Episodes
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On the 1st of September 2021 I stood on Hove Lawns walking my dog Biff, exhausted, frustrated and upset. That was the moment I took the decision to close my business after 13 years. Covid has destroyed my business. The business I started with my parents in their kitchen. The business we had invested all our time, energy, and love into making it work. A business that had, to us, been incredibly successful.
If you run or have ever run your own business, you will know how challenging it is. It can, if you allow it, take everything you have physically and mentally. Running a business is a choice. Yet it can feel, like it did for me, that it wasn’t, and I felt I had to keep on going despite the negative impact on my physical and mental health.
The problem with the hustle culture
We live in a culture of “hustle” and “the grind”. Social media is awash with messages of people who are working harder, smarter, and better than you. We’re continually pushed the message that if you’re not working 70+ hours a week, you’re not a good business owner. You will never be successful.
Yet conversations around burnout are common, more so during the pandemic. It’s no wonder people are questioning their life, career, needs and wants. It’s been dubbed the “great resignation”, and people are quitting their jobs to go and find work that makes an impact, has purpose, and allows more freedom and flexibility. This is good news. The world of business is changing for the better.
We must be honest with ourselves that this kind of life is not sustainable long term. We all have our breaking point and mine came on that day in September. Since then, I have learned a lot about myself and business. Here are the most important things I learned.
Read Full Article in Sussex Business Times ➡️ http://thebusinessgroup.co.uk
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What is your biggest fear in business? Cashflow, people politics, public speaking? If you could take a magic eraser to Sunday night dread or pre-presentation tummy turns, how would that impact your day-to-day experience of work? If professional failure and success held the same value for you, how would that change the shape of your business? What might ideas and innovation look like in that space, and perhaps most importantly, what kind of team would you build in that environment?
The great resignation of 2021 represented a tidal wave of personal and professional re-evaluation, triggered by polarising politics, global social justice movements, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the inevitable, yet drastically accelerated shift to more flexible ways of working. The 2021 Indeed Workplace Happiness Report found that second only to pay, lack of happiness was the leading reason that those surveyed considered quitting.
The role work plays in our lives has shifted drastically over recent generations; we are now more driven than ever to seek work that provides us with a sense of identity, purpose, alignment and fulfilment. Despite countless management and leadership studies indicating that happier, healthier teams produce tangibly better results, even by the traditional metrics of profit, productivity and presenteeism, many businesses still don’t seem able to move beyond the fear that prioritising people over profits might lead to catastrophe.
Read the Full Article in Sussex Business Times ➡️ http://thebusinessgroup.co.uk
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Missing episodes?
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We’ve all been there. Something unexpected has happened. It is time for a meeting. That meeting. The more people talk the more one thing becomes clear; no-one knows what to do.
The longer it goes on, the more confused everything gets. Arguments break out. Frustration boils over. Eventually, painfully, a course of action gets chosen. The same one as before. Yet the one thing everyone knows is that “same as before” will not help.
At work – and going all the way back to school – people expect us to have a ready answer. Not knowing is a failure. Something to be ashamed of. Something to hide. So we act as if we know what to do. That leads to wasted effort, missed opportunities and avoidable disasters. It leads to meetings just like the one above.
The problem is that we are not allowed to go off-script. There is a script – an expected order – at work. Something happens, so we do this, and then we get the right outcome. Repeat and profit. When those things stop lining up, however, we do not know what to do. READ MORE
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Within the last 18 months, we have seen a range of organisations consider ways in which they can enhance representation through people, processes and procedures.
However sometimes it is questionable as to how many have fully grasped what this actually entails and how to make changes that support growth, strong leadership and innovation. Many businesses may struggle to know where to start…
What is representation?
According to Google’s dictionary, ‘representation’ is, “the description or portrayal of someone or something in a particular way.” Systems of representation are used by people to organise the world through signs, symbols, languages, cultures and characters.
But for leading Media & Cultural Studies Professor, Stuart Hall, representation goes a little further. Hall describes representation an event, which takes place when someone takes information and presents it to you. However depending on who is representing, will provide different meaning to what is being represented. Therefore, what makes representation meaningful is dependent on how and who is represented.
Representation has always been of interest to me. As a mixed raced young girl growing up in Sussex during the nineties, I experienced a range of challenges due to a lack of representation. As a result, I would regularly question my identity and what this meant to others. Why was there few people like me on TV? Why were Bond Girls never black? Why is Scary Spice ‘scary’? Why is blackness not embraced in commercial beauty and fashion?
These questions were brought on by narratives that were being presented (or not being presented) in the media, at school and other external forces. In many ways a lack of representation in marketing adverts and media spurred me on to promote inclusion and diversity in a personal and professional level. Although at times it has taken a lot of confidence building and personal development to challenge commercial ideologies and represent an alternative, the biggest hurdle I have experienced when challenging a lack of representation, is not my own perception of myself, but the perception that others may hold of me in terms of what I represent or don’t. Thankfully, life has moved forward in many ways since my youth, but as we continue to see, there is still much progress to be made.
In 2018, Disney executives behind Marvel did something that had never been done before. They created a blockbuster movie that had a black led cast, production and marketing team. It went on to become one of Marvel’s most successful movies. Marvel’s ‘Black Panther’ made millions and the marketing behind this supported earnings reaching over a billion dollars. Children and adults bought into this film because it provided a new and refreshing narrative – leadership and success through a black superhero. Read More
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Born 9 October 1955, Steve Ovett OBE won gold in the 800 metres at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow and set 5 world records for 1500 metres and the mile and a world record at two miles. He won 45 consecutive 1500 and mile races from 1977 to 1980. His arrival on the international stage began a golden era of British middle distance running.
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This Autumn will see Brighton Table Tennis Club launch a forthcoming league for businesses to get involved, called 'Blazing Paddles, a chance for companies to compete and attempt to be crowned the best staff table tennis team in Brighton.
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After the acclaimed success of the inaugural Hundred competition, which saw eventual winners Southern Brave feature Sussex players, George Garton, Chris Jordan and Tymal Mills…last month also saw the announcement that Sussex players Phil Salt and the aforementioned Jordan are to leave the Sharks at the end of the season and join Lancashire and Surrey respectively. I for one will miss seeing them represent the County, so this month I decided to recognise their undeniable achievements and wish them both good luck for the future.
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Non-League Clubs have had a tough time, especially when they are heavily reliant on gate receipts and sponsorship to survive so this month, I caught up with Kevin Miller, the Vice Chair and Head of Commercial & Marketing at Whitehawk Football Club to find out what Brighton’s ‘second team ‘have been up to.
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Sales is the best profession in the world (in my opinion), and arguably one of the
oldest.
It has evolved dramatically over the years from people selling their wares on market
stalls, to the technologically advanced processes we see before us today.
One thing that has been dominant throughout this evolution is the speed at which
time flies when working in sales.
Let me break this down for you…
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Antoinette is a former PE teacher, now entrepreneur who is passionate about seeing justice done in all areas of her life. Currently, she is in the process of radically transforming the cleaning industry to enable cleaning colleagues to be paid equitably, working rights and conditions to be more rigorously monitored, laws changed to enable ethical agencies to operate more ably, and clients' homes and offices cleaned to a consistently high standard. In her spare time, she loves walking by the sea or sitting in her favourite chair watching the world go by.
When I started my cleaning business Just Helpers it was meant to be just a side hustle while I got on with my main job of building a grass roots anti human trafficking charity in London. I realised fairly soon after demand increased and I started to recruit women to help me with the increased load that for the workers in the cleaning industry, the system is severely broken. I saw first-hand the exploitation which migrant workers – particularly women – were experiencing in our cities. I wanted to offer an alternative – a cleaning business which paid fairly, offered decent working conditions and developed potential in its people.
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The market has been, to put it mildly, quite incredible in the past 4-6 months. We currently have no properties available from our stock of just under 300 we manage on behalf of our clients.
The tactic of virtual viewings – which were deemed essential as per government covid guidelines – has meant that in lots of cases we have had people taking the property having only seen a walk though due to a fear of missing out. As an agency we like to ensure that applicants have physically viewed properties to avoid issues but in some cases we have literally had people clamouring to take the properties.
It has genuinely got to the point that properties are having, on some occasions, to be physically taken off of the market within 20 minutes of them being placed as we have already secured a applicants – long may this continue!
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Are you Registered or are you unregistered?
Trademark infringement claims on small firms are increasing. Intellectual Property Office surveys show over 30% of small to medium size businesses suffer infringement problems.
As a result many have to change brand names and logos at high cost. Some are sued for up to half their historical profits. Some have to close the business.
So how can you protect yourself? Here are top ten key tips to avoid legal action and protect your brand name and your reputation by Clive Bonny, MD of Strategic Management Partners in Brighton UK.
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Originally, I had planned this piece to be around football and particularly about our forth coming revered leader, Gareth Southgate, simply because he was raised in Crawley, and I was convinced England would win Euro 2020/1. I willjust have to put that on hold for nowand hopefully,he issaving himself for the World Cupnext year!!
Over the coming months, I plan to bring you the thoughts of what makes a true winner from the array of talented sports men and women throughout our County, so while yours truly goes about seeking the great and the good in the world of sport, for now I thought I wouldpick agiant from the tennisarena, one thatmost of us arehardly likely to cross paths with.
Let usbegin ourjourney with what happened a few hours before England lost on penalties...again! Namely, tennis and the record equalling colossusthat isNovak Djokovicwinning again at Wimbledon. Clearly having the mindset to be the best at what he does,the big hitting Serb has proved time and time again he is a legend,and his results speak for themselves–20 Grand Slam titles, equalling the record currently held by Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. Frequently described as amachine who seems to be able to compose himself and up his game at will, Djokovicnever seemsflustered,out of breath or red faced and I swear he has the same hairstyle that he had when he won his first title, the Australian Openback in2008. His level of fitness is incredible and his ability to stay at the top of his game is testament to his success.
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At the time of writing, the Rugby landscape is currently being dominated by the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa, under the leadership of former Walesand New ZealandCoach Warren Gatland. The Lions tours are one of the most prestigious events in world rugby and only happenevery four years.
The team combinesinternationals from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland and heads to the southern hemisphere for a three Test series.The last Lions tourin New Zealand, which Gatland was also Head Coach, ended in a 1-1 draw,with the third Test ending in a nail-biting 15-15 draw afterEngland’sOwen Farrell converteda 77th minute penalty to draw the Lions level.
However, enough about the Lions, this is a Sussex magazineandI thought it would bemorepertinent to profile the best men’s side in the County. Worthing Raiders arecelebrating their centenary, having been formedon the 10 September1920,ply their trade in National DivisionTwo South, and who in the 2012-13 season, aftergainingpromotion, became the first club from Sussex to play in the third tier of English rugby
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At the time of writing, the Rugby landscape is currently being dominated by the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa, under the leadership of former Walesand New ZealandCoach Warren Gatland. The Lions tours are one of the most prestigious events in world rugby and only happenevery four years.
The team combinesinternationals from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland and heads to the southern hemisphere for a three Test series.The last Lions tourin New Zealand, which Gatland was also Head Coach, ended in a 1-1 draw,with the third Test ending in a nail-biting 15-15 draw afterEngland’sOwen Farrell converteda 77th minute penalty to draw the Lions level.However, enough about the Lions, this is a Sussex magazineandI thought it would bemorepertinent to profile the best men’s side in the County.
Worthing Raiders arecelebrating their centenary, having been formedon the 10 September1920,ply their trade in National DivisionTwo South, and who in the 2012-13 season, aftergainingpromotion, became the first club from Sussex to play in the third tier of English rugby
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I have been lucky enough to be able to participate in many sports, both team and individual, cricket was my best (I was a bowler), however over the course of time, people will honestly tell you I was bang average at most of them!
But which is harder to be the best at...being part of the England T20 Blast cricket team, or Lewis Hamilton in Formula One?
Clearly this depends on the sport in question, and unquestionably, they all require an incredible skill set to achieve success. BUT...which one requires the most dedication to be the best.
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Having supported Sussex as a boy, my love for the Club really blossomed when a previous career allowed me to meet and interview some of the great players to represent our fine County, from former Captain, Chris Adams and legendary spinner Mushtaq Ahmed to players that represent England today, namely Chris Jordan,Jofra ArcherandPhil Salt.
However,my adoration for the Sharks shifted to a different level backin 2018, when I was asked to be the Club’s mascot Sid the Shark. Having previously enjoyed stints dressed up as Marvin the Monkey and the Easter Bunny, I jumped at the chance.Having pictures taken with supporters young and old, being there in the middle with both Captains for the coin toss AND being on Sky TV was a dream come true!
After getting my instructions before each game about how I was expected to be perform, I donned my costume and stepped out to mingle with the masses.Shortly into my debut, an extremely pleasant child decided it would be hilarious to punch me in the proverbials!Cue a hurried order on Amazonforaprotective ‘box
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I cannot wait for the football season to begin, because however hard I tried, games with no atmosphere and no fans, or a smattering of supporters dotted around ,felt like a series of meaningless friendlies, resulting in a season that I really couldn’t get too excited about.
However, despite the disappointment of football not coming home this summer, seeing stadiums across Europe filled with happy, emotionally charged people supporting their respective nations rekindled the flame of excitement within me.With the Premier League season due to get underway on 14 August then(fingers crossed), and with a trip to Burnley, Brighton & Hove Albion will be looking to dramatically improve on last season’s goals converted to chances created ratio.
Good news then that former England striker Danny Welbeck signed a new one-year contract with the Seagulls. The 30-year-old forward scored six goals in 24 Premier League appearances last season, but every Brighton fan you speak to will tell you the Club desperately needs to secure the services of a proven goal scorer, someone who can turn those draws into wins to elevate Albion further up the table and away from the all too familiar end of season battle to avoid relegation.
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When people ask me why I got into law, I usually give them two answers: the lawyer's answer, and then the real one. What's the difference? None. Not because the answers are the same, but because it really doesn't matter what the answer is.
What matters in this profession is how persuasive you can be, how compelling your story is and how strongly you can evidence the narrative. And 9 times out of 10, that's also the law.
I grew up in the Buckinghamshire countryside. My parents were entrepreneurs who worked their way up from juggling 3 jobs each on the breadline to starting their own successful engineering business and taking an early retirement. As with most children, I took my childhood for granted at the time, not knowing much beyond my own environment.
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“I get to” not “I’ve got to”
I hope all of you reading or listening to this are already feeling motivated and positive about your lives but perhaps you’re not. Either way, I’d like to share something with you today that illustrates how beneficial the kind of life “tools” I share with my coaching clients can be for everyone.
It involves simply making one small change in the way you think about your daily activities. In fact, it’s just a matter of substituting one word with another. Something this simple may sound as if it could make no significant difference to your life. We are so used to thinking that improvements come about through struggle. However, I encourage you to just try this one small change in your life and then experience the difference in your mental attitude and state of wellbeing.
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