Posts Tagged ‘Women’

10
Jan

Kick Start 2013 and make it count!

Whether you realise it or not, the past few years have been a bit testing for many of us.  Right at the beginning of the 2013, there was talk of a the UK facing an economy with little growth (guardian.co.uk/uk-economy-groundhog-year-morale).  The chief economist said the government was counting on “something just turning up” to lift the economy.

What about you?  Are you hoping for something to turn up to change your circumstance or situation?

If you feel you’ve been “tested” in any way—emotionally, spiritually, financially—you’re not alone.  Change is here to stay, but how do we respond to it? Whether you see these problems and ‘tests’ from practical, emotional or economical point of view – you can respond in a positive way.  It’s up to YOU.

So the good news is 2013 could be your best year yet if you choose to make it so and take up the opportunity for change – rather than wait for something to turn up.

Three key things to empower that change

  • Know and understand your purpose
  • Align you passion with that purpose and
  • Decide to go for your goals

On Tuesday, January 15, I want to show you what’s possible when you say “YES” to all of the three to make 2013 your best year yet and make those goals happen. 

You’re invited to join me on a 6 week online coaching programme designed to help you to go confidently towards what you want to achieve – your business goals and life goals for 2013.

Created for busy entrepreneurs and business owners, like yourself, to help you double your business and create success. It’s all designed to help you start or grow your business in 2013!

Get all the details and reserve your spot here.

Do more than wait for ‘something to turn up’!!

To your success.  Life live with passion,

Marcie

 

23
Apr

7 Secrets to developing a Mindset for Business Success- Part 1

THE+CELEBRITY+START+OF+THE+2012+VIRGIN+LONDON+MARATHON

Watching the 32nd Marathon yesterday got me thinking about what contributes to success and the impact mindset has. There’s more to attaining success than simply hard work, it requires having a mindset that will drive and sustain you in the long run.

One of the celebrity marathon runner was Nell McAndrew and I was impressed. She was brilliant finishing in 2 hours 54 Minutes-  amazing! She demonstrated determination, commitment, desire to achieve her ‘under 3 hour’ goal.  But she also highlighted a key factor for developing a success mindset, that of

Knowing your why and having a reason for it… (more…)

13
Apr

It’s all in the Mind: The Impact of our thoughts

Fertile Mind

Does your mind ever get the best of you?

Do you sometimes wish you could just STOP thinking so negatively?

Do you feel your mindset is messing with your success?

Well, you are not the only one.  This is perfectly normal.

Your mind is one of the most powerful tools on the planet. Every day, people use their brains to solve problems, write books, draw up blueprints for skyscrapers, invent new technologies and make money.

It is through our thoughts that we create the world we live in.  We can alter our worlds by changing our thoughts.  If we change our thoughts we can change our lives. If we become aware of and understand the potential and power for our minds – we can consciously create greater happiness, and a greater sense of freedom. It’s all in the mind. (more…)

8
Feb

Women and the confidence thing – Part 3: Building your Confidence

blog-2There is sufficient reason to believe that many women doubt themselves and can be hard on themselves particularly in male dominated industries.
Self doubt, the lack self-confidence, and ‘impostor’ feelings undermine the potential to succeed and to become an influential leader with presence.

“When a man cuts himself, he throws away the razor.  When a woman cuts herself, she blames herself.” – Gail Koff (Smith D. (2000) Women at work: Leadership for the next century. Prentice Hall)

The good news is that lack of self-confidence does not however, equate to lack in leadership skills and potential and through support, coaching and a shift in thinking, confidence can be developed and acquired as with any other leadership competence area.  This one issue should not prevent women from achieving their leadership success.

Here are 10 coaching tips… towards a more confident you.  Choose one or two to begin working on, then come back for more:

  1. Remind yourself of when you achieved something who were really quite proud of.  Can you remember how that felt, what you were doing, who spoke with you and what you were thinking about yourself. Consider the skills you demonstrated, the resources you found within yourself – now list them.  But list them with as a phrase beginning with ‘I am’…for example, you won a big contract, and found your were excellent at negotiations.  Record this skills as “ I am influential.”  And so forth.  whatever you think you can do, you are probably right! (Henry Ford)
  2. Visualisation: Imagine the confident you – create firstly a mental picture and then short film of yourself as the confidence individual, business leader you perhaps have doubted.  Are you the charismatic, elegant business women who is an expert in her field – visual yourself giving a presentation or making that important telephone call.  How do you feel, what are your thinking? How do you look? Do you ‘own’ the room as you enter? What behaviours and characteristics are you demonstrating to warrant you success?
  3. Spend time with approachable, pleasant, charming confident people- it rubs off.
  4. Carry yourself with confidence – stand stall, be aware of your posture and walk with your weight firm in each step
  5. When meeting someone for the first time, offer the handshake first and  use your full name.  Be authentic, you may feel you want to demonstrate warmth at the meeting – place you hand on top of their right hand briefly as it shakes yours.  Create a rapport.
  6. Keep a journal of your achievements, and your successes, testimonials, thank you notes.  Read and review particular when you find yourself doubting yourself.
  7. When you are played a compliment – respond with eye contact and a ‘thank you’ – Avoid downplaying what you have achieved,or your efforts.
  8. Tell yourself you are confident – and say like you mean it.  Remember, ” I like myself, I like myself.”  Now add other powerful affirmations: “I am confident and I am loving it”
  9. Avoid using qualifiers or using inflections at the end of sentences.  It will appear that you doubt yourself and others will also doubt what you say.
  10. Talk back to your fearful voice in your head.  Create a new more empowered message.  You are not powerless, give yourself permission to be you, powerful and confident.

“If you hear a voice within in you say “you cannot paint”,then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.” Vincent Van Googh

7
Feb

Women and the Confidence thing 2: Fearless and Fabulous

Continuing this series on confidence KAMAKA is hosting our first seminar of 2011 – Fearless and Fabulous.

So here’s your invitation:
Dear brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous business woman

Have I got it wrong?  Is this not exactly how you describe yourself all the time? Well  if not you are if you are like many female business owners or aspiring business owner, where the lack of self – confidence is hampering their success or continued success.

How many of the followup statements resonate with you?

  • I can’t do public speaking – what elevator pitch?
  • I’m nervous around new people, particular when I have to enter a networking event
  • I’ll never get that contract
  • I’m not good enough
  • I need more contacts
  • Who is going to buy my service anyway, there are far more experienced people out there?
  • I don’t know what to say at networking events? No point going?
  • What elevator pitch?
  • I can’t pull a presentation out of the hat
  • I’m just faking it
  • I was just lucky getting that referral
  • I don’t want to appear pushy
  • You feel uncomfortable or perhaps slightly shocked when asked for your business card

Any of this thinking sound familiar to you?
Instead do you want build your confidence and be the fearless, fabulous business leader you are?
Join us

‘Fearless and Fabulous’ for Women Business Owners

Thursday 10 February 2011 
9.30 – 12.30

Developing Authentic Presence, Profile and Impact

‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?

Book now.

Limited places. 
http://fearlessandfabulous-linkedin.eventbrite.com/

19
Jan

Will the Women Please Stand Up

coloured pencils

Last week the French Government approved quotas for Boardroom positions for women in response to the low representation of women.  Quotas have raised debate and have been a controversial issue for sometime, but could we see such a policy in the UK. The percentage of women in the Boardroom of the top 100 FTSE companies is less than that in France at a mere 12.3%.  This slow progress of women’s advancement is in despite of the huge number of talented, ambitions and highly qualified women that have flood the workplace.   I suggest the issue of such low number of women in senior roles is not about the talent per se.  Half the best talent in the world is female!  So what are those factors that have become barriers for women advancing in career, business and leadership.  Here are a few.

  • Women still face complex and powerful stereotypes in the business world and male-dominated industries
  • Pay inequalities between genders
  • The challenge of getting and retaining female talent
  • Work-life Balance
  • Women have the lion’s share of childcare responsibilities
  • The lack of ‘quality’ mentors
  • Women are not as well ‘networked’ as men.
  • There is a lack of gender balanced leadership

But one issue not always discussed is how women view leadership and power? How well do we as women embrace leadership roles? In comparison to men women tend to be self-depreciating of their successes and achievements. Women can tend to be ‘nice’ rather than ‘political’ in the work place.  How many times have you heard yourself or women say – “I’m not getting involved in the politics here?’ Women tend to wait to be asked for that promotion or new position and would rather not to highlight their achievements for fear of being too arrogant or labeled.  Is our childhood construct is to blame? Or lack of confidence, fear or acceptance of this is just the way it is. Whatever the reason, can we not choose otherwise?

There is an accelerated shift in understanding of impact and influence women are having and will have in the 21st century- there will be economic, social and political consequences beyond our expectations. This time last last year The Economist reported

‘Women’s Economic empowerment is arguably the biggest social change of our times.‘ (January 2010)

Consider the words of Iyanla Vanzant back in 1996 – do her words resonate as we move into 2011?

“There is something phenomenal going on!
I’m not quite sure what it is, and quite frankly. I don’t care! I simply know, whatever it is, it will be great!
It has to do with change, healing, growth and evolution.
And
It has to do with women.
If I were pressed, I would put it into words like this:
There are changes taking place in the hearts and minds of women
That are going to rock the world!
Women are changing their minds about who they are: and what their role will be in the world order.
Women are learning to be responsible for the healing of their mental, physical, emotional and spiritual selves.
Women are learning to love themselves and each other.
Most of all women are evolving to the point where they are no longer willing to accept ‘nonsense’ from themselves or from anyone else.
I love it!
Will the women please stand up!”


16
Sep

Are you one of the 5,600 ‘missing’ women?

You could be! According to the Equality and Human Rights Commission looking at women in top positions…if women were to achieve equal representation among Britain’s 31,000 top positions of power, the Commission estimates over 5,600 ‘missing’ women would rise through the ranks to positions of real influence.  Can you imagine such equality? Can you imagine being in a top position?

Are you one of the 5,600 ‘missing’ women?

I confess, although I am someone known for optimism and believing in miracles when faced with some of the statistics it’s hard to imagine 5,600 more women in significant positions. The same report, Sex and Power, has likened women’s progress to a snail’s pace. A snail could crawl:

  • nine times round the M25 in the 55 years it will take women to achieve equality in the senior judiciary;
  • from Land’s End to John O’Groats and halfway back again in the 73 years it will take for equal numbers of women to become directors of FTSE 100 companies; and
  • the entire length of the Great Wall of China in 212 years, only slightly longer than the 200 years it will take for women to be equally represented in Parliament.

Here are five tips:

  1. Shift your thinking. Another of my favourite quotes is Albert Einstein ‘The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them.’ A common analogy of career progression is that of climbing the rungs of a ladder. This thinking is limiting, instead think of it more as scaling in a rock face with the footholds and handholds in small crevices as opportunities and new thinking. Sometimes you will need to shift your weight to the left or to the right to get your balance before you can reach the top. But look out for those less obvious opportunities – that small speaking engagement, that invitation to be on a school board and ‘give back’ and that role that takes you out of your comfort zone. Don’t be afraid to stretch yourself and go out on limb.
  2. Get yourself a mentor. The gender ‘problem’ may be addressed by training and leadership programmes for the advancement for women, but a mentor will support and strengthen confidence in your career. Someone who has gone before you and has progress further up that rock face and can drop that rope down to you.  However, if women look exclusively to other women as mentors, a lack of women at the top means women may not be able to find suitable mentors who can help them develop so having a female mentor isn’t necessary all of the time.
  3. Be authentic and take ownership of your destiny. It is your career, your life, your destiny. Carve out your own career path and in doing so you will be empowered along the way.  Distinguish yourself from the rest of the crowd and don’t be a victim.  If you don’t like something, change it.  If you think something is wrong, if its not aligned to your values, get into a position where you can do something about it.  If you don’t want to be pigeonholed, don’t pigeonhole yourself.  Be true to yourself.
  4. Be brilliant. Get really really good at the role you are in.  Ensure you have your foothold securely in that role and have mastered it before moving n to the next.  Remember wise words of Winston Churchill, “It is a mistake to look too far ahead. Only one link in the chain of destiny can be handled at a time.”
  5. Live with passion, live on purpose. Be enthusiastic about what you do and how you do it.  Let your passion shine.   Find the opportunities in areas that ignite your passion and purpose, be it networking events, business referral meetings and one-to-one coffee meetings where your passion is aligned. Be purpose-driven and not just in a business sense follow your heart, connect with people you like