SUNDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2012
WHAT I'VE LEARNT IN 2012...
Before I get into today's post, I just wanted to say THANKS, to YOU! yes YOU for coming to my little (and sometimes it feels very little) corner of the web to say hi, share your thoughts and read mine. It mean sa lot to me that so many people come and visit and spend time in a space that is very dear to me and that I love writing.
Fashion & Lifestyle are 2 of my loves. I find that colour, clothing, jewellery, art and all things beautiful energize me from the inside out, and I love to share it with you when I can. So thanks, and I hope I can continue to give you something fun and interesting to read in 2013!
So back to today's post......
Why do I blog?
Some days I ask my self this question and then other days, when the words come shooting out of my fingertips at a pace I can hardly control, I know the answer.
Did you know that there are 100,000 new blogs created everyday on Wordpress? That's a lot of people with a lot to say. The internet is so jam packed with information, opinion, humour, fashion, style, love, loss; anyone can share their story or their knowledge and I love it. I love to learn something new every day and if I'm honest I probably do learn something every, single, day! ~ how great is that?!
So today I wanted to reflect on what I've learnt this year.
1) I've learnt that writing is something you can improve on everyday. It's like any 'muscle' that you keep working, it gets stronger, grows, develops and I've loved learning how to write in different ways. One of the things I love about my blog is that some days I can say everything that I want or need to in pictures and that provides me with all the words I needs and hopefully provides you with the visual inspiration you need!
2) I've learnt how to put new outfits, colour, creations together for myself and for others. I've love contributing to your style questions, whether it be overemail, on the blog or via Twitter. I always try and challenge my wardrobe, my colour palette and I constantly find inspiration from Pinterest. It's really my go to place for style and colour tips & tricks. If I love a colour and I needs more ideas on how to wear it or what else may work, then that's where I head. If you want to check out my boards then you can find them HERE, I'm always pinning and I love the visual collage it provides me.
3) Connect ~ I've met some amazing people over the last year through Twitter mainly and have created some great connections. The key to converting online friendships into more personal ones, I've found, is to the connect face to face. I've done lunch, coffees, cocktails, hen's parties, fashion supperclubs, crafty nights and blogging business with a fantastic array of wonderful chicks and I'm planning a 'TweetUp' soon in Melbourne for a whole host of other online friends that I've yet to meet but seem to speak or tweet with every day. The online community constantly amazes me with it's warmness, caring nature and community spirit and I'm thankful for you all.
4) Finally, this year I've learnt what I'm passionate about and I've been lucky enough to have moved my professional career into the social media, sourcing and innovation space to assist both large and small clients to understand their markets, candidate and customers better in order to build great community spaces for their audiences. I don't think I would have found myself heading down this path if I had not started blogging... so for this I'm truly grateful that I've found something to be passionate about that challenges me on a daily basis!
Have a wonder New Years whatever you are doing. Stay safe, and I look forward to seeing you all in 2013.
What have you learnt this year?
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2012
THE 3 THINGS YOU NEED TO CHANGE YOUR CAREER
Having a career you love is one of the things in life that make getting up everyday easier, more exciting and can provide you with the passion that you need. When you spend more than 8 hours a day somewhere, doing something that you want to do, the world just seems like a better place. You feel like you have purpose and that you are working towards something that means something to you. It doesn't have to mean something to those around you, as long as you are passionate then you'll be amazed what you can accomplish.
I recently took a Twitter friendship 'live' and had lunch with a lovely chick that speak to ALL the time on Twitter and Instagram. We were talking about career and the whole 'Fake it till you make it' scenario. The great thing is that in order to fake it till you make it, there are a few things that have to be REAL and have to be TRUE. You don't have to have all the skills required to change jobs you just have to have to nouse, the know how, the determination and the network!! So here are a few tips as we head out of 2012 and into 2013 as to what you can do to make your new career a reality!
1) Understand your own capability & know what you need to do to move in a different direction. You have to have some skill in the area that you want to move into. You have to know what you are talking about and know what it takes to deliver what is expected. If you do your research, teach yourself what the job takes and use the skills that you have, as well as expand on those skills. You'll love what you are capable of accomplishing. When you start talking about subjects that you have some experience in and are truly passionate about, you'll be surprised at how much you actually know on the subject and what the key issues, opinions and activities are in that industry and line of work.
2) Know which skills are transferable. What does this mean? it's means that if you've run a project or an event, if you've written documents, sold something.... all of these skills are transferred into different industries and different roles. Write down a list of your skills...... Project Management, content writing, business development, Team management.... whatever skills you have - forget your job title and even forget the job, just look at what you did in that role. Now look at which skills you enjoy using and give you the most satisfaction. Out of everything you did in your past roles, was it the client engagement, sales, deliver that you loved? or was it other tasks that played to your strengths?
3) Network, network, network. The age old saying is true. It's not what you know but who you know. Did you know that last year 78% of people found their new jobs through their networks and not through job boards or recruitment companies. Remember your network is your Nett worth! so start building your wealth by getting out there and meeting the people that you want to start communicating with. Building relationships with the right people will be your most valuable asset and activity when trying to break into a new industry. They will have the inside scope of what you need to know, what jobs are coming up in the industry, you may even get a mentor out of it, so don't be shy.
3) Network, network, network. The age old saying is true. It's not what you know but who you know. Did you know that last year 78% of people found their new jobs through their networks and not through job boards or recruitment companies. Remember your network is your Nett worth! so start building your wealth by getting out there and meeting the people that you want to start communicating with. Building relationships with the right people will be your most valuable asset and activity when trying to break into a new industry. They will have the inside scope of what you need to know, what jobs are coming up in the industry, you may even get a mentor out of it, so don't be shy.
Know what you want to do; identify the skills that you need to change roles, build your network in those industries and then sell yourself. Believe in your ability, your passion and your knowledge. Learn, learn, learn.
I love the saying that if your not making mistakes, your not trying hard enough. So don't be discouraged if it doesn't work the first time round or if your opinion is different to others. Know what you want and go after it. If you don't, no one else is going to knock on your door with the perferct opportunity and hand it to you on a silver plate!
I love the saying that if your not making mistakes, your not trying hard enough. So don't be discouraged if it doesn't work the first time round or if your opinion is different to others. Know what you want and go after it. If you don't, no one else is going to knock on your door with the perferct opportunity and hand it to you on a silver plate!
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2012
BUILDING AN INSPIRED COMMUNITY!
So as you may {or may not} know, I spent my Friday and Saturday last week at the ProBlogger event in Melbourne. It was 2 days of knowledge sharing, inspiration, fun, cocktails, great conversations, laughs, and meeting amazing bloggers from around Australia!
When you go to an event like this it reminds us that we're sharing a little piece of ourselves with the world and that it has value. I've found the blogging community to be so supportive, encouraging and open to helping where ever they can. It's so refreshing to be surrounded by people that want you to succeed and go out of their way to try and support you in your quest to achieve a life that if full, with ongoing challenges and learnings in order to develop a life you love and a community that is truly special.
I started this blog when I was on maternity leave the first time around and was looking to connect with others. It worked and over time it has evolved. My blog has always been a place where I love to share the things that I love that include all things fashion, lifestyle and career but there has never been a designed destination or goal. If there was one major point that came out of this weekend for me it was to have a goal. A clear, defined goal so that you know if you're heading in the right direction. This may be a work in progress for me! In the meantime I'm meeting amazing people, learning new lessons, develop my skills in different areas and building up my networks!
 |
| Left to right: Stephanie from Lipstick & Cake, Rachel from Inspacesbetween, Serena from Prettyfluffy, Kesh fromBold & Blunt, Carra from Ultra Inspired & of course me! |
To the amazing chicks that made this weekend so great! I look forward to staying in touch and keeping up with all of your brilliants blogs, sharing experiences and hopefully collaborating in the future.
Darren Rowse, Mr ProBlogger himself, pictured below with the awe inspiring Chris Guillebeau from The Art of Non-Conformity and the $100 Start Up. As this was my first ProBlogger event, I didn't have anything to really compare it to, but the speakers were so interesting, practical and able to talk about 'From small things, big things grow' the conference theme, that the take away lessons will stay with me for some time.
 |
| The Maha crew - thanks for a great night! |
WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 2012
How to update your Work Wardrobe
6am wake up call
Manic early morning routine with hubby and 2 kids in tow
7am train and back to back meetings, reports, projects and endless hours at the desk!
Oh the joy of returning to work after 7 months off on maternity leave.
So when you return to work with a new figure, a new head space and new priorities how do you get your head around your wardrobe again?
Well I have a plan. My plan involves knowing what I want; meaning what look am I going for?
What suits me now that is currently in my wardrobe? and how can I update and evolve my look to be current, stylish and perfect to make me feel great every time I go to my wardrobe and throw something on.
With new time restraints it's going to be crucial that I only have things that work for me hanging there every morning and I can put a look together in record time.
As the sales are still on, now is the perfect time to update some key pieces in the wardrobe for the office. With some great colour and some of the usual basics getting ready will {hopefully} be quick, mixing and matching with be easy and that means that confidence will be up and stress levels down as I leave the house!
Here are some great items, some on sales others new season to add a dash of colour to your wardrobe and make getting ready for work a joy!
I find it easier to work with a bright colour and a basic if mixing and matching, otherwise dresses are perfect to throw on and run out the door. A basic black or blue shift dress can be quickly updated with a great coloured jacket or a print pants is bang on trend and easy to wear.
 |
| 1) SABA Mini Tank Violet $69 2) SABA Abstract Floral Tank $79 3) CUE Multi Color print dress $269 4) SABA Louise knit jacket $139 5) Collarless jacket $275 6) Sussans Relaxed Tuxedo $119 7) SABA Zulu print pant $59 8) CUE Ruffle hem pencil skirt $149 9) Trenery Wool Skirt $149 |
TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012
Creating your own Opportunities - Network, Network, Network
So your sitting in your office and thinking.... I wish I could find a new job?
I need new friends! {hey it happens!} ~ How can I broaden your social circle?
I'd love to learn something new?
I need new friends! {hey it happens!} ~ How can I broaden your social circle?
I'd love to learn something new?
Creating new opportunities for yourself isn't as hard as you may think. I've now been back in Melbourne for 4 years this July after living in the UK from 2001 to 2008. When I left Melbourne at the age of 22 I had a great social circle, but on my I return found that there were very few old connections that I was able to get back in touch with. Some people were now living overseas, whilst others had moved on and created their own social groups {how dare they not sit and wait for me for 8 years!!} :) and everyone has families now and life just seems to generally be busier than ever.
If you're reading this blog then I may assume that you're au fait with online communities and potentially social media. Social Media, in particularly Twitter, has been my life line since coming home. I've built both professional and personal networks, met some AWESOME chicks and have created a community from which I've built my Stylise Facebook page and Stylise blog from. It's also provided me with met up events that I've loved and from there, once again, helped me to grow my network.
Here are some of the key tips on creating opportunities for yourself!
Initially when joining twitter I was running a small handmade business and so searched for #craft #handmade #markets #sewing #fashion #babywear etc... you get the point. By doing this I found lots of like minded people who I could connect with, learn from, have a laugh with and start to build relationships. From there I found a group called Brown Owls with a fab group of women that enjoyed the same things as I did and we would sit, drink, eat, craft, chat and network which was and is fantastic. Now that I've finally finished Uni I'm looking forward to getting back to Brown Owls next month.
When you meet people face to face or online, try and catch up with them when you can {if it's possible} as you're always going build stronger relationships when you chat face to face I think.
From the Brown Owls connection I've also made professional contacts like Katrina Higham who has her own consulting business that covers supporting small businesses to work with their brands, and help them achieve their goals through strategic coaching, development, advocacy and marketing. We have the same interest in Social Media and so I find it great discussing SM with Kat and hearing about her projects and thoughts on branding, marketing and business in general. Katrina has recently had great success working with MumPR representing Blog Stay at Home Mum which you can read about here.
I also found out about Fashionopolis, the first Fashion Bloggers Conference in Australia through Twitter. It was a fantastic event not only to learn about all thing fashion & blogging from some of the leading bloggers in Melbourne but it was a great opportunity to meet and connect with some great like minded fashionistas that share my passion for gorgeous garments.
FIND & CONNECT
Connect with relevant people. Think about who you would like to connect with, is it for personal or professional reasons? It could be for both.Initially when joining twitter I was running a small handmade business and so searched for #craft #handmade #markets #sewing #fashion #babywear etc... you get the point. By doing this I found lots of like minded people who I could connect with, learn from, have a laugh with and start to build relationships. From there I found a group called Brown Owls with a fab group of women that enjoyed the same things as I did and we would sit, drink, eat, craft, chat and network which was and is fantastic. Now that I've finally finished Uni I'm looking forward to getting back to Brown Owls next month.
FOLLOW THROUGH
When you meet people face to face or online, try and catch up with them when you can {if it's possible} as you're always going build stronger relationships when you chat face to face I think.From the Brown Owls connection I've also made professional contacts like Katrina Higham who has her own consulting business that covers supporting small businesses to work with their brands, and help them achieve their goals through strategic coaching, development, advocacy and marketing. We have the same interest in Social Media and so I find it great discussing SM with Kat and hearing about her projects and thoughts on branding, marketing and business in general. Katrina has recently had great success working with MumPR representing Blog Stay at Home Mum which you can read about here.
DISCOVER & NETWORK FACE TO FACE
Keep your eye for networking events that you can attend and meet up with people you already communicate with.I also found out about Fashionopolis, the first Fashion Bloggers Conference in Australia through Twitter. It was a fantastic event not only to learn about all thing fashion & blogging from some of the leading bloggers in Melbourne but it was a great opportunity to meet and connect with some great like minded fashionistas that share my passion for gorgeous garments.
Business Chicks network was another find through Twitter that I joined after considering it for a while, and within a week of joining I was approached about a job opportunity with a new organisation - amazing!
From the @businesschicks Twitter and Facebook page, I discovered and attended the Dell Entrepreneurial Women's networking event, where I met Delia Timms, founder of WhatshouldIwear.com as well as Dianne Draganovic who was responsible for the Social Media phenomenon behind the TheVoice on twitter ~ amazing women that I could easily learn so much from.
I attended the Melbourne Writers Club event in South Melbourne last night where Emily Power, fashion stylist from The Circle and former Fashion Editor for the Herald Sun was be speaking about writing, fashion and her new book about Fashion & Flemington coming out in September. I heard about this event, when I metStephanie Crawford, Editor of online magazine Maeve Magazine at Fashionopolis....so I followed up post event and off I went last night!
See it's easy once you get the ball rolling. I'm naturally a social person and I love meeting new people, I love networking but if it's not something that comes naturally to you here are some Networking Tips that I use!
Now whether opportunities that are presented to you are of interest or not, it's about getting out there and meeting people. Your personal contacts can become your professional contacts and today, sometimes it's hard to distinguish between the two, and why should you have to; a great relationship can fill both a personal and professional gap!
Just remember you can't make new contact, meet new people and build relationships sitting on the couch watching TV, so get online, get out and about and make opportunities happy for yourself! If you don't, no one else is going to do it for you!
THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
What I learnt along the way....
Today I completed my Masters of Commerce, Human Resource Management. Yes I think it's a massive deal as I never ever, ever, thought it would end! When I finished high school {way back when} I went to Swinburne Uni and studied a Marketing & Law degree for 3 years......it was a 4 year course, but as my company at the time offered to pay for me to move to London, I didn't really have to think about it, and so off I went, with a degree that was 3/4 completed. But I didn't care, adventure was more important to me at the age of 22 than getting my degree. Saying that, I always felt like I wished I had completed it, even by correspondence - but there was no way I was turning down London to stay and finish it.
So when I got home 4 years ago, I enrolled to start my Masters so that I could get a qualification under my belt. It was just something I needed to do. Saying that, it has been a fairly painful road. I'm a practical girl by most standard - fashion on the other hand, is probably the one area that I'm not so practical about, but that's another blog post all together. So like I was saying...I'm a practical girl, so when you enter a course that is 80% theory based it's a hard road to go down.
Now that I've finished, I am well aware that even though a lot of what I learnt was theory, there have been some great life lessons that I've come away with, so here are some of the things I've learnt along the way.....
1) Listen - to what people are telling you and then try to understand WHY they are telling you that. listening is only part of the equation. Whether its a client, a customer, your partner, your children, your friend, it's great to be a good listener but its even better to seek to understand as what people say is only 10% of the message. i.e.: do they look stressed, do they need support, do they need to not say anything but just know that you understand?
2) Respect - Your environment....meaning your family, country of origin, religion, etc that you've grown up in, molds the ways that you think feel and look at the world. Everyone has had a different experience, therefore respect other peoples point of view, not because it's polite but because what they believe is their reality, it's real to them, it means something to them, it may not just be an opinion but how they believe their life should be lived. When someone makes a decision or shares their opinion and you can't understand it, just know that their environment and the people that have influenced them are the reason for how they think.
3) Connect - Your networks, relationships and connections will provide you with the opportunities in life that you want and need. As the saying goes it's not what you know, but who you know {great saying that after studying for four years, but anyway!} So don't be shy, get out there, connect, meet, share with others and the opportunities will come back to you in more ways than you could imagine. Twitter, Facebook, Blogging, networking events, conferences, they are all your opportunity to meet your next business partner, collaborator, boss or someone who will be your connection to those people.
4) Explore & Learn - opportunities, don't just say no, take a look at what it 'could' look like, not what it looks like now. Building your knowledge, whether it be professional or personal will add to your enjoyment in life, it will give you new ways to think and work, it'll make you explore other opportunities that you may not have in the past because you're now open to learning.
5) Innovate - 'Chance favors the connected mind' {Steven Johnson} Consider innovation as a new way of thinking. When you have a problem, your mind will go to an automatic solution based on what you've done before and what you've experienced before. Hold onto that solution, then put it aside and think....how else could I handle, manage, explore the possibilities to solve this problem, create a new idea? You'll be amazed at the new ideas you'll come up with and the power of innovative thought that can take you down a completely different road that at times, may be so much more exciting.
CHEERS!
MONDAY, MAY 7, 2012
Want to Network like a pro?
So this week after some deliberation I enthusiastically joined the Aussie Networking group ~ Business Chicks. I've been thinking about it for a while and after asking a few people on Twitter and around the traps I decided that in order for me to build my Melbourne network I need to get out and meet more people outside of my own professional company, and this was the perfect way to do it! I'm busting to get out and hit some networking events, swap cards and discuss all things innovative, creative, fashion, social media and anything else that takes your fancy really. I find networking events fun, engaging and I love meeting new chicks that are local to me as well. Whilst I'm an outgoing personality and do love to get out there, there are a few networking rules that I follow.
 |
| www.businesschicks.com.au |
So my questions is....do you want to be able to network more confidently when you attend a conference or event?
Networking can be the life blood of any blogger, urban professional or business owner and it can ensure your ongoing success if you're able to network with the right people and make the right connections whether it be in person on online. We're social creators by nature, so take advantage of your desire to build relationships with some tips from the experts as well as a few that I've picked up along the way.
Your ability to get in there, be confident and approachable will help you build the relationships that you need in order to forge the career and relationships that you desire.
- When you walk into a room, take a look around, get a feel for the place, the people and the layout. I always head for the drinks, tea/coffee, water area so that I have time to scope out the room, grab a drink {usually this helps with nerves if you have something in your hands} and then decide who you would like to approach.
- This is the scary bit for most people, so you have a few option ~ obviously try and find people you know, or if you don't know anyone there, then maybe take a look for someone standing on their own. Just put yourself in their place, how happy would you be if you were standing on your own and someone came up and introduced themselves and started chatting? It's a win win situation most of the time and you'll always be a welcome addition, so don't be shy.
- As you approach the person, smile, be pleasant and make small talk.... i.e.: 'Morning, how are you? I'm {name}; it's always good to get a coffee in before things kick off.' the conversation will flow from there I'm sure. Usually it takes the direction of 'what do you do?' 'why are you here?' ' do you know anyone else' etc.
- Ask questions ~ be interested and ask questions when talking to new people as it will help you remember them as well and know if they are someone you think you would like to catch up again with in the future.
- Listen ~ active listening is so important to ensure that the person knows you're interested. As Carnegie {How to Win Friends & Influence people} says people love to talk about themselves. If you can get people to discuss their experiences and opinions; and listen with sincere interest, you can have a great conversation with someone without having to say much at all.
- If you find that the conversation isn't there, then it's easy to say 'Well it was lovely to meet you, enjoy the conference/morning/evening, I'm going to try and minglea bit before it all starts' ~ don't feel like you HAVE to stay if it's not flowing as it will just become awkward I think.
- Always have business cards handy, says Handal. "They're an effective way for you to leave your name behind so that people remember who you are."
- "People like to hear their own name," says Handal, so when you meet someone, use their name in conversation. This will help you not only remember their name for later but by doing so, it makes the other person feel more comfortable, like you really know them and they know you.
There are so many great tips to help you network more effectively but none more so than just be yourself! Trying to be something you're not or trying to be someone you're not never ends well and people can tell if you're not authentic. So just enjoy the conversation, take in what you can, discard what you don't need and follow up with people who really take your interest. Most people are on LinkedIn or Twitter these days so it's easy to connect without too much fuss.
Hopefully some of these tips have been helpful as I know networking in a room full of strangers can be harder for some more so than other but the benefits are priceless and will help you build friendships as well as business relationships.
Hopefully some of these tips have been helpful as I know networking in a room full of strangers can be harder for some more so than other but the benefits are priceless and will help you build friendships as well as business relationships.
As I was watching the TODAY show this morning I was saddened by one of the topics being discussed on 'Girls on the Grill' which talked about mothers and women in general who are vicious towards each other online because they believe their point of view to be the right {and obviously the only right} opinion, i.e.: working mums v stay at home mums.
Now whilst there will always be people who unfortunately never learnt to understand, invite, include and above all respect other peoples views, I definitely believe that it can be a choice as to whether we allow them to be part of our online social bubble.
Personally my online social bubble is to learn, engage, laugh and share great things, positive things and I feel that by ensuring that the people I follow are positive and love to share great information, articles, fun stories, touching stories, then my online life is something that brings me joy, friendship, conversation and an endless number of learning and knowledge possibilities.
So here are just a few tips on how to create a positive online community for yourself.
1) When searching for people to follow, a bio can tell you a lot....if they are fun, positive, have similar interests like craft, design, whatever it might be and they are there to engage then these are usually the type of people that can add value to your daily read. For example, one that I stayed well away from was a bio that started with - "I hate people who....F this...F that, everyone sucks!" nice huh? needless to say I didn't follow them!
2) Ensure your feed doesn't stay stagnant for too long. Look for new people to follow and unfollow people who don't add value to your feed. Once again, it's hard to really know someone before they start tweeting, so if you find that the same people say the same negative things then maybe it's time to say goodbye! I don't track people who follow me so this isn't something I would take personally, everyone has different needs and some people will fulfill those needs and others won't.
3) A good way to keep your feed fresh can be to take a look at people who you love to follow and see who they follow. I've found some great new Tweeps through looking on my favorite people's Follow list. A lot of the time there may be a common interest or just a common attitude that resonates with you personally.
4) Engage with people!! I've seen a lot of Twitter 'How to's' and as they all say; be part of the conversation, don't just sell, don't just promote your blog; but rather have conversations with people, respond to them about the links they shared or what they tweeted. Understand what is important to the people you follow and if its important to you then don't be shy to say so. The other key point is to be polite, kind and never rude. As my mother taught me, "manners don't cost a cent and are priceless!"
5) If it's possible, meet the people that you tweet to/with/for, I've met some great people through twitter and built friendships that I never would have imagined when I started on Twitter. These fab chicks have contributed to my love of food, wine, books, business and just great conversation and it's been so much fun building a network from online to face to face meetings.
These are just a few tips that I've found have worked well for me and made my online experience one I look forward to everyday!
If you have any other tips, I'd love to hear them!
As I was watching the TODAY show this morning I was saddened by one of the topics being discussed on 'Girls on the Grill' which talked about mothers and women in general who are vicious towards each other online because they believe their point of view to be the right {and obviously the only right} opinion, i.e.: working mums v stay at home mums.
Now whilst there will always be people who unfortunately never learnt to understand, invite, include and above all respect other peoples views, I definitely believe that it can be a choice as to whether we allow them to be part of our online social bubble.
Personally my online social bubble is to learn, engage, laugh and share great things, positive things and I feel that by ensuring that the people I follow are positive and love to share great information, articles, fun stories, touching stories, then my online life is something that brings me joy, friendship, conversation and an endless number of learning and knowledge possibilities.
So here are just a few tips on how to create a positive online community for yourself.
1) When searching for people to follow, a bio can tell you a lot....if they are fun, positive, have similar interests like craft, design, whatever it might be and they are there to engage then these are usually the type of people that can add value to your daily read. For example, one that I stayed well away from was a bio that started with - "I hate people who....F this...F that, everyone sucks!" nice huh? needless to say I didn't follow them!
2) Ensure your feed doesn't stay stagnant for too long. Look for new people to follow and unfollow people who don't add value to your feed. Once again, it's hard to really know someone before they start tweeting, so if you find that the same people say the same negative things then maybe it's time to say goodbye! I don't track people who follow me so this isn't something I would take personally, everyone has different needs and some people will fulfill those needs and others won't.
3) A good way to keep your feed fresh can be to take a look at people who you love to follow and see who they follow. I've found some great new Tweeps through looking on my favorite people's Follow list. A lot of the time there may be a common interest or just a common attitude that resonates with you personally.
4) Engage with people!! I've seen a lot of Twitter 'How to's' and as they all say; be part of the conversation, don't just sell, don't just promote your blog; but rather have conversations with people, respond to them about the links they shared or what they tweeted. Understand what is important to the people you follow and if its important to you then don't be shy to say so. The other key point is to be polite, kind and never rude. As my mother taught me, "manners don't cost a cent and are priceless!"
5) If it's possible, meet the people that you tweet to/with/for, I've met some great people through twitter and built friendships that I never would have imagined when I started on Twitter. These fab chicks have contributed to my love of food, wine, books, business and just great conversation and it's been so much fun building a network from online to face to face meetings.
These are just a few tips that I've found have worked well for me and made my online experience one I look forward to everyday!
If you have any other tips, I'd love to hear them!
Maternity leave - Return to the workforce confident
Maternity/Paternity leave - that special time when a parent is able to take leave from their paid day to day job to raise and spend time with their gorgeous new family. But is it worth planning for your return to work before you've even left?
With the changing economy, technology and business moving faster every day to keep ahead of the pack, going back to work after 9-12 months off can be daunting for many mothers who have been out of the loop for so long. The corporate world moves fast and things can change quickly. I've met a number of returning mum's who have lost confidence in their ability to do their old job because they believe that they can't catch up quick enough once they return. It creates anxiety and distress prior to their return and can make life at home difficult as well as making their transition back into the workplace slow and a struggle.
I truly believe that if you are a career focused woman and a mother, there are a number of things that you can do before you go on leave, whilst you're on leave and when returning from maternity leave to help the transition and ensure that you return feeling confident and ready to go.
1) When filling out your maternity leave forms for work before you go on leave, there is usually an option that most organisations will give you, to stay in touch as much or as little as you would like, or the option to not stay in touch at all. Now I know that when you are about to go on maternity leave the last thing you want to think about is hearing from work whilst you're spending quality time with your new baby and as this is such a precious time, thinking of going back to work isn't even on the cards until a month before it happens. If you do want to think ahead, then it may be worth checking the box on your leave forms, to hear about any changes in your role whilst you're on leave, or potentially just having a quarterly or 6 monthly update with the person doing your role. It can make all the difference to hear first hand about any major changes so that you are aware and prepared when you return.
2) Secondly, if you have a performance review due during your maternity leave, then I would strongly advise you to ensure that the review is still conducted {especially if there is a bonus and pay rise due}. Be prepared to discuss your performance and what you expect from the review, in other words treat this meeting/discussion as if nothing has changed and you are still working at that time. If you don't take the opportunity to attend this meeting, whether it be in person or over the phone, then you could potentially miss out on being rewarded for your hard work in the previous performance review period and start on the back foot when you return because it was such a long time ago prior to leave and your last review that you were assessed re your work performance.
3) Thirdly, if you are passionate about your job and interested in your field then stay in touch with what is going on in the world and industry around you. This could mean reading any articles or just the newspaper on the weekend as to what is going on in the economy and in your field in general. If you're on any social networking sites then this can assist you with keeping up to date with industry information which can be enjoyable as well as informative. I am currently studying my final 2 subjects for my masters whilst on maternity leave, which I feel keeps me informed and keeps my mind engaged in my field of expertise {which is Human Resources & Talent Management}. This is once a week for 3 months from 4.30pm-9.30pm, therefore it doesn't take any time away from my family and it also gives me a break to just engage my mind in other things, which in the end makes me a better mum to my 2 gorgeous babies.
Managing your career whilst on leave can be challenging but if you put a little time in, and I mean it can be as little as 30 minutes once every 3-4 months, then this can ensure that you don't feel isolated when you return but rather engaged and make the return to work more enjoyable and less daunting, with your confidence, mind, and sanity still in tact.
I would love to hear your thoughts if you are or have been in this position and how you managed your return to work.
The maternity leave Roller coaster!
Roller-coasters.
Fun - yes?
Well most of the time I think they are. But the ups and the downs give you a sense of excitement as well as dread. It can give you an adrenaline rush as well as make you feel sick!
Before I went on maternity leave the first time, and I had no idea what was coming I thought it was going to be wonderful, easy, chilled - I mean how hard could it be with something so small?
I would have my new baby, and all the time in the world to myself. One of the General Managers at my work had said to me how much she enjoyed the time to just read, relax, catch up with friends and the baby just slept through and went with her every where that she went. So obviously everyone has a different experience.
In the first 3 months I struggled more than I ever expected and was desperate to get back to work. Being home day in and day out, just wasn't for me, especially with very little interaction from the outside world. The thing about being a new mum is that most people don't want to 'disturb' you so in the end I didn't see many people during the first couple of months, and this was probably the time I needed to see people the most. So for 3 months I was climbing the walls, once we got to 4 months and bubs was starting to roll, hold her head up and respond, I then decided that I was going to quit my job and stay home to be a full time mother. It was so great to see her changing and see her smile, laugh and develop and the glow of motherhood finally kicked in! It was at this time that I started up my small business Stylise which was handmade gifts for babies, women and the home. This gave me a new lease on life and I was taking my passion for my new little one and turning it into something new, fun and something that I had to think from a business perspective.
Between month 4-7, life was good, fun, engaging. I was using my mind again to work out things for the business, writing a blog, creating branding, business cards, going to markets etc. Once I hit 7 months, I was ready to head back to work and all the feelings of staying home full time were no longer part of what I wanted. I missed the day to day adult interaction, problem solving, team management and career development. It's finding the balance that is essential.
Now that I am about to head back onto maternity leave in the 6 weeks, I hope that I'm going into this next period of my life with some clarity about who I am, what I need and how I will hopefully achieve the balance needed to be happy with my two little ones. I will be completing the last 2 subjects of my Masters in Commerce (HRM) which has been a long term goal that I've been working towards for some time now. I also have a wedding coming up in September next year in the UK so I'll be working hard to get out and about with the 2 little ones to get as much exercise as much as I can. I hope to enjoy this time with my kids as I know it goes quickly and as many mums say - you never get the time back, but it's important to try and balance that with your needs as a woman and not just a wife and a mother.
I'm always keen to hear about how you dealt with the changes and any advice you would give other women.
Learning the Art of asking for help
If you need something or want something - ask for it.
Sound simple? well yes it sounds simple, but it's one of the hardest things for most people to do
.When my first bub came along, I made an assumption that I would have friends and family around me to help, reassure, comfort and support me. Unfortunately this assumption did not become reality and it wasn't any one's fault but my own. People didn't want to disturb, so in the end there were a lot of days alone with our new baby and not a soul to talk to.
All I had to do was ask, but that was too hard. People would think I couldn't cope, that maybe I was a bad mum. I'd always been strong, independent and able to cope with anything, so why would this be any different?
Maybe it comes with age...I'm not sure. Maybe it comes with life experience, probably, but now I've learnt the art of asking for help. Women get mad when men don't know what they want, when they don't read our minds and just do things that we expect them to do. So my mum said to me one day "If you want something then you need to ask. Men don't think the same way we do, they don't just 'get it', so if you want to live a life of frustration and continue to get frustrated and upset that he hasn't done what you expect, be aware that you never asked him, so how would he possibly know." So that was marriage lesson one from my mother, but I think this advise applies to more than just us asking our men for what we want! :)
When I was 8 months pregnant I stood on the train because no one offered me a seat. I would stand there, my back killing, thinking in my head for the whole 20 minute trip, 'how rude can people be? who brought you up? is there no chivalry in the world any more?' and of course my silent seething didn't actually fix my problem. People still don't offer me a seat and I'm 7 months at the moment, but as per my mothers advise, you can either live a life of frustration or you can ask. Now when I get on the train, if there is not a spare seat, I go to the section reserved for special needs like pregnancy, injury, disability etc and I ASK for a seat and people always give me one.
In the vein of being clear about what I want and need, and with bub number 2 on the way, I've asked my mum if she can help me out 2-3 days a week for the first couple of months from 10am-3/4pm as I know I won't be able to cope with a 1 year old and a new born on my own. She is of course more than happy to help where she can.
Maybe it's learning what your limits are, which is definitely growing up and knowing that you don't have to do things on your own. You have people around you that care for a reason and once you learn this lesson and you start asking for the things you want, you save time, emotion, frustration and in the end 9 times out of 10 you get what you want!
It takes a village...... never forget that and remember.....if you need or want something - Just ask for it.
Sound simple? well yes it sounds simple, but it's one of the hardest things for most people to do
.When my first bub came along, I made an assumption that I would have friends and family around me to help, reassure, comfort and support me. Unfortunately this assumption did not become reality and it wasn't any one's fault but my own. People didn't want to disturb, so in the end there were a lot of days alone with our new baby and not a soul to talk to.
All I had to do was ask, but that was too hard. People would think I couldn't cope, that maybe I was a bad mum. I'd always been strong, independent and able to cope with anything, so why would this be any different?
Maybe it comes with age...I'm not sure. Maybe it comes with life experience, probably, but now I've learnt the art of asking for help. Women get mad when men don't know what they want, when they don't read our minds and just do things that we expect them to do. So my mum said to me one day "If you want something then you need to ask. Men don't think the same way we do, they don't just 'get it', so if you want to live a life of frustration and continue to get frustrated and upset that he hasn't done what you expect, be aware that you never asked him, so how would he possibly know." So that was marriage lesson one from my mother, but I think this advise applies to more than just us asking our men for what we want! :)
When I was 8 months pregnant I stood on the train because no one offered me a seat. I would stand there, my back killing, thinking in my head for the whole 20 minute trip, 'how rude can people be? who brought you up? is there no chivalry in the world any more?' and of course my silent seething didn't actually fix my problem. People still don't offer me a seat and I'm 7 months at the moment, but as per my mothers advise, you can either live a life of frustration or you can ask. Now when I get on the train, if there is not a spare seat, I go to the section reserved for special needs like pregnancy, injury, disability etc and I ASK for a seat and people always give me one.
Maybe it's learning what your limits are, which is definitely growing up and knowing that you don't have to do things on your own. You have people around you that care for a reason and once you learn this lesson and you start asking for the things you want, you save time, emotion, frustration and in the end 9 times out of 10 you get what you want!
It takes a village...... never forget that and remember.....if you need or want something - Just ask for it.
Is customer experience king for business sustainability?
Everything that we do, we do for the customer. Even if you are building your business for your own purpose, whether that be financial independence, creative outlet, pure enjoyment or hobby the only way that you can continue to do that is to have happy customers that continue to purchase your products. As creatives, the customer matters because we are making products for their enjoyment, therefore creating a customer experience that is memorable is ideally what we should be aiming for ~ after all differentiation will always help your customer remember you!
I recently was fortunate enough to connect to a live stream that ETSY was conducting in Brooklyn, New York with Ducktape marketing founder, John Janstch who is a small business marketing expert. Even though a few of the ideas I had implemented already, there were many more great tips and I thought I would share them with you if you are a business or hobby seller.
One of the key questions was ~ If you love what you do then the money will come? Right?
Unfortunately it's not always just about passion and the ability to create. If you want to build a sustainable business then there are tips, tricks, plans, strategies that need to be put into place.
1) Repeat Business & Referrals
The majority of businesses focus on new customers. Where we will find the? How we can advertise to attract them and build, build, build on numbers?
One of John's key points is to focus on your existing customers. Repeat business will always pay off more than spending your time focusing on gaining new customers. if you create a happy customer base then their word of mouth will bring new customers to you.
Some ideas included:
- Email your existing customers to find out if they have any feedback on how you can improve on the customer service they experienced or the product. Ensure that they were happy. Sometime we have an order, post it out and that's it.
- Send them a discount voucher for their next purchase as a thank you.
- Send a few business cards and let them know that if their friend/colleague purchases something and lets you know that they were referred by "miss referrer" then they will get a X discount. Encourage them to share your information! People love to provide others with discount opportunities and share great experiences that they have had.
2) Customer Experience
- Do you send thank you cards with every order you send out?
- Do you know who your regular customers are and refer to previous purchases when interacting with them?
- Do you gift wrap your packages that go to your customers or ensure that the packaging is professional?
- Do you send business cards to customers so that they can refer you to their friends?
- Is your branding obvious so that once all of the packaging is gone there is still a brand on your product? (not always easy for small items such as jewellery)
All of these things are worth investing in as it improves on the customer's experience and the longevity of your brand on the product.
3) Blogging
Gain your customers trust, share things with them that show them that you are willing to share. Great tutorials, recipes, some personal information, sharing business ideas and resources may help you connect more with your customers ~ obviously each customer base is different so ideally try and find out what it is they want to know about or read about. Think outside the box if you can!
4) Testimonials & Reviews
If possible testimonials and customer reviews always support your social networking site and show new customers that the quality of your work is great and worth buying!
5) Pricing
This one can be a tough one. A comment that John made during his talk was "someone is always willing to go out of business quicker that you are when you complete on price".
Work out what the item cost you to make:
- raw materials
- manufacturing/creation time
- packaging
This should be your minimum price. There are so many blog posts out there on pricing at the moment and the fact that people in the creative space don't price for sustainability of their business. It can also be difficult as it's not always possible to buy wholesale due to the quantity of materials such as fabrics that you buy. This is where you need to decide if you can price your goods high enough to cover this and the fact that your product is unique, handmade and one of a kind. Ensure that if you are asking your friend opinion on pricing ie: "would you pay this price for this item?" that they are your target audience.
These were just a few of the great tips that given during the talk. A huge thank you to ETSY for providing such great business resources to their community.
What are your tips for great business sustainability?
I recently was fortunate enough to connect to a live stream that ETSY was conducting in Brooklyn, New York with Ducktape marketing founder, John Janstch who is a small business marketing expert. Even though a few of the ideas I had implemented already, there were many more great tips and I thought I would share them with you if you are a business or hobby seller.
Unfortunately it's not always just about passion and the ability to create. If you want to build a sustainable business then there are tips, tricks, plans, strategies that need to be put into place.
1) Repeat Business & Referrals
The majority of businesses focus on new customers. Where we will find the? How we can advertise to attract them and build, build, build on numbers?
One of John's key points is to focus on your existing customers. Repeat business will always pay off more than spending your time focusing on gaining new customers. if you create a happy customer base then their word of mouth will bring new customers to you.
Some ideas included:
- Email your existing customers to find out if they have any feedback on how you can improve on the customer service they experienced or the product. Ensure that they were happy. Sometime we have an order, post it out and that's it.
- Send them a discount voucher for their next purchase as a thank you.
- Send a few business cards and let them know that if their friend/colleague purchases something and lets you know that they were referred by "miss referrer" then they will get a X discount. Encourage them to share your information! People love to provide others with discount opportunities and share great experiences that they have had.
- Do you send thank you cards with every order you send out?
- Do you know who your regular customers are and refer to previous purchases when interacting with them?
- Do you gift wrap your packages that go to your customers or ensure that the packaging is professional?
- Do you send business cards to customers so that they can refer you to their friends?
- Is your branding obvious so that once all of the packaging is gone there is still a brand on your product? (not always easy for small items such as jewellery)
All of these things are worth investing in as it improves on the customer's experience and the longevity of your brand on the product.
Gain your customers trust, share things with them that show them that you are willing to share. Great tutorials, recipes, some personal information, sharing business ideas and resources may help you connect more with your customers ~ obviously each customer base is different so ideally try and find out what it is they want to know about or read about. Think outside the box if you can!
4) Testimonials & Reviews
If possible testimonials and customer reviews always support your social networking site and show new customers that the quality of your work is great and worth buying!
5) Pricing
This one can be a tough one. A comment that John made during his talk was "someone is always willing to go out of business quicker that you are when you complete on price".
Work out what the item cost you to make:
- raw materials
- manufacturing/creation time
- packaging
These were just a few of the great tips that given during the talk. A huge thank you to ETSY for providing such great business resources to their community.
What are your tips for great business sustainability?
