Posts Tagged ‘inspiration’

Firstly, apologies for the lack of blog posts of late. A few crazy weeks have kept my nose to the grindstone and I barely feel like I’ve been able to come up for air.

However, it’s never really as bad as we make it out to be is it? Sure, I’ve had a lot on my plate and it hasn’t been helped by falling at the same time as the total rebranding of my business, but with a little organisation we really can fulfil the commitments we set for ourselves can’t we?

In the last couple of weeks I’ve had some totally amazing experiences that have helped shape the future of my business and my attitude towards work, life and achievements. Read the rest of this entry »

Sometimes something comes along that just gives you a kick in the pants and says get your act together.

In recent blog posts I’ve told you about the changes that are happening in my business, the rebranding, offering more services, getting busier and busier.

Despite all this wonderous activity I often find myself paralysed – with fear that I’m punching above my weight (thanks VB!), with the amount that I have to get done in a day, with the decisions I have to make and wondering if taking my business in this direction is the right thing to do.

So, what’s the snap-out-of-it moment I’ve experienced? A couple of days ago I came across an amazing lady through Twitter (yes, I know this won’t surprise you at all!) who has reminded me that anything is possible if you just put your mind to it.

This inspiring lady is Catherine Bolt, an artist, writer and mother of 9; yes you read it right. My typing is very good today! Although her blog is very new, I already feel I know a lot about her, especially a lot to inspire me into just getting on with it all.

Now, I’m not the kind of person who complains about how much I have to do (unless you’re my husband of course, then you’re likely to hear much complaining and carrying on!). And, I’m pretty proud of how much I can achieve in a day with my business, three children, regular visits to the gym, spending time with family and friends, contributing articles to Flying Solo, commitments to the local rugby club and the Working Women’s Network, and all without any family support.

But, I absolutely take my hat off to Catherine who managed to build a hugely successful multi-million dollar business at the same time as raising (and actually producing a couple at the same time) 9 children. You can read her story here.

However, if that wasn’t enough, Catherine walked away from her multi-million dollar business to create a better life for her children. But she’s not content with making a better life just for her own family. Her latest venture is the selfless act of someone who knows how to get things done and succeed at whatever she puts her mind to.

Catherine and her family have committed to helping the thousands of orphaned Indonesian children who live in extreme poverty and who have no hope for a happy future. I’ll let you hop over to her blog to read about her plans to help them but, in a nutshell she wants to help them grow up in a ‘family’ environment that offers them hope and a sustainable life.

So, today I’m saying goodbye to procrastination. I’m embracing my fears and I am using them to help me achieve what I set out to achieve. And, although it won’t be much in the scheme of things, if I can help Catherine spread the word about her grand adventure through ideas, advice and inspiration, it will add a little more shine to what is the wonderful tapestry of life.

If you’re ever feeling overwhelmed by your business I hope you find your inspiration wherever you can to keep your business going in the right direction.

Until next time.

Karen

Karen Morris is the Working Womens Network media officer. She runs Inscriptions, a copywriting and PR Consultancy, is a contributor to Flying Solo and is a wife and mother to three active boys. She loves life and work and has an insatiable appetite to learn all things new, especially all things 2.0.

Inspirational and motivational! That’s me this week. Why? You say. Well, this week I am organised. I know, something we all aspire to but never seem to get there right? And, you ask, how have I achieved this zen-like status?

A couple of things have propelled me there really. The first was finding a system that can keep me organised and on track on a daily basis, and the second was attending the Working Womens Network Workshop for April on Priority Management presented by Katrena Friel of BSI Learning, who showed us how to recognise procrastination and habits that hold us back from achieving what we want to.

On Easter Monday, whilst my delightful husband was having quality time with our three boys – elsewhere – I got to work catching up with timesheets, accounts and invoicing. I know, I know, Public Holiday, but after three days at home without turning on the computer I was beginning to get the shakes, and the boys love nothing more than a day out with their Dad. Win, win! And, because it wasn’t technically a “work” day I could work on things that weren’t revenue-producing without feeling like I should be doing something else.

Once I had it sorted, I signed up to an online project management and timekeeping service called Projjex. I have been searching for something like this for some time and of everything I have seen this was the least complex, simplest to install and is very cost-effective. Now, we’re all about sharing at the Working Womens Network, and this is just my own preference, so I’d love to hear about any other products or services that have helped you achieve the same. Just leave a comment below and share the love!

Once set up, I now have every project I’m working on carefully entered and logged down to the smallest detail. How can being tied to deadlines make you feel liberated? Well, I no longer have to rely on anything in my head when it comes to delivering what I’ve promised to people. This frees up my headspace for creativity and delivery of what really matters.

It has also simplified one of my most hated tasks, timekeeping and invoicing. With a simple click I enter my times against my projects, I can even log it against specific tasks within a project and then I can forget about it. More free headspace!

All of this tied in beautifully to what Katrena discussed in the workshop and brought me back to my desk with total enthusiasm and immense productivity. My afternoon produced results I couldn’t have predicted and gave me a real sense of achievement for the day.

So, inspiration and motivation is what I’m working with this week, which will put me in the right frame of mind for the next Working Womens Network Event, Inspiration, Motivation, Health & Well-Being with our key note speaker Di Westaway of Wild Women on Top. I’m looking forward to building on what I’ve taken away from Katrena’s workshop and learning how to set and achieve my goals, while being inspired by her incredible story.

Share your business and networking thoughts with the Network.

Until next time.

Karen

Karen Morris is the Working Womens Network media officer. She runs Inscriptions, a copywriting and PR Consultancy, is a contributor to Flying Solo and is a wife and mother to three active boys. She loves life and work and has an insatiable appetite to learn all things new, especially all things 2.0.