Category Archives: work

How to Run a Business That Basically Runs Itself*

03rd October 2023

Pexels – CCO Licence

You might think that the title of this post sounds like nothing more than pie in the sky, and you could be forgiven for thinking that, but in the modern, tech-driven world we live in, it really is starting to be a possibility; you really can run a business that basically runs itself, with a little help from you, of course. Here’s how:

1. Smart Automation is the Name of the Game!

Ever heard the saying “Work smarter, not harder”? Invest in automating tedious tasks. From automated email responses and marketing campaigns to self-updating inventory systems, there are tools galore that can shave hours off your working week. You set ’em up, they do the heavy lifting.

2. Accounting Software for the Win!

Gone are the days of piles of receipts and late-night number crunching. With modern accounting software, not only can you track your finances in real-time, but many programs also offer insights into spending patterns and potential savings. Wave goodbye to the calculator and say hello to streamlined financial insights!

3. Delegate, Delegate, Delegate!

If you’re a control freak (and hey, many of us business owners are), delegation might sound like a scary word. But here’s the thing: hiring and training competent team members can free up your time exponentially. Trust in their skills, give them autonomy, and watch them flourish – all while you focus on the bigger picture. If you’ve picked the right staff, this really shouldn’t be a problem!

4. Embrace Virtual Assistants

Not ready for full-time staff? No worries. Virtual assistants (VAs) are an absolute boon. From managing your calendar, responding to client emails, or even handling your social media, VAs can be the multi-tasking ninjas every entrepreneur needs. Just make sure you hire a reputable one from a good agency and that you have good contracts drawn up if confidentiality is likely to be an issue for your business.

5. Set Clear Processes

While you might know the ins and outs of your business, your team might not. By setting clear, easily accessible processes for every task, you make it easier for anyone to understand their roles. Think of it as an instruction manual for your business.

6. Outsource Like a Pro

Don’t have expertise in a specific area? Outsource it. Whether it’s content creation, SEO optimisation, or graphic design, there are platforms and professionals ready to step in. No need to wear every hat in the business.

7. Stay Updated with Feedback Loops

For a business to run itself, you need to be in the loop without actively intervening. Set up weekly or monthly feedback sessions, read customer reviews, and keep an eye on performance metrics. It keeps you informed and helps in course correction if things veer off track.

As you can see, the future really is here, and you really can run a business with much less sweat and toil than ever before, so whether you’ve already founded a company and you’re looking to increase efficiency or you are just starting out and wondering if running a business is possible for you, why mot adopt some of the time-saving methods above? You won’t regret it if you do!

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Returning To Professional Life After A Long Absence*

24th July 2022
Photo by Samantha Gades on Unsplash

Coming back to work after a long absence can feel quite disorienting, and a little nerve-wracking. There’s no need to worry of course, because you’ll be surprised just how easily you will fit back into your new normal despite how rusty you may initially feel. On top of that, it’s important to not feel out of place or unjust in taking that break, if it was important to you to do take that break, you don’t have to prove to any corporation why you’ve made the life decisions you needed to make – so keep that in mind.

Once you’ve decided to go back into the workforce or to try and launch an initiative of your own, preparation is the most important approach. For some, this might simply mean driving the commute to the new office a couple of times before starting, simply to get used to the route. For others, it might mean becoming familiar with video conferencing apps now that remote work is normalized.

In this post, we hope to help you move forward into this new normal with care and self-love:

Request Onboarding Guidance

It can’t hurt to ask your employer, no matter if you’re starting somewhere new or returning to an old workplace, to give you some time for onboarding. The workflow systems may have changed a little since you were last in that position or one like it, and as such, it’s only right that a business gives you time to adapt, and someone you can field questions with. Businesses will usually help newcomers with everything they need to feel capable in the role, but sometimes if you don’t ask, you might not get.

Invest In Educational Resources

For some, the road back to work means investing in educational programs or accreditations to ensure they’re up to date with the necessary knowledge and requirements going forward. For instance, engaging in a prince2 certification course can ensure all of the technical knowledge, management experience and workflow for IT project management is available; allowing you to dive into your renewed official role with further confidence, the cobwebs dusted, and the most current knowledge and understanding thoroughly on your side.

Become Comfortable With Networking Again

Becoming comfortable with networking again means once again resting in the social and connective norms of your workplace or industry at large. This can be as simple as establishing B2B connections once more; or it might mean connecting with old colleagues and asking what they’ve been up to, potentially securing you an opportunity. At the very least, pleasant and approachable candor in your new workplace will help you feel more at home when making work friends, allowing you to settle in more easily and get help where you need it. Some even use online resources to simulate this approach, like discussing freelance writing online with others in the field.

With this advice, you’re certain to return to your professional life after a long absence. Going forward, this will help you thrive.

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How to get a career in the fashion industry after education*

29th November 2019

Have you ever considered a career in the fashion industry? Perhaps you have something specific in mind – models and designers are both extremely popular roles, but the competitive nature of the industry means that you’ll need to work hard to get your foot in the door. The fashion industry offers a wide variety of different roles and it’s worth taking a look at some of the different career choices that you might not have initially considered.

Photo by Lauren Fleischmann on Unsplash
  1. Fashion Journalist

Fashion journalists are similar to news journalists, but they specialise in reporting and writing about the latest fashion trends and accessories. A fashion journalist is no longer limited to securing a job for a print publication — with a range of online magazines out there, there are more opportunities available. You could also go freelance, but work isn’t guaranteed here. As part of the job, you’ll likely be required to travel and meet new people to conduct interviews and get the latest on fashion stories. 

If you have a love for all things creative, strong written skills and a love of fashion, then this could be the career choice for you. Choosing A-levels such as English Language will further your creative writing skills, for example. There are specialty degrees out there too, such as the Fashion Communications course which will teach you more about the sector and increase your employability. 

You should also start a writing portfolio or blog so that prospective employers can see your work. Start your own fashion blog to write about the latest news in the sector and approach editors for freelance opportunities. Networking is also a great way to get to know about future vacancies. Try to secure unpaid work in relevant positions to build your experience too.

2.Garment technologist

You might not have heard of a garment technologist, yet they are extremely valuable in the world of fashion. This role is largely about quality control and investigative work with regards to the materials that are used to create fashion pieces. The main role of these individuals is to work on design and development of new materials. Through testing new combinations of materials and fibres, people in this role look to find the best type of fabric for what’s to be made. These people work closely with designers, pattern graders and buying teams to find the right type of fabric for what’s to be made. 

This role also involves looking at how to improve production techniques. This might be to do with price and would involve liaising with buyers and suppliers to negotiate a cost that’s within the budget of the project. Or, they might be looking to make the company more sustainable, and therefore the technologist would investigate the production of the fabrics. 

Employers may also expect you to have a degree in a related topic, such as garment technology and production, or you may complete a module around this as part of a wider subject. Or, look out for apprenticeship schemes and junior roles, where you can work your way up to this role.

3. Creator/Illustrator

Creators and illustrators are responsible for drawing the diagrams that represent the clothing to others. They work closely with designers to create conceptual sketches and illustrations of fashion products. In addition to this, they may produce advertising copy and images for promotional material for print and online coverage. To succeed in this role, you need to be able to use computer design, as well as drawing by hand and have an eye for fashion. 

Most illustrators pursue a graphic design or arts related degree before moving into fashion. To get accepted onto a degree of this kind, you will need GCSEs and potentially A levels, or entry based on passing a foundation course. Alternatively, you can build up a strong portfolio and gain experience in relevant positions to impress prospective employees. 

4. Pattern grader

Pattern grading is another lesser known role within the industry. They focus on producing scaled-up and scaled-down versions of design patterns, which enables the manufacturers to produce the same patterned piece of clothing in different sizes. Some of the main tasks of a pattern grader include; tracing the outline of a pattern with scanning equipment, quality checking to ensure that the final pattern is in-line with the original design and creating sample garments from the pattern to send to prospective buyers. 

You should have strong skills in mathematics if you want to pursue this career path, as well as an interest in textiles. You must be able to take accurate measurements and make calculations in order to scale the patterns correctly. It’s also important that you enjoy being part of a team, so to cooperate with others in the design process, and be able to confidently use IT to work with a digitising table. 

This role doesn’t actually require a degree. Instead, you could take the apprenticeship route through college by studying subjects such as fashion or textiles. Or, work your way up from an assistant or pattern cutter to become a grader in a fashion company. From designing eye-catching patterns for men’s formal shirts to creating quirky patterns for umbrellas, your work is guaranteed to be an ideal creative outlet! 

5. Fashion Accountant

If you’re great with numbers and have a flair for fashion, why not combine the two by working as a fashion accountant? There are a range of finance roles available in the fashion sector — from retail accountants to accountants in textiles who ensure that a budget is adhered to when buying materials. Roles like this allow you to be involved with designers and the garment-making process, whilst keeping finances under control. 

It goes without saying that you need to be skilled at maths to excel in this role. Start by taking Maths at A-level and progress to studying a financial role at university. This might be Economics, Accounting or another form of Financial Studies. As part of your degree, take up the opportunity to undergo a year in industry — this can give you an insight into the field that you’re going into and give you some invaluable experience to put on your CV.

The fashion industry offers many opportunities that you might not have considered. The competitive nature of the sector means that you have to put yourself out there and show employers that you’re willing to go the extra mile – so what are you waiting for? 

Posted in fashion, work

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Reasons to Start a Technical Career*

04th August 2018

Photo by Marvin Meyer on Unsplash

Since we are now in a world which revolves around technology, a career in a technical area is a wise choice for all sorts of people. This is a broad category, and there are plenty of areas of specialism which may prove to be perfect for you. A lot of people who get into technical careers find themselves working in a very flexible manner – either working remotely as freelancers, or even starting companies of their own. So, let’s run through just some of the top reasons why you would want to start a technical career yourself.

Variety of Different Career Paths

As we have just mentioned, getting involved in a technical career is not limiting and there are all sorts of different paths which could prove to be right for you. Some of the top choices out there include technical writer, web developer, computer engineer (take a look at a master computer engineering course if you think that this is right path for you), SEO consultant and many more. Of course these jobs are competitive and require you to keep ahead of the competition if you want to achieve great levels of success.

You Can See What You Study

Unlike some jobs which may leave you wondering if what you are doing is making a real difference, there is a very practical element to working in a technical job. You are the one building the website, fixing the issue, writing the code etc. You have something to show from your work, and there is certainly a level of satisfaction to be gained from this.

Flexible Working Style

Many jobs allow for a greater degree of flexibility these days, and this is certainly the case with ones in the technical field. Since many of these jobs only need a laptop or computer you can set up from wherever you would like once you have established a business, a group of clients or an arrangement with your current company. And as your skills start to develop you can advance up the career ladder, which is likely to lead to bigger pay-checks as well.

You Will be in Demand

As the world is coming to rely more and more on technology for all sorts of different areas of life you are likely to find yourself readily in demand – especially as your skills start to advance. Essentially you will want to establish a particular niche for yourself as soon as possible, and work hard to develop your skills in that particular area. But since you have chosen such a fast-moving industry to work in you also need to make sure that you keep your skills fresh and up to date. Otherwise, you could find yourself falling behind the times and at risk of your skills becoming obsolete.

Now is as good a time as any to start off your career journey in a technical field, and these are just some of the top reasons why this is the case.

Posted in life stuff, tech, work

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My Working World*

31st January 2018

Since my return to work in March last year I’ve found myself in an office based role- for those who have read my blog for a while you’ll know I was mostly clinic based prior to being signed off sick so I had never given much thought to what my ideal office would be like.

As it happens this is an incredibly timely post as just last week I was offered a full time position in my new job role, meaning I’ll be a 9-5 desk girl for the first time in my working life. I never thought I could do a desk job, I fidget too much, I usually hate being chained to one place and inactivity drives me crazy, however, it turns out that with the right components office work can actually be great fun and perfectly comfortable.

In this post I’ll be talking about my ideal office environment, everything that makes my 9-5 both comfortable and fun, in association with Slater & Gordon employment solicitors

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Probably the most important factor for me for any office environment is team work. In my job as a prescribing clerk I work as part of a small team- and it really IS a team. We all pull together to sort out problems, support one another and provide friendship and camaraderie- and we’re really good at taking it turns to do the coffee/tea run! this is what makes 9-5 bearable to me, having colleagues I know I can count on and who I know can count on me. We do the work we need to do, and we do it well, but we have plenty of laughs along the way.

Secondly having the chance to personalise your work space is really important to me. On my desk I have my own mug, my own stationery and a couple of Instax photos of Mae and Pablo blu-tacked to my monitor. I like coming in each morning knowing where I’ve left things, and having familiar items around me that make me happy and give me something to ground myself with when things get stressful.

Having access to free tea and coffee is a definite perk that makes the day that much easier! I know that not everyone has this luxury at their work so please don’t think I’m rubbing it in- I know how lucky I am! Sometimes taking five minutes away from the screen to grab a caffeine boost and gather your thoughts makes all the difference!

Finally, the most boring and yet probably most important point- the furniture! If you’re going to be sat at a desk all day you need a decent desk and chair set up. I do find this tricky as my history of back problems makes finding a chair that suits really bloody hard, but referring to my earlier point about personalisation, I find bringing a bright and fun cushion from home to provide extra lumbar support not only makes me working day more comfortable but also means I’ve put my own stamp on my working environment.

What would your ideal office environment be like? I’ve kept it pretty simple here as firstly, I don’t go to work for the bells and whistles, I go to do the job that I enjoy and all of the office slides and free massages in the world wouldn’t take away from that. Secondly, office work is still pretty new on me, give it a year or two and I might have a list of demands to rival any showbiz diva, but for now my needs are met and I’m perfectly content.

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Posted in lifestyle, work

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