Monday 23 November 2015

The 2inspire Network Launches The Support Small Business Campaign

Since the launch of the 2inspire Network in 2012 one of its main objectives has been to support women in enterprise and to assist them to enhance their socio-economic outcomes. The aim was to assist female entrepreneurs to find innovative ways to promote their business, provide interactive forums and events that allowed these women to network, develop collaborative working relationships and inspire others.

We have held several events over the past 3 years that have allowed businesses to promote their products and services, now we are working in partnership with corporate organisations around London to develop this concept further via our Support Small Business campaign.



Over the next couple of months we have been given the opportunity to support small businesses on a more corporate scale with major organisations in the City of London. These companies, located within the Square Mile itself and within neighbouring boroughs, are committed to encouraging and supporting enterprise and small business growth due to the fact that small and medium-sized enterprises are a significant contributor to the wider UK economy and within the City, driving growth and employment.


To kick start this campaign we will be working in partnership with Ogilvy & Mather UK. We have been given 6 dates; in which we will be located at their offices in Canary Wharf to create Pop-up market and shopping experience for their staff to enjoy over this seasonal period. With such a high number employees and associates from neighbouring companies in the Canary Wharf area this is a superb opportunity to promote small businesses.

The dates we have are:
  • 27th November
  • 30th November
  • 14th December
  • 18th December 
  • 22nd December 
  • 23rd December 
If you are a small business and are interested in attending one of the dates to showcase your business please email events@2inspirenetwork.com.

If you belong to or know of an organisation that would be interested in supporting our campaign please email hazel@2inspirenetwork.com.


Monday 16 November 2015

Inspirational Men's Profile: Nick Ebdon of Advanced Hypnosis Training

Nick founded Advanced Hypnosis Training Ltd in 2015 to replace NEtherapy his former hypnotherapy business. After a successful job trading commodities as an executive director at Morgan Stanley, Nick decided he was unfulfilled, trained as a hypnotherapist and has not looked back. He is a registered hypnotherapist, a NGH Board certified hypnotist and instructor and most significantly, recently became the first OMNI Hypnosis designated instructor in the UK ( OMNI Hypnosis is one of the most prestigious names in hypnosis training around the world). Because of his OMNI training, AHT is now also the OMNI Hypnosis Training Center® of London.
Nick offers a number of accredited courses in hypnotherapy from a foundation level certification right through to the OMNI advanced training - which is the worlds first ISO 9001 approved training in hypnosis. In addition he is a Certified NLP trainer providing both Practitioner and Master practitioner along with many hypnosis and NLP orientated workshops and courses.Nick the founder is renowned for helping individuals deal with personal issues with a number of therapeutic methods and works with a number of voluntary organisations to help them to provide support, solutions  and coping mechanisms for their clients. Read more about Nick and his work in our latest 2inspire Mens special interview below.

1/ Please tell us what is a typical business day for you?

A typical business day for me will involve either seeing clients locally or in the City of london for a number of issues from stress and anxiety, emotional problems, fears, phobias, weight loss and stopping unwanted habits. When not with clients I may be writing or researching other techniques and methods. My best days are when I am holding workshops or training programmes which is what I actually enjoy doing the most.


2/ What made you start the business and what steps did you take to start operating as a business?

It sounds cliche but I wanted to make a difference. I suffered from stress and hypnotherapy helped me turns things around at a low point in my life. The biggest step for me was to walk away from a career that financially had been very rewarding. I decided to transition my career from doing what I was doing, which was trading metals and consultancy work to becoming a self employed hypnotist. I got my first qualifications while still working in my existing job and made the transition that way. That does have its downside however.


3/ What would you say has been your greatest accomplishment in the business world to date?

I have had some notable successes in consulting work, but my recent approval to be the first OMNI Hypnosis Training Center® provider in the UK on a personal and professional level is my greatestaccomplishment so far. Gerald Kein who founded OMNI in 1979, is considered by many, including me to be the best hypnotherapist out there. I am very honoured that he and his successor Hans Wipf picked me to bring OMNI live classes to the UK.


4/ What has been your biggest challenge in business so far?

My biggest challenge was transitioning from an amazingly well paid job, to jumping into the unknown. I found that it ended up being counterproductive to both old and new as it just split my focus to the point that neither areas of work were getting the attention they need. Apart from one regular consulting contract I focus entirely on change work and training now.




5/What are your future plans for the business?

I want to expand my client waiting list to the point that I need to hire more therapists, hopefully that I’ve trained through my OMNI classes, which I also intend to really push over the next two years. I have also outlined a book which will hopefully be fleshed out in 2016 and maybe do some work with 2inspire too!


6/If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?

I think I would study the really successful therapists, coaches and instructors to see what they were doing that set them apart from the rest and copy it. I wasted a lot of time doing too much by trial and error and not enough exploring what was already proven to work. As mentioned before as well, I would have a little more conviction and a little more self belief and throw myself into the job where my passion lay.


7/ What’s the best compliment you could receive in business?

That I made the difference in someone’s life. Whether it was to get them out of a hole they were in, or to inspire them in some way. Jerry Kein, who I mentioned earlier said that if you have changed just one person’s life; help them turn a corner, lift them from depression etc. then your life has been worthwhile. It may not get you your own private jet (unless you’re Tony Robbins!) but it will help you sleep better at night and give your life much more meaning.

8) Why is it so important to inspire the next generation  to follow their dreams?

Because to be fair they don’t have much to inspire them elsewhere. They do not have many quality role models of note so their lives are dictated by materialistic incentives. I worked in a job where the more rewarding it got the more miserable I became. There is nothing wrong with what I did in my old career as a commodity trader, but I wasn’t passionate about it in the way that I am now. If you can do something you want to do and you have enough passion about it and you enjoy and believe in the service you are providing or the product you are selling,  I really believe with enough focus you will ultimately be much happier.


9/ What advice would you give to somebody who wants to start a business in your industry?

Be trained by the OMNI Hypnosis Training Center® of London - its the best training in becoming a hypnotherapist!!


10/What or who inspires you in business and why?

Self belief in people (as long as it’s not delusional), people who may have got dealt a crap hand but excel themselves in life. Also those that contribute beyond themselves give us all much needed perspective sometimes.

11/What is your favourite inspirational quote?

‘Behind every great man is a woman rolling her eyes’ - Jim Carrey

Email: nickebdon@advancedhypnosistraining.co.uk
Website:  WWW.ADVANCEDHYPNOSISTRAINING.UK
TELEPHONE: 0800 7734183



2Inspire Network Inspirational Woman: Denise Rabor, Founder of Wow Beauty and Leadership3Sixty

Denise Rabor has been making a living from her passion for makeup and beauty as an international make-up artist for over 15 years. In her latest entrepreneurial venture, Businesswoman Denise, who has worked with major publications such as Harpers Bazaar, Vogue, ELLE & Vanity Fair, is set to shine a spotlight on inclusivity in the beauty industry with Wow Beauty. She is also the Founder Leadership3Sixty, a leadership empowerment platform which celebrates diversity in the corporate sector. Read her inspirational interview below and find out how you can have LIMITLESS POTENTIAL.



Please tell us what is a typical business day for you?
To be honest, there is no typical business day for me, simply because I'm involved in more than one business, so I approach each day according to priorities. Like many people I can sometimes feel as though there are not enough hours in a day to get things done, especially when there are meetings to participate in, events to attend and of course the unexpected things that suddenly occur which can completely throw a planned schedule out of the window! One thing is for sure is that my days are always varied and never boring!

What made you start the business and how did you get started?
Having been in business all my life I couldn't help myself, I'm always looking for a new business opportunity. I am very fortunate that I'm able to create businesses out of things that I love. My love affair with the world of fashion and beauty began as a child, growing up in New York and has never left me. I was always a magazine junkie and still have a collection of US & UK Vogues amongst others going back to the 80’s.
While I was involved in running the family business I managed to have a successful parallel career as an international makeup artist; Wow beauty came about because although I always knew that I'd do something more in the beauty industry, I just wasn't sure what. Once I realised that I wanted to share my experience and expertise I took my time to get myself together in terms of collating my thoughts and ideas for the formulation of the website and launched wow beauty in May 2015. Wow beauty is a website devoted to inclusive beauty and wellbeing, encouraging women of all ages and ethnicities to be empowered by owning their unique beauty. There is beauty in diversity.



What would you say has been your greatest accomplishment in the business world to date?
In business I set clear outcomes which have so far exceeded my expectations. So doing this whilst being actively involved in my other businesses has shown me that I'm a resourceful and capable woman. I have two web based businesses that have diversity and inclusion at their core whilst being focused on female empowerment in different ways. I find them both satisfying because they allow me to express female empowerment on the inside and outside.
So, I have to say that my greatest accomplishment is that I own my story and that alone has been a journey.  The second accomplishment is that I still love everything that I do and that is a blessing.




What has been your biggest challenge in business so far?
I have never defined myself by my gender or my ethnicity, simply because my parents brought me up to to be myself, to put my best self forward and to ‘just do it’. Don't get me wrong there are always challenges but my attitude is to push past them.
As women there are challenges and barriers that we face in business on a daily basis, we need only look at the dire statistics for women in leadership roles, in tech or on boards; compounded by the challenge is of managing the doubting inner voice that sometimes appears, trying to sabotage our progress; as a woman of colour these challenges are even greater, but I am inspired more every day by the sheer power of women finding their voices and uniting those voices in pushing past the barriers, moving forward and refusing to be cowed. My mother is a successful female founder, my sister and I are female founders …..as Melinda Gates said “A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult.”


What are your future plans for the business?

Wow beauty  is my newest venture and it’s going well. A lot of work has been done in the industry and I’m picking up the mantel and running with it. I’m known for my belief in pure limitless potential! For me there are no limits, and that gives me a buzz….I guess I got that from my parents and my New York upbringing.
I have a big vision for Wow beauty …I want to build on the way that women view beauty– firstly that they start to #own their beauty and that they see the connection that exists between beauty, wellbeing and the self awareness that is required for career growth. Secondly, I want to really make a stand for inclusive beauty. It's a big vision, it’s a shared vision and it's time.
Personally I am a work in progress so in 5 years I will be learning and growing, and excited about the future, pushing the boundaries of my potential and working to  make a difference in the lives of other women.

If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?
There’s nothing that I would change personally. Of course it feels different when you're in the thick of your journey, but when I look back  I can see the threads of cohesion and flow which makes it all make sense and ultimately feel timely. I'm a big believer in my two favourite words of serendipity and synchronicity! Ultimately in the words of the famous song ‘I did it my way’.

Why is it so important to inspire young women in particular to follow their dreams?
Because they need to understand that dreams and a vision are vital to a life of purpose.
It's essential for them to link dreams with goals and a clear timeline to achieve those dreams. That's the secret they need to know because dreams don't work unless you do! Women have over the years often struggled to find our voice in the world, whether educationally, at work or in business; fortunately over the last few years there has been a huge uplifting surge of woman power globally, and it's this that I hope is motivating and inspiring. I'm certainly motivated and inspired by it daily. There's a quote by Maya Angelou that I love love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life’s a bitch. You’ve got to go out and kick ass." .


What advice would you give to somebody who wants to start a business in your industry?

It's a long list but it's worth remembering:

  • Do your research 
  • have a clear vision 
  • speak to and keep company with positive, growth orientated people
  • do some sort of business plan to guide you 
  • plan, plan and plan again
  • enjoy the journey
  • trust your intuition
  • have your cheerleaders nearby 
  • learn new skills
  • set sustainable targets 
  • control your budget
  • look after yourself.


What or who inspires you in business and why?
I have always been inspired by my mother, and my late father. My parents are phenomenal groundbreakers who in the 70’s took a chance, moved to NYC and started businesses. Today my mother continues to learn new skills and seek new business opportunities. I am inspired.

What is your favourite inspirational quote?
That's a tricky question because I have so many, a couple of which I’ve already mentioned so here's a few more…I love a great quote!
"Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it." Maya Angelou
"Don't tell us the sky is the limit when there are footsteps on the moon.” Unknown
“If one is lucky, a solitary fantasy can totally transform one million realities.” Maya Angelou

twitter: @WOWbeaute

email: denise@leadership3sixty.com
twitter: @leadership3sixt 

Tuesday 3 November 2015

2inspire Network Men's Special Profile: Lawrence Zidyana of Hona Media

Lawrence Zidyana is the Founder of Hona Media, a video production company that tell stories using moving pictures and sounds. He writes, shoots and edits short films, documentaries, music videos and events. He is also the host of Sadza With Chips, a podcast that's irreverent about African news.


Lawrence Zidyana
Please tell us what is a typical business day for you?

The thing I love about filming is that, just like each job, no work day is the same. Nothing is typical. My day depends on what stage of production. After discussing client's film/video needs I get into pre-production. That is when I scout locations if needed, draft storyboards and make sure I source the necessary equipment. Production is when I film or record audio and that is never in the same location. Post production/editing  is when I spend a lot of time on my computer and make all the audio, video, pictures and animation make sense. I am usually in touch with a client when I have a draft version to show them. I also have different days when I have a film out and need to promote it.

What made you start the business and what steps did you take to start operating as a business?
I made a few of my own films which many people liked. Some of them contacted me to make films for money. To start operating as a business I needed a bit better equipment so I opened an account with a rental company.

Lawrence filming for "In My Kitchen" 

What would you say has been your greatest accomplishment in the business world to date?
I made a film called Am I Not A Mother? featuring Zimbabwean women discussing post natal depression. It was very well received, was featured on Zimbabwean state radio, got me my first TV interview and was screened at the British Film Institute. I also directed and edited a two part documentary filmed in northern Nigeria exploring the effects of Boko Haram terrorists on residents. The client who gave me the job has been invited to speak at a stake holders meeting on the 26 October to discuss humanitarian aid with the Nigerian Vice President who watched and was touched by the film.


What has been your biggest challenge in business so far?
Convincing some people about the cost of video production. It is not simply pointing a camera, it is about the time and skill.


What are your future plans for the business?
We are in production for a web series called In My Kitchen at the moment. It going to be good. In the long run I would love to do a TV series, thriller or comedy. A documentary would be just fine as well. TV is big at the moment. Call me I am ready.

Lawrence on Set

If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?
I would start much sooner and not worry too much about equipment


What’s the best compliment you could receive in business?
Being told what I have made is beautiful. Image wise and story wise.


Why is it so important to inspire the next generation  to follow their dreams?
For me following your dreams helps you find yourself and your identity. Doing what you have a passion for means you explore it so much more and that process will test you as a person. The results could help build your character and you will find where you belong. Isn't that what we are all searching for? 


What advice would you give to somebody who wants to start a business in your industry?
Do not worry about equipment. Have confidence and make sure you learn how to tell a good story. 


What or who inspires you in business and why?
I am inspired by creativity. There are some pretty smart people out there. When I watch their films I go "wow how did they think of that?" I am also inspired by well made low budget films that make big money. I would love to do that. Allow me to dream.


What is your favourite inspirational quote?
Trust me man it's okay - it is actually a line from a song by rapper 50 Cent. I am a pretty calm person and to me that is like a trigger word to get steady. In any situation I want to be able to always say that and be convinced that things are really under control.

Watch Hona Africa Films on YouTube

Tweet @honaafrica and @lawrieblaz

Monday 2 November 2015

Great line up of exhibitors, entertainment and activities at the 2inspire Network Winter Fayre this Saturday, 7th November 2015

We have a great day lined up for attendees to our Winter Fayre on Saturday 7th November at Croydon Fairfield Halls:


Take a look at some examples of some of the products available on the day from exhibitors:
Almocado, KaiPD Designs, Black Secret Make up, Scentsy, Jazzieotextile, Funky Sisters, Younique, Shea Decadence, Tropic, Dee Jewels & Gems, Colour Creations, Eminence Mode, Ritatari Designs and our event Sponsor:Cupcakes by LaLa Plus more.


 
Kids activites, facepainting and fun from Kids Bee Happy & K Enterprises:  
Live entertainment from Candice Chenade + more

 with a special guest performance from Lara Lee (BBC1,The  Voice finalist) who will be showcasing her business brand: So Naturally Divine.



In addition, in line with the 2inspire Network agenda we are offering a business clinic as a special bonus for business owners that attend.

Entry is free all day, registration is not necessary for free entry but those who pre-register get automatically entered into our raffle prize draw sponsored by Sony:
For more information about the event or to register please click on the registration link below
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/2inspire-network-free-winter-fayre-tickets-18916464655