13 Feb Lisa Bean Featured on BBC Radio Leeds Discussing the Reality of Entrepreneurship

Lisa Bean appeared on BBC Radio Leeds this week to speak with presenter David “Dixie” Dixon about her live theatre show Laugh or You’ll Cry – and the emotional reality of building a business.

Described on air as a “northern entrepreneur and business mindset specialist who tells the truth about what building a business really feels like — with plenty of humour along the way,” Lisa shared an honest perspective rarely heard in mainstream conversations about entrepreneurship.

“Business Is Hard – And That’s Normal.”

During the interview, Lisa challenged the glossy version of entrepreneurship often seen on social media.

“I think business is awful,” she said, laughing. “Everybody fibs and tells you it’s easy. It’s not. It takes two to four years to build something sustainable – and that’s a really hard message to sell on Instagram.”

Rather than promising overnight success, Lisa spoke about the long game – resilience, community, and staying in the room long enough to figure it out.

“You get the business you work for.”

She compared entrepreneurship to building IKEA flatpack furniture – but without instructions:

“You start building a chair, realise you wanted to build a table, and everyone’s asking you for something else. You just have to keep going.”

The £5,000 Overdraft Story

During the interview, Lisa shared a personal story about being £5,000 into a business overdraft early in her journey.

She received a letter from the bank asking to review whether she still needed the overdraft – and whether she was using it responsibly.

“In my mind, I knew I was going to make it. I just needed more time.”

A year later, she received the same letter again.

It’s this mix of humour, honesty and hard-earned perspective that forms the heart of Laugh or You’ll Cry – a two-hour live show lifting the lid on the fear, debt, pressure and self-doubt entrepreneurs quietly carry.

“Don’t Quit Your Job.”

Lisa also offered practical advice for aspiring founders.

“Don’t quit your job. If you hate your job, get another job – but keep income coming in while you build. It’s not about waking up one morning, making something on Canva and becoming a millionaire.”

Speaking candidly about quitting her own corporate job at 23 believing she would be instantly successful – only to return to employment three months later – she emphasised the importance of patience, skill-building and learning from others.

Community Over Isolation

A key theme of the conversation was loneliness.

Lisa spoke about how, post-Covid, many entrepreneurs have become used to working from home in isolation – and how important it is to physically get dressed, leave the house and be around other people building businesses.

“There’s so much to be said for putting your clothes on and getting out of the house.”

Her upcoming Leeds show is being supported by Leeds Beckett University’s Knowledge Exchange programme, bringing business enterprise students into the production team and audience – reinforcing her belief that entrepreneurship thrives in community.

About Laugh or You’ll Cry

Laugh or You’ll Cry is a live theatre-style show that blends comedy, psychology and lived experience to explore what building a business really feels like behind the scenes.

Raw. Honest. Funny. Uplifting.

It has been described as “a good night out – but for entrepreneurs.”

Tickets are available via Eventbrite by searching Laugh or You’ll Cry Show.