Seasons in Business

In this episode, I’m joined by Sarah Robertson, writer, mentor, designer and founder of Fonn, to talk about storytelling, creative identity and her first book, Shape Your Brand Story.We explore how our stories shape our businesses, and why brand storytelling goes beyond the words we write. It’s there in our choices, our visual identities, the relationships we build and the experiences we bring to our work.Sarah shares her own experience of starting again, reconnecting with her creativity, and bringing her book into the world. We also talk about her Brand Seasons approach, making space for connection, and recognising when our energy and circumstances call for a different way of working.Mentioned in this episode:Download The Lookout, Sarah’s free brand audit: https://studiofonn.com/lettersBuy a copy of Shape Your Brand Story Explore Sarah’s work:Learn more about Fonn, Sarah’s storytelling studio Read Sarah’s Substack, This Creative Life Follow @studiofonn on Instagram–––Stay in touch:I'd love to hear your thoughts! Find me on Instagram @seasonsinbusiness or email [email protected] my monthly Notes from the Studio newsletter for seasonal thoughts on creativity, business and life behind the scenes:https://sarahandmaude.myflodesk.com/business-lifeEnjoying the show? Following, leaving a rating or review, or sharing an episode with a friend all help more people discover it.This episode was written, recorded and produced by Sarah Phelps.

We know how much care goes into what we do, but do our customers get to see and feel that too? In this episode, a couple of recent conversations — about a much-loved piece of ceramic art and a disappointing stationery order — get me thinking about the gap between the quality of our work and the impression our businesses make.From welcome emails to the way you hand over finished work, I look at small changes that can help to make sure the experience people have with your business reflects the quality of what you offer. Because sometimes a little detail can make a lasting difference to how someone remembers your business.–––Stay in touch:I'd love to hear your thoughts! Find me on Instagram @seasonsinbusiness or email [email protected] my monthly Notes from the Studio newsletter for seasonal thoughts on creativity, business and life behind the scenes:https://sarahandmaude.myflodesk.com/business-lifeEnjoying the show? Following, leaving a rating or review, or sharing an episode with a friend all help more people discover it.This episode was written, recorded and produced by Sarah Phelps.

For my very first guest on Seasons in Business, I’m starting close to home! My husband, Andrew, has been beside me through every season of Sarah and Maude — from giving me the nudge I needed to rediscover letterpress to supporting me through redundancy, self-employment and almost 15 years of building a creative business.We talk about confidence, creative fulfilment, the unseen work behind a small business and the importance of noticing how far you’ve come. You’ll also discover the business word Andrew never wants to hear again, what he really means when he describes my work as “fine”, and what he would change if he were my boss for the day.–––Stay in touch:I'd love to hear your thoughts! Find me on Instagram @seasonsinbusiness or email [email protected] my monthly Notes from the Studio newsletter for seasonal thoughts on creativity, business and life behind the scenes:https://sarahandmaude.myflodesk.com/business-lifeEnjoying the show? Following, leaving a rating or review, or sharing an episode with a friend all help more people discover it.This episode was written, recorded and produced by Sarah Phelps.

I'm back behind the microphone after a summer break, and feeling ready for a catch-up! So I'm looking back at the last few months, sharing a little of what I've been up to, and celebrating the first birthday of Seasons in Business.September can be a funny old month, with that familiar back-to-school feeling arriving just as Christmas starts creeping closer. With Mabon, the autumn equinox, just behind us, I'm sharing three reflection questions to help you check in with your energy, think about what matters most, and find a pace that works for you as we head into autumn.Mentioned in this episode:Download your free Autumn Planning Guide: https://www.sarahandmaude.com/seasonal-planning–––Stay in touch:I'd love to hear your thoughts! Find me on Instagram @seasonsinbusiness or email [email protected] my monthly Notes from the Studio newsletter for seasonal thoughts on creativity, business and life behind the scenes:https://sarahandmaude.myflodesk.com/business-lifeEnjoying the show? Following, leaving a rating or review, or sharing an episode with a friend all help more people discover it.This episode was written, recorded and produced by Sarah Phelps.

In this episode, I'm taking a pause at midsummer to share some gentle prompts for reflection.As we move into the second half of the year, this is an invitation to look back on the last few months, check in with where you are right now, and think about what you want your summer to look like.Key takeaways:Why the summer solstice can be a helpful time to pause and reflectGentle prompts for looking back on the last few months without judgementWhat you might be ready to let go of — and what feels worth carrying forwardMentioned in this episode:Download your Summer Planning Guide — For more reflection prompts and gentle ideas to help you move through the summer season with intention. https://www.sarahandmaude.com/seasonal-planning–––Stay in touch:I'd love to hear your thoughts! Find me on Instagram @seasonsinbusiness or email [email protected] my monthly Notes from the Studio newsletter for seasonal thoughts on creativity, business and life behind the scenes:https://sarahandmaude.myflodesk.com/business-lifeEnjoying the show? Following, leaving a rating or review, or sharing an episode with a friend all help more people discover it.This episode was written, recorded and produced by Sarah Phelps.

In this episode, I'm exploring the idea of growth in business — and questioning whether getting bigger is always the goal.From defining success on your own terms, to staying small by choice, this is a gentle reflection on growth, comparison, and building a business that supports the life you actually want to live.Key takeaways:Why success and growth are closely connected, but not the same thingHow to define growth in a way that actually supports your life and workWhy staying small can be a strength, not a limitation–––Stay in touch:I'd love to hear your thoughts! Find me on Instagram @seasonsinbusiness or email [email protected] my monthly Notes from the Studio newsletter for seasonal thoughts on creativity, business and life behind the scenes:https://sarahandmaude.myflodesk.com/business-lifeEnjoying the show? Following, leaving a rating or review, or sharing an episode with a friend all help more people discover it.This episode was written, recorded and produced by Sarah Phelps.

In this episode, I’m reflecting on social media fatigue, online overwhelm, and why I’ve started rethinking my relationship with the constant connection we find at our fingertips.From analogue nostalgia and creative pressure, to evergreen content and real-life community, this is an honest conversation about trying to build a slower, more sustainable way of living and working online.Key takeaways:Why social media can start to feel more performative than creativeSmall changes I’m making to create healthier boundaries around technology and social mediaWhy I’m focusing more on evergreen content, SEO, Pinterest, and real-life connection–––Stay in touch:I'd love to hear your thoughts! Find me on Instagram @seasonsinbusiness or email [email protected] my monthly Notes from the Studio newsletter for seasonal thoughts on creativity, business and life behind the scenes:https://sarahandmaude.myflodesk.com/business-lifeEnjoying the show? Following, leaving a rating or review, or sharing an episode with a friend all help more people discover it.This episode was written, recorded and produced by Sarah Phelps.

In this episode, I'm getting vulnerable about the ideas I've been holding back on — and how fear has been quietly getting in the way.If you've been hesitating on something you really want to do, this episode is a gentle reminder that you don't need all the answers before you begin.Key takeaways:How to recognise when fear is disguising itself as something elseThe shift from asking "am I ready?" to "can I just try?"Making space to work on ideas without the pressure of having it all figured out–––Stay in touch:I'd love to hear your thoughts! Find me on Instagram @seasonsinbusiness or email [email protected] my monthly Notes from the Studio newsletter for seasonal thoughts on creativity, business and life behind the scenes:https://sarahandmaude.myflodesk.com/business-lifeEnjoying the show? Following, leaving a rating or review, or sharing an episode with a friend all help more people discover it.This episode was written, recorded and produced by Sarah Phelps.

In this episode, I’m exploring what’s really going on when we avoid the things we know we need to do. From small admin tasks to bigger, more meaningful projects, the resistance to begin can be strong. So we're taking a look at procrastination, what it might be trying to show us, and why it often appears when something feels important, unfamiliar, or a little bit overwhelming.I share some of my own patterns and experiences, along with a few simple, supportive ways to approach starting — without pressure, perfection, or the need to have everything figured out.So if you’ve been circling around something, waiting for the right moment, or struggling to take that first step, this episode is a quiet invitation to begin today.Key takeaways:Why procrastination isn’t always about discipline, or motivationHow fear and overwhelm can create resistance to startingThe “perfectionism loop” — and how it can delay both the start and the finishGentle ways to begin, including time-blocking, “eat the frog”, and starting smallA reminder that starting — not finishing — is often the most important step–––Stay in touch:I'd love to hear your thoughts! Find me on Instagram @seasonsinbusiness or email [email protected] my monthly Notes from the Studio newsletter for seasonal thoughts on creativity, business and life behind the scenes:https://sarahandmaude.myflodesk.com/business-lifeEnjoying the show? Following, leaving a rating or review, or sharing an episode with a friend all help more people discover it.This episode was written, recorded and produced by Sarah Phelps.

In this episode, I’m exploring seasonal planning — a gentle way to plan your business by working with the natural rhythm of the year, rather than against it.Building on episode four, where I shared what a slow, seasonal business can look like, this feels like the next step — turning that idea into something practical and supportive. I talk through how I combine the Wheel of the Year with a simple 90-day approach, creating a way of planning that feels structured, but still flexible.This isn’t about rigid systems or doing more. It’s about choosing one meaningful focus, working with your energy, and allowing space for things to evolve as you go.So if you’ve been craving a softer, more sustainable way to plan your work, this episode is a gentle place to begin.Key takeaways:What seasonal planning is, and how it blends natural rhythms with 90-day planningA simple way to choose a seasonal focus without feeling overwhelmedWhy working with the energy of each season can make planning feel more intuitiveThe importance of a mid-season check-in, and allowing flexibility as you goA gentle alternative to goal-setting, using themes or intentions insteadMentioned in this episode:Download my Seasonal Planning Guides — These gentle guides will help you reflect, set intentions, and plan your next 90 days in a way that feels calm and manageable. https://www.sarahandmaude.com/seasonal-planningIf you enjoyed this episode, you might also like episode four "What running a slow, seasonal business really means — and why I love it".–––Stay in touch:I'd love to hear your thoughts! Find me on Instagram @seasonsinbusiness or email [email protected] my monthly Notes from the Studio newsletter for seasonal thoughts on creativity, business and life behind the scenes:https://sarahandmaude.myflodesk.com/business-lifeEnjoying the show? Following, leaving a rating or review, or sharing an episode with a friend all help more people discover it.This episode was written, recorded and produced by Sarah Phelps.