Jacqueline Rogers

What If Someone Copies You?

Ladies attending the Athena meetings have amazed me with their creativity and ingenuity at the businesses they develop.  Only this week at Cappuccino Connections I met two ladies there who had me salivating for very different reasons www.cocoamoi.com the inspiration and creation of Jane Milton, a simple yet brilliant concept ... little boxes (cute magenta) of love!  And www.studentgems.com, two fabulous ladies working on a completely different project required a photographer.  Not able to find one within their budget they sourced a student and so the idea for this truly magnificent business evolved ... simple and yet brilliant!

Who Is The Civil Serf? ... Biting The Hand That Feeds?

So asks Ian Drury, Political Reporter for the Daily Mail. 

A mole hunt is on for the internet diarist who shocked Westminster by exposing the 'pointless and doomed' world of the Civil Service. 

A 33 year old Londoner has written a frank blog and details the incompetence, chaos and ignorance at the heart of Labour's government machine.

Living On Purpose ...

The celebrations and festivities are over now for another 12 months and I do hope that you have made sure you have something to celebrate in your business this coming year.

The success of your business in 2008 will be in direct proportion to the value you deliver to your clients.  If you want to be successful and abundant in your business it cannot only be about you, it has to include adding value to other people's lives.  A great inventor and philosopher, Buckminster Fuller, said "The purpose of our lives is to add value to the people of this generation and those that follow."

It's Never Too Late!

The opening message from Sue James, Editorial Director of Woman and Home, this February is that 'we know that there are times when all of us need to make a change in our lives' .  What I particularly enjoy about this magazine (it is one of the few that I read from cover to cover) are the inspirational stories of real woman who have made changes in their life.

Business Resolutions

The New Year is a popular time to be making a resolution to change your career and purchasing a franchise has become a popular option for many who are not sure what it is that they want to change their career for!

Are You Dreaming Of Success?

A recent study found that workers who daydream at their desks or even in business meetings are untapped pools of entrepreneurial talent.

Conducted by Barclays Local Business, the research indicates that employees showing signs of distraction are likely to get out and start their own businesses, as nearly half of today's bosses in the UK admit to having planned out their small-business success while at the desks of their old jobs.

When The Going Gets Tough ... Keep Going!

The easiest thing to do when the going gets tough in business is to give up, start a new project, or get a job so that someone else has to worry about the overheads.  For inspiration and motivation watch this clip on You Tube >>>

Basic To Bodacious

Being an entrepreneur can be lonely!  I found that my friends didn’t understand me, were horrified that I had turned my back on the corporate security (hmmm … this is the security that made me redundant twice in 18 months!), turned my back on the pension plan, office parties etc.  My parents didn’t understand me, they certainly didn’t understand the desire I had to set up in business on my own and I can understand that.  Cradled in the security of a military environment from boy to man with very healthy benefits when leaving my father was anxious that it would all go horribly wrong and wondered when I would submit and get a ‘proper job’ consistently showing me situations vacant that he believed would fit my skills set!

Silver & Magenta 'Tartan' Army

Margot Grantham, Regional Director Athena Edinburgh invited me to visit her members in Edinburgh this month.  They meet at the Scotch Malt Whisky Society in Queens Street and the room we were allocated had the most wonderful views.  I had the best of times with the ladies up there who exuded passion about their businesses and prompted Margot to write an article for the Athena Networking Muse. 

What A Wonderful World!

Not that I was needing any reminders this morning, I woke up in a buoyant and grateful mood, always good to start your day like that and then I received a newsletter from Carole Ann Rice that made me smile and included this magical clip.