strategy that perfectly fits your life. Stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter, the Corporate Escapees Facebook Group and of course, the website.

Catherine is a best selling author, VA and VA trainer. Virtual Assistance is one of the fastest growing professions today for people leaving the 9-5. VAs are administrators who work by the hour for small businesses. Increasingly they have specialisms - social media management, bookkeeping, design, copywriting - as well organising travel, appointments and taking calls for people like, um, me. It was a life threatening illness that first got Catherine thinking about how she could earn money outside of the 9-5. Today she earns 4 times what she was earning in her corporate role and has a lifestyle that works much better with her health and personal priorities. In this interview we talk about how she started her business and how she's grown it through her focus on constant marketing. We talk about the VA profession - what kinds of people make the best VAs and what kinds of people do not. And we talk about the journey she's been on - how working for herself has changed her life and her health. A Brilliant Gamble YouTube Channel! In the show I also mention our new-ish YouTube channel. Subscribe to be notified about new, practical, helpful videos to guide to as you take a Brilliant Gamble of your own! Stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter, the Corporate Escapees Facebook Group and of course, the website. You can find Catherine online in the following places: www.delegateva.co.uk Instagram: @Delegate_VA Facebook: @DelegateVA Twitter: @DelegateVA www.howtobeava.co.uk Instagram: @howtobea_va Facebook: @howtobeava Twitter: @howtobea_va

How should you spend your day when you work for yourself? Of course, there is no such thing as a typical day when you run your own business (which can be a problem for you if you're used to structure!). But given that your time is largely yours to organise it's useful to be intentional about what you prioritise. In today's show I talk about two concepts to help you organise your time around what's really important. I will divide activities in to three categories - big rocks, small rocks and sand. I also talk about Stephen Covey's Time Management Matrix. This episode will help you: Make time for what moves the dial in your business Prioritise self-care and creative time Stop yourself getting distracted by ‘fun tasks' without neglecting the fun stuff altogether! You can read my blog about the ‘Flow' concept discussed in this episode and don't forget to join Corporate Escapees on Facebook if you haven't already. There's tonnes of advice and support over there to help you navigate your way through the journey towards doing what you love for a living. Stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter and of course, the website.

On today's show I'm talking about failure… but in a good way! Folks - failure is normal. Most of what happens when you take a Brilliant Gamble is failure. It's just a part of the process of change. And I want to share with you a different way to think about failure and how to incorporate failure in to your business. Maybe you don't like the word failure and you'd rather I called it something else. But I want to take the charge out of the word so that it doesn't have the power it might have in your own mind. I'm also sharing a bug fix process (very similar to agile mythology for those of you familiar with that) to help you build failure in to the process rather than create, invent, develop, launch and then fail. Have I said the word failure enough? Get used to it! It's not as bad as you think. Here's the process I talk about on the show - Have the idea. It's pretty raw at this stage, it's the stuff you think of at 3am, jot down on a scrap of paper and try to forget about until morning. Refine it JUST ENOUGH to share it for immediate feedback.. Make sure to share it with the right group - a safe place where the feedback has validity. Take the advice you're given!! You've got to be open to feedback at this stage. If the feedback is contradictory go with your gut/experience to decide what to listen to. Remember, sometimes the stuff that's hardest to hear is the stuff we need to listen to the most. Give yourself a tight deadline. Make the deadline public if you have to in order to hold yourself to account. Do what needs to be done and no more to get your idea/product/website/whatever out there. It's not going to be perfect. It's in beta (that's all you committed to when you publicised your deadline) so you've given yourself that freedom. If it's a product offer a beta (to make up for fact it's not all ready). If it's your website, make clear this is not the finished product – you're going to fix the bugs based on feedback from users. DIY it or use a very small team. Don't waste time and money briefing people and buying in expertise and learn the process yourself so you can do the basics yourself. Be prepared mentally (and contractually) to scrap it or massively fix it if it doesn't work for people. Go live and get ready for feedback! Refine, tweak, scrap, iterate. Go again! I mentioned the programme I created this way for my other business, That People Thing. It's in beta! It's a presentation skills programme for people who have to speak to audiences as part of their job. You can find it here. Use the discount code TPTBETA2019 to get 50% off. I believe it's never too late to live your life on your own terms and do work you love for a living. This is why I have designed a suite of courses to help you get from where you are now to where you deserve to be. Stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter, the Corporate Escapees Facebook Group and of course, the website. Finally, please leave a review for this show on iTunes as it really helps us get the word out about the show!

Are you putting off building your website? Is it half done? Have you done it but you're not happy with it? Today's show is here at the rescue! I'm talking to Matthew Eldridge, Owner and Head Geek at Melt Creative Ltd and this episode is Websites 101! I don't want you to have any excuses to stall on your website, so in this interview we go back to basics. We talk about: What a website is actually for? Email lists Lead magnets Keywords, phrases, meta data and a lot more techy language Blogs And much, much more. If you're feeling overwhelmed by how much there is to do to get started with your new venture and leave your current working situation don't forget to download the Escape The Rat Race Checklist which shows you exactly what you have to do in order to make that dream a reality. Stay in touch with us on Facebook, Twitter, the Corporate Escapees Facebook Group and of course, the website. Don't forget to download Matt's free Content Framework Guide, check out his website and see how he does it all at and the blog, which he calls The Knowledge Centre. has lots of useful content. You can also follow Matt on Twitter. Please remember to leave a review for this show on iTunes as it helps people find us and take a Brilliant Gamble of their own!

Creativity is hugely important to developing that sense of balance that so many of us are looking for. And women are particularly bad at this - men spend an average of 4 hours 29 mins a week on sports, hobbies and computer games versus women who spend about 2 hours 29 minutes. What?? And that's why I wanted to talk to Sandra and Tara from Kick in the Creatives. They have podcast of the same name, a website and a 1000 member Facebook group aimed at helping people incorporate creative challenges in to their lives. In this interview we talk about creativity in a broad sense - from painting to music to writing and crafts - about how important it is to make time for creativity in your life and how to get started. If you've been putting your own creativity on a back burner I hope today's show will inspire you to push it further up the list of priorities. And i'd love to know how you get on. In the Corporate Escapees Facebook Group I will start a thread about my own creative challenge for the month of August and I'd love to know what you're planning to do and how you progress! And if you know you'd benefit from support in making your dreams of a different kind of life midlife a reality, head over to our website and check out our flagship A Brilliant Gamble Online programme and stay in touch with us on Facebook and Twitter. You can follow Tara and Sandra and take part in their creative challenges here: Website - https://kickinthecreatives.com/ Podcast - https://kickinthecreatives.com/kick-creatives-podcast/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kickinthecreatives/ Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/KickintheCreatives

What happens when your blog goes viral? And what about when your blog is something as personal as your experiences of the menopause? Jennifer Kennedy knows! Her blog is only 18 months old but she has to date, nearly 35,000 readers... and she balances that with a full time job as well. Like so many of our guests Jennifer didn't have a grand plan - she just got started, with the help of a friend's 14 year old who set it up her blog for her. In this interview we talk about Blogging and writing in general Turning your blog in to a book Being asked to do comedy stand up The menopause The importance of social media if you want to be a writer Holding down a full time job while pursuing your passion outside of work Taking a career break Follow Jennifer's blog and Facebook page. Join OUR Facebook Group group and also, watch the growing number of helpful videos on our Facebook page. Stay in touch with us on Instagram, Twitter and of course, our website.

We often think that we're working up to a big change, that the hard part is making that change happen. So we spend years planning how we're going to leave our job with the hope that, once it finally happens, we'll be living the life of our dreams. But the more I talk to you guys and reflect on the brilliant gambles I've taken, the more I realise that that's only the start of the journey. What happens in the first 6-24 months of that new life is actually the biggest challenge because we've made the physical changes but now we have to evolve as people. When Edina De Jong-Hodzic became a mum it was a wake up call for her and although she didn't leave her corporate job immediately a series of events made it clear to her that her future lay outside the corporate 9-5. And THAT's when the real journey of change begun. Edina describes herself as a creator, inspirer and mother. In 2017 after 12+ years of corporate career Edina realized she wasn't fulfilled with the definition of corporate career and decided to resign from her corporate job. She embarked on a journey of entrepreneurship which led to a deep and meaningful journey of self-realization which was initiated through her new role as mother. During this journey she redefined what success means for her and embraced a new way of holistic living that is centered around authentic connection, growth, simplicity and creating impact. Edina's company DiversFYI supports both leaders and organisations to create and implement a Sustainable Diversity Strategy (diversity = the sum of uniqueness of each individual) across the entire organisation creating sustainable growth for both people & the business. Her unique holistic approach combines Mind-Body-Heart-Soul methods and tools. In this interview we talk about: The journey that Edina has been on Discovering who she is and what success means for her Exploring this critical parallel journey that occurs when you really embrace life outside the corporate 9-5. You can find out more about Edina, follow her blog and connect with her on her website and via LInkedIn. If the themes in today's show resonate for you, check out the A Brilliant Gamble Online Programme, specifically designed to help you navigate this parallel journey, getting out of your own way and creating a life that really lives up to the expectations you had for it. You can find out more about the programme here. And if you're not sure if it's for you, drop me a line and I will help you decide whether you're ready! Stay in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, the Corporate Escapees Facebook Group and of course, the website.

You might has seen I did a Facebook Live over on our A Brilliant Gamble Facebook Page, which I then shared in the Corporate Escapees Facebook Group (!) about an experience I had a couple of weeks ago when I had some quite negative feedback to an email I sent. However, the feedback really woke me up. And while it was uncomfortable I also realised that I had stopped doing the things that make me feel connected with myself through the day. When life gets busy or you become worried about something or anxious or stressed you often stop doing the things that would actually help. But when you resume those good habits you can quickly turn things around. In todays show I talk about: How I responded to the feedback What I had stopped doing and the impact it had on me What morning habits really help us get connected with ourselves How to stay connected through the day What we are capable of and how the responses to our behaviours change when we are connected versus when we aren't I mention A Brilliant Gamble Online - our flagship development programme designed to support you through change, keep you on track and enjoying the journey as you experience the inevitable bumps in the road. You can find out more about that programme here and feel free to drop me a line if you're not sure whether this programme is for you. I will give my honest advice. Stay in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and of course, the website.

On this week's show I'm talking to Rebekah Bostan who responded to my survey on midlife expectations and experiences of work. Brought up during apartheid in South Africa, making a difference is in her genes. Her mother ran an illegal mixed race school, bringing children from Soweto to learn at a school with white kids and Rebekah learnt that it's always possible to do something to change things. Today she combines her corporate career with raising the profile of flexible working, diversity, inclusion and the menopause. I wanted to talk to her because leaving your job to start your own business isn't the only option, or might not be an option right now. How can you not only improve your own experiences of work but also change the culture for those who come after? In this interview we discuss: The challenge she and so many others are experiencing balancing work with midlife - family, menopause, awakening, personal wants and ambitions How she's talking about working flexibly rather than keeping it a secret The work she's doing with parent groups and others within her organisation and outside of it The blog she created to share her ideas about diversity, inclusion, flex and menopause You can read more about Rebekah's thoughts and experiences on her blog. Rebekah is also a member of our Corporate Escapees Facebook Group so if you have questions or experiences to share, do head over and post in that group. We'd love to have you! Stay in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and of course, the website.

I had a great discussion over elderflower cordial the other day with fellow business ladies about our relationship with money and, specifically, whether you should ever work for free. Most people who run their own business today create a lot of free content, they blog, they create free downloads, they write for other publications, they do TV and radio spots, they have a podcast! None of this ever makes us money but it takes a huge amount of time and we bring a lot of our expertise to it. So what differentiates the stuff we do for free from the stuff we should be charging for? In today's show I share 3 concepts to help you decide whether you should be charging for what you do or not? Which are the bits that have a cash value and which are the bits that have a value that isn't financial? I talk about: Marketing your business Calculating value The concept of visibility, credibility and profitability What stops us charging our worth When you shouldn't charge Other than money, how we can get something back for our investment of time and expertise I am opening a thread about this on our Corporate Escapees Facebook Group so head over and join in the conversation. Stay in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and of course, the website.

There are two things everyone wants to talk to me about - my trip last year with my daughter and dogs and whether they could do it too AND how to start their own podcast. This week I'm talking to podcaster and digital nomad, Debbie Arcangeles about both of these! Debbie makes money from podcasting even though she doesn't have a huge audience and she's found a business model that allows her to live wherever she likes for as long as she likes. In this interview we talk about: How she gets paid to podcast and bust a few myths about that How to find the right brands for you who might be interested in sponsorship deals, even if you have a small audience How you can make money and be location independent The ups and downs of life as a business person What it means to be a lazy entrepreneur and how you can become one too! You can find out more about Debbie on her website and learn more about podcasting and digital nomad life. You can follow her adventures on Instagram or contact her direct via email Please remember to join our Corporate Escapees Facebook group where I share lots of free advice and where you can get support from others on the same journey as you! Also, stay in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and of course, the website.

The whole power dynamic changes when you step out of corporate life and in to entrepreneurship. No matter how much influence you had before you left or how much of a wallflower you were, once you're on the outside you need to be heard and seen. In this episode I talk to Eleanor Beaton, an award winning Leadership expert for women entrepreneurs. A former journalist at CBC and the Globe and Mail in Canada, she helps women create globally recognised, profitable businesses. Our conversation is mainly about how to position yourself so that you're taken seriously, so that your voice is heard and so that you are credible with your future customers and clients. We discuss: What it means to be fierce Positioning yourself Mistakes we make that undermine our status Dealing with competitive feelings Being heard and being confident enough to put yourself out there The difference between niching and your ‘zone of genuis' Why you should stop being the one in the room taking notes. Here are all the link to watch and listen to more Eleanor Beaton (I highly recommend it): eleanorbeaton.com LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Don't forget to head over to our website to read the latest blogs and get advice that will help you quit the 9-5 and do something you love for a living. Stay in touch with A Brilliant Gamble on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter Also, if you haven't already - why not join my Corporate Escapees Facebook Group?.

On today's show it's all about getting the money in. There are lots of things to keep yourself busy when you run a business and many of them are important. But unless you set aside time to do the activities that get the money in you're going to find yourself back in a 9-5 job. I learnt these lessons the hard way, by nearly going out of business because I was spending my time doing what I enjoyed most and not making sales, closing and keeping prospective clients moving through the funnel. You can get the money in and still be authentic, still put customers at the heart of what you do and focus on adding value so it's nothing to be afraid of. But there's really nothing more important. I talk about: The importance of invoicing Closing sales that are forever open Thinking about where new business is coming from Keeping money in the business Considering the return on investment of any spending To find out more about my How to Quit Your Job programme and to sign up, click here You can also download the free Escape the Rat Race Checklist and join our Corporate Escapees Facebook Group. Stay in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and of course, the website.

This week's guest is Miisa Mink, Founder and Chief Doer at DrivenWoman – an accountability club for women who want to achieve their goals and dreams - and the creator of Festival Of Doers. Miisa has worked with hundreds of women who want to change their lives and in our conversation, she not only tells her own story of finding her joy, but shares the number one trait that stops other women from doing the same. Miisa has an amazing "get up and go" attitude that's infectious. In our conversation we talk about confidence and how you can take action without it. We talk about the importance of creating a dedicated community to support and challenge you and we talk about stepping into your truth and how terrifying that can be. Miisa's Festival of Doers is on June 7th in London (2019 if you're listening in the future) - it's the 3rd event like this and a day of inspiration and positive action. During the Festival of Doers - you'll learn about living your passion, finding your purpose and creating a meaningful life. Get your tickets now! Driven Woman is an accountability club for ambitious women who want to achieve their goals and dreams fast. We help our members define their own success, create positive habits and put plans into action, one small step at a time. To learn more about my 12 Ways to Transition Programme click here The programme is just £35 and will help you create a transition plan and start making money from your business BEFORE you leave your job. If you're unsure whether a programme is suitable for you, just drop me a line and I will help you decide. Stay in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, the Corporate Escapees Facebook Group and of course, the website.

On this week's show I'm sharing 10 good reasons to leave your corporate job. Maybe leaving corporate life isn't your only option – you could stay within corporate life but change company, change working hours, changing to working remotely, change career but stay within big business... How do you know if escaping the rat race for good is the right option right now? I've identified 10 really good reasons to quit the rat race. How many of them apply to you? You want to run a business. You can't see that a change of company would fix the problem You want or need more flexibility You have a good business idea You don't have a high need for financial predictability/you are risk tolerant You want to leverage your expertise in the open market (and make more money!) You want to test yourself, put yourself out of your comfort zone and have new experiences You've been thinking about it for a long time and the idea won't go away The company politics, dysfunction, competitiveness are something you don't want to be part of any more You want to be the author of your life On the show I mention a couple of resources to help you if you've answered “Yes, that's me!” to a number of these. The FREE Escape the Rat Race Checklist is here - It covers 70+ actions and questions to consider in order to get yourself ready for the big escape. The 12 Ways to Transition programme is here - This programme helps you work out which transition strategy is right for you. It will help you figure out your tolerance to risk, the urgency of your escape, your financial situation and how much time you have to build your new venture and use the answers to those questions to pick the right way to transition out of your current job and in to your business. You can also join our Corporate Escapees Facebook Group Stay in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and of course, the website.

If you've got itchy feet there are lots of ways to transition out of your current job in to something you'd love a lot more. But I'm not sure whether the best way to do it is to take a bet! Today's guest, Marc Hogan, took a £1 bet that he couldn't put on a one hour show at the Edinburgh Comedy Festival within 12 months. This was 10 years ago and on today's show Marc explains how this changed everything for him. The bet was placed by my former business partner, Jim Lawless, who had taken a similar bet a few years prior to that when an audience member bet him a pound that he couldn't become a jockey. Anyway, even if taking a bet isn't the way you want your new adventure to begin there's lots in here for you - The concept of “The Editor” - the voice that gets in your way and tells you that you can't. Facing your fears and the importance of, sometimes, having your back against the wall with no other option but to go for it... despite your reservations! Some of the tricks to becoming a professional speaker and what the life of a pro speaker is actually like What you'll need to get started as a speaker (including the importance of your showreel) The difference between being an internal speaker and an external speaker The universal lessons learnt from becoming a comedian that would help us all make our dreams a reality For more information about Marc visit his website, follow him on Twitter and connect with him on LinkedIn. Don't forget to download my FREE Escape the Rat Race Checklist too. No matter where you are on your journey this checklist WILL contain tasks and questions to resolve that you won't have thought about. Stay in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and of course, the website.

Not everyone who leaves their corporate job to start their own business does it entirely out of choice. A significant number of people feel self employment is their only option because the conventional workplace doesn't work for them. Today's guest, Ursula Tavender, couldn't find a job that that suited how she wanted to live her life as a parent—certainly not without making sacrifices she didn't want to make! So she set up her own business, helping change that story for other women. Now advising government and working with organistaions to create more flexible working arrangements, especially helping managers understand how their attitudes need to change in order to do flex well. In our interview we talk about how Ursula set up her business, her experiences of trying to get back in to conventional work, and how to make flex work better. In particular we talk about how to get started if you want to work more flexibly either as you transition out of your job entirely, or alongside your part time business, or because that would actually mean you don't have to leave your job at all! Find out more about Ursula's work at the Mumbelievable website, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. The report for the Gender Equality and Economic Empowerment office that I contributed to is on Ursula's website and worth a read. Resources mentioned: Werk Timewise Flexible Working Factsheet Stay in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and of course, the website. Our Facebook group is Corporate Escapees and you can also download the FREE Escape the Rat Race Checklist.

People leave their corporate jobs for all sorts of reasons. And sometimes the choice is either to go for the ultimate top job of CEO in a large corporation or get off the hamster wheel altogether. Talita Ferreira was Chief Finance Officer and Chief HR Officer of BMW UK and BMW Financial Services until about 2 years ago. The next step, if she had decided to stay on her career trajectory, would have been CEO. But instead she decided to go it alone. In our interview we talk about the first third of her career working in finance, her discovery of the power of people and how that discovery changed her life. Today she helps companies create more authentic, inclusive cultures and to help individuals bring more of their true selves to everything they do. Talita shares the lessons she's learned since leaving her high powered role and how she's carved a path for herself outside of the corporate world. We discuss: Understand who you are Finding your purpose Changing your thoughts Who your target audience is Lessons learned on the journey to self-employment so far Attitudes towards money and how those change Authenticity Burn out Leaving a senior role at the height of your success Talita's story so far shows us how much this journey changes who you are, how much you learn about yourself that you simply couldn't have known if you'd have stayed in a job you were comfortable with. You can find out more about Talita's work on her website or follow her on Twitter. If you're thinking of leaving your job to do something you love for a living, don't have sleepless nights worrying whether you've forgotten to do something important. This checklist covers everything you need to d and questions you need to resolve before you leap. Head over to the website to get your FREE Checklist now. Stay in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, the Corporate Escapees Facebook Group and of course, the website.

Your career path isn't always a straight line. And the job that you do now or are thinking of doing next might not have even existed when you were having your meeting with your career's adviser all those years ago! This is one of the reasons we get itchy feet. We see an alternative way of combining our experiences that would enable us to do something for a living that was just not possible a decade or two ago but we're stuck in the more conventional path that was the norm when we were first planning our adult career. Tim Tavender runs courses helping people create online courses but he started professional life as a PE teacher. Since then he's pulled together pieces of experience from all over his personal and professional life to become, first a digital marketer and now an online courses expert – businesses that simply didn't exist when he was at school. The driver for change was his family and the desire to be more present to his own health and the wellbeing of his wife and kids. In this interview we talk about: How to leverage your past experiences to design a new business Starting with your ideal client when you think about what business to be in Niching down (finding your starving crowd) How to turn off your inferiority complex and come up with your own ideas Valuing your expertise, even if it comes easy to you How to create online courses that work for You as well as for your clients You can find out more about Tim on his website, LinkedIn or on his podcast. As always, you can stay in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter the Corporate Escapees group page and of course, the website.

Nicki is a former Army Officer who spent 17 years developing people in conflict zones around the world and now runs courses to help people develop their resilience. There are so many ups and downs in life and it can sometimes feel like you don't have the strength to carry on, or even get started. But within us all is a resilience we don't normally acknowledge and, if you can tap in to it, you can overcome those slings and arrows that life chucks in your direction (especially when you are trying to do something NEW) and not only survive but thrive as a result. In this interview we talk about Nicki's own journey, her army career and her decision to leave after 17 years and set up her own business. AND we talk about this concept of resilience, and how to grow and become stronger as a result of the experiences that happen to us in life OR from experiences we intentionally put ourselves through. Nick works with groups of individuals and with companies so if you want to grow your own resilience or discover just how resilient you already are, you can follow Nicki and her adventures on Instagram (@resilienceatwork) and check out her programmes, and read her blog on her website Please also come and join us at Corporate Escapees, our Facebook group, where I share a lot of resources and ideas to help you make your escape plans a reality. It's a lovely community and we're looking to grow so head over there today! Stay in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and of course, the website.

It's all very well knowing you don't want to carry on working and living the way you do right now. But it's not always clear what you should do instead. If you're unsure what to do when you escape the rat race one place to start is to think, not about what you want to DO, but what business model would work best for you. Would a franchise, freelancing, interim work or a portfolio be the right solution for you? Do you want to sell to the public or to companies? Do you see yourself in retail or consulting? Sometimes it's easier to start here, because that enables you to narrow the options down. If you have no interest in, say, interim work, that excludes a huge number of fields from your consideration. You're also probably saying that a longish contract, working with one company on a specific project and then moving to another longish contract with another company isn't for you. And this is a good thing. When the world is your oyster there's too much choice. When you can start excluding options you can start making progress. In this show I share 23 ideas for different business models so that you can start thinking about how you might set yourself up outside of the conventional 9-5. I talk about my own experiences of some of these models, the pros and cons and how to make them work. As you listen, notice your reactions. Not just your logical reactions but your physical reactions too. Do you get excited by one idea and turned off by another? Sometimes our bodies tell us more about what we want than our logical brain. I'd love to know which of these models appeals to you and, if you have experience of working in any of these ways, I'd love to hear your pros and cons. Come and join us on our Facebook Group – Corporate Escapees and share your experiences over there. Also, stay in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and of course, the website.

Money - It's the big challenge for anyone who wants to create a better, more balanced life and do something for a living outside of the corporate 9-5. In fact, your feelings about money could be the biggest barrier to you even thinking about doing something else instead. That's why I wanted to talk to today's guest. Andy Hill is a podcaster and author who is passionate about creating an incredible life for his family by being financially intelligent. He and his wife managed to pay off $50,000 of personal debt and their whole mortgage within 5 years and increased their net worth from $50,000 to $750,000 in 8 years. In this interview we talk about how Andy and his wife sorted out their own debt issues, how he balances a full time job with a busy and successful side hustle AND family life. And how to plan your finances as you start planning your escape from the rat race. We also talk about: How to create boundaries between your job, your side hustle and your personal life How running a business as a side hustle has enhanced his contribution as an employee The concept of the financial runway Seeing the early days in your new business as an internship The pros and cons of training courses versus real life experience How to earn passive income from your assets while you're building your business Having conversations about money with partners, family members and others Starting your business on a shoestring Niching down Do check out his podcast - it's called Marriage, Kids and Money. His website is where you can find out how to work with him and read more of his blogs and articles. He mentioned a few useful resources: Mint Tiller (Excel and Google Sheets) Quickbooks Freshbooks And of course, if you want support or to discuss any of these topics, head over to our Corporate Escapees Facebook group and stay in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and of course, the website.

I spend much more of my time marketing myself and getting my name and expertise known in the world than I actually do coaching or speaking to audiences. And this might come as a shock to you if you're still working a 9-5 or starting to run your own venture. Putting yourself out there doesn't come naturally to most of us but it's a vital part of being in business and, in some ways, it's never been so complicated. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Linkedin not to mention blogging, podcasting and, email marketing... where do you start? That's why I wanted to talk to Janet Murray. Janet is a former journalist who specialises in helping people grow their audience so they can succeed in business. In her podcast, free content and courses she shows how to position yourself as the go to person and create a following of people who want to buy the thing you do. In this interview we talk about: Transitioning out of your current job and how long that can take Pivoting until you find your niche Email marketing Creating a following and creating content as a way to position yourself as an expert Being able to finish the sentence “He/She is the person you go to if you want...” You can find out more about Janet on her website where she has tonnes of free resources to download plus her brilliant podcast, The Janet Murray Show. Stay in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and of course, the website. Please also join our Facebook group “Corporate Escapees” where you can get help, advice, support and encouragement about taking your own brilliant gamble!

It's my first solo show for a while and I was inspired by member of the Corporate Escapees Facebook page to do an episode about making a Worst Case Scenario Plan. When you stand on the precipice of a big decision all the fears come bubbling to the surface. But they swill around in your brain in a mess of half finished thoughts and cause you to feel paralysed. Even if, despite these fears, you take action steps, you lose out on the joy of this phase of the journey because you're so worried about what you'll do if it all goes wrong. Which is why I want to explain to you how to make a Worst Case Scenario Plan. In this way you get those fears out of your head and on to paper and start working through them step by step. Once you know what you'd do in the worst case you're free to focus on success! Please join the Corporate Escapees group no matter what stage you're at in the journey and even if you don't consider you've come from a “corporate” job - any conventional 9-5 type job to any form of freedom, doing what you love for a living, living on your own terms counts! Stay in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and of course, the website.

What is slow living? So many of us want to change our lives because we want more space for things we love, as well as a job we love. But life often seems too hectic to find that space, sense of peace or a feeling that we're really able to enjoy what we have worked so hard to achieve. When Brooke McAlary realised the stress of her life was causing her anxiety she decided to slow her life right down. It started with a failed attempt to declutter the garage... but today she's host of the Slow Home podcast, author of 3 lovely books about slowing down your life and living a dramatically different life to the one she thought she would be living at this point in her life. What I love about this interview is how down to earth Brooke is about what slow living actually is and how you can design a slower life that's unique to what works for you. Do check out her website and follow her on Instagram. Also check out Zen Habits. And maybe try writing your own eulogy and see if it helps you get clarity about your life as much as it helped Brooke. Stay in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and of course, the website.

Just because living life on your own terms might feel like a gamble, doesn't mean you don't try to minimise the risk! Todd Nevins is a Digital Nomad who travels full time with his wife and their dog, encouraging other people to do the same. In fact, he's on a mission to get one million people who are disheartened by their current lifestyle to make the decision to change it. In this interview we talk about the planning stage, the execution stage and the reality of living and working on the road, bringing only what you can fit in an average sized car and making friends along the way. If you've considered becoming a digital nomad or just turning your back on the 9-5 and doing something you love from the comfort of your own sofa, you'll love listening to the very practical advice Todd has to share. He's a hugely energetic and inspirational person who makes it all seem perfectly do-able. You can find out more about him on the Go Hunt Life Podcast. Please also join my new Facebook group – Corporate Escapees. it's for anyone dreaming, planning or already making the leap to do what they love for a living, turn their backs on the corporate 9-5 and live life on their own terms. Come and hang out with me and a bunch of other likeminded people and get support and encouragement to live life your way. Stay in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and of course, the website.

I wonder how many of us fall in to a career, and then make a real success at it before we realise that it's not working for us. Of course, that creates a whole new problem. What are you going to do next? Well, that's the story for my guest today. Dav Piper is now a gardener. But until recently her life was much like many people - the commute, the salary that's hard to walk away from, a job that didn't really work for her. She was successful by conventional standards but had fallen in to her career and slowly, like many of us, realised that she didn't want to carry on. Of course, the next big problem was - what to do next? Dav describes a very real dilemma. We don't all know what we want to do with our lives! It's all very well to say we want to get out of the corporate rat race and do something we love for a living... but what?? In this interview we talk about how she found out what she wanted to do, and the gentle steps she took to make it happen... steps that anyone could take to make that transition a little less risky. We discuss: Money and how your reliable salary can become a trap that keeps you stuck How to work out what you want to do The dangers of looking for a big, world transforming purpose in life Starting a business as a side hustle How to cut your financial outgoings to reduce your financial risk Volunteering as a way in to a new career Starting to charge and how to find business Having a Saturday job as an adult You can find out more about Dav on her website, her Facebook page and her blog. Dav mentioned Fiverr as a place to buy services like logos and websites. Check it out at https://www.fiverr.com/ As I mentioned, I've renamed my Facebook Group and it is now called Corporate Escapees. It's a place to share stories, ask questions and get support whether you're dreaming of leaving corporate life, already making plans or you've already done it. Please join this fledgling community and start posting. As fans of this show your support will really help create a tribe of likeminded people. There is life on the other side of the 9-5! Stay in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and of course, the website.

I've spoken to writers before on this show. A massive highlight for me was talking to Tom McLaughlin (Episode 85) about how he became a writer and illustrator for kids. But today's guest helps people write for a living. FOR A LIVING! Joanna Penn (www.thecreativepenn.com) left the corporate world a decade ago to write full time. Since then she's become an an award winning entrepreneur, a hugely successful fiction and non-fiction author, podcaster and teacher of other people who want to write for a living. In our interview we talk about - Leaving your job and how to get started BEFORE you leave your job From selling your time to selling assets Short term income versus long term sustainable income Marketing and diversifying your writing business Publishing options How writers make money beyond writing books Outsourcing and organising your time as a professional writer How to get started Joanna has a huge amount of free resources on her website as well as her books and courses. I highly recommend you get her advice before you start planning how you're going to make a career writing. If you want to absolutely guarantee that you won't get in your own way as you start planning how you're going to do what you love for a living, sign up to A Brilliant Gamble Online. Find out more and sign up on the programme homepage. Stay in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and of course, the website.

Maxwell Ivey describes himself as the Blind Blogger. Born in to a carnival family, he became blind in his teens but has never let it stop him doing what he wanted to do. He's now not only a successful businessman but an inspirational speaker, coach and podcaster, helping people follow their dreams just as he has done. He wasn't always someone who thought he could do anything. But he's learnt not only what he's capable of but that just because you can do a thing doesn't mean you should! I wanted to talk to Maxwell because we've all got excuses for why we can't do something - whether it's our age, our health, our experience, our education (or lack of it), our financial situation, our family's opinions, our self-critical voice. In our conversation we talk about The questions you should ask yourself before you take the leap How to deal with your own limiting ideas. Making assumptions Being “real” Overwhelm when you start thinking about everything there is to do to achieve your goal Working out what you can do and what you should do Evolving what you do based on what people are asking you to do Continually questioning whether you're doing what you want to be doing Changing your mind Weight loss tips Finding the positive moments in the day Creating stories in your life from unintentional adventures! You can find out more about Maxwell including his blogs, books, podcasts and how to work with him on his website. Also, remember to visit our website to find out more about the Brilliant Gamble Online programme designed to help you get out of your own way and make changes to your life and work. Stay in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.

It's all very well imagining yourself running your own business as a way to escape the rat race. But what's the reality? What skills will you need beyond the technical skills you've been mastering for the last 20 or 30 years? That's why I wanted to talk to my guest today, Phyllis Smith. Former founder of the Professional Business Women's Network she's an escapee from corporate world herself. She now has her fingers in many pies including as presenter at The Expert Channel. For me, it's her skills as a networker that really make her stand out. While this is a skill you benefit from if you work the traditional 9-5 it's absolutely critical if you expect to make a living doing what you love. People need to know about you! In this interview, we talk about - Running your own business when you're a mum Thinking like a business person Being a woman in a man's world Time management Getting the skills you need to run a business Being the breadwinner Focusing on quality of life If you're thinking of starting a business as a way to escape the rat race you HAVE to listen to this interview. It's packed with tonnes of tidbits to get you thinking more like a business person than an employee. Find out more about her on her website or find her on Twitter. If you're at a crossroads and you'd like to get out of the rat race and make a living doing what you love, A Brilliant Gamble Online is the programme for you. I take you step-by-step from thinking and planning to making the dream a reality. Find out more on the programme homepage. Stay in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and of course, the website.

Can you imagine seeing porn stars having sex in your backyard, or watching a topless waitress breastfeeding a kitten at one of your parent's parties? Well, today's guest lived that life. Romola Hodas was the eldest daughter of Marty (Martin) Hodas, aka “Times Square's King of Porn,” the man who almost single-handedly built New York City's pornography and adult entertainment industry from the 1960s to the 1980s. By the time she was eighteen, she had survived two kidnapping attempts, summering in the Catskills with members of the Colombo crime family, verbal and physical abuse, and a year in reform school. Her childhood was a nightmare of violence, chaos, and severe body shaming. Against all odds, she not only survived a childhood few people could fathom, but actually thrived, becoming a successful businesswoman who now devotes her life to helping others. In this interview we talk about: Forgiveness Letting go How childhood trauma affects people differently Overthinking and intellectualising Anxiety Drinking in moderation (moderation management) Listening to your inner voice Courage Learning no matter what your age You can find out more about Romola and order her book at www.romola.com. Stay in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and of course, the website.

In 2012. Sunday Burquest was diagnosed with breast cancer. After multiple surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, and a bout with depression she discovered she was much stronger than she imagined and decided to follow her dream and ended up on the 33rd season of the Emmy award-winning reality tv show Survivor Millennials vs Gen-x. Sunday describes herself as a Grit Girl and I was very keen to talk to her about how she's embraced so much change in her life, ignored any suggestion that she shouldn't do certain things “at her age” and how she continues to challenge herself even after her Survivor experience. In this conversation we talk about being on Survivor, and what she's learnt about pushing herself, making change and surviving some pretty gruelling situations. I hope this inspires you whatever change you're making this year. You'll love Sunday's down to earth energy and discovering how to be a Grit Girl (or Boy) too! We talk about - Surviving cancer and the depression that followed Survivor The qualities of a Grit Girl How the experience of putting yourself outside your comfort zone changes you Coping with the judgements of others Resilience and surviving setbacks Taking small steps and not giving up on ourselves How women can support each other You'll love this episode if you're at a crossroads, want to make some bold changes in your life, have made any new year resolutions, want to live more authentically or want to embrace getting older and wiser! You can find out more about Sunday and Grit Girl on her website or on Instagram. Do check her out! Talking of which, A Brilliant Gamble Online is a development programme designed specifically to help you make your bold ideas become reality. Based on the tools I used to make The Big Trip and start our Smallholding Adventure and tried and tested by people going through real, practical changes in their lives, this programme helps you stay on track when you want to give up, gives you the tools to enjoy the process of change and understand how to get out of your own way, and encourages you with inspiration and practical ideas. If you're alone you'll go home, so get some support and make 2019 the year you change your life for good! For more information visit the programme homepage and stay in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and of course, the website.

Welcome to a new season of the A Brilliant Gamble Podcast for 2019! I'm so excited to bring you my conversation with TV presenter and journalist, Andrea McLean, because there couldn't be a better way to start the year. Not only is Andrea a huge presence on TV as co-host of Loose Women but she's also the author of a new book – Confessions of a Menopausal Woman – which tells the story of her own abrupt menopause and what the experience is teaching her (and us). She's also launched This Girl is On Fire as a place where women can find information, fun and inspiration whatever stage of life they're at. In this conversation, we not only talk about The Change, of course, but about how hitting midlife provides a brilliant opportunity to take life by the horns and make some bold decisions about how you want to live and work. In this episode, we discuss: Menopause, signs and symptoms Mid-life crisis and mid-life awakening Authenticity and discovering who you are Being brave What ageing means to us Our thoughts about success and failure Our love of dogs (with a special outtake at the end of the show!) You'll love this episode if you're at a crossroads, want to make some bold changes in your life, have made any new year resolutions, want to live more authentically or want to embrace getting older and wiser! Talking of which, A Brilliant Gamble Online is a development programme designed specifically to help you make your bold ideas become reality. Based on the tools I used to make The Big Trip and start our Smallholding Adventure and tried and tested by people going through real, practical changes in their lives, this programme helps you stay on track when you want to give up, gives you the tools to enjoy the process of change and understand how to get out of your own way, and encourages you with inspiration and practical ideas. If you're alone you'll go home, so get some support and make 2019 the year you change your life for good! For more information visit the programme homepage and stay in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and of course, the website.

I'm sure you've often thought about what makes you happy or perhaps wondered where happiness comes from? Most of us want to feel happy about our lives even if we're not happy all the time. We want the same from our lives outside of work and the work we do. Today's guest is Mike Robbins, thought leader, sought after speaker, and the author of four books including Bring Your Whole Self to Work. In this conversation we talk about how personal development is becoming more acceptable within the work environment, how disappointment and tragedy in Mike's own life forced him to re-think at a relatively young age about what would really make him happy and fulfilled and how to change the story you tell yourself about yourself. We also dig in to what it means to be vulnerable. It's a word that's used a lot but, even though I talk about it, I had a rather limited idea of what it meant until this conversation with Mike. It's not just about revealing your soft underbelly. It's much more empowering than that! You will enjoy this conversation if you're interested in: How to feel good about the life you have today How to respond to setbacks in your life How to choose your own path when life throws you a curveball Bringing your whole self to work What it really means to be vulnerable The importance of taking risks and living with uncertainty if you want to achieve something that matters to you You can find Mike on Twitter, Instagram and his website and grab his books from Amazon. Stay in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and of course, our website.

It seems to me that most change isn't initiated by us but thrust upon us or dropped in to our path. If you've had an interesting life up to this point and want that to continue, you're probably someone who grabs those unplanned opportunities and runs with them. Today's guest is entrepreneur Madeleine Lambert. She runs “Content Refined”, a business based in Canada that helps companies grow their audience. She's been responsible for massive growth in the business in just 2 years by forcing herself to let go of the reins... helped by the impending birth of her first child. Having a deadline forced her to put systems in place to make herself unnecessary to the daily running of the operation. I'm sure we'd all like that! In this interview we talk about: Initiating change versus having it fall in your path Hiring people who are better than you Being a control freak and breaking the habit Building family in to your business plan How we get in our own way Dealing with online criticism And much more! You can find out more about Madeleine and her business on her website, Facebook or Instagram. Please stay in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and of course, the website.

I spend much of my time inside big business. As a keynote speaker and coach for leaders I'm very familiar with the ways large organisations operate and the universal challenges that they face against a backdrop of a world changing faster than ever before. For years I've been trying to help those organisations and their leaders to change. Sometimes they do. Sometimes they find it impossible. It's always painful. Change hurts! As part of my mission to understand why and how we change and where we might want to focus our attentions in order to create a better blend between work and the rest of life I wanted to talk to today's guest. Mark Williams is CMO at People First, an HR consultancy, with a special interest in the future of work. I'm very curious about how the workplace is changing and how we, as the workers, will need to change in order to adapt. In this conversation we talk about coming trends, what human qualities will be required in order to be employable in the future and how fundamentally we need to rethink work and the part business plays in the world in the light of such dramatic changes. It's a big topic and one people like Mark, and me, are grappling with. There are no guaranteed answers. But I think you'll enjoy listening to this conversation and considering what it might mean for you, your colleagues and the next generation. You can find out more about Mark's work on the People First website or follow him on Twitter. You can stay in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and of course, the website.

Do we ever really change? I've spent 20 years attempting to help individuals and companies to grow and develop so the concept that people are capable of change sits right at the heart of that. If we don't ever change, what have I been doing all this time?! Of course, we do change. Life changes us. We gain new insights, we learn new lessons. And a lot of our development is really about unpicking bad habits of thinking and behaving that we've picked up along the way in order to reveal the true “me” rather than actually changing who we are. Today's guest is the wonderful Marianne Power. An author and journalist, she's a self-confessed Self Help Junkie. A few years ago she set herself the task of working through 12 self-help books and doing what they told her to do TO THE LETTER. She's now written a book about it called Help Me! I really enjoyed talking to Marianne. She's funny, thoughtful and has tonnes of experiences having experimented on herself for 16 months. You'll enjoy hearing more about some of the ideas and practices she focused on, what made a difference (and what didn't) and what she learnt about change as a result. I highly recommend the book - available at Amazon and you can follow her on Facebook “The Help Me Blog” and her website We cover - The Power of Now The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Fuck It! The journey of change Whether we change Lessons Marianne learnt from her experiences Brené Brown Marianne's most useful self-help tools Key take away from this interview - We need community. Self-help implies that you do this alone but successful change is never done alone We need a blend of the woo-woo and the practical No single approach solves all problems You don't always get out of the journey what you expected to get! But you get something! The journey of change and growth is never over, it just evolves Do something, get started! You can stay in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and of course, the website.

Lee Feldman is a force of nature. Down to earth, humble and funny, he's also a guy who thinks and acts BIG. He was pivotal in revolutionising how major companies used their websites back in the late 1990s, is more recently the founder of THNK Vancouver. His latest project is to create Bicycle Mayors in every major city in the world in order to turn the bike, a 200 year old invention, in to the transportation mode of the future. I loved talking to Lee - partly because he thinks so differently to many people in the corporate world. Yet, everything he talks about - and the way he sees the challenges and opportunities facing business - are practical and compelling. You don't have to run a small, funky tech company to be inspired by his approach - big business can get it too. In this interview, we cover everything from his co-creation of Blast Radius, a web developer that played a massive part in changing how we use and understand the power of the web, to two personal tragedies that changed the direction of his life. We talk about THNK, take a peek inside the mind of a thought-leader and inspirational thinker, question a bunch of myths about business, climate change and what kind of leaders the world needs now and explore the power of simple pleasures. There is so much in this hour with Lee that I'm sure you'll take a lot away from it. You can find out more about THNK at and about the Bicycle Mayor Scheme. You can stay in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and of course, the website NEW! Check out our Brilliant Gamble Online programme

Most of us work with people and it tends to be the people stuff that makes work brilliant and awful. If you're having problems at work most likely they are people problems. This is why, of course, so many people are looking to change their job or change their company. But what if you take yourself with you when you go? In this archive show, I talk to Mark Fritz, an incredibly knowledgable leadership expert, keynote speaker and author, about how to take ownership of your job and how to give ownership to others. We talk about work-life balance, finding your professional sweet-spot, how to really take responsibility at work and how to give it to others and what makes meetings so awful. I loved talking with Mark who is full of easy to remember concepts and tips. I'm confident you'll take a lot from it too. Just remember to grab a pen so you can write down all the clever stuff he has to share! You can find out more about Mark on his website or on Twitter His app “Reflection Questions” is now available for both iOS and Android As always, you can stay in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and of course, the website

On this week's show I'm talking to award winning Women's Advocate and Empowerment Coach, Ali Soleil, about embarking on adventures in your 40s and 50s. Ali is the host of the F Years Podcast and helps women in mid-life to go from fed up to fabulous. In this conversation we talk about living out of your car, finding the adventure that's waiting for you and letting go. If you're ready to run towards joy, you'll love Ali and her infectious enthusiasm for life. Check out The F Years Podcast for yourself on iTunes! You can stay in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and of course, the website. Please check out the new A Brilliant Gamble Online Coaching Programme, a self-paced course of videos and exercises to help you find balance, do work that aligns with your values and live more authentically. And feel free to share this podcast and leave a rating and review as it helps people find us and start taking a Brilliant Gamble of their own!

Today's show is another archive show – my interview with Bryan Falchuk. Bryan is the author of a wonderful book called "Do A Day" in which he explores why we get stuck in bad habits and how to break those habit... for good! Whether you're stuck in a rut in your work, with your health and fitness, in your relationship or something else, you will love this interview and Bryan's ideas to get unstuck. You can buy Bryan's book at http://www.doadaybook.com/amazon or http://www.doadaybook.com/amazonuk You can stay in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and of course, the website.

There's a lot of talk in business about engagement and employee satisfaction and "leaders" spend a great deal of time (and money on leadership development courses) trying to work out how to get a more "turned on" workforce. Join me this week for a great archive episode! Behaviourist Jez Rose is a is a broadcaster, bee farmer, award-winning author and speaker, with a passion for improving cultures. Quintessentially British, he also has an obsession with tea. In this interview, we speak about Jez's Good Life Project, an innovative research initiative, evidencing the cognitive and emotional impact of nature on human health, wellbeing and behaviour, seeking to understand what nature does to our brain and specifically which activities have the greatest positive impact on us. But what if 'a turned on workforce' really isn't that complicated? What if the answer doesn't lie in fancy techniques and sophisticated models? Perhaps we just need to feel connected with the natural world. In this interview, we talk about Jez's research (present and past, carried out over many decades) which shows that when we connect with nature our motivation, our wellbeing and our productivity all improve. Sounds crazy right? But it makes sense when you think about how even an image of nature can change your perspective on life. I hope you enjoy the episode! If you want more information about Jez's work you can visit his website or the Good Life Project website For the free wildflower seeds we talk about in the episode, click here. You can follow Jez on Instagram, Twitter and you can also follow the Good Life Project on Instagram. This interview was first broadcast in May 2017. If you want insights and support as you change your life - A Brilliant Gamble Online is for you! This online programme is self-paced which means you do it as your own speed. Videos and exercises guide you through the thinking and planning stage and then support you as you learn and grow and make stuff happen in your life. You can find out more here. For an inside look at our next Brilliant Gamble, our smallholding, stay in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter as well as the website.

We are in! We moved in to the smallholding last week and are starting to get used to being settled after so many months on the road. It's very strange to put things in a cupboard knowing you won't have to take it all back out in a matter of days! Moving house and starting a new lifestyle can be stressful and is certainly busy. Which is why today's show is about “pressing pause” when things get hectic. Many of us find that hard to do. When we're busy the idea of stopping, taking a breath, checking in on ourselves and foregoing some of the activity isn't natural. We are used to pushing through, getting it done, painful as it might be. We don't want to let people down, we don't want to be slow, we don't want to admit we can't do it all (because we can but it requires us to go beyond normal human capabilities). In this episode I talk about why and how I'm pressing pause... and why you might want to as well. If you want MORE insights and support as you change your life A Brilliant Gamble Online is for you! This online programme is self-paced which means you do it as your own speed. Videos and exercises guide you through the thinking and planning stage and then support you as you learn and grow and make stuff happen in your life. You can find out more here. You can also stay in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and of course, the website. And please join me on my Psychologies Magazine Facebook Live event on 18th Oct at 7pm UK time.

Some changes are easy to make. There will be adjustments you want to make to your life – big or small – that seem GIGANTIC to other people but, to you, they're a walk in the park. But other changes...boy! These ones are tough! I've been pondering what makes certain changes harder than others and come up with a theory! In today's show I talk about two kinds of change – Big Bangs and Daily Bangs – and the different strategies required to make a success of both. Personally I'm far better at Big Bangs. But, as we embark on our next Brilliant Gamble it's the Daily Bangs that are going to determine whether we make a sustainable change in our life or not. Confused? Listen to the show and all will be revealed! A Brilliant Gamble Online is a self-paced online coaching programme takes you step-by-step from designing your ideal life to figuring out how work and everything else will blend into that life. You'll discover and think about how you want to FEEL about your life and how to make it a reality. Plus, you'll have lifetime access to tonnes of videos and tried and tested exercises that have worked for, not only, my clients but that I use to make changes in my own life. Find out more here. And you can stay in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and of course, the website.

When I first became a coach in 2000 I was one of the first wave of coaches in the UK. Generally young, successful women who'd come from the corporate world, we saw coaching as a way to help people move forward in their lives and make conscious choices about how they wanted to live and how they wanted to feel. Suzy Walker is one of the biggest names to come from that wave of coaches. Now Editor of Psychologies Magazine, she is author of the bestseller “Making the Big Leap” and for many years ran her own highly successful coaching business. In our interview we talk about changing your name mid-life, returning to a “proper job” having worked for yourself, and our beliefs around money... and we end up making a pact together to change our attitudes towards financial security. You'll enjoy this interview if you're at a crossroads, if you're interested in working on your intuition and shifting long-standing beliefs, especially about money, if you're looking for more balance in your life or you're keen to pare down your life to a more simple way of living. You can follow Psychologies Magazine on Facebook and find out about all the live videos they broadcast every day including my next one of October 18th! If you want to work on your own beliefs and assumptions and create a life that's more meaningful for you - sign up to A Brilliant Gamble Online NOW! This self-paced online coaching programme takes you step-by-step from designing your ideal life to figuring out how work and everything else will blend into that life. You'll discover and think about how you want to FEEL about your life and how to make it a reality. Plus, you'll have lifetime access to tonnes of videos and tried and tested exercises that have worked for, not only, my clients but that I use to make changes in my own life. Find out more here. And you can stay in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and of course, the website.

There's rarely an opportunity to reflect between the end of one project, adventure or experience and the next. So when the opportunity arises we should take it! What did we learn from our last experience and how can we take that forward to the next one? And what “Unfinished Business” is there – lessons we attempted to learn but failed to really grasp – that need to be at the heart of what's coming next? My Unfinished Business from our Big Trip is how I handle stress. So in this week's show I explore my most recent stressy fit and work out how I am going to improve my reaction to fear so that I can really enjoy the smallholding adventure to come. If stress is a big feature in your life I hope we can work on this together. I'm sharing my thoughts as I get closer to the truth of stress and what really triggers our responses. And I'd love your thoughts about handling stressful moments, to understand what lies at the heart of stress for you and what I could do in the coming weeks, months and years to have less stress and more joy even when the going gets tough. You can find the Feelings list I mention on the show here. You can also find out more about A Brilliant Gamble Online – our new self-paced online coaching programme here . If you have questions about whether the programme is right for you or want to discuss the options, please drop me a line at blaire@abrilliantgamble.com You can stay in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and of course, the website.

6 months ago, almost to the day, we set off on our Big Trip. In a few weeks it comes to an end. But although that particular adventure is drawing to a close, we're not done with Brilliant Gambles. Quite the reverse. When we return from Ireland, our final destination, we will move in to our new home – a two and a half acre smallholding in Somerset. The new Brilliant Gamble – growing our own food, rearing our own animals and trying to live more lightly on the planet – kicks off at the same time as our new ONLINE COACHING PROGRAMME! What were we thinking?? At the end of this episode I give you more information about how you can sign up to A Brilliant Gamble Online and get all the support you need to turn your dreams of a more blended life in to a reality. But before I get in to that I have a wonderful conversation with Libby Syddall who owns the smallholding we've been staying at for the last 2 weeks. She gives me a lot of very useful advice and shares her own story of leaving her job to run her smallholding full time, and the lessons she's learnt along the way. You'll love this interview if moving to the countryside is a dream of yours OR whatever Brilliant Gamble you're imagining for yourself or already undertaking. You can find out more about Libby and her chickens on her Ham Street Hens Facebook page. You can pre-register or sign up to A Brilliant Gamble Online and you can stay in touch with us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and of course, the website