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, which i...

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 during th...

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 y...

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 company...

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 like-minde...

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 Communication in business...

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 w...

Organising your time is perhaps the most important factor in ensuring you and your business are both efficient and therefore productive.  Try to be strict and allot a certain amount of time each day, or each week, to your own work. Be realistic when allocating timescales to your work so you have enough time to complete each task effectively. This will make it a lot easier for you to know your capabilities and ensure you’re not snowed under by unrealistic deadlines, mountains of work and phone calls from angry customers.

Seconds Out Whatever you are creating, be it a physical product, writte...

Running a business and taking on work projects isn’t easy when you’re already trying to fit everything in around your family’s hectic schedule. Planning and mapping out a life schedule is important to keep all your commitments in focus and in perspective. It allows you to see clearly where your life is going and how you are going to get there. However you plan your schedule, always align it so the tasks are congruent with your personal goals.

Reach For Your Goals What do you want to get out of work? It’s no use devoting time and effort to your own business if it’s not allowing you to achieve ...

Wishes, dreams and hopes are all great but in order for any of them to be fulfilled, you must take action! Do you have a great business idea that has been in the back of your mind for months or longer? If you continue to procrastinate, your wishes will never come true. However, following the tips below will help you to enjoy greater business success.

Get Started If your idea will bring greater benefits to your business and therefore your life, start by writing down the idea. Writing it down will turn a wish into a tangible goal, which will motivate you to succeed. It sounds like a simple ide...