february 2026
Podcast Episode 2! Building a Life-First Business with Katie Sheach
Episode 2 of Inside the Business was released this month! In this conversation, I’m joined by business coach Katie Sheach, who I’ve had the pleasure of working with for nearly two years.
With a background in logistics and operations, Katie now supports founders in designing businesses that genuinely fit their lives, not the other way around.
I chatted with her about her “life-first balance” philosophy, on understanding your true capacity as a business owner and, why so many forget to think about their eventual exit.
Katie also shares her transition from building a personal brand to launching Forj Solutions UK, a move grounded in resilience, clarity and long-term vision.
One of my favourite takeaways? You don’t need everything mapped out to begin a business. You just need the courage to start!
Listen on YouTube or Spotify using the links below:
YouTube: https://lnkd.in/eu_MJZfm
Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eEfPF3D4
Introducing The ALIGN Framework: A Strategic Reset for Growth
Is your marketing busy but not driving real business growth?
Often this is due to misalignment between commercial priorities and marketing execution.
ALIGN is a six-week strategic reset designed for SMEs to bring clarity and focus at leadership level.
As businesses scale, marketing can accelerate faster than strategy, channels multiply, messaging fragments and ROI becomes inconsistent.
Across six weeks, we assess performance gaps, uncover growth opportunities, refine positioning, and align priorities.
The outcome?
A clear 90-day action plan and a 12-month roadmap that ensures your marketing activity drives measurable business growth.
It’s not about doing more marketing; it’s about doing the right marketing.
For more information please visit: www.mktlab.co.uk/marketing-strategy-development
Why a Simple SWOT Can Strengthen Your Business Decisions
When faced with an important decision, it’s easy to rely on instinct. While experience is valuable, structure creates clarity.
A classic SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) provides a simple framework to step back and assess your business position properly.
It Brings Objectivity
Reviewing internal capabilities alongside external market factors helps to sense check decisions before committing time or budget.
It Surfaces Gaps and Strengths
You may uncover underused advantages, capacity issues, or risks that need to be addressed.
It Aligns Leadership Thinking
SWOT encourages commercially grounded discussions, ensuring decisions are strategic rather than reactive.
It doesn’t need to be complex, even 30-60 focused minutes can provide you with valuable clarity!