iSSUE 6 June 2018
DENNIE SMITH
Introduces Old Style Dating
SARAH ANKNEY Talks about Self Care in her latest Empowerment column
DO YOU TAKE YOUR PHONE CHARGER EVERYWHERE? Mobile phone users leave their chargers at home even though they fear being phoneless!
EMPOWERED BUSINESS MAGAZINE
EDITORS LETTER
Hey Fabulous People!
This month the magazine is full of fantastic business people sharing their knowledge and stories with us! I just wanted to share with you that the amazing front cover pic and the rest of the pictures of Dennie were taken by such an amazing photographer you can find her here:Â http://www.barbaraleatham.co.uk/ Get in contact with me if you want to write for future issues: empoweredmagazineuk@gmail.com and don't forget to find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/empoweredmagazine I'm sending you all luck and love in everything that you are doing! Hannah x
CONTENTS
Page 1. Editors Letter Page 2. Contents Pages 3 - 6. COVER STAR: Dennie Smith Page 7 - 8. Joanne Dempsey Page 10. Sarah Ankney Empowerment Pages 19 - 22. Denise Joy Thompson Pages 23 - 25. Leo Loves Jewellery Page 26 - 28. Mode for Events Page 29 - 31. John Auckland Page 32 - 33. Joanna Gaudoin Page 34 - 36. Esther Stanhope Page 37 - 39. Fast Future Page 40 - 42. Ally Yates Page 44 - 46. Networking Mummies Page 47 - 48. Nick Hucker Page 49 - 51. Samaya Adelin Page 52 - 53. Susan Gafsen Page 54 - 55. The Design Studio Page 56 - 57. Jill Pennington Page 58 - 60. Unidosh Page 61 - 62. Gemma Francis
DENNIE SMITH
Hannah edwards interviews dennie smith about the trials and tribulations of running a business
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Hannah Edwards interviews Dennie Smith of Old Style Dating. Dennie shares with Hannah how Old Style Dating came about and the trials and tribulations along the way! Hannah (H.E) What type of business is Old Style Dating? Dennie (D.S) It’s an online dating agency H.E. Can you tell us more about it? D.S. It is a refreshing new dating agency… no hook ups, no swiping to the left. We are reviving romance, respect, manners and commitment. H.E. Why did you decide to start your business? D.S. I love vintage, and manners of course.. love the 1930,40 s era. No technology either. Chatting to my salon customers about their dating disasters and my own daughters search for love.. I suddenly thought I would create my own.. I thought the vintage theme worked well 3 years ago when I bought my salon so why not now? H.E. Did you run into any difficulties whilst on your journey? D.S. God... I had loads of difficulties! I’ve had a lot of problems with website designers. My first designer started my website and gave me a launch date of September 1, 2017 but she jumped ship three weeks before! My second designer took over and three months later said that it would be live so i paid in full and found that it was not live at all so I moved onto my third designer who said they would have it live in December 2017 but eventually it was February 2018. Then I found that there was loads wrong with it all and as my third designer was ignoring me I had to move onto my fourth designer. Now I am in the process of working with my fifth website designer. I ended up having two launches after finding that the website wasn’t working after the first, I lost my list of waiting members due to the failed first launch. I then had big problems setting up PayPal on my site. I was told at first that they don’t deal with dating agencies. There really wasn’t a thing that was easy - With the new GDPR rulings I had to pay for a solicitor to redo my privacy policy, members were pointing things out to me that were wrong so I addressed that. The person I originally paid to do my PR didn’t work out so we ended up parting ways. I have had so many problems in the space of a year - I am still tweaking the website and working on getting a full team around me.
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H.E. How do you “switch off” from your business when you are having self care? D.S. At the moment I work almost 24/7 from 6am until I go to bed. I relax on my hours dog walk. I leave my phone at home and have an hours peace. H.E. What do you think is the best thing about having your own business? D.S. I think it’s the not having to answer to anyone. I’ve been in paid employment until 3 years ago when I was 53 years old and bought my own salon, becoming my own boss and I only answer to myself. H.E. And what do you think is the worst thing about having your own business? D.S. Stress - the buck stops with me in my business. H.E. What support have you had along the way? D.S. Some of my family members, my media guy Richard and my salon customers. Whenever they come in they always ask how it’s all doing. H.E. Who has been your biggest inspiration and why? D.S. I always remember being told about Walt Disney. He was turned down around 300 times before someone took a chance on him. H.E. Where do you hope to see yourself in the future? D.S. I would like to have Old Style Dating in the top 10 dating agencies. Page 5
H.E. What are your favourite business tools? D.S. My IPad. I never go anywhere without it. H.E. What tips would you give to someone who is just starting out? D.S. Research tons... have a big budget.. don’t go on recommendations, check everyone out thoroughly, get everything in writing, don’t sign up to anything without mulling it over for a couple of days, ignore negativity (I had loads of that) don’t skip corners, pay for solicitors etc. Follow your dream…
For more information on Old Style Dating you can contact Dennie via email: Info@oldstyledating.co.uk Check out the Old Style Dating website here: https://oldstyledating.co.uk/ and go and give their Facebook page a like here: https://www.facebook.com/Old-Style-Dating1029576773845290/
Photo Credit: Barbara Leatham Photography
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MOBILE USERS LEAVING CHARGERS AT HOME DESPITE FEAR OF BEING 'PHONELESS' Only 13% of phone users carry a charger despite two-thirds admitting that having no working phone would cause them considerable distress, research shows. Nomophobia — the fear of being without a mobile phone — affects 66% of phone users, according to a study. However, new research by power module manufacturer CMD shows that less than one in seven people carry a charger when they leave the house. Around 43.7% instead rely on battery saving hacks in a bid to conserve any available power, according to the survey asking phone users how they react when they have a phone with low battery and no charger. This general lack of preparedness could have wider implications, both at work and within college campuses: almost one in five respondents admitted that they would ‘do nothing but feel distracted’ until they were able to access a charger. Bruce Cantrill, Marketing Manager at CMD, said: “Nomophobia is a growing concern in the workplace. Staff members who are unable to charge their phones can become distracted and lose focus on the job in hand, which will naturally have a negative impact on productivity.” Further research from the University of Missouri has compared this high state of stress with separation anxiety. Lead author on the study, Russell Clayton, said: “…the results from our study suggest that iPhones are capable of becoming an extension of our selves such that when separated, we experience a lessening of 'self' and a negative physiological state." It is not surprising to find that youngest demographic (18-24) panic the most about being uncontactable, although only 9% of this group carry a charger with them. Trends noted through past research indicate that this problem is only set to worsen. In 2008, the first study into nomophobia revealed that 53% of people were affected by the condition. A later study conducted by SecurEnvoy in 2012 saw this figure rise to 66%. For those people who find themselves caught short and close to powering down, the following hacks can help to prolong battery life and stave off the distress that nomophobia can cause: 1. Reduce the screen brightness to the lowest setting 2. Turn on smart battery mode to reduce energy consumption 3. Activate Airplane mode — this will generally disable GSM, wi-fi, Bluetooth and GPS functions 4. Turn off the vibrate function 5. Avoid taking photographs 6. Keep phone calls to the minimum 7. Go offline if you don’t have any signal — constantly searching for a signal drains the battery 8. Close all apps and disable background activity 9. Don’t use animated background pictures 10. Minimise notifications — only get alerts for apps that you really care about Page 17
INTERVIEW: JOANNE DEMPSEY This month we interviewed Joanne Dempsey, a Supermum who founded her business when she found a gap in the market! Here she tells all including her difficulties along the way...
What is your business name? Naturelly What industry are you in? Healthy snacks for kids Tell us about your business: Naturelly is a natural jelly made from real fruit juice and puree. Only 7gms (1.5 t-spoons) of naturally occurring fruit sugar per 100gms. No added sugar or sweeteners and only 36cals per pouch + added vitamin C. Naturelly is sweet by nature with nothing naughty added. Why did you decide to start your business? My youngest daughter Della, was diagnosed with food allergies and I found it hard to find her low in sugar healthy snack which she could have on days out etc. so I decided to launch Naturelly, which is free from all the 14 allergens and approved by the veterinarian and coeliac society. Did you run into any difficulties along the way? There has been many difficult periods in time which we have managed to overcome from raising investment to manufacturing and distribution issues to increasing sales and distribution. How do you 'switch off' from your business when you're having self-care? I try to workout as much as possible. I like kettlebell workouts I find that they help with my overall well being. What is the best thing about having your own business? I love seeing children enjoying Naturelly, this really makes me happy and helps on days when i'm feeling totally overwhelmed by running a business. What is the worst thing about having your own business? STRESS!!! STRESS! STRESS!!!!! with great responsibility comes a bucket load of  stress.... Page 7
What support have you had along the way? Naturelly was co-founded by myself, my husband Dean and my brother in law Liam. We tend to support each other when it's needed. Who has been your inspiration and why? Mum's are inspirational beings and I salute all of them!!! Never ending jobs / to do lists/pick ups/never-ending tidying up/loading and unloading the list goes on... everyday heros! Where do you hope to see your business in the future? Global!! Well that's the plan away. We are launching into a major UK supermarket in June and I'm hoping this is just the start of our journey to bring a healthier snack to children/mums worldwide. What are your favourite business tools? Linkedin is really helpful for networking and sharing / receiving industry news. What tips would you give someone who is just starting out? 1. Make sure your banding is right- invest in a good design agency. 2. Listen to customers feedback good & bad. 3. prepare for up's and many downs.
For more information check out https://www.naturelly.co.uk/
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Are you a service based online business who is just starting or just entered the direct sales business such as ThirtyOne? Schedule a complimentary call today to get help to make that money and your business successful. http://bit.ly/sassycomplimentary
www.sarahankneyempowerment.com
EMPOWERING YOURSELF THROUGH SELF - CARE By Sarah Ankney Empowerment is about more than just self-love, it about caring for yourself. As women, you often put others needs ahead of your own needs. STOP! When you take away caring for yourself, you are taking away your ability to take care of others and take care of your business needs. You are the most important part of the equation in your world. Self-care is about rejuvenating ourselves to be able to do all the things you want to do. Take care of your health (physical and mental), you sleep needs, and your dietary needs. These things contribute to you making your life and your business work. Taking time for your health means taking breaks and doing the things that are best for your health inside and out. I recommend you schedule it after all the things you cannot change like work and appointments. Selfcare is about taking the time you need to get your body, soul, and mind back in shape for the tasks at hand. Here is a list of good items for self-care: - Hot bath - Reading - Taking a walk - Watching your Favorite TV show - Doing a relaxing craft - Writing - And the list can go on
It is about anything that feels your energy levels inside and out. Eating properly and timely helps your body stay in tune with itself. Sleeping properly, ensures your body has the time it needs to heal and rest. Your systems need time to shut down. Mentally, we need to do things that just let us relax and enjoy so you do not have a mental break down. Self-Care prevents our bodies, minds, and souls from rebelling on you. If you are having health issues more and more, fatigue issues more and more. If you are not able to shut off from the rest of the world it is time for a good self-care check. From personal experience, I did not take care of me for years. It wreaked havoc on my body, mind and soul. I was not able to give my body the break it needed nor my body and soul. I was in and out of the hospital constantly. My depression worsened. To be frank, I was killing myself inside and out trying to take care of everything and everyone but myself.
I was going to put myself in an early grave if I did not learn to take care of me and my needs. For some of you, it was taught that you are here to be of service. WRONG. You are here to make an impact. If you are unable to do those things because you didn’t take care of you, well then, your impact is going to be smaller and lessened. Be a brave business owner, know when it is time to say enough is enough and take care of yourself. If you would like more information, about empowering yourself as a business owner especially a direct sales consultant joins Empower Your Sassy Self today! If you are ready to be held accountable and make your dreams a reality in your direct sales business then join The Empowerment Squad where you will receive additional trainings and creative ideas for your direct sales business.
www.sarahankneyempower ment.com
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BE HEARD At Global Voice Radio we’re more then just a Radio Station...
It’s the Station where your Message is HEARD!
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Monday’s
On Global Voice Radio
Mindful Moments with Maree Maree Jane Duffy Monday @ 11AM est
Mindful Moments with Maree is hosted by Maree Jane Duffy, from Ireleand. Maree is an Intuitive Healer & Spiritual Coach and she will be reaching out to women discussing topics regarding life, relationships, happiness, meditation and getting in touch with their true self and their purpose. Maree will also share a meditation each week as she helps women discover the benefits of meditation. Listeners are encouraged to “Ask Maree Anything” not like an “agony aunt” but a little more deeper and compassionate. Mindful Moments with Maree is an inner & closer look at ourselves and becoming more mindful in our lives moving forward. Maree will also discuss how her sessions with people which are called “Life Road Maps” help people overcome blocks and places they are stuck in their lives.
https://www.spreaker.com/show/2900869
The Boomer’s Guide to A Vibrant Life Vickie Washburn Monday @ 7PM est
Vickie knows “Boomers” have the best years ahead of them and she will explore all that is unique in the life of Boomers. Time, change, loss, kids, parents, work, retirement, travel, health, fitness, LIFE! Vickie, and her guests, will delve into self-development, relationship, emotional and physical aspects of being 60 and beyond!! Vickie will share her own journey of the “Golden” years, how she is creating a Vibrant Life and how you can have the best of your Vibrant Life too!!
https://www.spreaker.com/show/2748980
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Tuesday’s
On Global Voice Radio
Your Creative Force Avianne Tuesday @ 1PM est
In “Your Creative Force”, Avianne connects the listener to their deeper, uniquely creative self. Avianne puts words and actions to the individual desire for meaning, significance and fulfillment via sharing her own Truth and (in some shows) interviewing others about their success, derived from tapping into their own Creative Force. The secrets of knowing who we truly are and how to unearth our individual treasures to manifest them into reality, are locked away inside each person’s Creative Force. Avianne firmly believes that the uniqueness and creativity that naturally occur within each person hold the keys to unlocking their full potential. This show, in practical and doable steps, will reveal to the listener firstly what (often unknown) creative power is truly carried inside their humanity, secondly how to access that creative potential and thirdly how to weave that creative power and potential into an everyday life of self-actualization and empowerment of not only self, but of every person in every sphere we encounter in society, both in our personal and business capacities.
https://www.spreaker.com/show/2933500
Living From the Inside Out Holly Wade Tuesday @ 6PM est
Living From the Inside Out is about living fully, guided from YOUR inside. Holly Wade shares the wisdom of how your mind, body, and spirit truly are connected. You, deep down, truly know your answers. Holly and her guests will provide tips, practices, and inspirational stories to help you approach your life from your own heart.
https://www.spreaker.com/show/2750176
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Wednesday’s On Global Voice Radio
Only the Best for You Carol Davies Wednesday @ 12PM est
Only the Best for You shows you how to be a changemaker in our complicated world while bringing out the best of yourself. Be a changemaker. Your host Carol Davies will help you unlock the secret to limitless confidence inside you and create the career, relationships, dreams, and impact on the world you want. Carol and her guests will show you easy techniques to find your true purpose and passion in life, as well as how to manage your life joyously and successfully.
https://www.spreaker.com/show/2800059
The Roller-coaster Ride of Business
Hannah Edwards Wednesday @ 3PM est
The Roller-coaster Ride of Business discusses the real deal; the ups and down, the highs and lows of starting and building a business. The rewards are worth the ride of turmoil and the unknowns. The excitement, freedom, and success are what motivates individuals who take the challenge to create how they want to live and work.
https://www.spreaker.com/show/2825933
Thursday’s On Global Voice Radio
Authentic Living with Roxanne Roxanne Derhodge Thursday @ 11AM est
Roxanne Derhodge is the host of Authentic Living with Roxanne. Roxanne provides an empowering and supportive space for everyone to listen and engage in thought provoking conversations about everyday life with real people who have a passion for living life to the fullest. Authentic Living with Roxanne is the catalyst for transforming your life!!
https://www.spreaker.com/show/2788530` WE ARE BEAUTIFU L M AGAZI NE
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Thursday’s On Global Voice Radio
Don’t Wait Til Pigs Fly Nancy Becher Thursday @ 5PM est
Don’t Wait ‘Til Pigs Fly”, with host Nancy Becher, is the rallying call for entrepreneurs who are serious about growing their businesses, but don’t want to go it alone. Too often not knowing what steps to take, or what decisions to make, holds the business owner from moving ahead. You know you want to share your passion with the world. You Want To Be Your Own Boss and have the money to do the things you dream of doing. But there’s the Fear Factor. Where do you turn? Who do you ask? The purpose of my weekly show is to fill the void. I, and my guests, will provide suggestions, strategies and processes designed to grow revenue in your business. I am here to answer your questions, provide you with guidance and support. When you take action now and don’t wait ‘til pigs fly, your business will soar. Nancy Becher dreams of a world that runs on the vibrancy of thousands of small businesses, all working together, making money and living in great supportive communities. As a journalist and business consultant for more than 30 years, she has worked with hundreds of companies, large and small (throughout the United States and internationally), helping them create strategies and processes that are built to give them more revenues, less stress and raving fans. ttps://www.spreaker.com/show/2904600
A World of Women of Significance Margie O’Kane Thursday @ 8PM est
Creating “A World of Women of Significance” is what host Margie O’Kane is doing. Margie’s vision is to create a global movement of 1 million women to become women of significance. This entails women accepting their true essence of empowerment, strength, and value.
https://www.spreaker.com/show/2825932
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Thursday’s On Global Voice Radio
NYA’S Project Nikki Ruffin-Smith Thursday @ 7PM est
NYA’s Project with host Nikki Ruffin-Smith emerged from the experience and gap Nikki, and other women and girls face, regarding education, training and encouragement of excelling and becoming leaders in the field of STEM-A, Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and the Arts. Nikki has created and authored books, workbooks, and entire curriculums for parents and educators to use to ensure all children, though specifically “girls of color” (Nikki’s words) to be introduced to and supported in the STEM-A fields. Nikki, from growing up in Selma, Alabama, learned first- hand the inequities of education due to race and socio-economic status. Nkki brings her heart-centered perspective, her love of children and education to her show. Nikki will also be intertwining tips of building a business and ensuring there is fun along one’s journey.
https://www.spreaker.com/show/2808035
Friday’s
On Global Voice Radio
MIND|BODY|LIFE
Frederick Entenmann Friday @ 10AM est
During his show, MIND BODY LIFE founder and bestselling author Frederick Entenmann investigates the little-known insights and daily methods to create explosive life transformations and transitions with those that have risen from struggle and ascended to greatness, to live a remarkable and harmonized life beyond their imagination. https://www.spreaker.com/show/2750470
Happy Hour with Coffee and Wine Irene Coffee & Karen Wine Friday @ 3 PM est
Welcome to Happy Hour with Coffee & Wine with your Co-Hosts Irene Coffee & Karen Wine. The weekly radio show that explores trending business news & features dynamic interviews with extraordinary entrepreneurs with Coffee & Wine https://www.spreaker.com/show/2750469
Saturday’s On Global Voice Radio
The Author’s Message
Denise Joy & Irene pro
Staturday @ 10AM est
The Author’s Message. The earliest written communication was the beginning of the technological communication we engage in today; ironic we are using symbols (emojis) even in different aspects of “word porn” in so much of our written communication today!!. Since that time, people have been trying to share their “Mess” in a way which is understood, turning their ‘Mess” into a message. The “Author” engages in human communication through language, words and symbols. There are more “authors” today than ever before, published and unpublished; messages received, understood or even misunderstood. The Author’s Message will explore the world of authorship, writing, publishing and the “Mess”age. Guests will include authors, publishers and readers. https://www.spreaker.com/show/2813750
Sunday’s LIVE IN GRATITUDE DAILY Denise Joy & Irene pro
Sunday @ 8PM est
Live In Gratitude Daily. Why GRATITUDE? Gratitude is the foundation for achieving, creating, receiving and living the way a person wants. It is our mindset which determinations our success; it is our mindset which determines “do we go for it”; it is our mindset which creates and receives abundance, joy and love. The time is NOW to create your Live In Gratitude Daily lifestyle. Join others around the world on this journey, decide now to move forward, a few minutes a day to change your life!! You are worth it, your family is worth it, your LIFE is worth it. Join our group www.facebook.com/groups/liveingratitudedaily https://www.spreaker.com/show/2810707
Photography By Tom Schmuki©
EMPOWER YOURSELF!
Denise Joy Thompson Founder, Global Voice Radio
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There has never been a better time in your life than now to Empower You; to Decide and Create The You, YOU WANT TO BE. With all of the changes taking place in the world, barriers, boundaries, expectations of who each one of us should be are shattered. There is no one who can stop you but yourself. Suzanne Evans, well-known in the coaching circles, has a favorite saying which epitomizes how she lives her life. That saying is “Hell Yeah!” For women reading this: . Are you showing up in all of your feminine glory, intellect, wisdom, experience, and knowledge? Are you embracing your “masculine characteristics” Are you fully integrating all aspects of who you can be and who you really are, regardless of what has happened in your life? For the men….you too have the opportunity today to break away from the stereotypes of “what a man should be”. Men too have been “shackled” by society, they have been told to wear “the shackles of masculinity”….be tough, be strong, don’t cry (then we want you to cry), be the breadwinner, no, you can be the stay at home parent. Integrate your “feminine” and “masculine” characteristics. Enjoy all aspects of who you are, no more “playing into” the outdated, archaic, societal "rules" that come your way? It was in my mid to late 40s when I became more aware of ME, --not the therapist, military member, coach, wife, daughter, business owner and all I was creating and doing--, but ME. The roles I had were intense, structured, and demanding, so how I would find the time and energy to focus on me was sometimes a challenging question. The “transition, transformation, and triumphant” stages of becoming more me and embracing the good, bad, and beautiful has been one of the most challenging times of my life. It meant facing demons, uncertainty, misunderstandings, bewilderment, insecurities, and at times lack of support. I knew and trusted “me” to get through this period. As human beings we continue to evolve with each day; continuous evolution to be our best two years. Okay, sometimes I question myself if the cognitive angst and emotional pain was worth it and if I should I take the easy (and known) way out. The “easy” way was not changing (and deciding not to fully embrace who I am ). The easy way would not have led me to write. The easy way would not have led me to a new career., The easy way would not have led to my growth and the development of all my gifts and talents. The easy way would not have included more “Hell Yeah's” affirmations. One thing I have learned from my military and crisis response careers is that you sometimes have to build the plane while flying it, or—as they say in the movie Field of Dreams-- “build it and they will come.” I am continuing to build and create me, I know I cannot be fully healthy if part of who I am is hidden and kept in check. No one can be completelyfully fulfilled emotionally, physically, or spiritually if she or he (or he) is not working towards becoming the best of who they are, accepting all aspects of “self” and sharing who they are with others. As we meet 2018 in the middle, you have the greatest opportunity ever in your life., You have the opportunity to be the best YOU. 1. Accentuate/focus on your strengths, gifts, and talents. You may have heard that “What we give our attention to grows.” It's true! Strive to increase positive self-talk., One way is to compliment yourself every day. 2. Meditate daily. Research proves meditation is healthy!! It costs nothing and requires nothing, besides you being present. 3. State self-affirmations daily., Acknowledge your accomplishments, no matter how insignificant you think they are., If getting out of bed and moving to the couch was the accomplishment, then CELEBRATE IT!!! Do not discount the steps you take towards a better You.
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4. Build relationships with positive people., If your Facebook “friends” are negative and “downers” then unfollow them or delete them (or, just hide all their updates!). If you wish to be healthier, more positive, and empowering, then create relationships that are healthy, positive, and empowering. (I have had to delete/unfollow several people and groups because they were not supporting my personal and professional goals). 5. Write in a “Gratitude Journal.”, buy one or make one. Each evening, identify 5 things you are grateful for that happened during the day, again do not discount what you consider “small.” If you think of more than 5, write them all down. You can never have too much gratitude!!! 6. Be kind. When faced with an opportunity to smile, say “hello,” do a favor, volunteer, or support someone somehow, take advantage of the moment. 7. Exercise at least 20 minutes a day, and work towards 60 minutes., You don’t need to run a marathon., Work on cardio and strength training. 8. Eat healthy., Decrease caffeine, sodas, sugars, calorie-laden foods, alcohol, and tobacco. 9. Increase your spirituality, whether religious- based or sense of purpose to yourself and others. 10. Treat yourself well, Take care of yourself; Give yourself attention and accept you are worthy. Empower You!! Make 2018 a year of Transition, Transformation, and Triumph ™. Create The You, YOU WANT TO BE Page 21
DENISE JOY THOMPSON Denise Joy Thompson is the CEO of Global Broadcasting LLC, founder of Global Voice Radio and owner of The Coach Alliance. Denise Joy is a coach, a champion for people finding their power within, a catalyst for transformation, a speaker, writer, a Colonel and Veteran. After more than 27 years as a therapist and a military member, including two deployments, Denise Joy has transitioned to coaching women (and a few good men) in creating their businesses and a life they love to live. Denise Joy is the creator, compiler, and co-author of Live In Gratitude Daily: The Key to Abundance, Joy and Love and Discover Your Destiny, Live Your Dreams, Love Your Life: Expert Tips On Creating Success. Denise Joy has been a coauthor in several #1 International best-seller anthologies. She was also a featured expert in the I Am Enough and Unleashed magazines in 2016. Denise Joy is the Host of Live In Gratitude Daily and Your Global Voice and a co-host of The Author’s Message on Global Voice Radio.
Denise Joy is described as energetic, fun-loving, adventureminded, determined, loyal, and a deep thinker. She believes strongly in the ability of everyone being an ACE (Authentic, Courageous and Empowered) and promotes creating and living a life one loves to live! Denise lives near San Antonio an in her spare time she loves traveling, wine tasting, and reading.
Connect with Denise at thecoachalliance@gmail.com denisejoy@globalvoiceradio.com, www.facebook.com/denisejoythompson www.facebook.com/groups/globalvoiceradio. www.facebook.com/groups/liveingratitudedaily, and www.globalvoiceradio.com.
Photo Credit: Richard Eads Photography
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LEO LOVES JEWELLERY TELL THEIR STORY We had always talked about wanting to start our own businesses, but it’s such a big and scary step. Taking out loans, not knowing what the future holds, the risk of failure- it all just felt too grown up and out of reach. Too much of a gamble. When my sister was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, it was at such a critical point, we were told had she waited another day to go to the hospital it would’ve been too late. When I found out about her illness, on the brink of no return, it felt like the ground was shaking from a violent earthquake- but nothing was actually moving. Like I was falling a million miles per hour off of a very steep cliff, gasping for air but not being able to breathe because I was falling so fast. I can’t even fathom how my sister must have felt being given the news. Page 23
When it comes to long-term illness, with fatality being a very strong possibility- positive mindset is a necessity. I wanted her to go through her treatment thinking it was phasal, there was something to look forward to tomorrow. After all the radiation treatment and chemo, she was ready for her transplant. By some anomalous scientific luck, our older brother was a 100% match to giver her stem cells for her bone marrow transplant. Most people have to wait months, sometimes years, hoping to get a match, even if it’s only 50%. A 100% match usually only happens with identical twins, it was such a rare occurrence even the doctors were baffled. I’m not one to have serendipitous beliefs, but this shook me. It made me realise more than ever we are meant to start our businesses, science has paved the way for us to fulfill our pinky promise of sisterhood! Living in London while my family is based in West Hollywood meant travelling back and forth a lot. But it didn’t matter, I needed to be there for my family. I took on remote marketing contract roles while she was ill to cover bills in England while I was away. That meant taking meetings at 6 am, before the first dr visit of the day in my sister’s hospital room.
Today, she is mostly healthy and happily focused on her future. When we knew my sister wasn’t going to be admitted anymore, I flew back to England and joined a very corporate company to get back into the working world. After all the rollercoaster of emotions and uncertainty that my life had been for 2 years, I realised office politics just wasn’t necessary in my life. A two hour meeting about an email typo leading to a detailed QC system just wasn’t important to me. Realising our dream was, and still is. Since starting my company full time 1.5 years ago, it’s gone from strength-to-strength. In LWL’s first year, I was invited to join ASOS Marketplace and SilkFred, won contests for mentoring calls because of my passion, grown my social presence to over 7k followers on Instagram, and broken even. That last part might not sound like much but most businesses decline in their second year, especially jewellery companies. I’ve managed to stay afloat.
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Leo With Love is an all-encompassing brand inspired by empowered women, for empowered women. All the jewellery in my collection is named after a friend or family member who originally inspired the piece. The look on their face when they realise is second to none. Knowing how happy and special I’ve made someone feel is part of what drives me to do this. I regularly post empowering quotes from females to drive home the point what is truly possible when you feel the strength within yourself to reach your goals and dreams. When women wear my jewellery, I want them to feel as strong and confident as the ones who inspired me. It’s their symbolic armour to go and get things done today- no matter what they’re doing. They got this! I am not a trained designer who went to school for jewellery-making. It's because of the drive, strength within myself, willingness to learn and the need to propel forward that has gotten my business where it is today. LWL isn’t just a jewellery company, it’s an example of what can be achieved when you believe in yourself- that it’s okay to believe in yourself and do what’s necessary to make your dreams a reality. We have one certain chance in life to create the life we want for ourselves, don’t we owe it to ourselves to stop saying we’ll change it tomorrow?
To see more amazing jewellery visit: https://www.leowithlove.com/
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THE ART OF PUBLIC SPEAKING By Tabby Kerwin, Mode for Events
As human beings we are designed to tell stories; it’s been part of our evolution and history for thousands of years, but, despite this natural ‘in-built’ skill we all have, many people still find the art of public speaking one of the most frightening and difficult challenges they face. Let’s get one thing straight from the get-go… “Perfection is a myth; aim for improvement.” Yes, that’s right, even when you public speaking you don’t need to be ‘perfect.’ You need to be clear and concise but most of all you need to be natural and every time you speak publicly you will get better, so don’t shy away from it.
“But how can I be natural when I’m scared stiff?” I hear you crying. Simple; let’s break it down. Public speaking is a skill nearly everyone can adopt, just like walking, eating and riding a bicycle. You can train yourself in the various key strengths to make you a much better public speaker, whether it’s on a one-to-one basis or addressing a huge audience. The four key strengths are: Clarity, Confidence, Competence and Communication. 1. Clarity: How can we get clarity? The best way we can get clarity is by having total understanding of ourselves and our message. Understanding ourselves is vital because it means we are aware of our emotions and feelings, we know how we may react in situations, such as feeling nervous or anxious. If we have clarity on this then we can embrace these feelings and not try to suppress them. That is one of the most important factors when public speaking and controlling nerves. Embrace the emotions, don’t suppress. Next, what is your message? Ask yourself if your message is clear to your audience and you. Here’s a simple exercise: Exercise Tell me your business message in no more than two sentences. My message for my wedding planning business Mode for…Events could be: “For events, weddings, music, food and more, Mode for...Events is the complete wedding and events specialist. I create a complete client experience and I know what clients think, want and how they want to feel.”
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3. Confidence: Do you believe in yourself and business? For anyone else to believe we must believe and have confidence in ourselves first. Exercise Think of a scenario where you felt confident. Why did you feel confident? Now think of a scenario where you didn’t. Write them down. How can you bring one scenario into the other to balance?
Confidence is about the belief you can achieve and do something combined with ability to portray this image to others. This is your strategy for public speaking. Ways to gain confidence include: * Looking & feel great (it helps) * Practise your speech or talk to gain familiarity * Forget the opinions of others – that is not your concern * Don’t compare yourself to others. We are all unique * Focus on you, no-one and nothing else * Do and be ‘your’ happy.
Competence Being competent is about being an authority in your field of expertise. You don’t have to be the best, have been working in your field the longest, the most experienced or working longest hours, but what you MUST have is belief, confidence, the ability to communicate and be able to engage with others. That is competence. If you have something to say then say it. Your passion and beliefs are worth everything and will resonate with someone.
Learn and develop all the time, be accepting of others’ views and don’t be following others; that is the key to competence.
Communication To communicate you must be understandable and make the audience fall in love with you. As a musician I told a musical story every time I performed. My story was not better, but it was different to another musician’s story. We all have a different understanding and view but my performance connected with ‘my’ audience and that is the only audience you should be interested in; Your own audience who respect you and believe in your passion. Work hard to connect and find your audience, not someone’ else’s. But remember, your audience will change over the years as you develop and learn. Once we have these four key strengths under our belts we can then focus on the taboo of controlling our nerves and emotions.
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Do you feel nervous or flustered when trying to communicate? Remember what I said earlier about embracing and being aware of emotions. This will serve you much better than trying to suppress or hide them. Everyone gets nervous but the key is how we control those nerves. Here’s a few tips on how to combat nerves: * Slow things down * Breathe deeply and slowly, controlling the breath to lower the heart rate * Write things down and practice your delivery
About the Author Tabby Kerwin Partner & Managing Director Mode for...Events www.facebook.com/modefor www.facebook.com/tabbykerwin Instagram: @tabbyatmodefor Twitter: @Modefor_Tabby www.modeforevents.co.uk www.themfbuzz.co.uk Page 28
Driven by the digital revolution and gathering pace as the number of so-called ‘digital natives’ reach adulthood, there is a paradigm shift in society; we’re shunning traditional leadership models and preferring direct connection instead of intermediation. It’s because of this shift that crowdfunding was born, and the effects it’s having on society are profound. By 2030 all good ideas will be incubated through crowdfunding. The crowd (the opinion of the market) is deemed more trustworthy than the voice of a few opinionated industry leaders. Pluralism is overtaking individualism.There will be a time in the near future where ideas or new brands won’t be trusted if they can’t show they’ve been validated by the crowd. In their recently-published book, called New Power, authors Henry Timms and Jeremy Heimans argue that we’re shunning old 20th Century values in favour of new power values of disintermediation, leader-less movements and crowdsourced ideas. In this world our voices are heard through online petitions, our banks are crowdsourced and our beer is owned by the people. It also has its dark side, leading to populist politics that can be open to manipulation, such as Donald Trump, Brexit and the Cambridge Analytica scandal. So how will this affect the startup and funding scenes, and will this help to drive the industry forward? More importantly, how can your idea gain more traction by embracing these new powers?
WHY CROWDFUNDING IS PUTTING THE POWER BACK IN THE HANDS OF THE BUSINESS FOUNDER By John Auckland
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Timms and Heimans argue that new power is overtaking old systems because the digital world allows for instant, positive feedback loops. What they mean by this is that ideas and content can instantly gather momentum online through a continual appraisal process of likes, shares and upvotes, which gives the idea-generator or content creator instant feedback on what they create. And the crowd that’s participating gets taken along on a journey by being involved. Applying that logic to crowdfunding, the reason why it’s growing faster than other digital sales channels is due to the fact it incorporates a number of engagement mechanisms, and the nature of crowdfunding means that people are backing a project emotionally (rather than rationally), so they’re getting involved in the first place because they want that buzz of the feedback loop. So as new power continues to proliferate, more companies will turn to crowdfunding as a means to engage a tribe early and validate their idea at the same time. The funding aspect just enables everything to happen and confirms the commitment of that tribe. And this process will, in turn, lead the wider crowd to trust that idea or brand. We can already see this at work in brands like Monzo and Revolut, which are convincing people in the hundreds of thousands to quit their banks (which have had centuries of monopolisation in the old system). I won’t name any names, but a well-known crowdfunding advisor - who is actually a highly vocal critic of crowdfunding - once told me, ‘What you do and the way it’s portrayed is exactly what I’m dead against...it does the reputation of a poorly regarded sector no good.’ To clarify, my agency underwrites the costs of a marketing and PR campaign for companies that are crowdfunding so that they generate interest from their market at a time when they need it most. It’s a service startups and growth companies find incredibly valuable since it gives them exposure normally reserved for medium to large companies with big budgets. We open up crowdfunding to companies that previously wouldn’t have been able to participate, and in the process we bring great new ideas to life that would otherwise never have seen the light of day. But he feels threatened, because there’s no role for a gatekeeper in this scenario. The people he is dead against curate great ideas and connect tribes with companies they want to support. How could anyone truly be dead against that? Here’s the thing, people with a gatekeeper mentality like this won’t survive in the new power paradigm. They’re the Harvey Weinstein, Toys R’ Us and Lehman Brothers of the world. If you want not just to continue trading, but actually thrive in this world, I highly recommend you shift your mindset: - Ignore your ego, listen to your community - Don’t be a guardian, be a curator - Act less like a gatekeeper and more like a connector My favourite example, which in its way brought the whole equity crowdfunding scene into the mainstream, is the time Brewdog pitched and were turned down by Dragons Den. Dragons Den is the swansong of the old way, five gatekeepers sat with piles of money, aggressively telling people with sometimes incredible ideas how useless they are. There are recent rumours that the show might get cancelled - in its place new programmes about crowdfunding have sprung up. It shows the mood is shifting. Brewdog was crowdfunding’s first unicorn, and Dragons Den has never backed a billion-pound idea. So, who is proving more successful, the gatekeepers or the crowd?
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If you’re starting up a company, or looking for funding to grow, then I highly recommend you look to the crowd to help you raise funds and validate the market interest in your idea. By way of coincidence, two companies came to me looking for help that I can’t actually give them because they took the advice of gatekeepers, which proved to be in said gatekeepers’ self-interest and not in that of the companies. These two companies needed cash so desperately they gave away more than a third of their equity for a mid-sized loan, which the new shareholder is expecting to be paid back in full. So they have bought their shares in lieu of interest only, not as a traditional cash for equity deal. This summarises everything that is wrong with the old system. The people in the middle know they hold the cards so try to get a better deal. However, in the process all they have done is reduce the likelihood these companies will ever make it to market. These companies will need two or three more funding rounds to truly take advantage of the opportunity, and no crowdfunding platform will take on a company when they have £1.5m of shareholder debt on the balance sheet; by taking the money from someone they trusted as a so-called expert, both sides have lost. Of course there is a bad side to new power, but embracing it and understanding it will mean you won’t be left behind.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR John Auckland is a crowdfunding specialist and founder of TribeFirst, a global crowdfunding communications agency that has helped raise in excess of £4m for over 20 companies on platforms such as Crowdcube, Seedrs, Indiegogo and Kickstarter. TribeFirst is the world's first dedicated marketing communications agency to support equity crowdfunding campaigns and the first in the UK to provide PR and Marketing campaigns on a mainly risk/reward basis. John is also Virgin StartUp's crowdfunding trainer and consultant, helping them to run branded workshops, webinars and programmes on crowdfunding. John is passionate about working with start-ups and sees crowdfunding as more than just raising funds; it's an opportunity to build a loyal tribe of lifelong customers. See: http://www.tribefirst.co.uk Twitter: @Tribe1st
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FIERCE CONVERSATIONS - PART 2 By Joanna Gaudoin
If you read my previous article (if you haven't you can read it here) discussed the initial 4 principles of Susan Scott’s book ‘Fierce Conversations’. This week I want to look at the final 3 principles that support powerful, impactful and transformative conversations, so you can complete your thinking about what these conversations mean in reality and importantly how you can have them to benefit your personal and professional relationships. Firstly, a reminder of the first 4 principles in brief: 1. Master the courage to interrogate reality. 2. Come out from behind yourself and make the conversation real. 3. Be here, be prepared to be nowhere else. 4.Tackle your toughest challenge today. Now to move onto the final 3 principles in Susan Scott’s book: 5. Obey your instincts. This principle is about getting us to be more aware of our thoughts and feelings – our instinct. There is frequently infinite value in paying attention to this. This means during conversations, it is not only the specific words that matter, but also the emotion and intent you are experiencing too. These aspects are frequently very valuable for picking up the nuances of what isn’t being said in words, something I frequently mention in my body language and voice workshops! Often we dismiss our instincts for fear of being wrong or offending someone, think about embracing these more, just think about the how. 6. Take responsibility for your emotional wake. This principle is about thinking about the impact we have on others. Susan Scott makes the point that in an important relationship there is no trivial comment and anything said can have a positive or negative long-term effect. Making your intent clear will make sure people take the right message away appropriately. It’s also vital that important conversations are completed and not left hanging, so people aren’t filling the rest in with unreality. Page 32
7. Let silence do the heavy lifting. This final principle focuses on the power of silence, it enables a slowing of conversations to make sure the real conversation is had, it can allow time for the greater meaning of the conversation to become clear and it gives all of us time to think about how we feel and how we will react. Many senior people I come across fail to use pausing and silence effectively. Mastering it can give you a big advantage for several reasons. As a reminder, this is all about enriching relationships, so have a think today about what really needs confronting. As I suggested last time, make a list and prioritise it according to how much the on-going issue affects you/the relationship and the importance of the relationship in your world. If you have done that already, start to build on this with the positive actions and attitude that you want to apply to each of these relationships, (keeping these conversation principles in mind) to take the relationships forwards. If you are having challenges with work relationships, get in touch joanna.gaudoin@insideoutimage.co.uk. I have helped many clients understand how their behaviour impacts others and how other people are impacting them, so they can make powerful changes for improved individual career progression and organisational performance. If you want to buy Susan’s book, you can do so here.
About the Author Inside Out Image Limited is run by Joanna Gaudoin and helps professional individuals achieve greater career success and their organisations improve business performance, by working with them on their personal impact and relationship building skills. Prior to establishing Inside Out Image, Joanna Gaudoin spent 10 years in marketing and consultancy. She now works with clients one-to-one, as well as speaking and running workshops across all areas of personal impact and relationship building; including appearance, body language and voice, as well as the skills and confidence for different business scenarios such as meetings, networking and presentations. Most of Joanna’s work is in the professional and financial services sectors. Additionally, she helps clients navigate ‘office politics’, facilitated by a diagnostic profiling tool to help clients understand how they currently interact and how this could be improved, to achieve their objectives. To sign up for her free ‘Top Tips To Boost Your Career Success’ and ‘Your Impact for Success Update’, click here. www.insideoutimage.co.uk Twitter: @joannainsideout Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InsideOutImage/ LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/joannagaudoin Page 33
HOW MUMMY GOT HER GROOVE BACK
Esther Stanhope
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Pre-kids you could march into a boardroom and command attention, you could coordinate multinational projects and be the life and soul of the office. You could also do all of this with a smile on your face, a banging hangover and very little sleep. After kids, the only thing that’s the same is the very little sleep part… You’ve been out of the game for too long and the self doubt has crept in and the confidence has crept out. This is inevitable. Before, work was your number one priority and what you did there and how you did it defined you. Now, a baby shaped hurricane has entered your world and pushed aside most other aspects of your life. Your brain is full of questions like ‘How many ozs of milk is baby having now?’ and ‘Did I pack the spare top in the nursery bag?’ Gone is the previously essential information such as; who to speak to in marketing when Denise is away and basically every password you’ve ever used. You can’t socialise with colleagues the way you used to as you have to dash straight home and the waistband of your trousers isn’t quite sitting right the way it used to. So how do you get your groove back? Esther Stanhope ‘The Impact Guru’ (And busy working Mum) recommends you prioritise 3 things in your quest to get your confidence back when returning to work after maternity leave. She’s been there, twice, after leaving a fast paced celebrity studded workplace only to return 10 months later feeling ‘frumpy, dumpy and full of self-doubt’. Esther knows exactly what to do to find you again. 1) Prioritise You. You’ve probably heard this a thousand times but happy mum = happy baby. All we want is our children to be happy, but this doesn’t need to be at the expense of our own happiness. So put yourself first. Counterintuitively, putting your children’s needs first doesn’t make them happier. If you want to work, or progress in your career but you don’t for your children, it will make you stressed out, depressed, bored and damage your confidence even further. Being a Mum is hard enough without having to be a Mum who isn’t feeling fulfilled. So go for it - put yourself first guilt free!! 2) Prioritise Help. We’ve all met supermum ‘I’ve done 3 loads of laundry, cleaned the windows inside and out, had a kale smoothie, taken the girls swimming, baked a quiche and it’s only 9am and now I’m off to work.’ Good for her, we all wish we had her stamina but you know what, she’s not winning any awards for this. She is the only one holding herself to these ridiculously high standards. Normal, mere-mortal Mums need help when returning to the world of work. Sort out child care or a cleaner and preferably both. Yes nurseries and childminders are eye wateringly expensive but they have to be seen as an investment. It’s a temporary step back in finances for the long term gain of earning more in the future. Similarly hiring a cleaner is an investment in your time. As a working mum you will be juggling so many plates, let someone else take at least one so that you can focus on the others. If you really can’t afford either then get resourceful. Find a group of mums in a similar position and have a childcare rota or cook for each other once a week. 3) Prioritise Time. No one’s time is more strained and precious than the working mothers. People not in charge of children, swan into the workplace with a coffee and a croissant, looking immaculate and have a little moan about the weather. Working mums burst into the workplace at least 10 minutes late (Despite having been up for at least 4 hours by this point…), sweating, hair and makeup everywhere, having driven all over town dropping kids at various childcare arrangements. But does it have to be like this?
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Esther has turned many mothers lives around by advising them (from person experience) not to run meetings back to back - block in even just a few extra minutes before and after appointments or block out 60 minutes but schedule the meeting for only 45 minutes. This makes a world of difference because this turns you from ‘harassed mother’ into ‘Queen of the workplace’ as it gives you time to: Get there first, command the space and be in control. Make your meeting more succinct and impactful in the shorter 45 minutes. Go to the toilet and check hair and makeup. Breathe and come across as confident and in control. (Just by breathing slowly for 45 seconds you can rid your body of cortisol – the stress hormone) So when returning to work, make sure you prioritise You, Help and Time to show the workplace that you’ve got your groove back and you’re better than ever. Remember - you’re still that person you used to be. She was awesome then and she’s awesome now! To find out more about The Impact Guru and to watch Esther’s free video ‘tips to make you shine’ sign up at www.estherstanhope.com
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WHAT WILL OUR CHILDREN DO? THE JOBS OF THE FUTURE By Rohit Talwar, Steve Wells, Alexandra Whittington, April Koury, and Helena Calle, Fast Future
The Shape of Jobs to Come was a report we wrote for the UK government in 2010. The study highlighted new jobs that might emerge in the global economy by 2030 as a result of exponential developments and breakthroughs in science and technology. Many of those are now real jobs and the rest are still likely to materialise. As an update on those ideas, our recent books The Future of Business, Beyond Genuine Stupidity – Ensuring AI Serves Humanity, and The Future Reinvented – Reimagining Life, Society, and Business we discuss a whole range of new industries and professions that might emerge as a result of these exponential advances. Here are some examples: New Societal Roles 1. Crypto Detective - The spread of crypto currencies and initial coin offerings has led to high levels of fraud and concerns over the scale of crypto based shadow economy transactions. Specialist detectives backed up by AI will be required to unravel crime in the cryptosphere. 2. Inter-AI Conflict Resolution Specialist - AIs will increasingly need to collaborate. Our personal intelligent assistant may need to interact with the AIs of our bank, our employers, and all the vendors who serve us. Not all AIs will be born equal or have common goals, so disputes could arise. Human arbitrators may need to intervene to get the best outcome for humanity in these disputes. 3. Offworld Governors - Dreams of inhabiting other planets and subsea colonies could be realised in the next 1020 years. These new nations will require their own governance systems, behavioral norms, decision making models, laws, and judicial systems. These could vary dramatically from those witnessed on Earth. Hence, they will likely require a very different breed of visionary leaders to envision run, and continuously evolve these new communities.
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4. Personal Festival Designer – for the super wealthy the next must have experience could be the creation of your own festival as birthday parties are so 2018. Your designer would craft the perfect combination of entertainment, glamping accommodation, gourmet food, tech support services, and on demand transport using drones and autonomous vehicles. Lifestyle Services 5. Life Manager for the Techno-Bewildered - Those who struggle with technology and get left behind in the new world order might find themselves placed under the mentorship of new ago social workers. These Life Managers would supervise our every decision, guide us on how to navigate the day to day, and help ensure we use our finances or guaranteed basic incomes in a sustainable manner. 6. Sexual Compatibility Consultant - The risk of choosing an inappropriate partner and then having the “wrong” child could see the rise of compatibility specialists. These experts would use AI algorithms to assess everything from IQ and EQ to genetic makeup and family medical history to try and ensure we find the right mating partner. 7. Longevity Relationship Counsellors - With humans expected to live 120 years plus and technology continuing to blur the line between robot and human, new types of marriage and relationship counsellors may emerge. These lifelong counsellors will help coach and guide individuals and their many partners across all stages and types of relationships, from traditional monogamy to polygamy and even human-robot or human-VR interminglings. New Industries – New Professions 8. Autonomous Vehicle Ethicist - we will need to establish the guiding principles for decisions made by autonomous vehicles. For example, who or what should the car hit if an accident is inevitable. Depending on where you are in the world the decision will be governed by different ethical and religious considerations, societal norms, and even economic factors. 9. Chief Augmentation Officer (CAO) - Within a decade, an increasing number of staff could be seeking bodily augmentations that render them close to superhuman cyborgs. These humans 2.0 may need to have different management, working conditions, and workplace rights - all designed and overseen by the CAO. 10. Space Junk Removal Supervisor – Near Earth orbit is increasingly congested by the remnants of old space missions, obsolete satellites, and the results of accidental collisions and losses. At the same time, the space sector is expected to explode – encompassing everything from asteroid mining and space tourism to the establishment of off world colonies. In response, dependent upon the type of junk being targeted, different fleets of specialised space craft would be controlled, deployed, and coordinated by Space Junk Removal Supervisors based at contractors' ground stations. The experience in low Earth orbit will drive new policies, agreements, and procedures to prevent a similar issue developing around the Moon and Mars.
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Enhancement Specialists 11. Memory Adaptation Specialists - A memory specialist may help us modify our memories and reduce mental health issues. People would be able to erase traumatic memories and replace them with positive ones. The process might be conducted by a specialist with training in psychotherapy and neuroscience. Modifying our memories could have a major impact on our personality. The memory specialist would help you choose the traumatic events you need to erase. The replacement procedure would be done after a series of introspective consultations. A wide catalogue of pleasant memories would be available for your selection. People would choose what they want to remember. 12. Human Enhancement Technician - As a society, we are starting to augment the human body with chemical, genetic, electronic, and physical enhancements. Body shops will appear on the high street where appropriately trained technicians will be able to perform these upgrades - administering nootropic drugs, genetic modifications, 3D printed limbs, and electronic brain stimulation. 13. Cryogenics Concierge - As more people opt for cryogenic preservation at - or close to - the end of their life, they will need specialist advice. The cryo concierge will provide guidance on different types of cryo procedures, costs, financial planning, the family’s rights and responsibilities, what happens when you are regenerated, insurance, and how to manage the death.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS Rohit Talwar, Steve Wells, Alexandra Whittington, April Koury, and Helena Calle are from Fast Future, a professional foresight firm specializing in delivering keynote speeches, executive education, research, and consulting on the emerging future. Fast Future publishes books from future thinkers around the world exploring how developments such as AI, robotics, exponential technologies, and disruptive thinking could impact individuals, societies, businesses, and governments and create the trillion-dollar sectors of the future. Fast Future has a particular focus on ensuring these advances are harnessed to unleash individual potential and enable a very human future. The latest books from Fast Future are: ‘Beyond Genuine Stupidity - Ensuring AI Serves Humanity’, and ‘The Future - Reinvented: Reimagining Life, Society, and Business’. And their forthcoming book is ‘500 Futures’. See: www.fastfuture.com Web http://www.fastfuture.com Twitter http://twitter.com/fastfuture Blog http://blog.fastfuturepublishing.com/ LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/in/talwar
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DO EMOTIONS HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY IN BUSINESS? By Ally Yates, author of ‘Utter Confidence: How what you say and do influences your effectiveness in business’
What place do emotions have in business? Are they helpful or harmful? Emotional outbursts are rarely constructive. Excesses of any emotional hue usually indicate lack of control. Unpredictable behaviour, usually emotional in nature, also has a destabilizing effect at work. However, Amy Edmondson’s research has shown the importance of creating a working environment which is ‘psychologically safe.’ This is an environment where people can speak openly without fear of negative repercussions. This includes voicing hopes and fears, reservations and desires. There is a bedrock of trust that exists between the coworkers and between workers and bosses. The improved atmosphere leads to greater employee engagement, increased learning and better team innovation. A senior manager was recently talking to me about a change of boss. The outgoing boss had created the psychologically safe environment. As a consequence, each team member operated with candour and respect. Any conflict was creative in nature, enabling them to work through disagreements together and arrive at resolutions that every team member could support. I asked: “How do you feel about the new boss?” The answer was: “He’s very different in nature. He’s a ‘yes’ man and he’s out for himself. I can’t be as open with him.” The manager’s inherent distrust was insidiously building barriers that would negatively impact his effectiveness at work. Truly effective leaders appeal to people’s emotions. Throughout history, figures like Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther-King are cited for the power of their oration, winning both hearts and minds. Indeed, research by Falbe and Yukl showed this inspirational form of influence results in 90% commitment, 10% compliance and 0% resistance. Compare that with the results of the Legitimating style, where a leader uses his power to enforce: 0% commitment, 56% compliance, 44% resistance. Emotions win outright if engagement matters in your business. Page 40
More recently, Neuroscientist Tali Sharot, in her book “The Influential Mind”, demonstrates how emotion has a much bigger impact on us than reason and data, challenging some of our most firmly-held beliefs about how to influence others. If you want to cut to the bottom line, Rackham’s investigations into negotiations revealed two expressive behaviours that the successful negotiators used: Feelings Commentary and Open. Feelings Commentary is defined as: “an expression of your feelings about the current situation or work in progress”. For example: “I’m uncomfortable that we haven’t explored all the possibilities”, “I’m excited about the progress we’re making.” Open behaviour is “non-defensive admissions of mistakes or inadequacies”, e.g. “I don’t think I have the answers here.” In his seminal work “Good to Great”, Jim Collins describes the factors that differentiate great companies from their less successful market comparators. One of these factors is ‘Level 5 Leadership’, where the leaders of great companies are described as having a ‘paradoxical blend of personal humility and professional will.’ The humility is characterised as mild-mannered and understated. These leaders are happy to share their shortcomings. Contrary to opinion, humility is not a sign of weakness. Many leaders create a steely or somewhat aloof façade in an attempt to keep their emotions hidden. Known as ‘Low Reactors’, they believe that keeping the lid on their id will prevent any weaknesses or vulnerabilities from seeping out. However, a low reacting leader or manager in business can cause a multitude of negative consequences: failure to recognise achievement or effort; difficulty building rapport; appearing detached and indifferent; creating anxiety in others; delaying decision-making because people are uncertain of their position. They can create a sense of distance between themselves and other employees, negatively impacting on their perceived trustworthiness. Emotions that are labelled ‘negative’, for example, fear and distrust, are often natural human reactions. Think of any change project you’ve been involved in, whether as an agent or a victim, and you will have experienced resistance. That’s normal. Our brains are pattern-recognition systems and altering the nature of the pattern will be met with varying degrees of challenge. To facilitate change, leaders need to help people successfully make the psychological transition from what is to what will be. This starts with giving people the opportunity to express their sense of loss before moving on. Henry Stewart, creator of “The Happy Manifesto – Make your organisation a great place to work” believes that people do their best work when they feel good about themselves. Therefore, the role of a leader is to create a positive, fulfilling work environment. Emotions are contagious. A boss that rules with an iron fist is likely to create a climate of compliance and fear that’s terrible to work in and where few can give their best. Contrast that with a boss who looks to make the workplace more honest, more exciting and more fulfilling. The benefits are widespread, both within the business and without.
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These days, more and more employees expect to have a form of connection with their bosses. Successful leaders connect with employees directly, personally and emotionally, gaining loyalty and commitment in return.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ally Yates is author of ‘Utter Confidence: How what you say and do influences your effectiveness in business’ and an expert on Behaviour Analysis and the interactions that define us. She combines a deep understanding of people and how to achieve results, based on her many years’ experience working with large corporate clients around the world. Since 2000 Ally has been working as an independent consultant, facilitator, trainer and coach. She has collaborated with international business schools and has received national and international training awards.
Where to find Ally Yates Web: www.allyyates.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ally-yates/ Twitter: Twitter.com/Allyyates_UC Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Utter-Confidence-influences-effectivenessbusiness/dp/1784520985/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8
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ARE YOU READY TO SHARE YOUR BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURIAL JOURNEY TO HELP OTHERS?
Are you ready to up-level your visibility and share your message with the world? Say Yes to being a co-author in "The Rollercoaster Ride of Business" compiled by Hannah Edwards and Denise Joy Thompson.
Become a published author in 2018, share your experience and expertise of surviving your first year as a business owner/entrepreneur. Help others to move forward by using your tips and recommendations. Contributers will be featured on Global Voice Radio and in Empowered Business Magazine.
For more information email Hannah at empoweredmagazineuk@gmail.com or Denise Joy Thompson at thecoachalliance@gmail.com.
Laura Morris started The Family Network (Formerly known as Networking Mummies UK) on the 9th February 2009 with her business partner at the time. They felt that there was no support for local mums in business, who were not only trying to start or run their own business but also juggle family life. So on the 9th February 2009 they met with a small group of other entrepreneurial mummies and soon realised from the feedback they received it could be more. Over the next few months they built a website, held more events and went onto providing a great support network of like minded women.
THE FAMILY NETWORK
2009 was a great year with a Hampshire branch being added in November and 2010 went onto be even better! Networking Mummies (Dorset) at this point had reached Over 350 members. Their monthly events consisted of affordable workshops, free events with the children and also importantly raising funds for various charities Locally and Nationally.
The network that supports Mums in businessÂ
In May 2010, Laura decided to relocate back to Warwickshire to be nearer family. A hard decision but an exciting one as it meant they were expanding and Networking Mummies (Warwickshire) was born. Page 44
In the later part of 2010, there was a big change as Stacey Calder, a long term friend of Laura’s bought out the current business partner and became Co-Director. She then sold her share to Victoria Alcock, who has been running the Stratford Branch for 3 years and is a previous award winner with Networking Mummies UK. Laura and Victoria have both always had aspirations and dreams for the business. The Family Network is about supporting each other whoever you are. By joining forces and sharing skills, knowledge and contacts they hope to drive business success for all members. Our ethos is to provide free networking events along with affordable workshops and events that are also family friendly. We do not charge membership fees and never will! Our approach has always been professional yet relaxed and because of this we have a great community that is growing daily with a growing number of branches across the UK. In the past few years, Networking Mummies have been Winner of Women on their Way Awards, Highly Commended in the HP Smart Business Awards and in 2013 and was Winners of the Women on the Way Awards 2017 for ‘Change Champions in Women’
At their 5th annual awards in May 2018 they announced their new re-brand to ‘The Family Network’ They wanted to move away from the term ‘mummies’ as they felt they had outgrown the name. They get a lot of dads, grandparents, people who aren’t parents, businesses and many more different people come along to our meetings and felt after 9 years it was time to move forward and evolve. As they move forward into their 10th Anniversary year next year and their six annual awards they have 25 branches with over 25,000 members involved and are looking forward to growing more in the future.
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About the owners Laura Morris Laura Morris is the other half of The Family Network and also owns her own business www.bubblycreativemarketing.co.uk She lives with her partner Scott, daughter Ashleigh and son Oscar. When Laura ever does have any spare time, she enjoys playing with her children reading and cooking. Laura now lives in Warwick after spending 6 years in Bournemouth. Laura was shortlisted for 1 of 5 companies in the BT Business Grant Competition in 2009 to win £10,000 for her previous business Rentabuggy. She was also announced Winner of the 'Start Up' Category in the Women on Their Way Awards 2010 In 2010, Laura launched her other business, Bubbly Creative Marketing (www.bubblycreativemarketing.co.uk) to provide affordable business solutions. She provides PR, Marketing, Workshops, Sessions, Mentoring, design, illustration and much more. In 2015, Laura was also announced as one of the Top 50 Business Advisors in the UK. “l love to help other people and it's great to be able to offer advice and knowledge to our members. I am always on the lookout to help other people within their business and if I come across anything for anyone, I pass it on. Networking is about helping others in what can be a very tough business market The Family Network is a big part of my life, not only for business but I have made some great friends” Finalist for BT Business Grant Competition 2009 Shortlisted for Remote Worker Awards 2010 Shortlisted for Business Parent of the Year from mumandworking Awards 2010 Winner of Women On Their Way Awards Start Up l Category 2010 Ambassador for Enterprise UK Shortlisted for Nectar Small Business Awards 'Online Business of the Year' Category 2011 Winner Achievers Academy for Women in the Network of Networks category (For Networking Mummies)
VICTORIA ALCOCK Victoria is the mother to 3 young children, when she set up her own business Boo Boo Balloons Ltd in January 2014, she quickly realised that networking was a big part of running a small business. Through attending coffee mornings and events she was delighted to be nominated for, and then going on to win 'Networker of the Year' with The Family Network, she decided to run the Stratford Branch. With the many contacts she has due to her role as a Town Councillor, she is determined to help all small businesses with their networking needs.
http://www.thefamilynetwork.net/
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54% OF RESTAURANTS THINK CUSTOMERS ARE LOOKING FOR A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE - THEY’RE WRONG By Nick Hucker At a time when many food chains in the UK are struggling, there’s a divide between what consumers want from a place to eat, and what the industry thinks they want. According to fresh research by digital ordering technology provider, Preoday, 54% of bar, pub and restaurant professionals believe consumers are looking for a unique experience, however, just 21% of consumers actually factor it into their choice of eatery and a tiny 2% see is as the most important feature. The research explored whether industry professionals understand the true needs and wants of customers. Asking consumers to identify what they look for in a food venue, it found that a great menu (91%) came out on top, closely followed by the quality of the food (85%). When asked what it is about the menu that most appeals, 57% of consumers said it was the variety, while 44% referred to the descriptions used and 26% were drawn in by the format and appearance. The professionals recognised the importance of the menu, though they put the importance of food quality (69%) in front of the menu itself (63%). Also at odds with consumer opinion was the importance of great staff - while, at 66% this was the third most important feature for consumers, less than half (46%) of the professionals identified high quality staff as a key need for customers. Nick Hucker, CEO of Preoday comments: “A lot of emphasis has been placed on the ‘experience economy’ and it seems many restaurants are looking to offer something ‘different’ to attract customers. Whether it’s a robot waiter, interactive dining tables or a kooky menu, the sense that a brand needs to stand out from the crowd in order to beat off the competition is pervasive. Our research shows this attention may have been misplaced. During this time of industry struggles, perhaps more care needs to be given to those essential elements customers care the most about.” Page 47
Data for menu success Just over half (56%) of the professional respondents, whose businesses let customers order food via a website or mobile app, are being given access to customer data by their technology supplier. Preoday asked those with access what they are using the gathered data for: 71% are making use of it to improve their marketing but less than half (48%) use it to improve their menus and operations. Nick continues: “Where possible, customer data should be gathered and applied to the benefit of the business; the information it provides can be used to decipher the most popular items on a menu, the average spend for customers per course and how choices change according to the season and around events. It’s great that 48% are using their data in this way, but it means more than half are not and could be losing customers - most of whom, our research shows, are judging them by their menu.” Testing the needs and demands of customers against their favourite food and drink venues, Preoday asked consumers to nominate their favourite restaurant chain. The most popular response was TGI Friday’s, followed closely by Wagamama and then Zizzi, though it should be noted that an equal number of people claimed to dislike or not have a favourite chain, as those that selected TGI Friday’s.
About Preoday Preoday is a robust digital ordering platform that helps food and retail businesses around the world open new revenue streams and improve relationships with customers. Preoday enables businesses to offer branded online and mobile pre-ordering facilities to customers purchasing food, drink and merchandise. It provides a white-label service to businesses ranging from restaurants and cafes to corporate caterers, theatres and stadiums. Preoday works both directly with businesses and partners including resellers, technology providers and ticketing agencies.
https://www.preoday.com
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MY STORY: SAMAYA ADELIN There I was lying in a dark room, in full silence, with no one around me, my hearing was now pretty much gone, couldn’t even hear the clock ticking by my bedside table.
My whole world went silent as I was being dismantled on all levels. Complete silence, that went for days and weeks on end. Still, my soul recognised the gift it was giving me so I “kneeled” to receive it.
Unable to hear, and having lost half my body weight, I had very little energy to leave the bed, let alone cook anything. I felt utter gratitude for those friends who could come to my door with food, groceries, cook for me, take my rubbish down, and make sure I had enough water by my side. Not to mention making calls to the doctor as my hearing was down to 5%. Texting was my only bridge to communicating with others.
The silence in fact was to become sacred, ceremonial, divine, cathartic, holy. It was like being invited on a solitary retreat, facing, processing and accepting all that the last few years had brought into my life.
It had been 3 weeks now and I was half way through a strange illness that came out of nowhere and my blood You never really know how tests couldn’t quite explain. Until one hospital doctor said truly loved you are by those the word I knew all along was behind it all in the first in your life until the day you place. become sick. And it didn’t help that my fever was not looking to go down, despite the amount of copious medication I was taking, medication I ended up by mistake overdosing from and losing consciousness for a few seconds. Again a friend was there to help bring me back.
Stress. “You have TMD! It can be cause by jaw grinding, arthritis or.. severe stress. It affects your jaw joints which then affects your ears hence the pain you are having.” And oh dear was I in pain. Pain I had not known before. Pain that ripped me apart daily and that torn me into a thousand pieces. One easily compared to labour pain in terms of its intensity whilst completely removing my ability to hear.
To say it had been a tough time would be putting it lightly. Only 3 years prior to being in that room in full silence and pain, I had found myself in a new town that I had not known well at all. I had no friends, no family, no one that I knew or knew me there. And perhaps more importantly, I was single and pregnant and that put a spin onto things I just hadn’t seen coming. Page 49
Still, things were going to get much worse, because due to the absurdity of the expensive housing in this town, I found myself forced to become homeless whilst 5 months into my pregnancy, before a lovely woman gave me a roof under my head and until I was going to finally move into an accommodation I was planning to share with another single parent. All the while I was working part time in human rights and having a rough time at a job that had the wrong people involved in it. And it was somewhere in the depth of all this processing and pain and utter silence where “She” made her appearance. A beautiful non tangible energy of fierce love, a spirit being of light and total expansion who in a rather unexpected way entered into communication with me. Her voice said: “Samaya you have entered the gates of your soul”. Something had happened and whilst this being of light appeared to share her message with me, I found myself moving through the threshold of pain to a new level of pure bliss and joy and laughing in tears whilst in deep gratitude for what was going on inside me. I felt open, liberated, loved, forgiven. During this communication, I was also shown that my life needed to move into a new trajectory and therefore the old structures and situations were going to have to go. My job being one of them. I knew and was shown it was time I served others through my gifts. More importantly I was left with a fierce confidence, inner knowing and understanding of the next steps in my life that I needed to take and were aligned to my highest path. It was that very moment that I made my full commitment to stepping into my life’s purpose and dropping my ways of playing small. I knew what I was here to do and just needed to show up and do it. Moving on, blogging became one of the things what helped me really ground all of what was going on inside for me as well as nail where I needed to focus with my work and pursuing with building my legacy. Blogging was the universe’s way to helping me grow and share my message and light with others. And it got my business moving in beautiful ways too. Since then, I have been dedicating my time serving by helping other women connect with their soul and intuition to create amazing businesses and signature programs that are fully aligned and connected to their life’s big mission. Had it not been for my shamanic illness and the wonderful communication with the mysterious being that came to guide me and show me my next step, I would have not been the person I am now, channelling spirit to help guide women with their mission and to create the lives they desire. I feel grateful to have been in this journey of truth and alignment, and for having the opportunity to change my life and get closer to my truth. Every day is an opportunity for us all to do so and drop the
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About the Author Samaya is an intuitive business coach and soul blogging mentor helping women step into their life’s mission and work alongside the help and guidance of her spirit guides. She lives in a colourful British seaside town called Brighton with her 4.5-year-old son Chaska and has a powerful mission to help thousands of women go big with their gifts. To connect with Samaya you can do so through: www.samayaadelin.com
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SUSAN GAFSEN; HER STORY I worked for over 25 years in 2 of the largest and most prestigious global law firms in the City, and I gave this all up to start my food business Pep & Lekker, and build a brand from scratch. From the moment I first qualified as a corporate lawyer at the age of 24yr I wanted to be the client selling their successful business rather than the lawyer working all night drafting documents and advising them. I loved hearing the entrepreneurs stories about their businesses and admired their passion and determination, and wanted this to be me. I have always had a passion for nutrition and wellness but with my job in the City this was often hard to achieve. Finding the time to exercise often meant me missing lunch or having to get up at ridiculous times in the morning and feeding my family nutritious food meant me staying up late on Sunday nights to batch cook. I was frustrated that the food in the supermarkets was not good enough and believed that there must be a better way. I think my 50th birthday was a turning point for me when I decided that if not now, then when. I finally found the courage to take a leap of faith, and put myself on the line rather than live with regrets of 'what may have been'.There were no more school fees or trips to pay for, my kids were at university, and it was time to put me first.
With the support of my husband and my boys who recognised that I had always made their needs a priority, I gave up my life in the rat race, got off the City treadmill and went to business school so that I would have the knowledge I needed to set up my own business. After my degree I persuaded my sister-in-law, a former psychotherapist to join me, as she is a brilliant cook and her friendship and wise words are an incredible support to me. I changed my life beyond recognition. Switching business meeting and plush offices to standing for 12 hours at a time peeling carrots and chopping onions. The physicality was much harder than I imagined but luckily fitness has always been a priority for me.
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My days  as a lawyer in the City are still called upon. From setting up the company, to registering the trademark, and negotiating the deal with Ocado. Also I am used to hard work and deadlines so I have been able to transfer this to being passionate about driving my business forward. Even though the life of an entrepreneur is incredibly hard and undoubtedly has its own stresses and pressures the reward that I get from people telling me that our soup is the 'most delicious that they have ever tasted', and the satisfaction from seeing people make healthier life choices when they buy our soup, makes it so worthwhile. It feels amazing to be making a real contribution and I now have the determination to make my business a success so that I can make a positive difference to people's eating habits. https://www.facebook.com/pepandlekker https://www.instagram.com/pepandlekker https://twitter.com/PEPandLEKKER https://pepandlekker.com/
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MOTHER & DAUGHTER DUO MAKING WAVES IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY
Sally and Lettie Pattinson are a mother and daughter duo who are making their mark in the fashion industry with their unique collection of faux fur bomber jackets. Each and every piece The Design Studio (TDS) make is unique, meaning that if you buy something from their range, there’s no other like it in the world. Since 2015, Sally and Lettie have been working together to build their brand, TDS (https://www.thedesignstudiohawarden.co.uk). Sally, previously a fashion design lecturer, has over 20 years’ experience in the fashion industry and uses her skills to create beautiful bespoke items for her clientele. By joining forces with her daughter Lettie, they have been able to create ‘The TDS Bomber Jacket’, which has been designed to suit women of all shapes and sizes. Based in Hawarden, both mother and daughter are fully involved in the design and production of their creations, with Lettie being in charge of social media, marketing, photography and brand image. They pride themselves on always staying ahead of the game, as knowing what the next trend will be is the key to popularity and customer retention within the industry. When Sally and Lettie first started TDS, they ran their business solely from Instagram, using the social network as a shop front to promote and sell their products. However, demand for the designs grew to such a level that they had to build a website to keep up with the orders coming in.
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Each and every product designed and sold by TDS is fully vegan, made from faux fur. All the materials that they use are sourced locally, from North Wales and London. The Design Studio has recently designed its first accessory product - a bum bag. This was created in memory of Lettie’s Dad, who tragically lost his life to mental illness when she was just 16 years old. He owned a lot of these bags, so Lettie was inspired to design one in his memory. For each of these sold, a percentage of the price will be donated to MIND charity. Sally Pattinson says: “Having a business with my daughter is an amazing thing as we were always making creations together since she was a little girl. The balance of working with a younger person and the expertise of an older one means we can produce garments both of a good quality and a fresh approach to design. Nowadays, there’s less of a stigma surrounding mature ladies wearing younger clothes, so although our Jackets are promoted to a younger audience they are really ageless and I certainly own a few!” Lettie Pattinson added: “I’m so passionate about The Design Studio. As I do all the marketing myself, I can see how things are changing within the industry. I like to stay ahead of the times and use Instagram to track where our customers are from, so we can offer the best experience to each and every one”
About TDS, The Design Studio By joining forces in 2015, Lettie Pattinson decided to go for easy wear clothing which all body sizes and shapes would be able to wear, ‘The TDS Bomber Jacket”. They have now designed and created over 4,000 unique, oneoff, exclusive jackets and sell worldwide. The Design Studio is based in Hawarden, UK. Website: https://www.thedesignstudiohawarden.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedesignstudioha warden/ Twitter: @designhawarden
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THE POWER OF AUTHENTICITY TO UNLOCK LEADERSHIP POTENTIAL By Jill Pennington, Consulting Director, JCA Global
Living an inauthentic life can be incredibly exhausting. As a leader, “putting on a face” and exhibiting behaviours at work that don’t reflect our true self is a constant strain. A strain that takes its toll on leaders and employees alike. Having an unpredictable manager whose mood affects how positive or negative they are towards others is a huge cause of anxiety. Research from Michigan State University showed that employees with a boss who is unpredictable are more stressed than those with a boss who is regularly unfair. I’ve known many women who describe how they adapt their style to suit specific, often male-dominated, cultures. This might involve taking a ‘command and control’ approach to leadership, rather than a more mentoring, coaching style. But rather than limiting us, being who we are and playing to our strengths enables us to access a wide range of leadership abilities that are needed to successfully lead organisations and teams. But what exactly are the attitudes and behaviours that underpin an authentic leader? It’s important to remember that being authentic isn’t about an aspiration or becoming the person you would like to be – it’s about who you are. To develop authentic, inspirational and sustainable leadership you need to be clear on who you are and your inner guiding principles and values. Integrity and consistency are characteristics of some of our greatest female leaders, from Emmeline Pankhurst to Rosa Parks. To find out your principles and values, you need to take time to reflect on what has shaped and influenced you to be the person you are. What are your habitual ways of thinking and operating? Consider the beliefs and behaviours that have both helped and hindered you in the past. How do you react when faced with new contexts and challenges? And how do you approach new ways of working? Page 56
At JCA Global we talk about authenticity as ‘the degree to which you invite the trust of others by being principled, reliable, consistent and known’. There are two steps towards becoming an authentic leader – firstly being authentic and secondly being known to be so. Being principled is your understanding of your own core values and principles and acting in accordance with them in all situations. This is where reliability and consistency come in. In basic terms this means what you believe matches what you do. Another aspect to authenticity is being predictable and known. If people find you difficult to get to know or to read, they may feel less inclined to trust you. Authentic people tend to keep their promises, they can be relied upon to behave consistently and will rarely let other people down. Most of us would rather work with a consistently firm or demanding boss than one who is inconsistent or hard to read. There’s a clear neurological explanation for this – the emotional (limbic) brain is there to keep us safe by anticipating what will happen next. If someone is unpredictable, the limbic brain panics and prepares for a possible threat. And flight or fight is not a sustainable state to be in at work. In 2017 we examined the trends from 12,417 working individuals who completed JCA Global’s Emotional Intelligence Profile over a ten-year period. One of the findings from this research is that women tend to score lower in self-regard and higher in regard for others than men. This imbalance can lead to unreliable behaviour and trying to please others by agreeing to do things that we are unable to deliver on. To be an authentic leader you need to develop and maintain your self-regard or self-esteem. This means accepting and valuing yourself and who you have become. It enables you to accept your strengths and weaknesses, welcome feedback and be open to change without feeling threatened or defensive. If you are able to combine this high self-regard with high regard for others, you will be able to build close, open and collaborative relationships. Working at a deep level of knowing your own attitudes, beliefs and behaviours you can gain significant insight into your potential to become an authentic leader – that’s the real holy grail of leadership development. Develop your authenticity with these four steps: 1. Ask a range of people who experience you in different settings whether you are consistent and reliable with them in all situations. Ask them what they would like you to do to improve on this even further. 2. Help others to get to know you more quickly by telling people about your principles. For example, what is important to you, what your values are, what you expect from others. Keep things balanced by inviting them to do the same with you. 3. Be reliable and keep your promises. Only agree to deliver on things if they are achievable. It can be helpful to make an assessment of your workload and priorities to help you decide. 4. Write down your top three values. On a scale of 1-10 how much do you live by each of them? Identify examples of when you have done so. Do you need to change something in your life to be truer to your values?
JCA Global is a world leader in applied Emotional Intelligence in the workplace. www.jcaglobal.com
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THE UNIDOSH STORY
JOE: Oliver and I first met at Aldenham School back in 2009 where we immediately became friends. After completing our A-levels we both went very separate ways. Oliver was offered a place at Nottingham Trent University to undertake his Bachelors degree in Architecture. Meanwhile I decided to go down a slightly different route. I spent a year in South Africa where I trained as a Safari ranger as well as conducting Anti-Poaching and wildlife conservation. Following an incredible year I decided it was time to revisit reality and come back to the U.K, where I applied for Animal Behaviour and Wildlife Biology courses. I was accepted onto an Animal behaviour Bachelor of Science degree at Manchester Metropolitan University. Oliver and I kept in contact over my year abroad and managed to even make the odd visit. JOE: In my first year and Oliver’s second we played witness to the struggles student succumb to due to financial concerns. We devoted the last 2 years around our studies into finding a way to tackle the student financial crisis. Due to the increase in tuition fees and living costs students are now questioning whether or not to attend University whilst current students are simply struggling. Oli and I set out on our mission to revolutionise the way in which students both earn and save money throughout their time at University, as such providing students with the freedom to enjoy these vital few years the way they should! After months of research into the problem we had our light bulb moment. The solution was clear. An all in one platform for buying and selling services. Offer students the opportunity to... Choose their own job,their own hours & their own wage, as a result providing discounted services to local members of the public and local businesses, who are simply looking to save money on everyday chores and services, such as cleaning, dog walking, grocery shopping, accounting & more. Page 58
No more inflexible hours, working underpaid night shifts with difficult bosses. Neither Oli or myself had any previous experience in app development, nor did we know the best practices to go about getting this started. All we had was an idea and the drive to make it a reality. OLI: Joe and I have encountered many challenges on our journey. The first big challenge was convincing our family and friends to support us on our mission and help fund the early stages, predominately market research and product development. We then had to look into the best way to get the product developed, having no development experience ourselves, we decided to sub-contract the production of our beta version. Before we knew it we had our MVP (minimum viable product). UniDosh version 1 was no longer a sketch on a piece of paper but a reality. Following this, we hit our next major challenge - how are we going to market this product and engage students? We decided to soft launch our beta platform as a student-only marketplace, as we wanted to make sure students felt comfortable operating the platform and that the desire to sell services was truly there. Five thousand five hundred registered students later, and having hit the one thousand booking mark UniDosh was ready for phase 2. OLI: We made the decision to bring our tech inhouse and bring on a third co-founder and lead developer, Dennis Brydon. In order to make all the necessary changes to the platform, it was important to bring the development in-house.By doing this we have reduced our development costs and increased our overall control of our product. With Dennis now managing the tech side of UniDosh. Joe and I have more time to prepare for our September 2018 relaunch. OLI: The business has certainly grown over the last year and we are excited for the second phase to commence. Currently our team consists of 46 members, 3 in our full-time management team (Joe, Dennis and I), 3 student interns conducting a variety of roles from social media and marketing to sales assistance. Finally we have an on-the-ground (OTG) team consisting of 40 students. Page 59
Our OTG team play a big part in user acquisition as well as keeping UniDosh present around campus. We select students for our OTG team based on their involvement within the student community, such as society leaders. We made the decision to keep UniDosh completely free for our first year of trading. Our intention was to build trust within the student community before introducing a cost element. UniDosh will be monetised over summer in preparation for our version 2 launch. This will include an optional subscription model as well as a freemium version. We are also adding in-app purchases, which will allow users to boost listings in various ways to become more visible. With over 5% of the total student population in Manchester now actively engaged on our beta platform we are prepared and ready for this next phase. JOE: Oli and I have done particularly well through winning start up competitions including: TOG100 - Held by ‘The Office Group’ granting us with 1 years free office space at multiple locations, including The Shard. Accelerate Places Northern pitch night - This prize included a £35,000 bundle prize after winning a pitch competition up against 5 other northern based start ups. Interview https://www.accelerateplaces.com/interview-with-unidosh/? utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=blogpost EY / The Tab ‘Founders 30’ - After pitching in a dragons den style pitch up against 10 other top young start ups, EY placed us in 1st place awarding us the title of ‘Young entrepreneurs of the year, 2017, alongside expert mentorship from Charles Taylor, CEO and Founder of ‘Debut’ app, as well as an investment from EY. Interview with EY - http://ukcareers.ey.com/schools/insights/oli-and-joseph-unidosh Nottingham Trent ‘The Hive’ - Awarded us with £1,500 for business development. Most recently we have been selected as 1/200 top EU start ups/ scale ups by Webit Festival and asked to exhibit and pitch for a chance to secure further investment. This will take place later this June. These have enabled us to continue building the business and gain some great recognition and validation around our work. JOE: Students are loving the platform. UniDosh is providing student sellers with the opportunity to advance on their skills and interests, take control of their finances whilst still providing students with the flexibility they need to enjoy their time at university. Like anything it’s all down to how proactive you are. Students who are proactive on the app tend to do well and receive a higher amount of bookings, however students who are perhaps less proactive may not want a full time commitment in which case UniDosh is the perfect solution. Soon we will be adding in a ghost mode, so that students can switch between making themselves visible and not visible on the marketplace. Part time work is strenuous and often has an impact on a students’ studies, this is mostly due to not enjoying what they are doing, not to mention minimum wage and terrible hours. Our users have expressed how much more content they are with their overall university experience, now that they can offer their own services. We are very excited for this coming September. We will be relaunching UniDosh with a fresh new look, having rebranded in preparation for our public expansion. Watch this space! We can be found on Facebook and Instagram or if you would like to find out more please feel free to contact us at: hello@unidosh.com.
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WHY YOU SHOULD PLAY MUSIC IN THE OFFICE By Gemma Francis
Many business owners and office managers prevent music being played for fear that it will be a distraction or that it will deflect from the traditional formalities of an office. When considering if music should be played, many business owners worry that a loud volume will not only make productivity levels drop, but will cause people to chat and talk loudly in what would otherwise be a quiet working environment. However, recent research has found that contrary to popular opinion, playing in music in the office can be a productivity booster and can actually be beneficial in the office. Music has been found to help cooperation and can help employees to sync with one another and experts are increasingly being advised that playing music in the office can create a more enjoyable workplace culture. This doesn’t simply mean turning on the radio or selecting one person to play their favourite album every day. There are a number of factors that must be considered to make playing music in the office successful. For example, different personality types and tastes will favour certain types of music and in an office, there can be a lot of people to please. To help businesses help employers implement playing music in the office in the right way, the team at The BIG Sing, a community choir which has a number of groups across the UK, have provided their expert insight into how this can be achieved with some simple steps. How it can help It can increase motivation Sitting in silence can actually be more distracting, as music can help people to focus on a task and give them something to think about other than the tapping of a keyboard. Music also engages the area of the brain that develops memory skills, so it can actually help with productivity. If people are bored at work, their motivation and productivity levels will drop, music can add something more interesting into the day. Page 61
It brings staff together Music undoubtedly brings people together and can be a great ice-breaker to get people talking in the office, as it can be a great topic of conversation. While ensuring that your staff are working at a consistent level is important, this doesn’t always have to be done in silence. Even a conversation about similar music tastes can build the all-important friendships in the workplace that improve team morale. It creates a relaxed atmosphere While a typical office scenario might be people sitting in suits working tirelessly throughout the day, workplaces can also be relaxing and beneficial for productivity levels and general staff wellbeing. Many younger people prefer to work in a more relaxed setting and find it aids creativity and boosts energy levels.
What to consider Think of everyone in the office If playing music in the office is a new thing that you’re going to introduce, it’s important to consider everyone in the office. If the majority of people don’t want to, then it’s best to go with the masses. However, if the office is unsure, then seeing out how it goes could end up with the office enjoying something they didn’t even know they were missing! Certain types of music work better than others Studies show that voices or music you are familiar with aids concentration as it serves as good background noise, as the office won’t be distracted trying to listen to new sounds. Certain playlists and music will work better than others, finding what’s best for your office is essential for successfully playing music in the office.
Find out more at: http://www.big-sing.com/
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