Your Voice

On Tuesday May 22nd Amanda Smallbone gave a very interesting and entertaining talk to the Wessex Women on the 'voice'. Amanda impressed upon us how important your voice is and what it says about you as an individual and the impact it can make on another person either in your business or your personal life. Amanda is my eldest daughter and is the head of voice and choral studies at Winchester University. She is passionate about the voice and how so little importance is given to it. Although her talk was not about making us all singers she ended her presentation with getting us all to sing and raise the roof at the Cloud. It was great fun and we thought maybe we could form the Wessex Women's Network choir!!!

The Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations are in full swing and it is lovely to see the way these celebrations bring the community together with street parties and Jubilee lunches. We are all so busy with our lives that we are inclined to lose touch with our friends and neighbours but these events give us the opportunity to get together again.

Business is tough at the moment and it is only those companies who give 5 star service, control their costs and look after their staff who will survive this economic downturn. There is business to be won out their but you need to work hard at it and I really get fed up with all the negative people I meet. Negative people can crush your dreams and I really do believe that positive people create positive results and are a magnet for success.

'Surround yourself with people who are only going to lift you higher' Oprah Winfrey

I only believe in reporting positive news and although I'm not a great fan of TripAdvisor the Cloud Hotel has earned the 'Prestigious 2012 Certificate of Excellence Award' from TripAdvisor for consistently good reviews and recommendations from travellers who have stayed at the Cloud. Praise must go to my hard working staff. 

After 36 years in hospitality and alot of hard work I have been shortlisted for a Lifetime Achievement Award. Women 1st Shine Awards recognise female achievement in hospitality, passenger transport, travel and tourism I am up against 4 other very strong candidates but I'm just thrilled to have been shortlisted. The Awards take place on Tuesday June 19th at a glittering gala dinner at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel in London hosted by Emma Forbes of radio and television. Details of all the awards can be found on www.people1st.co.uk/women1st

The next Wessex Women's Networking meeting is on Wednesday 20th June when Chris Morley - Butler to Lord Montagu of Beaulieu will tell us about "A day in the life of a Butler". 

Finally

'You can't fall if you don't climb but there's no joy in living your whole life on the ground'  

The first step is the hardest but if you don't take that first step you will never know what you might have achieved!

Avril