When you choose to have children, there is a real sense of the unknown. How will you cope? What will they be like? Will they sleep? Although these questions change as our children grow, they still have the ability to baffle us, overwhelm us and inspire us. So of course, when you have created a summer holiday routine using spreadsheets, diaries, calendars and white boards to stay on track with your business, it is typical that the children will inevitably do something to wreak havoc with your best laid plans. So what’s Plan B?

Plan B is essential to good business planning, especially...

If I ask any mum what they want their child to be, their overriding answer will always be “happy”! It’s what we all want to be and knowing our children are loved, fulfilled and content gives us that warm, fuzzy feeling. Yet when these same mums ponder the question a little longer, greater aspirations come to mind, which all surround the concept of being confident and equipped to conquer whatever the future holds!

Confidence is contagious and parents are role models, so the two things go hand in hand. If you lack self-belief and are racked with guilt, fear and uncertainty,...

Creating and maintaining a plan, without doubt, is the best way you can ensure your success. Without a schedule, you will inevitably lack focus and every task will take much longer to complete. Planning is an essential part of managing a successful business and I hope these tips will help you create an organised, structured routine.

Your Goals Everyone is working towards achieving an overall objective and, in doing so, you usually have to complete a number of smaller goals. Decide what you need to achieve each week and write down the tasks that will help you realise each goal. Breaking down...

There are many ways to expand your entrepreneurial outlook, be it through networking, making new connections or by diversification. A good way of broadening your horizons is to look at what training might be useful to you. There are many courses available that could result in you expanding your product range or service offering, ultimately helping to boost sales. Acquiring new skills or offering something others don’t will keep you ahead of the game and make your company more attractive to customers.

Train for Success Growing your knowledge through training is a great way to help your...

You know what you’re capable of achieving and how your personal success can impact on all aspects of your life. Be confident in yourself and your own accomplishments. If you are happy with yourself, everyone will know, as your wellbeing is reflected in everything you do. By building on your own triumphs, you can create a life that you’re proud to live and of which your family is happy to belong.

What Life’s About
We all know what we want from life or do we? How many of us can say we want ‘this’, ‘this’ and ‘this’, and we want them in...

The most important thing about setting out to achieve your goals is to keep taking steps forward. But it is not about doing everything to a formula: there are no hard and fast rules as to how to achieve success. With your hectic day-to-day life as a mum, you already know all about being flexible. You are able to adapt easily when the need unexpectedly arises and ongoing positive progress will drive you on. If you feel you’re always taking steps forward no matter how small the step, you will find that this is a powerful motivator to achieve your aspirations and so much more.

Across The...

There are many ways to grow your company. Expansion isn’t something to be taken lightly, but sometimes you have to move with the times, keep up with new developments or simply look at new business areas. New challenges may seem intimidating but are rarely as daunting as they first seem. There are many organisations and individuals out there who can help you take the next step, from those offering opportunities to learn new skills through to business training companies and advice lines. You may even identify ways to manage the growth of your business by discussing your situation with...

Creating calm isn’t as easy as it sounds. You need to make the most of it when the opportunity arises or alternatively plan in moments when you can devote some time to you. Calm is as much a state of mind as a physical environment, so uncluttering your thoughts and concentrating on positives can often be as beneficial to you as a physical rest from the day-to-day rush.

Unclutter Your Mind
You may find calm in many different ways. Every mum has their own concept of calm, her own ways of relaxing and switching off from a busy daily routine. Even half an hour of reading a good book or...

Working from home can sometimes feel a bit lonely, so networking is the ideal way to connect with business people in your locality. If you’re juggling your busy family life with work commitments, networking offers an opportunity to reach out to a wider community and give you a sense of place. It’s easy to pick and choose the networking sessions that suit you, as generally there are sessions running throughout the day and early evening. Whichever type of event you choose, it is important you make the most of the chance to connect with people.

Business Communications ...

Networking is an essential tool today for making new business contacts. It enables you to connect in a one-to-one environment with people who are actively seeking to connect with you. One of the most useful aspects of the networking process is that you can learn from other people, perhaps with more experience of running their own business, and quickly gain invaluable insight into everything from best practices to time-saving shortcuts.

Knowledge and Experience Networking offers you face-to-face access to a diverse range of people and this opportunity ought to be seized upon. The attendees...