Author Archives: admin

After Winter comes Spring….

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wintertospring

It seems to me that right now, it’s not just about keeping positive, positive helps the days go by, but positive doesn’t move you forward. What about being smart?

Right now it’s winter. The season has been extended. It’s frikking snowing, in April. But we’re also in an economic winter, and what do you do in winter? You take stock. Plan ahead, clear out, make space for the new, assess what’s working, what isn’t.

Now is a great time to make decisions about the future.  Be aware that Spring follows winter. Change is automatic, Progress is not. Be ready. Use this time to prepare. Hibernate, but be ready to blossom with renewed vigour, colour and energy.

What are you going to do next? How are you going to contribute? What do you want to achieve? What do you want your mark on the world to be? Are you going to defensively re-act to whatever comes or are you going to anticipate and prepare?

react adapt

Yes, it is difficult out there right now, but I suggest that it is not enough to be there thinking: “This too shall pass” It is true that it will, after night day will surely come, but will you be ready when it does? Are you ready for the change? Are you ready to progress?

control the sail

If the answer is yes! But you are not sure you know how, if you need a hand, because lets be fair it’s a lonely old world sometimes, get in touch. I might be able to help. ☺

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Can I help you? A round up of my most popular services…

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I’ve been asked by a number of people to explain in more detail what it is that I do, and so because the services I offer are bespoke and tailored to each particular client, I have decided instead to give you the run down on some of the most popular things I do, which can be booked as stand alone offers, can be built into a bespoke package for you, or might be included in the on-going work that we decide to do together.

Business Babysitting:
So, you run a business, so you can never go on holiday, right? Wrong. I can answer your phones, emails, and enquiries and respond as you would, or take details and pass on to the freelancers that you use, making sure that no balls are dropped and nothing is missed whilst you are a away. I can file the mess, pay the bills and make sure that there isn’t a massive backlog and piles of unopened post when you return.

Desk MOT’s:
Is your desk a place you dread? Perhaps it worked for you once, but no longer serves you. Together we can find the best place for everything you need and work out processes that work for you, making you more efficient, and your desk a nice place to be.

Email Triage, Correspondence and Diary Management:
As it says on the tin really. Do you get so many emails a day that you no longer read any of them? Do you skim read and then try and remember to go back and answer later? Maybe you can’t find emails that you were sure were there? There is probably a lot I can take off your hands, working together we can create filters, rules, files, and template responses. I can also log in remotely and read and reply to people increasing the time you spend doing the work you actually enjoy!

Personal Admin Overhaul:
You’ve kept everything for 6 or 7 years like you are supposed to right? How long ago? Do you still have bits of paper in your files from 1999? That was 14 years ago! From refiling and binning what is no longer needed to rearranging contracts on utilities to get you the best deals, I can save you money and create space.

House search / move:
Looking for a new property to rent or buy takes time and patience. Give me a brief and I can do it for you, arranging for you visit those appropriate all in one go.

Wardrobe / Home / Office De-clutter:
“Clutter is stuck energy. The word “clutter” derives from the Middle English word “clotter,” which means to coagulate – and that’s about as stuck as you can get.”
If you want to get unstuck, create space or just make way for new, get me in and we’ll get it done.

Holiday / Trip / Gift research / planning / Booking:
Some people just don’t have the time or the inclination to find those tucked away deals. With my great network, and busy fingers I can find you just the thing you are looking for!

In order to keep it simple and still allow you freedom and flexibility I offer pay as you go and retainer rates. All my projects are bespoke, and my pricing is to be confirmed at consultation, the first Consultation is free, usually on the phone, for up to an hour. Minimum PAYG booking time is 2 hours.

Pay-as-you-go: I charge £30 per hour plus agreed expenses.

I get booked up about a week in advance, but sometimes people cancel, and it’s always worth checking my availability. If however you want to guarantee that I will be free for you a retainer might be better.

Retainers: Save you a substantial amount of money but must be paid up front by standing order. The hours do not roll-over and I do not offer a refund for unused hours. I offer 35 hours and 65 hours a month fixed rate retainers. These are on-going or for a minimum 3 month period:

35 hours per month (approx 1 day a week) £850
65 hours per month (approx 2 days a week) £1600

If you want to get in touch you can email me, find me on Twitter, Facebook or just call.

And, I also offer discounted rates and deals to people who really want to work with me, and I really want to work with, so please never be afraid to ask for help from me.

atb

Ebonie

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Goodbye 2012 it’s been fun….

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Happy New Year.

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Wishing you everything your heart desires for 2013.

As some of you will know I was due to be accompanying a singer on her world tour at the end of January, but as is the nature of the beast, things have changed and I will not be leaving until the Summer now. This means that I will be based in Sussex and London for at least the next six months, and I currently have availability for an ongoing one day a week client and also ad hoc bookings for events, private PA work, Copy writing, planning, research and general sorting chaos and trouble shooting. If you have something I can help you with, please get in touch.

Many thanks, with love

Ebonie

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Professional Job Seeker at your service:

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As someone who is looking for work, and who often has to assure employers that ‘I will not get bored and leave’ I am not sure that writing this piece is wholly sensible. Yet I will do it anyway as I truly believe that I am very good at what I do, and that whether I work as an employee or a contractor, whether the agreement is for one day, one year or on-going; I give the project my full focus, and attention.

I am still unsure if I am looking for a job job, or if I am looking to continue to freelance. Their are pros and cons to both options as I see it. Both from the employees point of view but also from the employers. I do believe that the employment market is changing, and I am pleased with the direction I think that we are moving in. As I see it we are moving toward a more contract to contract working environment, with people taking more responsibility for their careers and demonstrating capability and enthusiasm, while employers find ways to remunerate that aren’t wholly financial, but appeal to other key motivators too. This is something I have a gazillion opinions about, and recommend that everyone read ‘Maverick’ by Ricardo Semler.

Anyways.

Over the last year I have probably applied for over 104 jobs. Probably pitched for 20 projects. Amended my CV 65 times. Written as many cover letters. I have probably been on 65 interviews. I have gotten from over 200 applicants down to the last two on 20 occasions. I have learned a lot.

I am still doing the odd bit of Freelance work for some fantastic and incredible clients, but I am yet to find a job, project or contract that is remunerating me in a way that makes me happy. I am still looking for the right thing, and spend my days writing my novel (nearly finished draft one) looking for jobs, researching, applying, thinking, creating and going with the flow.

I’ve just been at Reasons to be Creative - a conference in Brighton, that really inspired me, reminded me that I am a creative person and got me really thinking. It got me thinking about all sorts of things – why don’t I paint any more? Where is the book of poems I wrote in my teens? Am I still an artist if I don’t use typical art tools? Am I getting across in interview how creative I am? Am I also getting across how pragmatic I am?

I really got to thinking about the interview process, and I have some thoughts I want to share:

It seems to me that the interview process is a two way thing, whilst yes the employer wants to make sure that the candidate has the right skills and qualifications to do the job, and they must also check whether this personality will fit into an already existing team, it is the job of the candidate to find out this information for themselves and to find out if the work environment, management style, resources, work hours and financial reward will be right for them. It is also their job to open the recruiters eyes to skills, experiences and new ways of thinking that they may not know they are looking for. In order to want to find out this information and then to discover it the  candidate must have a reasonably high emotional intelligence, which in turn is a great skill for an employer to be given insight into at this stage.  Emotional intelligence could also be called common sense. Which is not as common as described.

When I interview for a job there are several things I do to prepare myself and enable me to present myself as accurately as I can:

I make a list of what I would be looking for if I were interviewing candidates for this role. I put myself in the recruiters shoes. I answer honestly with anecdotes and examples of situations and experiences I have of situations that I think demonstrate that I have or understand the skills required. I hope that this comes out when I am talking to them,  I often ask questions or allay concerns for them before they ask. I hope to demonstrate that I possess the ability to empathise; which I would say is particularly valuable for management positions.

I research the company, and the work that they have done, not to look like a suck up, and not because you should, but because I want to know what I will be doing if I work for them. I want to know the context of our meeting. Is this vacancy as a result of growth or maternity leave for example. Will I be replacing someone? Why are they leaving? How do the people they are leaving behind feel about this? How long have the Company been trading, who are their competitors? Why would I want to work for them over their competitors? What are their plans for the future? How will the person doing this role be involved in that? I make a list of questions I have and I keep them in my mind. I am a mental list maker, I don’t have a post it note obsession (anymore) and although I do carry a notebook everywhere I go, and I do email myself questions and reminders all day long, I mostly make mental lists. Even if I don’t remember every point, the process of doing so secures the important stuff in my mind.

 I work out what to wear. This is a big deal for me. A uniform is a deal-breaker. I hate being told what to wear. I hated it at school and I hate it now. I am mature enough and smart enough to realise that what we look like alters peoples perceptions of us. I waited years before I had my first visible tattoo for fear of limiting myself. These days however I always have a small area of tattoos showing at interview. If I am going to be judged negatively I want to know, and this provides me with a chance to gauge the recruiters reaction. I am not a skirt or trouser suit wearing kinda gal. I am a creative person and I like to have that reflected in my outfit. I like to wear dresses (when appropriate, not so great for a get in or a de-rig.) Or Jeans and a T. I like to wear flipflops or my Converse. I am in no way saying I look like a tramp. I used to be a stylist, I really can put an outfit together. I am more than capable of dressing appropriate to circumstance, I have worked with HNW individual and dined at classy establishments but I see no need for heels and a full face of makeup for making phone calls and writing copy. I actively seek an employer who appreciates this. I tend to pick something that is comfortable and inoffensive. Not too much cleavage. Or leg. But not mimicking a nun either.

I do the practical stuff: work out where the meeting is and how to get there – if it is a face to face. Or, find a quiet, but not too quiet place, with good mobile signal, if it is a call and I will be out and about. I email or text to confirm the appointment, and I communicate if I will be late or if I can’t find them. All obvious, but I have been told all sorts of horror stories.

And then I just turn up.

In the interview, I imagine myself already working for them, I ask questions from that stand point, I am never nervous, because for me I am just meeting people and finding out about them, the work that they do, and how I could fit in. For me this is a great pass time. I genuinely like to be interviewed. Who doesn’t like to talk about themselves? I am proud of the life I have lived thus far and enjoy telling my story. I ask questions, sometimes probably too many, I have been accused of interviewing my interviewer, but I am genuinely curious. People fascinate me. Stories Fascinate me.

I always end by asking if they have any concerns at this point that are stopping me from immediately being put through to the next stage, or given the job. If they have any I try to alleviate them.

And then I wait.

So far, the results have been very positive right down to the last two candidates on so very many occasions, and then I get an email saying that they have gone in a different direction.

I always ask for feedback, I think it is incredibly important to have feedback, to be able to analyse if you are coming across as you think you are, and to know where you can improve not only your presentation of yourself, but also your skills if necessary.

Recently all my feedback has been that the other person has more experience specific to the role / industry / event etc. And that whilst I have a great overview, and am clearly capable of learning and doing what is asked of me, they are going with the person that has done this before, in this environment, with these kinds of people and these kinds of resources.

I get it, I do. I would probably make the safe choice too. After all we are in a recession, taking risks is risky. That said, being bold is powerful. Actually, who am I kidding, I’d hire me, the risk, the anomaly, the creative thinker, who might just shake things up and produce things greater than I could imagine.

But I would say that.

I welcome your thoughts, and obviously if you want to interview of hire me, please do get in touch. You can email me, or tweet me…..

 

Inhale / Exhale….

“Yeah, I’m into Yoga” I declare. “I have a regular Asana practice and I live my life in a yogic manner”…..and yet sometimes I feel like a fraud when I say this as I don’t practice every day. I have been practising yoga on and off for most of my adult life, and in 2009 I did a teachers training course. Now I probably do one yoga holiday a year, I do a little at home, go to at least two classes a week at my gym, and when around newbies I look like a seasoned yogini. But I’ll be honest there are days where my focus is on the shopping I have to do later, or how much my toes need a pedi. But even if I miss a class here or there, or don’t live up to my own expectations of daily sun salutations, I know I can’t go more than three days without a bend and a stretch. Its now built in to my routine and the fabric of my life.

When I first started attending yoga classes I found savasana (thats the relaxy bit at the end) the hardest part of the class, my mind was not still, my body didn’t know how to let go on demand. Nowadays I find it a most welcome pause in my day and an essential part of using my energy and resources efficiently. I have learned how to relax, and whilst it didn’t come easy for me, I have taken that capability off the mat and into my everyday life by scheduling in doses of relaxation and ‘me time’.  AND, I really ENJOY it. I am able to fully let go knowing I have allotted time for it. There are no longer feelings of guilt, I don’t whip myself with the label of lazy, as I now know how important down time is, and how it serves me long term. I no longer suffer from burn out; being ill on every break I had was becoming a theme. I have much more balanced energy levels, whereas before it was ALL or NOTHING, now I have peaks and troughs but not valleys and mountains.

There are other ways I try to bring my yogic practice into my daily life;

I really try to live my life moment to moment, focus on the here and now, but it’s not easy. I drift off into fantasy, plan ahead and forget to enjoy right now. I take things and people for granted and often have to remind myself to breathe. In yoga we have Drishti, a point of focus where the gaze rests during asana and meditation practice. Focusing on a drishti aids concentration, since it is easier to become distracted when the eyes are wandering all over the room. Each yoga pose has a specific drishti, which also aids in alignment. The same can be said in daily life. I like to take a moment to think about what my focus or gaze will be set on for the day or tasks ahead of me.

Pranayama is control of Breath. “Prana” is breath or vital energy in the body and “ayama” means control. So Pranayama is “Control of Breath”. Breath is integral. I never used to think about controlling it, I just took it for granted that my instincts and lungs would do the work. Now though, I often use my breath to calm myself down, or buy myself some time. Not just in moments of panic and anger but also in moments of happiness and joy, I try and breathe into them, savouring every bit. Pranayama can be very powerful, and it is is advised to learn from a teacher rather than doing yourself harm. That said, just taking time to notice your breath, subtlety elongating your exhalation so that your inhalation and exhalation are of a more even length and consistency is a great start.

How do you incorporate yoga into your daily life? What’s changed for you since you started practising yoga? Get in touch, let me know…

  

Why work?

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What motivates you? Why do you work? Are you a ‘live to work’ or ‘work to live’ kinda person? Do you believe that those statements are even relevant any more?

Ambition.

Drive.

Status.

Money.

Power.

Perks.

Creativity.

 

In a time where unemployment is so high and just getting A job is a big deal, are we really able to go after the career of our dreams or must we take whatever we can get? In a world where things change so fast, what skills must our children nurture now to be career ready? There are jobs and whole industries that exist now that I wouldn’t have even been able to dream of ten years ago, there was no Facebook, no Twitter, no SEO roles, no Social Media Managers, Ghost Tweeters, Virtual Assistants or Bloggers.

I’m someone that my friends describe as ambitious. For me that word still conjures images of 80′s shoulder-pads, women with sharp elbows and power-suits, and I wouldn’t say I’m that sort of ambitious, but I do really believe in working hard and doing something that you love. When I started out I had no idea what I wanted to do was called, but I knew the industry I wanted to work in and the things that made me happy and that I seemed good at. I started out in the TV industry at a time when it was competitive, but not overridden. You had to be willing to give your time, focus, and creativity. You had to work long hours for a pittance and prove your heart was in it above all else. Prove that you thought outside the box and had value to add to the team. All of these things are still true for anyone starting out. It is hard to get noticed, but still entirely possible. Companies are still looking to employ innovative, creative, interested, engaged people. But there are a lot more of them. Everyone wants to be AMAZING. So what gives people the edge now? What must one do to get noticed?

The workplace is changing, nowadays it’s unlikely that the Company that you start off working the post room for, will be the Company that you retire from, to me this is a positive thing. It means that there is a relationship between employee and employer that didn’t exist before. It is no longer about clocking in, looking busy and clocking out, but being productive, efficient and showing your value and worth.

Employees need to think of themselves more like Freelancers do, as micro businesses; developing business plans for themselves, setting up their own 100 day reviews, knowing their own worth and proving it.  In this way both employees and employers are more likely to continue to learn, to develop and as a result be happier, have more to offer.  A culture of clocking in, clocking out and clock watching will be replaced by a society that is more empowered, more efficient and as a result makes more time for relaxing, spending time with their families, developing hobbies, learning languages, engaging in other cultures,  and enjoying their lives. Working in this way could impact so many other areas of life. Stress (a major contributor to absenteeism and long term sickness) would decrease, lessening the pressures on the medical profession, the strains on the welfare system, and also creating a global society of people with a greater degree of self responsibility……..

Maybe I’ve gone to far, maybe at this point this is merely unproven thoughts in the head of a woman who has a little too much time to think. However, I truly believe that by pursuing a working agreement based on efficiency and productivity over a more traditional, time for money transaction based approach we will end up with more self aware, empowered workers and people.

I’m interested to know what you think. I’d welcome your thoughts….. email me.

Half a year gone….the story so far

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It feels like only last week that I was whizzing around Bali, hanging out in Ubud’s Clear Cafe drinking espresso and exotic juice and tiptapping away at my manuscript. Trying to get it all done in the two months I had allocated for my adventure turned out to be too big a task, and instead I allowed myself time to just be, to soak up Bali and enjoy my time in it’s wonderful haven. I had an amazing adventure, and then reluctantly but also ready, I came home to the freezing February snow.

It has in fact been nearly seven months since I arrived in Bali and five that I have been back.

Sheeesh, where does the time go? What have I done?

Well, I came home, by which I mean to the South Coast of England, and just sort of got on with it.

Although I have written a little more, I am still only two thirds of the way through my Novel, but I have been busy with other things, like moving into my new home in Eastbourne, doing it up….gutting the bathroom and installing a shiny posh new one. Painting walls, putting up shelves, finding lodgers, and generally playing house…..

I’ve also been really trying to figure out what is next for me n my career, trying to find the right job. I’ve been asking a lot of questions, and giving myself permission to take my time to figure it out.  What am I good at? What makes me happy? Somewhere in the answer to those two questions lies the secret of never ‘working’ again, but instead getting up everyday and being brilliant.

I realised I couldn’t figure this out alone, so I asked some people that know me, and some people that I’ve worked for ‘what is it I’m good at?” and then I listened and made some notes….. The notes said that I’m reliable, someone that these people would trust with their businesses, their babies, their bank details and to get them from one side of the world to the other in the most comfortable, least expensive manner possible. They told me that I’m straight talking and serious when serious needs to happen, and fun and creative when fun and creative needs to happen. They told me I’m a good all-rounder and that I’m good with people and that you can chuck me in the deep end of chaos and that I’ll stay focused and not get panicked.

This made me kinda happy. I sound like a good person. (Yippee)

But then, I got a bit sad too, because I couldn’t think of a job or a job title for all that stuff.

And people need to have a job title.       Something catchy and snappy like senior manager of producing marvelousness…..

Hmmmm

So, I don’t have a job title, well not a catchy, snappy apply all one, but I do know sort of what it is that I do.

So here’s the thing, I’d like your help.

I am a catalyst, I get things moving. I give businesses & people the jolt they need to generate happy productivity.  There are always things (in business and in general life) that we want or need to get done, but they just don’t happen…. I make them happen, what I am good at, what I enjoy, is getting things done.

My brain is a creative one, but it is also a process and logistics brain. I break things down into manageable chunks.  I work out if the blockage is people, process or resource related. I put together an appropriate action plan to fit the people and adjust the resources so that efficiency & enjoyment go hand in hand. I support the people involved through implementation of the process and then check in after it’s all done, to evaluate and to proffer advice on maintenance and sustainability. ….

In real terms, I guess this means that I can run or manage a project for you; from a home refurbishment, or finding the right property, or developing a brand identity or website, to a large scale event (like a Company away day, or a wedding) or getting the content of a book or workshop out of your head and onto paper or computer, or or or…..

I run budgets, processes, logistics and get your idea from a brain fart to actuality.

If you have any idea if this is a job that has a title, or if you have a job (!) I’d love to hear from you.  Plus if I have worked for you, and you want to give me feedback on what it is that I am good at and seem to enjoy, please do email me.

Competition Time!!

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Win a spa experience to enjoy with a friend!

The Great Big Event Co are giving away a spa day for two at the award winning Grayshott Spa in Surrey.

De-stress from wedding worries and treat yourself to the pampering you deserve with a day out at the award winning Grayshott Spa.  Your day will included a delicious 3 course buffet lunch, use of all the spa facilities including the swimming pool, hydrotherapy pool, relaxation, sauna and steam rooms, tennis courts, gym and exercise classes.  For more information about Grayshott Spa visit www.grayshottspa.com

How to enter:

For your chance to win a day for two at Grayshott Spa just answer these two simple questions:

  1. 1.    How many years does the Queen celebrate on the throne this year, the year of her Diamond Jubilee?
  2. 2.    Which gorgeous heritage property, and wedding venue, was used as the setting for the period drama     Downton Abbey?

Email your answers to: info@thegreatbigevent.com with ‘Competition’ in the subject line.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS:  The winner will be the first correct entry drawn on 30th April 2012.  Entrants must be 18 or over.  The prize is a mid-week Grayshott a La Carte Day for two people to be used Monday-Friday.  The winner will be notified by email.  The prize must be accepted as offered and is non-transferable, non-redeemable and cannot be used in conjunction with any other.  There can be no alternative award, cash or other.  One entry per household.  By entering this competition you are agreeing to the terms and conditions and your email address may be used for further promotional mailings from The Great Big Event Co and Grayshott Spa.  The organisers’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. The promotion will be governed by English Law