2Inspire Network International Women's Day Profile: Sherica Spence, Co-Founder of Skye Alexandra House

In this special edition of the 2Inspire Network business profile we meet, Sherica Spence, the co-founder of Skye Alexandra house. Skye Alexandra House is a semi independent living service for vulnerable young women aged 16-18, which also provides services on personal development, personal well being, one to one support, life skills and help preparing for further work and education. Read about Sherica's vision for empowerment and motivation for young women in this fantastic profile piece.

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

Typical day for me is sending and replying to emails, seeking sponsors and partnerships, delivering workshops in secondary schools to young women. I LIVE on my phone lol!

What made you start the business and how did you get started? I started this business because I saw a need to help and empower young women; I noticed that there weren’t many services out there available and dedicated to the well being and personal development of the young women today.

I got started by first researching the businesses in the area in the borough in which I live, looking at the services in which they offer and provided etc., through this I noticed that none of them had the services in which I was looking to provided so I got on the task of securing the house in which I was going to start my business in. 

What would you say has been your greatest accomplishment in the business world to date? My greatest accomplishment to date is the amazing business partner which I have joined forces with, she shares the same vision to empower change in women and compliments me in many ways being that there are things I am totally pants with that she is amazing and vice verse. There is a great balance and respect for the vision, which I feel is very important in any business partnership.

What has been your biggest challenge in business so far?

Biggest challenge by far is the reconstruction of the house. There is quite a bit of work that needs to be done on it so we have been very busy organising fundraisers etc in order to raise funds to get the house ready for the summer.

What are your future plans for the business?

Future plans will be to have at least 2 Skye Alexandra House in each borough than who knows world domination!

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

Gosh in all honest there is nothing I would do differently as i feel every hurdle and blockage in which I have come across since starting has all been to strengthen my faith, walk and journey in making sure this vision comes to light. Each of these things just causes you to take a time to stop breath and re-evaluate situations that may occur.

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

We are living in a world today where women are made to look like sexual beings. I am trying to break this mould by showing these women that there is more to being a woman than being a sexual fantasy to someone. I’m trying to show them that whatever you dream of doing you can go out there and achieve it. That there is no limitation, the only thing that is stopping you is yourself, this is something I took long to realise. I had the potential and the fire in me burning to go but I use to hold pity parties on my past. I’m trying to show young women that yes things happening in your life but do not allow it to define who you are as a person. Use it a seed to grow stronger as a person and fight harder.

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

RESEARCH RESEARCH RESEARCH, a good heart and the passion to see positive change in others.

What or who inspires you in business and why?

Wow there is so many people who inspire me hard to pick just one. So I’m going to go with the person to date which is Steve Chalke he is the founder of the Oasis Trust he opened his first hostel for vulnerable women in Peckham, as this field that I am in it was inspiring to see how much he has achieved and the difference in which he has made in people’s lives all over the UK

What is your favourite inspirational quote? “I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” –Michael Jordan





Contact Details

Email: s.spence@live.co.uk
Number: 07944 480 782
Twitter: skyealexandra86

2Inspire Business Profile: The Angel Mystic

In this 2Inspire Business Profile we meet Amanda Tooke aka “The Angel Mystic” who shares her experience of starting her business and how it motivates people to manifest their dreams into reality.

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

I work from home so have to be quite structured.  I have a bit of a routine so do daily grounding and protection exercises, followed by a short meditation.  It prepares me for my day and allows me to check in with what I lovingly call “The Upstairs”.

After that each day is different depending on who or what is booked in.  I work with clients either in person, via phone or Skype.  Doing various services from Angel readings giving guidance on moving forward positively, sessions with my VIP clients on 6 month programmes learning how to manifest or spiritually develop.  Or running one of my on line programmes.

In between appointments I am doing admin and getting orders such as my book or Angel Cards ready to post for my online sales or developing a new product.

I do evening appointments approx. 3 evenings per week. On a Monday I run #angelhour on Twitter 8 till 9 pm for hints, tips and messages.

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

I have been a psychic all my life and I am now effectively doing what was my hobby as my job.  Before this business I had a B&B but became ill and as a single parent I had to re-think my whole life. The reason I initially went into working for myself was, when my children were quite young and I wanted to be around for them.  So I needed to find another income and somewhere to live and fast.

However, I got lots of advice in meditation and just followed instructions to set up my Mystic Moon business.  I have never looked back and glad to say my health has improved too.

Over the last 5 years it has grown and grown and I feel such joy to this as my job, though I do work hard and pride myself on being accurate and giving an excellent service.  My business is based on referral and repeat trade.

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

My first book published, “Do I have an Angel?” It launched last December and is getting wonderful reviews.

Helping others gain success either in their personal lives or their own businesses with my VIP programmes, I love to see others achieve their goals.

What has been your biggest challenge in business so far?

I am channelled every day by sceptics.  The other thing I would say is time.

A lot of my work is about introducing other to their Angels as when you connect life becomes a lot easier from parking spaces to finding your life’s purpose. 

I also teach others to manifest their dream life, it is based upon working with Law of Attraction, though I call it Manifesting with Your Angels.  With that we do affirmations and visualisation to achieve our goals, fitting them in around daily life can be a challenge, so I encourage others to do them whilst doing other tasks.  It has to fit in around daily life for it to work.

What are your future plans for the business?

More products, books, apps, and on line Angel Club.  There is a limit with my time and how many clients I can see.  I want more people to know they have Angels waiting to help them, my products do that for me, as everything I do and produce is easy to understand and simple to use.  It has to be because life is complicated enough.

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

I don’t think I would do anything much differently, but possibly been braver sooner and stepped out of my spiritual closet years earlier.

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

We should always follow our dreams; life is too short not to. 

Discover what makes your heart sing.  Do that and you will never have to work a day in your life again, as it will always be fun.

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

Always trust your intuition and be authentic.

What or who inspires you in business and why?

Walt Disney, he failed so many times, but never gave up.

What is your favourite inspirational quote?

I wanted to share instead my favourite affirmation instead, hope that is ok as it always makes me feel better -

“Relax the Universe has your back”

Mystic Moon, High Lindeth, Lindeth Lane, Windermere, Cumbria, LA23 3NH

Tel: 015394 44656

www.theangelmystic.co.uk

info@mystic-moon.co.uk

2Inspire Network Review & Competition: Berry Butter - Shea Butter with a twist

Berry Butter: Shea Butter with a Twist

Although I have had this brand of shea body butter since December, I have only just opened it and have been testing it over the past few weeks.  From the day I was first introduced to this product, I had such high hopes, as it smelt absolutely divine and came highly recommended from a friend.

The product is described by the organisation as:

“Berry Butter introduces a wonderfully fragrant twist to an already flawless moisturizer. Each of our products contains amounts of unrefined (white) Shea butter and is enhanced with intoxicating fragrances that last. Choose from floral and citrus-based fragrances for day - and warm, spicy, or woodsy fragrances for evening. Used on the scalp it promotes strong healthy hair.”

It is available in 4 or 8oz and is priced £8.99 and £11.99. I have a 4oz sized tub of the Cranberry Passion butter, which is described as a blend of winter cranberries and appetizing orange.  Although a little goes a long way, a slightly bigger tub would be preferable, because in a very short space of time my tub is nearly empty. I’m not sure whether this is down to the fact that it smells so beautiful that I  often get a bit carried away with the application or because anybody who comes to my house and gets a whiff of the scent always helps themselves and so in a short space of time, my supply is diminishing. Even the kids love to dip their fingers in it because of the lovely smell.

What I love about the product is that it keeps the skin moist all over all day, even the feet area.  My teenage son who is so against using any products or creams that are even remotely feminine can’t keep his hands off it. The product is smooth and not grainy like some shea butter products and doesn’t take forever and a day to melt in your hand. The only downside for me is that the rich scent deters me from using it on my face as I have very sensitive skin and suffer from allergies and so I am reluctant to try anything I’m not sure about in this area. I also think that the price is a bit high for it to be used as an everyday body cream for the whole family, I know this may sound selfish but when I next stock up I will TRY to keep it as my little treat and hide it from the rest of the clan. Although I love the Cranberry Passion,  I  will definitely experiment and try some of the other scents available which are:

*  Brazilian Gold
*  Moroccan Spice
*  Tango
*  Zanzibar
*  Vanilla Skies
*  Lemon Drop

I highly recommend this product, particularly for those women who don’t like to wear heavy perfumes but love their skin to smell good.


Full range of Berry butter is available at:

The Phoenix Center, 73 Oxford Street

Lower Ground Floor, London W1D 2EP

07903 681 026, info@phoenixcenter.co.uk, www.phoenixcenter.co.uk

Distributed by Paris Morgan Ltd

Email: info@berrybutter.co.uk
Tel: 07508766146
Twitter: @berrybutteruk
Instagram: @berrybutteruk

Competition:

For a chance to win a 4 oz & 8 oz  tub of Berry Butter and a cleansing soap in the flavour of your choice, write a catchy phrase/slogan (no more than 1 sentence) expressing why Shea butter is so wonderful!

Email your catchphrase with your full name to marketing@2inspirenetwork.com. Competition ends at 12pm on the 7th March (Only available to UK Residents).

Winner will be announced on the 7th March.

Product review by Hazel Chawapiwa