Working from home? Top 10 Tips for Women.

Through our search for many inspirational teachings abut work life ethnic we came across a fantastic writer called Linda Coles.

Linda Coles is the author of “Learn marketing with social media in 7 days” and is also a speaker and trainer on building relationships based in New Zealand. What gave us that "WOW" factor about this article is that the fact that nothing she's written here is impractical. These are points that women can really relate to, to ensure that we maintain the work-life balance we crave working away from home whilst being at home (if you get what we mean lol!)
                 

“A woman’s work is never done” anon

Working from home as a woman certainly has it’s benefits, but it also has a few drawbacks which can easily make your productivity a hit or a miss depending on how you set yourself up and if you adhere to the unspoken rules.



Whether you work from your home office normally or if you find yourself working there for a temporary spell due to a change in location for instance, there are a few simple areas to watch out for to keep yourself on the straight and narrow, and not spend work time on laundry and getting dinner started!

You have the choice to dress “grunge” or “great”. Looking great will make you feel great and help keep your mind focused on your work ahead.

Adding to what Linda has said it's all to do with physiology, If you look you look good you feel good and that confidence will project through your tone when speaking to your clients and peers. However if you dress grudge because you feel as though your at home and in your comfort zone, it is easy to lose focus on the tasks ahead and you'll find you haven't achieved much for the day.

No one is saying prance around your home in six inch heels or a 4 piece suit with the matching tie and pocket square but look presentable as if it was "dress down friday" at the office.

Organise your appointments out of your office at a coffee shop or go for a walking coffee appointment with take-a-way cups and tick some exercise off at the same time.

Adding to what Linda said some fresh air always does a world of good, so holding meetings in coffee shops, restaurants are always good because its a nice neutral ground. If your meetings are some what local try walking there! Not the kind of distance that would work up a sweat. but a brisk walk will freshen your mind and allow you to go over the agenda for your meeting

Create a mastermind group with others in your local area that you can meet with monthly to bounce ideas around and brainstorm business issues.

Yes! There is no marketing tool more powerful than the word of mouth! Networking is the best way to grow your business, share ideas on what is working for you, and what's not. This way every month you have some new ideas to work with, and even create a new venture.

Have the TV on in another room for low background chatter to keep you company, but never sit and watch it unless you are having lunch.

Add a plant or flowers to your desk, which you might think sounds dumb, but I think it helps with any feeling of isolation.

Never open an email after 7pm or at the weekend. You can’t do much about the content anyway out of business hours so it’s not worth losing sleep over.

We totally agree with this point! There has to be visible lines between your work and your personal life, there should be no grey areas here because evidently one side will suffer. As Linda rightfully pointed out; there is nothing you can do about an email outside business hours, so shut down all work communication workstations and devices at 7am and enjoy your evening or weekend as the case maybe. Return to work the next day feeling fresh,and revitalised ready for the new tasks of the day.

Exercise each morning before you start. You have plenty of time to go for your run, shower, eat breakfast and still be back at your desk for 9am if you are not travelling.

If you have the feeling of overwhelm and heaps of domestic chores to do, allot time before you start your day or allow yourself to finish at 4.30pm occasionally. A cluttered and overstretched mind is not a productive one.

Don’t try and work from the kitchen table, find an area or room that you can call your own and pull the door on at night when you have finished.

And one last thing, NEVER, EVER wear your slippers!

Working from your home office may make you even more productive than being in a busy office  with other distractions going on around you. I know I can’t hear myself think never mind write when I use the office in town, and so although it can be quiet in my home office, it suits my workload better.

What tips do you have working from your home office? Are you strict with yourself and domestic chores? What are your experiences?

Share them with us and we will follow them up on a sequel post

HAPPY NEW YEAR... NEW GOALS.. NEW YOU!

HAPPY NEW YEAR... NEW GOALS.. NEW YOU!

Happy New Year to you all from Transquisite Consulting, It's that time of year we make new year resolutions about hitting the gym, giving up that thing we tried to give up in 2012 and also the time of year we decide to make drastic career changes.

The New Year is always the best time to put your goals into perspective but the best way to achieve them is to set realistic goals and also set a realistic time frame. Here are some guidelines to assist you for 2013

Mediate:  This is essential to your personal growth, go to an area where is peaceful, an area where you can listen to that inner voice and really decide what it is you want to do. Reflect on where you've been, the highs and the lows and the lessons you have learnt. Reflect where you are in your career, are you currently happy? Is there anything your unhappy with and if so what are your options to resolve it? and lastly ask yourself, where you do you aspire to be? and what are the steps you need to take to achieve it.

Investigate: List your aspirations and your points of reference whether it means investigating the module of a new course, registering with an agency that specialises in your desired path, or doing some online investigation. From doing this, your findings should have aided your decision to take your career in your new direction or engineer a different path.

Execute: DO NOT be a victim of procrastination, don't leave what can be done today until tomorrow. If you have a dream, pursue it; never allow society or friends tell you that you cannot succeed. Even if it takes you longer than anticipated, note that Rome wasn't built in a day, but today it stands as a city of beauty, fashion, and culture spanning over hundreds of years. Follow your destiny and all shall fall into place with determination, resilience, and perseverance. 

So let's recap -

M.I.E. = Meditate. Investigate, and Execute

"If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours."

~ Henry David Thoreau

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."

~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Managing Director of Transquisite Consulting Jennifer Oyelade features in 'This Day' Sunday Newspaper 30th December 2012

On the 30th December 2012, Jennifer Oyelade featured in This Day Newspaper, one of Nigeria's distinguished National Newspapers.

Born and bred in London, the United Kingdom, Mrs. Jennifer Oyelade, who is originally from Onitsha, Anambra State, is a young woman who is making a difference. With the belief that to be at one’s happiest, one needs to do something one enjoys, Oyelade, who is the Managing Director of Transquisite Consulting, a Recruitment, Training and Business Consultancy, tells OLAOLU OLUSINA the driving force behind her career path, her motivation for returning home and the difference she intends to make, among other things. Excerpts

Can you give us a brief introduction of yourself and what you do?

Originally from Onitsha, but born and bred in London, United Kingdom I am the Managing Director of a Recruitment, Training and Business Consultancy called Transquisite Consulting. 

Transquisite Consulting is a Business and Recruitment Consultancy that provides three core services. To provide a comprehensive Recruitment Service focusing on identifying specialists locally and also in the diaspora, assisting start-ups and SME Business in maximising their presence in their industries, generate revenue and guarantee their Return in Investment.

Thirdly we are a Training Establishment offering generalist and specialist courses in personal development and Industry related modules. 

What would you consider as the driving force behind your career path?

 
My career reflects my character, I am a people person, and like interacting with people from all cultures, and backgrounds because you learn so much and it makes you a rounded individual. I strongly believe that to be at your happiest, you need to do something you enjoy, so work doesn't feel like a chore, or a means to an end but a passion. I wanted to get into an industry that sees the growth of an individual which also results into the growth of businesses because people make businesses successful 

What informed your decision to return back home and how are you coping with the challenges here? 

Living in the diaspora all my life, I never considered it as home because I am a Nigerian first and foremost; those values were instilled in me right from birth. So as a child I regularly visited Nigeria and took a keen interest in its' development. Nigeria is a country that has great potential to compete with the rest of the world. Not only with our natural resources, but with the intellectual minds that this country is blessed with. If given a platform, these individuals can create a massive impact on the re-vamp of Nigeria and I aim to be a part of that. 
Like every situation in life that one finds themselves in, the best thing is to adapt. There will always be challenges, but if you try to keep a positive mind that you will overcome them and turn that challenge into a personal goal it makes overcoming them so much easier. It's not easy, but then if everything in life is easy we'd all be doing something else. 

What are you doing differently and what experience are you bringing to bear on the new task here? 

There are many things I do and hope to do differently depending on which context this question is asked. In Business, Transquisites' objective is to bring something different to the Recruitment, Training and Management Consulting industry. Offering a comprehensive service where we understand the needs of our clients by building professional relationships. We listen, and not hear because there's a difference. Listening means we understand your needs, and aim to adhere to them.
We consult which means we advise what we feel as specialists would be good for the growth of your business and source candidates that we feel will be best suited to do the job. 
We are a team that is mixed with those from the diaspora and also home grown talent so working together we are able to implement the processes that work in the diaspora and incorporate them into the Nigerian system effectively. 
In regards to Training, we offer the unemployed a platform to acquire additional skills to make them more attractive to employers. Businesses can also benefit from our industry tailored courses taught by our Trainers in the diaspora, this reduces the cost of sending their employees abroad and still receiving an internationally recognised qualification. 
We are also big believers of Entrepreneurship and offer courses to those who which to start up their own SME. Developing SME's is the way forward, there are so many talented individuals who have a lot to offer but do not have a platform to stand on. Organisations of this size are closer to their consumers. They can easily identify what is in demand and supply; you'll find that these type of businesses break-even very quickly because they are investing in a clear case of supply and demand.

Could you share with us some of your most challenging experience so far and how have they influenced your decision to forge ahead?

I have had many challenges but one of the major challenges was the transition from one environment to another. Visiting Nigeria for a few weeks is one thing but actually deciding to include Nigeria as a base is another? There is so much to adapt to and also leaving a city that things are actually mapped out for you to a city where you have to create a system that works for you is tough. But it didn't deter my decision to forge ahead it only gives me the drive to want to make Nigeria a more desirable place to reside in any way that I can. 

What would you regard as the high point of your professional career? 

Venturing into Transquisite in itself the high point of my career till date. This was a huge step for me; Working for global Organisations like Hays, Geneva Health, Robert Half, Medacs amongst others are brands that already have a global presence in the market. Candidates and clients are more responsive to you because of this and you also have unlimited access to resources provided by the company to make the job a lot easier. 
To step out of my comfort zone and venture out alone to build a name for myself and my business knowing that your building a team that share the same objectives as you is very rewarding. 

What would you say to young Nigerians still in the diaspora about the situation at home? 

There is so much opportunity in Nigeria it’s unbelievable, there's a lot of work to be done but together we can make a difference. The expertise one has learned in the diaspora can be implemented here in Nigeria whether it’s through government channels or setting up businesses that can help in the growth of Nigeria's economy making Nigeria not only a desirable place to live but to also attract the attention of investors and international businesses to set up offices and mass production facilities. If all these things work in sync there's a chance Nigeria can eradicate the stigma its' created in the Western World and also relive the nation from world debt. 
Look at Kenya; one of the areas that generate a large portion of the country's income is Tourism, they've used their natural habitat and the animals that reside there to create one of Africa's most visited countries

Sierra Leone and Ghana, once known as the Gold Coast are known for their gold, and precious stones. In my opinion there is no reason why Nigerians in the diaspora cannot come home and do the same, using what we have, to produce products and services that will not just grow our economy but rectify the never-ending problem of unemployment that our nation faces.

However I also believe that the government need to entice those in the diaspora to come home and add value. This will convince those in the Diaspora that Nigeria is ready to invest in change. 

Do you have any other information, views or opinion you want to pass across? 

Transquisites' overall objective is to aid businesses, non-profit organisations, and government assemblies turn the natural resources of Nigeria into profitable entities that will generate revenue for the country.

Re-vamp core industries such as Healthcare, making Nigeria more desirable to live in. Healthcare is a major issue in Nigeria, with a large amount of causalities and fatales due to malpractice and carelessness. Most Nigerians given the opportunity go to other countries such as America, UK, Canada, Saudi Arabia, India, etc. to be treated or in womens' cases to give birth. The sad thing is that the majority of the medical professionals practising in the diaspora are Nigerians especially in the UK and America. So why can't we entice these professionals to bring their expertise back home? 

As a nation Nigeria needs to open their eyes to the rest of the world and implement strategic plans that benefit the people of Nigeria and not just favour the wealthy. Tourism is something that Nigeria can benefit from, it’s a beautiful country with so much greenery and history and developed further can pull in tourists from all over the world. Tourism is an industry that can immediately result in job creation. It’s not good enough that it’s just Calabar that has been developed; Lagos has also come a very long way under excellent government of His Excellency Babatunde Fashola. If every state invests in creating attractions as a country, Nigeria as a whole has the potential to be one of Africa’s most visited destinations; If Kenya and South Africa can do it why can’t we. 
Education is another issue that Nigeria faces, the system only works for the middle class and the wealthy.The less fortunate do not have the privilege of education. This is where the government should offer free education, or training. Because our children are tomorrow’s future and they shouldn’t be segregated because of their household’s income. 

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.