Synopsis
Own It! is a weekly podcast for aspiring entrepreneurs, solopreneurs and small business owners everywhere. With years of business experience, great friends and ex-business partners Nicola Cairncross and Judith Morgan share in their trademark straight talking, humorous way - what theyve been up to that week; whats inspired, impressed and infuriated them, business book recommendations, the marketing and money tips, tools and techniques they use themselves. They mix up deeply practical business how to with the psychology of success and clients challenges and success stories. As your business depends on you 100% and you need some sort of work/life balance they dont neglect how to combine being a successful entrepreneur with being a partner, parent, sibling and child of ageing parents. Nicola and Judith are living the entrepreneurial and digital nomad life themselves every single day, so who better to learn from in this down to earth, funny, quirky podcast? Visit the website at https://OwnItThePodcast.com, LIKE us at https://www.facebook.com/OwnItThePodcast/ and ask your questions in the free Private Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/OwnItThePodcast/
Episodes
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Own It! 229 | Does Your Relationship Help or Hinder your Business?
31/05/2019 Duration: 59minIs your other half pulling their weight, or do you do more than your fair share in your relationship and at home? In The Show Nicola has had a hectic and fun week but she’s found it hard as all the jet leg from recent travels finally catches up with her. Judith has two stories to tell, a happy one about a family party and the other a sad one about the sudden death of loyal long-time client, Kevin. What's Fuelled Their Fire? Nicola’s launched a 21-day challenge with 48 participants, some from her recent trip to Vegas and some “delicious strangers” who’ve joined via Facebook Ads. Judith was inspired by a young woman from a corporate financial firm she met at the party who was amazed to discover what she does for a living and reminded Judith how much it’s needed in the context of women and their self-employment. Focus Of The Week Is your other half pulling their weight, or do you do more than your fair share in your relationship and at home? How is that dragging down your career and hopes of business s
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Own It! 228 | Customer Service: Good, Bad & Ugly
24/05/2019 Duration: 50minNicola and Judith share and swap stories, the good, the bad and the ugly, barmen and serving staff for starters and customer service online and off. In The Show Nicola is back from Las Vegas and staying in Shoreham for a few days with family before she returns to Greece. She tells Judith about her last couple of days at the conference – a cruise, a mansion, hummingbirds – and about the film-maker who has invited her to speak in Dublin in July. Judith is full of the joys of spring, and talks about sunrises and being able to see the full moon from her bed. She introduces the focus of the week with two stories that inspired it. What’s Fuelled Their Fire? Nicola has really enjoyed spending time with personal development people for a week and realising that she has a personal development product she can bring to Audible and eBook formats. Judith appreciates podcast listener Amanda Johnson for being Own It’s 8thPatreon, bringing total patronage up to $39 a month. Focus Of The Week Nicola and Judith share and
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Own It! 227 | Masterminding in Vegas
17/05/2019 Duration: 52minWhat’s the point of masterminding and how does it work well? Nicola suggests it is creating friendships, giving and being of service to the other delegates, networking, learning new skills, sharing, giving and gratitude. In The Show Nicola is in Las Vegas attending a Mastermind event. She’s played poker, been on a yacht, met lots of interesting people, sung karaoke, visited Liberace’s home, eaten lovely food, gone into the desert and seen a real camel, presented at three round tables for 20 minutes each and been very well received, been hypnotised by Marisa Peer and inspired by Marianne Williamson and re-connected with a lot of internet marketers who’ve been in the business for a very long time. By comparison Judith’s had a quiet week with a horrid return visit from sciatica, but nevertheless she’s had a very productive work week and is enjoying the town where she’s staying, especially the friendly can-do people, she’s pleased with a new hairdresser and bought herself an entirely new summer wardrobe of clot
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Own It! 226 | Boobs, Babies & Business: Guest Karen Flannery
10/05/2019 Duration: 01h05minThis is the story of how Karen Flannery went from being a teacher to buying two lingerie shops in Cheshire with her friend Kate who one day phoned and asked “Do you want to sell bras?”. In The Show Nicola’s “ground out” 500 words for Write Club and immediately entered them into a competition called Just Back (from Oz) at The Telegraph. She’s excited about her next trip to Vegas in early May, especially hearing Marianne Williamson and Marisa Peer speak from the stage at a mastermind event. Judith enjoyed her birthday, a couple of house moves, four days in a country cottage, a thank you letter, a nice birthday card, Waze playing nicely with Spotify, all her PPI funds safely gathered in and cleared funds leading to a shopping spree and more. What’s Fuelled Their Fire? Nicola is excited about chat bots and even contemplated opening a new business, before deciding to stick to being a consultant as she remember she prefers teaching you how to do it rather than doing it for you. Judith’s shares an unsolicited te
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Own It! 225 | Fun and Easy Marketing
03/05/2019 Duration: 52minToday’s Focus is prompted by Own It! suddenly soaring over 100,000 downloads after more than 4 years and 200 weekly shows. In The Show Nicola’s been doing website things and enjoyed some really useful SEO tips which she shares including a resource called MajesticSEO.com. She uses the word Linkerati (!) and talks about some all-clears she received at a couple of specialist medical appointments. Judith doesn’t feel like she had a bank holiday over the four-day weekend, she’s been so busy she exhausted herself and had to re-schedule her commitments including the podcast on Thursday this week. What’s Fuelled Their Fire? Nicola is delighted with some problem-solving she’s been doing with FB Lead Ads and ManyChat, she’s got both working for her where they hadn’t before. Judith’s put her website back online and immediately sold a digital copy of her book. Focus Of The Week Today’s Focus is prompted by Own It! suddenly soaring over 100,000 downloads after more than 4 years and 200 weekly shows. J&N talk a
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Own It! 224 | Clean Marketing
26/04/2019 Duration: 01h01minJudith and Nicola discuss the matters raised by Nicola’s new website and marketing plan. Which URL will she use? James Schramko advises sticking her NicolaCairncross.com as it is her authority site. In The Show Nicola’s back in Stoupa and enjoying creating a Facebook furore with her Fitbit, plus the glorious Greek bonkersness of the stick with the red rag on it denoting a dodgy road surface, and a surprise visit by a huge moth when enjoying a drink at Steki’s. Judith has moved into her nephew’s flat in Brixton, having fun with his lovely young cat, finding some help with moving out on London Marathon day via Airtasker, and she’s thrilled with her fourth PPI win, the biggest yet. What’s Fuelled Their Fire? This week Nicola is all about her website, marketing her own business and refocusing on her client avatar. She’s engaging with Sue Okell’s process, working with the guys at Studio 1 Design for the website makeover she won at SuperFast Business and reading a book by Allan Dib called the One Page Marketing
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Own It! 223 | Selling Is A Dirty Word
19/04/2019 Duration: 01h08minBearing in mind what Nicola said last week about her success in selling from the stage giving her cause to think about all the marketing she normally does, Judith brings the focus of the week and it is selling. In The Show Nicola is planning her return to Stoupa on Saturday and reports that she feels recuperated after her long flight back from Oz. She’s also been shopping and re-stocking – new suitcases and a hard drive and more booty besides including a Fitbit and contact lenses. Judith’s still focused on the logistics of this week’s house move, all was going swimmingly until a blown fuse took out the central heating and the shower! What's Fuelled Their Fire? Nicola has been reviewing her notes from the SuperFast Business Conference and James Schramko has sent all the delegates a recap document with a photo of him and Nicola winning her prize of a website makeover on the cover. She’s starting to think about what she learned from the speakers and is contemplating running some more Be Everywhere Online cha
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Own It! 222 | Nicola’s Travels Down Under
12/04/2019 Duration: 55minJudith encourages Nicola to review her month in Australia. What did she learn about her business and her life? She concludes that travel makes you feel alive, she won a big valuable prize of a website makeover worth AUD$4000 with Greg Merilees... In The Show Nicola’s back from her travels Down Under, staying in Shoreham in the UK this week before going back to Stoupa at the weekend. She endured some difficult fidgety seat companions on her return air trip with Emirates, but is pleased with her noise-cancelling headphones and serotonin combo. Judith’s adventures in house-sitting continue this week with the first of three house moves in 2.5 months and she’s pleased with her decision to put into storage everything she can’t carry easily. What's Fuelled Their Fire? Nicola is thinking about doing less marketing, given her sales success in Australia. And Judith reflects on her feelings about stopping her newsletter, specifically a couple of wins: far fewer Contact form spam emails in her inbox and feeling able
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Own It! 221|Why People Buy: Guest Sue Okell
05/04/2019 Duration: 01h07minSue teaches us that we have only 7 seconds to grab the attention of visitors to our website so we must get their attention and address their two questions immediately: How can you help me? How can you solve my problem? Thanks for listening! To share your thoughts: Leave a rating and review via your podcast app Ask a question in our Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/OwnItThePodcast/ To help the show: Subscribe via Radio Public, iTunes, Stitcher, YouTube, TuneIn, Libsyn Please share on Twitter, Facebook or whatever social media platform you love to use and tag us if you can - we love to read your comments! Website: https://OwnItThePodcast.com
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Own It! 220 – Abraham - Hicks And The Path Of Least Resistance
29/03/2019 Duration: 56minAfter years of struggle, attempts and control, hard work and driving business results, how does this translate suddenly into ease and flow and vibe, even to the extent of both N&J channeling writing, downloading words and ideas in abundance, and allowing wonderful opportunities and synchronicity into both of their lives that make them both exclaim in wonder? How do you decide when to push and when to allow? In The Show Nicola is enjoying her stay in Sydney with her brother Alex; the ferries, the zoo, a Japanese restaurant, meeting two chaps from America, speaking at a coaching and leadership event with 70+ attendees, a mani-pedi and more treats. Judith has organised a roof over her house-sitting head all the way through until 2nd July. She’s delighted to have been asked by Lisa Warner of Fink Cards to add 7 more questions to her list of 43 about money and she’ll have a full set. She’s noticing she’s feeling some marketing fatigue and is even thinking of NOT sending out a newsletter this week, even after
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Own It! 219 - Cath Couzens: Small Is Beautiful
22/03/2019 Duration: 01h13minGuest & PR Expert Cath Couzens talks of the beauties of downsizing from the trappings of an office and staff to working from home, co-working with those she’s met networking, and working in the offices of her clients and how that helps her clients and herself. Thanks for listening! To share your thoughts: Leave a rating and review via your podcast app Ask a question in our Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/OwnItThePodcast/ To help the show: Subscribe via Radio Public, iTunes, Stitcher, YouTube, TuneIn, Libsyn Please share on Twitter, Facebook or whatever social media platform you love to use and tag us if you can - we love to read your comments! Website: https://OwnItThePodcast.com
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Own It! 218 – What’s Blocking Your Abundance?
15/03/2019 Duration: 54minJudith and Nicola talk about the emotions they have allowed to block their own abundance historically and the whole raft of reasons why they believe clients do the same. Nicola starts off the debate with money being a game, brainwashing in schools, and how some are not prepared to forego time and fun for later reward. In The Show Nicola’s in full preparation mode for what is fast becoming her annual trip to Australia. She’s staying in Sydney with brother Alex but she’s discovered she’s speaking in Brisbane where she’ll be staying in an Airbnb for a few days. Fortunately, the flights in between are very affordable. Judith has some astrological news today, Uranus arriving on 6th March in her own star sign of Taurus, a once in lifetime happening as the last time this took place was 84 years ago. Plus, yesterday, 5th March, Mercury Retrograde began. Judith explained astrologer Sally Kirkman’s view about what’s best to do during MR and how to handle it. By the time the show gets aired, we will be half way throug
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Own It! 217 – How Can I Feel Less Busy/Stressed?
08/03/2019 Duration: 50minNicola describes how busy and stressed she’s been feeling over the recent month or so. Given that she doesn’t work full time she wonders why she never has time to do her creative writing which she schedules for the afternoons but mostly ends up cancelling. What’s the answer to feeling too busy and/or too stressed? In The Show Nicola’s been flat out catching up. She’s recorded 14 one-minute videos, two vzines and six Write Club podcasts. She’s worked closely with her new VA, bringing her up to speed, supported Phoebe through a second job interview, borne some banking admin stress and been out three nights on the trot. Busy, busy, busy. Judith was up all night for the Oscars, and she’s grateful for a second PPI win. She appeals to the listener as her current housesitting gig is nearly up and Nicola has a genius idea about the Stoupa Life group as lots of people are about to come out for the summer leaving their UK homes empty for long periods of time. What's Fuelled Their Fire? Nicola is excited about Googl
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Own It! 216 | Linda Cassells & Communicating With Clients
01/03/2019 Duration: 01h11minNew Zealand publisher Linda Cassells has built a successful business and in this episode, she shares some tips about communicating with clients. In The Show Nicola’s had a difficult few days culminating in her kettle triggering a loss of electricity this morning just as she was making coffee, wanting to take a shower and get online for the podcast recording. Fortunately, an electrician “magically” appears and sorts it all out for fifty euro and just in time. She will need a new kettle too. Judith’s week has been about new client attraction, the supermoon, sleep and sleeplessness. Abraham Hicks and making a new Facebook friend who owns and runs a coach business, as distinct from a coaching business. What's Fuelled Their Fire? Nicola talks about the benefits of taking 100% responsibility for what happens in your own life and how that helps her. She tells Judith that the podcast is nearing 100k downloads at 96,196. Judith has had some hi-vibe feedback from readers of her newsletter and reads out the lovely c
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Own It! 215 | Things & People We Love On Valentine’s Day
22/02/2019 Duration: 44minJudith and Nicola share the things and people they love in honour of Valentine’s Day, the day on which the show is recorded. Nicola’s been out to dinner at Melissa’s with Dave’s Dining Club, enjoyed a weekend of work on her writing, realised she’s writing an action thriller (not sci-fi), recorded five Write Club podcasts and had a faffy month with her business bank account while putting a cheery face on it. Judith enjoyed the BAFTAs and seen another four wonderful films – If Beale Street Could Talk, Roma, Bohemian Rhapsody and Widows. What's Fuelled Their Fire? Nicola has sold two of her business books in one day and Judith’s realised how important creativity is in her work and personal life, having a sense of being creative and also working with creative people. Focus Of The Week Judith and Nicola share the things and people they love in honour of Valentine’s Day, the day on which the show is recorded. The categories they choose are Something I love, Someone I Love, Books I Love, Work I Love and Wild
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Own It! 214 | Guest Anita Davenport: Network Marketing
16/02/2019 Duration: 01h07minJudith and Nicola first met Anita 14 years ago at The Acacia, Nicola’s B&B, at a Money Gym workshop. Anita describes Network Marketing as the Ultimate Coaching Business and tells how she discovered it, how it works for her and her team and how they use it as a side hustle or an entire business. In The Show Nicola’s new VA is settling in brilliantly, plus she tells Judith a couple of local Stoupa stories about getting some wood delivered and how her Seat car has been recalled to Kalamata and about her cleaner’s husband who is driving it there and back for her. Judith brings Nicola up to speed with this year’s crop of films, her faves and her dislikes and why, in anticipation of BAFTA on 10th February and Oscar on 24th. What's Fuelled Their Fire? Nicola is still very interested in The Story Grid and recommends two YouTube videos: 1. What It Takes to Turn Pro 2. How to Tell a Story that Resonates Judith has met some listeners she didn’t know before in the Own It! Facebook Page and Group and Karen inspire
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Own It! 213 | What to Do When the Product Is You
08/02/2019 Duration: 50minWhy does it seem sensible to make a business from scratch out of something you are not passionate about, when the thing you long to do seems unrealistic? In The Show Nicola describes her week as frantic because it is Sarah’s last few days so she’s been working with the new VA who is based in the Philippines. Her local project manager is helping with a proper induction, and the team is immersed in SOPs (standard operating procedures), training videos and tick lists. Judith’s had what she says is a classic up-and-down self-employed week, some good, some bad, feeling a bit under the weather, best friends over to lunch and a small PPI win with more in the pipeline. What's Fuelled Their Fire? Nicola’s made the first sale of her new book at NicolasBook.com – Attract 3.0 and Judith’s been coaching a man who is selling his business and going to live with his family in Spain. What will he do next? This discussion provokes content for this week’s Focus. Focus Of The Week Why does it seem sensible to make a busine
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Own It! 212 | How to Hire a Coach
01/02/2019 Duration: 55minWhat criteria do you use to hire a coach? How do you think your clients hire you? How do you wish your clients would hire you? Nicola Cairncross and Judith Morgan discuss all this and more! In The Show Nicola’s return journey to Stoupa was far less stressful than her outward one, although it did end with a rather “interesting” taxi ride. She’s pleased to be back in her peaceful, clean and tidy home. She’s had a breakthrough in her new VA plan and is hiring a project manager for a month to handle it for her. Judith tells Nicola about last week’s Cashflow game and what she learned from the day’s events, including very easy travel thanks to Waze and how to kill a couple of early morning hours in Chiswick! What's Fuelled Their Fire? Following on from last week’s show about pro blogging, Judith updates Nicola with her discoveries and plan to niche blog on matters esoteric. Nicola’s been to a Write Club meeting and taught the members about the Story Grid, and she also talks about her own new book Attract 3.0. S
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Own It! 211 | Successful Pro Blogging
25/01/2019 Duration: 01h12minBoth Nicola’s sister Sarah Cairncross and Judith are interested in creating a living from successful pro blogging. Nicola shares some interesting stories, articles, interviews, facts and figures and Judith tries to work out whether it is something she could do or pay to have done for her. In The Show Nicola is delighted with her new phone, and she’s celebrated by buying a coat because there is snow in Greece! She’s been out to lunch with Pete in Brighton and enjoyed a meeting of minds at the Hotel du Vin, albeit a disappointing fish stew. Judith has enjoyed a really nice client week with at least one reporting an early win; a £5k contract. What's Fuelled Their Fire? A particularly interesting man booked himself into Judith’s diary this week and she talks about how this stretched her. Nicola is travelling back to Greece tomorrow and is slightly overwhelmed by how much study she has to do with The Story Grid, Andre Chaperon and her new Curtis Brown course has now arrived too. Focus Of The Week Both Nicol
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Own It! 210 | Replacing Your Trusted VA
18/01/2019 Duration: 01h07minNicola’s real-life challenge is to replace her trusted VA since her sister Sarah is moving on to pastures new. Judith and Nicola debate how to find, hire, train, manage and delegate to any replacement, whether full or part-time. In The Show Nicola has been re-learning the art of job applications, helping daughter Phoebe apply for one. She’s heartened to discover there are lots of entry-level digital marketing jobs. A discussion breaks out about the ideal CV 2019 style. And she’s manifested a new phone. Judith’s met up with her new home-visiting beautician on Monday and hairdresser on Tuesday and remarks how the local hairdressers and beauty salons didn’t seem to care enough about her business to either answer their phones or have working websites. She’s also chuffed to have done her tax return and annual review of slash and burn strategy when it comes to expenses. What's Fuelled Their Fire? Judith’s excited about running a Cashflow Game on the day this show goes live, in West London, although concerned ab