Christmas on its own can be stressful enough, throw running your own business into the mix and you could potentially have the recipe for a stress overload! Take action now so you don’t reach the point of no return by setting up strategies well in advance of the festive season that will enable you to cope.

As the majority of women bear the brunt of Christmas preparation, it is understandable that this time of year fills a lot of mumpreneurs with dread rather than festive cheer. Here are a few ideas on how to effectively manage stress levels.

Setting predefined goals that focus on what...

Is fear holding you back from starting your business and making it a great success? When you start out on your journey of running your own business, the first step is always the hardest. Your fear of the unknown, of taking a chance, is daunting but when you’re successful, it will all be worth it!

Fear Of The Unknown Conquering your fear is half the battle – or sometimes the entire battle – and you might see it as an imaginary barrier to success.  If fear is preventing you from pursuing your dream of running your own business, you can overcome your anxiety. Once...

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to run and grow your own business? If this question pops into your head on a regular basis, or if you see others around you taking the plunge, then perhaps it’s time for you to turn your dreams into reality and set up your own business.

Achieve The Ultimate Balance Think how nice it would be if you were your own boss. The decisions would be yours. The rewards would be yours. Running your own business often offers the flexibility to work when you are able, not when you have to. To achieve a better work-life balance, you can plan and fit your...

Regardless of the size of your business or the length of time you’ve been trading, there are always new marketing tools available that can make your life easier and your business more successful. Many of these tools come with bold promises and it isn’t always easy to know which are best for your business. However, most offer a trial period during which you can test out the features to see whether they work for you and will provide a good return on investment.

How often have you bemoaned the fact that you only have one pair of hands and there aren’t enough hours in the day?...

Marketing is vital for attracting custom, regardless of the type and size of your business. Whether you want to create new business or retain your customer-base, having a targeted campaign that communicates your unique selling point is essential in today’s fast-paced markets. So how can you guarantee your marketing campaign will be a success?

Don’t jump in head first. It’s advisable to test the water before committing effort and capital in potentially expensive and extensive marketing campaigns. Testing allows you to learn from the results, such as what works and what...

Many women, especially those who have given up a career to start a family, feel unable or too intimidated to start a business. If you’re the breadwinner of a family, it’s likely you think entrepreneurship is a bit risky. Yet here are a few reasons why so many more women are choosing to take the step and succeeding as valuable mumpreneurs.

For the women who stayed at home, they immediately picked up skills to keep the house running like clockwork. Hearty meals were being made from scratch, blankets were knitted to keep tots warm, the smell of gingerbread wafted through the house...

Throughout the many years I have been coaching mums and mumpreneurs, I have always encouraged my clients to pursue their goals, achieve their dreams and aspire for a happier life. Yet I always offer the same advice to these women: you can accomplish your wildest dreams but sometimes in life you may have to make compromises. This isn’t a bad thing at all; it is about choosing to do the things that mean something to you, as opposed to doing the things society expects of you.

You are a strong, independent and ambitious mum who has already achieved so much in your life. Yet you want more,...

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...

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...