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  • The value of networking

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    We all know how tough it is in the business world at the moment, we need to be able to talk to likeminded professionals, be more innovative in the way we operate and investigate potential collaboration or partnership working in order to maximise our earning capacity.

    Business culture is extremely people centric, with an emphasis on trust, familiarity and relationship building at the core of most business deals.  As the saying goes “it’s not what you know it’s who you know”.

    One of the most effective ways to meet and find business opportunities is through networking, across the globe there are a plethora of networking groups of all varying size and membership; which one you choose will be down to individual preference.  Networking is all about building relationships and connections in a purposeful, organised way and not just an opportunity to quickly acquire names of people. It provides the ideal environment to learn what potential clients need and want also the opportunity to see what competitors are doing.  

    Building a good credible rapport with someone can take place immediately or can take many months to cultivate, referrals are based on one common human value, summed up as ‘Givers Gain’ or ‘what goes around, comes around’ or if you prefer ‘you scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours’. Whichever way you choose to describe it, this principle undeniably works. Networking will not always provide you with an instant result you just never know when a referral may happen, and the business landscape is always changing bringing with it opportunities.  

    It is so important that your elevator pitch (your 30-60 second or four sentences long, company introduction) is succinct and really portrays what you do as that is your first impression to really showcase you and your business.

    Networking is here to stay and is a really useful marketing tool if used correctly.

    Happy networking.

    Amanda Murrell

  • Welcome to 2013 – a year of prosperity!

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    Well here we are again, the end of another year.  Whatever your business, the end of the year is a great time for reflection, and I for one will use it as a time to look back over  the past twelve months,  consider the highs and lows and review my  ambitions and targets.  The New Year can even prompt us to make life-changing decisions;  as the saying goes “out with the old and in with the new”.

    Whatever path you choose to take in 2013, I cannot stress enough how important it is to have good supportive networks, especially if you are in business on your own; to boost you when you feel alone, to offer support and advice through both the good and bad times and to share in the celebration of your successes. Decisions always seem easier when you have someone to bounce ideas off in your personal life, and this goes for your business life too.

    We’ve all heard time and time again that anything worth accomplishing is worth fighting for and taking a new direction in 2013 may well be the most rewarding and satisfying thing you have ever done.  If you are not enjoying work, if you feel unhappy and have lost the drive and passion for what you do then I urge you to use this time of the year to really take stock and reassess your business, job and personal life, thinking long and hard about what it is you’d really like to do.  Think of that ‘gap in the market’ you have spotted, that niche that needs filling and ‘go for it’!

    But, if you do decide to make a change and perhaps start up on your own, you need to be aware that running  your own business will not be easy.  It will test you mentally, physically and emotionally.  It will test your relationships and your finances.  However, overcoming challenges can give you an incredible buzz, and having the tenacity and resilience, particularly in this economic climate, to seek knowledge, resources, contacts and customer base will pay dividends.  Increasing and retaining customers is paramount for our survival, so think about being unique and special and develop sound business values which can be the key to success and satisfaction. 

    So that is your New Year’s Resolution sorted but we mustn’t forget that Christmas is a time when people think about giving.   I believe that as business men and women, we have a genuine responsibility to society, and we are often placed in the fortunate position of being able to give something back.  I know I have a very real desire to improve the lives of individuals and ensure that ethical values permeate every aspect of my business.  We should all be committed to providing locally-focussed environmentally-friendly products and services wherever possible.

    Giving back also includes charitable donations, and which one we choose will depend on our own life experiences, often positive but also sadly, sometimes tragic.  The way we donate may be through purchasing charity Christmas cards, running marathons or simply setting up a monthly direct debit to the charity of our choice,  all very real ways we can all make a difference to others less fortunate.

    Merry Christmas and a very prosperous New Year to you all.

  • Sustainability, Well-being and Balance

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    Having attended the annual Christingle Celebration of Christmas of the Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service at Woburn Parish Church for the first time this month, made me think about how nice it was to see many of the services, organisations, businesses and families coming together to celebrate, give thanks and remember loved ones and those less fortunate at this time of the year. 

    Christmas is one of the most special times of the year when we exchange presents and remind those close to us how much they mean to us. We pamper each other and also indulge ourselves on too much turkey, piles of mince pies, huge slices of Christmas cakes and big glasses of wine.  All too often amongst all of this festive excess, our work gets neglected and we let our businesses fall behind.

    When January arrives, we then rush to make resolutions, start dieting and detoxing. There is often a big hill to climb to get businesses back on track again. For me, I often find that January involves working late into the evenings, frustrated by the biting cold weather, grey skies and short days.

    This annual swing in our social lives from over-indulgence to detox is mirrored by a shift in our professional lives from the calm to the frenetic. We do not perform at our best at either of these extremes. Neither is sustainable and neither is good for us. In fact, rather than this Boom and Bust approach, it would be far better to take a more balanced approach throughout the year, accepting that we are more productive at work when we are relaxed and well rested at home.

    In business, our own wellbeing and that of our employees has an enormous impact on our productivity, engagement with work and ability to work together in highly functioning teams. This is not just for short bursts but applies the whole year round.

     

    2012’s New Year’s resolutions of a crash diet, twice daily gym trips and a six day working week quickly fell by the wayside for me. In 2013, I hope to learn from this. My resolutions this January are ones which I intend to maintain for the whole year. They are Sustainability, Balance and Wellbeing, and being part of a supportive networking group will help me to achieve those resolutions.

     

    Amanda Murrell