Get insights and other perspectives on your business ideas and dilemmas

Get insights and other perspectives on your business ideas and dilemmas

You know you want some help sometimes thinking things through…

Are you running your own business, as either a solopreneur or head of a small team?

Do you wish you had a close-knit group of business buddies you could turn to for questions like …

“Does this name for my new service / product / podcast / etc evoke the right feelings?”

“I’m planning to do this thing. Could you play devil’s advocate and challenge me on it?”

“I need to brainstorm ways to change my business model so that it aligns better with my life balance / profit / scaling goals.”

 

You keep trying, but haven’t found that group yet.

Maybe…

Your friends and family are lovely people full of insight and wisdom, but most of them aren’t entrepreneurs, and don’t fully understand your challenges.

You’ve tried networking groups, but need more time to really dissect an issue.

You’re unable to really open up and be honest in some groups, because there’s such a culture of pretending everything is always fine.

Getting outside your own head to see the best way forward can be hard

Getting outside your own head to see the best way forward can be hard

Is this you?

You feel uncertain. You have so many decisions to make every day – we all do – and while you’re generally decisive, there are some decisions you could really do with talking through, seeing from different angles, and maybe finding out of the box solutions for.

You feel alone. You do enjoy not having anyone telling you what to do – that’s why you started your business – but sometimes, you just need someone to be there for you.

You feel discouraged by how great everyone else’s business seems to be going all the time. You wonder if things are really so great, and wish you had a safe space to be real with fellow business owners.

 

Hi, I’m Sara-Jayne, and I’d love to connect you with the right people.

I’ve created this space for small business owners who also appreciate a space to be genuine, kick around ideas, and ask for suggestions, opinions, and recommendations.

Sara-Jayne Slocombe

Hi, I’m Sara-Jayne, and I’d love to connect you with the right people.

I’ve created this space for small business owners who also appreciate a space to be genuine, kick around ideas, and ask for suggestions, opinions, and recommendations.

Sara-Jayne Slocombe

Imagine how you would feel if you had a safe space to talk business with a knowledgeable, resourceful group

Imagine how you would feel if you had a safe space to talk business with a knowledgeable, resourceful group

You would feel connected.

You’d know you’re not alone.

You’d have a deeper understanding of business from diving deep into many different kinds of businesses and issues, month after month.

You would feel accepted and respected as the whole person you are: an expert in your zone of genius and a student in other areas of business.

Your confidence as a businessperson would grow.

Maria Tabasuares

“Anyone who has ever had eureka moments will want to be in a group that’s built the way Sara-Jayne structures them. It can take a little group of creatives in various iterations of a business-orientated world and give them a well-rounded perspective that helps clarify what they can do, and how they can set about to do it.

“It doesn’t demand, but it reveals. It empowers, because there is something reassuring about bouncing ideas around with contemporaries who inhabit different worlds but utilise the same business philosophy, principles, and standards. More self-employed people need this as part of their strategising — I certainly benefit from it.”

Maria Tabasuares, Stand Tall Improv CIC

Maria Tabasuares

“Anyone who has ever had eureka moments will want to be in a group that’s built the way Sara-Jayne structures them. It can take a little group of creatives in various iterations of a business-orientated world and give them a well-rounded perspective that helps clarify what they can do, and how they can set about to do it.

“It doesn’t demand, but it reveals. It empowers, because there is something reassuring about bouncing ideas around with contemporaries who inhabit different worlds but utilise the same business philosophy, principles, and standards. More self-employed people need this as part of their strategising — I certainly benefit from it.”

Maria Tabasuares, Stand Tall Improv CIC

Power Pod Round Table by Amethyst Raccoon logo

Introducing the Power Pod Roundtable

A discussion and connection group for thinking and feeling authentic business owners

Power Pod Round Table by Amethyst Raccoon logo

Introducing the Power Pod Roundtable

A discussion and connection group for thinking and feeling authentic business owners

Resourceful Roundtable photo: group video call

The Power Pod Roundtable is for you if you:

Crave deep connections with other entrepreneurs

Want to help and be helped

Are looking for a safe space to be honest and open about what’s working and what’s not

Are a kind, compassionate person able to share your honest thoughts with tact and grace

Are looking for a place to get and share insights, resources, thoughts, ideas, and opinions

It is for you if:

Are a solopreneur, or head of a small team

Are in any industry

Have any amount of turnover (sales)

Have been in business for any length of time

Are in any country

What makes the Power Pod Roundtable different from everything else out there?

What makes the Power Pod Roundtable different from everything else out there?

No minimum turnover

Some groups will only accept you if your annual sales are 6 or 7 figures, but I value the diversity of voices found across all turnover brackets, so everyone at every level of sales is welcome.

All industries welcome

You can be in any industry. Again, I find the diversity of voices yields a richer discussion, which helps everyone see things from different perspectives.

Peer group, no teacher-student dynamic

It’s a group of peers, on equal footing.

Many groups assume that the organiser is the main expert everyone is there to hear from. It’s a teacher-student dynamic.

I am a facilitator, rather than The Knower Of All Things, so I’ve built this Roundtable as a peer group. It’s right there in the name!

Small groups

The group will be limited to 6.

Small groups are the rule because they foster deeper relationships.

This means you’re more able to be honest, vulnerable, and receive truth and authenticity in return.

Too many groups are designed with the pocketbook of the organiser in mind, rather than the growth of the participants, and they’ll fill it with hundreds of members.

Large memberships have their place, but not for this: you can’t build the deep relationships needed for real growth with that many people.

No extra, useless meetings

Some memberships seem to focus on putting in face time with each other, instead of simply being a tool in your arsenal to shape your business into what you want it to be.

This roundtable is simply a discussion group that meets monthly.

There are no extraneous meetings. 

You don’t need to have loads of time available in order to feel like you’ve gotten the most out of it.

No trainings

Some memberships are there explicitly to help teach you about business or some aspect of it. It makes tonnes of sense for them to have trainings.

This is not that kind of group.

So again, it cuts down on the amount of time you need to block out on your calendar, leaving you free to focus on delivering quality products and services to your clients and customers.

It’s online

Most groups like this meet face to face. That’s fantastic, but can be limiting when you can’t find a group near you that dives deep like this.

This group meets online to serve a wider audience.

Every month you could have insights from your own power pod of entrepreneurs!

Every month you could have insights from your own power pod of entrepreneurs!

Feel the certainty that comes from knowing you’ve made considered decisions.

Feel the belonging that comes with having your own set of business besties.

Feel the encouragement from others who understand the roller coaster that is entrepreneurship celebrating your wins with you and helping you find your way through your challenges.

Power Pod Round Table by Amethyst Raccoon logo

Here is what’s waiting for you inside the Power Pod Roundtable

Power Pod Round Table by Amethyst Raccoon logo

Here is what’s waiting for you inside the Power Pod Roundtable

One monthly deep dive roundtable meeting

At this, you’ll get the floor for up to 30 minutes to discuss whatever burning issue is on your mind.

The group is limited to 6, so the whole meeting will last up to 3 hours.

This will be the first Tuesday of the month, 10am-1pm UK time.

This will be on Zoom.

Use it to:

  • Kick around ideas,
  • Ask questions,
  • Get opinions, and
  • Generally get outside your own head.

    A LinkedIn group

    Use this to

    • Connect more deeply with the rest of the group
    • Share resources when they cross your desk instead of trying to remember them at the monthly meeting
    • Share any quick wins, thoughts, ideas, or questions throughout the month
    Sophie Dyer, Thinking Partner

    “The group conversations have been fascinating and productive.

    “As expected, we’ve had an opportunity to talk through anything we’re finding tricky or problematic in business and hear other experiences and perspectives. The level of support has been fantastic and the small group dynamic really aids the speed in which you get to know each other and open up. There have been recommendations for useful resources, technology and information so I leave a session with ideas and plans to try new things.

    “An unexpected bonus of these sessions is meeting business owners in very different fields, with very different income expectations, and recognising that whether your business turns over £10,000 or £1,000,000, you can have moments of doubt. As a business grows, new challenges come up and you have to be a learner again. You may have been in business for 10 years but a newbie can offer a different perspective or recommend new software. These conversations have a respectful equality that encourages all to participate.”

    — Sophie Dyer, Thinking Partner

    Sophie Dyer, Thinking Partner

    “The group conversations have been fascinating and productive.

    “As expected, we’ve had an opportunity to talk through anything we’re finding tricky or problematic in business and hear other experiences and perspectives. The level of support has been fantastic and the small group dynamic really aids the speed in which you get to know each other and open up. There have been recommendations for useful resources, technology and information so I leave a session with ideas and plans to try new things.

    “An unexpected bonus of these sessions is meeting business owners in very different fields, with very different income expectations, and recognising that whether your business turns over £10,000 or £1,000,000, you can have moments of doubt. As a business grows, new challenges come up and you have to be a learner again. You may have been in business for 10 years but a newbie can offer a different perspective or recommend new software. These conversations have a respectful equality that encourages all to participate.”

    — Sophie Dyer, Thinking Partner

    The value of these sessions can be priceless

    The value of these sessions can be priceless

    You come away with new insights, new knowledge, and new ideas.

    You can pay hundreds or even thousands for this.

    I’ve seen some deep discussion groups charge

    $10,000 per year

    or even

    $15,000 per session

    But your investment for the Power Pod Roundtable is just

    £15 per month

    Why so low?

    Because my motivation isn’t to make tonnes of money off this, plain and simple.

    I absolutely love facilitating these discussion groups.

    My Sacred Money Archetype® is Connector, and I have four personal planets in the 11th house in my natal chart. No matter which way you look at it, connections are important to me.

    I just really love connecting the right people, resources, and ideas just when they need them.

    And for now, this is the right amount of energy exchange (financial return) I need for this service.

    Book now!

    Book now!

    Get insights and other perspectives on your business ideas and dilemmas in this monthly business discussion group.

    You plus up to 5 others will have about half an hour each to dive deep into what’s troubling you most this month in your business. We won’t go past 1pm, though we may finish early.

    We meet on the first Tuesday of the month, at 10am UK time.

    Nick Rosenthal

    “I was extremely impressed both by Sara-Jayne’s technical skills, and by her ability to understand the issues behind a question. Several times, I asked her if A or B might be possible, and I always received really helpful, insightful responses, which often went beyond the original question and showed deep understanding of what was actually needed.

    “I have absolutely no reservations in recommending Sara-Jayne – she is brilliant.”

    — Nick Rosenthal, Translator; Managing Director, Salford Translations Ltd

    Nick Rosenthal

    “I was extremely impressed both by Sara-Jayne’s technical skills, and by her ability to understand the issues behind a question. Several times, I asked her if A or B might be possible, and I always received really helpful, insightful responses, which often went beyond the original question and showed deep understanding of what was actually needed.

    “I have absolutely no reservations in recommending Sara-Jayne – she is brilliant.”

    — Nick Rosenthal, Translator; Managing Director, Salford Translations Ltd

    Meet Sara-Jayne, your new facilitator

    Meet Sara-Jayne, your new facilitator

    Sara-Jayne Slocombe
    Hi, I’m Sara-Jayne. I kept getting stuck running in circles in my own head, in my own personal echo chamber, never sure which next step to take or what to focus on.

    So I created a discussion group to kick around ideas with my business friends.

    I don’t have to explain business to them – they run their own, so they get it.

    I don’t have to explain the pull of wanting to do many different things – they get that already, too.

    I can skip straight to the meaty part of the discussion.

    They help me choose, see the rest of the picture, and overcome my hurdles.

    I help them with the same.

    We help each other see the forest and the trees, find useful resources, and more.

    I’ve been connecting people with each other and with the right information for several decades, in every role I’ve ever had, personal and professional. It’s something I’m naturally good at.

    Now, I’d love to connect you with your power pod to help you move your business forward and get unstuck.

    When I’m not facilitating groups, I’m a Business Insights Consultant, which means I help clients harness the power of their numbers to understand what’s happening in their businesses and help them confidently decide the next steps.

    Just a few examples include:

    • Post-campaign analysis – How did your sale, launch, or promotion do? What parts worked well? What parts didn’t? We’ll look at the numbers and the words to get a holistic view.
    • Profit/Loss analysis – How can you improve profit in your business? Where are you leaving money on the table, and where are you spending more than you need to?
    • Process optimisation – How can you improve your processes to save time, improve customer experience, and ultimately increase profit?

    I’ve been running my business, Amethyst Raccoon, since 2019. It has shifted, morphed, and pivoted in that time, but the common thread has always been helping clients use their numbers to be more confident in their business decisions.

    Amethyst is calming, helps intuition, and connects the concrete with the divine, just like my practice.

    Raccoons are curious, adaptable problem solvers, just like me.

    I’m a stickler for considering the whole picture and not letting numbers dictate. I ban the COMPUTER SAYS NO mentality. Instead, I want to know how my clients feel about different options, and then I look for the numbers to support them.

    I’m an Associate Member of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications, Guest Expert in the Woo Woo Business Membership, a qualified mathematician, and budding data scientist.

    I live in Glossop, England, UK, with my husband. I enjoy traditional oral storytelling (both telling and listening), reading epic fantasy, walking in the Peak District near my home, and pyrography.

    Amethyst Raccoon Logo
    Amethyst Raccoon Logo

    I’ve been running my business, Amethyst Raccoon, since 2019. It has shifted, morphed, and pivoted in that time, but the common thread has always been helping clients use their numbers to be more confident in their business decisions.

    Amethyst is calming, helps intuition, and connects the concrete with the divine, just like my practice.

    Raccoons are curious, adaptable problem solvers, just like me.

    I’m a stickler for considering the whole picture and not letting numbers dictate. I ban the COMPUTER SAYS NO mentality. Instead, I want to know how my clients feel about different options, and then I look for the numbers to support them.

    I’m an Associate Member of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications, Guest Expert in the Woo Woo Business Membership, a qualified mathematician, and budding data scientist.

    I live in Glossop, England, UK, with my husband. I enjoy traditional oral storytelling (both telling and listening), reading epic fantasy, walking in the Peak District near my home, and pyrography.

    “Sara-Jayne brought clarity and calmness to the mess … She was always available to help and made sure everything made sense. She is one of the most professional and understanding people I have worked with. I have worked as a counsellor for over 13 years so I can recognise an empathetic and genuine person when I meet one and Sara-Jayne is certainly this and much more.

    “I wholeheartedly recommend her work and I look forward to any future contact with Sara-Jayne, if I need her services in the future I will definitely be contacting her to put her particular brand of knowledge, understanding, and empathy into action for me.”

    — Michelle Keifer, Specialist Counsellor

    Michelle Keifer
    Michelle Keifer

    “Sara-Jayne brought clarity and calmness to the mess … She was always available to help and made sure everything made sense. She is one of the most professional and understanding people I have worked with. I have worked as a counsellor for over 13 years so I can recognise an empathetic and genuine person when I meet one and Sara-Jayne is certainly this and much more.

    “I wholeheartedly recommend her work and I look forward to any future contact with Sara-Jayne, if I need her services in the future I will definitely be contacting her to put her particular brand of knowledge, understanding, and empathy into action for me.”

    — Michelle Keifer, Specialist Counsellor

    Power Pod Round Table by Amethyst Raccoon logo

    Is the Power Pod Roundtable right for you?

    Power Pod Round Table by Amethyst Raccoon logo

    Is the Power Pod Roundtable right for you?

    Unlike other groups, this one is for you regardless of your current turnover (sales) or industry. However, it still won’t fit everyone.

    It is for you if:

    • You run your own business as a solopreneur or with a small team
    • You want peer support to help you think through your ideas
    • You want a kind, welcoming space: you’re tired of being put on the spot or talked over

    It’s not for you if:

    • You can’t stand Zoom calls, because that’s how we’ll meet.
    • You’re looking for an accountability group. This is a safe space, which doesn’t lend itself to the kind of tough love true accountability requires.
    • You think you already know everything worth knowing in this world, and you’re not receptive to or looking for other viewpoints.

    “It’s a safe and mutually understanding place to come together with other creatives and business owners, to chat over any doubts, problems, or dilemmas.

    “Sara-Jayne is a warm and friendly facilitator with a knack for asking the right questions! And of course the other participants bring with them their own personal strengths, expertise, and insights.”

    — Chelle Mullen, Storm & Grace

    Chelle Mullen, Storm & Grace
    Chelle Mullen, Storm & Grace

    “It’s a safe and mutually understanding place to come together with other creatives and business owners, to chat over any doubts, problems, or dilemmas.

    “Sara-Jayne is a warm and friendly facilitator with a knack for asking the right questions! And of course the other participants bring with them their own personal strengths, expertise, and insights.”

    — Chelle Mullen, Storm & Grace

    You have questions?

    Let’s find the answers together!

    You have questions?

    Let’s find the answers together!

    I’m not sure what I’ll need to do.

    You’ll need to show up to the monthly meetings, on the first Tuesday of each month from 10am-1pm.

    You’ll want to bring your burning questions.

    You’ll find you learn and help yourself whilst helping others, too.

    You’ll discover your mindset subtly changing over time, helped by the Power Pod to see more solutions and less brick walls.

    How much time do I need?

    You’ll need to attend one deep dive session each month, up to 3 hours, where you’ll give and get help, understanding, and insights around your current goals and issues.

    I don’t have enough time to dedicate to this.

    Sometimes we don’t have time to devote to developing our business. Sometimes, it’s all we can do to serve existing clients and customers and keep everything running.

    If this is where you are now, know that you are not alone!

    If your situation is temporary, then perhaps you’ll join later. The roundtable will stay open – there is no reason to close the cart on this, so I won’t.

    If your situation looks permanent, then hopefully my free resources will help you create the slack in your schedule you need to work towards big goals.

    Whether you ever work with me or not, I wish you great luck in making space for your business development, connection, and insights in your schedule.

    I can’t afford this right now.

    I get it, times are tough. That’s part of why I’ve made this as affordable as possible.

    Sales coaches would have me use this section to show you the value of the Power Pod Roundtable, but I’m not here for the hard sell. Sometimes you genuinely can’t afford the thing you’d really like; I get it.

    Once this starts, it will keep running. Hopefully you will join when cash flow is easier for you. Be sure to sign up for my newsletter so you don’t forget about it!

    I want it to be easy for you to join, the natural thing to say yes. If it’s going to be hard, then now is not the right time.

    In the meantime, you might want to check any current memberships you already have to see if they might already include a similar thing.

    Alternatively, you could start your own peer group with some of your business buddies.

    What if the group is too small to help?

    The group size is limited to 6. This number was deliberately chosen after much research (both academic and real life) to foster deeper relationships. With deeper relationships comes

    • the ability to speak and hear the truth,
    • the ability to be seen and known (you’re not lost in a sea of faces), and
    • the bandwidth to deep dive into issues and look at them thoroughly from several angles.

    You are encouraged to carry on with networking and making as many connections as possible outside of the Power Pod Roundtable for your own marketing.

    Don’t confuse the Power Pod Roundtable with your marketing efforts; this is entirely different.

    I’m not sure the Power Pod Roundtable is for me

    Let’s talk it through. Feel free to email me or drop me a DM on LinkedIn or Instagram.

    If it’s not right for you at this time, I will tell you.

    I have another question not covered here.

    Ask away! Either send me an email, or message me on LinkedIn or Instagram.

     

    “A must-attend fixture in my schedule every month – I really value the opportunity to explore burning operational and strategic issues in this confidential and collaborative environment.”

    Gerri McHugh, Global Health Film

    Gerri McHugh, Global Health Film
    Gerri McHugh, Global Health Film

     

    “A must-attend fixture in my schedule every month – I really value the opportunity to explore burning operational and strategic issues in this confidential and collaborative environment.”

    Gerri McHugh, Global Health Film

    © AMETHYST RACCOON, 2024 - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | PRIVACY POLICY