Real You, Real Money with Ray Dodd Ray Dodd

Today we’re joined by brilliant photographer and business owner Éadaoin Curtin!
 
Éadaoin’s specialises in branding photography with her business Firechild Photography, and has a fresh and encouraging perspective on how to put your face to your brand. Her approach is backed by years of connecting with entrepreneurs and bringing the most authentic reflection of themselves to the surface.
 
Tune in for talk on the pressures of being visible— literally — the revelations that happen when you are free of the male gaze, and the conditioning we challenge whenever we have our photo taken.
 
You can find out more about Éadaoin at:
https://firechildphotography.com/
@ firechildphotography
 
And if you’re catching this episode on 6 June, you’re JUST in time to sign up to Plenty! You can find all the info here: https://www.raydodd.co.uk/plenty
 
 
QUOTES
 
“None of my clients are getting the photos taken because they want to promote how they look. It's because they want to promote how they work, what they do, how they can help you. The body that they are in is important…and irrelevant.”
 
“In being the real you, people will be attracted to you. If you’re actively trying to blend in with all the other coaches, you just become one of a crowd. That's the countercultural aspect of showing up in front of the camera as yourself.”

The brilliant Asher Larmie joins me today to talk about combatting scarcity, prioritising accessibility, and learning to embrace making the money you desire.
Asher is an educator and advocate combatting weight stigma and promoting weight-inclusive care. They offer courses, books and masterclasses that empower you on your health journey without all the toxic weight loss nonsense.
Asher is part of my money program Plenty, and has had huge success in doubling their income within the space of 6 months. We walk through that journey together, starting with how to challenge money stories carried through generations, facing the unique finances of being self-employed, and embracing a sense of community to lead you through it all.
This episode is for you if you’re interested in how to challenge your conditioning around money… and so is Plenty! Doors are now open to join, with full information on the program and community and a link to sign up right here: https://www.raydodd.co.uk/plenty.
 
For more information on working with Asher, check out
@thefatdoctor
https://www.fatdoctor.co.uk/
 
QUOTES
"I didn't realise just how much that was passed down, I didn't realise it massively impacts how I live my entire life, in the fear that money could just disappear at any moment in time."
 
"It felt like one of my deepest, darkest secrets. How dare I admit that I not only want to earn money, but I think I can and maybe should earn money. "
 
"The whole point of this community is that...we are forming a resistance almost. We are here to support each other, but also to help each other to fight back."
 
 
 

'It costs that much cause it takes me f***ing hours…' If you sang this lyric in your head then you’ve probably heard of Laura Jane Barnes, who joins us in today’s episode!
 
Of course, Laura Jane is more than just a viral song maker (which we’ll get into in the pod). She is a business strategist who helps artists and handmade business owners turn their social media efforts into an engaged and loyal online following.
 
Tune in as Laura and I talk through why visibility as a small business owner is more essential than you think, how to establish trust with your following, and why the algorithm isn’t your enemy.
 
For more about Laura Jane, go to:
https://www.laurajanebarnes.com/
Or follow @heyitslaurajane
 
And if you’re interested in making your own impact online, join the waitlist for Plenty right here: https://www.raydodd.co.uk/plenty
 
 
QUOTE
'When it comes to like artists and hand makers and stuff like that, I see a lot of “I don't want to be a content creator. I don't want to be a personal brand’ … Well, you don't have to be, but your journey is going to be more difficult. Because the reason that someone buys from a small business owner over a huge company is that personal connection.'
 
'I think the other thing with showing up is that people assume that in order to be visible that you have to give up your privacy, and I don't think that's the case. It's not about letting strangers in, it's about letting yourself out.'
 
'This is the main piece with engagement that so many people are missing: you need to give people an opportunity to share themselves, their values, their opinions, their experiences, their preferences, because people want to talk about themselves…. Then you'll find that people actually start building friendships within your comment section.'

If you’re running an independent business, it is almost impossible to avoid thinking about the current economy and how it’s effecting sales. I’ve seen so many people preparing for the worst, closing down their small businesses, or simply adjusting to the change in the market while looking back at the ‘e-commerce pandemic boom’ as a thing of the past.
 
It’s a lot to take in. And the good news is, you do have control over a lot of how you move forward. That’s why today, I’m breaking down the misconceptions and misunderstandings about how something like a recession, a cost of living crisis, or an economic downturn can impact our businesses, and what we can do about it.
 
QUOTES
 
“There has never been more ways to make this work, even though what we're being told is that there's never been less ways.”
 
“If somebody chooses to work with you, you have to trust them.  It's not your business to decide who should or shouldn't be working with you or how people should or shouldn't spend their money.”
 
“People do get more discerning when there is this general scarcity in the air. It’s a bit chicken and egg.”

I’m returning after a little hiatus, and with me is the brilliant Lauren Currie!
Lauren is the Founder of UPFRONT, and is on a mission to change confidence for 1 million women. An all-around powerhouse, Lauren has been awarded an OBE for her services to design and diversity.
Together we look at visibility from all angles, especially the ones that are trickier to navigate. From the positives of learning to own your work and show up as yourself, to the less explored complexity of privacy, safety, and pressure, we break down what it really means for people from all walks of life to show up online.
Ever notice how visibility is an ‘obligation’ that seems to fall on female business owners? Then this episode is for you…
 
You can find out more about Lauren here:
https://laurencurrie.co/
https://www.weareupfront.com/
 
QUOTES
“You can be private and authentic at the same time.”
 
“I think with female founders, the world wants to know everything about you. It's like: I'm going to decide if I'm your customer or not based on where you live, who you're in a relationship with, how you parent. I think it’s risky and we're only just starting to scratch the surface of what the consequences are for the women in these positions.”
 
“When you end up with a life that's so different to  the life that you came from, how do you  keep progressing?”
 
“Why do I need to be camera ready every day when I'm trying to actually build a business?  I look at male founders in the same position as me and they are not doing that.”

Today I’m taking a look back at the journey from the start of my business to where I am today. I’m currently revamping my own messaging and funnels, which has turned out to be a great chance to reflect on all of the experiences, inspirations, and even pitfalls that that are at the heart of my offers.
 
Listen in to hear about how and why I started my business, the circumstances that led me to the self-trust I needed to jump in with both feet, and how you can do the same no matter where you’re at.
 
If you caught the shoutout at the beginning of the episode, the undeniably brilliant Tamu Thomas just released her first book ‘Women Who Work Too Much’. Check it out here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Women-Who-Work-Too-Much/dp/1837820740
 
And if you’re interested in the upcoming round of Plenty, be sure to get on the waitlist: https://www.raydodd.co.uk/plenty
 
 
QUOTES
“I realised how much easier it was for me to make money when I decided to trust myself. When I decided to do things in ways that felt good to me,  that is when it worked.
 
“I don't care what people think of me being visible. I need to feed my family.  That was a far more pressing concern than: what does so and so think of me being visible? Am I annoying these people?”
 
“I don't want you to have to hit a rock bottom experience in order to be able to act on your zones of genius or your deep desires. That was my story, but it doesn't need to be your story”