From Armchair to Action

Twitterview

Just took part in a Twitterview with 1230KISS which was lots of fun. How to summarise your responses in 140 characters or less!  

 

 

A Multi Billion Pound Opportunity

Women’s enterprise: the ‘secret weapon’ for recovery of UK economy?

Already female-led businesses contribute more than £75 billion to the economy - and their role in growing the economy, and creating and sustaining new jobs, is crucial to recovery and growth. But despite this level of activity, women are too often invisible within the business arena, and at a time when many businesses are struggling to survive and grow, there is a danger that the progress made to date will falter.

The ‘multi-billion £ opportunity’ which growth from women-owned enterprises can bring to the economy may not be realised. In a government survey published in June 2011 , two-thirds of female employers want to grow their businesses over the next two to three years. If even half that number achieved modest growth, and created a new job, the economy would receive a £5bn boost and the creation of more than 240,000 extra jobs.

The Women’s Enterprise Policy Group is calling for more support and advocacy from Government to make this happen.

In a briefing paper going out in advance of the Labour and Conservative Party conferences, the Group is asking for:

1. More business growth support for existing entrepreneurs
2. A women’s enterprise Government champion within BIS or the Treasury
3. A charter to ensure more women-led businesses are included in public and private sector procurement
4. Support from Local Enterprise Partnerships to promote women’s enterprise in their economic development strategies

As long as women remain under-represented in enterprise through lack of practical support, the government is wasting a multi-billion pound opportunity to grow the economy.

Less is more. Yesterday I reviewed my notes after a coaching session with a client and I had written down only 12 words. And yet those words were able to remind me of the entire session and the important points.

We get so much information communicated to us all the time, that its worthwhile stopping to think about how you communicate. Does your message get lost or is it clear, concise and easy to remember?

So if you could describe your business in 12 words or less, what would they be?

What goes around....comes around

Earlier this year I wrote in my blog about a woman with great perserverance, who had been really keen for me to speak in her organisation and whilst she got no support internally, we eventually made it happen as I was impressed by her determination and commitment.

Well this morning I received a very welcome email from her in which she has begun work in her own time on a project that will be of significant benefit to my business.  She felt I had been so kind by speaking to her colleagues that she wanted to do something in return.  This was such a lovely surprise that it made me think about the theme of today's blog posting.

What do we need to do, or think, so that what we do for others may come back to us in some other way in the future?

Look at the definitions of the words below and a theme emerges....

1.  Generosity

is the habit of giving freely without expecting anything in return. It can involve offering time,money or talents to aid someone in need.

2.  Acceptance

is a person's agreement to experience a situation, to follow a process or condition (often a negative or uncomfortable situation) without attempting to change it, protest, or exit.

3. Delight

means happiness and may refer to someone or something that brings such a state.

For me the theme that comes from these words is about the degree of force or energy that is used in the activity.  Nothing in these definitions speaks to me about forcing, or pushing or driving.  Rather the opposite, it seems that when you are in a state of flow, effortlessness and with no defined expectation, there can be a greater sense of happiness.

This links into my philosophy which is "slowing down is the new speeding up".  So if you want to develop your business and make greater impact, then slow down, reflect, notice where you could add value and be generous to others.