Meeting at the Crossroads podcast

Frank Fleming, CEO of Verifact, joins Sarah Daly to unpack the crossroads that reshaped his business: the 2015 decision to pivot from a consultancy into a full software company. Frank traces the mix of ambition and fear behind that leap, how his years as a commercial fisherman built his tolerance for risk and change, and the blind spots he only recognised in hindsight. He shares what he'd tell anyone facing a similar pivot today: build an MVP, get feedback early, and surround yourself with people who can show you what you can't see for yourself.In this episode, you’ll discover:Why a service business can hit a scalability ceiling and how to know when it's time to build something more scalableHow to weigh the excitement of a big pivot against the fear of leaving a known, working business behindWhy your past career can shape how you handle risk and changeThe concept of "blind spots" in decision-making, and practical ways to reduce themWhy thinking about your total addressable market matters from day one, not after you've already built somethingHow looking back on big decisions with hindsight can clarify what to do differently next time, without dwelling in regretWhy building a trusted network of people to bounce ideas off is one of the most valuable things you can do as a founderMeeting at the Crossroads is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts.If today's episode resonated with you, share it with a fellow business owner who might be standing at their own crossroads.Connect with SarahLinkedInWebsiteInstagramConnect with FrankLinkedInWebsiteHosted by Sarah DalyEdited by Amanda Fitzgerald

Dawn Coupe built Equinox Consulting from a single 3-month contract into a multi-million-pound consultancy over 11 years, growing the business tenfold in just 4 years. But behind the growth was a business barely holding together: contracts overrunning by hundreds of thousands of pounds, mounting supplier debt, and a company that had scaled faster than its systems could support.Dawn shares what it really took to walk away from a deal that looked like a lifeline, how she rebuilt trust with her leadership team, and the lesson she now carries into her coaching work with founders who've built something brilliant and lost themselves inside it.In this episode, you’ll discover:Why rapid growth can be as dangerous as declineHow to spot a "helpful" offer that isn't A simple way to test any high-stakes decision Why your busiest, most stressed moment is the worst time to sign anything The real cost of carrying a crisis aloneHow to build a support network before you need one What recovery actually looks like The mindset shift that changes everythingMeeting at the Crossroads is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts.If today's episode resonated with you, share it with a fellow business owner who might be standing at their own crossroads.Connect with SarahLinkedInWebsiteInstagramConnect with DawnLinkedInWebsite

For 29 years, leadership strategist Charley Swords has asked leaders one essential question: not what are you trying to achieve, but how are you actually leading? But this episode isn't about the leaders she's coached, it's about her own crossroads. After years of relentless international travel, a health scare forced Charley to stop completely. A visit to her GP delivered words she'll never forget: get on a plane, and you'll come off it in a box. What followed was an 18-month recovery, the closure of her limited company, and a hard look at whether to retire, return to employment, or start again.Charley talks candidly about resilience, the myth that stepping back is a sign of weakness, and why she believes self, family, and work must stay in balance for anyone in business.In this episode, you’ll discover:How to recognise the warning signs your body sends before burnout forces a decision for youWhy stepping back from a business is a sign of strength, not failureHow to evaluate your real options when facing a health, career, or business crossroadsA simple framework for keeping yourself, your family, and your work in balanceWhy closing or restructuring a business isn't the same as giving upHow to rebuild momentum and confidence after an extended setbackWhat to consider when facing more than one major life disruption in close successionPractical ways to adapt how you work when your usual way of operating is no longer possibleMeeting at the Crossroads is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts.If today's episode resonated with you, share it with a fellow business owner who might be standing at their own crossroads.Connect with SarahLinkedInWebsiteInstagramConnect with CharleyLinkedInWebsite

Every business owner faces moments that stop them in their tracks. Meeting at the Crossroads is the podcast that meets you in those moments.Hosted by Sarah Daly, a qualified accountant, transition facilitator, executive coach, and business consultant, each episode features candid, unfiltered conversations with business owners and directors who share the real stories behind their defining decisions. Short, honest, and grounded in lived experience , this podcast offers the kind of insight that's often only understood in hindsight.Whether you're on a commute, a coffee break, or facing a crossroads right now, we're here to make sure you never have to face those moments alone.