Welland: the class of 2006
A year ago these women submitted themselves to the
bootcamp regime! One's decided to emigrate to New
Zealand, one decided her business was not fulfilling what
she wanted, one decided to become an MP!! But all of them
have peace of mind and more focus about what they're
doing with their lives. Read on for what's happened to
them since they experienced a Robert Ashton bootcamp
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Sue Stafford |
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Goals at the start of the Boot Camp programme Move on from corporate training to more 1:1 work. ‘Put into practice her recent post-grad coaching qualification. Build her network’ |
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One year Later Very busy and loving her work, has become a more foused networker and set up a forum of professional coaches in E Midlands which has grown from 5 to 22 in 6 months. |
Sue's comments:
‘The Boot Camp helped me to see that networking is a positive thing. Because I’m not needing to work to live, people seem more receptive to the idea of helping me meet new clients’
Robert's Summary:
Sue is a very able and ethical counsellor/ She needed help in developing her business and networking skills and suffered from the inevitable self-doubt. Her success is heart warming to see. She has grown in confidence and has the energy and enthusiasm to go wherever she chooses.
Christine Meggitt had established a charity, Crowland Cares, and had a dream of setting up a dolls house museum, but was pulled in two directions Goals at the start of the Boot Camp programme Grow Crowland Cares so that it becomes less reliant on me. Realise my dream by establishing a toy and dolls house museum. Free up time to focus on doing what’s important to me, not others One year Later
Christine's Comments:
‘The Boot Camp gave me space to think, although to be fair I was pretty confused by all the ideas buzzing round in my head. It certainly helped me build the capacity of Crowland Cares so that I could leave it to follow my new dream.’
Robert's Summary:
Christine is now far more focused and clearly needed the support of someone special to clarify and focus her thinking. She radiates happiness and will be touring a number of events with a mobile toy museum this summer.
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Jane Hawksworth |
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Goals at the start of the Boot Camp programme Build a business that will allow me to retire at 50. ‘Develop my own products, rather than do ‘jobbing’ design’. ‘Differentiate myself from the many new designers on the scene. |
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One year later Jane has invested in additional technology in her home studio, her turnover is up by 20% and she's started to subcontract tasks she can't do herself. |
Jane Says:
‘The Boot Camp helped me become more focused,and gave me the confidence in myself to become stronger in my negotiations.’
Robert's summary:
Jane was struggling to see how she could differentiate her design company from others. She now appreciates that she is the difference! Although Jane is now successful and earning a good living from her business, she still has some way to go to achieve the job satisfaction she is seeking. She is developing her photography and will I think move in time to more creative and less commercial art. She already has some ideas; watch this space!
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Janis Nesbit |
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Goals at the start of the Boot Camp programme To explore the diversification opportunities on my farm. To create an achievable business plan. To make it happen! |
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One year later Janis' stables have been burgled twice and she's had problems keeping staff. She's also battling with planners for permission to open a cafe on her farm. She's had help to sort her book work and business systems out from another bootcamper, Alison |
Janis says:
‘The Boot Camp helped me focus my business and certainly Alison helped me sort out my paperwork. Now it’s just a case of getting over 2007 and putting into practice more of what I picked up from the programme.’
Robert's summary:
Janis used the Boot Camp to get her business better organised. Unfortunately the year’s events have slowed her progress, but she is making progress and 2008 promises to be a good year.
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Jeanne Douglas
Astrologer
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Goals at the start of the Boot Camp programme To develop my brand and move up-market. To organise and deliver my own events rather than simply speak at other people’s. To balance work and life without sacrificing income |
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One year later Jeanne hoped she could turn a hobby into a career and found you can do too much of a good thing. She has scaled down her business, focusing on the work she enjoys most. A flexible p/t job provides the remainder of the income she needs |
Jeanne says:
‘The Boot Camp helped me find my direction. I was busy but not really getting where I wanted to be. I was tired and lacked energy. The group spurred me on to follow my instinct and I’m now where I now realise I really wanted to be.’
Robert's summary
A direct ancestor of Jeanne’s was burned as a witch in 1537 and I thought this link could propel her into a high profile astrology career. However Jeanne has listened to her own inner voice and found both the income and peace of mind she was seeking from the Boot Camp.
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Sharon Jervis
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Goals at the start of the Boot Camp programme To capitalise on my ‘backlist’ of paintings and artwork. To find a low-risk way to re-enter the UK giftware market. To explore e-commerce as a way of marketing my work |
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One year later Sharon is a successful artist re-entering the giftware market where she enjoyed considerable success in the past. She will be launching her own range of kitchen fabric goods at this Spring’s NEC Gift Fair and has negotiated a manufacturing deal with a Chinese suppler |
Sharon says:
'The Boot Camp helped me focus on where I really wanted my business to go. It also helped me find the self motivation I needed to stop thinking about it and start doing it. The next few years will be very exciting!’
Robert's summary:
Sharon’s personal circumstances changed a few years ago and she didn’t want the financial risks associated with supplying the giftware trade in the way she used to. Now she has several strands of activity and is about to re-launch her own giftware ranges in a way that will suit her and her customers.
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Alison Freer Melton Borough Council |
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Goals at the start of the Boot Camp programme To work on my business. To become financially secure. To become a better time manager’ |
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One year later Alison has discovered her true passion: politics. She found that whilst she was good at her business, it was not how she wanted to spend her time. In ten years time she expects to be an MP |
Alison says:
‘The Boot Camp gave me the opportunity to play out my vision as a small businesswoman. However I have now found my true vocation as a local politician. My partner now has a better job and is money is less of an issue for us. I’m going to run for the County Council and then Westminster.’
Robert's summary:
Alison is positively glowing with enthusiasm for her new life in local politics. It’s not where she thought she was going, but Boot Camp helped her to appreciate that she wanted more from life than just an income
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Tricia Pedlar
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Goals at the start of the Boot Camp programme To benefit from the urgency of meeting some tough deadlines. To make my key business development plans happen. To widen my network and access Robert’s network too |
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One year later Tricia traded in a jet setting career in International marketing to set up her own marketing consultancy business and explore non executive Directorships. She continues to grow both her business and her career |
Tricia says:
‘The Business Boot Camp, part of the Enterprising Welland Women Initiative, was designed especially to help rural women succeed in growing established business. The programme paid big dividends for my business, helping me to focus on clear growth strategies that have worked.’
Robert's summary:
Tricia always had the skills and intellect to really thrive in her own business. The Boot Camp gave her a valuable insight into how others handle that same challenge, boosting her confidence and focusing her direction. She has also had the self discipline to manage her growing work commitments without detriment to family life.
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Elaine Vandelli
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Goals at the start of the Boot Camp programme To gain customers for my six month old business. To grow my self and business confidence. To broaden my network |
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One year later Elaine organised and ran the inaugural Leicester Business Event in October 2007. She is pictured here in the exhibition area. She will be building on her success in 2008 by making the event even bigger |
Elaine says:
‘The Boot Camp certainly got me thinking’ says Elaine, ‘and as a result I decided to do my own stuff rather than trying to sell my services. I’m also going to run some charity events next year (one of Robert’s ideas) to raise my profile and build my network.
Robert's summary:
Elaine has grown enormously in confidence since the Boot Camp programme. It has helped her to better focus her efforts and the successes she has had are spurring her on to greater things. Her business has a real future now!
If the these women's stories have inspired you why not
contact Robert to find out how he can help you
