This Girl Means Business - Issue 5

Michael Gerber

The author of The E-Myth shares his amazing advice on how you can build a successful business

ISSUE

05

How to Stay in Control When You’re Outside Your Comfort Zone

16 Ways

to Overcome

Loneliness

8 Top Tips

for Marketing Your Business

This Girl...

Where many are scared to go, she will boldly venture. She sets off on her journey with her idea and lots of courage and is excited to learn and grow. She knows it will take time and require dedication, but she’s happy to make sacrifices to make her dreams come true. She has to make tough decisions and she has to push herself harder than ever before, but she knows that when she reaches her goal it will all be worth it. This Girl really does mean business!

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This Girl Means Business

This Girl...

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: e b i r Subsc Every month, we’ll send the latest edition of This Girl Means Business right to your inbox! Each issue is packed with inpirational stories, amazing interviews, useful how-to guides, tips, advice, help and much more.

This magazine is all about inspiring and encouraging women to succeed.

E 01 ISSU iere Prem

How to Programme Your Mind for Success

This Girl’s Strategies for Business Growth: Learn How to Write a Book

Kim Kiyosaki the self-made millionaire talks about what it means to be financially free

Secrets to Success JAM-PACKED WITH

Advice for Female Entrepreneurs

CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE & FIND OUT HOW TO CONTRIBUTE

Meet the Team Carrie Green, UK Female Entrepreneur Association Carrie started her first business at the age of 20 whilst studying Law at university. Over the years she grew it into a successful global business and in 2011 she launched the Female Entrepreneur Association. Carrie is passionate about creating new ideas and then making them happen, she’s a big believer in pursuing your dreams and that life is far too short to be scared of failing. Don’t waste another precious minute, go and make it happen now!

Natalie Walstein, USA Half Asleep Studio Natalie is a graphic designer & illustrator in Minneapolis, MN who has a passion for art, creativity, and inspiring herself and others to find the beauty in everything. She blogs about her projects, business, life, and inspiration at halfasleepstudio.com.

Note from Carrie

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Contributors Sharon Thomson, UK Peter Thomson International, PLC Sharon has been involved in creating, or leading or developing over 40 different businesses. She is a serial entrepreneur and relishes the challenge of setting up something new. She was involved in the creation, build up and sale (for ÂŁ4.2 million) of a finance brokerage she set up with her husband. She then retired at the age of 27 and is now heavily involved in the re-launch of the Achievers Edge a monthly CD dedicated to business and personal growth.

Vivi Friedgut, UK Blackbullion Vivi Friedgut spent almost a decade working with wealthy families and individuals as a Private Banker at a boutique international investment bank. She always harboured a burning desire to help “regular� people become money smarter. Today she is educator-in-chief, and creator, of Blackbullion; an independent future capability company empowering people to take control of their destiny by becoming money smarter. She has presented to pension specialists, corporate professionals, entrepreneurs, university students and schools.

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This Girl Means Business

Samantha Green, UK Founder, Every Shade of Green Samantha graduated from Business School in Manchester in 2007, with a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and some of the best friends a girl could ever wish for. After a glamorous time spent working for a film company in London, she decided to head back up North, where she now lives and works.

She has started her lifestyle blog Every Shade of Green, which documents the little things in life that inspire her.

Polly Noble, UK Polly Noble is a Holistic Health Coach, Raw Food Coach, author and two-time cancer survivor. Having been diagnosed twice by the age of 28, she has embarked on a kick cancer-butt mission to heal herself naturally and it is no coincidence that she feels healthier and happier than ever before. She is passionate about using her experiences to empower, inspire and motivate others to create health and happiness. Polly provides health information, coaching services, talks and workshops and retreats.

Jodie Cole, UK JC Social Media Jodie runs JC Social Media, a social media management and training agency based in Birmingham. They train companies how to achieve and maintain a brilliant social media presence, and also run social media accounts on behalf of their clients.

She is also an ambassador for the Start Up Loans scheme.

Jodie is passionate about marketing, social media, fitness and entrepreneurship!

Note from Carrie

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{This Girl Means}

BUSINESS ISSUE #05

e on th : cover

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with

Michael Gerber The author of The E-Myth and has helped tens of thousands of small business owners to transform their businesses! He shares with us incredible insights into how we can build successful businesses.

Personal Development 14

19

How to Take Control When You’re Outside Your Comfort Zone A Question to Ponder On

42

8

5 Things to Try This Month

This Girl Means Business

66

16 Ways to Kick Feeling Lonely in the Butt

84

Did you know?: How know- ing NORA could save you time, money, & hassle by

Sharon Thomson

Business Development 20 When is the right time to quit

your job & start a business?

70 5 Things to Try on Twitter

This Month by Jodie Cole

28 How She Did It: Hannah

Beaumont-Laurencia of

Beaumont Organic

72 The Know-How: Future Proof

Your Finances by Vivi Friedgut

44 Cover Story: An Interview with

Michael E. Gerber

Health & Wellness 76

Juice Recipes by Polly Noble

78 Ask & Answered: How to Get

More New Clients

This Girl 10 Note from Carrie 12 Quotes of the Month

Style 62

This Girl Loves...

64

Accessories

40 Advice from Female Entrepreneurs 58 What We’re Reading 88 Top 10 Tips

Table of Contents

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Note from Carrie systems and processes, so that the business ran like clockwork.

The results were amazing – if you haven’t read this book, you need to. In the interview, Michael shares his advice and insights into how we can build successful businesses.

Now I don’t know about you,

but my entrepreneurial journey has been quite a lonely one. When I was running my first business I would spend every day working by myself. I had no colleagues, no

10

This

office parties to attend, no one who is a special issue for

really understood what I was trying

me, because I got to interview one

to achieve. I felt very isolated. It’s a

of my favourite business authors,

problem that most entrepreneurs

Michael E. Gerber. He is the

face – we come up with an idea

author of the E-Myth Revisited, a

and then we set off on our own,

book which transformed my first

determined to make it happen. For

business. After reading it I got to

this issue we collected lots of tips

work on my business and created

from female entrepreneurs about

This Girl Means Business

how they have managed to kick feeling lonely in the butt! There are lots of things you can try. So if you’re feeling lonely, don’t worry, help is on the way! Check out the tips on p. 62.

We also look at how we can

overcome fear when we’re pushed outside of our comfort zone – and let’s be honest, as entrepreneurs it can happen quite a lot! I’ve been faced with so many scary

“Everything in life can be taken away from you except for your freedom to choose how you will respond to the situation.”

situations; situations which really forced me outside of my comfort

We have the power to choose how

zone and I’ve realised over time

we handle the scary situations, the

that in those moments I either

adversities, the setbacks. Never

choose to sink or swim. One of

forget that.

my favourite quotes is by a man

called Viktor Frankle. He said,

have loved working on it.

“Everything in life can be taken away from you except for your freedom to choose how you will respond to the situation.”

I hope you enjoy this issue, I

Carrie Note from Carrie

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Quotes of the Month

“Growth begins at the end of your comfort zone.”

“Don’t think too much, or you’ll create a problem that wasn’t even there in the first place.”

“If Plan A didn’t work, the alphabet has 25 more letters!

Stay calm.”

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This Girl Means Business

“Don’t carry your mistakes around with you. Instead, place them under your feet and use them as stepping stones.”

“Even the biggest failure beats the hell out of never trying.”

“Being defeated is a temporary condition.

Giving up is what makes it permanent.”

“Do something today that your future self will thank you for.”

“Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try.”

Quotes of the Month

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How to Take CONTROL When You’re Outside of Your COMFORT ZONE { By Carrie Green }

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This Girl Means Business

As entrepreneurs, we’re all trying

end up feeling so terrified, we mess up

to turn our ideas into a successful

the situation and we don’t enjoy the

reality - this is no easy task and quite

opportunity.

often we have to venture outside of

our comfort zone in order to achieve

choose to believe we’re going to be

what we want.

amazing and so we do the best we can.

It’s often in those moments when

3. We decide to go for it and we

I think these are the three choices

we have to venture out of our comfort

we have to make before venturing out,

zone that we either sink or swim. I think

but I think most of the time we forget

in these moments we have a few choices

this. We forget that it’s our choice and

we can make:

let the fear of venturing out take control

of us, and the situation.

1. We decide that it’s too scary

and so we don’t venture outside of our

comfort zone.

that I actually realised that when you

face a situation that is going to push

2. We decide to go for it, but

It wasn’t until earlier on this year

How to Take Control

15

you out of your comfort zone, you get to

happened… So, not so long ago I was

choose how you respond.

invited to go on a live radio show – I think my body and mind filled with

Do you freak out, panic and think the worst will happen? Or do you get in control, know you can do it and think that it’s going to be amazing?

excitement and dread at the same time!

I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity, but live radio? Seriously? I freaked out and immediately started thinking “what if I mess up?” and began imagining all the things that could go wrong.

Shortly after that I was asked to

give a speech – a proper speech, with a Most of us end up doing the first –

stage, a live audience, a microphone and

freaking out. Quite frankly, it’s hard not

a PowerPoint presentation! Oh yikes.

to when you’re pushed outside of your

Even though inside I was thinking, “No, I

comfort zone. But if we want to grow,

don’t want to do it,” the entrepreneur in

develop and achieve more, we have to

me said, “You have to say yes!” So I did.

spend more time outside of our comfort

And then I panicked.

zone and so we have to learn how to take

control and make the very best of the

reaction was to freak out – and I think

situations we find ourselves in.

this is fairly normal.

But how do we do that? How do

we actually take control when we can’t help but panic? Well, recently I started to apply a little trick and it has worked wonders and helped me to take control.

16

Firstly, let me tell you what

This Girl Means Business

}

In both of these instances, my first

{

Going outside of your comfort zone is scary and if it’s not then you’re probably not outside of it.

However, I had a choice to make:

I either carried on freaking out or I took

SMALL ILLUSTRATION

control and focused on doing what I had to do and doing it well.

‘THIS GIRL’ AT A SPEAKING PODIUM, LOOKING SCARED WITH SWEAT DROPLETS

I chose the latter. There is no way

I’m choosing to make a fool out of myself.

But the thing is, most people don’t realise it’s a choice, most people go outside of their comfort zone and hate it because they feel terrified and out of

control and think there’s nothing they

up and speak I felt totally out of control,

can do about it. I would disagree.

in fact I was so out of control that I could

When I went on that radio station

barely breath! It was as if I’d run up 20

and when I stepped up to that stage I

flights of stairs and then rocked up to

chose to be in control. Yes, other things

speak! I just couldn’t catch my breath at

helped – I worked hard and really

all, even at the end.

prepared, but I know that it was my

mindset that helped me to do a good

done the best I could.

job. I know that’s true because last year

I was asked to give a small talk to a

is that I was choosing to let my fears,

group of women and it didn’t go so well!

doubts and worries take control and it

I knew my story and what I was going to

had a detrimental affect.

say, but I was really nervous about doing

it and on the drive to give the talk I felt

prepare to go on the radio and to prepare

sick, I felt anxious, and I was stressed out

for my last speech? Well, I didn’t let my

about giving the talk.

fears take control of me.

When the time came for me to get

I didn’t enjoy it and I knew I hadn’t What I didn’t realise back then

So, what did I do differently to

How to Take Control

17

THIS IS WHAT I DID: 

When the fear started taking over my

How to take control:

mind, I firmly told myself to stop it. I said

1.

it to myself with conviction and belief

thing that is outside of your

that I could stop those thoughts.

comfort zone and makes you freak

When you’re faced with some-

Instead of getting carried away

out, worry and panic, tell yourself

with thinking about all the things that

firmly to stop it and mean it. This is

could go wrong, I focused on imagining

the time to have serious words with



everything

going

amazingly

well.

yourself.

I made time to vividly imagine this

2.

every morning in the days leading up

stop it, you then have to tell your-

to the event.

self that you can do it; that you’re



I constantly told myself that I

could do it!

Once you’ve told yourself to

more than capable of doing it well!

3.

Take time to imagine the

I made the decision to choose to

situation going really well – feel

believe that I could do it, that I would be

good about it, get excited, know

ok and that I would do the best I could.

that everything will be ok, because





I also listened to a song that made

you’re in control.

me feel amazing and confident and

4. Now get out there and OWN IT!!

imagined being amazing and doing a

Seriously, you have to tell yourself

good job.

that you own it and that you’re

It’s simple, but it’s effective. If you

going to be amazing at it!

want to take control, it starts by taking

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control of your thoughts and it might be

You can do it, you just have to choose the

tough at first, but persevere, because it

right thoughts, choose the right attitude

will be so worth it!

and choose a winning frame of mind.

This Girl Means Business

A Question to Ponder On How often do you let yourself believe that seemingly impossible things are actually possible?

Sometimes it’s so easy to get so caught up in the challenges of running a business that we forget that things really are possible. We need to remember that we can do it; that it is possible.

“There is no use trying”, said Alice; “one can’t believe impossible things.”

“I dare say you haven’t had much practice,” said the Queen. “When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” { Lewis Carroll }

Impossible = I’m Possible!

A Question to Ponder On

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When is the right time to quit your job & start a business?

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Business

inspiration

11 12 1 10 2 9 3 8 4 7 6 5

can

Scary. The biggest problem people in

strike at different times. For some it

this situation face is knowing when

strikes at a very young age, for others

the right time to quit is. When is

it can strike much later on in life.

the right time to turn your back on

Others find inspiration after facing

your job? When is the right time to

personal challenges, while some take

start working on turning your ideas

the entrepreneurial route after being

into a reality?

made redundant. However for a lot

of people business inspiration strikes

is different for everyone. However,

whilst still it the comfort of having

there are some key things you can do

a job and this can sometimes be

to prepare yourself for quitting your

problematic.

job and following your heart.

Following your heart and taking

Well, the truth is, the right time

We spoke to 3 women who all

a leap of faith into the entrepreneurial

quit their job to start their business so

world means leaving behind a job, a

we could find out how they plucked

salary, work colleagues, support from

up the courage to quit, what hap-

managers and more! It means making

pened once they quit and what

the decision to leave a comfortable,

their advice is to other women who

safe environment and venture off on

daydream about leaving their job to

your own into the business wilderness.

start their own business.

This Girl Means Business

AILISH LUCAS

JUS T QUI T !

Entreprene ur in the m a k in g !

“Oh. Dear. God. I have handed

after four and a half years. Five years

in my notice to my job of five long

later… I finally handed in my notice.

years to venture out on my own. It’s

This brings me to the present day.

been coming for a long time…

I’m scared beyond belief. I don’t

and

think I’ve been this scared in a very,

thought anything was possible, so

very long time. In fact, I’m not sure I’ve

I went travelling. When I got back, I

ever been this scared before.

started my first job and then left after

18 months to start a job on a graduate

plan, talked to the bank (I probably

scheme. I didn’t enjoy it and swore I’d

need more money than I actually have).

leave after the first year, but I didn’t.

I am considering other alternatives as

Another year went by and I decided I

backups and I’m panicking like I’ve

wanted to become a make-up artist,

never done before.

I

finished

University

I’ve written most of my business

so I began to train part time. I swore I’d leave my job after the third year, but I didn’t. I changed my mind about being a make-up artist and then decided I wanted to be in beauty and have my own spa. I swore I’d leave my job after the forth year, but I didn’t. I then trained as a Beauty Therapist part time whilst still working; I swore I’d leave

But somewhere deep in the depths of overwhelming panic, there is a tiny ray of hope telling me that things will work out & I need to start living life like I want to.

When to Quit

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I’ll get by because I have to. This

So, I’m going for the wild card

is my life. Jim Rohn once said,

option. Scared beyond belief that it

“I find it fascinating that most people

isn’t all figured out.

plan their vacation with better care

than they do their lives.” I don’t want

midst of all the panic, I feel more alive

to be one of those people.

than ever.”

The funny thing is that in the

TERESA MITROVIC Redefining Life

“I’d had a fantastic (incred-

and at home, how incredible would

ibly fun and financially rewarding)

it be to help others do the same?

career as a marketer working with

Hasbro, The Walt Disney Company

knew I wanted to become a coach

and Universal Pictures, travelling

and work with women leaders who

the world and doing the kind of

were as passionate about their careers

work my friends were chewing their

as they were about their lifestyle.

right arm off for.

Desire? Check. Courage? Well, no.

Even so, a ‘Coach as Manager’

That took a little longer to build. I

course I’d completed earlier in my

couldn’t see how I’d actually do it,

career had planted a thought I just

so I set a distant deadline (my 40th

couldn’t shake; I loved my career,

birthday), kept practising coaching in

but if coaching could help me

my corporate life and kept absorbing

experience such great success at work

as much coaching material as I could.

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FULLY CONVER T ED BUSINESS OWNER

This Girl Means Business

In that sense, I was lucky. I

It was a move from NZ to the

role as well as studying for my first

UK (initiated by my husband) that felt

two diplomas that was the catalyst

like a door was being cracked open.

for making the break. That deadline

I was 37 and knew instinctively that

was less than a year away; it was the

I was being presented with a ‘now or

sense that my dream was slipping,

never’ moment. I was nervous, but the

that converted frustration and fear to

fear that I may miss the opportunity

courage and made me quit my contract,

altogether

I

step out of the corporate world and

simultaneously researched training

work on my new career full time.

providers (knowing the sooner I

committed, the sooner I’d begin) and

Absolutely YES! The learning curve

ignored permanent roles to work as a

was steeper than I expected, yet it’s

marketing contractor instead. It was a

been incredible and I feel happier,

bold move given the failing economy,

more fulfilled and more successful

but I knew a permanent role would lure

than ever. My advice to others? Make

me into comfort and complacency and

the learning curve gentler for yourself;

was

stronger,

so

Was

it

the

right

thing?

talk to people who are already doing

I didn’t want to look back and regret not making the most of my life.

what you want to do, get as clear as you can about what you want to do, have a plan to keep yourself afloat financially and emotionally. There’s a wealth of amazing women’s networks

In the end, I only contracted for

out there (like the Female Entre-

as long as was needed to fund my

preneur Association) where women

training and launch the business. It

are ready and willing to share their

was the pressure of juggling a senior

experience; all you need to do is ask.

When to Quit

23

ARLET TE LEE

FULLY CONVER T ED BUSINESS OWNER

“I worked in marketing

quality, advocating the exceptional

for 9 years for an investment

artisanship of the Andes - bringing a

firm managing client accounts,

piece of nature closer to home.

reconciliations, monthly reporting,

website content, due diligences, to

now living my dream. However,

name a few of the responsibilities.

the process of quitting my job and

I felt constrained and lost my

figuring out what I wanted to do

identity in a job which didn’t fulfil me,

wasn’t easy and it didn’t happen over

so I decided that I didn’t want to work

night. I was actually in complete limbo

for anyone else again. I wanted to be

for two years.

From finance to fashion, I’m

happy every day, I wanted to follow my passion for designing, so I took the opportunity to go to Peru and seek inspiration. Travelling solo taught me that you can reach summits and do anything you want if you put your

Finding the courage to quit took a great deal of reflection and speaking with supportive family and friends.

heart and soul into it. I was inspired

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by the artisanal craftsmanship in

I looked within myself at what was

Peru and decided to make my vision

missing. The only way I would start

come true by working with beautiful

to build up that contentment was

fibres to create products of supreme

by finding my soul again. To do this,

This Girl Means Business

I travelled solo around the world and

have your voice. Observe, listen and

allowed myself time to figure out what

use it.

I wanted to do. It was a process. Setting

myself free from the city allowed the

about quitting their job to start

light bulb to turn on.

a business is to be honest with

Quitting my job was one of the

yourself, let go of any fear and

hardest and most rewarding decisions

follow your gut instinct of what feels

I have made. A colleague said years

right for you now.

My advice to others thinking

ago, “Do what you love, Arlette, and the money will follow”. We all have

When you have complete conviction in yourself and passion, you are on the right path.

bills to pay, yet when you do what you enjoy, the process of generating a living becomes more rewarding for your self-esteem.

It is tough running a business,

yet by taking baby steps and focusing on the big picture, every day is an

Never compare yourself to others.

experience,

like-minded

Value yourself and others’ opinions,

individuals, learning the graft of every

yet remember you know what is best

aspect of the business. I have set my

for you. Consciously seek personal

intent and have goals working towards

happiness by adjusting to a positive

the destination.

mind-set, take action and invest in

your wellbeing. Your inner fire will

meeting

I’ve learnt to follow my heart

and listen to my intuition. You have to

ignite when you listen to yourself.

know yourself really well. Never allow

anyone to knock your confidence. You

what is right for you. 

Believe in yourself and do

When to Quit

25

Top Tips to Prepare Yourself for Quitting 1. Make sure you’re really clear about

start to build up a support network and

what you want to do and why you

find people who are already running

want to do it.

businesses, who can help you.

2. Research your idea thoroughly

7. Find a mentor – someone who has

– don’t be afraid to ask others what

been there, done it, got the t-shirt, who

they think.

can help you.

3. Make a game plan: write down what

8. Start to build your online presences

you want to achieve and then work

– get on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn,

backwards and figure out exactly how

start a blog.

you’re going to achieve it and what

9. If you can test your idea out whilst

actions you need to take.

4. Start saving! If you’re going to quit your job, you’re going to lose your income. You need to budget and make sure you have enough money to survive if you quit. Remember, you could always work part time.

5. Start learning about business – read business books, go on courses.

26

you’re still at work, do it.

10. Prepare yourself to work harder than ever before. If you think building a business is going to be easy, think again!

11. Have the self-belief, the courage and determination to make it happen.

Accept that it’s going to be scary at times, but know that ultimately you have one life to make amazing things happen –

6. Start networking. You might not

it’s an adventure and unless you get out

have quit yet, but networking is crucial

of your comfort zone and quit your job,

in business. By networking now you can

you’re never going to make it happen.

This Girl Means Business

WE’RE LOOKING FOR CONTRIBUTORS...

Would you like to share your knowledge and expertise in a future issue of This Girl Means Business?

If so, we’d love to hear from you! We’re always on the look out for people to contribute great articles.

To find out how you can contribute, CLICK HERE.

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This Girl Means Business

How She Did It

By Carrie Green NAME:

Hannah BeaumontLaurencia COMPANY:

Beaumont Organic - since 2007 LOCATION:

United Kingdom Hannah Beaumont-Laurencia, 28, is the founder of Beaumont Organic, a luxury,

organic clothing company that is now sold in stores throughout the UK and Japan and Sweden. Her clothes have been featured in the likes of Vogue!

So we chatted to Hannah to find out how she took her idea and made it into a successful reality! How do you start your own clothing company?

How do you get the clothes made?

How do you get the clothes into stores? Hannah opened up and told us exactly how she did it.

How did you come up with the idea to set up Beaumont Organic?

I always knew that I wanted my own business, but I wasn’t sure what I wanted that business to be! It wasn’t until 2007 that I figured it out.

COMING UP WITH THE IDEA: 2007 - I was working in clothing as an assistant buyer for a leading fashion company and around this time there was lots in the media about organic food and environmental issues and this got me thinking about creating organic clothing, by using cotton that is grown

How She Did It

29

without any chemical fertilisers

put on it and making sure that the workers making the cotton are paid fairly. I had loads of other ideas for starting a business, but I kept coming back to the organic clothing and so I decided to go round boutique shops to see if they stocked organic clothing and they didn’t – so I decided that I would set up a company doing that. I also really wanted to work for myself.

{ { I was working so many hours in my job and I thought I could be putting that into my own business. I wanted to be creative and I couldn’t do that with my job.

How did you take it from an idea to a reality - what were the first few steps you took?

WHAT I DID ONCE I HAD THE IDEA: When I first came up with the idea I was unsure about how

30

This Girl Means Business

everything was going to work out or what I was actually going to do, so I sat down and wrote a plan. I looked at who was going to buy my clothes, I researched competitors, I looked at who I could get to sell them, and I had to research how I was going to get the clothes made. So lots of research and planning for the first 6 months – I was doing this in the evening, whilst I was working full time.

TURNING THE IDEA INTO A REALIT Y: After doing some research I really felt like there was a gap in the market for luxury ethical clothing and so I handed in my notice, moved back home to live with my parents, so I could save money, and I began drawing specs. I taught myself how to do this from working with specs in my job. Initially I drew 12 specs and then I started to contact factories to make the prototypes.

When the first samples arrived they were such a mess and I was so upset, because I’d spent

ages speaking with the factories and I knew I couldn’t work with them moving forward. I’d also ended up losing a few hundred pounds, but at this point I knew I had to find a way to figure it out, because I’d already quit my job.

I decided to get in touch with the factories that my previous employer had (leading fashion company) used, because I knew they made good quality clothing. When the samples arrived the quality was

amazing and I knew that they were the right manufacture to work with.

Once I had the first sample collection I had to take pictures of the clothes. Essentially I had to create a look book and campaign, but I couldn’t afford to pay someone to do this for me, so I did it myself and used a friend as a model. It was really basic, but it was enough to get me started.

How She Did It

31

Images from Beaumont Organic’s A/W 2012 look book

32

This Girl Means Business

AUGUST 2007: Once I had the look book I got in my car and started driving around towns, looking for independent luxury boutiques.

Whenever I spotted one I’d go in and ask to speak to the buyer and if they weren’t there I’d ask to leave a sample or get their contact details.

It was exhausting – I did this pretty much every day for 2 months. By the end of the 2 months I had managed to secure 40 UK stockists. I think I managed to do so well because I persevered and I was flexible (there was no minimum order) and I was personable; I would give them my mobile number, so if there was a problem, they could ring me.

During this time I also had to start designing the winter 2008 collection, so I was drawing in the evenings and creating mood boards and inspiration boards. It was really tiring, but I was really motivated by the orders I was receiving and the feedback I was getting from the buyers. Having a good product is absolutely essential, because if my products weren’t good quality I

wouldn’t have sold any.

I felt under pressure whilst designing for the next season, because I knew I had to design more pieces and they had to be even better than the first season.

SEPTEMBER 2007: After this, I went out to Portugal to meet the manufacturers and confirm the orders and go through all the new specs for winter ‘08.

How She Did It

33

I also went to mills to look at new fabrics and I also went to applique houses to look at embroideries and buttons and factories where I could get all the packaging made and I gathered loads of information to bring back with me.

When I got back from Portugal I was starting to receive the first prototypes, which I then had to measure and check and give comments on how I wanted them changed. While all this was going on I was contacting magazines -

{

{

I went through all of the magazines I wanted to be featured in and looked for the contact details at the front of the magazine.

I then called or emailed to find out who I needed to speak to and to find out if they had any interest in organic clothing. Because it was something new, quite a lot were interested. I had actually

34

This Girl Means Business

printed and laminated about 100 look books, which took many evenings, and I then posted them out in Beaumont organic cotton drawstring bags to the people I’d contacted at the magazines.

By doing this I managed to get some press coverage from when we launched.

THE LAUNCH: JANUARY 2008: So in January 2008 the goods started to arrive and we started to check the quality, package them up and then distribute them to the shops.

I actually went to some of the key stores and helped them to launch the collection and talked about it.

I made sure I kept in good contact with all the buyers to ensure they had a successful season.

During this time I was also out selling the autumn/winter 2008 collection, so it was all go, go, go!

The first season was a massive learning curve, but we managed to turnover £50,000 and this allowed me to fund the next collection.

HOW HANNAH’S YEAR LOOKS: I would sell in January, Feb and March and then I’d go over to Portugal in April to visit the factories. In May the samples were coming in for approval and then in June I would focus on the look book ready to start selling again in July. It’s a cycle.

How did you grow the business?

The collection has grown every season, we now sell 60 pieces – including accessories and offer various colour options.

This has helped us to start having conversations with bigger retailers.

One of the biggest growth areas has been export – primarily to Japan. After we launched the first collection I entered an award for the best organic textile product and won and this gave us quite a lot of press coverage.

A Japanese agent read about the collection whilst he was in the UK and he contacted us to talk about distributing Beaumont Organic in Japan. This was at the end of 2008. He bought a sample collection off us and then stocked it in 2 of his shops and then he started selling the collection to other shops in Japan.

How She Did It

35

TIPS FOR EXPORTING & SELLING WHOLESALE... I’d say that if you want to distribute abroad the best thing to do is get a distributor – look on competitors websites to see who they’re using or go with recommendations.

It’s also really important to take payment upfront for large orders to companies that you don’t know anything about.

When we first launched I hadn’t even considered direct selling, so I didn’t have any website or any way for customers to buy direct.

Setting up the website and getting more active online has helped us to grow and I see it as a big area of growth for the future, but it takes a lot of patience, because starting anything online takes time.

How did you fund the business?

I was quite fortunate in that my dad had retired and so he invested in my business and provided funding for the first collection

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This Girl Means Business

made. Having him on board has been so invaluable, because not only has he helped with the funding, he’s been a mentor to me – I think finding a good mentor in the start up phases is so important. It’s so easy to make lots of mistakes and waste lots of money, so having someone to guide you who’s been there and done it really helped me initially.

I didn’t know anything at all when I first came up with the idea in 2007, but I took the time to learn how to do things I didn’t have a clue about. Not only did I have to find out about cotton and the fabrics and making clothes and selling them I also had to figure out how to run a business.

Ultimately what I’ve learnt is that although I run a clothing company, running a business is all about people and relationships and getting people to love my clothing and ultimately buy it.

We’ve doubled our turnover every year through what has been quite tight economic times

Have you made any mistakes along the way?

We’ve made quite a few mistakes along the way, but I think that’s all about business and learning. As long as the mistakes aren’t too catastrophic, it’s ok. For the first collection, we bought a lot more than we should have done – we weren’t confident to negotiate with the factories, so we just went

along with what they said, which resulted in us having surplus stock – I have now become the queen of negotiating.

The other mistake was getting into really big stores too soon and not being prepared – it’s better to start with small shops, than to be in a big shop at the beginning and then them drop you, because of poor sales.

How She Did It

37

{ { The journey so far has been exciting and challenging, but hugely rewarding.

I know I’ve got a long way to climb until I’ve achieved my ultimate goal.

Being dyslexic at school made me realise that I had to work really hard to achieve the results I wanted – I think this has helped me with the business, because it made me realise that if you do put the hours in you can get the results.

What would your advice be to other people looking to get their products sold in stores?

Do something you love and that you’re passionate about, because you’re going to be doing it a lot and it will reflect in the quality of what you deliver. 

Never give up, even when things go wrong – you have to keep your chin up, because there lots of knock downs, but you just have to keep

going and focus on the positives 

Do your research



Know your product inside out



Be friendly to everyone



Be prepared to put in the hours

Make sure you have good support 

Keep on top of your finance – if you’re not very good at this, get someone to help you. 

Make the time to set goals and do financial reviews and financial forecasts. 

FAVOURITE QUOTE:

“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again.”



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This Girl Means Business

>> FOR MORE INFORMATION ON BEAUMONT ORGANIC, CLICK HERE.

WORDS OF ADVICE FROM

Female Entrepreneurs “Take the time to plan a strong foundation for your online business. Start with a website that converts and collects names and email addresses; an email newsletter to share your expertise; and social media profiles to connect and get the word about what you’re up to.” — Melodye Hunter, Melodye Hunter Creative Media, USA

“Apply VMA in your business: VISION > MINDSET > ACTION - Design a VISION that motivates you (and the people in the business) to take action - Create a Positive MINDSET, so that you are conditioned internally for success - Formulate a Plan of ACTION to direct all your activity to, which will result in the outcome.” — Tamsen Garrie, Alpha Associates, Ltd

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE? 40

This Girl Means Business

“Don’t ever give up, be positive, know your product, and never be afraid to ask questions.”

— Sharon Tucker, Thema and Louises, Ireland

“Believe in yourself and your abilities as much as you believe in your business idea. All too often mums let the doubts creep in, don’t!”

— Mairéad Kelly, Cute Honey, Ireland

“Do what you love! That is the best advice I have ever received. I’m not sure that anyone has ever said the exact words to me, but everyone in my family owns their own business, including me, so I have definitely learned from example.” — Ciera Holzenthal, Ciera Design, USA

Click here to submit your advice for our next issue!

Advice from Female Entrepreneurs

41

5 Things to Try This Month

By Carrie Green

1

Write your game plan.

So many of us end up drifting, because we don’t have a game plan for how we’re going to achieve our goals. Spend some time focusing on what you want to have achieved

2

Get media exposure.

This month, why not try getting some media exposure for you and your business? Make a list of all the radio stations, newspapers, magazines and T V shows you’d like to be featured on, find out the people you need to get in touch with and then have the courage to get in touch.

42

in 3 months time and then work backwards and plan how you’re going to do it and the actions you need to take every week to make it happen. This might seem like a time consuming task, but it’s so worth it.

If you fail to plan then you’re really planning to fail!

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Be creative – you could send them something exciting, do something really special for them – anything to get their attention and make them want to feature you! You can do it, you’ve just got to persist and think outside of the box.

3

Create your own Mastermind Group.

Reach out to 6-8 like-minded people, who would like to meet up once a month – it could be dinner, lunch, or just a meet up – spend a few hours together talking about what you’ve been doing, the challenges you’ve faced, what you would like help or advice with. The aim is that

4

you all support each other to achieve more. It’s a great way help each other to implement new goals, brainstorm new ideas and learn new things. You will also feel more accountable for achieving your goals and doing what you said you would do before the next meeting.

Get organised!

Being organised is essential in business. Something you could try this month is buying some cute storage boxes to organise your papers, invoices and receipts in your office. They will look pretty and help you to keep track of where all the important documents are.

3

Create a goal box.

With one of your new cute boxes create a Goal Box! This is a where you can keep all the things you want to make happen or have. A picture of the car you want to drive, the house you’d like to live in, a list of magazines you want to get featured

in or the number of fans you’d like on Facebook – whatever it is you want, print it out, get a picture and put it in the box. Believe that whatever goes in that box will come to you. Take the time to look through the things in your box regularly.

5 Things to Try This Month

43

Cover Story

Author of

The E-Myth

an inter v iew w ith

Michael Gerber When I first got started in business I didn’t have a clue what I was doing, so I used to spend a lot of time reading business books and learning as much as I possibly could in order to make my business more successful. By Carrie Green

In 2007 I came across a book

running a business; where working on

called The E-myth Revisited, by Michael

E. Gerber and everything changed. I

entrepreneurial seizures, primary aims,

learnt how to really be an entrepreneur,

systemising your business and much

how to build a successful business and

more. It’s an interview packed full of

how to turn a business that consumed

useful advice, insights and tips on how

most of my time into a business that

we can build more successful businesses

ran like clockwork without me. The book

and live an amazing life. I am so excited

opened my eyes to a whole new way of

to share this with you.

the business, not in the business was absolutely crucial.

Since then, The E-myth Revisited

has remained firmly at the top of my ‘must read’ business book list, so when I got the chance to speak with Michael Gerber I was more than excited!

I chatted to Michael about

Interview with Michael Gerber

45

work. It is the fatal assumption, because it is completely untrue. In other words, what I’ve learned is, knowing how to do the work is the least important part about building a business that works.

So essentially, people that are running businesses are great at the technical side of things, but they don’t actually understand how to run the business?

Yes, absolutely. But even more than that, in many cases they may not

46

What is the E-Myth?

The E-Myth is the entrepreneurial

even be great at the technical side of

myth. It addresses the issue of business

or a D, not an A. They don’t truly even

failure from the perspective that

understand the rigor of the technical

people who go into business are not

part of the business that they do,

entrepreneurs, but technicians suffering

because they never approached it with

from an entrepreneurial seizure. They

that kind of rigor. The entrepreneur

believe in the fatal assumption that

adds a rigor to the total dimension of

because they know how to do the work

the company, both the technical side

of the business, whatever that work

and the entrepreneurial side, both the

might be – graphic design, consulting,

tactical side and the strategic side. It

cardiology or chiropractic and on and

helps to understand this better that, in

on - they think they also know how to

fact, business is, from an entrepreneurial

build the business and that does not

perspective, a totally integrated system,

This Girl Means Business

the business, meaning, they may be a C

{

Knowing how to do the work is the least important part about building a business that works.

{

just as our body is totally integrated

and provide them with an understanding

systems, just as our mind is a totally

of the systemic view of the work of a

integrated system, just as the universe

business designer, which is essentially

is a totally integrated system. When

what this is all about. We must become

you begin to see that, you begin to

a master of business design. That’s

understand that we, as individuals, are

how I speak about entrepreneurs. An

creators of what it is we produce in our

entrepreneur must become a master of

lives. When it comes to producing or

business design.

creating a business, we must think of it

systems. In order to do that, I have to

So for the people who have built a business with broken or no systems, how can they fix it? In your book, you talk about TurnKey Revolution. Perhaps, you can talk about what the Turn-Key Revolution is?

The first step, the Turn-Key

first address the business person, who’s

Revolution,

about to launch off on this broken path,

reality. Step one is understanding the

systemically, not just partially, because to the degree we only think of it partially - that is, how I do this, how I do that – we’re essentially inventing a broken system. Over the past 40 years, the work I’ve been doing has been fixing broken businesses, meaning, fixing broken

essentially

is

a

total

Interview with Michael Gerber

47

It’s absolutely essential you understand that

an entrepreneur sees the forest and he’s not just bumping into trees. Everybody else who owns a business is bumping into trees every day. They can’t see the entirety of it.

48

perspective or point-of-view or you

the Golden Arches McDonald’s. At the

might call it the E-Myth Paradigm. I use

outset of that, Ray Kroc didn’t go to

in my book McDonald’s, the hamburger

work in McDonald’s to make certain

business. Understand that it’s in a

that it worked; he went to work on

business that is a commodity; selling

McDonald’s to make certain it worked.

something you can buy everywhere. It

He did that so as to be able to build

didn’t create a unique product, so that

the totally integrated core operating

dismissed the whole idea that it’s got to

system that I spoke about earlier. The

be a unique product. They didn’t choose

system encompasses what we call the

a completely new category of business;

seven centres of management intention,

it’s an old category of business. It’s all

i.e.,

the more remarkable for the fact that

management, lead generation, lead

Ray Kroc and the McDonald brothers

conversion, client fulfilment – a totally

were able to take an ordinary product,

integrated business operating system.

called it a commodity and turn it

You can begin to see that you have to

into an extraordinary product. Talk

transcend your business in order to

about it as an original way of selling,

design your business. You have to go

making, delivering that commodity

above your business to be able to see the

into a stunning product that became

entire thing in plan. It’s like rising above

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leadership,

marketing,

money,

You’ve heard the expression “You can’t

Yes, very true.

Well, that’s exactly what has to

see the forest for the trees”, meaning,

happen to every single person who owns

the trees are all in the way. You have to

a business. They have to understand it.

see the forest. It’s absolutely essential

They have to see it to feel it. They have

you understand that an entrepreneur

to be inspired by it. They have to have an

sees the forest and he’s not just bumping

epiphany of it. They have to understand

into trees. Everybody else who owns a

it and then they have to be trained to do

business is bumping into trees every

that in a very rigorous way.

the forest so you could see the trees.

day. They can’t see the entirety of it.

of seeing. It’s a moment of clarity. It’s a

How do people actually then go about doing what you’re saying if they’re stuck in that business?

What would your advice be to them in order to get out of that business and see it from a bird’s eye view?

Well, it’s very, very simple.

moment of understanding. It happened

It’s spelled out in the book E-Myth

to you, Carrie. You said that, “When

Revisited. The first step is to understand

I read your book, Michael, I simply

the point-of-view. Now, we’re going to

saw it. I suddenly saw what I’ve been

begin to address the point-of-view to

doing wrong. I suddenly saw what

fix my company by going to a business

I needed to do instead. I suddenly

development process. The first step

understood what was critical and why it

in the business development process

was critical and I immediately set about

is to determine what my primary aim

the task of doing exactly what you said

is. I TALK ABOUT MY PRIMARY AIM

in your book.” True?

WHICH IS THE PURPOSE OF MY LIFE.

Well, it’s absolutely essential that we do. So that’s the very first step: understanding the point-of-view, understanding the perspective, understanding the paradigm. Once somebody sees that, it is like an epiphany. It’s a moment

Interview with Michael Gerber 49

I’m saying that every single person who’s

of primary aim is really beginning with

in business absolutely must address

a blank piece of paper in the beginner’s

this question. Why am I here? Who am

mind, beginning at the beginning,

I? What do I want my life to look like?

“Today is the first day of the rest of my

What is important about my life other

life. How do I begin my life in a way that

than the fact that I need to make a

is different from the way I began my

living? What’s important about my life,

life before?” So the dreaming room is

as though I’m about to come to the end

designed for people to do that because

of my life?

it’s so profoundly powerful, because it enables someone to understand the

What, in fact, would I want somebody to say at the end of my life about my life? What was the meaning of my life? That has to be addressed. If that’s not addressed, then we are immediately involved in fixing the business and we’ve lost our way.

true essence of entrepreneurship in a way that they never understood it before. I would say the dreaming room is a prerequisite for anybody doing this serious work. What happens in the dreaming room is designed to awaken the new entrepreneur within. The new entrepreneur I describe as four different personalities: the dreamer, the thinker, the storyteller, and the leader.

The dreamer has a dream. The thinker

50

So the most important part of the process

has a vision. The storyteller has a

is the beginning of the process. In the

purpose. The leader has a mission.

other book, Awakening the Entrepreneur

They understand what their dream is.

Within: How Ordinary People Create

They understand what their vision is.

Extraordinary Companies, I talk about

They understand what their purpose

the dreaming room. The very critical part

is. They understand what their mission

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is. They understand who they are. If, in

enough. It’s not enough to truly enable

fact, you start a business that you start

you to do this work on your business,

simply because you wanted to make a

rather than just in your business. You

lot of money or you started a business

need to give a form and a shape to it.

simply because you think it was the

Who am I and what do I want? Those

best thing for you to do because you

are the most important questions at

were a chiropractor and you wanted

the beginning, the primary aim. The

to start out on your own, or...or...or. It

dreaming room is the most important

is not deep enough. It is not significant

process one needs to go through in Interview with Michael Gerber

51

{

52

Until it’s truly deep down in your heart, it won’t survive.

{

order to truly understand this and drill

your strategic objective. The strategic

it deep down into your heart. Until it’s

objective for your company is the

truly deep down in your heart, it won’t

physical reality it will become when

survive. I don’t care how many systems

it’s finally done. So you have to ask

you create, it won’t survive because the

the question “What will my company

meaning of it won’t be as compelling

look and feel like when I’ve completed

as it must be in order for you to get

it?” When I mean completed it, I mean

through the hard times, the soft times,

truly completed it, meaning, it’s ready

the weak times, the broken times, the

and it’s done what it needed to do. It’s

times you just stand up and they say

ready to be acquired by somebody else.

“Oh no, you won’t” and “It can’t” and “It

Ultimately, when you’re done with your

won’t work”, etc. It’s very, very critical.

business, you’re going to sell it. As I say in

That’s why we created the dreaming

my books, an entrepreneur is designing

room in the first place.

a company which is, in fact, a product,

The second step in this process of

the true product of an entrepreneur’s

business development, once you have

imagination will ultimately be sold.

your primary aim, once you understand

It will be sold to another company, a

your dream, your purpose, your vision

strategic investor, a strategic partner

and your mission, the second step is

who sees the power of your brand,

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the power of your system, the power of

To the degree they are absent tells me

your reach, the power of what you do

the person who started that company

and how you do it and why you do it, the

absolutely didn’t intend to communicate

power of the way in which developed it

exactly how ‘we do it here’. Instead, he/

to the point where it operates without

she elected another policy and that

you, not simply because of you. They

was to hire people who already know

want to buy that. When they want to

how to do it. You understand there are

buy that, you’ll then realise your great

two different positions here. One, the

return on your great investment in

position of every man, that is, every

building this stunning McDonald’s or

guy who creates a business hires people

whatever you want.

who they expect know how to do it.

They’ve learned how to do it somewhere

How important do you think it is for companies to create internal manuals and systems?

It’s absolutely essential. Without

else in another business. Or two,

them, there is no business. Without

know how to do anything. Therefore,

them, there is no communication.

it’s incumbent upon me to be able to

Without them, there is no management.

demonstrate to them how they do

Without them, there is no leadership.

something, how they do whatever it

somebody who hires novices who don’t know how to do anything. Well, I’m the guy who hires novices, who don’t

is that we’re hiring them to do in our

The systems, the manuals, the “this is how we do it here” is the essence, the heart of the operating company.

business, not just how to do something, but how to do something exactly the way we’ve designed it to be done here in our business, because exactly how we designed it to be done is what constitutes the brand of our business.

Interview with Michael Gerber

53

Essentially, every business owner needs to sit down and create a process or a manual for everything they do: how they generate sales, how they process sales, how they keep relationships with customers...

Of course, but the first thing

understand what Starbuck’s is doing, I

they need to do before they get down

that is what I call innovation.

to orchestration, which is what you’re

describing, they need to innovate.

The second step is quantification. I’ve

Innovation is the first step, the first

created a better way to do what I do.

business development process.

Now I’ve got to quantify that to be

better understand how Starbuck’s does it, I better understand the brand called Starbuck’s that has made it possible for Starbuck’s to be the most successful in the industry worldwide. I have to understand that in order to be able to improve upon that. To improve upon But innovation isn’t enough.

true. How well does it work? How much

Innovation means inventing a better way to do what it is you do in comparison to the way it’s being done by everybody else.

better does it work from the way we did it before? Innovation is the first step.

Quantification is the second step.

Once I know that I have invented

a better way, now I must document that better way in order to make certain

54

In fact, if I’m going to open up a coffee

that I can sustain that better way in

and tea shop, I’m in competition with

the hands of every single person who is

Starbuck’s. Starbuck’s has a way of

“accountable” for delivering that better

doing what they do; it’s called ‘the

way - the people who work for me.

Starbuck’s way’. If I’m going into

competition with Starbuck’s, I better

quantification,

understand ‘the Starbuck’s way’, I better

it renews itself: innovation again,

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So this is the process: innovation, orchestration.

Then

Unless it’s being continually improved, unless you’re working on it continuously, not just in it, your company will become static.

As your company becomes static, it will die.

quantification, orchestration. It’s a living

going to become an entrepreneur and

process, meaning, you don’t do it once;

you’re going to leave the technician’s

it’s continuous improvement. Unless

work behind. Until you make up your

it’s being continually improved, unless

mind to do that, you can set aside time,

you’re working on it continuously, not

but it won’t matter. Until you understand

just in it, your company will become

the wisdom of what I’m saying to you,

static. As your company becomes static,

unless you truly take it deep into your

it will die.

heart, unless you truly awaken the entrepreneur within you, you’ll make a

There are lots of people out there who work for themselves with no employees, so they have no choice but to work ‘in’ the business – focusing on the day-to-day tasks. Should they set time aside everyday to work ‘on’ the business, on the strategy, on the bigger picture too?

Yes. The first thing I would suggest

commitment and then you’ll forget it,

is to make up your mind that you’re

What happened?” What happened is

because the exigencies of your day are going to cause you to forget it. You’ll set time aside, but then you have to do this. You’ll set time aside but them you have to do that. We all are called by these demands of the day. Three years later, we’ll look back and say, “What?

Did I read that book before? Wasn’t that something I was going to do before?

Interview with Michael Gerber

55

{

56

Your job is to get out of being the technician so that you can be the true entrepreneur.

{

life. So you have to make a choice at the

true entrepreneur. It’s a simultaneous

very beginning of this process, that, in

equation. You’re doing entrepreneurial

fact, this is what you are meant to do.

work from the very beginning: I have a

Then yes, set aside time.

dream, I have a vision, I have a purpose,

It’s not just the time you set aside;

I have a mission, etc. You’re seeing the

it’s the, what are you going to work on?

company from above, not from below.

Where do you start this process? First

But at the same time, you’ve got to go

of all, you start this process at the top,

to work in the company to perfect the

that is, your dream, your vision, your

system so that you can replicate yourself

purpose, your mission. You can begin

in that company at the lowest levels of

to re-envision your company from the

the company. So you want to create an

very get-go. You’re going to get a blank

organisation chart and put your name

piece of paper and “beginner’s mind”

in every box that you’re accountable for.

it. You’re going to “dreaming room” it.

The minute you do that, you’ll see how

You’re going to conceptualise it from a

much work you’re actually responsible

completely different perspective than

for on the organisation chart. Then all

you have today. Once you do that,

you’ve got to do is pick one position

what do you do? Remember what I

to get out of. That’s the first thing that

said, your job is to get out of being

you’ll do as you begin to transform the

the technician so that you can be the

state of reality in your company to free

This Girl Means Business

up your time. That is your turn-key, the

to invent the business development

work that you ought to be doing to

system through which to achieve those

free you, to conceptualise the work you

three results - my dream, my vision,

ought to be doing.

my purpose - in the real world with my company. You must know that. You

If you had to give one piece of advice to an entrepreneur, just one short thing, what would it be?

Know the meaning of what you’re

must know what your dream is. You

doing. Truly understand the purpose

the most important advice I can give to

of your business. Truly understand the

every single person who will see this or

meaning of it. Truly understand what

listen to this wherever they are in the

the dream is. The dream is the great

world.

must know what your vision is. You must know what your purpose is. You must know what your mission is. That is

result you intend to produce through

what your vision is. My vision is to

On a final thing, how can people find out more about you and your process?

It is so, so easy. All you need to do

invent the McDonald’s of small business

is come to www.michaelegerber.com. If

consulting.

the

you want to participate in the dreaming

purpose of your company. The purpose

room, I can make that happen, too, no

of my company is that every single small

matter where you are in the world. All

business owner will, in fact, realise and

you have to do is email me directly,

achieve success in the operation of

Michael@michaelegerber.com and say,

their company. Understand what your

“I want to go to a dreaming room” and

mission is. My mission has been from

I’ll bring a dreaming room to you no

the very beginning many years ago,

matter where you are in the world. 

your company in the world. My dream is to transform the state of small businesses worldwide. Truly understand

Truly

understand

Interview with Michael Gerber

57

What We’re Reading Awakening the Entrepreneur Within by Michael E. Gerber Book Review by Paul Green, AGM Telecommunications

Any aspiring entrepreneur should read this

book. It will inspire you to achieve much more than you ever thought possible. This is classic Gerber and his unique style runs throughout the book.

Occasionally confusing, Michael does go off on a tangent sometimes, but very entertaining, with a clear message delivered for the avid learner to say,

“Any aspiring entrepreneur should read this book.”

“aha, now I have it.”

When you read pages 29 & 30, the penny will

drop. Every entrepreneur comes to the crossroad that Michael talks about at some point. It is the moment of decision, the moment you move away from your comfort zone, possibly never to return.

// GET YOUR COPY HERE.

The journey into the unknown starts here.

He also talks about the Dreaming Room,

which I loved. Allowing the imagination to create and develop an idea and to awaken the entrepreneurial spirit, which exists within all of us. This book is a good investment in your future - enjoy.

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This Girl Means Business

Write It Down, Make It Happen: Knowing What You Want - And Getting It by Henriette Anne Klauser Book Review by Michelle Rohr, Secret OWL Society

Henriette Anne Klauser gives helpful

tips on how to use the act of writing from the heart to achieve goals, overcome fear, script your daily life, and come up with solutions to problems. Her pleasant writing style and frequent use of real-life stories kept me deeply interested and eager to take full advantage of the magic of writing down every hope and dream that would come to mind. The action steps at the end of each chapter are a nice touch as well. Getting clear about what you want out of life and writing it down works. I recommend Write It Down, Make it Happen as a vital addition to

“Henriette Anne Klauser gives helpful tips on how to use the act of writing from the heart to achieve goals, overcome fear, script your daily life, and come up with solutions to problems.”

your personal development library.

// GE T YOUR COPY HERE.

What We’re Reading 59

What We’re Reading Stop Talking, Start Doing

by Shaa Wasmund Book Review by Gita Joshi, Qwerty Art

From the title, all the way to the

back cover this book is indeed a kick in the pants that it claims to be. As the title says, the book is a call to action to move you from talking about your ideas to actually starting to do things to make it happen.

Upon flicking through the book it may not appear text heavy, but the images,

“As the title says, this book is a call to action to move you from talking about your ideas to actually starting to do things to make it happen.”

graphics and quotes provide different ways of delivering the message. They allow you to contemplate, and then propel you from talk to action. No more excuses.

Shaa Wasmund famously walks

her talk and through this book, she encourages and inspires and at the same time keeps you grounded in reality. While the book is not exclusively aimed at entrepreneurs, business owners will find much to learn from it. She encourages you to be accountable, by telling people

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This Girl Means Business

“By breaking down the big idea or plan into smaller achievable steps you are able to remove the overwhelming feeling of the larger project, and essentially reduce the fear that goes with it.” about your plans. Then, by breaking

your potential. There is a whole lot more

down the big idea or plan into smaller

going on in this book than you might

achievable steps you are able to remove

think at first glance and if you want to

the overwhelming feeling of the larger

make stuff happen, then start here.

project, and essentially reduce the fear

that goes with it. In essence, the steps

means the only book on motivation

she suggests lead to clarity and courage

out there. However it is the best one I

to pursue the changes you wish to make.

have read and, as a friend of mine

And as she points out, imagine the future

pointed out, she is way better looking

regret if you didn’t even try to reach

than Tony Robbins.

Shaa Wasmund’s book is by no

// GE T YOUR COPY HERE.

Read any excellent books lately? Tell us about it HERE and your book review could appear in a future issue.

What We’re Reading

61

This Girl Loves...

by Samantha Green

2 1

62

This Girl Means Business

3

1

4

5 1. Dress from Karen Miller / 2.

Coat from Reiss / 3. Black Pearl Nail Polish from Chanel / 4.

Boots from Christian Louboutin

/ 5. “Del Rey” Bag from Mulberry

This Girl Loves...

63

Accessories

by Samantha Green

1

2 3

4 64

This Girl Means Business

5 6 1. iPad Sleeve from Kate

Spade / 2. iPad Mini from Apple / 3. People Business Card Holder from Girl of All

Work / 4. Instax Mini from Fujifilm /

5. File Folders

from Anna Griffin /

6.

Notepad from Rifle Paper Co.

Accessories 65

16 Ways to Kick Feeling Lonely in the Butt The entrepreneurial journey can sometimes be a rather lonely one! Days on end spent working by yourself on your ideas, no colleagues, no work socials, no office chitchat. It can often leave entrepreneurs feeling in despair, miserable and feeling like they’re going slightly crazy. If you ever feel like this, don’t worry - you’re not alone. Here are some great things you can try, to overcome the loneliness and isolation…

“

I used to get lonely, and was frustrated because it inhibited creativity. One day I thought: “It’s just in my head, right?” I learned to love my own company instead of fear it, and to do the things I love.”

— Dr. Laura Nelson

“

My big tip for overcoming loneliness is to take a fun class, whether it’s fitness, painting or tealeaf reading. Something that stirs your soul, springs you into the community among other *gasp* humans and re-energizes you.”

— Jessie Mann, Nagamonster

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This Girl Means Business

“

Don’t forget that you are more than your business, even though you may love what you do! It is too easy to get caught up in the heady lights of networking and staying connected to people who are the same as you and giving up on your friends. Make time for balance and schedule in fun, not just business events! The loneliness is often caused because you have given up a big chunk of you for your business dream, which can be very isolating!”

— Sarupa Shah, The Soul Agency

“

Join networking groups local to your area and online communities such as LinkedIn and Facebook. You’ll find that people are going through the same thing as you and will be eager to support and uplift you. You may also walk away with accountability partner as a bonus!”

— Vanessa Cunningham, Unhealthy No More, Inc.

“

I keep my focus on why I started my business - my kids. When I’m working at 2am, I remember that it’s for my family. It doesn’t seem lonely after that!“

— Amy Armour, Armour Cleaning Services

“

Partnerships or joint marketing activity can be a real business grower and something to stop the isolation and generate new ideas.”

— Katie Wilson, Exceptional Marketing

“

Seek out networking events in your area. There are usually events especially for women. Don’t be afraid to follow up and meet for business lunches and coffees. It’s not only good for your mental health, but for your business too.” — Samantha Deakin,

“

As a mamapreneur with twoyear old twins and one on the way, sometimes DAYS go by where I don’t leave the house! Once a month, we pack up the family for a weekend visiting grandparents, and about every 3 months I escape for a 3-day weekend with my mastermind girlfriends! Those weekends are precious to my sanity!”

— Racheal Cook, The Yogipreneur

“

I’m new to the entrepreneur game; just starting with no steady clients. It’s lonely at times, professionally speaking. I remind myself everyone starts somewhere. There’s always a friend to keep you company when in need; and it’ll change soon enough.”

— Christina “Kiki” Spiwak, Indigo Creations

“

It’s imperative to set up regular “date nights” with girl friends! We have our regular happy hour times that everyone is welcome to join and bring friends to. I end up getting the social aspect and sometimes a new business contact!”

— Sandria Marie, Brazen Cosmetics, LLC.

The Finer Things

16 Ways to Kick Feeling Lonely in the Butt

67

16 Ways to Kick Loneliness in the Butt

“

I have a comments book for my business - and I when I’m feeling lonely I sit and read all the amazing messages ladies have left about how much my work has influenced their life and built their confidence.” — Jem Ayres,

The Burlesque Jems

“

Ever talked with people, who aren’t entrepreneurs, about what you do?

It makes you feel lonely because they don’t get it. To overcome that feeling, I meet regularly with a group of entrepreneurs where we share our challenges and successes.“ — Mary-Lynn Foster,

BIGG Success

“

Build up a support network of people in a similar position to you, who you can meet up with regularly for a coffee, lunch or even just a chat over the phone. It’s a chance to bounce ideas around and it’s essential for your sanity!” — Alison Bradford,

Alison Bradford Coaching

“

Once a day I pick one name from my contact list to send an e-mail to. Today I am on the letter “R”. It’s fun to just say hi to folks I haven’t talked to in awhile.” — Kimberly “Kimba” Dalferes,

Author of “I Was In Love With a Short Man Once”

“

Take your business to go. Some of my work involves writing (reports for clients, articles, blogging etc.) On designated writing days I take my laptop and ride my bike to a coffee shop with Wi-Fi. Being around people makes it better.” — Simone Spence,

Child Support Solutions

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This Girl Means Business

“

As my business began to grow, most of my friends just assumed I was always busy, and invites stopped rolling in. I make a point to let friends know that I am home, in town, and have time to spend with them when I have the rare weekend off. Even if it’s a quick drink, dinner, or just catching a T V show.” — Kelly

Richardson, Be Bronze LLC

“

Build up a support network of people in a similar position to you, who you can meet up with regularly for a coffee, lunch or even just a chat over the phone. It’s a chance to bounce ideas around and it’s essential for your sanity!”

— Alison Bradford, Alison Bradford Coaching

Programme Your Mind for Success

Would you like to attract more success into your life?

This 20 minute programme takes you into a deep, relaxed state and then provides suggestions for becoming more successful and allows you to really visualise feeling and being more successful.

- CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD -

5 Things to Try on Twitter This Month

by Jodie Cole, JC Social Media If you’re still just getting the hang of using social media for the benefit of your business, here are this month’s hottest tips to make the most of your Twitter account.

1. Make a prospects list Making lists is a very useful way to categorise all the individuals and businesses you follow on Twitter,

70

especially if you’re a little too follow-

-HOW TO CREATE A LIST:

happy. This will help you separate

Make a prospects list by using the ‘list’

those accounts that will make you

feature in Twitter. In ‘lists’ click ‘add a

money from those that will keep you

list’ then name it and make it private.

entertained. By making a ‘prospects’

Whilst you’re on the Twitter profile of

list you can keep a close eye on

someone you want to add to the list,

your

to

click the person icon next to ‘follow’

effectively engage with them –

and then select ‘add/remove from

regularly. Remember: you can keep

lists’. You can then tick the list you’d

these lists private so no one knows

like to add them to and repeat this

what you’re up to!

process for all of your prospects.

targets,

enabling

This Girl Means Business

you

2. Make a celebrity laugh

4. Track your clicks

There’s nothing better for your follow-

Tracking clicks is a great way to

er numbers than getting a mention

see how you best engage with your

or retweet by a celebrity. What won’t

followers. Firstly, shorten your links

win you any favours, though, is asking

using Hootsuite or bit.ly (amongst

for a retweet or doing it so often you

others) because you can get access

start to look desperate and spammy!

to an analysis on the number of clicks

The key is to be interesting and, if

each one receives. This provides you

possible, funny. Celebs get hundreds

with a great tool for analysing your

of Tweets directed at them, so yours

followers’ behavior, what interests

need to stand out and be interesting

them and how is best to engage with

enough to warrant them sharing your

them.

views with all of their followers.

5. Followerwonk.com 3. Unfollow and block spam

A great free tool which has lots of cool

accounts - There are thousands of

features to enable you to learn more

spam accounts on Twitter and you are

about your following. One of the most

probably following a fair few without

important is the analysis of when

realising it. They are never going to

your followers are most active and,

use your products or services and

therefore, when you need to focus

they’re wasting space on your home

most of your online endeavors.

feed. You can nearly always spot a spam account by either the bio, the

Make the most of these 5 tips and

number of tweets, or the follower/

you’ll have a far more effective

following numbers they have. Take a

Twitter presence in no time. 

few minutes to cleanse your following list of all these accounts.

5 Things to Do on Twitter this Month

71

The This Know-How G

Future Proof Your Finances - The Female Way! by Vivi Freidgut

Has there ever been a better time to be a woman? We are free to do as we wish, when we wish, how we wish. Yet while we have control over our bodies and (try to exercise) control over our calorie intake, we often lose control of our money and so lose control of our destinies.

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This Girl Means Business

The Sex And The City lifestyle of bitching over brunch followed by never ending shopping trips for £800 shoes lulled us into an unrealistic “I can have it all” mindset. A mindset

where sexually transmit diseases are

protected against, but sexually trans-

the National Centre for Women and

mitted debt is not. Where discussions

Retirement Research, will at some

about emergency contraception are

point have sole financial responsibility.

dinner fodder, but emergency funds

We need to start thinking more like

are not. Where man problems are the

Renee Zellweger who said, “I believe

norm, but debt problems are forbidden.

in love, but I don’t sit around waiting

Has money replaced sex as the

for it. I buy houses”. A man is not the

latest taboo? How do we reignite the

same as a financial plan and just like a

conversation?

toothbrush we each need our own.

Only by confronting our financial

difficulties can we hope to resolve them, and by recognising that we look at money differently to men we can start to speak chickonomics.

90% of women, according to

5 Ways to Future Proof Your Finances 1. Recognise that we look at money

you there!” The most critical and time

differently to men. We spend more

consuming part of your plan is the

emotionally (when we are sad, happy,

plan. Get a blank piece of paper, a pen

depressed, lonely, feeling fat, feeling

and a bottle of wine and figure out how

thin...) men rarely buy a new pair of sexy

much you own, how much you owe and

knickers because they are depressed!

how much you earn.

2. Take stock of where you are and where you are going. As the White

3. Put yourself first! This runs

Rabbit said, “If you don’t know where

counter to our maternal instincts, but

you are going then any path will take

by being masters of our savings we

The Know-How

73

become masters of our future. The

4. Do a budget. This scares a lot of

future won’t take care of itself any more

people, yet we budget all the time

than our body will.

without realising it - when you diet

So how much saving is enough?

don’t you keep track of calories? When

A good rule of thumb is to save half

training for a marathon don’t you track

of your age (if you are 30 save 15%

your speed and distance each day?

of your monthly salary). Start with

A budget is the basis of every single

something realistic - I recommend 5%

financial decision you make. Deal with

of your salary and then increase it by

it! A budget is not optional if you want

1% every couple of months, this way

to get the most out of your money, any

you don’t notice the change and by the

more than exercise is optional when

end of the year you’ll be saving a very

planning to lose weight.

respectable 11% of your salary. Look at pay everyone else. You work very hard

5. Put together an emergency fund. £500 is a good start. You don’t

for your money, shouldn’t it work hard

really want to be a boiler break away

for you?

from debt, and having to use a credit

saving as paying yourself before you

card to pay off an emergency just adds interest to injury! Find an instant access account and don’t use it unless you have a genuine emergency (a hair cut or gorgeous bag on sale does not count as an emergency!)

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This Girl Means Business

Health This G& Wellness

Juice Recipes

by Polly Noble

Green Plant Power 1 lemon, peeled ½ cucumber 3 sticks celery 1 handful spinach 1 inch ginger, peeled Place all ingredients through a juicer and drink immediately.

Blood Booster 1 raw beetroot 1 lime, peeled 2 oranges, peeled 1 apples Place all ingredients through a juicer and drink immediately.

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This Girl Means Business

Polly’s Juicing Tips Unwaxed lemons and limes are preferable; when adding to the juicer, cut away the peel leaving the white pith on as this contains many nutrients. 

Juices are best consumed immediately however if you wish to make enough to last you all day add a chunk of lemon to your juice as the Vitamin C content will help preserve it. Pour the juice into a glass jar, preferably right to the top leaving as little air and space as possible. This will reduce the oxidation making it less likely to spoil. Consume within 24 hours. 

When adding garlic, ginger, herbs or any food that has a low water content, add them to the juicer at the beginning of juicing so the other ingredients push them though the machine gaining maximum benefit. 

At the end of juicing, pour approximately 50ml water into the juicer to help any remaining juice to reach the spout. 

It is often possible to gain an extra half a glass of juice by running the juice pulp through the machine to squeeze out every last drop! 

POLLY NOBLE is a Holistic Health Coach, Raw Food

Coach, author and two-time cancer survivor. Having been diagnosed twice by the age of 28, she has embarked on a kick cancer-butt mission to heal herself naturally and it is no coincidence that she feels healthier and happier than ever before.

Health & Wellness

77

Ask & Answered Q.

“I am a holistic therapist and my

main

clientele are 80% women and 20% men.

Most clients come through word of mouth

and are all referral based, which is great,

but the problem is that I have a slow growth rate. I run monthly classes with different themes as a way to meet new people and let them decide whether what I do is for them or not. I also have a website. What I do is very much an alternative method of wellness and the results usually bring new clients, but I guess my biggest issue is making contact with clients outside of the referrals. Can you help me? — Sile Walsh, Ireland

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This Girl Means Business

A.

I think it’s amazing that you’re getting so many referrals – you’re clearly doing something right. Now we just need to help you to raise more awareness of your business.

This is a challenge most business owners face, so don’t worry, you’re not alone! We asked marketing expert, Emma Dalzel, to share her tips and advice for how you can get more clients. All you need to do now is make time every day to work on putting the advice into action!

Emma Dalzel, Bare Bones Marketing:

Having spent

nearly 20 years in marketing (must have started at a very young age!), I’ve always been given the challenge of finding new customers, and this type of question is one I often get asked by my clients. The key to

“

expanding your customers is to go back to the very basics of identifying what you want to achieve. How many customers would you like? What income would you like to achieve, what makes you unique? Once you’ve

identified these elements, then you can start to think about how to achieve them through marketing yourself and your business.

The next step is to really break down who your target audience is going to be. This isn’t to say that you have to focus on a niche, but it will enable you to ensure that your marketing message is relevant to your specific target and help you communicate with them at a level and in a tone that will resonate with them. I find that it works well to list their characteristics, so that you can identify with them more easily.

Asked & Answered

79

Understanding who you are targeting will then open up your mind to the ways of marketing to them and will deliver you more effective results.

People will respond to a message that they feel is aimed specifically at their needs and wants, so the more personal you can be, the better.

Over 60% of small businesses don’t have a marketing plan that they look at regularly!

So, once you’ve identified your targets, put your plan in place. This doesn’t have to be set in stone, or even much more than a “to do” list, but make sure you put some clear actions and dates around it, and you’ll find it a lot more achievable, because you’ll be breaking it down into bite size chunks - and it will be a lot less scary! It will also give you the satisfaction of “ticking” things off the marketing list.

So what’s next?

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This Girl Means Business

Decide on the best ways of marketing to your specific target audiences. You might find social media such as Facebook and Twitter are more effective for a “younger” audience, LinkedIn might be great if you want to target the “professional” world. Even consider making a YouTube video demonstration especially if you can find a willing volunteer!

Word of mouth and referrals are great marketing channels, especially if you have little or no marketing budget. As you’ve found though, often this will only get you so far and can be slow to get results.

It is still a valuable channel to getting new customers, so continue doing the good work, and perhaps look at being even more proactive by asking your existing clients outright to recommend you to people, and even try to give them a reward for doing so.

Ask clients to write testimonials for you - other people saying how good you are is much more

powerful than saying it yourself. Use all of the contacts that you have and don’t be afraid to ask for help You’d be amazed at how many people are willing to promote you, after all, they’ll want you to succeed!

Consider sending them an email with a testimonial on it and perhaps a special offer, and ask them to forward it on to their friends.

What we term in marketing as “Recommend a Friend” is one of the most powerful marketing channels, but as you say on its own wont be enough to achieve your goals.

As your business is centred around something that people experience, it isn’t really a tangible product, and so it is often much harder to market. Look at doing little taster sessions or workshops either on your own, or at networking or other events. Networking is a great way of people getting to know, like and trust you so that

they feel comfortable around you to try something that they perhaps wouldn’t have thought of doing before. There are many networks out there and you could end up spreading yourself rather thin, so pick no more than 2 or 3 that will maximise access to your defined target audience. And given that Christmas is approaching, try offering “Gift Vouchers” to your contacts for them to buy as Christmas presents for their friends and family. Hopefully, once they’ve experienced what you do, they’ll keep coming back for more!

Most of all, keep focused on what you’ve written down in your plan.

You’ll find that most of these things really wont cost you much more than some time and effort, but if you persevere, they will be effective. And always, always remember the more targeted you are, the more effective you’ll be.

Asked & Answered

81

8 Top Tips for Marketing Your Business 1. Set your goals - know what you want to achieve. Make it realistic, but

5. Don’t be afraid to try something new - if you’re not sure

challenge yourself.

about social media for example, find someone who can get you started.

2. Identify your target audiences in detail - “Women” is not a target audience. “Women who work in

6. Ask friends and family for help - the worst they can say is “no”, but

stressful professions, aged between

they probably won’t!

30 and 55, who also need time out from family stresses (i.e. have children)” is

7. Focus, focus, focus - Marketing

much better defined.

yourself and your business is hard work, but if you focus on a few things,

3. Write your plan down - Break

you wont find it quite so scary.

it up into each target audience and then list how you are going to market

8. Be patient - Whatever business

to each group.

you have, it takes time to get customers. Marketing is also about

4. Set yourself timings - You might

trying different things, and sometimes

have to adjust them, but at least you’ll

it won’t work. So either do it better

have something to aim for.

next time, or do something else, but don’t do nothing!

>>> For more tips and marketing advice, CLICK HERE.

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This Girl Means Business

art & design services to beautify your business!

Did you know?

HOW KNOWING NORA COULD SAVE YOU TIME, MONEY, AND HASSLE...

Being a female entrepreneur is a thrilling, exciting and very rewarding experience. However there can be painful, hurtful, challenging times too.

Times that keep you awake. Times that make you wonder why you got out of bed and times when you feel lost and alone. It’s at times like these when you need strong, experienced and reliable friends. Friends you can rely on in the most difficult of situations. by Sharon Thomson

My Special Friend

people and has helped me negotiate

win-win deals over many, many years.

Allow me to share one of my

special friends with you. She’ll be

NORA stands for NOW, OUTCOME, REASON, ASK.

on your side no matter what and she won’t flinch when there’s tough stuff to be done. I’m proud to introduce you to my good friend - NORA. She’s the one to go to with a problem you need

An example:

to sort out.

how helpful NORA is allow me to

NORA has helped me resolve

disputes, helped me deal with difficult

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This Girl Means Business

So to give you an example of

demonstrate...

I faced a challenge with one of my

the other children too” (NOW).

son’s schoolteachers. She was moody

and bossy. My son and his friends

possible, would you be able to end the

were leaving school at the end of the

day on a positive note, complimenting

day feeling miserable and I needed

him

to do something, this is when NORA

(OUTCOME).

came to the rescue...

The NOW is to state the

to all of the pupils and their parents

‘situation’ as it is now. Then state the

making the kids easier to teach and

OUTCOME you need. Help the other

looking forward to going to school the

person with the REASONS why they

next day” (REASON).

should change and ASK them if they

will - simple!

for the rest of the term?” (ASK)

Knowing I had a process of

“What would be lovely is, if

on

what

he’s

achieved?”

“It would make a real difference

“Is this something we could try Then I shut up and waited for

how I wanted the conversation to go

a response. Not surprisingly she was

prevented me from waffling on and

genuinely willing to make a change

making the situation worse. This is

and was thankful I had raised it directly

roughly what I said:

with her and not spoken to someone

else about it behind her back.

“Mrs *****, could I please have a

moment of your time? I have a problem I need to talk through with you” (I

Weeks Later...

deliberately said problem - because it

was). “The situation now is that my son

to me and said, “What have you done

is leaving school at the end of the day

to Mrs *****? She seems much nicer!”

feeling quite low, unhappy and upset.

I’ve also noticed the same in some of

provides a very simple, direct process

Some of the other Mums came

NORA

really

works.

NORA

Did you know? 85

for addressing awkward situations.

Whether you’re dealing with business

running your own business is essential.

associates,

unruly

If a member of the team is not pulling

and frustrated teenagers, parents,

their weight - you need to be the one

suppliers, bank managers, partners

to tell them fast!

and loved ones.

Is there a situation right now

no matter how much you like them,

where with NORA, some careful

you need to tell them fast! If you’ve

phrasing and a deep breath you could

changed your mind on a project, you

tackle it today? The relief can be

need to tell the other parties fast!

immense and it’s over and done in just

30 seconds.

through testing conversations. She

helping

with

Doing the tough stuff when

If a supplier is not performing,

Use NORA as your trusted guide

helps you get your thoughts together.

A Word of Caution

Helps you get the main points into the

My stepson Jay did remind me,

conversation and gives you the way

however, that: “If you need to tell

out without waffle, apologies or upset.

someone something that ‘won’t go down well’ don’t expect them to be

NORA’s Your Friend Too

happy about it (not straight away

anyway)”

on your side when things get sticky.

And it does bring a fabulous

She has been a really good friend

phrase to mind, shared by my

to me and I hope she will do the

husband Peter - who introduced me

same for you.

to NORA: “THOSE WHO MIND

DON’T MAT TER AND THOSE WHO MAT TER WON’T MIND.”

86

This Girl Means Business

NORA is a big strong ally to have

{this month’s}

TOP

88

10 TIPS This Girl Means Business

Ten Things to Remember ON YOUR JOURNEY

1.

2.

Don’t limit your reality dare to dream BIG.

Don’t put off the important things you need to do make sure you prioritise.

3.

Create an impact message that describes the main benefit of your business.

4.

Get clear on what your unique selling point is.

5.

Invest in good quality business cards.

6.

Make sure you fit in some quality ‘you time.’

7.

Fail to plan; plan to fail!

Make sure you know what you want to achieve every day.

8.

Remember that you get to choose how you respond to the situations you are faced with. So take control.

9.

Nothing happens over night, so relax and have a little bit of patience.

10.

Listen to your intuition - it’s probably right!

Top 10 Tips

89

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