"I'm very scatty. I'm one of those people that I think I'm often thinking about the bigger picture or the things that are really important to me. So the little things don't get done."

"I mean, I've had some pretty shit things in life, as in my husband went to prison when my daughter was 13 months old."

"I think I've always, I always want more. So I'm never happy, which is pretty sad. I mean, I'm not, I'm actually quite a happy person, but I always strive for more and I always put a lot of pressure on myself."

In this episode of Exploring Emotional Overdraft, Andy speaks to Katie Street, founder of Street Agency as she shares her personal and professional experiences.

Key Discussion Points:

1. Emotional Overdraft Explained:
   • The term refers to the personal cost entrepreneurs pay for their business's success, impacting their emotional and physical health.
   • Andy frames it as an invisible line in one's P&L that shows success at the expense of the founder's well-being.
2. Katie’s Personal Struggles with Emotional Overdraft:
   • Despite her successful appearance, Katie discusses the pressures and guilt she often feels, exacerbated by her rigorous personal and professional standards.
   • She talks about the difficulties of managing a strict detox regimen alongside her business responsibilities, reflecting on the need for self-compassion and realistic goal-setting.
3. Professional Journey and Business Evolution:
   • Katie outlines her career path in sales and marketing, leading to the founding of Street Agency, which specializes in lead generation and content for tech clients.
   • She details the agency’s pivot towards servicing larger tech companies and the evolution of their business model in response to market demands and opportunities.
4. Leadership and Management Challenges:
   • Katie reflects on the challenges of being a self-critical leader, her experiences with hiring and managing a team, and the complexities of scaling a business.
   • She shares lessons learned from a failed attempt to appoint a managing director, emphasizing the importance of role clarity and the need to match job roles with personal strengths and business needs.
5. Resilience and Coping Mechanisms:
   • Despite the tough year financially and operationally, Katie highlights the resilience it took to navigate these challenges, including taking strategic risks like loans to sustain the business.
   • She also discusses the importance of self-care and setting boundaries to maintain mental health and productivity.
6. Advice for Entrepreneurs:
   • Katie and Andy discuss the importance of recognizing accomplishments and the need for entrepreneurs to give themselves credit where it's due.
   • She stresses the importance of time management and self-reflection in making thoughtful business decisions and maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

Conclusion:

• Katie's journey illustrates the hidden costs of entrepreneurship and the essential balance between ambition and well-being.
• Listeners are encouraged to reflect on their emotional overdraft and consider Katie’s advice on resilience, leadership, and personal growth.

https://street.agency/
Connect with Katie on Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiestreet/

In this incredible and moving episode of Exploring Emotional Overdraft, Andy Brown interviews Paul O'Malley, the COO of Fox Agency. Paul candidly shares his journey of expanding the agency into the US and the challenges he faced. He discusses the pressure he felt to succeed and the toll it took on his mental and physical well-being.

Paul opens up about experiencing intense panic attacks and the realisation that after much denial he recognised just how deep he was in his emotional overdraft. The conversation touches on Paul's reliance on alcohol during his hardest times, how he blacked in the middle of the street and how he eventually found his way back through therapy, medication and non-negotiable setting boundaries to avoid burnout.

Paul talks about throwing himself into photography and emphasises the real importance of recharging and taking care of his mental health.

Chapters

00:00
Introduction and Background

05:16
Paul's Experience with Emotional Overdraft

12:15
Impact of Emotional Overdraft on Paul

25:23
Panic Attacks and Emotional Overdraft

31:46
Self-Medicating with Alcohol

36:01
Recognizing the Need for Help

40:20
The Importance of Recharging

44:16
Living in the Present Moment

49:52
Managing Emotional Overdraft

57:43
Protecting Time for Yourself

https://fox.agency/

Introduction:
In an engaging episode of "Exploring Emotional Overdraft," Andy Brown dives into a profound conversation with Charlie Marchant, the CEO of Exposure Ninja. Known for her balanced approach to emotional and professional challenges, Charlie shares her journey and insights into managing emotional overdrafts, offering invaluable lessons on personal growth and leadership.

Key Takeaways from the Episode:

• Understanding Emotional Overdraft: Charlie articulates her perception of emotional overdraft, emphasizing the necessity of acknowledging one's limitations. She underlines the importance of separating self-worth from professional achievements and the dangers of the "Just Fix, Do, Implement" (JFDI) mentality. This foundational understanding is pivotal for anyone looking to manage their emotional reserves effectively.
• The Power of Processes: Charlie credits her ability to manage stress and maintain high-quality work to being process-driven. She highlights the significance of establishing standard operating procedures, ensuring team competence through training, and the critical role of feedback. This approach not only streamlines operations but also fosters a culture of trust and accountability.
• Navigating New Challenges: A theme that resonates throughout the conversation is the evolution of challenges within the workplace. Charlie discusses the shift towards the need for inter-team collaboration, viewing these challenges as opportunities for growth and development. Her perspective reframes obstacles as catalysts for organizational and personal advancement.
• Recruiting with Intention: Charlie shares her philosophy on "recruiting slower," focusing on aligning potential hires with the specific demands and culture of the role and company. This thoughtful approach to recruitment ensures a harmonious match between the employee's capabilities and the job's requirements, ultimately reducing turnover and enhancing team dynamics.
• Adaptive Leadership: A significant portion of the discussion revolves around the concept of being a "people manager" rather than a "line manager." Charlie advocates for adapting leadership styles to meet individual team members' needs, emphasizing the importance of empathy and understanding in fostering a supportive work environment.
• Personal Fulfillment Beyond Work: Charlie passionately speaks on the necessity of engaging in activities outside of work that one loves. She believes that a well-rounded life, rich with personal interests and passions, is essential for maintaining balance and preventing emotional overdraft.

Conclusion:
Charlie Marchant's journey and insights offer a roadmap for effectively navigating emotional overdraft, highlighting the importance of self-awareness, process orientation, intentional recruitment, adaptive leadership, and personal fulfillment. Her evolved approach serves as an inspiration for leaders and individuals alike, seeking to balance professional success with emotional well-being.