Out of office

Need some advice, motivation or feel stuck in your career? Consider this your monthly pick-me-up dose of business inspiration

The influencer we follow for a daily dose of business advice

Ellie Middleton

Ellie Middleton is an entrepreneur and advocates for the neurodivergent community. She has autism and received an ADHD diagnosis at the age of 24 after spending years wondering why things weren’t as easy for her as they seemed to be for others. Ellie wanted to share her experience and let the world know that neurodivergence comes in all shapes and forms, so through her social media background and her passion for creating an inclusive space, (un)masked was born.

(un)masked is an online platform where neurodivergent people can meet and share their experiences. Founded in 2021, the platform has garnered a large community of like-minded people that support each other through the ups and downs of life. Ellie is also a guest speaker and coach, offering her advice and insights as well as writing features on autism and ADHD, and hosting live events for the (un)masked community.

Podcasts

The podcast we tune into for a deep dive into the UK franchising market

Her Success Story

This podcast is a platform where empowering women can share their journeys. International best-selling author and business coach, Ivy Slater, interviews gutsy businesswomen and provides keen insights into the business world. Discussing impactful ideas with her guests, Ivy explores the triumphs and failures of women in the corporate workspace.

Her Success Story explores topics from cultivating and inclusive workplace cultures to how your personal life experiences can strengthen your business. Guests share their stories of leadership, how they got to where they are now and their top business tips and tricks. This podcast is a great resource for business owners as Ivy shares advice from women who have transformed industries.

Must-listen episode: A battle of awareness

The podcast we tune into for business inspiration

Modrn Business

Modrn Business is hosted and produced by entrepreneur and technological expert Ryan Hicks, and co-hosted by his business partner Zack Fishman, an experienced sales professional. The pair provide advice from leaders in franchising as well as experts in the franchise technology field, giving listeners an insight into how to handle problems as they arise and grow a business.

Releasing multiple episodes each week, this podcast details how to level up the performance of your company and scale your business using technology, with the hosts interviewing companies such as TGI Fridays, Blo Blow Dry Bar, Aloha Poke, and many more. It is an inspiring insight into the franchising world, offering a wealth of information regarding reducing speed to market and ensuring business success.

Must-listen episode: Jason Anderson, CEO of CoWorks

Books

The book we read to take the plunge into franchising

Franchise Your Business: The Guide to Employing the Greatest Growth Strategy Ever by Mark Siebert

Expert franchise consultant Mark Siebert delivers an insightful guide for employing the best growth strategy for your business - franchising. He describes what to expect and how to avoid costly mistakes as he shares decades of experience and practical advice to help grow your business through franchising. Mark evaluates whether your existing business is able to be franchised and explores the benefits and drawbacks of franchising. He provides guidance on developing business plans as well as building lead generation. This book is an essential read for anyone looking to expand their business and is written by an expert who has helped many companies through the franchising process.

The book we read to feel excited about our financial future

Girls Just Wanna Have Funds: A Feminist Guide to Investing by Camilla Falkenberg, Emma Due Bitz, Anna-Sophie Hartvigsen

This book is a guide for safe, smart and sustainable investing. Authors Camilla Falkenberg, Emma Due Bitz and Anna-Sophie Hartvigsen, who co-founded Female Invest, have created a five-step guide on how to gain financial power. It is an empowering manual on how to make your money work harder for you and open a world of opportunities.

If you want to master the art of setting goals, understand financial jargon and gain independence, this is the perfect book for you. The three finance gurus provide valuable information about the basics of investing, detailing how to make financial decisions now that will benefit you in the future.

The book we read to take the business to the next stage

The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups By Daniel Coyle

With this book, New York Times best-selling author, Daniel Coyle, explores how to build and sustain culture within your group. He unlocks the secrets of highly successful groups and provides the tools for building a motivated culture by looking inside some of the world’s most successful organisations including Pixar, the San Antonio Spurs and U.S. Navy’s SEAL Team Six. Daniel gives examples of what not to do and navigates common mistakes that can be made when trying to build a strong culture within your workplace. This book combines leading-edge science, valuable insights from world leaders and practical ideas for action to showcase how to create a flourishing environment.