Tag Archives: Entrepreneurship

Lindsay’s In Business: PART 29: It’s going on

Stephen Covey

What happens when you realise your path is entrepreneurship rather than employment? Lindsay takes up the challenge and shares an account of her journey as it unfolds…

 Since the success of Mirror Mirror’s first case study, I’ve created a pretty neat slide pack (if I say so myself) to tell the story. I’m waiting on client approvals before circulating it. Skype calls are lined up with some good contacts (mainly with ‘intermediaries’ – freelancers / agencies who could add Mirror Mirror to their list of client offerings), and I’m building the network and improving the process / materials as I go on. My goal is to GET FOUR FIRST CLIENTS for Mirror Mirror.

The messages I use are fast evolving. Now, I say that I spot alignment gaps and opportunities, and work with teams to address those. So much simpler than the previous long-winded explanation.

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Lindsay’s In Business: PART 28: First case study results – it WORKS!

whoopi-goldberg

What happens when you realise your path is entrepreneurship rather than employment? Lindsay takes up the challenge and shares an account of her journey as it unfolds…

I don’t know where to start. My world has changed and I’m singing in the sun!! 😊 (metaphorically – although I could just easily go outside and do that right now)

You know when your world has really changed for the better because factually, you are fully aware what’s new, yet the way you feel about it continues to evolve. First, it’s a surprise, a high, an amazing euphoric rush and you can’t stop smiling. Then it’s a warm reassurance as the implications begin to hit home. And still, a week later, it’s gratitude that this ever came to pass…

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Lindsay’s In Business: PART 27: Manifestation

Okeeffee1Richelle E. Goodrich

What happens when you realise your path is entrepreneurship rather than employment? Lindsay takes up the challenge and shares an account of her journey as it unfolds…

Despite the last blog on feeling renewed, I have to admit a tad of insecurity that happened just before it, and how I got over it.

Here’s the scenario. You’re running a business. It’s in start-up mode. Currently, the vision is still imagined fiction. Suddenly, the ground starts crumbling from under your feet, then starts to collapse into an endless abyss. With your stomach in freefall and your eyes and mouth wide open in a silent scream, you’re scrambling with the rocks and the dirt, plunging downwards in fear and dread.

Unless you get out of that, it’s the end. In fact, I would guess that many small businesses fail because this is the unbearable part that defies any reason to continue. Sometimes this fear and dread only lasts for 5 minutes, sometimes it lasts for days – but this is where owners bail out.

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Lindsay’s In Business: PART 26: Right. Let’s get this going

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What happens when you realise your path is entrepreneurship rather than employment? Lindsay takes up the challenge and shares an account of her journey as it unfolds…

A two-week road trip around the south of England and Wales took me right away from it all. Now immersing myself gradually back into the hot tub of Mirror Mirror, I feel renewed.

We had crossed into the UK by the Chunnel for the first time – marvelling at being in a car on a train. Wandered through the Spittal Fields and Borough markets in London, finding oysters and wine. Seen the funniest theatre show ever, that we’re even still laughing about. Walked on the Black Mountains, wading through neck-high bracken and bouncing on heather that seemed stolen from Scotland. Dined and lunched with 16 friends, young and old, not caring about the mess and loving seeing them again. Danced to songs from the 80’s in front of a camp fire at midnight. Driven through impossible thin country lanes that everyone else seemed to think were safe. Talked about going on walking holidays that we never would have considered before.

I’m still there aren’t I?!

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Lindsay’s In Business: PART 25: I’m a believer

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What happens when you realise your path is entrepreneurship rather than employment? Lindsay takes up the challenge and shares an account of her journey as it unfolds…

Things are going well. I have positive noises around me – again no firm contracts but lots of warm hopefuls. Eight people are actively looking for Mirror Mirror for their contacts, and eight companies are giving me positive signals. That takes me back to making sure my current cherished FIRST client is going well. It is actually, but in explaining Mirror Mirror to people and seeing it come to life, I found myself pondering how little effort it can take for people to get aligned and how valuable that alignment is.

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Lindsay’s In Business: PART 24: Twitter and first interviews

Mehmet Murat Idan

What happens when you realise your path is entrepreneurship rather than employment? Lindsay takes up the challenge and shares an account of her journey as it unfolds…

Twitter. Is it….

An annoying ego-based social platform where networking is a thin mask for sales: people with 2.3K followers feel like superstars, but haven’t they got anything better to do?

or

The ultimate digital social tool that gives you more scale and scope than ever before. Gain access to people, content and ideas. Get lost in a world of online networking opportunity.

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Lindsay’s In Business: PART 23: Breakthrough

carl jung2

What happens when you realise your path is entrepreneurship rather than employment? Lindsay takes up the challenge and shares an account of her journey as it unfolds…

Nothing tangible has actually changed over the past weeks, but things feel very different.

Here’s what’s been going on:

Firstly, a good, honest conversation with the leadership development company I’ve been collaborating with for the past 10 months or so, took place last week. We talked about roles and expectations – ironically an alignment meeting that was long overdue. Somehow, after travelling together, blindfold, on this journey to bring Mirror Mirror to life, this was the point to take stock and address some discomfort that had crept into the arrangement. With all of the experience within our core team about the importance of open-mindedness, trust and teamwork – we came out much better off.

The conversation made me think about the five key characteristics that block alignment:

  •  Assumptions

He never gives me any time to share my ideas – he’s obviously just not interested”

  •  Misunderstandings

But I thought you always wanted my team to comment on the technical aspects

  •  Unconscious biases

I think we need more data so we can be sure we’re making the right decisions

  •  Gaps in understanding

Every time we do this, we get the same complaints – but we don’t have a way to act on it”

  •  Social influences

If they’re not going to the meeting, I don’t think I should go either”

Thinking more about these, I made a short, animated slide show which – if I say it myself – has turned out pretty well. In fact, I think it NAILS the Mirror Mirror positioning – finally! Check it out on YouTube here.

At the same time, the work with the Global Electronic Company starts tomorrow – I have 14 people to interview and have been getting everything ready. And there are some good leads building in the pipeline. There was one call in particular with a global tech company at Anja’s place a couple of weeks ago (thank you for letting me take that call in your apartment, Anja!). The guy – who is quite a senior executive – was super positive. He said it was structured, practical, and unique. He was going to set up a call with his colleagues and talked about getting us on the suppliers list. I can tell you – that reaction gave me a high for the whole weekend!

That’s the kind of thing that really helps me believe that we will finish the Beta Testing phase by the end of the year, and that the business really has a promising future.

The bleak, dispiriting recent months of sales pursuits without the sweet taste of success is over. It’s almost the end of a whole year of Mirror Mirror now and things are getting on track.

This new summery month of June is turning out to be SUCH a different experience than the past few months were and my strength, energy and determination is back in spades.

Mirror Mirror allows teams to develop a shared picture of ‘where they are now’ so they have the clarity, alignment, and momentum needed to progress to ‘where they want to go next’. www.mirrormirrorhub.com

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Moving on

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By: Anja Uitdehaag

Earlier this week I finally managed to visit “Huys van Roosevelt” in Oud-Vossemeer, a small village in the Netherlands.

Huys van Roosevelt” is a restaurant that was on my to-do list already for over nine months.

Not because of the Rich history of both the village and the restaurant (The ancestors of the well-known former presidents of the USA, Theodore and Franklin Delano Roosevelt and his spouse Eleanor Roosevelt, are originally from Oud-Vossemeer. The rich history of these world leaders comes to life in the brasserie and restaurant through beautiful photos and inspiring quotes, the Roosevelt Information Center, the ‘The Four Freedoms’ monument, the Dutch Reformed Church and the place where the ancestors of the legendary world leaders used to live) but because I was eager to catch up with Bas, the restaurant owner. Bas is an ex-colleague from a big International Company, who made this very interesting career move from factory departmental manager to restaurant owner after the company closure 2 years ago.

I was curious to see how he was doing.

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Lindsay’s In Business: PART 22: No update

Jean-Paul Sartre

What happens when you realise your path is entrepreneurship rather than employment? Lindsay takes up the challenge and shares an account of her journey

as it unfolds…

 Went to London last week

I do love going back

A packed schedule of meetings

Felt smart and on track!

Weather was good

No delays with the flight

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Lindsay’s In Business: Part 21: Review and rethink

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What happens when you realise your path is entrepreneurship rather than employment? Lindsay takes up the challenge and shares an account of her journey as it unfolds…

I consider that work to set up the Mirror Mirror business began properly in September 2016.

And now here we are. Eight months later. All set up … and a first client.

You might read that and think – ok great, you’re on your way.

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