Mind Over Grind from Dark Coffee

The cost-of-living crisis has caused nothing short of a total bloody shitshow at our petrol pumps and supermarkets, and things are only set to get worse.   So, how the hell are any of us supposed to cope?   That’s what I asked my friend (and therapist) Helen Carouzos when we sat down last week.   In one short hour, Helen took me from being completely overwhelmed by the scale of the problem to feel...

When it comes to our achievements, a lot of us will rush straight past them, diminish them, or deny that they happened.   Maybe it’s from growing up in a schooling system focused on achievement rather than education.   Maybe it’s down to working in jobs that constantly ask “what could you do better next time?”   Whatever the reason, diminishing our achievements is a bad habit that I reckon a lot o...

“I’m really up against it this month, but I’m not burnt out.” So say the 77% of us who are, in fact, burnt out. We just don’t realise it.   Today I'm speaking with career sustainability expert Leah Steele, who has been working around burnout prevention for the past 6.5 years, having hit the wall herself as a high-performing lawyer.    And what did she do after hitting that wall?   The same thing m...

One of the best ways to grow your business and reputation is to create high-quality, consistent content... but it's so goddamn difficult!   Don't worry - you're not the only person struggling with this, and there are things you can do to become a better and more confident content creator.   Today I share the four main things to focus on to help you get visible and noisy online - whilst maintaining...

“You are not on call for humanity.” An important reminder that all caregivers need to hear from time to time.   Supporting other people will come naturally for some of us – whether we have positions of responsibility at work, or have caregiving roles in our personal lives.   But one trap supporters can too often fall into is supporting other people more than ourselves, which can lead to burnout, l...

I'm one of the one in five adults in the UK who has experienced thoughts of suicide. But if so many of us are affected by suicide, why aren't we talking about it more?   This idea was the initial spark that started Dark Coffee, and has recently inspired me to start my second podcast; Solving Suicide, where I'll be sharing insights, expertise and hot takes around suicidality to help zero the death...

Perimenopause: we need to talk about it. Especially at work.   Because whether we like it or not, perimenopause will affect everyone at some stage in our lives either directly or indirectly. Unfortunately, it’s not an opt-out kinda situation. (I know, bummer). There isn’t a workplace off button for hot flushes, brain fog or any other perimenopause symptoms. Yet conversations around perimenopause -...

When it comes to team wellbeing, a discounted gym membership or ‘open-door policy’ from management isn’t going to cut it.   We need – scratch that - we deserve more from our employers. Because we all have a fundamental right to be supported emotionally, developmentally, and financially in our place of work.   In simple terms, we all want to go to work and feel good about it.   But here’s the head-...

We all love the idea of creating better workplaces… but are we really taking everybody’s needs into account in order to build them?   Today, I’m joined by accessibility and inclusive work culture expert Rachael Mole to discuss how exploring the adjustments and improvements we can make for one person means everyone can benefit - from our team members to our clients and broader communities.   Rachae...

As business owners, we all know we should be promoting ourselves on social media. But how can we cope with the noise, stress, time commitment and aggravation that comes along with these demonic platforms?   Fortunately, I know the guy to ask!   Lewis Kemp is CEO of bullshit-free creative agency Lightbulb Media based here in Manchester. If you recognise the name, you’ll either know him from his pre...

Not every business success is down to the bricks-and-mortar decisions – sometimes it’s about the skills that you bring to the table.   In today’s episode, I’ll be talking through 5 skills that have made a HUGE difference to the level of success and enjoyment I’ve been able to find in my business, and they also help my 1:1 coaching clients achieve the same.   These skills can help with everything f...

No messing about today – I’m going to teach you the fine and noble art of how to stop being a dick to yourself. We have learnt over time how to put ourselves down and give ourselves a hard time… so it’s about time that we unlearn these bad habits.   Slight disclaimer: if you have suffered deep or complex trauma, you might find that today’s approaches won’t touch the sides. However, they may take t...

Congratulations – you’ve reached the end of another year! No mean feat in weird times like these.   But before we rush headfirst into goal setting and thinking about the year ahead, let’s take a minute to pause so we can reflect on wtf just happened.   Grab a brew, cuddle up and let’s debrief.   (Note: these prompts can be used to do a quarterly or monthly review, so keep it bookmarked somewhere h...

Over the last several years working with hundreds of business owners and millennial professionals, I’ve come to the stunning realisation that work SUCKS.   It’s a constant source of anguish and anxiety for the majority of us – even if you love what you do!   Not all the time (hopefully) but thanks to Capitalism, the need for work is high and the willingness to work is low. So how can we meet in th...

Running a business isn’t all four-hour workweeks and working from the beach. But the entrepreneur gurus won’t tell you that bit.   'Startup Fatigue' (or 'Founder Fatigue') is a term that was coined with Eddie Whittingham when I was a guest on his Business NoBS Podcast [linked here.]    During that conversation, I realised I’m in an ‘icky’ phase of my business where I feel like I’ve fallen out of l...

We all know the feeling of desperately needing sleep but not being able to switch our noisy brains off. Other times, we’ll get an inordinate amount of sleep but still wake up feeling groggy – which is a killer ahead of a busy workday!   So, how can we improve the quality of our sleep to give us the best head start and wake up feeling ready to tackle the to-do list?   Today, I’m bringing you some t...

Marie Kondo, I am not. But I know a thing or two about tidying your head space to help your work and wellbeing – and it can come from a couple of unexpected places.   Today I’ll be discussing how clearing out physical spaces and auditing your tech can be the answer to getting more of your precious brain power back. A must for any business owner, or those of us struggling to juggle 100 things at on...

Being in business can suck some weeks. There is too much to do, not enough time to do it, and you’re exhausted from the constant trudge of it all.   If this sounds like you, you’re going to love this episode.   It’s full to the brim with practical tips for working through your never-ending to-do list, even if you’re smack bang in the middle of an energy slump. And no, it doesn’t involve having a h...

If you use social media to promote your business, you probably have a love-hate relationship with it. You feel the NEED to post to find new audiences, raise brand awareness and answer customer inquiries… but there's resistance there!   Today, I want to break down these barriers getting between you and posting on social media and give you some reframes and practical ideas for getting over the posti...

A lot of us fundamentally misunderstand what leadership is. That’s to be expected when very few of us receive any training! So, what does it mean to be a leader, and how do we do it well?   In this episode, Alice will share her take on the most important part of leadership that – once learnt – will help you delegate, lead confidently, empower your team members and feel like a badass.   **TRIGGER W...

Fact: A lot of us suck when it comes to asking for help. Particularly if we’re normally the one supporting everyone else, or if we think that we should have all the answers ourselves.   In this episode, Alice will reframe the concept of asking for help and give you a hack that will let it become easier in the future.   She’ll discuss some of the practical and emotional barriers that prevent us fro...

A coach telling you NOT to get coaching?! We know, it’s weird. But coaching genuinely isn’t for everyone.   Join Alice to find out why coaching might not be right for you right now, and what other support might be better suited.   She’ll discuss:   how to identify whether 1:1 coaching is right for you right now why it’s important to do research around coaching before investing when to get coaching...

Why can’t I be more like you?! Comparisonitis. What is it, why does it happen, and why could it actually be a good thing for us?   In this episode Alice takes us through the shitty ways comparing ourselves to others can manifest, and what we can do about it. As always she gives us some tips and tricks to overcome the feelings of vulnerability and self-loathing; most importantly, she gives us steps...

Work smarter, not harder!   We’ve all heard that phrase and had it drummed into us. But what does it actually mean?   In this episode, Alice explores perfectionism and cutting through the feelings surrounding it. Why do we always strive for perfection, and is it actually benefiting us and our mental health? Alice gives out some handy advice and shares her personal experiences with perfectionism.  ...

It would be an understatement to say that we've all struggled over the past year. But how can we keep pushing through difficult times when we're already feeling tired, overwhelmed or fed up?   Today, Alice (briefly) explains the science behind our survival instinct, why we should make friends with it, but also why we shouldn't let it sit in the drivers' seat for too long.   Also discussed:   how k...