Mentoring & Coaching
Running your own business can be the best feeling in the world - but it can also be tough, so come away in, we're talking your language.
How Willow & Herb Can Help
Support, help and unique business strategies.
1:2:1 Mentoring Sessions. Mini Courses & Workshops.
Ditch the Dull; this is aimed toward creatives, the career changers, and dreamers who want to make a go of this!
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Why work with me.
I'd been a solopreneur for 20 years when lockdown struck. Overnight I lost 95% of my income and with no furlough (I was one of the freelancers who slipped through the net) I had to act fast. Diving into my existing skills and also seeing a gap in the market, I set up Willow & Herb, initially as a Garden Consultation Business, that quickly developed into a lifestyle floristry business. You see, my super-power is finding that little kernel of an idea and running with it; tapping into your hidden talent, finding that unique skill and seeing where we can slot it into your business to ensure you stand out from your competitors.
1:2:1 Mentoring
As a creative you might very well feel lost in the business world. I completely understand that you'd rather be making something fabulous, or delivering a wonderful therapy session to a client than worrying about why that latest ad hasn't worked, or why you're seeing tumbleweed every time you post on social media. This is where I come in. Your one hour, personalised mentoring session, delivered via Zoom will look at ways of helping you understand the small changes that can make a big difference to your business. Beforehand you'll be sent a brief information form to give me some background, afterwards a recording of the session will be emailed to you along with a detailed action plan of what you can do next.
So, What's Your Story?
You've heard the saying, 'it's not what you say, it's the way that you say it'? I'm a writer, a journalist by trade, and have interviewed hundreds of people over the past 20 odd years, finding out their story, helping them get their message across. I've also read thousands of press releases and believe me, I know which ones make the headlines and which ones get tossed in the bin - not because the story is no good, but because the message is often lost in a seas of useless information and in a busy newsroom, there's no time to wade through treacle in the hope of finding a good tale. If it's not apparent in the top line, then sadly it gets ditched. And that's a bit like your website, newsletters and social media posts. Your message, your story, needs to be clear, concise and to the point. If you need help with this, then let's chat.
About Me
Hey, you may be here because you're a client, perhaps you already receive my mentoring newsletter each week or you’ve simply stumbled across this page and thought – what’s she about?
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Well, I'm Theresa Talbot. I'd been self-employed for 25 years in the media and creative sector before starting Willow & Herb. As a BBC journalist, radio presenter and novelist (among other things) I'd written every day of my professional life and knew how to tell a story.
So why would you come to me for mentoring? Understanding the challenges of being self employed is second nature to me. I fully appreciate that it can often be lonely, and how sometimes we simply need some pointers to get back on track. One of my super-powers is thinking outside the box to find solutions that aren't always obvious at first glance.
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When it comes to teaching I've taught creative writing & radio workshops everywhere from libraries to prisons, delivered media training sessions to some of the largest corporate companies in the country and completed the rigorous 'Train the Trainer Course' at the BBC, spending almost 2 years teaching colleagues the new editing system which was being rolled out across the entire network.
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As a journalist, uncovering the story and getting the message out there quickly is my key skill, which is why I can also help you tell your unique story.
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So, from BEEB to Blooms, I now run Willow & Herb as a 'lifestyle' business; growing flowers, creating fabulous wedding florals and running busy workshops. It very much suits me, which means I run the business - the business doesn't run me!
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There are many challenges to setting up & running a creative business. Changing careers at any age can be daunting, but it’s also exciting and loads of fun, and I'd love to share my years of experience and help you too.
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Scroll down to read what others say about working with me.
