July 14, 2025 • 49 mins
Have you ever felt stuck following business advice that just doesn't seem to work for you? In this refreshingly honest conversation, marketing veteran Elaine Walsh-McGrath reveals her journey from conventional success to creating a business that truly aligns with her unique circumstances and strengths.
Elaine, who describes herself as a "Formula One marketing mechanic," spent decades working with major brands like L'Oreal, Volkswagen, and Ryanair before life circumstances forced her to reimagine her business. When her daughter was born with Down syndrome and complex needs, her high-powered consultancy became incompatible with her new reality. What followed was years of trying business models that worked brilliantly for others but left her drained and frustrated.
The breakthrough came when Elaine began trusting her own intuition rather than outside advice. By understanding her unique energy patterns and strengths, she made the counterintuitive discovery that doing less actually led to greater business growth. "The more I kept saying simplify to myself, the more I thought, wow, I have created this empire, but maybe it's not serving me and my needs for a business right now," Elaine explains.
This episode goes beyond typical business advice to explore deeper questions about alignment, authentic success, and creating boundaries that honor your whole life. You'll learn why cookie-cutter business formulas often fail, how to recognize when something isn't energetically aligned with you, and why summer might be the perfect time to reassess what's truly working in your business.
Whether you're struggling with burnout, feeling pressured to follow someone else's blueprint for success, or simply seeking a more sustainable approach to business, this conversation offers both permission and practical wisdom to create success on your own terms. Remember: your business, your rules.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Donna Eade (00:00):
You're listening to the Mindset in Action podcast,
the place to be to grow andstreamline your business.
I'm your host, donna Eade.
Let's jump into the show.
Welcome back to the podcast.
Everybody I am.
(00:21):
You know I always say I'mreally excited for today's show,
especially when I have a guest.
But oh my goodness, I am soexcited for this one because I
have got a very lovely friendand a birthday buddy, because,
as we're recording this, it'sonly a week till our birthdays.
So, elaine Walsh-McGrath,welcome to the podcast.
Elaine Walsh-Mcgrath (00:40):
Oh my God, Could I be any more excited to
be here?
I am currently obsessed.
You are my working.
Could I be any more excited tobe here?
I am currently obsessed.
You are my working walkingbuddy and indeed, as you
discussed oh yes, you're in myears the most intimate place you
could be Now in my personalspace.
Danaid, I love you, I love yourwork.
Donna Eade (01:01):
Oh, I love that.
I love that.
And do you know what?
It's so funny?
Because you kind of see thedownloads and they're just
numbers and you have no idea.
But when people actually reachout and say, oh, I was listening
to the podcast, and blah, blah,blah, that makes me so, so
happy.
It's like people do actuallylisten.
The numbers mean something.
So I love that.
Elaine Walsh-Mcgrath (01:23):
I love that following you on podbean.
That's my, that's my, that'syour jam.
Is it right up there brilliant?
Donna Eade (01:30):
love that, love that .
So, before we dive into thisconversation, which I know is
going to be fantastic, why don'tyou tell the audience a little
bit about who you are and whatit is that you do?
Elaine Walsh-Mcgrath (01:39):
sure, I'm Elaine Walsh McGrGraw and I
really help CEOs, mds,consultants, who have more of a
tendency to social conscience ormaybe have something in their
background that is holding themback from really attaining that
(02:03):
like stellar celebrity, like, um, visibility, that all their
credibility, authority, um andexperience goes wow.
But of course you should besmashing this.
Something is generally holdingthem back that maybe they're not
exactly conscious of and quiteoften they come to me going, oh,
(02:27):
I really need to be on LinkedInand that's the front door that
they come through and then thehouse opens up to me, helping
them on many levels to reallyshine and find their mojo and,
(02:48):
like, really step into who theyare and not apologize for it
anymore.
So I know that's a flippinghell of a sentence yeah, but
that is exactly what.
Donna Eade (02:59):
I do.
I love that.
I love that and it's and it'sinteresting to sort of hear it
like that, because I think a lotof us tend to think that when
we're in business, we knowwhat's wrong and we go oh, this
is what's wrong, and we canoftentimes end up spending our
money in the wrong placesbecause we go to you know, I
(03:22):
just need to create a course.
If I created a course and putthat on Evergreen, I'd be sorted
.
That would be the unstuck.
I know.
If I just go and you know,start a Facebook group and then
monetize it, that's going to bethe point.
So you go to these experts andyou spend that money and,
generally speaking, that's allthey do, and so you do it, and
(03:44):
then it doesn't work and thenyou've wasted your money
potentially and you're like whatdo I do?
So the fact that they can cometo you you're known for being a
whiz on LinkedIn and people cometo you for that, but you're
able to help them see thatthat's not necessarily where the
problem's lying.
Elaine Walsh-Mcgrath (04:03):
I love that this is it I mean.
So recently I was talking tosomebody who has worked with me
and I'm working with her andwhen it came down to it I was
like you know what?
I'm actually a formula onemarketing mechanic.
So I open the lid and you knowthe problems come to me, like
(04:26):
this isn't selling, or you know,I can't get X, y and Z to sell.
And I open up the lid and go,well, I can see what the problem
is and I get my tools and I get, you know, up with the old
sleeves and off I go.
Up with the old sleeves and offI go and they're in this
(04:49):
supported environment with me.
Who has somebody who's worked onL'Oreal, colgate, burger King,
ryanair, volkswagen like thereisn't probably a project that
you can think of, um, that Ididn't work on in the like
nearly 25 years of myadvertising agency career.
So it comes with all thatknowledge.
But in addition, I also run myown businesses because I'm a
serial entrepreneur and soeverything that I teach comes
(05:12):
from a place of I've done it, um, so yeah, so that's my new
thing at the core of the heartof my business.
I'm like a marketing mechanic,but not just any old marketing
mechanic.
I'm like a marketing mechanic,but not just any old marketing
mechanic.
I'm a Formula One Grand Prixwinner.
Marketing mechanic.
Donna Eade (05:30):
That's such a great visual.
And now I've got you.
If anybody knows Elaine, she'sthe queen of pink, she loves her
pink, and I've just got you ina pair of pink overalls.
You know, the full body,formula One.
Elaine Walsh-Mcgrath (05:47):
With a big magnum of champagne in one hand
and maybe a spanner in theother oh dear, that's awesome.
Donna Eade (05:55):
So today's conversation I had planned um a
conversation for today, butElaine came in and said look,
this is what's going on in mybusiness and I think this would
be a really good topic to talkabout, and I happen to agree.
So we are changing things up alittle bit today in this
(06:16):
conversation, and I think it'sone that everybody should listen
to and take comfort in, really,because I think a lot of us
sort of suffer behind the scenesand don't really talk about it.
So, elaine, because I think alot of us sort of suffer behind
the scenes and don't really talkabout it, so, elaine, tell us a
little bit of what's been goingon.
You know, whatever you'recomfortable with, what you're
happy to talk about, what's beengoing on in your world, what's
been changing.
(06:36):
Because obviously, you know,back when we booked this, which
was probably a few months backnow, we've like, we've like to
take our time on these things,don't we?
But you know it was, it wasLinkedIn guru.
You know she knows everythingabout LinkedIn and that's what I
really knew, you for themarketing side.
I knew that you'd done it, butI didn't realise how much of a
part of your business it was inthe background.
(06:58):
So talk to us about what's beenhappening for you this year and
what's been changing happeningfor you this year and what's
been changing.
Elaine Walsh-Mcgrath (07:09):
So my word for 2025 was harvest, because I
am a devil for creating lots ofthings and not stopping.
I don't know whether any of youhave done any work around
sacred money archetypes, but ifyou have, then you'll understand
when I say that when I did thework on that, I discovered that
(07:30):
I was equal alchemist andcelebrity, and my third one was
ruler.
So alchemists tend to um, buildlots of stuff, be super
creative, like, almost like,access inspiration from the
universe and quite often when Iwork one-to-one with people, I
(07:53):
like joke and say, oh, yourideas are coming to me, they're
coming, just they're comingthrough me.
Um, but that has had.
The negative aspect of that isthat I create lots of things and
then I'm a one person show andtherefore, how do I promote all
of these things?
I'm also a celebrity in denial.
(08:16):
So now anyone who knows me ismost likely walking, listening
and eye rolling all at the sametime.
Because, yeah, I did notrealize that, um, and I fought
it because I really felt thatcelebrities were up themselves.
So I was like I don't, I don'tlike that.
(08:37):
But then I had to come to peacewith um, not judging myself.
And then my ruler was likemaking things really complicated
.
And that's kind of where Ilanded into this conversation
with Donna today, because I camehere going do you know what?
There's been a lot going on inthe background of my personal
(09:00):
life.
Um, I shall be 51 on the 27thof June and, like many women at
that age, I'm going throughperimenopause and I've been
going through some gynae issues.
Put it lightly, right.
I also for anybody who doesn'tknow me I have a beautiful
(09:21):
daughter.
She is eight and she has Downsyndrome and and she has complex
needs and, like many people,I'm sure, who navigate that
world, not only are youinteracting with somebody that
you love and you're trying toparent and nourish, but you also
(09:42):
have other roles like lobbyist,advocate, therapist, and not
just one therapy, but the wholekit and caboodle of therapies
that that child or adult needs.
And so I suddenly realized,after lots of listening to
podcasts like Donna's or DeniseDeFille, thomas's, like that
(10:04):
there are different seasons toour business.
And I was really in push mode,even though, thankfully, I had
chosen harvest as my word.
And so the more I leaned intoharvest and the more I kept
saying simplify to myself, themore.
I thought, wow, like the ruler,I have created this empire, but
(10:29):
maybe it's not serving me andmy needs for a business right
now.
And so in the past six months,as I've been still promoting my
um offers that I had inexistence coming into this year,
I've been doing a lot of innergym work to go okay, does this
(10:54):
really align with me?
And, as Donna mentioned earlierwhen she said, oh, I've designed
this course or I've run this onEvergreen because I've taken
this advice from somebody else,what I realized last year, and
definitely this year, was I hadthe answers.
And so, as I am talking to you,right into your ear, just what
(11:19):
I want to whisper to you is youhave the answers inside of you
for how your business is goingto flourish, and what you're
accessing is advice that otherpeople have experienced, based
on their expertise and theirlived experience of their
(11:41):
business.
But unless they deeplyunderstand how you were made up,
then it may not be the rightadvice for you.
And what I've realized is therewere a number of things in my
business that are still in mybusiness, but I'm working
through that do not align withme, and that's what I, that's
(12:04):
what we discussed when I wenthang on a second.
Things have changed and I'vegot something to tell you.
Donna Eade (12:26):
I, I, you know huge entrepreneurs in in in the
online space and we're sort oftaught that this is the route
and if you just follow thesesteps it'll work.
I will never forget doing aprogram, um, during COVID, which
obviously was a really hardtime, but it was very obvious
that the business that I wastrying to create in COVID really
(12:50):
wasn't it wasn't the right time.
You know, I'm trying to set upa membership for wedding vendors
in the middle of a pandemicwhere no wedding vendor is
working and has income.
How was that ever going to work?
And I was doing this membershipprogram and I was told that
(13:12):
there are no special snowflakes,that if you just follow the
modules you will be successful,which was about as useful as you
know.
Turning around and telling Idon't know.
You know it was ridiculous.
It was just a ridiculous.
I can't think of an analogy offthe top of my head, but you
(13:37):
know what I mean.
It was just a ridiculousstatement to make Because every
business is different, becauseevery person behind the business
is different.
You know, we're all unique,we've all got our strengths and
weaknesses and it could be thata membership was never actually
going to work for me Because,like you said, depending on my
sort of, you know, human design,my soul signature, my money
archetype, all of thosedifferent elements of who makes
up me is going to workdifferently with different
(14:00):
things.
So it's just so frustrating andI think a lot of people sort of
go down the path and end upbuilding a business that they
absolutely bloody hate.
So for you, because you've gotthis celebrity aspect of you, so
you're building, building,making, making all these new
things Was it ever?
Do you feel like it was ever,something that was sort of you
(14:24):
were seeing from the outside andyou were taking, or was it just
that your mind was racing andyou were just like, oh, I could
do this and I could do that, andthen shiny, object and jump
over there.
So what was it for you thatkind of led you to that sort of
situation before you made thischange?
Elaine Walsh-Mcgrath (14:39):
I think it was a bit of column A and a bit
of column B, column A and a bitof column B.
So, in terms of my journey andthis is why I really again want
to go back to what I just saidreally really go inside for
decisions about your business,really listen to your body.
(14:59):
One of my clients was a somaticcoach.
I really recommend that you getinto your body and listen to
those decisions that you'remaking.
It's just, it's probablydisconnected from your head,
because when you are trying tobuild a business that is
different to what you did before, then you're seeking advice and
(15:23):
you're looking at people whohave done it already.
So what happened to me was whenI had my daughter.
I had a six-figure consultancybusiness.
I used to work on theVolkswagen account, I worked on
Ryanair, I worked on VirginMedia.
I would go into agencies and Iwould lead those accounts and
lead teams.
(15:45):
But I realized, once I had mydaughter, that that was
incompatible.
Um, because of the additionalroles that no one tells you
about, right, and so I was like,okay, you know.
And also there was there wasloss in a change of plan.
You know, I thought I was goingto have a typical child.
(16:07):
I am so thrilled and absolutelylove my daughter to bits, but
there's always loss when itcomes to a different experience,
a path that has changeddramatically.
Right, so I went, ok, okay,what am I going to do?
Um, so, um, I started going,okay, how could I have a more
(16:32):
flexible life?
Now we won't go through thenumber of different things I
tried because, like you, duringCOVID I had a very different
business.
I had tried to be.
I had been like, oh, I couldreally support my to be.
I had been like, oh, I couldreally support my daughter if I
learned more about yoga.
And, oh gosh, should I start myown yoga business?
(16:53):
And oh, but ironically, themarketing kicked in and it was
hugely successful.
But I wasn't reading philosophy, yoga, philosophy books.
I was reading marketing books,you know, yeah, um, and so
during that period of time, Isaw other people with courses
and they had Facebook groups andI was like, oh, wow, look at
(17:14):
this.
Like, look at you, know whatthey've made.
You know this is so good.
I know they have a similarskill set in the background.
Maybe I could do that.
And so I had.
I created a generic marketingcourse.
That didn't work, you know, um,I had no copywriting experience
at the time, even though itcomes naturally to me, so I had
(17:36):
to hone that skill and I didover the past five years
actually.
Um, but again, I joined anotherprogram and that person had
massive success around umselling um canva templates as
like a small offer, and then umbuilding a community in Facebook
(17:58):
and then up leveling people toa higher ticket, and that really
worked for her and I was like,oh right, okay, and her whole
thing was about offers and I waslike, okay, but I intuitively
was like I don't like the ideaof a Facebook group.
That just exhausts menonetheless.
I didn't listen to myself andso I opened different Facebook
(18:24):
groups with different offers andit just drained the life out of
me.
And I have a regularconversation um with my amazing
VA, um Louisa, where I go, howcan we get this thing to work?
And it just doesn't and I don'tknow.
I I'm a spiritual person and Ijust feel like, energetically,
(18:45):
it's off with me, you know, andso that's another example of
something that just has alwaysbeen off.
Another thing that I did was Ilearned from a business coach to
do six month coaching.
She really helped build myconfidence.
(19:06):
I will be forever grateful forher input into my life, but her
way of doing it was to providean extended payment plan, which
was a genius idea.
Okay, it's really good.
It really worked on a level forme because I signed clients for
sure.
However, instead she was reallyable to keep people to a six
(19:31):
months and still they would payher across 10 or 12 months,
whereas what happened with mewas it just extended into the 10
months, and so I never got abreak.
And when I looked at my humandesign, it's all about intensive
bursts of energy for me andthen a requirement to retreat
(19:53):
into my cave yeah, I know that.
One and replenish right, and Ihaven't been doing that for the
last five years.
And so I've come to therealization, as I've been
working with CEOs and MDs, thatwhat they're getting out of me
is that Formula One Grand Prixwinning marketing mechanic
(20:17):
energy.
For example, one of my clientshas a 600 client business.
They have a SaaS product andduring the time that we've been
working together, they've beenpitching to a business that has
6,000 properties.
So potentially, if they winthat business, their business
(20:37):
will change from 600 to, youknow, 6,600.
And they're down to the finaltwo and I've worked with them on
their pitch.
And he has said to me me,elaine, you've been instrumental
in this.
And so I suddenly realized, god,I have just been in total
(21:00):
denial about my skills that Ihave from all of the awards I
won and all the business Iworked on with, like L'Oreal,
ryanair, volkswagen.
I led a team that worked withKofi Annan.
You know it's just mad, but,like you just said, donna, you
didn't know that because I nevertalk about it and I only
(21:21):
started talking about it in thelast six months and only
touching on it, but not reallystepping in and owning it.
And so, really, as I often sayto my people that I work with,
quite often what you're coachingsomeone is what you're coaching
(21:42):
yourself on, and so, quiteoften, the issues that they're
grappling with are exactlyyou're holding up a mirror to
yourself.
Yeah, so this is the.
This is the juncture that I'vearrived at.
Obviously, I have uh, today,during our discussion, I have a
(22:02):
facebook group, but I don't knowwhether I will anymore.
Um, it's certainly going tochange because it's always open.
So if, if I retain it, it willchange to being like closed,
except for like learning labs orI will close it, you know.
And I've closed my membershipas of today.
(22:25):
So there will be one more calland I've realized I can't
sustain that energy, you know.
And so it's about looking atyour business and going okay,
what energy can I actually bringto this?
And it doesn't matter whetheryou're a CEO of many or a CEO of
one.
You still have to do that workand go honestly does this work
(22:49):
for me in my life?
Um, and you know how am Igetting the revenue that I
deserve out of this?
And um, I think a lot of peoplesay, oh, you know, businesses,
it can take them five years tomake a profit, but you shouldn't
be like struggling every singleyear.
(23:10):
You know, you've got to look atthe reality of it, you know
yeah, yeah, absolutely I thinkit is.
Donna Eade (23:19):
It's it's just hard.
Honestly, guys, being inbusiness is hard, it's not easy,
and I think a lot of people arefooled into thinking that it's
easy to make money online andyou can just, you know, click
your fingers and all of a suddenyou're a millionaire.
And it doesn't work like that.
I think people have very muchlulled into a false sense of
security with that and it's kindof heartbreaking really,
(23:43):
because you know there'sstatistics out there of how many
businesses start and, you know,fail in their first five years,
and I think that's probablyincreased in the last five years
because I think people thinkit's easy, so they start and
then they quit very quicklyafterwards.
So I think that's probablyincreased since the online realm
(24:04):
has increased in terms ofbusiness failures, and it can be
so hard to hold on sometimeswhen you just you think this is
what works for me, this is whatworks for my personality.
So for me, for example, youknow this works much better for
me than working in a nine tofive job.
I had a nine to five job beforeCOVID.
(24:25):
I worked a business before that.
I was back in jobs before that,like I've been in and out of
the working world for most of myadult life, looking after my
daughter for a few years inthere full time and things like
that.
But the business side of thingsI've always felt better inside,
personally, because I'm at home, I'm in my comfort zone.
(24:47):
You know I'm chill, I'm anintrovert.
So my comfort zone you know I'mchill, I'm an introvert, so you
know, anything that involveslots of people and being outside
is a stress on my system, soI've been much better since
being at home.
So it's like owning my ownbusiness is where it's at for me
then, because that works betterfor me.
But it's such a strugglesometimes and, like you, I've
(25:09):
changed what I've done.
Obviously, the business that Istarted in 2020, despite what
this guru said about mymembership failed, and you know
I had some beautiful members inthere If you're listening, guys,
I love you.
They were so, so supportive andeven when I sort of held fire
for a year to try and let theindustry recover back in 2022, I
(25:33):
think all but one of themstayed and paid their membership
for the year and supported methrough that year, even though I
wasn't providing them new stuff, because they believed, like I
did, in what we were doing andit's just such a shame that that
didn't work out.
However, you know I've lentinto the podcasting, which is
what people know me for and youknow talk to me about and I
(25:55):
always get.
Oh yeah, I was told somebodyasked about podcasting and I
mentioned you, and so you know Iheard somebody talk about you
the other day about podcasting,and that's brilliant to hear,
but it's still not easy.
The business side of it isstill not easy.
Like I could go out there and Icould teach podcasting left,
right and centre, not a problem.
(26:16):
But getting the messaging right, getting the payment systems
right, you know pricing yourselfproperly and you know getting
the marketing right so thatpeople are seeing the value and
want to pay you for what you'redoing is so, so difficult.
And I mean, obviously you'vegot the advantage of you've got
(26:39):
that Formula One experiencebehind you, so you've got that
marketing element, but stillthere are things that don't
click for you, which is whatyou've been digging into this
year with the whole what isaligning with me.
And I said to you before wejumped on that in the Business
Women Unlimited meeting that Irun, we had Carly Wall, your
(27:02):
business bestie, on talkingabout slowing down for the
summer holidays and this episodewas due to go out in August
maybe September time, but Imight bring it forward You'll
know if you're listening to thisearlier than that, because I
think it's an importantconversation to sort of continue
, especially if you were in thatBusiness Women Unlimited
(27:22):
meeting.
But in general, I think thesummer holidays tends to be
quieter for most people, whetherthey have children or don't,
because if they don't havechildren that are affected by
the school holidays, like Idon't, a lot of my clients do,
so they're doing less and it'sjust that summer vibe where
(27:42):
things quiet and down and it's agreat time to stop and reflect
and to actually think about it.
So if we can put thisconversation out there so people
have the time to go oh,actually this is sounding like
me, or that's the situation I'min it might just prompt that
thought process for them.
And, as Carly says, yourbusiness, your rules, and I
think we need to sort ofdiscover what our rules are,
(28:05):
because I think we are soinfluenced by people outside and
people that are meaning wellwith their advice.
You know there are plenty ofpeople in my network that would
be absolutely willing to sort ofgive me advice and it come from
a really good place.
And then there are the biggurus that are just giving
blanket advice out to anybodyand they assume that it would
(28:29):
work for everybody and itdoesn't.
But so many people take that toheart and run with it and uh,
it's, it's kind of it's kind ofpainful to watch.
You kind of want to, assomebody who's been in the in
the business for a little whilelonger, you kind of want to be
shouting at your screen when yousee all these people like
fanning over these people, likeno, you don't understand, don't
(28:49):
spend, don't waste your moneyit's so true, and because you
have to look at who is givingyou the advice and you know if,
like with my own clients, quiteoften they are looking up to
somebody who is really inspiringthem.
Elaine Walsh-Mcgrath (29:08):
But then when you dig into it, what I
always say to them is okay, butthey have a team, you know.
So be careful of that, oflistening to their advice or
copying what they're doing,because it might not be right
for your stage of business.
And so, even if it's perfect interms of alignment, it still
(29:30):
may not be right for a stage ofbusiness.
And that's what I've realizedabout my own journey.
It's like, ok, yeah, theseother things could work for me,
for sure, but they're out ofalignment for me.
And if I had grown the businessexponentially and had a team,
then that would actually be finebecause I could employ someone
(29:52):
who was more of a connector,nurturer energy, who would be
perfect for being in a group andbeing a community.
To look at.
You know, like who you are as aleader, who you are as a person
(30:18):
, and then what resource do youhave?
You know, and then really lookat what you want to achieve and
apply that because, look, youknow, as you know, like running
your own business is thegreatest personal development
challenge a person could do andI would not change it.
(30:42):
I would not change I have.
I am a serial entrepreneur andI love the challenge of it and,
um, I love the results myclients get.
I adore working with them and,like you said about your
membership, goodness, I loved,loved my members so much and
(31:04):
they, you know I love theirbusinesses and helping them to
improve their messaging.
But sometimes that can be hard,you know.
As you know, that can be hardto let that go.
I'm sure it was for you, it isfor me.
Um, you end up one foot in andone foot out going.
(31:24):
Oh, I don't want to disappointthese people.
I love them so much.
Yeah, also going, okay, but youknow you have to.
You have to be true to yourbusiness and what's right for
you and your family, you knowyeah, yeah, yeah, it's so, so
important and I know we've kindof gone on this.
Donna Eade (31:41):
Like you know, our business is so tough.
It's so tough, but it's toughwhen you're not aligned.
It's tough when you haven'tdone that foundational work to
work on what it is and I thinkand it, and really we have to do
that on the job.
So it is that tough that allthe way through.
And the thing is is we're humanbeings, we age, we change,
(32:06):
everything's changing.
We're in this concentration, soit's work that you have to keep
doing.
So why do people stay inbusiness if it's so damn hard
all the time?
Because we're changing.
And then things are changingand the world is changing and we
have to.
You know, they say you know youevolve or you die.
You've got to keep evolving andthis to me, for you, is an
(32:28):
evolution that you're.
You know you had that evolutionwhen your daughter was born.
Okay, that the life that youassumed you were going to have
because why wouldn't you hadsuddenly disappeared and now you
were left with something elsethat you didn't quite know how
to navigate and you had to to dothat.
And I really appreciate yousort of sharing at that, and I
think a lot of people feelguilty, um, when they of say, oh
(32:52):
it was, you know, this wasn'twhat I was expecting, and you
feel the need to sort of justify, but I still love my child.
But it's a huge loss.
But that doesn't take away fromthe joy of what you're dealing
with.
In there, you know, there'sstill a beautiful bundle of joy
that's smiling up at you,thinking, oh goodness me, who is
this person like?
(33:12):
You know, wow and so.
So it's a lot to sort of takein.
And I went through the samething, because not in the same
way, but because I had a veryfixed mindset, from the age of
seven years old, what my lifewas going to be.
And I, you know, you know I wasnever, I didn't understand
vision boards or, you know, anyof that kind of stuff.
(33:34):
When I was that age.
I had nobody in my life thatwas kind of sort of that way
inclined.
So.
But I remember writing down alist when I was about maybe 10
or maybe a bit older, but notmuch older, where I was like
okay, so I am going to go to uni, I'm going to get my degree,
I'm going to start being ateacher, and then when I'm going
to stay living at home until Iam like 28, because the current
(33:58):
wage and I'd looked it upsomewhere I'd found out how much
teachers make and I was like soif I make this much a year, I
can save this much because I'llbe living at home and then I
could afford to buy a house, andthen I'll get married at 30 and
(34:20):
then I'll have children.
I had it all written, it was allwritten down, and then
something happened when I was 16and it just turned my world on
its head and I left school and Ididn't get my A-levels and
therefore I couldn't go to uniand I spent the next two years
in the darkest depression I'veever had.
And then my daughter came andthen that was my purpose and all
(34:42):
of a sudden my whole life wascompletely different to what I
had planned.
And the grief and it's only inthese last sort of you know,
five years, like you said, thebiggest personal development
train ever you start digginginto all sorts of things is that
I realised that I have beenstuck and the reason that my
(35:05):
body has been misbehaving somuch is because I have been
stuck in this grief, this lossthat I just didn't even realise
was a loss.
And now it's almost like I putit on pause, I shut that door.
I'm very good at, you know,compartmentalizing everything.
(35:26):
Everything goes in a box andgets shut away and I can just
keep going, which is why my bodyhas suffered so much, because,
um, yeah, I'll talk about thatin a different podcast, I will
do that, do the health stuff andI will tell you all about
what's been going on for me.
But it just opened my eyes tothe fact that I've been dealing
with so much, but I haven'treally been dealing with it.
(35:46):
I've just locked it away andpushed it away and so and all
that's coming out.
So that's a great thing aboutbusiness in that respect is that
it's helped me to uncover somuch more of who I am, which is
leading me to be the bestversion of myself that I can be,
which I absolutely love.
(36:08):
But, yeah, I just wanted to saylike I really appreciate you
sharing that, because it's sucha taboo, you know, sort of guilt
ridden.
There'll be parents out therethat have got kids with autism,
down syndrome, all number ofthings that they thought their
life was going to be one thingand then they've had to pivot
and change and you syndrome allnumber of things that they
thought their life was going tobe one thing and then they've
had to pivot and change.
And you know, I always like tobelieve that there is some sort
(36:32):
of plan, some sort of somethingabout it and that it leads us to
where we want to be.
So, you know, if you hadn't hadyour daughter, you wouldn't
have done certain things and youwouldn't be the person you are
now.
And the person you are now isbloody fantastic.
So you know what I mean.
It's that kind of thing.
So, yeah, as much as it's beenhard, um from and I think all
(36:55):
business owners will say thereare seasons when it's harder
than others you have, this year,been going through that
evolution into what your next isgoing to be, and I think that's
really cool yeah, and the goodthing is that my business has
grown hugely this year, and sothe irony is, the more I cut
(37:20):
your harvest, the more I harvestexactly right the more it grows
.
Elaine Walsh-Mcgrath (37:26):
It's so counterintuitive.
And the more like I do thatinner gym work, the more I'm
released and the more I feel Ican talk about this more and
you're right, donna, thecurveballs that come with
challenges around my daughter'scare the more it hones my focus
(37:49):
on profit and time, because Ihave to be ruthless, because
what I've realized is, you know,my time with her and my husband
is what's the most important.
Yeah, and those little momentsof going over to the playground
(38:10):
or like having her friends overfor a play date that's the
important stuff, and so you mustmake sure that your business is
supporting that.
Yeah, and not the other wayaround.
Yeah, um, so hopefully thathelps other people.
Donna Eade (38:26):
Yeah, let's hope, let's hope.
I'm sure it will.
I'm sure it will.
I think it's a fascinatingconversation.
I've really loved it.
Before we end the conversation,I obviously have to ask you for
a couple of LinkedIn tips,because you know I have spoken
on this podcast a number oftimes about how I kind of put
Instagram to bed and I'mfocusing more on LinkedIn as my
(38:49):
main platform.
I would love to know from youso this is quick fire why
LinkedIn is a good platform tobe on and then three things that
we can do to improve ourpresence on LinkedIn.
Elaine Walsh-Mcgrath (39:03):
Awesome, here we go.
I love LinkedIn for a number ofdifferent reasons, but one of
the reasons is it's verycommercially honest.
You know, like people are therebecause they're professional
and they're there becausethey're selling something,
whether it's their own self interms of resource for a job, or
(39:26):
whether they have a service thatthey sell to other people,
whereas in all of the otherplatforms it's more around the
entertainment.
Right now I'm not saying thatyou can't like.
Ideally, you don't go ontoLinkedIn and go, I'm just here
to sell, like that's not goingto work.
(39:47):
It's not going to work.
But what I do love about it isthat that is largely why people
are there.
You know so, and when I did theLinkedIn Video Academy, they
also said that in terms ofvideos and content that work, it
(40:08):
is to do with work,professionalism, the behind the
scenes of your business,insights into um, the category
or sector that you work in, soways to improve your LinkedIn
content and presence is focusingon that.
You know that's what thealgorithm at a greater scale
(40:30):
wants.
Um in terms of like, like asuper easy um, like soundbite
for you.
Um for everybody to remember isthat our about section, our
profile, is not a cv.
It is not supposed to be aboutme, about us, okay.
(40:55):
So forget that sh1t, becausewhat your profile should do is
help your ideal client or thehiring manager understand that
you are the person for them.
So if you take nothing away forthe rest of this episode, I want
(41:19):
you to hear exactly that thatbasically, think about how you
do what you do, think about whyyour client needs it or wants it
, and then put that into yourheadline, put that into your
about section, put that intoyour content, because your
(41:39):
content, your profile, is thebridge between people looking
for exactly what you offer andyou, and that's that's it.
That's that's all it is really.
That's all any content is, andso if you can focus on that,
then you will do so much betteron LinkedIn.
(41:59):
I love that.
Donna Eade (42:01):
I love that fabulous and I think LinkedIn is a great
platform.
It really is, and I think it'sgrowing at the moment as well.
It's like business owners arefinding it all of a sudden, like
in the last sort of 12, 12months to two years, I think
it's sort of grown in terms ofbusiness owners finding it again
(42:21):
and going oh, I just all had,literally, it was just my CV, I
just have all what my job's onthere.
Isn't that what LinkedIn'sabout?
Oh, no, no, it's really not no,and this is it like.
Elaine Walsh-Mcgrath (42:33):
You know something like only three
percent of um users on LinkedInpost.
So think about that as anopportunity, like there's all,
there's a billion users and soif only three percent are
actually active, think aboutyour business and how you can
get in front of people in a waythat you can't on the other
(42:56):
platforms because it's sosaturated um.
And also another thing thatcame up with a client this
morning is that when youactivate your network, they
reciprocate, so they engage withyour posts.
If you've tagged them in in agood way, not like in a spammy
(43:17):
way, right, just for claritythere Then your message will be
exposed to their network, and sothat potential is huge in a way
that it just doesn't exist onother networks and other
platforms.
So that's why I love it so muchfor my clients.
Donna Eade (43:39):
Yeah, I do too Brilliant.
Ok, so I have a littlequickfire round to take you
through before we end today.
The first question in myquickfire round is what is the
book that has made the biggestimpact on your life so far?
Elaine Walsh-Mcgrath (43:55):
Oh, my God , I don't know the answer to
that question because I read soso much.
I like I read, read so much,but currently I'm just trying to
think.
Um, I think like DeniseDuffield Thomas's um book Get
Rich, lucky Bitch has kicked offmy um inner gym in the last
(44:23):
five years, so maybe we'll pickthat one.
Just to answer the questionyeah, I love that.
Donna Eade (44:28):
I love that, um, and Denise Duffield-Thomas was on
the podcast a little while ago,so I'll link that episode in the
show notes for you guys.
Um, second question is what isyour favorite podcast to listen
to and you don't?
Elaine Walsh-Mcgrath (44:41):
don't say mine well, as I say, I actually
yours, um, also, um, oh god, um,joanne, and that that one, the
my therapist, ghosted me.
It's hysterically funny.
Oh, I love a good one and um,and chill and prosper, I love as
(45:02):
well.
So kind of, you're my, you'remy top three brilliant love that
.
Donna Eade (45:07):
I love being in the top three.
Um, what is your go-to snackwhen you're in a hurry?
Elaine Walsh-Mcgrath (45:13):
oh, when I'm in a hurry, god, I honestly
don't know.
I'm not a major snacker.
She lies, um, that's probablychocolate, um, or almond nuts,
you know like.
So I'd be a devil for, like youknow, a piece of dark chocolate
with some almonds.
Donna Eade (45:34):
Yeah, oh, that's a nice combo.
Love that.
And then what is your favoriteme time thing to do?
Listen?
Elaine Walsh-Mcgrath (45:43):
to podcasts and go for a walk, like
that is kind of what I do.
I mean, like favorite wouldprobably be like drive to the
sea and bring my book with meand like just like literally
give off that vibe of do noteven look at me, even if you are
(46:05):
my best friend.
I do not want to speak toanybody right now.
I'm so overly touched,stimulated.
I've given everything you know,so now it's like I'm in a
cocoon with my book, possiblywith headphones, to really give
out that don't speak to me, vibe.
(46:25):
Isn't that terrible.
For people who know me, they'relike.
That really does not give offany like.
Donna Eade (46:33):
That is not like they're like oh my god, have I
been really bothering her whenI've gone around to see her?
Elaine Walsh-Mcgrath (46:40):
yeah, exactly like you know, um, but I
just I give off so much energy,um, when I am like around
people, uh, that, um, I have tomake sure that I come back and
retreat and just reallyreplenish or I burn out like
(47:02):
very easily yeah, understood,understood.
Donna Eade (47:05):
Um.
So, elaine, where can peoplefind you?
Elaine Walsh-Mcgrath (47:10):
well, I've got a really, really innovative
, um and very different,difficult way of finding me.
It's my name, name, so googleelaine welsh mcgrath I believe
I'm the only one and love thatelaine welsh, mcgrathcom is the
(47:32):
way you will most easily find meand um, and let's see if I do
actually reduce the amount ofplatforms that I'm on that I
that I've almost committed to onthis episode.
So like, if you see that I'mnot on Facebook, send me a
message and go.
Well done, obviously not onFacebook.
Donna Eade (47:54):
She won't get that.
Elaine Walsh-Mcgrath (47:56):
Yeah, but on LinkedIn, because I'll always
be on LinkedIn.
Donna Eade (47:59):
I love it Brilliant.
Okay, guys, that is it for ustoday, today.
Thank you so much for joiningus for this conversation.
Elaine, thank you so much foryour time.
We will be back.
Well, I will be back again nextweek with another episode.
For you all, elaine's links,you know, to her website will be
in the show notes.
Um, anything else we've spokenabout today will also be down
(48:19):
there, and we'll see you in thenext one.
Bye for now.
You're listening to the Mindset in Action podcast,
the place to be to grow andstreamline your business.
I'm your host, donna Eade.
Let's jump into the show.
Welcome back to the podcast.
Everybody I am.
(00:21):
You know I always say I'mreally excited for today's show,
especially when I have a guest.
But oh my goodness, I am soexcited for this one because I
have got a very lovely friendand a birthday buddy, because,
as we're recording this, it'sonly a week till our birthdays.
So, elaine Walsh-McGrath,welcome to the podcast.
Elaine Walsh-Mcgrath (00:40):
Oh my God, Could I be any more excited to
be here?
I am currently obsessed.
You are my working.
Could I be any more excited tobe here?
I am currently obsessed.
You are my working walkingbuddy and indeed, as you
discussed oh yes, you're in myears the most intimate place you
could be Now in my personalspace.
Danaid, I love you, I love yourwork.
Donna Eade (01:01):
Oh, I love that.
I love that.
And do you know what?
It's so funny?
Because you kind of see thedownloads and they're just
numbers and you have no idea.
But when people actually reachout and say, oh, I was listening
to the podcast, and blah, blah,blah, that makes me so, so
happy.
It's like people do actuallylisten.
The numbers mean something.
So I love that.
Elaine Walsh-Mcgrath (01:23):
I love that following you on podbean.
That's my, that's my, that'syour jam.
Is it right up there brilliant?
Donna Eade (01:30):
love that, love that .
So, before we dive into thisconversation, which I know is
going to be fantastic, why don'tyou tell the audience a little
bit about who you are and whatit is that you do?
Elaine Walsh-Mcgrath (01:39):
sure, I'm Elaine Walsh McGrGraw and I
really help CEOs, mds,consultants, who have more of a
tendency to social conscience ormaybe have something in their
background that is holding themback from really attaining that
(02:03):
like stellar celebrity, like, um, visibility, that all their
credibility, authority, um andexperience goes wow.
But of course you should besmashing this.
Something is generally holdingthem back that maybe they're not
exactly conscious of and quiteoften they come to me going, oh,
(02:27):
I really need to be on LinkedInand that's the front door that
they come through and then thehouse opens up to me, helping
them on many levels to reallyshine and find their mojo and,
(02:48):
like, really step into who theyare and not apologize for it
anymore.
So I know that's a flippinghell of a sentence yeah, but
that is exactly what.
Donna Eade (02:59):
I do.
I love that.
I love that and it's and it'sinteresting to sort of hear it
like that, because I think a lotof us tend to think that when
we're in business, we knowwhat's wrong and we go oh, this
is what's wrong, and we canoftentimes end up spending our
money in the wrong placesbecause we go to you know, I
(03:22):
just need to create a course.
If I created a course and putthat on Evergreen, I'd be sorted
.
That would be the unstuck.
I know.
If I just go and you know,start a Facebook group and then
monetize it, that's going to bethe point.
So you go to these experts andyou spend that money and,
generally speaking, that's allthey do, and so you do it, and
(03:44):
then it doesn't work and thenyou've wasted your money
potentially and you're like whatdo I do?
So the fact that they can cometo you you're known for being a
whiz on LinkedIn and people cometo you for that, but you're
able to help them see thatthat's not necessarily where the
problem's lying.
Elaine Walsh-Mcgrath (04:03):
I love that this is it I mean.
So recently I was talking tosomebody who has worked with me
and I'm working with her andwhen it came down to it I was
like you know what?
I'm actually a formula onemarketing mechanic.
So I open the lid and you knowthe problems come to me, like
(04:26):
this isn't selling, or you know,I can't get X, y and Z to sell.
And I open up the lid and go,well, I can see what the problem
is and I get my tools and I get, you know, up with the old
sleeves and off I go.
Up with the old sleeves and offI go and they're in this
(04:49):
supported environment with me.
Who has somebody who's worked onL'Oreal, colgate, burger King,
ryanair, volkswagen like thereisn't probably a project that
you can think of, um, that Ididn't work on in the like
nearly 25 years of myadvertising agency career.
So it comes with all thatknowledge.
But in addition, I also run myown businesses because I'm a
serial entrepreneur and soeverything that I teach comes
(05:12):
from a place of I've done it, um, so yeah, so that's my new
thing at the core of the heartof my business.
I'm like a marketing mechanic,but not just any old marketing
mechanic.
I'm like a marketing mechanic,but not just any old marketing
mechanic.
I'm a Formula One Grand Prixwinner.
Marketing mechanic.
Donna Eade (05:30):
That's such a great visual.
And now I've got you.
If anybody knows Elaine, she'sthe queen of pink, she loves her
pink, and I've just got you ina pair of pink overalls.
You know, the full body,formula One.
Elaine Walsh-Mcgrath (05:47):
With a big magnum of champagne in one hand
and maybe a spanner in theother oh dear, that's awesome.
Donna Eade (05:55):
So today's conversation I had planned um a
conversation for today, butElaine came in and said look,
this is what's going on in mybusiness and I think this would
be a really good topic to talkabout, and I happen to agree.
So we are changing things up alittle bit today in this
(06:16):
conversation, and I think it'sone that everybody should listen
to and take comfort in, really,because I think a lot of us
sort of suffer behind the scenesand don't really talk about it.
So, elaine, because I think alot of us sort of suffer behind
the scenes and don't really talkabout it, so, elaine, tell us a
little bit of what's been goingon.
You know, whatever you'recomfortable with, what you're
happy to talk about, what's beengoing on in your world, what's
been changing.
(06:36):
Because obviously, you know,back when we booked this, which
was probably a few months backnow, we've like, we've like to
take our time on these things,don't we?
But you know it was, it wasLinkedIn guru.
You know she knows everythingabout LinkedIn and that's what I
really knew, you for themarketing side.
I knew that you'd done it, butI didn't realise how much of a
part of your business it was inthe background.
(06:58):
So talk to us about what's beenhappening for you this year and
what's been changing happeningfor you this year and what's
been changing.
Elaine Walsh-Mcgrath (07:09):
So my word for 2025 was harvest, because I
am a devil for creating lots ofthings and not stopping.
I don't know whether any of youhave done any work around
sacred money archetypes, but ifyou have, then you'll understand
when I say that when I did thework on that, I discovered that
(07:30):
I was equal alchemist andcelebrity, and my third one was
ruler.
So alchemists tend to um, buildlots of stuff, be super
creative, like, almost like,access inspiration from the
universe and quite often when Iwork one-to-one with people, I
(07:53):
like joke and say, oh, yourideas are coming to me, they're
coming, just they're comingthrough me.
Um, but that has had.
The negative aspect of that isthat I create lots of things and
then I'm a one person show andtherefore, how do I promote all
of these things?
I'm also a celebrity in denial.
(08:16):
So now anyone who knows me ismost likely walking, listening
and eye rolling all at the sametime.
Because, yeah, I did notrealize that, um, and I fought
it because I really felt thatcelebrities were up themselves.
So I was like I don't, I don'tlike that.
(08:37):
But then I had to come to peacewith um, not judging myself.
And then my ruler was likemaking things really complicated
.
And that's kind of where Ilanded into this conversation
with Donna today, because I camehere going do you know what?
There's been a lot going on inthe background of my personal
(09:00):
life.
Um, I shall be 51 on the 27thof June and, like many women at
that age, I'm going throughperimenopause and I've been
going through some gynae issues.
Put it lightly, right.
I also for anybody who doesn'tknow me I have a beautiful
(09:21):
daughter.
She is eight and she has Downsyndrome and and she has complex
needs and, like many people,I'm sure, who navigate that
world, not only are youinteracting with somebody that
you love and you're trying toparent and nourish, but you also
(09:42):
have other roles like lobbyist,advocate, therapist, and not
just one therapy, but the wholekit and caboodle of therapies
that that child or adult needs.
And so I suddenly realized,after lots of listening to
podcasts like Donna's or DeniseDeFille, thomas's, like that
(10:04):
there are different seasons toour business.
And I was really in push mode,even though, thankfully, I had
chosen harvest as my word.
And so the more I leaned intoharvest and the more I kept
saying simplify to myself, themore.
I thought, wow, like the ruler,I have created this empire, but
(10:29):
maybe it's not serving me andmy needs for a business right
now.
And so in the past six months,as I've been still promoting my
um offers that I had inexistence coming into this year,
I've been doing a lot of innergym work to go okay, does this
(10:54):
really align with me?
And, as Donna mentioned earlierwhen she said, oh, I've designed
this course or I've run this onEvergreen because I've taken
this advice from somebody else,what I realized last year, and
definitely this year, was I hadthe answers.
And so, as I am talking to you,right into your ear, just what
(11:19):
I want to whisper to you is youhave the answers inside of you
for how your business is goingto flourish, and what you're
accessing is advice that otherpeople have experienced, based
on their expertise and theirlived experience of their
(11:41):
business.
But unless they deeplyunderstand how you were made up,
then it may not be the rightadvice for you.
And what I've realized is therewere a number of things in my
business that are still in mybusiness, but I'm working
through that do not align withme, and that's what I, that's
(12:04):
what we discussed when I wenthang on a second.
Things have changed and I'vegot something to tell you.
Donna Eade (12:26):
I, I, you know huge entrepreneurs in in in the
online space and we're sort oftaught that this is the route
and if you just follow thesesteps it'll work.
I will never forget doing aprogram, um, during COVID, which
obviously was a really hardtime, but it was very obvious
that the business that I wastrying to create in COVID really
(12:50):
wasn't it wasn't the right time.
You know, I'm trying to set upa membership for wedding vendors
in the middle of a pandemicwhere no wedding vendor is
working and has income.
How was that ever going to work?
And I was doing this membershipprogram and I was told that
(13:12):
there are no special snowflakes,that if you just follow the
modules you will be successful,which was about as useful as you
know.
Turning around and telling Idon't know.
You know it was ridiculous.
It was just a ridiculous.
I can't think of an analogy offthe top of my head, but you
(13:37):
know what I mean.
It was just a ridiculousstatement to make Because every
business is different, becauseevery person behind the business
is different.
You know, we're all unique,we've all got our strengths and
weaknesses and it could be thata membership was never actually
going to work for me Because,like you said, depending on my
sort of, you know, human design,my soul signature, my money
archetype, all of thosedifferent elements of who makes
up me is going to workdifferently with different
(14:00):
things.
So it's just so frustrating andI think a lot of people sort of
go down the path and end upbuilding a business that they
absolutely bloody hate.
So for you, because you've gotthis celebrity aspect of you, so
you're building, building,making, making all these new
things Was it ever?
Do you feel like it was ever,something that was sort of you
(14:24):
were seeing from the outside andyou were taking, or was it just
that your mind was racing andyou were just like, oh, I could
do this and I could do that, andthen shiny, object and jump
over there.
So what was it for you thatkind of led you to that sort of
situation before you made thischange?
Elaine Walsh-Mcgrath (14:39):
I think it was a bit of column A and a bit
of column B, column A and a bitof column B.
So, in terms of my journey andthis is why I really again want
to go back to what I just saidreally really go inside for
decisions about your business,really listen to your body.
(14:59):
One of my clients was a somaticcoach.
I really recommend that you getinto your body and listen to
those decisions that you'remaking.
It's just, it's probablydisconnected from your head,
because when you are trying tobuild a business that is
different to what you did before, then you're seeking advice and
(15:23):
you're looking at people whohave done it already.
So what happened to me was whenI had my daughter.
I had a six-figure consultancybusiness.
I used to work on theVolkswagen account, I worked on
Ryanair, I worked on VirginMedia.
I would go into agencies and Iwould lead those accounts and
lead teams.
(15:45):
But I realized, once I had mydaughter, that that was
incompatible.
Um, because of the additionalroles that no one tells you
about, right, and so I was like,okay, you know.
And also there was there wasloss in a change of plan.
You know, I thought I was goingto have a typical child.
(16:07):
I am so thrilled and absolutelylove my daughter to bits, but
there's always loss when itcomes to a different experience,
a path that has changeddramatically.
Right, so I went, ok, okay,what am I going to do?
Um, so, um, I started going,okay, how could I have a more
(16:32):
flexible life?
Now we won't go through thenumber of different things I
tried because, like you, duringCOVID I had a very different
business.
I had tried to be.
I had been like, oh, I couldreally support my to be.
I had been like, oh, I couldreally support my daughter if I
learned more about yoga.
And, oh gosh, should I start myown yoga business?
(16:53):
And oh, but ironically, themarketing kicked in and it was
hugely successful.
But I wasn't reading philosophy, yoga, philosophy books.
I was reading marketing books,you know, yeah, um, and so
during that period of time, Isaw other people with courses
and they had Facebook groups andI was like, oh, wow, look at
(17:14):
this.
Like, look at you, know whatthey've made.
You know this is so good.
I know they have a similarskill set in the background.
Maybe I could do that.
And so I had.
I created a generic marketingcourse.
That didn't work, you know, um,I had no copywriting experience
at the time, even though itcomes naturally to me, so I had
(17:36):
to hone that skill and I didover the past five years
actually.
Um, but again, I joined anotherprogram and that person had
massive success around umselling um canva templates as
like a small offer, and then umbuilding a community in Facebook
(17:58):
and then up leveling people toa higher ticket, and that really
worked for her and I was like,oh right, okay, and her whole
thing was about offers and I waslike, okay, but I intuitively
was like I don't like the ideaof a Facebook group.
That just exhausts menonetheless.
I didn't listen to myself andso I opened different Facebook
(18:24):
groups with different offers andit just drained the life out of
me.
And I have a regularconversation um with my amazing
VA, um Louisa, where I go, howcan we get this thing to work?
And it just doesn't and I don'tknow.
I I'm a spiritual person and Ijust feel like, energetically,
(18:45):
it's off with me, you know, andso that's another example of
something that just has alwaysbeen off.
Another thing that I did was Ilearned from a business coach to
do six month coaching.
She really helped build myconfidence.
(19:06):
I will be forever grateful forher input into my life, but her
way of doing it was to providean extended payment plan, which
was a genius idea.
Okay, it's really good.
It really worked on a level forme because I signed clients for
sure.
However, instead she was reallyable to keep people to a six
(19:31):
months and still they would payher across 10 or 12 months,
whereas what happened with mewas it just extended into the 10
months, and so I never got abreak.
And when I looked at my humandesign, it's all about intensive
bursts of energy for me andthen a requirement to retreat
(19:53):
into my cave yeah, I know that.
One and replenish right, and Ihaven't been doing that for the
last five years.
And so I've come to therealization, as I've been
working with CEOs and MDs, thatwhat they're getting out of me
is that Formula One Grand Prixwinning marketing mechanic
(20:17):
energy.
For example, one of my clientshas a 600 client business.
They have a SaaS product andduring the time that we've been
working together, they've beenpitching to a business that has
6,000 properties.
So potentially, if they winthat business, their business
(20:37):
will change from 600 to, youknow, 6,600.
And they're down to the finaltwo and I've worked with them on
their pitch.
And he has said to me me,elaine, you've been instrumental
in this.
And so I suddenly realized, god,I have just been in total
(21:00):
denial about my skills that Ihave from all of the awards I
won and all the business Iworked on with, like L'Oreal,
ryanair, volkswagen.
I led a team that worked withKofi Annan.
You know it's just mad, but,like you just said, donna, you
didn't know that because I nevertalk about it and I only
(21:21):
started talking about it in thelast six months and only
touching on it, but not reallystepping in and owning it.
And so, really, as I often sayto my people that I work with,
quite often what you're coachingsomeone is what you're coaching
(21:42):
yourself on, and so, quiteoften, the issues that they're
grappling with are exactlyyou're holding up a mirror to
yourself.
Yeah, so this is the.
This is the juncture that I'vearrived at.
Obviously, I have uh, today,during our discussion, I have a
(22:02):
facebook group, but I don't knowwhether I will anymore.
Um, it's certainly going tochange because it's always open.
So if, if I retain it, it willchange to being like closed,
except for like learning labs orI will close it, you know.
And I've closed my membershipas of today.
(22:25):
So there will be one more calland I've realized I can't
sustain that energy, you know.
And so it's about looking atyour business and going okay,
what energy can I actually bringto this?
And it doesn't matter whetheryou're a CEO of many or a CEO of
one.
You still have to do that workand go honestly does this work
(22:49):
for me in my life?
Um, and you know how am Igetting the revenue that I
deserve out of this?
And um, I think a lot of peoplesay, oh, you know, businesses,
it can take them five years tomake a profit, but you shouldn't
be like struggling every singleyear.
(23:10):
You know, you've got to look atthe reality of it, you know
yeah, yeah, absolutely I thinkit is.
Donna Eade (23:19):
It's it's just hard.
Honestly, guys, being inbusiness is hard, it's not easy,
and I think a lot of people arefooled into thinking that it's
easy to make money online andyou can just, you know, click
your fingers and all of a suddenyou're a millionaire.
And it doesn't work like that.
I think people have very muchlulled into a false sense of
security with that and it's kindof heartbreaking really,
(23:43):
because you know there'sstatistics out there of how many
businesses start and, you know,fail in their first five years,
and I think that's probablyincreased in the last five years
because I think people thinkit's easy, so they start and
then they quit very quicklyafterwards.
So I think that's probablyincreased since the online realm
(24:04):
has increased in terms ofbusiness failures, and it can be
so hard to hold on sometimeswhen you just you think this is
what works for me, this is whatworks for my personality.
So for me, for example, youknow this works much better for
me than working in a nine tofive job.
I had a nine to five job beforeCOVID.
(24:25):
I worked a business before that.
I was back in jobs before that,like I've been in and out of
the working world for most of myadult life, looking after my
daughter for a few years inthere full time and things like
that.
But the business side of thingsI've always felt better inside,
personally, because I'm at home, I'm in my comfort zone.
(24:47):
You know I'm chill, I'm anintrovert.
So my comfort zone you know I'mchill, I'm an introvert, so you
know, anything that involveslots of people and being outside
is a stress on my system, soI've been much better since
being at home.
So it's like owning my ownbusiness is where it's at for me
then, because that works betterfor me.
But it's such a strugglesometimes and, like you, I've
(25:09):
changed what I've done.
Obviously, the business that Istarted in 2020, despite what
this guru said about mymembership failed, and you know
I had some beautiful members inthere If you're listening, guys,
I love you.
They were so, so supportive andeven when I sort of held fire
for a year to try and let theindustry recover back in 2022, I
(25:33):
think all but one of themstayed and paid their membership
for the year and supported methrough that year, even though I
wasn't providing them new stuff, because they believed, like I
did, in what we were doing andit's just such a shame that that
didn't work out.
However, you know I've lentinto the podcasting, which is
what people know me for and youknow talk to me about and I
(25:55):
always get.
Oh yeah, I was told somebodyasked about podcasting and I
mentioned you, and so you know Iheard somebody talk about you
the other day about podcasting,and that's brilliant to hear,
but it's still not easy.
The business side of it isstill not easy.
Like I could go out there and Icould teach podcasting left,
right and centre, not a problem.
(26:16):
But getting the messaging right, getting the payment systems
right, you know pricing yourselfproperly and you know getting
the marketing right so thatpeople are seeing the value and
want to pay you for what you'redoing is so, so difficult.
And I mean, obviously you'vegot the advantage of you've got
(26:39):
that Formula One experiencebehind you, so you've got that
marketing element, but stillthere are things that don't
click for you, which is whatyou've been digging into this
year with the whole what isaligning with me.
And I said to you before wejumped on that in the Business
Women Unlimited meeting that Irun, we had Carly Wall, your
(27:02):
business bestie, on talkingabout slowing down for the
summer holidays and this episodewas due to go out in August
maybe September time, but Imight bring it forward You'll
know if you're listening to thisearlier than that, because I
think it's an importantconversation to sort of continue
, especially if you were in thatBusiness Women Unlimited
(27:22):
meeting.
But in general, I think thesummer holidays tends to be
quieter for most people, whetherthey have children or don't,
because if they don't havechildren that are affected by
the school holidays, like Idon't, a lot of my clients do,
so they're doing less and it'sjust that summer vibe where
(27:42):
things quiet and down and it's agreat time to stop and reflect
and to actually think about it.
So if we can put thisconversation out there so people
have the time to go oh,actually this is sounding like
me, or that's the situation I'min it might just prompt that
thought process for them.
And, as Carly says, yourbusiness, your rules, and I
think we need to sort ofdiscover what our rules are,
(28:05):
because I think we are soinfluenced by people outside and
people that are meaning wellwith their advice.
You know there are plenty ofpeople in my network that would
be absolutely willing to sort ofgive me advice and it come from
a really good place.
And then there are the biggurus that are just giving
blanket advice out to anybodyand they assume that it would
(28:29):
work for everybody and itdoesn't.
But so many people take that toheart and run with it and uh,
it's, it's kind of it's kind ofpainful to watch.
You kind of want to, assomebody who's been in the in
the business for a little whilelonger, you kind of want to be
shouting at your screen when yousee all these people like
fanning over these people, likeno, you don't understand, don't
(28:49):
spend, don't waste your moneyit's so true, and because you
have to look at who is givingyou the advice and you know if,
like with my own clients, quiteoften they are looking up to
somebody who is really inspiringthem.
Elaine Walsh-Mcgrath (29:08):
But then when you dig into it, what I
always say to them is okay, butthey have a team, you know.
So be careful of that, oflistening to their advice or
copying what they're doing,because it might not be right
for your stage of business.
And so, even if it's perfect interms of alignment, it still
(29:30):
may not be right for a stage ofbusiness.
And that's what I've realizedabout my own journey.
It's like, ok, yeah, theseother things could work for me,
for sure, but they're out ofalignment for me.
And if I had grown the businessexponentially and had a team,
then that would actually be finebecause I could employ someone
(29:52):
who was more of a connector,nurturer energy, who would be
perfect for being in a group andbeing a community.
To look at.
You know, like who you are as aleader, who you are as a person
(30:18):
, and then what resource do youhave?
You know, and then really lookat what you want to achieve and
apply that because, look, youknow, as you know, like running
your own business is thegreatest personal development
challenge a person could do andI would not change it.
(30:42):
I would not change I have.
I am a serial entrepreneur andI love the challenge of it and,
um, I love the results myclients get.
I adore working with them and,like you said about your
membership, goodness, I loved,loved my members so much and
(31:04):
they, you know I love theirbusinesses and helping them to
improve their messaging.
But sometimes that can be hard,you know.
As you know, that can be hardto let that go.
I'm sure it was for you, it isfor me.
Um, you end up one foot in andone foot out going.
(31:24):
Oh, I don't want to disappointthese people.
I love them so much.
Yeah, also going, okay, but youknow you have to.
You have to be true to yourbusiness and what's right for
you and your family, you knowyeah, yeah, yeah, it's so, so
important and I know we've kindof gone on this.
Donna Eade (31:41):
Like you know, our business is so tough.
It's so tough, but it's toughwhen you're not aligned.
It's tough when you haven'tdone that foundational work to
work on what it is and I thinkand it, and really we have to do
that on the job.
So it is that tough that allthe way through.
And the thing is is we're humanbeings, we age, we change,
(32:06):
everything's changing.
We're in this concentration, soit's work that you have to keep
doing.
So why do people stay inbusiness if it's so damn hard
all the time?
Because we're changing.
And then things are changingand the world is changing and we
have to.
You know, they say you know youevolve or you die.
You've got to keep evolving andthis to me, for you, is an
(32:28):
evolution that you're.
You know you had that evolutionwhen your daughter was born.
Okay, that the life that youassumed you were going to have
because why wouldn't you hadsuddenly disappeared and now you
were left with something elsethat you didn't quite know how
to navigate and you had to to dothat.
And I really appreciate yousort of sharing at that, and I
think a lot of people feelguilty, um, when they of say, oh
(32:52):
it was, you know, this wasn'twhat I was expecting, and you
feel the need to sort of justify, but I still love my child.
But it's a huge loss.
But that doesn't take away fromthe joy of what you're dealing
with.
In there, you know, there'sstill a beautiful bundle of joy
that's smiling up at you,thinking, oh goodness me, who is
this person like?
(33:12):
You know, wow and so.
So it's a lot to sort of takein.
And I went through the samething, because not in the same
way, but because I had a veryfixed mindset, from the age of
seven years old, what my lifewas going to be.
And I, you know, you know I wasnever, I didn't understand
vision boards or, you know, anyof that kind of stuff.
(33:34):
When I was that age.
I had nobody in my life thatwas kind of sort of that way
inclined.
So.
But I remember writing down alist when I was about maybe 10
or maybe a bit older, but notmuch older, where I was like
okay, so I am going to go to uni, I'm going to get my degree,
I'm going to start being ateacher, and then when I'm going
to stay living at home until Iam like 28, because the current
(33:58):
wage and I'd looked it upsomewhere I'd found out how much
teachers make and I was like soif I make this much a year, I
can save this much because I'llbe living at home and then I
could afford to buy a house, andthen I'll get married at 30 and
(34:20):
then I'll have children.
I had it all written, it was allwritten down, and then
something happened when I was 16and it just turned my world on
its head and I left school and Ididn't get my A-levels and
therefore I couldn't go to uniand I spent the next two years
in the darkest depression I'veever had.
And then my daughter came andthen that was my purpose and all
(34:42):
of a sudden my whole life wascompletely different to what I
had planned.
And the grief and it's only inthese last sort of you know,
five years, like you said, thebiggest personal development
train ever you start digginginto all sorts of things is that
I realised that I have beenstuck and the reason that my
(35:05):
body has been misbehaving somuch is because I have been
stuck in this grief, this lossthat I just didn't even realise
was a loss.
And now it's almost like I putit on pause, I shut that door.
I'm very good at, you know,compartmentalizing everything.
(35:26):
Everything goes in a box andgets shut away and I can just
keep going, which is why my bodyhas suffered so much, because,
um, yeah, I'll talk about thatin a different podcast, I will
do that, do the health stuff andI will tell you all about
what's been going on for me.
But it just opened my eyes tothe fact that I've been dealing
with so much, but I haven'treally been dealing with it.
(35:46):
I've just locked it away andpushed it away and so and all
that's coming out.
So that's a great thing aboutbusiness in that respect is that
it's helped me to uncover somuch more of who I am, which is
leading me to be the bestversion of myself that I can be,
which I absolutely love.
(36:08):
But, yeah, I just wanted to saylike I really appreciate you
sharing that, because it's sucha taboo, you know, sort of guilt
ridden.
There'll be parents out therethat have got kids with autism,
down syndrome, all number ofthings that they thought their
life was going to be one thingand then they've had to pivot
and change and you syndrome allnumber of things that they
thought their life was going tobe one thing and then they've
had to pivot and change.
And you know, I always like tobelieve that there is some sort
(36:32):
of plan, some sort of somethingabout it and that it leads us to
where we want to be.
So, you know, if you hadn't hadyour daughter, you wouldn't
have done certain things and youwouldn't be the person you are
now.
And the person you are now isbloody fantastic.
So you know what I mean.
It's that kind of thing.
So, yeah, as much as it's beenhard, um from and I think all
(36:55):
business owners will say thereare seasons when it's harder
than others you have, this year,been going through that
evolution into what your next isgoing to be, and I think that's
really cool yeah, and the goodthing is that my business has
grown hugely this year, and sothe irony is, the more I cut
(37:20):
your harvest, the more I harvestexactly right the more it grows
.
Elaine Walsh-Mcgrath (37:26):
It's so counterintuitive.
And the more like I do thatinner gym work, the more I'm
released and the more I feel Ican talk about this more and
you're right, donna, thecurveballs that come with
challenges around my daughter'scare the more it hones my focus
(37:49):
on profit and time, because Ihave to be ruthless, because
what I've realized is, you know,my time with her and my husband
is what's the most important.
Yeah, and those little momentsof going over to the playground
(38:10):
or like having her friends overfor a play date that's the
important stuff, and so you mustmake sure that your business is
supporting that.
Yeah, and not the other wayaround.
Yeah, um, so hopefully thathelps other people.
Donna Eade (38:26):
Yeah, let's hope, let's hope.
I'm sure it will.
I'm sure it will.
I think it's a fascinatingconversation.
I've really loved it.
Before we end the conversation,I obviously have to ask you for
a couple of LinkedIn tips,because you know I have spoken
on this podcast a number oftimes about how I kind of put
Instagram to bed and I'mfocusing more on LinkedIn as my
(38:49):
main platform.
I would love to know from youso this is quick fire why
LinkedIn is a good platform tobe on and then three things that
we can do to improve ourpresence on LinkedIn.
Elaine Walsh-Mcgrath (39:03):
Awesome, here we go.
I love LinkedIn for a number ofdifferent reasons, but one of
the reasons is it's verycommercially honest.
You know, like people are therebecause they're professional
and they're there becausethey're selling something,
whether it's their own self interms of resource for a job, or
(39:26):
whether they have a service thatthey sell to other people,
whereas in all of the otherplatforms it's more around the
entertainment.
Right now I'm not saying thatyou can't like.
Ideally, you don't go ontoLinkedIn and go, I'm just here
to sell, like that's not goingto work.
(39:47):
It's not going to work.
But what I do love about it isthat that is largely why people
are there.
You know so, and when I did theLinkedIn Video Academy, they
also said that in terms ofvideos and content that work, it
(40:08):
is to do with work,professionalism, the behind the
scenes of your business,insights into um, the category
or sector that you work in, soways to improve your LinkedIn
content and presence is focusingon that.
You know that's what thealgorithm at a greater scale
(40:30):
wants.
Um in terms of like, like asuper easy um, like soundbite
for you.
Um for everybody to remember isthat our about section, our
profile, is not a cv.
It is not supposed to be aboutme, about us, okay.
(40:55):
So forget that sh1t, becausewhat your profile should do is
help your ideal client or thehiring manager understand that
you are the person for them.
So if you take nothing away forthe rest of this episode, I want
(41:19):
you to hear exactly that thatbasically, think about how you
do what you do, think about whyyour client needs it or wants it
, and then put that into yourheadline, put that into your
about section, put that intoyour content, because your
(41:39):
content, your profile, is thebridge between people looking
for exactly what you offer andyou, and that's that's it.
That's that's all it is really.
That's all any content is, andso if you can focus on that,
then you will do so much betteron LinkedIn.
(41:59):
I love that.
Donna Eade (42:01):
I love that fabulous and I think LinkedIn is a great
platform.
It really is, and I think it'sgrowing at the moment as well.
It's like business owners arefinding it all of a sudden, like
in the last sort of 12, 12months to two years, I think
it's sort of grown in terms ofbusiness owners finding it again
(42:21):
and going oh, I just all had,literally, it was just my CV, I
just have all what my job's onthere.
Isn't that what LinkedIn'sabout?
Oh, no, no, it's really not no,and this is it like.
Elaine Walsh-Mcgrath (42:33):
You know something like only three
percent of um users on LinkedInpost.
So think about that as anopportunity, like there's all,
there's a billion users and soif only three percent are
actually active, think aboutyour business and how you can
get in front of people in a waythat you can't on the other
(42:56):
platforms because it's sosaturated um.
And also another thing thatcame up with a client this
morning is that when youactivate your network, they
reciprocate, so they engage withyour posts.
If you've tagged them in in agood way, not like in a spammy
(43:17):
way, right, just for claritythere Then your message will be
exposed to their network, and sothat potential is huge in a way
that it just doesn't exist onother networks and other
platforms.
So that's why I love it so muchfor my clients.
Donna Eade (43:39):
Yeah, I do too Brilliant.
Ok, so I have a littlequickfire round to take you
through before we end today.
The first question in myquickfire round is what is the
book that has made the biggestimpact on your life so far?
Elaine Walsh-Mcgrath (43:55):
Oh, my God , I don't know the answer to
that question because I read soso much.
I like I read, read so much,but currently I'm just trying to
think.
Um, I think like DeniseDuffield Thomas's um book Get
Rich, lucky Bitch has kicked offmy um inner gym in the last
(44:23):
five years, so maybe we'll pickthat one.
Just to answer the questionyeah, I love that.
Donna Eade (44:28):
I love that, um, and Denise Duffield-Thomas was on
the podcast a little while ago,so I'll link that episode in the
show notes for you guys.
Um, second question is what isyour favorite podcast to listen
to and you don't?
Elaine Walsh-Mcgrath (44:41):
don't say mine well, as I say, I actually
yours, um, also, um, oh god, um,joanne, and that that one, the
my therapist, ghosted me.
It's hysterically funny.
Oh, I love a good one and um,and chill and prosper, I love as
(45:02):
well.
So kind of, you're my, you'remy top three brilliant love that
.
Donna Eade (45:07):
I love being in the top three.
Um, what is your go-to snackwhen you're in a hurry?
Elaine Walsh-Mcgrath (45:13):
oh, when I'm in a hurry, god, I honestly
don't know.
I'm not a major snacker.
She lies, um, that's probablychocolate, um, or almond nuts,
you know like.
So I'd be a devil for, like youknow, a piece of dark chocolate
with some almonds.
Donna Eade (45:34):
Yeah, oh, that's a nice combo.
Love that.
And then what is your favoriteme time thing to do?
Listen?
Elaine Walsh-Mcgrath (45:43):
to podcasts and go for a walk, like
that is kind of what I do.
I mean, like favorite wouldprobably be like drive to the
sea and bring my book with meand like just like literally
give off that vibe of do noteven look at me, even if you are
(46:05):
my best friend.
I do not want to speak toanybody right now.
I'm so overly touched,stimulated.
I've given everything you know,so now it's like I'm in a
cocoon with my book, possiblywith headphones, to really give
out that don't speak to me, vibe.
(46:25):
Isn't that terrible.
For people who know me, they'relike.
That really does not give offany like.
Donna Eade (46:33):
That is not like they're like oh my god, have I
been really bothering her whenI've gone around to see her?
Elaine Walsh-Mcgrath (46:40):
yeah, exactly like you know, um, but I
just I give off so much energy,um, when I am like around
people, uh, that, um, I have tomake sure that I come back and
retreat and just reallyreplenish or I burn out like
(47:02):
very easily yeah, understood,understood.
Donna Eade (47:05):
Um.
So, elaine, where can peoplefind you?
Elaine Walsh-Mcgrath (47:10):
well, I've got a really, really innovative
, um and very different,difficult way of finding me.
It's my name, name, so googleelaine welsh mcgrath I believe
I'm the only one and love thatelaine welsh, mcgrathcom is the
(47:32):
way you will most easily find meand um, and let's see if I do
actually reduce the amount ofplatforms that I'm on that I
that I've almost committed to onthis episode.
So like, if you see that I'mnot on Facebook, send me a
message and go.
Well done, obviously not onFacebook.
Donna Eade (47:54):
She won't get that.
Elaine Walsh-Mcgrath (47:56):
Yeah, but on LinkedIn, because I'll always
be on LinkedIn.
Donna Eade (47:59):
I love it Brilliant.
Okay, guys, that is it for ustoday, today.
Thank you so much for joiningus for this conversation.
Elaine, thank you so much foryour time.
We will be back.
Well, I will be back again nextweek with another episode.
For you all, elaine's links,you know, to her website will be
in the show notes.
Um, anything else we've spokenabout today will also be down
(48:19):
there, and we'll see you in thenext one.
Bye for now.
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