iSSUE 5 May 2018
TIM SHANK Read his amazing interview!
SARAH ANKNEY Talks about Empowering yourself!
JO GILBERT Overcomes the hardest battles she has ever had to face! PETER SOUTHGATE How to speed up your internet!
EMPOWERED BUSINESS MAGAZINE
EDITORS LETTER
Hi Lovelies
This issue is full of some amazing people and for the first time in the history of Empowered Business Magazine, we have a male cover star! Check out Tim Shank and his amazing interview! You can also find some fabulous people inside like Bijal Shah! Sarah Ankney is back with another fabulous column on empowerment! 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. Denise Joy Thompson Page 7 - 8. Peter Southgate Page 9. Jane Evans Page 10. Sarah Ankney Empowerment Pages 11 - 13. Tim Butler Pages 14 - 16. Our Cover Star Tim Shank Page 17. PRESS RELEASE: Companies Risk Hefty Data Breach Fines By Failing To Destroy Candidates’ CVs Page 18. Laura Batt Pages 19 - 20. Bijal Shah Pages 21 - 23. Lyn Roseaman Page 24 - 26. Frank's Remedies Page 27 - 28. Bluebird Support Page 29 - 31. Jo Gilbert Pages 32 - 33. Prosecco Ecco 34 - 36. Esther Stanhope 37 - 39. Credit Angel Page 40. Denise De Gaetano
HOW ARE YOU showing up and being visible?
Denise Joy Thompson Founder, Global Voice Radio
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There are many ways we share ourselves with the world. As the founder of Global Voice Radio, I am supporting people to share their expertise, to share their wisdom, to share themselves. Supporting them to be seen, to be heard and to be read through their show, social media and their blogs. There are so many ways to be “seen” and to be visible today, with social media being the easiest and most accessible way to share our selves with the world. Along with sharing comes awareness of what, how and “who” we are sharing. I had a conversation with an acquaintances/colleague and we were discussing visibility on social media. Our discussion centered on how business owners/entrepreneurs were “sharing” personal information. I am in several different types of groups, mixed gender, women only and several specific to Veterans. Being a therapist and a trained coach, I possibly “see” more beneath what is written/posted than many people. My perspective is everyone, especially business owners, entrepreneurs and influencers should be careful on how revealing their posts are. I think when posts are too revealing or a person has not fully taken into account how the post can be perceived they do themselves a disservice. There are some people who may be racist, misogynistic, dramaprone, angry, and downright mean as their posts suggest; for 99% of the people posting, I do not think they are 100% of what they might have posted. I think in an emotional moment, posts are made and once comments start flowing the game is on and it is hard to stop it. Reputations are ruined, business and family and friends may be lost. I am not saying do not be authentic or vulnerable; the point is to take a moment and decide if what you are writing/posting is what you want everyone in the world to see!!! Is this post the part of you, not the 10 minutes of anger or drama or responding to a perceived hurt, which you want to be known for? You are the sum total of everything you’ve ever seen, heard, eaten, smelled, been told, forgot—it’s all there, Everything influences each of us, and because of that I try to make sure my experiences are positive. Maya Angelou I am human and have my moments also. I too have written a post or comment and deleted before posting. I have also posted something and immediately deleted it, though as fast as one hits “enter” the written words are showing up in someone’s feed and are seen even if we quickly hit the delete button. I admit at times it feels vindicating to type about a situation which affected us and when we perceive someone has wronged us. I have had that happen to me. It was not worth my time to reply, it would not change the fact something was posted and actually by taking the high road, the post quietly died. Of course the person assuming no wrong in the situation showed their true colors and others saw it as trying to create waves. Social media is social and along with being social are the good and bad of connecting and sharing parts of our self. For me, I see social media as a great tool for connecting with people around the world and for building a business. Social media is a “mirror” of who we are. I choose to not allow this “mirror” to capture a “moment in time” which I do not want to become a daily or historical reality. I do not use social media for grievances, airing dirty laundry regarding family and friends. I try not to get overly political, though at times I may have been very clear and direct on my perspective. I try not to share posts which are negative or condemning of others. I try to be neutral in discussing “hot topics”, I do not male or female bash, I do not put others down or bring spats or arguments to social media. I also have friends who will call me out if I might have been too blunt on a response. True friends are they to have my back!!
Classy is when you have a lot to say but you choose to remain silent in front of fools. Anonymous Page 4
This does not decrease any of my authenticity or vulnerability. I have posted about the ups and downs of building a business, the grief over losing my father, acknowledge frustration regarding cruelty in our world. There are many situations, even politics, I have posted or commented about and these provide insight to a parts of me. I stop at posting negative or drama-prone situations. I do not post if having a terrible awful day since I deliberately do not focus on those moments to prolong them; which writing about them would prolong those moments. I truly believe what we focus on expands, so as quickly as I may be sad, depressed, in doubt or questioning, I quickly change that line of “reality creation”, that line of thinking, introducing something positive into my mind, reading my favorite book, Live In Gratitude Daily, to ground me back into a more positive and healthy frame of mind. Our thoughts do create our reality, they create our success, and they create our perception of our self. I CHOOSE to switch my thoughts, and Facebook also likes to send us “memories” I do not want some of my memories showing up a year or two later reminding me of any “crap” I might have posted. How are you showing up? Are there posts which come to mind of being a bit too “naked”, too open at a specific moment? If so, there may not be any damage or possibly a little; the important lesson is to be more aware now. You are in control of 99% of your reputation by what you say and what you do. Thinking about this is what helps you to create the most positive and authentic reputation you can have. Be authentic, be open, be vulnerable in a way which puts your experiences and true self in the best, most honest light, not a quick, lack of thought reaction to a life situation which may not even be significant in 5 to 10 minutes. Our “quick action” can create a significance beyond what we ever imagined. If you are ready to be seen, be heard and to be read, as the expert you are in your life and business, join us at Global Voice Radio. We support you, the expert, in sharing your message, sharing your voice around the world. For more information email me at denisejoy@globalvoiceradio.com. Page 5
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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INTERNET TOO SLOW? HERE’S HOW TO SPEED IT UP
By Peter Southgate, Frontier Voice and Data
The internet is an essential part of almost every business these days – but sometimes it can be so slow you feel as though you could make a cup of coffee (including grinding the beans!) in the time it takes a page or an email to download. If this is you, start by looking at the following: Viruses or unnecessary software running in the background, may reduce a computer’s processing power, and this can affect how it accesses the internet Your computer may need software updates Older computers may not have adequate memory The location of your Wi-Fi router may a factor because such things as thickness of walls and metal pipes can cause noticeable slowing to internet connections Investing in robust anti-virus software and more memory, and a maintenance check by an IT professional who will also reposition equipment as necessary may be all that’s required to boost your office’s internet access. Also, configuring computers to download and install necessary updates outside of office hours will relieve the workload on your bandwidth.
Although these are common issues, they’re unlikely to be the main reasons behind your snail-pace connection. Here are some other culprits: Email If you’re sending 5GB of attachments, chunk them down and send them in a number of emails, better still zip the attachments, and even better, don’t add any attachment, instead include a Dropbox link. Spam can also be a big problem: many companies find that for every megabyte of mail traffic, there is twice as much spam. Unsubscribe to emails you don’t want and install spam protection software if the issue gets out of hand. VoIP It may be that you already use VoIP in your business, or you’re considering incorporating. While it has many benefits—including streamlining your business (e.g. one supplier for voice and data); allowing calls to be diverted if you are out and about (even to a foreign country at no extra cost); the ability to place outbound calls through Outlook (or other email clients); the ability to make a receive calls while on holiday at no cost and without anyone knowing you aren’t in your office; plus savings in installation, maintenance and call charges—VoIP relies on hardy internet connections. Page 7
Cloud Services Cloud services free up space on hard drives, which is a great benefit, but the more a Cloud service is used, the more bandwidth is consumed, slowing down how quickly you can access your data. The movement of email hosting to the cloud (through Office 365 and Google Apps) also impacts internet speeds. You will need to match network capacity with bandwidth needs. This means, after you’ve migrated all of your system to the Cloud, identifying how much of your office bandwidth is used, and upgrading if necessary. You can also tweak your Cloud service. For example, Dropbox is a very useful tool, which is designed to be smart about using bandwidth, but you can also manually adjust its bandwidth settings to choose Download and/or Upload rates you prefer. Entertainment These days we all have multiple devices. With various combinations of phone, laptop, tablet, Kindle, Fitbits etc. – and all of these require Internet access in order to sync. Keeping an eye on Social Media and/or news services is relatively easy on bandwidth, but the radio station you’re playing in the background could be being streamed from Seattle or Nashville. Services like Spotify or Amazon’s Music Unlimited also use a lot of bandwidth. Video Conferencing Video conferencing is on the increase and is a very useful business tool, but it does eat a lot of bandwidth; for a low-quality desktop endpoint, video conferences can require anywhere from 128 Kbps, and for an immersive three-screen telepresence suite you’re looking at up to 20 Mbps. If you’re already using video conferencing, the apparent ease of use of domestic applications such as FaceTime may have led you to not fully appreciate the demands put on your office bandwidth. Conclusion Assess your bandwidth usage by first determining how much your actual business needs. Then look at the overall use and if necessary work out which parts of the working day sees the heaviest use. It may be that the only way to improve your internet connection is to spend more money, but it may be that by reorganising when certain tasks are carried out, by making tweaks to equipment and software, and by educating yourself about how to get the most out of your bandwidth, you will resolve your issues, or at least limit any extra spend.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Peter Southgate is from Frontier Voice and Data providing businesses with working, flexible, bespoke and price competitive communications solutions for more than thirty years. FVD is an independent supplier and carries a comprehensive, business grade suite of products to suit any type or size of company. See: http://fvdata.co.uk/ Twitter.com/fvdata Facebook.com/fvdata Linkedin.com/company/fvdata Youtube.com/channel/UC9SAQW8iitmZxA8Ri5AeXIA
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ARE YOU DRIVING TOO HARD FOR TOO LONG ON THE STRESS ROAD TO NOWHERE?
By Jane Evans
Ever kept driving your car when it was making a funny noise? Hoping you had imagined it. Believing it would just go away. Eventually...It breaks down completely Or, you just can't ignore it any longer. You book it into the garage which is a pain as it costs money and time from your busy life. Finally, you pick your car up and all is well until…two weeks later, the same damn noise appears. Then you recall the mechanic told you not to keep on driving it in second gear at 50 miles an hour! Obvious really, but old habits die hard and you had forgotten! Back to the garage you go, feeling stupid and annoyed with yourself.
How often do we do this to ourselves? We are so focused on our business, our career, our success in work and our personal lives that we keep on pushing, pushing, pushing. It feels normal so we aren’t aware that it will eventually make us sick. Meanwhile we start stuffing painkillers down our throats for back, neck, shoulder, head pains Then we ‘let off steam’ with extra after work drinks to 'de-stress'. Or via, tougher workouts at the gym, extra ‘treats’… As time goes on, more cough and cold remedies are guzzled down. Endless supplies of vitamins for this, that and the other, interspersed with energy drinks and coffee The end results are that we become even more distracted, hopping from task to task, exhausted yet struggling to sleep and much less effective at work and home. Of course, it doesn't have to be this way. Thankfully, solutions to stress overload are simple. They work best if we know what they do and why and apply focus and commitment. Accessing support is key as it brings us back to knowing why learning to harness stress makes us the best version of ourselves in all areas our life and keeps us healthy too! Here are my 7 Stress Regulators to get you started: 1. Take regular mini breath checks – blur your eyes, breathe slowly in, slowly out 2. Smile to yourself – it signals to your body and brain that ‘all is well!’ 3. Drink water – sipping water regularly keep us calm as our body will begin to stress if it gets dehydrated 4. Get outside – plant your feet, look up at the sky and breathe 5. Repeat in your head as you let your shoulders drop – Release, relax, let go 6. Look around you and really notice 3 specific colours, sounds or textures 7. Do a ‘dump it’ list before you leave work – repeat 3 times, as you shut everything down, “my day is done” www.thejaneevans.com | janeevans61@hotmail.co.uk | TEDxBristol Talk on Anxiety Page 9
EMPOWERING YOURSELF THROUGH SELF - LOVE By Sarah Ankney Empowering yourself starts by loving yourself. Your confidence is very much tied into your self-love. Your success in all relationships, personal and business, is tied into your love of yourself. You must be O.K. with you for you to be ok with everything else around you. Empowering yourself by loving yourself doesn’t mean a super ego power trip it is more about loving all the parts of you including your flaws. You are perfectly imperfect. Own that sh*t. Know that you are O.K, no matter how you look, what type of business you are in, and no matter who you are. If you are you, you will attract the right people into your life. Once you start loving all of you your confidence grows and increases. No, I am not saying those overconfident ego types, but those who when they walk into a room own it with ease and effort. Taking risks is easy for them. It starts within you buy loving you. You are not everyone’s cup of tea and that is perfectly O.K. I know I rub some people the wrong way, but that is ok. The only person that must love or like me is me.
Think about it. Loving yourself allows others to love you fully and shows them how to you wish to be loved. By not loving yourself, you are inviting those who could care less about you into your life. You are beautiful just the way you are. Once you love you, it doesn’t matter if anyone loves you because you love you. You regard yourself in the highest way. So, you have things you don’t like about yourself, so does everyone else. You can change those things or accept them. Loving yourself is growing into realizing you are have strength and weaknesses and instead of focusing on the weaknesses you are focusing on your strengths. You are growing to enhance those strengths and strengthening your weaknesses. Part of you loving yourself is to continue to evolve and grow as a person. You hold yourself in high value because you love you.
The love for yourself shows as confidence and an IDGAF attitude that isn’t harsh but appealing to those around you. You light up shining your inner light when you love yourself. You build yourself up instead of breaking yourself down thereby increasing your confidence and empowering yourself to shine that bright light of yours. Empower yourself to love you all of you. Love yourself to let that true inner light shine through which attracts the right people into your life including clients and business contacts. That is right loving yourself shows on the outside and helps to attract the ideal clients and connections. I would have told you a year ago you must f*cking kidding, but after learning to love myself I have empowered myself to be confident and attract the right people into my personal and business life. EMPOWER YOURSELF BY LOVING ALL OF YOU!
www.sarahankneyempower ment.com
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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
BUILD YOUR BUSINESS BY HELPING – NOT SELLING.
By Tim Butler, Innovation Visual
The best way to achieve sales is through a policy of helping, not selling. This is because there has been a power shift in the sales process; if people want an answer to a question, then most will go online to find it. The internet has empowered people and the sales person is no longer the fountain of knowledge they once were. Helping someone has the ability to shift the power of the sales process back into the hands of the seller. The important thing is to help the right people and offer the right advice. To do this you have to use marketing intelligence. This information is gathered by tracking a person’s visits to your website and seeing which pages they visited, what blog posts they read, which whitepapers they downloaded, and beginning to build a real understanding of their interests, goals and concerns. Engaging in this process means that before you even pick up the phone you know a lot about the person you are about to ring and how you might be able to help them. Page 11
This process is referred to as inbound sales. Invest time in creating content and useful resources; whether this be a webinar, a whitepaper, an industry top tip, a guide or even a quick solution. This means that when you call someone, instead of selling your product and/or service you can say something like, ‘I saw you downloaded this whitepaper, so here is a case study about a client of ours who faced a similar challenge’. Providing the answers to issues people may be facing can lead to them visiting your website where they can find out what solutions you offer to the problem they have. This help could ultimately lead to an enquiry, followed by a sale. The ‘help’ approach to sales is not only refreshing for the consumer but means you are no longer a sales person cold calling someone entirely for your own benefit. Instead you are helping someone, and the call benefits the receiver.
You can break the inbound sales process down into some simple steps: 1. Inbound Marketing – the first step is to employ an inbound marketing methodology, which is focused on providing helpful content, which draws people to your site. 2. Marketing Intelligence – it is important to make sure you are tracking visits to your website, so you know who is visiting your website and what they are looking at. 3. Provide Helpful Advice – before you contact your sales prospect you should now be armed with the information that allows you to provide helpful information that is specific to that person needs. You should know exactly how you are going to help them before you pick up the phone. 4. Open The Door To Further Conversation – after phoning and helping your sales prospect, you have provided yourself with an opportunity to speak in the future. If someone is willing to talk to you, then they are more likely to buy from you in the future. 5. Help, Don’t Sell – the most important thing is to remember you’re helping, not selling. Turning to a full-on sales pitch too soon can deter the potential customer. This sales approach suits human psychology. We are programmed to help each other, and this means if you help someone then they feel obliged to help you back. This could be them deciding that the product or service your company provides is the solution to overcoming the challenges their business is facing. That first call to help them could lead to a sale further down the line. The most important thing is to be patient and build a relationship first by helping. Tracking is incredibly important to gain marketing intelligence. There are a number of different automation tools that can assist will tracking, sales and contact management. Implementing one of these tools provides companies with the ability to track visits to their website and gather information about that person’s visit. This then allows you to follow an inbound sales process. The knowledge available to people now is vast. You can either continue to push generic information that your sales prospects can find themselves online or you can change your approach and help them. The future is about helping, not selling, so make sure you adapt your sales strategy to stay ahead of your business competition.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR Tim Butler is the founder of Innovation Visual, a digital marketing consultancy specialising in digital effectiveness. Recognised by Google as one of the top 30 digital agencies in the UK, Innovation Visual uses the latest techniques in SEO, PPC, and online content creation, and is an award-winning Google, Bing and HubSpot Partner. Innovation Visual works to increase website visibility, lead generation, customer acquisition and developing competitive advantage digitally. See: https://www.innovationvisual.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/innovationvis G+: https://plus.google.com/+Innovationvisual LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/timbutler101 LinkedIn Innovation Visual Page - https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovation-visuallimited/
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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©
INTERVIEW: TIM SHANK This month we interviewed Tim Shank, an amazing Coach who is full of life and supportive of everyone he meets! What is your business name? Tim Shank, Professional Fan What industry are you in? Branding/Coaching/Marketing
Photo credit to Micayla Jean Photography
Tell us about your business: I work as the biggest raving fan of my clients. With content writing services and personal brand coaching, I help project the best and most unique parts of yourself and your business to your core audience (and beyond)! I work with solo business owners and "business builders" in sales roles to be seen as the rock stars of their field! Currently I have a major focus on helping women entrepreneurs stand out as leaders. Why did you decide to start your business? Â I wanted to play a role in the success of people who I personally admire and respect. If you are not only good at what you do, but you are a good person who is using your gifts and talents to bring something positive into your community, then I want to see you flourish. It is a humbling experience be a part of that growth. And I get to create a business around encouraging people, which I love to do!
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Did you run into any difficulties along the way? Finding those first clients that kick off the business was the hardest part. When you're a new entrepreneur you run into the circle of "You need to get clients to build your portfolio, but you need a portfolio to get clients!" I also officially announced that I was taking clients with not much money available for marketing (Translation: None). I found ways to demonstrate my skills and knowledge through social media groups and guest expert opportunities to attract the first amazing souls that I've worked with! How do you 'switch off' from your business when you're having self-care? I "take myself on dates." Treat myself to dinner, go to a movie my wife doesn't want to see, go see a local band, whatever is fun and relaxing for me! Self-care isn't just a spa day or meditation, it's making sure that you have a good time! What is the best thing about having your own business? The freedom. Scheduling my own day, being able to work with the people I want to work with, charging the price that my talents are truly worth, having full control! What is the worst thing about having your own business? The freedom. Yep, it can be the best and worst thing all at once. Being in charge of your own schedule, wages, sales, can be overwhelming at times! What support have you had along the way? Incredible mentors, support circles that I selected based on the most genuine and inspiring people I've known in online and offline networking! And family and friends who may not fully understand the journey but want to see me do well!
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Who has been your inspiration and why? My Dad. He took a big risk over two decades ago to go out on his own in the financial world. He had to rebuild his client base from scratch and heavily market himself, but he was able to offer what he knew to be the best options for the people he was serving and has become impacted so many lives and families! Where do you hope to see your business in the future? The top support business for solopreneurs, artists, and anyone wanting to make an impact while making their income! What are your favourite business tools? Google Docs/Slides/Sheets, Evernote, Canva, and my own Shank mind! What tips would you give someone who is just starting out? Be yourself. Own your expertise. Don't think about how "new" you are to being a business owner. You've got incredible skills. Show them off and present who you are. The people you are meant to serve need you in the most real way. Let them see you!
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COMPANIES RISK HEFTY DATA BREACH FINES BY FAILING TO DESTROY CANDIDATES’ CVS HR managers and recruiters are putting their employers at risk of penalties of up to £17.5 million (€20 million) under imminent data protection regulations by failing to destroy sensitive data contained within job applicants’ CVs. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which comes into force on 25 May, will apply to all companies that process personal data of European Union citizens. CVs and application forms often reveal personal data about the subject including their home address, middle names and national insurance number — and sometimes even sensitive information, such as their physical or mental health condition and previous criminal convictions. And since it’s customary for HR managers to print the CVs of prospective employees prior to interviewing them, they’re risking serious data breaches — and therefore hefty fines — unless they properly destroy the documents afterwards. This comes after identity fraud, particularly against young people, is reported to have risen by 30% and Facebook finds itself at the centre of a worldwide data breach scandal. Organisations in breach of GDPR, which includes not having a person’s consent to process their data, can be fined up to 4% of their annual turnover, or €20 million (£17.5 million) — whichever is greater. In fact, job candidates — and any data subjects — will have six rights under the new legislation: right of access, whereby they can request to be informed about what will be done with their data; right to rectification, meaning they can correct or update any data that’s held on file; and right to erasure, which allows them to have their data removed from a database at any time. Prospective employees will also have the right to restriction of processing, whereby they can request their data is suspended from being processed in a database, the right to export all their data from files, and the right to object to their data being processed indefinitely. Jonathan Richardson, managing director at secure shredding specialist Russell Richardson, said: “Ahead of the enforcement of GDPR, and in light of the Cambridge Analytica scandal, many businesses are rightfully focusing on cleaning up their electronic databases to remove the risk of breaches. But it’s equally important that they destroy hard copies of sensitive and personal data — a perfect example of which is printed CVs, which are often cast aside or disposed of insecurely after job interviews.” Many businesses are beginning to outsource the shredding of confidential and sensitive documents for this reason. Although in-house office shredders are common, they typically use the ‘strip-cut’ method which produces ribbon-like strips of paper. In the wrong hands, waste paper shredded in this way can still be read and reassembled, meaning the data subject could still be at risk of identity fraud. “Employing a regular shredding service removes this risk and gives businesses of all sizes peace of mind that they’re adhering to the new laws,” Jonathan added. “The size of the fines they’re avoiding by securely destroying confidential information far outweighs the cost of such services. “And while recruiters often tell unsuccessful candidates: ‘We’ll keep your details on file,’ in future they’d be wise to rephrase this message.”
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WOMEN IN FINANCE By Laura Batt
It's no secret that the world of finance is largely dominated by men and the equally capable yet somehow infrequent presence of a woman in the financial sector is an area for discussion. Whether it's personality difference, the competitive nature of the jobs or an ingrained discriminatory preference to employ men over women, there is great weight in the argument that the financial industry needs to encourage more women to consider it as a career choice. Encouraging diversity within the workplace is essential for a well-balanced and coercive environment. While the testosterone-fuelled, high-stress environment the media has often portrayed of places such as Wall Street is what many imagine when thinking about money talks, a study by Barber and Odean in 2001 found that women outperformed men in the market by one percentage point a year - a figure accredited to their tendency to make calculated decisions rather than over-confidently carrying out unprofitable trades. So is the financial sector doing enough to drive the employment of women into high-power roles? Many would argue no. The recruitment-pool is saturated by men which begs the question are organisations doing everything in their power to provide identical opportunities for both men and women? Is there an even graduate recruitment split? There may well be fewer women choosing to study or gain experience in finance but this doesn't mean the candidate split shouldn't be equal. Businesses are always going to want to employ the most capable interviewee but gender should not influence this. A closer look at how women are encouraged to study finance and pursue it as a career should be considered earlier on in the educational system. Is the gender pay gap an issue in your company? It's 2018 and women are still being paid less than their male counterparts. If your company wrongly chooses to pay women less for the same job role as a man, then it's no wonder women can feel discouraged from working within the sector. Equal pay for equal work will create a sense of trust and opportunity for women considering breaking into the financial industry. Are you creating a work environment that gives women confidence? Diversity in the workplace promotes tolerance, open-mindedness and a multitude of ideas from varying perspectives. To create a successful business, you must have a team of people who strive to improve themselves individually but also push others to match their success. Women and men need to feel they are valued as employees which stems from equal opportunity and encouragement to strive for greatness. Simply disregarding the value women can bring to the financial industry based on outdated tradition and an existing male-dominated sector will do nothing to improve the current statistics. The world needs women in finance and the prejudice held towards them has never been more out of place. Businesses and the educational system need to provide support, tools and adequate information to ensure that the figure of women in finance continues to grow. Page 18
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.
THE POWER OF WRITING AS THERAPY
By Bijal Shah
The other day I was overwhelmed with our big Californian move to San Francisco from London. There was a lot to do, decisions to make, things to check, endless research, people to call, find a place to live, look for a daycare for our daughter Arianna and so forth. It was madness. In addition I had been feeling a huge sense of guilt of leaving my family and friends behind. I felt that I was abandoning them and that I would miss them dearly. I have always been very guilty of feeling guilty and this was one of those moments where the guilt would simply not leave me alone. In particular, I felt that I was leaving my parents and taking their only granddaughter away from them. There was certainly a sadness in their eyes when I initially told them the news but I was hoping that it may take some time to digest the news and that eventually they would see the incredible opportunity that my husband had and that it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to do something that he had always wanted to do and was very passionate about. Also living in another fascinating melting-pot-of-a-city where some of the world’s smartest people reside hopefully would add so much to our lives and to us as people, which may only become clear in hindsight. It was definitely not a permanent move, but certainly a move for a few years with us moving back to London eventually. Page 19
Strangely, I had a sudden urge to simply write, to make sense of my thoughts on paper and to release all the mixed feelings I was experiencing at the time. The impact that this simple exercise had was profound. Therapeutic, I felt that I had truly expressed how I was feeling and whilst my task list remained the same, I felt a sense of calm in the chaos. The writing relieved my guilty feelings and allowed me, for once, to focus on what was important to me and listen to my own needs and wants. This was something I had to do for myself and for my young family. If I didn’t do it, I know I would regret it. Plus, my family would definitely come and visit. San Francisco is only a flight away. The writing allowed me to be true to myself and I can now see why for centuries people have used writing as a therapeutic method to heal themselves. In fact a psychology professor, James Pennebaker, conducted an experiment in 1986 where he asked the students he was teaching to spend 15 minutes writing about their most significant trauma or difficulty that they had faced in their lives. He encouraged them to be totally honest about how they felt, putting down any and every emotion or thought that came to mind, even if these had never been shared before. He asked the students to repeat the exercise daily for four days. For some it was an extremely emotional experience and whilst difficult to write, they always wanted to carry on. He compared the results to a control group who were asked to write about a random event or object. The purpose of his research was to determine whether there was link between the expressive writing and reduction in the number of doctor’s visits by the students. He monitored doctor’s visits for both groups. What he noticed was that the group that expressed their feelings about a difficult event through writing visited the doctor significantly less compared to the control group. The results were astonishing and have inspired decades of research studies in the field of psychoneuroimmunology — the impact of expressive writing on the immune system. Recent studies on breast cancer patients have confirmed that those who perform some expressive writing during their chemotherapy experience fewer symptoms and attend fewer appointments. Whilst expressive writing does not fully heal, it certainly appears to have a beneficial impact on the healing process. Modern day theories now suggest that writing helps to better regulate our emotions, which in turn has a beneficial impact on our immune systems. Similar to meditation and mindfulness, expressive writing too has a place in modern life and we should all take time out in our day to write or journal, particularly when the daily stresses of life begin to take their toll. A simple journaling exercise to follow is to simply set 5 to 10 minutes aside every day at the same time and simply write as though you are detailing the current ‘stream of consciousness in your head. Do not hold back and refrain from censoring your thoughts and emotions. These can be a real eye opener in terms of how you are feeling and can be a great way to relieve painful feelings and thoughts and even stress. Sometimes it might be difficult to write in ‘I’ form but writing in third person can actually help you see things from a different perspective and make the writing process easier. Here are some great books on getting started with writing therapy and journal therapy: Writing Therapy by Tim Atkinson is a beautiful constructed gem of a novel. Yes it is fiction yet its pearls of wisdom make you truly grateful that you came across it. A disturbing plot, the narrator, uses writing to discuss her experience of mental illness from different perspectives to come to terms with what is taking place. Yet the book is superbly effective in acting as a guide, describing different methods of writing therapy, whilst disguising itself as a fictional novel. Highly recommended. Way of the Journal: A Journal Therapy Workbook for Healing by Kathleen Adams is a fantastic book on using the power of reflective therapy to heal written by a therapist herself. The book includes a variety of exercises ensuring that there is something for everyone. My favourite ones are the more open-ended journal writing techniques where your thoughts can flow freely and you truly feel lighter after. Try it — it can be incredibly refreshing.
Feel free to reach out to me at bijal@booktherapy.io or www.booktherapy.io Page 20
We need to grab attention fast if we want people to take notice and remember what we say. As a speaker you can’t blend into the background! You should be looking for contrast - to stand out from other speeches and other things competing for the listener’s attention. Here are five opportunities for contrast when giving a speech of presentation: 1. Contrast at the start This needs to stand out and grab your audience’s attention so that they are focused on you and what you have to share with them. A polite, platitude, such as: “Hello. It’s a pleasure to be here …” is very similar to how many other speakers open and a waste of those precious opening seconds when you need to make an impact and connect with your audience. A pause. A smile. Both are hard to pull off when you’re nervous, but dramatic in their impact. Everyone warms to a genuine smile. And a pause draws attention from whatever people are thinking about to focus on you and wonder what you will be sharing with them. To keep their attention, consider opening with a startling statistic, a personal anecdote (we all love a story), or a relevant quote from someone significant to your audience, e.g. an industry expert, or a famous person/historic figure.
WHY CONTRAST IS CRUCIAL IN ANY PRESENTATION
By Lyn Roseaman, Toastmasters International Page 21
2. Contrast in content In most business communication, the goal is to persuade your audience to adopt your call to action. This might be to buy your sales pitch, affirm your recommendations, recommend you to others, etc. Effective persuasion requires contrast in content. Evidence-based information, e.g. statistics, track record or citation of a reinforcing quote from a relevant expert drive credibility, authority and recognition of your expertise. However, these alone are not enough to persuade. You need to contrast this ‘rational’ information with more emotive content that helps to build trust and relationships; connections with your listeners. Here, storytelling and anecdotes come into their own. They may reveal something about you as a person, what you are like to work with, your motivations and so on. The contrast of rational and emotive content is essential to convey relevant expertise, and a sense of what working together will be like. Juxtaposed, these two types of information bring greater potency to your message. 3. Contrast of words Rich and colourful vocabulary stands out. It might not be everyday conversation, but this is a presentation, not everyday conversation. Avoid words that are so obscure or full of jargon that people cannot understand - which is why it is important to know your audience. However, when we use rich language, it stands out as different and erudite, enhancing our credibility and authority as speakers. For instance, instead of ‘say’, try muttered, mumbled, shouted, whispered, etc. They all communicate the act of saying and additionally convey how it was said. Over and above words, we have rhetorical devices to contrast from everyday speech, for instance: * Alliteration, e.g. colourful contrasts communicate, startling statistic * Metaphor, an expression that describes a person or object by referring to something regarded as having similar characteristics, e.g. the city is a jungle, broken heart, bubbly personality * Repetition or anaphora to give it its formal title appears in many speeches by public figures. One of my personal favourites is from Malala’s Nobel acceptance speech when she says: “Let this be the last time that a girl or a boy spends their childhood in a factory. Let this be the last time that a girl is forced into early child marriage. Let this be the last time that a child loses life in war.Let this be the last time that we see a child out of school.” * The rule of three pervades formal speeches, fairy stories, film titles, comedy. Examples proliferate and you probably have your own favourites. One example I like is from Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass: “The rule is: jam tomorrow, and jam yesterday, but never jam today” Rhetorical devices like these give emphasis and colour which enrich our words. In short, they create engaging content. 5. Contrasting stage positions It’s important to take a solid stance on stage to convey confidence. A speaker shuffling about makes us feel uncomfortable and nervous. That’s not to say that you have to stay fixed in that position. Different parts of the stage can represent different locations, different points in time. For instance, audience left for the past and audience right for the future. When you change position, the audience travels with you to that time, place, etc. These contrasting positions should be taken with purpose, to reinforce your message. Contrast is the light and shade, the interest, the difference that makes your speech stand out and helps your audience better remember your message. Contrast is crucial. Page 22
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Lyn Roseaman is from Toastmasters International, a nonprofit educational organisation that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of meeting locations. Headquartered in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, the organisation’s membership exceeds 352,000 in more than 16,400 clubs in 141 countries. Since 1924, Toastmasters International has helped people of all backgrounds become more confident in front of an audience. There are more than 300 clubs in the UK and Ireland with over 7,500 members. To find your local club: www.toastmasters.org Follow @Toastmasters on Twitter.
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INTRODUCING FRANK’S REMEDIES: Launching this month, FRANK’S REMEDIES is a natural, organic and vegan skincare range specially developed for those who suffer from acne. The range, which includes gels, creams, masks, washes and a facial spritz has been developed by Kyle Frank, a 23-year old entrepreneur, who was inspired to start his brand after suffering from acne for several years. The products not only combat acne but its after-effects such as scars, marks and hyperpigmentation. Key ingredients include: Moroccan Lava Clay, which detoxifies the skin, absorbs impurities and unblocks pores. Calendula, naturally rich in salicylic acid acts as a skin repairer. High concentrate Aloe Vera, and Seaweed, soothes inflammation and promotes healing. Rose Quartz clears energy, helping obtain the goal of clear skin.
natural, organic and vegan acne treatments for acne and its after-effects Page 24
Kyle’s quest to find an alternative cure for acne began after he was prescribed conventional treatments by his GP. ‘The harsh chemicals in the products made my skin feel rough, appear dull and gave me temporary results. So I began to research natural alternatives, in books and through travel, to discover how different cultures approach skincare. All this opened my mind to nature’s wonders.’ While in Bali, Kyle discovered that Lemongrass and Ho leaf are a popular and effective herb to clarify and balance the skin. Kyle continues this ethos with the range, by focusing on balancing the skin, rather than conventional treatments that can dry-out and damage the skin. After five years of years of intensive research and development, his products passed their safety and stability testing, confirming their efficacy and shelf life. Mentor support came from The Prince’s Trust, where Kyle completed the enterprise course.
Kyle, pictured above, has developed his range to help others: ‘I feel that no one should suffer from acne. And everyone should be able live to their full potential and be the best version of themselves.’ Living With Acne In 2013 a study by Bhate & Williams concluded that acne affects 8 in 10 individuals aged between 11 and 30. The most common age group is between 14-19. However, in rare cases, acne can continue into adulthood and affects 5% of women and 1% of men. Acne is deemed an external skin condition. However, a study by the British Skin Foundation in 2012 highlighted the emotional and psychological effects of acne. These include depression and low self-esteem and confidence that can impact sufferers’ work and social life.
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Where to find Frank's Remedies
FRANK’S REMEDIES start at £11 for the CALMING FACE SPRITZ and are available from www.franksremedies.com. For high res images and information: KYLE FRANK 07902733114, KYLE@FRANKSREMEDIES.COM, WWW.FRANKSREMEDIES.COM You can find FRANK'S REMEDIES on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/franksremedies/
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BLUEBIRD SUPPORT SERVICES CALLS FOR MORE HELP FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN MIDST OF DIVORCE The Voices in the Middle website provides lots of online content suitable for 13-19 year olds, suggesting practical ways in which they can share their voice and support their health and wellbeing in cases of divorce or separation.
A Liverpool-based businesswoman is calling for more to be done to help children and young people in the middle of divorce by pledging her support to a national charity. Jayne Smith, Managing Director of Bluebird Support Services, which provides outsourced office support and typing services to professional services firms, will support Voices in the Middle on an ongoing basis.
This includes directories of local youth organisations offering an ear to those in need as well as interactive support in the form of friendly discussion boards with peer and expert support from moderators and Service Partners.
Voices in the Middle is a part of The Family Initiative, which delivers family services and programmes across health, young people, relationships and parenting. The Voices in the Middle project was set up in response to the Voice of the Child Task Force, initiated by the Ministry of Justice in 2015. This called for “an authoritative website and online tools developed in collaboration with young people… for all children and young people at all stages of their parental separation journey.”
Also provided are guides for parents and family law and mediation organisations on supporting children and young people in the middle of divorce and separation. The website is the first of its kind to offer an online support service wholly dedicated to children suffering from postseparation parental conflict. Helen Pittard, a Trustee of The Family Initiative and Voices in the Middle, said: “The statistics for children living in separated households is rapidly approaching 1 in 2 – we feel that Voices in the Middle is a very much-needed and necessary resource. “A survey undertaken by Young Minds UK of 2,700 young people across the country – who had struggled with their mental health – discovered that a resounding 81% felt that there wasn’t enough support for them in this situation. This is a very worrying statistic.”
Jayne commented: “Voices in the Middle resonates at a very personal level with me, having been through a divorce myself and being a mother to two children.
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“As a company we have pledged to donate 7% of our turnover for any law firm who become members of Voice in the Middle, and go on to become clients of ours. This is on top of my monthly personal contribution to the charity. I see no reason why any law firm operating a family department shouldn’t give their support to this very deserving charity. “Had I known about this charity at the time of my divorce, I would have certainly called on their support.” Jayne will also raise money through the Liverpool Dinner Club, which she organises every other month in the city and which welcomes in the region of 30 Liverpool businesspeople to each event. Helen added: “My aim is to help raise awareness of Voices in the Middle and, knowing the reach that Jayne has in the legal profession, feel that the support of her and the wider Bluebird team can only be a win-win collaboration.” To find out more about Voices in the Middle, visit https://www.voicesinthemiddle.org.uk/ If you’d like to find out more about the Liverpool Dinner Club, contact Jayne on jayne@bluebird.services or call 0203 409 7040. https://www.bluebird.services/
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A STORY OF STRENGTH AND POWER FROM A WOMAN WHO REFUSED TO BE BEATEN…EVEN AFTER SHE WAS Mum of 3 becomes best-selling author sharing story of triumph on her mission to support Britain’s ‘underdogs’ > Battered, bruised and broke she raised 3 kids > From being jobless on benefits she blew off the glass ceiling > Council office employee saved her > From adversity she found power and wants to teach others
By Jo Gilbert
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From a world filled with extreme domestic violence, being bullied by so-called friends, suffering a brain injury from a car accident, to being homeless and nearly dying from sepsis, a mum of 3 from Stoke-On-Trent, is celebrating a new chapter, when at the age of 47 she’s celebrating becoming a best-selling author, as her book, Strength and Power flew straight in at No1 on 7 categories on Amazon today. Available for today at just 99p Jo has released the book at this price to give access to all, via Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07CXY2M2Z, before it is then released at full price. With this book, her mission is now supporting ‘Britain’s underdogs’ as she knows what it’s like to have the odds stacked against you, but wants others to realise you can still win. Bringing this book to life through Authors & Co, whose focus is on telling stories of those who are keen to inspire and leave a legacy, has all been part of Jo drawing a line under her traumatic past, which started with losing her dad to cancer at a young age, and she’s finding a positive purpose to channel her experiences into. As you read of Jo’s traumatic times, what you also get with this book is her ‘rising from the ashes story’ - her journey as she has taken back control of her life, from being on benefits with not a penny to her name and skipping meals to pay for coal, to becoming a high net worth individual and successful entrepreneur on track to make £1million. Her strength of mind is what saved her. She said: “I was going to be strong, find us a home, get myself a job and make my children proud - they would want for nothing. I was not going to allow my 2 failed marriages and my past to define who I was, but I would let it define who I became”. We hear how Jo’s determination saw her climb the career ladder, going from jobless on benefits, to working nights around her kids, to only 8 years later being a company director recognised at the top of her game in the Utilities sector with earnings of £89K per month. She credits an individual from the local council office who she met at her lowest point, who told her that ‘none of this was her fault’ and encouraged her to ’stop hiding’ and celebrate her strength, as being the most significant person in her turnaround. We also see the dogged side of Jo as we get to hear of her carefully planned revenge on her cheating ex husband who beat her, as Jo takes us on her journey when she found renewed confidence, and we can’t help but salute the strength she found. She said: “When I looked in the mirror I now saw Jo - an empowered women who was never going to take shit again from anyone, the bruises would fade over time, but I wouldn’t”. Having achieved success Jo has now sold her fast cars and downsized her house to live a much simpler life as her focus shifts to the role she feels she needs to play in helping support others. With happy kids and a happy marriage, she is now taking some time to refocus from the corporate world she’s been recently thriving in, to train in meditation and mindfulness to help others who are struggling to find their strength and has also created a range of online courses focused on teachings to help others overcome and deal with adversity. She said: “For a while achieving in business was my way of proving I had risen from the ashes, that a lot of crap had happened to me but I had fought back and was strong, and was able to provide a great life for my kids. This did make me proud after everything we had been through but I now live from a place of gratitude and know I had to suffer to be able to help others. I know I can help pull people out of darkness. I’ve been there and I clawed my way out - I am now keen to show others the way, to hopefully fast track their recovery time and get them on the right path much more quickly.
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I’ve decided to divert my attention from my Utilities company for now, to refocus my energy on sharing what I’ve learnt during my struggle, to help others. It is without a doubt the strength of my mind that has enabled me to move on from my adversities and I’m passionate about empowering others who have hit rock bottom with the skills to help them move on too.” She has also recently joined the team at Female Success Network, a thriving online community specialising in helping women achieve their version of success in life or business, working alongside the founders to support even more women globally in achieving their dreams. Jo said: “I am now 47 years young and only interested in earning what I need now, and enjoying life - my days are gone of chasing money. I’m learning to love myself and life a little more each day and I’m on a mission to have an impact after a year of reflection. The process of writing this book has very much been a cathartic exercise and I can’t thank Authors & Co enough -they have helped me write this book within 6 months and held my hand the whole way - I couldn’t have done it without them. I now want to help others feel empowered by their story and through my new courses and my role at Female Success Network I am sure I can make an impact”. Jo added: “At my lowest points, I often felt like I was on my own, like no-one understood me. I’m here to change lives- this is what it’s about for me now. Helping others so they never have to experience that rock bottom I felt”. Jo’s coaching will cover how to achieve and maintain a strong mindset, how to create a clarity and vision around your future and how to find peace in the past. To find out more visit www.jogilbert.co.uk
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QUALITY COUNTS ALONG THE PROSECCO ROAD
Wine experts may have predicted a shortage in the supply of Italian Prosecco this year, but head to the superior quality areas of the DOCG region and you’ll not be disappointed. In 2017, Italy had one of the smallest wine harvests in 60 years, with some popular Prosecco regions down up to 40% due to poor weather conditions. But business owner Amanda Mohr from Prosecco-Ecco says that although many Italian vineyards have been hit by smaller harvests, producers of better quality Prosecco have been largely unaffected. Amanda reveals “The bad news for Prosecco lovers is that supplies of some of the UK’s cheaper brands will be down significantly this year, but the good news is that the specific region of Italy which produces better quality Prosecco Superiore has not been affected by poor harvests. The hand-picked grapes of this region come from an area of Italy where the climate and hilly location give them a more rounded flavour than the cheaper varieties.” Amanda has carefully selected six award-winning wineries and teamed up with Benchmark Travel to organise exclusive three-night escorted tours. Guests will be transported from the UK to the heart of the superlative Prosecco region, a picturesque area of Northern Italy between Venice and the Dolomites, to sample the finest Prosecco Superiore, whilst enjoying the stunning scenery and local history and savouring the finest local produce the region has to offer. The Prosecco making processes – both the usual “charmat” method and the old “traditionale” method - will be demonstrated by the winemakers themselves, along with vineyard walks and, of course, the obligatory sampling, to demonstrate the breadth of choice for lovers of the best quality Prosecco that Italy has to offer. The tours will be held every month throughout the season, commencing in May. “Our Prosecco Road Tours concentrate on the best-quality, award-winning wineries” Amanda explains. “Staying at luxury accommodation nearer to the wineries means minimal daily travel, allowing our guests more time to explore the region at a relaxed pace, enjoy the three-day guided tasting itinerary and visit the historic town of Conegliano, somewhere which is off the usual tourist trail.” .
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Benchmark Travel’s Managing Director, Roger Benn added “We’re very pleased to be jointly promoting this tour with Prosecco-Ecco – we’ve created a not-to-be-missed journey through the world of some of the best Prosecco.” For more details please visit www.prosecco-road.com
About Prosecco Ecco Amanda founded Prosecco Ecco in 2016 to demonstrate the varieties and styles of top quality Prosecco Superiore DOCG. www.prosecco-ecco.com Benchmark Travel was founded 15 years ago to provide all kinds of travel services and tours. www.benchmarktravel.co.uk The tours are ABTA and ATOL protected
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TOP FIVE TIPS for Meghan Markle's Wedding Speech to Hit the Right Notes with her Grandmother in Law
Esther Stanhope
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Having spoken at her own wedding, albeit not actually involving the sixth in line to the throne despite what the groom claimed, professional confidence and public speaking expert and former BBC producer, Esther Stanhope Can share her do's and don't's of how to win over the in-laws. Yes even if they are The Queen! Here she shares her top five tips for Meghan Markle when she juggles protocol with self promotion at the Royal Wedding Breakfast on the 19th of May. Say it out loud FIRST. Then write it down. You may be an actress and good at learning your lines, but this isn't a rehearsal, you won't have a prompt, and you will hopefully see the audience again. So don't wing it! Plan what you want to say in your natural spoken way before committing it to paper. Use post-it notes, recordings and the like to capture your natural self. Then use those words in the written speech. Otherwise it will come over as formal, and you will be filed away with all the speeches that the Queen has already heard from US Presidents' wives. Use all your acting techniques and breathing exercises to overcome the nerves and adrenaline. Play to the audience. Go through the key people in order. Include their 'likes'; exclude their 'dislikes'. Work out where to pitch the humour to attract the smiles and avoid the grimaces. Create your own humour, and don't rely on jokes. And don't set out to embarrass anyone....unless it's Harry, in which case it's your own outlook. Sexual innuendos may well go down well at the wedding buffet at the Dog and Duck, but are unlikely to hit the mark at the Palace. So don't go anywhere near the knuckle. And remember that the Queen is pretty patriotic if you have to bring your home country into the speech. Make it Personal Tell a few little stories....three maximum.....about yourself. What your parents said when you told them you were going out with a fun loving helicopter pilot, for instance. Make personal reference to people in the audience; name drop in a warm way. But don't follow the age old advice for public speaking of imagining the audience naked. You are going to see them again, and you really don't want to get into the habit. If you involve them, they will enjoy it, and they will want you to enjoy yourself too. If you didn't see them as friends, you wouldn't be there in the first place. Don’t do this…. Drink. A bit of Dutch Courage before standing up to speak is the customary procedure for the nervous groom. But when you are unlikely to have eaten much, and the table tipple is fine champagne, Dutch Courage is more likely to turn into American Crisis, your lines will go to mush, you will start blubbing and bursting out those thoughts in your head that should never pass your lips. Like, 'Well tonights the night I'm going to find out if he's really a ginger'. It won't go down well. So stick to the water until you sit down. Leave technology to chance at your peril. You might think you have a powerful voice, but don't put the hearing aids at the back of the room to the test. So use a microphone, or rather two, as one might just be faulty, both table mounted so you don't have to show your nerves by waving a hand held around, and controlled by a technician who has been shown pictures of the Tower. Check it all works yourself beforehand.
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Keep it Short Ask others how long their speeches are, and plan yours to be several minutes shorter than their's. You neither want to upstage anyone, nor come through as the one who likes the sound of her own voice.Close it down in good time with a feigned tear and a little dab of the eye, so that even if you have gone on a bit, they will still love you. But more than anything, smile, smile, smile – eyes and teeth!  Enjoy it. This isn't a rehearsal, this is a major life moment.
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15 WAYS THE PERSONAL FINANCE GAME IS RIGGED AGAINST WOMEN By Credit Angel
The gender pay gap has been dominating the news cycle in recent months, and rightly so. Those shining a light on financial inequality have begun to make progress in ensuring no matter whether you’re male or female – you’ll be paid a fair amount for the work you do. Despite steps being made in the right direction to make wages more balanced, there are a lot of other factors which place women at a financial disadvantage. Everything from funding childcare to student debt repayments and even pension savings show a level of bias towards women when compared to a man in the same situation begging the question, is the financial system rigged? Read on to find out how multiple factors you didn’t even consider are limiting female fiscal success. Divorce 1 – Studies have shown that divorce proceedings affect women more than men due to a disparity in comparable pension wealth and a measurable decline in their long-term income. The Finance Industry is Male-Dominated 2 – Men hold most of the senior roles in finance (approx. 80%) which seems to reflect each gender’s view of their own financial knowledge. Despite research showing that UK women are ahead of men in overall financial literacy they often underestimate their understanding of financial products and services. Home Life 3 – Work isn’t just confined to the workplace. It’s been found that women put in over a day’s worth of extra hours unpaid at home – ten more than the average man. 4 – Despite emphasis being placed on the value of a mother’s time with her child, the financial reality sees a woman’s wage potential drop every year she is absent. With women being responsible for almost ¾ of overall childcare – this is a heavily gender-specific issue. Student Debt 5 – Even areas you would assume were a level playing field can see the deck stacked against women who, studies have shown, require longer to pay off student fees due to ongoing wage disparity. Page 37
Paying for Care 6 – When it comes to paying for care, you may be surprised to see just how much more women spend on average due to higher care requirements and a longer life expectancy than men. 7 – Having responsibility in a care role (often looking after both elderly relatives and children) is much more likely to fall to women and, as a result, they are much more likely to put their career on the backburner. 8 – It’s much more common for women to act in a care role than it is for men with around 20% fulfilling this role at some point in their lifetime.
Pension Savings 9 - Women generally amass around ½ of the pension pot of male workers. This is partly because it’s still legal for employers to contribute less to a woman’s pension pot, due to their longer life expectancy.
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Career 10 – Men earn at their ‘peak potential’ much later than women, making it more beneficial for them to stay in the workplace to retirement age. 11 – Although this may seem like something that shouldn’t be an issue in this day and age, women still consider removing wedding or engagement rings during job interviews to prevent the possibility of discriminatory judgements from a prospective employer. 12 – Although there’s a huge drive to get more women into STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths) careers which is undoubtedly a step in the right direction, studies show that there’s still a need for cultural change in these workplaces. 13 – More than half of prospective employers think that women applying for a role should state up front if they are pregnant. 14 – Further to the previous point, almost 50% of business owners believe it’s acceptable to ask whether women have young children during their recruitment.
Pricing 15 – Women will often have to pay more than men for directly comparable toiletries. There is also the so-called ‘tampon tax’ which controversially adds VAT onto the price of an essential item that should be exempt – although the latter may be coming to an end during 2018 if the government follows through with their pledge to do so. Page 39
EXTRACTING THE VALUE OF BIG DATA By Denise De Gaetano
Denise De Gaetano is a Data Scientist, Business Consultant, Academic & Entrepreneur. She may be contacted on contact@denisedegaetano.com or on www.denisedegaetano.com
Despite the large volumes of data, companies still struggle to access, manage and extract the information that their dayto-day processes generate. The growth of IT systems has provided these same companies, the ability to capture this potentially valuable data, within a number of applications, databases and organizations. Apart from a strong IT infrastructure, changes in the board and management, within a company also need to be carried out. This allows a number of departments to work in coordination and help ensure success of the utilization of the data at hand. Understanding what is required out of the data, is the first step to generate the best results from the company and customer data. The strategy is to understand how the information can enable an improvement in the business. Although it is not essential that the business defines all of the end-results required, the more understanding there is of what is required, the more likely it is that the data, turns into the best useful information for the business. Although the identification of an appropriate strategy is essential, the set of critical data assets is to be kept as small as possible, to allow the information to spread towards a number of further data assets and not be influenced by a priori information. Once the ball starts rolling, further attributes can be unveiled by a good data strategy and thus, further information obtained incrementally over time. Such information is usually linked to long-term value to the business across multiple systems and processes.
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