Your Truth Shared

• #108 How AI Can Help You Make Your First "Hire" Without the Risk

  If you’d like to use the AI tools I have built for growing my business, apply here:https://www.finolahoward.com/ai-growth-tools Taking the leap from solopreneur to business owner is a huge shift, and often, the biggest challenge is making that first hire. But what if you didn’t need to hire a person—at least not yet? AI is changing the game, allowing business owners to delegate tasks, test efficiencies, and free up time without the risks and costs of a traditional hire. In this episode, we explore how AI can act as your first “team member,” helping you grow your business, get back your time, and scale with confidence. If you've been hesitant to take that next step because hiring feels overwhelming, this episode will give you a new perspective on how AI can be your bridge to sustainable business growth. What You'll Learn in This Episode: The mindset shift needed to transition from self-employed to business owner. Why entrepreneurs get stuck in the "sticky bridge" phase and how to break free. How AI tools can handle key business functions, from marketing to customer research. A step-by-step guide to using AI to test delegation before making your first human hire. How AI can enhance—not replace—your unique voice and expertise in business. Resources & Next Steps: Apply for AI Growth Tools Beta Access: If you're ready to explore AI-driven business growth, apply here https://www.finolahoward.com/ai-growth-tools Related Episode: Watch Episode 105 with Mark Schaefer on how AI is reshaping marketing:https://youtu.be/vN-HBSOmRYs?si=mTAUOtqBlz22EhZt Book Recommendation: The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber for understanding the common traps of early-stage entrepreneurship. If you’re feeling stuck in your business and don’t know how to move forward, this episode is for you. AI might just be the game-changing solution you’ve been looking for! Get connected with host Finola Howard: https://www.finolahoward.com/ https://www.finolahoward.com/book https://www.linkedin.com/in/finolahoward/ https://www.instagram.com/thisisfinolahoward https://www.facebook.com/thisisfinolahoward https://www.youtube.com/@ThisIsFinolaHoward https://www.twitter.com/FinolaHoward

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• #107 The Leadership Mistakes That Are Driving Your Team Away with Brian Downes

  "You can’t control your way to success." – Brian Downes What makes a great leader? And how can entrepreneurs and business owners build high-performing teams that drive success? In this episode of Your Truth Shared, we sit down with leadership and performance coach Brian Downes to explore the mindset shifts needed to lead effectively—whether you're an entrepreneur building a team or a corporate leader steering an organization. Brian shares insights on why trust beats manipulation, why hiring for high performance means going beyond job descriptions, and how leaders can balance empowerment with accountability. If you're scaling your business, hiring your first team member, or leading an established organization, this episode is packed with takeaways to help you lead with clarity and confidence. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: The biggest leadership mistake that kills team engagement Why clearly defining your company values shapes long-term success How to hire the right people—and why cultural fit alone isn’t enough The difference between checking in vs. micromanaging your team Why alpha personalities aren’t always the best leaders How to handle tough conversations with empathy and fairness The power of diverse opinions in driving innovation and problem-solving If you're ready to build a thriving business with a team that truly performs, this episode is for you! Connect with Brian: https://briandownes.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianpdownes/ Get connected with host Finola Howard: https://www.finolahoward.com/ https://www.finolahoward.com/book https://www.linkedin.com/in/finolahoward/ https://www.instagram.com/thisisfinolahoward https://www.facebook.com/thisisfinolahoward https://www.youtube.com/@ThisIsFinolaHoward https://www.twitter.com/FinolaHoward

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• #106 How Saying “I Don’t Know” Will Help Your Business Grow Faster with Maria McCann

  "Once you start saying you don’t know, it gets easier to say it more and more." – Maria McCann Can saying "I don’t know" more, actually help your business grow? Maria McCann, an organisational psychologist and digital transformation expert, believes so. In this episode of Your Truth Shared, Maria reveals how embracing uncertainty fosters a culture of trust, collaboration, and innovation—whether you're leading a startup, scaling a business, or navigating corporate change. Maria shares her experience of leading teams through high-pressure environments, including the COVID crisis, and how creating space for honesty and learning helped drive success. If you're an entrepreneur or leader looking to build stronger teams and make better decisions, this conversation is packed with insights you won’t want to miss. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why saying "I don’t know" builds a stronger, more trusting team How to create a workplace where employees feel psychologically safe The difference between managing and truly leading a team Why collaboration and knowledge-sharing lead to better problem-solving How embracing uncertainty can improve decision-making The role of founder intuition vs. traditional leadership structures The power of diverse perspectives in driving innovation If you’re ready to lead with confidence—without needing all the answers—this episode is for you! Connect with Maria McCann: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-mccann Get connected with host Finola Howard: Website LinkedIn Instagram YouTube

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• #105 The Untapped Marketing Strategy that AI Can’t Replicate with Mark Schaefer

  Have we lost our humanness and become lazy when it comes to Marketing? “In a world where AI is more than competent, if you are merely competent, you're in trouble. We must rise above the bots. The most human company wins” – Mark Schaefer In this episode we welcome back Marketing visionary Mark Schaefer. Mark joins us to unveil insights from his latest book, "Audacious: How Humans Win in an AI Marketing World" exploring the coexistence of humanity and technology in marketing. Mark suggests that most marketing has lost it’s human touch and fails to resonate with it’s target audience. Mark shares his guide on how to put the human back into marketing! What you will learn about in this episode: • A recent Marketing campaign that stopped Mark Schaefer in his tracks.• How Marketers are sleepwalking and losing to AI.• Why “competent” marketing is no longer enough.• What Mark learned from meeting some of the world’s most creative marketing minds.• Mark Schaefer’s simple guide to disruptive marketing.• Recent research that suggests most marketing is boring to it’s audience.• The biggest opportunity in modern marketing that AI can’t touch• Discover many of the learnings from Mark Schaefer’s new "Audacious: How Humans Win in an AI Marketing World" Connect with Mark: https://businessesgrow.com/ https://www.instagram.com/markwschaefer/ https://www.youtube.com/user/MWSchaefer Buy Audacious:https://businessesgrow.com/audacious/ Get connected with host Finola Howard: https://www.finolahoward.com/ https://www.finolahoward.com/book https://www.linkedin.com/in/finolahoward/ https://www.instagram.com/thisisfinolahoward https://www.facebook.com/thisisfinolahoward https://www.youtube.com/@ThisIsFinolaHoward https://www.twitter.com/FinolaHoward

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• #104 Why Women Who Prioritize Physical Health Will Prosper Faster with Tracy Byrne

  If you've ever struggled with stress and overwhelm, Tracy Byrne advocates for the difference physical wellness will make to your business and life. “ I want more women to realize that they will feel empowered by taking that first step and that it does not have to be scary. You are going to find somebody who's going to grab your hand when you reach out they're going to bring you in for a hug and say; I'm here for you. What do you need? – Tracy Byrne Fitness and life coach Tracy Byrne joins us to share her incredible journey from an aspiring doctor to a career in fitness and life coaching. Tracy's story is a testament to the transformative power of self-prioritization and physical well-being in achieving success, both personally and professionally. Her empowering mantra, "move more, laugh more, live more," serves as a guiding light for anyone looking to find balance in their hectic lives. Together, we explore the vital intersection of physical activity and mental wellness, emphasizing how they contribute to work-life balance and personal growth. What you will learn about in this episode: How your mental and physical health are closely linked The direct impact physical health has on your business growth and success The importance of strength training for everyone over 35 How even small steps can boost your energy and focus, making you more productive How to turn exercise from a chore on your to-do-list to something you enjoy Resources: Intro to Resistance Training Video - Click Here This is episode 3 of our three part series that’s all about enshrining your health & wellbeing into your success journey. This is the “how we move” episode because that directly affects our productivity and Tracy's tagline of Move More, Laugh More, Live More perfectly sums up how we need to view that physical side of ourselves in our success journey. Other Episodes In This Series Episode 1 - The How We Work Episode#102 Why Women Struggle with Authenticity at Work and How to Change it with Sara Slattery Episode 2 - The How We Eat Episode#103 What You're Really Losing to Diet Culture (It's Not Weight!) with Niamh Orbinski Connect with Tracy: https://www.thewellbeingedge.ie/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracy-byrne-545836117/ https://www.instagram.com/thewellbeingedge_dublin/ Get connected with host Finola Howard: https://www.finolahoward.com/ https://www.finolahoward.com/book https://www.linkedin.com/in/finolahoward/ https://www.instagram.com/thisisfinolahoward https://www.facebook.com/thisisfinolahoward https://www.youtube.com/c/howgreatmarketingworks https://www.twitter.com/FinolaHoward Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating HERE

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