By Tricia Scott.  It's a fact that people in business don't want to talk publicly about being scared. Instead, they usually want to talk about success and confidence and 'look at all the people queuing down the street to buy my stuff.'   Unsurprisingly, I'm not one to shy away from a challenge, and this really needs to be talked about, so buckle up because we're going there, like, right now. Running a business can be downright bloody terrifying. Anyone who's stepped away from a regular salary and into self-employment will testify that it's not for the faint-heart ..read more

By Tricia Scott.   Last week was heeeccttiiccc, let me tell you. Meetings, seminars, negotiations, ideas and finalising the details of our next magazine issue coming to you later this month. It was one of those where I looked back on Friday and thought, is it all worth it?  I was tired, exhausted, to be honest. As I was pulling on a giant hoodie, ready to flop onto the settee (you didn't expect me to be going out, did you?), my work phone pinged. While nothing unusual in that, I looked over at it because I would usually have switched it off by now.  There was an email ..read more

By Tricia Scott  PSA - No one is going to buy from you if they don't know you exist. Sounds obvious, right? Well, apparently, not so much. You see, I talk to people every day who are terrified of becoming visible in their businesses and, in some cases, their lives because the truth is, once you become visible, you put it all out there and get noticed (which is the point), but then you're open to public opinion, and that's not something that comes easily to the best of us. The fear of judgement lives in all of us (even the ones who look like they have it all together) and can be so paralys ..read more

By Tricia Scott. How many times have you heard yourself utter these very words...  - It's not the right time.  - It's not quite there yet - It's not as good as ___ insert whatever here  - When I've got more time  - When I've lost that last few lbs Did you recognise one of them? All of them? Me too. Let's get real. It could always be better; we're all busy, and you know what?  It's always going to be the case.  There's always going to be a job to do, a house to clean, kids to feed, pets to take care of someone's birthday party to attend or twenty-million ..read more

 By Tricia Scott. Here's something that made me laugh last week: I saw a post on Instagram that went like this: Running a business is a walk in the park... Jurassic Park ?? We've been friends for a little while now, so you know I'm all about a great business message and good energy, but let's keep it real. Running your own business can be tough and, occasionally, downright lonely. I used to worry about my business, especially in the beginning. I spent way too much time looking at the posts from successful online entrepreneurs and their armies of followers on social media. In tru ..read more

By Tricia Scott Here's something that has been keeping up lately (and as a girl who loves her sleep, this is not usual):  Why do we keep doing things we don't like or that don't improve our lives in the name of our business?  I see it all the time; somehow, somewhere down the line, we've learned that doing the stuff we enjoy for our work is fundamentally wrong and that, if God forbid, it feels like pleasure, It's got to be us dallying or faffing around not taking this work stuff seriously, and we're CLEARLY wasting time because good, serious girls d ..read more

By Tricia Scott.    How often do you find yourself holding back? Perhaps you've been invited to speak from the stage, had a chance to raise your hand in a meeting and offer an opposing view, speak up about injustice or advocate for yourself in the home, and you turned it down, sitting on the sidelines wondering if what you had to say would make a difference anyway. We've all been there, struggling with self-doubt and hesitation. I, too, was once asked to publicly offer an opinion about financial forecasting, a job I'd done for 20 years. In that moment, I could barely remember my own ..read more

By Lauren Regan. Great brands are everywhere, and, given 30 seconds, most of us could name one that resonates with us. It could be your go-to comfort food, a tech giant, a kitchen appliance, or a fashion brand – there will be something about it that you just, like. And I bet it's not just the logo. Truly great brands know themselves inside out. They get what makes their community tick, and they make you feel something. The modern world is noisy, and wherever we go, brands are vying for your attention. From social media to billboards and TV ads, it can all get a bit much. Building a meaningful ..read more

By Lauren Regan. Castaway on one of Canada's Discovery Islands, this one-time fishing retreat is now one of the jewels in British Columbia's crown. My partner Chris and I visited Sonora in September as part of a trip that took us through the pine forests of Banff National Park, past the snowy peaks of the Rockies along the Icefields Parkway, and finally across to the bustling seaport of Vancouver, where we would fly to Sonora Resort. We were looking forward to three nights of wildness chic, an extensive wine menu, and, top of my list, wildlife. You see, Sonora Resort offers more than a Micheli ..read more

By Tricia Scott   I've been off on my travels again! This time, taking in the sights and sounds of London. I love our nation's capital with all of its vibrancy and noise; everywhere you go, there's something new to see or experience, and I always want to drink it all in before the next thing happens and the moment is gone. Of course, with so much to see and do, it only takes a day or two before my brain needs a disco nap, so on day two, I found myself kicking off my shoes and reconnecting to nature in Green Park, feeling the sun on my face and taking in the excited sound of tourist chatte ..read more