Wednesday 13 April 2016

Guest Blog: I dare you to…Let go & GROW!

Guest Blog Post by Denise Rabor, Founder of Wow Beauty
There is a saying that goes “you’ve gotta let go of the old to make space for the new”, well maybe that’s what I think I’ve heard, you may prefer the more spiritual version of “When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be. When I let go of what I have, I receive what I need”. Lao Tzu
My point is that for us to truly realise our potential, to really achieve our vision we often have to let go of something. Now, here’s the thing: I don’t know anyone who can really say that they enjoy the experience of letting go, because for many of us the very idea of letting go is a scary concept at the best of times. We get sooooo comfortable with our default behaviours, habits, people and places that we really don’t want to give them up; they are familiar and almost grounding in a funny way, even though they are not helping us to grow and in many instances are blocking our path, keeping us stuck…its called self-sabotage! They can often simply be unrealistic expectations that you’ve held onto that you now need to let go of to make room for growth.
You keep talking about your dreams and changing your life, BUT in order to make a positive change in your life, in order to truly have a chance of manifesting some of your goals, you have to ‘dare to let go’ of some of the elements of your life that could be blocking your growth. Now don’t get me wrong; what you need to let go of may have served you well in the past, and may have been your anchor when you needed it most, but now it’s in your way, impeding your progress, weighing you down, depleting your energy, wasting your time etc…get it? It no longer fits into your life.
It’s time to re commit to yourself. Ask yourself: who am I becoming? How do I want to live? What do I want to achieve? What is my true purpose? [Putting this on paper always helps] Then ask yourself: what do I need to introduce to my life to help get me there? Where is the space for it? What do I dare to let go of to get there? We need to make room for growth, after all if we keep expending time and emotional energy on sustaining these ‘self-sabotaging’ behaviours, we’ll always have a justification for stalled or failed goals!
Ok, so hopefully now you’re thinking about letting go of at least one thing that’s affecting your growth and your ability to move forward: for some of us it’s a self-sabotaging behaviour such as chronic lateness or procrastination; for others its issues like poor organisation or budgeting or an inability to control cravings for caffeine or social media or it could be having people in our lives who are chronic takers, draining us emotionally and psychologically without replenishing us in any way. Let’s not forget the power of good old ‘negative self- talk’ that can stop us in our tracks at critical moments!
Some tips:
A-It’s not always easy to let go, but you’ve already taken the first step by owning up to yours!
B-Recognise your own self-sabotaging behaviour (SSB) Make a literal ‘note to self’ of your SSB’s and the next time you find yourself behaving in some way that is preventing you from achieving what you need or want to do look at your note.
C- Ask yourself if it’s there’s a rational reason for your SSB, if there isn’t, then it’s probably fear or self-doubt…in which case see D below.
D- Create a positive self coaching message for yourself, that you can read whenever you need support and a reminder of that wonderful vision that you are going to achieve.
I dare you to try this it! Let go & let me know how it works out for you by tweeting wowbeauty.
“In the process of letting go you will lose many things from the past, but you will find yourself.” – Deepak Chopra
Denise Rabor has been making a living from her passion for makeup and beauty as an international make-up artist for over 15 years. In her latest venture, Businesswoman Denise, whose has work with major publications such as Harpers Bazaar, Vogue, ELLE & Vanity Fair, is set to shine a spotlight on inclusivity in the beauty industry.  Her love of beauty, makeup and wellbeing inspired her to become a self-taught make-up artist who sees no rules in beauty. By embracing difference and working with women of different ethnicity and ages, she sees the unique beauty in them all. 

This piece was originally published on Wow Beauty

Tuesday 12 April 2016

2inspire Inspirational Woman: Tokunbo Koiki, Founder of Tokunbo's Kitchen

After years of home-grown cooking for family and friends, Tokunbo Koiki decided to turn her passion of cooking into a business venture. She launched Tee’s Food Corner in 2015, a pop up Nigerian food stall and Tokunbo’s Kitchen in 2016 which provides private chef and supper club opportunities to enjoy authentic Nigerian food within an informal and social experience. When Tokunbo is not cooking up a storm in the kitchen, she can be found on a dance floor dancing without a care in the world! Read her inspirational interview below.


Please tell us what is a typical business day for you?
A typical market day would consist of prepping many of the food a few days before hand. I have learnt this works much easier for me than waking up to start prepping at 5am! I always aim to get to the market at least an hour before it is due to open to the public. Soon as I get to the market I start to prepare the first main meals to be served for the breakfast and lunch crowd which is usually jollof rice, fried fish, grilled chicken, akara (beans fritter), fried yam and fried plantain. I usually have one other person to help me on the stall and we divide up the work with each person tasked to operate the same work for the day.

What made you start the business and how did you get started?
I started Tokunbo's Kitchen due to the sheer frustration of not having access to Nigerian restaurants that were able to provide the level of service and the ambience that goes along with a modern dining experience. I also wanted to share my love of Nigerian food to people from different cultures and enable wider recognition of this cuisine in London and beyond within an intimate and social setting.
I started by operating a pop up street food stall, Tee's Food Corner at Africa Utopia last September after waiting for two hours just go buy jerk chicken at a summer festival. This was the final prompt I needed to put into action an idea that been simmering in my mind for a few years. The event was a success especially in enabling people from all different cultures the opportunity to try a new cuisine they would not have previously considered or encountered.


What would you say has been your greatest accomplishment in the business world to date?
The first was having a six year old boy convince his mother to buy him a meal from my Tee’s Food Corner stall during a visit to London from Austria. To see the look of pure delight and joy at tasting and discovering a new cuisine that is far removed from his normal style of eating is a memory I will always treasure. The other greatest accomplishment for me was obtaining a start-up loan to expand my business idea from the pop up stall to supper clubs and private dining experience. This was a great moment for me as it provided validation that my idea was not crazy! It also gave me more confidence in knowing that the potentials I imagined for the business are not only realistic but that they are very possible.

What has been your biggest challenge in business so far?
Dealing with the well meaning but often times unnecessary worries and questioning from family and friends about my decision to leave social work to set up this business from scratch. Whilst I knew it was well meaning, it initially lead to moments of self doubts but I have found trusting my instinct and not talking much about what I am doing until it's done has enabled them to gain a better understanding of my vision and objectives.


What are your future plans for the business?
To continue running Tee's Food Corner at various markets and festival across London and England whilst also having regular Tokunbo's Kitchen supper club events. I would eventually like to have a small space / car where people can come and eat Nigerian regularly without the regular poor customer service often associated with African restaurants.

If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?
I would learn to trust and follow my instincts much earlier. Asides from that I believe that things have progressed even better than any expectations I may have had. Every few weeks, I take the time to reflect on where I am and the progress I have made. I also look at lessons I need to take away from when things have not gone exactly according to plan or when I have been confronted with a situation I had not planned or prepared for.

Why is it so important to inspire young women in particular to follow their dreams?
From an early age, young girls and women are often told not to dream too high or aspire for anything beyond their current realities. I believe that all young people, but most especially girls and women, should dream for the impossible. They need to develop the courage to follow their dreams no matter how crazy or far removed it might be from what they know or hold to be true. I also wish young girls and women would not feel restrained to just aspiring to be one thing but seek instead to find their purpose and use whichever medium of work or career path that comes their way as the vehicle that drives that purpose.


What advice would you give to somebody who wants to start a business in your industry? 
Love the art of cooking or at least at the very minimum enjoy cooking for others. Be flexible and listen to feedback. Just because you love your cooking or a particular dish does not mean others will. Learn the requirements and regulations of the food industry and always ensure that you adhere to them at all times. Most importantly take time to enjoy the process and the value you bring to others through your skills and talents.

What or who inspires you in business and why?
 My mum was the first business woman I saw and whilst I did not always like the business model she utilised, she inspired me to believe that anything was possible and thought me the skills of buying and selling from an early age including the art of negotiating with wholesalers in New York City fashion district by myself at the age of 14!

What is your favourite inspirational quote?
“No matter how fast or slow you go, you can only go as far as where you are going” as said to me by a friend Akin Akintayo

Twitter: @tokunboskitchen
Instagram: @tokunboskitchen

Tuesday 5 April 2016

2Inspire Inspirational Woman: Margaret V Aberdeen, Founder of Break Free from Domestic Violence™




Margaret V Aberdeen, a “human dynamo”, is an advocate for Domestic Violence and injustice to women. As someone who has broken free from Domestic Violence herself, she now empowers women to gain the strength and courage to Break Free from Domestic Violence™ and build a new life for themselves and their children. She has also made several international radio and television appearances, including for Radio 4, Choice FM, BBC One and Breakfast BEN TV (UK), Focus Radio and Spice Morning TV (Grenada, Caribbean). She is a member of Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP) and has received the Peace Ambassador Award for one of her speeches. Life - threatening cancer, domestic violence, the tragic loss of her baby and homelessness. Understanding that life is about learning, she has extracted something of value from each of these life’s challenges.

Please tell us what is a typical business day for you?
I am an early riser to the sweet melodies of Mother Nature. Each morning when I open my eyes, I sit in silence before leaping out of bed; I feel reborn as I embrace life and life embraces me. I meditate for twenty minutes, then take a long deep breath, look upwards with my arms stretched outwards and with every cell in my body absorbing gratitude as these affirmations mindlessly float out of me: ‘Thank YOU for this new positive perfect day!’ ‘Thank YOU that all my senses and limbs are in a perfect working order. As my feet touch the floor I say, ‘Thank YOU!’
Write my thoughts for two hours either in journal or book. Then check my emails and response to who I choose to response too and not too. My day varies: sometimes I usually structure speeches for an event, preparation for a workshop or coach a client via telephone, Skype or one-to-one. Tune into hot press news, attend various events and workshops to keep abreast as to what happening in my field. I also pause throughout the day to be grateful for being able to fulfil my chores. Similar to Oprah Winfrey, at the end of the day, I list five daily affirmations I am grateful for in my gratitude journal which I keep beside my bed. Even if it is a smile I share with someone during the day.

What made you start the business and how did you get started?
My childhood was plagued with physical and mental abuse. I witnessed the horrific scenes of my mother being beaten by the hands of my father countless times. I also encountered an abusive relationship which almost cost me my life and led to the tragic loss of my second child and homelessness. I became infused with passion and determination about all forms of injustice and violence against women and girls.
When I was a child I made a promise to myself to help victims like my mother. Now here I am, ‘a silent voice for victims of domestic abuse’, as a Survivor, a Leader, a Warrior, a Conqueress, a Goddess to help women to help empower women to regain their unique sense of self-worth , courage and strength to break free of domestic abuse and build a new life for themselves and children. 


What would you say has been your greatest accomplishment in the business world to date?
Being an inspiration to others by sharing my life experiences and how I overcame many adversities, including a turbulent childhood, cancer, domestic violence and homelessness - particularly to those who have had similar experiences and are out there in the dark to reassure them that they are never alone and to help give them hope and courage to reap the lessons learned in the darkness and walk into the light to become aware of the multiple choices for a better life.
    
What has been your biggest challenge in business so far?
Believing in yourself. I recently had a good reminder of how important it is to believe in yourself. As I was getting to the end of writing the book, I have recently completed, I started doubting whether or not I want to share my personal life story globally. I was worrying about how I would be judged, and how it would affect my family. Of course this stems from fear. But the interesting thing is: shortly after these hysterical thoughts raced through my mind, I regained my sanity. My passion and commitment to share my life experiences to help and empower others was overpowering and not to be concealed.               

What are your future plans for the business?
Actually, before I get into that, first of all...Destiny is not a matter of chance, but a matter of choice. It’s not something to wish for, but through vision and action its something you attain, because vision with action makes dreams and destiny a reality and changes the world.”
      Well, since I have started locally, my vision is to grow globally with the continuation of writing books, giving speeches and running workshops. Eventually I intend to launch a holistic retreat for women to recover, reinvent, redesign, rediscover, rewrite, reclaim, regain and reconnect with their authentic self, self-worth, wholeness, passion and feminine strength during and after traumatic experiences: abusive relationship, illnesses, depression and bereavement. 





If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?
Life is a mystifying journey. We are on a journey in everything we do. Nothing in life is perfect, even though we may have spent many years mapping out our hopes and dreams. Life doesn’t always turn out the way we plan. In spite of what we think, we are not in control of our lives. The reality is that we can’t know what will happen even one moment into the future or what our next thought would be. This was certainly true in answering these questions. I hadn’t the slightest clue how long each answer would be.  Life is a lesson-ground we simply just have to keep moving forward.

Why is it so important to inspire young women in particular to follow their dreams?
What is the fairytale myth we have fallen for? I think we’ve all felt this way at one time or another. I know I did.  Ah, yes. Once upon a time the Cinderella myth was that little girls were brainwashed, groomed, prepped, and primed that on becoming a woman she will become a Princess and will meet a Prince Charming, her knight in shining armour, who will come galloping on a white horse into her life. If the glass slippers fits, he will scoop her up and carry her off and they will live happily ever after. Now, say, if she fell off the horse. (Ouch!) It would be tough landing, especially when there was no one to pick her up. The glass slippers shattered. Stranded and alone she have to pick herself up and the broken pieces.
     I think girls should be told at an early age to let go of the fairytale myth, and that it’s okay to spend time on their own, to get to know and take care of themselves and to fulfil their dreams, hopes and aspirations. Oh!, one last thing. Get to know people really good before you enter any sort of relationship with them. 


What advice would you give to somebody who wants to start a business in your industry?
Hmmm… let me think. Well, these five tips came to mind:
Self-Inventory Regardless of your age, level of education, intelligence, current income or situation, look back and revaluate your life with a critical eye. Everybody is unique and has a story in them. What were your dreams, hopes, ambitions, true passions, burning desires? Write them all down and the reason why you wish to do them. If you have more than five, reduce them to two.                                                       
Decisions What is restricting your choices? Identify your priorities and be ready to sacrifice some of what is less important. Make sure it will give you stimulating satisfaction and rewards and greatly increase the chances of your successful choice.
Curiosity – Be like a spy. Research your target market. These days everything is publicised on the internet and you can snoop on your competitors via their websites, blogs and lots more. Do some networking, attend workshops and seminars. Though women may live longer, you certainly do not want to waste time if someone is doing something exactly what you wish to do.                                                        
Seek Help No one expects you to know how to do everything. Get help from the right people and resources; there are tons and tons of on-line webinars services and career advices. Some are minimal in cost, and some are free.                                                                          
 Action Plan You now know what you want to do and why. Make it a dominant thought and it will come into existence. Pursue it. Set a plan as to what you wish to achieve with approximate timings. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Be flexible. Remember, though, that without action your dreams and desires will remain right where they are: in your head. 
                                                                  
What or who inspires you in business and why?
I think I may have answered this question earlier as to how I started my business, but I will expand on it.
      My overriding memory is the moment my life miraculously began to change is a book I read a few years ago called Man Search for Reason by Viktor Frankl, these words inspired me: Everything can be taken from man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms, the ability to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.’  And that’s not all. This book made me realise that in life we have a series of choices. What we do with them is up to us.  With the realisation that I had multiple CHOICIES, and was the only who could take ACTION to make CHANGES to consciously reconstruct my life and connect with my true self, the core of who I was born to be; to know why I am here and what I’ve come here to do.

My burning desire: “To drag domestic abuse more into the spotlight, as I am ferocious about any forms of violence and injustice to women and girls. Not just for them to survive, but to strive and thrive to a better life.”

What is your favourite inspirational quote?

Gosh! I have so many favourite quotes but not enough space to share them all with you, so I am going to close my eyes, take a deep breath and whatever comes to the forefront of my mind I will let it flow:
“Be the change that we want to see in the world.” Mahatma Gahndi


Margaret V Aberdeen

Founder of Break Free from Domestic Violence™

E: margaretaberdeen@yahoo.com

www.margaretaberdeen.com

Monday 4 April 2016

A Great YouTube Video Featuring Our Stepping Out Networking Event at Lucy Choi's Boutique

Young Ladies Club presents…"High Heels"

Young Ladies Club presents…
  
"High Heels"



The new networking night for young women

 High Heels is a fantastic new networking night for young women who want to learn how to stay motivated and empowered in their everyday lives. The networking night aims to bring young women from all background to hear inspirational speakers and network with other like-minded women.

DATE: 08.04.2016

VENUE: Holiday Inn, 10a Chestnut Plaza,
Westfield, Stratford 

London E20, 1GL

TIME: Doors open at 7PM

High Heels Networking Night will feature the following speakers and entrepreneurs; 


   Carla Mark Thompson  Hostess 

   Gina Obeng (Just Geen)

   Oghosa Ovienrioba (Fashion and Lifestyle YouTuber)

    Teshna Farquharson (Blogger and YouTube Content Creator)

     Yvonne J Douglas (Author and Inspirational Speaker)


 Activities on the night include;  
   Networking
   Q & A session with great speakers 
   Refreshments
   and more



For more information email; info@youngladiesclub.com 
Follow us on Twitter; @youngladiesclub 
Follow us on instagram; @youngladiesclub and #HighHeelsNetworkingNight
Like us on Facebook; Young Ladies Club 

www.youngladiesclub.com 

Friday 1 April 2016

Stepping Out: An Evening of Motivation, Champagne and Shoes with The 2Inspire Network

The 2Inspire Network hosted a special evening of networking and inspiration at The Lucy Choi Boutique Stepping Out Event March 24th 2016.
The event's theme was "Stepping out": Tiptoe if you must, but take THAT step
The 2inspire Network Founder Hazel Chawapiwa introduced our Guest Speakers:

Not only was it a motivational evening but the energy in the room was amazing. Attendees heard from Lucy Choi herself (via a special video message for the event) who is an amazing businesswoman. Read More about Lucy Choi: http://2inspirenetworkblog.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/2inspire-inspirational-woman-luxury.html. The bubbles flowed and sweet cupcakes were shared as we heard from 2 amazing women Maria and Margaret who encouraged attendees to never give up on their dreams. It truly was a special evening.













Margaret V Aberdeen, a “human dynamo”, is an advocate for Domestic Violence and injustice to women. As someone who has broken free from
Domestic Violence herself, she now empowers women to gain the strength and courage to Break Free from Domestic Violence™   and build a new life for themselves and their children. She has also made several international radio and television appearances, including for Radio 4, Choice FM, BBC One and Breakfast BEN TV (UK), Focus Radio and Spice Morning TV (Grenada, Caribbean). She is a member of Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP) and has received the Peace Ambassador Award for one of her speeches. Life - threatening cancer, domestic violence, the tragic lost of her baby and homelessness. Understanding that life is about learning, she has extracted something of value from each of these life’s challenges.


Maria Avino,  an advocate of  holding fast to dreams "for when dreams go, life is a barren field like frozen snow" Turns dreams into reality. With her own experience, knowledge and hands-on approach she helps
other dreamers to find their path to achievement. She believes that budding entrepreneurs of all ages should, and must be encouraged where ever possible to follow, and make their dreams a reality, If you can build a business rooted in something which you love, it will be easier to push on when tough challenges arise.

Sponsors Bio:


Cupcakes by Lala was established in April 2014. What started out as a favour to a close family friend flourished into a business later that year. Lala's love for everything a cupcake embodies, led her to create unique flavours and creations that set her apart from her competitors. We can all be impressed with a cupcake that looks amazing, but one that tastes as good as it looks is what makes it special. With hard work, determination, and creativity Lala envisions great opportunities and growth for Cupcakes by Lala in the near future. 

Tel: 07769359189
Instagram: cupcakes_by_lala
















The 2inspire network was launched in May of 2012 to support women, particularly in enterprise. Hazel also formed The 2inspire Academy in March 2013, the academy is a personal development and life-skills programme for young men and women aged 16-24 whose work is driven by a group of young people who are on the steering group. The programme  ran a 2 week programme of free workshops for 16-24 year olds under the Smarter Communities Project in partnership with the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust at the Stephen Lawrence Centre in Lewisham in 2013.  2Inspire Network Founder, Hazel Chawapiwa was shortlisted for a Women4Africa Award in the “Role Model of The Year” Category.