SBS event 2025! Inspiration + purpose
Another fantastic day of inspirational talks and networking…this was my third time at the annual SBS conference in Birmingham.
Read on to find out all about SBS and what knowledge I took away from the event.
P.S. During networking, I debuted my new business cards featuring adorable sheepadoodle Nelson that I had the pleasure of drawing last year for a commission. What do you think?
This time I also had two of my artworks (‘no more hiding’, seal and ‘just keep swimming’, beaver) with me as I was collecting them from a fellow SBS winner (Pier Road Coffee and Art) following on from their ‘January Blues’ exhibition in their independent gallery. These original artworks are now available to buy on my Etsy shop: https://jenniferstarnesart.etsy.com
Goal setting presentation
“A vision without execution is delusion.”
The first presentation I attended was by Natwest Acceleration manager Aman Chima. It provided key insights on the importance of crafting a vision and best practises for goal setting.
Vision
When setting goals, think BIG.
Create SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and timebound).
Tell others about your goals.
Create a 90 day, 6 month and 5-10 year plan.
Hot pen technique
Imagine that you have no limitations or barriers, what would your goal be?
Following this, work backwards to reverse engineer a realistic goal.
Theo Paphitis
Theo welcomed the start of the event by celebrating SBS 15th anniversary! I’m always proud to be part of the statistics when they come up on the screen. Particularly that 80% of the SBS winners are females. The network has now grown to 4000+, it’s a very wholesome community full of all sorts of wonderful businesses. If you own a business and are yet to pitch to SBS, give it a try! SBS are now accepting submissions on LinkedIn. I won back in October 2022, after pitching my art business to Theo on Twitter.
NatWest, confidence building session
NatWest held a builder session based on the theme of ‘confidence’. The panel of presenters discussed mindset, the difference between a fixed vs growth mindset and the ability of neuroplasticity.
Practical strategies for developing confidence:
Cognitive reframing - would you say that to a friend?
Behavioural activation - doing activates believing. Reinforce it.
Embodied confidence. Fake it til you make it. Your brain is listening.
Keep a wins journal - don’t forget how far you’ve come. Reflect.
Seek support from mentors and coaches, you are not alone.
I’ve now signed up to #Iamremarkable - a 90 minute self-promotion workshop which comes highly recommended.
Junior Beaman gave a great talk. Love that quote!
Dorset Tech presentation
One of my highlights from the day was listening to the breakout presentation of Chris Ryu from Dorset Tech on SEO. It was such a popular session that SBS ran out of chairs and headphones! Chris definitely knows what he’s talking about, I recommend you check out the Dorset Tech website if you need help with your website. This blog post is partially inspired by the talk, which championed regular blog posts.
Richard Harpin
Theo’s interview with Homesense founder Richard Harpin was insightful. He discussed the rocky journey he went on with Homesense, providing key insights into how best to pivot to ensure the success of your business.
Copy and improve on other business models. The idea here is to take what’s already working from your competitors and amplify the positive aspects. Ask people what they like and don’t like about the service and improve on it, this gives the best possible experience for the customer.
What’s the difference between a coach and a mentor? You need both.
Coach - Asks intelligent questions of the coach. Finds out what the problem/solution is.
Mentor - the person with business experience.
Create a focus list
In less than 20 words, write answers to the following:
What are you passionate about?
What could you be the best at?
How are you going to make money?
Scamp and Dude
Looking back at my notes from Debbie Lewis’ interview with Jo Tutchener from scamp and Dude, I wrote only two words…
"sparkly blazer”
Haha, I believe I was so captivated listening to Jo talk about her journey and purpose that I didn’t write any notes. The sparkly blazer was referring to Jo’s Scamp and Dude blazer she was wearing. Note to self, I would love that!
Key takeaways
The SBS event always provides me with a boost of motivation. The key buzzword for me this year was ‘purpose’. My vision is to use my art to save animals by celebrating the pets of the world and adopting endangered animals. My goal is to collaborate with charities to create an even larger impact within wildlife conservation.
If you attended the SBS event please leave a comment below if you feel inspired to do so.