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The laws that women in politics made possible

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Although it is an all-time high, only 32 per cent of Members of the House of Commons are female.  Despite the lower number of women in this position of power, there have been a number of laws in the past and present that owe their existence to female politicians. We’ve teamed up with medical negligence claims experts, True Solicitors, to explore the impact of women in politics.

Barbara Castle — The Transport Act 1968

Barbara Castle was one of the most notable women in politics during her tenure as Minister of Transport between 1965 and 1968. Ironically, Castle could not drive, and this was something that other politicians would poke fun at — questioning her ability to make informative decisions on transportation matters in Parliament. But one of her most memorable achievements was passing legislation that meant that every new car would need to be fitted with seatbelts. This piece of legislation is something that Castle was extremely proud of and clearly saved a lot of lives when it came into action in 1983 for front-seat passengers, although it took until 1989 for rear-seat passengers. According to THINK!, you’re twice as likely to die in a car accident if you’re not wearing a seatbelt.

That’s not all Castle achieved. Other monumental implementations that were made by Castle were the breathalyser, after the drink-driving crisis grew in the UK, as well as the permanent 70MPH speed limit on motorways.

Theresa May — Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence Act 2017

Back when current Prime Minister Theresa May was Home Secretary, a cause close to her heart was ending violence against women in Britain. This piece of legislation has stopped victims being interrogated by abusers in court and reduces the risk of policing authorities dealing inconsistently with such cases.

Baroness Rendell of Babergh — Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003

There are 137,000 women and girls across England and Wale who are affected by female genital mutilation, according to figures from the NSPCC. The legislation was introduced by Baroness Rendell of Babergh within the House of Lords Bill 1998. Although it was illegal at the time, this act made it illegal for UK nationals to perform FGM outside of the UK borders — the penalty for doing so increased from 5 to 14 years imprisonment.

Lynne Featherstone — Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Act

According to recent statistics from the government, one in every 100 people in the UK identifies as gay or lesbian. Lynne Featherstone put this at the top of her agenda when she was the Liberal Democrat Minister for Equalities during the 2010 coalition government. With her encouragement, the government announced that it would carry out a consultation into how to introduce civil marriages for same-sex couples, which was a big change in British politics. This legislation was passed in January 2013 and would have not been possible without Featherstone’s stance and determination.

Vera Baird — Domestic, Crime and Victims Bill 2004

Between 2001 and 2010, Vera Baird was a notable member of the Labour Party. But Baird was recently recognised for her efforts for bringing awareness to domestic violence in the UK. Once this legislation was passed, she constantly worked around it to ensure that it covered all areas — which led to common assault becoming arrestable, which allowed police to arrest at the scene of the crime.

 

These important issues have been brought to the forefront of the government’s attention by female politicians. With more women entering politics than ever before, we’re certain this list will only continue to grow.

 

Sources:

https://graziadaily.co.uk/life/in-the-news/laws-female-mps/

http://think.direct.gov.uk/seat-belts.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Castle#Transport_Minister

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/seatbelt-and-mobile-phone-use-surveys-2014

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Female_Genital_Mutilation_Act_2003

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marriage_(Same_Sex_Couples)_Act_2013

Design Help for the Artistically Challenged by @lieshapetrovich

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Graphic courtesy of Canva

by Liesha Petrovich | Featured Contributor 

I have no artistic skills. Both my mother and daughter are artists but the creative gene skipped me entirely.

Yet, as a small business owner, I’m constantly creating social media content, blog post media, and advertisements. We don’t have the budget to hire a graphic design team so I’ve had to learn the basics. I’ve made some really horrible graphics but learned a lot along the way. Now, even though I can’t draw a stick figure, I can create effective graphics for my business.

Thankfully, you don’t need to be an artist to understand these basic design principles:

1. Follow The Rule of Thirds

Images are the lifeline of marketing. Whether you have in your own website or share an image across social media in order to generate maximum engagement, images can play a critical role in the overall branding of your business. Hence, it is necessary to apply the rule of thirds in your images and layouts.

Graphic courtesy of Canva

The Rule of Thirds divides every frame into nine boxes with two equally spaced horizontal and two equally spaced vertical guiding lines. The grid is like a map and the four main spots are the prime focal points in your design. Bring the primary element in the graphic closer to one of these spots because it’s what your audience will focus on first.

Graphic courtesy of Canva

2. Use Colors Strategically

Colors have a direct psychological impact on the purchasing behavior of your prospects. You can use colors strategically so that they are able to evoke a wide variety of emotions.

Graphic courtesy of Canva

One of the most important elements of your business is your brand logo. But as a business owner with no artistic skills and a tiny marketing budget, it’s challenging to create a professional logo on my own. Designhill Logo Maker is an excellent tool that lets you create unique and impressive designs with your preferred choice of colors. This logo designer is powered by artificial intelligence and helps you to generate beautiful and colorful logos within seconds.

When creating logos and other marketing material, always consider your goals and choose colors that fit your brand. For example, green is associated with peace, growth, and health. Yellow evokes optimism, clarity, and warmth.

Graphic courtesy of Design Hill

3. Understand Visual Hierarchy

Our brain is hardwired to focus on certain things. That’s why visual hierarchy is one of the most important design principles because it highlights the order the human eye perceives what it sees.

Graphic courtesy of Canva

The below image provides a clear idea of the visual hierarchy in the order of importance. The most important element of the webpage image so it is most prominent because this is what you want to pop out to your target market. Next is the heading and the subheading which are displayed at decreasing sizes based on the order of their importance.

Graphic courtesy of Canva

4. Using Negative Space

The concept of negative space can be complex to apply to our graphics. Negative space is the empty white space that you have in your design and allows the prospects to focus on the main image without any distractions.

The principle of negative space is based on the Yin and Yang theory which states that opposite forces complement each other. Think of day and night, fire and water, expansion and contraction, all these are natural occurrences that prove the existence of Yin and Yang theory. The Chinese Tai Chi symbol beautifully illustrates this belief that negative space actually compliments the positive.

5. Apply the Von Restorff Effect

According to  Wikipedia, “The Von Restorff effect, also known as the “isolation effect”, predicts that when multiple homogeneous stimuli are presented, the stimulus that differs from the rest is more likely to be remembered”.

Graphic courtesy of Canva

The Von Restorff effect draws your audience’s eyes to one spot. What jumps out at you in the image below? It’s obviously the red tomato because it stands out from the crowd. Try using the Von Restorff effect in your marketing materials to lead people to your call to action or brand message.

6. Use the “F-Pattern” For Text Heavy Elements and “Z-Pattern” For Image Heavy Elements

There are two predominant reading patterns namely the F-Pattern and the Z-Pattern. If you can use these patterns intelligently in your design then you can make it easier for the reader to scan your content.

The “F-Pattern” is based on the principle that most of the users won’t read every word of your text. The first two paragraphs should contain the most important information and the CTA followed by subheadings, and bullet points.

The “Z-Pattern” is based on the principle that users will follow a left to right reading pattern. The eyes will focus on the top and when the end is reached, the attention will shift down and left.

Graphic courtesy of Canva

Try following the F-layout or the Z-layout based on the type of element you are using. The idea is to understand how consumers perceive your graphics which can give you a path to your CTA in the hopes to make more conversions.

Design Help for the Hopeless

I’ll never be an artist and that’s okay.

Even though creating graphics is part of my job, I don’t need to be an artist. However, I do need to understand the basics of designs so I can create engaging content. The basic principles of design are not hard to apply and there are plenty of tools to help us get the job done.

So do yourself and your marketing budget a favor and try creating your next graphic. I guarantee if I can do it, you can do it.

 

 

Top Cold Calling Strategies for Greater Sales [Infographic]

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Marketers can now showcase their products on Facebook, Twitter, or other platforms. It’s an easy way to reach out to your audience. But when it comes to sales, many marketers still do cold calling along with the online promotion.

It’s a tedious task. You need to call prospects, get them interested in your products or services, and follow-up. It is a lot of hard work. But if you play your cards right, you can build long-lasting relationships with your prospects.

Here are a few cold calling strategies that can help you generate more leads and boost your sales:

1. Planning is the Key

Before you reach out to your prospects, you need to plan what you want to convey. What are the salient features of your products and services? How can they help your prospects? What kind of issues does it help to solve? These are some of the questions you should be asking yourself.

Also, keep track of the frequently asked questions by your prospects. Make sure you have enough information to be able to answer them on a phone call. If you’re ready with all of the basic information, you’ll have a better idea about how to take the conversation forward.

2. Hook Them

On a cold call, you only have a few seconds of time to get your prospect interested. So, it is important to begin your pitch well. First, introduce yourself and then tell them about your product. Then let your prospects know how your product can help them.

Make sure the conversation flows naturally. Listen to them, and tweak your pitch accordingly. To keep them interested, make sure your speech is clear and that you modulate your voice suitably when needed.

3. Strive for Long-Term Relationships

To seal a deal, you need to strive to develop long-term relationships with your prospects. Your prospects might have questions or doubts before they make a purchase. Be patient and do your best to help them.

Don’t just look at cold calling as a way to get more sales, but to genuinely help your prospects. If your prospects feel they are valued, they are likely to form long-term relationships with your brand.

For more information on cold calling, check out the infographic below:

 

4 Ways to Increase Sales With Cold Calling

Image courtesy: Salesmate

 

Infographic URL – https://www.salesmate.io/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/4_Ways_to_Increase_Sales_with_Cold_Calling.jpg

Name of Author: Samir Motwani

 

Author Bio: Samir Motwani is a growth hacker cut from a different cloth than most entrepreneurs. This action-oriented technophile may have been trained as a developer but is a designer at heart. The current CEO for Salesmate, a CRM tool, is adept at developing low-cost strategies for startups and defining best practices for budding ventures.

Author image: https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/943485176566358017/wBZpXpam_400x400.jpg

My website: https://www.salesmate.io/

 

Socical Connections—-

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SalesMateIO/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/salesmate/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/salesmate

Twitter profile: https://twitter.com/samirmotwani

G-plus: https://plus.google.com/+Salesmate

Youtube:- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZPKrO3O06QWrlhBl9Q7E5w

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/salesmate/

Becoming a Holistic Entrepreneur in Four Easy Steps by Dez Stephens of @RadiantCoaches

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by Dez Stephens

Most entrepreneurs hope to make money outside of someone else’s control, someone else’s payroll. They might have left the corporate world for something more meaningful. They might be searching for something special to fulfill their career dreams.

Entrepreneurs commonly focus on one thing, and it’s typically money. They continually strive to replace a full-time income with a self-earned paycheck. This focus can lend itself to financial tension and create a lot of unwelcomed stress.

Other entrepreneurs focus on the hustle. Either way, this one-sided targeting can get them in trouble because it’s just that – one-sided. This can lead to major imbalances in their professional careers and even their personal lives.

Supreme Self-Care
Taking care of oneself as an entrepreneur is vital to success. Without it, the whole system collapses. This might entail taking a walk and getting some fresh air when a break is needed, or even getting a weekly massage or acupuncture treatment.

Walk the Talk
It’s vital as a holistic entrepreneur to live the way that we would recommend to others. If we don’t take great – not just good – care of ourselves, we are not leading by example.

Caring is Daring
When we focus on self-care as a daily regimen instead of a once-in-a-while activity, we are purposefully nurturing the most important thing in our business – ourselves!

Pampering is Powerful
Sometimes we downplay the benefits of a great massage or getting some fresh air on a nice walk. Turns out that these simply practices are powerful when it comes to how much they can impact the quality of a workday.

 

Many entrepreneurs work from home and it’s easy to get isolated emotionally and mentally. Taking care of these needs is so important for overall health and well-being.

The Holistic Rule of 10
An easy way to make sure that entrepreneurs care for themselves is to implement simple self-care activities. These include getting proper rest, hydration and movement each day.

10 Hours of Sleep Daily
Humans are well-designed to sleep for 10 hours each night, but very few do so. Sleeping in a cool dark room is ideal, and a great night’s sleep does wonders for having the energy needed to get through a workday.

10 Glasses of Water Daily
Staying hydrated helps the mind stay clear and the body look great stay strong. It doesn’t matter how big the glasses are – just get them down.

10 Minutes of Movement Daily
Movement can include ten minutes of stretching or jogging in place or a walk around the block. Better yet – high energy for 2 minutes, then low energy for 1 minutes – repeat 3 times.

Each of these practices have a “10” in them so they’re easy to remember. Ten hours of sleep, ten glasses of water and ten minutes of movement. These can easily be scheduled into everyday life.

 

As many entrepreneurs know too well, working for yourself is the hardest work they’ll ever do, so it’s important to optimize physical, emotionally, mentally and spiritual health.

Life Purpose
Many entrepreneurs find meaning in their work. They are driven by their passions and are inspired by their dreams. The ones who succeed are likely to be the ones who take a holistic approach to life and the work they love.

Find Some Purpose
Holistic entrepreneurship is about finding a purpose in what you do. We don’t need to be grandiose about it. Sometimes it’s as simple as finding meaning in the everyday small tasks.

Purpose vs. Presence
We don’t have to “go to the mountaintop” to find a purpose. All we need to do is to get quiet and clear. Being present is something so basic yet, for some, something so elusive. When we get present, we can much more easily sense purpose.

Personal is Professional
As entrepreneurs, we kid ourselves that we have a personal life and separately a professional life. These two worlds are constantly intermingling so it’s imperative that we seek our purpose in both. Gratitude for both helps.

This means treating a life as a whole – not in separate parts like recreational time, community connections, physical wellness, emotional stability, spiritual groundedness and mental clarity.

Instead of being “all in” professionally with a neglected personal life, entrepreneurs can find a beautiful balance between their work and their time away from work.

Life as a Whole
Entrepreneurs who pay attention to both their personal and professional needs tend to thrive as self-made business owners. When someone puts too much effort into their career without nurturing their relationships or caring for their bodies, they quickly become unproductive.

Holistic Means All Parts
Living your life and running your business “holistically” means that you are paying close attention to all the moving parts. Your business is a living-breathing entity that is always responding to the ways in which you treat it – so is your personal life.

Notice What You’re Noticing
Take a moment to observe what you’re observing. Notice the bodily sensations. Notice your breath. Notice your thoughts. Notice your feelings. Notice any resistance – any comfort or discomfort. This awareness will help you pay attention to the things that need attention.

Whole and Hole
When we get intentional about all the parts of our business and life, we might find some missing parts. Maybe you realize that you’ve neglected your physical health or your friendships. Maybe you notice you’ve let go of some favorite hobbies. The awareness this brings is the first step in creating the holistic balance you naturally crave.

The whole purpose of entrepreneurship is to succeed financially and otherwise without having to rely on others. This is also true in all areas, not just financial.

 

When entrepreneurs implement simple healthy practices, they are much more likely to make it through the hard times that are inevitable with the harsh-yet-fun reality of working for themselves.

 

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Dez Stephens is the Founder & CEO of Radiant Health Institute, a social enterprise and prominent international coach training school that certifies individuals to create vibrant, professional, private practices as holistic life coaches, wellness coaches and business coaches. She is a certified life coach, master trainer and marketing strategist. Dez is also co-executive producer of the documentary film, “End of the Line: The Women of Standing Rock” highlighting Native women fighting to keep clean water on their Native lands in North Dakota and beyond.

The fashion world creates logos that look-alike

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by Natalia Raben

Perhaps you have noticed the recent graphic design trend in the fashion world. More and more brands choose to redesign their logos into more minimalistic ones. As a result, the general audience often finds them looking… sort of the same. Or at least very similar. However, is that really the case? Let’s look closer at some of the fashion houses that are considered to lack creativity when it comes to their rebranding or even assumed to be copying the designs of their competitors.

The monograms

Chanel and Gucci are two luxury brands that run using famous minimalistic monograms. Each includes round shapes formed by the initials of the founders’ names – Coco Chanel and Guccio Gucci. There are speculations as to whether CC is actually from Coco or perhaps a shape from a stained glass of a monastery orphanage in Aubazine where Chanel grew up. Nevertheless, no matter what the origin is, the perception of the audience stays the same: both logos use symmetrically arranged, round letter. When shows apart, some people easily confuse Chanel with Gucci. However, once the two are presented side by side, suddenly the differences are big enough to tell them apart.

The fonts

In the fashion industry not only the monograms become similar but so do the logos featuring the brands’ names. In the past years, many fashion houses adjusted their typography into a more modern one. Think about brands like Saint Laurent Paris, Balenciaga, Burberry, Berluti or Balmain. All of them share the same characteristics. The brand name is in a black color, the logo uses uppercase typography and the font applied is sans-serif. The trend is so strong that, in the coming years, more fashion designers are expected to implement similar changes, no matter how well established, famous or luxury their brand is.

The logo trends reasons

Most likely, each one of us thinks: “Why?”. For many of these brands, the old logos stood for heritage and traditional values. Why would Burberry want to adjust their branding when the previous one worked so well? The reasons are multiple. First of all, fashion houses set or follow trends. Since the industry presents a new logo trend, in order to stay relevant and on track, brands follow it. Secondly, simplified typography, such as the sans-serif fonts, give better legibility on small apparel. Moreover, it fits all items and products. A simple and contemporary-looking logo can be sewed into all sort of clothing or accessories. As the co-founder of a graphic design company UnderConsideration, Armin Vit, said: it is like wearing a black-tie tuxedo—classically stylish, but muted enough such that it doesn’t steal the show.

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Natalia Raben takes care of marketing at DesignBro. Lover of design, photography and the arts.

5 Reasons Why Supporting Other Women is the Smartest Move You’ll Make in Business (and Life) This Year by @andrea_schroll8

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Photo by Daria Shevtsova from Pexels

by Andrea Schroll

As driven, ambitious women, we want nothing more than to create a life of fulfillment and freedom, but let’s face it – we all have our hot mess moments. Moments we are trying to pour from that empty cup, rushing around trying to get it all done and still maintain some level of sanity to be a good mom, spouse, partner, friend…a functioning human being.

The same cycle; over and over again. Rinse and repeat.

And we keep going. One foot in front of the other, with the occasional stumble over our own two feet.

Welcome to the everyday grind and hustle of a determined, empowered woman. Am I right?

The truth is, at some point along your journey, this very same cycle may get the best of you, making it a challenge to maintain a positive, motivated, entrepreneurial spirit. This is the primary reason why supporting other women is the smartest move you’ll make in business and life in 2019.

Let me break it down for you.

1. Entrepreneurship can get lonely.

If you don’t engage or network with like-minded entrepreneurs, don’t have many social connections with people who understand your entrepreneurial mindset or lifestyle and/or you don’t totally have support network of people who have your back no matter how many times your business goals change, things can get pretty lonely as a boss babe. One sure shot way of making sure you’re not living la vida lonely is to start connecting and supporting other women – in business and in life. Real, authentic connections can totally change the game and make for a more positive, fruitful business experience. Invest the time in supporting and empowering other women who are on the same path as you. And one of the best things about this is that you can do it for free.

2. It’s easy to isolate, get lost on social media and breed inaction.

Going down the rabbit hole of scrolling social media, comparing yourself to other women, online shopping as a coping mechanism or distraction and not being productive are just a few of the primary barriers to getting things done and building your empire. The thing is, all of these things are easier – a whole lot easier than stepping out of your comfort zone and taking a leap of faith toward building your social network within your business. While all of the shiny distractions can offer instant gratification and secondary gain (avoidance, excuses, etc), they will not benefit your business or your life. So break the cycle, create a game plan, build your squad and be on your way to a more fulfilling year in business.

3. Building relationships and community will increase confidence.

Remember your last hot mess moment? Well, what good is it if you don’t have other women to share it with. If you think you’re alone in whatever struggle you may be facing from time to time, you’re not. There are millions of women just like you waiting to connect with someone who is also perfectly imperfect. I encourage you to reach out and connect with others in a way that feels good to you. A strong community of women who build each other up may likely be the confidence boost you’ve been searching for, and exactly what you need to crush your goals this year.

4. You’ll be happier and more productive.

Supporting other women actually does have the power to transform your life. When you’re kind to someone else, you’re also being kind to yourself. Being mean or judgmental expels a great deal of negative energy, and rarely works in your favor (if ever). That negative energy can be completely exhausting, but most people don’t even realize it. Having the certainty to pay someone else a compliment is a huge testament to your character. At the end of the day, there is no competition. Once you see this, harness your strengths and support others, you can truly allow yourself to grow into your happiness. Your motivation will increase and you will become more productive; ultimately tackling your personal and professional goals with more enjoyment and less stress.

5. Personal growth, awareness and inspiration.

When you connect, collaborate and support other women, you begin to recognize your own strengths and quickly learn about what motivates you. This internal revelation will be so powerful and will highlight your true, authentic qualities, giving you the perfect opportunity for personal development and growth. There is so much to learn from one another. Letting go of your ego and having an open mind can open up monumental possibilities. Be open to learning from others’ and their experiences, and don’t hesitate to ask for help. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness — quite the opposite, in fact. Show your inner strength and reach out for support when you need it. So often, we are clouded by external validation, judgment, opinions, etc. Now is your chance to step into your light as an empowered, supportive woman. Put forth your positive characteristics and you’ll inspire others to do the same — it really is contagious.

 

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Andrea Schroll is a licensed psychotherapist, business mentor and the founder of Soul-Hustle – a multidimensional brand centered on female empowerment in entrepreneurship. As a spiritual entrepreneur, Andrea blends cognitive psychology, intuition, mindfulness practices, linguistic finesse, and heart and soul into her work to help people shift their habits, energy and success with life changing results.

How divorce coaching empowers women following a relationship breakdown by Lilly Parks of @naked_recovery

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by Lilly Parks

The good news is that the divorce rates in the US have started dropping since 1990, and have followed a downward trend since then. And thanks to millennials who are doing things differently, the rates will likely continue to decline. This is according to a sociology professor at the University of Maryland, Philip Cohen, in his analysis of the American Community Survey (ACS) data.

Still, the divorce coaching industry is thriving, but not for reasons that you’d normally associate with it.

Divorce coaches make a living out of helping people, cope with the breakdown of a relationship. They also empower these men and women to become better. This makes divorce coaching a rewarding business, what with a bigger cause behind it. But the real reason that lawyers work with divorce coaches is that they’re the ones who take care of the non-legal work that lawyers and their legal staff generally don’t do.

It’s easy to associate divorce coaching as something similar to therapy, which is not exactly far off. But these independent third parties provide more than just encouragement, guidance, and motivation. Their work also covers pre-divorce, during a divorce, and after divorce.

The roles divorce coaches play

Before a divorce

  • Assess a marriage to identify if there’s still hope to work on the marriage or if a separation or divorce is the only solution
  • Assess the counseling needs of parents and children
  • If the decision to get a divorce is final, prepare clients for the upcoming journey

During a divorce

  • Help clients work through their financial and personal needs
  • Encourage sound decision-making by providing clear information about the divorce proceedings to clarify thoughts and concerns
  • Help a client build a personal support system

After a divorce

  • Help set goals for the future
  • Share the positives of divorce based on their own experiences since some divorce coaches have gone through divorce themselves

How divorce coaching helps and empowers women

  • Hand-holding

While your friends and family can provide support, relying on them comes with its own emotional baggage. Family members could be pushing you to take your ex to the cleaners or suggest many ways that you can hurt the other party.

As an independent third party, a divorce coach can create a non-judgmental, patient, safe, and supportive environment for you to get down to what really matters without pressure. Emotions are also excluded.

  • Overcome separation

And the emotional turmoil that comes with it.

Grieving the loss of a relationship is one of the many things that women go through following a breakup or divorce. A divorce coach will help you deal with the loss and then help you build your support system.

One of the first things they look into is the immense confusion you are experiencing and then help address your overwhelming emotions and fears.

Part of their job is to discuss major concerns, such as:

  • How can you manage financially?
  • What will happen to your children?
  • How do you break the bad news to your children?
  • How do you deal with co-parenting?

With a seasoned divorce coach, you will be able to navigate through the financial, legal, and practical challenges of divorce.

  • Grow and learn

There are lessons to be learned following a divorce. But unless someone is guiding you to the right path, you may not see those important lessons. You could get stuck in the grief stage, never to move on from there. You could choose to use alcohol, drugs, and food to cope with the fallout rather than take good care of yourself.

The right divorce coach can help you appreciate the good side of such a horrific experience.

It is possible that you chose the wrong partner. You made mistakes that contributed to the breakdown of a relationship. By identifying what went wrong, you’ll know better next time.

  • Help reboot and create a new life

After a divorce, the focus of coaches is to help a client establish a vision and goals for the future, both for the short-term and long-term.

This is how divorce coaching empowers women, especially women who experienced self-discovery and happiness following a relationship breakdown.

Short-term goals may include going on a divorce retreat to learn about mindfulness and meditation. Many women who went on a retreat post-separation came home with a new perspective. They got to know who they really are, which is the greatest gift you can give to yourself. Another goal is to travel a lot, which some women say has helped them re-evaluate their values in life.

A good example of a long-term goal is to live a healthy lifestyle. A study that appeared in the Journal of Women’s Health showed that 80,000 women became healthier after a divorce.

A divorce coach can help you set similar goals for yourself.

If you want to take back your power, you will find a guide and supporter in them.

Once you’ve rediscovered yourself, you can start building a new life, a new career, and a new you.

 

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Lilly Parks is a Divorce Angel and part of the dynamic Naked Divorce team. She is committed to helping her clients find the path towards healing and has been providing assistance to those who are going through the difficult trauma of divorce for more than 5 years.

Entrepreneurs: How to Not Get ‘Owned’ by Social Media by @thedriftingdesk

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by Lisa Jordie

We all know unplugging from social media every so often is important for our sanity, but what happens if using social media is part of your job? Social media marketing was all fun and games until the platforms started being villainized. And, in some ways, rightfully so.

Many sociologists, academics and scientists are quick to point out the need to ‘unplug’ from social media to reconnect with humans, free up your time and stop contributing to the seemingly insidious nature of these tools.

Sure, unplugging may mean you miss a cute Snap of your adorable nephew wearing virtual bunny ears, but what if your job requires using social media? There’s no way to simply delete your accounts for many entrepreneurs who utilize the platforms to:

  • Find and connect with clients
  • Promote and market their brand via ads
  • Answer questions from customers
  • Countless other opportunities

In his book, Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked, author Adam Atler says of social media platforms,

“They’re distracting because they remind us of the world beyond the immediate conversation…”

So, say you agree that you’d like to spend less time on your phone and on social media, but you are still an entrepreneur who needs to use these tools for your business. Here are some sure-fire ways to not get owned by social media:

Disable App Notifications

Do you really need to get a notification that your old boss loved a picture you posted last year? Or that that dude you met once at a baseball game just checked into an airport in Missouri?

These are all notifications you can look at once you open these apps on your own time.

Since we already know these social media platforms are psychologically and strategically designed to keep reminding us that they exist, disabling app notifications goes a long way!

Remove Apps From Your Phone

If the temptation to use social media apps is still too great even without constant and real-time notifications, consider removing the apps all together.

Although you can access the apps on your computer for business-related tasks, some platforms just don’t function the same on desktops. Trying installing the apps on a tablet and using this instead of your phone.

Using a tablet for social media apps is also a great way to be able to separate business and personal accounts as well. Say goodbye to constantly logging in and out of separate accounts!

Create Separate Accounts

This. Is. Pivotal.

Switching gears quickly is part of the game if you are an entrepreneur, but it can be mentally straining to go from responding to a message with pictures the bounty of sweet Aunt Sandra’s vegetable garden to responding to message from a confused client who needs clarification on one of your business processes.

This may mean making a quirky name for your personal account and your ‘real’ name for your business account. So be it. Separating your personal and business social media accounts will also make it easier to stay organized with your business.

Set a Schedule

Instead of being available on social media all of the time, set a schedule with specific times during the day when you check in to and publish on these apps. Using a Social Media Manager tool is incredibly helpful to auto-schedule posts as well (and is a huge productivity booster).

Live

Get out and live your life:

  • Take a painting class.
  • Hike with your dog.
  • Knit a boho-style macrame plant hanger.
  • Whatever. Just live.

Most importantly, give yourself time away not just from social media, but from your job.
This is why you’ve worked so hard. To live a fulfilling life. So go enjoy it..away from electronic devices..even if it’s in small doses.

How do you set boundaries with social media as an entrepreneur?

 

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Lisa Jordie has been a blogger and freelance writer for hire since 2014 when she ditched her cubicle for a more flexible lifestyle. She offers work from home, blogging and freelancing tips at TheDriftingDesk.com.

Angie Langley – A Journey! by @JenBJourney

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by Angie Langley

Self-confidence is an important factor in almost every aspect of our lives, yet so many of us struggle to find it. I haven’t always been the most confident person and as a child was desperately shy, especially at school where I was often picked on for being the quiet one standing in the corner of the playground afraid to join in with the others. It was also a major crisis for me in the classroom when asked to stand up and speak during English and French lessons which often ending up in recitals of garbled gobbledegook, giving the rest of the class a good laugh and making me a prime target for a group of girls who constantly bullied me.

My only defensive mechanism in those days was to escape into a world of endless daydreams which provided me with the ability to detach myself from my immediate surroundings and disappear into a La La Land of romantic heroes’ and happy forever endings. My school reports were always pretty predictable… ‘ Jennifer won’t achieve anything in life unless she stops her silly daydreaming’. Ultimately for me though it was a matter of surviving school, if only with a limited number of qualifications.

Throughout my adult life my self-confidence has grown in dribs and drabs, but it was only a few years ago when my life took an emotional tumble after a failed relationship that I finally found my inner self by taking a risk and stepping out of my comfort zone, learning new skills and stretching myself beyond my previous capabilities.

This new found confidence led me to writing my first novel, ‘Jennifer Brown’s Journey’ which is largely based on my own personal experiences, a great way of expressing my inner thoughts. I’ve always wanted to write a book that above all would make people laugh, but for balance I also wanted to include some poignant situations and real life drama that people could relate to.

My initial attempts at writing a book only served to highlight the wasted periods of my education but I persevered, determined to improve and ready to learn from my earlier mistakes. It was during that period that I began to realise what was really holding me back. It wasn’t my lack of education but that my quiet, subdued personality had led me to becoming a submissive person, always eager to help, to please, but laying me open to being dominated by an ex partner to the extent that my self-worth had dived close to zero.

What I needed was to be surrounded by people who would encourage and help me along the path I wanted to go as a writer. Several years after my previous relationship collapsed I was fortunate to find a kindred spirit, someone who really loved me and offered me the encouragement and support that had been so lacking in the past. Then, like a spring flower emerging from the depths of a harsh winter I started to blossom, confidence and my dormant creativity was starting to grow. My first book was an affirmation of my new, confident self and its success has led to the current creation of a sequel, the second in a trilogy planned for the future. The act of writing, recording my life’s experience, has also acted as a form of catharsis, allowing me the clarity of vision to look beyond the past into a much brighter future.

So confidence needs to be nurtured and encouraged by those around you. They need to understand your difficulties and genuinely want to help you along the road to a more positive and assertive way of life. Negativity and discouragement from others only serves to trample on the delicate flowering of the self-confidence we are all capable of achieving in life.

 

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Angie Langley is an author from Wiltshire who’s first novel ‘Jennifer Brown’s Journey’ focuses on her real life experiences when life took an emotional tumble in the not-so distance past. A lighthearted, humorous read, the first in a series of three books Angie tells her story with with honesty and bags of humour including poignant and everyday situations that many women will relate to. Now a motivational speaker who champions the importance of self-belief she tackles the subject of self-confidence and how the lack of it often effects so many in our society. Angie is convinced confidence needs to be nurtured and encouraged by those around us and is currently in the process of starting up a Facebook page encouraging women to chat about their lack of self-confidence and in return offer free advice. Her message to other women

“The key to self-confidence is believing YOU CAN!”

5 Important Ways to Live an Extraordinary Life by @PhyllisReagin

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Post Image: Courtesy of Eduardo Dutra @eduardodutra

by Phyllis Reagin

Living an extraordinary life often means being true to yourself, no matter the circumstances or others’ opinions. It means living a life with no regrets. That you didn’t say no to what matters to you. Too often, we our dreams off to the side, expecting that one day we will get to them. Then we look back and realize we didn’t live the extraordinary life we were meant for.

During Glen Close’s recent Golden Globe acceptance speech, she revealed that her elderly mother looked back on her life and felt she hadn’t achieved anything. By the expressions of the women in the audience and later discussions on social media, this resonated with a lot of women.

Here are five ways to live an extraordinary life:

1. Be strategic about your choices

Some women believe that life has just “happened” to them and that they haven’t been strategic about the choices they made. Either they went down a certain path because their parents or partners thought it was a wise choice. Or, they decided to do something based on the moment without considering what it means in the long run. If this sounds like you, then you need to hit the brakes and reconsider where you are heading. Take the time to make sure it’s aligned to who you really want to be in this chapter of your life.

Start by asking these questions:
– What make me feel the most alive when I am doing it?
– What can I not live without doing?
– If I could choose to do anything and money wasn’t a concern, what would it be?
– What and who do I need around me to feel the most at ease in my life?

2. Stop only living in the vicinity of your dreams

You may be doing some things that aligned to your purpose but not in a full out way. Maybe your dream is to be a writer of fiction books, but you spend your days working as an editor of others’ fiction books. Being in the vicinity of your dreams is the not the same as really living your dreams. Make a promise to yourself that this is your moment. You need to act and not get stuck in overwhelm or fear. Commit to achieving baby steps and know that with each step you complete, you have moved that much closer to your dreams coming true.

3. Get in the driver’s seat

Perhaps, you are giving less weight to your feelings and desires than is deserved. The backseat belongs to you. It’s time for you to jump into the driver’s seat of your life. When you are ready to take control of your destination, you need to relinquish any doubt that you can steer your own life. It’s also important to be gentle with yourself and know that it may not be a perfect journey, but you are better for it by guiding it from your own hopes and desires.

4. Making “No” a favorite word

So many women have difficulty saying no. It is really about them not saying yes to their priorities. To live an extraordinary life, you need to be firm about saying no to what doesn’t serve you. Saying “no” leaves room for all the right people, opportunities, and possibilities to enter your life. Give yourself permission to be your own best champion for the life you want to live.

5. Don’t let your dreams expire

Glen Close’s mother lived a life of regret and it was too late for her to live the life she was meant to live. If you feel you are on a similar path, it is time to make life changes now. Don’t wait for the right moment, the right opportunity, the right partner, the right anything. Each choice you make to live a life aligned to what makes you fully engaged and alive, is you choosing to live an extraordinary life. One day, you too, will stop and survey your life. Make the decisions that have you say, “I wouldn’t have lived it any other way!”

Glen Close’s emotional speech was a proclamation that committing to yourself is the most important decision you can make. Now is the time for you to commit to living the full color version of yourself.

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Phyllis Reagin is a confidence coach and founder of At the Coach’s Table. A former leader for a Fortune 500 entertainment/media company, she has coached hundreds of female leaders, teaching them how to uproot their insecurities, to assertively deal with others and situations, and to find their empowered voice. Widowed while 8-months pregnant, Phyllis uses these important life lessons to help her clients face challenges with resilience and confidence.