Loyalty

I'll mention no names here but I was scheduled to attend a taster session for a training programme on Monday but after attending a new client meeting today and bumping into some people that I worked with previously have had a change of heart. I worked with these folks for a while and brought in a lot of results for them. After deciding to go it alone and stepping out into the world of small business they haven't treated me very well at all. I'll offer no explanation as this blog is where I vent and share my opinions and experiences. This is purely an experience and a bit of a revelation. The people I bumped into today are the company that are providing the training and I had made the decision to go to them out of loyalty. After being asked the question today "What can the other training providers offer that we don't?" and remaining silent (which is what I do as a rule) I came home and stewed on the question. My answer to you as a company now is loyalty, they would maybe show loyalty!

Focus!

Good morning folks. This weeks emphasis is on growth, both personal and professional. Have a meeting with the Chamber tomorrow and some Sage ACT training. Also a client training session on Wednesday to familiarise myself with their product and service before I am let loose to sell it. Thursday carrying out an interview on potentially another sales person for our team and then Friday is the finale which is a whole day on High Growth with Winning Pitch!!! What an exciting week. Have a new filing cabinet being delivered today so the final touches to the 'behind the scenes' organisation should be complete by midnight lol. Ryan (who has been helping out with admin over the last few weeks) is going to take on board some of my training this afternoon and potentially make some calls.

The books have been sent off to Bernadette to work her magic before an hour with the accountant on Thursday pm and I sent a proposal off this weekend for something very exciting!! Let the games begin and have a wonderful week everyone. x

You don't need eyes to see, YOU NEED VISION!

Evening all. Attended a workshop today that focused on leadership and management. I was unsure about what I would gain from the day but went completely open minded. I figured out that management and leadership are two very different things and that I am more of a leader than a manager. The main point that I gleamed from the day is that vision is the most important tool next to communication. I came back and put my action plan down in words and have now got it printed out on my board right in front of my desk next to my vision. Obviously I have an action plan and objectives but when it comes down to the nitty gritty it is purely my vision that drives me. My capabilities to relay and enthuse that vision to others is what makes me succesful in business. Many thanks PEAK Performance for yet another great day and I look forward to the next one...

Hats

Well, what an amazing day. Needed to be up at 6.30 in time for a breakfast meeting at St Helens Chamber, didn't sleep very well at all so was up and about at 6, showered and ready by 7.30 so headed off in my little green car. Walked into a room full of people and am still always amazed at the energy of local business people at that time of the morning. The room is filled with 30 plus MDs and a few St Helens Chamber folk mingling. These events are always well organised, structured yet relaxed. After a coffee or three I mingled a bit then spoke with some of my clients (and friends). David did his 5 minute slot and promoted his event that is taking place on Thursday and Monday, I'm really looking forward to Mondays as it will work on developing peoples leadership qualities. I decided that when I returned back to my desk after my bacon butty that I would call everyone on the delegate list instead of the usual email. I introduced myself to each person by telephone and promoted the workshops and masterclasses some more and generated a bit of interest I feel. One of my other clients called and confirmed that one of my leads had developed into a sales appointment for him and that he was very pleased. Made some more calls on behalf of another client so today I have had 5 hats on so far and it's only lunchtime. Had a call on Skype from a really helpful gent who talked me through a process on Sage Act that I had been struggling with (now sorted too I'd like to add). Cooked a frozen pizza just for speed really at about 2.30, ate it then hung the washing out, I love clean bedlinen lol. Had a couple of hours so went to Morisons for some Chai Latte as Amanda was coming this evening to come to a book launch with me. We had to go in Amandas car in the end as my tyre has a bit of an issue and I'm glad she drove as I wouldn't have had a clue, struggled for somewhere to park, arrived late but it was very worth it. Really proud of Andrew Thorpe and glad to know him as his book is amazing and he is an inspiration. Anyone that can leave me that inspired is something worth talking about. Got home quite late. Amanda had a cuppa then set off on her journey home. I am really tired but am still buzzing, met some lovely people and also hooked up with a few of my clients. Very strange meeting them all in one room lol. Anyway, I've rambled enough and am ready for a shower then bed. Supposed to be on a seminar in the morning but it is a bugger to get to and I'll struggle to get my tyre sorted at that time of day so will stay home and hit the phones in the morning then off to Liverpool for a 3 O'clock appointment. Sleep well everyone, until the next time.

Money??

I had a conversation with someone very recently about goals. Now I know my blogs are usually ramblings about this and that with no real purpose but I am linking the previous statements with this conversation I had with a business coach! He said within our conversation that you must have a magic number in order to stay focused.... That magic number is an amount of money you will need to achieve your 'perfect world'

My perfect world would be me living on a riverboat drifting through beautiful England, writing poetry and maybe working a couple of days here and there as a sales consultant. I know in order to achieve that lifestyle I would need to have earned a certain amount of money allowing the financial freedom for me to take my foot off of the pedal. Going on his conversation I need to be focused on the cash and only the cash, when all said and done it is about money!! Have I lost you yet?

My point is that not everyone is money orientated, don't get me wrong, I love the stuff. I ride vintage scooters, have 3 children and a lovely home surrounded by lots of nice things. It all takes money... My motivation however is not the cash, it is that feeling of complete relaxation I am expecting to feel sat on my riverboat enjoying a cold glass of cider. That is what makes me succesful within my work life and my various other roles (Mother, Wife, Drinking buddy, Friend etc.), not the money, that feeling!!

Make sense?

School Holidays

Well it's week 3 of the school holidays and the youngest has gone off for 2 weeks at his Dads then a week at my Mums. He always has a fab time at his Dads but doesn't particularily want to go as he's missing out on precious playtime with his buddies. He loves going to my Mums as he's spoilt rotten lol. Have my 15 year old home for the holidays as she's normally in Yorkshire at school. Although it's lovely having her home it means the boyfriend is here too (he is a smashing lad and very good for her) but it is very difficult to stay focused on what needs doing. I think that is probably why I have pushed myself a little too hard to compensate. I am now totally shattered and having won all of my new business need to give myself a bit of a talking to about learning to switch off at the end of the day. My oldest has announced today that he is moving to Japan as he doesn't like England. He was diagnosed with Aspergers when he was younger and has struggled through life. He's very wary of people in general so doesn't go out at all unless I am with him. He left school with 8 GCSEs and still has no idea what he will do with them. I now have it in my mind that I need to get him organised if he is to cut my apron strings. More worry! In the world of business though I went along to the new Liverpool Curry Club which was fab and the food was divine. I must take my husband there next week when he has his holiday. Met a lot of interesting people and again have acquired some new business, I need to take on some support I think. Lots of changes taking place and things are moving very quickly which is always good. Hopefully Rhianne will make herself busy so I can get my calls done tomorrow.

What a day!

Woke up at 5 this morning to a fluffy cat licking my nose. I said hello to her then she shook as hard as she could and sprayed both me and Stan with rain water until she was absolutely certain we were awake. Stan went back to sleep but I couldn't as I had to be up at 5.30 for a meeting scheduled to start at 7. Got up, had a shower, did my make-up and hair then got suited and booted. Set off to Birchwood where I was meeting with 39 other local CEO's and Directors for a networking breakfast. Found the Centre with no issues but broke my sat nav as I took it out of the charging slot!! Arrived in plenty of time and met a very interesting man in the car park and we walked in together. Introduced myself and made some new contacts then left at 9 as I was meeting Amanda from Koogar in the cafe downstairs to go through some social media info. The WiFi didn't work in the Starbucks so Amanda followed me to my house which is also my office. Not sure what she thought of it here as it is school holidays so I'd got a stroppy teenager monging in her bedroom with her mobile firmly glued to her ear and a 9 year old playing on his XBox in the bedroom right behind my office. Logged in and had 15 emails waiting for my return so we got what we had to do out of the way, Amanda then left to get to her next appointment and I cracked on. Managed to secure some new business, get some unfinished business closed off and firmed up 4 appointments for next week. Amanda is fantastic, I have so much respect for her business capabilities and I admire her as a person so didn't have any issues bringing back to base. A really productive day although it is now nearly 7.30pm and I am flagging a bit. My teenage daughter brought me a ham sandwich at around 2 this afternoon otherwise I probably would have forgotten to eat. Not sure if I could have survived all day on the bacon butty and orange juice that I had first thing at the breakfast event. Stan is wonderful, he walked in with a bunch of flowers and a kiss then proceeded to go downstairs to get dinner on for everyone. I may just grab a cuppa and hit the hay!

Friday

Well it's Friday morning, I slept like a baby and am now ready to face my day. Youngest has just left for school and said he was unsure if he was supposed to be in as someone had swine flu!!! Me being me told him to get on his way and if that was the case he is to come home... I have a review meeting at 11 with one of my favourite clients in Haydock and then another in Liverpool at 1pm so, many calls to make inbetween those appointments. I am researching Intellectual Properties for a client in prep for their marketing campaign. Also because it's Friday my husband needs to go to Leeds straight from work to collect our daughter from school as she is home for the 7 week holiday as of today so I want to get the house tidy and a good meal cooked as a thank you for saving me the trouble of having to drive all that way. I hate driving these days, not sure why as I used to love it! I am trying to figure out how to put my logo into my Outlook signature and can't seem to do it??? May have a quick play with that and see if I can come up with anything. Happy Friday everyone.

Juggling?

At 36 years old and being a mother of three when I suggested to my Mum that I was at the point in my life when I wanted to establish my own business instead of working my little socks off for 'the man' she replied with "you must be mad". I launched in April of this year with no confirmed clients and no real ideas about accounting, book-keeping etc. All I really knew about was what I am good at and that is networking which in all of it's entirity is 'Sales'. I set up a Sales Service and when people ask what I do I reply with "all things sales". As the title suggests my life involves a huge amount of juggling. I have a 17 year old son with Aspergers, a 15 year old daughter and a 9 year old boy. A husband that if I'm honest is very good at what he does for a living but is no use to me at all as far as the business is concerned (I do love you though). I am a community governor and represent young people with special educational needs. Today from 9 O'clock this morning I was in a grievence hearing for one of the local schools which finished at just gone 12 O'clock. I then had to rush to the supermarket as I had promised a group of young people cakes for their afternoon tea with the Mayor of St Helens which started at 1.30... In between my meeting this morning and afternoon tea with the Mayor I had to firm up 2 appointments for next week and placate a client that is a little bit more demanding than most. My husband and I are also in a scooter club as we ride vintage scooters and haven't quite grown out of the mod scene just yet so I had to confirm that we would be helping out with the fun day this weekend whilst I was walking around the supermarket looking for cream cakes. After the fun of this afternoon I then returned to my office where I picked up the emails that were waiting for me. Every single one of them needed some form of action before I could move them to their relevant folders. I have written my to-do list for tomorrow and am now going to enjoy a cup of tea and a cuddle on the sofa.