I Hate Mondays

Actually, I lurve Mondays!

Let’s look at Bank Holiday Mondays.  She Who Bakes, the delightfully inspiring Britt Whyatt recently posted on Facebook “Oh good, a bank holiday!” said no self-employed person, ever.”  I tend to take extended weekend holidays, rather than 2-3 week holidays, so I play with the Bank Holiday;  I may not do any business work at all, I may do a little, I may work all day, or I may play all day, but it’s mine to do with what I want.  Mostly!

So, what prompted this missive?  There’s another reason I particularly like Mondays, or this week, Tuesdays.  I have a very dear chum, who, subject to her diary, if I’m lucky will phone me on her journey from home to her office.  The conversations are not without challenges.  In-between dips and humps in the road the signal fades and then vanishes just at that crucial part of the conversation; sometimes we put the world to rights but mostly it’s about how we are both personally and in business, what we’ve been doing and what we’ll be doing, with some fun and laughter.  Sometimes these conversations get cut short mid-stream, ending on a serious note with food for thought or equally it can end on a high fun note, either way, I greatly value this start to my working day!

Yes, I love Mondays (and Tuesdays)!!

How about you?  Do you have a chum who phones you for a chat like this?

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Link to 1230 TWC

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My fabulous day in Margate

What a brilliant day in Margate yesterday!

With constructive tips in Part 1 of Lindsay Panteli’s “How to Immediately and Massively Grow your Business” workshop (Part 2 on 27/9), hearing more about everyone’s businesses and planning the forthcoming 1230 Business School training around everyone’s needs (watch this space for more news on that) and having a delicious meal – what more could my day have held?

Well it did, because after that I went off to play with my daughter Clare and 2.5 yo grandson Richard on the beach. Followed by a leisurely walk along the front to the Harbour Arm, catching the lovely folks in the Rock Shop along the way, fresh sea food to take home (Clare had sensibly brought some freezer blocks), fabulous fish n chips (make mine whitebait) from Pete’s Fish Factory, sadly missed Kim Conway at Seaside Portraits :(, back to easily parked car in the Dreamland Car Park – only £2.50 for the whole day and a comfortable drive back home for 9.00 pm

Finishing my day was a message from my old school friend Chris, over from New Zealand for The Games. We’re meeting up on Saturday, so looking forward to that!

Yesterday was Chris’ second day in the UK – this is what she said – “everywhere’s so clean, the trains, DLR and tube are fantastic; we collected our tickets from Stratford which only took 20 mins, so efficient – we’re having such a ball!” What a great recommendation for The Olympic Games and the UK!

And so to bed zzzzzzzzzzzzz!

Today brings – #1230KISS Twitterview with Beverley Morrison, journalist with NewsShopper’s Limited Edition magazine at 10.30 am – hope you’ll join us to find out all about Bev, and then onto to see the fabby guys at 1st Domains for more web site innovation!

Have a great day all!

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I have a business – Let’s Get Selling!

So now you have a business and you are ready to sell! Really?

Well, maybe…. let’s see what you think.

You’ve got your brand new business cards hot off the press from the printers.  Well you have, haven’t you?

OK, perhaps you’re still waiting for them, but you have got a handy notebook and pen at the ready??

Never go anywhere without your business cards; that includes supermarket, hairdressers, dentist, school gates, etc….  These are your informal networking opportunities.

But we’re looking at formal networking for the moment, ie pre-arranged, professionally organised networking opportunities.

Why would you want to book into something like that?

Word of mouth referral is responsible for 70% of business taking place! That is 70% of business activity is down to people who get to know you and like you, whether or not they have bought your products or used your services, they feel comfortable in recommending or referring you.

So that would seem a pretty fool-proof and economical way to grow your business; to make money.

Yes, but it doesn’t happen overnight – it takes time and effort – by you!

Effective and successful networking isn’t just about “the money”.

It’s about learning from your peers, sharing experiences and support.  Which in turn all add to your well-being and that of your business!

If you are going to be successful in business, face-to-face networking is an essential part of your business’s marketing strategy.

So here are the Rules to make networking work for you:-

• Networking is about developing trust and relationships over time – so you need to attend regularly

•  Be prepared to give and help others – what you give will come back three-fold – see where you can make connections for others

• Show a genuine interest in people and really listen – you never know who they know!

• Always follow up contacts, by phone or email

• Arrange 1:1s – to find out more about each other and business opportunities – so always take your diary, whether paper or electronic, with you

• Invite business contacts to experience a networking meeting – spreading the word extends opportunities for everyone

• Circulate – don’t stay in your comfort zone

• Be prepared – have plenty of business cards, perhaps an A5 flier, and certainly have a 1 minute talk (let me  know if you’d like a copy of the 1230 TWC 1 Minute guide)

• Treat your network like gold – don’t abuse your contacts

 Remember
 “Today’s preparation determines tomorrow’s achievement” anon

Networking is not about selling, it’s about building the relationship.  Follow the above rules consistently and it will work for you.

I would love to hear from you about your networking experiences and please share your own networking tips.  

Jackie Groundsell: Founder of 1230 The Women’s Company Ltd – leading UK network for business women, providing opportunities for business and career women to meet locally in the Business High Street, share experiences and work together to grow their businesses through regular vibrant, buzzy meetings.   

Helping you get more business. t:+44 (0)20 8650 8015

She’s booked?  Have you?

Posted by Jackie Groundsell on 11/08/2011 11:34:15

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