Here’s one founder who truly appreciates the value of branding and expert advice.
Meet Ted Lawlor
Ted has two successful businesses: If Only The Knew – a podcast for entrepreneurs; and The Manifestation Journal, an Amazon bestseller. Here’s his story.
1. Why did you start If Only They Knew and what were you doing before?
I started my first project ‘If Only They Knew’ (a media group for young entrepreneurs) to get practical experience and insights in the world of business whilst studying Marketing at University in 2017. This allowed me to speak to entrepreneurs about the realtime strategies they were using – boosting my confidence and knowledge in the process.
My second business, The Manifestation Journal (a bestselling journal that teaches the user how to manifest their true desires whilst improving their mental health) was started as a result of my own experience with depression. I used both business and manifestation as tools to guide me through my dark times, so I thought it was fitting to work together with my therapist, Robert Hisee, on this project as a reminder of how my life was changed.
Before all of this, I was someone who didn’t feel like they fitted in everywhere, unsure whether I wanted to pursue a career in marketing or the life of an entrepreneur – I’m glad I went for the latter.
2. What were the biggest sources of inspiration and support when you were starting out?
I was fortunate enough to start my journey with first-hand support and inspiration from some of the best up-and-coming entrepreneurs in the country via my podcast ‘If Only They Knew’ as I was able to draw on so much insider knowledge and get a feel for how things are done in the “real” business world.
As well as my network, I am so grateful that I stumbled across the work of Tony Robbins, Gary Vaynerchuk and other similar names – all of which provided me with a real determination to get out there and change my life around.
3. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned since starting the business?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned has been that anything is possible! Thanks to using my own journal, I’ve been able to see the link between what I ask for and what I get. No matter how big the ask, it always seems to find its way to me.
I have many examples of this, from me asking big guests to be on my show to me saying that I’d be on ITV one day and then having the ITV News film crew in my house a few weeks later.
4. What has been your proudest moment/biggest achievement so far?
I’m blessed to have so many moments that I’m proud of, from coming from such a dark place with my mental health to being a helping hand for others in a similar situation.
Some of the moments that stand out include becoming a bestselling author, winning the Best Business Podcast of 2022 award and appearing on TV and in the National Press.
Appearing on ITV News to talk about my podcast and the world of entrepreneurship was a huge moment for me as I had spent five years working away on the podcast by myself, so it was an honour for ‘If Only They Knew’ to get recognition on such a big platform after half a decade of work. This was proof that things do take time, but if you stick at it then it will all be worth the wait.
5. What piece of advice would you give to anyone starting out?
To those starting out, my advice would be follow my TED principle.
Talk to yourself. As weird as this sounds, it’s important to remind yourself daily of what you’re doing and why you’re doing it.
Engage in the work as much as you can, more input equals more output.
Don’t quit. You’ll face so many hurdles and wonder why you’re even bothering at times, but you must weather the storm as the rewards are only found on the other side of the storm.
6. What piece of investment did you make in the business that was worth every penny?
My biggest investment was time.
For years I worked on ‘If Only They Knew’ for free, battling on despite the challenges as I knew that if I stuck at it, one day I would meet the right person with the right opportunity at the right time – which is exactly what happened.
This would not have been possible if I didn’t invest my time into the project.
7. Which element of marketing has made the biggest impact on your business?
For me, personal branding has really helped my businesses. Both my own brand and my co-founders brand as well as the personal brands of all of the influencers that promoted my work.
Whether it’s people supporting my podcast as they have seen the work I’ve put into it or people buying our journal because of the influencers that promote it, the power of real people pushing real messages has helped my businesses massively.
8. What do the next 12 months look like for you?
The next 12 months look exciting as I look to continue last year’s momentum.
I will return to the If Only They Knew Podcast with a lineup of amazing entrepreneurial guests, but will also start a new venture in the form of a smartphone app and a few other projects that I’m currently planning – all of which will be revealed very soon.
This year my goal is to focus on my mind, body and business, whilst also helping others do the same.
Do you have an interesting story to tell about how your business got started? Tell us about it.
