A new enterprise for a new economy

Hi,
Against the doom and gloom of the GFC emerges a surprisingly good news story – the growth of the ‘enterprise culture’.  At the forefront of this rising tide of self-employment and small business ownership women firmly stand, with stats for last year showing twice as many businesses were started by women than men.

From mothers juggling babes and business at the kitchen table to the ‘one - woman show’ running a restaurant or retail outlet to the woman at the helm of a large business there’s a stampede of women creating new business.

Born from seeds of initiative and self-reliance this powerful movement is committed to creating a business culture based on our values rather than the predetermined values of the existing business structure and culture. We’ll do it our way …. whatever that way is!  Whilst this ‘new economy’ is exciting, edgy and offers women enormous opportunity it also contains greater risk and insecurity.

In a speech recently I stated that I didn’t think SHE Business would have existed 10 years ago, maybe not even 5 years ago and I believe this to be so. We are very much a new enterprise, a business club for entrepreneurs and businesswomen offering distinct products and services to the forerunners of this new economy.

Next month we officially launch SHE Business and we do it with our partner Women in Focus and alongside two great leaders,Avril Henry and Dr Helena Popovic who are guest speakers at our celebratory and powerful event, Fearlessly Creating.

Our wish is for you to join us - why?

• To be inspired to greatness in 2012
• To access cutting edge research and thinking in Leadership – both personal and professional
• Connect with members and guests of SHE Business
• And discover this new enterprise - SHE Business

Fearlessly Creating
Date:  Wednesday December 7th 2011
Time: 9.15 – 1:00pm
Venue:  Chatswood Golf Club


Cost:
$65 - Members
$77 - Non members

Includes champagne and fruit mince pies 

BOOK HERE
 
For further information visit our website shebusiness.com

List'em Up

List’em up…

Have you noticed how human beings love lists? There’s the famous The New York Times Bestseller List, Fortune 500(American corporations), the Forbes List of The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women (including three Australians … can you guess who?), and the Guinness Book of Records, which is one long list.

There are multiple lists of 100 all-time favourite movies, greatest songs, albums etc, so I wasn’t surprised when I came across the list of 100 entrepreneurs who didn’t complete college.

Some names you’ll recognise immediately such as Steve Wozniak (Apple), Vidal Sassoon, Richard Branson, Jerry Yang (Yahoo!) and Walt Disney. You can click here for the complete list.

So if a college degree isn’t essential for entrepreneurial success, I became keenly interested in discovering the attributes that are. In my research I came across more lists, more than half a dozen that laid claim to containing the essential attributes for success. The one I liked most read as follows:

ATTRIBUTES OF SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEURS:

1.     Inner drive to succeed
2.     Strong belief in themselves
3.     Search for new ideas and innovation
4.     Openness to change
5.     Competitive by nature
6.     Highly motivated and energetic
7.     Accepting of constructive criticism and rejection

Having reflected on this list for a few days, I decided that each of these attributes contributed to a clear path of thought; uncluttered by any murky waters of doubt, it allowed the entrepreneur to ask just one question:

How?  Could ‘How’ really be the entrepreneur’s best friend? 


It certainly confers certainty and opens the creative hatch.  So I'm giving it a go, I’m taking ‘how’ into every aspect of my life – health, family, business – and whenever I sense overwhelm or a challenging scenario, I can play this trump card, focusing my attention on just one inevitable outcome, success … I just have to find out how!

‘How’ … do you like it?

Basil Fawlty would have been proud with this level of service

I was at a conference last week and heard one presenter after another, from economists to marketing experts, confirm that changing times and an uncertain business world would be the norm for some time to come.

High levels of customer service were given as the anecdote for these uncertain times, keep your customer happy and your business will survive and thrive, so I was appalled when a few days later I experienced the WORST kind of customer service.

For more than 12 months I’ve met my members at a certain golf club on the north shore for a healthy light lunch - until last month when, for some obscure reason they served us an unhealthy lunch of fried fish nuggets and chips! As our plates hit the table there was an embarrassed silence, which I quickly filled with an apology, assuring them this is not what I had ordered, nor the usual standard of fare. 

A few weeks later they sent me an invoice for the meal, surprised they hadn’t called me to discuss I immediately rang and again raised my concerns about the meal. I mentioned that I would have to compensate my guests for the food - I promise a light and healthy lunch and they got fried food.  The functions manager who is a lovely but powerless chap said he had no authority in this matter and he would refer it to the general manager.  I received an email saying  "there will not be any possibility of financial compensation".  No phone call, no discussion! Annoyed they didn’t have the decency to call me I fired back with this:

"Your general manager obviously has no idea how to keep customers.  What was served up was a disgrace!  I could get better food at the local 2 star hamburger joint and as David will testify my members felt similarly as the food was still on the plate when he cleared the tables.  It was inedible.  Please have your general manager call me as soon as possible to sort this out". 

I didn't hear a word.

I wondered whether I was going a little crazy, expecting too much from this north shore golf club so I spoke with a few mates of mine in the restaurant business to get their perspective.  Their jaws dropped in horror!

I persevered and put in another call to the general manager who finally deemed it important enough to call me back.  Not really helpful though as this was all he said:

"I will not discuss this with you until the invoice has been paid in full, I will not discuss this with you until the invoice has been paid in full, I will not discuss this with you until the invoice has been paid in full".

When in huge frustration I said "I can't believe you won't conduct a conversation till I pay the invoice he said with great sarcasm "you're a quick learner, you've finally got it, and no I won't discuss this till the invoice is paid in full".  At this point I knew there was no return so I finished the phone call.

I’m obviously frustrated by the experience, particularly because NO ONE WOULD LISTEN TO ME, so what's the cost of ignoring your customers?

I will never return - a regular monthly booking for local businesswomen

I have told the story many times over to friends and colleagues

I will mention it to my extended network

I could well publish a blog about it.

And all because they wouldn't listen to me, speak to me, offer a compromise, show empathy and understanding of the embarrassment they created in front of my members and guests.  I wasn't going to ask for a full refund I just wanted a fair hearing and a sympathetic ear.

We can all learn from this experience.  You don't need to work in the realm of 'the customer is always right' but you do have to listen, learn, show empathy and understanding and god forbid apologise when it doesn't go right.

I'd love to hear your thoughts.  Is this the norm in Australia?

Innovation ... or failing quickly

Good morning Wonderful People

As many of you already know SHE Business is a partner of Commonwealth Bank Women in Focus and last week I had the pleasure of attending their 2nd Annual Conference.  We heard from some amazing people on incredibly diverse subjects - we were inspired by Ronni Khan from OzHarvest and Cathy Burke from The Hunger Project, we were entertained by Andy Lark and Emma Lo Russo as they explored the social media rampage and we were given business insights from Deloittes, McKinseys and the chief economist from the Commonwealth Bank.

We heard from people traversing a constantly changing business market and the sort of attitude and skills required to do it successfully.  Innovating and having a structure for innovation was given as a core ingredient for success so having heard it from the experts I thought I'd share their 6 top tips:

1. Innovation is the oxygen of progress - eloquent and so very true.

2. Innovation has altered the conventional business lifecycle - it's called the 3 Horizon Model
          Horizon 1 - The business of today
          Horizon 2 - The business of tomorrow
          Horizon 3 - The business of the day after tomorrow (this is where breakthrough innovation occurs)

An attendee at the conference who had previously been using the old business model was able to clearly project the end of a lifecycle of one of her products by using this new model.

3. Failure is inherent in innovation - get ready to learn the valuable lessons and get used to processing failure powerfully.

4. Testing the market is integral to innovation: setup, prototype, test the market, refine and retest, evaluate your findings.

5. Innovation is required in 3 areas of business - People, Processes and Technologies

6. Diversity is key to innovation

Innovation is key whether you're providing products or services, whether you service B2B or B2C.  If you've previously viewed innovation as something only technology companies need to consider, think again.  Creating a culture of creativity and innovation is an essential tool for business success.

For me the greatest 'take out' was being able to create a powerful framework for failure!  We all need to be prepared to test the market and if somethings not working be prepared to pull it from market without worrying about what others may think.  The most successful entrepreneurs understand that 99% of success is failure.

Have you been successfully innovating in your business and do you have a structure for innovation?

Love to hear your thoughts.

PS Creating powerful contexts for honest and open discussion is just one of the benefits of a SHE Business membership, why not find your nearest chapter and discover what else a SHE Business membership can do for your business.

23 days

Good morning gorgeous people

Yesterday I sat in my car and cried.

How can you not cry when you hear of Somali women escaping war and famine on foot with children in tow.

How can you not cry at the desperation of Somali women walking 23 days to get to a refuge camp.

How can you not cry when you hear of Somali women having to leave their dead children at the side of the road in order to save the lives of their surviving ones.

How can you not cry when you think of their desperation and courage.

How can you not cry when you think they'll spend years in a refugee camp (if they survive the regular outbreak of disease).

I can't get 23 days out of my head.  How many meals we have in 23 days, how much sleep we get, how many times we get to relax, see friends, be creative, whinge and whine, be productive.

And they keep walking.

23 days.

What do the Brady Bunch and Online Networking have in common?

Q:  What do the Brady Bunch and Online Networking have in common?

A:  They’re both saccharin sweet for easy digestion

Today I’m tired with most of my energy is being diverted to keeping a positive mindset rather than clearly strategizing and executing my business.

I turned to twitter and facebook for distraction and found myself reading through reams of positive and inspirational quotes and jealously eyeing the fabulous events happening in the lives others. Instead of feeling uplifted I found myself feeling agitated.

SHE Business has a private online Members Lounge so I decided to visit and have a really honest conversation with other members, “this is how I am today, it feels tough, nothing wrong but hey if you’re feeling the same, it’s life, it’s business “.

I’m not about to divulge the private comments of fellow members but I will share with you a sense of the most communal and enormous sigh of relief …. finally someone was being real.

As business owners we daily take on mind-blowing challenges and most of the time we nail it and start hunting for the next one. To pretend it’s always ‘fabulous’ lacks integrity and to make comparisons with saccharin sweet one dimensional versions of people on social media is incredibly damaging.

I don’t believe online networking will change and maybe it shouldn’t but I do think we need to remind each other that just as the Brady Bunch is not a true reflection of family life, social media is not a true reflection of life.

(if I’m wrong and social media is a true reflection then my life sux in comparison)

Love to hear your thoughts

What materials do you need for a successful word of mouth campaign?

Good morning Gorgeous People

I always keep my eye on the "networking" world and I usually drop by to see what Ivan Misner, the grand daddy of networking, has been up to.

I really loved his advice for gathering the right tools for a successful word-of-mouth campaign and thought I'd share them with you here today.

USEFUL TOOLS FOR A SUCCESSFUL WORD-OF-MOUTH CAMPAIGN

1-Testimonial letters from satisfied clients
2-Photos of yourself, your office facilities, equipment, and/or products
3-Logos of your key customers
4-A list of your memberships and affiliations
5-Question-and-answer sheets
6-Photos of awards and certificates you and your staff have earned
7-Articles you have published, or in which you’re mentioned
8-A one-page flier
9-New-product or service announcements or press releases
10-Current brochures, circulars, and data sheets, and product catalogs
11-Items that reflect your “brand”
12-Items that help you explain your business to your network
13-Client or customer proposals, bid sheets, or marketing letters you have written to existing clients
14-Articles on trends affecting your target market

Would you add anything else to this list? Love to hear from you.

Just 7% of networkers follow up!

Good morning Gorgeous People

I've been getting out and about a bit lately. After going through the process of transitioning a business and being tied to my desk most hours of the day it's been a relief and a pleasure getting out there to network.

My 30 second pitch is going well (Suzy Jacobs, SHE Business Australia - our job is to create the ultimate forum for your business success etc etc), I've depleted my stock of business cards, over done the canapes and drunk more OJ than is good for me (no wine unfortunately).

I've collected close to 40 business cards at the past 3 events so I'm assuming I've given out as many.
Of the 40 business cards I've potentially given out, I've received just 3 follow up emails, linkedin requests or phone calls. Now I could take it personally but I don't! I make an objective assessment and can only conclude people aren't following up! On those numbers it means that as little as 7% of people are going through the process of converting a business card into potential business.

That's a phenomenal statistic. If you're going to the time, trouble and expense of meeting potential business connections you need to be following up so here's my 5 step guide for effective follow up.

1. For every business card you collect, write the date and event at which you collected it.
2. Decide which connections have potential
3. For the ones that don't have potential - send them a courteous email or linkedin request letting them know you appreciated meeting them.
4. The ones that have potential - connect with them via linkedin or email letting them know you're keen to develop the connection.
5. Do all of the above within 5 days of the event.

This way everyone feels validated, there are further openings for action and you're creating the optimum environment for converting that precious time into potential business.

Networking is a Relationship NOT a Scorecard

What does networking mean to you?

Does it mean making connections on LinkedIn? Or perhaps on Facebook and Twitter?

Or does it mean morning coffee or evening drinks with the perfect contact?

Is it the exchange of business cards at a conference, a speed networking event or seminar?

Perhaps the answer includes all of the above.

However, those examples focus more on the means to exchange information, and less about the development of a relationship.

If we define networking as the development of a relationship following are 15 possible definitions:


NETWORKING IS…

1. Remembering to call to say thanks
2. Calling to say it didn’t work out, but thanks for the referral
3. Being a source of information
4. Keeping a confidence
5. Sharing information
6. Being savvy enough to know the difference between networking and name collecting
7. Delivering on your promises
8. Having a plan
9. Keeping in touch
10. Following up on leads
11. Being willing to say yes to a request
12. Knowing when to say “no”
13. Extending your contacts
14. Remembering your roots
15. Being a friend

Anything else you'd like to add?

20 Powerful Networking Tips

Good morning Gorgeous People
Anyone who meets me quickly finds out I'm a passionate campaigner for an evolved form of networking particularly for businesswomen. Much of the time I feel like I'm the lone voice in my campaign so I was heartened and excited when I came across the Heartlink Network in the U.S.

Our stories were similar: I too researched many womens networks and found them to disappoint, they were mens networks dressed up in pink and purple and sold as something special. None of them seemed to have done the research to establish a credible premise for their existence.

When I designed SHE Business Australia I had in mind a place that inspired and supported success. I wanted to encourage business relationships using discussion and debate rather than the shmultzy sales pitch, I wanted learning and development to be a given, I wanted fun, team spirit and a sense of adventure to resonate. I set out to create an environment where women would know they've come to invest in themselves and in doing so would expect more and participate in more than traditional 'networking'.

We're only at the beginning of our journey but already members write saying:

"SHE Business Working Lunches are the best of their kind, an indispensable part of my small business success. Love them!" J Maxwell

Whether you're networking with SHE Business or elsewhere following is list of 20 Powerful Networking Tips from Dawn Billings of Heartlink Network. My personal favourites are points 2,3 and 4.

1. Choose the right network for your business. Do you like happy hour networking? Do you want more business referral networking? Do you want more intimate quality relationship building networking? Take a careful look at your business needs as well as your personality.
2. Organizations can be expensive to join—not just money, but your time as well. Visit the meeting twice before joining.
3. Be consistent. Commit to the attending your networking events on a regular basis.
4. Get involved—volunteer for a committee or to do a job during the meeting itself. Take on positions that will allow you to become known by more people.
5. Never hand out cards with crossed out information. I know it is tempting to use those thousands of cards with the one mistake, but don’t do it. It is also a good idea to design a card with your picture on it.
6. Follow up and follow through. Schedule a follow up time and a 20-minute coffee meeting. The fortune is in the follow up.
7. Appear confident – even if in the beginning you feel like you are pretending, keep pretending until it is actually true.
8. Be aware of your body language. 90% of what we are communicating we are communicating with our bodies. Remember to stand up straight and breathe deeply. It will help you stay centered and focused.
9. Don’t fidget. People notice when you are fidgeting. Have people who love you share if you have any non-conscious habits that might distract people’s attention from the value of your products and services. Break those habits.
10. Introduce yourself first. Be bold. Don’t wait on others to come to meet you. Go and meet them.
11. Shake hands like you are truly pleased to meet someone. They can feel your sincerity.
12. Use a person’s name several times when you first meet. It will help you remember their name. People love to hear their names.
13. Ask open ended questions. Don’t answer questions that can be answered with simple yes or no’s or that is what you might just get.
14. Listen carefully and intently. Listening is the best way to build trust in a new relationship.
15. Have a :30, 1 minute and 2 minute “elevator speech” prepared for when someone asks what you do. Make sure you use every word carefully and powerfully.
16. Be a connector. Work to think of connections you can make for the person to whom you are speaking. People will naturally want to connect you with prospects as well.
17. When you share, share the benefits your customers receive as a result using your products and services. People want to know, “what is in it for them?”. For example, “as a result of my services, my clients reduce their stress and improve their stamina. This results in increased self confidence, increased earning potential and the energy to enjoy their time with their family.”
18. Express your positive thoughts about the person and/or their business. So many times we assume successful people don’t need to be commended or reassured, but everyone enjoys it.
19. Remember, business networking is marketing, and marketing is a process. Chances are you won’t get 5 new clients or customers from your next networking event. Your goal should be for others to get to know you, the resources you possess and the services you offer. People want to do business with people they like. Realize that these events allow people to become acquainted with you and eventually utilize your services or recommend you to someone else.
20. Just get out there, fill your heart with a generous spirit, be real, and enjoy yourself! Becoming a successful business networker can open your life up to a miriad of new and wonderful relationships, experiences and profits.

Love to hear which ones resonate with you.

Business Breakout in Balmain

Last Thursday in the pre dawn of a Sydney autumn morning I kept with tradition and hurtled out to the Sydney Markets to search out the freshest flowers for use at the launch of SHE Business.

I love cruising the near empty roads to immerse myself in the raw commerce of the Sydney Markets, business in its simplest form - trading in wholesale fruit, vegetables and flowers.

By 6.30am, spirits running high and my car overflowing with flowers I was on my way to The Exchange Hotel, Balmain to meet my colleagues Monica Brewer and Danita Needleman to stamp the SHE Business brand on the premises we were using to launch the Inner West territory.

As we prepped for the day we savored moments of silence to gather our thoughts and moments where we boisterously refined our vision and got clear on what we wanted to create for our guests. We also stopped for just a moment to reflect on how hard we’d worked to get there.

Long before the appointed hour people started gathering, the heady noise of businesswomen connecting filled the room drawing the attention of passers-by.

Highlights for the day: Too many to mention but I’ll start with …

Monica Brewer - our latest franchisee and director for the Inner West, on stage sharing her vision to take her 25 years experience as accountant and coach to benefit her members. It was a personal and heartfelt story that touched many in the room.

Hearing from current members (who’d come from all over Sydney) Naomi Rosenthal, Elke Koch, Amanda Webb and Claire Stretch sharing the results their results from SHE Business membership. They spoke of new business, new friendships, learning & development and ultimately becoming better businesswomen. They were honest and gorgeous and I thank them for it.

Clare Mann, our speaker and communications expert – funny, clever and professional. She offered her 3 tips for excellence in business (and bedroom) communication and the discussion and debate that ensued was funny and incredibly informative.

It was a brilliant day and I know that the women of the inner west will be in good hands as members of SHE Business.

Visit a Working Lunch: $65 including lunch, vino and fabulous business. Book at shebusiness.com.

If you'd like to visit the inner west community they'll be meeting for the first time on the third Thursday of June 2011. Check out shebusiness.com for further information.

PS Lots more photos on Facebook

Frank Sinatra did it his way .. are you doing it yours?

Good morning Gorgeous People

OK, let's be clear the end isn't near and I'm not being overly sentimental, but I am doing it my way.

You may have read a previous post where I asked the question "Is it time for Networking to evolve?". I wrote it hoping to start a discussion about the pitfalls of poorly organised get-togethers that reduce our industry to a joke. It did start a hearty discussion and I thank all those people who took the time to comment and get in touch. However I was also surprised by the sheer quantity of phone calls and emails I received from members, colleagues and friends who assumed from my post that I hate networking!

"Far from it" I cried in defence of my position.

Please be clear, I love networking, it comes naturally to me, and it's hands down the most cost effective way to meet a whole bunch of people.

But that's it - for the most part you're just meeting a whole bunch of people who are putting on their best face and offering their best pitch. It's not a bad place to start a networking strategy but it's an awful place to finish it. Your networking strategy must evolve if you're to enjoy long term business relationships that result in a sustainable and profitable two-way funnel.

So here are just 3 of my tips that will have you evolve your network strategy:

1. Be selective about the events you attend
2. Follow up with anyone of interest within 3 days of the event. I use Linkedin as my core online network, it's the most professional and allows you to stay connected with your new-found colleagues no matter their change of business / career status. But please! If you're going to Link-in with someone take the time to write a personal note, it takes only a matter of minutes but leaves a great impression
3. Stay in touch - and not just with e-newsletters. Offer a personal touch, my personal favourite is the odd phone call to say hi, it's a much under-used communication tool and highly valued by those you meet.
   

I'll follow up next week with further tips for evolving your network strategy and in the mean time if you care to share any of your network strategies, do drop me a comment or visit us at www.shebusiness.com

We Join the Online World

Good morning gorgeous people

Today we launch the website for SHE Business, it may not receive quite the same coverage as the federal budget however it's a momentous day for me and my team and I hope you can reserve some of your excitement over budget cuts, for us!

Today as SHE Business goes online I'll pause to reflect on our achievement, it's been quite a challenge and sometimes I find the next challenge tugs me away from an accomplishment without giving me that lovely moment of satisfaction. Do you also find yourself stepping over your achievements without an appropriate nod to the moment?

Reading Dynamic Magazine this morning I was surprised to find 40% of small businesses in Australia operate without a website. Having been off line for the past few months I have direct experience of feeling mute and ineffective, trying to promote business was like communicating with my mouth taped and hands tied behind my back, in other words inconceivably torturous.

Developing an online presence is not simple and I have absolute empathy for all those business owners who excuse themselves from the process on the basis that they're too busy and it's too overwhelming. I have a reasonable understanding of marketing and social media and yet this has been an excrutiating project over which I tripped many times and found myself overwhelmed by much of it.

For those who develop and deliver web services take heed of the opportunity to entice customers and increase the percentage of SME using this medium. Start by dropping the lingo, remind yourself of the challenges you faced when tackling something new (like driving a car) and make your mark by educating and informing your customers rather than keeping them in the dark.


Today SHE Business is no longer in the dark and our website goes LIVE.

Is it a complete website? Probably not.

Are there things I'd like to do differently? Perhaps.

Is this the first iteration? Most definitely.

Am I happy that we've launched? Absolutely.


If you have a few moments please click through to our site, look past its spartan dress and we're sure you'll find an innovative and unique community - SHEBusinessAustralia

There are plenty of opportunities to visit a SHE Working Lunch but I take this moment to make special mention of our launch in Balmain on May 26, 2011.

Is it time for networking to evolve?

Good morning wonderful people

How many invitations do you receive each week to networking events? Five, ten, more?

My inbox is swamped, the holler of come hither deafening and with each week it seems a new player enters into this low cost marketing industry. With cheery calls to sup champagne & feast on canapes whilst building lucrative contacts, I started wondering - isn't it time for networking to evolve?

Attending an event last week I was reminded how much I disklike the traditional networking event along with all it's card thrusting and superficial, sales-y conversation. Surely these people had read an Ivan Misner blog or a Robyn Henderson book and knew better than to approach networking like a shark attacking a seal. I know from experience there are far better networking events than the one I attended last week, but as every two buck biz enters the market delivering traditional networking events, I'm noticing very little thought is going into evolving the medium itself.

SHE Business is not a network, we're a community and our ethos and culture has little resemblance to that of a traditional networking event, but I'm interested to know: Is traditional networking still working for you or would you like to see it evolve?

Love to hear your thoughts.

Transition, Failure and the Beauty of Communication

Good evening Gorgeous People

I'm often told I shouldn't share my failures, that as a leader of an organisation my job is to set an example of success and strength but I think a sign of strength is to be able to discuss ones failures, so here I am again, talking about the insights I've had stemming from my failures.

Thankfully I have tremendously intelligent, inspiring & loyal businesswomen around me, most of them are members of SHE Business Australia and they're all prepared to share their collective knowledge and experience.

Business start up is challenging enough but transitioning a business from one character to another is, in my experience even more challenging. Keeping current clients content and on the program whilst preparing the look and feel of the new entity is a juggling act, keeping current clients happy whilst other clients choose a different path is a struggle. The struggle is as much for my ego as it is for my business prowess.

I found myself desperately trying to race through the transition period rather than languishing in it. It seemed the sooner I got this process over the better, but that was a mistake.

I missed an opportunity to celebrate my failures and take the necessary steps to transition gracefully.

But those intelligent, inspiring & loyal businesswomen kept me on track.

One sent a facebook link to The Worst Failure of All is Wasting Failure a terrific article that challenged me to enhance my success by embracing my failures. My personal favourite of these tips is to conduct a Celebrating Failure Day, a reminder that we shouldn't put our failures behind us permanently because then there's nothing to learn from.

The other piece of advice came from a discussion at SHE Business regarding a book on transitioning by William Bridges and helped me stay present and feel okay, with the current situation, hence taking the weight of the world off my shoulders.

People often ask what makes SHE Business different and I offer the above as an example. There are plenty of places for people to network, there are far fewer where you can share, build rapport, debate & discuss knowing that each person believes that together we can achieve more than we can alone.

Networking Snogging - does it deserve an apology?

Did you know that women apologise more often than men? Do you know why?

According to Scientific America it’s because we have a lower threshold for what we believe is a transgression & therefore apologise at times when men wouldn’t even register a transgression has occurred.

Speaking of transgressions …

I often wonder why so much need be written about network etiquette, surely the basic guidelines are those of normal human interactions, but perhaps not!

I was out networking the other night, nothing extraordinary, just the usual gathering of people and at the end of the evening came the standard round of goodbyes including protracted conversation at the doorway; last minute introductions to a few guests with promises to ‘catch up soon’. 

I was tired and just wanted to leave quickly but there was one last introduction to a man I just ‘had’ to meet.  The introduction was made and I perhaps a little wearily stuck my hand out for the appropriate handshake only to find myself being yanked towards him for a kiss.

‘I don’t believe in shaking hands with women, I believe in kissing them’ he proudly said and I shot him a quick “ a very convenient belief to have!” before exiting quickly.

It seemed a curious mismatch of expectation rather than a deliberate ploy to be slimy (on his part) but it’s a great example of why etiquette articles continue to be written. 

So here’s my network etiquette tip for the day –

PERSONAL SPACE IS SACROSANCT  - in the business sphere, male or female, it is not appropriate to pull someone in for a snog on the initial introduction.

Or is it?

Love to hear your thoughts.

Suzy Jacobs

Founder

SHE Business Australia

Take care of the small stuff

Good morning Wonderful People

I'm blessed to be surrounded by interested, outspoken & generous women all of whom keep me sane during the times when I want to give it all away.

A few conversations lately have resonated with me but one in particular gave me a timely reminder about business principles.

We know that without a vision for our business there's little hope of success but sometimes we can be so focused on the vision we can forget about the the basics.  I have a huge vision for SHE Business Australia - we want to be influencing the advancement & prosperity of professional working women, impacting both our culture & economy!  A HUGE, BIG TIME, MASSIVE GOAL.  So BIG it sometimes feels overwhelming and that's the sense I've had over the past week until I had one of those beautiful conversations that brought me back to basics.

A SHE Business member, Gaye Crispin reminded me of one of the tenets of business - take care of the small stuff & the big stuff will take care of itself.  In a world where we're constantly urged to have BHAG's, and everyone's sharing them "loud & proud" it might make the difference to your business to get back to the basics.

So the basics for me are: excellent customer service, nurture existing client base, attention to detail & dealing with the hard stuff.

In the moment that I chose to get back to basics was the moment I took back control of my sanity and started enjoying business & life again.

If you're looking for 'team' of women who are well connected, intelligent & informed maybe you want to check our next SHE Business Working lunch in Chatswood (Sydney) Thursday 21 April.

CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR SEAT

PS Thanks Gaye :)

Challenges of Start UP

Saturday was a right off.

Having worked with dogged determination and unwavering energy over the past 6 weeks I'd finally run down my energy resources so I hit the bottom and struggled getting up.

I own the belief that emanates from my core to start SHE Business, it's a belief that drives relentless energy, provides leadership for my team and has me step out of my comfort zone every single day but on Friday I tripped!

I had a meltdown over the SHE Business logo and website.  I found myself caught between striving for the truest representation of my vision for the brand and a tacit acceptance of mediocre. This dilemma, of course is not a problem in itself,  it is the scourge of other ugly ramifications that are so draining.  As a 'start up' I work to tight deadlines and on tight budgets so with 2 such visual business pillars looking 'weak' I just wanted to run away.

So on Saturday I took the day off (the first in a few months) and looked at my options; I was exhausted and ; wanted an easy life.  I played with the picture of me as a corporate maverick, a lady of leisure, a part-timer;  they all looked enticing compared to dealing with my business problems.  I read the newspapers, moved from sofa to bed, watched TV and generally moped around.  I let the belief go, the leadership fall away and provided space for my energy and enthusiasm to return.

On Sunday I woke with fresh eyes, what had looked like such a huge problem on Friday & Saturday suddenly looked like an uncomfortable glitch requiring my leadership, belief and energy to resolve.

So here I am on Monday itching for my team to make it to the office, for my suppliers to answer my calls and I'm reminded what a crazy, roller coaster ride, business is.  Most days I'm loving the ride of my life but there will always be the few when I want to jump off.

Exhaustion can do that to you.

SHE Business Australia
Driving advancement, influence and prosperity of professional, working women in Australia

May 24 Launch

For further information call:  02 91130777

Good Grows Great

Home Sweet Home.

Welcome to the place to be, the only place you'll hear our news and learn of the latest opportunities and developments to drive success and prosperity for women in business in the small to medium market.

Our commitment to create a haven for business success has not wavered and we're in a unique position to bring you the best in the 'new kind of business club for women'.   We're adding further exciting resources and services to our business, along with new membership privileges to support your drive to be successful in business.

Over the next 12 weeks as we leap towards the launch of our new enterprise, we'll be using this space to keep you informed.

We've received hundreds of emails offering words of support and inspiration along with a clear message that there's a need for this 'new kind of business club for women'.  I thank you for your warmth and generosity and look forward to building a community that not only meets, but exceeds your expectations.

As colleagues, friends and supporters we invite you to have your voice heard, keep in the conversation as the momentum builds towards the big day by offering content and comment to this site.

Welcome to the ride ..... no doubt these are exciting times.

Let's all go forth and prosper

Suzy Jacobs