Another year over: word of the year

 

By Jane Comben

"Another year over, and a new one just begun"

It's New Year's eve and before you dash out to pick up some last minute fancy dress outfit or sparkly number of the party later, we want to wish you a very exciting and wonderful 2013.

Word of the year
If you're tired of trotting out the same old resolutions to get fit or lose weight you may be interested in another, simpler idea. I stumbled across it a few years ago and it's a word of the year. 

The general idea is to take a bit of time out to think what's important to you and what areas of your life you'd like to focus on. Then jot down a few words that feel relevant and resonate with you. From that short list, choose just one word to help guide you through your year.

For example; you're feeling overwhelmed and surrounded with clutter and you'd like to get organised. You might choose a word like 'clarity' or 'release'. If your finances are precarious perhaps ‘wealth’ or ‘adundance’ might help your focus. Want to get fit or lose weight? Then ‘health’ or ‘adventure’ might fit the bill. This blog has more information and some more word ideas.

What’s my word?
My word for 2012 was COURAGE and that’s certainly come into play this year. All the new things we’ve tried with WorksWonders have taken a bit of courage. Like running workshops, delivering presentations and getting to grips with financial plans and technology. That’s not to say it hasn’t been a lot of fun too. The payoff has been meeting some wonderful people and learning some new tricks.

And my word for 2013? I haven’t quite decided yet but I’m toying with words like ‘joy’, ‘fun’ and ‘adventure’.

So forget boring resolutions… what’s your word of the year going to be?

And on the twelfth day of Christmas

By Angela Bensemann and Jane Comben

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there…’

And here it is - tomorrow is Christmas in all its shiny wrapping paper, tinselled decorations, reindeers, elves and Santa hats. For some of us Christmas is a chance to celebrate the birth of Christ, catch up with family and friends or finally get that great present we’ve been waiting for. 

Perhaps you don’t celebrate Christmas at all but embrace the few days off work, the sales in the shops and the excuse to eat and drink as much as you like for a few days without criticism.

Whatever you are doing these holidays, whether It’s mid-winter or summer, make sure it’s a safe one and keep your eye on what really matters.

 

Here’s our top 12 loves of Christmas:

• Getting together with family and friends
• Christmas carols
• Tinsel and wrapping paper
• Twinkly lights
• Chocolates and mince pies
• Thoughtful presents
• Pohutakawa trees in bloom
• The lyrics to ‘Grandma got run over by a reindeer’
• BBQing (often as not in the rain)
• The favourite uncle falling asleep after a few beers
• Time off work
• And last but not least a good excuse to eat whatever you like

Merry Christmas from Angela and Jane at WorksWonders.

WorksWonders – the first year 2012

By Angela Bensemann

So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun 

 (John Lennon)

This time last year Jane and I were at a cross roads.  Should we take the plunge and launch WorksWonders or should we flag it and spend our time and energy on our existing businesses?

We didn’t even know what WorksWonders was back then.  We knew we wanted to help women on their endeavours towards a better work/life balance as others had helped us on ours. But we didn’t know how we would achieve this.

We did have an overriding motivator though.  That was that we did not want to get to this Christmas and say – “oh I wish we’d given it a go”.  We wanted to be able to say – “we gave it a go and this is what we learnt/got out of it”.

Letters to Santa

By Julia Anderson, marketing and communications consultant - oh, and letter writer

Check out any website about career development, family life or work-life balance and you’ll find many references to goal-setting. For me, goal-setting was always like scripting an annual letter to Santa: Write your list, post it up the chimney and wait to see what turns up.

Boy, did I get my comeuppance the other day, though!

While sorting out the files on my computer, I came across a document entitled ‘Visioning’. I double-clicked to open it, and...  BOOM! There was my list of four very specific, detailed and measurable goals. And not your wimpy ones either. They were Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals: My five-year plan, in fact, due to expire within four months.

Have I achieved them? Mostly, yes. Three out of four are progressing rather well.  And I’ve done it not by closing my eyes, crossing my fingers and singing ‘Jingle Bells’; but by taking small, practical and manageable steps on a consistent basis.

·        I now own my own home (not the swish, architect-designed townhouse that I envisioned, but a modern low maintenance place with a glimpse of the harbour and lovely neighbours)

·        I’ve achieved the work-life balance that I craved. My goal was to work nine months a year and take three months off. I haven’t quite got the three months running consecutively yet, but that’s the next step.

·        I’ve found love again. I’m not saying it’s all a walk in the park: But I had my heart rate checked recently at the gym and when the fitness consultant asked me how my partner was doing, my pulse rate increased. That’s not too shabby, is it?

Live long and prosper

By Angela Bensemann

In all my planning and goal setting I never stopped to consider the most impressive milestone of all – turning 100.  That is until I attended my first ever 100^th birthday in November.

Now I’m not sure it ever entered my mind before that one could reach that magical age. My husband’s Grandfather is the only person I know to have achieved this goal and it got me wondering about what changes he’s seen during his time.

The year was 1912 and a lot was happening. The Titanic sank with 1500 lives lost.  The formica kitchen worktop was invented as too was the electric blanket, the zipper and traffic lights.

Top of the pops was ‘When Irish eyes are smiling’ and ‘It’s a long way to Tipperary’. The kewpie doll was first produced along with ‘Life Saver’ lollies (sweets) and heated hair straighteners.

Scott and his party made it to the South Pole (but not back again), the Republic of China was founded and the first neon advertising light appeared in Paris.

Finding a balance between work and play in NZ

Mary on top of the world - Mt Ruapehu, New Zeland.

By Mary McBride - multi-sporter and dentist!

I came to New Zealand in 1999 and discovered more outdoors, hills and rivers than you could shake a stick at.  I grew up on a farm in Northern Ireland and had spent much of my youth wandering through bucolic pastures (or chasing cows around fields) but had abandoned them for the bright lights of the city, pints of Guinness and chasing boys around nightclubs.  An all or nothing kind of gal.

When I arrived, I still felt the need to have buildings and bright lights around. With the harbour glistening on a bright sunlit day as I rounded the corner at the bottom of the Ngauranga Gorge, Wellington, the Coolest Little Capital, was always going to be my favourite city – great food, art, music, theatre, sport – and you could walk everywhere – there was just no contest.

I secured a job as a dentist in a city practice, discovered the positive and “give it a go” attitude of Kiwis, their generosity of spirit, and was blown away with Wellington J.  I watched the races on the waterfront from my flat window (an ant infested old house, now buried under apartments, on Oriental Parade); “Splash and Dash”, parents running around pushing buggies in front, and was inspired by their determination to stay fit despite the rigours of life. 

It's not all beers and sunshine!

Tauranga Bay seems like a lifetime ago - Heidi and family.

By Heidi Chandler. Our intrepid caravaner updates us on life on the road.

So, we’re half way through a year of travelling around beautiful NZ.   Just us, the kids and the dog, in a 22 ft caravan with the country at our feet.   The first four months were spent in the upper half of the North Island, frolicking on beaches, sipping on latte’s, and revelling in the warm weather, sunshine, and the happy kids this combo had created.

As it turned out though, we were dreaming if we thought we could avoid winter altogether, as we did indeed get some rain.  Basically two weeks of it non-stop!  As it deluged outside, the cabin fever was taking grip.  Our morning walks had ceased, the effort to keep the mud at bay was gargantuan, we had a constant wet dog at our feet, and the kids were in need of serious entertaining.    The mud problem was soon diminished by an expertly placed towel at the door, this also helped contain the wet dog problem. 

Marry in haste repent at leisure (or not!)

By Angela Bensemann

Anyone who knows me knows I’m a real planner (and a control freak).  Sometimes some of life’s biggest decisions just happen and can’t be planned.  That’s actually quite a challenge for someone like me but sometimes you just have to go with the flow.

One of my favourite stories goes like this.

Back in the day my boyfriend of one month (I’ll call him the scouser as he’s from Liverpool) decided to come to New Zealand (we’d met in the UK but I was on my way home again).  We weren’t sure how we were going to get on – let’s face it we hardly knew each other.

The scouser left England with a backpack and a six month visitor’s VISA. 

Things were going well so he converted the visitor’s VISA to a working VISA and we set up house. Several months later the scouser popped the question and we decided to marry at some time in the distant future.

We waited till my parents visited us the following week to tell them the news of the coming nuptials but the scouser’s parents were on holiday so they had to wait to find out.

In the meantime the scouser went to re-new his working VISA and was told it had expired, couldn’t be renewed and he had 10 days to leave the country.

Jewellery making passion turns to business success

By Rowena Chin, owner and founder of RO Design Jewellery

A health problem eight years ago made me think of a new work direction. That's what happens when you spend 18 days in hospital with nothing to do but think. My health prevented me from playing sport for a couple of years so I was gutted.

I realised I didn't have any craft activities that I enjoyed doing so I was on the search for something non-active to take up. Upon doing a jewellery making class with a group of friends, I fell in love with designing and being creative with beads. I couldn't sleep because ideas kept churning through my head.

I had never really been into wearing jewellery until a friend bought me a pendant necklace to wear with jeans and a simple white tshirt. Whenever I wore that necklace I would get so many compliments. With my newfound love of designing jewellery I thought I could make people look and feel great by designing beautiful jewellery for them to wear. 

Armed with my background in accounting and advice from a friend to "GO FOR IT...what have you got to lose?", I launched RO Design Jewellery, working from home.

A friend indeed

By Jane Comben

This song came on the radio and it made me think immediately of Shelley. We met at a design firm and we clicked.

Once I'd started my own business, and Shelley left work to have children, she was the person to call if I needed some extra design help or a fresh pair of eyes. In an industry where there is no right or wrong answer (just subjective opinion) having a "wing man" you understand and trust is invaluable. A safety net for creative confidence you could say.

Back to the point. I heard the song and realised that much time had passed and I missed her. Not just bouncing ideas around together, but I missed her energy. Her laugh, her sense of fun and her slightly mad obsession with all things Christmas. (You too can have a desktop widget that counts down the days to Christmas – all year!)

"The better part of one's life consists of his friendships." Abraham Lincoln

While I'm slightly envious of those people who still live and work close to friends they've known since childhood, I'm also grateful for all the people I've met on my travels. Some have passed through quickly while others have stuck around.

Here's a small selection of the types of friends I've been lucky enough to meet. I look forward to the ones I haven't met yet... maybe it's you.

‘Aint no party like yo Nana’s craft party’

By Rebecca Hardie - a not so 'closet' crafter

My name’s Rebecca and I’m a craft-a-holic. It’s true, I’m torn between writing this blog and making a cross stitched poppy for my friend who had a baby girl yesterday and named her Poppy. This is on top of the crocheted blanket, beanee, possum fur booties, lavender balls and the screen printed customised onsey I made her,  as well as organised a craft party for her baby shower - all the ladies stitched a square to represent a story or nursery rhyme – I stitched it into a book both Mum & Poppy can share.

Craft is a good addiction – our Nana’s did it!  I’ve heard that crochet uses a side of my brain that will keep me from losing my mind – I forget what side does what. I suspect I will reach ‘crazy crochet lady’ status one day.

I’m surrounded by crafty people, the story goes: my twin sister shares my crochet obsession, our Dad taught us and Grandma taught him, we’ve been hooked ever since!  Not long after moving to Pukerua Bay there was an article about me in the Dominion Post ‘Your Weekend’ section.  I think the idea of the story was that a public servant has a hobby to craft – breaking news, should’ve made the front page!  I was the new kid on the block and the locals are reading about someone who lives in their neighbourhood and crochets.

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger...mostly

As a young gun reporter on the Saturday Express in 1990
 Angela back left!

By Angela Bensemann

My work life less ordinary began cleaning offices when I was about 13 with my younger sister.  That’s where I got the taste for: hard work = money in the bank = a new 10-speed bike (all the rage in the early 1980s).

From there it was natural to want to keep moving and get better jobs to buy the latest roller skates, shoes, jeans etc.

Working in a roadside fruit stall seemed like a step in the right direction.  The pay was good - $3.54 an hour - the outfit somewhat less so.  However the death to dog incident soon put paid to that job.  I was 16 and the owners left me and a friend in charge of their orchard, fruit stall, and dogs while they went away for the weekend.  The hubby told me to let the Rottweiler and Chihuahua out twice a day for a run while I was attending the stall.  How was I to know that the Chihuahua would run into the path of oncoming traffic on State Highway 1 and get squashed?  Needless to say this job did not end well and I resigned the next day.  Lesson learnt – never let a Chihuahua play on the side of the road.

From there I went to volunteering at my local newspaper – the Marlborough Express.  Here followed several years of holiday jobs reporting on local croquet games, diamond wedding jubilees and lost cats.  My big break came when I got to write for the Saturday Express and moved up to ‘Bovine Bingo bit of fun for all’.  Reporting on the two hundred people who crowded into a local carpark to watch Alethia the cow (and I quote) ‘drop her load’.  If she dropped it on your square you won.

An Angela Bensemann classic from the Saturday Express

My days writing for the University of Canterbury student newspaper yielded slightly more in-depth assignments like ‘Stirring the Pot’ (to legalise or not – marijuana), ‘Overcrowding in lecture theatres’ and on the same theme – ‘Overcrowding reaches Lancaster Park’. 

The biggest debate of the day was whether newspapers should print in colour - imagine... Oh the dizzying heights of journalism – it was soon to go to a whole other level:  A job at a publishing company.  I’d finally hit the big time or so I thought. As a naïve journalism graduate this was soon to become the job that stole my innocence! 

I was surrounded by sales reps, who would have sold their own grandmothers to get that commission - one was sleeping with the office manager at lunch time and defrauding the company the rest of the time.  The others were out back smoking pot when the boss was away.  Friday drinks would begin at 10am when the boss would put a can of beer on my desk (that was
before I discovered wine).  As you can imagine the rest of the day was a bit of a blur.

If you build it they will come - Kia Ora Children’s Learning Centre, Nairobi, Kenya

Denise surrounded by Kia Ora kids.

By Denise Carnihan, co-owner and driving force of Kia Ora
I’m not used to having my ideas taken too seriously – especially by my husband Chris.  So last year when I suggested we build a school in Nairobi I never thought for a minute we’d now be celebrating a whole year of operation with 300 students, eight teachers and a Masai warrior security guard.

It’s surprisingly easy to take a crazy idea and change your own life and those around you once you set your mind to it!

But let me rewind and tell you the story.

Road trip to Rotorua - Kickstart my Day!




The team (back left to right) Gillian, Jane, Angela, Diane.  Front Win (Child Cancer Foundation) and Wendy.

By Angela Bensemann

Just before kick off!

WorksWonders is all about trying to inspire people to take another look at obtaining the work/life balance that works for them and to achieve their dreams.

This weekend it was the other way around, we were totally inspired by the women we met at our Kickstart your Day workshop in Rotorua hosted by the Lakes Branch Child Cancer Foundation.


Despite many of the women having huge things going on in their lives at home they took the day out to come and join us and take part in our two workshops.

Clothes swap gems.

How to declutter your wardrobe

My wardrobe: before and after the declutter.

By Jane Comben
Got a wardrobe of stuff and nothing to wear? An average woman has 100 items of clothing but only wears 30. Imagine having an easy-to-see selection of clothes you love and look good on you? It’s time to declutter your closet.

It doesn’t have to be as hard or as overwhelming as you may think. Here are the basics.

The process: take clothes out then decide whether they're a keep, toss or maybe.

"Life is what YOU make it."

Jenina and the Snowling family.

By Jenina Snowling
I will try to keep this short because as any studying, part-time working mother of 4 children would know, spare time is a rare thing.  So why do “we” do it?  I say “we” as I know I am not alone here.

Well I am sure the reasons will differ depending on the needs of the individuals but for me it came down to necessity.

I remember closing myself in my room late one evening feeling completely burnt out after yet another “ground hog day” of pouring every ounce of myself into ensuring everyone else’s needs were met and the house was looking immaculate for that small space of time before my youngest woke from his sleep or my family returned from their respective kindy, school and workplace only to get home and remove all signs of any hard work that I had put in during the day.

It was in those quiet moments that I realised that this burn out was no one else’s fault but my own.

From forestry to teaching via a good CV (resume)

By Angela Bensemann

It’s not easy changing careers.  We often get stuck in the mind set of doing what we do because we do it (sound familiar?).

I recently worked with a guy to write a career changing CV.  He’s been working in the forestry industry for 25+ years and has now decided to teach English as a second language to adults in China.  A slight change in direction!

Of course he’s already done all the hard work – made the decision to leave what he is doing, undertaken an online qualification and put all the wheels in motion for his new life.  He just needed a bit of help getting that CV right.

There’s lots of tools and advice around on how to write a standard CV and cover letter.  But when it comes to writing one for a job completely outside of your work history you need to approach it in a totally different way.

I could tell when reading his CV that he actually had a lot of teaching experience it was just buried.  He’d undertaken forestry related qualifications enabling him to teach forestry unit standards.  He’d also undertaken Adult Education qualifications to enable him to work with adults.

And although forestry itself has no direct link to teaching, teaching people what they need to know and do in forestry does.  Over the years he had taught many forestry people both in the field and in the classroom so they could obtain the qualifications needed to undertake their jobs.

He had also done a lot of work with youth teaching them valuable life skills and preparing them for the workforce.

My top tips for writing a career changing CV:

• Include the usual name and contact details; however, if you are applying for jobs overseas make sure you include international telephone codes or your new contact details if you are already there.
• Relevant qualifications – it is important to bring this right up front on your CV because this will tell someone why you are qualified to apply for this position even though you have been working in a totally unrelated field.
• Relevant experience – rewrite previous jobs to focus in on the relevant aspects of your new career.  Include in this section the key responsibilities you undertook related to your new career.  Also include the specifically related skills and attributes.
• Personal interests (keep to a minimum - you want to give people a flavour of you outside of work but not too much information).
• Referees – it is fairly standard to provide three referees for a potential employer to contact.  Try to make these as relevant as possible to your new career. 
• Remember to try and keep your CV to two or three pages.  If you are applying internationally keep your audience in mind for the language you use.
• And finally your cover letter.  This is crucial and gives you the chance to explain why you are changing career and why you are well suited to the job.

Look good on the outside and feel great on the inside

By Wendy Bakewell, full time business owner and unofficial style guru


Whether you’re spending the day at home, picking up the kids, going to the supermarket or running from meeting to meeting with important clients, it’s essential to look good on the outside to create the right impression.  You will find that no matter how you are feeling at the beginning of your day, if you make the effort to look good by following my tips you’ll instantly feel better, giving you a glow from within which will increase your self-confidence.

 

Looking great on the outside doesn’t actually require as much work as you might think!  It really is the little things that can make a big difference. 

Wendy’s Top Tips:

• Personal hygiene has to come at the top of my list.  If you don’t shower everyday there is no way you are going to feel good on the outside!  I use Pure and Natural Crystal Deodorant Stone which the bottle says has been sold to over 10 million people!  It is hypoallergenic, eliminates odour, unscented and non-staining 24 hour protection.  Just wet the stone and apply. It may seem a bit pricey at $12.99 for 120g but it lasts a very long time.  I have found this sometimes difficult to find but I buy it from Steve’s Wholefoods in Palmerston North, Phone: 06 355 1300.

• You may need to wash your hair every day, like I do, otherwise it looks a greasy mess! However there are excellent dry shampoos out there if you don’t have time.  Klorane is great because it’s natural and contains fewer toxic ingredients than other products on the market. It’s also perfect for darker hair, as it doesn’t leave any white residue. Highly recommended!    You can buy Klorane Gentle Dry Shampoo for $18 at Sephora.com.

• Have your hair styled by a professional hairdresser.  There are excellent hairdressers in small towns that don’t charge the earth to cut and/or colour your hair.  A great hairstyle that is easy to manage takes minimal time to look after.  I go to our local hairdresser and pay $95 for a cut, colour and foils.

Call me: how to tame a fear of telephones

By Jane Comben
Don't take it personally, but I probably avoid calling you. It's not that I don't like you, it's just I'd rather not. If I can help it.

My name is Jane and I'm a teeny bit telephobic. I'm naturally shy and at the age of 5 I was falsely accused of shoplifting chewing gum. The terror of that, and being frisked by the shopkeeper, probably didn't help my reticence. I digress. Apparently there's a whole phobia devoted to people who have a "reluctance to or fear of taking or making phone calls" (Wikipedia). "Telephobes" to their friends.

Like any phobia a bit of aversion therapy can work a charm. After graduating, getting a proper design job in London was just that. For 6 months I'd visit the local phone box in my lunch hour and cold call agencies for a chance to show them my portfolio. It was horrible but after a few months I could get past the receptionist and convince the busy agency owner he could spare me 10 minutes. If I was particularly courageous, I'd bag a few appointments for my weekly trek to London. I was practically invincible!

I should probably admit that my first design job was at a tiny local firm that funded my trips to London. A handwritten letter from my Mum helped me secure the post. The letter was prompted by a tiny advert in the back of the local paper, an advert I had snubbed. A lesson learnt that, yes, your mother probably IS right (and the big guns in London don't need to know how low-rent the company is).

Finally, I got a London job and just as I was enjoying the use of faxes there dawned a new technological age. None of us could imagine this "world wide web" or who we'd be sending emails to. Or, a few years later, the point of texts. How blind I was to the telephone-avoiding potential of these wonders.

Of course these "new" technologies weren't without difficulties. Quick recap: don't send anything you wouldn't want your grandmother/girlfriend/boss to see.

Today, I need to work at phoning people rather than relying on electronic communication. Perhaps the recipient would prefer an email they can deal with in their own time, but probably not. Most people have enough in their inbox already.

So here are my tips for the phone averse:

• Keep the aversion therapy up – sometimes make yourself call rather than email/text/facebook. Starting your own business is good for this!
• Schedule the calls first thing and get them over with.
• Congratulate yourself.
• Make up for it in other ways. Be extra friendly in person, smile at strangers. Or send cards.
• Get a loquacious friend to show you the way.

How many times have I discussed a challenge with Angela Bensemann to have her come up with the crazy suggestion "you could always phone"?

Phone? Yes, I suppose I could. It's not like I'm avoiding you.

Kickstart my Me-tIme!

Chrissie showing off her Art Extension Programme.

By Chrissie Sullivan

Frustrated artist, disillusioned Primary teacher, home-educator, full-on busy Mum/Mama…
Hmmmm…finding ME-time…PRICELESS!

I have: one lovely man; my two youngest children with me and both at Primary; two older sons popping in every now and then; my daughter (who lives next door and is doing her 4th year of study); her three girls who I have been looking after through PORSE; plus two opportunist dogs and two always-hungry cats…which has for the longest time translated into…not much time for me!

The control freak's guide to getting things done

By Angela Bensemann

Hello my name is Angela and I'm a control freak.

It’s been 12 minutes since I last tried to get someone to do something the way I wanted it done.

I’d like to say I haven’t always been this way but then I’d be lying.  Proof on the cassette tape played at my 21st (yes I am showing my age) demonstrating my bossy controlling nature from a really young age.  In my defence – you try getting a 6 and an 8 year old to play perfect pitch on the recorder in tune to your singing.

I didn’t really earn my full control freak stripes until I started working. I still remember the first time someone called me a control freak and to be honest with you I was actually quite shocked.

 I was sitting down with the sweet young thing in our office – Tracy, asking her to organise the writing and design of a booklet we needed to produce.  I then proceeded to draw exactly how I wanted it and tell her exactly what should be in it.  I must have had a brief glimpse of self-realisation and said to her, “I’m not trying to tell you what to do.”  To which she replied, “no you’re just being a control freak.”

Wow, a control freak.  I tried the label on for size and couldn’t really fault it.  I know there are a lot of negative connotations about being a control freak.  Think bossy, pedantic, annoying etc. But I decided to work this new found trait to my advantage.

You see, a control freak knows how to get things done.  A normal control freak could be counter-productive.  However, I am a control freak with self-awareness – major plus.  I know I’m a control freak and I tell everyone that.
 
To make sure I am in complete control at work I have mastered managing my diary I:

•  itemise all activities for the day
•  number activities in priority order
•  tick them off as they are completed
•  anything not finished on the day gets carried over to the next day
•  diary in follow up calls and appointments to make sure things are done

And then I have my favourite phrases to follow up others to make sure they’re doing what I want them to do:

•  I’ll follow up with you next Monday to see how you’re getting on, because I’m a control freak
•  Because I’m a control freak can you copy me in on the email when you send that job off
•  As a control freak I just need to double check all your changes before you send it to the printers

Of course satisfying my control freak nature at work is a lot easier than at home where I seem to have little control over making the child and the husband do what I want when I want – they seem to have minds of their own!

Freedom and opportunity there for the taking

Brenda Webb and David Morgan take time out from sailing for some
 inland exploration in Guatemala. They’re pictured at the Mayan
 ruins of Tikal near the Belize/Mexican border.

By Brenda Webb, intrepid sailor and part-time motelier

It’s blowing a gale and sleep is impossible as our yacht/home Bandit strains at her anchor and tosses us about in our bed.

Husband David and I take turns to go up on deck and check we’re not dragging onto nearby rocks or that another boat is not going to drag its anchor and crash into us.  It’s times like these I yearn for a bed that doesn’t rock, a “safe” house on dry land and a less nomadic lifestyle.

But those thoughts quickly disappear as the storm passes, the seas flatten and the Caribbean sun rises on yet another wonderful day.  I remind myself of the amazing freedom and opportunities our rather abnormal life presents.

Living on a boat and sailing the world means we get to visit some fascinating countries that wouldn’t normally be accessible.  Take the wonderful Island of Provendencia – owned by Colombia but lying off the Honduras coast - it proved a wonderful stopover for us in April as we sat out an unfavourable weather system.

Be Your Own Boss Bonus: Taking a month off

By Jane Comben

How lucky am I?

As you may know, I emigrated to New Zealand from Britain 15 years ago and I've been back a handful of times since. We're just back from our latest trip, having spent a month visiting family and friends.

The main joy of working for yourself is the little freedoms this allows. I've shared a few on our page on facebook. But the main freedom it provides is time. Nice big chunks of it.

One of my favourtite places, Portland Bill, Dorset, UK

Of course travelling to the other side of the world is a costly, exhausting and time hungry extravagance. Depending on how many are going (and what you do when you get there) the cost of a trip ranges from a cheap second hand car to a new kitchen. As with a lot of things, you often have the time OR the money. Not usually both. But, the desire to see family and friends can be a strong one.

When I worked full-time I had the money and with three weeks annual leave, not much time. Now my partner and I are self employed, we can take as long as we like – so long as we plan well and save hard. This time, my clients got plenty of notice of my plans and all the time sensitive jobs were completed before we left (just!). Emails were re-directed, another designer lined up as backup for a client, the answer machine switched on and we were off.

How to eat an elephant and other survival tips

By Julia Anderson, marketing and communications consultant - oh, and elephant eater

You know what they say: If you have to eat an elephant, take one bite at a time.

I set up my own business six years ago to get some balance in my life: I had tried combining full-time employment with solo parenting and it wasn’t working for me. I needed to put myself first and start calling the shots about how I’d invest my energy: In other words, I had to stop trying to eat the whole elephant in one gulp.

Getting a part-time job was not a desirable option in my line of work: I was over-qualified, and I couldn’t afford to take the pay cut. Establishing a business had been in my mind for years – so I set about doing it, one chunk at a time.

I set up a company in which I’m the sole employee. I work an average of 22 hours a week on an hourly rate, mainly on contracts lasting for a few months at a time, in a range of different organisations.

I now spend less time at work but I’m far more productive than when I held a ‘full-time’ job. I’m a better family member because I’ve created the space for it and I’m fortunate to earn more than when I was in full-time employment.

Networking - the power of the 'Ladies that Lunch'

By Angela Bensemann

Never underestimate the power of lunching with like-minded individuals and where it might take you – you might even find yourself launching a new venture.  That’s how WorksWonders was born.

About seven years ago Catherine, Julia and I started regularly meeting for lunch, probably about once every couple of months or so.  We knew we were kindred spirits all having worked on the local government elections campaigns in 2004.
 
I guess we just clicked and once the election was over, instead of going our own separate ways we decided to keep on meeting – but this time for lunch.

Catherine helped mentor me into setting up my own business Halo Communications – she’d made the plunge into self-employment several years earlier herself.  Julia was still grappling with working full-time and trying to work out how she could juggle work and family better.

We became the tight three, bouncing work issues off each other and supporting each other through life’s traumas.

Over time we felt there was something missing – enter Jane Comben (the other half of WorksWonders).  Jane too had been grappling with how to work differently and spend more time with her family.

Setting up business online

Lynette Bailey

Bridgette lawrence

By Lynette Bailey co-founder of Ciao Bella

Believe in yourself and your idea

I can not recall how many times people said that I could not, should not, would not start a business or generally mocked the concept of my business.  After all, why would someone with a financial background, choose to set up business of an online autobiography/ funeral planning service. Do not let these negative ninjas win under any circumstance. Believe in yourself and live your dream.

Take time to reflect on what made you excited when you first started thinking of your business and hold on to that feeling. During the course of your journey, you will travel one heck of a rollercoaster ride with highs turning into lows and back again. Learn from the lows and treat them as opportunities to learn and celebrate the highs as you achieve them no matter how small they are. This could be by sharing the story with a likeminded person, treating yourself a special lunch or simply high 5 yourself. After all, you deserve it.

Understand your core values and belief system

Take some time out of your daily routine to make a list of what it is that you want to achieve, what you will not compromise and what your values are. For me it was understanding why I wanted to do this, what I would not compromise, having the belief in what I was doing and being passionate and relentless about it. I composed a list of what you want the product to deliver eg it would be seen as quality,the brand would be clear and strong, there would be an ability to grow and develop the business, it would be a desirable product and support core charities that were close to my heart.