In The Making with Lauren Goodman

What does it really take to build a successful creative business?In this solo episode of In The Making, Lauren reflects on the biggest lessons from Season 3 — pulling together insights from conversations with leading wedding industry professionals, creative entrepreneurs, and founders.From starting a business without a perfect plan to navigating messy growth, saying yes before you feel ready, and building confidence through action, this episode is packed with honest takeaways for anyone building a business in the creative or wedding industry.Lauren also shares her own journey — from starting without experience to building a luxury wedding planning business — and why success rarely follows a straight path.In this episode, we cover:How most successful businesses start from a problem or ideaWhy you don’t need a perfect business plan to beginThe importance of saying yes before you feel readyBuilding confidence through action and experienceWhy business growth is messy, non-linear, and constantly evolvingLessons from wedding planners, florists, and creative foundersReal insights into building and scaling a creative businessWhether you're a wedding supplier, creative entrepreneur, or service-based business owner, this episode is a powerful reminder that success is built through action, resilience, and adaptability.🎧 In The Making — real conversations on building a creative business.

What is a wedding content creator — and why is this role transforming the wedding industry?In this episode of In The Making, Lauren is joined by Melissa from MB Weddings & Events to explore the rise of wedding content creation and how social media is reshaping modern weddings.From going viral on TikTok to building a fully booked business, Melissa shares how she transitioned from teaching into a new and rapidly growing space within the wedding industry.This conversation also dives into the difference between content creators, videographers, and photographers — and the growing demand for real-time, authentic wedding content.In this episode, we cover:What a wedding content creator actually doesThe rise of TikTok and social media in weddingsBuilding a business through viral contentThe difference between content creators and videographersIndustry standards and the challenges of a low barrier to entryBranding, positioning, and standing out in a saturated marketThe future of wedding content and digital storytellingIf you're a wedding supplier, creative entrepreneur, or content creator, this episode gives insight into one of the fastest-growing roles in the industry.

In this mini Q&A episode of In The Making, I’m answering real questions sent in by listeners and members of my audience.From navigating tricky client situations to making confident business decisions, these short episodes are designed to give honest, practical insight into the real challenges business owners face.Whether you're working in the wedding industry, running a creative business, or growing a service-based business, these listener-led episodes are here to support you through the decisions you're making every day.If you’ve ever wondered whether other business owners are facing the same challenges — trust me, they are.

How do you turn a completely new idea into a successful business?In this episode of In The Making, Lauren sits down with Daisy Amodio, founder of The Proposers — the UK’s first marriage proposal planning company.From creating a brand-new niche in the wedding industry to landing a TV show and planning over 5,000 proposals, Daisy shares the reality of building a unique business from scratch.This episode dives into marketing to an unconventional audience, navigating growth, and the truth about media exposure — including why a TV show didn’t necessarily translate into business growth.In this episode, we cover:Building a niche business in the wedding industryThe story behind The ProposersMarketing to men and a unique target audienceLanding a TV show and what it’s really like behind the scenesWhy visibility doesn’t always equal revenueScaling a creative service-based businessLessons in entrepreneurship, growth, and resilienceIf you’re looking to stand out in a crowded market or build something different, this episode is full of insight into thinking creatively and backing your ideas.

TRIGGER WARNING: Miscarriage and pregnancy lossHow do you run a business while navigating motherhood — especially when life doesn’t go to plan?In this deeply honest episode of In The Making, I sit down with Holly to talk about the reality of running a business while becoming a parent — and the emotional journey that comes with it.Together, we share the conversations that so many business owners have quietly behind closed doors — from pregnancy planning and miscarriage to maternity leave, returning to work, and navigating the constant juggle between career and family life.This episode includes a trigger warning for pregnancy loss, as Holly openly shares her experience of miscarriage and the emotional impact of navigating grief while continuing to run a business. It’s a conversation rooted in honesty, vulnerability, and the importance of speaking about topics that often feel difficult to say out loud.We also talk about the reality of parenting while running a business — the mental load, the guilt, the pressure to “balance it all,” and the truth that balance often feels impossible.At its heart, this episode is about reassurance — that you’re not alone, and that behind the scenes, many of us are navigating the same challenges.

What is it really like running a business with ADHD?In this honest solo episode of In The Making, Lauren shares how ADHD impacts her day-to-day life as a business owner — from productivity and focus to systems, routines, and managing a constantly busy mind.Three years after her ADHD diagnosis, Lauren opens up about what works, what doesn’t, and how she has built a business that supports the way her brain works — not against it.This episode covers everything from morning routines and exercise to business systems, structure, and the reality of balancing creativity with organisation.In this episode, we cover:How ADHD affects productivity as a business ownerCreating systems and processes that support a creative brainManaging focus, energy, and overwhelmThe role of exercise, routine, and habitsWhy ADHD can be a superpower in businessThe challenges of ideas, distractions, and executionReal-life strategies for running a business with ADHDWhether you’ve been diagnosed with ADHD, suspect you might have it, or simply feel overwhelmed running a business, this episode offers relatable insight and practical perspective.🎧 A candid conversation on entrepreneurship, creativity, and real life behind the scenes.

What happens when you spot a gap in the market — and decide to build the thing that doesn’t exist?In this episode of In The Making, I’m joined by Katie, co-founder of Rewritten, the bridesmaids and occasionwear brand that helped redefine what modern bridal parties wear.Katie shares the story behind building a brand that challenged tradition — moving away from the outdated, one-style-fits-all bridesmaid dress and creating something more contemporary, wearable, and design-led.From sketching their first collection and launching with just a handful of styles, to navigating partnerships, scaling a product-based business, and expanding into international markets, this episode gives a real behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to grow a fashion brand from idea to global recognition.We also talk honestly about the realities of running a business with a co-founder — navigating friendship, challenges, disagreements, and personal hardships while protecting the future of the brand.

What happens when everything you’ve built feels like it’s falling apart — and you’re not sure you have the strength to keep going?In this episode of In The Making, I sit down with jewellery designer and founder Victoria Percival for one of the most honest conversations we’ve had on the podcast to date.Victoria shares the reality behind building a fast-growing brand — from early success to one of the most difficult periods of her career. After a major retail partnership unexpectedly collapsed, she was left facing overwhelming financial pressure, letting go of her team, and navigating the emotional toll of keeping a business alive when everything felt uncertain.What followed was burnout — the kind that leaves you exhausted, questioning everything, and wondering whether to walk away entirely.But this episode isn’t just about hardship. It’s about resilience, rebuilding confidence, and finding the strength to rise again — even when you feel completely depleted.Victoria shares the powerful moment that changed everything: a client stepping forward to invest in her business, giving her not just financial support, but the belief she needed to keep going.At the heart of this episode is her powerful philosophy:No Grit, No Pearl.A reminder that growth, success, and transformation are rarely easy — but the hardest seasons often shape who we become.

Hiring your first team member is one of the biggest decisions you'll make as a business owner — but how do you know when it's actually the right time?In this solo episode of In The Making, I’m sharing my honest experience of hiring inside my own business, including the signs that told me it was time to grow my team — and the mistakes I made along the way.We talk about the difference between feeling overwhelmed and being genuinely ready to hire, how to recognise when your business has reached capacity, and what to consider before bringing someone into your business.If you're a wedding professional, creative entrepreneur, or service-based business owner, this episode will help you understand when hiring makes sense — and how to approach it with confidence.

What happens when the business you built starts to feel like it's breaking you?In this episode of In The Making, I sit down with Hannah Ayala, founder of HA Designs and Added Extras, to talk honestly about the realities of building a business, facing burnout, and rebuilding after hitting breaking point.Hannah shares her journey from starting her business, to growing organically through word-of-mouth success, celebrity exposure, and national retail partnerships — all while raising four children.But behind the growth came pressure, financial strain, and one of the hardest periods of her career, where she faced the reality of making redundancies and questioning everything she had built.This is a powerful conversation about resilience, rebuilding, and redefining what success really looks like.If you're a business owner, creative entrepreneur, or founder navigating growth, this episode will resonate deeply — especially if you've ever felt overwhelmed by responsibility or unsure how to move forward.