Like many people, I get a buzz from setting myself a task, seeing it through and enjoying the results. You could say I am a ‘Goal Achiever’ it’s a bit of a buzz and the more challenging the goal, the bigger the reward. I have set some big goals for myself including running a marathon and writing a book and in both cases I had an end date before I started and buckets of determination. I had a strategy in mind, which I followed to the letter. However not all goals are an easy ‘Slam Dunk’, in fact longer term, transformation goals are much harder to achieve because they are not a quick win. I wro ..read more

By gritting with teeth at the sight of the messy room of your children, the only thing, which you may earn is an appointment with the dentist. Isn’t it better to find other, more practical solutions in which your child’s room will be clean and tidy all the time? That is not only a far-fetched dream but a reality if you are creative enough. With children, it’s easy- just make it comfortable and lay all the cards on the table. In that way, the child will be able to find everything straight away, without ruining the order of the room. Children are creative, so you should be too when it comes to ..read more

If you are a mum in business you will have probably come across self-doubt at some time or other. It creeps up on us and before we know it, we are questioning the sanity in our life and career choices. Starting out on your own, is not a path for the faint-hearted, usually, we are driven by a deep passion that cannot be ignored. It starts as a niggle, then a nudge and before long we feel at odds if we are not pursuing our calling. But pursuing a business or career is never all plain sailing, life has a way of throwing a spanner or two, in the works. We may not get the client we wanted, A techni ..read more

This is an article I recently wrote for the Mpower Community and I wanted to share this with you: “If you are travelling with a child or someone who requires assistance, secure your mask on first, and then assist the other person.”  This example of the ‘oxygen mask’ is often bandied around when encouraging women to think of themselves (I’ve used it myself once or twice!) But it recently occurred to me that it’s not the best analogy to use when talking about self-care. Being in a life and death situation and doing the right thing to give your child and yourself the best chance of survival is a ..read more

Getting the kids back into the ‘school mindset’ at the beginning of September can be quite challenging after the long Summer holidays. It can also be quite tricky for us as parents, to get back into the routine of school, including drop off, homework and uniforms. Here is an article, which I was invited to contribute to, all about ‘Back to School’ hacks to make your life easier when school starts this month. http://blog.getwiseapple.com/8-back-to-school-hacks-you-need-to-know/ Emily xx The post Back to school hacks appeared first on Happy Working Mum ..read more

Whilst watching ‘Dances with Wolves’ over Christmas I was transfixed by the scenes of the Sioux Indian conflabs in their teepees. In the film, they were having a meeting to discuss how to proceed with the solitary American soldier who had recently arrived at a nearby Fort.  What interested me was the way that they all listened, each person had their turn and each person was heard. This was such a stark contrast to many of the conversations I hear from day to day. People talking over each other, butting in and finishing off each other’s sentences. Sometimes you can even see the impatience as a ..read more

Article written for the Mpower community One of the most challenging parts of running your own business can be getting more clients or customers. It can also be one of the most frustrating and here’s why… You have the most incredible product or service, and you know it has the potential to impact peoples lives in such a positive way. You know deep down, that if people would just try your ‘thing’ they would be smitten with it, because it’s THAT good. How do you know this? Because it has been born out of passion, a tiny idea planted in your mind and heart that you have nurtured. This venture has ..read more

Have you ever had one of those days? You know the ones you would rather forget. Those days when you’ve got so much to do there’s a feeling of panic and tightness in your chest. Those days when it seems everything is conspiring against you and you’re looking for a hidden camera because you feel so set up. Those days when you’re so behind the curve, it feels like you’re wading through treacle. Or even those days when you promise yourself you’re not going to shout at the kids but by 7:35 you’ve broken your promise! I have had plenty of those days, in fact there were times I had more of those day ..read more

As a woman who has transitioned from a career as an Air Traffic Controller to running my own business, I have experienced my fair share of stress along the way. Luckily for me the majority of the stress in both cases has been eustress. Eustress is the type of ‘positive’ stress that keeps us vital and excited about life; a roller-coaster ride, a fast paced movie or in my case making sure aircraft landed and departed from Southampton airport, as efficiently as possible, are all examples of eustress. However it wasn’t always positive stress, there were many times when I would be stuck in traffic ..read more

Delighted to have guest blogger Elizabeth Harmon share her thoughts on the benefits of being a working mum. Working mothers around the world rejoice! According to researchconducted by Kathleen McGinn, Cahners-Rabb Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School, you’re more likely to raise successful daughters and empathetic sons.  For many of us, being a working mother can often feel like a juggling act, with constant pressure to never drop a ball. Working mum’s guilt is a real phenemenon. But stop being so hard on yourselves and start feeling liberated. The Harvard research ..read more