Fiona Scott, of Scott Media, is sharing her August plans with us!

August is upon us – it’s the month of holidays, summer fun and time off for many people. It’s also the time of the Olympics (from July 26) and the Paralympics (from August 28).

So how are small business owners coping with the month often known as ‘silly season’?

Fiona Scott is the founder of Scott Media, a media and PR consultancy working with ambitious individuals and companies which value being visible consistently through traditional and modern media.

Fiona has been a journalist for 38 years and has had a career in newspapers and television. She’s still a working journalist today. She’s also the host of her successful podcast PR Not BS, runs her own YouTube channel Reel PR, has an inspirational speaker platform Scott Media Speakers and published her first book The Hard Yards in 2023. For more information visit https://scottmedia.uk/

How is August looking in your business? 
In the past when I was starting out August was a quiet month professionally, people went on holiday and the world seemed to take a breath. Also my children were younger and were off school so it was a time for family holidays and trying to keep three young children on their toes for six weeks. Now our children are growing up so it’s pretty much business as usual with hopefully some sunshine thrown in! 

What are your personal plans for this month?
I’m working some of the month with my team and have also had a week away on holiday in our caravan in the Lake District which was lovely. A totally different environment is good for rest, relaxation and for general lazing around and for me, reading as I love to read and disappear into the imagination of someone else. 

What advice would you give to small business owners trying to navigate the ‘holiday’ period? 
Plan for time off and take that time even if it feels like a burden to do it because you are busy or you fear the catching up when you return to your desk. Time off is vital for wellbeing and also for reflecting on the ups and downs of business. Answers can often just ‘appear’ because you are in a different place and having different experiences.

It’s the Olympics or Paralympics this month. Does this mean anything to you? 
I’m the least sporty person ever but I adore these two tournaments. I really think they are the ‘greatest show on earth’. We were lucky to get tickets to attend events at London 2012 when we saw Usain Bolt win the 200m final and break a world record. It was amazing to be there in the Olympic stadium. 

I’ve watched loads of Paris 2024 and we’re so excited to actually be going to the Paralympics in September! My client Chris Hunt Skelley MBE, who lives locally, will be competing in the judo competition and my husband and I are going to support him – we will never get an opportunity like this again. We booked to go even before he’d qualified, in faith that he would. He’s an amazing and inspirational young man having already won a gold medal in Tokyo. 

August 13 was International Left Handers Day does this mean anything to you?
Yes I’m left-handed as was my granny and as is one of my children. When I was growing up my Dad always called me ‘cack-handed’. 

I’ve found certain things challenging in a small way – for example writing with a Biro or an ink pen led to big splodges of ink down my hand as I sweep across the paper – less relevant now in the age of laptops, tablets and smartphones. I also struggled with anything like knitting or crochet. I could do it but everything I’ve ever made was way too big! I also tend to bump into things, I find walking in a straight line really challenging! Yet I’m also creative, a great problem solver and I think being left-handed doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things. 

August 20 is World Photo Day. Can you share a photograph which means something to you? 
I could share loads but I’ve chosen this one – it’s of our son David with my grandson Oliver on the day of David’s prom in 2023. Oliver has a very special bond with his aunts and uncles and has brought such light into our lives and David is a hard-working and kind young man. I hope he will be a role model for his first nephew. 

Did you know August 21 is World Entrepreneurs Day? What does this word mean to you and do you apply it to yourself? 
Yes I do – I believe an entrepreneur is someone who makes their own way in the world professionally, earning their own money by the sweat of their own brow from nothing. For me it has nothing to do with how much money or how successful. It’s more about a mindset, an ability to problem solve, an ability to see opportunity and to take a chance on it and the best entrepreneurs tend to embrace passion and purpose as well as profit. I never thought I’d apply that word to me – I never wanted to run my own business. Life decided that for me. 

Can you name one business you’d like to give a summer shout out to? 
There are so many however for this I’d have to shout out to Hannah Edwards of Empowered VA Services who has worked with me for seven years. Hannah manages my diary, which is bonkers, she manages calls for me, helps me at events and keeps me sane and on track. Her skills dovetail with mine and it took me ages to find a VA/PA who could cope with me and my eclectic brain. Hannah, I’ve found, is often underestimated yet she has the grit, determination and quiet consistency to ignore all of that and to just keep on going. She can be found here - https://empoweredvaservices.co.uk/

Have you got any events planned for the autumn you’d like to shout about – either that you are running or attending?
I’m running a big event in Swindon in February next year – The No BS Media Summit with the aim of helping business owners, experts, charity representatives and other PRs to become a journalist’s dream contact. 

Day One will involve five journalists, two local, two national and one international and Day Two will involve two journalists, a specialist in personal branding, professional speaking and someone who has been there, done it and got the t-shirt sharing her story. I’ll also be fundraising at a small charity dinner for attendees. 

There are ticket options and the early bird price starts at £300 inclusive of VAT. Details are here - https://scottmedia.uk/product/the-no-bs-media-summit/