Turning Passion Into Pounds in Collaboration with the British Library-WHAT AN EVENING

Last Friday was mine and Jessica Huie MBE’s ‘Turning Passion Into Pounds’ workshop with the Business & IP Centre and The British Library– and I’m proud to declare it was a resounding success. Yay!

WOW doesn’t come even close- it was a truly EPIC evening spent with a panel of women who clearly posses two brains each- making up the most dynamic, intelligent, go-getting and big-hearted panel I’ve ever had the privilege to collaborate with.

And the room-the audience were incredible, smart, ambitious women with a few men too, eager to create a change and chase their dreams!

…Joining Jessica and I on the night to speak were: digital strategist and publicist Natasha Courtenay-Smith who recently sold her Talk to the Press news agency, Executive Inner Life PA, Simone Dyer, Entertainment PR Guru Indy Vidyalankara and Celebrity Psychologist Emma Kenny- all whom shared their journeys to success, honestly-motivating the whole room.

Photo by Diana Konefal

Inspiring, moving, empowering and pretty damn magical- are just some of superlatives the audience members shared with us after the event!

‘MAGICAL’ is the one that stood out the most for me because the energy in that room really was MAGICAL-magic was what I strove for as a director pre-blogging-something we hoped to capture on camera-magic borne from truth, sharing emotion on screen that would connect with an audience. It’s a feeling, a vibe and it’s contagious!

As speakers, I believe we connected emotionally with the audience- unflinchingly detailing our journeys highlighting the adversities we’d overcome and the many critical mistakes so necessary in becoming successful.

Photo by Diana Konefal

We spoke of the stumbling blocks and character-building times which as tough as they were, didn’t kill our drive- and we stood open, laid bare on what worked for us- offering tangible tips on how others could follow our leads and achieve their own goals.

Rewarding, encouraging, I learnt and was reminded of so much that evening.

I hope those listening to my speech took away that every single one of our voices are individual and unique and digital storytelling is available to all.

I emphasised the importance of practising confidence until it becomes your default. To blog as a business owner too (having read) leads for sales go up by 126% for businesses which also have a blog.

I shared the different ways to monetise your sites from sponsored advertising, posts where you are paid to write, endorsement deals, social media packages, sponsored travel opps and reviews- but the importance of being genuine, to seek those collabs which are natural to you.

My own endorsement deals fit seamlessly into my blog-they are signposted as ads but they match my ethos and brand- I am Honest Mum after all!

I highlighted creating EMOTION on screen-sharing, connecting and hopefully making a difference to others.

What is so incredibly EMPOWERING about blogging is being able to work on your own time and your own terms in a field that is growing so quickly it can barely keep up with itself…A space where you are in control.I also encouraged the audience to consider the below before starting a blog/business.

Ask yourself what drives you-WRITE WHAT YOU WANT TO READ!

Grow a thick skin, creatives are naturally sensitive, it is a tough world out there especially when it comes to the ONLINE WORLD where everyone’s a critic but stay strong and learn to crack on without worrying what others think of you.

Which leads me to-Working on your confidence. Put yourself out there so you can grow and take risks.I listened to a speech from Margerate McDonagh last week who said gender bias and discrimination happens often unknowingly from birth-boys are encouraged to go on adventures, girls are protected and regarded more delicate so become less used to taking risks- so fight against some of your conditioning and make things happen.

Don’t fear mistakes. The biggest lessons have been from those mistakes, those errors, that’s how we grow and improve.

Sometimes connecting with others means being vulnerable-

Get out there and connect, not just with your own niche and target consumers-REACHHHHH out.

Blogging-wise you can earn early, I was approached after 2 weeks and that was 2010!

CONTENT is king so keep writing and pushing and approach others you want to work with. Google PR and the brand name, dm the brand on twitter asking for their PR’s details. Be open.

MAKE THINGS HAPPEN. DON’T wait for things to happen.

The workshop ended with the audience sharing their own goals and dreams in a vital exercise Jessica proposed where each member put their hand up and in turn asked for something they needed and shared what they could offer in return if anyone could match their request.

Many unions were made that evening and the panel also offered up their services too!

With an audience bursting with bloggers, entrepreneurs and business owners, both budding and established, it was wonderful to meet and connect with so many after the event -I just wish I’d had more time and wasn’t rushing to catch my train back to York.

I want to end with some testimonials from the evening-

‘Turning Passion into Pounds was a brilliant evening and I would recommend it to anybody who is considering a career change or starting up a business. The way each panel member managed to extract their lessons learned from very personal life events, created a level of ‘realness’, that I have seldom seen at similar events’. 

Marieluise Maiwald of Deying Gravity

…My great friend Leigh, blogger at Headspace Perspective said this,

‘Turning Passion into Pounds was a few days ago now – and I am still buzzing from the energy, inspiration and ideas! The women on the panel are from diverse backgrounds but share in common incredible drive to achieve their dreams. Each of the women were refreshingly honest about their journeys – it isn’t always easy, and it is so reassuring to hear that even they have self-doubt. The message I took away is that you need to work through that self-doubt and all the obstacles that are put in your way to live your life your way, on your own terms, making your passion a reality. I am already putting steps in to action, after months of procrastination. Thank you to everyone involved for a brilliant session – not only the panel, but all the attendees too for being so willing to share their skills and tips with one another. I only wish I could bottle the magic that was in abundance that evening’.
Leigh wrote about the workshop HERE.

Siobhan of To Get Her Further wrote this about the event HERE -read an except below:

‘A recurring tip that arose through the evening was the need for us all to be comfortable with fear and failure – that it is only by experiencing these that we will grow and succeed. So I faced another fear, and stood up to speak again in the Q&A – I still felt that same shaky feeling in my legs, and acidic feeling in my stomach, but it feels like it gets ever so slightly easier each time!The session ended with a sort of bidding/bartering event – women standing up to request a particular service, and offering to share something in return. It felt wonderful to see women helping each other, and working together in such open collaboration. I can’t wait for the next opportunity to experience this again!’

Another blogger friend of mine Amanda of Ginger Mum said, ‘The success stories by all the speakers both moved and motivated me. Everyone attending arrived as a fountain of untapped opportunity, and left as savvy, connected women ready to make their mark. The focus, achievements and life lessons shared by these hugely successful women empowered us all and inspired us to each maximise our own unique limitless potential’.

Read Amanda’s post of the evening HERE.

Friend Natalie of Just Because I Love blew me away with her words,

‘I thought Passion into Pounds would be a good event, I was wrong – it was amazing. Being a home based blogger and business woman can be isolating at times so to come together in a room of inspiring woman who are leading the way in their fields was exactly what I needed. From blogging tips to PR advise, tales of loss and love were pulled together to offer an event that was first class. I left having met many great people and have to thank Vicki and Jessica for offering that opportunity. Here’s to the next event’.

Turning Passion into Pounds is going on a nationwide tour along with more dates in London. News to follow on this blog here and over on Passion into Pounds site.
I hope to see you at the next one!

Please do check out the fabulous panellists’ sites:

Jessica Huie MBE is a PR maven and entrepreneur, check out her award winning PR boutique agency:
http://www.jhpr.co.uk/Emma Kenny has createdMakeyourswitch.co.uk to offer subscribers a holistic space to look after their mental, physical, nutritional and psychological needs.
Explore Natasha Courtenay’s free ecourse about personal branding and how to stand out
http://natashacourtenaysmith.com/stand-out

Indy’s kids art project and social experiment www.facebook.com/throughachildseyeaworldview is a must-visit and  www.indypendentpr.com is a specialist boutique PR consultancy for music, broadcast and entertainment.
The gifted Simone Dyer recently launched Executive Inner Life PA ‘Empowering women, to create workable, powerful lives that they LOVE!’ : www.simonedyer.com