It's been a beautiful Spring day here in the New Forest National Park a wonderful day to celebrate International Women's Day. I hope you have all shone and sparkled like the sun and are proud of being a woman. Women have enormous talents and more and more women are running their own businesses and are being appointed to the boards FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 however there is still some way to go before women will be truly represented equally in the workforce.
I am passionate about encouraging women to reach their full potential, very few of us do reach our full potential in our lifetime but in order to be successful we first have to believe that we can and that is the biggest obstacle most women have to overcome. We are our own worst enemies allowing those internal feelings of self doubt to paralyse us and stop us moving forward. So today, International Women's Day, why not take the decision to take that first step towards achieving your goals. The first step is the hardest but once you have achieved something you never thought possible it's very empowering.
I am also a great believer in Networking because many of my opportunities have come from Networking events and not always immediately. I met Lisa Carden from A&C Black publishers at an 'everywoman' conference and 2 years later she contacted me and asked me to write my book 'Delighting Your Customers' which is available on Amazon.
The next Wessex Women's Network event is on Tuesday March 20th when we will hear Dennis Tomlin talk about his experiences as the Queen's bodyguard, a topical subject as it is the Queen's Jubilee year. These evenings also give members an opportunity to network and exchange ideas with like minded women. I believe business should be fun and that's what we strive to have at the Wessex Women's Network events as well as giving members the opportunity to present their businesses.
I hope you had a wonderful day and your future will be happy and successful.
All of our dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them. Walt Disney
The only limitations we have are those we create ourselves!
Dream big!
Avril
Thursday, 8 March 2012
Saturday, 25 February 2012
Spring is in the Air
What a lovely evening we all had on Thursday 24th February listening to Susan Symes showing us some of her amazing collection of buttons and their history. I didn't know how interesting and entertaining buttons could be so those of you who weren't there missed a good event.
I also had the opportunity to tell the ladies of my really bad experience of TripAdvisor. As we all know TripAdvisor is unreliable and has had some bad publicity recently. I advertised for housekeeping staff a couple of weeks ago and a local Brockenhurst resident applied for the job. He was not successful as the position had been filled internally by a part time member of staff who requested full time hours after the advert had been placed. I received abusive emails from him followed by unpleasant phone calls to my staff. He then put an 'AWFUL', as he put it, review on TripAdvisor saying and I quote 'my hotel was dirty, the sheets were stained and the owner was only good enough to be on her knees cleaning the toilets' He had never stayed at the hotel. I then discovered he had done the same to Forest Park Hotel in Brockenhurst after he had been asked to leave their employment in October. After alot of hard work and perseverance I managed to get TripAdvisor to remove it from my site. Here is another example of how unreliable TripAdvisor is and how it can damage a business.
Looking at the positives I was on a panel of entrepreneurs at the Business South event at the Rose Bowl on Thursday 25th February. 'Entrepreneurs Tales' was the title of the session and I had been invited by Peter Czapp of the WOW Company to take part with three other entrepreneurs to share my experience of how I have grown my business into a successful hotel. The Wow Company are a national firm of accountants offering a genuine proactive service to small businesses across the UK and who sponsored the event. I was the only woman on the panel and didn't feel I gave my best performance but I was surrounded by women from the audience afterwards who obviously had enjoyed it. My passion in life is to inspire women to reach the top of their profession and to believe in themselves and I think I achieved that on Thursday.
As I write this the sun is shining, the crocuses and snowdrops are out in the garden and the daffodils are beginning to come into bud. Spring is on the way, a lovely time of year in the New Forest National Park and it won't be long before the foals will be appearing.
The next Wessex Women's Network meeting is on March 20th when Dennis Tomlin will be telling us about his experience as the Queen's bodyguard. This should be very interesting as well as topical as it's the Queen's Diamond Jubilee this year.
For those of you who are interested in ballet, and I'm sure some of you must be! I have just finished two fabulous books I was given for Christmas. 'The Everyday Dancer' by Deborah Bull and 'A Dancer in Wartime' by Gillian Lynne Although these are not business books I lived every page of both books as I was trained in ballet and ballet is my passion. In fact I am a Life Member of the Royal Academy of Dancing and had a fantastic training at the Arts Educational School! Both books tell you of the hard work and dedication needed to succeed in the ballet world, an attitude that is needed if you want to succeed in business too.
Finally a quote for the month
'Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered you will never grow'
Ronald E. Osborn
Until the next time
Avril
Wednesday, 25 January 2012
How to be Brilliant!
Wouldn't we all like to think that we could become brilliant and that is why I stayed to hear Michael Heppell's presentation at the Innholders Conference at the London Hilton Hotel last week. I was so tempted to come home early partly because I felt so rotten with this endless cough I have been suffering with since before Christmas and secondly because most of the speakers at the conference this year bored me to tears. How pleased I was that I stayed because Michael's presentation on 'How to be Brilliant' was just that -- BRILLIANT. I just didn't want it to end and came home determined to try and become brilliant myself and put some of his ideas into action. I'm still trying but I never give up!
Why is it that so few people can really present well? I have a real issue with presenters speaking too fast, muttering and just spouting out facts with power point. A presenter should be a performer and leave his audience wanting more not watching the clock and wondering when he is going to finish! If you have a company or do presentations it is always worth investing in some voice training and presentation skills.
Maria Darling was the speaker at the Wessex Women's Network meeting on Tuesday January 24th. She told us how she has built up her franchise business 'Shoes Glorious Shoes' and she certainly presented her story with passion. It was a full house and as well as enjoying listening to Maria we were able to have some retail therapy and buy some of her beautiful shoes and handbags. These evenings are always such fun, as well as listening to very good speakers that Jan Hoy manages to book [thank you Jan we couldn't do it without you] it gives the ladies an opportunity to promote their business or charity event they are organising over dinner and wine and generally network.
The next meeting is on February 22nd when Susan Symes will be talking about 'Art in Miniature' another very interesting speaker.
Romance is in the air at the Cloud Hotel on Tuesday February 14th and you can enjoy a candlelit dinner in a romantic setting with your loved one. Dinner is £40-00 to include a glass of bubbly so book soon to avoid disappointment.
I always try and recommend a book for you to read and this month I just have to recommend Michael Heppell's Book 'How to be Brilliant'.
I have just finished reading 'The Everyday Dancer' by Deborah Bull. Deborah became a soloist with the Royal Ballet and I lived every page of the book as it brought back so many memories of my days at ballet school in London. The discipline and determination instilled into a dancer still remains with me to this day.
Never Give Up, For That Is Just The Place And Time That The Tide Will Turn.
Good luck in chasing your dream.
Avril
A
Friday, 13 January 2012
Looking forward to a New year
A belated Happy New Year to everyone and I hope like myself you are looking forward to a successful New Year filled with fun and good health. Christmas at the Cloud hotel was a great success and somehow I managed to juggle time with my family and the guests at the hotel. The weather was kind to us this year enabling everyone to enjoy walks in the New Forest or by the sea and to walk off all the food they consumed over the Christmas period!
The hotel closed on December 27th for a couple of weeks to en-able the staff to enjoy a well earned break. It is the time we do most of the decorating, maintenance and spring cleaning in the hotel as it is impossible to do it while we are open and have guests around. The hotel re-opened today and we welcomed the first guests to the hotel in 2012, it was a cold day but the glowing log fire soon warmed them up and helped them to relax.
I took the staff to see the Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium on December 29th. We always have a meal in London before the show, this allows the staff to relax together away from the work environment and enjoy themselves after a long and busy year. It's my way of rewarding them for not only their hard work but also their loyalty. The show was fantastic and it's worth going to see it just for the effects alone although all the artists were excellent. I particularly loved the scarecrow played by Paul Keating, he was brilliant.
I attended the Women1st networking event for the 100 most influential women in hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism at the Dorchester Hotel in Park Lane on Tuesday January 10th. It was a fantastic evening and after listening to Shaa Wasmund's talk about her life, her struggles and eventually great success I came home motivated and inspired. I just love hearing how women have succeeded in their careers often against all the odds.
The next Wessex Women's Network meeting is on Tuesday 24th January. Maria Darling is going to tell us how she set up her own business and grew it through franchising. The title of her talk 'Shoes Glorious Shoes' I look forward to welcoming you all.
I would like to recommend Shaa Wasmund's book to those of you who want to start a business 'STOP TALKING START DOING A kick in the pants in 6 parts!
Finally it's a New Year, a chance for a fresh start so I would like to leave you with the following quote
GO CONFIDENTLY IN THE DIRECTION OF YOUR DREAMS. LIVE THE LIFE YOU HAVE IMAGINED Henry David Thoreau
Avril
The hotel closed on December 27th for a couple of weeks to en-able the staff to enjoy a well earned break. It is the time we do most of the decorating, maintenance and spring cleaning in the hotel as it is impossible to do it while we are open and have guests around. The hotel re-opened today and we welcomed the first guests to the hotel in 2012, it was a cold day but the glowing log fire soon warmed them up and helped them to relax.
I took the staff to see the Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium on December 29th. We always have a meal in London before the show, this allows the staff to relax together away from the work environment and enjoy themselves after a long and busy year. It's my way of rewarding them for not only their hard work but also their loyalty. The show was fantastic and it's worth going to see it just for the effects alone although all the artists were excellent. I particularly loved the scarecrow played by Paul Keating, he was brilliant.
I attended the Women1st networking event for the 100 most influential women in hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism at the Dorchester Hotel in Park Lane on Tuesday January 10th. It was a fantastic evening and after listening to Shaa Wasmund's talk about her life, her struggles and eventually great success I came home motivated and inspired. I just love hearing how women have succeeded in their careers often against all the odds.
The next Wessex Women's Network meeting is on Tuesday 24th January. Maria Darling is going to tell us how she set up her own business and grew it through franchising. The title of her talk 'Shoes Glorious Shoes' I look forward to welcoming you all.
I would like to recommend Shaa Wasmund's book to those of you who want to start a business 'STOP TALKING START DOING A kick in the pants in 6 parts!
Finally it's a New Year, a chance for a fresh start so I would like to leave you with the following quote
GO CONFIDENTLY IN THE DIRECTION OF YOUR DREAMS. LIVE THE LIFE YOU HAVE IMAGINED Henry David Thoreau
Avril
Thursday, 8 December 2011
Count down to Christmas
Only a few more days to go! The Cloud Hotel has been really busy with pre-Christmas lunches and dinners and thank goodness the snow has stayed away this year although I do have sympathy for Scotland who have really been suffering with bad weather. The Christmas decorations are really lovely thanks to Mike Dacombe of Inspiration in New Milton, he always does a fabulous job and this year is no exception.
In between running a busy hotel and finding time for my family I have attended some very inspirational and enjoyable events hence the delay in writing this Blog! In November I was invited to attend the 'everywoman of Influence Dinner' at the Landmark Hotel in London. The dinner was to provide the attendees the opportunity to hear what it takes to build a successful business and to create an environment where people will want to work. We listened to three inspiring speakers who had all succeeded in their own fields. Larry Hirst CBE, until his retirement from IBM in 2010 was chairman of IBM Europe. Kate Burns Senior Vice President, Sales and Operations, AOL Europe and Christina Vaughan Founder and CEO of Image Source. All three had a different story to tell and I left the event having had fun and with new ideas for my own business. Anyone who knows me will know how much I love these events and how much I learn from listening to successful people.
The following day I was at the Savoy Hotel in London at the Three Butterflies Lunch to raise money for Womankind Worldwide. This charity is an international women's human rights charity working to help women transform their lives in Africa, Asia and Latin America. How humble I felt when I heard some of the stories of the women who have helped these women.
I had the pleasure of speaking to the West Country Embroiderer's at Brockenhurst Village Hall on Saturday afternoon before attending Jen's 60th birthday party at Le Blaireau that evening. Jen is a member of the Wessex Women's Network and has raised thousands of pounds for Naomi House Children's Hospice over the years by organising fantastic Themed Balls that we all enjoyed. What a fabulous party it was, I could have danced all night but luckily I didn't because my dancing legs are not as fit as they used to be and I had to work the next day as usual.
The annual Christmas dinner in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support was held at The Cloud Hotel on Saturday December 11th and raised £1,700-00. The event was well attended and we all enjoyed the Highcliffe Junior Choir singing Christmas carols at the start of the evening. The Cloud Hotel has raised over £30,000-00 over the past 25 years thanks to the support of the local community.
The Wessex Women's Network Christmas Dinner will be held on Thursday December 15th at the Cloud Hotel. Jason Noble singer/songwriter will be entertaining us with his latest single 'Be Mine This Christmas'. It is available to pre order on line from www.7digital.com I hope to see as many of you as possible at what should be a fun evening and will be the last meeting of the year.
Christmas is a time we give gifts to our family and friends but sometimes as Zig Ziglar said
'You Never Know When a Kind Act Or One Word Of Encouragement Can Change A Life Forever'
I'll leave you with that thought and wish you all a very happy Christmas and a New Year filled with love, happiness, fun and success.
Avril
In between running a busy hotel and finding time for my family I have attended some very inspirational and enjoyable events hence the delay in writing this Blog! In November I was invited to attend the 'everywoman of Influence Dinner' at the Landmark Hotel in London. The dinner was to provide the attendees the opportunity to hear what it takes to build a successful business and to create an environment where people will want to work. We listened to three inspiring speakers who had all succeeded in their own fields. Larry Hirst CBE, until his retirement from IBM in 2010 was chairman of IBM Europe. Kate Burns Senior Vice President, Sales and Operations, AOL Europe and Christina Vaughan Founder and CEO of Image Source. All three had a different story to tell and I left the event having had fun and with new ideas for my own business. Anyone who knows me will know how much I love these events and how much I learn from listening to successful people.
The following day I was at the Savoy Hotel in London at the Three Butterflies Lunch to raise money for Womankind Worldwide. This charity is an international women's human rights charity working to help women transform their lives in Africa, Asia and Latin America. How humble I felt when I heard some of the stories of the women who have helped these women.
I had the pleasure of speaking to the West Country Embroiderer's at Brockenhurst Village Hall on Saturday afternoon before attending Jen's 60th birthday party at Le Blaireau that evening. Jen is a member of the Wessex Women's Network and has raised thousands of pounds for Naomi House Children's Hospice over the years by organising fantastic Themed Balls that we all enjoyed. What a fabulous party it was, I could have danced all night but luckily I didn't because my dancing legs are not as fit as they used to be and I had to work the next day as usual.
The annual Christmas dinner in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support was held at The Cloud Hotel on Saturday December 11th and raised £1,700-00. The event was well attended and we all enjoyed the Highcliffe Junior Choir singing Christmas carols at the start of the evening. The Cloud Hotel has raised over £30,000-00 over the past 25 years thanks to the support of the local community.
The Wessex Women's Network Christmas Dinner will be held on Thursday December 15th at the Cloud Hotel. Jason Noble singer/songwriter will be entertaining us with his latest single 'Be Mine This Christmas'. It is available to pre order on line from www.7digital.com I hope to see as many of you as possible at what should be a fun evening and will be the last meeting of the year.
Christmas is a time we give gifts to our family and friends but sometimes as Zig Ziglar said
'You Never Know When a Kind Act Or One Word Of Encouragement Can Change A Life Forever'
I'll leave you with that thought and wish you all a very happy Christmas and a New Year filled with love, happiness, fun and success.
Avril
Sunday, 20 November 2011
Only 5 weeks to Christmas
I returned from my holiday in Tenerife relaxed and tanned just in time to attend the Wessex Women's Network meeting on Tuesday November 15th and to hear Jus Hobbs give us a talk and demonstration on how to become fit and slim with kettlebells, how pleased I was that I didn't miss it. Jus inspired us all so much that we can't wait to try it for ourselves but decided to wait until after Christmas because we will probably need to exercise even more after having indulged in all the Christmas food and drink! If you would like information about Jus and the kettlebells visit www.maxfit.me.uk.
I think it is really important to take time away from your business, it gives you a chance to step back and look at your business with fresh eyes. I always read loads of books while I'm away and return to my business not only refreshed but with a list of new ideas! You would be amazed how your staff can cope and run the business when you are not there. By giving them responsibility their confidence grows and they discover they have talents they thought only other people have. A win win situation -- you get a holiday and their self esteem grows.
With only 5 weeks to go until Christmas the pressure is on for some of us ladies to create a happy family occasion as well as try and run a successful business. Needless to say we are able to do just that with our juggling skills but that's not to say we are usually exhausted after all the celebrations and I actually look forward to a quiet January.
The Christmas meeting for the Wessex Women's Network is on Thursday 15th December. Jason Noble a singer and songwriter will be entertaining us and you will be-able to purchase his latest single Be Mine This Christmas. Jason is registered blind and this single is raising money for the Royal National Institute of Blind People. For more information visit www.facebook.com/beminethischristmas or www.youtube.com and search for Jason Noble/Be Mine This Christmas. I hope to have a full house for this event so book early so as not to be disappointed.
If you are looking for ideas for Christmas can I suggest you put 'How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be' By Jack Canfield on your Christmas list. A great motivational book and I read it for the third time while I was on holiday.
Finally a quote from Lou Holtz
'If you are bored with life, if you don't get up every morning with a burning desire to do things -- you don't have enough goals'
Thankfully I've never been bored in my life!
Avril
I think it is really important to take time away from your business, it gives you a chance to step back and look at your business with fresh eyes. I always read loads of books while I'm away and return to my business not only refreshed but with a list of new ideas! You would be amazed how your staff can cope and run the business when you are not there. By giving them responsibility their confidence grows and they discover they have talents they thought only other people have. A win win situation -- you get a holiday and their self esteem grows.
With only 5 weeks to go until Christmas the pressure is on for some of us ladies to create a happy family occasion as well as try and run a successful business. Needless to say we are able to do just that with our juggling skills but that's not to say we are usually exhausted after all the celebrations and I actually look forward to a quiet January.
The Christmas meeting for the Wessex Women's Network is on Thursday 15th December. Jason Noble a singer and songwriter will be entertaining us and you will be-able to purchase his latest single Be Mine This Christmas. Jason is registered blind and this single is raising money for the Royal National Institute of Blind People. For more information visit www.facebook.com/beminethischristmas or www.youtube.com and search for Jason Noble/Be Mine This Christmas. I hope to have a full house for this event so book early so as not to be disappointed.
If you are looking for ideas for Christmas can I suggest you put 'How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be' By Jack Canfield on your Christmas list. A great motivational book and I read it for the third time while I was on holiday.
Finally a quote from Lou Holtz
'If you are bored with life, if you don't get up every morning with a burning desire to do things -- you don't have enough goals'
Thankfully I've never been bored in my life!
Avril
Saturday, 29 October 2011
Women in Politics
It was a full house on Wednesday October 26th to hear Christina Dykes talk to us about women in politics and what an interesting and inspiring evening it turned out to be. Women are still under represented in Parliament and on the Boards of Directors and an interesting discussion developed amongst the women about trying to succeed in a chosen career and be a Mother, wife and often a carer for elderly parents. I don't know what the answer is but I do know that at no other time in history has so much been expected of women and maybe we only have ourselves to blame? I have been looking after my 6 year old granddaughter this week [it's half term!] as well as trying to run a busy hotel and I have found it exhausting. Christina was a charming person and passionate about helping women and men to reach their full potential, I asked her to take some of our comments back to Parliament as well as a copy of my book 'Delighting Your Customers" after all we are all customers to members of Parliament as it's our tax money that pays their wages.
I had a wonderful evening at The Mayflower Theatre last Saturday when I attended the English National Ballet's performance to Gershwin's music. If any of you have the opportunity to go and see it do go, not only was it entertaining but the standard of ballet was wonderful with such young talent. I could hardly sit in my seat I enjoyed it so much.
The clocks go back at the end of October signalling that the dark evenings and winter is on the way although at the time of writing this it is very mild for the time of year. The wonderful Autumn colours of the trees can be seen in certain parts of the New Forest but there is still more to come, I always think that the best time to see the autumn colours is the first week of November.
I was a Judge for the Nat West everywoman awards recently. This is my 6th year of judging these awards and I never fail to be amazed at the courage and talent that the finalists have. It is always a difficult job choosing winners but even the finalists will get publicity so it is always worth going in for awards to promote your business. The rewards can be very profitable. The finalists will be announced on November 4th and the winners announced at the Award Ceremony on Wednesday December 7th 2011 at The Dorchester Hotel London. For further information of the Award ceremony and to buy tickets for this prestigious event visit www.everywoman.com
The next Wessex Women's Network meeting is on Tuesday November 15th. Jus Hobbs is a personal trainer and will be advising us on how to keep fit using kettle bells. It's always very important to look after yourself and sometimes we are so busy looking after everyone else we are inclined to neglect ourselves.
Remember to always be yourself as everyone else is taken.
Avril
I was a Judge for the Nat West everywoman awards recently. This is my 6th year of judging these awards and I never fail to be amazed at the courage and talent that the finalists have. It is always a difficult job choosing winners but even the finalists will get publicity so it is always worth going in for awards to promote your business. The rewards can be very profitable. The finalists will be announced on November 4th and the winners announced at the Award Ceremony on Wednesday December 7th 2011 at The Dorchester Hotel London. For further information of the Award ceremony and to buy tickets for this prestigious event visit www.everywoman.com
The next Wessex Women's Network meeting is on Tuesday November 15th. Jus Hobbs is a personal trainer and will be advising us on how to keep fit using kettle bells. It's always very important to look after yourself and sometimes we are so busy looking after everyone else we are inclined to neglect ourselves.
Remember to always be yourself as everyone else is taken.
Avril
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