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Men and women building businesses together
How we worked together to build our business from the ground up!
Nadine and I have worked as partners for over 5 years now, running a successful niche travel company – www.eShores.co.uk – based out of Manchester, UK. We met and developed our ideas from nothing into a small business that has grown substantially in spite of recession and a troubled economy.
Gavin: I’ve always been business minded, and most members of my family have careers built around businesses too. This definitely influenced me to look for ways I could get into business, and as I worked for other companies and helped them grow I realised more than ever that I wanted to run my own. I have a real passion for travel, and decided to try and make something of myself in this industry. I was introduced to Nadine by mutual friends who recommended we get together to discuss ideas; Nadine had over 15 years of experience in the travel industry and was a BDM when we met, so I knew her experience would be valuable.
Nadine: I was brought up around business from a young age, with my father owning a successful business, but I hadn’t given much thought to running my own until later in life. I was working as a business development manager for a travel company when I started to realise I could be doing the same work for myself, and decided I wanted to run my own business. Gavin approached me and explained his interest in working within the travel industry, and I knew that with my industry knowledge and Gavin’s marketing experience, this was too good an opportunity for us to pass up.
Gavin: We made the decision to build a travel business after seeing a gap in the market for specialised, high quality customer service coupled with the ease and availability of phone and online booking. Many online travel companies are all about turnover or budget package holidays, and neglect their customer service – we knew if we could offer luxury holidays and tailored experiences at competitive prices, that we could provide something different and unique to the market at that time.
We launched eShores in 2007. Nadine and I worked from her spare room for 12 hours a day, 7 days a week. Within 4 months we had built the business up enough to move into a small serviced office and take on 2 members of staff; that’s when we knew eShores had begun!
Nadine: Of course we both struggled to maintain a good work/life balance in the beginning; this is something that I have learnt to deal with and adjust to over time. Being in Travel I am always working – friends and family want advice and tips constantly, but my kids don’t understand the industry so when they’re around the work-talk is put on hold until they go to bed!
Gavin: It will always be difficult to maintain a good balance, but I think I’ve learnt the importance of taking days off and holidays as we’ve grown. When we first started we worked far too many hours and you simply burn yourself out, but now I ensure I get at least one day off a week to relax!
Nadine: We’ve gone from strength to strength since we started out; as we were a fairly new company when the recession hit we simply learnt to work with economic environment as it was back then and remained sensible with our growth and spending. Our target market was customers who could previously afford to take 2-3 holidays a year, so the recession simply meant they were taking 1-2 instead; this meant that we didn’t lose our business altogether, instead just adjusting to a smaller budget. Now the economy is better we realise how bad the recession was, as we have seen large increases in bookings over the last few years! Growing the business at a slow pace and keeping a tight hold on expenditure definitely got us through those years.
Women generally aren’t encouraged to go into business like I did, but I was confident in my knowledge of the growing luxury market and of my knowledge of the travel industry. Teamed up with Gavin’s knowledge of sales and marketing, I knew we had an excellent shot at making this work. My husband and father of course were big influences, both owning their own businesses, and my experience as a BDM pushed me to build my own business.
It is important to be confident in what you know, be realistic at what is achievable within time frames, and have the guts to give it a go!
Gavin: If we could give advice to those just starting out now it would be to choose your market and build it around that; stay focused and don’t try to expand too quickly. Make sure you spend money in the right places and hire the right staff to support you and the business in the future.
Video interview from Lady Val from “Lady Val’s Professional Women’s Network”
If you want to know more about Lady Val’s fabulous network go to www.LVPWN.com
7 WAYS TO TUNE UP YOUR LIFE – By Kathy Gates
1. Finish what you started — that pile that needs tossing,
your income tax, painting the bedroom. Pick one, finish it;
pick another, finish it.
2. Set goals for each day. Have a plan. What time you get
up, where you go, what you do. You’ve got 24 hours. Schedule
it. Protect it. Commit to some particular goals for that day
and say No to all other distractions.
3. Organize your day. Watch for distractions. I love to
write, but I love to do so many other interesting things too
- read a good book, work in the garden, talk to my friends,
play with the kids. But it’s important to stay focused on
what’s most important at any particular time.
4. Take charge of your time. Time is the great equalizer. No
matter how smart, how young, how pretty, how rich, every
person has only 24 hours a day to use to his advantage.
Consciously choose what time you get up, how far you drive
to work. Choose what time you go to bed, how you spend your
mornings, how you spend your evenings.
5. Practice maintenance on your life. Regularly check for
problems and see what needs to be tended to BEFORE it
becomes a big problem.
6. Be consistent. Break the goal down into 15 minute tasks.
For example, if your closet has clothes from 1987 in it,
just spend 15 minutes a day (schedule it!) going through it
until it’s organized. At the end of the month, you’ll have
created 7-1/2 hours of work -one whole *free* Saturday!
7. Stop Worrying, Start Doing. Choose to make better
choices. You are currently choosing to worry for days
(months?) about a job that would take you only a few hours.
You are capable of choosing better. Choose to take action,
or delegate the action to someone else.
Professional Life Coach Kathy Gates is the author of several e-books and e-courses designed to help people live happier, healthier, easier lives. Sign up for her ezine, "Make It Happen" at www.reallifecoach.com.
How Soccer Relates to Business–Author Linda J Lord “The Pitch”–Virtual Book Tour May 2010
Join Author/Coach, Linda J. Lord on her Virtual Book Tour, Starting May 3, 2010
During the month of May, Linda will be discussing her recently published novel that reaches out to business owners, entrepreneurs, and working women who are looking for practical business strategies.
Her book “The Pitch” explains how soccer has very similar strategies that can be used to be successful in business.
Such strategies include: getting in touch with who and what matters to you most, because until you do that, you are just going through the motions, and maybe building the wrong empire; having a plan that provides a structure to follow during strong economies and weak ones; taking to time to evaluate the choices you make and whether or not they are based on sound business information or just expediency.
One dollar from the sale of each book goes to the Hemophilia Society of Ontario, South Western Ontario Region.
Go to http://virtualbooktour-theyppublishing.blogspot.com/ website to follow Linda’s full tour schedule or visit her website http://www.lindajlord.com/.
There will be an Amazon contest at many of her virtual book tour stops. Visit participating sites to find out more about contests and giveaways!
The Beauty of Affliction
Ever heard the term, “turn a positive out of a negative”? I have. It is with this same sense that I write this blog I call, “The Beauty of Affliction.” 
Just think, without affliction, we may not have ever had our current USA President, Mr. Obama. So moved by the distressed world conditions that it caused him to place his name on the presidential ballot. Because of injustices and afflictions amongst classes of people, Dr. Martin Luther Luther King Jr. was provoked to civil rights work to help bring about equality. Just think, without affliction the world may not ever have heard of a Helen Keller, nor would we have the diary of a young girl named Anne Frank.
Though unfortunate, it is at the expense of their affliction, pain, hurt, grief and distressing situations that caused great gains in varied ways on behalf of others. Without the afflictions and complexities surrounding the lives and circumstances of these individuals, chances are you may not be reading about them on this page today.
Additionally, scripture denotes another famous person who was a son of Jesse, named David, who drifted astray from the commands of his Heavenly Father. But because his Father loved him so much, he used trouble to draw him back, close to himself. Yes, he allowed affliction to come upon David, one in whom he loved so much. God had a great plan for his life. In other words, there was a “big-picture.”
Scripture further tells us that at one point David (the King) wrote, “before I was afflicted I went astray, but now have I kept thy word.” Then just four verses down he adds, “it was good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your ways.” Now I tell ya, the affects of trouble doesn’t get more beautiful than this.
Psalm 119:67, 71
Jeremiah 29:11 “…thoughts of peace and not evil, to give you an expected end.”
Genesis: 41 Joseph moves from imprisonment to the palace
Linda Johnson Belfrey has 14-years of radio experience working in faith-based broadcast ministry including, JFM LIVE, www.jfmlive.com. Additional media ministries include her cable market telecast, Reaching a People, by Any Means Necessary and A Word for You print news media inspirationals.
Email inquires to: Johnsonbelfrey@aol.com
Website: www.ljbelfreyministries.com
This blogger is on Twitter: twitter.com/ljohnsonbelfrey
Come and JOIN US on The Bridge for WOMEN!
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, site of over 5 million deaths and hundreds of thousands of rapes in a conflict spanning more than a decade, women are imagining peace. They say peace means being able to live and work freely. They see peace as walking to the fields without fear of rape. They envision a more prosperous future, harvesting from the fields the fruits of their own labor. Yet war wages on.
To honor the resilience of these and the millions of other women survivors of war around the world, we at Women for Women International are hosting a global campaign called Join me on the Bridge. On March 8, International Women’s Day, we’ll unite women and men on bridges all over the world – from San Francisco to Congo – calling for peace and development in an unprecedented show of global solidarity.
We want YOU to join us! Here’s how:
1) Attend an event! We’re hosting special festivities on the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City and on the Millennium Bridge in London. If you don’t live in these areas, check out our list of bridge events being organized around the world by partner organizations and supporters like you.
2) Don’t see a bridge event near you? Bring the campaign to your community by organizing your own bridge event, large or small.
3) Sign our supporter pledge to demonstrate your commitment to an investment in women and your desire for peace and development worldwide.
4) Share this blog with your friends on Facebook and Twitter!
This is an unprecedented call to action and we truly hope you’ll join us as we stand alongside the women in Congo, echoing their voices so that the world may hear our collective call for peace.
Go to our website for more information http://www.womenforwomen.org/bridge/
Being Great vs. Killing Yourself: Do you know the difference?
The theme for my coaching this week was: Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Yet you might not know you chose a path of greatness over enjoyment until you are in pain or numbed out by meaningless stress.
The topic first emerged when I woke up Tuesday with excruciating back pain. After reviewing my previous day, I realized that my pain was due to my over- zealousness in exercise class. I was the only one who could do a complicated abdominal exercise. As soon as I realized everyone was watching me, I pumped out an extra set with vigor. They cheered. I loved the attention.
Then my back trumped my ego by making it tough to get out of bed the next day. I humbly waddled through the next few days.
This theme came up three times this week in coaching sessions. From differentiating a business focus to choosing to leave a job, the question came up: should I choose what I am good at or focus on what brings me joy? Also, when people tell me I am good at something, do I take on more work just to to get the applause (or money, promotions, etc)?
It is difficult to quiet our reward-seeking brain to hear the answers to the questions: What do I really want for myself? Am I killing myself at the expense of my happiness? Even though I am good at something, do I enjoy doing it? What do I neglect that is truly missing for me?
If you are feeling numb, joyless, overworked or achy, it’s time to re-assess how you spend your time and energy. Adding a little more joy in and decreasing your tendency to show off will have a huge payoff in the long run for your health, happiness and even your success.
Think about these questions. Comment here. And please, don’t break your back for a moment’s applause.
Marcia Reynolds, PsyD is a master certified coach and author of Outsmart Your Brain and the upcoming Wander Woman: How High-Achieving Women find Contentment and Direction. Visit her new site at www.WanderWomanBook.com for excerpts and news about her new book.
But, I want it now!
Many of us have witnessed little children who almost always want things now! Funny thing is that as adults our attitudes as it relates to this haven’t changed much. We still want it our way or the highway, and now!
We want our small business to grow large, now. We want the job promotion, now. We want our tiny children to grow-up, now. We even have the urge to tell the boss off, now.
It would do us good to become cognizant of the importance of time. Did you know that over 20 times in eight verses the wisest man that ever lived instruct’s us of the appropriate “timings” in which to: speak, be silent, laugh, mourn, to build, as well as to restructure, or to tear-down?
Though she desired it to be much earlier, you may recall Sarah, though 90-year’s old birthed her infant baby Isaac, at the perfect (set) time.
I want to admonish you that life, what we want, and when we want it involves “the process of important and divine timing.” In your lust to “want it now,” strive to become sensitive and keenly aware as to what time it is.
Ref.: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Linda Johnson Belfrey has 14-years of radio experience working in faith-based broadcast ministry including, JFM LIVE, www.jfmlive.com. Additional media ministries include her cable market telecast, Reaching a People, by Any Means Necessary and A Word for You print news media inspirationals.
Email inquires to: Johnsonbelfrey@aol.com
Website: www.ljbelfreyministries.com
This blogger is on Twitter at: twitter.com/ljohnsonbelfrey
The Hidden Jewel
How many of us have misplaced a diamond bracelet or misplaced our favorite gold earrings? Because of their high value we frantically search for weeks on end to locate our prized and hidden possessions.
Did you know that scripture tell us that she, wisdom, is more valuable than our prized silver and gold? So much so that even King Solomon dared to ask for the power of wisdom (over even money—imagine that!) so that he could judge matters accurately and discern right from wrong.
Have ever considered that wisdom has the ability to “get you places” that even beauty or talent cannot necessary take you?
It’s recorded that “the whole world sought audience with Solomon to merely just hear the wisdom that had been placed in his heart by his heavenly father.” Imagine that! They did not come to hear him sing, dance, to give a speech, to do tricks, or to act, but to witness his “heart of wisdom.” Wow!
While the whole world competes to acquire wealth, beauty, power, strength, intelligence and prestige. The precious, valuable, beautiful, shiny and most highly appraised biblical jewel called wisdom lies hidden, just waiting to be embraced and asked for.
Linda Johnson Belfrey has 14-years of radio experience working in faith-based broadcast ministry, www.jfmlive.com. Additional media ministries include her cable market telecast, Reaching a People, by Any Means Necessary and A Word for You print news media inspirationals. For inquiries email her at: Johnsonbelfrey@aol.com
Website: www.ljbelfreyministries.com
Anybody want to live a long life? It’s possible!
It’s a terrible thing to have your destiny aborted here on earth. Goals, dreams and potential many times cut-off at 17, 24, and 30 years old. A king named David cautioned his son to “hear and receive instruction and to allow his heart to retain his words.” His son was further urged to “avoid the way of evil men, to turn from it.”
Anybody want to live a long life? It’s possible. Though conditional, it is possible. Proverbs quotes that a “long and satisfying life” is feasible on the condition that in this case “the son does not deviate from his father’s teaching.”
The fathers in Proverbs give instruction on many matters: discipline, understanding, wisdom, trust in the Lord, sound judgment, and much more. They spell-out what to do, what not to do, how to do, and what to avoid. Many times lives are aborted, potential wasted, mind’s twisted, and we go on self-led journeys. Why? Simply put, we’ve deviated from the instructions of our heavenly father.
Linda Johnson Belfrey
Email: Johnsonbelfrey@aol.com
Website: http://www.ljbelfreyministries.com
http://www.jfmlive.com
Women on Sunday – “Unwrap the Gift!”
Today is an auspicious day! It’s the day we need to “unwrap the gift”. And we are the GIFT!
Yes, each of us is a gift. A gift to each other and a gift to the world!
You may be asking yourself “how is that so?” And you may scoff a wee bit at even the thought of that being so. After all, we’re women and “gifts” are things. You know, something inside a box that sparkles; or is practical and something we think we need. After all, our entire lives, we been led to believe that a gift is a “thing” outside of ourselves that brings pleasure to another or eases what life brings our way.
In reality, WE are the real gift! Yes, as a woman who is ‘flesh and blood’ and bone, muscle and sinew – we are the gift.
Many times, we don’t realize what it is that we bring to the lives of others. Family, friends, co-workers. It may be something as simple as a smile when we greet them each day with one word. . . .”hello”. It may be an offer to lighten their load with “may I help you with that?” Or maybe it’s a soft caress that speaks volumes – without saying a word. A caress that simply says “I care”.
Have we unwrapped the gift of ourselves yet? Have we opened the box that contains us and looked within to see how much we sparkle and glow? Have we changed the packaging of who we are to adjust to changing seasons of life?
Most importantly, have we seen – through the lives of others – the gift we are? If not, then I encourage us to begin that journey today.
Start the process of letting others see what a spectacular gift they have been given because we stepped into their lives in a very real and authentic way. Let them have the privilege of learning how much we mean to them. A meaning they might never have come to know had we not crossed their path.
First, we must unwrap our own gift. We must step outside the box and see the many facets of “me” and marvel at how much we bring to the world. Even when the world is defined as our home, our business, or place of employment. . .
I’ve made a pledge this morning! I’ve determined that the coming year – 2010 – will be “The Year of the Woman”. The year when we grow to celebrate our own gifts. The year when we assist each other in “unwrapping” our own unique gift(s). The year when we shout to the world – “I am woman, hear me now!”
A year when our authenticity shines like the sun and twinkles like a star. A year when we grow more transparent with others so that the “gift” we are is apparent to them. . . . and to us!
Ah, there’s the ‘rub’. Do we know our own “giftedness”?
I leave you today, with that question in mind. Don’t analyze it. . . just ask if of yourself. And then when you have an answer; write it here. Tell us your “giftedness”.
For as we say it to others. . . we will come to know it ourselves. And that is what it takes to “unwrap” the gift.
Blessings to you today, for I see the gifts each of you bring to a growing community of women who will stand up and shout. . . . “I am GIFT-Unwrap me NOW!”
Linda, a fellow journeyer
Linda S. Fitzgerald, M.S.Ed, CEO-CVO
Affiliated Women Intl(tm)
http://affiliatedwomen.com
A world of Discovery
Looking back I wish that someone had taken the time to sit down with me and show me there was a world of discovery beyond the bottom corner of Belmont Avenue. A three dimensional chat involving the mind body and spirit which would inspire and uplift and take off the restrictions of what I perceived possible for my life and which career path i could choose.
The fifties were a time of both freedom and structure. As a kid I could play in the street or go to the park by myself, even travel on the train aged 8 to meet my father in London – shock horreur – couldn’t do it now but this freedom came with some strange rules. No eating food in the street – including ice creams, don’t speak unless spoken to and certainly do not ask for anything for yourself and be nice to everyone.
These were the funny restrictive beliefs of my family , with grandparents who belonged in the Victorian age and had a certain dislike of anything which involved chatting with or playing with children. Children belonged outside or in their rooms. Those cold icy places with counterpanes as thick as mattresses, a little radio, a shelf of books and a onebar electric fire to be used on days when the ice was on the inside of the windows.No wonder I trained as a therapist in order to get rid of this madness of passivity and blow in fresh air.
If I had had a fairy godmother, then she would have helped me to see that I could find a pathway through the thorns and brambles and stayed by my side whilst I went on my journey. She would have informed, encouraged, motivated and at times where needed, waved her magic wand.
So thats what I do, I help you blow fresh air into your life, dust out the cobwebs, polish up your Aladdin’s lamp and let out the genie and with a sprnkle of stardust – off you go.
So, the New Year is in sight and in this blog over the next month I’ll give you some tips as to how to make your resolutions work like magic so you can become who you were meant to be rather than the result of your family beliefs.
Would you pose naked to raise your self-esteem?
Why do women pose naked for a photographer? No doubt you can think of many reasons but you might not be aware that it could be good for you. Women are baring all to raise self-esteem and deal with “issues”.
Anyone who has watched Gok Wan on How to Look Good Naked may have wondered about the miracle that turns women who can’t bear to look at their own bodies into bold, confident women who pose in shop windows wearing only a smile. Gok’s talent to make the women feel good about themselves is what sets this apart from other “makeover” programmes. It’s all about helping them feel happy in their own skin. And it really works.
Of course, only the highlights make it onto the screen and, no doubt, there are many more tears than we see, it probably takes much longer than we are led to believe and there must be lots of dropouts who never reach the end point. Nevertheless, we do see real transformations happen to real women. And it may be the camera that makes the difference.
Phototherapy is now becoming recognised as a way for women to radically change the way they feel about their bodies and themselves. Melissa Whitworth wrote a fascinating article about her experience of being photographed naked in which she describes the experience as being “life-affirming”. For many years Ellen Fisher Turk has helped hundreds of women see themselves differently. She does this by showing them photographs of themselves naked and getting them to write about it.
Fisher Turk says, “I use image-still or video to help women see past who they think they are. I photograph women who suffer from negative body image brought on by rape, incest, eating disorders, cancer or just plain life.”
It’s easy to dismiss such efforts as self-indulgent and ridiculous but many specialists in who work with women with body dysmorphia or problems with self-image are now recognising the value of such therapy, particularly with those suffering from anorexia.
The, supposedly, un-employable cooked my lunch beautifully!
There is a restaurant in London called Hoxton Apprentice.
It is set in a fabulous old Victorian school house on Hoxton Square.
I was invited by the proprietor, Val Corbett, to attend a ladies lunch in aid of raising money to help their training program.
You see Hoxton Apprentice is no ordinary restaurant, they train and employ the young, long term un-employed.
You can read their full story on their website: http://www.hoxtonapprentice.com/
What a fantastic lady; it was a great lunch too!
A story about one lucky protege:
Suleyman was a refugee from Turkey who could not speak English when he came to the Hoxton Apprentice. Today he is a qualified chef – with good (sometimes spicy) English – who was head hunted by Raymond Blanc and worked in his restaurant. But as they spoke French he decided that was one step too far! So he came back and now works as one our two main chefs. From being a long-term unemployed on benefit he earns a good salary, has married and is a fully functioning member of society.
D5 Creation