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Your Health Matters More Than Your Business Ever Will

Freedom isn't just a buzzword—it's the foundation of a sustainable business. Andrea Rainsford's journey from corporate burnout to entrepreneurial success offers a masterclass in creating a business that serves your life rather than consuming it.

After collapsing during a business pitch and later suffering a devastating stroke at just 32 years old, Andrea spent five years confined to a hospital bed in her front room, unable to walk, speak, or care for herself. This profound health crisis transformed her approach to business completely. "I did have a stroke. But 18 months ago I found a tumor in my throat and I looked at the ceiling and went 'are you having a laugh?'" she shares with raw honesty.

What emerged from these challenges was a revolutionary approach to business planning. Andrea now operates a thriving business working just two and a half days per week and is transitioning to working only three days per month with her innovative "Haven" business model. Her Women Winning in Business community has grown from 200 to 2,500 members in 18 months, expanding to 15 cities across the UK—all without the conventional hustle mentality.

The most powerful insight from Andrea's story is that success doesn't require sacrificing your health or happiness. "My body is the most important thing to me and that's the reason why I only work two and a half days," she explains. Her approach challenges entrepreneurs to stop comparing themselves to others and instead build businesses that reflect their true priorities.

What would your life and business look like if you truly prioritised freedom? Listen now to reimagine what's possible.

Connect with Andrea on LinkedIn or join her Facebook Group

Amplify your Message and grow your audience with podcasting. Watch this Free Masterclass Undsetanding the Power of Podcasting HERE

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Edited and produced by Donna Eade

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Until next week, Bye for Now XoX

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Ready to transform your relationship with imposter syndrome? Donna Eade welcomes Nicola Tonsaga, founder of Soul Signatures, for a refreshingly honest conversation about the self-doubt that plagues entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey.

Nicola immediately normalises this experience, explaining that imposter syndrome isn't a sign of weakness but a natural response when we step outside our comfort zones. The transformative shift happens when we move from seeking external validation to cultivating self-worth from within. This inner authority allows us to reframe our narrative from "Who am I to do this?" to "Who am I NOT to do this?"

The conversation delves into how comparison, particularly on social media, fuels our feelings of inadequacy. Nicola shares her own struggle with trying to follow marketing methods that didn't align with her authentic self, highlighting the freedom that comes when you embrace "your business, your rules." This becomes a powerful antidote to the comparisonitis that keeps so many entrepreneurs stuck in doubt.

Perhaps most profound is Nicola's distinction between mindset and embodied belief. While mindset represents our mental stories, true belief resides in the body—you feel it through every fiber of your being. This embodied conviction becomes unshakable, carrying you through challenges regardless of circumstances. For those currently wrestling with imposter syndrome, Nicola offers this transformative advice: get out of your mind and into your body.

Tune in to discover why persistent imposter syndrome might actually be signaling misalignment with your true path, and how growth isn't a linear destination but an ongoing journey of unfolding potential.

Nicola Tonsager is the author of Being Soul Confident and host of the Being Soul Confident Podcast.

Amplify your Message and grow your audience with podcasting. Watch this Free Masterclass Undsetanding the Power of Podcasting HERE

www.donnaeade.com

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Podcast Equipment Recommendations MY KIT

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Edited and produced by Donna Eade

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What if the key to business growth isn't hustling harder but designing a business that works with your natural strengths? Money mindset mentor Denise Duffield-Thomas introduces us to "the chustle" – a chilled approach to hustle that creates success without burnout.

Denise reveals how she's built a multi-million dollar business with a surprisingly lean team structure – no full-time employees and minimal management headaches. She challenges the entrepreneurial obsession with arbitrary financial benchmarks, encouraging listeners to define success on their own terms rather than chasing someone else's definition of achievement.

The conversation takes a fascinating turn when Denise unpacks the psychology behind passive income guilt. She shares her personal struggle with feeling undeserving of earnings from her first ebook, explaining how this mindset block stems from our conditioning about the relationship between work and compensation. For entrepreneurs who find themselves sabotaging their passive income streams, her insights offer a path to greater acceptance and profitability.

Perhaps most refreshingly, Denise outlines her remarkably simple business framework: showing up daily on social media (through batched content), providing value weekly (via her podcast), and offering something to purchase monthly or quarterly. This streamlined approach maintains consistency without the exhaustion that comes from constantly creating new content.

Whether you're building your first business or looking to scale an existing one more sustainably, Denise's practical wisdom offers an alternative to burnout culture. Success doesn't require sacrificing your wellbeing or conforming to someone else's business model – it comes from aligning your business with your authentic self and focusing on what truly moves the needle. Ready to chill and prosper? This episode shows you how.

Amplify your Message and grow your audience with podcasting. Watch this Free Masterclass Undsetanding the Power of Podcasting HERE

www.donnaeade.com

Support the show

Podcast Equipment Recommendations MY KIT

FEA Create Simple all-in-one web, CRM, email system
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Edited and produced by Donna Eade

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Until next week, Bye for Now XoX

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Five years and 304 episodes later, we're celebrating a milestone that puts us in the top 1% of podcasts. What began as the Society of Professional Wedding Vendors podcast has evolved into Mindset & Action, helping entrepreneurs build and streamline their businesses through productivity, audience building, planning, and mindset strategies.

The journey hasn't been without challenges. From recording episodes the night before release (like this one!) to navigating the pandemic's impact on my original business model, podcasting has taught me invaluable lessons about consistency, audience connection, and content creation. Perhaps most surprisingly, my interview with Amy Porterfield—while personally thrilling—wasn't my most downloaded episode. That honor goes to Diane Watson's discussion on money mindset, proving that content relevance trumps celebrity status every time.

Beyond business growth, this podcasting journey has transformed me personally. I've evolved from a people-pleaser who followed the crowd to someone confident enough to plant my flag and advocate for following your unique path in business. The weekly commitment to share my thoughts has clarified my perspective and strengthened my voice in ways I never anticipated.

Looking ahead, I'm excited to refocus on practical applications of our four pillars, featuring both experts and successful entrepreneurs who implement these strategies in their daily operations. And for those wondering—yes, I have an exciting new podcast launch program coming soon! Join the Pod Squad at donnaeade.com/blog to be first to hear the details.

As we celebrate this milestone, I'd be incredibly grateful if you'd share the podcast with a friend or leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your support has made these five years possible, and I can't wait to bring you even more valuable content in the years ahead.

Amplify your Message and grow your audience with podcasting. Watch this Free Masterclass Undsetanding the Power of Podcasting HERE

www.donnaeade.com

Support the show

Podcast Equipment Recommendations MY KIT

FEA Create Simple all-in-one web, CRM, email system
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Join the Pod Squad in the FB Group
My MIC ACTION PODCAST - here is a link to Spotify

Read from My Book Shelf & My Guests Book Shelf

Want to Guest? Apply here >>FORM
Edited and produced by Donna Eade

Thank you for your support:)

Until next week, Bye for Now XoX

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Moments from my first (and last) live event at Castle Theatre in Wellingborough reveal powerful business lessons and heartfelt connections as we approach the podcast's fifth birthday.

• Reflecting on hosting my first live event with a discussion of the venue, attendees, and overall experience
• Acknowledgments to our sponsors:

Becky Kerr Photography - LINK

Businesswomen Unltd - Link

Val Adaway UW - Link

The Altitude Experience - Strategy call

• Highlights from our speakers

Nicola Tonsager - Podcast

Andrea Rainsford - Women Winning in Business

Cheryl Laidlaw - Link

Janine Coney - May Day

Diane Watson - She Can Prosper

• The importance of setting boundaries in business and identifying your "why" for maintaining them
• How financial empowerment goes beyond revenue to include wills, critical illness insurance, and proper protection
• The powerful impact of Catherine Chapman's breathwork session and Cat Googe's laughter yoga
• Support for our speakers running the London Marathon for Meningitis Now and Brain Research UK
• Announcement that live podcast episodes from the event will b

Amplify your Message and grow your audience with podcasting. Watch this Free Masterclass Undsetanding the Power of Podcasting HERE

www.donnaeade.com

Support the show

Podcast Equipment Recommendations MY KIT

FEA Create Simple all-in-one web, CRM, email system
For graphics Canva

Join the Pod Squad in the FB Group
My MIC ACTION PODCAST - here is a link to Spotify

Read from My Book Shelf & My Guests Book Shelf

Want to Guest? Apply here >>FORM
Edited and produced by Donna Eade

Thank you for your support:)

Until next week, Bye for Now XoX

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Ever found yourself scrolling through social media, feeling increasingly inadequate as you see other entrepreneurs seemingly crushing it while you're struggling with basic tasks? That comparison trap is exactly what we're tackling head-on today.

The concept of "staying in your own lane" might sound simple, but it's a discipline I personally struggle with daily. Throughout this episode, I share my raw experience organizing my first in-person event and how comparison nearly derailed the entire process. When we measure our beginning against someone else's middle, we set ourselves up for unnecessary discouragement.

What makes this comparison particularly toxic is that we're rarely comparing equivalent situations. That entrepreneur with the massive audience? They've been at it for years. The business owner with the seamless systems? They've likely failed their way to that success through countless iterations. As I explain, "Don't compare your chapter two to somebody's chapter twenty" – the numbers might change, but the principle remains the same.

Social media compounds this problem by showing only curated highlight reels. As I describe it, many seemingly successful entrepreneurs are "paddling like absolute lunatics under that still sea of calm." Without seeing the behind-the-scenes reality, we compare our complete picture against someone else's carefully filtered presentation.

The solution? Practical steps to refocus on your journey: limit social media consumption, unfollow those who trigger comparison, measure progress against your starting point, celebrate small wins, and create plans aligned with your unique vision. Your business journey is yours alone – embrace it rather than trying to recreate someone else's path.

Take a moment to reflect on your recent wins, and if you're feeling brave, share them with me on LinkedIn or in my Facebook group. Your progress deserves celebration, no matter how small it might seem compared to others.

Amplify your Message and grow your audience with podcasting. Watch this Free Masterclass Undsetanding the Power of Podcasting HERE

www.donnaeade.com

Support the show

Podcast Equipment Recommendations MY KIT

FEA Create Simple all-in-one web, CRM, email system
For graphics Canva

Join the Pod Squad in the FB Group
My MIC ACTION PODCAST - here is a link to Spotify

Read from My Book Shelf & My Guests Book Shelf

Want to Guest? Apply here >>FORM
Edited and produced by Donna Eade

Thank you for your support:)

Until next week, Bye for Now XoX

Send me a Text Message

Ever feel like your business is drowning in a sea of software subscriptions? You're not alone. I've been there - desperately trying to keep track of payments going out at different times, juggling multiple logins, and feeling overwhelmed by the growing tech stack needed to run my business effectively.

What started as innocently adding tools one by one quickly spiraled into a costly, time-consuming mess. An email service provider here, a funnel system there, website hosting, course platforms, CRM software, social media schedulers - each solving one problem but collectively creating a bigger one. The financial drain was just the beginning; the mental overhead of managing all these disconnected systems was stealing my focus from what really mattered.

Three years ago, I discovered a solution that transformed my business operations. By consolidating nearly everything into one comprehensive platform, I've dramatically simplified my processes, reduced my monthly software expenses from three figures to two, and gained access to tools I previously couldn't afford. Now, instead of managing a dozen different systems, I run my entire business through just four essential tools - and the difference in my productivity and peace of mind has been profound.

The beauty of streamlining isn't just about saving money; it's about reclaiming your time and mental energy. When your client information, communication history, and business functions live under one roof, everything flows more smoothly. No more hunting through different platforms for information or trying to remember where you stored that important note about a client. Whether you're just starting your business journey or looking to simplify an established operation, there's tremendous power in asking: "Do I really need all these separate tools, or is there a better way?" Your future self will thank you for the clarity and focus that comes from intentional simplification.

Ready to declutter your digital business life? I'd love to hear what syst

Amplify your Message and grow your audience with podcasting. Watch this Free Masterclass Undsetanding the Power of Podcasting HERE

www.donnaeade.com

Support the show

Podcast Equipment Recommendations MY KIT

FEA Create Simple all-in-one web, CRM, email system
For graphics Canva

Join the Pod Squad in the FB Group
My MIC ACTION PODCAST - here is a link to Spotify

Read from My Book Shelf & My Guests Book Shelf

Want to Guest? Apply here >>FORM
Edited and produced by Donna Eade

Thank you for your support:)

Until next week, Bye for Now XoX

Send me a Text Message

When my hair started falling out at 18, revealing a smooth bald patch the size of a 50-pence coin, I was completely devastated. Hair isn't just an accessory – for many of us, it's deeply connected to our identity and self-worth. After two decades living with alopecia areata, learning to conceal patches and fearing each episode might be the one where it all falls out, I've developed a unique empathy for those experiencing hair loss.

This episode marks the 300th milestone of Mindset & Action, but instead of business strategy, I'm participating in Podcasthon – a special week where podcasters highlight charities close to their hearts. For me, it's the Little Princess Trust, an extraordinary organization creating real hair wigs for children who've lost their hair during cancer treatment or from conditions like alopecia.

My journey took an unexpected turn in 2021 when I finally worked up the courage to cut my hip-length auburn locks into a bob, donating 16-20 inches. What many people don't realise is that while the Little Princess Trust accepts donations as short as 7 inches, they desperately need longer donations (over 11 inches) to create the flowing styles many little girls dream of. Through my business network's support, what began as a personal hair donation transformed into a £1,400 fundraiser benefiting three cancer charities.

Have you considered donating your hair? The requirements are simple: at least 7 inches, natural hair color (with limited grey), and no bright dyes. After four years, my hair has grown back to my waist – proof that sometimes our greatest gift is something we can regrow. If you're contemplating a significant haircut, consider how your locks might give a child facing illness the confidence to face the world again.

Podcasthon

The Little Princess Trust

Amplify your Message and grow your audience with podcasting. Watch this Free Masterclass Undsetanding the Power of Podcasting HERE

www.donnaeade.com

Support the show

Podcast Equipment Recommendations MY KIT

FEA Create Simple all-in-one web, CRM, email system
For graphics Canva

Join the Pod Squad in the FB Group
My MIC ACTION PODCAST - here is a link to Spotify

Read from My Book Shelf & My Guests Book Shelf

Want to Guest? Apply here >>FORM
Edited and produced by Donna Eade

Thank you for your support:)

Until next week, Bye for Now XoX