support4women.net

Some of you will know that I’m about half way through a 10 month business course, funded by NWDA specifically to help support and develop small businesses. I’ve previously posted about the steps we’re following, and have commented on how useful it’s been for me to FOCUS on my business.

At the start we were all fairly worried about how much time we’d be taking out of our businesses. But that, is EXACTLY the point! We’ve all heard about “take time out of the business to work on the business”, but how many of us PLAN that time into our weekly schedules? Even now, my day a week planned out of the business is being taken up with family crises, or doing bra fittings for women who have to see me that particular day, (which I’m happy to do, don’t get me wrong!). But, if I was more FOCUSED then would I ACHIEVE more? continue reading…

No, not more political talk. I’m getting ready to be shadowed by another business owner, as part of the LEAD course I’m doing.

The 10 month programme, (which I wrote about a while ago), consists of a number of areas.

LEAD course participants, February 2010

We’re now moving on to the part where we all pair up and shadow each other before actually exchanging places for a day in a few months time. (No, he won’t be doing bra fittings!).

Yesterday I was really excited, and came home buzzing. Discussing the shadow and exchange with John, from Jam Publications was interesting and challenging – learning about someone else’s businesses, whilst trying to explain my own. We’ve got a lot in common, but we also do things quite differently. I think I can help support his online business development, whilst he can help me focus my business on the areas that I’m skilled and experienced to deliver. Today? Well, I’m not so sure. continue reading…

What a fabulous Easter holidays I’ve had. I have so much more energy and enthusiasm and feel

How can you fail to relax here?

ready to take action on a number of fronts. It is the first proper break I’ve had in a long, long while (see previous post for some reasons if you’re interested), and I can now for the first time in a long time, reap the rewards of a break and a rest.

But why do I feel so good? And how can I repeat it in the future? What can I share with others? Here’s my view, but would be interested in what others think about holidays, rest and getting ourselves ready for all our future activities: continue reading…

Today is officially my business year end. I always have to plan it around school holidays, and as we go away tomorrow for a week, it seemed as good a day as any to count stock.

Yes, exactly. We have to count ALL our stock. Everything. Maternity bras, nursing bras,

One of the many styles we've counted today

mastectomy bras, plus size bras, sports bras, soft cup bras, briefs to match bras, breastfeeding tops, breastpads, nursing nightwear…..exactly – EVERYTHING! We even have to go into those boxes that have come back from shows with all the bits and pieces in, like bra extenders, sort them, and count them – a job that always gets left!

It took the full day, which was expected. But I’ve found, for the first time since I started bras4mums, stocktake day has been a very inspiring. continue reading…

Just when I thought I knew what I was doing, something has knocked me off my simple straight road and sent me off on a new track. Am I ready for it? No idea, but I’m going to give it my best shot and see what happens

Can you see all the paths on your journey yet?

“If you have a clear picture in your mind of what it will be like when you’ve won the fight, you won’t feel the pain”, Mohammed Ali

After all the customer feedback and juggling I’ve been doing, I thought I was moving down one track with the bras4mums business. Slow and steady. continue reading…

We all talk about “having too many balls in the air”, “keeping all the plates spinning”, or simply, “having too much to do, and too little time”. And we think of it as negative.

What's important to us?

But why not turn it around and look at all the positives that our busy lives can give us? I’ve had one hell of a week (and I don’t usually use language like that!), but I’m still here with my house, family and business, so what have I got to complain about? continue reading…

I’m currently preparing to go to day 3 of my LEAD course, tomorrow. The course supports each business to develop and grow, through challenging our thinking and practice. Tomorrow morning’s session is being lead by John Leach, whose profile includes the following:

“John is an expert in customer development strategies linked to personal improvement.  His coaching tools and techniques when adopted have immediate impact!  He is the author of ‘Pitch Perfect’ a recently published book that has generated widespread appeal from organisations keen to deliver winning strategies and breakthrough performance.”

Impressive! continue reading…

Give someone a hug today - it'll do you both good

A strange title I hear you shout! Exactly! Well now I guess I have to explain it to you?

I started a Leadership course for small businesses this week – see previous post. We had a 2 day residential to get to know each other and build up trust between the group as we’re going to be journeying together for the next 10 months.

We had a great 2 days. Day 2 was quite emotionally challenging for me. I certainly want this course to challenge me, and it’s what I need to help me move the business forward to the next level of growth. But I guess I hadn’t expected to need quite as many hugs as I got from the female members of the course.

And as I’m impatient to get moving with growing the business (anyone interested in offering a bras4mums bra fitting service around the UK? Still planning how I do this, but it’s certainly needed), I want someone to help me with my business plan. Hence the spreadsheet support someone has offered.

So, it does go together. Some of you may find you need a hug every time you re-do your business plan. Or that you avoid business planning, or re-checking your plan? Well, I’m finding that my new tweet friends are giving me a tweet-hug, and my new course mates are going to give me the support I need to grow bras4mums across the UK. The support you get from people, their knowledge and their ability to say just the right thing at the right time -it’s fab!

Give someone a hug today – you’ll feel better, and you never know how much it will mean to them.

What cake brings you success?

I’ve decided that this is going to be my strapline for 2010. It’s certainly tasty and feels very positive.

My themeword for 2010 is FOCUS, and is part of my Challenge 2010. I decided that I need to FOCUS on my business, my family, my friends and me! Not much then!

But today, I noticed that @RebehakHarriman was going to get cake to help her focus. And that’s when it came to me – “Cake is the key to success”!

And it makes sense doesn’t it? All those ingredients we have to use to make different cakes, all have to be measured out and mixed together in the right quantities to get the excellent results we all enjoy eating. continue reading…

I have to say that I’m still unsure that I know what any of these things

I'm still confused, but enjoying my visits.

actually are, what they do, or how they work. But, after just over a month of ‘doing stuff’ with blogs, twitter, facebook and my bras4mums site, I’m having fun and have certainly seen an upturn in web traffic (I use Google Analytics to track my site) on bras4mums.

I’m certainly no expert, but I haven’t been afraid of finding out, or asking people, or sharing that I’m a newbie. Hubby thinks I’m mad and says I’ve started talking a different language! continue reading…