“To become a confident speaker has required embracing an element of imperfection.”
Before Radhika Lucas of Content Halo started her business, she was leading street performances amid a backdrop of growing up surrounded by adversity, but also with the freedom for creativity.
From drawing on the walls to skating on the floors in the confined spaces of a small apartment, Radhika went from creating skits during the school holidays to leading street performances and then on to bigger stages, theatre and later effective speaking.
Radhika shares “To become a confident speaker has required embracing an element of imperfection which I inject in my philosophy, training and while helping clients build their speaking skills, get confident on video or put themselves out there.”
Radhika saw others struggling with visibility and saw a gap in the market to help people overcome the fear of being on video. Now, at Content Halo, Radhika helps professionals or professional services business owners get visible by finding their true voice through her coaching and workshops, to communicate their impact with clarity so that how they show up reflects all that they stand for.
Radhika’s vision is driven by the systemic challenges faced by women and she believes that our voices can be heard despite our lived experiences so we can make a greater impact in this world.
Radhika has recently joined the HerBusiness Network and says “I have been very lonely and being part of the network allows me to connect with other more established business owners and raise the bar for myself immediately.”
Who’s your favourite entrepreneur and why?
Wow, it really is hard to pick one. But I think I would pick Oprah. She really was ahead of her time despite all the odds against her. She was rejected several times and picked herself up and reinvented and kept going.
While I don’t know her full story, she is inspiring for women like me because she shows how much is possible through sheer grit, determination and belief in yourself.
Why did you start your business and what gave you the idea?
When I first started putting myself out there in the early days, my then teenage boys were pulling my leg and calling me ‘Cringe’ because of some of my videos at the time. It was then that my first program ‘Cringe to Confident’ was born.
I saw others struggling with visibility and I saw a gap in the market to help people overcome the fear of being on video to now encompass speaking, presenting and communicating their impact using my background in stage performance, effective speaking and behaviour change marketing to help people show up by finding their true voice.
What do you enjoy most about running your own business?
I love the transformations and the freedom to express myself and create from a place that feels more like me.
What three pieces of advice do you wish you’d been given when you started?
- Don’t lose sight of why you are building what you are building. It’s Important to build a life while building an income. Don’t get so consumed building an income that you forget to activate your life while activating your visibility.
- Speak to more potential customers to get insights than just letting things swirl in your head. It’s important to have a market message match that many people forget to do or avoid doing for fear of rejection.
- Find your voice before you find your visibility. Building a reputation rather than chasing validations. Likes don’t pay the bills.. having a voice to express, and be the leader instead of influencer is a subtle but mighty difference.
What advice would YOU give someone thinking about starting a business?
- Prepare for everything to take twice as long and then double it.
- You will lose friends as you forge your own way.
- Doing something different means doubling down on your beliefs even when the road ahead seems unsure.
- Do something that will light you up everyday.
- Don’t forget to make time for the little things.
What skills and knowledge areas would you recommend those starting out in business get acquainted with quickly?
- Giving things a go and failing fast so you can learn and improve quickly.
- Getting a network of people as fast as possible.
- Positioning your services to reflect your values.
What does your IDEAL business look like? Even if you’re not there yet, what would it look like if your business was ideal?
My business would be ideal if I had a group program rather than a one on one program. I also would like to explore how I can start an offline part of my speaking business so I am not just reliant on online which requires a mountain of content. This would help give my business some stability.
What problem does being a Member of the HerBusiness Network solve for you and your business? And, how?
I have been very lonely and being part of the network allows me a way to connect with other more established business owners and raise the bar for myself immediately.
Learn more about Radhika and Content Halo.
