I.N.S.P.I.R.I.N.G

February 7, 2014

This is Business! What has Love got to do with it?

In a recent interview I read with George Clooney, he said “Anyone would be lying if they said they didn’t get lonely at times. I’ve been infinitely more alone in a bad relationship; there’s nothing more isolating.” He was talking about personal relationships and I think the same can be […]
January 24, 2014

Giving New Meaning to a Cold Shower…

Ice cold showers are all I have had this week; not because I’m a supreme athlete who needs to relieve muscle pain but because my boiler is on the blink. The heating engineer has made 3 visits to date and each has cost me a call out fee and a […]
December 7, 2013

Want to Make Progress? Ring the Bells of Change!

Without doubt, change is happening constantly. If you want to make progress as a business owner, then you need to be change-ready. Only then can you respond appropriately to the evolving needs of your stakeholders. And of course, the fluid environment we’re operating within. To do that you need to […]
November 29, 2013

Putting Our Best Foot Forward…

We needed more office space and as part of the resulting expansion the Executive Board members moved to an upper mezzanine floor. These offices were made of glass. Not only could people see what the Board members were up to – simply by walking along the corridor – you could […]
November 22, 2013

We’re Perfection in Progress. Pursue Excellence Instead!

Running two businesses and remaining relevant to both client groups requires continued effort. Adopting the view that I’m perfection in progress has been my salvation. Knowing when and from whom I inherited a perfectionist mindset helps. And knowing isn’t enough. We have to take action to adopt a new attitude. […]
November 16, 2013

Seeking Feedback Scary? There are Benefits too!

We have many opportunities for seeking feedback. Some present in the spur of the moment. At other times it may be the result of conscious effort. Whether we then take on board what we hear is a different matter. Our long-standing Christmas tradition is a case in point. Every family […]
November 3, 2013

Let Me Tell You a Story…

Once upon a time, still a mere slip of a girl, I applied for a job in recruitment with an up and coming agency. I liked the founders and was excited by the prospect of working with them to grow their client base. Already working with some big companies, representatives […]
October 20, 2013

Who Wields the Branding Iron? It Should be You!

It’s interesting that as business professionals, we wouldn’t question the need for employers to develop a corporate identity and brand.  Most of us recognise the importance of having a shop window and unless you work for a high street retailer that’s usually a website. As customers we want to browse […]
October 13, 2013

Natural Talent: A Blessing or a Curse?

One of my old bosses, CEO of a FTSE 250 Application Software business at the time, believed you could always spot the people who would go on to be successful in their chosen field. He deduced this from their work ethic and attitude towards the job. The ones who will […]
May 4, 2013

When you say you CAN’T, you MUST!

A strong statement which struck a chord with me when I heard it some years ago and it still rings in my ears whenever I catch myself saying “I can’t do that.” The first time I became conscious of uttering those words was whilst watching a video of people climbing […]
July 15, 2012

Competition, What Competition? How to make an Impact and Eradicate your Competition in the process

There are a lot of people out there who share your job title; working for organisations that are selling similar products and services. What they don’t have is YOU and your unique way of doing things. So, what can you do to make an impact and eradicate your competition in […]
June 4, 2012

Refusing to Quit – Resiliency or Stupidity?

Resiliency to some, stupidity to others; nevertheless I was gripped by Andy Murray’s second-round match in the tennis French Open. He was playing a non-seeded opponent who had never beaten him and he was expected to win easily. Thinking it wouldn’t be that entertaining a match, I had planned to […]
May 6, 2012

Let it go – We can ALL Feel like Winners

They say preparation is half the battle and I had all bases covered to run my first marathon – speed, endurance, stamina, nutrition, recovery – or so I thought.  I had even checked out the official energy gels that would be available on the day and practised using them ahead […]