International Women’s Day – Day 5 – Celebrating Summer

Post author:josheava
Post published:March 8, 2019
Post category:Blog

Summer has two boys
Runs Summer Johnston Photography
Recently opened her own studio in Rawtenstall, Lancashire

www.summerjphotography.co.uk

Summer is one of my newest clients, although I have known her for quite a few years as we used to be neighbours. Summer runs Summer Johnston Photography and her photos are absolutely beautiful.

I’ve always loved photographs, and it is a true talent to be able to capture such beautiful shots and memories. Summer specialises in newborn photography, maternity shoots, family portraits and weddings, and also undertakes the occasional commercial shoot, working with a number of businesses within the Rossendale valley. As a photographer she is in much demand, and her work has won her a number of awards from The Photographers Guild. On top of this she has just started her new DSLR courses for people who have a “proper” camera but have never dared take it off automatic.

Hear all about Summer, in her own words...

Originally from Heywood, I moved to Irwell Vale with husband Andrew in 2005 where we live with our sons aged 9 and 6.

I launched my business from home in 2010, having fallen in love with photography just after our first son was born. I started out taking outdoor portraits for families and weddings shoots, and it wasn’t long before I invested in some studio lighting equipment to develop my growing interest in studio portraiture. With the support of local families, Summer Johnston Photography has become a thriving business, helping me to successfully juggle motherhood, family life and self-employment.

In addition to my ‘day job’, I volunteer for the charity Remember My Baby, which offers a professional photography service to bereaved families who have lost a baby at birth. It’s sensitive and often difficult work but hugely rewarding, and I’m honoured that I’m able to use my skills to provide families that have sadly lost a child with memories that they can treasure forever.

My client base has grown to such an extent that working from home just wasn’t possible anymore so I began searching for a new premises to set up a studio. At the start of this year I managed to secure a space at Hardman’s Business Centre, which is great because it’s kept my business here in Rossendale. I love living and working here and the community has given me so much that it would have been a real shame to have to relocate elsewhere. The Rawtenstall location is ideal for me – it’s full of character, it’s right next to the motorway, the parking is great and it’s adjacent to the New Hall Hey retail park. And it’s only five minutes from home, meaning I can still be involved with my boys and events at their school!

To follow Summer on Facebook go to SummerJPhotography

Thank you for reading the past five blogs for International Women’s day, all about these amazing ladies!

Being a parent, a mum, is a huge honour and privilege and these ladies are a credit to mums everywhere! Not just mums in business, but stay-at-home mums, mums working part-time and mums working full-time! You are all amazing! You are all doing your best, and I want to encourage you that through loving your child the best way you know how, you are giving them your best and that’s all that matters! They will know that!

If you’re a mum who has her own business, and could do with support but are worried about what you can afford. Contact me today to set up your free, child-friendly consultation! No obligation. I’m sure between us we can sort something out! hello@josheava.co.uk

Day 4 – Celebrating Heather

Post author:josheava
Post published:March 7, 2019
Post category:Blog

Heather has an 11 year old son
Runs the MIBA Lancashire and North Manchester Networking Group
Has her own wellbeing project for children, Mindset and Me

www.mindsetandme.uk

I only met Heather recently. She not only runs MIBA Lancashire and North Manchester – which is basically a Mums in Business Association Networking Group, but she also has her own business called Mindset and Me.

MIBA is an absolutely amazing support for mums in business. The Facebook group is so interactive and has really helped boost my confidence. It’s informative and just an absolute encouragement to us Mums who are working from home, on our own, just giving us a sense of community and that we aren’t alone. She also runs regular networking meetings in various locations at times suitable for Mums to be able to attend (unlike a lot of networking groups which are at breakfast time – which is the busiest time of the day getting ready for school). It’s also less corporate, and for me that’s perfect because it would be completely out of my comfort zone. For me I just love that we can all just be mums, who have businesses, but we can be ourselves!

Mindset and me is a programme for children, which Heather started with journals, workbooks and cards that help children with their mindset and wellbeing. Heather works extremely hard on both projects, and is hugely successful. She has been through a lot in her life, and is proof that we are all capable of shining no matter what our circumstances may have said about us in the past, or even in the present. We can all do it!

Here's Heather in her own words:

Working from home and being a Mum in business means the absolute world and has been a complete lifesaver for many, many reasons. I tried so many different things for lots of years, but nothing worked. I didn’t feel I was doing what I was put here to do, what I was aligned to do.

I wanted more family time and I wanted to be here for my son Isaac, who has ADHD and is Autistic – the main reason I needed to work from home. We faught for a diagnosis for 5 years for him. I was called into school everyday, plus we had regular appointments, and because of this I came close to losing my job.

Then I discovered network marketing, which I could do much more flexibly. Isaac just wanted his mum there so much of the time, that it worked much better for us. I started off dropping my hours, then eventually I was working full time from home.

It was like a weight had lifted. I had been at rock bottom with depression and anxiety. It was a release for me, and my mental health improved drastically. I was happier and much more confident. I was here when Isaac came home from school, which was amazing because when he was younger he couldn’t go to after school clubs, because he wasn’t accepted there, and during school holidays he couldn’t go to holiday clubs, so we would be relying on family and taking unpaid holiday just to care for him.

Then I found my real passion. I joined MIBA – Mums in Business Association – which gave me the confidence to follow through the ideas and dreams that I had. What I’m aligned to do, here to do, and make a difference to others doing it.

That’s when I started Mindset and Me, which Isaac has been involved in too. It’s something we can do together and it’s an incredible feeling knowing I can do this from home, be there for him, whilst still fulfilling my dream.

To follow Heather on facebook go to www.facebook.com/mindsetandmeuk/ or to find out more about the Mums in Business Association in your area go to www.facebook.com/mumsinbusinessassociation/

Come back tomorrow for our final installment!

Day 3 – Celebrating Laura

Post author:josheava
Post published:March 6, 2019
Post category:Blog

Laura has 2 preschool children
Previously experienced as a PA
Now runs her own Virtual Assistant business, Pineapple VA
Based in Manchester

www.pineappleva.co.uk

I first met Laura online, on a Virtual Assistant Group on Facebook. We were both just starting out, and were able to give each other tips and tricks whilst getting started, plus support each other and ask opinions on websites and business cards etc.

Since then we have kept in touch, and recently had the chance to work together on an associate level. Laura has a fantastic business, a great work ethic, and she does it all whilst raising her kids. Although we haven’t met yet, she has been a great support to me, and I’m sure an inspiration to me and many others.

Read all about Laura in her own words...

I had always wanted to be a PA. I had worked in the health insurance industry in sales administration for over 6 years and then my dream came true! I absolutely loved the job of Personal Assistant, I loved the variety, the travel, the challenges, the pressure, the tasks, the status, everything.

I was not a maternal person at all. I was a bit of a wild child and was always planning the next holiday, sporting challenge or party. I only decided that I wanted children at age 30, around the time I met my husband.

I had my little girl in February 2015 and my life completely changed. Although I made many mistakes and found it to be the hardest thing I had ever done, I absolutely adored being a mummy and it made me realise the whole point of me – to have a family! It took me by surprise how comfortable I felt being a parent and how much I enjoyed it. When my little girl was one and I was due to return to work I was made redundant due to the North West division of the company closing down. My luck couldn’t have been better, as I had been with the company for ten years I had a great redundancy package which meant I was able to become a stay at home mum. My little boy came along in March 2017, adding to the chaos and completing our family. We had enough money from my redundancy to last us until he was about 18 months old but then I realised I would need to start earning some cash again. I knew that I didn’t want to go back to work full time, the children were now my priority and I was not prepared to miss important events and school pick ups because I was stuck on the motorway commuting home from the office or having to travel and stay away overnight for work.

I decided in early 2018 that I wanted to work as a Virtual Assistant. As a self-confessed admin geek I was always going to stay in administration. I loved the idea of working flexibly from home and building relationships with my own clients. I thought I was really clever and had thought up the idea myself… until I went on line and discovered there were thousands and thousands of VA’s all over the world! I did my research and signed up to a VA training course and by the end of June 2018 Pineapple VA was born. I chose the name Pineapple, as I wanted something unique that would stand out and represent my personality. Pineapple is also the international symbol for warmth and hospitality, and the word Pineapple derives from ‘nannas’, which means excellent!

Pineapple derives from ‘nannas’, which means excellent!

It was quite daunting setting up my own business and having to learn everything from scratch. I had admin skills and some sales skills but all of a sudden I was managing all the departments… marketing, finance, IT, HR… It was much harder than I thought initially, especially as I was juggling my work around my children. Everything seemed to take more time than I had thought. At first I found it hard to keep my family and business life separate from each other so I was often checking social media when I should have been playing with the children or trying to fit in Skype calls around my little boys naps. Looking back it was actually pretty stressful. I had a lot of support from family and friends who provided childcare, business advice, money and wine when required!

Towards the end of last year and just a few months after setting up Pineapple VA I had a few things going on in my personal life, including my Dad being diagnosed with terminal cancer. With these things and the pressure of setting up my business and having 2 small children everything started to become a bit of a blur. I was constantly running around trying to do everything and stay strong for everyone but not enjoying it very much. I was never in the present and I just couldn’t relax or switch off. I had been fortunate enough to find clients quickly but the relationships were not all working and over Christmas I took a step back and decided that I needed to put on the brakes a little and settle down. I think it takes a while to realise you are the business owner and you decide your rate, when you work and who you work with. Once I slowed down and took some ownership back I felt a great sense of empowerment. I networked my socks off in January and found two new great clients to work with.

I now find a great sense of satisfaction in figuring out a new task myself and being able to deliver something new for the first time. I always wrote myself off for creative jobs as my skills are more honed towards general PA duties but I have recently found a love of Canva and Mailchimp! Its great to have my own money again to contribute to the family and it’s wonderful to be recognised as a reputable business owner and to be asked for advice and contributions. The VA community is a close knit one and every VA I have come across is more than willing to share advice, skills and sometimes even jobs and clients!

I am still learning all the time but I am now loving the role. My clients are so diverse and interesting and give me a variety of tasks. My work life balance is second to none and that’s the main reason for setting up my business. I feel incredibly lucky and I am excited for what 2019 will bring.

To follow Pineapple VA on Facebook go to www.facebook.com/PineappleVA/

Come back tomorrow for day 4’s instalment!

Day 2 – Celebrating Emily

Post author:josheava
Post published:March 5, 2019
Post category:Blog

Emily has a 6 year old daughter
Runs Whoop Fitness and Wellbeing
Aims to empower and inspire women to be healthy physically and mentally, and love the body they’re in!
Based in Surrey

www.whoopfitness.co.uk

Emily and I grew up in the same church, down in Surrey, and I have always admired her energy and passion for others. Now she has her own business doing just that! Inspiring others through fitness and wellbeing!

Here's how Emily feels about what she does, in her own words...

Being a mummy is the hardest but most wonderful job I’ve ever had. The hard can be so hard you want to pull off your ears and run away but the wonderful can be so wonderful that you laugh, cheer and sob and want to hold your child so close and never want to let go. I love my daughter and struggle with her too!

Owning my own business is somewhat similar. It is my passion and is my baby. This can be so much so, that my customers are not really customers but more daughters! Even if some are older than me! I want to protect them, shield them, strengthen them and then shake them until they realise their worth!

I run a dance fitness and wellbeing company and am passionate about women (not exclusively) realising their beauty, their worth and their potential.

Having 2 ‘babies’ (a 6 year old and a company) and a husband and trying to ‘run a home’ is hard. I often have the guilt that I’m not doing enough and failing in one area. It’s true, I physically cannot be the best mummy, wife, business women, chef, cleaner, friend and get enough sleep! Sometimes one of the spinning plates will drop, sometimes they are all on the floor! We got a cleaner which saved my marriage but I’m still working on how to keep the plates up, even if not spinning beautifully!

I’ve realised a massive thing is look after myself. If I’m not fuelled, I can’t do anything. I can look at the plates around me but do nothing about them. This is easier said than done though. I have found mindfulness, prayer, being boundaried about family time, and the odd spa day help!

Keep pedalling on! Remember sometimes prioritising 2 things and ticking them off is a win (even if you add 10 to your ‘to do’ list!) And something that always stuck with me was ‘yes to this, no to that!’ Always prioritise your family! Not just with words but action too.

Keep going you hero mummies! X

To follow her on Facebook go to www.facebook.com/whoopfitness/

Come back tomorrow for day 3 of Celebrating Mums in Business!

Day 1 – Celebrating Carole

Post author:josheava
Post published:March 4, 2019
Post category:Blog

Carole is a Mum of 3
Runs Lingua Lessons – a language school in Rossendale, Lancashire
Teaches French, Spanish and German

www.lingualessons.co.uk

www.learnfrenchonline.co.uk

I first met Carole through a mutual friend, who suggested I could help support her with admin and social media for a few hours a week. This was in 2017, and is now the reason I have my own business as a VA. We went to a Mums Enterprise Business Fair last April, and I discovered what a VA was, and that it basically covered exactly what I’d been been doing for her, I just hadn’t had the title.

The rest as they say, is history.

Carole is passionate about teaching, and giving her students the best teaching methods she can. She’s always coming up with great new ideas, runs online French tutoring via video calls, plus has been writing her own online video courses. This is also whilst raising three children and running a home.

It’s people like Carole who have inspired me to be able to do what I do, whilst also teaching me along the way.

Here's why Carole does what she does, and loves what she does, in her own words...

My name is Carole Palfreman. I have my own language school called “Lingua Lessons” in Rossendale. I was able to start it in 2014 when my youngest at the time started going to nursery. Having my own business means I can work round the children. I can still take them to school, pick them up and be involved in their school life. I can also take them to their out of school activities. It means I get the best of both worlds. I like the flexibility aspect of my work. Having my own business means my work is also very varied, which I like very much.

I teach people languages at their home or where they work, which means I get to see people during the day. I like human contact and I love seeing the progress people make. I also teach on Skype,

which has another dimension to it. It works really, as if I was sat next to the person/people I am teaching. Another teacher and I run language classes at St Peter’s Community Centre in Haslingden. It requires a lot of organisation but it’s nice to teach a whole class of people as well.

Click the links at the top of the page to go to Carole’s websites.

To follow her on Facebook go to: www.facebook.com/LinguaLessons/ or www.facebook.com/LearnFrenchWithCarole/