092 How Two Ex-EA’s Grew Two Businesses While Raising 6 Kids plus Finding Time to Exercise

Featuring: Sarah Howson & Marianne Whitlock | Recorded LIVE at The PA Show London

What does it really take to grow a business, raise a family, stay fit—and still be kind?

In this inspiring live-recorded episode of The Time Management Podcast, host Abigail Barnes interviews Sarah Howson and Marianne Whitlock, Co-Founders of Strategic PA Recruitment and Strategic PA Network. These two former Executive Assistants turned powerhouse entrepreneurs share the real-life realities of building two businesses while managing six children, marriages, homes, and a packed events calendar.

From black belt kickboxing to soccer mum duties, they reveal how they’ve mastered time management for working mums, built a thriving community for EAs, PAs, and business support professionals, and still make space for movement, mindset, and meaning.

What You’ll Learn:

• Time blocking strategies for busy professionals
• Letting go of perfectionism and embracing “good enough”
• The underestimated power of emotional intelligence and confidence
• Behind the scenes of running events, mentorship programs & annual awards
• How to stay well and thrive—even at full capacity

Whether you're scaling a business, managing a household, or leading from behind the scenes, this episode will leave you motivated, inspired, and ready to take back control of your time.

📅 Ready to reclaim your week? Join the 7-Day “Find Your Missing Hour” Challenge ➜ https://bit.ly/FINDYOURMISSINGHOUR (get 20% off with the code MORETIME)

⏰ It’s your Time!

About Strategic PA Recruitment & Network

Strategic PA Recruitment (Established in 2019) is a boutique agency based in Buckinghamshire specialising in Chief of Staff, Executive Assistant, Personal Assistant and Office Manager positions all over the UK. We work across all business sectors matching high calibre experienced Personal and Executive Assistants to clients from Entrepreneurs and Directors to CEOs.

Strategic PA Network (Established in 2015) is a friendly and inclusive professional community for Chiefs of Staff, Personal Assistants, Executive Assistants, Virtual Assistants, Administrators and Office Managers. If you work in a Business Support role, you’re always welcome to join us and be part of our vibrant network! It's about bringing together a community of Assistants where learning is at the heart of what we do. We are an all-inclusive network, who empowers each other, lifts each other up and supports each other.

Resources & Links:

Enter the Awards: https://www.strategicpanetwork.com/awards-2025.php

Linkedin Sarah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahlhowson/

Linkedin Marianne: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariannewhitlock/

Website: https://www.strategicparecruitment.com/

………………………………………………………………….

⭐️ OTHER LINKS:

- Find Your Missing Hour | Join the Challenge ➜ https://bit.ly/FINDYOURMISSINGHOUR

use promo code MORETIME to save 20% (limited time)

- Work with Abigail this year, start here: https://bit.ly/NEWENQUIRY

- Subscribe for Podcast Emails: https://bit.ly/PODCASTEMAILS

- Useful Links: https://bit.ly/EPISODELINKS

⭐️SUCCESS BY DESIGN TRAINING SOCIAL MEDIA:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abigailrbarnes/

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/successbdtraining

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@successbydesigntraining

ABOUT ABIGAIL BARNES:

Abigail Barnes is the founder & CEO of Success by Design Training, an award-winning entrepreneur, author, speaker, and corporate trainer on time management and productive wellbeing. She is a qualified coach and creator of the renowned 888 Formula.

In February 2012 at the age of 32 Abigail had a stroke on a work business trip to Boston USA. This was her wakeup call; time is precious and we don’t have any to waste!

Success by Design Training is on a mission to teach 5 million people how to achieve Productive Wellbeing using The 888 Formula by 2030.

Abigail understands human motivation and uses her own near-death experience as a catalyst for change, to inspire, empower and teach others how to maximise their time.

She holds a BA Hons Degree in Business & Marketing Management, a Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing, DipM ACIM, a certificate in Neuroscience Professional Development, approved by British Psychological Society and is a qualified coach, approved by the Association for Coaching and the Institute of Leadership & Management, Portsmouth University Business School.

Website: www.successbydesigntraining.com

Email: enquiries@successbydesigntraining.com

Audio Credit: Keith Hare

………………………..

⭐️ ABIGAIL BARNES SOCIAL MEDIA:

Instagram: instagram.com/iamabigailbarnes

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iamabigailbarnes

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamabigailbarnes

Disclaimer: This content does not aim to replace professional medical advice or therapy. Please seek the support you need where necessary. Success by Design Training accepts no liability.