December's Entrepreneur: Chidi, CEO of Proud to be African Clothing

Chidi, is the CEO of urban clothing line Proud to be African Clothing. Proud to be African features simple designs by African artists and graphic designers that all reinforce the central message Proud to be African. Their core merchandise are T-Shirts, hoodies,sweatshirts, polo shirts, baby grows, children’s T shirts, and children’s hoodies with several distinctive logos and slogans such as Proud to be African, Born in the UK Made in Africa, Proud to be Nigerian, Born in the UK Made in Jamaica etc.

The uniqueness of their brand comes from the fact that they produce good quality, affordable urban wear with a positive African message.Their slogans and logos are very distinctive and seek to simply reinforce African pride in the diaspora

Trading since 2010, their Head Office is based in London United Kingdom but their clothes are available to order online via their online store and deliver worldwide. In a brief chat with Chidi, he shares his thoughts on business and a day in the life of a CEO

What’s a typical day like for you?

A typical day generally involves checking the email for orders, posting them, updating the website, and blog, checking Facebook and Twitter and updating them as well. And then generally attending events either markets, cultural or music events or networking events in the evenings. All this and a full time job as well

How do you motivate yourself and stay motivated?

As an African, doing something like this to promote Africa is motivation enough, however the universally positive reaction I get at events or from customers is always cheering and keeps you going when you’ve been at it non stop

Who are your role models in the business?

I have no role models in this particular line of business as I am not really from the fashion industry but in terms of business and work in general, I would cite my parents as they were typical hard working African professionals and instilled in myself and my siblings a work ethic and a strong self belief

If you had to start over from scratch, knowing what you know now, what would you do differently?

I would stick to my initial budgets and planning cycles!!

What factors do you feel are a threat to your business? and how are you handling them?
The biggest threat ironically are large stores like Primark and TK Maxx who sell items at discounts. This means that in the geographical areas I am targeting, stall holders are forced to compete on those terms i.e. selling 3 T shirts for £5.00 or so, meaning its difficult to get stockists in predominantly African or black areas. To counter this I am aiming for boutiques and fashion houses catering to African customers or African fashion. Although my product is decidedly not high fashion it is of high enough quality to sit comfortably in fashionable establishments as an extra item

What’s the most important business discovery you’ve made in the past year?

It is is very easy to be a creditor and hard to be a debtor!!!


What’s an accomplishment that you are proudest of?

In terms of the business, ensuring 100% customer satisfaction


How do you integrate your personal and professional life?

By turning my house into a warehouse!!!

How do you unwind after a hectic day?

Watch TV and then sleep

What advice would you give to those who are new to the world of business or who are looking to start a new business?

Write a plan, try as much as possible to test it, subject it to independent scrutiny, rewrite it, test and then start. But be flexible and ready to react to anything

In your opinion what’s the formula for success?

Hard work, a good idea and the means to implement it

What are your future plans for your company?

I hope to expand to the US and EU essentially following the African diaspora in terms of customers and eventually move production back to Nigeria

To view the full Proud to be African Collection visit www.proudtobeafrican.co.uk
Check out latest updates on Facebook www.facebook.com/ProudToBeAfrican and their blog www.proudtobeafricanclothing.blogspot.com

Public Relations vs Advertising

For us this a topic that is highly debated in the office because these are services we offer to clients they both do the same thing but in different ways.

PR is more personable and informative. It gives your targeted consumers an insight into your business, your ethos and its aims and objectives. PR covers things such as Press Releases, Press Conferences, Merchandise giveaways Events, etc. 

Someone can come to your business launch event and know instantly whether they will buy into your company, because they are seeing what your offering first hand.

PR can also hinder your business if it's not done right whereas Adverts leave more to the imagination. 

Adverts, whether they are placed online, in publications or even on the radio gives you limited space to share so much information. Though it reaches a large target audience, a lot of factors go in to the price. 

Size - most ad spaces that are online or published are measured by centimeters or by the divisions of an A4 page. The more space you want the more money it is to feature.

Campaigns - now you have the advert up, how long the host publishes for is another factor that affects the price. 

Wherever your advert features, whether its on a blog, newspaper, billboard or in a magazine the prices will vary.

Having heard both which would you think is cheaper?

PR is actually cheaper than Advertising. With PR you can write your own press release and send them to editors. If it's interesting they will publish it because they feel it's something their readers would want to read about.
Broadcasting your event on social media outlets, and printing flyers can also draw the attention of your desired audience on a large scale.

Advertising also has its advantages if you want your consumers or potential clients to know about a specific product or service that you're offering or if you're running a promotion that you need the masses to know about then advertising is perfect; because the text will be simple, with catchy phrases that get straight to the point whilst convey the message you desire.

Both things are essential to your business, what you need to determine is which marketing strategy best works for product/service at that given time.  

Speaking like a True Entrepreneur, Richard Branson speaks on being a Leader, Running a Successful Business and Entrepreneurship

One of the most famous Entrepreneurs in the world Sir Richard Branson is a self-made wait for it folks.. Billionaire.
As the founder and chairman of Virgin Group that comprises of more than 400 companies, he's currently the 4th richest citizen of the United Kingdom. 
 
His success is noted all over the world, listed on the Forbes 2011 list of billionaires, Richard Branson has an estimated net worth of US$4.2 billion.
 
Coming from a middle-class family, he was born in Blackheath, South London and started his first business venture at the age of 16 with a magazine called Student. In 1972, Richard opened a chain of record stores, called Virgin Records, which we know now as Virgin Megastores. 
 
The Virgin brand grew rapidly during the 1980s, as he set up Virgin Atlantic Airways in 1984
 
In 1993, Branson took what many saw as being one of his riskier business exploits by entering into the railway business and initially called it Virgin Trains he then won the franchises from the former Intercity West Coast and Cross-Country sectors of British Rail and then acquired European short-haul airline Euro Belgian Airlines in 1996 and renamed it Virgin Express.
 
Tapping into Telecommunication, Richard launched Virgin Mobile in 1999, and Virgin Blue in Australia (now named Virgin Australia). By 2000, Richard Branson was 9th in the Sunday Times Rich List 2006, worth just over £3 billion.
 
Branson wrote in his autobiography "Losing my virginity" (excellnt use of play on words if we may say so... lol) of the decision to start an airline:
 
"My interest in life comes from setting myself huge, apparently unachievable challenges and trying to rise above them...from the perspective of wanting to live life to the full, I felt that I had to attempt it."
 
 In 2006, he really pushed the aviation business when Virgin Atlantic Airline merged with SN Brussels Airlines and formed Brussels Airlines. Then tapped into the african market, and started a national airline based in Nigeria, called Virgin Nigeria. With a presence in America, Virgin America, began flying out of San Francisco International Airport in August 2007.
 
Till date his empire keeps on growing adding venture such as Virgin Broadband, and creating innovative strategies to keep the brand relevant 
 
Richard Branson is a world example of an successful Entrepreneur, he once said in an interview when asked about being an entrepreneur:
 
"There is no point in starting your own business unless you do it out of a sense of frustration." 
 
A great believer of entrepreneurship, here he is giving advise on how to be a leader and run a successful business. We found it very useful, and inspiring. A middle-classed boy from South London is now a self-made billionaire, he is a living example that shows you that through hardwork, and determination - the sky is the limit ! 
 
 

Your CV.... Your Brand!

Your CV is your virtual marketing tool. It says a lot about you without your potential employer actually seeing you. Your CV must sell you and intrigue the reader enough to want to meet you. Even if your a perfect match for the job if your brand is not attractive, they won't buy into you. Here are a few pointers on how you can make your CV for you

PROFILE

This is the attention grabber of your CV; this is the paragraph that attracts the attention if it’s reader.

A profile should be a short paragraph describing your skills, attributes, career objectives and aspirations.  Use these 3 questions to construct your profile:

·         What are you strengths in your character? (e.g. are you creative, problem solver, dedicated)

·         What skills have you attained? (these are skills obtained through extra-curricular activities)  

·         What are your current objectives and future aspirations?

This paragraph should be catchy and straight to the point; it shouldn’t waffle and steer of point, but clear, precise and readable.

EDUCATION

Always start from your most recent course first, with the academic institution followed by the year you started and completed.  This gives the employer an idea of the level of your education at present, and also it gives a clear layout of your academic career to date.

COURSES/TRAINING ATTENDED

Any short courses you have attended whether it lasted a day, a week, or a month. It is advisable to document them on your CV. Even if they are courses are unrelated to what you have studied, it shows the reader that you are keen to widen your knowledge, and also are determined to gain the necessary skills to move up the ladder to the net level in your career.

It should be laid out in the following order:

·         Course Title

·         Where was the course  taken

·         Duration/ Year

·         Result/Qualification attained

I.T SKILLS/SYSTEMS

Any working knowledge of Software, Hardware, Management Information Systems, etc. should be listed even if it’s just Microsoft Office software like Word, Outlook, Excel, and Access. It shows that you are computer literate and that you are able to use systems that they currently operate with in their business.  Include the names of the systems you’re currently or previously used in past organisations here and then elaborate more on the duties you used them to perform in the employment history section of your CV.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Your most recent position is the first job that is listed on your CV and should be listed as follows:

·   Job Title

·  Company Name

·  Duration in that employment – if you are still currently working there that state “until present” or “To Date”

The first paragraph should be a brief description of your role, your responsibilities, team size, and your direct report. Then bullet point your daily activities ensuring to include any responsibilities that you were given. If you were using a particular operating system or software in this employment, document that also.

Bullet points is a layout that is easy to understand, employers can get a better understanding of your job role, and competences  without reading a large paragraph and getting lost in the text.

A common question the frequently comes up in training is

“How far back shall I go back in my employment industry?”

There is no wrong or right answer to this question because there are some individuals who have had an extensive employment history that would turn into a book if they documented it all. However I guess the more senior the position you are applying for, the extensive the CV.

The important and essential part of your CV is the employment history, this shows the employer the progression of your professional career and also the decisions you made, which is reflected in the positions you took.

 SOCIAL ACTIVITES AND PERSONAL INTERESTS

Why Social Interests you may be wondering?

Your social interest gives an insight to the employer of your personality and also whether you fit to the culture of the environment. It is ok to say you socialise with friends, listen to music, read, cook, etc. All these interests can be looked at as something positive.

For e.g. (ask your trainees to give an example of their personal interests, turn their answer it into a positive attribute that is seen by an employer)

“I like socializing with friends!” shows an employer that you are a people person, you know how to interact with a variety of people and shows that you’re a confident team player.

 

 REFERENCES

There should be no less than 3 references on your CV, 3 professional references is ideal, however if you are a fresh graduate then it is acceptable to have 2 academic references, and a personal reference or a combination of both.

What is a reference?

A reference is a character report, a document that describes the referee’s impression of you as a person based on their interaction with you. They discuss your strengths and your weakness and any areas of improvement if any. References are used by employers to gain an insight to you, as a person from the opinion of someone who knows you. By law there are restrictions to the content in which a referee can document regarding an individual; it has to be constructive and of an un-biased nature regardless of the referees encounter with the individual. Slandering and deformation of character is strictly prohibited. 

What is an academic reference and who can write it for me?

An academic reference is a reference written by a professional employed by the university/school/college where you attend/ or have attended as a student. A lecturer of your course or head of the department are those who are eligible to stand as your referee.

What is a personal reference and who qualifies to write it for me?

A personal reference is a reference given by someone who has known you for more than 5 years.  Your referee CANNOT be a family member, because the reference would be biased, this person has to be a public servant of the community such as:

·         Family Doctor

·         Teacher

·         Priest or Pastor

·         Lawyer

·         Police Officer

References are quite a delicate issue on a CV and an area that is very commonly debated.

“Shall I or Shall I not put the details of my previous employers?”

On some CV’s I’ve seen people write “References available on request” there is nothing wrong with this but it doesn’t really have a nice professional finish to your CV it appears very abruptly.

It’s like rushing the end of a really good story with the words “The End”, you would want to know show the story ends wouldn’t you?

It is always advisable to list the details of your referees so they employees immediately see the credibility of your CV. Please ensure that whoever you list as a referee is fully aware so that should an employer want to contact them they would be aware in advance.

James Caan says "Leaders: You don't have to be perfect"

 

Founding the Mayfair based private equity firm Hamilton Bradshaw in 2004, business mogul James Caan joined the panel of heavyweight investors for Dragons' Den in 2007. In January 2011 he chose to leave the show to focus on my charity work, current investments and growing Hamilton Bradshaw. His passion is building businesses, and has been building and selling businesses since 1985 and thinks it is important to invest in people rather than just products. He's a great believer in people who create a successful business through their passion and conviction. In his recent post on LinkedIn, he speaks about his opinion on Leaders, and conveyed that sitting in the high chair doesn't exempt you from making mistakes and also doesn't make you perfect.

"Just because you happen be the head of a company, or senior director or managing a team, it doesn't mean that you have to be perfect all of the time.

We are all human and are all capable of getting things wrong or making mistakes, the skill of being a great leader is recognising that you are not always going to be in the right. In fact thinking that you are never wrong can cause you major problems in all aspects of your life.

On a personal level I can recall a flippant comment from somebody that helped me improve my approach in business.  At the time I was training a group of consultants on recruitment techniques. I remember one guy turning round and saying to me ‘James I don’t think you’re a great trainer’.  At first I was quite taken aback and took the comment personally.

When I asked the guy to explain what he meant by his comment he told me ‘Because you never make a mistake, so I don’t think you are a very good role model’.

After I got over nursing my pride, I realised that what had been said was in fact a very telling and perceptive comment.  Like any leader, I have always felt that my role is to practice what I preach and make sure I lead by example.

But one thing I hadn't taken into account was that at the same time I also have to show that I am human too. If you really want people to engage with you on a personal level and to be inspired by you, it’s not always about being a perfectionist. Sometimes you have to demonstrate a sense of realism. 

In my organisation I like to foster a creative culture, one where people share their ideas freely.  Not be stilted by conformity  as can be the case in some of the large corporates.  That means allowing people to try out new ideas but giving them the breathing space to make mistakes.

After all, it has been the mistakes I've made throughout my career that have taught me the biggest lessons. I like to think of it as simply bringing me one step closer to getting it right!"

This post really reflects the mindset of  true business mogul and leader. To be able to acknowledge your faults and strive to be better is the key attributes of not only a leader but a striving entrepreneur. Those you manage will surely respect you, because you showing that team effort is key and that you do not feel as though it's your world and your minions also known as your staff are just living in it.

Communication is key, especially among your peers and employees, if the communication level breaks down so does your business. Things only function well when you work together to achieve a common objective hence the reason why organisations have mission statements and ethos.

Handle criticism, it only makes you stronger and it aids in character building. A true leader is not your title or where you sit in an organisation, it's the ability to lead effectively.

Leaders were once the new kids on the block, learning the ropes in a unfamiliar environment, and making the teas and coffees in the morning. They didn't just wake up with all the industry knowledge and become a leader overnight. It's the decision they made to be one; coupled with their zeal to get there

Not using their role as an avenue to micro manage and enforce authority, True Leaders are realists that deal and handle issues practically.
A good leader is not afraid of getting things wrong it's just shows that they are human, and still strive to be better.

They understand the true meaning of the saying "Rome was not built in a day", and the underlining message that it wasn't built single-handedly either because a great team is the backbone of every successful leader

Transquisite Consulting's CEO Jennifer Oyelade features in The Guardian, Nigeria speaking about Transquisite, Nigeria as a nation, and Women Empowerment

Mrs. Jennifer Oyelade is the Chief Executive Officer of Transquisite Consulting, a recruitment and business-consulting firm with offices in London, United Kingdom and Abuja, Nigeria. According to the Business and Marketing graduate of Brunel University, United Kingdom, her educational background and training helped make her what she has become today. In a chat with GERALDINE AKUTU, she speaks on her career and how women can contribute to national growth.

With the necessary skills and experience, combined with zeal and passion, Mrs. Jennifer Oyelade started running Transquisite Consulting part-time in 2008. It became a full-time organisation in 2010.

She narrates how it all began in London. “During my time at Hays Specialist Recruitment, I worked at various degrees in the organisation, which resulted into my role as a Cross-sector Consultant for Hays Human Resources, where I recruited permanent candidates from entry level to executives.”

At Hays Finance and Banking Technology, Jennifer says, she recruited Information Technology (IT) professionals such as Developers, Project Managers, Business Analysts, Network Engineers and Contractors into Invetment Banks and Asset Management and also their banking operation professionals from back to front Office.

While at Hays Health and Social Care, she recruited nurses, health care assistants, support workers and social workers and community support workers.

The mixing with people of diverse cultures influenced her drive, she says: “Living in such a multi-cultural city like London has always reflected in my passion and interest for people. Over time, I developed a large network of friends, acquaintances and colleagues originating from a variety of cultures, which gave me an insight into understanding the world from a cultural perspective and how to apply my interpersonal skills to my career.”

She attended Brunel University, where she graduated in 2001. Then she studied Leisure and Tourism as a General National Vocational Qualification (GNVQ) at Hammersmith and Westminster College from September 1995-1997. At Lambeth College, she read Sociology and Humanities between September 1997 and July 1998.

Before starting her firm, she had worked in various capacities. Between 2001 and 2005, she worked as a Trainee/Recruitment Consultant for James Harvard Financial, now known as Hays Technology. She also served as International Recruitment Consultant for Geneva Health, London, a leading recruitment consultancy specialising in the recruitment of nursing, medical, clinical support and allied health professionals with an international presence in New Zealand, Australia, United Kingdom, Canada and The Middle East.

Giving insight into her journey into recruitment industry, the CEO says: “An opportunity came up online inviting people to come and listen to a presentation by a company who ended up being my first employer, and after attending, I fell in love with the industry purely for the fact that I felt it represented me; my love for interacting with various people and also the opportunity to provide  service that makes a difference to a person’s life in terms of career progression and aiding the growth of businesses by providing the right manpower to drive its success.

“Consulting is about people, understanding, identifying and most importantly providing a solution to their needs and that is a large part of who I am – a people person. Why I started Transquisite Consulting is to bring the same knowledge and experience I acquired in Recruitment and Business Consultancy in the UK to Africa, primarily, Nigeria. I feel as a nation, we have a lot to offer and the opportunities here are immense,” she submits.

In the area of women contributing to national growth, Jennifer opines, “There are a lot of ways we can contribute to the growth of Nigeria, if SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) local authority boards were established within local areas of each state that help women develop  trades, this would result in creating jobs within the local area and so the products can be mass-produced and exported out of Nigeria and generate income for the state. This will help each local government and state to financially support itself and from there, as a nation, we would be financially independent, using the funds to improve our country to a standard comparable to the western world.

“We have a lot of natural resources, and a booming agricultural market that can be nurtured into full-pledged businesses that would be sought after as suppliers across the world. If funds are provided to nurture such businesses, the return of investment would be substantial enough to lead us out of our debt to other nations.”

She describes setting up Transquisite as her biggest accomplishment. “Working for global organisations like Hays, Robert Half, Geneva Health, among others where you have all the support you need in terms of working as a team, a recognised global brand, that is, companies that already have a global presence has been a blessing. To step out of my comfort zone and venture out alone to build a name for myself and my business knowing that there isn’t that support from an already established company was overwhelming,” she submits.

A supporter of female entrepreneurship, she would like to see more women working together to support one another’s businesses.

“As individuals we are strong; as a collective, we would be a stronger force to reckon with. In previous years, there was that ideology that females should be seen, not heard, and remain house-bound. But as Nigeria and other African nations are becoming more westernised and adapting to the culture of Women Empowerment, we have now created a platform where we are highly valued in our society as individuals who bring tangible ideas on how Nigeria can be developed as a nation.”

Jennifer suggests ways by which female entrepreneurs can stand out in the business world. “Every business has a service, product or delivery style that makes one company differ from another. Just master your niche, and remain on top of it. Trends and technology are constantly changing, so, to remain current and a market leader and stand out, you must update yourself. If you do a good job, it will open doors for you as people get to hear about it. But if you do a bad job, it spreads faster and there will be no recommendations …”

A lot of people in the business inspire her for both personal and professional reasons. “Nike Oshinowo-Soleye is one of them. Her achievements, business acumen, style, persona and also her general outlook on life are inspirational.

“Sir Richard Branson is also a very big role model of mine. His empires keep on growing. Whether you are in the air or on the ground, you are in the presence of something he has created and he is not afraid to explore new business ventures even if it requires him to tap into  unknown territory.”

Assessing the female child education in Nigeria, Oyelade declares, “I don’t agree on segregating female and male. So my views on education are related to children in general. The education system from primary to secondary school has good structure because they have mirrored the American system. The level you are in class reflects on your intelligence and your ability to learn.

“In the UK, it is decided by your age, which I feel doesn’t encourage the child to learn to their full potential. In Nigeria, kids have graduation ceremonies when they have passed in class whereas in the UK, the only graduation that is obtainable is when you graduate from the university. I do believe that more worldly subjects can be introduced into the educational curriculum at a younger age so that children can open their eyes to a world outside Nigeria understanding the many cultures that the world has to offer.”

She also gave recommendations on how to increase productivity among youths. These include mentoring and giving them something to look forward to in form of grants to start up businesses and setting up government-funded academies to educate those who do not have capital to venture into their own business.

Her future plans for her company, Transquisite, is to bring it to the level of a global organisation like Hays. However, in the short term, she wants to “primarily focus on the growth of Nigeria in my field, by expanding on our services through partnering with businesses that I have built relationships with around the world to invest in Nigeria, which is something I have already started looking into but is still at its very early stages.

“I also want to work with government to establish training schools in each state, focusing solely on the regeneration of productivity in each state in Nigeria, using the resources in each state to create profitability. In the long term, I ultimately want to open an office in every country in Africa, encouraging people of high net worth and government status to work with us to grow the productivity in their own country which will reduce the debt that we are in as a continent.”

How does she unwind after a hectic day, Jennifer smiles and says, “I’m a great fan of music, neo-soul and jazz mainly calm my nerves. I do enjoy a glass of wine, a good laugh which is good for the heart and leave the day as it was orchestrated to be; pray and then start the next day afresh.”

She was born and raised in London by Onitsha, Anambra State-born parents and is married to Femi Oyelade from Ogbomosho, Oyo State

Author of this article: GERALDINE AKUTU

To visit the page for the official article go to http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=104249%3Ajennifer-changing-the-face-of-business-and-workforce&catid=183%3Alife-a-style&Itemid=710 

A Working Mum - The Truth, The Realisation, The Expectation

Juggling a career and a family isn’t easy, take these things into consideration when applying for a new position as a working mum or as an current employee consider these points when looking for that work-life balance.


Be a superstar employee

Be a standout professional as soon as you start a career or a job. Do a great job. Know what it takes to rise quickly in your organisation, and do that. While you have the time and the energy, be the best employee you can be, then when you’re a working parent, you will have earned some flexibility. Companies, by the way, are most likely to allow that flexibility to retain top talent. Of course, your job as a veteran superstar is to show you’re good at learning new skills—like juggling.


Be true to yourself


Know who you are and what you want in life. If you are going to manage a job and nurture a family, stay true to what’s most important to you. There will be days when reading a story at your kid’s school will mean you need to take time out of the office. Don’t be apologetic about that. You need to find a workplace that allows employees to be honest about their lives. If someone is going to give you a hard time, deny you a promotion, or penalize you in any way because you’re living a full life, find a new place to excel.


Be honest: You’re not superhuman.


No one expects you to do everything and anything, be true to yourself, and your physical ability. You are more use to your organisation when you fit and able to do your job, then when when your not physically and mentally not up to it. Pace yourself and give yourself targets in which to achieve set tasks so you are not inundated with things to do. Remember..... Health before Wealth! You cannot spend your millions from beyond the grave. 


Understand that your priorities and interests will change

I like to talk about “adaptable ambition.” Your ambition will ebb and flow over your lifetime. Your world view will shift as your life changes. It’s crazy to think that having children won’t rock your world. Just as having a sick parent or a sick friend forces you to re-examine your life and your priorities, having a child does that, too. It’s okay. You can set the world on fire at work without fanning the flames 24/7.


Realise that flexibility is a two-way street


If you’re lucky enough to find an enlightened company that can be flexible about where and when employees work, know that you’ll have to be flexible too. There will be trips, conferences, and work events you can’t miss, no matter what. And work sometimes eats into family time in the evenings and on weekends. It’s a mistake to expect flexibility without giving some back. 


Before you join a company, understand its culture. 


If you want flexibility about work but are reluctant to ask about it during the interview process, look and listen for clues that the company is family-friendly. Do managers have pictures of their kids on their desks? Is there talk of regular mandatory meetings that start at 7 a.m. or 6 p.m.? Will you be on the road three days a week? If they ask you what you like to do in your free time, do they offer to share how they spend theirs? Consider these before you decide if its an organisaton you'd want to join.


Face it: Some jobs aren’t right for you.


If having a balanced life is important to you, and you’re being true to yourself, there are some jobs you shouldn’t take and some companies you won’t join. Being happy is paramount, both at home and at work; and due to the nature of some businesses, the work-life balance of some organiations are not right for you and working but living in denial will have an effect not only on your work but on your family.

Training.... A waste of time? or a Boring Necessity?

A Training Course can feel like another day in the classroom. Someone's talking to you educating and giving you an insight to their knowledge. Now some think they're too old for a classroom and ask themselves "why must someone be talking at me while I could be out there making money" But is it a waste of time or a Boring essential? The truth is we all need a little training, whether we choose to acknowledge it or not; you can never learn too much. That training course could be the step between you and that promotion or between you and a client that your about to seal the deal on a project you've been working on for ages.

Training can be fun, it doesn't have to be so mundane; it depends on the teaching style of the trainer, and what he/she feels is appropriate to get the message across.

Yearly, many companies endeavor to set aside a budget for internal/external training courses. They believe that by investing in their employees, they broaden their knowledge, learn more skills, so they effectively can add more value to their business. This is not done to purposely waste money or time, after all training courses are normally held during office hours when employees are contracted to work; it but it is done purely because employers believe in the potential of their employees to do better, and at present feel as though those employees are an asset already. 

So is it a waste of time? No,I don't agree. Is it a boring essential? Yes,but it doesn't have to be boring.When trainers hand out the feedback sheets at the end of the course,use that as an avenue to make your opinion known; after all that's what the forms are designed for. This information gives them an indicator of their  strengths, weaknesses and what to improve on if need be.

So have a different approach to training,embrace it and reap it's benefits!