2inspire Inspirational Woman: Anna Garcia, founder of discoverMe & Relationships Intensive

Anna Garcia is a playful, vivacious and inspirational facilitator/ relationship specialist committed to guiding individuals through their journey of self-discovery back to love & peace post painful relationships & events.

She is the founder of discoverME, the confidence-building programme series that has changed the lives of hundreds of women in London through its transformational work with schools and children’s centres.

Anna has dedicated the past 10 years working with women to discover how extraordinary they are, to have them know their power and to understand how to be in their relationships with others and most importantly, with themselves post loss or relationship breakups. She has been showing women how to reconnect with their own journey again, whether they are in a marriage, single or separated, she has been gifting this to women throughout the world.

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

Well there’s on the stage & off the stage days!

Its very simple really; I’m either on a stage speaking to large groups of women or on the phone to the those who are could be coming to my next programme; and then my life is like a call centre..!

My business at the moment is focused on two key areas:

1) Public events for women: RELATIONSHIPS INTENSIVE

2) Private training for school staff or parents: discoverME:

My day starts at 5am and ends around 11 or midnight.

The first two hours are dedicated to the upkeep of my spiritual, emotional & physical wellbeing. These are my holy hours, which set the frame for the rest of the day.

I tend to lunch or dine with clients or prospective clients most days of the week.

I like to work from my local Health Club I get there for early morning  workout or swim and then use their business lounges or café areas during the day to make calls and meet with people

Administrative work is done in the evenings or weekends when client facing or calling isn’t a core activity.

I then make sure my last hour in the evening is for winding down, centering and taking care of my emotional & spiritual wellbeing.

What made you start the business and how did you get started?

I loved my job as a facilitator within the employability industry but my soul was screaming for something else.

So I did something I wouldn’t do today, or recommend, which was to leave my job and start from zero. The financial stress was high and totally unnecessary if I'd just kept my job, but that was my journey I guess.

I had no idea 10 years ago when I began, that I'd be in the speaking business today.

I started as a facilitator with small employability related confidence building programmes as a subcontractor for an employability organisation in Greenwich.

One fateful day however, whilst delivering a confidence & employability programme for a small group of unemployed in a children’s centre we were hiring as a venue, the manager came up to me and said,

‘‘Who are you and what did you just do?

How come those people are coming out so happy,

lets talk! I want this for my parents’’

and that’s when discoverME was born and it all began!

A confidence building programme for parents, which has now been running in the south east for 7 years, successfully supporting hundreds of women to get back into work or education or to leave abusive relationships.

Until my lifes’ most fateful day when I met my mentor almost 3 years ago and he saw in me way beyond what I was seeing and proceeded to prepare me for the journey of becoming a relationship specialist speaker to the public.

Today I continue to run the discoverME programme series during school hours from the clockhouse community centre in Woolwich once a term for 4 Fridays. These parents are funded by their schools or self-fund. And its work which continues to transform families.

Today I am debuting the Relationships Intensive programme & Dealing with Break up programmes which is aimed at the striving woman who wishes to get to know herself deeply so that she may understand and embrace her relationships with sovereignty & power, without losing herself in them.

These programmes will now run every other month or so. Our debut programme is on the 19^th November 2016 at the Devonport House Hotel in Greenwich, London.

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

Going from small groups to mass, being able to reach 100’s of people’s hearts at a time has been the most life changing and business changing experience. This took getting over myself, and out of my own way, by coming face to face with one of my greatest fears and allowing the business to evolve as life intended. In my first year I reached as many people as I had in the 9 years prior to that. It’s a big difference.

What has been your biggest challenge in business so far?

With change and growth come challenges, and knowing how to surf these waves is vital.

After experiencing great success for the first time last year, I then began to experience the changes of growth, for example; losing long term clients, receiving criticism, ‘losing’ friends, facing fears of failure (the more you gain, ironically, the more you feel your losing)

All of these things together got to me and I allowed fear to take over.

I was set to face one of my biggest challenges in business; letting go of my old self.

This led to what I now describe as a nervous breakdown / spiritual awakening. This very painful period lasted for about 6 weeks.

It was the biggest learning curve ever, I never ever lost faith though.

I trusted great people around me and gave myself time to heal & grow in confidence and self love again.

Having come out the other side, today I know it was my fear of growth and letting go of what didn’t serve me anymore that was holding me back. And I also know there will be many more of these times of growth but I now face them with a lot more self love, self trust, faith & wisdom

What are your future plans for the business?

Relationships Intensive & the advanced programme, Dealing with Break up, will become my focus over the next two years and be run consistently in the UK and in Australia. I’m very excited about these programmes and the plan is to love up & empower as many wonderful women out there looking to deepen their relationship with themselves first.

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

Get myself a business mentor from the first moment, particularly one who’s already achieved what I would love to achieve and follow their advice whilst still listening to my quiet intuition within.

I would’ve listened to the best advice I ever got from day one, get on the phone and create momentum, quit waiting for business to come to you. This has been KEY.

Why is it so important to inspire young women in particular to follow their dreams?

Women will be the CEOS of their families (Chief Energy Officers) and so if they’re out there realising their dreams, they will shine a light for many with their joy & commitment to greatness.

Even in this day and age, there are still in many families, lower expectations for girls than boys. Shining a light for girls, shows them they can grow beyond the expectations surrounding them.

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

Very simple & with a lot of love:

1   *  Find yourself a mentor; it’s the most profitable & money saving investment you will make

2   *No need to reinvent the wheel, find a niche and replicate what others have done well.

3   *Always come from love and service in business, people buy into YOU, not your product or service.

4   *Work on YOU.. You ARE the greatest asset.

What or who inspires you in business and why?

Oprah Winfrey; what we see today is the embodiment of mass service, but what got her  there was a massive amount of work, sweat & tears. Overcoming her insecurities and fears seem to have played a big part and like Oprah, asking to be made an instrument for humanity has been my inspiration.

What is your favourite inspirational quote?

“Out beyond ideas of wrong doing
and right doing there is a field.
I'll meet you there.”

Rumi

contact@relationshipsintensive.com

www.relationshipsintensive.com

https://www.facebook.com/AnnaGarcia.discoverME

2inspire Network Inspirational Man: Lindsay Wesker

Lindsay Wesker is Music Editor for MTV Base and is a man that we really wanted to feature on our Men’s special Profile on the 2inspire Network blog not just because of his philanthropic work but also because he has been a mover and shaker in the music industry in the UK for over two decades. Read this great interview from Lindsay which gives a great insight into his career.

Before joining the music industry, Lindsay wrote two episodes of BBC TV series ‘Angels’, then a radio play for Capital Radio. He then wrote three plays for the Black Theatre Co-Operative, all performed at Royal Court Theatre Upstairs. Since joining the music industry in 1981, he has worked as journalist at Black Echoes, a radio broadcaster, co-written a black music encyclopaedia, worked at 5 different record labels, created free! magazine (later re-named Touch), and helped radio station Kiss FM earn a legal licence. Whilst working at Kiss (86-94), he presented shows and was Head Of Music between 1990-94. Since 1999, Lindsay has worked at MTV. He was initially employed by MTV to create R&B and hip hop TV station MTV Base, and then went on to launch MTV Hits and MTV Dance in 2001. Lindsay still works at MTV, programming music videos. Lindsay has also self-published a novel (about the music industry) and, in 2012, self-published a ‘stocking filler’ book entitled ‘The Crap Husband’s Guide To A Successful Marriage’. In 2013, Every Generation Media published ‘Masters Of The Airwaves’, written by Lindsay and co-author Dave VJ, which is a history of British black music radio.

Please tell us about typical working day for you?

I wake up at 6.00am, walk to work (6.1 miles) and start work at 8.30. I’ve been walking to work for about four years. I like to finish at 5.00 but, if all my daily tasks are not completed, I work until they are complete. That could be 6.00? 7.00? Or 8.00?

What made you enter this line of work?

I joined MTV in 1999. They wanted to create an urban music TV station and they knew I’d created the music policy at Kiss FM, so I launched MTV Base in 1999. MTV has been an essential part of my life since it launched in 1981, so it was a really honour to start working there.

What would you say has been your greatest accomplishment in your career so far?

My greatest accomplishments in business have been the things I’ve helped to create and launch: free! magazine in 1989 (later re-named Touch), Kiss 100 FM in 1990, MTV Base in 1999, and MTV Hits and MTV Dance in 2001.

What has been your biggest challenge in the business so far?

The perpetual challenge in business is to maintain your market share. I love being No. 1 but I prefer being No. 1 all year long!

What are your future career plans?

My future plans are to maintain and grow the TV channels I work on.

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

If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing. Every experience, even the traumatic ones, have been educational. Every mistake I made taught me a good lesson!

What’s the best compliment you could receive in your line of work?

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so I love it when people copy me. I’m a creative person and some people in the creative industries are not, so they are always reliant on ideas people like me!

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

It is VITAL to educate and inspire the next generation; important to give them good habits and principles. Whether they listen is down to them! Kids always think they know it all!

Lindsay delivering a talk & educating the 2inspire Academy: Young, Gifted & Talented Group

What advice would you give to somebody who wants to start a business in your industry?
I would always advise anyone to know what they’re talking about. Knowledge is power. Serious people only want to deal with serious people. A business expert can spot a phony a mile off!

What or who inspires you in business and why?

I’m always inspired by people who believe 200% in what they’re doing and have the drive and determination to see it through. Lots of people have dreams and make plans and talk about doing things but never make them happen, let alone see them through! Success takes courage and mental strength.

What is your favourite inspirational quote?

My favourite quote is something I always say in my talks and lectures: “Be nice!” Good manners and a cheerful disposition go a long way. Good people would rather deal with good people. If you can converse and find common ground with someone, you can create a business relationship and maybe even a friendship?

You can catch Lindsay on his weekly radio show on www.mi-soul.com (and DAB all over London), ‘The A-Z Of Mi-Soul Music’ (Saturdays 1.00pm.)

Twitter: @LindsayWesker

Tumblr: http://lindsaywesker.tumblr.com/

The 2inspire Network Blog Celebrates 3 Years of Inspiration With Our Top Ten interviews

October 1st 2015 saw the 3 year anniversary of the 2inspireNetwork blog which has profiled a total of 115 women in business, since its birth in 2012. Inspiring individuals is the core objective of the network and so we endeavour to share messages that make a positive impact in peoples lives. The 2inspire Network blog and the 2inspire Network Youtube channel, are two of the mediums we have used  to do this. Using these two mediums we share interviews with successful women who share their experiences in life, work and business, so as to inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more. It really has been a great opportunity for the ladies featured to share their journey, their experiences and their knowledge with the 2inspire Audience and beyond. I say beyond because we have witnessed some of the women featured who have really utilised this opportunity as a marketing platform and have managed to use the interviews to create exposure and opportunities for their business. They continue to promote themselves and their 2inspire interview, after the blog has been published.

We have sifted through the interviews and have listed the top ten most viewed interviews on our blog, since 2012, the highest ranked one has so far had a total of 1082 views to their interview:

Name	Interview Published	Interview Link
Tokie Laotan Brown	28th June 2013	http://2inspirenetworkblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/2inspire-profile-tokie-laotan-brown.html
Dhylles Davis	19th August 2015	http://2inspirenetworkblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/2inspire-inspirational-woman-dhylles.html
Toks Aruoture	28th May 2013	http://2inspirenetworkblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/2inspire-business-profile-punkin-patch.html
Iman Ogoo	5th March 2015	http://2inspirenetworkblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/2inspire-inspirational-woman-iman-ogoo.html
Harriot Pleydell-Bouverie	12th November 2013	http://2inspirenetworkblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/2inspire-profile-interview-harriot.html
Annette Clark -Headley	16th October 2012	http://2inspirenetworkblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/business-profile-annette-clark-headley.html
Catherine Yaa Arhin	13th April 2013	http://2inspirenetworkblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/2inspire-business-profile-arhinarmah.html
Remi Akinmoyewa	14th January 2014	http://2inspirenetworkblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/2inspire-network-business-profile-remi.html
Ruta Uleviciute	9th September 2015	http://2inspirenetworkblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/2inspire-inspirational-woman-ruta.html

Many of these business owners are on this top ten list because they have linked, referred and re-promoted their interview through a number of sources.

So instead of making your 2inspire interview or any other blog interview a one-time blog post, keep it alive! See below some tips and tools to continue the longevity of your interview and get more exposure for your business.

Make use of the various social networking sites: The scope of social networking has multiplied over recent years. Not only can you post your interviews on Facebook and Twitter, but also you can use Linked In and Google Plus.  One of the great aspects of social networking is that it is a constant feed of current activity. What is posted today will be replaced with new content. This means that you can repost your interview more than once. Content posted on a Facebook Fan page is only live on your fan's newsfeed for 24 hours. so post it a few times a year. The constant growth in friends, fans, and followers on your various social networks means that someone new will get a chance to read your interview even if it’s a year or two after the blog interview was first posted.

Some of this social networking promotion can be as simple as tweeting: Have you read my 2inspire interview lately, etc with a link to your interview. If you joined a new social network do not be afraid to post your interview as well. Each social platform will reach a different audience group.

Post multiple Links: Multiple direct links creates greater SEO (Search Engine Optimization). If you want to drive traffic (or readers) to your interview, embed the link in relevant and easy to locate sites such as your website or blog.  Whenever you can stick in a direct link, do it! Consider blogging about your interview, or even guest blogging!

Utilise Newsletter space: If you have a digital newsletter that you send out to your database share your interview there so everyone who may not be on my social network sites can get the chance to read your interview.

Email Signatures: Another easy marketing tool to keep your interview active is to have it as a tag in your email signature. Most businesses have a link to their website but why not include your interview too?  

Talk about it: Talk about what you are doing! Being a business owner is part of your lifestyle so tell people what you are doing, show and refer people to your interview. One of the great aspects of a lot of blog interviews is that it provides a unique and personal window into the world of the individual business owner.

Interested in sharing your story on our blog? Email marketing@2inspirenetwork.com

To mark the anniversary of the blog we will be running a special series of interviews with inspirational men on the 2inspirenetwork blog. We will be showcasing the interviews of inspirational men who are doing some great things in the business world and their local communities. If you know of any that would love to share their story, please get in touch.

2Inspire Inspirational Woman: Victoria Lee of Socialee Media

In this 2inspire Interview we meet Victoria Lee. At 24, she become the founder and Managing Director of a successful London-based social media and content marketing agency, Socialee Media. Initially starting her business at 23 she had been recovering from her 3rd spinal surgery. 

You can read Victoria's extraordinary story and the breakthrough challenges she faced while managing her business. 

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

Head stuck in my laptop wishing there were more hours in the day! I work from home mostly and occasionally coffee shops for a break. About once a week I have meetings in central London with current or potential clients. My typical work day involves creating social marketing strategies, analysing data and responding to client requests or phone calls.

What made you start the business and how did you get started?

I started my business by accident while recovering from back surgery. A few months previously, I'd left my job as a Digital Journalist and Producer at the Daily Mirror to go travelling. For someone with a life-long dodgy back this turned out to be a bad decision and I quickly found myself back home on an NHS operating table.

Jobless and recovering from major surgery I emailed everyone I had ever worked for, explained my situation and asked if there was any work they could throw my way to keep me busy while I recovered.

I got lots of encouraging replies, the game-changing one from a lovely ex-employer; her marketing department was lost when it came to social media and desperately needed someone with digital marketing know-how to generate and put into action a social media and content marketing strategy.

I gratefully accepted the challenge. Within one month of starting on the project, my ex / new employer's blog traffic had increased by 235%. Within two months their Twitter engagement had increased by 2,532%. Needless to say she was pretty chuffed!

Just as I was getting back on my feet post-op, ready to look for a 'real job', two new clients popped up - both on the back of word-of-mouth recommendations. I took them on.

It wasn't long before I realised I was making almost as much money as I would if I went back to a 'real job’. It was then that I decided to stick with my new ‘business’ and see if I could make something of it long-term. So far it’s paying off!

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

Establishing a business from my sickbed!

What has been your biggest challenge in business so far?

Finding the right people to hire and creating smooth communication channels within our ‘virtual office’.

What are your future plans for the business?

To grow in size and to become an established name within the digital marketing industry.

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

Nothing - every step has been an amazing learning curve.

Why is it so important to inspire young women in particular to follow their dreams?

There are not enough women in business - especially the tech industry, and especially in senior roles. It’s easy to be deterred from male dominated industries or to aim lower because of the lack of female role models in senior positions.

But the workplace is changing - flexible working hours, for example, are now compulsory. With the influx of Startup businesses which are predominantly run by young people, young women must understand that the workplace is rapidly changing from a traditional middle-aged male-dominated arena to a place where talent outweighs social class or gender.

With focus and determination you can achieve anything. We need more organisations like the 2Inspire network to instil this message in young women and to help them feel empowered.

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

Find a mentor in a similar industry who can help out with questions or when you get stuck, and then… start! There is only so much prep you can do; you will learn the most important lessons as you go.

What or who inspires you in business and why?

Steve Jobs quotes always give me a boost when I’m not sure about something! I’m also inspired by women who run similar (but more advanced) businesses to me. I’m lucky to be able to interact with them via social media and pick their brains!

What is your favourite inspirational quote?

"Half of what separates successful entrepreneurs from the non-successful ones is pure perseverance.” — Steve Jobs

Tweet @GoSocialee 

2014 END OF YEAR MESSAGE

As 2014 is swiftly drawing to an end I thought it only fitting to put out this final post for the year. I would really like to thank ALL those who have worked in partnership, volunteered or helped to develop 2inspire Network and 2inspire Academy in one way or another. 

I am extremely grateful to have connected with some amazing people this year and truly humbled by the support which has led to an array of possibilities for 2015.  

I must say I have been encouraged and truly inspired by many to keep going, develop myself and to build on my vision. If there is one thing that I have learnt this year is that regardless of what you are going through the best thing you can do for yourself and those around you is make the most of yourself and strive to reach your full potential. This mindset not only keeps you focused but inspires, motivates and empowers those around you.  

It is sad how there is so much undeveloped, wasted potential in this world, granted in some cases it is because the resources and opportunities are not available, but for many of us it is because of insecurity, self-doubt, fear and other negative phrophecies about what we are and are not capable of that holds us back.

Anything worth doing is not easy, if you want to develop your potential and succeed at being all you can be, keep your eyes on the prize and press on, it won't be easy but it will be worthwhile.

So on that note I would just like to add: Remember, circumstances can be over come with determination and faith, don't dwell on the bad, focus on the good. Life is too short to be any thing but happy. Bull doze your way into 2015 with a pledge to make the best of yourself and see what will manifest.

Wishing you all a magnificent New Year and the ability to rise to the top in whatever you endeavour to do.

2Inspire Network Profile: Event Planner and Manager Charley Jai

Former actress turned Event Planner and Manager, Charley once managed MonologueSlam UK (London) produced by TriForce Promotions where she introduced the ‘artist performance slot’ for musicians, dancers and other such performers to showcase their skills in a segment much for the entertainment of the audience, which would also serve to have the artist seen by professional industry persons. Charley booked a variety of talents for this slot including Duane Lamonte (from UK vocal harmony group Brick City), Rapper Luc Skyz, street dance crew Boadicea and British comedian Jason Patterson. Charley has co-coordinated events for many years and has worked alongside the likes of NLPR UK Ltd (www.nlpruk.com) and Deal with D.V. www.dealwithdv.co.uk).  Read more about her incredible journey below.

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

Usually starting at 5am, as I freelance within various fields of media and entertainment, nothing is ever really typical about my day. Emails are checked and priorities a set in the shape of a check-list. After a strong coffee I then begin completing the tasks set and these can be anything from having to carry out research for journalism or drafting the structure for a segment of my online show. I try to finish my day by 7pm so that I can get a decent amount of shut-eye too however, that is the one thing I rarely achieve.

What made you want to work in media and entertainment and what steps did you take to start operating freelance in these fields?

As a youngster I was surrounded by a very creative family and also friends who inevitably had me take an interest. While at Secondary School I threw myself into my drama and English lessons where I developed performance and written skills. Once I realised my passions I then spoke with my drama teacher about how I could develop and she mentioned Theatre Royal which was local to the school. I later auditioned for their youth theatre and was given a place. I was just 13 or 14 when I joined. I went on to use my gift-of-the-gab to talk to anyone and everyone I met while at Theatre Royal and began to build my network; contacts.

What would you say has been your greatest accomplishment within media and entertainment to date?

Hmm.. I’d like to think the greatest is yet to come to be honest. I have achieved so much and mostly by putting myself forward through a fear of not knowing what may or may not be in my career. Landing my own radio show was huge as I had never hosted radio before, presenting on-screen for the first time was definitely a big deal, launching my very own initiative, Change the Stereo which has produced short film ‘Pass the Comb’ (shown on the community TV channel in April 2014) had a huge impact on me too! So, I cannot pinpoint one thing and I quite like that actually. I feel incredibly blessed to have reached certain goals especially where I have been able to share the success of such with others.

What has been your biggest challenge in business so far?

Trust! I do not find it easy to trust people at all and so, I tend to do a lot on my own. This can be both a good thing and something which holds you back. The sense of fulfillment from having accomplished a goal through your own efforts is just amazing however; there are times where the process can be made so much shorter and far more enjoyable with others on board. It’s a difficult one for me but, I believe I’m getting better. Although incredibly small, I have put together a team for my new online show. (www.youtube.com/TheRealTalkTVSeries)

What are your future plans in media and entertainment?

To be the absolute best I can be at every opportunity I am blessed with and in doing so to continue providing opportunities for others.

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

 Absolutely nothing because, I fully believe that every choice and action I have made (right or wrong) has led me to the very place I’m at today for which I am incredibly grateful.

Why is it so important to inspire young women in particular to follow their dreams?

For me, it is important to inspire everyone irrespective of their gender or background because, such is what motivates us to go out there and pursue our goals with confidence and self belief. I do not believe young women are any more in need of that than the more mature woman or boys and men. 

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

Research absolutely everything, gain complete understanding of your chosen area, network like it’s your full time job, be humble, stay focus, surround yourself with positively driven individuals, eat three healthy meals a day, try to get a decent amount of sleep each night and finally, go with your own instincts but be smart with the choices you make!

What or who inspires you in business and why?

Fear of failure is my drive to be honest and anyone who is succeeding, especially those who show humility and look to help others achieve.

What is your favourite inspirational quote?

This is one of my very own but, I do love it (ha-ha): Let nothing and nobody stop you from boldly walking through any door of your choice because, that might just be the very step which will see you potentially achieve your biggest goal.

@msCJ80 www.facebook.com/MsCJaiCreative www.charleyjai-realtalk.blogspot.co.uk 
www.youtube.com/TheRealTalkTVSeries