I have decided to dedicate this newsletter to sleaze, sunshine and sobering thoughts. It seems currently that all I hear about is sleaze from politicians, business people and employers. Maybe it’s the world I live and work in but I’m sure you must have noticed it also. We seem obsessed by how awful other people are, how they have done terrible things. Even when they are doing well for themselves the Press seem to take pride in finding out some juicy bit of gossip which they can use to run them down. Now it’s hard to defend floating duck homes and tax evasion but surely there is some positive news we can hear from time to time.
Sunshine comes in short spells just now, a few days is all we seem to be allowed before the storm clouds gather once more. I know this is true for not just the weather but also for many of your businesses. We need to look around for more sunshine than just that provided in the sky. It sometimes comes in small things like your child’s first words, a new job opportunity, a happy customer or a small win on the lotto. Hardly headline news I know but maybe what we need is more enjoyment of the good things we already have.
And so to sobering thoughts. When things are not going well at work or in your business, consider others - such as the families of those on board the missing Air France plane, or the parents who chose to jump off Beachy Head with their small son who had died a few days earlier. Those work issues seem much smaller now.
If you have missed my previous newsletters click here to view them fom the web site.
Best wishes all Rebecca
Top tip of the month from Rebecca
Spend some time every day this month enjoying the good things you have. Friends, family, health are all part of what makes your life great. Far too many of us seem focused on having successful careers and businesses without really knowing what it is we actually want and enjoy. It’s easy to get on the ‘aiming for success’ treadmill and keeping going on that never-ending road to success means we forget to stop and enjoy the journey. The small steps we are taking on a daily basis often seem too small in comparison to the bigger picture so we often don’t take time to enjoy and celebrate them, yet that’s exactly what we need to do.
So this month I suggest you take some time to enjoy what you already have and stop worrying so much about what you could have if only you could get to the end of this road you are travelling. Maybe it’s the travelling that is important and not the final destination.
‘Success is not the key to happiness, happiness is the key to success. If you love what you do you should be succesasful" - Albert Schweitzer
Main Article from Rebecca
In my book due out later this summer (sorry shameful plug) I talk about the need to know what you want from life and how you should take this into account when setting up and running your business. I believe the same can be applied in your working life. As I mentioned earlier too many of us get onto this career or business development treadmill believing we need to work harder and longer in order to reach the end goal. Yet often the women I work with don’t really know what the end goal is. They do however often know of other things they would like in life, maybe more time to enjoy a hobby, their family or learn something new. Others would like to be able to give something back, getting involved in local community projects, charity work or helping someone else achieve their dreams.
But keeping going on the treadmill of career and business growth seems to take up too much energy and time to consider taking on anything else. Yet often these more enriching things we wish to do can take up less effort than we first envisaged. The rewards are much greater than gaining another client for your business or moving up one more step of that slippery career pole.
All this takes me back to sleaze. Executives and business people I have come across over the years who have been associated with sleaze have often been focused heavily on getting to the end goal. Frequently, as fast as possible, without considering the effect this has on them, their actions and others around them. Hence they have become caught up in scandals, dubious deals and less than sensible ideas. But this, they claim, was all in aid of getting to the end goal, whatever that is and however they were able to do it.
Taking some time now to consider if you are on the career treadmill not noticing the other things you are missing out on, may be more valuable than you think. Having a goal in mind is great but not if, by focusing on that goal, you lose sense of reality and what is really important to you.
Yes have goals and dreams
Yes keep focussed on them
Yes work hard to achieve them
But do consider what else you want from your life while you are working towards the end goal.
See Rebecca speak
On the 24th of June I will be speaking at an early evening event for women, hosted by accountancy firm Gardner Salisbury in North Wales. I will be talking about growing your business to suit you. Very much in keeping with this month’s newsletter, I will be considering how you should be developing or starting a business in a way which will suit you and your needs. For more information or to book a place at the event contact v.jones@gardnersalisbury.co.uk At only £10 for an evening of networking and opportunities to discuss your business I think it’s excellent value for money and hope to see you there.
Rebecca's last thoughts
If you want others to trust in you and your business, consider what affects your own ability to trust a person or a company. Ensure you bear that in mind whilst running your increasingly successful business and good luck on your journey.
If you want to use this or other articles by Rebecca in your Newsletter or web site you can; but please also include the following statement with any of my material:-
Taken from 'The Have it all Business Woman' Newsletter by Rebecca Jones. Published monthly, the newsletter for women in, or starting in, business.
For more information visit www.rebecca-jones.co.uk
You are receiving this newsletter because you signed up on my web site, or a mutual contact has forwarded it to you.
To change your subscription, or to register for your own copy, please see the subscribe and unsubscribe details at the base of this newsletter.
Want to know how I can help you start your own business
click here to learn about my new programme “I’m Building my own Successful Business Now”
As a Newsletter subscriber, you can get over 50% off this programme.
Fact of the month
Four out of five employees state that work-life balance considerations play a crucial role in deciding whether to stay with or leave their current employer
Rebecca opened her first business at 19 and has since been a successful entrepreneur, wife and mum. Her years of experience as a woman in business and also working as a business consultant, has enabled Rebecca to develop her own coaching and business consultancy. Aimed at women starting or already running a business, who need a bit of help and support to see them flourish.
Rebecca personally coaches clients at various stages of business: start up, growth and development. She also runs workshops for women in business and women in leadership roles.
