In this powerful episode of The Joy Work Show, Diane is joined by workplace culture strategist and founder of Culture Kick, Becky Ray. Together, they unpack what it really takes to create a thriving, joyful business from the inside out.

From her engineering background to launching a business during COVID, Becky shares her honest journey into entrepreneurship and why company culture is the secret sauce behind lasting success.

They dive deep into leadership challenges, the importance of psychological safety, and how to avoid the burnout-driven hustle that so many founders fall into. Becky introduces her Culture Cake framework — a practical (and deliciously named!) model for building intentional, empowering environments where both people and profits grow.

Whether you’re a solopreneur building a dream team, or a leader rethinking your company’s foundation, this episode offers actionable insights on team dynamics, effective communication, and the underestimated power of joy in the workplace.

Connect with Becky:

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/culture_kick_/

LinkedIn:⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-ray-culturekick

https://www.linkedin.com/company/culture-kick-ltd

Website⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.culturekick.co.uk

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join The Joy Work Members Club Waitlist Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.taylorparkerservicesltd.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/dianetaylorparke⁠r

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thejoyworkclub⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Becky Ray and Culture Kick

05:55 Becky's Journey: From Engineering to Business

08:55 The Birth of Culture Kick

11:48 Navigating the Challenges of Entrepreneurship

14:50 The Importance of Saying No

17:49 Understanding Workplace Culture

20:36 The Role of Leadership in Culture

23:56 Creating a Positive Work Environment

26:43 Fundamentals of a Strong Company Culture

29:55 The Culture Cake Framework

32:46 Frustrations into Focus: Addressing Workplace Issues

37:24 Empowering a Speak-Up Culture

38:54 Learning from Failure

41:02 Everyday Learning and Reflection

43:43 The Importance of Culture in Business

46:01 Investing in Internal Culture

47:04 Finding Joy in Authenticity

52:59 Influential Mentors and Books

58:57 Breaking Free from the 'Stuck' Mentality

01:04:31 Creating a Joyful Legacy

01:06:05 The Heartbeat of Business Culture

01:09:02 Intentional Culture Building

Sound Bites

"You can't do your best work safe."

"What is frustrating you today?"

"You can do hard things."

Takeaways

Most businesses fail in the first five years.

Culture is happening whether you design it or not.

You can't do your best work unsafe.

The fish rots from the head down.

We need to make it easy for people to get stuff done.

What is frustrating you today?

You can do hard things.

Moaning without action is a joy killer.

You can have a really good time and be successful.

Let's have a good time at work because it is possible.

In this solo episode of The Joy Work Show, host Diane Taylor Parker tackles one of the biggest myths holding small business owners back: the belief that you need to feel "ready" before taking action.

Diane shares why waiting for the perfect moment is often a form of procrastination rooted in fear and perfectionism.

She explains how true momentum comes from commitment, not confidence and why embracing imperfect action is the key to growth.

With insights on mindset, accountability, and the power of community, this episode is a must-listen for any entrepreneur feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure of their next move.

Whether you're launching, pivoting, or scaling, this is your reminder that readiness is not a prerequisite, but courage is.

Join The Joy Work Members Club Waitlist Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.taylorparkerservicesltd.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@dianetaylorparker⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@thejoyworkclub⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to The Joy Work Show

06:00 The Power of Commitment

12:13 Taking Bold Action

• 
  
• Sound Bites
• "Perfect doesn't sell. Real does."
• "We don't build big things in silence."
• "You just need to be willing to go first."
• 
  
• Takeaways
• Readiness is a myth that keeps your business small.
• Feeling ready is often a lie fed by perfectionism.
• You don't need to feel ready, just committed.
• Perfect doesn't sell; real and authentic does.
• Support and accountability are crucial for success.
• Progress over perfection is key to moving forward.
• You can launch something messy and still make an impact.
• Community can help you feel less alone in your journey.
• It's important to take bold actions, even if they are small.
• You don't have to do it alone; seek support from others.

In this episode of The Joy Work Show, host Diane sits down with personal branding photographer Laura to explore how visibility, confidence, and storytelling come together through the lens of photography.Laura shares her inspiring journey from teaching to full-time photography, revealing how powerful professional imagery can be in helping small business owners and creatives build trust, connect with their audience, and feel more confident showing up online.Together, they dive into the emotional side of personal branding, how to shift your mindset around being seen, and why embracing your story, in all its imperfect glory, is key to creating content that resonates.They also explore how ordinary moments can hold extraordinary meaning, the impact of social media on self-image, and the legacy of helping others feel seen, celebrated, and empowered in their work and lives.Whether you're camera-shy or craving a more aligned way to show up, this episode will leave you inspired to step forward, share your story, and own your spotlight with joy.Connect with Laura:Instagram:⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/anysomethingphotography⁠⁠Instagram:⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/teaandbiscuits⁠Website⁠ ⁠https://Www.anysomething.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join The Joy Work Members Club Waitlist Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.taylorparkerservicesltd.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/dianetaylorparker⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thejoyworkclub⁠⁠⁠⁠Chapters00:00 Introduction to Laura's Journey05:22 Transition from Teaching to Photography08:15 The Role of Confidence in Branding11:14 The Impact of Personal Experiences on Career Choices14:12 The Importance of Storytelling in Photography17:17 Creating Aspirational Product Imagery20:22 Building Client Relationships and Trust23:16 The Power of Professional Photography26:13 Conclusion and Future Aspirations32:13 The Importance of Professional Photography for Small Businesses35:07 Connecting Products with Personal Stories36:52 Emphasising Feelings Over Products38:24 Finding Joy in Ordinary Moments46:23 Intentional Living and Slowing Down52:04 Overcoming Panic and Embracing Control57:00 Leaving a Legacy of Confidence and Passion58:05 The Power of Storytelling Through Imagery59:08 Embracing Visibility as Empowerment01:00:06 Creating a Joyful Business CommunitySound Bites"You can practice being seen as a brave act.""Ordinary moments matter.""It's not about photos, it's about feelings."TakeawaysLaura transitioned from teaching to photography due to health challenges.Visibility in business is about ownership, not vanity.Professional photography can build confidence for brands.Ordinary moments in life are what truly matter.Emotional connection is key in photography.Social media can impact self-image and visibility.Personal branding is essential for small business success.Creating unique imagery requires thoughtful props and settings.Supporting small businesses through photography is rewarding.The journey of slowing down can lead to greater joy.