Laura Forsyth

02/05/2025

The Week That Stretched Me – And What I Did About It

Last week tested me.

Not in a “big disaster” kind of way, but in the slower, heavier way that creeps in when everything demands your attention at once.

School logistics that made no geographical sense. An emotionally intense parenting week (we’re still adjusting to a new school after bullying). Solo-parenting while my husband worked away. And then, of course, a full plate of business: new client calls, existing clients needing clarity, content to plan, a workbook to finalise… and, naturally, I decided to stay up until 1am one night and rework my whole website.

Classic.

And still - I delivered. Not because I pushed harder, but because I planned better.

As a business growth mentor in the Tyne Valley, this is the reality I work in and live in. I don’t pretend business happens in a vacuum. My clients are spinning plates just like me - navigating ambition, responsibility, chronic illness, parenting, and brain fog. And I’m not here to tell them to hustle harder. I’m here to help them build smarter.

What got me through last week?

Solid prep on Sunday night.

Honest conversations with clients.

Clarity on what actually mattered.

A moment of calm in the garden with a herbal tea and no guilt attached.

And the deep confidence that I know how to hold the pieces steady when life tries to scatter them.

✨ This isn’t about burnout survival stories or pretending I’ve got it all together. It’s about showing up with strategy, honesty, and enough flexibility to bend without breaking.

📍If you’re balancing a full life and trying to grow a business that fits around it - not in spite of it - I see you. I am you. And this blog might just help you breathe a little deeper.

A real-life look at balancing clients, strategy, and family life from a business mentor in Tyne Valley. Honest, grounded, and full of practical insight.

28/04/2025

You might’ve seen me talk about working with creative business owners who feel stuck. (And yes, I’m very good at helping untangle the chaos when things grind to a halt.)
But that’s not all I do. I also work with the ones who are already moving - but know they could be growing with more purpose, not just more effort.

You’ve built a good thing, or maybe a great thing.
You’re bringing in the work.
You’re making money.
But deep down, you know it’s time to tighten the foundations and push for real, sustainable growth.

Better conversion rates.
Sharper strategy.
Growth that matches the income you actually want, and not just the effort you’re throwing in.

I’m not here for quick fixes or shiny shortcuts. If that's what you're looking for, then I'm not the business growth woman for you.

I’m here for business owners who are ready to grow with purpose, precision, and confidence, and want a mentor who’ll call it like it is (and back them all the way).

If that’s you, you know where to find me. 🙂

24/04/2025

Top Tip: Most of the rules you think you need to follow? Made up by someone who doesn’t know your life.

You do not need a fancy website to start making money.

Having a niche doesn’t mean boxing yourself in – it means clarity.

Being visible is more important than being perfect.

Resting is productive.

No one has their sh*t together – they just have systems.

Doing less better is the goal.

Writing one of the pages in my new Business Basics Resource book, and these were too good not to share!

13/04/2025

What do I enjoy most about what I do?

Getting to work with blooming amazing business owners!

When I think about all the lovely ladies who I currently support with their businesses, I’m mindful that every one of them cares so deeply about the wellbeing of their clients or customers.

It’s one of the core values of my life, never mind my business! And it’s a pleasure and a privilege to do what I do!

I’m over at Peas and Libertea Limited this morning and Anna Hunter has made me the most amazing breakfast burger, I’m feeling full, nutritionally satisfied and safe in the knowledge it’s all gluten free and vegan - not as easy in this day and age as you’d think!

Not a bad Sunday morning!! ❤️❤️

07/04/2025

You’re not too expensive. You’re just not talking to the right people yet.

Let’s ditch the selling yourself short mindset. As a business growth mentor, I see this all the time -and I promise, pricing in alignment with your actual value changes everything.

Here’s what shifts when you raise your prices:

✅ You attract better-fit clients

✅ You feel more confident

✅ You stop resenting your work

And guess what? You don’t need permission.

You’re already worth it. Now it’s time to price like it!

03/04/2025

Time is your most limited resource—and yet we act like we've got loads!

You’ve got school hours. Maybe less.

This week’s blog is your guide to working with the time you’ve got, not against it.
Learn how to:
Plan for actual energy levels
Prioritise one thing at a time
Give yourself grace and structure

Read the full post here: https://www.laura-forsyth.co.uk/blogs/tackle-overwhelm-and-boost-productivity-business-growth-mentor-northumberland

Or start with my £7 planner—it’s built for women like you. Who are juggling everything and still showing up.

26/11/2024

Do you need a visual reminder of what you’ve got to get done?

I’ve got a small whiteboard on my desk with immediate tasks, and then a much bigger whiteboard which lays out how everything fits together as part of my new business strategy.

What tools do you use? 🖊️ 🖍️ 📝 📱 💻

21/11/2024

How life can change in just one year…

This time last year all of the amazing staff at Celebrate Difference ADHD were having a staff training day - sharing some personal thoughts on our disabilities, triggers, hopes, passions, what a good day and a bad day looks like to us, and what support we might need on the day.

It was powerful, emotional, and inspiring. What does best!

Later on that evening, after the usual bedtime battle with my children, walking downstairs, I missed the last two steps, broke my ankle in three places and dislocated as well it for good measure.

🩹 Cue an ambulance, surgery, steel plates and pins, lots of pain, swearing, tears, and having to have my ankle recast each week to try and get it back to a normal position. The support from my family, friends, and colleagues helped me cope, even when my resilience failed me from time to time.

🗓️ One year on …

🌈 I still think Celebrate Difference ADHD is powerful and inspiring, and I still love the team and the work they do. However, my professional journey has changed and I’m currently writing a Business Plan outlining my new self employment adventure. 🗺️

🤝 I’ve started networking for me again, and have been able to catch up with so many lovely people - many of whom I’ve not seen for ages!

🪩 My ankle is as good as it’s ever going to be, and although running for fitness isn’t something that’s going to factor in my life again I’ve been able to rediscover my love of swimming and realised there is more than one sport for me 😊

We do face challenging times, in life and in business, but no matter how painful or tough, change doesn’t need to be a bad thing. With the right support, we can move through it, accept it, and be better off for it.

I’m grateful for what the past year has taught me, and excited for the next year to come.

20/11/2024

I’m not sure how I managed to completely forget to take more photos, but I had such a lush morning at the MINT Business Club networking meeting The Beaumont Hotel in Hexham yesterday.

It was a room filled with so many lovely people - most of whom I’ve known for years and it was amazing to chat to as many of them as I could!

Liza Knight thank you for giving me some warning that I had to give a mini presentation of what I’m planning now I’m back in the world of self employment 🙏 and Samantha Haggett thank you for all your arranging of Liza!

Cornerstone pa services Anna Hunter Danielle Stanley it was so so lovely to see you all!! Thank you for your warm welcome and wishes! ❤️🌈

15/11/2024

Back to where it all started!!

I made the decision in May 2017 to start my own VA business, and ‘went live’ on 3rd July 2017. I mostly worked out of Starbucks Hexham all day to be close to nursery drop off and pick up.

And that self employed journey took me through some interesting times - a pregnancy, baby, house move, covid - not to mention morphing into a Business consultancy with a specialism in time management, process management, and 121 and business support.

And in 2021 I was asked by Nicola Jayne Little to support her in setting up Celebrate Difference ADHD

It has been one of the joys of my life to be part of the senior team and community, witnessing incredible growth in such a short time, and to support so many people in our community, in so many, many (many) ways. ❤️ 🌈

I will always hold Celebrate Difference ADHD and The HUB Consett by and the amazing team dear to my heart, but the time has come to bravely step back into the world of self employment. And I am so so excited about what is to come!

Joanne Stanton Joanne Rowland Dora Sadler Sophie Bainbridge Lindsey Thompson Laura Jobson Stephanie Plummer Holly Knight Graham Martin Ellie Pearson Emily Willas Donna Tunney Laura Elliot Philippa Lee and anyone who isn’t / I can’t find on LinkedIn - I adore you all and thank you for everything over the past three years. I have learnt, laughed, and loved working with you all!

I have a clear direction and will share more, but for today I’m back in Starbucks where it all began, which seems entirely fitting!

Social media profiles are all changed, and if you want to know more, I’ll be sharing soon ☺️

16/02/2023

Happy post when I came home today from .hippo Thank you! They’re gorgeous ❤️ 🦷 🧚‍♀️

11/01/2023

When you need to shake it off during a team meeting … we do things a bit differently and it’s absolutely fabulous to be part of this diversely awesome group of game changers ❤️