From School to Consultancy

From School to Consultancy Success Story > From: Job To: Startup From School to Consultancy “The day-to-day bureaucracy was taking me away from the core work I wanted to do.” * From School to Consultancy Exhausted and frustrated at work, Sarah Billinghamdecided to become her own boss. Here's how a timely partnership was exactly the catalyst she needed to get her ideal business off the ground. What work were you doing previously? I worked in the charity sector as an Assistant Headteacher, in a special school for children with speech, language and communication needs. What are you doing now? I've set up an educational consultancy in partnership with an occupational therapist. We provide coaching, advice and training for parents and practitioners supporting young children with additional needs. I still work part-time for the charity in their assessment service. How did you feel in your work before you decided to make the change? There were lots of things I liked about my work. I really do love supporting kids with additional needs and their families. However, the job had its challenges too. I found that the day-to-day bureaucracy and operational 'stuff' was takingme away from the core work I wanted to do. This was frustrating and exhausting. Why did you change? I was pregnant with my second child. I decided it was time for me to take a step back and reflect on how I wanted my career to move forward. I spent time really thinking about which aspects of my work I enjoyed most and wanted to pour my energies into. A huge consideration was the need to be realistic about how much time I wanted to devote to working each week. Whilst raising a young family, I wanted to feel that the work I could do in the limited time I had available was the most worthwhile and enjoyable. When was the moment you decided to make the change? I'd spent a lot of time looking into different options and planning out what services I could offer in a business of my own. I showed this to a couple of people to get their feedback. Then, somewhat out of the blue, Amanda, an occupational therapist that I knew, approached me wanting to discuss her business idea. She wanted to work together and decided to pitch her idea to me. When we met, she was able to articulate a vision of what she wanted so beautifully. She had a way of crystallising all of my disparate random ideas into a lovely cohesive concept. I felt energised in a way a way I hadn't felt for a very long time. I was totally hooked from then. How did you choose your new career? Amanda and I worked together to refine our vision over a few months. A period of market research, planning and refining was really beneficial in helping us to distil down exactly what we wanted to do â€" supporting children in their formative early years (0 - 5). We feel that getting help early on makes the biggest difference to children in the long term. By enabling families and practitioners to develop a robust toolkit of strategies, they're more confident and skilled in supporting children in their everyday lives. Are you happy with the change? Absolutely. I've learnt so much in a short amount of time about things I'd never really needed to know before (building a website, marketing, using social media, accounting). I've also had the privilege of being welcomed into a lovely community of freelancers and small business owners. It's been a really inspiring time. What do you miss and what don't you miss? There's a comfort, stability and certainty which comes from employment that I miss. As a teacher, I'd never really left school. Despite moving across the world, I've always lived by the school structure of term times and playground / staffroom politics. Being outside of that has been both exhilarating and terrifying. There are times when I feel a little deskilled and need to work on applying what I know into new situations. I also miss some of my colleagues a great deal. On the flip side, I like having the flexibility to work when it suits me, so that I can go to all of my daughter's events or have a day off when I want to. And I don't miss all of the seemingly endless (and sometimes unnecessary) paperwork. How did you go about making the shift? We did lots of planning before going live with the website and opening for business. Having a partner made all the difference for me. We were able to work to our strengths and cheer each other on. It's been a slow build. We've also spent a lot of time up front on networking and marketing. What didn't go well? What wrong turns did you take? One early misstep was planning a training event too early. We didn't yet have enough contacts / reputation to bring in the numbers we needed to make it viable. It was so very disappointing as the content we were ready to share was great! How did you handle your finances to make your shift possible? As I was going on maternity leave, the timing financially was good. I was able to put some time into business development without needing to worry about income straight away. I saved hard whilst pregnant to build a small working budget and a personal safety net. What was the most difficult thing about changing? Keeping the faith when there's a setback! It's difficult not to panic and get into a cycle of being demotivated. I became acutely aware of no longer having the safety net of employment. What help did you get? I joined some freelancing networking groups online and found these really helpful. This led to meeting with a small group of local freelancers / small business owners. Also, I can't say strongly enough how much my business partner has supported me. She's a great motivator and extremely positive. This has been so helpful. What resources would you recommend to others? We love Basecamp. We find it so useful for sharing our ideas and keeping all of our working documents in one place. There are other free services which we've tried, but we've always returned to Basecamp as the ease of functionality and layout works so well for us. What have you learnt in the process? So much! I better understand my own vision and values, as well as the kind of life I'd like to be living. I've also learnt all sorts of marketing and techie stuff. What would you advise others to do in the same situation? Plan carefully and research who else is in your market. Get feedback from trusted friends and colleagues about what you're hoping to do. You don't have to agree with their opinions or do as they suggest, but it helps you to challenge your own ideas and distil what you're trying to do. To find out more about Sarah's services, visit www.confidentkids.co. What lessons could you take from Sarah's story to use in your own career change? Let us know in the comments below.

Can Recruitment Ever Be Unbiased

Can Recruitment Ever Be Unbiased Nobody will ever openly admit to discriminating against a candidate based on their age, ethnicity or sexual orientation but countless studies have uncovered unconscious bias during the recruitment process. A recent investigation by the BBC  found that  a job seeker with an English-sounding name was offered three times the number of interviews than an applicant with a muslim name. The fake candidates applied for 100 jobs as business managers in advertising sales across London and after two and a half months, Adam was offered three times more interviews than Mohamed. The two CVs were also uploaded to four job sites. Adam was contacted by four recruiters, but Mohamed only two. Removing names from application forms, introducing recruitment technology and even setting diversity targets are just some of the ways companies have tried to eliminate giving jobs to people who look or sound the part. Last year, the consumer goods manufacturer Unilever introduced gaming technology to try and eliminate unconscious bias from its recruitment process.  The technology mixed gaming elements with video interviews to identify the best candidates among its 250,000 annual graduate applicants. Placid Jover, VP Human Resources at Unilever UK and Ireland said: At Unilever, we believe that a diverse range of talent is essential for the success and creativity of our business. Our new digital recruitment process for our popular graduate programme takes us to a new level of encouraging social inclusion and diversity amongst our applicants. We hope the interactive experience will enable candidates to have the confidence to demonstrate their true leadership potential. But no matter how advanced or clever technology is and regardless of how fun or engaging it is, sadly it wont and cant solve the entire problem of bias. While these tools help can companies look beyond the CV, managers still need to be aware of their internal own biases when deciding who they will hire. So can unconscious bias ever be exterminated or will it always exist? Dr Sondra Thiederman is an author and expert on unconscious bias. She says: In my view, a better question is, “Why are humans fundamentally biased and what can we do about it? Humans are genetically prone to both categorizing human beings into groups and to making inflexible generalities about those groups. This is an evolutionary trait that evolved from the need to do so when living in more primitive conditions. Having said that, there are ways to minimize and even defeat many of our biases. Dr Thiederman has written a book called  â€œ3 Keys to Defeating Unconscious Bias: Watch, Think, Act”, which she believes can help anyone get rid of unconscious bias. Key 1 Watch WATCH your thoughts, your past experiences, and your actions for signs of unconscious bias. WATCH will move your bias from your unconscious to your conscious awareness. Key 2 Think THINK about the people you know, about how you would feel were a bias directed at you, about your values, and about pausing long enough to get your bias out of the way. Key 3 Act ACT as if your bias doesn’t exist, and to identify common ground. THINK and ACT will give you control of the bias and, very possibly, eliminate it altogether. Whilst hiring managers can use a number of tools and techniques to try and get rid of unconscious bias,  it’s much easier for them to connect with the person in the actual interview  than the one represented by a CV. But the initial battle is for the person, regardless of age, sex, ethnicity or academic background, to be able to get through the front door and then be able to prove that they are the best candidate for the job and if they are then nothing else matters.

Herbal Gardens - Why and How To Start One in Your Kitchen -

Herbal Gardens - Why and How To Start One in Your Kitchen - If you’re a typical career woman, you probably don’t have time to create and tend to a large backyard garden.   But there’s an indoor alternative that’s much easier, and it can provide some great benefits.   Herbal gardens are the perfect way to let your green thumb express itself.   And herbal gardens can be as simple as a window ledge or any dedicated well-lit area. Here’s a summary of why and how to start one in your kitchen next weekend! Benefits of Herbal Gardens It seems that everything has to be justified in our modern too-busy world.    So while it’s okay to do an herbal garden just because you enjoy it, here are some very real benefits of doing so. Enhances decor and beautifies There nothing like living plants to perk up a living space.   That’s why we even try to imitate real life with fake plants.   You may not have to water the fake ones, but how much joy do you get from watching them grow?   I’m guessing not a lot. It’s good for your health There’s the obvious general nutritional value of carefully selected herbs, of course.   Plus, they’re fresh and full of nutrients.   Beyond that, there’s a therapeutic value of working with live plants  and getting your hands a little dirty. You’ll save some money When you grow your own herbs, you save the cost of buying them at the local produce department or health food store.   And an extra big plus is the money you’ll save by staying healthier. Choosing the Best Herbs There’s quite a  large variety of herbs  from which to choose when starting your herbal garden.   Here’s our suggestion for  three herbs to get started with. Lavender Image Source: Wikilawn Top of our list is lavender.   For cooking, its a flavor enhancer.   For medicinal use, its commonly use for a wide variety of ailments including anxiety, headaches, and insomnia.   And its hardy and easy to grow. Thymus citriodorus Thymus citriodorus, more commonly known as lemon thyme, can be used raw in salads or dried and used as a seasoning.   Medicinal uses include aiding digestion and for cough and congestion relief. Mentha spicata You know it as spearmint.   You’re probably most familiar with it as a digestive and stomach upset aid.   But it’s also believed to help women with hormone imbalances, and it’s high in antioxidants. Tips For a Successful Herbal Garden We can’t make you into an herbal garden pro with just this short read.   But here’s a few tips to get your garden started. Choose a sunny location, but one where the plants won’t get scorched by intense sunlight Prepare pots or trays that drain well and use a high quality potting soil Establish a regular watering schedule according to the needs of the plants When you’re working your garden, remember to smile.   And enjoy the results of your efforts!

Keeping Stress and Anxiety to a Minimum When Planning Your Wedding

Keeping Stress and Anxiety to a Minimum When Planning Your Wedding Planning your wedding doesn’t have to be an overwhelming experience if you take the time to think outside of the box when it comes to your big day. There are many people who make the mistake of thinking that they have to plan a wedding the same way that other people do, but that is not the case at all. The following guide walks you through a few tips to use to make your wedding day as stress-free and beautiful as it can be. Establish a Reasonable Budget The first thing you need to do is establish a budget for your wedding. There are certain things that are necessities and some that are simply nice to have. If you have a Moissanite   engagement ring, for example, you need to purchase rings that match the moissanite engagement rings that you received from your fiancé.   Sometimes the jeweler will offer a price break if you buy both from them.   But at minimum youll have ring price points that are similar. You also need a venue for the wedding, the reception, and a dress. Establish how much you can afford to spend in total so that you decide how you want to divide the money. Choose Affordable Favors When people come to a wedding, it is customary to have gifts to give to the guests when they leave to thank them for coming. Consider avoiding the typical can koozie or picture frame gifts that people have given as favors for years. You can use untraditional items for gifts. Saplings are great options to give as favors because they are plants that the guests can plant in their yards and think about your special day every time they look at the growing tree. Saplings are often very inexpensive and can be purchased in bulk to save even more money. Save Money on a DJ Having great music at your wedding reception is important to ensure that everyone is able to dance and mingle together. If you are having a small wedding reception you may want to consider investing in a portable sound system that you can play music through. You can create a playlist on your phone and play only your favorite songs at the reception. This will save you a lot of money and ensure that nothing inappropriate is played on your big day. Save Money on the Wedding Cake Instead of having a huge wedding cake created, consider having multiple cupcakes created. You can have a small cake created for you and your spouse to cut during the cake cutting ceremony. The cupcakes can be made from the same batter and frosting as the cake that you and your spouse cut so that everyone can enjoy the same cake that you get to enjoy. Cupcakes cost much less than a huge cake and can still be decorated in a lovely way. Save Money on Decorations If you want to cut costs on your decorations, consider using silk flowers or using the boutiques that your bridal party carries down the aisle as decorations on your tables at the reception. It is not difficult to create beautiful arrangements out of silk flowers and you could even purchase small vases and decorative rocks to fill the bottoms of the vases with at a local dollar store. Establishing and sticking to your budget will make planning your wedding easier. It is best to create a list to follow so that you do not forget anything and ensure that you always know where you stand when it comes to the budget. It will keep you from going over budget to keep your stress and anxiety at bay.

7 Ideas on Staying Productive and Sane While Working from Home CareerMetis.com

7 Ideas on Staying Productive and Sane While Working from Home â€" CareerMetis.com Some people know the joys of working from home. It doesn’t matter whether your freelancing, self-employed or telecommuting you may have experienced the pleasures of a non-existent commute however additionally the crushing lows of procrastination.Working from home tends to blur your personal and work-life, there’s no point letting the ostrich effect take over and fall behind in your work. So how do you stay productive and sane? Let us help you with some quick tips1) Define Your Work SpaceevalSeparating your work from home life is critical. Have a room dedicated to working, don’t just do it from wherever you happen to be. Having a space that is dedicated to working allows you to go there and when you enter it, you know consciously what you’re there to do.It changes the state of mind from “I’m at home” to “I’m at work”.Adopting these physical boundaries can be your make or break. Having work spilling over onto your kitchen table can create feelings of always ”on” .This can create feelings of resentment or guilt towards your work and even avoidance. If working from home isn’t working, try a co-working space or a coffee shop.2) Find Your Most Productive Work HoursNot everyone fits well in the traditional 9-5 setting. It first came about in the industrial revolution, to increase productivity. However, with the ever-increasing time, we spend in front of a screen and this schedule doesn’t suit everyone.We need to establish our own schedule based on our own most productive hours. If you have that flexibility to choose your own work hours, make sure that you’ve gone for the right ones.Working smarter not harder is the key element in working from home.Take a week and observe when your energy levels and how it translates to your productivity. Tim Ferris mentions that by working only when you are most effective, life is both more productive and more enjoyable, the perfect example of having your cake and eating it too.3) Make Sure You Get Out of The House As Much As PossibleevalSo, try working from a coffee shop, a co-working space or any other place with other people around you every now and then. If you prefer to be alone and concentrated, at least take a break during a day and go for a walk in the park or meet up with a friend for lunch.Human contact is important for clearing your mind and getting away from your own thoughts for a bit.Whilst the convenience and privacy that you find when working from home may seem great. However, it can quickly spiral being too comfortable at home all day, this can begin to eat into your productivity.A good option is working from a coffee shop or co-working space, it doesn’t have to be every day but breaking up your work week with different locations might be the key to your productivity.evalHere are some ideas for getting out of the house when you work at home:Take a walk around your nearest park.Drive to the nearest supermarket and pick up your shopping.Get lunch or coffee at your fa vorite place nearby.Walk your dog.Go to a yoga class, or head toward another destination where you find inner peace and solace4) Don’t Work In Your PajamasSetting yourself a morning routine is imperative. Whether it’s heading out for a run, grabbing some breakfast and showering or showering and stumbling to your desk with a coffee, you need to have a routine.While you’re working from home, just the simple act of changing your clothes in the morning can also brighten your spirits. This can also help with the transition from sleeping to day time activities. You don’t have to dress business casual, but just put something on your comfortable in.5) Create A Work Schedule For YourselfThis seems very self-explanatory but most people will struggle to be productive if they don’t have at least some sort of regimented schedule guiding them.Finding your most productive hours can tie into this and help increase your output. Playing around with a combination of work hours and breaks wil l yield different results and it good to test this.A good tip for keeping your tasks organized is keeping a list of three. The first list has three things you will do today. The second is three things you aim to get done if possible but aren’t essential. The third is three things that need to be done at some point.6) Team Chat You might feel yourself going crazy at home in your endeavors, however, it’s a brave step to take and you will reap the benefits. Employing all these strategies or just a few will help you achieve a level of success you didn’t dream was possible.

Memorial Day Thoughts on Workplace Leadership - Hire Imaging

Memorial Day Thoughts on Workplace Leadership - Hire Imaging My Dad was a 23-year Air Force veteran who served in World War II, as well as during the Korean and Viet Nam conflicts. As one who coaches leaders in the workplace, I have been thinking of the brave men and women who inspired the upcoming Memorial Day holiday; and the leadership lessons we can learn from them. I think that today’s business leaders would benefit greatly in emulating the characteristics of the “warrior”â€"both those in the trenches and leading the charge; in war and peace. What is the warrior’s gift as a leader? It is commitment, attention to detail, passion, service above self, honor, discipline, integrity, perseverance, compassion, the ability to lead and follow, to implement with precision, and the capacity to adapt, be creative, and prevail. These are representative traits possessed by successful military soldiers and solid organizational leaders. Dad passed away nine years ago this month. I have been blessed to travel with my Mom to many U.S. cities since his death, to attend annual reunions with the folks from Mom and Dad’s days during the 1950s, when they were at the heart of Strategic Air Command missions and initiatives. The numbers in Mom and Dad’s Air Force group are dwindling. I treasure the stories they tell of their own and other soldiers’ experiences. One of those centered on a man I’ll call Joe. Joe was of my folks’ generation. He first enlisted as an 18-year-old during World War II, and then served 20 years after, at one point stationed with my Dad’s stateside-based SAC squadron. The veterans telling me the story said that when they knew Joe on the base in Kansas, he was an enlisted man; a quiet custodian and office assistant, who helped take care of the quarters and barracks used in top-secret “Cold War” missions. While my Dad and his fellow pilots and navigators busied themselves in preparation for strategic sessions, flights and debriefings, Joe checked off names, got lunches ready and swept the floors. He went relatively unnoticed by the young soldiers until one day in 1958. At that time, a new captain was assigned to the base who had served with Joe in a bloody 1943 battle in the Pacific. The captain brought out military records from that period which told a story around that infantry group, and with reference specifically to Joe stated, “in the face of intense and overwhelming hostile fire … with no regard for personal safety … on his own initiative … single-handedly attacked fortified enemy positions… for risk of life above and beyond the call of duty … the President of the United States ….” In short, Joe was a Medal of Honor winner for putting his life on the line and putting service above selfâ€"for leading! I often think of this story shared by my Dad’s military peers. As a collective group, they have shared experiences sprinkled with high risk, tight bonding, cohesive mission and longevity of years to contemplate their journey. Though never once officially in charge during his 20-plus military career, Joe embodied every one of those leadership characteristics I mentioned earlier. I think it is a great life lesson for all of us regarding leadership. Here are five that come to mind based on Joe’s story: Anyone can be a champion. Joe did not fit any standard definition of a leader or hero. He was a private when he was honored with the Medal of Honor. Don’t sell people short; give them opportunities to shine. Any one of your teamâ€"novice or expertâ€"could be a superstar. Pursue excellence; not praise. Joe didn’t act to gain glory. He simply did what he perceived to be his duty and job. He earned highest praise from the U.S., and then quietly went on to push paper and tidy the living space for others. He was a leader by action, not words. Is there really any job beneath a leader? If so, then how can any of us lead by example? Martin Luther King said, “If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.” Joe modeled that philosophy to the fullest. He did his best, whether admired or unnoticed. Refrain from labels and treat all with respect. Don’t define your relationship with people, or your expectations of them, with labels. Joe was part of the team, and deserved respect for that and for doing his job wellâ€"regardless of his past victories. People labeled him “assistant” and “janitor”. After finding out about his prior heroism and honors, they admittedly treated him differently. Why? Joe was the same Joe. Look carefully at those in your workplace and organization. Take time to know each of those you work with, whatever their label or status. Who are the heroes in your presence? Life may not give you what want. It doesn’t matter whether we are talking about the military, civilian workplace or life in general. Many of us work very hard, and feel we deserve recognition and kudos for that effort. Perhaps you weren’t given that performance award you expected. Maybe your “sure” promotion didn’t happen. Keep on doing the best job you can do. Don’t let recognition be your measure of reward. There are many rewards in life that come to those who lead and follow with excellence in mind and integrity of heart. Humility is okay in a leader. Many of today’s leadersâ€"politicians, athletes and other celebrities to name a fewâ€"believe their own hype. Joe was too busy doing his job. Many great leaders are those who have been our teachers, role models, friends, and inspirations. They lead us by sharing what they know and doing what they do. Many leaders today would be well served to “get about it” as Joe did. The storytellers I listened to at this Air Force reunion several years ago, also told me that the captain shedding light on Joe’s heroism had gone on to become a four-star general. Joe retired from the Air Force after 20 years’ service, took another custodial job, and was still working at it part time when he passed away in 2003. At that time, Joe was also a past organizer and leader for his California community’s Habitat for Humanity and United Way outreach organizations. On the day after Joe’s death, his town had all flags lowered to half-mast in his honor. Yes, there are lessons in leadership here indeed. Let’s take time to step back and think about the gist of Memorial weekend. It is much more than a holiday to jumpstart summer. It is a time to silently give thanks for those deceased men and women who have served our country. Some fell in battle; some did not. They are all leaders worthy of our gratitude and respect.

Social media trends and predictions for 2014 -

Social media trends and predictions for 2014 - Here are my social media predictions for this year from this mornings segment on WIOD. Just click below to hear todays segment. Im on News Talk WIOD every Tuesday morning at 8:21. You can always listen online. Feel free to be in touch if you have ideas youd like us to cover on the segment. View the infographic with lots of data that I referenced and a link to the article about shark tracking on Twitter in my previous post about  social media trends  for 2014. What predictions do you have for social media in 2014? Share them in the comments! document.createElement('audio'); http://www.keppiecareers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/MIRIAM-SALPETER-12-31_1-2.mp3