Showing posts with label Career. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Career. Show all posts

Venturing into Entrepreneurship

By    May 15, 2020 // No comments
I have always loved the idea of working for myself and over the years have thought out many different ideas in my head, some from the sublime to the ridiculous.  I am yet to take the plunge and dive into entrepreneurship but it's definitely something that I am taking into strong consideration.  

 I think the reason that I have never pursued it, is because quite frankly I have been scared of failure and it's not something that I was ever told that I could achieve.  I mean me, become a business owner? I don't think so, well that is what I have been telling myself all of these years.  I was taught to get a good education, get a great job with benefits then retire, no where in that equation was it ever mentioned that I could create my own empire and follow a different path.  That inner voice of self doubt can take years to break free from, but as I am getting older I'm  realising that now more than ever might be the right time to take the plunge into small business ownership.

I am not someone that dislikes my nine to five job, in fact I really love it and the people I work with.  However, despite this, I am beginning to look more into the future and think about what I would like my my quality and standard of life to be.  Spending so much time inside working from  home has helped me put a lot of those self doubt into perspective.  While, I would love to make a decent living from any venture I turn my hands to, I have a way more realistic idea of how much time I can feasibly dedicate to a business and taking small steps will be essential.  I also, know that I get bored fairly feasibility, therefore it is a must that I love what I am doing and that it doesn't feel like a burden.  

Not knowing where to start has been one of the biggest obstacles for me, because I've always believed that I need to come up with some big intellectually stimulating idea akin to Bill Gates, but I definitely know this is not true.   I have noticed that many of the most brilliant business models are very simplistic and quirky and  fill a gap in that particular market.  Even if the competition is high, there is still enough room for everyone by setting yourself apart from others and by seeing how you can be more innovative.  

I am not going to lie and say that the fear is not still there, or that I have it all worked out, but I can visualise what my potential future could be and that is enough motivation for me to at least try.  I might fail but I cannot let the thought of failure debilitate me and hold me back from something that could be potentially life changing for my family.   This is a journey for me and I want other  potential female entrepreneurs out there to know that your ideas are valid and it is OK to be afraid and you can do it or rather we can do it and let's take these small but mighty steps together on the road to self change.




Working From Home for Newbies

By    April 21, 2020 // No comments


The global COVID19 pandemic has forced many of us to embrace working from home as the new norm,  and while for many people including myself this has been a fairly smooth transition, however for many people the prospect of long term home working has caused anxiety and stress. We often take for granted how important routine and stability is especially for our mental wellbeing, the Guardian Newspaper has reported that there is an urgent need for studies into the impact of the pandemic on mental health. 

Unfortunately, it will be some time before we can all return to some form of normality,  but we can ensure we create a safe space to be productive and mentally healthy.  


Create a Work Schedule


Just because you are at home you should still try and maintain a work schedule.  Creating a routine will help you to wake up and get ready for the day.  Many of us are having to home school as well as work full time and by creating a schedule this will help you to structure your day around all of your activities.  Make sure to factor in time for meals and a break, remember you’re  at work and you need to take a break. There are numerous sources online where you can download a free planner including CalendarLabs and my favourite Day Designer.  Remember to discuss your hours with your line manager and agree to a work schedule that is realistic given the current situation and one that suits the business. 

Fake It 

This might not be a crazy as it sounds, the idea is that if you act like you are going in to the office this will help you to mentally prepare for the day.  If this means organising a work from home wardrobe or wearing your normal work attire and doing your hair and makeup then do it. Anything that helps you to feel less anxious and more in control is worth trying.  If you feel great then you’re more likely to get more done.

Create a Productive Space 

I know this can be difficult because we are not all blessed with extra rooms and sufficient space to create a home office, therefore for many of us we have to work within the confines of what we have and this might not be a lot.  Your home coupled with the inability to socialise can add to the feeling of claustrophobia and loneliness especially if you live alone. It’s important to create a safe space wherever you have chosen to work whether it be a corner in your bedroom or living room or the kitchen table.  The goal is to make sure that you are comfortable and that you don’t feel isolated in that space. For those with a full house, set rules and boundaries for your work space to help others in the home know that this is your office space and it must be respected. 

Virtual Meetings

The dreaded face to face online meeting, we all love to hate it and why wouldn’t we,  our colleagues are getting to delve into our personal space and who wants that.  Unfortunately it’s a necessary part of  at home working but it doesn’t have to be so cringeworthy.  Make sure that you put yourself on mute especially if you have pets and children and if you would like to have some extra privacy many online meeting platforms will let you blur the background or turn the video off if you are really camera shy.  Outside of the normal team meetings, make some time to schedule a virtual chat over coffee or lunch because face to face interaction shouldn’t just be about work, it should also be about maintaining the relationships you have built in the workplace. 

Develop a Risk Assessment 


Sounds kind of scary and it is.  Even though you know your home better than anyone, remember it wasn’t set up to be your place of work.  This means that you need to assess if you have sufficient seating, lighting, laptop accessories etc.  This is especially critical if you have any medical conditions that you require special equipment for.  Most employers will ask you to complete an at home risk assessment so that occupational health and safety can assist you with any special requirements. If your employer has not done this then contact then to discuss. Worksafe UK has a lot of useful information and they even have a template that you can download and complete.  

Exercise

This is pretty self explanatory, there are numerous studies that will tell you how important exercise is for supporting mental health and now that we are at home this is even more vital. Whatever your exercise of choice is, make sure to keep fit because social distancing can take its toll on our bodies.  YouTube has multitude of fitness videos for you to try.

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