"Don't chase growth for growth sake."

In this engaging conversation, Heather and Sara Howard discuss the journey of building a successful writing business, the importance of maintaining work-life balance, and the evolving role of AI in the writing industry. Sara shares valuable insights on business growth, the significance of personal values, and how to create a positive company culture. 

She emphasises the importance of learning from others, practical frameworks for business growth, and the balance between running a business and personal projects. Sara also discusses the significance of focusing on growth that aligns with personal values rather than just revenue, encouraging listeners to find joy in their entrepreneurial journey.

 

Takeaways

• Be clear on what you want your life to be like outside of work.
• Set boundaries to maintain balance in your life.
• Identify and document your personal values to shape your business culture.
• Don't chase growth for the sake of growth; know your end game.
• AI can assist in ideation but should not replace human creativity.
• Creating a positive company culture involves mutual respect and flexibility.
• Training is essential for implementing a new tone of voice in a business.
• Effective communication skills are crucial for business success.
• Understanding client needs is key to creating impactful content.
• Satisfaction comes from helping others express their ideas effectively. Talking to smart people fuels creativity and innovation.
• Borrowing ideas from larger businesses can benefit small enterprises.
• Building trust with clients is essential for effective messaging.
• Understanding different business models can aid in growth strategies.
• Exit strategies are crucial for long-term business planning.
• Successful businesses share common elements known as the five P's.
• It's important to grow better, not just bigger.
• Setting boundaries can help maintain balance in business and personal life.
• Small businesses can be just as impactful as larger ones. 

 

At a glance…

00:00 Introduction and Business Growth Tips
02:59 The Importance of Values in Business
05:56 Sara's Journey and the Birth of Writers Australia
10:04 Navigating AI in the Writing Industry
11:49 Service Offerings and Training at Writers Australia
16:04 Case Study: Ghostwriting for Executives
18:23 The Power of Curiosity and Learning from Others
20:12 Launching 'Beyond Solo': Insights and Inspirations
23:44 Practical Frameworks for Business Growth
26:31 Reflections on Balancing Business and Writing
32:49 Final Thoughts: Growing Better, Not Just Bigger

Resources

Sara's Links:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Resource - Beyond Solo is available now online and at major online book retailers

About the Guest

Sara Howard is the founder of Writers Australia, a copywriting and content agency headquartered in Sydney. Over two decades, she has grown her business from very-part-time-while-wrangling-toddlers to a talented in-house team and an impressive roster of corporate and not-for-profit clients. Together, they have created a different kind of agency culture, based on collaboration, flexibility, autonomy, and financial stability.

Through her work for major banks, global consultancies and universities, Sara became an accidental expert in the future of work, leadership, sales strategies, and financial systems (among many other things). She has put all that knowledge to work in her own business, and now shares it in her first book, Beyond Solo. It’s the guide Sara wishes she'd had when she first began.

See Transcript

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