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Most entrepreneurs don’t have the luxury of being able to invest all their time and money into their startup from the very beginning. With bills to pay every month, it’s a huge risk to quit a full-time job and start up a new business, especially if you don’t have a nest egg of savings to keep you. That’s why so many businesses start out as side projects.
By starting your business as a side hustle, you can comfortably grow the business in your spare time, while still being able to pay your bills and take care of your family. Once the business starts to take off, you can then make the choice to turn your passion project into your full-time gig. It may seem daunting to start a business while still working a full-time job, but there are plenty of examples of women who have made it work! Be inspired by these successful businesses that grew out of side hustles. Nasty Gal - Sophia Amoruso One of the most well-known side-hustle success stories comes in the form of Nasty Gal, an e-bay business that grew to become a $100 million-plus online fashion retailer with more than 350 employees in just eight years! Sophia Amoruso started the business at 22, as a way to make some extra cash, but soon found that she had tapped into a market that had huge potential for growth. Chewbeads - Lisa Greenwald The best side hustles often come out of a personal need. At least that was the case for Lisa Greenwald who came up with the idea of Chewbeads shortly after the birth of her son. Lisa noticed that her baby loved to put everything in his mouth, most of all, her necklaces. But she was always concerned that they may break or be coated in unhealthy chemicals. Her range of soft, non-toxic jewelry, is colorful, chic and above all else safe for children to chew on. The company quickly grew to the point that Lisa was able to quit her job in the fashion industry to focus on her business full-time. Bookishly - Louise Verity Bookishly started out as a hobby, where Louise made little prints onto book pages and framed them into block frames. She soon started selling her creations on Etsy, while working full time in HR. It was only when Louise fell pregnant that she decided to use her extra time while on maternity leave to really focus on growing her side hustle and by the time her leave was over, she decided to quit her job altogether. Today Louise earns double what she was earning when working full time in HR and only works four days a week. These are only three stories and three different ways how a side hustle grew in to a full blown business. Are you thinking of starting a business but not sure where to start? Check out our live workshop ‘Start the Right Business for You’ maybe your time is now? Have a fantastical day! Hanna
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 There are many reasons why you could decide to make a career change. Perhaps you’ve lost your passion, you’ve found a new interest that you want to pursue, or you simply your life has changed and your previous career is not a fit anymore. Whatever the reason, changing careers is a huge decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Before making the big leap, it’s important to put in the leg work so that you’re well-equipped when choosing a new career path that is right for you. We’ve put together these 4 easy steps to help plan a major career move.
1. Examine Before jumping into a new career, it’s important to first take a step back to evaluate your current situation. Why are you looking for a new career? What is working for you right now and what is not? A good way to investigate this is to keep a journal, noting down your daily reactions to tasks and situations. If you are currently working, you will be able to gain better perspective on exactly what it is about your situation that is or isn’t right. Is it the people you work with, the company culture, or simply the tasks you’re required to do? If your desire for change is based on personal relationships, perhaps you should consider a new job in the same industry before moving in a whole new direction. Also, consider alternative roles that would allow you to make use of the industry knowledge you’ve worked hard to gain. If you are on a career break this exercise will be hugely valuable to reconnect with yourself and understand better what kind a career path you should embark on. 2. Explore The next step is to spend some time assessing your interests, values and skills. Think about where you have been the most successful in the past and how various roles have made you feel? Remember that it’s important to align your core values and skills with your career path. Perhaps it’s worth taking a few online tests to help you determine where your strengths and interests lie. Once you have an idea of your skills and passions, try brainstorming some ideas for career alternatives that will best align with these. It’s always helpful to get an outsiders perspective too, so make sure you run your thinking past friends, family, or your mentor. If you’re struggling to come up with ideas, a career counsellor can help make some recommendations too. 3. Evaluate By now, you should have a good list of potential career options. But before you make a choice, you first need to find out as much as you can about each option. Is there an opportunity for you to volunteer or freelance in the field to get a taste of what it would be like? Reach out to personal or professional contacts who are currently working in your field of interest to get an insider’s viewpoint, or set up a job shadow to get a first-hand look at what the job will entail. 4. Educate The evaluation process should not only help you narrow down your ideal career path, but should also help you assess the areas where you need to upskill. Research some education opportunities that would help you bridge the gap for a smoother transition into your new field. Evening classes or online options are a great option for upskilling yourself, while still working in your current job. Sign up for seminars, talks and online tutorials; the more you can learn now, the easier it will be to make your career change a success. If you are now ready to make this change and create your new career and would like to know about the most common mistakes - and what to do instead? Then download our free guide here Remember, it is never too late to create a life and career you love! Have a great day! Bye for now. Hanna  Most of us spend more time at work than anywhere else, which is why it’s so important to make sure that all this time is spent wisely. Of course, going through ups and downs at work is completely natural and you may feel like pulling your hair out at the end of a tough week, but how can you tell when it’s actually time to quit? Making this choice can be confusing, so we’ve put together this list of 5 ways you can tell it’s time to leave your job.
1. You dread going to work every day. We all know the feeling of wanting to roll over and go back to sleep when the Monday morning alarm rings. But if the very thought of your job brings up emotions of anxiety, dismay, fear or dread, it’s probably time to get out of there. Try to pinpoint exactly what it is about your work that is making you feel this way. Is it the people you work with, the tasks you’re doing, or have you simply lost your passion? By understanding the cause of the negativity, you’ll be better equipped to plot your next steps. 2. Other parts of your life are suffering. No job is worth sacrificing your health or important relationships. Are you struggling to sleep, gaining weight, feeling depressed and anxious, or suffering from headaches and frequent illness? These could all be signs that you are overworked or overstressed. Is your partner constantly complaining that you spend too much time at the office, or do you come home so tired you can’t even enjoy spending time with your kids? When your job starts to affect your personal life or health, this is a major red flag that something isn’t right. Try to find ways to minimise your stress and workload, but if you can’t perhaps it’s time to find an alternative solution. 3. The work environment is really bad. When a company culture is full of blame, infighting and Nobody wants to be stuck on a sinking ship, so if you feel as though the company you work for is circling the drain then it could time to look for jobs elsewhere. Look out for signs such as losing big clients, tighter budgets and resignations within upper management. To excel in your own career, you need to be a part of a company that is growing and developing, not one that is struggling to make ends meet. 4. You aren’t learning or advancing in your career. One of the easiest ways to know it’s time to leave a job is when you feel as though you aren’t learning anymore. All too often people find themselves stuck in the same role for too long, making them complacent or bored. If you feel as though you’ve been pigeonholed in a position with little chance of being promoted, especially if you have asked and made it clear, then it’s not worth hanging around. Although it may feel comfortable, a truly fulfilling job should always challenge, upskill or develop you in some way. 5. You have a bad boss. Do you feel that you know more than your boss? Are they incompetent or take credit for your work? Does your boss blame you when things go wrong? These are all signs of a bad boss! If you have a boss who leaves you feeling miserable at the end of every day, it’s time to leave your job before you lose your confidence altogether. Maybe there is another opportunity within the same company, if so explore, if not then time to see what else is out there. Maybe you now know it is time for something new. Then download our free guide '5 mistakes to avoid when starting a new career' so you can learn what they are and what to do instead. You can download it here Remember, it is never too late to create a career and life that you love. Shine one! Hanna  To be a good networker you need to practise the art of good conversation, understand the fine line between selling yourself without overdoing it, and above all you need to be brave enough to step out of your comfort zone. What good networking really comes down to is building relationships, and as with all relationships, building trust and confidence takes time. So how should you approach networking? Here are our top tips for effective networking.
1. Get ready. Like with most things, the planning and preparation work you do ahead of time will exponentially improve the result. If you are going to an event, think about who you would like to connect with and what you would like to get out of a conversation with them. When you have your list of people try to figure out something you have in common with them, maybe you both know a person, share a hobby, or your kids go to the same school, whatever it is starting the conversation by mentioning common grounds will always be great ice breaker. And with your questions, write them down and have them in your pocket, and if you need to have to look – do - people will value that you are interested enough to prepare. 2. Don’t be late. Whether you are attending an event or meeting an individual, arriving early is a great idea. Events tend to be quieter and calmer, making it an easier environment to connect with people. Walking into a crowded and noisy room, where people are already engaged in conversation, makes an already daunting experience that much harder. And if it is more of a meeting than an event, arriving early gives you the opportunity to familiarize yourself with the surrounding and to prepare yourself. 3. Listen first. Although it may be counterintuitive, a good place to start is to simply listen. Remember that a great networker is a conversationalist, not a talker. If you listen to the needs of others, you’ll easily be able to offer the right solutions when the time comes. Start a conversation by simply walking up to a person or group and asking if you may join them. Ask simple questions, and then make sure you listen intently to their replies. Remember that body language speaks louder than words, so be sure to look people in the eye and smile. 4. Authenticity is key. All too often people see networking events as an extended sales pitch, but as networking is all about building relationships you should be focusing more on making real connections than selling your product or service. Keep your conversations lighthearted and informal with the aim of simply starting a conversation. If the conversation does lead to your business, then be sure to speak passionately about what you do. Your authentic enthusiasm is sure to be contagious and make for a memorable conversation. 5. Follow up. Make sure that your networking efforts have the biggest impact, by following up on leads after the initial contact. Be sure to ask for the best way to keep in touch and then follow up in a way that is professional but not pushy. Whether you send an email, note or even a friendly phone call, make sure you get in touch soon and mention something you discussed in your initial chat so that your contact remembers you. 6. Practise makes perfect. To be successful at networking you need to study and practise, and soon enough it will become second nature. The more you engage and interact with other people, the more comfortable you will feel having conversations with people, and the better results you will achieve. Have a great day, and remember it is never too late to create a life and career you love! Shine on Hanna  In today’s world of overwhelming distractions, it can be a real challenge to stay focused and productive throughout your workday and in your day-to-day life too. But with only limited hours, it’s vital that you focus your efforts to make sure that you’re getting the most out of your time! Plus, by increasing your productivity levels, you’ll quickly find that you’re able to work smarter instead of harder (or longer). All it requires is a little bit of effort when it comes to managing your time. To help you get started, here are our top 4 tips for increasing productivity.
1. No more multitasking. Many people believe that multitasking is an important skill to master if you hope to increase your efficiency, but studies have shown that attempting to do multiple tasks at the same time can actually lead to lower levels of productivity and time wasting. So, rather than trying to do multiple things at once, rather focus all your energy on the task at hand. Whether you’re in a meeting or spending quality time with your kids, make sure you’re truly present and fully committed to the task at hand. Not only will this allow you to get more done, you’ll also feel more fulfilled by each accomplishment. 2. Make a to-do list (and stick to it). One of the easiest ways to be more productive is to start each day by taking 10-15 minutes to create your to-do list. This list will help you stay focused throughout your day and helps avoid aimless time-wasting in between tasks. When putting together your list, remember to make sure that it is both attainable and specific. It’s also a good idea to mark the tasks that are high priority and should be done first, or when you are at your most productive. There is nothing more satisfying than crossing things off your list once they’re complete, so start making a to-do list today to help keep you motivated! 3. Make a NOT-to- do list (and stick to it). To remove some of the distractions in our lives a great thing to do is to prioritise what not-to-do. I know it sounds a bit strange but if you sit down, and make a list of what not to do it will help you get clearer on the things you need to stop doing for the sake of getting the important stuff done. 4. Do your most important work during your most productive hours. All too often people who want to be more productive simply start by putting in more hours; working harder instead of smarter. This is a good approach in theory, but in reality we actually only have a few hours a day of high-level energy when we’re able to tackle complex tasks effectively. Of course, you can try to push through it, but in doing so you’re likely to experience a severe drop in the quality of your output. That’s why it’s key to develop a good understanding of the time of day when you’re at your best, and then schedule your most important, challenging or creative tasks for this period. Save your boring, menial and administrative tasks for other parts of your day when you’re likely to be less focused and efficient. 5. Know your why. Do you have an exciting goal or big dream that you’re working towards? Remember to keep this in sight at all times to help motivate you through the boring day-to-day tasks. Make a list of your goals and stick them up on your wall or keep them on your phone, as a constant reminder of why you should stay focused on the tasks at hand even if they seem trivial or insignificant at the time. Figure out what your ‘why’, or underlying motivation is, and then keep connecting to it as a way to help motivate you to stay focused on your end goal. What are your tricks to stay focused and get stuff done, let us know! Share your tips in our Facebook Group, TAC She Sisterhood, and there you can also receive lots of valuable tips and tools to help you thrive in your life and career. Have a great day and remember it is never too late to create a life a career that you love! Shine on. Hanna |
AuthorHANNA GIRLING, wife, mother, business owner, mindset coach, sport enthusiast and forever an optimist. Archives
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