INSPIRING BUSINESS DREAMS: HAIRDRESSING

This is the 2nd in my 'Inspiring Interview' series and I'm delighted to feature a very talented and highly driver woman: Nina Warden. 

I'll leave you to soak up the wisdom she has to share from running her own hairdressing business for the last 4 years. 

Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule, Nina. Please tell us what it is that you do:

I own a hair and beauty business and I help busy women feel beautiful. We all know how much better we feel when our hair is done or we have a tan and my passion is helping busy ladies that are juggling work/family life, by providing a salon service in the comfort of their own home.

What do you love about what you do?

I love making women feel good about themselves, actually no, I love making women feel amazing about themselves. I think there is a lot of pressure on women to look a certain way and I think our world is becoming even more this way from what we see and read in the media. We can all be so self critical and my mission is to give women the confidence they deserve, not only by looking good, but feeling it too.

What were you doing before?

Before starting my business I was managing a large salon and had done for two years. Prior to that I worked in HR for a large corporate company.

What made you choose this business?

The hair and beauty industry is so fast paced and I wanted a career that I'd always be able to learn more. Being a hairdresser and spray tan therapist allows me to constantly learn new techniques and I can truly say I love what I do. My husband said to me a few months back, "I think what you do is really special." I was of course touched by his comment, but asked him what he meant. He replied and said "You have the power to not only change how someone looks, but how they feel to and I just think that must be a really amazing feeling"
I had never really thought about it in this way before, but he was so right, it is an amazing feeling and that is exactly why I love what I do.

Do you run your business full-time, part-time or alongside a 9-5?

Full-time for the last four years.

How does your Dream Business reflect your gifts, strengths and personality?!

I like to think of my business like a stick of rock, if you cut through the middle, you'd see my personality running through it. My branding is me, with a strong identity and I'm really proud of that. I like to think it makes people feel relaxed and warm because they get to see the real person behind the brand.

I think one of my strengths is organisation, which does really help when running a business as everything you see, is created and done by me.  Whether that's my website content, my monthly blog or my social media content. A lot of time and energy goes into that, to reflect what I'm about. I love to share beauty tips on my Facebook page or quotes that I think will resonate with my clients. I love that I have the freedom to create anything I want to and that no day is ever the same.

What was the biggest obstacle/s (physical, emotional or financial) you had to overcome?

Back in 2013 when I was first starting out, I remember feeling so strange when everyone was going back to work after Christmas and I wasn't. It felt super exciting, but so scary all at the same time. But at that point the reality was, I wasn't employed anymore. I had no job and no wages coming in! I had no clients! So I worked my butt off to get my name out there, to connect with people. But it wasn't easy, one of the biggest things I had to overcome was fear. Fear of being visible in my business and this is something that I continue to work on even now, almost 4 years on. People won't just find you, you have to work consistently to find them.

How different is your life now to what it was before?

Oh completely different. I used to come home from the salon and feel completely drained, stressed and frustrated. In fact so much so, it was beginning to make me ill.
But now, I love spending my days working with my clients 1:1 or creating new things for my business that will offer my clients great value.
I continue to fall in love with my business everyday and I genuinely count myself very lucky for having such amazing clients to share it all with. Don't get me wrong, my days are long and I always have so much to do, not just in my business but on it as well, but I wouldn't swap it for where I used to be, not in a million years.

If you knew then what you know now what advice would you give your former self, as you embarked on creating/starting your business?

I would say believe in yourself and keep going. I was really lucky to have a great support network around me that really encouraged me and made me realise I could do this. But running a business can be a lonely journey. No one really understands what it's like unless they're doing it. No one ever tells you about all the "other stuff" and by that I mean; the putting yourself out there. No one tells you that running a business is like an emotional rollercoaster at times that it's pretty certain you will work 10x harder for yourself than when you worked for somebody else. That you will have many different hats to wear, including CEO, Administrator, Marketing Manager, Content Creator and Writer and so many more in between. But the other thing that hardly anyone tells you is that no matter how hard it is and how hard you work, if you love what you do, it's the most amazing job you'll ever have.

How did you KNOW this was what you wanted to do?!

I always wanted to make a difference to people. To give women the confidence they deserved. To give women the right to be their own kind of beautiful, not what the media says they should be. The salon environment isn't always for everyone either, I think it's often like marmite. Some people love it and others hate it, they can't afford to take three hours out of their day or they feel a bit vulnerable, sitting in a crowded salon with wet hair in front of a large mirror. But whether they love it or loathe it, every woman deserves to feel beautiful.

A client of mine text me a little while ago just to say thank you and those little things mean so much. I also knew that after 2 years of managing a large salon I wanted something different. I didn't just want to be another "mobile hairdresser" that would trim your ends for a fiver, I wanted to give a high level of service at an affordable price. I wanted to retail the right shampoos, conditioners and styling products to my clients so that they can have the best hair possible.

What would you say to someone else who is thinking of creating their dream business?

I would say do it! But, be under no illusion it's hard work! However if you are prepared to put in the hard graft, it can be the most amazing journey you'll ever have. I remember someone saying to me once,"it must be lovely to work for yourself, you can do what you want, when you want." Some of that I agree with, the flexibility is great, however, unlike employed people, I don't get paid when I don't work. Being self employed is a far world away from long lunches and lazy days. I think I'm quite lucky, I am extremely disciplined, but it's not for everyone. With the job I have, my evenings and Saturdays are often taken up with work, because that's what my clients need and for the first 3 years I would often be working 6 days a week. I didn't begrudge that time, because I had to build my clientele and I truly love what I do. It's been only more recent months that I've started to take a Wednesday off. (Although quite often, I'm using that day to work on new blog posts etc) but it works for me and I wouldn't change any of it.

Anything else you would like to share?!

Life is way too short for regrets and if you have the drive, determination and a passion for what you do, then you're half way there. Running your own business is definitely a journey, not a destination. The journey is full of adventures, good and bad, but it's so worth it.

You can check out Nina and the work she does here:

Nina's Website

Nina's Facebook page

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Are you dreaming of running your own business too? Maybe you don't know where to even start or you run and business but feel stuck with what to do next to get more clients and more money so you can spend your days doing what you love? 

If 2017 is the year you want to make your dream business a reality, you're in the right place, gorgeous. 

Book a FREE call to find out how I could help:

Terrified to solo travelling...this story will blow you away.

One of my clients had her own first paying client today!!!! Wooohooo! This is a woman who came to me for coaching, earlier this year, not having a clue what she wanted to do in any area of her life.

She had so much self-hatred and self-doubt that it stopped her making decisions - she couldn't trust herself to make the right one.

She hated her job. She also hated being alone - she would busy herself with anything to avoid being by herself, including getting in a car and driving around with the music on so she didn't have to face her own thoughts.

Just 11 coaching sessions later (she is in "such a good place right now" that she asked to keep the 12th one until the New Year to do some more business coaching) she:

• Got clear on what she wants to be, do and have in each area of her life.
• Learnt to really like who she is.
• Learnt to BELIEVE in herself and trust her decisions.
• Re-decorated her flat to make it a place she's excited to spend time in.
• Stood up for herself in front of those in her life (her boss and certain members of her family) who used to speak to her like a child. 
• Created a blog and social media accounts. 
• Started a business she is giddy about.
• Got her first paying client!! 

AND...the part that gives me EVEN more goosebumps...she's just booked a flight to go SOLO travelling to Bali at the end of December.

Yes...SOLO!!! Just think about the person she had to grow into and become, to even consider that let alone book it. 

She doesn't even recognise herself.

To say I am proud of her is an understatement.

THIS is why I LOVE what I do.
 

If 2016 hasn't turned out the way you hoped it would then there's still time to do something about it. 

I help my clients to: 

1. GET CLEAR ON WHAT THEY WANT

2. BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES

3. MAKE IT HAPPEN

Ready to create a life that you're giddy about? When you know what you want and have the belief that you can make it happen, ANYTHING is possible.

Book a FREE call with me and let's talk about how we could make that happen for you, so YOU begin 2017 the person you always wanted to be. 

This is what other clients of mine had to say after I posted this story in my Facebook group:

A LOT can happen in 7 weeks with me as your coach. Get that champagne on ice ready for a New Year to really celebrate!

Emma xx

P.S. Book a complimentary call with me to find out how YOU too can create a life that excites you.

Quotes and inspiration to do what you love

Have you downloaded my FREE workbook yet?

I teach you the steps I took to go from employee to entrepreneur. 

How I Got Into The Huffington Post

As you may have seen, I'm now a Huffington Post contributor and my first article went live Friday. Wooohoooo! You can read it here: HuffPost

Thank you for the lovely comments from those of you who saw the link on my Facebook page or group.

I'm sure you're aware of the importance of being as visible as possible when you run a business and, along with congratulations, I've had lots of you ask how I made it happen. So here you go...

These are the 5 steps I take to get into well-known magazines/ blogs/ publications:

1) I got clear on my ICA (ideal client avatar)

In a nutshell, my ICA is a woman who wants to get paid to do what she loves. She feels unfulfilled and has had enough of Sunday Blues and dreading Mondays. Her end goal is to go from employee to entrepreneur and run a successful business. I teach her how to set up the essential business structures and to believe in herself so she can confidently get out there, get visible and get clients.  

(I help my clients get clients by clarify their ICA so they know exactly who to market to and what language to use so they get more bookings/money.)

2) I got clear on what blogs/magazines my ICA reads
 

The Huffingon Post was one of them. Even if she isn't a daily reader she, like a lot of people, will have heard of it.

It's been proven that people are more likely to buy from those they know, like and trust (KLT). 

Being features in an international publication (or any place that your ICA can be found) gives you instant credibility which means not just the know factor but the trust factor too.  

(I teach my clients how to find out exactly where their ICA hangs out so they don't waste time (or money) marketing in the wrong places.)

3) I wrote something I knew would appeal to my ICA and she'd get value from

You need to be providing your potential clients with content that shows you are an expert in your field. The 'trust' part in the KLT factor comes when you demonstrate you know your stuff. The internet is a noisy world full of so-called 'competition'. For this reason, I actually believe in giving away high-quality content that my ICA would otherwise pay for. I know my stuff and I aim to prove it time and time again. You want your ICA to think: "Wow, if this is her FREE stuff then I can't imagine what you get when you pay her." 

(I teach my clients how to generate content ideas and give value WITHOUT giving away so much people don't need to hire them!)   

4) I remembered that if you don't ask, you don't get

I wanted to be in The Huffington Post as a personal goal as well as getting in front of millions of my ideal clients. It was on my vision board for over a year. This summer I decided to make it happen. So I asked. 

When I was a image consultant, I contacted the local newspapers and told them I thought they might like to hear about what I did and share it with their readers, even though I was absolutely terrified. 

I actually just found a clipping from one of the papers I was in in 2009. Check it out below...

Ha! Time flies. I haven't changed a bit (wink).

Sometimes you have to stretch yourself outside your comfort zone. Like Jack Canfield said, everything you want is on the other side of fear.

(I help my clients get bucket-loads of confidence and self-belief so they can step out of their comfort zones. I then hold them accountable to keep going for and achieving their goals.) 

5) I made it clear what's in it for them 

I emailed Arianna Huffington herself. I told her who I am, summed up my story and pitched exactly why I thought her readers would benefit from me being a contributor. Less than 24hrs later I got a personal reply from her! Wow. 

I was confident that I could provide great value as a contributor but that's only after doing lots of work on defining my message, realising my value and building my self-belief!

(I help my clients get clear on what they have to offer so they can confidently pitch to newspapers, magazines and large online publications.)  

There you have it, that's how I got into The Huffington Post. You can use this formula to get visible on any platform. Give it a go!

Emma xx
P.S. What often stops us taking action is lack of clarity and confidence. Are you ready to get paid (more) and do more of what you love? I can support you to: clarify your ICA; find out where your ICA hangs out; use language that gets your ICA paying; know the value you provide and increase your confidence and self-belief.

Click the button below to take a look at my coaching programs:

8 Pieces of Advice for Every Entrepreneur...after 8 Years Of Being One

My 8 Pieces of Advice for Every Entrepreneur...after 8 years of being one

I can't quite believe it but this time 8 years ago I started my first business as an Image Consultant. I was completely clueless back then and hadn't realised that by definition it meant I was an entrepreneur (eeek!). Now I love working for myself and I coach other women to make that a reality too.

Here are my 8 pieces of advice for every entrepreneur:

1) Get clear on your end goal.

What does your 'finished' business look like? (This will change over time and that's okay but you have to have a goal).

If you don't programme your GPS to where you want to go then it can't help you. You have to know WHERE you're headed otherwise you'll get lost and take detours and feel like you're being very busy but not actually get anywhere.

2) Take steps towards your end goal every day.

Once you know what your end goal is you can start chipping away at it every day. Even on days you don't feel like it. You need to get your message out there and in front of the right audience. 

You can batch content creation so you generate a few days, weeks (or even months) worth of content. Get in front of your ideal client every day and give them value. 

3) Spend time on your mindset daily

You must programme yourself to think like an entrepreneur (you need a very different mindset to an employee). Success in 80% mindset and 20% the action you take. Although that doesn't mean you can't take action (see above). You need to have courage and CONFIDENCE in yourself. Otherwise you'll fall into 'comparisonitis'.

4) Use a stopwatch to keep you focused.

Without a boss breathing down your neck and tight deadlines to meet it can be very easy to get distracted and then you become overwhelmed. Write out 3 things you want to achieve that day and do those first. Decide how long you think they should take and then set a timer (Toggl is a great tool for this). Don't allow yourself to do anything else before the timer goes off. Be realistic though - you can't expect your brain to focus for over 60 mins without giving it a 5 minute break. Then go again. 

5) Work on your 'Money Mindset' 

You need to work on your relationship with money, otherwise you can be doing everything right and still block yourself from success. Read wealth consciousness books like Think and Grow Rich. Find your blocks and do work to disprove and release them. E.F.T. is great for this.

6) Take some time off to recharge.

The best ideas come when you unplug and switch off. Meditate. Walk in the woods. Exercise. Have a nap. have a bubble bath in the middle of the day. Do whatever brings you joy and peace. That way you clear the space for new and exciting ideas to pop up. Just like a computer browser, your brain can have too many tabs open! You need to take the time for self-care. 

7) Surround yourself with like-minded people.

Jim Rohn famously said that we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with. That includes their ambition and income (ouch!). Some of my best friends, I met through running my business. Your vibe attract your tribe as they say. And I believe that your tribe affects your vibe. You may outgrow people in your life; some people won't agree with what you do (and/or be jealous of it) but you can't dime your light to make someone else feel better about themselves. Keep doing what you love and you will find people who love you for it. 

8) Hire a coach

A coach will help you compress your timeline and hold you accountable. I can't think of a single entrepreneur who wouldn't love and need both of those things.

I'm not just saying this because I am a coach. I've worked with coaches in all of the 8 years I've been running a business. The right coach will give you a MASSIVE R.O.I. (return on investment). You can do more in 3 months with a coach than a year, or more, on your own. They will save you so much time, effort, stress and money. 

What are your pieces of advice for success in business?

Are you ready to turn the business your dream of into reality? I'd love to help you. 

Book a FREE Discovery Call and let's see if we would be a good fit to work together. 

4 Reasons to Use Tinyurl.com

One of my clients was so excited when I told her about tinyurl.com that I thought I'd share why I believe every online business owner needs to take advantage of this fantastic tool. 

What is tinyurl?

A url is the website address e.g. www.emma-ward.com takes you to my site. Tinyurl lets you make shorter, customised urls. It looks like this:

Here's 4 reasons why I use it.

1) It shortens the characters of your url

The obvious one - it shortens long urls. When I was an Image Consultant, I had a website called Image Your Image. Rather than telling people to visit a crazy long url like: www.imagineyourimage.com/how-to-wear-a little-black-dress I would tell them to go to tinyurl.com/howtowearLBD and it would instantly direct them. 

If you have a really long url, people won't remember it or they'll remember only part of it and then give up when they get to the wrong site. This is NOT what you want when they are clearly interested enough to search for you!

2) It's great for people who don't know you

Sometimes it doesn't actually save a lot of space but I still use it. For example, my free opt-in is called 'Confidence Is The New Black'. It's at www.emma-ward.com/confidenceisthenewblack so www.tinyurl.com/confidenceisthenewblack only saved me TWO characters.

BUT, if people don't know me then they're less likely to remember the emma-ward part. So when I post it on social media or mention the link in a video, they're more likely to remember tinyurl and the title.  

3) It means you can grab the url before someone else does. 

I have a programme called Love Your Body. I tried to get tinyurl.com/loveyourbody but someone else got there before me. Now whenever I'm creating courses, I grab the tinyurl version as well.

If you have a great title then make sure you get the tinyurl.com version so you are synonymous with the name rather than someone else. 

4) You can start to use it to build your brand. 

I used to shorten Imagine Your Image to IYI and when I ran events I could have advertised it as something like:

www.tinyurl.com/IYI-Richmond

That's easier to remember and also looks good. You want to start creating memorable urls; you can even link it to a hashtag.

This is great for social media posts like Instagram and Pinterest where you can't add a link to each post as easily but you want to start building a memorable brand.   

Bitly.com shortens urls too - you'll need to sign up for an account to customise them but that only takes a few seconds and it's free. 

It's great fun. Try it for yourself and let me know how you find it, I love hearing from you.

Emma xx
I have 5 free calls left for this month. Want me to spend 20 minutes helping you to move your business forwards? Book your FREE NEXT STEPS CLARITY CALL now.

Business Confidence Affirmations

Want a 2 minute Confidence Blast?

Listen to this recording and let it seep into your subconscious mind. 

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Want more? 

Sign up for my FREE 5-Part Confidence Series for entrepreneurs. 

• 3 Confidence Training Audios

• Business Confidence Affirmations (longer than above)
• Mind Movie to programme your mind for Business Confidence

Click below to sign up:

How to Get People Promoting Your Business FOR You

Hello lovely, 

You know this painful truth: without clients you don't have a business. You have an expensive hobby.

You not only need clients but you WANT them, right? That's why you started your business in the first place. 

Why not get OTHERS marketing FOR you? People love to recommend services they value so don't keep your gifts hidden away.

I did this for tooooo many years. Once I stopped hiding, everything changed.

Your success is so much closer than you think!

Looking forward to connecting with you soon!

Emma xx

Competition Messing With Your Head?

Hi lovely,

Let's get real. Let's start talking about what messes with our head as an entrepreneurs. 

Did you know that 95% of female entrepreneurs are stuck not making enough money to live their purpose or fund their dreams?! That's 95% of the women who have taken the brave leap and started a business. Usually something they are soooo passionate about. 

So what's the problem? Why do the majority of business owners to quit after 2-5 years?  

Because of two key things: lack of clarity and lack of confidence/belief. 

That's why I became a Business Confidence Coach. I can't bear to think of women giving up on their dreams; women who've taken the BIG first step and created a business but found themselves stuck. I help women become unstuck so they can get in front of their Ideal Clients, get more bookings, make more money and ultimately spend their days doing work they LOVE. 

Today I want to address an area that can render even the most confident entrepreneur immobile and cost them their precious time and money. 

Let's talk COMPETITION.

CLICK TO WATCH THE VIDEO

Your success is so much closer than you think!

Have you checked out my one-to-one coaching programme 90 Days to Business Confidence yet? If you're looking for the support (we all need that!) to get yourself out there and in front of your ideal client then this programme is for you! 

Book a free consultation with me! We'll talk through your business or business idea, and I'll let you know how I can support you in achieving your dreams and getting the success you desire!

Looking forward to connecting with you soon!

Emma xx

A Lesson from your 6 Year Old Self

A woman in a Facebook group I follow, posted a video of her 6 year old daughter, Ruby, jumping with her skipping rope.   

She was skipping on one foot whilst navigating the long rope and had a huge beaming smile on her face. 

She bought the rope just 3 weeks ago with her pocket money but her mum explained: "She couldn't even do one skip. She was really quite naturally shit at it - and I thought it would go into the shed and gather dust." (Ha!) 

But no. Ruby was determined and has practised every day since. At the end of the video she asked to watch it back because she's clearly proud of her achievement and progress (and so she should be).

What does this teach us adults? It's teaches us 2 things:

1. Just because you can't do something when you first pick it up doesn't mean you can't master it. In just 3 weeks this little girl went from not being able to do one skip to 15 seconds without stopping. And she has a bigger goal for herself: to be able to "skip so fast you can't see the rope, just like a boxer." (I've never met her but I adore this girl!!) Determination gets you exactly where you want to go in life. 

2. As adults, we expect ourselves to be perfect and even if we have made progress we daren't praise ourselves until we have 'finished'. When did we lose the essence of our 6 year old self: the girl who loved to show off her skills and felt proud of every little step? 

What are you telling yourself you can't do? What are you not even allowing yourself to practise?

It's time to dream big and believe 100% in yourself again, my love. Just like you did as a child. If you did it before then you can do it again. 

And I want to help you. 

I'm a Confidence Coach and my gift is helping women to do just that: to dream bigger and believe that what they want is not only possible for them but they deserve nothing less. 

If you're ready to gain the confidence, I'm the person who can help you gain it. It's my passion, my skill and my clients get rapid results. I'm talking just a few weeks before you'll start to see a difference! Seriously.

One  of my clients emailed me yesterday and wrote: "My confidence levels are already improving way faster than I ever thought possible and I can’t wait to continue the journey with you." (This is after just THREE sessions.)

Are YOU ready to dream bigger and start living a life you love? Are YOU ready to finally release the self-doubt and negative inner-talk and transform the relationship with yourself so you believe anything is possible and won't allow doubt to stand in your way? 

Ready to make that happen?

Click the button below and let's find out if we're a good fit. 

Lots of love,

Emma xx

P.S. Go on, hit the button and book that call with me. What have you got to lose (except your self-doubt)?  

 

Do photos of yourself make you feel like this...?

Hello Lovely, 

I came across this meme on Pinterest...

...it made me laugh and got me thinking about how differently I see my body now compared with a few years ago. 

In 2010, I wanted some professional photos for my Image Consultancy website. The photo I'd been using had been taken by my friend in her garden - she'd stood on a stool and I crouched on a white sheet - we were creative if nothing else!! 

So I did a 'swapsy' with a photographer: she had a wardrobe consultation in exchange for a photoshoot. 

 I'd gone to so much trouble to select the right outfits, accessories and props. I had a great day and was eager to get the photos back. 

But when I saw them I cried. 

I *thought* I looked fat, spotty and one eye seemed to droop in every photo -  how had I never noticed that before!?? I felt disgusting.

So what did I do? I scrapped the professional shots and continued using the makeshift one my friend had taken on her husband's camera. 

A couple of years later, I came across the images and I couldn't believe what I saw. I didn't hate the photos of myself, I loved them. 

HOW HAD I EVER THOUGHT I WAS FAT? WHO CARED THAT ONE EYE WAS A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE OTHER?? Why had I been such a b!tch to myself? 

I have lots of photos like that. When I look at them now it's like seeing them for the first time: through a different pair of eyes. Softer and kinder eyes. 

These were some of the photos that I cried over. I no longer zone in on my eyelids or the fact my skin isn't perfect. I now see a happy, smily (and slim!!) woman looking back. Oh how I wish that I had seen all that at the time. I'm a stone heavier now I can't even get those jeans over my hips any more, let alone do them up, and I probably never will (and I'm perfectly content with that) but what a waste of a figure that I didn't appreciate!! 

I would love to go back in time and give myself a (loving) shake. I want to tell the me from 6/10/15 years ago that I wasn't fat or ugly. I will never look that young again - what a waste of my twenties. So now I no longer allow myself to be critical of photos. I no longer allow myself to nitpick. I look for the parts I love instead of the parts I hate. 

Have you ever seen a photo of yourself from a few years back and realised you really weren't as fat or unattractive as you thought at the time?

Well I have some cold, hard truth for you. In 10 years time, you're going to look back at a photo from TODAY and wish that you'd seen your beauty. So why wait? Why put yourself through that torment and then regret it? Instead of waiting for ten years time, why not see what you'll see then TODAY?! 

You're beautiful, right here and right now. Look for that beauty. 

Much love,
Emma xx
P.S. Would you love some help seeing yourself through more loving eyes? My Love Your Body course takes you step-by-step through the mindset work I teach my clients.  

What Happened When I Stopped Hating My Body...

I used to be so self-conscious about the way I looked which basically meant I was constantly aware of myself, my appearance and felt on edge too much of the time. This affected my business and my life. I retreated.  

When I began to see my body differently and treat it with love rather than contempt, the biggest thing I noticed was that I stopped 'being in my head'. 

And instead:
1) I relaxed and enjoyed social situations more. 

2) I started new hobbies. I took myself off to dance classes: ballet, tap and hip hop. I got drum lessons - so much fun!

3) I enjoyed my own company.

4) I lightened up. I laughed at myself. I used to be so serious because I was feeling defensive.

5) I started dating. I signed up for Internet dating and had such a blast. Instead of worrying about what they thought of me, I relaxed and enjoyed the date. 

6) My Image Consultancy business boomed! Before that I was too concerned that I needed to look a certain way. This severely limited the results I had in my business because I was terrified of judgement. I procrastinated and hid behind my laptop.  Learning to love my body (and myself) enabled me to 'get out there'. I ran workshops; spoke to roomfuls of women; contacted and appeared in newspapers. I even walked into high street stores in London and told them I wanted to run an event there. 

7) I stopped trying to look like the 'perfect' Image Consultant and just wore whatever the heck I wanted. 

Who do you know who would benefit from learning how to love their body? 

How would Body Confidence change their life? 

I've made my new 'Love Your Body' programme affordable for all! I’ve put so much into it – everything I've learnt to transform the way I see my body and everything I teach my clients. 

It WILL change the way you view your body; it’s impossible to go through this course and see yourself in the same way. It will literally change the relationship you have with your body.  

Emma xx

25% Happier Using a Kilner Jar?!

Hello lovely, 

I can't believe we are a week into 2016 already! 

I'm excited about this year and even more fired up about my coaching business but also committed to creating a work-life balance that feeds my body, mind and soul. Who else is with me on that one!?

My last post about the power of Vision Boards, here,  has been one of my most popular: not just on social media but with many of you sending me personal messages and pictures of your own boards. Thank you – I love seeing them!  

And I love sharing things that have helped me in my own life and today is no different. 

This technique could literally change your life! It has been scientifically proven to increase happiness by 25%!! Who wouldn’t jump at that?

I'm taking about GRATITUDE. 

According to studies, having an attitude of gratitude:

• Improves physical health
• Improves psychological health
• Enhances empathy and reduces aggression
• Improves sleep
• Improves self-esteem

  
Many years ago, I was struggling with my physical health and that in turn affected my emotional health. I remember reading about a guy who was suffering from depression and, after hearing about the positive affect of feeling grateful, set himself a challenge. He challenged himself to write out FIFTY things he was grateful for every single day. At the beginning it took him all day to come up with his 50. He included everything from running water and food on the table to generous acts of kindness from friends. 

After one month his depression had lifted and he was a completely different person. To say that grabbed my attention is an understatement. 

So I set myself a similar challenge: to write 30 things every day. Do you know what? He was right – my outlook on life changed completely. I felt differently about everything: friends, work, the world in general, my illness and myself. 

Finding and focusing on things we can be thankful for is incredibly powerful and the reason I ask every single client of mine to keep a Gratitude Diary.

It's too easy to focus on the things that have gone wrong or things that aren't 'enough'. But as the inspiring quote by Melody Beattie states:

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.”

Today I'd like to share a fun way for you to practise an attitude of gratitude. 

It's in the form of a GRATITUDE JAR.

I forget when I first heard the idea of this but having seen a post from Elizabeth Gilbert (author of Eat, Pray, Love) about her Happiness Jar, which is very similar, it has inspired me to do one again. Plus...any excuse to buy a new Kilner jar (wink). 

Here’s my Gratitude Jar sitting on the corner of my desk. 

No, you don’t have to come up with 30-50 things a day. If you’d like to set yourself that challenge I recommend you get a notebook otherwise you’ll be filling your shelves with jars!!

HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN GRATITUDE JAR

You need:

• A large jar (or box)
• Slips of paper (I'm keeping a pack of post-it notes next to the jar and cutting the sticky part off)
• 60 seconds  each night

What to do:

• Each night write at least one thing you were grateful for that day.
• Every few months, take out all the slips of paper and read them. This can’t help but put a smile on y our face.

You'll love it, I promise. It's wonderful to see the jar filling up. Why not get your family doing one too?

Who else is going to try this in 2016? If so, I’d love to see your photos. 

See you in the Kilner aisle ;-)

Emma xx 

P.S. I’ve put a fun twist on this for one of the activities in Module 1 of my 'Love Your Body' online course. It's coming out in the next couple of weeks, so watch this space!

How I Use Vision Boards to Make my Dreams Come True

HOW I USE VISION BOARDS TO MAKE MY DREAMS COME TRUE

Happy New Year, gorgeous!

I hope you rang in the new year with some bubbly and the people you love. 

One thing I love about the start of each new year is the opportunity to set intentions and goals for the year ahead. I used to write New Year's Resolutions but they just tended to bore me after a while and fall by the wayside. 
 
Instead I now make a Vision Board (also called a Dream Board). They are much more exciting to create and bring about powerful results!

Here are my 2016 & 2017 Vision Boards:

2016 Vision Board

2017 Vision Board

• Do you want to start/or increase your business? Create a Vision Board.

• Do you want to get fitter? Create a Vision Board.

• Do you want to feel more confident? Create a Vision Board.

• Do you want to travel more? Create a Vision Board.

I think you get the idea...(wink).

What is a Vision Board?

A Vision Board is a collage of images to enable you to see your future goals in pictorial form.

Why use a Vision Board?

Our brains work tirelessly to achieve the statements we give to our Subconscious Mind. But we need to give it really clear instructions. Our Subconscious Mind doesn’t respond to words - it responds to pictures and emotions.

Through creating a Vision Board, you will:

1. Get really clear on what you want in life. 85% of people know what they don’t want but aren’t clear on what they DO want. If you keep thinking about what you don’t want then you just get more of the same. We get what we focus on.

2. Give a definite image and instruction to your Subconscious Mind of what the desired results will look like.

My Experience with Vision Boards

I have been creating Vision Boards for years now. Here are just some of the many incredible things that have manifested by creating and using a Vision Board:

1. Upgrade to Business Class (on two different trips).

2. Sydney for New Year’s Eve.

3. The money to train to be an Image Consultant.

4. My dream car.

5. My dream apartment.

6. My dream coach business.

7. Business trip to Paris.

8. Published in my favourite international magazine.

9. Working with the top coach in Australia.

10. Ed Sheeran concert (after the tickets had sold out!).

11. Healing myself from CFS/ME.

12. And sooo many more!

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HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN VISION BOARD

STEP 1: KNOW HOW YOU WANT TO FEEL

Everything we want is because we think it will make us FEEL better. Feel healthier, happier, wealthier, in love etc.

So I start from that place. I write down 5 feelings that I want to experience (this can take some time but it is worth it!). I did this yesterday (my man did too).

Scribble everything down and then you can edit. Don’t hold back. You can edit afterwards. 

Here are some of my initial scribbles (excuse the scrawled handwriting). I played around with the words that came up and asked myself why I wanted to feel that way. 

My scribbles for 2016

I then made the final decision on my 5 words for 2016. They are:  NOURISH, EXPANSIVE, CONNECTED, EMPOWERED, EXPRESSIVE

STEP 2: LIST THE THINGS THAT WOULD MAKE YOU FEEL THIS WAY

I then wrote down all of the activities that I could think of that would make me feel this way. Ask yourself this: What people, places, experiences and things will make you feel your chosen words/emotions?

STEP 3: SELECT IMAGES

Select images that represent how you want to feel  - the actions you can take, the people, places and things. 

Get yourself a pile of magazines (all different genres) and flick though and rip out anything that catches your attention. You then glue or pin these to a board. 

I also like to use Pinterest because you can find pretty much every image under the sun to add to your boards. I save them and then use a collage app (PixlrExpress) to gather the images into one large photo. Click to see  my: Vision Board 2016 Pinterest Board. 

I have over a hundred Pinterest Boards (yeah, I couldn't believe it when I counted either!), so feel free to get pinning from there. I have boards on everything from Style and Travel to Self Care and Body Acceptance. You can find them here: My Pinterest Boards.

**Side note** In a way, Pinterest boards are similar to Vision Boards but the difference is you need to commit to what you'd love to achieve. The definiteness of purpose is what sets Vision Boards apart from a 'Bucket List' of things you'd like to maybe do someday. Make your decision and impress it upon your Subconscious Mind. That's the power of the Vision Board. 

STEP 4: LOOK AT YOUR VISION BOARD DAILY

The idea is to have your Vision Board on display daily. If you have made a physical board then place it where you will see it morning and night. If it's a digital copy then put it on your phone and use it as your screensaver on your computer. 

Remember what I said in my last blog post, here, wishing just reminds us that we DON'T have what it is that we want. I don't want you to just WISH they would come true. I want you to know and believe that they will. There's a big difference. 

STEP 5: YOUR PART

Use your Vision Board to remind you of what you want. Decide that you WILL be, do and have the things on your Vision Board. Your job is to then spend time each day looking at and feeling the emotion as if it's already yours. Affirm the statement below:

“I create my life and I am working towards my dream life . My Subconscious Mind works tirelessly to search for and find any person, place, opportunity or thing that will realise and manifest my dream. It's my job to notice these and then take the inspired action.”

Then think of one thing you can do that day that will enable you to feel the emotion that you are hoping to achieve by realising your dreams. Start living NOW as if you already are that person that would be, do or have those things. That will get you to your goal faster than anything else. 

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Sometimes I do one board and other times I will do a board for each area of my life e.g. Business, Love, Friendship, Hobbies, Travel, Health etc. Both have worked their ‘magic’.

How does a Vision Board work?

Well there are two camps of thought on this.

One says it is the  Reticular Activating System (RAS) in our brain that activates our Subconscious Mind to see, hear and respond to anything that will bring us into close proximity with our goal.( If you’d like to find out more about this and how it affects our behaviour and can keep us stuck in life then download my free ‘Confidence is the New Black’ 3-Part Training Series.)

The other says that it is due to the Law of Attraction; that whatever we focus on will come true for us. We are all energetic beings and when we imagine that we have what we want (by looking at our Vision Board daily) we activate the same vibration and attract it to us. This is the Law of Attraction.

I have to say that I believe both to be true. Our brains are just like Google: if we ask it to look for something it goes on a search for anything and everything related. That’s its job! But I have also experienced far too many incredible ‘coincidences’ not to be open to the idea that we are vibration beings.  I believe in the Law of Attraction because the evidence has been too strong to prove otherwise for me. When I doubt that’s when things slow down. So for me I am a loud and proud believer. What we think about becomes our reality.

Whatever your beliefs are, why not give it a go?

In 2007 my sister saw my Vision Board and then as I slowly started to tick off the things that had come true for me, she decided to make her own. There was a house that she had fallen in love with but had just been sold. I told her to just put it on there anyway. Well...that next year she moved into the exact house that she had pinned on her board.

It works!

What have you got to lose? Even if they don’t "magically" appear you will still know what goals you’re striving for and that's a lot more than 85% of the population. 

If you have any questions or comments, I’d love to hear them below. Or even better...send me a picture of your Vision Board, I'd love to see it!

Emma xx

I HAVE A 7 DAY VISION BOARD MASTERY COURSE

I KNOW YOU'LL LOVE IT. CLICK BELOW TO FIND OUT MORE

Carrie Bradshaw Quote to Transform Your LIFE & Business

“It’s tempting to wish for the perfect boss, the perfect parent, or the perfect outfit. But maybe the best any of us can do is not to quit, play the hand we’ve been dealt, and accessorise what we’ve got.”

— Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City

Wishing is pointless. It gets us nowhere. We know this really. We can wish we were a different dress size. We can wish we could run around the block without gasping for breath.  We can wish we had a constant stream of clients, and a bigger bank balance. But wishing isn't going to cut it. 

The cold, hard truth is that we can't 'WISH' ourselves healthier, fitter, wealthier or happier.

 In fact, wishing just remind us that we don't have what we want.

As Carrie Bradshaw - or more accurately Candace Bushnell, the author of Sex and the City - put it, it's time to play the hand we've been dealt and accessorise what we've got. 

Let's relate that to your life and business, lovely. 

• Are you getting the results you want?
• Do you have a clear plan of action?
• Are you using your strengths and talents?
• Does your business (and life) reflect your personality? 
• Are you doing what you LOVE?
• What do you need to do less of? 
• What brought you the most success in 2015? How can you do more of that?

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How to play the hand you've been dealt:

1. Gratitude - be thankful for all you have

2. Know who you are and want you want

3. Know your talents and strengths

How to 'accessorise' your life and business:

1. Play to your strengths

2. Allow your personality to shine through in all you do/wear/say

3. Bring more fun into your business and everyday life

4. Start from where you are and apply small changes

A winner never quits and a quitter never wins. Make a plan of action and start implementing starting TODAY!

Emma xx

Quotes to Inspire YOU to Be Yourself

I'm a huge fan of quotes. If I need inspiration the I am sure to hit Google or Pinterest. These are my favourite quotes to hopefully inspire YOU to be YOU. 

"I've finally stopped running away from myself. Who else is there better to be?" Goldie Hawn "The only thing that will make you happy is being happy with who you are, and not who people think you are." Goldie Hawn

"Don't waste your energy trying to change opinions ... do your thing, and don't care if they like it." Tina Fey

"Always be yourself and have faith in yourself. Do not go out and look for a successful personality and try to duplicate it." Bruce Lee

"Trust yourself. Create the kind of self that you will be happy to live with all your life. Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into flames of achievement." Golda Meir

"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” Oscar Wilde

“Follow your inner moonlight; don't hide the madness.”  Allen Ginsberg

Coco Chanel: what a woman! She would not be the legend and style icon we love and know her as, if she had been afraid to stand out!

“A girl should be two things: who and what she wants.” Coco Chanel

“Always be a first rate version of yourself and not a second rate version of someone else.” Judy Garland

“Be yourself- not your idea of what you think somebody else's idea of yourself should be.” Henry David Thoreau

Here's someone who unapologetically embraces all she is and revels in showing herself to the world; for this reason I have huge respect for Lady Gaga:

 "You laugh at me because I’m different. I laugh at you because you’re all the same." Lady Gaga

“Don't you ever let a soul in the world tell you that you can't be exactly who you are.” Lady Gaga

“‎Do not allow people to dim your shine because they are blinded. Tell them to put on some sunglasses." Lady Gaga

 “The easiest thing to be in the world is you. The most difficult thing to be is what other people want you to be. Don't let them put you in that position.” Leo Buscaglia

“Find out who you are and do it on purpose.” Dolly Parton

“There is nothing more rare, nor more beautiful, than a woman being unapologetically herself; comfortable in her perfect imperfection. To me, that is the true essence of beauty.” Steve Maraboli

“Make the most of yourself....for that is all there is of you.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ouch! The quote below by Andre Dubus is a harsh and hard-hitting quote but it really makes you think, doesn't it!?

“Shyness has a strange element of narcissism, a belief that how we look, how we perform, is truly important to other people." Andre Dubus

Here is a softer version:

"You wouldn't worry so much about what others think of you if you realized how seldom they do." Eleanor Roosevelt

What are your favourite quotes? I'd love to hear them in the comment box below...

Emma xx