Jacqueline Rogers

Why Shouldn't Men Be Able To Have Their Own Network?

2010-01-11T13:34:35+00:00

It is widely understood that whilst established 'women only' business networks are acceptable men would not be able to get away with having an all male networking group, why is that?

I read last year that a scout group was disbanded because the scout leader refused to let a girl join and yet the brownies do not allow boys to join that appears to be an imbalance of 'rules'.

So, why shouldn't men be able to have their own network?

I'm often asked this question by men, I don't have the answer and I don't personally see why they shouldn't.

I'm very clear that gender specific networking events work incredibly well [for a number of reasons] and am interested in your comments on the above.

Millionaire Mind Intensive Comes To The UK!

2009-02-12T20:08:02+00:00

"The Secret Psychology of Wealth"
A Weekend That Will Change Your Financial Life Forever!

Click here Now

I attended the Millionaire Mind Intensive in Atlanta in 2006, I travelled a long way to expand my mind and it was worth every bit of the itch and ouch of the long journey and the time out of the business.

Recently I gave our new Regional Directors at Athena the gift of Harvs books and I am always delighted with the reception it gets.

Most of us were never taught how to win the money game and if we were, most likely we were taught by people who weren’t very good at it. The first critical element in winning the money game is knowing exactly how to do what rich people do to get and keep wealth.

At the Millionaire Mind Intensive™ you will learn a step-by-step process for winning the money game. Once you know how to play to win, you will never have to work again…unless of course, you choose to!

Click here Now if you want to learn the world's simplest system for money management

100 Financial Calculators Every Entrepreneur Needs

2008-07-01T20:13:10+01:00

As I was 'stumblin' today I came across one of the most useful financial sites. Christina Laun says;

Many entrepreneurs don’t have the luxury of having a separate accounting department, instead doing their own number crunching. It’s not always easy, but you can make it less difficult by making use of the huge number of free financial tools for businesses that are available on the Internet.

She has provided 100 calculators that can help you get and keep your finances in order. Click here to access them.

When The Going Gets Tough ...

2008-06-29T23:22:55+01:00

Is the uncertainty about the much publicised credit crunch deterring you from preparing for the inevitable turnaround. Michael Gerber (E-Myth Revisited) says that the best way forward in a period of instability is to focus on fundamentals. Continued retraction in the credit industry and financial markets has deeply shaken the business world. There is not a day goes by that we don’t hear another horror story from the media. So, what's a wise and savvy business woman to do?

The following tips are based on an article written for the E-Myth website entitled ‘When The Going Gets Tough’

Preparation - Gerber suggests that we prepare for the inevitable upswing. Take this time to use our strategic radar to identify opportunities ahead and document plans to enable our businesses to reach specific goals. Now, he says, is the time to clean house, re-tool and seek training that will deliver major competitive advantages. Use any slack time in your business to make your business better. Here’s how …

Innovate, Quantify & Orchestrate: Repeat - Work on innovation, product development and building your brand. These efforts are not top-line, discretionary cost centres, but integral structures supporting your business. Working consistently in these fundamental areas, like doing regular exercise, can improve the strength of your business.

Innovation, Quantification and Orchestration, are cyclic processes of successful businesses. Commit to this disciplined routine of inspection, measurement and iterative improvement to keep your business solidly on track.

Reward Excellence - Tough times may not seem like the best times to give bonuses, but if one of your departments is truly excelling, you can build great staff loyalty by acknowledging successful efforts monetarily. Also, listen openly to your employees and communicate honestly about business conditions. Simple courtesies like these can have long-lasting positive effects.

Listen To Your Customers - Ignore your customers' opinions at your peril. Seek out your best customers' opinions, and then act on the knowledge. Difficult times are changing times, and you need to be able to adapt to new conditions.

Improve Your Business Skills - An economic downturn may be financially uncomfortable, but a slow time is also an excellent time to deepen your business acumen, broaden your management capability and strengthen your self-discipline.

It goes without saying that one of your strategies should include continued networking. After reviewing all of the above tips it will enable you to get specific about your requirements ... then ask!

Why Franchising Attracts Women Entrepreneurs

2008-06-29T11:46:09+01:00

Have you ever wondered what it would take to leave the corporate world behind and own your own business? Are you tired of being the go-to girl, a small fish in a big sea, earning money for someone else? Is it time to take charge of your future and really be in control of your destiny?

Kim Ellis at www.homebasedbusiness.com explains why franchising is now attracting more women entrepreneurs ... to read more click here

Jacqueline Rogers
The Athena Network
UK's Premier Business Networking Organisation for Women
To Find Out More About A Unique, Affordable, Franchise Opportunity for Women click here
www.athenaconnection.com

Money Magnet?

2008-06-18T06:38:31+01:00

This does tickle me ... somewhat repetitive but that is the point to create a new habit and I did find myself singing along.

Embedded Video

Tags: moneymagnet, money

Royal Ascot: Knickers On ... Fake Tans Out!

2008-06-16T00:01:38+01:00

Time to re-think the Ascot outfit! Preparing for the annual soirée at Ascot I see that 'one' is not to wear a halter neck dress ... I spent hours in Hobbs trying dresses on and spent a weeks groceries money on the final choice. I can wear a short jacket over the top whilst in the enclosure and that I can live with but the fashion police at Ascot have really taken the biscuit with the other requests ...

Ladies must wear knickers! Well at least that is what I thought that it said and then realised it was no knickers are to be on show. I have never, not once, in all the years that I have been going to Ascot considered not wearing knickers. Why then now that I am told not to (or thought that was what I had read) does it occur to me that going commando might be quite liberating?

The covert rebel in me is wondering how they will know, will there be someone at the admissions specifically checking?

Apparently the intention is to bring society back to Ascot so; high heels and hats are to be worn, skirts no shorter than 2ins about the knee (flashback to Whiteacre Boarding School for Girls where Polly Parsons, the headmistress, would send us back to the dormitory to change if our skirt dared to rise two fingers above the knee), no bare midriffs, straps of dresses are to be at least one inch thick, no gum or mobile phones .

The Daily Mail reports;

Organisers of the summer's most fashionable race meeting don't want it turning into Royal Chavscot.

So, after witnessing one too many sartorial disasters in the past, they've taken matter into their own hands this year - and issued a guide to dress and etiquette for those attending.

The new Royal Ascot code warns ladies against the perils of fake tans, flashy jewellery, faulty footwear - and, most importantly, points out the hazards of lacking in the lingerie department.

On this point, it doesn't mince words, saying bluntly: 'Knickers: A definite yes - but not on show, please, ladies!'

While it may seem rather obvious to suggest the wearing of undergarments for such a prestigious event - the Queen and other senior members of the Royal Family attend each day - the organisers privately admit that nowadays they can take nothing for granted.

Indeed, recent meetings have prompted a litany of complaints about the state of dress and drunken behaviour of some racegoers.

It could have been worst I suppose and maybe the request to dress and behave appropriately will bring common decency back to Ascot ... wish me luck on Wednesday.

Photo: Daily Mail

When Loyalty Doesn't Pay!

2008-06-15T11:20:40+01:00

I've been a loyal customer of Tiscali for my broadband for over 4 years. Recently we have experienced 'challenges' with the service that Tiscali disputed was their problem. Many expensive phone calls later with their technical team, who were about as much use as a chocolate teapot, I made the decision that it was time to take my business elsewhere.

Fortuitously Martin Lewis, http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/ was on GMTV this week and he raised a really valid point ... it does not pay to be loyal to our suppliers whether it is utilities or banks! What he said is that they are relying on us not noticing the new deals that they are offering to new and switch customers.

I realised that whilst I had been extremely loyal to them, they certainly had not been to me. It would be nice if when I called and gave them my details I was thanked for the years of being a loyal customer (delusions of feeling valued!).

I called Tiscali to advise that I wanted to cancel my contract and was offered many incentives to stay;

a) they would reduce my monthly fee
b) upgrade my internet speed
c) cover the cost of my recent calls to technical service
d) add two months to my contract at no cost (an interesting one as it would have not been paid in advance but available when I cancelled again?!)

It was too little and too late. I wasn't expecting the first born child of the young lady I spoke to in customer services but did, as I explained to her, expect that someone at Tiscali accept accountability in their technical team when it wasn't working. Instead of insisting that we attach the yellow lead (in four years we have never had a yellow lead from them) it would have been more appropriate for them to admit that things have changed in four years so they will send out a new modem and lead. It is the simple things that would have made the difference.

I would not even have looked at competitive offers in the market place if I had been happy with the service, I am a lazy consumer and typically once I have a service for as long as it is working I can't be bothered to look further.

This experience has really made me consider all the other services I subscribe to and now that I appreciate the quickest way of getting attention is telling them that you want to cancel the contract you can be sure I shall be reviewing them all!

What To Do On Wednesday Night Now?

2008-06-11T00:23:00+01:00

Lee McQueen was the deserving (in my opinion) winner of The Apprentice tonight and I sat, white knuckled, until Sir Alan uttered the immortal words "Your Hired" to Lee. I really did think that they had muffed it in Sir Alan's opinion and was delighted with the result.

I do believe that he should have told the truth about how long he had been at Thames Valley University, it was a truly cringe worth moment that I watched through my fingers, but many of us (OK me!) have been less than honest, indeed probably frugal with the truth during interviews.

Compared to the rest of the applicants Lee and Alex really shone for me (I did get confused as to who was who at one point). And I want it on record that I was not at all swayed by Lee's particularly good looks, his delightful and gentlemanly behaviour (I love a man that opens a door for a lady), his cheeky charm or endearing grin ... no, no, no not me, I am not that shallow, it was a clinical choice based on informed viewing over twelve weeks.

What will I do until next year?

p.s. loving Margaret and Nick more and more!

Photo: Daily Mail

DuskPatrol

2008-06-10T22:08:36+01:00

Have spent the evening flapping my arms in the garden making sure that Charlie doesn't get the baby blackbirds. The parents are quick to tell me that he is around ... I can hear them squawking at the front of the house.

Tags: blackbird