Podcast Summary
Finding Hidden Talent on LinkedIn: Explore LinkedIn's untapped pool of potential candidates, where over 70% don't visit other job sites. Hire unapologetic, determined individuals who defy stereotypes and bring unique perspectives to your business.
LinkedIn is a valuable resource for finding professionals who aren't actively looking for new jobs but could be excellent candidates for your small business. Sandra, a successful entrepreneur, shares her experience of being hired by a company that used LinkedIn to find her. She emphasizes that over 70% of LinkedIn users don't visit other leading job sites, making it an untapped pool of potential candidates. Additionally, Jordan has an inspiring story of defying stereotypes and building a successful energy company, My Energy, despite facing numerous challenges due to her gender. Her unapologetic attitude and determination serve as a reminder that background, gender, or societal expectations should not limit one's potential for success. So, if you're looking for top talent, consider posting your job on LinkedIn and be open to candidates who might not be actively seeking new opportunities.
From performing arts to energy industry, Jordan's journey defied conventions: Discover your strengths and persevere through challenges to find success, no matter the industry or background
Jordan's unconventional journey to running an energy company began with a lack of academic background and a desire for independence. Starting from her teenage years, she worked various jobs to earn her own money and travel, but lost her confidence in pursuing performing arts. After trying law and hairdressing, she found her interest in business and was encouraged by her granddad's hustle and her father's belief in her communication skills. Despite growing up in a male-dominated family, she learned to lean into her strengths and overcome obstacles, eventually leading her to the energy industry. This inspiring story highlights the importance of discovering one's strengths and persevering through challenges to achieve success.
Following your passion and controlling your own destiny: Passion and determination led the speaker to various experiences, a failed business, and ultimately, success with My Energy. The importance of controlling your own destiny and finding the right partnerships cannot be overstated.
Following your passion and taking control of your career can lead to great opportunities and success. The speaker's father encouraged her to do whatever she enjoyed, leading her to try various jobs and experiences. She eventually met her business partner, Lee, and together they had the potential to grow a business in the solar industry. However, the business failed due to poor partnerships and market conditions. Years later, Lee approached the speaker to revive the business, and they joined forces to create My Energy in 2016. The speaker's experience as a distributor taught her the importance of controlling her own destiny and margins, which she was able to do with My Energy. This story highlights the importance of passion, determination, and the right partnerships in achieving success.
Passionate entrepreneur advocates for off-grid living and renewable energy: Off-grid living reduces reliance on the national grid, supports the environment, and promotes energy security. The speaker's company, MyEnergy, helps consumers manage their own energy production.
The speaker is a passionate entrepreneur and advocate for off-grid living and renewable energy. She fell in love with the industry due to her desire for energy independence and decentralized power. Off-grid refers to generating one's own power and reducing reliance on the national grid. The speaker's company, MyEnergy, helps consumers manage and utilize their own energy production. Being off-grid is beneficial for the environment, supports the grid, and promotes energy security as a country. The speaker's background in the industry was challenging, as she was one of the few women in the field at the time, but she persevered and found the experience rewarding. The initial concept for MyEnergy was based on the speaker's first product, a ready-made solar panel, which they started with and built their business around.
Determination and innovation in electric vehicle charging and solar energy utilization: Zappy's success came from identifying a problem, creating a solution, and maintaining tenacity, resourcefulness, and strong relationships to optimize energy usage and attract investment.
Determination, innovation, and building strong relationships were key factors in the success of Zappy, a company that revolutionized electric vehicle charging and solar energy utilization. The founders, who were both from Grimsby and had backgrounds in engineering, identified a problem and created a solution that catered to a growing market of electric vehicle owners with solar panels. Their tenacity, lack of external influence, and resourcefulness allowed them to create a product that balanced the grid and optimized energy usage. This innovation led to the invention of smart charging and the growth of their business, which eventually attracted significant investment.
Turning rejections into opportunities: Persistence and innovation can lead to success despite initial rejections. Approach alternative markets and keep innovating to find a breakthrough.
Persistence and innovation can turn rejections into opportunities. The speaker, who was trying to promote a charging technology for electric vehicles, faced numerous rejections from companies who were more focused on sales than the environment or grid. However, he didn't give up and instead approached solar installers and electrical wholesalers. A turning point came when he met the owner of a popular YouTube channel, Fully Charged, who was impressed by his technology and did an episode on it, leading to a surge in sales. The speaker's team grew from a few people to managing a larger team in a 65,000 square foot factory. This story illustrates that even in the face of rejection, staying focused on the vision and continuing to innovate can lead to success.
Navigating the Transition from Small to Large Team: Implementing processes, procedures, and qualified hires is necessary for larger teams, but maintaining a relaxed culture and trust is important. Adapting to various management styles and ensuring consistency is crucial for productivity.
Growing a business from a small team to a larger one can be a challenging transition. While it may feel like a family atmosphere during the early stages, as the team grows, implementing processes, procedures, and qualified hires becomes necessary. However, finding the right balance between maintaining a relaxed culture and implementing structure can be difficult. Each manager's leadership style is unique and effective for certain types of people, but in larger organizations, a more standardized approach is required. Trust and self-management can be beneficial for both the employer and employee, but not every hire will thrive in that environment. Adapting to various management styles and ensuring homogeneity in processes is crucial to prevent chaos and maintain productivity. Ultimately, there's no one-size-fits-all solution, and ongoing assessment and adjustment are essential.
Impact of Policy Reversal on Self-Funded EV Charging Business: Policy reversals can cause financial strain and inventory buildup for businesses in the EV sector, but consumers' shift to EVs continues despite political decisions.
The sudden reversal of EV policies in the country has significantly impacted the growth of a self-funded EV charging business, causing a massive slowdown and financial strain. The business had been growing rapidly due to the increasing demand for EVs and the country's lead in EV technology, but the policy change came unexpectedly and resulted in excess inventory and a dent in cash flow. The business owner expresses disappointment and frustration over the political decision, which they believe could have positioned the country as a global leader in EV technology and sustainability. Despite the challenges, the business is adapting and carrying on, with consumers continuing to make the switch to EVs. The owner remains hopeful that the country will find a way to regain its leadership position in this area.
Affordable at-home manicures and hiring professionals on LinkedIn: Small business owners can find affordable at-home manicures with Olive and June and hire professionals on LinkedIn.
Olive and June offers an affordable and convenient solution for salon-quality manicures at home, while LinkedIn is an essential platform for small businesses looking to hire professionals. For Paige, the co-host of Gigli Squad, the success of her investment in Olive and June comes with a relief after a challenging fundraising journey for her energy company. Despite being a female business owner with impressive growth numbers, she faced difficulties raising funds in a difficult market. However, the experience taught her valuable lessons and ultimately led her to secure funding for her energy company through private equity. For small business owners, LinkedIn is a valuable resource for finding and hiring professionals, while Olive and June provides an affordable and efficient alternative to salon manicures.
Unique challenges for women in business in 2023: Despite progress, women leaders face bias and different treatment, including exclusion and underestimation based on gender. It's crucial to acknowledge and address these biases to create a more inclusive business environment, and women can succeed by staying true to themselves and leveraging their unique strengths.
Being a woman in business continues to present unique challenges in 2023, despite progress. Women leaders often face bias and different treatment, including being overlooked or judged based on their gender. This can manifest in various ways, such as being excluded from certain opportunities or being underestimated based on preconceptions. These challenges are not only imposed by men but also by women. It's essential to acknowledge and address these underlying biases, both personally and collectively, to create a more inclusive business environment. The speaker emphasized the importance of learning to handle oneself, being street smart, and developing strong communication skills to navigate these challenges. Despite these challenges, women can and do succeed in various industries, including male-dominated ones, by staying true to themselves and leveraging their unique strengths.
Learning to be Authentic Despite Criticism: A female executive shares her journey of embracing her authentic self and standing up for herself, despite facing constant criticism. She encourages others to do the same and not let societal norms or negative opinions define them.
Despite facing constant judgment and criticism due to her open and warm personality, a female executive has learned to stand up for herself and be unapologetically authentic. She acknowledges the challenges of dealing with negative comments, both internally and externally, but refuses to let it define her. Her epiphany came when she realized that she was shrinking herself to fit societal norms and decided to stop letting others diminish her energy and leadership style. While she may not have a thick skin, she is determined to express herself honestly and demand respect in return. She recognizes that it's not her responsibility to change her personality to suit others and that people should be held accountable for their actions. Ultimately, she encourages others to embrace their unique qualities and not let the opinions of others hold them back.
Society's conflicting expectations of women leaders: Women in leadership face mental and emotional strain due to societal pressure to be both vulnerable and strong, while men are not held to the same standard.
Society places different expectations on women in leadership roles compared to men. Women are often required to be vulnerable and share their struggles, while also being strong and self-assured. These expectations are mutually exclusive, making it challenging for women to meet these demands and be seen as likable leaders. Men, on the other hand, are not typically required to share their backgrounds or vulnerabilities to the same extent to be seen as successful leaders. This double standard creates mental and emotional strain for women in leadership positions. It's essential to recognize and challenge these expectations to create a more inclusive and equitable environment for women in business.
Challenges for women leaders during their formative years: Embrace uncertainty, learn from others, and take pride in accomplishments, regardless of how achieved.
Self-doubt and the pressure to perform can be particularly challenging for women leaders, especially during their formative years in business. However, as they age and gain more confidence, they begin to care less about what others think and embrace their power. It's essential to recognize that everyone, including successful entrepreneurs, is winging it to some extent. The key is to keep pushing forward despite the uncertainty and to learn from the experiences and advice of others. Additionally, women should not feel ashamed of their successes and should take pride in their accomplishments, no matter how they were achieved. Ultimately, it's essential to remember that there's nowhere to hide as a business owner, and it's up to you to take charge and make things happen.
Consider taking money off the table for financial security: Founders, especially females, should negotiate taking some money off the table for financial security and peace of mind. This can enable focus on business growth and potentially buy a dream asset.
Founders, especially female founders, should consider taking some money off the table from their businesses when they have the opportunity. This can provide financial security and alleviate stress during uncertain times. The speaker shared her personal experience of doing this during the COVID-19 pandemic, which allowed her to buy her dream house and improve her family's quality of life. She emphasized the importance of negotiating for a potential clawback if the business value increases in the future. While it may not be possible for everyone, taking some money off the table can provide peace of mind and enable founders to focus on growing their businesses. The speaker also acknowledged that the perception of success can be misleading, as many high-earning businesses require founders to reinvest all profits back into the business. Ultimately, taking some money off the table can be a crucial step in ensuring both personal and business success.
Starting a family and running a business: Finding balance: Be content and prepared, have a supportive partner, set boundaries, and prioritize family over work for balance in starting a family and running a business.
Starting a family and running a business can be a challenging and risky endeavor, especially when external factors come into play. The speaker shared her personal experience of making the decision to start a family despite the uncertainty and the chaos that ensued. She emphasized the importance of being content and prepared, and the value of having a supportive partner who can share the load. The speaker also highlighted the importance of setting boundaries and prioritizing family over work when necessary. Despite the initial challenges, she expressed gratitude for the decision and the positive outcomes that followed.
Mindset and Initiative: Prioritizing What Matters: Making conscious decisions to prioritize time and resources can significantly improve quality of life, even in challenging situations. Having a supportive partner and focusing on values are key to creating a balanced life.
Having the right mindset and taking initiative can significantly improve one's quality of life, even when faced with challenges such as running a business and raising a family. The speaker shares how she made conscious decisions to prioritize her time and resources to reduce stress and create a more balanced life for herself and her family. She also emphasizes the importance of having a supportive partner and making investments in their peace of mind. Having a child has further shifted her perspective, making her more focused on leaving a positive legacy for her daughter and the world. Ultimately, it's about making choices that align with one's values and prioritizing what truly matters.
Navigating personal and societal pressures to grow a business: Founding a business involves intense focus and dedication, but the potential rewards of making a significant impact on the environment can outweigh the personal and societal pressures to have a family or take time off.
Founding a business requires a level of self-centered focus and dedication that can be intimidating, but also rewarding. The speaker shares how they've been able to prioritize their business due to personal circumstances, but acknowledges the societal pressure to have a family. The ultimate goal is to make a significant impact on the environment by decarbonizing homes and increasing flexible power. The speaker's next target is to reach 1 million connected customers in the UK, which would allow them to balance the national grid and potentially expand to new markets. Despite the demanding nature of entrepreneurship, the speaker expresses a desire for time off and plans to continue growing their business and personal life. In essence, the journey of founding a business comes with immense personal and societal pressures, but the potential rewards and impact can make it all worthwhile.
