Pink Expertise

Determined AND Skilled!

Imagine being absolutely determined to make your business work and having the skill to pull it off at the same time! Well, that's what my next pink expert, Karen has done.  I love working with determined women, it means that whatever happens, whatever crossroads they come up against, whatever crisis they find themselves in and whatever decisions they are faced with, they remain adamant that they'll be ok, that their business will succeed in the end and that they'll be good enough to make it happen.

 

I've seen many clients who have only got as far as they have because of sheer determination, I'm proud of them and I'm really thrilled Karen has brought this particular talent to light.  Read on to hear more about her;

 

1. What talent do you naturally have that makes you successful?

Well, originally when you contacted me to ask these questions the first thing that sprang to mind as being my 'skill' was organisation...but after taking a look through some of the other ladies that have recently written for you, I see somone already beat me to it!

So...I guess my other 'talent' has to be determination. I have always been someone that has strived for bigger and better and guess I take after my dad who built up his own successful company from being a one man band to having around 8 employees....So, since a young age I had always wanted to work hard and earn money and after years of working for horrible bosses and huge corporations feeling like just another payroll number, I decided it was time to take the leap and start up on my own.

2. When did you first realise that talent was going to help you and how do you use it?

I guess I first realised I had a talent when I applied for positions and roles over and above my experience and qualifications and somehow nearly always managed to get the job, work hard, learn the role and prove myself. I have always had excellent feedback from employers but I never felt rewarded or fulfilled and moved jobs a lot trying to find satisfaction...but, since beiung self employed I have loved every minute of it. I love seeing the rewards of my hard work, I love securing my own business and I love feeling proud of what I have achieved. And all of this has come from being determined to make myself and the company successful.

 

Do you have a talent you'd like to shout about?  It's only when women do shout about their skills that others realise what they can do - so come on, don't be shy, e-mail me, lynette@pinkskills.co.uk and let's see what you've got!  For more information on Karen and her business,just click

Pink Expertise celebrates 100 women in business!

I'm delighted that this morning, I have posted Pink Expertise's 100th woman in business!

At the beginning of this year, I started this campaign to inspire women in business to excel and recognise their talents by profiling women who already understood theirs.  I've been astounded by the thousands of people who follow this campaign.  We've had radio and magazine coverage, we've been Facebooked and Twittered, what's more, I'm getting e-mails from women who've only recognised their talents because they read about someone else's and thought 'I do that!'.

To understand the true value of what we bring to our businesses, we have to understand what talents we already have and use them more often - life then becomes easier - just not having to try so hard to get results is a welcome break from working til we drop!  It's about working wiser not harder and these women are testiment to exactly that!

I've got many more Pink Experts who've sent already me their answers to my 2 questions and if you're one of them, you'll apear very soon!  We want you to join us too though.  If you're reading this and haven't yet sent me your talent, then what are you waiting for?

Not only do I want to shout about your talents, I want to profile you, give you a link and inspire the thousands of Pink Expertise followers to find their own talent by reading about yours.

My e-mail is lynette@pinkskills.co.uk - go on - shout about your talent!

p.s. - the lovely photo of me above is courtesy of Crown House Publishing - my publishers!

Just being you

When I read my next pink expert's answers, it struck me that she didn't have just one single talent, she had many. It also struck me that in actual fact the reason people 'buy' her, is probably because she brings her whole self into her business. By that I mean, people 'buy' all of her, her experiences, her expertise, her knowledge and her honesty – mix that with a sincere desire to be of help and you get Ellen Besso. It's interesting how many people split business and themselves to severely and whilst everyone's comfort levels on this sensitive topic will differ – one thing is for sure, people buy people and when you let them see who you are as a person, you're more likely to be successful just by being you!

1. What talent do you naturally have that makes you successful?

Others sense and respond to my openness, my honesty and my sincere desire to be of help, whether it's in my paid work, my volunteer work or my friendships.

2. When did you first realise that talent was going to help you and how do you use it?

Around age 50, after becoming a professional counsellor, I seemed to develop the ability to see myself and my gifts more clearly, more objectively. I use my talents, my own life experiences, my writing and life coaching to support and guide mid-life women through the challenges of their life passage. "The Caregiver in MidLife: Where their needs end & yours begin", my recently released e-book, is a holistic offering that combines my personal story as caregiver with helpful information and an exercise booklet to catalyze change.

To visit Ellen's website click here.  Want to be seen here?  Then send your answers to the two questions above to me, Lynette at lynette@pinkskills.co.uk!

A is for Attitude

It's so refreshing to chat to someone who's naturally upbeat. When I want to talk about my business, I want someone positive, open to my thoughts and concerns and who's going to greet me with a 'we can do this' attitude. So often, we're greeted with the exact opposite! Well, as you'll see by reading my next Pink Expert's answers, Victoria Player understands the value of attitude and creating the perfect environment for her business to thrive. Personality is everything ladies and as they say, if you've got it – flaunt it! Here's what Victoria says;

1. What talent do you naturally have that makes you successful?

My upbeat attitude and ability to be open and positive has contributed to my success along with my sheer drive and determination.

2. When did you first realise that talent was going to help you and how do you use it?

I first realised this when my subscribers and clients began to thank me for being an inspiring force for them. Now I inject my personality into everything I do. It makes marketing fun and helps those that I teach experience freedom and create an abundant life. I’ve also had to overcome many hurdles and make a number of sacrifices to achieve my dream. Without having that BIG vision and the unrelenting drive to make it happen I would have surely given up long ago!

Do visit Victoria's website and e-mail me at lynette@pinkskills.co.uk if you've been inspired by her and the other women in PE!

Learning for life

Last month I told you about how far and wide this campaign was reaching, we have Australian business women on here, American, New Zealand, UK, Spanish, Canadian, Scottish, Irish...and more – well now, we can add Hawaii! Rosa Say is a coach and extremely proud of working in Hawaii, in fact, when you visit her website, you'll learn about Hawaiian values as well as the ethics of coaching and how Rosa mixes this beautiful culture with business. She really is quite unique. She cites her biggest talent as being a lifelong earner and to read her answers below, is really inspirational...

1. What talent do you naturally have that makes you successful?

The natural talent I know serves me best is a very joyful one for me, and a perpetual source of new energies: I am a lifelong learner who is totally enchanted with learning as a dynamic and vital human process, offering myself up as constant pilot project and guinea pig. Learning helps me be successful because it keeps me so flexible, open-minded and adaptable. As a learner I remain curious, I ask good questions, and I am never bored or apathetic, knowing any discontent I might feel is a temporary state of affairs and a capacity-filling challenge.

2. When did you first realise that talent was going to help you and how do you use it?

I suspect I recognized learning as my talent when I first learned to read, for I was a child who always had her nose buried in a book. I learned to love the written word early in life, and I filled journals with the possibilities I would imagine, or create. Learning has given me self-esteem and confidence, wherein study equates to deeper thinking and that “I can learn this” belief and self-motivating drive. Learning has groomed an abundance mentality within me, giving me a great sense of optimism, and helping me consistently make room for the ideas and people in my life.

Click here to read Rosa's website and click here to learn more about Pink Expertise and why we need your support!

Inspirational communication

I met Suzy via Twitter and the minute I clicked through to her website, I was impressed at what she'd achieved. When I asked Suzy if she'd participate in Pink Expertise and inspire my clients and this campaign followers, she jumped at the chance – well communication is her thing after all!   Her work has meant she's often in front of large audiences and what larger audience that Ophrah Winfrey's...yes - just look at the photo for proof!

Read on for Suzy's answers to my questions. In the meantime, would you like to be featured here? This campaign is all about inspiring women to find their natural talents by getting others to profile theirs!  So come on...shout your talent!

1. What talent do you naturally have that makes you successful?

I am a natural and excellent communicator.  I love people.  I have an innate talent to inspire large groups of people to step into their greatness and have a good time while doing it.  I make people laugh with joy and cry with touching their hearts.  People love themselves in my presence.

2. When did you first realise that talent was going to help you and how do you use it?

From the time I was 2 I have been performing for large groups of people, making them laugh and feel good about themselves and their world.  I've always known my talent would take me into the world and that I would use it to make the world a better place. 

Click here to be taken directly to Suzy's website

Inability to give up!

May I introduce to you my next Pink Expert, Nikki Matarasso – from now on, I'll be referring to her as the woman with the inability to give up! I love that she wrote that! Not only did it make me laugh but I love how she's taken what could be conceived as a negative trait and made damn sure it's her positive talent. She knows she's stubborn but she uses it to her advantage and that is pretty cool in my book. Here's exactly what she has to say;

1. What talent do you naturally have that makes you successful?

Inability to give up! Some people would see stubbornness as a bad talent but when it's used in the correct way it's hard to stop me! My stubbornness means that those mornings that I don't feel like working I don't have the ability to give up on my clients so I make a cup of tea and get down to it. On days when it feels like the business isn't going anywhere I refuse to give up! When I'm having trouble with a design I don't give up until it's exactly what the client and I need! I also recently acquired the talent of walking in high heels which is pretty impressive too!

2. When did you first realise that talent was going to help you and how do you use it?

I think to a certain extent I've always known that I have a lot of drive to succeed. The day I realized I could apply this to the business was the day we started and I realized how much paperwork is involved in setting up a business! It's easy to give up when times get hard but I'm just stubborn enough to succeed. Keep an eye out for me, I'll be the one with the broken ankle from walking in those damn heels!

Do check out Nikki's website by clicking here or even her blog by clicking here. BUT I don't want you to stop there – how can you use Nikki's answers to find your own talent? Ok, I'll grant you, shouting about your talent might not be the first thing on your mind today, but if you do, you'll identify that talent and use it more as a result and inspire someone else at the same time – that can't be a bad trade off! Support the Pink Expertise campaign and e-mail me your answers, lynette@pinkskills.co.uk

Womenkind creativity

I love the perspective that my next Pink Expert writes from.  She was fortunate enough to have a clear idea of what her talents were and was then able to find a career where those talents were useful and valued. This doesn't happen all the time! In fact, it rarely happens.  When it doesn't happen, when my clients aren't sure what specific talents they have, they end up feeling just a little 'out of kilter'. It doesn't mean they're failing, it just means things often don't run that smoothly and they're constantly working hard to keep up. Pink Skills and Pink Expertise aims to put that right and what better inspiration than Kristi Faulkner. Read her answers below;

1. What talent do you naturally have that makes you successful?

I always had my own way of seeing things. I am a critical and creative thinker. I have a way of drawing connections between two disparate pieces of information almost instantaneously. I believe that there is no problem that creativity can’t solve, indeed, creativity is the only way to solve anything at all. From what to wear, to what to cook, to global warming — all the world’s problems will be solved creatively. Fortunately, I found a profession where I could be useful. I solve critical branding problems for marketers. And even when the issue seems insurmountable, there is a solution, every time.

2. When did you first realise that talent was going to help you and how do you use it?

As a child, I didn’t appreciate that my way of thinking could even be considered a talent. One thinks the way one thinks, and I just assumed that everyone had the same thought process as I did. When you’re a child, all play is creative, so my true creative abilities didn’t emerge until university. That was the first time I was challenged to solve truly complex problems. In truth, a professor pointed out that I had a knack for drawing surprising conclusions. But once I understood I had a special ability, my confidence grew and my creativity took flight. At that point, I started to generate ideas for careers that required creative and critical thought. Luckily I found one that challenges me everyday.

I personally love Kristi's brand, click here to be taken to her website.

Why not be seen on here too? If you've got a talent to shout about, Pink Expertise and our readers need to know! E-mail me, Lynette, with the answers to the above questions, lynette@pinkskills.co.uk

Infectious enthusiasm

I came into contact with my next Pink Expert on Twitter.  When I clicked onto her website, I was really in awe of what she does and thrilled when she said she's be prepared to shout about the talents that got her there. Anna Colclough is definitely one of the women PinkExpertise.com was set up to find. She's enthusiastic, energetic, multi-talented and loving her job and life. What more can I ask for! Read her answers below and visit her website to be blown away!

 

1. What talent do you naturally have that makes you successful?

I would say that it is my enthusiasm and energy that have made me successful both personally and professionally. People have commented that my enthusiasm can be both infectious and motivating. 

2. When did you first realise that talent was going to help you and how do you use it?

Probably in my first job which was working in sales for Birds Eye when I realised that I could be genuinely passionate about selling frozen food.  It has stood me in good stead over the years and more than ever now as the co-founder of a start up business and a mother of three.  You need a lot of enthusiasm and energy to have three children under 4 and set up a business at the same time - one minute singing nursery rhymes and finger painting and the next trying to sign new customers and raise investment for the business. So far, it seems to be working.....

I'd love to feature you on the site – do you think you could shout about your talents and put into words what makes you successful? If you do, send your answers to me at lynette@pinkskills.co.uk and I'll profile you – simple!