I love a game of chess, and my new favourite is backgammon. I was a late learner, but I love it and I love the strategy of the game. I'm not brilliant, but I do really enjoy it. I love that I can't overthink it and have to move and play. Usually I’m a serial...
Why NO is a Complete Sentence. July 27, 2021 Are you expected to say yes to everything? As a business owner I was always told that the answer should always be yes, and then ask what’s the question? But are we expected to say yes to everything out of fear? Fear...
When is it time for an Emergency Time Out? JULY, 22 2021 Is there ever a right time to take a time out? You’re busy doing your thing. Life is hectic. Everyone wants a piece of you and it feels good that everyone needs you. It feels nice to be needed. Right?? You’re in...
5 Things You Can Do To Get Off The Treadmill Of Life NOVEMBER 7, 2019 Feeling as if you are stuck on a treadmill, or feeling as if you all you are doing is ‘going through the motions’ every day of life – is no fun. I know that. I’ve been there AND got the t-shirt!...
Why You Need An Outsourced Support Team This Summer AUGUST 8, 2019 About 15 years ago I was given the amazing opportunity to work in India doing a fast track promotion process with Zurich Bank for three weeks. Being a single mum, I’m sure you can imagine how much I...
Success Rituals For The Busy Business Woman JULY 26, 2019 Unfortunately, consistent high performance doesn't happen by accident! In life we have two options. Option one is to respond reactively, but that means summoning energy just when you are at your weakest. The...
6 Unmissable Tips to Get You Through The School Holidays Without Losing Your Mind or Your Business MAY 23, 2019 With all this lush weather I’ve been daydreaming about holidays a lot! Whether it’s a chilled staycation, keeping the kids busy with outdoor paddling pools...
5 Ways to Get Out of Your Own Head and Get Over the Overwhelm APRIL 24, 2019 REMEMBER YOU ARE NOT ALONE First things first, repeat after me: I am not alone. I am not alone. I AM NOT ALONE! Although the stress of running a business on your own can feel incredibly...
7 Top Tips For Working From Home For a Busy Entrepreneur APRIL 15, 2019 Working from home is brilliant in so many ways. One of those ways is being in control of your own schedule, and you can do that better when you learn how to work more efficiently. Give these ideas...
15 Healthy Business Habits to Radically Improve Your Success and Organisation Skills APRIL 4, 2019Developing a series of effective habits that maintain and sustain you and your business are critical for your continued success. As a small business coach I know how...
5 Stress Busting Tips For an Entrepreneur! FEBRUARY 27, 2019Running your own business can sometimes feel like you are in that constant state of high-alert, you're continually in "fight or flight", and people around you see you as stress out of constantly “wired.” You...
For me, the idea of meditating took some warming up to. I saw it as a new age hoo-ha, and I don’t think you can blame me! But after years of rave reviews from friends, colleagues and clients, I decided to give it a go. Surprisingly, the area in my life that has reaped the most reward has been my business! I can honestly say it has changed my life!
It’s that period between the hype of Christmas and New Year. Typically busy in my household as it’s my husband’s birthday on the 27th, so when you’re starting to think about stopping with all the excesses we have another celebration. So I manage to carve out some reflection time to evaluate what worked and what did not! In 2018 I had some great wins and some EPIC failures.
So as we approach the end of the year, it’s been really powerful to take some time to reflect and take the learning – always the learning.
From the outside it’s easy to project this glossy image of what being a successful business owner is like, the travel, the laptop lifestyle, the great reviews and brilliant client successes. But it’s important to me that to be transparent. As it not all lap top lifestyle and sunny postings.
5 Business Survival Tips to Get you Through the Christmas Holidays Without Losing Your Mind or Your Business DECEMBER 18, 2018 I loved writing this blog as it's a subject close to my heart. Here’s my 6 business survival tips to get you through the Christmas holidays...
It’s that time of the year – It’s planner season…. DECEMBER 12, 2018I was yearning for the FEA Carrie Green planner last year - I had total FOMO! It seemed expensive, I left it too late and then missed out. She sold out - brilliant marketing, beautiful planner. So...
An effective brand can give you the much needed edge to excel in increasingly competitive markets. A recognisable and loved brand image is one of the most valuable aspects a business can own. This month is about building scaling-up here at Master Fixer HQ, but sometimes there are days where we all really just need a break.
So let me tell you my top four tips on how you can build brand that does the talking while you take a bit of you-time!
Networking can seem daunting at first, especially if you have the tendency to be shy and introverted. Fobbing it off may seem like you’re dodging an night of awkward interactions and embarrassment but in reality you’re missing out on an opportunity that could catapult your business into the stratosphere. So, If you’re new to networking or you just want to make sure that you have a great and productive time, we have some tips to make the most of your interactions.
“The worst thing you have ever written is better than the best thing you have never written.”
Meditation. For me, the idea of meditating took some warming up to. I saw it as a new age hoo-ha, and I don’t think you can blame me! But after years of rave reviews from friends, colleagues and clients, I decided to give it a go. Surprisingly, the area in my life that has reaped the most reward has been my business!
September is almost here! Hurray! Time to get the stationary shopping done, the new uniforms purchased and the kids back to school! So much excitement to be had! Although I’m sure if I were to ask the kids they wouldn’t be that excited, and actually I’m not sure you are either.
We all know that every now and again we all need a break. But when you’re running your own business it’s hard to feel like you can take a step back without your world having crumbled in on you when you get back. Going on holiday and spending time with family and friends never used to be such a daunting task, so here are my top tips for getting back those guilt-free days off:
Summer holidays can be the prime time for business owners like ourselves to lose our mojo. The kids are running free and you have little time on your hands to focus on yourself, here’s a few tips and tricks to get that mojo back.
We all know that setting goals can be hard and keeping them can be even harder especially when these goals have to potential to make or break your business. If you follow these simple top tips you’ll be on your way to achieving your wildest business dreams!
After Southgate’s well-known blunder that caused us to lose the 1996 European Championship no one expected big things from him, but through integrity, empathy and determination Southgate gave England a much-needed chance of glory. While you’ll often hear people say “he’s no Venables, Robson, Shankly or Klopp.” Gareth Southgate has proven he’s a talented leader that we could all learn from.
In most aspects of our lives, a little clutter doesn’t hurt: be it in our wardrobes or in our cars. But the most distracting and debilitating cluttered space is in our heads. A cluttered mind usually results in us trying to run in ten different directions at once, with the end result being that we haven’t got very far at all. So, here are my top tips for decluttering your mind:
Failure. It’s a daunting word, isn’t it? I think the majority of us would avoid any type of failure if we had the chance. But as I’ve come to learn, failure isn’t something we should avoid and actually it’s something we should embrace.
Having had 2 little people, a full time self employed job and being a single mum I remember the juggling. So I hope you enjoy them and as the summer holidays are less than 6 weeks away – get planning.
Continuing July’s theme of taking action, I want to share with you the importance of planning. We’ve all heard the saying “fail to plan and you plan to fail”, yet the majority of us are still trying to figure out how, why and where to get started.
As we are coming to the end of June, we are now moving onto July’s theme which is about taking action. If (like me) you’re a little sick of hearing about the World Cup, give yourself a 5-minute break by reading this blog that will help you to defeat your inner procrastinator!
Many of us are great at planning. We know what we want to achieve in a day and generally what it will take to smash those tasks and cross off the to do list. But, life gets in the way. Or rather, distractions do. Notifications, technology, phone calls, social media, it all tries to take us away from those tasks in hand. Which suddenly puts us behind. So how can you get more sh*t done (without locking yourself in an underground cave)?
Many businesses start out as a ‘one man band’ whereby the business owner does EVERYTHING. While that is possible in the early stages, as you develop your client base, work on your products or services and promote the brand, it’s not viable longer term. Even if you want it to be, it’s just not possible. I’m going to highlight how you can best prepare for business success, but first I want to analyse, what IS success?
Running your own business is hard work. I guess if it was easy everyone would do it!
So whether you choose a coach, a mentor or a buddy – choose carefully and choose someone who will hold your toes to the fire!
While being agile and flexible (and I’m not talking Yoga) is a small business owner’s advantage, critical decisions, such as launching a new service or product, are best made by bouncing ideas with someone you trust and thinking things through. An accountability partner can help you identify weaknesses and opportunities in your business, make plans to overcome them and hold you accountable for action.
There are a huge number of inspirational business women out there. Those that have battled the testing times, running business whilst being a mother or wife and those flowing with entrepreneurial mastery. As someone who has worked in the corporate world, managing teams of people as a single Mum, I have a real level of respect for those that do it all. It really isn’t easy, but certainly teaches you some valuable life lessons.
May is your biggest challenge….. maybe you’re just getting over the Easter holidays and revving back up to speed and there it is BAM! Two Bank Holidays in the UK and a school half term! You have got to be joking!!!!I guess the only consolidation is that the weather is starting to get better – finally!
You’ve heard it, I know you have – the old age and classically overused quote “Fail to plan, you plan to fail.”But really it is relevant now? Isn’t it more about a dynamic cocktail of planning and execution. There is little point having an awesome plan, beautifully nurtured, colour coded, project managed if there is no execution.
You may have seen my blog at the start of the month about the importance of planning. It highlighted the benefits of strategic planning in business and how thorough planning can help your business thrive. After all, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. However it must be mentioned that just because you have a plan in place, it doesn’t mean you’ll definitely be striding for success
This month my theme is the importance of focusing some of your time and energy on PLANNING. The importance of it, how to master it and how it can really help you thrive.
Having children changes your life. Even if you plan for the changes, they’ll still hit you harder than you’d have thought possible. It can be particularly challenging if you have your own business, but with careful planning, the right support team and a bucket load of determination, you can wear both the Mum and the Entrepreneur hats. Here’s how…
When I was younger, much younger, I overheard an old boyfriend talking about low and high maintenance girlfriends – I’ll leave that one with you, but the upshot was that the worst variety were the women who thought they were low maintenance but who were really high maintenance, again I’ll leave you with that one, but it got me thinking… it’s all about attitude. Now translate that into business
Email is the communication king. Quick, easy and free, it’s the chosen method of communication for many business owners. They offer us the flexibility of working hours, allowing us to work on the move and can reduce your stress, and increase our efficiency exponentially.
Procrastination. It’s something we’re all guilty of from time to time. It’s something I regularly hear when speaking with clients, particularly those who work from home. Washing, tidying, dusting, baking and food shopping are all easy things to get distracted by. My teenagers use it all the time and I am convinced procrastination is a modern day epidemic and all you need is to recognise it, and get a regular shot in the arm inoculation. Remember it’s not a thing – it is an excuse.
It’s tough running a business and running a family without running yourself into the ground.
Last year I conducted a rough analysis of how many actual working days there are for an average working mum who is a busy small business owner in the UK. Here’s what I found: You have on average 150 working days to achieve your annual business goals.
There’s been so much scaremongering since the changes to Facebook were posted on 12th January 2018 by Mark Zuckerberg the CEO of Facebook. Here are my initial top 5 recommendations to enable you to take control of the situation and take action straight away.
Brain dumping is a powerful, increasingly popular phenomenon, used by many business owners as a means of planning. It has many benefits and can bring true value to your business. But can also improve your sleep and therefore, your business and your life. Look after yourself to look after your business. It’s good business sense.
The greatest challenge that most small business owners and entrepreneurs I meet and work with struggle with is the sheer feeling of overwhelm. It never stops – it’s relentless. Check out my simple tips on how to conquer overwhelm as a busy business owner.
I love January. A month full of anticipation, goal setting and excitement for the 12 months ahead. Many take it as a time to reflect on the previous year and critically analyse what worked well and what didn’t. For me, it’s an opportunity to forward plan the epic-ness that will be the coming year. And here’s how to do it…
Most people who make resolutions end up giving up on them after a month so why not use this time to show some real ambition and make 2018 a life changing year instead? So what are you will to commit to – no matter what?
As we welcome in another new year, there’s never been a better time to kickstart your career and shape the year you want. With Blue Monday just around the corner and the ever increasing failure of New Years Resolutions there’s even more of a reason to ensure yours are deemed a success 12 months from now. The best way to do so? Turn them into actionable and accountable goals with these 7 simple steps.
The best advice I ever received was choose your battles as “Life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you choose to react to it!” This quote has guided me since my 20s, challenged me in my 30s, saved me in my 40s and now in my 50s it is supporting active choices I am making in my personal and professional life. Read on >>>
Do you sit there in the evening with your phone or device (or both) pinging and buzzing away – your partner/ husband / wife or child looks daggers at you as they think you’re “playing” on Facebook and have NO IDEA you are running your business and it just doesn’t stop because they want some one-on-one time! So lets explore some simple top tips how not to freak yourself out with notification fatigue without losing your mind or your business.
How hyphotherapy changed their business OCTOBER 19, 2017I have to share this with you.... I have started working recently with a number of bright, creative and highly talented Generation Ys. (defined as currently aged 20-35, or born between 1980 and the end of 1994...
In both our personal and professional life, there are always three things which can happen to us and can be altered by us; chances, choice and change.
Your life and your experiences help you become a better person, a better business person, a better friend, parent and partner. My experiences have helped me become a much better business coach.
Enjoy my top tips, get started today and let month end madness be a thing of the past!
If you want to uplevel your business, yourself, your business networking, leadership, and time management skills, it’s time to get reading. Here are my favouite
Having had 2 little people, a full time self employed job and being a single mum I remember the juggling. So I hope you enjoy them and as the summer holidays are less than 6 weeks away – get planning.
Find out why its critical to get your ASK into gear and why if you don’t get if you don’t ask is important for the success of your business. Read more here:
Call it brand, call it your business DNA. Find out what your business DNA says about you…
When you have a Goal and a Plan, you increase the likelihood of achieving your goals x 10 times, by 1000%! Learn 4 great steps to plan like a professional so you max out your chance of success. Read more…
Knowing your business numbers and the levers you need to pull to drive your business forward are critical. Read more here:
7 reasons why coffee with business works! APRIL 9, 2017 So this week is UK Coffee Week, and it got me thinking.... when did we all get so stuck on coffee shops? I remember as a teenager going out to meet friends and making a "pot of tea" last for hours for 4 of...
5 things a busy business women needs to outsource immediately! APRIL 9, 2017 Did you know its National Gardening Week this week, can I tell you how much I really hate gardening! I'm just not good at it, I do not have green fingers and to be truthful it bores...
So that’s the first lesson – ‘things’ do not bring happiness. The second lesson I learned is that if you don’t feel good, there’s no point to it. As feeling good is all we really truly want to be and to have.
6 benefits an entrepreneur can enjoy by hiring a business coach MARCH 13, 2017 As a successful entrepreneur, you probably know exactly what you want and how to get it. You are driven, determined and a self-starter. So if you have all these great qualities, why...
Got what it takes to be a business athlete? MARCH 12, 2017 World class athletes report they fulfil over 90%of their potential, however non-athletes in senior positions in business typically report they fulfil around 40%. This is a shocking statistic and yet the...
Intention + Action = Results MARCH 12, 2017 Commit yourself to be #allin to what you want, see it, feel it, know that it will be and watch what happens. It does not magically happen but your change of mindset impacts your actions, your actions become more...
How to grow your business in 9 steps! MARCH 3, 2017 I read this on an email I received and thought how poignant and how true it is. No wonder why everyone is so confused... We have become a nation of people who don't search for data we "google" it. This...
Busy is like a drug... FEBRUARY 12, 2017 Years ago I had a friend of a friend who, in his 20s was always SO busy. If you wanted to see them they would be “booked up for months!” and if we wanted to make weekend plans, we arrange to see them 3 months in...
Do you thrive on being "busy"? FEBRUARY 5, 2017 Squeezing a quick coffee in, rushed telephone calls with friends, a quick sandwich at your desk? Does any of this sound familiar to you? Some people get a rush from being busy. The narrowly-met deadlines, the...
6 simple ways to overcome your procrastination JANUARY 30, 2017 Without exception all the busy business women I coach, complain about the same one thing. They worry that they procrastinate too much! Procrastination is a an overused and current word, but it is...
How to get through Blue Monday - the most depressing day of the year? JANUARY 16, 2017 Blue Monday reminds me of that incredible tune by New Order, I remember being dumped unceremoniously by my then boyfriend and I was brokenhearted. Blue Monday was playing and...
How to manage email stress JANUARY 15, 2017 A study found that one in three office workers suffers from email stress. Is that you? Making a decision the first time you open an email is crucial for good time management. I advise and encourage practising the...
Why procrastination is a dirty word! JANUARY 11, 2017 A really great quotes ( I found dozens - so I must be onto something!! ) for you to start to realise that the issue with your procrastination is in the space between your 2 ears. The real thing is thinking...
How to plan like a pro JANUARY 7, 2017 You simply have to plan ahead in order to be successful. Plan like a professional. In business, strategy and growth go hand in hand. You create a game plan to achieve your goals, including a mission statement, a...
Letting go and moving on... DECEMBER 30, 2016 It's that time of year, time to reflect - NOT beat yourself up and acknowledge what went well and celebrate it, and look at what maybe didn't go to plan and learn from it. I reviewed my 2016 goals the other day, and...
Do what you do best and outsource the rest! DECEMBER 15, 2016 Wouldn't it be wonderful if you only had to do the things you did best, or better still just the stuff you loved? I love walking my dog, helping and supporting great clients, brainstorming new ideas,...
Actions speak louder than words AUGUST 31, 2016 You are what you do, not what you say you'll do. #actionspeakslouder To say I love you is lovely to hear, easy to say and less easy to mean. Actions speak louder than words... To demonstrate that you love and care...
Make an impact MAY 12, 2014 IMPACT - INFLUENCE - INFORM - IMPRESS! Isn't it all in our heads, we are as influential and impactful as we choose. We just have to choose. So choose to leave a legacy. A legacy. It’s something that very few men and women in...
4 steps to connect the dots APRIL 22, 2014 Do you think we ask too many questions? You can connect the dots retrospectively, take the experience and the learning, and sooner or later you'll have to trust your gut! "You cant connect the dots looking forward;...
Respect to all the London Marathon runners APRIL 16, 2014 Total respect to everyone who was there - runners and supporters alike. I did finish the 2012 London Marathon and it was one of the most amazing thing I have achieved. I was not, and still am not a...
Busy Busy Busy...its a highly addictive drug MARCH 25, 2014 Years ago I had a friend of a friend who, in his 20s was always SO busy. If you wanted to see them they would be "booked up for months!" and if we wanted to make weekend plans, we arrange to see them...
When is hard too hard? MARCH 19, 2014 I cannot take credit for this - I have taken this from a lady called Debbie Neal. HARD is working for someone else. HARD is commuting back and forth when you can be home with your family. HARD is not having the CHOICE to be...
4 pillars of leadership MARCH 18, 2014 Its really simple - honestly! I was once told that the difference between management and leadership is simple. Managers do things right and leaders do the right thing. It struck a chord with me, left an imprint and I think...
5 tips to declutter your mind MARCH 17, 2014 Too much to do? It's familiar to lots of us, important deadlines, and no matter how hard we try, we can’t stop thinking about something or someone else. Ongoing conflict, an unresolved issue, or something we need to...
Be kind to yourself! OCTOBER 28, 2013 Take control and remember to be kind to yourself... Taking control of your life is getting in touch with your values, setting meaningful goals and identifying your vision. To be in control of where life is taking you means being...
LinkedIn: your window to the world – MORE reasons to bother! JUNE 20, 2013 I had the BEST day today. Let me explain... I was asked to help a lady I had met with her LinkedIn profile. I had presented a free 90 minute workshop on the simplicity of LinkedIn and...
7 Tips to get you off the sofa and out of your comfort zone! JUNE 17, 2013 Where is your happy place? The place where you feel most comfortable? Sofa, your bed, your garden, the beach, we all have one. Your comfort zone is actually not THAT comfortable. It...
LinkedIn: your window to the world - 5 reasons to bother! JUNE 7, 2013 Employed, self employed, unemployed, looking for new opportunities, consultant, coach, career break, entrepreneur, solopreneur, intropreneur? OMG where to start? So you remember friends...