This year – 2026 – I decided to put my hat in the ring for a single business award
But then it kinda got out of hand and I ended up applying for three.
Let me explain.
Although I’ve been a Solopreneur my whole life, I’ve never dipped my toe in the world of awards, so this was all new to me.
Since launching Lisa York: Sell More Stuff™ in January 2025, I’ve worked my clacker off and wanted to put my business on the map. And what better way to do it than with an award.
I did my research and learned that not all awards are created equal. I wasn’t interested in entering a vote-based popularity contest or claiming a pay-to-win vanity award.
I was looking for a rigorous, respected award where recognition was earned, not bought.
So I picked one. The Best Businesswoman Awards 2026.
“We are the largest and most prestigious women in business awards in the UK”
It’s prominent and well-regarded …. plus it does what it says on the tin. It’s an award that goes to the best businesswoman.
You might think, duh, but I wanted my fledgling business to gain some street-cred so the big kids of business might take pity on me and invite me to be a guest on their podcasts.
And when prospects and collaborators see a Best Businesswoman Award logo on my website, they’ll instantly know what it means.
But it felt scary, because my business was only 18 months old at the time I applied.
And although I know what I’m doing business-wise, I thought I’d be up against lots of scary boss-women with well-established businesses.
So to give myself a fighting chance, I plumped for the ‘Best New Business’ category – for businesses less than three years old.
I’ve learned from the mistakes made in my previous two businesses so have come a really long way in a really short time which is unusual for first time business owners.
I hoped this might give me a competitive edge, so I decided to go for it.
The application form questions were hard core and it took every darned work window for an entire week to pull together my answers and the required supporting evidence.
I’m a busy mum with four teenagers, my hubby works overseas and I’m the primary career for my Dad with dementia so I can only scrape together about 20 hours a week to work.
But because of that, I’m laser-focused on the things that will have the biggest impact, and I felt that applying for an award would be well worth the effort.
As a one-woman business owner, serving other one-woman business owners, I like to take my audience along for the ride.
So in the spirit of sharing, here’s the full unabridged version of my application form ….
Best Businesswoman Awards 2026
My 2026 award entry
CATEGORY: Best New Business
“This category is open to you if you have been trading for less than three years. Any type of female owned business can enter.”
Application Form
Sell More Stuff™ helps one-woman business owners selling high-ticket services to generate sales using story-led emails.
I’ve developed a proprietary Sales M·A·G·N·E·T·™ framework that teaches how to attract highly-targeted leads, encourage email sign ups, and turn subscribers into customers using email. My eco-system of courses, programmes and services all feed into this methodology.
My signature offering – SALES Builder for Solopreneurs – is a practical, hands-on tool that incrementally guides solopreneurs through the step-by-step process of building a Sales M·A·G·N·E·T·™.
The Power-up’s help my clients deepen their skills in specific parts of the Sales M·A·G·N·E·T·™ and include:
Email Blockbuster: Write Smash Hit Emails that Sell
Love at First Website: Welcome, Woo and Win Before they Click Away; and
Write to Sell: Sales Pages that Pull in the £££’s
Alongside these on-demand components, I offer personal guidance with screen-recorded feedback (Dr. Critiques) or one-to-one calls (60-minutes with Lisa).
Group calls via Zoom support learning. Live with Lisa for Q&A / training and the monthly Solo-Biz Club where like-minded women can talk shop and be held accountable.
Sales M·A·G·N·E·T· Alumni are eligible to join List. Launch. Loot., a growth mastermind to create email campaigns and launches. I also offer a Sales M·A·G·N·E·T· Audit to check and give feedback on every part of their Sales M·A·G·N·E·T·™
Finally, Work O’Clock is a free daily co-working Zoom session. No matter what part of the Sales M·A·G·N·E·T·™ they’re focusing on, women can work quietly alongside peers so they feel less alone in their work.
[250 words]My business stands out from the crowd for two reasons.
First, I don’t use social media in any way, shape or form.
I show prospects, first hand, that they can run a business without it by applying my Sales M·A·G·N·E·T·™ methodology.
I’ve sold to a whopping 33% of my list. This shows that increasing the conversion rate means you can aim for a smaller number of email subscribers. You just have to become more accomplished at selling to them.
The critical component of success is writing exemplary emails. This is the second thing that sets me apart from my competitors. Most people’s emails are generic, impersonal or worse, written by AI, giving email marketing a bad name.
Mine are action-packed. Subscribers have front row seats to see how I’m building my business alongside raising four teenagers and caring for my elderly father with my hubby working on the other side of the world in Sydney.
My name stands out in an otherwise dull and boring inbox which is why my open rates are off-the-scale (~79%). Subscribers know my emails are worthy of their attention in spite of me selling to them in every single one.
Unlike most email lists, my prospects are eager to sign up. “I’ve never run so fast or with so much intention to join an email list as I did when I [discovered] Lisa.”
Combined, my two USP’s help me sell. Prospects join my email list because of my Zero Social Media stance, then see my Sales M·A·G·N·E·T·™ in action through my captivating emails.
[250 words]When my family and I moved to Cambodia in 2021, I reluctantly gave up my second business due to my husband’s diplomatic agreement with the Australian Embassy.
My time was absorbed by the horrors of COVID homeschooling, plus being a support act to my hubby’s Naval Attache role. I knew when we came back to the UK that I would launch my third business, so I did my research by the side of a tropical pool eating fresh juicy mangos.
I explored multiple different business ideas drawing on my knowledge and experience of being a solopreneur for 30 years. Having run two businesses before, I knew niching was critical so rather than pick something broad like ‘business coaching’ I plumped specifically for email marketing so I could fully explore and teach the nuances of the craft.
I was aware that the ROI for email is massively higher than social media, but realised that solopreneurs struggle to maximise its potential.
I had conversations with business owners in the UK to get a sense of whether my idea was viable, then experimented with six beta-clients to test the market.
Next, I revisited the expensive online courses from my second business and pulled out the parts that were genuinely effective versus fluff and nonsense. I already had a sound foundation of selling by email, but upskilled with copywriting courses and email strategy training.
By the time I moved back to the UK, I had my website built and a handful of brilliant emails pre-written based on what I’d learned from my beta-clients.
I was ready to launch.
[250 words]In 2016 I launched The SuperMum Podcast (back when people asked, “What’s a podcast?”).
Although it was a roaring success in terms of numbers – hundreds of episodes, thousands of downloads and an active social media following – I’d dropped a great big marketing clanger.
My kids were 6, 5, 4 and 2 at the time, and I was a solopreneur in the purest sense (no VA, no team, very little outsourced). The podcast absorbed most of my work hours leaving precious little time for anything else, including making sales.
My subscribers are women like me, juggling business and life. I don’t want them to fall into the same content creation trap, hence devising a methodology for making sales using email which releases them from the chains of social media or other endless marketing.
Many of my clients become solopreneurs to escape being in mindless low-paid jobs so they have flexibility for their kids, OR because they feel guilt-ridden trapped by relentless corporate demands.
Although experts in their field, they have no experience of running a solo enterprise and get overwhelmed by the copious and conflicting advice.
I help them cut through unnecessary marketing complexity to build a simple, sustainable, yet still lucrative side business that works around real life.
I guide them to create a business that serves them, rather than them being a slave to it. I call it My Business, My Way and this philosophy runs like an invisible thread through everything I teach.
[250 words]I’ve experimented with various list growth activities that don’t require social media.
COLLABORATION: Presented and taught multiple times inside paid-for programmes. It’s a powerful marketing tool, plus I was paid for most calls.
PR: Full feature coverage in the Daily Mail. Interviewed for Solopreneur series in Business Insider including a professional photo shoot. Contributor to London Daily News article.
PODCAST GUESTING: Productivity with Zest podcast. Top 5% Women in the Coaching Arena podcast which immediately landed me a £3k client.
SPEAKING: Guest speaker at Dare Greatly in-person event. Joined Pink Link Networking to practice speaking to a live audience. I’m in the early stages of planning and professionally recording my signature talk. Invited to speak at the Female Business Network: Summer Reset Summit. Attended TEDx Manchester and other in-person speaking events for research.
EXHIBITING: Researched events e.g. International Women’s Day. Booked exhibition stand at Women Who Solopreneur Awards in October.
AFFILIATE PROGRAM: Set up the tech, wrote sales collateral for affiliates to use and tested the process with two business owners.
NETWORKING: In-person with the Really Helpful Club and Pink Link. Attended many online networking calls – Atomicon, Naomi Rose and Kayleigh Greenacre’s generated the most email sign ups.
AWARDS: Shortlisted for the Female Business Awards 2026 (two categories). Applied for this award – Best Businesswoman Award 2026. I intend to apply for Women Who Solopreneur Awards 2026 since I have an exhibition stand and am going anyway.
[250 words]I love supporting solo businesses and bend over backwards to help customers succeed.
“She knows her stuff and spotted things I hadn’t considered”
Solopreneurs are often bootstrapping so I’m never complacent that they’ve shown their faith in me by handing over hard-earned cash.
“For the first time in running my own business, I don’t feel alone and your support has been truly wonderful”
I offer relentless support with screen-recorded feedback, WhatsApp audios sharing lightbulb moments, an impromptu Zoom, or helping them rewrite their website or email copy.
“What sets this course apart was the support and advice I received”
Creating a Sales M·A·G·N·E·T·™ can be a frustrating process, but I encourage them through the tough times so they always walk away satisfied.
“You are a genius. An absolute genius”
“no nonsense style and ability to cut through the noise with pragmatic advice that actually works”
Even before they become customers, I’m always ready to help in small ways: pointing out a typo, sharing a link, or making introductions.
“Inspiring, straightforward, and radiates a real can-do energy”
“Communicates clearly in a friendly way”
This builds trust and lets prospects know I’m accessible and am genuinely ready to help:
“Sparked a level of enthusiasm I hadn’t felt before”
I make a tangible difference in my customers businesses:
“She gave me the confidence to raise my prices”
“Provides super actionable feedback”
My customers return time and again – one of them has bought ALL of my products.
“I love her empathetic, encouraging and energetic style which meant I didn’t feel intimidated”
My customers are so happy I get a lot of word-of-mouth referrals
”genuinely fun to work with and so human”
“I love her realism and openness”
“Honest but respectful”
[250 words]Quotes taken from Google Reviews
I have four teenagers at secondary school, two of whom have special needs. I’m the primary carer for my elderly father with early dementia and my husband is working in Sydney for the whole of 2026. Previously I’ve had a 3-year-old with leukaemia, moved house 8 times across three different continents, and ran three solo businesses in the scraps of time that have been thrown to me.
Building and evolving a business with short work windows and term-time only capacity has meant slower execution. There’s also pressure to make the right critical decisions to prioritise what will move my business forward in the most efficient way. I made the frustrating decision to switch off one-to-one client work and sacrifice income in order to create passive-income streams for long-term growth. I knew this meant less immediate cash coming in, stepping away from ‘easy’ sales and feeling increasingly disconnected from customers while in content creation mode. Right now I’ve saturated my audience and my email list is fatigued, but I’ll continue to finish creating my SALES Builder for Solopreneurs so I can start marketing again.
I abide by my own My Business, My Way philosophy and enjoyment is a key indicator of success. Productivity and efficiency are my superpowers and I’m accepting that my business will develop slowly over time. My ball-juggling experiences are woven through my empathetic teachings helping women pace themselves to build a sustainable, joyful business.
[250 words]My first priority is finishing the SALES Builder for Solopreneurs. I also have one more course to pre-sell, promote and create, which I’ll tackle in 2027.
Productivity takes a nose-dive over summer (we’re off to Sydney!) but I’ll use spare pockets of time updating my sales collateral.
When September rolls around, the focus is list growth by expanding on what I’ve tested.
I aim to build credibility through press coverage, and (hopefully) winning awards (pick me, pick me). I’ll then leverage this authority by tapping into the earned trust of other business owners’ audiences. Teaching inside paid-for programmes, co-hosting webinars, being a podcast guest, building out my affiliate programme – all of which I’ve tested but not yet pursued. I also plan to create a Signature Talk, and take to the stage in-person.
I believe that business success shouldn’t be defined by endless growth as it often leads to complexity, stress and loss of control. I like being flexible with my business activities so it doesn’t kill creativity or close doors to opportunities. I adopt a deliberate strategy of only growing when it meaningfully improves my business and life.
Over the next three years my kids will reach adulthood, and my husband will retire so it’s a period of great change. Broadly, I plan to increase visibility, grow my email list and become more accomplished at selling whilst retaining the human connection that I love about my business.
I’m incredibly self-motivated and love my work so always achieve what I intentionally set out to do, whatever that ends up looking like.
[250 words]I generated £5,896 in the first 35 days after launch from an email list of approximately 100 subscribers, validating both market demand and the effectiveness of my sales methodology.
Since launch, the business has generated total turnover of £xxx and net profit of £xxx. As a service-based business with minimal direct delivery costs, gross profit closely mirrors turnover.
From the outset, I followed the same principle I teach my clients: test ideas in a ‘£10K playground’ while maintaining financial stability through other income sources. This allowed me to experiment, refine my offers and make strategic decisions without the pressure of needing the business to generate an immediate full-time income.
Following the initial launch, I made a deliberate decision to prioritise building the infrastructure required for long-term, scalable growth rather than maximising short-term sales. During this phase, I generated a further £xxx from the same email list while developing my courses, improving customer journeys and building the systems required to support future growth.
Operating costs have remained deliberately lean, covering only essential business tools including Zoom, Loom, my email service provider and website. A significant proportion of profit has been reinvested into business development, training and growth activities to strengthen the business and accelerate future results.
The overall trend reflects a strong launch, consistent profitability and a strategic focus on building scalable assets rather than pursuing immediate revenue maximisation. I forecast turnover of approximately £xxx in 2026/27, driven primarily by SALES Builder for Solopreneurs and Solo-Biz Club sales and higher-level support packages. This growth is expected despite maintaining a 20-hour working week and not planning a significant sales focus until January 2027.
[250 words]This year has been a giant sandbox for testing and refining what works, both with my offerings and marketing. After relentless hours of unglamorous hard work, I’m excited to share my achievements:
- Made ~ £6k in 35 days and had so much one-to-one work, I purposely slowed it down due to limited capacity
- Created my proprietary Sales M·A·G·N·E·T·™ and an eco-system of passive-income courses to support it.
- Sold to a whopping 33% of my small but highly-targeted email list
- Collaborated with several other business owners e.g. Joanna Lott hired me personally and made £200k last year; I did one-to-ones with ALL her mastermind students; I’m the Digital Sales Strategist inside her $4k program; was a guest on ‘Women in the Coaching Arena’ podcast
- Built a supportive email-led community where women feel connected, guided and personally supported
- Full feature coverage in the Daily Mail and Business Insider (including a professional photo shoot)
- Shortlisted for the Female Business Awards 2026 in two categories
Whilst I purposely sacrificed short-term sales I now have the foundations in place for long-term growth. This year has given me clarity about the direction of my business, whilst accommodating the needs of both my customers and myself.
As a fledgling business owner, winning a 2026 Best Businesswoman Award will cement my authority as someone who can teach sales in a natural and ethical way. I’d ratchet this visibility for the next phase so I can help more solo business women achieve sustainable and manageable growth.
[250 words]Lisa York, of Sell More Stuff™ , teaches one-woman business owners to turn emails into income without relying on social media. Mum of four teenagers, Lisa has built three solo enterprises over 30 years and now helps solopreneurs create simple email sales systems, designed to work around real life. Lisa-York.com.
[50 words]I’m a Solopreneur in the truest sense of the word – no VA, no team, no outsourcing – so applying for this award was a huge investment of my limited time.
And because every minute of time spent on one business activity comes at the expense of another, I decided to put all my awards eggs in that one basket and call it a day.
That was ….. until the Female Business Awards 2026 came onto my radar.
Again, it did what it said on the tin, and the application process felt waaaaaaay more manageable.
I couldn’t help myself, so at the 11th hour, I decided to put my hat in the ring for this award as well.
Admittedly, I thought there’d be a lot of cross over with the questions so I could copy and paste.
Wrong.
Most of them were different, so I had to start from scratch.
The good news was, it was two for the price of one. I only had to complete one application, but I was able to enter two different categories – so, of course, I did.
‘Sales & Marketing’ and ‘New Business’.
And I took my email list along for the ride by sharing my application.
I confess.
Sharing makes me feel rather vulnerable.
Will they think I’m full of my own self-importance?
What if I look like as ass if nothing comes of it?
Will they think I’m too big for my boots?
But there lies the problem with being a woman …. we are self-effacing to a fault.
A smart person would just quietly apply for the award and only announce it if something came of it.
On the other hand, as a Solopreneur, if you don’t blow your own trumpet, you might be sitting around a long time waiting for someone else to blow it for you, especially at the beginning of your journey when you’re a complete nobody.
And I admit, I seriously considered hiding under a rock and not mentioning it.
But you know me.
I wear my heart on my sleeve, and my desire to take you along for the ride trumps the potential embarrassment at this being a complete wipe out.
So here it is.
Application number 2 ….
Female Business Awards 2026
My 2026 award entry
CATEGORY #1: New Business
“Less than 2 years since starting the business, but someone who is making waves, doing brilliantly and is on the right road to success. This could be any form of business, or industry but must be a completely new startup.”
CATEGORY #2: Sales & Marketing
“Who’s doing amazing things in this space, without being sleazy and hard-core bro about it? EG: sales trainer, marketing consultant, social media management, OBM”
Application Form
Sell More Stuff™ helps one-woman business owners selling high-ticket services to generate sales using story-led emails.
I’ve developed a proprietary Sales M·A·G·N·E·T·™ framework that teaches how to attract highly-targeted leads, encourage email sign ups, and turn subscribers into customers using email. My eco-system of courses, programmes and services all feed into this methodology.
My signature offering – SALES Builder for Solopreneurs – is a practical, hands-on tool that incrementally guides solopreneurs through the step-by-step process of building a Sales M·A·G·N·E·T·™.
The Power-up’s help my clients deepen their skills in specific parts of theSales M·A·G·N·E·T·™ and include:
Email Blockbuster: Write Smash Hit Emails that Sell
Love at First Website: Welcome, Woo and Win Before they Click Away; and
Write to Sell: Sales Pages that Pull in the £££’s
Alongside these on-demand components, I offer personal guidance with screen-recorded feedback (Dr. Critiques) or one-to-one calls (60-minutes with Lisa).
Group calls via Zoom support learning. Live with Lisa for Q&A / training and the monthly Solo-Biz Club where like-minded women can talk shop and be held accountable.
Sales M·A·G·N·E·T· Alumni are eligible to join List. Launch. Loot., a growth mastermind to create email campaigns and launches. I also offer a Sales M·A·G·N·E·T· Audit to check and give feedback on every part of their Sales M·A·G·N·E·T·™
Finally, Work O’Clock is a free daily co-working Zoom session. No matter what part of the Sales M·A·G·N·E·T·™ they’re focusing on, women can work quietly alongside peers so they feel less alone in their work.
[250 words]My business stands out from the crowd for two reasons.
First, I don’t use social media in any way, shape or form.
I show prospects, first hand, that they can run a business without it by applying my Sales M·A·G·N·E·T·™ methodology.
I’ve sold to a whopping 33% of my list. This shows that increasing the conversion rate means you can aim for a smaller number of email subscribers. You just have to become more accomplished at selling to them.
The critical component of success is writing exemplary emails. This is the second thing that sets me apart from my competitors. Most people’s emails are generic, impersonal or worse, written by AI, giving email marketing a bad name.
Mine are action-packed. Subscribers have front row seats to see how I’m building my business alongside raising four teenagers and caring for my elderly father with my hubby working on the other side of the world in Sydney.
My name stands out in an otherwise dull and boring inbox which is why my open rates are off-the-scale (~79%). Subscribers know my emails are worthy of their attention in spite of me selling to them in every single one.
Unlike most email lists, my prospects are eager to sign up. “I’ve never run so fast or with so much intention to join an email list as I did when I [discovered] Lisa.”
Combined, my two USP’s help me sell. Prospects join my email list because of my Zero Social Media stance, then see my Sales M·A·G·N·E·T·™ in action through my captivating emails.
[250 words]When my family and I moved to Cambodia in 2021, I reluctantly gave up my second business due to my husband’s diplomatic agreement with the Australian Embassy.
My time was absorbed by the horrors of COVID homeschooling, plus being a support act to my hubby’s Naval Attache role. I knew when we came back to the UK that I would launch my third business, so I did my research by the side of a tropical pool eating fresh juicy mangos.
I explored multiple different business ideas drawing on my knowledge and experience of being a solopreneur for 30 years. Having run two businesses before, I knew niching was critical so rather than pick something broad like ‘business coaching’ I plumped specifically for email marketing so I could fully explore and teach the nuances of the craft.
I was aware that the ROI for email is massively higher than social media, but realised that solopreneurs struggle to maximise its potential.
I had conversations with business owners in the UK to get a sense of whether my idea was viable, then experimented with six beta-clients to test the market.
Next, I revisited the expensive online courses from my second business and pulled out the parts that were genuinely effective versus fluff and nonsense. I already had a sound foundation of selling by email, but upskilled with copywriting courses and email strategy training.
By the time I moved back to the UK, I had my website built and a handful of brilliant emails pre-written based on what I’d learned from my beta-clients.
I was ready to launch.
[250 words]In 2016 I launched The SuperMum Podcast (back when people asked, “What’s a podcast?”).
Although it was a roaring success in terms of numbers – hundreds of episodes, thousands of downloads and an active social media following – I’d dropped a great big marketing clanger.
My kids were 6, 5, 4 and 2 at the time, and I was a solopreneur in the purest sense (no VA, no team, very little outsourced). The podcast absorbed most of my work hours leaving precious little time for anything else, including making sales.
My subscribers are women like me, juggling business and life. I don’t want them to fall into the same content creation trap, hence devising a methodology for making sales using email which releases them from the chains of social media or other endless marketing.
Many of my clients become solopreneurs to escape being in mindless low-paid jobs so they have flexibility for their kids, OR because they feel guilt-ridden trapped by relentless corporate demands.
Although experts in their field, they have no experience of running a solo enterprise and get overwhelmed by the copious and conflicting advice.
I help them cut through unnecessary marketing complexity to build a simple, sustainable, yet still lucrative side business that works around real life.
I guide them to create a business that serves them, rather than them being a slave to it. I call it My Business, My Way and this philosophy runs like an invisible thread through everything I teach.
[250 words]I’ve experimented with various list growth activities that don’t require social media.
COLLABORATION: Presented and taught multiple times inside paid-for programmes. It’s a powerful marketing tool, plus I was paid for most calls.
PR: Full feature coverage in the Daily Mail. Interviewed for Solopreneur series in Business Insider including a professional photo shoot. Contributor to London Daily News article.
PODCAST GUESTING: Productivity with Zest podcast. Top 5% Women in the Coaching Arena podcast which immediately landed me a £3k client.
SPEAKING: Guest speaker at Dare Greatly in-person event. Joined Pink Link Networking to practice speaking to a live audience. I’m in the early stages of planning and professionally recording my signature talk. Invited to speak at the Female Business Network: Summer Reset Summit. Attended TEDx Manchester and other in-person speaking events for research.
EXHIBITING: Researched events e.g. International Women’s Day. Booked exhibition stand at Women Who Solopreneur Awards in October.
AFFILIATE PROGRAM: Set up the tech, wrote sales collateral for affiliates to use and tested the process with two business owners.
NETWORKING: In-person with the Really Helpful Club and Pink Link. Attended many online networking calls – Atomicon, Naomi Rose and Kayleigh Greenacre’s generated the most email sign ups.
AWARDS: Shortlisted for the Female Business Awards 2026 (two categories). Applied for this award – Best Businesswoman Award. I intend to apply for Women Who Solopreneur Awards since I have an exhibition stand and am going anyway.
[250 words]I love supporting solo businesses and bend over backwards to help customers succeed.
“She knows her stuff and spotted things I hadn’t considered”
Solopreneurs are often bootstrapping so I’m never complacent that they’ve shown their faith in me by handing over hard-earned cash.
“For the first time in running my own business, I don’t feel alone and your support has been truly wonderful”
I offer relentless support with screen-recorded feedback, WhatsApp audios sharing lightbulb moments, an impromptu Zoom, or helping them rewrite their website or email copy.
“What sets this course apart was the support and advice I received”
Creating a Sales M·A·G·N·E·T·™ can be a frustrating process, but I encourage them through the tough times so they always walk away satisfied.
“You are a genius. An absolute genius”
“no nonsense style and ability to cut through the noise with pragmatic advice that actually works”
Even before they become customers, I’m always ready to help in small ways: pointing out a typo, sharing a link, or making introductions.
“Inspiring, straightforward, and radiates a real can-do energy”
“Communicates clearly in a friendly way”
This builds trust and lets prospects know I’m accessible and am genuinely ready to help:
“Sparked a level of enthusiasm I hadn’t felt before”
I make a tangible difference in my customers businesses:
“She gave me the confidence to raise my prices”
“Provides super actionable feedback”
My customers return time and again – one of them has bought ALL of my products.
“I love her empathetic, encouraging and energetic style which meant I didn’t feel intimidated”
My customers are so happy I get a lot of word-of-mouth referrals
”genuinely fun to work with and so human”
“I love her realism and openness”
“Honest but respectful”
[250 words]My biggest challenge is one I probably share with most solopreneurs. Time.
I have four teenagers at secondary school, two of whom have special needs. I’m the primary carer for my elderly father with early dementia and my husband is working in Sydney for the whole of 2026. Previously I’ve had a 3-year-old with leukaemia, moved house 8 times across three different continents, and ran three solo businesses in the scraps of time that have been thrown to me.
Building and evolving a business with short work windows and term-time only capacity has meant slower execution. There’s also pressure to make the right critical decisions to prioritise what will move my business forward in the most efficient way. I made the frustrating decision to switch off one-to-one client work and sacrifice income in order to create passive-income streams for long-term growth. I knew this meant less immediate cash coming in, stepping away from ‘easy’ sales and feeling increasingly disconnected from customers while in content creation mode. Right now I’ve saturated my audience and my email list is fatigued, but I’ll continue to finish creating my SALES Builder so I can start marketing again.
I abide by my own My Business, My Way philosophy and enjoyment is a key indicator of success. Productivity and efficiency are my superpowers and I’m accepting that my business will develop slowly over time. My ball-juggling experiences are woven through my empathetic teachings helping women pace themselves to build a sustainable, joyful business.
[250 words]My first priority is finishing the SALES Builder for Solopreneurs. I also have one more course to pre-sell, promote and create, which I’ll tackle in 2027.
Productivity takes a nose-dive over summer (we’re off to Sydney!) but I’ll use spare pockets of time updating my sales collateral.
When September rolls around, the focus is list growth by expanding on what I’ve tested.
I aim to build credibility through press coverage, and (hopefully) winning awards (pick me, pick me). I’ll then leverage this authority by tapping into the earned trust of other business owners’ audiences. Teaching inside paid-for programmes, co-hosting webinars, being a podcast guest, building out my affiliate programme – all of which I’ve tested but not yet pursued. I also plan to create a Signature Talk, and take to the stage in-person.
I believe that business success shouldn’t be defined by endless growth as it often leads to complexity, stress and loss of control. I like being flexible with my business activities so it doesn’t kill creativity or close doors to opportunities. I adopt a deliberate strategy of only growing when it meaningfully improves my business and life.
Over the next three years my kids will reach adulthood, and my husband will retire so it’s a period of great change. Broadly, I plan to increase visibility, grow my email list and become more accomplished at selling whilst retaining the human connection that I love about my business.
I’m incredibly self-motivated and love my work so always achieve what I intentionally set out to do, whatever that ends up looking like.
[250 words]I generated £5,896 in the first 35 days after launch from an email list of approximately 100 subscribers, validating both market demand and the effectiveness of my sales methodology.
Since launch, the business has generated total turnover of £xxx and net profit of £xxx. As a service-based business with minimal direct delivery costs, gross profit closely mirrors turnover.
From the outset, I followed the same principle I teach my clients: test ideas in a ‘£10K playground’ while maintaining financial stability through other income sources. This allowed me to experiment, refine my offers and make strategic decisions without the pressure of needing the business to generate an immediate full-time income.
Following the initial launch, I made a deliberate decision to prioritise building the infrastructure required for long-term, scalable growth rather than maximising short-term sales. During this phase, I generated a further £xxx from the same email list while developing my courses, improving customer journeys and building the systems required to support future growth.
Operating costs have remained deliberately lean, covering only essential business tools including Zoom, Loom, my email service provider and website. A significant proportion of profit has been reinvested into business development, training and growth activities to strengthen the business and accelerate future results.
The overall trend reflects a strong launch, consistent profitability and a strategic focus on building scalable assets rather than pursuing immediate revenue maximisation. I forecast turnover of approximately £xxx in 2026/27, driven primarily by SALES Builder sales and higher-level support packages. This growth is expected despite maintaining a 20-hour working week and not planning a significant sales focus until January 2027.
[250 words]This year has been a giant sandbox for testing and refining what works, both with my offerings and marketing. After relentless hours of unglamorous hard work, I’m excited to share my achievements:
- Made ~ £6k in 35 days and had so much one-to-one work, I purposely slowed it down due to limited capacity
- Created my proprietary Sales M·A·G·N·E·T·™ and an eco-system of passive-income courses to support it.
- Sold to a whopping 33% of my small but highly-targeted email list
- Collaborated with several other business owners e.g. Joanna Lott hired me personally and made £200k last year; I did one-to-ones with ALL her mastermind students; I’m the Digital Sales Strategist inside her $4k program; was a guest on ‘Women in the Coaching Arena’ podcast
- Built a supportive email-led community where women feel connected, guided and personally supported
- Full feature coverage in the Daily Mail and Business Insider (including a professional photo shoot)
- Shortlisted for the Female Business Awards 2026 in two categories
Whilst I purposely sacrificed short-term sales I now have the foundations in place for long-term growth. This year has given me clarity about the direction of my business, whilst accommodating the needs of both my customers and myself.
As a fledgling business owner, winning a Best Businesswoman Award will cement my authority as someone who can teach sales in a natural and ethical way. I’d ratchet this visibility for the next phase so I can help more solo business women achieve sustainable and manageable growth.
[250 words]Lisa York, of Sell More Stuff™ , teaches one-woman business owners to turn emails into income without relying on social media. Mum of four teenagers, Lisa has built three solo enterprises over 30 years and now helps solopreneurs create simple email sales systems, designed to work around real life. Lisa-York.com.
[50 words]I’m really pleased I told my list though, because after sharing that it was scary, I got this lovely email from my subscriber, Emma Hewitt ….
Emma is a Business Awards Advisor, and although I applied without her help it was good to get her support as I imagine she’s heard all these insecurities before.
Having her point out that I was being a role model, made me pull on my big girl pants and keep sharing in the hope that you’ll have the courage to apply too.
Why?
Because it’s worth the effort.
That’s because shortly after, I found out I’d been nominated as a
finalist
in the Best Businesswoman Awards 2026 ….
AND
shortlisted in BOTH categories
in the Female Business Awards 2026 !!!!!!!!!!!
Congratulations card from The Best Businesswoman Awards 2026
Now this is all starting to sound very exciting, but if applying for awards is on your radar, be warned ….. it’s a big investment of both time and money.
Time to fill out the application form.
Lots and lots of time.
But then you have to pay for the mandatory awards ceremony dinners.
Buy a ballgown, shoes, accessories (because being the pyjama wearer that I am, I don’t have any glamorous stuff).
Then there’s the travel costs and the hotels. It’s a late finish and I usually clap out at 9.30pm so don’t want to drive home at midnight.
So applying for a third award simply wasn’t on my to-do list.
But then I got thinking ….
Hmmmmm …… 🤔
I’m already exhibiting at the Woman Who Solopreneur Awards 2026 in October anyway ….. so my ticket to the awards ceremony is bought and paid for ….. and I think I’d be annoyed with myself if I sat through the announcements knowing I had zero chance of winning, simply because I couldn’t be bothered to fill out the (admittedly very gruelling) application form.
And since I’d already been chosen as a finalist in one award and shortlisted for another, I thought maybe ….. just maybe …. I could go for the hat trick.
So off I go again with a third application, this one, the most intimidating of all – and like before, very few of the questions were cross overs so no copy and paste for me.
But I had a cunning plan up my sleeve ….
I’d pretend not to see the bit that said ‘don’t use AI to complete your application’ and cheat.
If I plugged ChatGPT with my highly amusing, humanoid answers from the other two applications it would spit out something that sounded just like me for my third application.
Now, just for context, I’m a huge fan of using AI in my business.
Heck, I was even featured in Business Insider talking about how to use AI in your solo biz.
BUT, I also stand firm that you should never, ever, ever use AI to write your emails.
It will strip you of your personality in a heartbeat and make you sound like a perfectly polished robot, albeit a grammatically correct one.
And here I am, trying to wrought the system by getting ChatGPT to do the donkey work.
My futile excuse was that the deadline way approaching and I didn’t have much time, so I ran with it.
The irony was, I spent the next two days trying to improve on the garbage it spat out. Telling it off because it didn’t sound a jot like me and clutching at the shreds of what it gave and making it into something better.
But I got it done.
I uploaded it all to the application form ….
…. threw my dollies out because I forgot to save it ….
…. uploaded it all again ….
…. re-read it one final time before hitting submit ….
…. and realised ….
It was actually a pile of poop that made me cringe.
I’d completely went against the grain of what I was saying in the application …. that the thing that makes me unique is my personality-based and story-led emails.
So I threw the whole flipping lot in the digital dustbin so it wouldn’t put me off my stroke for the rewrite, and started from scratch which took another two days.
Honestly, I deserve a bloody award for perseverance.
The moral of the story kids, is that cheats never prosper and AI isn’t the easy way out.
But all’s well that end’s well. I made the deadline and hit submit on an application I was proud of (and equally proud to share with you).
Woman Who Solopreneur Awards 2026
My 2026 award entry
CATEGORY: Uncategorised
“No Categories: Every entrant is celebrated for who they are and what they’ve achieved – no pigeonholes or tick boxes.”
Application Form
What are your three core personal values, and how do they guide the way you show up at work or in your business? [250 words]
My three core values are Flexibility, Friendship and Fun.
Flexibility is at the heart of my “My Business, My Way” philosophy. Success to me means building a business that doesn’t take over my life. As a mum of four teenagers, primary carer for my elderly father and with my husband working overseas, my business gets thrown the scraps of time around real life. But having the autonomy to call the shots is what I love about being a solopreneur.
Friendship represents the trust and human connection that is fundamental to business success. I teach ‘Systematise and Personalise’ – creating an automated email sales system that runs alongside personal interaction. It’s not contrived. As a people-person, making connections fills me up. So whether prospects are brand new to my world, or have bought every single product they feel like part of my community.
Fun. Business should bring joy and this is the place where I can truly be myself. Having fun isn’t at the expense of being professional, but my personality oozes through everything I do. I’m bold, fearless and laugh a lot which in turn attracts people to my world. “I love your energy” is my most common feedback, but I believe people learn and engage better when they enjoy the experience. Being an entrepreneur is a sport, and you have to love the game. I certainly do!
These values guide the way I lead, make decisions and show up and I encourage my customers to follow suit.
What do you love most about being a Solopreneur and working on your own? [250 words]
Being a solopreneur in my bones – even as a child, I’d bake gingerbread men and sell them at car boot sales. I’ve been at it for over 30 years, and with three successful businesses under my belt, the buzz is still strong.
I treasure the autonomy of building my businesses around real life. We chase change and my hubby’s exciting career means we’ve moved eight times across three continents. With four children in under 5 years, my primary job has always been ‘mum’ – especially since two have additional needs, and at one stage, a 3-year old with leukaemia.
But my business is me-being-me, and has always been my little piece of sanity. I love that I can flick open my laptop and immediately be at work (as frustrating as it can be when the school phone with the latest problem and it gets flicked shut again).
Being a solopreneur means I can experiment, adapt and make decisions quickly without waiting for layers of approval. Whether it works brilliantly or is a complete flop, I’m happy to own the outcome. It’s all part of the game.
As a busy mum, I think running your own show is the secret to a fulfilled life, and Sell More Stuff™ if very much about sharing the knowledge and wisdom I’ve learned along the way.
For me, the joy of being a solopreneur is creating something meaningful, on my terms, whilst building relationships with people I genuinely enjoy working with.
What’s your story and what led you to build this business? [500 words]
Entrepreneurship has always been part of who I am, and each chapter has taught me something different about what it takes to create a sustainable solo business.
My first business was a bricks-and-mortar holistic therapy practice, which I ran with a full appointment book for 10 years. When I met and married my Australian husband, I moved to Sydney so I obviously couldn’t take it with me.
Four children later, my three year old’s leaukemia diagnosis became the inspiration behind my second business – The SuperMum Podcast. In spite of being a headless chicken with a 1, 3, 4 and 5 year old, having a business was the missing piece.
The podcast was a roaring success in terms of numbers. Hundreds of episodes, thousands of downloads and an active social media following. But I also learned a valuable lesson: creating content and building an audience doesn’t necessarily translate into sales. I had fallen into the very trap I now help other solopreneurs avoid.
When we moved to Cambodia, I had to close it down because my husband’s diplomatic role meant I wasn’t allowed to run a business. After five years building something I loved, it felt like someone had stolen my baby. Combined with the horrors of homeschooling four children through COVID, it was a period of major change. But it also gave me time to reflect on what I wanted to create next.
Drawing on three decades of experience as a solopreneur, I recognised that many talented women were struggling with the same challenge: they had expertise, but didn’t know how to turn it into consistent sales without being chained to social media.
It became the inspiration for Sell More Stuff™. Launched just 18 months ago, when we returned to the UK, it has quickly grown into a business that reflects everything I’ve learned over three decades as a solopreneur.
Within my first 35 days, I generated almost £6,000 in revenue, validating the demand for what I teach … how to turn emails into income without social media.
Being time-restricted, I switched off the one-to-one work to create my proprietary Sales M·A·G·N·E·T™ methodology. Alongside small groups of ‘guinea-pig’ customers, I built out an eco-system of courses and programmes to support it … which is where I am today.
The SALES Builder for Solopreneurs™ is a hands-on project management tool that guides women through the step-by-step process of building a simple, effective Sales M·A·G·N·E·T·™.
Email Blockbuster: Write Smash Hit Emails that Sell™ and Love at First Website™ are deep dives designed to support it. Write to Sell: Sales Pages that Pull in the £££’s is in the post.
Real life support is also an important component so I’ve created the Solo-Biz Club, a monthly membership and Work O’Clock, a free daily co-working session where women can work quietly and independently, but with other women ‘in the Zoom’.
Sell More Stuff™ is the culmination of everything I’ve learned: helping women create businesses that work around real life, built on their own terms.
My why is helping brilliant women who feel stuck between two worlds: unable to find the flexibility they need in employment, but unsure how to turn their expertise into a successful business. I want them to know they don’t have to squeeze themselves into someone else’s version of success. They can create a business that gives them the income, freedom and flexibility to build a life that works for them.
Many of my customers are experts in their field. They’ve spent years becoming brilliant at what they do, but business is a completely different skill set. Suddenly they’re expected to understand marketing, sales, systems and strategy, and it’s easy to feel disheartened when they can’t turn their knowledge into income.
I love helping women cut through the noise, understand what actually matters and build a simple, sustainable way of selling that feels natural to them.
The irony is that on the difficult days, my business is the thing that keeps me going. When life feels complicated, this is the place where I can be fully me. I get to be creative, solve problems, connect with people and build something that is entirely mine.
I keep going because I know the difference a business built around real life can make. I’ve lived that journey myself, and helping other women experience that same confidence, fulfillment and freedom is incredibly rewarding.
Sell More Stuff™ helps solopreneurs turn their expertise into income by creating a simple, sustainable email-based sales system which can evolve alongside them, should they wish to grow their business.
At the heart of my business is SALES Builder for Solopreneurs – a practical, step-by-step tool that guides women through the process of building their own Sales M·A·G·N·E·T™. This takes their customers on a journey from knowing nothing about them to buying all their stuff.
My offerings guide my customers through the overwhelming world of business development and growth by breaking it down into the essential building blocks. One step at a time to attract the right people, build trust, create offers and generate sales.
The beauty of my system is that it provides structure without creating another rigid blueprint to follow. Every solopreneur is different, so I teach the principles behind making sales using email rather than forcing everyone into the same mould. Women can adapt the framework around their strengths, circumstances, capacity and the type of business they want to create.
A key part of my methodology is challenging the assumption that more people automatically means more sales. I teach women to focus on quality over quantity: becoming better at converting the right people rather than constantly chasing a bigger audience.
For example, selling to 30% of a 100-person email list creates 30 customers – exactly the same outcome as selling to 1% of a 3,000-person list. The difference is the time, energy and complexity required to build and maintain larger subscriber numbers. By focusing on conversion rather than constantly chasing a bigger audience, solopreneurs can cherry-pick their marketing and release themselves from the chains of social media should they wish.
I teach solopreneurs how to choose the highest impact marketing activities that genuinely suit their strengths, preferences and lifestyle. One of those choices is social media, but it doesn’t have to be.
This matters because most solopreneurs are not short of ambition or expertise – they are short of time, clarity and confidence. They are often bombarded with advice telling them they need to do more, be everywhere and follow someone else’s formula. I help them avoid shiny-object syndrome and gain a deeper insight into what will move their business forward.
My approach is deliberately practical, cost-conscious and realistic. The one-woman business owners I serve don’t have a team, unlimited budget or endless hours available. Everything I teach is designed around the reality of building a business solo whilst spinning lots of plates.
“I don’t feel alone for the first time in running my own business.”
“She gave me the confidence to raise my prices.”
“Provides super actionable feedback.”
It’s rewarding seeing women move from feeling overwhelmed and uncertain to having a clear and simple plan.
They go from feeling cringey or timid about selling, to enjoying the adrenaline hit when the sales start rolling in. And the best part is never having to look someone in the eye and ask for a sale again.
When I launched Sell More Stuff™ just 18 months ago, I was starting from scratch. Within 35 days, I generated almost £6,000 in revenue, validating both the demand for my approach and the Sales M·A·G·N·E·T™ methodology I had created. Since then, I’ve built a suite of offers, developed a loyal audience and helped women create simpler, more sustainable ways of selling.
I’m proud of the faith that established business owners have put in me. I’ve taught inside paid programmes, done podcast guesting, spoken on stages and created partnerships that have expanded my reach beyond my own audience.
I’ve built and tested my affiliate programme based on genuine recommendations rather than constant content creation.
I’m proud of the small-but-mighty community I’ve created and my email subscribers feel like friends. The Solo-Biz Club gives women space to connect, talk shop and support each other and Work O’Clock, is a free daily co-working space so solopreneurs can work alongside others and feel less alone.
I’ve also been proud to have been featured internationally including the Daily Mail and Business Insider, and I’ve recently been named a finalist in two respected business awards.
Ultimately, the achievement that means the most is knowing that something I built from my own experiences is helping other women create businesses that are financially sustainable, personally fulfilling and designed around their lives.
Dr Orla Crummy is a brilliant example of the transformation I want every solopreneur to experience: taking years of expertise and turning it into a business that works.
After retiring from a successful career as a physiotherapist in the NHS, Orla launched The Menopause Woman. She had deep knowledge, credibility and a genuine desire to help women, but like many experts, building a business was an entirely new skill set.
Orla discovered me through my podcast appearance and has consistently been one of the founding members and testers of my courses and programmes during their development phases. She didn’t just consume information; she implemented it.
In under a year, she’s worked through Email Blockbuster™, Sales from Scratch™, SALES Builder for Solopreneurs™ and Love at First Website™, applying the principles as she builds her business. She’s also a member of the Solo-Biz Club and consistently joins Work O’Clock.
Alongside my guidance around sales, email marketing and customer journeys, Orla has created her own offers, secured clients, built her email list and welcome sequence, developed collaborations and gained multiple speaking opportunities. She’s now in the early stages of building her website.
Orla is committed to taking action and understands that building a business requires showing up consistently.
Orla said:
“Work O’Clock really motivates me and I don’t feel like a lone worker.
[The SALES Builder and the courses] have been instrumental in helping me understand what’s required to run a business.”
“Solo-Biz Club is a space where I can think more clearly, test ideas, and feel part of a community that understands the realities of running a small business.”
Seeing Orla move from expert professional to confident business owner is exactly why I created Sell More Stuff™. Helping women bridge the gap between their expertise and the business skills needed to share it with the world, while creating businesses that work around their lives, is the impact I’m really proud of.
When I tell people I don’t use social media, the most common question is “How?”
This is what I’ve done:
COLLABORATION: Presented and taught multiple times inside paid-for programmes. It’s a powerful marketing tool, plus I was paid for most calls.
PR: Full feature coverage in the Daily Mail. Interviewed for Solopreneur series in Business Insider including a professional photo shoot. Contributor to London Daily News article.
PODCAST GUESTING: Productivity with Zest podcast. Top 5% Women in the Coaching Arena podcast which immediately landed me a £3k client.
SPEAKING: Guest speaker at Dare Greatly in-person event. Joined Pink Link Networking to practice speaking to a live audience. I’m in the early stages of planning and professionally recording my signature talk. Invited to speak at the Female Business Network: Summer Reset Summit. Attended TEDx Manchester and other in-person speaking events for research.
EXHIBITING: Researched events e.g. International Women’s Day. Booked exhibition stand at your Solopreneur Awards in October.
AFFILIATE PROGRAM: Set up the tech, wrote sales collateral for affiliates to use and tested the process with two business owners.
NETWORKING: In-person with the Really Helpful Club and Pink Link. Attended many online networking calls – Atomicon, Naomi Rose and Kayleigh Greenacre’s generated the most email sign ups.
AWARDS: Finalist in the Best Businesswoman Awards in the ‘Best New Business’ category, and shortlisted in two categories at the Female Business Awards: ‘Sales and Marketing’ and ‘Best New Business’. I’m hoping for a finalist hat trick with this award.
I’m adamant about challenging the assumption that success has to look a certain way. The online business world is dominated by messages of six- and seven-figures, exponential growth and showing up on every platform.
Many solopreneurs don’t aspire to that version of success – they simply want a business that gives them income, flexibility and fulfillment without consuming their lives.
Small is beautiful …. but that doesn’t mean you can’t be financially successful. You just have to be smart about it which is exactly what I teach.
I showing them the practical steps like setting up the tech and creating a Welcome Sequence and optimising their website for sign ups.
“From day one of Lisa’s Love at First Website™ course, I felt genuinely invigorated to tackle my homepage, something I’d been avoiding for far too long. Anything to do with my website used to make me recoil.”
But I also teach them about deliberate, but manageable growth. A few clients on the side, or a huge solo empire – it’s up to them.
I see the impact of this approach when women move from feeling like they’re unsuccessful to lacking aspiration to being capable of taking the next small step because they know exactly what it is.
“Lisa is inspiring, straightforward, and radiates a real can-do energy that lifts you in unexpected ways.”
Ultimately, I use my voice, platform and business to give women permission to build businesses that fit their lives – not force their lives to fit their businesses.
I stepped outside my comfort zone by sharing every question and answer in my awards applications with my email subscribers.
Not knowing the outcome made me feel vulnerable. What if I ‘failed’? Would they think less of my expertise?
I’d never applied for a business award before, and Sell More Stuff™ is a relatively young business. I knew I’d be judged alongside established businesses with longer trading histories, larger audiences and bigger earnings.
I did it because I believe entrepreneurship shouldn’t only showcase polished wins. I wanted to demystify the awards process and encourage other women to put themselves forward if they felt ready. If I expect my customers to be brave enough to launch offers, raise their prices and put themselves out there, then I should be prepared to do the same.
My subscribers are now part of the experience. Rather than only hearing the outcome, they’re following the journey from application to shortlist, to finalist and, hopefully, a win in October. They’ve even helped me choose an evening gown!
My subscribers have seen the uncertainty and have buy-in with the result. Because I do this for every business activity, my inbox is always overflowing with encouragement and support.
This reinforces something I try to live by in business: trust isn’t built by pretending you’ve got everything figured out. It’s built by letting people see the messy middle, taking the risk anyway, and showing what’s possible when you’re willing to put yourself out there.
My biggest challenge is one I probably share with most solopreneurs. Time.
I have four teenagers at secondary school, two of whom have special needs. I’m the primary carer for my elderly father with early dementia and my husband is working in Sydney for the whole of 2026. Previously I’ve had a 3-year-old with leukaemia, moved house eight times across three different continents, and ran three solo businesses in the scraps of time that have been thrown to me.
Building and evolving a business with short work windows and term-time only capacity has meant slower execution. This means pressure to make the right critical decisions to prioritise what will move my business forward in the most efficient way.
I made the frustrating decision to switch off one-to-one client work and sacrifice income in order to create passive-income streams for long-term growth. I knew this meant less immediate cash coming in by stepping away from ‘easy’ sales.
Although I work alongside ‘guinea-pig’ clients, not having as many 1-2-1 clients has made me feel disconnected from the day-to-day interactions with customers.
I’ve been writing, recording and editing videos for my various courses and programmes for about 9 months now, and it’s slow, arduous work. I want the things that I sell to be of the highest quality so customers feel like their money is well-spent.
Due to that, I haven’t concentrated on list growth, and therefore sales have slowed. Right now I’ve saturated my audience and my email list is fatigued, but I’ll continue to finish creating my SALES Builder so I can start marketing again.
I abide by my own My Business, My Way philosophy and enjoyment is a key indicator of success. Productivity and efficiency are my superpowers and I’m accepting that my business will develop slowly over time. My ball-juggling experiences are woven through my empathetic teachings helping women pace themselves to build a sustainable, joyful business.
When I started my podcast business in 2016, the online business landscape looked very different. Building an audience was often centred around visibility, content creation and growing numbers. Over the years, I’ve seen a significant shift. People are now overwhelmed with content, more selective about who they trust, and increasingly looking for genuine connection before they buy.
I’ve adapted my business by moving away from the idea that success comes from being everywhere, and instead focusing on building deeper relationships with the right people. My email list, customer conversations and community have become the foundations of my business because I believe trust is the biggest driver of sales.
This has also shaped the way I support other solopreneurs. Many of the women I work with are experts in their fields, but they are navigating a business landscape that often tells them they need to constantly create content, grow a huge audience and compete for attention. I teach them a simpler approach: focus on the right people, nurture relationships and build systems that convert.
I’ve evolved my own business model by developing programmes such as SALES Builder for Solopreneurs, creating resources based on real customer needs and refining them alongside the people using them. Although my courses are self-paced, I’ve recognised that solopreneurs still need connection, accountability and personalised support while they implement what they learn.
That’s why I’ve built an ecosystem around my programmes, including Solo-Biz Club and Work O’Clock where members can work alongside other business owners, ask questions, test ideas and receive feedback. They also have opportunities for personalised critiques and one-to-one support from me, because I believe practical guidance alongside the implementation is just as important as the strategy itself.
The biggest adaptation I’ve made is recognising that the future of solo business is not about doing more; it’s about doing what works. I’ve built my business around that principle, and it’s the approach I now teach others.
I generated £5,896 in the first 35 days after launching Sell More Stuff™ from an email list of 89 brand new subscribers, validating both market demand and the effectiveness of my sales methodology.
Since launch, the business has generated total turnover of £xxx and net profit of £xxx. As a service-based business with minimal direct delivery costs, gross profit closely mirrors turnover.
The business has remained deliberately lean, with operating costs focused on essential tools such as my website, email platform, Zoom and Loom. However, I have reinvested significantly into both my professional development and my business through training, courses, networking, events and business development activities to strengthen my skills, expand my network and test new opportunities.
From the outset, I followed the same principle I teach my clients: testing ideas in a ‘£10K playground’ while maintaining financial stability through other income sources. This allowed me to experiment, refine my offers and make strategic decisions without the pressure of needing the business to immediately replace a full-time income.
The main financial challenge has been balancing short-term revenue generation with investing in long-term growth. I have made intentional decisions to prioritise building strong foundations, validating offers and creating sustainable systems rather than maximising immediate income.
Financially, the business has fluctuated, and revenue has reduced during part of this period. However, this has been a deliberate strategic decision rather than a reflection of reduced demand.
After the initial launch phase, I chose to step away from maximising short-term revenue and invest time into building scalable assets, including my SALES Builder for Solopreneurs™ tool, improving customer journeys and creating the automations needed for future growth.
This meant temporarily sacrificing easier income from one-to-one work in order to create a more sustainable business model that does not rely solely on me selling my time. The evolution has been moving from proving market demand to building the foundations required for long-term growth.
The business is now positioned to grow through a combination of programmes, community and higher-level support, while maintaining the sustainable working model that is central to my vision as a solopreneur.
Success for me is not measured purely by revenue. Success is defined by achieving whatever I chose it to be.
Financially, this means building a commercially viable business that supports the lifestyle I want, while staying true to the personal values that underpin everything I do: flexibility, friendship and fun.
Personally, it’s having the freedom to choose how I spend my time being able to take school holidays off before my kids reach adulthood.
One of the greatest rewards of building Sell More Stuff™ has been the genuine friendships and relationships it has created. Bringing brilliant women together, watching those connections grow and being part of that community gives me just as much satisfaction as the financial success of the business. If my business continues to give me flexibility, friendship and fun alongside financial independence, I’ll consider myself successful.
One of the greatest rewards of building Sell More Stuff™ has been the genuine friendships and relationships it has created. Bringing brilliant women together, watching those connections grow and being part of that community gives me just as much satisfaction as the financial success of the business. If my business continues to give me flexibility, friendship and fun alongside financial independence, I’ll consider myself successful.
I’d like to grow to approximately £xxx turnover while maintaining a sustainable 20-hour working week.
The primary driver of this growth will be SALES Builder for Solopreneurs™, alongside higher-ticket support packages and continued development of the Solo-Biz Club. First I need to complete the full SALES Builder™, strengthen my messaging and tighten up my email automations.
Rather than pursuing growth through increased working hours or hiring help, my focus is on improving conversion, deepening customer relationships and creating high-value offers.
I will continue to reinvest into the business through training, networking, improving my systems and developing resources that increase the value I can provide without significantly increasing delivery time.
My goal is not simply to increase revenue initially, but to build a profitable, sustainable business model for the long-term.
I want to be known for three things:
The My Business, My Way philosophy; how to ditch social media; and that my email list is an exciting place to hang out.
These are not three separate ideas.
They tie into the same belief that solopreneurs have more choice than the online business world leads them to believe.
Too many people start a business thinking social media is the first thing they need to master. They immediately feel trapped on the content creation treadmill, convinced they have to post every day to stay visible. But social media is a choice, not an obligation.
When it comes to email, it is by far the best strategy to make sales and gives you the highest ROI by a country mile. The problem is, most people get it wrong by sending boring, uninspiring emails – or worse, getting AI to write them.
Honestly, if business owners can’t be bothered to write them, I can’t be bothered to read them.
This leads to emails being unopened, unread and unsubscribed which gives email a bad name.
Inboxes should feel personal, entertaining, refreshingly candid and genuinely worth opening. My subscribers regularly tell me my emails are the first ones they read because they never know what’s coming next.
More than anything, I want to give solopreneurs permission to ignore the noise, trust in themselves and build a manageable, sustainable and viable business that works for them in every possible way.
My first priority is finishing the SALES Builder for Solopreneurs™. I have one more course to pre-sell, promote and create, which I’ll tackle in 2027.
Productivity takes a nose-dive over summer (we’re off to Sydney!) but I’ll use spare pockets of time updating my sales collateral.
When September rolls around, the focus is list growth by expanding on what I’ve tested.
I aim to build credibility through more press coverage, and (hopefully) winning awards (pick me, pick me). I’ll then leverage this authority by tapping into the earned trust of other business owners’ audiences. Teaching inside paid-for programmes, co-hosting webinars, being a podcast guest, speaking, and building out my affiliate programme – all of which I’ve tested but not yet pursued.
I believe that business success shouldn’t be defined by endless growth as it often leads to complexity, stress and loss of control. I like being flexible with my business activities so it doesn’t kill creativity or close doors to opportunities. I adopt a deliberate strategy of only growing when it meaningfully improves my business and life.
Broadly, I plan to increase visibility, grow my email list and become more accomplished at selling whilst retaining the human connection that I love about my business.
When my husband takes early retirement and returns early next year, we can start enjoying pub lunches again.
I’m ridiculously self-motivated and love my work so always achieve what I intentionally set out to do, whatever that ends up looking like.
Being recognised as a finalist – or better still, a winner – would give me the credibility and visibility to amplify my message. I’m exhibiting at the Solopreneur Awards anyway, so what a buzz to scoop an award too.
I would use the recognition to create more opportunities for PR, speaking gigs, podcast appearances, collaborations and conversations with new audiences both on and offline. An appearance on Mic Drop Moments would be amazing!
The possibility of achieving a “hat trick” of awards is particularly meaningful because it represents recognition from different parts of the business community. I’ve also got a little spot for your logo ear-marked on my website alongside the other two 2026 awards logos.
Most importantly, I hope sharing my awards journey encourages other women to put themselves forward, share their expertise and believe their business is worthy of recognition – even if they don’t fit the usual growth narrative.
My exuberant and fun-loving personality runs through my business: “Lisa’s energy is so refreshing and makes you DO things you have not done before”
I don’t think marketing needs to be boring, overly polished or disconnected from the person behind the business: “Lisa’s energy and enthusiasm are infectious and her daily emails fun and motivating, they can’t fail to bring a smile to your face”
Through my candid, funny and consistent emails, I share real life, including raising four teenagers while my husband works in Sydney, alongside practical business strategies that help women sell more.
“Fun emails” has been mentioned 16 times in my 5-star Google Reviews.
One said:
“I have never run over so fast or with so much intention to join an email list, as I did when I heard Lisa York on a podcast talking about the power of email marketing on sales!”
My approach has created a highly engaged audience: “I’m currently subscribed to Lisa’s emails and I LOVE THEM!! They’re so engaging and inspirational. They’ve really made me think about how I’m writing my own emails and where I could tighten things up.”
I’m proud that my emails don’t just generate sales; they create conversations, relationships and trust: “We would highly recommend Lisa York to everybody wanting to start a business from a discussion to reality.”
Despite having a small email list, I’ve sold to 33% of my subscribers, proving that personality-led marketing can also be commercially effective: “She’s not only extremely approachable and friendly but also knowledgeable and helpful!”
People repeatedly say they love my energy: “She brings bags of energy, insight and knowledge into everything she does”
I make business feel exciting, achievable and less overwhelming: “Her advice is fabulous, on-point and makes me really excited for where my business is going to go”
Behind the excitement is a genuine commitment to delivering results: “Highly recommend Lisa if you want clear, practical, and empowering business insights!”
I do what I promise and create experiences where people feel supported, valued and confident: “Really comprehensive and expert service, delivered with energy and aplomb!”
And I genuinely care about my subscribers: “I love that Lisa responds personally to all the emails I reply to”
I enjoy the back out of my business, and that shines through: “[My] group loved it, with lots of questions, ideas, lightbulb moments and inspiration.”
The energy, humour and personality I bring isn’t a marketing gimmick; it’s genuinely who I am: “She’s so easy to listen to, and so encouraging”
I love that I’m building a business that makes people think, “I want to be part of this.”
“Lisa’s emails are jam-packed with fun, oodles of flavour of her personality, and most importantly model exactly the kind of work she is capable of taking you through.”
Judges – thanks for taking the time to read my application. Win or not, I’m coming to the awards so I hope to meet you in person.
Have a great day,
Lisa York x
Sadly, after all that effort, I was not successful and didn’t get through to the next round, but hey ho – two out of three ain’t bad. I’m still exhibiting, and maybe I’ll give it another shot next year.
Posted on Google
Lina AmaniTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
I highly recommend you to subscribe to Lisa's maillist .NOW First, I received a free review of my homepage for FREE. And it was full of valuable recommendations. Although I keep pouring money into the maintenance of my website and SEO, Lisa pointed out things that could have been why people come to my website but do not take any action. Second - you learn how to sell by just reading her emails. Third - you just want Lisa's energy as it is so refreshing and makes you DO things you have not done before 🤣🚀💥Posted on Google
Shine EnquiriesJust fabulous to meet Lisa at the Pink Network. Can’t wait to join the free work o clock sessions online…Posted on Google
Pippa MellorI can’t recommend Lisa’s above the fold critique enough. She offers so much value in her honest but respectful critique and I’ve been hugely inspired in less than 5 minutes. I’m rushing off to implement the feedback immediately 😂 Thank you Lisa!Posted on Google
Jasmine ClarkeI have just recently joined Lisa's email list and I have found it really refreshing and very helpful already! I know this is just the start of us working together and I know my business will benefit from it!Posted on Google
June HoganLisa did a fantastically thorough job of reviewing my sales funnel. She definitely knows her stuff and spotted things I hadn't even considered. Our session was super valuable and has given me lots of food for thought - thank you so much Lisa!Posted on Google
Lynda Haynes-McCartneyThanks Lisa for the recent LinkedIn Critique you did for me; your advice was spot on and will help me move this from just a holding profile to one that supports my business. Love your energy and enthusiasm!Posted on Google
Janine FristonLisa joined my online networking group for a discussion around email marketing and business growth today. The group loved it, with lots of questions, ideas, lightbulb moments and inspiration. Thank you Lisa xPosted on Google
Vic KnightsI had a sales funnel review with Lisa as part of the mastermind I’m in, and she was brilliant. She took a deep dive into everything I have online - my funnels, offers, and overall strategy - giving me invaluable sales advice. Not only did she highlight areas for improvement, but she also gave me the confidence to raise my prices for some of my offerings. Highly recommend Lisa if you want clear, practical, and empowering business insights!Posted on Google
Holly ChristieI'm currently subscribed to Lisa's emails and I LOVE THEM!! They're so engaging and inspirational. They've really made me think about how I'm writing my own emails and where I could tighten things up. I love that Lisa responds personally to all the emails I reply to. her advice is fabulous, on-point and makes me really excited for where my business is going to go, working with her expertise, this year.Posted on Google
Jess SpiersLisa's approach is direct in the most productive and useful way. She communicates so clearly and in a very friendly way and has so many good pieces of advice about sales. I'd definitely recommend her.Posted on Google
Kathryn BallLisa clearly knows her stuff. I'm really grateful for the very helpful above the fold critique, Lisa highlighted in just a few minutes some key things I can adjust and the fresh perspective is just what I need from someone with experienced eyes!Posted on Google
lucy pollardLisa’s emails are so joyful to read, informative, quick and grab my attention. I really love seeing her name pop up in my inbox!Posted on Google
Helen BaldwinI was recently introduced to Lisa York and her direct, practical approach was exactly what I needed. She reviewed my website and provided brilliant, actionable insights to help me "sell more stuff". What sets Lisa apart is her no-nonsense style and ability to cut through the noise with pragmatic advice that actually works. If you're looking to improve your online presence, I couldn't recommend her highly enough. Thanks Lisa.Posted on Google
Youll See Life CoachingLisa has provided me with a critique of my website and she was spot on. Ive already started to make changes and had a new subscriber already. I haven't started working with Lisa yet but I have a call with her next week and for me it is a no brainer. She is brilliant and I love her approach.Posted on Google
Melissa SchmidigerLisa is wonderful to work with! She gets into the the nuts of your business and provides super actionable feedback that you can work on instantly. She is relatable and gives you a sense that your goals are doable!Posted on Google
A HeatonLisa's presentations and email newsletter are packed full of value - she's not only extremely approachable and friendly but also knowledgeable and helpful! If you're wondering how to make sales through your emails I definitely recommend chatting to Lisa.Posted on Google
Orla CrummeyLisa York has a great approach to sales. Novel. I love her emails and look forward to working with her more in the future for business success.Posted on Google
Jude SclaterThe big thing I've learnt from being on Lisa's email list and her support in the Business of Coaching Group is that you need to be consistently you in all your communication. I would never put out an email nurture sequence like hers and that's the lesson she's teaching me. I shouldn't look like everyone else. She has helped me realise I need to tap into what makes me different to everyone else and then tell the world about that. Sign up to her email list, even if just for a laugh. She gives away a free review, mine was of the above the fold on my website. If her style turns you off, like it does me, lean into the resistence and ask yourself what you can learn from her because she knows her stuff about marketing and sales. By bringing her whole self into her business she is quckly finding her ideal buyers and making sales which is a hell of lot more than I was doing before I met her.Posted on Google
Catherine FranceLisa's list-building tips are great; her emails are engaging, human and helpful! Lisa did an above-the-fold critique of my website, which was packed full of helpful tips to improve my home page. Thank you.Posted on Google
Sarah ArcherLisa did a fab job analysing my sales funnel and giving me oodles of great tips and ideas to improve my emails and my lead magnet. I feel so much clearer about how to sell in my emails. She brings so much energy to the call and the video feedback which is wonderful.Posted on Google
Jacqui JThe number of emails lists I have chosen to stay on can be counted on one hand. It's not that I don't like the people whose lists I sign up for. It's that I hate email. Having to deal with them is an admin hassle and it gives me flashbacks to my employed days. So I join and then I get bored of deleting/ not reading and I unsubscribe So for me to say I haven't just chosen to stay on Lisa's list, I actively look forward to her emails is a big deal for me. And to have pretty much instructed several of my business buddies to get on her list is an even bigger deal If you want to sell more stuff then you should join it too. Or don't. I kind of like the idea of her being my personal secret weapon....Posted on Google
Kyla SkinnerLisa invited me to visit her Solo-Biz Club of one-woman business owners to talk about how to find your voice and develop personality-driven copy that helps to attract ideal clients. It was a wonderfully welcoming group, with everyone keen to get involved in a wide-ranging and very enjoyable discussion about all things positioning and messaging. Thanks Lisa!Posted on Google
Charmian D'AubossonLisa’s critique of my website was so helpful, presented as video feedback so it was really clear to follow and understand. Lisa’s energy and enthusiasm are infectious and her daily emails fun and motivating, they can’t fail to bring a smile to your face each day. Thanks Lisa, I’m so looking forward to working with you some more!Posted on Google
Christiana MooreWe worked with Lisa York at the very start of setting up our Art Advisory company, in fact when our company was in the early developmental stage. She listened to our ideas and vision and helped us to develop them into something concrete. Lisa kept the support going through this process and recommended various options and people we could work with to bring out company into where it is today. We are truly to grateful to Lisa and we would highly recommend Lisa York to everybody wanting to start a business from a discussion to reality.Posted on Google
Gemma ClaytonLisa provides so many valuable insights and nuggets which make a difference to how I set up my business. Her style is pragmatic and not overwhelming which means it is easy to digest and doesn't feel scary. Yet so impactful. I love our interactions.Posted on Google
Kate HillLisa's sales funnel review was amazing. She'd gone to lots of trouble to review it before we spoke, and brought lots of feedback, ideas and suggestions to our call. After the call, she sent more ideas and confirmation of what we'd discussed. A really comprehensive and expert service, delivered with energy and aplomb!Posted on Google
Alison SinclairFrom day one of Lisa’s Love at First Website course, I felt genuinely invigorated to tackle my home page, something I’d been avoiding for far too long. Anything to do with my website used to make me recoil. Lisa is inspiring, straightforward, and radiates a real can-do energy that lifts you in unexpected ways. She sparked a level of enthusiasm I hadn’t felt before, which after years of working with others is rare. I love her realism and her openness to people creating businesses they truly love, not ones they feel they should build. She’s genuinely fun to work with and so human. She made me feel able to go all in, because I could say where I was confused and what I needed, even down to how we shared information. As a multi-neurodivergent, that safety and ease changed everything for me. Thank you, Lisa!Posted on Google
Kiran GoodmanI have just completed a fantastic 6 weeks working with Lisa on the brilliant Love at First Website course. Lisa has transformed my homepage which has increased client traffic and sign ups to my email list. I loved working with Lisa, she brings bags of energy, insight and knowledge into everything she does. Especially, her brilliantly named tutorials. They keep you excited for the next one! What set this course apart was the support and advice I received from Lisa to really make my site stand out. The 1:1 loom videos I received after she reviewed my updates made the process so easy! Looking forward to working with Lisa in the very near future.Posted on Google
Louise WillisWant to receive interesting, unique email info? Lisa York is your go to lady. Refreshing, upbeat and positive, and a little bit quirky is the way I'd describe them. It's a joy to see an email land in my inbox from her. You never know what you're going to get!Posted on Google
Joanna LottI had a super helpful sales funnel review with Lisa which impressed me so much that I hired her to review the sales funnels of all those in my mastermind. They were also blown away and agreed with all Lisa’s suggestions to get more sales into their business quickly and easily. Highly recommend and I feel very lucky to have found Lisa.Posted on Google
Sandra FrancisLove Lisa's mailing list. Well this is certainly a mailing list with a difference. It is in plain no BS language whilst still being inviting and thought provoking! The above the fold website critique that followed was invaluable. Can only image what she can do given more time!Posted on Google
Avril LoboI have never run over so fast or with so much intention to join an email list, as I did when I heard Lisa York on a podcast talking about the power of email marketing on sales! Lisa's emails are jam-packed with fun, oodles of flavour of her personality, and most importantly model exactly the kind of work she is capable of taking you through. Lisa's review of my website and her expert advice on how to make things better were what I need to take action - and do it fast! I cannot wait to work with Lisa on my sales funnel review and have already recommended Lisa to ALL my business buddies! Thanks Lisa :)Posted on Google
Rebecca SmithLisa came and did a talk for my group and it was sooooo good! We all left with a page full of actions to go away and work on. She's so easy to listen to, and so encouraging. Her advice on how to get started with an email list, how to talk to them, how to put an email sequence and how to sell through email was really well tailored to our group, and it was all stuff that we could actually go away and implement. HSe really knows her stuff, and will be my next port of call for some "done for you" options as well. Thank you so much for a brilliant talk Lisa.Verified by TrustindexTrustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more
Finalist: Best new business
- 13 July 2026: Applications close
- 16 October 2026: Winners announced
Black Tie Gala Awards Night: Daventry Court Hotel
Finalist: New Business and Sales & Marketing
- 24 April 2026: Applications close
- Early August 2026: Finalists announced
- 11th September 2026: Second stage judging completed
- 15 October 2026: Winners announced
Awards Gala Evening: Victoria & Albert Marriott Hotel, Manchester
Let the preparations commence!
Next step is all the preparations.
Buying two fancy outfits for the black tie gala events, and creating all my collateral for the exhibition stand.
I’ll keep you updated by email, but here’s where I’m up to so far.
Full dress rehearsal of my playful ‘Social Media Protest’ for my exhibition stand at the Woman Who Solopreneur Awards on Friday 9 October
I’ll be asking this at my exhibition stand. Which one are you?
I hate dress shopping with a vengeance, but with a little help from my Solo-Bizzers, I’m all ready for the Female Business Awards on 15 October, and the Best Businesswoman Awards on the 16 October.
Praise Indeed!
I’m not making it up. Here’s what my cheerleaders have to say:
Jessica Fearnley | 7-Figure Consultant
She went over and above to analyse our product strategy and to research and offer viable solutions.
She executed speedily with unmatched enthusiasm and the result was extremely high quality.
Thank you, Lisa!
Fay Wallis | Bright Sky HR Coaching
Lisa has a winning combination of micro-business knowledge, exceptional copywriting skills, and technical know-how.
Her thorough approach meant she spotted opportunities I was too close to see and was able to offer a fresh perspective.
I love her empathetic, encouraging, and energetic style which meant I didn’t feel at all intimidated.
Joanna Lott | Business Coach
I now have a super clear strategy and completely understand how to fully optimise my website and sales funnel.
Lisa’s completely on it and understands email marketing, websites, podcasts, digital courses and how much is entailed in running your own small business.
Brian Doyle | NYC Commercial Realtor
Lisa is top-notch. She created me a Direct Mail Campaign in the New York Commercial Real Estate industry.
She’s very easy to communicate with and gets her work done in a timely manner.
I took a chance on a her and it worked out perfectly!
It’s really great working with Lisa, and I wouldn’t hesitate to hire her again.
Kate Maddison-Greenwell | People Efficient
I was particularly impressed with how well Lisa understood my business and where I wanted it to go
She gave some really clear insights into what needed to happen next.
I love her funnel approach and would be delighted to recommend Lisa to anybody who is looking for a brilliant sales strategist.
Clare Cahill | A Little Bird Company
Lisa helped me with my lead magnet, product suite and website. She also encouraged me to raise my prices.
Lisa put 100% into supporting me and I appreciate her passion, encouragement and enthusiasm for my brand and product.
I’m feeling motivated, excited and inspired, and have a business I’m proud of.
I love your work. I really do!
You’re a pro through and through. Professional, well-prepared, and fun to work with
Working with you is an absolute joy …. your quality stands out
I highly recommend working with Lisa
You’re so professional and easy to deal with
Lisa’s style is relaxed, yet, professional, making the whole experience a breeze
I’m highly impressed by how streamlined and efficient the whole process was
[You] took me through the whole process so that it all felt easy peasy
Lisa was professional and thoughtful from start to finish
You made it so easy and so much fun
The whole experience was wonderful; really well organised and it all ran smoothly
Thanks for being you; amazing, honest, authentic and generous
A great experience from start to finish. Your processes are simply inspiring
You were so professional, relaxed, and focused throughout the whole process, you made it easy
You’re a pro through and through. Professional, well-prepared, and fun to work with
Working with you is an absolute joy …. your quality stands out
I highly recommend working with Lisa
You’re so professional and easy to deal with
Lisa’s style is relaxed, yet, professional, making the whole experience a breeze
I’m highly impressed by how streamlined and efficient the whole process was
[You] took me through the whole process so that it all felt easy peasy
Lisa was professional and thoughtful from start to finish
You made it so easy and so much fun
The whole experience was wonderful; really well organised and it all ran smoothly
Thanks for being you; amazing, honest, authentic and generous
A great experience from start to finish. Your processes are simply inspiring
You were so professional, relaxed, and focused throughout the whole process, you made it easy
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Join my list for my Award-Winning Emails
(Or at least I hope so)
Join my list for my Award-Winning Emails
(at least I hope so)