One of the biggest challenges for anyone running their own business is the frustration around the implemention of technology. I have been hosting "Learning Sessions" now for over 6 months and although these have been well received what I have noticed is that there are still obstacles for people implementing their ideas and moving forward. I am fascinated as to why it is still so difficult to make progress even when there is apparent clarity on what to do next. So intrigued am I with this that I have spent some weeks now asking questions trying to get to the bottom of what is holding people back (not everyone I hasten to add, but a surprisingly large number). So my investigations have revealed some interesting points... Having left the learning sessions with great intent... life gets back in play as soon as 1 hour after the learning session has finished... then each day that passes the excitement wanes, until finally, it is all pretty much forgotten and it i...

With new venues and a revised meeting approach, the SWHertsBDN - Business Development Network recommenced at Perk Coffee shop on the 6th February.  (next event is 6th March - Book here ... if  it's your 1st time attending then use the promo code: "1stvisit") SWHertsBDN is part of the National Link4Business initiative which seeks to bring together local independent business owners to actively work together, collaborate and support each other. It is much easier to work as a team rather than struggle alone individually. There is enough business for everyone and we can all succeed if we adopt the attitude of 'going to give'. 4 new members joined the SWHerts collaborative business 'Team' during February. Harjit Thakkar, Bhavna Radia, Victoria Hart and Anthony Richard Joyce. Below a short introduction to each... Harjit Thakkar Harjit is based in Croxley and runs Punjabi Gourmet. The business has been founded on the principal of 4 (or 5) weekly se...

By now you might have heard about the "Business Development Network" in South West Herts. This is an initiative to bring local businesses, traders and entrepreneurs together. If we can work together collaboratively we can achieve far more than we can as individuals, all we really need to do is say... "yes I would rather play as a team than go it all alone" ... How can I get involved and what can I do? ...  To work as an effective team though we need to be able to share easily what we are all doing... and this means? ... yep... online skills are quite an important part of that. Have no fear though because... as part of the overall programme... there is innovation (ideas and creativity)... people (that's the local businesses / community) and SKILLS ... this is the part that enables is to bring our collective skill level up. Quite simply the more skilled we are, the more we are able to support each other, the quicker and faster we can grow our Local Bu...

Along with a few others, during November  I was on a video conference call enjoying month 3 of Metanoia; a personal development programme written and delivered by good friend Viktoria Duda . During this session we looked at the Hero's Journey [diagram to the left / above]. This model was hammered out by Jospeh Cambell who observed that throughout history stories repeatedly consisted of similar components (acts) and archetypes (actors or players). These two elements combining within this flexible model to provide an almost limitless variety of adaptations for the storyteller that serve to amplify the transitional journey of the Hero; the central character. What has drawn me too this "Hero's Journey" is not only my own love for recounting stories that resonate with others, but that we all love a good story. It is built into the human psyche. Humans have been recording their stories with wall carvings, paintings, objects, tapestries, words, books and movies for...

Many of us are bewildered by some of the events of late. Sensational news stories abound daily many of which touch raw nerves and leave us both perplexed and feeling powerless. Even though many step forward and voice the same concerns that we do, the system appears to roll on regardless. Seemingly unbelievable decisions are taken and outcomes experienced even in the face of staunch opposition leaving many despairing of how can we actually bring about any kind of change. Below are 9 ways that we 'the people' can start the process of taking back control. These are things we can all do. They require nothing more than to accept responsibility to play our part. Each of the items below help us to :- Invest in ourselves and becoming the best we can be Enhance and grow our local 'interdependent' communities Build a fairer, more sustainable, and harmonious society The beautiful thing is none of this relies on money to deliver, it is something we can all partake in e...

Are you too honest to be a salesperson? Most of us don't really like selling There will be a few who say they do, but I believe they just like exuberantly extolling the virtues of some product or service with high levels of enthusiasm. This is often confused as enjoyment of selling! I've heard people often say in the past... I don't think I could ever be a good sales person I think I am basically too honest! ... that always makes me smile. The single largest mistake people make right now with marketing (selling) is that in our excitement to get sales we post endlessly on our low cost sales platform... Social Media. There are a number of things that are wrong with most people's approach here... Confusing Social Media predominantly as an advertising platform Thinking that if you don't get a response you need to do more of it That most people are already bored with your endless posts and have 'turned you off' by either blocking seeing your posts...

Welcome to the 1st blog post for IPSL This blog will be the place to share all the latest News and Updates about what is happening from IPSL. IPSL - Innovation-People-Skills-Link4Growth is the organisation that is implementing the Link4Growth community building tools in the South West Herts district. This is a collection of villages and towns in the area specifically: Watford, Rickmansworth, Croxley Green, Northwood, Bushey, Oxhey South Oxhey, Carpenders Park, Kings Langley, Abbots Langley, Garston, Leavesden, Chorleywood and Harefield. This is one of 85+ districts for Link4Growth, right across the country. IPSL’s mission is to facilitate any who wish to contribute to our communities to be able to do so easily and simply in whatever way they wish. Optionally you can join Link4Growth itself, a national community of like minded people working together to bring about positive change in our communities. If we could do something we were passionate about, that helped others, was ...