Alison Jones: ON The Power of Writing and Surviving the 3am Doubts

This week on The Merri-Cast, I’m joined by the fantastic Alison Jones (  / the-alison-jones  ) — entrepreneur, publisher, author and coach.  Alison built her career in senior roles at Oxford University Press (  / oup  ) and Palgrave Macmillan (https://link.springer.com/brands/palg...) before stepping away from corporate life to create Practical Inspiration Publishing (https://practicalinspiration.com/) – a business that deliberately broke the traditional publishing rulebook.  In this honest and wide-ranging conversation, we explore what it really means to go it alone – from those 3am doubts and cash-flow fears to building a sustainable, values-led and genuinely impactful business.  In this episode, Alison shares: • Why writing is one of the most powerful thinking tools entrepreneurs can use • How her definition of success has changed - and why clarity matters more than ambition • Why most entrepreneurs underestimate the emotional side of starting a business • How to turn expertise into a feasible and scalable enterprise • The realities of cash flow and taking risks We also discuss entrepreneurship in a world of AI disruption, why books and deep thinking still matter, and how resourcefulness is what really carries founders through.  If you’re thinking about starting a business, already in the thick of it, or questioning what success looks like for you, this episode is well worth a listen. Alison Jones: LinkedIn:   / the-alison-jones   Practical Inspiration Publishing: https://practicalinspiration.com/ Podcast: https://extraordinarybusinessbooks.co... (https://extraordinarybusinessbooks.co...) Trevor: LinkedIn:   / trevormerriden   Merriborn: https://merriborn.co.uk/ Email: trevor.merriden@merribornmedia.co.uk (mailto:trevor.merriden@merribornmedia.co.uk)