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Another Offer
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If you start a newsletter with Constant Contact, mention my name and we both get £20 toward first account, although I believe the trial is free, as is the help and support line:
0808 234 9315 for United Kingdom customers (free) from 9am through to 4am, when the Americans kick in.
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Speaking of Music
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Waiting impatiently for the return of SbS Rush Hour concerts. December was a wonderful month, from 1st of Dec to 24th, it was possible to attend a carol concert at a city church, very often accompanied by mulled wine and mince pies and a very warm welcome. Wonderful! Soothes and nourishes the soul, as well as giving the voice a good work out.
But that's the thing about music: inspiration; respiration; whether a singer, a wind player or a strings, musicians need to breathe, to shape the phrase, and the deeper breathing leads to trancing at various levels. Music and the Mind. Storr.
http://southbanksinfonia.co.uk
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Advice for Entrepreneurs
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There's never been a better time to start your own business. There will be something that's important to you. Something you believe in, something that matters.
Some recommendations for entrepreneurs:
City Business Library at Guildhall runs seminars and advice for entrpreneurs in all the aspects you need to know.
Click to continue
As does the IP Centre at the British Library. Including free session on copyright.
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A Mediterranean Moment
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A moment: connecting with the Levant.
I was waiting to buy baklava at the TFC, when the guy in front was explaining that he wanted to buy two kebabs, but only eat one now. The Server is Kurdish with enough English to sell baklava and olives, and the guy was asking if she was Kurdish (a People who've lost their lands) so I asked him where he's from. He says Turkish Cypriot, born in Cairo raised in.... I can always tell an Egyptian from head shape. I would've loved to chat, but I'd already chatted at the butcher's, and only had 30 minutes free on the car. Shame.
Mediterranean means Middle Earth. Strange that, because of course the uniting feature is not the land, but the sea! And somehow it's in my blood.
Packed with useful tips this news. But also a time for reflections. If music is the answer what is the question?
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Check Out the Archive |
You can click through to the Archive to read other interview extracts, as well as old newsletters. |
| Acknowledgements | |
Thanks to Wikipedia for use for their photographs. All other images are the property of Christrainers. |
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Welcome all
A great offer from the Government - click here
Very wet weather seems to be the mode we're at over here. In Australia Christmas Day, and especially New Year's Day saw lovely temperate weather before the temperature climbed again... Here we see grey, grey, grey. Doesn't really lift the spirits! Sadly the following day the news was of bush fires across 5 states, but in reality it turned out to be mainly Tasmania (usually the state with the most temperate weather). 100 people missing and homes destroyed - and it's only the beginning of the year. Our thoughts are with them.
Usually in January we look forward to all the promise of a new year fresh start, but pause a moment to look back at last year. Or even last month. What was the best moment? What was the surprising moment? Where was the learning?
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1. Entrepreneurs Offers
These are questions for entrepreneurs. People who've started out on a fresh path; either fed up in the line of business, fed up working for someone else, fed up with lack of progress. Or redundancy pushed us out into that decision we were afraid to take. Everyone has had a dream of creating their own business, and achieving the things that hadn't seemed possible.
Thursday 3 January 2013 - No. 10 website
Age range increased from 24 to 30 to meet demand, and help more new businesses get affordable finance. £30 million boost to the Government's Start-Up Loans scheme has been announced by the Prime Minister today to give the next generation of entrepreneurs the finance and support to start their own business, helping Britain to get ahead in the global race. The additional money will boost the total pot for Start-Up loans to over £110 million over the next three years, potentially helping to start tens of thousands of new businesses. The Prime Minister also announced that due to demand from those who had just missed out on the scheme, and the challenges faced to secure loans to start a business, the age limit for application will now be extended from 24 to 30 years old.
Encouragement should be taken from another quote from David Cameron. He was talking about sub-Saharan African countries, but might it not apply here?
Quote in City AM by Justine Greening MP:
"as the Prime Minister has said, "where the potential and perspective of women are locked out of the decisions that shape a society, that society remains stunted and underachieving". Quotas anyone?
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2. Successful Entrepreneurs
Lots of successful entrepreneurs who came up with an idea and made it work One of our newest Entrepreneurs is Lotwina Faradoye. But find your niche market. London could well use some hot bread shops, something sadly lacking, although the supermarkets have a fresh bread stall, you don't want to know what goes into it! Regeneration of the high street. Tesco town. You must always work with what suits you, what feels comfortable, but there are two aspects which can be immensely helpful. Click on these inspirational women to get some fresh ideas:
Lotwina Faradoye
Martha Lane Fox
Sonita Alleyne
Networking is one of the best ways to develop your business. When done properly it's about making and maintaining relationships. It's about personal recommendations. Networking can happen anywhere, so always carry your business card. At one of the Guildhall Seminars it was mentioned that a new business owner was desperate to get to meet a particular company to attempt to get them involved. Emails, phone calls, all were to no avail, until one night in a muddy field at a jazz concert, in the beer tent, she found herself talking to a member of that very company; arranged a meeting and subsequently made a deal. Which leads neatly to the next wonderful word; serendipity! Always be open to opportunity - you never know when it will come and, if you're too bus8y chasing a specific deal, you may miss another opportunity when it presents itself. That's why continued relationships are so important. Back to Top
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3. Entrepreneurs Tips
1) Find your niche market;
2) Closely consider your degree of commitment (are you prepared to risk your house for an idea? Kanya King did, the MOBO entrepreneur.)
3) Network: Martha Lane Fox said she used to go to the opening of an envelope. If you want to know where it's at take a look at 'We Are The City', which lists current events.
Other helpful advice on Networking, see Andy Lopata web page and news letter.
Paula Gardner, doyourownPR, also runs courses and on-line advice and help,
www.doyourownpr.com
4) Constant Contact will provide many of the tools for a regular newsletter, and its an excellent way to remind people, share information. They run free events at a a variety of places across London, and I'm sure elsewhere. Social media week comes around often.
5) Be open: you never know where the opportunity will come from, and you may fail to recognize it. Mr Aderin from Nigeria desperately wanted boys to carry on his name. But of his four girls, one is the greatest rocket scientist of our island and generation, who proudly carries her father's name.
Read more .... OR http://tinyurl.com/ag437gr
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4. Whitehall Women
We Are The City - THE place to know what's going on
Events For Women
Great networking to be had by one of the first TEDx in London. A grey cold winter's day, but stunning view from Ernst and Young, with the Gherkin on one side and Tower Bridge on the other.
Inside, warm and colourful company. Great speakers, good food, good company, who knows where the introductions will lead? Congratulations to Ruth Shaw and her wonderful team. In June 2012 Ruth Shaw, who attended TEDx Houses of Parliament and was inspired to create something similar, organized the event with her wonderful team; the first of many to come.
Although Ann Dickson was quietly provocative and inspirational, Martine Wright was stunning! Sitting on the tube one morning, wondering how would she get tickets for the Olympics..... Well, she not only got family tickets, but she was in one of the teams - the seated basketball.
Martine Wright lost both legs in the Circle Line bombing, yet she considers herself a lucky woman. She'd been sitting in the carriage next to the 7/7 bomber and, after losing her legs, she made a choice. If ever there was a more poignant moment for making a choice. Is it in the DNA, that some people can rise above, or is it potential to all of us?
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Archive
In my seminars we've done 3 word hooks for your business, so that you are immediately memorable and often they're alliterative or front rhyming.
Here are two: "babel-fish for barrister" translator for lawyers, and "finish on a high note" musician who writes film scores.
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Go well in the world, I hope that you find something inspirational in the above, or in your life around you. There are always possibilities. Remember you create your own reality, as Martine did.
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Woman on a Mission
Diversity and Leadership Consultant
Inspirational Speaker
MRI, FRSA
Alumnus Women of the Year
Motivational Speaker
NLP Master Practitioner
Counsellor and Coach
Graduate of Woman of the Year Lunch
Photographs provided with thanks to Wikipedia
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