How do you feel about giving friends a helping hand?

I’ve had so much support and friendship since I began my business and I’ve appreciated every single scrap: people retweeting my stuff, telling women about the RenewYou course, generously sharing the blog posts. I’d like to give something back. I’m thinking of starting something akin to the old girl’s network. But I won’t be calling it that… ;>) Read on and do let me know what you think.

I’m sort of joking with that old girl’s network thing, but you know that whenever I can I like to give a boost to women and their endeavours. I truly think the world will be a much better place when we have as many women as men in positions of influence and power. I think you know by now that I’m not anti helping the men; it’s just that in most arenas of life the old boy’s network seems to be thriving well enough without extra help. I think we can big up the women without doing down the men.

Here’s My Idea

At the end of each working week I’d like to feature a woman who is running her own business and would like a shout out on these pages. The criteria is that the business must be ethical (arms dealers, ‘get rich quick’ or pyramid sellers folk, sorry, I’m excluding you) and have a website where I can invite readers to find out more. We’ll also be asking them to share their top three tips or advice to any woman thinking of going into business.

What I Need From You (aka The Rules)

Please reply to this in the order given (to jane@changingpeople.co.uk) as it will make it much easier for us to sift through and make good choices. We’re looking for up to 500 words. Thank you.

• You must nominate yourself . Please also tell friends etc but they must make their own nomination to me. This is not time to hide one’s light under a bushel.

• Send me an email with heading Woman in Business Nomination.

• Put your full name & address, tel number, website if you have one, in the email. It’s OK if you’re outside the UK, we have an international readership and welcome diversity.

• Describe your business in one paragraph. Try to be both succinct and honest. This is about helping everyone.

• Tell us when you began your business and what prompted you to go into business for yourself. What were you doing beforehand? You get a second paragraph for this! I’m so kind…

• List the top three things you’ve learned, tips you’ve been given, or advice you want to share.

• Add a high resolution picture of you, plus a company logo, picture of shop, product etc if you can.

It’d be great if you could share this with all the smart businesswomen you know so we get a real broad range of experience and advice. I plan to publish most Fridays. I have full editorial control (Oh the power!) and will be looking to help and inspire other women. This is genuinely free and I don’t want FIFA type bribes. Neither can I guarantee to put every entry in but I promise they will be read.

I want to get the word out to as many women as possible. Let’s get some debate going for women in business. Let’s support and encourage each other. Women helping women – fan-flipping-tastic! Tell everyone!

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