“Women Only” business networks. Right or Wrong?

Women only business networks? If we had male only networks would this be perceived as discriminatory? Does gender play a pivotal role in how you respond to the topic of networking? If everyone’s purpose is the same, why does tension exist in the mixed networking environment and why do some women vow never to return to those environments?  Read more

Posted in Business Development, Diversity and Equality, Get involved | 1 Comment

How remarkable is your business to the rest of the room?

Seth Godin - The Purple CowIcon Women love to network. But, networking is sometimes not enough especially when your competitor may be in the same room. Hands down.  The most thumb worn, well used business book on my office shelves has got to be Seth Godin’s The Purple Cow.  Apologies if you have already heard me raving about this book. Read more

Posted in Business Development, Sales | Leave a comment

Do you hate or love networking?

Do you hate or love networking?Time and time again it strikes me how often I hear women tell me that they hate to network.  When asked why, the answers normally include; “I’m nervous doing it,” “I never get anything out of it,” “networking environments are too aggressive for me” or “I can’t find a networking environment to suit me.”  Read more

Posted in Business Development, Events | Leave a comment

The Budget: food for thought (best served cold)

Crozier Jones AccountantsGeorge Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, delivered his Budget Speech on Wednesday 21 March 2012.

Virtually all of the coming year’s tax rates and allowances were set out in the pre-Budget Report last November. Our downloadable tax card is intended for use as a quick point of reference for the main tax rates and allowances which affect our business and personal lives. Read more

Posted in Accounting and Finance, News | Comments Off

Charities Meet For Free – At the Holiday Inn Express Doncaster

Holiday Inn Express DoncasterFinding a suitable venue to host regular charity or community group meetings can be difficult, time consuming if not expensive. Not anymore. The Holiday Inn Express Doncaster are offering one lucky local charity or community group the opportunity to host their meetings for FREE. Read more

Posted in Member offers, News | Leave a comment

The Poem

Sharon Bull Pisces LadyAt one of last month’s Network Fridays we were treated to a fantastic pitch that not only gave Icon Women something very valuable but highlighted the business being pitched.  Truly memorable and truly an approach worth noting if you want to be remembered! Sharon Bull from Pisces Lady in Chesterfield has just started writing business poetry on commission and captured the ethos of Icon Women perfectly – so much so it will now grace our About Page.  

Posted in Communications, Get involved, Inspirational Women in Business, Personal Development | Leave a comment

How to prioritise for business and personal success

How to prioritiseThanks to everyone who fed back about the 30 day action plan article.  It’s encouraging to get feedback that some find it useful! What I didn’t expect was a statement over coffee from someone who fed back that “the 30 day plan only works when you know which tasks you are focusing on.” And as quite rightly pointed out therein lies a challenge in deciding what to do, when to do it, and working out how to do it, especially when there are just too many tasks in a day.  The danger in not being clear about what you are focusing on is that you end up spreading yourself too thin and not achieving your full potential. Read more

Posted in Business Development, Performance Management, Personal Development | Leave a comment

Karen Foy talks about confidence

Icon Women Link n Learn Focus on ConfidenceOur next Link n Learn event focuses on building confidence. So we thought who better to share some insight into this topical issue than the workshop facilitator Karen Foy. “One of the first films I recall enthralling me was the Wizard of Oz and to this day I am still transfixed by the mysticism it holds. I recall the sinking in my heart when Toto pulled back the curtain to reveal the Wizard was a fraud, controlling everything through a machine that projected an image of the mighty Oz. It was all one big confidence trick. I think we have all been fooled by the other fraud that of needing to get more confidence. Read more

Posted in Business Development, Discussion, Events, Personal Development | Leave a comment