The Hidden Costs of Discounting in Professional Services and Sales

by Michelle Buzzard | 13 Mar, 2026 | Financial Focus Fridays

If you cut your prices or fees, you make less money on every sale.To earn the same profit, you must do much more work with the same people. In businesses built on people, time or expertise, that usually means more pressure on staff, longer hours, lower quality, or...

When Care Sounds Like Complaining

by Michelle Buzzard | 2 Mar, 2026 | Business Coaching

I sometimes worry that I sound like I’m always complaining. Not because anyone has said it outright, but because when you care deeply about your business, your people, and the work you’re building together, your focus naturally goes to what isn’t quite right yet. And...

Nordic Calm: A January Reflection on Work, Wellbeing and Balance

by Michelle Buzzard | 23 Jan, 2026 | Business Coaching

This January I had a lovely start to the year attending a wedding in Liverpool.  I met lots of lovely people, one of whom was Finnish.  As we spoke what struck me was how calmly he spoke about life.  It reminded me of my conversations with an old university friend who...

Lessons from Croatia

by Michelle Buzzard | 26 Sep, 2025 | Business Coaching

A Week That Felt Like a Month I recently returned from a family holiday in Dubrovnik – a beautiful, historic town I’d highly recommend. Nestled along the Adriatic coast, Dubrovnik is a tapestry of terracotta rooftops, ancient stone walls, and shimmering blue waters....

Lessons from Newquay: Why Taking a Break Makes You a Better Leader

by Michelle Buzzard | 15 Aug, 2025 | Business Coaching

A Trip with a Twist My husband and I have just returned from a five-day break in Newquay. The main reason? To take our daughter to the Boardmasters festival and stay nearby – just in case! If you’re a parent, you’ll know the mix of pride and anxiety that comes...