How to Spark Success

Hosted by Liz Hamlet (Business Growth Strategist, Coach, Speaker & Founder)

BusinessInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

103

Latest episode

Oct 2026

Language

About the show

Imagine if you could learn the success secrets of Global leaders and entrepreneurs. What would you ask them? The "How to Spark Success" podcast lets you listen in on conversations with leaders to steal some of their success secrets. Giving you ways to think differently about success and shift your mindset about what's possible for you. In each episode host Liz Hamlet (Strategic Leadership Facilitator, Business Growth Strategist, Coach, Speaker & Founder of Spark Succeed and The Antisocial Socialites) welcomes a different guest from all business arenas to find out their career journey, leadership success habits and what's been integral to their success. Series 2 lifts the lid on what's happening in the world of leadership, solopreneurship and entrepreneurship. Don't miss this podcast! Steal some success secrets today... Pick your path. Apply to work with host Liz Hamlet here - https://sparksucceed.co.uk Music: Outside Musician: @iksonmusic

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 12, 2026Episode 167 min

The Autumn Effect - Why you're rethinking your business

Autumn is doing more than changing the weather - it may be triggering the identity reset you didn't realise you needed. If you have been feeling stuck, restless, or oddly ready to let go of what used to fit, Liz explains why that feeling is seasonally patterned and what to do with it before you force the wrong next step. Liz digs into the science and symbolism behind autumn's pull on our thinking, from shorter days and cooler temperatures to the scents, textures, and cultural cues that nudge us toward reflection. She shares the moment she felt it herself, including the solo retreat last Autumn where she rewrote her business model, cut what no longer aligned, and leaned harder into the work that truly lit her up. You will discover: Why autumn can make you rethink your identity, goals, and business direction How emotional openness, reduced stimulation, and oxytocin can support self-reflection Why a feeling of being stuck is not always a problem to solve How to use the season for gentle business audits instead of forcing productivity The difference between being stuck, being tired, and simply being ready for something different Liz also offers a simple reframe for founders and ambitious professionals: not everything in your current chapter needs to come with you into the next one. The question is not just what is ending - it is what you are making space for. Perfect for founders, solopreneurs, and anyone sensing a quiet pivot as the seasons change. If you need clarity, permission, or a smarter way to approach your next chapter, this episode will help you stop carrying what no longer belongs. Connect with Liz Hamlet (Business Growth Strategist, Coach and Mentor) and share what you're letting go of: LinkedIn Instagram Ready for your next strategic move? Join Liz free every Friday in your inbox with The Next Move to end the week with clarity and start the next with confidence.

October 9, 2026Episode 151 min

What if you treated your business more like your car?

Your business shouldn't have to wait for a breakdown service. Liz Hamlet (Founder of Spark Succeed & The Antisocial Socialites) talks about why the smartest founders treat growth like car maintenance - regular servicing, taking action at early warning signs, and a fresh look under the bonnet before sales dry up or overwhelm takes over. If you have been pushing through, ignoring the warning lights, or telling yourself you will fix it once things calm down, this episode will hit home fast. Liz, a business growth strategist and coach, introduces her "Last Orders Menu" (a challenge she's set for herself in the run up to her 50th birthday) and explains how it helps you choose the right support at the right time, instead of waiting until everything feels urgent. You'll hear how the car analogy maps directly onto your business: why an annual MOT is the business equivalent of spotting future risks before they become expensive problems how a service helps you fine-tune what is already working and maintain momentum how to tell whether your current business model is still fit for the journey you want to take why having someone else look under the bonnet can reveal issues you cannot see when you are busy driving Liz also shares the thinking behind The Strategic Founder ... ... her six-week one-to-one offer designed to act like an MOT and service rolled into one. It is built for founders who know something feels off, but can't quite see what needs attention first. This is a sharp reminder that growth doesn't have to come from crisis. The earlier you diagnose the problem, the easier it is to protect your time, improve performance, and keep your business moving in the right direction. Perfect for founders, solo business owners, and anyone who suspects their business is overdue for a check-up. If you want practical clarity before the wheels start wobbling, this is the one to listen to now. Apply for The Strategic Founder here.

September 28, 2026Episode 148 min

The Italian business lessons that make work 20% easier.

What if the fastest way to grow your business is to make it 20% easier to run? Host Liz Hamlet (Growth Strategist, Coach and Speaker) turns her recent trip to Puglia into a challenge for founders and leaders: stop chasing more, and start building a business and life you actually want to live inside. Drawing on the Italian refusal to treat everything like an emergency, she explores why more revenue, more content, and more activity can create more noise... not more progress. Instead, she makes the case for space, simplicity, and deliberate choices that protect your energy and sharpen your thinking. In this episode, you'll discover how to bring more of "La Dolce Vita" into your leadership and entrepreneur life, why stepping away can spark better ideas, how to stop treating every opportunity like a fire drill, and why "fewer, better" priorities can beat a list of half-finished tasks. Liz also shares a simple question to help you find your next strategic move: What would make this 20% easier? Want a clearer, more strategic next move each week? Sign up for The Next Move —free every Friday: https://shop.sparksucceed.co.uk/thenextmove

August 18, 2026Episode 1311 min

Your Leadership Off-site was "great". So why has nothing changed?

In this episode, Liz Hamlet (Business Growth Strategist and Coach) unpacks why so many leadership offsites and away days fail to create real change... ... and what it actually takes to turn them into momentum, clarity, and ownership. If you're planning a team retreat, this is your reminder that the venue isn't the strategy; the real value comes from the conversations, decisions, and follow-through that happen in the room. If you're ready to design a retreat that leads to genuine movement, explore The Hidden Treasure Team Retreat here: https://www.sparksucceed.co.uk/hiddentreasureteam

August 17, 2026Episode 128 min

When Being Visible Feels Impossible.

What Visibility Really Means for Founders and Leaders. Visibility gets talked about like it is a marketing problem. Post more. Share more. Get more followers. Show up more. But for founders and leaders, it's actually a leadership issue. In this solo episode, Liz Hamlet, Business Growth Strategist and Coach, explores why so many smart, capable people resist being visible, and why the goal isn't to be seen by everyone. It is to be known for something specific. We get into the difference between attention and influence, the fear of judgment that often sits underneath visibility resistance, and how to make your thinking available without turning yourself into an online personality. In this episode: Why visibility is a leadership issue, not just a marketing one The better question than "How do I get more visible?" Why follower counts and views aren't the same as influence What it actually means to be strategically visible Why 500 relevant people can matter more than 50,000 followers The difference between being loud and being someone people seek out What we're really afraid of when we say we don't want to be visible Why fear of judgment can quietly make business decisions for you Visibility without self-promotion, performance or oversharing Why making your thinking available can be one of the most useful things you do When keeping your point of view hidden isn't actually humility Why you don't need to become an "online personality" to build influence The strategic question: What do you want to be known for? Why consistency of thought beats trying to be everywhere Because visibility isn't about becoming more visible to everyone. It is about becoming more recognisable to the right people. START NOW. START FREE. Join THE NEXT MOVE. Liz sits down with hundreds of leaders + founders every Friday morning, helping you think differently about your week and your next strategic view. The Next Move. Free. Every Friday. Sign up here: https://shop.sparksucceed.co.uk/thenextmove

August 14, 2026Episode 119 min

What Solopreneurs Get Right that Corporate Leaders Forget... and vice versa!

Most founders and corporate leaders are making the same mistake: they confuse motion with strategy. Liz Hamlet reveals why the smartest businesses do less, choose better, and build a rhythm that actually moves the needle. Drawing on her experience in both corporate leadership and solopreneurship, Liz breaks down the five lessons each side can steal from the other - and why that cross-pollination matters more than ever. If you are juggling too many ideas, stuck in annual planning cycles, or waiting for perfect certainty before you act, this episode gives you a sharper way forward. You'll discover: Why busyness can hide a lack of strategic clarity The founder mindset corporates need to move faster with less certainty The questions that expose weak ideas before you waste time on them How to turn strategy from a once-a-year event into a weekly, monthly, and quarterly habit Why even solo businesses need systems, collaboration, and boundaries so you do not become the bottleneck Liz also tackles a hard question many solopreneurs avoid: have you built a business, or accidentally created a demanding job for yourself? Her answer is practical, direct, and designed to help you make better choices with the time and energy you already have. This episode is essential listening if you are a founder, solopreneur, or corporate leader who wants to trade overwhelm for clarity. Liz Hamlet is a business growth strategist, coach, and speaker who helps ambitious people find strategic calm and make their next best move. Ready for your next strategic move? I sit down with hundreds of founders and leaders every Friday with THE NEXT MOVE. Sign up free at https://shop.sparksucceed.co.uk/thenextmove PICK YOUR PATH: More about how Liz helps corporate leaders, Boards and founders here

August 7, 2026Episode 104 min

The Best Leaders don't have all the answers.

The best leaders don't win by having all the answers. They win by asking the one question everyone else is too close to see. Liz Hamlet (Strategic Business Growth expert, strategist and coach. Founder of Spark Succeed Coaching & Consulting Ltd) makes the case for a leadership shift that changes everything: stop chasing more information and start using better questions to uncover what is hiding in plain sight. If you lead a team, run a business, or keep getting stuck in "we need more data" mode, this episode gives you a sharper way forward. Liz shares why senior leaders often mistake certainty for progress, how being "in the weeds" blocks perspective, and why the most effective leaders walk into the room curious instead of trying to prove they are the smartest person there. She breaks down the idea of "seeing the unseen," reading between the lines, and hearing what is not being said. You'll discover: Why "more research" is often just a disguised form of delay The difference between information and perspective Three questions that can immediately change the quality of your decisions Why teams so often solve the wrong problem brilliantly How to spot assumptions that are quietly steering your strategy The episode also gives you a simple end-of-week reflection you can use with yourself, your team, or your clients to uncover the question you have been avoiding. Sometimes the breakthrough is not a better answer. It is a better question. Essential listening if you are a founder, executive, manager, or ambitious operator who wants to lead with more clarity, make faster decisions, and create real movement instead of endless discussion. Sign up to THE NEXT MOVE - Free every Friday. Grab a cuppa and sit down with a Business Growth Strategist (Liz!) to plan your next strategic move. For Founders + Leaders.

June 15, 2026Episode 912 min

The Hidden cost of waiting - Why thinking isn't the same as progress

Struggling with strategic paralysis and feeling stuck just when you should be scaling? This episode exposes the hidden confidence and clarity killers sabotaging your growth… and reveals a simple shift that turns hesitation into momentum. Most female founders waste months overthinking their next move, caught in a cycle of overanalysis, comparison, and perfectionism. Liz dismantles these common pitfalls, showing why your biggest obstacle isn't lack of strategy but fear of making the wrong decision. You'll learn how strategic paralysis keeps you stuck in place and why taking imperfect action (rather than waiting for perfect timing) is the real secret to accelerating your progress. Discover the surprising reason why confidence actually follows visibility, not the other way around. Liz breaks down how to overcome imposter syndrome by simply showing up, how to reframe your messaging to highlight transformations rather than features, and why your next step doesn't have to be perfect to be powerful. She shares practical tools to stop the cycle of overresearch, self-doubt, and comparison, revealing how to choose clarity over perfection and momentum over paralysis. If your business has felt like a constant spin cycle of starting and stalling, this episode is your blueprint for breakthrough. Whether you're a solopreneur or leading a team, learn how to reprogram your thinking and your actions to unlock faster growth… even when you feel too small or unready Perfect for ambitious founders ready to move past indecision and build unstoppable confidence through strategic action. Don't wait for clarity…create it. Your next big breakthrough starts with one bold step.Sign up for the "What would Liz Do?" Strategic Review (£350): https://shop.sparksucceed.co.uk/wwld

June 4, 2026Episode 86 min

Too close to see clearly? ... The short-sightedness that's "blurring" your business growth

Most founders are so close to their business they miss hidden opportunities right in front of them. In this episode, Liz Hamlet (Business Strategist & Coach) reveals her powerful "What Would Liz Do?" strategic reviews... and why they're an eye-opening way to see your business through an outsider's perspective and unlock its full potential. Liz shares why being too blinkered holds your growth hostage and how stepping out of the day-to-day grind reveals game-changing opportunities. She explains her unique approach: acting as your temporary CEO for 90 days to analyse what to keep, stop, fix, and prioritise for rapid growth. You'll discover her simple three-step system: complete a business snapshot, get her expert analysis, and receive a bespoke video review. Whether you're overwhelmed, stuck, or craving clarity, fresh eyes can transform your next 90 days... and your entire business trajectory! If you're a founder ready to cut through the noise and unlock unseen potential, this is your game-changer. Don't miss it. Get your own "What would Liz Do?" business review for £350 here (This usually costs 4-figures!): What would Liz do?

May 12, 2026Episode 77 min

Why being less professional and more authentic boosts business growth.

Most founders spend years trying to fit into a corporate "mold"... ...wearing suits, sounding "professional" and hiding who they REALLY are. But what if the secret to your business growth and success is exactly the opposite? Liz Hamlet, a seasoned business strategist and coach, reveals why ditching that corporate façade and embracing your quirkiest, most authentic self can lead to explosive growth. Aand how leaning into your personality is a proven business strategy. In thisepisode, Liz shares her personal journey from corporate conformity to authentic entrepreneurship, and why it's often the "unprofessional" side... for her pirate-themed strategy sessions and creative retreats... that leaves a lasting impression on clients. She shares that shedding the corporate mask not only clarifies your message but attracts your ideal clients and creates memorable experiences that keep your brand top of mind. Tune in, get inspired and start building your business around what makes you uniquely powerful - YOU! Your next big breakthrough is just a mindset shift away. RESOURCES: Move your business forward in 30 minutes a day. 7 days. One thing to focus on each day. Get access to DailyBites for free here: https://shop.sparksucceed.co.uk/dailybites-opt-in