A day in the life of a mumpreneur!

When I hand my business card out these days some people look and ask what's a mumpreneur? I use that phrase because I was honoured to be voted Mumpreneur Best Saleswoman of the year 2010 at the Mumpreneur UK awards.  I am not even sure if I had come across the word much before that. Well it is has  been officially recognised and is now in the dictionary. Well it is an entrepreneur who is a mum!! I just happen to be a granny too so maybe it should be granpreneur!!

Anyway back to a day in the life of a mumpreneur. Today was one such day when my feet didn't touch the ground. What I love about my work is I am my own boss. I am in control and no two days are ever the same! I regularly find that Plan A becomes plan B and even plan C D or E sometimes!!

I try to slow down and chill on Fridays but not sure I am achieving that - the chilling isnt the problem! It's the slowing down.

I decided, that as I didn't have to be up for any appointments this morning, I would sleep until I woke. It might have been quite sensible then to make sure the alarm was switched off but I clearly didn't have that sensible head on when I retired for the night in the wee small hours!! As I had a lot to get through today, I thought it best to get up and crack on. I started with a work out on the Wii fit! I am loving it! My  children spoilt me at Christmas and treated me to one! It is part of my fitness campaign! I have lost over a stone and now my wii fit age is taking me down well below pension age!! I love it!

Having done my work out, I started on the long to -do list! Emails to write, messages to send, phone calls to make, a ferry to book and cases to pack as well as routes to print out as the sat nav is not playing!!!! It is amazing how fast the hands on the clock go round sometimes!!

I managed to fit in cooking lunch - well let it cook itself while i cracked on. All too quickly, it was approaching 3 pm so I have to whizz off from my home office to meet one of my lovely web designers. Claire Kay of Eve Designs and I met in Missy J Cafe and spent a couple of hours working on the Wightbuzz website.

Then it was back home (and of course the traffic was heavier due to the road  works and the diversions.) I had an hour and a half to get everything ready for a weekend away and  including checking outfits for the Party Plan Conference and awards oh no! where were my shoes??? I have had a fotot problem and have been wearing trainers - not sure my style coach would give her blessing to a posh outfit and trainers!! I found some that might just do!! but bearing in mind I have a problem anyway -not sure they would do but time was running out and of course. because I live on an Island - I can't hang about or I will miss the boat!!!!! Well the search for the errant shoes meant plan b had to swing into operation. I was due to collect a knitting machine from East Cowes on the way to the ferry but ooops not sure if I now had time!! So Plan B it is then! I will collect said knitting machine on my return through East Cowes on Sunday!! Always good to have a plan B!

Determined not to miss the ferry- I had to go with what I had. I was travelling to Bournemouth to stay overnight with my sister but calling at my son's place elsewhere in Bournemouth to make a delivery as you do when you have a van!!! 

Whilst on the ferry, time to eat the tea I managed to pack, time for some work on the laptop , a ohone call to a friend and some networking with a friend I saw on the boat! like I do!

Thank goodness for hands free and mobile phones! When you travel alone and the sat nav isn't playing, it is good to allow your son to be the live sat nav!! Delivery made, hugs and kisses and a quick chat and then it was off to my sisters. She is now a carer for her husband and I think I was a little light relief at the end of a rather difficult day for her.

Off she went to bed and I have rounded off the day mutlitasking - writing blog whilst chatting with facebook friends.

It has been a fantastic Friday if a somewhat long day. I love working from home and being my own boss. I also love helping and training others in my various home based businesses. Long may it continue. Oh and by the way - I found my missing shoes in the van!!

Busy Fingers

When I was recently asked by Barbara from church, to co-ordinate a thanksgiving service and display some beautiful craft work, little did I realise what it would lead to. Years ago, I used to do sooooo much craft work. I knitted, I sewed and crocheted, I worked on papercraft etc but I had packed it all away thinking those days were over. 

Well as a result of seeing Muriel Rabbit's beautiful craft work when I was displaying it for an afternoon, I renewed my own love of craft. Wanting to share this with others I decided to create a "Busy Fingers" group through Ryde Methodist Church Several of us meet together and work on different crafts while we have a good chat. I made a clown for my youngest grandaughter for Christmas.

Of course Granny being granny, I decided to let the twins choose a clown each so am now part way through Bertie Bloomer.

The Busy fingers group is newly formed and the idea is that we come together for frienship while we craft. Some people will work on their own projects and some will make and sell items for charity. One thing that is certain is that we will have fun fun fun!! Especially when I start knitting sausages and sandwiches!!

Monica and Kay are busy busy! Kay was making cards and Monica was making flags for the Burns Night Supper tables.

 while Julie started some cross stitch work.

I am sure the group will grow but it doesn't matter how many attend as we will have a good time and raise some money for charity. 

Coffee with the bank manager

I don't know about you but I just love good customer service. As some of you will know, I have come through some rough times and during those times I have to say, my banks let me down. Why then, now when times are improving, should I keep my business with them.  To say I was not a happy customer would be an understatement. So one day I walked into Barclays in Ryde and boy was I impressed. I found a bank who actually wanted to talk to me in my branch in a lingo I could understand!!! Not only that but they actually wanted to work with me to grow my business. They were really interested! I had no hesitation in opening an account for my network group Wightbuzz . Tonight, there was a meeting for Barclays business customers. I went along - it was a chance to hear what they had to to say as well as a golden opportunity to network with lots of other businesses! I never miss an opportunity!! It was an excellent meeting and of course, I stayed on to network. Imagine my delight and surprise when the meeting adjourned to the Bargeman's Rest (just round the corner) and the bank manager treated us to drinks!! Not something I had experienced before - I don't think I ever even got offered a cup of coffee in a branch! It might seem I am getting excited over something small but to me that all comes as part of excellent customer service. Long may it continue. I WILL be recommending Barclays big time.

People who inspire me/ Roberta Jerram

I was considering my second post about people who inspire me and felt I just had to write about Roberta Jerram when she left a message about yesterday's post. I posted the blog reference on my fan page  about Time to smell the Roses. She commented on my facebook page and left this you tube clip which is truly beautiful.

I first "met" Roberta online. She runs a social networking site for ladies who dare to dream big - Giant Potential (which is currently undergoing a makeover but you can link to the fan page) She spotted me online and invited me to join her network which I happily did. Imagine my delight and the sheer honour I felt when she made me an admin on the site. Mine had been a long and difficult journey with many knocks and blows along the way but here was a lady, who although she hadn't actually met me, believed in me! I was fortunate enough to meet her a short while later.

I feel very inspired by Roberta. She is a very special lady, a super business woman, an entrepreneur and one who cares so much.  She does all she can to inspire and encourage others. She continually pays it forward. I feel very honoured that she has embraced me and given me the chance to shine too. I can remember the immense feeling of pride I felt when my name was called as the winner of the Mumpreneur Uk awards - Best Saleswoman of the Year. I was fortunate enough to be sitting next to Roberta and before I had made my way to the stage, Roberta had announced it to the world on facebook!!!!

I don't think I would have ever entered any awards if it wasn't for Roberta. That was something other people did. Not any more - not only did I win the Mumpreneur award but I was  a finalist in the Hampshire Winning Women Awards 2011 networking category and am also a finalist in the Party Plan Awards which are being held for the first time this very weekend. (Jan 28th 2012) Following on from winning the award, I have set up Wightbuzz, an affordable networking group for the Isle of Wight. None of this would have happened without Roberta. Thanks to her, I am now following her lead and inspiring many people to grow their own businesses and work together as a community.

Roberta, herself has one several awards and justifiably so. She has set up and run more that one business. Her latest, Linen at Home is going from strength to strength and Roberta is encouraging and mentoring many new consultants - inspiring them to grow their own home based businesses.

Roberta is also a great connector of people. I am indebted to her for my two year friendship with Paula Pomeroy

Paula and I met through Giant Potential and as I wrote in a previous blog  - it has changed my life - I feel so enriched. 

Roberta is one very special lady. I owe her a huge debt of gratitude and feel truly blessed that she came into my life. Long may she continue to inspire and motivate others.

Time to smell the roses

For some of us life is sooooo busy that we forget to take time out. We don't remember the "me" time. It is important to remember this. I was very guilty of being a workaholic for many years. I now make sure I regularly take time out to smell the roses. Although this was originally just an expression I used, there is much more to it now :) One of my Wightbuzz network members is Jo of Blushing Blooms so these days I literally do take time to smell the roses. Jo's shop is not far from where I live.

She really does create some beautiful arrangements and I have the pleasure of delivering them sometimes to the lucky recipient.  

So these days - when I say I am off to smell the roses, there is more to it. It may be roses, sometimes its lillies or other delightful flowers. What a nice way of having a break!!!! I often get a cup of tea while I'm there too!

Hints and tips on going green

Today I would like to share some of the hints and tips from Wikaniko to create a greener world.

Wikaniko Hints and Tips

• Shower instead of having baths 

• Using a low flow shower head a family of four can cut water usage by as 

much as 280 gallons a month — and yet not feel much difference in water 

pressure. 

• Install a water butt for watering gardens and flowers, 

• Get a device that that transfers your sink water etc. to a water butt 

• Use rechargeable batteries where possible 

• If you need to throw batteries away make sure to recycle them 

• As your light bulbs go replace them with energy saving light bulbs. This 

will greatly reduce your electric costs and they last much longer. 

• Fit electricity regulating plugs on all appliances especially on fridge and freezer as these are energy guzzlers, this will regulate the amount of electricity they use.   

• Don’t leave doors open on fridges and freezers
• Defrost your freezer as often as possible to ensure it remains as efficient as possible 

• Don’t replace white goods unnecessarily.  If you need to though make sure to recycle the old and when you get your new make sure it is as energy efficient as possible. 

• You don’t have to buy new! Before you hit the shops to buy your new item of furniture, have a look at web sites such as freecycle 

• Using solar panels is a great way to save electricity. You don’t have to kit your whole house out with them, using them for your outside lighting is one way, and you can get portable solar chargers for things like your mobiles and mp3 players, which not only save electricity but are incredibly handy!  

• Remove yourself from junk mail lists. This will take a few months to kick in but will reduce the amount of paper waste you have significantly.  

• When you go food shopping take your own bags with you. There are a great range of re-useable bags available from net to recycled juice cartons.  Or you can use biodegradable bags. 

• When you go shopping don’t buy produce that has unnecessary wrapping, like polystyrene trays. Buy as much loose fruit and veg as you can. 

• Buy fruit and veg that is seasonal. Try to avoid food that has travelled long distances, and been flown in as this adds to pollution, and buying from your area supports your local farmers. 

• Get a rain harvester to catch the rain, this then goes through a small filter system and can be used to flush the toilet, shave etc 

• To save water you can fit spray taps to your sinks you can either fit new taps, install metal screw-in adapters or buy cheap rubber versions to push on to the end of your taps. 

More hints and tips coming soon . Information can be found at Lyn's Green Biz or join me at facebook http://www.facebook.com/LynsWikanikoBiz

Burns Night

Piping in the haggis

What an enjoyable night we had. I belong to Ryde Methodist Church and every month we enjoy an International evening. We have been all round the world on these nights but last night we were closer to home as we celebrated Burns Night with a wonderful Burns supper and entertainment. 

oops sorry cant turn it!!

Ruth Realy and her team of helpers provided a wonderful supper and the IOW Caledonian Society entertained before giving us the opportunity to join in the Scittish dancing. There were some wonderful raffle prizes 

and I was lucky enough to win one so its haggis and tatties for my supper tomorrow night.

Unfortunately, despite our gallant efforts, our table only managed to come second in the quiz just missing out on a valuable prize. :)

It was a great evening full of food and fellowship and my house guest Paula, thoroughly enjoyed herself as did I!

Mineral make up demonstrations.

Following on from my last post "My house guest" I best update you on why Paula came to stay! The visit from my Wikaniko sponsor and now, great friend Paula Pomeroy, was not entirely a pleasure trip although fun and laughter were on the agenda! Paula had recently been on the Wikaniko training to learn how to apply the mineral makeup.

100% natural makeup

My Wikaniko (we-can-eco) team were keen to learn about the makeup so Paula decided to pay us a visit and three demonstration times and venues were arranged. 

Nicola Broadsmith, one of my team, was a willing volunteer and Paula set to with the mineral makeup. Other team members looked on with interest.

That's me on the left with Charlotte Smith and Lois Prior enjoying the last demonstration of the day. 

Wikaniko KBK Minerals is an exclusive, pure and totally natural makeup range, which is a joy to wear and easy to use.  Applied with a Kabuki brush, you control the amount of product you put onto your skin. Wikaniko KBK Minerals allow the skin to breathe, never looking caked or heavy, giving your skin a healthy natural glow. Most people find that a couple of applications will give a fantastic finish with a light, sheer look. The KBK Minerals eye shadow range consists of stunning colours which can be used either dry or wet, (foiling) , to achieve different looks, either classic or modern. You can even make more colours than purchased by blending two colours together to give you a totally new and different shade.

KBK Minerals correctors and concealers enable you to achieve a flawless finish with ease. There is a yellow corrector for dark circles and bruising and a green one for thread veins or high rose pigmentation, strawberry birthmarks or scars. Let's see now, that's blushers, bronzers and concealers - oh and luxurious lipsticks which really pump up the volume - not enough for you?  Then really make your lips lush with a sweep of KBK lip gloss to make your lips glisten day or night. A fun new range of natural mineral makeup that is good for your skin, reflecting light so that fine lines and wrinkles look diminished, giving your skin a natural glow while blocking out harmful rays which damage the skin. 

Arlette Wood was also a willing volunteer for a mineral makeup make over! So now the team are keen to spread their new found knowledge. They are off to promote the paraben free, fragrance free, allergen free, gluten free, bismuthoxychloride free, talc free mineral makeup. 

Thus is all part of the plan to convert the Isle of Wight to the Isle of Green  Would you like to know more? Visit Lyn's Green Biz and enter the shop to find the whole range. If you would like to help us promote the mineral make up and other eco friendly items then please get in touch. We have an excellent home based business opportunity and we have lots of fun along the way. 

Thank you Paula for coming and sharing with us. I know we all enjoyed your visit.

My house guest

When pondering on the subject for my next blog, I was asking my house guest for ideas! Suddenly it came to me! Why not blog about her and how we met!

Tonight, I was delighted to welcome to my flat for the first time, my great friend of two years, Paula Pomeroy (although I have been her house guest in Kent several times!!)

We first met over the internet. I was perusing the Giant Potential Site (currently undergoing a revamp - check out their facebook page though!) Giant Potential is a social networking site for ladies who dare to dream big!!!! I discovered a post by Paula - about an eco-friendly business called Wikaniko (we-can-eco!)

 For as long as I could remember, my sister used to go on and on about being eco - friendly. Finally,  I found a post about a business that would help me take baby green steps to start and then to help others do the same! I rang and left an answerphone message and within an hour Paula had returned my call. I remember it well! It was Friday December 18th 2009 and following a somewhat lively conversation with Paula, I couldn't wait to fax in my form!! I became a distributor that very same day. Lyn's Green Biz was created and a new friendship was forged. I am extremely grateful to Roberta Jerram for creating the Giant Potential Site. It is a site for women who dare to dream big  (Paula and I are doing just that!) and for connecting like minded women. Paula's visit to me this weekend is not entirely social although we will have a lot of fun while she is here. She has been fortunate to have attended the Wikaniko training for the mineral makeup 

and is passing her new found knowledge on to my team and customers. I have built up a team of distributors on the Isle of Wight and we are working to become the Isle of Green :)  

Paula and I now have a great friendship and have shared many happy times and had much fun! She has dubbed me the Wight Tornado (it is an in joke for people of my generation - taken from the Flash advert many years ago!!!) She has made a huge difference to my life, as has Roberta. I sometimes wonder what life would be like had I not read that post on Giant Potential on that cold dark day back in December 2009!! It has certainly brightened my life!

I have regular customers now and a growing team across the UK who are working to make the planet greener. We ARE making a difference! Step by step :) However, we didn't leave it there!! We also work together for Karen Wattleworth who runs Zoobookoo. We are Primary Star advisors promoting fun educational products. We have relished the opportunity of working together, both for Wikaniko and Primary Stars. Our friendship has enriched our lives and those of many others! We have had a lot of fun along the way - fun which we share with others :) We have also made a difference to our planet (in small baby steps!)

Long may our friendship flourish!

Inspirational people.

There are many inspirational people around. I have met many of these more recently but probably the MOST inspirational person in my life was my dad. He left me in 2010 for a higher place but still has a great bearing on my life - spiritually guiding me through the many minefields.

I was very lucky as I had my dad around for a very long time. I was approaching retirement age and he was 89 when his health finally failed but he remained lively and cheerful until the end. He encouraged  us (I have 3 siblings) from an early age to go out and stand up for ourselves in the world. He encouraged us to take up public speaking which has stood me in very good stead. He nurtured us and explained school work to us when we had failed to understand it in school, breaking it down to bite size bits we could digest. He worked for the Inland revenue for most of his life but in later life ran two private schools - His idea for helping and putting back into the community. He also became a much loved local preacher on the Isle of Wight and preached up until about six months before his death. I owe so much to my dad. He was truly inspirational. 

This will truly be my year!

2012 is going to be a fantastic year for me and many around me. My journey has been long and hard - a real roller coaster journey! I have met some pretty unkind people on the way. People who didn't want me to succeed and actively tried to stop me. However, I have met far more people who offered kind and supportive words, people who inspired me and those who believed in me. As I look back, I wonder why some people try and destroy others. Does it really give them a kick. Do they sleep easy in their beds at night? I truly struggle to understand that. I have always worked very hard and have been self employed for most of my working life. I am now at the stage where I technically I could retire but for now retirement is NOT for me. I am having too much fun. Having finally escaped from that long dark tunnel, I am now out in the sunshine having a great time. I even get time to smell the roses. 

After a 30 year teaching career (running my own nursery school for 21 years) I ran a home based business promoting children's books. It fitted so well with my background. I put me all into that business only to find that 7 years on my loyalty was rewarded with moving goal posts. That was a difficult time for me. Suddenly the commissions I had built up through my own hard work and that of my team were gone. As if that wasn't bad enough, there were those ready to kick me when I was down. However, I have never given in to bullies and wasn't going to let them win. Being told I was stupid wasn't the nicest feeling. Why would anyone do that? I could give up and sink into oblivion. I chose the opposite route. No one had the right to judge me and tell me I was stupid. Fortunately, although I was somewhat of a crumpled heap at the time,  I still had self belief. I managed, with sheer grit and determination, to survive. The stupidity label came about because I added more than one string to my bow. Having been financially devastated, why would I put all my eggs in one basket? Very few people do these days and to be honest, why is it any one else's business?  I do what is right for me and have always encouraged my children to do the same. The criticism I received for bantering on facebook was neither kind nor necessary. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. That happy banter has brought me many friends. People tell me I inspire then and cheer them up!! Where is the harm in that. Many of these people are now joining my businesses. 

My determination to succeed was recognised when I was awarded the Mumpreneur Best Saleswoman of the year 2010. 

What a real boost that gave me :) Public recognition. Can it get any better than that? As a result of that award I have been able to work in the community and help many more people out of that long dark tunnel. I was lucky enough to be shortlisted in the Hampshire Winning Women awards, networking category in 2011. 

I have shed the negative people in my life and surrounded myself with inspirational and very positive people. I treat others in the way I would like to be treated. I have mentored many in my teams and outside. I always try to remain positive myself and always look for the good rather than the bad. It is truly paying dividends and life is just getting better and better. I have just been shortlisted in the Party Plan Awards, Shining Star Category. What a great start to the year. The future is looking very rosy. So my advice to anyone on that roller coaster of life - hang on, have self belief and be determined to succeed. You CAN make it happen. Have a great 2012.

Memory jerkers.

I was fortunate enough to meet a good friend for lunch last week. After a delightful lunch and a good chat I was on my way back to my van when I spotted the hexagonal paving stones. Nothing very strange there then. However, something as simple as that set off a wonderful chain of memories. Back in 1971 when I announced my engagement to my first husband, preparations were started to have the wedding at my family home. We were fortunate to live in a big house and loved the idea of having my wedding there. My mother thought it would be good to have the front garden tidied up and decided hexagonal tiles (green and white) would be just the job. My father and fiance set to and did such a splendid job my mother decided they could also lay a very large patio at the back of the house. I think they wished they hadn't done such a splendid job!! Neither of them were in the trade and had never laid a patio before (nor ever did again!) I remember the banter that went on during the course of these preparations! Such happy memories of my father and fiance working hard together :)

Years later, my parents and my husband and I swapped houses. The house was too big for them and we had an expanding family and I had already started running a nursery school in the house. It made perfect sense to swap houses!!

The floor covering in the toilet also had a hexagonal pattern. I used to spend much time supervising children in the loo so while they queued we had fun talking about the pattern on the floor. I even had fun teaching the children "big" words. I used to tell them a big word and then say they would never remember it but of course they did!! I remember the look on the Ofsted inspectors face when one of my little ones pointed out that the shapes tessellated!

Such happy memories evoked by these tiles. Do you have any memory jerkers? Would you like to share them?