13 Aug 10 Years of Empower House
Ten years ago, I started Empower House out of pure desperation after leaving careers in finance and collision repair. Every job application I sent out was met with complete crickets. Instead of waiting around for permission or a job offer, I backed myself, took the leap, and built my own business from scratch. A decade later, that scrappy hustle has evolved into a business model that supports total freedom, overseas travel, and raising twin girls on my own terms.
Over the last ten years, I built The Brunch Club into an eight-year community running over 80 live events, sold more than 1,500 tickets, raised tens of thousands for charity, and helped female founders step onto stages that launched their careers. From managing multi-million dollar panel shops in my mid-20s to turning around a family business profit margin from 12.5% to 30% and selling it in a single weekend, my biggest takeaway is that clear systems, knowing your market, and solid execution beat guesswork every time.
In this special anniversary episode, I reflect on the key milestones, hard business lessons, and tactical decisions that shaped the last decade. I share why award applications require real numbers instead of vague claims, how to design operations that suit your life, and why there has never been a better time for women to take control of their financial future.
What you’ll learn in this episode
- The real story behind starting Empower House after facing absolute job search crickets.
- How managing multi-million dollar smash repair shops in my 20s built my operational foundation.
- The exact steps I used to lift a business profit margin from 12.5% to 30% and sell it in 24 hours.
- Why documenting processes was the key to securing major corporate contracts like Toyota Insurance.
- How I grew The Brunch Club to 80+ events, 1,500 tickets sold, and tens of thousands raised for charity.
- Why applying for business awards requires hard numerical data instead of generic claims.
- The reality of running a business through major life changes, world travel, and twin toddlers.
- How to stop playing small, back your own ideas, and design a business that prioritises freedom.
Links + Resources
14 Day Free HighLevel Trial:
https://www.gohighlevel.com/main-page?fp_ref=empowerhouse
Visit my website:
https://empowerhouseonline.com
Sign up for my Vision Masterclass:
https://app.empowerhouseonline.com/vision-masterclass
Start your free two-week trial of HighLevel:
https://www.gohighlevel.com/109776b2?fp_ref=empower-house
Connect with me on Instagram:
@empower.house
@thebrunchclubevents
Empower House Podcast
The podcast where we’re talking business, entrepreneurship, habits, mindset, and sharing real life stories. I’ve been hosting my networking event the Brunch Club, featuring incredible speakers for 7 years, now I’m bringing the Brunch Club experience (and more) to your ears.
Come and join the community, find us on Instagram @empower.house
Hosted by Lauren Bryant, multi-award winning small business specialist, founder of Empower House, and The Brunch Club events, Business Club mentor, twin mum, and coffee enthusiast.