Does networking come naturally to you, if not, this workshop is for you.

It is a well-known fact that 80% of business is passed through referrals. Networking, be it offline or online is a hot topic these days and the opportunity to network is everywhere.

Networking is a low-cost option to get out there, connect, find new business and grow your business. However it has to be done properly.  We’ve all been in the uncomfortable situation listening to someone droning on about how good they are, what they can do for you and the benefits of using their product.  This is not the way to go.

Even though it’s low-cost, networking can be a big investment in time.  So it’s important to do it correctly and efficiently ensuring you get the most of each networking opportunity you encounter.  Having the correct networking skills is of utmost importance.

On Thursday 13th October 2011, Laura Hart, Voice Coach and are taking part in an event in conjunction with the Surrey Chambers of Commerce.  Starting at 1700, this two hour information filled practical event entitled ‘The Art Of Natural Networking’ will help you to network in the most efficient and productive way.

Book your place now

Who should attend?

It is aimed is aimed at business people who have a need or requirement to network within their business sector, to build business relationships or who are keen to raise their corporate profile more broadly.  Also, small business owners who wish to get out into the networking scene and make the best of every networking opportunity for their business.

Book your place now

Why should you attend?

• 80% of business is passed through referrals
• Networking if not done properly can be a big draw on time.
• You will learn practical tips and gain information of making the best of every networking opportunity.

What you will learn

• What is networking and what it is not.
• Establish meaningful business relationships that lead to the acquisition of new clients and more business.
• Understand why it is crucial to network in today’s marketplace.
• Gain knowledge of how to prepare for networking events including devising and refining the business message for any networking audience

About Us

Sue Bown

Works with businesses and individuals to get better results, more efficiency, less stress AND more success. I play golf too, especially in the sun!

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Kate Middleton shopping in Kings Road

With less than a week to go before the Royal Wedding and what must be the biggest day in her life, I started to wonder if Kate Middleton needs a life coach? 

Why, because I expect she’s just like any other women I know who doubt themselves.  I expect men do it too, but don’t own up to it so readily. Recently I’ve heard a number of women including professional women  say they wondered when they’d be tapped on the shoulder and asked ‘Who do you think you are to do that job?’ or ‘Who do you think you are to be so successful’.  What they’re referring to of course is that inner voice that inwardly comments good and bad on whatever is going on.  Some call it their inner voice, inner critic, or Chatterbox as Susan Jeffers (Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway) refers to it.  It’s that voice in our head that drives us crazy, commenting usually negative stuff that is not at all useful.

I wonder what Kate is saying to herself right now.  I expect there‘s a great deal going on inside her head because deep down she’s probably thinking this is me, just me.  How did I get here?  I’m getting married on Friday to my Prince and I’m going to have the eyes of the world on me.   I expect Kate has a team of supporters, I should say, I hope Kate has a team of supporters and confidantes to help her as she enters this new phase of her life.  I wish her every happiness for the future, it’s going to take a great deal of adapting to, and history tells us the pressure of this role is huge for a 29 year old or indeed anyone.

I thought I’d share five ways you can choose to deal with that voice in your head:

1. Change it into a Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck voice.
2. Practice an inward  positive answer to use every time you hear that negative voice.
3. Sing an uplifting song (best do that inwardly too!)
4. Tell your inner voice to shut up or go away, or worse if needs be!
5. Hire a life coach to help keep you focused and positive.

Of course, if our future Queen should be requiring a life coach right now, I can be available at a moment’s notice.

Sue Bown

Where it all began – good decisions
Would you buy more time?
Sarah Martin – aiming high and far
A Day in the Life
How do I indentify my target market?
How changing your view can reinvent your life

Sue Bown

Works with businesses and individuals to get better results, more efficiency, less stress AND more success. I play golf too, especially in the sun!

Website - Twitter - Facebook - More Posts

Fed up with your avoidance tactics

Do you find you have days when procrastination is the order of the day.  You wake up in the morning filled with focus and determination.  You have a to-do list as long as your arm.  Then something happens to stop you in your tracks.  What is it, fear, perfectionism, control, indecision, bad time mangement, whatever it is it doesn’t feel good.  The brakes go on and the breaks go on.

Procrastination. The definition of this syllable-rich word is, to put off doing something, especially out of habitual carelessness or laziness or to postpone or delay needlessly (source: www.thefreedictionary.com).

Now, I’m not going to go on about it, because it’s possible you’ve arrived here looking for a swift solution.

So let’s cut to the chase:

My Top Tip To Stop Procrastinating

Choose one non-negotiable hour every day when you will get on and do the tasks that regularly cause procrastination. The real tough tasks.

Set the countdown time on your mobile phone or your PC for one hour.  Make sure an alarm is going to sound at the end of an hour.

And get on with it!  See how much you can achieve in an hour.  It’s amazing.

Let me know how you get on.

About the Author: Sue Bown: Works with businesses and individuals to get better results, more efficiency, less stress AND more success. I play golf too, especially in the sun!

Twitter @thecoachingzone
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheCoachingZone

Other blog posts:
Would you buy more time?
Sarah Martin – aiming high and far
A Day in the Life
How do I indentify my target market?
How changing your view can reinvent your life

Sue Bown

Works with businesses and individuals to get better results, more efficiency, less stress AND more success. I play golf too, especially in the sun!

Website - Twitter - Facebook - More Posts

A double rainbow over Dartmouth www.tvftdo.com

Day eight of my 30 Day Blog Challenge and today’s project is to maximise the use of photos in my blog. That got me thinking, where can I find some good ones? With a blinding flash (no pun intended) I realised I should tell you about my friend Andy Kyle and his fascinating website called The View From The Dartmouth Office, also known as www.tvftdo.com 

Can imagine having this beautiful view every day? www.tvftdo.com

Andy and his lovely wife Helen live in the beautiful riverside Devon town of Dartmouth. They work from home and their office overlooks the River Dart one of the most spectacular sights in the UK.

Andy is a photographer and takes pictures daily of the everyday life and events of the view from their office garden. He’s a busy man and he does this as well as running another business.  Remarkably Andy’s The View From The Dartmouth Office pictures have been featured on seven different occasions in national newspapers. And this month the website was featured in a four page spread in Devon Life magazine.

A stunning sunrise, those clouds make it look eerie. www.tvftdo.com

Leaving their careers was a big leap for Andy and Helen. Andy had previously worked as a picture editor for national newspapers. Helen had also worked in the news industry. After leaving corporate life they set up their own company doing genealogy research from their home office in London. The view from this office was a depression-making wooden fence.
Their next big leap was to move to Dartmouth. In doing this they certainly have changed their view in many ways. They have made new friends, started new hobbies, escaped from corporate life, rediscovered themselves (they even got married!) and in Andy’s words it’s ‘given him a life’. Best of all Andy has rediscovered his love of photography, have a look at the site and I’m sure you’ll agree he has quite a talent for it.  He also has a talent for writing great captions which adds to the character of this fascinating website.

Even the Red Arrows pay a visit www.tvftdo.com

Andy and Helen have changed their view and they haven’t looked back!

Could you change your view and change your life?

About the Author: Sue Bown: Works with businesses and individuals to get better results, more efficiency, less stress AND more success. I play golf too, especially in the sun!

Twitter @thecoachingzone
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheCoachingZone

Other blog posts:
Would you buy more time?
Sarah Martin – aiming high and far
A Day in the Life
How do I indentify my target market?

Sue Bown

Works with businesses and individuals to get better results, more efficiency, less stress AND more success. I play golf too, especially in the sun!

Website - Twitter - Facebook - More Posts

Stress Reducing Dark Chocolate

Apparently it does, that’s the good news.  Research has shown that dark chocolate, rich in antioxidants, reduces cortisol the stress hormone.  The bad news, stress, often referred to as the silent killer, can lead to serious health problems such a heart disease and high blood pressure. Less serious health problems yet still unpleasant side effects are hair loss and acne.

In a previous article, I mentioned that a recent Harvard Study had shown that most people spend 46.9% of their waking hours in a state of distraction.  Does that sound like you?  It’s easily done in a world full of technology that is supposed to make life easier, when in many cases makes life more complex and frustrating. Or maybe you’re a working parent who has many roles to fulfil in life and finds juggling them all impossible.  Or you’re a business owner and are working long exhausting hours.  Maybe your job is very demanding and with cuts to staffing levels your job description has grown beyond proportions.  Whatever the cause of your stress, I have a solution.

I am offering a free 6 week email coaching programme called ‘Free Your Mind – Live Your Life’.  This programme is designed to help you do exactly that;’ Free Your Mind’ of stress and worry and ‘Live Your Life’ to the full and enjoy every moment.

Oh and keep a packet of Green & Blacks ready for emergencies!

Sue Bown

Works with businesses and individuals to get better results, more efficiency, less stress AND more success. I play golf too, especially in the sun!

Website - Twitter - Facebook - More Posts