Personal Development - 24 fingers

24 Questions with Stephen Travers: The Therapist Who Transforms Trauma in Minutes (Not Years)

Emma Goode — Sat, 20 Dec 2025 13:01:20 +0000

24 fingers: Good morning, good afternoon everybody. My name is Emma Goode. I’m the founder of digital marketing agency 24 fingers, and I’m delighted to be joined by Stephen Travers today for our 24 question series. Stephen is the founder of Advanced Hypnotherapy Dublin, and the person who’s trained more therapists in Havening Techniques than anyone in the world.

24 fingers: Hi, Stephen, how are you?

Stephen Travers: I’m good, thanks Emma. Set for this interview.

24 fingers: I hope so. I’m sure you are. So Stephen, I’m going to kick off if that’s cool with you. First of all, what’s your favourite word?

Stephen Travers: Transformational. Simply because of the work I do, it’s all about creating or achieving transformational results and outcomes for the people I work with. It’s one of the themes of my life as well and I love to achieve transformational results for people.

24 fingers: What gets you up in the morning?

Stephen Travers: My to-do list. My top things to get done during the day.

24 fingers: You’re quite an organised person I’d say, and so I should imagine that you plan the night before and then when you wake up, it’s all there, if I’m right?

Stephen Travers: Yes, I’ve got my simple notebook right there on the top; five to seven things to do and then when I wake up, the notebook is sitting there.

24 fingers: I knew that about you already. What do you truly, honestly think of social media?

Stephen Travers: I think it depends how you use it. It can be a fantastic tool or it can be extremely distracting. So from a business perspective, there’s so much amazing knowledge and information online, if you know where to look. At the same time, you can go down in rabbit holes or looking at Reels and YouTube clips of stuff that’s completely irrelevant, so it depends how you use it and what your intention is.

24 fingers: I guess it’s that thing of, you know when you open TikTok, am I going to spend an hour watching a cat dance, or am I actually going to go on social media to find something or check somebody out or interact?

Stephen Travers: Yes, that’s what I mean, it’s that double-edged sword, so I think it’s a new world problem and it’s certainly something to be vigilant and aware of. I do worry about the kids in the future, I must admit, but we’ll worry about that in ten years’ time.

24 fingers: So, Stephen, Kindles or books?

Stephen Travers: Books. Even though I use Kindles quite a bit because I have a library of books. I have boxes of books in storage from house moves I’ve done over the years and just from a practical perspective it’s mostly Kindle, but you can’t beat having a book in your hand, especially if you like underlining things and writing notes which I’m always a big fan of doing when I’m reading a book.

24 fingers: Yeah I agree, so when I left England a couple of weeks ago, I took one suitcase of clothes and one suitcase of books and then when I go back next month, I’ll be grabbing a different suitcase of books out. I don’t think you can beat them. So, Stephen, you’re a hypnotherapist among other things, but what do you think is the biggest challenge to your industry, if we said the wellness industry, right now?

Stephen Travers: I suppose it’s an obvious one, and many people are saying this in many different industries, but AI. Understanding where AI is, where it’s going, how do we use it, how is it going to affect the industry and therapists, etc and end users. So AI, I think, is the big one at the moment and the foreseeable future.

24 fingers: It’s a really good one. My little niece said to me last week, “Is ChatGPT your only friend?”. There is a huge amount of people going on to ChatGPT to get ChatGPT to organise their life and get feedback and kind of therapy, pseudo-therapy, and yeah, that is quite scary.

Stephen Travers: It depends. I believe that it’s the people who’ve got specialised knowledge and who can get results in a rapid and remarkable way; they are the therapists who are really the ones who are going to thrive because you can’t get that from an AI, but that’s always been the case. It’s just that technology and AI is probably going to accelerate that more. If you really want top-class results and you want it quickly and with someone who’s a specialist, you actually need to see someone face-to-face as opposed to having a chat with an AI-type bot or whatever you’re using.

24 fingers: I think it’s the same in my industry. So anybody can use ChatGPT to go on and say “give me 30 days of social media content” but I can see it, I can see the difference between a well-crafted caption that is relevant to a client’s tone and their objective to some generic output with em dashes, that’s my pet hate. So what did you want to be when you’re growing up?

Stephen Travers: Interestingly, an inventor is one of the first memories that comes to mind. And then secondly, I suppose when I look at my teenage years, I had an inkling about wanting to be some sort of a therapist strangely enough. So it’s only when I look back, it’s interesting how your inner voice, if you like, or your intuition, if you listen to it, can be guiding you.

24 fingers: You know, I 100% agree. I wanted to be a teacher when I was growing up. And now I am – I teach digital marketing. I couldn’t cope in a school because of the noise. And my son, bless him, was a very quiet baby. The noise would drive me insane in the school, but actually it came true in a better way than I could’ve imagined. So I agree with you. What led you to your current career?

Stephen Travers: Personal experience, as in, I had a panic attack one day. At the time, I was in my early twenties and I was working in the area of sales and marketing because I loved all the psychology behind it. Because of working in the area of sales and marketing I was actually quite aware of things like NLP, communication, even hypnosis, because I was reading all the sales and business stuff, which is all around mindset.

So I went off and decided to train with the Institute of Clinical Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy in Ireland to resolve my own issues and that was it. That was a game-changing moment, because I really enjoyed helping other people and of course all the psychology behind it, so there was a blessing in disguise to the crisis.

24 fingers: I know you and when I talk to your clients, invariably without fail, they always say to me how empathetic you are and I should imagine what an early adopter you were when you started because not many people were thinking in NLP even in sales, they were like, you know, how many calls can I make and how can I shut someone down and all of that and you clearly were coming from a much more heart-centred approach.

Stephen Travers: Yes, absolutely. I was quite lucky with the type of companies I was involved with, which always was really focused on communication skills as well. Of course, it’s all about the numbers, but especially good sales and marketing, it’s all about having really good communication skills. It’s about helping people and serving people ultimately – that’s even where the word sales comes from, to serve.

24 fingers: I didn’t know that. Heard it here first. So your favourite word was transformation. Can you use it in a sentence for us please?

Stephen Travers: I love achieving transformational results for my clients.

24 fingers: Excellent. Now this one might make you work a bit for a Monday morning. Can you make it rhyme?

Stephen Travers: To be transformational is to be inspirational.

24 fingers: Well done, excellent. So what advice would you give to your younger self, the one that wanted to be an inventor and a therapist?

Stephen Travers: I would say, listen more to your inner voice and your intuition. Trust yourself more, listen, tune into it more. Trust it.

24 fingers: There it is. I think maybe society can dull our trust of our own intuition and other people’s opinions.

Stephen Travers: There’s a lot of distractions out there. People telling us what we should be doing, what we shouldn’t be doing. Especially when you’re young, be it from parents and teachers, but as I said, listening to that inner voice can be certainly a North Star or at least the guide to keep you moving in a certain direction or at least, to explore it. Getting older I do it a lot more. My sister was talking about this other day. I think as you get older, you’re a lot more certain of your own conviction or should we say, your deepest kind of dreams, thoughts, desires, et cetera.

24 fingers: It can certainly come with experience. Trial and error sometimes as well.

Stephen Travers: Oh, I was going to say, there’s been a lot of that, trust me.

24 fingers: So, Stephen, you’ve had a great career so far. What’s the best thing anyone’s ever done for you?

Stephen Travers: Well, when I look back, it’s people, especially when I was younger, who gave me opportunities, like my first job, mentors along the way. So I would say probably my very first proper job in my early 20s. I ended up working with one of the top business people in my county and even though it was difficult because this person was a hard-nosed business guy, I learned so much. So it’s just people who gave me opportunities when I was younger.

24 fingers: I think in my early 20s, I spent most of my career in the pub actually, so while you were learning to absorb and building yourself, I was probably under a table somewhere in London. And tell us what’s been your career-defining moment so far? You might not have had it yet.

Stephen Travers: There’s been many. I suppose one of them would be when I came across Havening and I started training in it, using Havening and coming across it back in 2012 because of the rapid and extraordinary results it was producing for my clients with anxiety-based disorders such as panic attacks, PTSD, fears, phobias, and then blending that as well with hypnotherapy.

So that’d definitely be one because I ended up training so many other therapists and health professionals. That was certainly a defining moment per se.

24 fingers: I think you’ve been a little bit modest there, Stephen, like you’re the world-class trainer and expert, but for those listeners that haven’t heard of Havening Techniques before, can you just give us a brief outline of what Havening Techniques is?

Stephen Travers: Yes, it’s a psychosensory therapy for the resolution of trauma and anxiety-based disorders. So when we say psychosensory, we mean as well, we use sensory touch where we stroke the arms, palms and face and we use psychological distraction techniques. So it’s very good at delinking or removing the emotional and physical stress from the traumatic memories or things that trigger anxiety within just minutes and it can completely and permanently remove it. It’ll actually change what’s happening in the brain; it switches off that fight or flight reaction from the nervous system.

So people really get to experience remarkable, tangible results within the actual sessions where something that was really traumatic or really upsetting or stressing them is significantly reduced, if not, completely disappears.

24 fingers: I was thinking then if somebody’s suffering really badly and might have suffered for years, the joy and the respite of having something completely transformed within an hour session is incredible as opposed to going over and over the same thing for potentially years and years. The difference you must have made to many people’s lives – the quality of living – they can now be free of things like panic attacks which are pretty scary and traumatic. I’ve had them and you don’t quite know what’s going on when you have the first one, it’s a really scary experience.

Stephen Travers: Yes and that’s the main reason why I do what I do because I enjoy achieving those results with people and seeing people experience those transformations. Again, it’s like someone having a physical pain for so long, then you’re removing and taking away that pain. I love this.

24 fingers: And if I’m right, Paul McKenna is a huge advocate of Havening if I’m right.

Stephen Travers: Yes, he would be one of the most famous advocates of Havening, that’s correct. And then there’s others as well, like Dr. Gabor Maté and Dr. Daniel Amen. There’s many.

24 fingers: So, we’ve heard a little bit about your career and the people that have helped you on the way. If you won a big award, who would you thank?

Stephen Travers: It’s such an interesting question and it might seem a bit arrogant to say but I would say myself simply because I see that there are opportunities put in front of people and they don’t always take them. At the end of the day, you have to take the action to make things happen in your life. Every door that’s opens up, ultimately, you still have to get up and walk through and sometimes that can be scary and it can stretch outside your comfort zone. It’s like joining a gym. You know joining the gym doesn’t get you the results – you’re the one who has to get up every day and go to the gym and put the work in.

24 fingers: It starts with me as someone once said. It starts with putting your trainers on. I agree. I love that. So, Stephen, I’m getting to know you more and more as the years go by, but you’re a very organised, disciplined person. Can you give us a time saver of the day, please?

Stephen Travers: It goes back to what we talked about earlier, which is just have a simple list of your top priority actions of things you want to get done that are most important to you. And I’d say keep it small, your top five things, and aim to get them done every day. And if you don’t get them all done, review why, and then keep refining what you’re doing.

24 fingers: Very good, very good. So where do you see your industry in 24 months?

Stephen Travers: I really wish I had a crystal ball on that one. I think as we know, things are moving very fast. I think the people who can position themselves as experts who are very specialised in what they do and probably more importantly, can demonstrate consistent results are the ones who are going to come out on top and the people who embrace the technology as well.

24 fingers: I went to a conference a few months ago and there were nine-year-olds developing these apps and I came rushing home and I was like, if a nine-year-old isn’t in touch with this new technology, there’s an issue because the quality and the excellence of these children just blew my mind and I was thinking, if they’re doing that at nine… So where were you 24 months ago?

Stephen Travers: I was working with my clients. I’ve been doing this almost two decades plus, come to think of it. So working with my clients and running my trainings, that’s what I was doing.

24 fingers: You’re a big believer in that if somebody’s developing a practice, then you need to treat it like a business, that’s a big thing for you, isn’t it? So when you work with your therapist clients in helping them develop their own practices, you’re really encouraging them to think strategically, not just about kind of filling a session, but to treat it like a business and invest their time, effort and money into it?

Stephen Travers: Absolutely. I think that is one of the biggest challenges in my industry as well, is that there are many therapists who are very good at what they do, and many of them can get good, even great results with people. But often I see that some of them struggle at actually having a sustainable, thriving practice. And it’s often because they’re not treating it as a business. That’s the mindset shift, first of all. And then the strategy is just coming back to three simple things. It’s being able to get good to great results for people, be able to turn your enquiries into actual clients. That’s the client acquisition, the phone consultation process, and then having a way of generating enquiries regularly, that’s your marketing, your organic marketing and your paid for marketing.

So a bit like a combination lock. If you get those three things in place, it opens up that thriving practice very, very quickly actually.

24 fingers: I’m doing some work at the moment on my CRM and I’ve been looking back over the last five years and the amount of businesses that have gone bust in those five years is really sad. Every time I go to a website and it’s down, I get really upset and I think that a sustainable, scalable business model is really important. Like when I started my business, I thought it’d be so linear, I thought it’d be, you know, profit month on month and no peaks and troughs. Now I know differently. But to get those pillars of actual kind of discipline in place, I wish I’d done that 11 years ago, I should have known you 11 years ago, Stephen. So what’s an interesting fact about your company?

Stephen Travers: I suppose that I’ve trained more therapists and health professionals in the world in Havening than anyone.

24 fingers: So if you could have a 24-minute Zoom chat with anyone living or dead, who would it be?

Stephen Travers: That’s an interesting one. I would say Dr. Andrew Huberman. He’s a neuroscientific researcher and I’d love to talk to him actually, about Havening and talk to him about the neuroscience because I think he’d find it very fascinating and I think it would probably make a great topic for his podcast.

24 fingers: What’s one word you’d like people to describe you with?

Stephen Travers: I’d say something like empowering, in terms of empowering other people, empowering them in their thinking, feeling, acting and for them to feel empowered or more empowered after they work with me. It’s one of the main things I want to impart to people.

24 fingers: My sister’s working with somebody over here, a wellness expert, and he said my job is to get you to be able to walk into the gym and pick up any weight or go to any machine and be able to do it for yourself, rather than being reliant on a PT constantly. I’d not heard that approach before. Matt Marney, if anybody is in Dubai looking for a corporate wellness expert. That really impressed me because he wasn’t thinking about how many sessions can I get this person to keep booking in and in and in, he was thinking, how can I teach you to fish? Is that the right expression?

Stephen Travers: It’s the idea, give a man a fish or a woman, he eats for a day, teach a man or woman how to fish, they eat for a lifetime.

24 fingers: I really like that, really refreshing. So would you like to take a selfie for us? Let me just do a screenshot. And we’re nearly done. So Stephen, what’s your favourite social media campaign?

Stephen Travers: I would say it’s the free introduction events to various things. I think they work very well. I often attend them. Then you can make a decision if you want to go deeper with them. So I think they work really well.

24 fingers: You’ve set me up very nicely. Here’s my Eventbrite for digital marketing events. Thank you Stephen for allowing me to do that plug. What’s one quote that just defines your work ethic?

Stephen Travers: Once again, there would be many, I suppose, but I would say, do what you love, love what you do. I think that’s very important, because it doesn’t make it feel so much like work, so if you can find things that you love doing or fall in love with doing them more, it makes life a lot easier. And you need that to be sustainable, and if you want to become really great at what you do, that you’re doing something you love and that you enjoy.

24 fingers: Definitely, I work a lot, as you know, but this isn’t work for me. It’s an absolute joy and a privilege and a passion. And even if I won 2 billion dollars, I would still do this, because I love it. And I really love seeing somebody be perhaps nervous about social media to go on and be on camera or do a video or post for the first time. It really brings me so much joy. And that’s not about how much they’ve spent with me, how much they’ve spent on Facebook advertising, it’s just that real high five moment where I’ve seen somebody go out of their comfort zone especially on social media which is, you know, it’s a hard place and if somebody’s less than confident about being visible, that first step out, I love it. What’s been the best part of your day?

Stephen Travers: It’s only 11. Often the best part of my day is when I work with a client and I achieve one of those remarkable results we talked about. Someone comes in with trauma, maybe they’ve had it for decades. And then in the space of sometimes just minutes, we completely clear it and the client is amazed. We bring them back to the memory or the trigger and the stress is completely gone from it. To experience that with someone on a very regular basis, practically nearly every day, that’s my favourite part of a day. I’ve been doing this nearly 20 years and that still gives me a dopamine hit. That’s a really good feeling; that mild euphoria when that happens.

24 fingers: I love it. I watched one of your trainings and I got goose bumps when I saw the lady say before in terms of pain level or stress level that she was at nine and now she’s at zero. That was just so impactful. I’ve seen it first-hand which leads me on to if you’ve got anything to plug.

Stephen Travers: There’s probably many things, but I would say for the general public, I hav a complimentary phone consultation where I take a deep dive where I can really pinpoint and identify what’s causing your presenting problems, be it overcoming anxiety, insomnia, some sort of phobia, PTSD, or any type of stress symptoms you might have. I do a 30-minute deep dive and then I can give you informed feedback or a presentation on how we can actually resolve that. So that’s one option. Of course, there’s the Havening training events and they’re always happening at least a few times a year.

24 fingers: Well, if I’ve done my job properly you’ll see that on Facebook anyway. Well, Stephen, you’ve been an absolute pleasure. Thank you so much for your time. And if any viewers would like to get in touch with Stephen, check out the links in the blog and in comments. Brilliant. Thank you again.

Stephen Travers: Thank you, Emma. My pleasure.

You can connect with Stephen on YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook.

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Mental Health Awareness Week 2023

Scheenagh Harrington — Thu, 11 May 2023 11:54:30 +0000

This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week takes place between 15 and 21 May, and the theme is anxiety.

Feeling anxious from time to time can be perfectly normal, especially ahead of important life events. However, when we feel like that all the time, it can put a strain on our mental health.

A survey by The Mental Health Foundation found 34% of UK adults felt anxious, while almost three in 10 people (29%) experienced stress in the past month.

The good news is: with a little help and support, our anxiety can be managed. This year’s campaign aims to increase awareness and understanding by providing information and advice on the things that can help prevent anxiety from becoming a problem.

#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek starts on 15 May. Join us in spreading the word about anxiety and the things that can help.

Find out how to get involved, download resources and read our tips about coping with feelings of anxiety https://t.co/L5MunpK0on #ToHelpMyAnxiety pic.twitter.com/7BGDhF91O4

— Mental Health Foundation (@mentalhealth) April 15, 2023

Every day, millions of people feel anxious for a wide variety of reasons, and being famous is no shield. Ryan Reynolds has spoken several times, including on social media, about his long battle with anxiety:

Ryan Reynolds has revealed that his anxiety got so bad at one point that he thought he was going ‘to die’ before a scheduled TV appearance. https://t.co/sioywMT9ZT

— Metro (@MetroUK) March 1, 2022

Prince Harry may have looked cool and collected at the Coronation, but he has also been very public about his anxiety:

“It is okay to have depression, it is okay to have anxiety and it is okay to have an adjustment disorder. We need to improve the conversation. We all have mental health in the same way we all have physical health.” — Prince Harry #mentalhealth pic.twitter.com/sEYFkeoK3U

— BreakFree Rehabilitation Center (@BreakfreeRehab) May 8, 2023

WandaVision and Marvel star Elizabeth Olsen spoke to Variety about her panic attacks:

Elizabeth Olsen on Her ‘Embarrassing’ Marvel Scenes, Recovering From Panic Attacks and Whether She’s Still an ‘Aspiring Stoner’ https://t.co/2WZQb4p0Cn

— Variety (@Variety) October 3, 2022

Young tennis star Naomi Osaka’s career has been affected by her anxiety and she talked to Vogue about how she manages it:

“As someone who suffers from anxiety, having a daily mechanism to help me cope has been really comforting,” says Naomi Osaka on the new series of meditations she’s recording for children https://t.co/rE64XUoI1l pic.twitter.com/T1eoieqCUH

— Vogue Runway (@VogueRunway) April 1, 2023

The pandemic and its aftermath put anxiety firmly in the spotlight, with almost every sector of society affected by an increase in anxiety. Luckily, there are a lot of resources out there that can help.

This #NationalStressAwarenessDay take a moment to learn some of the signs of stress. If you recognise any of these signs in yourself or someone you care about, visit our website to learn more and find some ideas for coping > https://t.co/HPkUhtpRdS pic.twitter.com/v3w1TwAsFv

— Mind (@MindCharity) November 3, 2021

Thanks to all at @stpatsfc for the support and helping us promote our positive mental health message 🙏🏼💜#HeadInTheGame https://t.co/l5yGRxRm2B

— Head In The Game (@HeadInTheGameIE) May 8, 2023

There are a range of charities supporting maternal mental health week this year, and by working together, we can make a positive impact on the lives of parents experiencing mental health challenges. #MHAW23 #strongertogether #togetherinachangingworld @PMHPUK pic.twitter.com/4tKjS23iQO

— DorPip (@dor_pip) May 3, 2023

You can get support from dedicated national organisation @AnxietyUK, as well as groups closer to wherever you are, from London-focused @GoodThinkingUK, to community groups in Manchester and Cheshire, Lancashire and Merseyside:

What a superb effort from Community Groups and Organisations in North Manchester, bringing together some fabulous Free events, and supporting Mental Health Awareness Week @WHMmanchester #buildingstrongercommunities #MentalHealthAwareness pic.twitter.com/vAHZPtObW1

— Leonie WHM (@leonie_painter) May 8, 2023

Next week is Mental Health Awareness Week (15th – 21st May). This year’s theme is anxiety, which affects over 8 million people in UK. Throughout next week we will be raising awareness of the support available if you need help in managing your mental healthhttps://t.co/s9TlBWikqs pic.twitter.com/Ai75AVXlIA

— Groundwork in Cheshire, Lancashire & Merseyside (@GroundworkCLM) May 9, 2023

Anxiety can rear its head at any time in our lives. If you’re a student, @StudentMindsOrg can help with that exam pressure:

It’s normal to feel stressed about your upcoming exams, but don’t forget that you aren’t alone. Adam reminds us that everyone’s in the same boat and it can help to work together. Read the rest of his blog: https://t.co/ETW86NXbGP pic.twitter.com/Yl3KupJsq1

— Student Minds (@StudentMindsOrg) May 7, 2023

While @TimetoChange aims to help anyone, from business owners to bus drivers, struggling with anxiety to open up:

For someone experiencing anxiety, ‘small’ problems don’t always feel small.

If a friend seems anxious on #TimeToTalk Day, really listen and try not to minimise their concerns. pic.twitter.com/BzQxDiNGJg

— Time to Change (@TimetoChange) February 2, 2023

There are other ways to ease anxiety, using music:

#QFQs we “spoke” to @spokeworld about making looking after your mental health as easy as listening to your favourite music https://t.co/33gTKLT6t7 – via @Maddyness_UK /

— Maddyness UK (@Maddyness_UK) May 9, 2023

Playing sport:

After seeking sanctuary, football changed Wan’s life.

Wan is a refugee rights campaigner it’s tough work & looking after mental health is vital. Wan does this by playing ⚽️ with the UK’s first women’s FC of sanctuary.
⁣
What’re your tips for looking after your mental health? pic.twitter.com/4OGqTwyxoz

— City of Sanctuary UK 🧡 (@CityofSanctuary) May 8, 2023

And even volunteering

Volunteering and supporting your community can help with your mental health and well-being. See Tobi’s story in the thread below. (1/3)#BigHelpOut #Volunteering #Kindness pic.twitter.com/BjjZviLsUp

— Random Acts – UK South (@RARepUKSouth) May 8, 2023

Want to show your support for Mental Health Awareness Week? Wear something green on Thursday 18th.

Don’t forget to throw on your favourite green clothes on Thursday 18 May for #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek 💚

Learn more about the resources you can use here: https://t.co/Cq4sKwm7g7 pic.twitter.com/iL1F32LGID

— Mental Health Foundation (@mentalhealth) May 4, 2023

Everyone gets anxious occasionally – even us. That’s why we’re banging the drum for organisations offering 24/7 help and support, while also keeping in mind a quote from the one and only Julie Andrews: “if you remain calm in the midst of great chaos, it is the surest guarantee that it will eventually subside”.

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Get Fit for Business, thanks to the Brentwood Community Fund

Scheenagh Harrington — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 11:24:21 +0000

We’re thrilled to announce the Fit for Business entrepreneurial programme, delivered by 24 Degrees and BlitzFitMe, has secured a share of the Brentwood Community Fund, offered by Brentwood Borough Council in partnership with Axis. This innovative programme combines physical fitness, mindset and nutritional support with business planning, sales and marketing training.

Projects for the Community Fund have to demonstrate their volunteer or community involvement, be sustainable and supportive of community-based priorities under the key themes of:

growing our economy
protecting our environment
developing our communities

Almost 30 organisations applied, and 24 fingers was among 14 recipients. “We are thrilled to have secured funding from the Brentwood Community Fund,” said Emma Goode. “It will be put to excellent use too, helping more of the region’s entrepreneurs get back on their feet, get a business up and running or scale their existing business.”

The Fit for Business is a free, eight week online programme (free to Brentwood Borough residents), designed to help people kick-start or scale their business.

Do you have an idea that’s been bouncing around at the back of your mind for a while, but you’re not sure if you can make it a reality? Fit for Business could get you on your way.

Were you among the millions furloughed because of Covid-19 and you’d like to get back on your feet on your terms? Fit for Business could be the stepping stone you need.

The programme will start Wednesday 8th September. If you, or someone you know, would like to apply for a free place, please contact the team at hello@24fingers.co.uk and we will be happy to send more details.

We’re 24 fingers, a digital marketing agency and a proud member of the 42 Club, Brentwood Chamber of Commerce, Excel Business Networking Group, the Trusted Business Community, the Organisation for Responsible Businesses and the Rotary Club of Brentwood à Becket. We help companies who are all fingers and thumbs with their social media grow their business and brand. Book your free strategy call here.

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24 fingers joins the South Essex College supported internship programme

Scheenagh Harrington — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 15:02:10 +0000

We’ve said a million times that social media gets our blood pumping unlike anything else, but we’re also massive believers in the idea of ‘tribe’ here at 24 fingers. Building strong, lasting relationships with business partners and creating a support network to help and guide people are among the best things about being part of a community.

We also live in the real world so that means not everyone gets a fair crack of the whip. Luckily, a supported internship programme from South Essex College is setting out to change that.

It’s aimed at students who have additional needs, such as learning difficulties, and are ready for the world of work, helping them take the next step into sustainable employment through internships that last between six months and one year.

We’re thrilled to say 24 fingers is taking part and will welcome bubbly Krista Hoare in the coming weeks. She has cerebral palsy, but isn’t letting it get in the way of her ambitions, and we reckon she’s going to fit right in – she’s enthusiastic and bubbly, loves shopping and is a big fan of musicals. Boooom.

Krista won’t be thrown in at the deep end either. She will be supported by an experienced job coach in the first six weeks of the internship programme, and they will work with us to create a specific support plan, aimed at meeting Krista’s particular goals.

“We’re delighted to be welcoming Krista to the 24 fingers family, and are really pleased to be able to support the South Essex College supported internship programme,” said Emma Goode. “We would urge other local businesses to get involved too – it’s a fantastic way to make the world of work more inclusive and give opportunities to people whose ideas and voices deserve to be heard.”

“I am thrilled and excited about joining 24 fingers, as it will help develop my social media skills as well as meeting new people along the way. Emma has welcomed me and made me feel right at home,” Krista said.

“We are overjoyed to have 24 fingers coming on board with us as a new employer,” added job coach Lisa Bennett. “Emma has been so supportive of the programme and Krista is really excited about her new role. This will truly be a rewarding and meaningful experience for Krista and for us here at South Essex College”.

If you’d like to know more or would like to take part in South Essex College’s supported internship programme, email: SupportedInternship@southessex.ac.uk.

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How one 24 fingers 1-2-1 session boosted Glenys Chatterley’s Pinterest visitors by 172%

Scheenagh Harrington — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 13:44:43 +0000

There isn’t much that fazes Glenys Chatterley. She’s done everything from being a member of senior management at the Post Office to serial entrepreneur, running an interior design business, a catering company and is the driving force behind Effective Business Network (ebn).

As if that wasn’t enough to fill her plate, Glenys also offers uplifting and inspiring insights into how she effectively halved her body weight. She was getting good results too, with a healthy 33k monthly visitors on Pinterest.

But that didn’t prevent her from trying to improve, and so she booked a 1-2-1 Pinterest training session with 24 fingers.

In a month, those numbers skyrocketed 172% to 57.2k. “Fantastic, clear information,” Glenys Chatterley said about the Pinterest session. “It dealt with all my questions and at the end I was sent a recording of the training, the presentation and some additional tools.”

If you want to achieve three-figure growth in four weeks, book in for a free consultation today and we’ll show you how to make your social media work smarter, not harder.

The post How one 24 fingers 1-2-1 session boosted Glenys Chatterley’s Pinterest visitors by 172% first appeared on 24 fingers.

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24 Questions with Emma McNally, creator of Achieve Your Greatness

Emma Goode — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 12:16:37 +0000

Here today with Emma McNally of Achieve Your Greatness who’s going to be helping us all be great… well, more great. Greater than great. All the greats. Take it away Emma Mc…

24 fingers: Hi Emma.

Emma: Hi, how are you doing?

24 Fingers: Really good. It’s Friday, we’ve got the A-level results out of the way – I’m literally winning right now. Apart from the pandemic, Covid, global recession, kids’ futures screwed, apart from all that…

Emma: Apart from all that it’s all good.

24 fingers: Thank you very much for your time today, so shall we begin? What’s your favourite word?

Emma: This was a tricky one because I love words, but combobulated is my favourite word, as opposed to discombobulated. I love the way it sounds.

24 fingers: I think Kevin at Digital Technology Labs had one of the other.

Emma: Yes, it’s so cool. I love it.

24 fingers: What gets you up in the morning Emma?

Emma: A number of things. Firstly, the love of what I do. During the week when it’s a work day I get such joy from training and helping people, so that gets me out of bed. On a weekend, it’s usually my husband going: “are you ever getting up?”.

24 fingers: I can tell that passion, it’s brilliant. Okay, what do you truly think of social media? Be honest.

Emma: Originally I hated it, really just was not my thing at all. However, I’ve grown to love it and see the uses and benefits of it, so yeah, I tend to do quite a bit on social media, and it’s become my friend, from being like: ‘really, I’ve got to do that?’ to now I really love it. I love the groups where you can share things and be part of a community, especially during this time, it can be really powerful.

24 fingers: I think when it’s used for good it’s really powerful. Kindles or books?

Emma: Okay, always books – but saying that when I go on holiday, I don’t tend to have suitcases big enough to carry all the books I want to take. So my natural thing would be books, but Kindle means I can still take shoes on holiday AND have books.

24 fingers: I’ve never been a shoe girl but in lockdown I went a bit mad and bought seven pairs in one day. I don’t know what’s going on. I’m even buying stilettos and I don’t even wear them.

Emma: I don’t take so many away with me now, because on one holiday I took 12 pairs and we nearly didn’t get our luggage back. After that I’ve cut down. We’re obviously doing a swap here and you’re taking on my mantra.

24 fingers: Just for anyone thinking “oh my god seven pairs” they were all very cheap, about a fiver each, so I didn’t go hugely mad.

Emma: We need to go shopping, you and me.

24 fingers: Thelma and Louise in the shop store. What do you think is the biggest challenge to your industry, as you said, you’re a trainer and a coach.

Emma: In terms of the NLP industry, I think it’s still getting out there what NLP is and how powerful it is and how you can use it for good. I think that’s the biggest challenge because it sounds so vague I guess, because it’s performance psychology and applied neuroscience – what does all that mean? It’s getting that message out, which is why I work with people like you my lovely to get that message out clearer to people in terms of the benefits and what it can do for a person’s individual performance, life, business etc.

24 fingers: The thing about NLP is its tangible, it’s not woo. It’s actual techniques and strategies.

Emma: It’s tools, it’s techniques, it’s strategies, stuff you can apply practically every single day in your life and in your business. That’s the challenge to get out there and that’s what I’m personally working hard to do.

24 fingers: So, what did you want to be when you were growing up? Didn’t want to be a trainer, I guess?

Emma: No I didn’t even know what NLP was. I wanted to be a nurse, which is hilarious because I never really liked blood. I wanted to help people and I guess that bit hasn’t changed. I wanted to be a nurse but it’s much better that I help people in this way.

24 fingers: I can see that, in terms of the empathetic nature, being a nurse, I can see how much you really do want to help people change their lives, so that figures. What led you to your current career?

Emma: It was 10 years ago last month that I discovered NLP. I was working in local government and I had a corporate job, many people that I’ve talked to had that sort of background. I had a difficult situation that was going on in my personal life as well as my career, and I discovered NLP and it completely changed everything for me. I left Essex six years ago to write children’s books, and this was what NLP was about for me, to give me choice. I transformed what I did, my career went from strength to strength while I was there then I changed to go set up my own business, and then it was through demand. People asking for NLP and that’s why I started the training company. The plan wasn’t to launch a training company, it was just to write children’s books, and then all of this has just come from it. It was almost like the universe or whatever you like to believe, or serendipity, events that created it. It’s pretty cool.

24 fingers: It’s so funny, I was thinking about this at the weekend. When I was growing up I wanted to be a teacher and a writer. But I couldn’t have dealt with the noise volume in schools, but now I train and write social media so it all works out in the end, doesn’t it?

Emma: It does, absolutely.

24 fingers: So your favourite word was combobulated, can you use it in a sentence?

Emma: I think that a lot of people during Covid and lockdown have felt very discombobulated, and how it’s important to find some space so we can all become more combobulated within our lives.

24 fingers: Well done that woman. Now this is a hard one: can you make it rhyme?

Emma: I had to write this down. I’ve done a little rhyme for you: If you want to feel more combobulated, find some space that is less populated. Sit for a while under a tree, and give yourself time just to be.

24 fingers: I think you should become an author.

Emma: There’s an option.

24 fingers: So what advice would you give to younger Emma?

Emma: Just go for it, you’ve got this. It’s going to be an awesome ride, enjoy it and have fun. When you see the bigger picture, it’s like: ‘yeah!’. Don’t sweat the small stuff.

24 fingers: What’s the best thing anyone’s ever done for you? You’re going to say something really soppy now, aren’t you?

Emma: I am – it was when my husband proposed. I met him in a car accident, the whole circumstances around meeting him was hilarious-ish. So yeah, him proposing. It was the most amazing thing. We were out on a boat and it was very romantic.

24 fingers: Very sweet. What’s been your career-defining moment – you may not have had it yet?

Emma: Oh there are many. Finding NLP was one, because that completely shifted from being stagnant and stale to bringing life to be able to use it to help people. It’s got to be the career-defining moment. More recently it was setting up the limited company, I was a sole trader for a while. Those are the big things – leaving corporate to set up on your own – it was a seat-of-your-pants kind of time.

24 fingers: I don’t know what you’re talking about…

Emma: But it’s fun.

24 fingers: If you won a big award of some kind, who would you thank?

Emma: It has to be my husband John and my mum as well. My husband is amazing. He’s so supportive of everything I do. We’re chalk and cheese so it’s really fun. My mum is so supportive, she comes on my courses, she’s always there.

24 fingers: Love it. Can you give us a time-saver of the day?

Emma: I’m going to give you two: the first is know what you’re good at and not good at, and find someone to do the stuff you’re not good at or don’t like doing. The second is to-do lists. If I have one and cross it off I’m so much more efficient. I’m a list kind of girl.

24 fingers: You and Kathy are going to get on so well. I really agree with you about doing what you’re good at and following your strengths. I’m working on a project led by three of us and we’ve each divided what we’re good at and I can just go do what I do and be happy and not cock things up like I could when I’m doing things I’m not good at.

Emma: Absolutely, it takes hours, doesn’t it?

24 fingers: Where do you see the NLP industry in 24 months?

Emma: We’ve gone through quite a big change and shift because of Covid, so the awarding body are allowing us to do more online, and I can see that carrying on. Also being able to reach a wider audience and very much in terms of corporations. I do a lot of work with big corporations and local government, and they’re starting to see the power of NLP. I think the next 24 months is going to be fascinating to see how it’s going to become more and more embedded in big and small corporations because the success that it’s bringing through the projects I’m working on at the moment is super-exciting.

24 fingers: Where were you 24 months ago?

Emma: I’d just become a limited company, I was probably on holiday, knowing me, and I’d probably be training. In a face-to-face rather than using Zoom.

24 fingers: You’ve adapted really well. Tell me, what’s an interesting fact about your company?

Emma: The training company was created through demand, but we also have this other element that I write children’s books. So there’s a hidden element within Achieve Your Greatness. I wrote The Sock Monster Ate My Favourite Sock, The Adventures of Howard Huxley, we’ve got the little sock monster characters, and all of that cool, crazy stuff as well, the creative bit that people don’t know that much about.

24 fingers: If you could have a 24-minute Zoom call, who would it be with?

Emma: It would have to be with my dad. He’s no longer with us, so definitely him.

24 fingers: What’s the one word you’d like people to describe you with?

Emma: Just the one? These are so tricky – I’m a woman of words. Integrity is what I’d like.

24 fingers: I think you’re the third person on the bounce who’s said integrity and they were coaches and coming from a place of abundance. I think that’s brilliant. Would you mind taking a selfie for us? Brilliant. Emma, what’s your favourite social media campaign?

Emma: Of course yours, obviously, but I also like The Female Lead, they’ve got some interesting stuff on LinkedIn. I don’t always agree with all of it, but a lot of the content is really, really good.

24 fingers: What’s one quote that defines your work ethic?

Emma: It would be: “do to others what you would like them to do to you”, so all about kindness, compassion. I like to live and breathe that.

24 fingers: 100%. I think when you come from a place like that, you get it back. People are so willing to help in turn, rather than a place where you don’t want to share and it’s all about money – I’m not saying you can’t be profitable or make money, but when you’re shining with that different light, good things really happen, I feel.

Emma: It does and you attract like people. If I look at my clients, I love all my clients they’re the most amazing people. I got some beautiful reviews through on Google and it was just like: ‘oh my word’ and they’re such beautiful people, and I think if you run your business like that, that’s who you will attract, having those beautiful clients that you love to spend time with. They’re like a big family to me, we’ve got a big NLP community and it’s fun, right?

24 fingers: I was talking to someone this morning and they asked how I overcome ‘X’ objection and I said all the people around me wouldn’t even see that as a thing because we’re all like-minded individuals and we all want to give back. One of them is you. What’s been the best part of your day so far?

Emma: Obviously the interview here, and just before I had a quick chat with my mum. As I say, she’s really involved in the business, we’ve got a course coming up.

24 fingers: Finally, anything to plug?

Emma: Yeah I have indeed. I’ve got so many courses – on the 27th and 28th of August we’ve got Excellence in Teaching with NLP, it’s a course I put together with my colleague Elizabeth, and we’re basically bringing some tools to help in terms of performance and help people involved in looking after young people in terms of their education. Whether that’s home-schoolers, parents, teachers, tutors, it’s two days, online Zoom event, we’ve got a special offer because of Covid, to help give them some tools to help their own management in terms of communication, behaviours and emotions. I’m super-excited about it, it’s going to be an awesome two days. That’s my plug.

24 fingers: I think I know someone who would really enjoy it. I think teachers going back in September – it’s going to be really difficult for them in terms of children really since March and April haven’t had a consistent framework and there’s a lot of time and stuff to regroup and it’s going to be challenging for teachers and anything that you can give them to ease their path back into schools is going to really benefit them and the children.

Emma: We’ve widened it out so if parents, who are involved in homework, can make that easier, that’s got to be a good thing, right?

24 fingers: I’m just pleased my homework days are done. Emma, thank you so much for your time.

Emma: It’s been awesome, thank you.

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Fit for Business: Essex’s BlitzFitMe and 24 Degrees launch online programme for young women aged 16-21

Scheenagh Harrington — Fri, 07 Aug 2020 18:02:29 +0000

In the words of the famous 1966 song: “this is a man’s world, but it wouldn’t be nothing without a woman or a girl”. More than half a century later, the playing field between the sexes has levelled out a bit, and in an age of celebrity brands and social media influencers, it’s easy to think you can be fit for business without putting in much effort.

The reality – particularly for girls and young women – can be quite different. Look at Beyonce. She’s a fierce, independent woman in charge of a creative empire that would make most City businessmen blush and, quite rightly, has the world at her feet.

Did she achieve this success without breaking a sweat? Not. A. Chance. As a young woman of colour, she fought to be taken seriously first as an artist, then as a businesswoman. She may be sitting pretty now, but the singer, actor, fashion icon AND mum-of-three knew she had to graft to get where she is today.

If you (or your daughter, sister, niece, granddaughter, insert other nouns here) are itching to follow in Beyonce’s footsteps and build your own brand or run your own business in the future, then here is a heads up: we’ve got this.

24 fingers (us), Little Piggy (Kathy Ennis) aka 24 Degrees have teamed up with BlitzFitMe (Oliver Berquez) to create Fit for Business, a training programme for young women aged between 16 and 21 who are looking to be their own Queen B, but may not be certain how to get started.

Where school and college – even university – ends, the Fit for Business programme begins, equipping 24 young women from Essex with the skills they need to keep their bodies strong and healthy, as well as turning a smart business idea into a money-making reality.

The exercise and nutrition component of the Active Essex-backed Fit for Business programme will help participants:

• Improve their fitness levels – strength, stamina, endurance and posture
• Have a positive body image
• Get better sleep, have more energy and reduce fatigue
• Learn how to create healthy and tasty meals
• Improve their focus and achieve more

Meanwhile, the entrepreneur component, led by 24 Degrees, will help participants:

• Understand the basics of starting a business
• Learn how to take an idea and create a business plan
• Create products and services
• How to market a business on social media
• Build a personal profile online

As well offering guidance about personal health and business skills, Fit for Business also offers guidance and support via a range of activities including:

• Coach-led online fitness sessions every week
• Weekly expert-led business start-up training sessions;
• Access to the BlitzFitMe app and all its features including: home workouts to accompany the coach-led sessions, blogs/articles, recipes, and social media templates and content ideas;
• Workbooks and support resources;
• Daily support from our experts;
• Weekly feedback and check-ins.

Emma Goode and Kathy Ennis, co-founders of 24 Degrees, said about the launch of Fit for Business: “We’re so privileged to be able to share the lessons we’ve learned in business, especially with young women.

“We’re really looking forward to seeing what they will achieve and how far they will go after taking part in the Fit for Business programme.”

Oliver Berquez adds: “I’m super excited to be working with Emma and Kathy as I know what a difference improving someone’s health, fitness and nutrition can have on someone’s life. It’s so important that people are fit for business, and by helping the next generation of entrepreneurs learn these vital skills, this programme will have a huge, positive impact on their performance, both personally and professionally.”

The first course will begin on Monday 14th September, 2020, and places are being snapped up fast.

Thanks to generous sponsors Sport England, which has provided 75% of the funding, the 20-week online programme costs £75. That’s the equivalent of £3.75 a week – not bad for something that could set you on a path to being your own boss for the price of a cappuccino.

Want to sign up and get ahead of the pack? E-mail info@blitzfitme.co.uk to register or book your place directly here. Remember: healthy mind + healthy body = healthy business.

PS: we haven’t forgotten the next James Dyson/Jay Z of Essex either. A custom-design programme for young men aged 16 and above launches this autumn.

The post Fit for Business: Essex’s BlitzFitMe and 24 Degrees launch online programme for young women aged 16-21 first appeared on 24 fingers.

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24 questions with Clare Horsley, founder of award-winning Excel Elite Business Networking

Scheenagh Harrington — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 11:28:26 +0000

Emma bounded out of bed not just to celebrate 24 fingers’ sixth birthday recently (don’t worry, cake and candles were sorted later in the day), but also to enjoy 24 questions with Clare Horsley, founder of award-winning group Excel Elite Business Networking.

24 fingers: Morning, Clare.

Clare: Good morning, Emma.

24 fingers: How are you?

Clare: I’m hot! I’m very well.

24 fingers: Boiling, isn’t it?

Clare: Yeah, I’m not going to moan though. No, I’m very well, thank you, I’m really, you know, privileged to be able to start the day with speaking with yourself, so thank you for inviting me.

24 fingers: Oh, bless you. Well today’s a very special day, actually, as well, because 24 fingers is six years old today.

Clare: Oh, is it? Happy birthday!

24 fingers: Thank you very much. So yeah, we’ve got a few things planned today, but yeah, great to be together. So, let’s begin. Clare, what is your favourite word?

Clare: Fascinating.

24 fingers: Fascinating, ooh! What gets you up in the morning?

Clare: My children.

24 fingers: How many do you have, I think two, is it? Is it two?

Clare: Two, yeah. 13 and 11. One at school, one homeschooling, but that’s another topic there.

24 fingers: Oh. That’s another story? Look, those days are over for me, but I feel your pain. What do you truly, honestly think of social media?

Clare: It’s powerful. I mean, it was quite difficult actually to come up with that answer, because I have lots of thoughts about social media, but I think the main message that comes across is its power, really.

24 fingers: Yeah, it’s hugely powerful, and sometimes that power’s used for good, sometimes it’s used for bad. Kindles or books?

Clare: Books.

24 fingers: 100% agree. What do you truly, honestly think of– no, I’ve done that one. Too early, I haven’t had enough caffeine. It’s too early for me, that’s why I should do these interviews in the afternoon. What do you think is the biggest challenge in our industry? So, Clare, you run weekly and monthly networking groups, don’t you?

Clare: Yes.

24 fingers: What’s the biggest challenge for you? At the minute, I can imagine, Covid, but…

Clare: I mean, it’s a massive learning curve and I’m working very differently to how I used to work. I think actually, my main challenge right now is the volume of work that it’s created. So this isn’t necessarily a negative, but when your systems change, and when your processes change, and the volume of work increases, you have to look back at your existing structure, and just think about what you can put in, to incorporate, to ensure the smooth flow of your service delivery.

It’s something that I’m learning to do, something that, you know, every week is improving, but I would say that’s probably the volume, yeah, the volume of work, and I have also put the word in there, consistency. I am consistent with what I do, but I think it’s also really important for people to be, especially now, more than ever, on social media, consistent, because we are relying much more on this tool particularly at the moment.

24 fingers: I couldn’t agree with you more. At the beginning of lockdown, my partner Kathy and I were talking about being visible, and consistency was a really strong message. Even though we can’t physically see our customers, or don’t have our physical retail stores open, we do need to be front of mind, and social media is great for that. We talk about this thing, about being like water rather than fire, so post consistently, whether consistent for you is once a week, once a day, just be consistent with that, rather than like 20 hundred times one day, then nothing for a month, because people forget about you, and then it’s all too much, and it’s just this horrid kind of imbalance, so yeah, really great advice and I 100% agree. So, did you always want to be doing this? What did you want to be when you were growing up?

Clare: When I was growing up, I wanted to be a musician. Yeah, I wanted to be a musician. I used to play the violin in an orchestra, and I played the piano, I was part of a children’s choir, and I used to get on stage, I used to do drama and acting. I don’t know what happened, somewhere along my teens, it was much more cool to be probably drinking White Lightning down in the park with my friends. I then sort of lost momentum, which is something I do regret a little bit, to be honest, but I’ve now got a piano at home, and I still play the piano. I’ve purchased a guitar in lockdown as well, and I’ve got a ukulele, so I’m going to be teaching myself a few more pieces on the piano.

24 fingers: Amazing. Yeah, White Lightning or Thunderbird in a park, I remember them well.

Clare: As I said that, as that came out, I was thinking I’m not quite sure if I should be saying that, but, let’s be honest, I’m sure there’s many people on the call who could relate to that.

24 fingers: You definitely need to be saying that on the call, we wouldn’t expect anything less at 24 finger Towers, we are all about the Thunderbird and White Lightning, and the reminiscing. So, your favourite word is ‘fascinating’, can you use it in a sentence, please?

Clare: Life is fascinating. I mean, I did struggle with that one a little bit, to be honest, but I think I use it quite a lot, and when I’ve been recording my podcast, I’ve realised, maybe I use it a little bit too much, so we’ve got a bit of a standing joke at the moment with my co-host, that you have to use a different word. But I genuinely find life fascinating. I find business fascinating, I find individuals fascinating, because it’s just so interesting. It’s just so interesting.

We’re all from different walks of life, we’ve all had different business journeys, I’m a qualified NLP practitioner as well, and, the mind is fascinating, you know, how it works, so I think that was the first one that I thought of.

24 fingers: That’s really interesting, and I 100% agree about the mind thing, and I’ve made some big changes over the last couple of years. I’m going to be writing a post today about what the last six years have taught me, both good and bad, but certainly, when you change your mind, you can absolutely change anything, and for those of you that know me well, drinking four litres of Diet Coke a day and then going to nothing, that was just one switch in my mind, and yeah, if I can do that for Diet Coke, I can do it for anything. So, can you make it rhyme now, fascinating?

Clare: No. I looked at this, I was thinking, the only word that comes to mind, I can’t get it to rhyme, but fascinator. I don’t know, I was just thinking of fascinators, like the headdress that you wear in weddings.

24 fingers: What about, I was just thinking, what about diversity is making life fascinating, maybe? Don’t know. Don’t know, it’s too early.

Clare: When I’m looking for words, I’ll come to you, Emma, yeah.

24 fingers: What advice would you give your younger self, who’s drinking Thunderbird in the park?

Clare: Yeah. Oh dear. Trust your voice. Yeah, trust your voice. What might be really interesting for some people who know me or don’t know me, is I was very, very shy. Very shy. So I was the person that would sit at the back of the class and spend the whole time of the lesson worrying about whether they were going to ask me the question, because I never used to put my hand up. So I had, yeah, very little confidence as a child, growing up terrified to speak, to say the wrong things. I knew the answers a lot, but I didn’t have the voice.

Then on the other end of the scale, then when I was doing public speaking a few years ago, I spoke to 5,000 people about business at the Excel London, which totally pushed me outside of my comfort zone, but that was a very monumental part for me, because that showed me, actually, that you can put your shoulders back, you can lift your head up high, and feel confident with the message that you’re delivering, so it’s a stark contrast from the quiet, timid little girl who never spoke.

24 fingers: Wow.

Clare: I’m going to shut up now.

24 fingers: No, genuinely, that needs big tens, because that is really inspirational, and I know public speaking in particular is something that people feel really nervous about. I’ve seen you in action, and yeah, I can’t equate younger Clare with the Clare that I see in front of me, so yeah, a huge congrats on that, amazing. What’s the best thing anyone’s ever done for you?

Clare: Married me.

24 fingers: Aw!

Clare: I know, how gushy’s that?

24 fingers: Very lovely. And you might not have had it yet, but what do you think has been your career-defining moment?

Clare: As you know, I’m growing and expanding and adding new parts to our business all the time. I think, again, going back to that moment on stage, something switched for me. It’s quite hard to articulate it, but when I was invited to do it, my initial reaction was to run, which, I think, very often in business is. If it pushes you outside your comfort zone, and you’ve never done it before, your mind, again, can tell you, “Don’t do it, let’s protect yourself, “let’s not even go there,” but it showed me two things.

It showed me that the power of the mind, and how we are capable of so many great things as individuals, and also, of course, in relation to me being so quiet, and not feeling that I added any value to anyone as a child by speaking, to then, and I can still remember it now, to standing there with a sea of people, and to have the applause at the end was a massive defining moment for me, because I thought A, people want to listen to me, B, I’ve done it. My hands were shaking, my palms were wet, I had to do the old trick of bending the knees when you’re speaking, and realised I loved helping people, reaching out to people and connecting with them. So that sort of encompasses my business a lot, because that’s what I do, so yeah.

24 fingers: Wow, amazing. If you won a big award of some kind, who would you thank?

Clare: A big award. I’ve put– there are so many people, so many people, but I think it– it sounds really gushy again, doesn’t it? Glad he’s not listening, because he’ll get a bit of a big head. I think I’d probably say my husband, because he’s seen me on a huge journey through what we’ve just talked about. Even when I made the decision to take my business completely online when Covid started, I sat in the garden, and I said: ‘No, I have two choices here. I sit back and I wait for it to be over, and then revert back to how I was, or I’m just going to go for this. I need to act quickly, I need to act now’.

He’s furloughed, and it’s difficult, because he’s at home all the time, so he’s been very patient, he’s been incredibly supportive, consistently, so I think it would have to be my husband, because without his support with the children, without his emotional support of me, I wouldn’t be able to do what I’m doing, so… Who is my husband anyway? I haven’t seen him.

24 fingers: Go, Mr Horsley, well done. So we spoke about systems and processes earlier, can you give us a time saver of the day, something that you use to maximise your time?

Clare: There’s so many things, but the first thing that popped into my mind, which, if Mr Mumford is listening, I hope he’ll be proud. I’ve embraced computerised systems. I do have a manual diary, but this situation and the volume of work that I’ve got has really made me, as I said earlier, identify how I could be working in more of a savvy way. I’m using Trello cards. Now, Trello — I barely used computers before Covid, so it’s way outside my comfort zone, but I’ve already seen in just a few weeks the power of when you’re working with someone, because I have a few key people within my business who support me and who I work with, Trello cards is a fantastic tool.

For those of you who don’t know, it’s like an online, almost like an online Post-it to-do list, but it’s much more than that. You can assign tasks, you can keep a record, I’m going to be using it as a little mini CRM system, so I can keep track of, have a template of when my members, when I speak to new prospects, to take them through the process. I can tick off once I’ve completed each task, so I would really recommend, if anyone hasn’t done already, to check out Trello – and they’re not paying me any commission for promoting it.

24 fingers: No, it’s a good system. Where do you see your business in 24 months?

Clare: Okay, so I’ve put on here, with at least 250 members, under the Excel Networking umbrella, and also, I have plans to go international, as well.

24 fingers: Love that.

Clare: Very excited about that.

24 fingers: Where were you 24 months ago?

Clare: I was recovering from a major operation 24 months ago. I had a period of illness in 2017 where I was in hospital 18 times. I had literally just started my business. Within weeks I was very, very poorly, so I still managed to keep running the business, and I remember one time, I literally had the nurses waiting for me with the trolley to go down to theatre, and I was introducing a new member, so a very challenging time, so yeah. I was recovering from a major operation 24 months ago. I was working at getting my fitness back, getting my stamina back, and trying to sort of, be the best mum I could be, alongside continuing to build my network, yeah.

24 fingers: What’s an interesting fact about you and your business?

Clare: It wasn’t my idea. It was a friend’s suggestion. So I’ve always been involved in network marketing, since 2013, so I’ve always been involved with that, and I’ve always done jobs which are– sorry, undertaken roles, is better English, where I’ve been ultimately enriching the lives of others, and helping people. I was looking for a group at the time, four-and-a-half years ago, and I couldn’t quite find one that fitted into my ethics and my values.

There were amazing groups out there, and very supportive of everyone, by the way, but I couldn’t quite find one that fitted with what my vision was, and a friend said to me, honestly I can remember it as clear as day, she said to me, ‘why don’t you set up your own?’ My response was, ‘don’t be so ridiculous’, thought about it for a few days, three weeks later I had a group of people together, and the rest is history.

24 fingers: If you could have a 24 minute — and I’m going to change this question — 24-minute Zoom call with anyone, living or dead, who would it be?

Clare: My grandma. Yeah, it would be my grandma. I actually commented on a post on LinkedIn about this, actually, interestingly. It would be my grandma, because I spent a lot of time growing up with my grandma, and she’s so wise, you know, and I still quote her, to this day. She spoke an awful lot of sense, she was so accommodating of every single person, no matter what their background, their religion, where they lived.

She was the kindest, sweetest, warm-hearted person, who valued every single person for being them, and I’ve learnt a huge amount from her, so I would love to have a chat with her to tell her where I’m at, and if it was a Skype, show her the children, and yeah, hopefully I’ve done her proud.

24 fingers: I’m sure you have. What’s one word you’d like people to describe you with?

Clare: Loyal. I stick to my word. I’m true to my word. I think honesty and transparency are very important, you know, in personal life, but then also in business, and, you know, I’m loyal to what I say. If I say I’m going to do something, I will do it. If I’m going to offer a service, I will do it, and I do everything to the best of my ability, so hopefully, people would say I’m loyal.

24 fingers: Yeah, I’m sure they would. Would you mind taking a selfie? So if I do print screen and you smile, Clare, we’ll do that. Who do you follow on social media? Who should we all check out?

Clare: On social media at the moment, oh, I follow loads of people. Okay, probably the one that comes to the forefront of my mind is Tej Lalvani from Dragons’ Den. I’m following him at the moment. We’ve actually had a few little conversations as well, and I was incredibly excited when he commented on something that I put up.

24 fingers: Boom.

Clare: Small things, but you know.

24 fingers: No, no, no. Little wins, mate, it’s all about the little wins.

Clare: I was like ‘oh, he’s actually taken the time out to message’. Yeah, so he’s been putting a lot of posts on there about mental health at the moment. He’s been putting a lot of posts on there about how we can look after ourselves as business owners, how the various challenges that we can face in business, and it resonates quite a lot with me, so yeah, I follow him at the moment.

24 fingers: Cool. What’s one quote that defines your work ethic?

Clare: “When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the aeroplane takes off against the wind, and not with it”, Henry Ford.

24 fingers: Very wise, I like that. It’s early, but what’s been the best part of your day, so far?

Clare: I’m enjoying our conversation, but also my daughter trotted off to school incredibly happy this morning.

24 fingers: Oh, nice.

Clare: It’s really challenging for the children, and yeah, she was actually singing Christmas tunes when she walked out the front door this morning. Don’t know why, but she was happy, so that’s the main thing.

24 fingers: I’ve got a few hours before mine even wakes up, so again, different universe.

Clare: My son’s in bed as well, so I’m with you.

24 fingers: Oh, maybe it’s a boy thing then. Finally, anything to plug?

Clare: So you can find me on Facebook, you can find me on LinkedIn, you can email me, so Excel Business Networking, you can find me on there, Clare Horsley. I’d also like to plug our new podcast show, which is called The Big Little Business Show. We’re interviewing a lot of business owners, and we’re basically identifying the challenges that businesses have, and inviting guest speakers to talk about how they’ve overcome those challenges. So yeah, I’m expanding my groups, and if anyone has any questions about business or requires some support, then please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.

24 fingers: Brilliant. Well, I’ve seen you in action, and I know how much people enjoy your groups, and what they get out of it, so keep doing what you’re doing, Clare. You’re doing a brilliant job, and thank you very much for your time.

Clare: Oh, thanks Emma. Thank you so much.

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24 questions with transformational coach Cynthia Moore

Scheenagh Harrington — Sat, 18 Jul 2020 07:52:09 +0000

Proof, as if it were actually needed, that social media really can live up to its name, came as Emma recently got a hefty dose of positive energy when she put our questionnaire to Facebook friend and transformational coach Cynthia Moore.

24 fingers: Hi Cynthia.

Cynthia: Hi, how are you?

24 fingers: I’m all right. Cynthia’s really brave and she’s going to be our, well not that brave, because my questions aren’t that difficult or tricky, but she’s going to be answering our 24 questions today. I met Cynthia through my Facebook group, 24 Piggies, that I run with the lovely Kathy Ennis, and I put a call out to say, I’ve got some gaps and slots for interviews and Cynthia kindly put her hand up so, thank you Cynthia, I really appreciate your time. Shall we begin?

Cynthia: Yes, let’s do it.

24 fingers: Okay so, without any preparation, what’s your favourite word?

Cynthia: Yes.

24 fingers: I like that. What gets you up in the morning?

Cynthia: The possibilities that a new day brings. I love that, I’m excited about that.

24 fingers: This is all becoming very positive Cynthia, this is inspiring at half past four, on what is it, Wednesday afternoon? This is amazing. Tell us, what do you truly, honestly think of social media?

Cynthia: I used to love social media, but now, it feels so much more involved. And some of the platforms are starting to feel a little bit disingenuous, but I still like it, I still use it, in fact, I’m on it about 10 hours a day so.

24 fingers: Just the 10 then? Lightweight. Kindles or books?

Cynthia: Books but in reality it’s a Kindle.

24 fingers: Yeah, I can’t get to grips, I’ve got to feel the paper myself, I don’t feel like I’m truly relaxing, unless I’ve got a bit of paper between my hands in the bath. Plus I would never take my Kindle in the bath.

Cynthia: No, well this is it, I do love books, I prefer books, but the Kindle is convenient.

24 fingers: It’s easier. So, what do you think is the biggest challenge in your industry right now? You’re a coach aren’t you? What’s the industry looking like nowadays?

Cynthia: I really love what I do, but I think the biggest challenge, is around maintaining quality. Coaching is a real trendy hip word, the minute it gets bandied about a lot, and not always in the right way. There are standards, so coaching is not a regulated industry at the moment, but there are standards that coaches adhere to, and work towards, and not everyone is sort of aligned to that, so there’s a quality issue that I’d love to raise. Yeah.

24 fingers: You can see me nodding, by the fact that I could not agree with you more, and it’s something that Kathy and I talk about a lot, in terms of being qualified to give advice, whether you’ve done it yourself, whether you’ve got the experience, and whether you’ve got the kind of theory as well, and all of that combined, could be a really great package. But when you’re only picking little bits out of things, that you’ve read somewhere, or someone else has told you; I couldn’t agree with you more. People spend a lot of money on this stuff as well.

Cynthia: Yes, and I think it gets really confusing because a lot of people that call themselves coach, but they are actually consultants. But coaching is the hip, trendy word so it gets really confused, and people don’t get confused about what coaching actually brings them. Coaching doesn’t give them the answers, coaching helps them find the answers for themselves.

24 fingers: You heard it here first, I love that definition Cynthia. What did you want to be when you were growing up?

Cynthia: Oh god, a million and one things but, definitely a historian, so that didn’t quite work out, and I was very inspired by Wall Street, and maybe Dallas, and I thought I could be be a big successful business woman, with big shoulder pads and a little briefcase.

24 fingers: Alexis Carrington?

Cynthia: Yeah, I don’t know what I’d be doing, but that was what I was wearing.

24 fingers: You’d just be walking around, you’d be having lunch with all your minions. So your favourite word was yes, could you use it in a sentence?

Cynthia: Yes, I can.

24 fingers: I knew you were going to say that. Can you make it rhyme?

Cynthia: Yes I can, let’s make a plan, hot off the press, let’s say yes.

24 fingers: My god, it goes on, this is brilliant, you’re the first person that’s done a four-line rhyme, that’s brilliant. What advice would you give to your younger self?

Cynthia: I would definitely tell my younger self to stop worrying so much, you know. It’s a waste of your time and your energy, you’re actually fine, your legs aren’t falling off, your arms aren’t falling off, you’re okay. Stop worrying. Just do the next thing.

24 fingers: Tell us the best thing anyone’s ever done for you?

Cynthia: Shown me this great kindness by observing something that I did, that was good about me, that I did well, and actually pointing it out, and saying it out loud. We’re so quick to always just criticise, and this person actually just pointed out, she observed something that was really positive, and pointed it out and to me, that opened up a whole new world of possibilities, it was amazing, the impact a split second comment had.

24 fingers: I love that. Kathy and our good friend Myra, we were talking yesterday about the power of women working or collaborating together, where you can genuinely say to the other person, “do you know what, you’re amazing at that, I really admire that about you”, rather than that constant kind of comparison or kind of bitching behind the scenes. When you’ve got that true genuine, admiration, for someone else’s qualities yes, tell them, because it makes such a difference. As you say, we’re so quick to either criticise ourselves, or kind of judge others that when you don’t do that, like you know, life’s great isn’t it?

Cynthia: Absolutely. It just made, at the time, it just made me realise, and this is the impact that we can all have on someone else, what you are actually capable of, which is amazing, yeah.

24 fingers: Well I’m gonna kick off then by saying, I think your Zoom background’s brilliant, and I like your positivity, so there’s two, that’s covered for me for today and tomorrow. You might not have had it yet, but tell us what’s been your career-defining moment?

Cynthia: Oh that’s a tricky one, I’m not sure it’s happened yet. I had a corporate career for many years, and I did well with that, you know, it was good. It was hard work, and I didn’t feel like it was the right thing for me, in terms of making the impact that I wanted to make. And we actually, my husband and I, we actually ended up selling everything we owned, we quit our corporate careers, and we actually travelled around Europe for a little while.

In fact, that’s where we were, that’s what we were doing in March when, you know, things changed, so now we’re back in the UK. But really I think, for me, the big pivotal moment was when I finally took the plunge and started my own business, working for myself.

24 fingers: Well watch this space about what comes next, but I love that story, and about actually going, do you know what I’m not making a big enough impact, in what I’m doing, I’m not serving enough people actually, or I wanna change, so I really admire your bravery there. Tell us, if you won a big award of some kind, who would you thank?

Cynthia: I’d have to thank my husband, for being my absolute rock. I know, he’s a really good guy and he really works, he’ll do anything to help me, so he’s an amazing support, I’m really lucky there. I would also thank my parents, they spent years and years and years working really hard, to give me and my brother, the best opportunities possible, they wanted a different life for us and that was their real goal, and they did that, so that was awesome. And my Aunty as well, who instilled in me a real sense of can do and independence. Yeah.

24 fingers: Can you give us a time saver of the day? Is there something that you use to manage your time?

Cynthia: There’s a few things actually, but the biggest thing you can do to help yourself, no matter what theoretical techniques you’d like to use, is to actually focus on what you can do right now and drop all the busy thoughts of what you should be doing, and all this, drop all the busy thinking, and do what you actually can do now.

24 fingers: Well that’s okay, we’ll have to adopt that one. Where do you see your industry in 24 months, I know we spoke about more regulation and more quality, do you see that changing in the next two years?

Cynthia: I don’t realistically, just because it hasn’t for many years, so realistically, I’m not sure that that will change, but what I do see, and this is really exciting, is that there’s a real global movement of using coaching to raise awareness, person by person, and company by company.

I was listening to someone speak this last week, and what she was saying is we’ve tried governments, the religious institutions have lost their clout, if you like. What we see is really, where we can make the change, raise the awareness in companies and in people, so there’s a real movement of levelling up that way. Which I think is exciting.

24 fingers: Interesting. Where were you 24 months ago?

Cynthia: So, this time of year, is actually my parents’ birthday, and I’m from the Netherlands, originally, so I was in the Netherlands, two years ago. I was not working, and we were travelling mostly, so that was it.

24 fingers: Tell us an interesting fact about your company?

Cynthia: I find it really hard to look at myself and my business as a company, because it feels more like a cool place I hang out, with people I care about. I love spending time in it as well so, you know, I am excited when I get up in the morning and much to my husband’s annoyance, I find it hard to stop in the evenings because I’m just loving it.

24 fingers: What’s an interesting fact about you?

Cynthia: I think, I don’t know, one of the most interesting things is just that, we took that leap, to really simplify our lives, and give up all, because you know, we didn’t have children, we had two careers, we gave it all up, and we just really stripped everything out of our lives, that wasn’t really essential to us. So, the things that turned out were important to us, was going out for the odd cup of coffee, with a bit of cake and, other than that, I think life is good you know, you don’t need a lot to be happy.

24 fingers: Me and my son live really simply and we don’t need a lot of stuff, do you know what I mean? And it takes the pressure off. So if you can have a 24-minute Skype chat with anybody, or Zoom call, I might change that question now, who would it be?

Cynthia: That’s a tricky one, I think professionally, right now, it would be Michael Neill. I’m really interested in what he says and how he says it, he’s an amazing coach, so I’d love to have 24 minutes with him, and in fact, I’m pretty sure, I will have a lot more time than that in the future, because it’s one of my goals. Personally, I’m intrigued by Kate Middleton, I’d love to have a 24-minute conversation with her.

24 fingers: Really, what are you intrigued about?

Cynthia: Well, I think that she comes across so perfect. I don’t know if you feel that, she always looks amazing.

24 fingers: Very poised.

Cynthia: I really want to just talk to her because, it must feel like a lot of pressure in the public eye, in this strange role in the Royal family, and I would love to know how she copes and manages with that.

24 fingers: You might get her on a call, and she might get completely drunk and go: “this is how I cope”. I doubt it, but she might. What is one word you’d like people to describe you with?

Cynthia: Oh that’s tricky. Impactful, that’s one of my key drivers, making a positive impact so, I would have to say impactful.

24 fingers: Million percent agree with that. Would you mind taking a selfie for us, if you smile, I will take a screen grab? Brilliant, done. What’s your favourite Twitter handle, or social media campaign? Have you got somebody that you like to follow, or somebody that you recommend we all follow?

Cynthia: I really like the Be Kind Twitter hashtag campaign that goes on. I do wonder you know, if we’ve collectively as a society, have forgotten what that really means. Where we’re a bit wrapped up in ourselves, and being kind a real difficult thing, and especially in this time, you can see it all around, there’s so much opinion and judgement, that there’s no conversation possible, so I think the Be Kind campaign, is one that I wholeheartedly support.

24 fingers: Because for me, it’s that person to person isn’t it? It’s that human, heart to heart bonds, that’s how we make a difference, and then that kind of ripples out. What’s one quote that defines your work ethic?

Cynthia: I think it has to be the one that I’ve got plastered all over my front page on my website, which is that your mind is the biggest obstacle you ever have to overcome, and once you overcome that, you can do anything. By Les Brown, I believe.

24 fingers: I was talking to again, Myra, I was talking to her about shifting mindset and, I’ve made some changes in my life fairly recently, that I’d never thought was possible, and it only took one little switch in the brain, to go no, actually, you don’t need to think that, and you don’t need to behave like that.

Suddenly life’s like, all right okay, and that was like, 10, 20,30,40-year habits that have been ingrained, so again, I agree. I literally agree with everything you’ve said on this call, Cynthia. We’ll have to do a sequel, and find out more that we agree on. So, what’s been the best part of your day so far?

Cynthia: Well actually this, is really good fun.

24 fingers: Thank you.

Cynthia: I love all the questions, this is awesome, I absolutely enjoy this, and also before this, I had an awesome client call with a great lady and that was awesome as well, so yeah.

24 fingers: Thank you very much. Finally, anything to plug?

Cynthia: I think what I would say on that actually is, I’ve spent the last two months or so, doing a lot of pro bono work with small businesses and entrepreneurs to try and keep the lights on, keep the motivation and the momentum going, keep them in the game, keep their heads in the game, and now, it feels like we can sort of see the light at the need of tunnel, whether that’s a real light or just, or not, I don’t know, but people are starting to look ahead again, which is exciting.

A lot of people, I’ve noticed, have used this time of enforced quiet, to be inspired with ideas, having a lot less noise in their heads, to come up with some really great ideas, and I’ve started working with people on creating, making those ideas a reality and creating whatever it is that they want. So if anyone is interested, if anyone has had some ideas like this, or any inspiration and you kind of want to get started with it, but maybe you’re getting in your own way, or you think you can’t, get in touch, let’s have a chat. No strings attached at all, let’s just have a chat and explore it and we’ll see what we can do.

24 fingers: How do people find you Cynthia?

Cynthia: I am on Facebook, I have my website, I’m also on Instagram. You can contact me on all those channels, I have e-mail facilities, message facilities on the website, as well as Facebook Messenger on the website, and on Facebook and messaging on Instagram as well.

24 fingers: I think we’ve got everything covered for you, which every good coach should. So, thank you Cynthia, it’s an absolute pleasure, and I’ve learned a lot on this call from you. Thank you very much and you’ve definitely inspired me.

Cynthia: Thank you so much for having me Emma, I’ve really enjoyed it, thank you.

The post 24 questions with transformational coach Cynthia Moore first appeared on 24 fingers.

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24 questions with Lisa Appadurai of The Wellbeing Musketeers

Scheenagh Harrington — Sat, 11 Jul 2020 08:41:28 +0000

Emma kicked off our latest 24 question series by getting to the bottom of a curious naming mystery when she chatted to Lisa Appadurai of The Wellbeing Musketeers, which she runs with her partner Tracey Bloss. All for one and one for all!

24 fingers: For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Emma Goode of social media agency 24 fingers, and today I’m joined by the lovely Lisa Christmas LongSausage, and I’m sure she’ll be able to tell us why she’s called that on Facebook, because I promise you that isn’t her real name. How are you today Lisa, are you okay?

Lisa: Hi Emma I’m fine thank you.

24 fingers: You can tell us that now actually. I usually start with what’s your favourite word but feel free to share.

Lisa: I was rather inebriated one evening watching TV and watching the credits roll on the end of a programme. Somebody’s name rolled past whose surname was Christmas, I made the chance remark that I’d love to be called Christmas. The LongSausage part, I’ve no idea where that came from, I think it got tagged on that same evening. That was 10, 11 years ago and just kind of stuck really…

24 fingers: I love it. Lisa, what’s your favourite word?

Lisa: My favourite word, for this year anyway, is progress. It stems from my holiday I had just before lockdown, which I took as an opportunity to try and think about what I was going to do this year, how things were a bit up in the air in a few areas and I needed to formulate a plan while I was on holiday, think about the future.

I had also coincidentally managed to snap a beloved silver ring I’d been wearing for years and decided to replace it. While browsing in a shop on holiday I was looking at some lovely jewellery and there was this pretty little ring with the word progress written on it in the Thai language. It just seemed so appropriate so I thought “d’you know, I’m going to have that as it sums up what I’m thinking about at the moment”.

24 fingers: Life’s too short, buy the ring: that’s my motto. What gets you up in the morning?

Lisa: My filter coffee and my daily gym work out – or at the moment my home gym workout. I can’t do without either of those.

24 fingers: What do you honestly, truly think of social media?

Lisa: I’m loving social media for the fact I’ve got lots of friends and family in far-flung countries so it’s amazing for being able to keep in touch and see birthdays and photos and the like going on. I’m also slightly addicted to it at the moment as for the past few weeks I’ve been working from home a bit more, so I’ve had more time to scroll, but I’m not loving the noise you get from social media. Being bombarded with endless rubbish and adverts, and the amount of quite nasty comments in different groups. People are on quite a short fuse.

24 fingers: Keyboard warriors I believe they’re called. Kindles or books?

Lisa: Books, definitely for the smell and feel of them.

24 fingers: 100%. What do you feel is the biggest challenge your industry is facing right now?

Lisa: It’s not just a “right now” thing, I think it’s been for a long time, it’s just changing people’s perceptions. People come with the idea they want a diet plan or a pill or some funny green powder to drink and suddenly they’re going to be thin and beautiful and feel wonderful. That’s not how we work, personally. It’s trying to get them to see there’s a different way and one that can be successful for them in the long-term.

24 fingers: I have to say I’m a convert of funny green powders, but I absolutely agree with you, it’s got to be a long-term solution. I’m very much “I want fixes right here right now” and get very frustrated when I haven’t achieved my goals tomorrow. I phone my coaches up and say “I’ve done X,Y,Z and want it to happen now” and they say “slow down, there’s been decades of abuse”.

Lisa: I think it’s wishful thinking for people, and I’m like that myself. I hope if I try something new that it’s going to happen instantly but I know in my heart and head I’ve learned probably that it’s going to take a while.

24 fingers: What did you want to be growing up?

Lisa: I wanted to be a veterinary nurse, and I became one so I was very lucky.

24 fingers: So what led to you founding The Wellbeing Musketeers?

Lisa: I had a long passion for health and fitness and nutrition since the age of about 17. I qualified as a fitness instructor and massage therapist, and then about 10 or 11 years ago I saw an advertisement for an open event for a new scheme being set up in Southend. I went along and chatted to some of the management of that new team and got an application form, and was one of the lucky ones to get a job as a health and wellbeing practitioner and it led on to this.

24 fingers: Now you’re favourite word was progress: can you use it in a sentence?

Lisa: Yes, though this isn’t me, it’s George Bernard Shaw. He said “progress is impossible without change and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything”. I think it’s very apt for the type of work I do.

24 fingers: It’s interesting about mind shifts – I’ve had a few lately and the difference to how I used to think – just take one thing and suddenly it was like a switch going off in my brain. Now, can you make it rhyme?

Lisa: Yes and this is also appropriate: it’s progress, don’t regress.

24 fingers: Very good. I’m going to steal that one. What advice would you give to your younger self?

Lisa: I would tell myself not to worry about what other people think of me, their opinions of me, know I can be confident and bold enough to speak my mind, as long as I’m not horrible. Be a bit more bold, really. I was a bit of a frightened rabbit growing up.

24 fingers: What’s the best thing anyone’s ever done for you?

Lisa: Bought me a lovely pair of Gore-Tex running gloves, which were very unglamorous, but without me saying anything, he noticed how cold my hands got when we went for a run together. Then out of nowhere, he produced these lovely gloves which back in the day – this was quite a few years ago – were actually very expensive. I was quite overwhelmed that someone had actually noticed without me saying anything and I’ve still got them to this day. I still wear them in the winter.

24 fingers: If you won a big award of some kind, who would you thank?

Lisa: My teachers at school, first and foremost, because they wrote me off. I was off sick quite a lot at school and had glandular fever a couple of times, and my teachers told my parents I wouldn’t pass my exams or get anywhere in life and I feel I’ve proved them wrong. I’d also thank my lovely clients I’ve seen over the years. They’ve been amazing on the whole and trusted me with a lot of their woes, and they didn’t know me from Adam when they first met me, but they really made me feel quite humble and grateful that I was able to help them.

24 fingers: You might not have had it yet, but what’s been your career-defining moment so far?

Lisa: It was when somebody told me that I’d changed her life. She did that herself and may well have done it without my help, but she said that to me and that was wonderful – it made it all worthwhile.

24 fingers: You obviously gave her the tools to change her life.

Lisa: I hopefully planted a seed there somewhere.

24 fingers: Definitely. It germinated. I know you’re up early, can you give us a timesaver for the day?

Lisa: I always put my makeup on and get dressed while the coffee’s brewing, so I have to be quick about it. I also always make sure if I’m going to be out at lunchtime then I prep it the night before. It’s a life-long habit.

24 fingers: Amazing. You’re a better woman than me. Where do you see your industry in 24 months?

Lisa: Well it’s going to be growing I think, because people are going to be looking to better themselves health-wise and so on, but I’d like to see more people embracing long-term change. Moving away from a visit to the doctors to get more pills, when perhaps other changes they could make might make an improvement for them, and just look to the future and embrace the fact that they can make change if they’re patient, and not throw it all away if it doesn’t work in the first few minutes.

24 fingers: I will remember that. Where were you 24 months ago?

Lisa: I was still employed doing a similar health role and very happily so. I had a wonderful small team of colleagues to work with and a wonderful client base too, so I’m very grateful for that. At the time I was thinking of striking out on my own at some point in the future but it was never really a serious thought I don’t think at that point.

24 fingers: And yet you did it. What’s an interesting fact about The Wellbeing Musketeers?

Lisa: I don’t know if it’s interesting but it is a fact. Tracey and I could be any one of our clients. We’re both in our fifties now, Tracey’s a single mum of five and a nanna as well, I’ve had mental health issues over the years, I’ve had problems with food. So we really can relate to the struggles our clients have, we’re not just sitting in a higher position preaching at people and saying “well you should be like us”, because we understand how time-consuming these things can be to sort out and the damage you can do mentally as well as physically.

24 fingers: I don’t think there’s anything better than talking to someone who listens and gets it, rather than judging. I think that’s a huge thing. I know the people I’ve worked with in the past have been empathetic and not tried to rush me.

Lisa: We try to make our client experience really chilled out. We don’t wear a uniform or even wear a T-shirt with our logo, anything that would make us stand out as an official kind of person. We’re not medical people, we’re mates you have a chat but maybe we’ve got more knowledge in a certain area that benefits the client.

24 fingers: Brilliant. If you had a 24-minute Skype chat with anyone who would it be?

Lisa: It would be my grandma, who passed away when I was 13 and my grandad, who unfortunately I never got to meet.

24 fingers: What’s one word you’d like people to describe you with?

Lisa: I’d like to be known as kind. I hope I am, most of the time.

24 fingers: Would you mind taking a selfie?

Lisa: Hair and eyebrows – not good at the moment!

24 fingers: What’s your favourite social media campaign or group you follow?

Lisa: I follow and I’m part of the Myprotein Facebook community. I probably shouldn’t be plugging a supplements company, but it’s one I buy from and I was invited to join their VIP community and it’s absolutely wonderful. I’ve made what I feel are really good friends, though I’ve not met any of them. Everyone’s super-supportive. I don’t understand Twitter or Instagram I’m afraid, I’m a bit of a dinosaur.

24 fingers: Twitter’s the best. What’s one quote sums that defines your work ethic?

Lisa: I saw this online, I don’t know who it’s from but it sums things up for me. It’s: If you have a passion for what you do, regardless of status or income, you’re a winner in life. I find that to be true – I really love what I do. If I could afford to do it for free I would, but sadly I can’t.

24 fingers: Not yet. What’s been the best part of your day?

Lisa: Today’s been the workout this morning and later on it will be putting on my pyjamas as I’m not going out again.

24 fingers: I’m envious now you can put your pyjamas on at 5 o’clock. Finally, anything to plug?

Lisa: Just us, Tracey and myself as The Wellbeing Musketeers. If you want to make a lifestyle change, and have been thinking about it for ages or you’re trying lots of different things that aren’t working, we can help you. We want you to feel empowered and confident and help to improve your current and future health. This isn’t about looks as much as your actual state of health and how you can manage it better and avoid developing long-term conditions.

24 fingers: How can people find you?

Lisa: They can find us through Facebook. No website as yet but hopefully in the pipeline before too long.

24 fingers: Talk to me about that. Thanks very much Lisa, I really enjoyed our chat. Inspiring. Carry on the good work.

Lisa: I will, thank you.

The post 24 questions with Lisa Appadurai of The Wellbeing Musketeers first appeared on 24 fingers.

The post 24 questions with Lisa Appadurai of The Wellbeing Musketeers appeared first on 24 fingers.