In this solo episode of Creating The Curve, Anna follows up her conversation with LinkedIn legend John Espirian and dives into what it really takes to show up online when your brain is busy, your time is limited, and you’re not a natural content machine.

She shares:

• Her own struggles with early LinkedIn posting (and feeling rejection)

• Why she posts less, comments more, and skips the guilt

• How to pick the right platforms based on your brain, audience, and energy

• Why video and audio suit her best and how she’s testing TikTok

• And the real reason “being everywhere” isn’t just overwhelming, it’s unsustainable

This episode is part pep talk, part strategy session - perfect for founders who know they should market themselves, but need a way to do it that actually works for them.

LinkedIn is supposed to be about people. But somewhere along the way, it started feeling stiff, salesy, and a bit… awkward.

In this episode, Anna is joined by the relentlessly helpful LinkedIn nerd John Espirian to talk about how to show up on LinkedIn in a way that’s memorable, human, and actually enjoyable - even if you hate posting or have no idea what to say.

You’ll hear:

• Why commenting is just as powerful (if not more) than posting

• How to make people want to talk to you in the DMs (without being salesy)

• The secret power of biscuits, pineapples, and funny GIFs

• How to build a network that brings you business without cold pitching

• Why being helpful (not hypey) is the key to standing out

If you’ve been avoiding LinkedIn because it feels too polished, too intimidating, or just too salesy, this is the episode to change that.

Learn more or join our free community at: https://creatingthecurve.co.uk

To connect with John, find him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnespirian/ or visit his website: https://espirian.co.uk

Starting a business is one thing. Growing one, without burning out, is something else entirely.

In this solo episode of Creating the Curve, Anna Bravington reflects on what happens after the initial rush of launching: when you hit that awkward in-between stage where the work piles up, the fun fades, and you're suddenly expected to be a marketer, salesperson, ops manager, and accountant... all at once.

This episode is about that exact moment, the transition from technician to leader, and how to get through it without falling into what Anna calls the Bog of Eternal Stench (yes, there’s a Labyrinth reference).

She shares:

• Why support and community matter more than ever in the growth phase

• The two hires most founders should make first, and why

• How to upskill just enough in marketing, sales, and finance to move forward

• What to do when your business starts feeling like a burden

• How to keep sight of your goals (and build a business that still feels like you)

Whether you want to build a lifestyle business or scale up and hire a team, this episode will help you figure out the next right step and remind you that you don’t have to build it alone.

Learn more and join our free community at: https://creatingthecurve.co.uk

In this episode of Creating the Curve, Anna Bravington is joined by long-time mentor, connector, and all-around business whirlwind Beverley Poole, to talk about something every founder needs - support.

Together, they explore:

• Why technical founders struggle when they try to go it alone

• How to know what you’re good at and when to outsource the rest

• The importance of building your “trusty tribe”

• Why burnout and overwhelm are real threats for early-stage businesses

• And how founders with ADHD or neurodivergence can work with their strengths, not against them

If you’ve ever felt like you should be doing everything yourself, this episode will remind you that getting support isn’t cheating - it’s smart strategy.

From community networking to finding the right mentor, Beverley and Anna share candid insights into what makes support work, how to set boundaries, and how to build a business around what you are best at, not just what needs doing.

Learn more and join our free community at: https://creatingthecurve.co.uk

To get in touch with our guest Beverley Poole find her on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/beverley-poole-business-builder/ or her website https://www.aspire4business.com

Used well, AI can be one of the best ways to help you save time, reduce stress, and get through your to-do list as a small business owner.

In this solo episode of Creating The Curve, Anna shares her own everyday AI processes, from editing podcasts faster, to getting blog posts written quicker, to researching leads more efficiently, and how AI is helping her balance creativity, productivity, and sanity in a busy business.

You’ll learn:

• Why small business owners should think of AI as an “extra pair of hands”

• How to create pillar content and turn it into 30–40 pieces of marketing (with help from AI)

• The AI tools Anna uses (and why she loves them)

• How to make AI work for your style - whether you prefer writing, video, or audio

• The one mindset shift that helps you get the most from AI tools

If you’ve been wondering how to make AI practical for your own business - this is a great place to start.

Learn more and join our free community at: https://creatingthecurve.co.uk

For founders juggling a hundred tasks, AI and Custom GPTs can be a lifeline - if you know how to use them right.

In this episode of Creating The Curve, Anna is joined by creative strategist and AI experimenter Frank Prendergast for a refreshing, practical conversation about getting started with ChatGPT and Custom GPTs, without needing to be a prompt engineer or a tech wizard.

They explore:

• How to stop overthinking and give things a go

• What makes a prompt work (and why it doesn’t have to be perfect)

• Why Custom GPTs can save you serious time

• How to train AI tools to match your tone, style, and voice

• The joy of exploring AI with a sense of curiosity, not pressure

This episode is for founders who want to use AI to make life easier.
So if you've been lurking on the edge of ChatGPT or thinking “I should be using AI more,” this is your nudge to start exploring.

It’s not about being perfect - it’s about playing, learning, and making it work for you.

Learn more and join our free community at: https://creatingthecurve.co.uk/

To get in touch with our guest Frank Prendergast, find him at: https://www.frankandmarci.com/ or on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankprendergast/

If the word “sales” still gives you the ick - this episode is for you.

In this solo episode of Creating The Curve, Anna reflects on the powerful ideas shared by John Tunstall last week and explores what selling really looks like when you strip away the awkward scripts, the cold calls, and the pressure to perform.

Spoiler: you’re probably already selling in your business. You just don’t recognise it because it doesn’t feel like what you think “sales” should be.

Anna dives into:

• Why you don’t need to cold call 100 people to be good at sales

• How a book from the 1930s still nails modern sales conversations

• The difference between selling to a business and selling to a human

• Why understanding your buyer’s pain points is your secret weapon

• The power of warmth, empathy, and actually caring about the person you’re helping

Whether you’re introverted, technical, or just tired of traditional sales advice - this episode will help you sell in a way that feels real, natural, and even (dare we say it) enjoyable.

Learn more and join our free community at: https://creatingthecurve.co.uk/

To read the recommended book, How To Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie, find it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/0091906814/