Building your Brand

One of my favourite people to chat with about life and creativity is Meg Lewis. We often go deep into how we perceive the world, and in this episode, we talk about success, failure, and how to return to the fun and joy we experienced as children.  
 
Meg helps adults to undo, unlearn, and un-grow up so they can reconnect with their authentic selves before societal norms made things a bit too predictable. We explore how to dismantle the constructs of shame and why it is important to challenge what we consider "normal" in our careers and personal lives.




Key Takeaways
Unlearning Adulthood: Our default state as children is curiosity and confidence. We chat about how we can strip away the layers of "boring" habits and societal expectations to find our creative spark again.
Challenging Collective Opinions: Meg explains the importance of questioning these norms, whether they relate to design choices or our broader career paths.
Retraining for Resilience: Many of the things we think of as "unsafe," (like falling over in public) are actually just societal constructs of shame. We talk about how to retrain our brains to move past this.
Redefining Success and Failure: Success is often measured by external validation, but we explore why personal contentment and staying true to your own values is a much more sustainable metric (and why Meg will never have a yacht!)
Episode Highlights
01:25: The challenge of communicating a complex, multi-hyphenate career succinctly (spoiler - Meg does it!)
05:40: Challenging "normal" behaviour and the collective hatred of Comic Sans.
15:10: How the brain's focus on safety creates unnecessary shame around being "weird."
23:00: Why we need to dismantle the binary definitions of success and failure.
38:50: Practical ways to bring small moments of joy and play into your daily routine.
58:15: How to work with Meg through their career strategy programme and personal style class.
About the Guest
Meg Lewis is a designer, public speaker, and educator who helps individuals and companies find their unique voice and creative joy. They specialise in "un-growing up" and helping adults navigate their careers with more authenticity and less shame.
Website: meglewis.com
Instagram: @yourbuddymeg
I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode!
This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft lucylucraft.co.uk
If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

In this episode I chat to returning guest and founder of Her Legals Ingrid Fernandez. 
We chatted way back in 2022 and since then AI has become HUGELY mainstream throwing up all sorts of joys and stresses for small business owners. We chatted about the essential AI clauses every small business owner needs in their contracts from ensuring brand transparency to preventing clients from "training" AI on your creative work.
This conversation is an absolute essential listen if you've been worried about how AI could impact your business. 
Key Takeaways
The Transparency Clause: Clearly define how AI is (and isn't) used in your business processes to build trust and reassure clients that your deliverables are human-made .
Restricting Work for AI Training: Protect your intellectual property by including clauses that prohibit clients from feeding your custom designs or content into AI models to create "cheap replicas" .
Privacy Policy Audits: Update your privacy documents at least annually to reflect any new AI tools or third-party subscriptions that might touch client data .
Human Discernment is Non-Negotiable: AI is designed to "please," not necessarily to be accurate. Always verify AI-generated output for context, facts, and technical correctness .
Assume Best Intentions First: Many contract breaches involving AI are accidental. Use clear legal boundaries as a tool for dialogue and education rather than immediate litigation .

Episode Highlights
03:15: Why AI cannot replace the technical expertise of a specialist lawyer or designer .
05:50: How AI usage impacts a client's ability to trademark their branding .
09:20: Real-life stories of clients using AI to avoid paying designers for variations of work .
14:10: The "Reputational Risk" of using AI: Why people want to buy from humans, not robots .
23:45: The importance of auditing your "third-party" tool list every six months .
30:45: How AI "sloppiness" (like changing a speaker's face in a headshot) can damage your brand .
40:50: Why a spirit of repair and transparency is more effective than a "cease and desist" .

About the Guest
Ingrid Fernandez is the founder of Her Legals, a legal firm dedicated to helping women in business secure their contracts, terms and conditions, and privacy compliance. She specialises in making the law accessible and transparent for small business owners.
Website: herlegals.com 
Instagram: @herlegals


Mentioned in the Episode
Claude AI: Mentioned as an ideation too
Canva: Discussed in the context of design templates and brand individuality .
Adobe Express (Aff link): Mentioned regarding AI in creative suites .
Her Legals Templates: Legal documents for small businesses, including AI considerations.

End Credits
I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode!
This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft lucylucraft.co.uk
If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

In this solo episode, I dive into the power of consistency in building a brand, why it matters, and how intentional disruptions can keep your audience engaged. I'm chatting through some practical strategies, personal experiences, and actionable tips for maintaining consistency without burning out.
Key Takeaways
Consistency Builds Trust. Regular, predictable content helps your audience recognize and trust your brand.
Pattern Disruption Keeps You Memorable. Occasionally breaking your routine with something unexpected can reignite audience attention.
Define Your Own Consistency. Consistency doesn't mean frequency; set a realistic schedule that works for you and your business.
Systems and Support Make Consistency Possible. Processes, deadlines, and outsourcing tasks (like editing and show notes) help maintain regular output.
Seasonal Adjustments and Creative Breaks. Using different formats or revisiting old content during busy periods can keep your brand fresh and sustainable.
Episode Highlights
00:00:10 – Introduction: Why consistency feels overwhelming
00:00:50 – The value and limits of consistency
00:02:09 – Pattern disruption: Why and how to shake things up
00:03:18 – Defining what consistency means for your brand
00:04:49 – Building systems and getting support for consistency
00:08:27 – Using disruption and seasonal changes to stay creative
Mentioned in the Episode
Atomicon (Aff link)
Lucy Lucraft Podcast Editing: lucylucraft.co.uk
End Notes
I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode! This episode was written, recorded and produced by me
If you like to watch your podcasts you can watch all of my solo episodes including this one on YouTube.
If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

I am a big believer in the power of "side quests" . Over the years, my own side projects have transformed into vital parts of my business and completely changed my career trajectory . In this episode, I am joined by Mélanie Johnsson, a creative director, illustrator, and designer who is equally obsessed with the magic of the side quest.
We dive into how these personal projects have brought her new clients, created a vibrant community, and allowed her to push her creative boundaries without the constraints of client briefs. Whether you are considering launching a magazine, a community challenge, or an exhibition, Mélanie's proactive attitude will empower you to stop waiting for opportunities and start creating them yourself .
Thanks to Ivy  Malik for sponsoring this episode.  If you wanna learn how to co-create a sale so it doesn't feel like selling head to lizmosley.net/ivy and watch the free training video. 
Key Takeaways
Proactive Career Growth: Side quests allow you to create the exact type of work you want to be hired for, effectively controlling your own professional narrative and journey.
Creative Freedom and Values: Personal projects provide a space to align purely with your own vision and values, which is essential for preventing creative stagnation.
Building Community and Authority: Projects like the "Pattern Challenge" or the "Mimi" platform establish you as an expert and build lasting associations in the minds of potential clients.
The "Art Director" Mindset: Transitioning to broader titles like Art Director or Creative Director allows you to sell your "brain" and problem-solving skills rather than just a specific technical output.
Overcoming Loneliness: Creative communities and in-person meetups serve as a vital antidote to the isolation of freelance life, offering validation and shared support.
Episode Highlights
01:50: Mélanie's background growing up in a creative family and her initial "rebellion" against design .
13:10: The creation of Spellbound magazine and the joy of self-publishing.
14:15: How the "Pattern Challenge" transitioned from an Instagram prompt to a charitable physical product.
20:45: Proving creativity: How a client relationship led to 3D rendering and product design.
26:15: The logistical challenges and dreams of building a physical creative studio.
36:10: Rebranding and the power of solving visual problems through a "Creative Director" lens.
About the Guest
Mélanie Johnsson is a French Art Director, Designer, and Illustrator based in the UK . She works with brands across various industries, from skincare to editorial, and is the founder of the Mimi platform for creatives.
Website: https://www.melaniejohnsson.com/
Instagram: @melanie.johnsson
Mimi for Creatives: @mimi.for.creatives
Mentioned in the Episode
Spellbound Magazine: Melanie's self-published creative magazine.
#thepatternchallengebymel: A long-running creative community challenge on Instagram.
 
End Credits
I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode!
This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft lucylucraft.co.uk
If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!

In this solo episode, I'm exploring the critical role of trust for small businesses in a digital world increasingly shaped by generative AI. I chat through personal experiences, industry observations, and am giving some actionable advice on how brands can navigate the ethical and practical challenges of using AI in marketing and content creation without eroding customer trust.
Key Takeaways
Trust is Fragile and Hard-Won Building trust with your audience takes years, but it can be lost overnight through missteps, especially with misleading or undisclosed AI-generated content.

The "Trust Recession" and AI Skepticism Audiences are more wary than ever, often approaching online content with skepticism due to the prevalence of generative AI and undisclosed ads.

Transparency is Essential Clearly disclosing the use of AI in your content is crucial. Burying disclosures or surprising your audience with AI-generated material can break trust.

Audience Expectations Matter If your brand is open about using AI, your audience is less likely to feel deceived. Problems arise when AI use is unexpected or hidden.

DIY Over AI for Small Businesses Audiences often prefer authentic, even imperfect, DIY content over slick but impersonal AI-generated work. The risk to brand trust may outweigh the convenience of generative AI.

Episode Highlights
00:05 – Introduction: The Annoyance of Undisclosed Ads
00:29 – Why Trust Matters for Small Businesses
02:20 – The "Trust Recession" and AI's Impact on Perception
03:30 – How Generative AI Can Break Trust
05:18 – Ethical Concerns and Audience Reactions to AI
10:35 – Repairing Trust and Planning AI Use in Your Brand




 






 
I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode! This episode was written, recorded and produced by me
If you like to watch your podcasts you can watch all of my solo episodes including this one on YouTube.
If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!