“The best way to begin or end your working day” - Paul James 2014
I never thought social networking is for me but since I joined the Tuesday pm club as the apprentice in mid June I haven't looked back and enjoy every session I attend. I left the NHS in May 2013 after 30 years of service as Registered Nurse, leaving at management level with a redundancy type package to follow my dreams and develop my passion for animals into a pet sitting and dog walking service. It was a huge leap of faith and security from having a regular income to becoming self employed but this is what I wanted to do and I didn't want to look back and have regrets. Developing the business has been a huge learning curve - professionally and personally - with lots of high and low points as they say you take the rough with the smooth. I find that marketing the business and getting your name out there in the Forest is hard work -I am not a natural business woman with the gift of the gab and find that this aspect very tiring and quite soul destroying at times.I also found that working from home is great but you can also become very isolated and drawn into your own business world -creating a negative impact and not been able to think outside the box. I had several supportive conversations with Jo from Forest Traders regarding promoting my business and social networking who encouraged me to try CAP Business club.I was going through a personal bereavement at the time and felt quite low about the business in general and not having enough clients to make it all worthwhile and was on the verge of giving up my dreams.I knew the first year was going to be tough but not this tough .But something inside me said not to give up and now was the time to try social networking - the e mail conversations I had with Jo were inspirational in how CAP club had developed and supported her business. Luckily for me - Paul had just advertised for an apprentice for the Tuesday club - applied, attended informal informative meeting,got the job and here I am here today writing my second ever blog!!! I now look forward to each meeting - the group is very friendly,informal and supportive with a wealth of knowledge and varied experiences from all different types of businesses. Even in a short space of time I feel I have grown professionally and personally,feel more confident,supported and now know that I able to ask for help in growing my business through the contacts I have made through the club. Thank you Paul and Tuesday club for accepting me…..
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Dealing with the doubters
“Why don’t you just go and get a job?” Creating and running my own business has always been a dream and, discussing my business plans with friends and family, I fully expected them to be absolutely 100% behind me, emotionally supporting me every step of the way. Surprisingly for me, not true. Enter the doubters. You do know you have to earn a living? My parents thought that running my own business would be a phase, a fad that I would grow out of, like leg-warmers or novelty pencil sharpeners. Little did they realize that their daughter was serious, determined and committed, no matter how hard it was going to get. I was discussing with my parents a particularly busy week networking and meeting potential clients one day and they said to me “you do know you have to earn a living, don’t you? You can’t just drink coffee all day” Seriously? It took all my efforts to swallow the multitude of sarcastic comments that were trying to get out, wanting to scream, “oh really, I didn’t know that!” My friends seem to think that by running my own business I can get out of bed when I feel like it, have a leisurely breakfast and work in my pyjamas until lunchtime, oh and have plenty of time to watch Jeremy Kyle! And of course, I’m free to childmind on teacher training days too, because I’m just “messing about on the computer.” On a recent down day when I was doubting myself and wondering what to try next, a friend very kindly said to me “why are you putting yourself through this”. “Why don’t you just go and get a job?” Those very words made me shudder at the thought of being part of the corporate game again; office politics, commuting nightmares, KPI’s and endless policies and procedures. Learning the lesson My entrepreneurial days are in their early stages but already in this journey of self-discovery and personal growth I have learnt a valuable lesson. Now, I don’t discuss the nitty gritty of my business with potential doubters. I love my family and friends dearly but its like-minded individuals at my local networking club I turn to instead in my hour of need. Four Magic Words So when things are going awry (and they do quite often!); computer breaks down, business is quiet or I’m just having a lack of confidence day, I know that the people to turn to are not my friends and family but other networking club entrepreneurs who believe and understand what I’m doing and say “you CAN do it”. Four simple, but magical words that set me back on track and invisibly carry me forward. If creating and running your own business is your dream, join a networking group and get advice and support from like-minded individuals because the doubters will be there. In times of low confidence or when things go wrong, the doubters will be telling you to do the sensible thing and “just go and get a job!” Entrepreneur and mother succeeds thanks to business networking Astute new entrepreneur, and mother, Sharifah Rahman, launched fashion startup business - Camellia McQueen this year in response to a family crisis. Now, thanks to a lively and very active local business network, she now spends her days creating stylish accessories from her home in the heart of the Forest of Dean. Sharifah talks candidly over coffee about life as a new business owner, a mother and her experience of relocating from Malaysia to the UK, revealing that she is an eternal student. “I am learning something new every day.” says Sharifah. She’s quiet and thoughtful, whilst being incredibly charming. Bend: don’t break! The family settled in England after her husband had to leave his high powered job overseas due to a sudden illness. So, Sharifah decided to take on the role of bread winner. However, the Forest of Dean isn’t renowned for its job opportunities, so she had to forge her own. Starting a business was the most logical response. Anyone can appreciate what a courageous step and huge achievement this is, especially after having been a full time mum for the past seven years. Eureka moment: let’s make fashion fun for boys Sharifah originally studied fashion design, and that’s where her passion lies. She had her eureka moment when she spotted a gap in the market. Women are spoilt for choice when it comes to dressing up, but men are sadly bereft in the accessory department. Sharifah wanted to inject some style and lots of fun in to her son’s wardrobe, but how? Her very first product was born - the bowtie. “The bowties in the UK are too safe and boring. I wanted something funkier for my son.” She started experimenting with patterns, colour and fabrics to create her own original, high-end range. Her friends were quick to compliment her skills. So, she registered her business and started hatching her master plan. Sharifah decided upon a methodical approach based on sound advice when launching Camellia McQueen. After spotting a local entrepreneur’s taster course, she embarked upon a steep learning curve and took the Forest of Dean Entrepreneurs Plus course. “This gave me the idea to expand my range to include men’s bowties, business card holders and purses.” It armed her with the necessary tools. A supportive business network and mentoring = success The course also convinced her of the power of quality business networking. Ideal for Sharifah, since it offered the opportunity for support from established local businesses as well as other new start-ups. By chance CAP Business Clubs founder, Paul James, was looking for an apprentice member following a suggestion from CAP member and photographer, Alison Ball, owner of Lemon Photographic. The two, inspired by the National Apprenticeships scheme, and supported by the other members offered “apprenticeship networking member” free to a new business for 6 months. A real cash saving and access to experience and knowledge for any new business can only be a good thing. Paul James is passionate about the power of networking and seeing local business succeed. Indeed this is one of the main reasons he started the CAP Business Clubs in the stylish business ready offices suite above Coleford Library. “It’s just nice to help people and it makes me feel good,” says Paul. “Membership also gives Sharifah access to people within the group who are trustworthy and reliable, either as clients or suppliers.” So pleased with the outcome of the scheme are all involved that Sharifah has no hesitation in joining as a full member after her apprenticeship ended and CAP Business Clubs are now looking for more new candidates. Next stop, Etsy, NotontheHighstreet.com and beyond Sharifah knows the power of good quality images in professional marketing online and Alison Ball of Lemon Photographic was already on hand to help her out with her product shots. She will now be looking at selling her products on the likes of Etsy and Not on the Highstreet.com as well as her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/camellia.mcqueen and her own website which will be launched. Online retailers can’t afford to have poor quality images and Sharifah needed to spend wisely to launch her business with limited finance. The support of other members and her own budgetary skills show her incredible ingenuity. Camellia McQueen: the story behind the name Camellia McQueen is an intriguing name, so how did she come up with this? Well, her favourite flower is the Camellia and she is inspired by fashion designer, Alexander McQueen. Her brand is stylish and fashion orientated. She made a conscious decision to avoid the ‘arts and crafts’ niche and pigeonholing her herself early on. Her ultimate goal is to design and make clothes for children, women and, perhaps, men. Balancing business and family life You’ll often hear business owners talk about their early starts. In fact, Sharifah has found this to be the key to success. “I am more creative and productive in the morning.” It is also a great way to balance work and family life. Juggling the two was difficult at first, but with help from her husband, she has established a solid routine. Sharifah had always dreamed of running her own business and the support from CAP Business Clubs members has helped her achieve her goals. She advises anyone who’s considering launching their own startup to throw themselves wholeheartedly into networking. “It’s not as scary as you think.” says Sharifah. Her success speaks volumes for CAP’s own development of the Apprenticeship Scheme and, in turn, they have gained a valuable member. For more information on CAP Business Clubs or to contact Paul James about apprentice members opportunities visit www.capbusinessclubs.co.uk Business Clubs - Support when you need it most
Setting up and running a business can be an isolating experience. When times get difficult as they do from time to time even for the most seasoned business person, one can loose their initial inspiration and enthusiasm. That was certainly how I had been feeling for the last few days! I arrived at CAP Business Group feeling full of the woes of a new business owner facing financial strains, and feeling frustrated isolated and all done in. Paul and my fellow group members leant a listening ear and let me off load my frustration. They then all came up with loads of good ideas, which helped to reignite my enthusiasm. I cannot thank them all enough and this really demonstrated to me the value of a business group such as CAP. Becoming A CAP Business Club Member
It is only 5 months since I opened the doors of Kit & Caboodle Boutique in Lydney. Most days I thoroughly enjoy my work at Kit & Caboodle, but I must admit there have been a few difficult days during these last five months. These difficult days tend to be when I am working alone and the boutique is quiet. This is when there is no one to talk issues through with, or share ideas with. This is one of the reasons that I am so pleased to have become a member of the CAP Business Clubs. Already having only attended two meetings and the fabulously inspiring and lively talk given by Dr Paul Thomas, that I feel that there are people who will help to inspire me and hopefully I can inspire and support them too. I am looking forward to meeting more of the CAP Business Club Members over the coming weeks and months and I would therefore like to invite all members of any of the three clubs to pop into Kit & Caboodle Boutique to introduce themselves, when they are in Lydney. |
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