10 Boring Things That Create Exciting Growth with Alice Benham
Release Date: 01/07/2026
Inside OFFF Festival- What I Learned as a Creative Business Owner
Building your Brand
In this episode, I’m sharing a behind-the-scenes debrief from my time at OFFF Festival in Barcelona; one of the world’s most inspiring creative conferences. I chat about the standout talks and industry trends (including honest conversations around AI) and the power of community and creative energy. This episode is a reflection on what really matters as a creative business owner. Key Takeaways Creativity is still deeply human (even in the age of AI) Many top creatives aren’t rushing to replace their craft with AI; they genuinely love the process, problem-solving, and hands-on work....
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Beyond the Shiny Finish: Scaling, Sacrifices, and Software with Michael Bruny-Groth
Building your Brand
In this episode, I chat with Michael Bruny-Groth, the founder of (aff link) Michael created a tool that has become a staple for logo designers worldwide, but behind the "overnight success" lies a story of immense sacrifice, strategic pivots, and radical vulnerability. Michael shares the behind-the-scenes reality of running a software company, including the personal toll of scaling and his bold decision to run a "Pay What You Want" Black Friday campaign rooted in deep, personal storytelling. This is a refreshingly honest look at what it actually takes to build and maintain a successful brand...
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How I juggle motherhood and running a business
Building your Brand
A behind-the-scenes look at the real, unfiltered juggle of running a business while raising a family. In this episode, I’m sharing the contrast between big career moments and the everyday realities of motherhood, plus the systems, support, and mindset shifts that make it all possible. Key Takeaways The “highlight vs reality” contrast is normal You can go from career highs to cleaning up sick (or dealing with nits) overnight. Both can exist and that doesn’t diminish your success. You don’t have to do it all alone Support systems; whether that’s a partner, family, freelancers, or...
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Redefining Growth: From a Team of 10 to a Team of Two with Lauren Harvey
Building your Brand
Today on the podcast I chat with Lauren Harvey, who is the owner and founder of with her husband, Alex. I think so often we view running a business as a very linear journey, but often it doesn't really look like that. Over the last 15 years of owning their business, Lauren and Alex started off with just Lauren, grew to a team of 10, and then intentionally scaled back down again to just the two of them. We talk about that experience, how they had to unlearn the traditional narrative of "success," and the new niche they've settled into. We also discuss what it is really like working with your...
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Two failed client projects that had the biggest impact on my business
Building your Brand
In this solo episode, I’m sharing two early client mistakes that knocked my confidence; but ultimately shaped the way I run my business today. I talk vulnerably about my previously poor boundaries and some communication breakdowns, and how these experiences taught me lessons I still carry into every project. If you’ve ever had a client situation go wrong, this episode will remind you: you’re not alone and you can come back stronger. Key Takeaways Your gut is part of your business strategy If something feels off; whether it’s pricing, scope, or a client fit; it’s worth paying...
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Book Design as Branding: Lessons from Penguin with David Pearson
Building your Brand
In this episode of Building Your Brand, I’m chatting with , a world-class book designer who began his career at Penguin Books before venturing out on his own. David specializes in both book covers and the internal layouts (text design) of books. We dive deep into the "crossovers" between book design and branding, exploring how David handles the unique challenge of designing for "dead authors" while trying to capture entirely new audiences. David shares his refreshing and somewhat rebellious take on the creative process, explaining why he identifies as a "slow designer" and why he’s...
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Where I Stand on AI (as a Branding Designer)
Building your Brand
In this solo episode I'm sharing honestly on where I currently stand on AI. It's a topic I’m still wrestling with; from its undeniable benefits to the deeper ethical and creative concerns, this isn’t a definitive take; it’s a real-time reflection. If you’ve been feeling conflicted, cautious, or even curious about AI, this episode opens up the conversation and invites you to think more critically about the role it plays in your work, your creativity, and your life. Key Takeaways You don’t need to have a fixed opinion It’s okay to sit in the grey area. Growth comes from questioning,...
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The Invisible Impact: How Your Font Choice Defines Your Brand with Alen Kapetanovic
Building your Brand
In this episode I dives into the often-overlooked but essential world of typography with Alen Kapetanovic, a type designer and founder of Alen shares his fascinating transition from civil engineering to running a large design agency, and finally finding true success and freedom through the meticulous art of type design. We explore why fonts are as impactful as color for brand mood, the technical science behind "beautiful collections of letters," and how choosing a unique typeface can elevate a brand without requiring a massive budget. This episode is sponsored by SilverStag Type...
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How I Prepare For Giving a Talk
Building your Brand
Over the last few years I have been lucky enough to speak at some incredible events including Adobe MAX London (in front of 750 people and Adobe MAX LA. This year I am speaking at Atomicon and OMR Festival in Hamburg. In this episode I share how I prepare for the talks I give. Every talk is different but with the help of public speaking coach Charlotte Lewis who I have previously interviewed on the podcast I have managed to come up with a process that works well for me. If you have done any public speaking I would love to hear your experience, and if there is anything else you...
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The Truth About Professional Jealousy with Hannah Isted and Lois Seco
Building your Brand
Today on the podcast, I've invited two of my closest friends, Hannah Isted and Lois Seco, to chat about another vulnerable topic: dealing with professional jealousy. Last time we spoke, we tackled our fear of success, and this time we are diving into the messy feelings of comparison and envy. I am sure everyone has experienced professional jealousy at some point, and honestly, I feel it pretty regularly. In this episode, we chat about how to extract useful information from your jealousy, why taking action is the best antidote to comparison, and the danger of letting the social media...
info_outlineHappy New Year and welcome back to the Building Your Brand podcast for 2026! I am so excited for what I have in store for this podcast this year.
To kick things off, I’m thrilled to welcome back a returning guest for her third time on the show: Alice Benham. Alice is the perfect person to start the year with because I love how she thinks about goals and working on your business rather than just in it.
In this episode, we demystify the difference between those two concepts (because I honestly get confused all the time!). We also discuss why it is so important to make time for big-picture strategy, even when it doesn't feel urgent, and how to create a vision that actually motivates you.
I hope this episode serves as a lovely motivational start to your year and helps you make a plan to grow your business in a way that feels really good to you.
Key Takeaways:
- The difference between "on" and "in" the business: Working in your business is employee mode (admin, client work) where you notice immediately if it stops. Working on your business is CEO mode (growth, strategy) where the impact is seen months down the line
- The urgency trap: We often neglect working on our business because it lacks the immediate urgency and dopamine hit of client work, but it is essential for long-term growth.
- The AB Method: Alice breaks down her strategy into three key habits: casting vision, setting goals, and tracking progress
- Hold the vision tightly, goals loosely: Your vision is the ultimate destination or feeling you want, while goals are just the vehicle to get there. It is okay to change your goals if a better path appears
- Track what matters to you: Don't just track arbitrary numbers like revenue if they don't serve you. Create a "scorecard" with 3-5 metrics that align with your specific goals, such as how aligned your work feels or revenue from a specific offer
Episode Highlights:
- 02:27 – Alice explains the "Dummies Guide" to the difference between working on and in your business
- 11:59 – Why documenting and tracking is vital to stop you from being led purely by emotion
- 18:41 – The danger of "vanity metrics" and why Alice recommends a simple scorecard with a maximum of five data points
- 23:25 – How to avoid "goal distraction" by ensuring your goals are actually your own and not just what you see others doing
- 30:08 – Why vision work is like taking a spatula to the inside of your brain to scrape out ideas
About The Guest:
Alice Benham is a business strategist who helps business owners grow by working on their business, not just in it. She is the founder of the "On It" programme, which provides the structure and space for business owners to set goals, track progress, and cast their vision.
You can find Alice on her website or Instagram.
Mentioned in this episode:
On It: Alice's programme for business owners to work on their business. Use code LIZ10 for 10% off
I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @lizmmosley or @buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode!
This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft lucylucraft.co.uk
If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!