Wow

Every where I turn at the moment I see Wow Talks.  This is the organisation who delivered the absolutely amazing talk that I went to last week about business and start ups.  There were five people who each had 9 minutes to talk about themselves and their company, each committed to pursuing their unique dreams and interests. The idea behind this is that each person shares information about their company, in terms of how they set it up, what drove them to wanting to do this in the first place and  any challenges they have faced.  Ultimately they are wanting to inspire others to do the same.  The buzz and energy in the room was phenomenal, not just from the entrepreneurs who clearly love what they are now doing but from all of the audience too.  This is such an amazing idea and clearly the way that businesses need to be moving in the future.  What the world needs is much more responsibility from it's citizens and for their businesses to be sustainable.  That is, good for now and for the future.  Let's create businesses which allow talents to be showcased and for money to be made for the right things whilst at the same time not destroying our wonderful world.  I'd love to know your thoughts on this.  What do you see happening in terms of business culture in the next 20-30 years?

It's Just Meant To Be!

To help me, once I find my element, I'm arming myself with facts and tidbits to help me on my way to start my own business and to keep my inspiration up.  I'm doing this by attending various seminars, lectures, talks or whatever you want to call them.  They're either aimed at current entrepreneurs to keep them focused and driven or at wanna be entrepreneurs like me.  The last one I went to was at the end of last week, at Google Campus and was hosted by a company called Wow Talks.  This is basically a platform for inspiration.  To inspire others and to be inspired.  What an amazing night.  It all started with where we chose to sit.  When my friend and I arrived there were few spaces for us to choose from.  Without wanting to cause a stir, we sat at the back next to a woman called Deborah Webster.  We introduced ourselves and as we did so we realised there was a reason we had sat there.  She told us a little about her business which was aimed at budding entrepreneurs and the next generation in family businesses to find their role and ultimately map out their future.  She describes what she does as "helping people to do their best".  I explained, very briefly, that I was looking to leave my career as a teacher and wanted to pursue something with my talents.  She very calmly said to me "not necessarily leave, but I can work with you on that" or something to that effect.  Just in that one sentence I was left with hope.  Deborah, an email is on its way to you.  Whatever it may be, I am ready for a change.

A realisation

So what is it that I do?

Well, first and foremost, no, wait, scrub that, hello I’m Lyndsay.  I do lots of things.  I’m pretty good at most of what I do.  I would say that I’m no master of anything but I love all that I do.  I could easily separate what defines me into two things.  Professional and personal.  Professionally, I’m a teacher and this was, initially, how I was going to introduce myself.  Yes, professionally I’m a teacher and I give it my all (well 95%) but that is just a tiny part of who I am.  It also makes me so unhappy.  Unhappy that I put in so much effort, time and love and it seems to go totally unappreciated, bar a few.  Unappreciated by the people that I work for, the students that I teach and the government.  It is with this that I wish to find my element.  And hence, exactly what made me decide that I need to find my element.  My element being the thing that I love to do the most, which it not “work” at all.  It’s a tricky one, as I mentioned earlier I am good at most things I turn my attention to.  I sew, crochet, make jewellery with beads, also wire and clay.  I practice Reiki (on myself and others), I have taught and still teach myself Spanish (I took my GCSE last summer and achieved an A* - strangely satisfying as I’m in my 30s and never achieved an A in my GCSEs when I was 16).  I’m always itching to find/experience something new.  Does that mean I haven’t yet found my element or I’m spreading myself too thinly?  I honestly don’t know the answer to these questions but what I do know, is that I will find out.

I recently attended a seminar which was aimed at women only.  As I researched it I was immediately drawn to the concept.  I love being a woman, how many of us don’t?  Yes, it’s hard at times but  I would not change being a woman.  Anyway, I digress, the seminar opened my eyes to how I can make my money work for me rather than me work for money.  A simple yet so effective concept.  Why hadn’t I thought about this before?  Whilst my money is working for me I can spend my time finding my element or indeed actually “doing” or “being in” something I love whilst my money is making money, if you see what I mean. 

Obstacle #1 I have very little money to play with. 

Apparently, there are lots of options available in which you use other people’s money.  I like the sound of this.  I don’t know much more than that this just, yet but when I find out I’ll let you know.

Obstacle # 2.  I am a teacher, ”yes” I hear you say “you’ve already said that”.  The full seminar which I want to attend is based around 3 days, 2 of which are on a weekend – ah! I will find a way to make this work, fingers crossed there will be one available to me during some holidays.  So for this to happen, I just need some patience.  That I have plenty of – I’m a teacher.

In the meantime I’m honing my skills in blogging, learning how I can get my blog to reach as many of you as possible who may be in a similar situation as me, making contact with as many business women in London (worldwide?) and just getting myself out there.  I’m ready for the change.