Perls of Wisdom

This episode is a real look at what happens when growth comes before you’re ready for it.I sat down with Nicola to talk about what it actually felt like building her business while everything was moving fast on the outside… and breaking behind the scenes.Because from the outside, hitting milestones like 10,000 users looks like progress.But what people don’t see is what comes with that.The pressure. The expectation. The reality of trying to hold something together while it’s still being built.Nicola shares what it was like navigating a stage where the business was growing, but the systems weren’t keeping up. Where things were going wrong in real time, and there wasn’t a clear roadmap for how to fix it.We talk about the moments where quitting would have been easier. The decisions you have to make without having all the answers. And what it really takes to keep going when things aren’t working the way you expected.This conversation is not about the highlight reel.It’s about the part where things feel unstable, uncertain, and harder than you thought they would be.We get into: What growth actually looks like behind the scenes  The pressure of scaling before everything is ready  Dealing with things breaking while still pushing forward  Why the hardest part is often after things start “working”  Choosing to continue when quitting feels easier If you’re building something right now and it feels like you’re constantly figuring it out as you go, this episode will hit.Because this is what it really looks like when things start to grow… and nothing feels fully in control.If you enjoyed this episode, make sure you follow Perls of Wisdom, so you never miss a conversation about what it really takes to build a business.This podcast is all about the messy middle. The part nobody talks about. The lessons, mistakes, and breakthroughs that happen while you are still figuring it out.If this episode helped you, I would love it if you could share it with a founder friend or tag me on social media so I can see you are listening.You can find me here: Instagram: @itsisobelperl LinkedIn: Isobel Perl YouTube: Isobel PerlWebsite: perlsinbusiness.comIf there is a founder you would love me to interview, or a topic you want covered, send me a message. I read more than you would think.And remember:You do not need to feel ready; you just need to decide to start.Love Isobel x

This episode feels like sitting down with someone who’s actually in the thick of it.I sat down with Lauren-Nicole, founder and creative director of LND Studio, to talk about what building a creative business really looks like when you’re in the middle of it, not at the finish line.From the outside, it’s easy to look at a beautiful studio, a strong personal brand, and a creative career and assume they all came together seamlessly.But this conversation tells a very different story.Lauren talks about starting young, navigating the transition from blogging into the creative industry, and figuring out her place in a space that constantly evolves. We get into what it really took to build LND Studio, the vision behind it, and the gap she saw in the market that pushed her to create something of her own.But more than that, we talk about the reality behind it all.The pressure. The uncertainty. The constant feeling of having to “figure it out” as you go.At one point, she says, “I feel like I’m constantly in a cycle of figure it out,” and honestly, that sums this episode up perfectly.Because this isn’t a conversation about having everything mapped out, it’s about building something in real time, making decisions without always knowing if they’re right, and continuing anyway.We also get into the emotional side of running a business. The parts that are hard to articulate. The moments where you question things. And the feeling that, sometimes, it shouldn’t be this hard… but it is.This episode is for anyone who is building something, juggling multiple paths, or trying to turn a vision into something tangible, while still figuring themselves out at the same time.It’s honest, it’s candid, and it’s exactly what the messy middle actually looks like.If you enjoyed this episode, make sure you follow Perls of Wisdom, so you never miss a conversation about what it really takes to build a business.This podcast is all about the messy middle. The part nobody talks about. The lessons, mistakes, and breakthroughs that happen while you are still figuring it out.If this episode helped you, I would love it if you could share it with a founder friend or tag me on social media so I can see you are listening.You can find me here: Instagram: @itsisobelperl LinkedIn: Isobel Perl YouTube: Isobel PerlWebsite: perlsinbusiness.comIf there is a founder you would love me to interview, or a topic you want covered, send me a message. I read more than you would think.And remember:You do not need to feel ready; you just need to decide to start.Love Isobel x

This episode is one of those conversations that feels very real, very quickly.I sat down with Lucy, founder of Partner in Wine, and what stood out instantly was just how candid she was about everything that comes with building a business behind the scenes.Because from the outside, it can look like things are stable.But this conversation tells a very different story.We talk about what it feels like to lose multiple clients in a short space of time, and the pressure that comes with having to rebuild quickly when your business relies on other people’s decisions. The uncertainty, the constant adapting, and the moments where you are forced to figure things out without a clear plan.What makes this episode different is how openly Lucy shares it.There is no glossing over the difficult parts, no pretending it is all working perfectly. She speaks honestly about the instability, the reliance on social media, and what it really takes to keep going when things feel unpredictable.At the same time, we go deeper than just the practical side of business.We talk about the mindset behind navigating that uncertainty, and how growth is not always linear, even when it might look that way from the outside. There is a real honesty in this episode about resilience and the reality of building something while still figuring it out.One of the most relatable parts of this conversation is around consistency, not in results, but in showing up.Because what happens when things slow down, or fall apart slightly? Can you keep going anyway, even when it feels uncertain?This episode is a reminder that building a business is not just about getting to the next level. It is about learning how to handle the in between, the moments where nothing feels guaranteed, but you keep building regardless.If you enjoyed this episode, make sure you follow Perls of Wisdom, so you never miss a conversation about what it really takes to build a business.This podcast is all about the messy middle. The part nobody talks about. The lessons, mistakes, and breakthroughs that happen while you are still figuring it out.If this episode helped you, I would love it if you could share it with a founder friend or tag me on social media so I can see you are listening.You can find me here: Instagram: @itsisobelperl LinkedIn: Isobel Perl YouTube: Isobel PerlWebsite: perlsinbusiness.comIf there is a founder you would love me to interview, or a topic you want covered, send me a message. I read more than you would think.And remember:You do not need to feel ready; you just need to decide to start.Love Isobel x

This episode is one of those conversations that stays with you.I sat down with Alex, the co-founder of Nini Organics, to talk about what it actually looks like to build a brand when you’re not backed by huge budgets, big teams, or an easy path.Because from the outside, it’s easy to look at a brand and assume it all just… worked.But this conversation tells a very different story.We talk about what it feels like to be building something meaningful while going up against companies with significantly more money, more resources, and more reach. The pressure that comes with that. The moments where it feels like you’re constantly fighting just to stay in the game.At the same time, we go deeper than just business.Alex opens up about his upbringing, the experiences that shaped him, and how those early chapters have influenced the way he builds today. There’s a real honesty in this episode about how your past doesn’t just stay in the past. It shows up in your decisions, your fears, and the way you handle growth.One of the most powerful parts of this conversation is around fear, not just fear of failure, but fear of things actually working.Because what happens when your dreams start to come true? Are you ready for it, and more importantly, can you handle it?This episode is a reminder that building a business isn’t just about strategy or marketing. It’s about navigating pressure, identity, and the reality of figuring things out as you go.If you’re in the messy middle right now, feeling like you’re pushing uphill or questioning whether it’s all worth it, this conversation will make you feel a lot less alone.And hopefully, remind you why you started in the first place.If you enjoyed this episode, make sure you follow Perls of Wisdom, so you never miss a conversation about what it really takes to build a business.This podcast is all about the messy middle. The part nobody talks about. The lessons, mistakes, and breakthroughs that happen while you are still figuring it out.If this episode helped you, I would love it if you could share it with a founder friend or tag me on social media so I can see you are listening.You can find me here: Instagram: @itsisobelperl LinkedIn: Isobel Perl YouTube: Isobel PerlWebsite: perlsinbusiness.comIf there is a founder you would love me to interview, or a topic you want covered, send me a message. I read more than you would think.And remember:You do not need to feel ready; you just need to decide to start.Love Isobel x

Most business stories skip the part that actually matters.You hear about the exits, the millions, and the overnight success moments. What you rarely hear about is everything in between. The mistakes, the setbacks and the moments where you question whether you can keep going.This is that part.In this solo episode, I share the real story behind building my skincare brand from £1,000 and an idea during lockdown to a seven-figure business. Not just the wins, but the messy middle that shaped everything.I talk about: Losing my corporate job and starting from scratch  Building a brand from my parents’ kitchen  The mistakes I made early on (and what they taught me)  Legal challenges and lessons I learned the hard way  Pop-ups that did not go to plan  The rebrand that forced me to rethink everything  The unexpected opportunities that came from building a personal brand  Why resilience matters more than talent  The mindset that helped me keep going when things felt hard This episode is also the introduction to The Messy Middle season, where I will be speaking to founders who are in the thick of building their businesses. Not the ones who already made it, but the ones figuring it out in real time.Because that is where the real lessons live.If you are building something of your own, feeling behind, or wondering if you are doing it right, this episode is for you.Because the truth is: you are probably closer than you think.If you enjoyed this episode, make sure you follow Perls of Wisdom, so you never miss a conversation about what it really takes to build a business.This podcast is all about the messy middle. The part nobody talks about. The lessons, mistakes, and breakthroughs that happen while you are still figuring it out.If this episode helped you, I would love it if you could share it with a founder friend or tag me on social media so I can see you are listening.You can find me here: Instagram: @itsisobelperl LinkedIn: Isobel Perl YouTube: Isobel PerlWebsite: perlsinbusiness.comIf there is a founder you would love me to interview, or a topic you want covered, send me a message. I read more than you would think.And remember:You do not need to feel ready; you just need to decide to start.Love Isobel x