Marie Taylor Online

Like a lion with a sore head and women called Lisa

Do you ever have those days when you are so challenged by people and technology that you wish you could start again?

Today is one of those. It started with the delivery of a parcel. I've been waiting for something to arrive from the states and had expected it today. Mr.Fed-Ex turned up and I got all excited only to find that he didn't have anything on his truck for me but "wondered if I'd mind taking in two parcels for neighbours". Now, I'm a community minded soul so I said yes. Then I saw one of the parcels,. Suffice to say that had I kept it I would not have been able to move down the hallway as it was the size of a small wardrobe. So I said "woah. No I can't keep that one". Well you should have heard the huffing and puffing and muttering under the breath.

Then , I received a pre-bailiff demand for a bill that isn't mine and never has been. I phoned the Council (the claimant) and spoke to ineffectual chap who made comments like "So I am writing here that you are saying that you do not know this person and they do not live at this address. You do know don't you that this can be used as evidence?"

You know you need to consider your career when....

This is such a great post from Anne Walsh that made me laugh out loud. I had to share it on this dull day. A great coach see more at her site (Anne Walsh)
 

1. You fantasise about working in a tollbooth on the M50...read on..
2. The highlights of the day are tea breaks and lunchtime.
3. You know you have said all this before but you can't remember when.
4. You keep ringing the talking clock because you know the clock in work is slow by a few hours.
5. You go to work and when you return home you have no memory of what happened in between.
6. You wonder what the new person at work is so enthusiastic about.
7. You volunteer to do the photocopying for everyone.
8. You wish your customers would leave you alone...they always seem to want something.
9. You pretend to be on the dole when people ask you what you do.
10. You create a calendar that shows how many days you have until retirement.
11. You mark off each day on your calendar with a big black marker.
12. You wonder idly what it would be like to spend time in Mountjoy (prison)...and speculate that it really couldn't be much worse than this job.
13. You offer to swap jobs with the cleaning staff.
14. You begin to think about beginning to smoke...at least it gets you out of the office.
15. You wonder why all the stupid people of the universe congregate in your office.
16. You spend all week thinking about the weekend and spend most of Sunday dreading going to work.
17. You consider going to the zoo and hiring a monkey to do your job...you doubt if anyone would notice the difference.
18. You wonder what sort of deeds you committed in a past life to get saddled with your job, colleagues and boss...and speculate that you were probably Attila the Hun.
19. You have rung in sick with so many excuses that you are rapidly running out of dead relations and illnesses. You have already tried the Ebola virus and bird flu. Your boss has pointed out that most people only have 4 grandparents.
20. You spend time on the Internet researching excuses to stay out of work.
21. You can't think of one thing you like about your job...and you have tried. You really have.
22. You have 5 recruitment agencies on speed dial and 10 jobs websites in your favourites (and a jobs website as your home page)
23. You ring a friend asking them what they are doing now...even though you've already done that 4 times this morning.
24. You check out work visas in Afghanistan
25. You get morning sickness at the idea of going to work...and you're a man.
26. You read lots of books and articles about changing your job/career.

If you do SERIOUSLY have any of these experiences or similar, you need to take control of your career rather than let it manage you. See my e boook/ecourse to purchase at Career and a Life where there are also some free tips to get that work-life balance back in check. If you are fantasing about the tollbooth you might also make an appointment with your gp.
Enjoy

Marie

Isn't Alistair a Darling?

I rather like a bit of politics in my life and so I move between: being furious, to Mrs middle England, to Attila the Hun and on, to mildly amused by Mr.Darling and the like.I say "the like" because frankly they're all blending into one for me these days.We need an overhaul of how we do things on the UK I think.The system, the morals, the boundaries, its machinery in all its machinations isn't working anymore.

This gets me thinking about the organisations I do consultancy work in and what happens when the wheels drop off allbeit temporarily.In much of the Organisational Development work I do there's a people dimension and sometimes people behave in very strange ways. This can be in response to things going wrong,anticipation of them going wrong or in order to provoke them into starting to go wrong.People can sometimes behave like megalomaniacs, mice or lemmings. One might think that people and their shenanigans would shape up during recession- not necessarily so. For some, hard times mean retrenchment and we can see the emergence of jobsworth behaviour, autocratic management or outright rebellion. Equally, some become meek and indifferent afraid to be noticed in case someone realises they forgot to make them redundant.I've been developing a program on values and behaviours recently for a medium sized privately owned organisation who are experiencing some ripples of behaviour they find unacceptable.......

Winning Awards and Celebrating Outsourcing

Very exciting week.

Our Living Right Now www.livingrightnow.co.uk web site homepage has won the Everywoman Network Award.A vote of recognition by other everywoman members-peers, entrepreneurs.I'm absolutely delighted.

It feels like the first public endorsement of what we are aiming to do with living right now. Women who have visited the site are "getting it". They're understanding our relatively simple philosophy, they like the layout. they're signing up to receive the freebies and are enjoying the free downloads.

I've been putting the final touches to the licensed version of Get Your Career in Gear , my ebook/ecourse on developing your own career management system this week available at Career and A Life .We've received our first 500 of the printed inspirational cards aimed ay women-they're lovely. The book cover and illustrations for our tips book for professional women is almost complete.

It has got me thinking about outsourcing, about my experience of using the expertise of others and the lessons learnt in doing so.

Over the last 7 years in business, I've spent a considerable amount of time working on the design of my websites, on reviewing designs for logos and brand promoting materials, on looking at the layout of cards, books and the like -on considering colourways in various guises.

It took me quite a long time in business to start delegating things out to others and seek advice from others with more expertise,ideas and energy to produce things for me in specific areas
of my businesses. I use an assistant and VA services form time to time when the workload in the consultancy business gets heavy.

What makes all of these relationships work? They haven't always worked, so I am thinking that today is an opportune time to recognise what does.

• Relationship,intuition,relationship.If I can't "click" with a person I just know it's not going to work.I need to like them and respect them-quickly. 
• Track record.Have they done what they say they've done and even if they have little experience because they're new to business, do I believe that they can deliver the goods?
• Are they going to deliver on time? I'm someone who takes on too much, sometimes works to the wire and yet ALWAYS delivers on time.If a supplier can't, I'm not interested.
• Is the quality of their work good and VFM? If I have to chase someone, check their work consistently or get nervous about what they're going to churn out for the ££ paid it reminds me of being a Senior Manager/HR Director and that experience of constantly managing and monitoring .I left corporate life in part because I was bored with that, so why would I entertain it now?
• Can they tell it to me straight? I don't have time to waste.So, if someone needs me to do/say/present something differently so that they can understand what's required or doesn't agree with or like what I'm doing,I'd rather they told me-quick.(Even if I don't like it and need to lie down in a darkened room for 10 minutes)
• Do they do what they do with good intentions? Intention plus delivery is everything to me.If someone messes up and makes a mistake, I'm not likely to shout and scream if it's genuine and they've done their best ( 2000 leaflets printed with the wrong web address sitting in a garage somewhere are testament to that) We all mess up sometimes.I'm more interested in what the person intends to do to make it right and get back on track without waiting for me to resolve it. like solution focused people.
• Me- can I make myself available, give feedback quickly enough and give enough feedback clearly to keep things moving and get a win win for both of us?
• Can I articulate clearly what I want, what I need by when and where it fits in my business so that outsourced suppliers get it and get me?

So, to those of you who have supplied me with business support to develop my businesses in the last 7 years here you are.Thankyou;Sarah Patience,Gary Hoyte,Ros Barker, Vicky Greig, Jan McCarthy,Martin and Nick at This is chemistry,Lisa Trouliotis, Keely Crowe, Judith Morgan, Nicola Cairncross, Steve Watson, Marion Ryan,Claire Raikes,Philip Samuel,Rohan,Alexandra Chalfont,Sue at Bossco,Nicola King, Leda, Samantha De Barry and If I forgot you it was only in this moment!

Marie

 
   

Looking for inspiration?

I have been beavering away in recent months with my business partner in Living Right Now, Jeni.  We have been finishing off our lovely book and have now sent our inspiration cards off to the printers. Although I say so myself, the cards are a lovely little resource. We've designed them with professional women with little time in mind. A handy card sized pack (just small enough to slip into your luggage on business trips) full of tips and reflections to give you food for thought in that quiet 5 minutes that you can find to focus simply on you. We really want to encourage women across the world to take even a little time each day or each week just for YOU. We know you're busy, we know that squeezing in me time can be difficult.
We also know that spending just 5 to 10 minutes a day just on you, can reap enormous benefits. Whether it is a little time at home, at work, on the train, in your hotel room.It doesn't matter where. What matters is that you make time for you.Some now time to bring some fresh perspective and present focus.I think you're going to love them. If you sign up at the site now, you will be offered a discount when they're ready in April. Just in time for an Easter bunny treat.

Eat Chocolate, Lose Weight and Learn

Just posted on the Living Right Now Blog about having a proper and positive attitude to dieting where you mindfully eat what you want and control your diet by doing just that- eating what you want.Sometimes quite a lot of it.Now I'm not a huge chocks fan but I am a BIG fan of anything that works and there's lots of evidence that the approach of the Beyond Chocolate gals works. I read their book, Beyond Chocolate this weekend in part because I want to understand how they work.Also, we are looking for a publishing agent for our upcoming book aimed at professional women (out in April) and I wanted to see what the book quality was like.It's good.I recommend it.

They use a ten step approach and when I read it it got me thinking ....      

Well is homelessness such a BIG ISSUE?

I am sorry that I haven't communicated in 2009. It's been a funny couple of months and I'm just coming up for air and gaining some perspective. Last time I wrote I was doing my bit of physical work over Xmas with homeless people in a crisis day shelter. I made more breakfasts, cups of tea, and sandwiches than Mrs Beeton ever made hot dinners. In return, I gained some humility and the reward of lovely smiling faces who for a few days could be fed,watered and looked after respectfully and treated with dignity.

Homelessness affects people from all walks of life and its none too discriminating about who it latches onto sometimes.In the current economic climate many more are fearing the possibility of losing their homes and are struggling.Yet we know that there are real tangible ways to help  people out of poverty and to help them gain self respect even in sometimes small ways.

I have always had lots of time and respect for The Big Issue and I met John Bird at a charity event when I was being a dragon (aka Dragon's den) and he and one of his staff were doing  an investor pitch- REALLY seriously impressive people who make good use of their donations. So, I'm delighted that all round Mrs abundance, Judith Morgan  is running an event on saturday 21st March through one of her businesses, the  Money Gym .The focus is about property and making money from property.All the proceeds will be going to the big issue. She will raise  £4,500 when all the tickets are sold and they're going fast . She does need help to get the final push to sell these so please can you buy one or pass the message on to everyone you know to publicise the money gym's women talk money day -Make a big difference with just £25 and have a fun day out in the process! See you soon(or see you there!).
mx

Christmas Crunch and crisis in 2008

Well,it's almost upon us and whether you are a HO HO and GO type or a Bah Humbug, I hope you have an enjoyable time and that St. Nicholas brings you whatever your heart desires.

I am volunteering for 2 days this year over christmas with Crisis, one of many charities working with homeless people over the next two weeks and beyond.I have given to crisis every year for as long as I can remember around christmastime. I have never volunteered with them until now. So, on christmas eve and boxing day I will be up with the lark and down to the East End of London to prepare and serve up breakfasts and generally talk with people who come through the door.

Did you know that most people say their main reason for coming along to use these services at christmas is for the companionship?. It's lonely and can be very frightening in the streets and hostels in cities like London and especially so at times when others are out and about enjoying themselves.

A frightening statistic demonstrates that many of us are only 2 decisions away from homelessness,and that in 2009 the number of homeless people will increase.Not necessarily people living on the streets,rather people and families who are evicted for non payment of mortgages,rents, bills etc and find themselves in temporary accomodation, hostels and the like, with only a few of their personal belongings.

I met someone who was homeless as a child at a dinner party a few years ago.He is a very successful professional, living in a beautiful 4 bedroomed georgian house in a leafy London suburb . He has hardly any possessions. Just a few beautiful things, half a wardrobe full of clothes, cupboards full of food and one bedroom always free for people he describes as "the recently dispossessed in need of  temporary shelter". Basically, he gives a bedroom over to individuals who are referred to him and can stay with him for 6-8 weeks until they get rehoused , a new job, whatever it is that helps them get back on track rather than spiraling down into long term homelessness.
He has few possessions for 2 reasons- Sometimes the people he has to stay are so desperate they may steal anything of value from him and sell it. More importantly for him.He says he just doesn't buy what he doesn't need and couldn't pack up within a week if he had to.He places value on food,shelter and people more .

Jeff is volunteering in a rehab hostel this christmas and is my inspiration for choosing crisis. For those of you who saw the UK documentary "Cathy come home". (The one that resulted in many homeless charities being established) Jeff always says- " That small child on the street with his parents and siblings reminds me of me 10 years earlier" . These days, he is a successful 60 something year old with a huge heart. He reminds me of a good shepherd who always makes space and finds room. (How apt) If you can spare a few quid in these crunchy times, here's the link for Crisis Christmas .I'll let you know how I get on at the Inn!

All the best and lots of Ho Ho Ho
Mariex

Appreciating 2008

  Well she's done it again.(see http://tinyurl.com/appreciate2008-with-me)

Mrs abundance and lawyer of attraction of all things good in the universe, mrs Marion Ryan What a fabUlous idea! So many things to be grateful for and acknowledge in 2008 and having lost my pa this year, I promise to write about fathers in a more detailed posting on this fabulous site when I have an hour.
What struck me when I received Marion's email about her truly inspired idea, was how important it is to have a real passion behind our ideas, our businesses, around how we spend our time.She does that all the time that Marion.Well she's done it again.(see http://tinyurl.com/appreciate2008-with-me)

During 2008 events, business, friends, family, circumstances and coincidences have made me focus on what is important and what I want. What my career is, how important it is to me to contribute to developing others and helping them find their true path. How truly wonderful it is when as a coach, you know you have helped individuals achieve success in their careers and in working towards their life goals.I've been doing this coaching and development lark for nearly 20 years and I never tire of it. How totally "cool", "lush" and "epic" is that?

So how come it's taken me the best part of 2008 to write down some of the tools and techniques that have helped hundreds to be successful in managing their careers? How come the site to support this aspect of my work has taken me 2 or 3 years to get up and running? (http://www.careerandalife.com/)
Er? Too busy enjoying the dream career maybe? Or too busy full stop? Or too busy being a well kept secret? Probably all of those and more. Well 2009 is going to be different. I can feel it. Recession is not the same as regression and I really do believe that as a species we are forever destined towards progression. 2009- I can't wait.

What will you appreciate from 2008 ? Click here and let that Marion gal know about it     

Supporting creative young talent

I came across this today http://www.yachtscribble.com. via a network I am in called www.creativeentrepreneurs.com

How fantastic is is that. Two young people going for the dream and creating an innovative idea to make it happen . Great role models for teenagers. Forget long winded strategies to solve knifecrime and teenage boredom. Get these two out there inspiring hoodies to be goodies by defining and following a dream.

Fabulous- get your hands in your pockets!

Marie x