Blog post #2 Do as you would be done by

Do as you would be done by

I am probably showing my age with that phrase but it is one that has always stuck with me throughout life. It is not just something for business but for the whole of life in general. I come from a family of 6. My siblings and I were taught to respect others and treat them kindly. We did of course, have our sibling differences but mum and dad steered us in the right direction. . Sadly not everyone has had the same teaching and I think it is so sad! Unfortunately my father is no longer with us but he led a happy and very fulfilling life.Let me introduce you to my mum and my siblings - Left to right David, me Mum Soo Graham!

I was subject to a certain amount of bullying at school. I can remember one or two sad times but nothing major. However, I cannot understand why grown adults attempt to bully others! People have tried and tried to bully me in my adult life but I won't tolerate it. I spent 30 years stopping children being unkind to each other as a teacher , why then should I accept it myself. I believe if you can't say anything nice, you shouldn't say anything at all!
Last year, I had an incident with a neighbour who took issue with my parking. There was no real problem but he perceived there was and hammered very aggressively on my door the next morning and told me to move the car. Now I, as you know, I was taught to treat others as I wished to be treated and shouting and banging the door aggressively wasn't an option! I have to say bullying me didn't bring the result he wanted. He did manage to get his car out which he would have done much quicker if he had not been trying to intimidate me.
I wrote him a note - merely suggesting that if he wanted something, surely it was better to be nice to people - much more likely to get the required reaction.. Wowie - result - he took heed and has been much more pleasant - even smiling at me in the supermarket. It isn't rocket science - if you are nice to others - they might well be nice to you.

In business it is the same in life. Much greater result will be achieved by being nice. Why sabotage your own business by being unkind? 

For anyone having trouble smiling  why not join us over at the Giggly Grannies We have lots of fun and laughter. we put the FUND into fundraising.

How do you deal with people who treat you unkindly? 

Why I have decided to accept a 30 day Blog Challenge

It is such a long time since I blogged and every day I kept thinking I ought to get to it. I know it is what I should have been doing for a long time but somehow so many other things got in the way and I wanted to blog on my LynBlackledge.co.uk site. However, crazy lady that I am

 - I can't access it so was just making excuses!! Having listened to a brilliant webinar by Sarah Arrow - I decided I mustn't make any more excuses. The trouble is I wear many hats so what to blog about?  I thought I'd give you an overview of some of the things I do  first and the fun I have along the way. I am a mum to three and granny to 4 and a Giggly Granny at that. In fact I am one of the Giggly Grannies having fun on the Isle of Wight. We put the FUN into FUNdraising - (and more to follow on that as the challenge progresses.) although I can't resist giving you a little insight into something we are doing next week -if I say emerald city, yellow brick road and poppies - maybe you might guess where we are off to!! Rome wasn't built in a day but our emerald city was! Exhausting work it was too so no wonder we fell asleep in the poppy field!!

 I run a portfolio of businesses which I will also share with you as I blog my way through the challenge. My main business is Wightbuzz - a networking and business support group I run on the Isle of Wight. I love connecting people and helping to join the dots and social media queen Veronica Pullen  who also lives here (Isle of Wight) on what she lovingly calls the "Royal Island" has dubbed me the Connection Queen. Thanks Veronica, I'm loving that - a much nicer fame name than the Networking Guru  (Check out Lucy Whittington -Being a Business Celebrity  to learn more about how to choose your fame name) 

So did you guess we are off to the see the Wizard? In preparing for our fundraiser next week (raising funds for the Open Arms project )  and having run Wightbuzz successfully for 4 years means I have some super businesses on board run by some fantastic people. Susan Martin of Smart in Design  has created Wizard of Oz themed posters and tickets 

and helped with the building of the emerald city . Another of our members Marie, of Music Craft will be performing her magic on her saxaphone as we encourage everyone to join in the sing-along . We also have another member Katrina, who is a business coach and has also agreed to compere our evening. It will be much fun and I will bring you more news in the following blogs. Again, using the skills of another member Graham Reading of Graham Reading Photography  (who also happens to be my very talented, award winning brother) we should have a wonderful record of a fun evening and knowing him , we will no doubt appear in the press again and online media. 

Networking and connecting people is what I do well and have found even more ways to market members through the community work we do. Out of the box thinking is what I love - maybe some of the ideas are a little wacky but it works. We  have a very exciting week ahead as it is Wightbuzz birthday week. 

Wightbuzz is 4 years old on Monday. What a fantastic time to launch our national and global expansion. I have combined with my sons and three other media graduates. The Wighbuzz name stays for the Isle of Wight and the global brand is AllthingsNetworking - watch this space......

Here endeth day 1 of the 30 Day blog challenge. Watch this space for more exciting news. Find out more about how my dream team may be able to help you. As business mentors, we can help you with many things including social media. Many of our members were "frightened" of using twitter. With our help they are now tweeting away beautifully. Result :) 

The Secret & The Law of Attraction The Shift by Wayne Dyer

Great bank holiday viewing - well worth taking two hours out to watch this. Its amazing and very powerful. Check it out.

Time for a "cruise"

I couldn't help it! On Tuesday of last week,  I just had to update my status to "I'm going on a cruise"

About 5 years ago, around the time I first started using facebook, I was not in a good place. Life had taken one of those dips that happen sometimes and I was just learning to cope with my new situation. At age 58 I had had to move in with my mum and dad (like you  do!) Having not felt like I was appreciated, I walked away from a home based business where I was one of the top performers in the country. I had been the top on party sales in 2005 and was also runner up recruiter and had grown and trained a reasonably big team - not a bad performance! I had "earnt" 5 foreign holidays in 6 years. However, the goal posts moved and I felt my credibility would be questioned and so I resigned my position.

There were many happy memories from my 7 years connected to that company and last Wednesday,  some of those happy memories came flooding back. One of those holidays I earnt, was a short cruise. I can remember a fantastic night where my cabin mate did my make up (I'm not much of a make up person) I had my hair done and dressed up in the velvet dress I had hired before I left the Island. I don't scrub up badly and this was proved when I emerged from my cabin feeling like a movie star. My colleagues were wowed by my appearance (not sure what that says about me on a day to day basis :) )I felt fabulous. Just the thing to lift the spirits and we had a fabulous night. 

Well, last week my status read, I'm going on a cruise. It was very tongue in cheek. My previous cabin mate wanted to know where I was going. I had to admit that the cruise was a trip on the newly refurbished red funnel ferry, Red Falcon. My "cruise" was from Cowes to Southampton and back again (courtesy of the chamber of commerce. ) 

We did however, dress for the occasion. Giggly Granny 2 went in the dressing up box and found garlands, sun hats and sunglasses. We had lots of fun :)

Time for a lifeline!

After Rotary breakfast a little time to kill then off to visit Mark at lifeline security systems. Excellent cup of coffee on arrival followed by a very friendly discussion on how local businesses can work together and a deal for Ryde Business Association :)

And another busy Wednesday

An early start and off to Rotary. Glad I have the Nissan Leaf. Was more difficult on the bus! 

Riverside is the venue and today an Easter touch 

Wednesday , oh what a day

Wednesday 26th March was the chosen date for the Giggly Grannies to do their sponsored silence.

They said it couldn't be done. They said gaffer tape would be required! They pledged their money thinking it was safe! Well, along with the 8 th brownies, they prepared and the room fell silent. There was plenty of activity but no talking ! Giggly granny 2 knitted 

And Brown owl was busy too. Giggly granny 1 tweeted and face booked and more money was pledged ! Finally the time passed and THEY did it and Brown owl presented certificates to prove it! And £463 was pledged along with a trolley load plus two carrier bags of food. Amazing ! The brownies have to collect their money too which will add to this all for the Open As project which feeds the hungry. 

Copy of Cards from Lyn, an Independent Phoenix Trader

Granny Duty

Once against granny duty beconed. Grandchild number 3 was 4 on saturday and it was time for a family gathering . My very kind friend, Tina, gave me a lift the ryde pier where I picked up the catamaran to Portsmouth.

 Just outside the terminal is the coach stop so very easy for getting to Victoria. 

I always use the coach for catching or keeping up with social media but also used it as an opportunity to chat with Lisa who was in the seat behind and who will look me up on Facebook! 

Once at Victoria , I have a short walk to to tube station then a bus to meet my daughter and grandchildren who were enjoying a friends birthday party. My daughter was very pleased to see me and immediately passed the baby to me for cuddles ! I believe the fact that he immediately vomited down me was a sign that he was very excited to see me. 

The girls were very excited that granny had arrived for 4 sleeps. 

Time for birthday present exchange and J was very pleased with her present. 

Sunday was a very busy day with family members popping in including great granny. The day was lovely and sunny and time for a BBQ and it is still only March. 

Family all enjoyed the party including the cake 

My little pony was the order of the day. There were some very tired but happy children at bedtime. 

Granny duty always involves craft work of some kind and this trip it was cross stitch 

We have worked hard since Sunday on the designs and have managed to complete part of the picture. The girls may have to wait for next granny visit to complete them unless they can work it put for themselves.

Granny has really enjoyed granny duty! So hard cuddling baby while girls are in school ! nOT and life interaction with girls when they get home. I'm back home today but look forward to next spell of granny duty soon 

The Giggly Granny candy cane dance in Mrs Jones tea depot