SecretBirds-London

Every Bird has two wings, some choose to fly with one. Are your wings fully fueled? Inspiration through entrepreneruship. A member of SecretBirdsHQ.  

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“Birds Break Barriers”

At the other end of risk is possibility. If we want to break barriers we have to see the possibility beyond the risk. There is risk in everything in life. We risk it when we cross the street.  We risk it when we take the lift. We risk it when we fly! But as Rare Birds this is what we do, we fly into the unknown. We can’t stand mediocrity, we abhor stagnancy and we refuse to accept average. So, we ascend, higher and higher beyond our wildest imagination. Into the depths of our deepest desires we immerse ourselves. We break barriers and lead a new way for ourselves and those around us. Birds break barriers and here’s why. 

You set a new standard

There is a standard and you choose to go above and beyond it. This standard may go against the grain. Opposite to what the community, friends, family and others may think is best for you. You make your own choices. You set your own trend. You’ve made up your own mind about what you want in this life. And now you’re going for it. As you set this new standard, others take note and they too decide they want to fly higher. It only takes one to break the mould for others to follow suit. 

You open doors for others

As Birds break barriers they open doors for others. When Birds set new standards others follow but they also open doors for new ideas to emerge. As these ideas emerge and more shifts are made, the possibilities are endless. When more women join in the better off we all are. We want to build and develop multiple Nests with many women aspiring, breaking down barriers and achieving new things. 

You create a new legacy 

What type of legacy will you create? This is a question our community focuses on often. Why? Because we aren’t simply making money. We are sustaining lives, developing futures and giving many people something to believe in. The legacies we leave behind with these ventures will have a lasting impact for many years to come. Creating a new legacy replaces outdated ways of working that were not beneficial to us.  

Birds break down barriers all the time as they fly.  Barriers were meant to be broken. New lines of communication are opened, different people are granted access to things which were at one point unheard of and everyone is happier. As we break down barriers we create a unified vision and we firm up our business goals. Accept the challenges ahead because your community depends on it. Remember every Bird has two wings, some to choose fly with one. Are your wings fully fueled? Share your secrets and share your success. 

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“Flying Under the Radar”

Everything in the outer world can be so overwhelming at times. We are constantly fed with images and ideas of who and what we should be. If you happen to be building a business, everything is magnified threefold. It can be very difficult doing all this work we do. With time we all come to understand that this process is transformational, because building a business is emotional. There are certain qualities that serve us well in the journey. Now, not everyone will agree that these qualities are beneficial to us as we plod along. And as we are a community that values pluralism this is all OK. Understatement is one of the most overlooked attributes in the entrepreneurial space. There is definitely something to be said for those who fly under the radar. Not because they are better but because they simply don’t receive enough praise.

Kindness

The ability to treat everyone with respect, particularly those you don’t like. It is when in those aggravated moments that you find yourself smiling, being patient and letting it pass. Letting it pass is your way of saying, “ I understand.” This type of kindness is always viewed as weakness but it requires a tremendous amount of patience to be kind. Kindness also stems from self control. The ability to control one’s emotions allows us to deliver regularly on the kindness tab. For the female founder who is kind, know that you appreciated for flying under the radar.

Calmness

Those moments when the easiest thing to do is crumble to pieces. Nothing is working, the choices you make seem to be taking you into all the wrong directions. You remain composed no matter what, not because you refuse to show emotions but because things must keep on moving. Often described as grace under pressure, you face adversity with a cool head and tempered spirit. Your composure makes others feel at ease and creates  a sense of assurance that no matter what, all will be well. For the female founder who is calm, know that you are appreciated for flying under the radar. 

Standards

What is usually unstated about the understated is that they have standards. They decide which rules they will live by and then behave accordingly. They exercise discipline over their mind and mood.  They train themselves to bypass and see beyond the short term pain in order to gain a long term reward. Their standards at times conflict with what the outer world values but despite the odds they hold on. For the female founder who has standards and refuses to compromise to fit the mould, know that you are appreciate for flying under the radar.

You do many things for the mission. You work diligently towards your goals. With time you have picked up momentum and strength. You have lost and gained. You have suffered and grown. You have experienced and lived. Through it all you went unnoticed. You have been doing it all under the radar. Remember every Bird has two wings, some choose to fly with one. Are your wings fully fueled? Share your secrets and share your success. 

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“The Civility of Birds”

To empathise is to be aware of other people’s emotions. It is a key component of emotional intelligence.  As we build our businesses’ it is important that we feel with others and with ourselves. Many entrepreneurs can become so enthralled in the process of building a business that they forget to feel, connect and imagine, what it’s like for others. Empathy seems to come more naturally to some than it does to others. Ever wonder why this is the case? It could be due to one’s upbringing. For example, if an individual was raised in a household where they were never allowed to experience their emotions they probably don’t know how. As a female founder you will be pushed to your limitations. You will need to engage with others, understand others and develop others.  You will need a certain heightened awareness, which will help you to leverage skills, emotions and ideas to manage and solve problems. Here are few things that empathetic female founders do.

They challenge the status quo and false assumptions. This woman does not believe in hyperboles or stereotypes. She looks beyond what is in front of her and possesses the uncanny ability to see what others don’t. She is interested in finding common ground, meeting half way and challenging her own notions of right and wrong. She is continuously evolving and growing as she works to develop her business. 

They are focused on being good listeners. The woman who listens carefully and intently has an unparalleled depth to her empathy.  By listening really well, she can respond even better to problems and seek out solutions. As a good listener people will open up to you more. Your good listening skills will also engender much more openness as well as create opportunities for others to be vulnerable around you. 

They have a fertile imagination.  In order to effectively lead and manage empathy is required. An imagination is useful  when trying to empathise. An imagination helps you to put yourself in someone else’s shoes. Imagine what it is like to be that person or be in that situation. An imagination allows for alternative scenarios in the mind.  It is an opportunity to once again feel!

Empathy matters when building a business. As human beings we are wired for empathy. However, as we go through life and gain experiences we tend to become jaded. We develop prejudices which make it easy to be in denial about the common humanity that exists amongst all human beings. Scientific research suggests that Birds possess a moral compass. They have the ability to connect and feel the way we do. As you fly don’t forget to incorporate empathy. It is often a neglected and at times avoidable emotion in business. But let’s not forget that other people’s pain matters just as much as our own. 

Remember every Bird has two wings, some choose to fly with one. Are your wings fully fueled? Share your secrets and share your success. 

[secretbirdsldn]

“Reversing the Flight”

Setbacks are inevitable, especially when building a business. First, when starting out there are the usual setbacks related to the general idea. Then there’s the daily stresses of getting things off the ground. So much uncertainty, not to mention those moments when you feel like you are clueless about everything. Other setbacks when building a business include financial constraints, family, friendship or relationship problems and sometimes there are health scares due to stress. As soon as you get one thing going, it seems as though other things come crashing down. Once you’ve successfully sorted one thing, the next thing pops up. What’s your view on setbacks? Do you see them as opportunities to learn and grow? Do you think they help to guide you towards your destiny or do you see them as constant burdens weighing you down? 

Firstly, understand and appreciate that everyone has setbacks. You are not alone, you are not special, you are not cursed. You are simply experiencing life. At times it may appear as though others are further along and doing so much better but that’s just you victimizing yourself. Always remember that people deal with their problems differently. Some people wear their problems on their sleeves, others choose to be motivated by them. That person that you think has no problems, trust me, she has problems just like everyone else. Whether her problem is big or small is irrelevant but she has them. She is no different to you. The key is to focus on your own journey and stay true to your own path. And you really should stop being so hard on yourself. Lighten up, these things happen, so give yourself a break. 

Second, setbacks are successes’ in reverse. Ever feel like sometimes you’re pushing for things and they just aren’t happening for you? Then one day as soon as you stop and take a different approach, things start working? Or better yet when you stop all together, suddenly something lands on your lap? This is success in reverse. It is the kind of success that happens when you stop pushing so hard. It is the type of success that comes in that round about way. It is not tangent, it does not come in well structured steps, it comes when you stop trying to control everything. Good things are happening as you build your business and they sometimes come in reverse. 

Third, remember that you are experiencing a setback based on the fact that you have taken action. Action, is what matters most. Before you started the journey to flight, you were talking, thinking and perhaps even procrastinating, but then you did something. You took action, and this action is what made you experience the setback in the first place.  Remember what it was like before you started? Now think about what it is like now? All the things you have done. All the tiny achievements along the way. This is what you should be celebrating! You have been wired to think that setback is the outcome of not doing something right. Focus more on the process and less on the outcome, this in turn will help you to realise, just how much you have grown throughout the process of flight.

Don’t waste time in your flight paying too much attention to regrets. Most people do that and end up getting stuck. It is important to remain resilient and keep your wings in motion. It is all a learning curve, so keep those wings moving and don’t start reversing the flight. Remember every Bird has two wings, some choose to fly with one. Are your wings fully fueled? Share your secrets and share your success. 

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“6 Flyways”

What routes are you using to build your business? As Birds migrate they use particular paths. What path are you on? How will you fly? What will your journey look like? There are so many things to consider, so much to think about.  As you fly along there are 6 pathways, these are the 6 crucial flyways that you must consider whilst in flight. 

Pathway 1:  Who

Who are you building this business for? Are you building this business to serve yourself or are you building this business to serve others? The who matters. because depending on your answer you may need to shift directions. Building a business for yourself requires a different approach to building a business for others. This pathway sets the pace for the rest of your flight. 

Pathway 2: What

What is your business about? What does it mean? What are you doing it for? The what is much more important than most people think. What may seem redundant is actually very important. For example, what you may be doing is building a business in food but what exactly is it about? Is it about creating fresher food, bringing people together or something else? Whatever it is, the what is an important pathway in flight. 

Pathway 3: Where

Where is this business taking you in flight? What are your bigger plans? Perhaps you are on a five year plan, which is focussed and deliberate. Or maybe you are going with the flow and building the business intuitively. Whatever it is you are doing, you have to know where because if you do not know where it means you are flying without purpose and direction. 

Pathway 4: How

How are you going to build this business? Funding, resources, friends, family, etc. Who will you bring on board to help you take your business to the next level? How will you execute it? How will you scale it? Are you surrounded by the right people, with the right mindset to guide you? How you plan to execute doesn’t have to be complicated but it must be clear enough for you to be able to do it. 

Pathway 5: When

Exactly when do you plan to bring your idea to life? Will you do it as soon as you graduate from secondary school? Will you launch it in university? Will you do it whilst you work a full time job? What are the factors contributing to this? How will you determine when you are ready? When will you know if you are? Taking the leap may be calculated but whether now or later it is unpredictable, so if not now then when?

Pathway 6: Why

And in the end why?  Why are you doing this? What is your biggest motivator? What is your purpose? As we say in the SecretBirds community, what is your why? Every business has a why, it is never just about building a profitable venture, there is also a why. Understand your why; and in doing so, you will save yourself much heartache and stress whilst in flight. 

Remember every Bird has two wings, some choose to fly with one. Are your wings fully fueled? Share your secrets and share your success with SecretBirds-London. 

[secretbirdsldn]

“Flying Into New Horizons”

When building a business from scratch there are many things to consider. We would be remiss if we failed to recognise the importance of personality. In this instance we should look inward and assess our own personalities.  So, what of our personalities? What role do they play in business building? Your personality affects the bottom line. Here’s why!

Interactions with People

You will interact with many different stakeholders as you build your business. Customers, supporters, those indirectly in your supply chain, collaborators, partners, investors and many more.  As you foster and develop relationships you will begin to notice the various personalities and the different ways to manage them.  Conversely, “they” in turn will gain a better understanding of your personality.  That said, how will they manage your personality? Are you an intensely focussed and driven individual who micromanages right down to the minute detail? Or maybe you have a laid back approach? However you carry yourself and conduct your business are directly connected to your personality. The way you interact with everyone is a clear indicator of the type of personality you possess.  In summary, those interactions affect the bottom line. They affect the bottom line because your personality will also impact your business values. Your business values are embedded throughout all aspects of your business. With each interaction your business value either increases or decreases. Consider this: What is the correlation between how you interact with people and your sales revenue? The answer will be able to provide you with deeper insight. 

How You Run Your Business

How you run your business from day-to-day is a reflection of your personality. Think of companies, for example, where leaders micro-manage.  Micro-management is the result of a controlling personality.  Depending on your take, you may see this as a good or a bad thing. Generally speaking, however, controlling personalities don’t create an atmosphere that is good for business, at least not in the long run.  Looking to build a sustainable business? Check your personality.  A personality is developed early, but don’t discount flexibility. Once we are aware of the kind of personality we have, we are in a position to make adjustments.  

Knowing who we are (Step 1 in flight) helps us to further understand our personality.  As a matter of fact, knowing who we are is crucial to taking an idea from our head space to the real space.  Your personality should not be underestimated when taking flight.  Whilst in-flight your personality will penetrate everything that you do. Introspective wings will take you into new horizons.  Why limit your flight?  Remember every Bird has two wings, some choose to fly with one. Are your wings fully fueled? Share your secrets and share your success with SecretBirds-London. 

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“Flight Disabler”

You’ve got a great business idea, it has been in your mind for some time now. You really think you are on to something special. What do you do next? You keep reading through the startup websites, courses, and the like.  Your mind and heart however, are not in harmony.  You are off balance.  To be honest, you are frozen. Why have you stalled? Self-doubt has crept into your psyche.  Your heart says everything is perfect. Your mind says, “I am going to fail.” Self-doubt is keeping you back, it’s slowing you down, it’s beginning to put a hold on your progress.  Why is this happening and what can you do to make it go away? 

Remember you have to start someplace.

Feel the fear and do it away! Self-doubt is one of the ugly sides of fear. Fear is truly the root cause of so many problems in our lives. You are scared that you will fail. As a result you start to doubt yourself.  Doubting your capabilities to act, move forward and deliver. The best way to counteract this fear is to embrace it.  It’s normal to feel like this when embarking upon something new, particularly in unchartered territory.  You have never started a business. You don’t have any experience in business. Here is something to consider:  The work you are currently doing was once something you also never knew.  However with time, patience and experience you learned the job and you are now practically an expert.  This applies to everything in our lives. We all have to learn to crawl before we walk and once we do begin walking there will be many stumbles, trips, falls and bruises along the way.  Keep in mind that self doubt is the beginning of a journey to discovery. 

Remember you control your flight. 

You’ve decided to ignore the fear. All the little voices in your head say, “Just do it.” So, you begin to do just that.  There is however, another problem: As you make errors you are not entirely sure as to whether you are doing the right thing.  Because you haven’t a clue, there is more self-doubt. When building a business from scratch there are no defined rules. Just as in life, no two paths are the same. What works for someone else will not necessarily work for you.  You have to be willing to take risks and make decisions based on your own standards and benchmarks.  It takes time to get used to being your own boss. As you get more comfortable with the idea, matters regarding direction will come with ease. 

Self doubt is your concerned best friend. She is really trying to protect you from harming yourself. She plays off of past experiences.  She knows what you have been through and she just wants to make sure you are making the right decisions. We all appreciate this about our best friends but we understand that ultimately, we have to make our own decisions. Don’t completely ignore self-doubt, just understand why it exists and use it as motivation.  Let your self-doubt challenge you to be your very best. Self-doubt can disable your flight, but only if you let it.  She only does what you allow. Keep your self-doubt in check, so that she doesn’t ruin your journey in flight.  Remember every Bird has two wings, some choose to fly with one.  Are your wings fully fueled? 

[secretbirdsldn]

“Heavy Wings”

Some may argue that greed is a good thing and that as entrepreneurs it is required to feed ambition and drive success. If you believe entrepreneurship is driven by ruthless capitalism and motivated merely by profit, then this argument carries much weight for you. Entrepreneurship does involve wealth creation, as well as making a profit but that isn’t all of it. Social entrepreneurs for example, are interested in profit but also in solving problems. Greed isn’t just an entrepreneurial problem, it is a human problem, but strangely enough we seem to associate it more with business than any other profession or discipline. Greed is counterproductive to the entrepreneurial journey and in the long run will not work well in your favour. 

Greed like most things in life is driven by fear. Fear of losing, fear of not having enough, fear of not being accepted, fear, fear and more fear. Then there are the feelings of self-doubt and low self worth. All of the above are not a good combination for any entrepreneurial venture. If you are driven by fear you will build a business based on fear. As a result you will micromanage, be obsessed with controlling everything and everyone. In the end no one will like you and your business will struggle both financially and culturally. 

Greed often results in disaster. Corporations are a perfect example of this-Enron, Lehman Brothers and the subsequent 2008 financial crash-to name a few man-made greed driven disasters. Albeit, these occurrences have happened in the corporate space they have and continue to happen in entrepreneurial spaces as well and the impact is equally as high.  The entrepreneur wants to change the game, not participate in it.The entrepreneurs desire is to turn against the tide not ride the wave.  Participate in problem solving that has a positive impact on others lives.  Don’t create disasters that ruin the lives of those around you. You owe a responsibility to the people your serve, those you work with and those you employ. An abuse of power is a no-no! 

Greed is not a force for good. There are many articles on the web, which state greed has a bad reputation and that greed is a force for good.  Greed they say is what creates ambition.  Perhaps overly ambitious misdirected behaviour is correlated with greed. The overly ambitious don’t make good entrepreneurs because their ego underpins all that they do. Some would say, “ I know many ego-driven entrepreneurs that do well.” What do these people mean by doing well? If we take a look at the world’s most successful entrepreneurs they are driven by a strong purpose that has nothing to do with their egos. Greed has never been and will never be a force for good. All we have to do is study the history books for further confirmation of this. 

If your wings are heavy with feelings of fear, let it go. If you refuse to let this go, you will find yourself journeying down a path, which is dangerous for your wings. Flying with heavy wings don’t propel you in flight. Heavy wings are a burden, they make your journey unnecessarily stressful. Heavy wings derail your mission. Are your flying heavy? It is time to lighten up those wings. Remember every Bird has two wings, some choose to fly with one. Are your wings fully fueled?

[secretbirdsldn]

“Bird Preservation”

What type of legacy will your business have? If you were to leave  your business today what type of legacy would it have? You are probably thinking but I just started?! It is never too early to start thinking about your legacy. How would others define your business? What would you like others to say about your business in 5 or even 10 years from now? Starting a business is an opportunity to create something new. Created by, cultivated and nurtured by us. It is our idea, our concept and our vision coming to life. It is a perfect example of who we were at the very moment when we decided it was something we wanted to pursue: ambitious, motivated, determined and resilient. Here are a few types of legacies you can potentially consider creating for your business. 

Family Legacy

If you have children, a spouse, partner or other relatives you may be thinking about how you would like them to carry on your legacy. Starting a business is a great way to create a family legacy. Some family businesses have been around for generations, serving their communities and enhancing the lives of many.  The best way to get the family involved in the business is to start engaging with everyone early. Make sure your children, in particular, are involved as young and as early as possible. Don’t wait until your kids are teenagers to start giving them business knowledge and tasks. Motivate them to participate, make sure they understand why the business is important not just to the people you serve but to the family. Ask them for their opinions, implement their ideas and give a sense of ownership. Many  businesses fail to move on with the next generation because of a lack of interest. If you would like your business to become a family legacy the key is to involve the entire family and to create a sense of togetherness and cohesion, so that the business is the family and the family is the business.

Cultural Legacy 

Every business has a culture.  Some business cultures are aggressive, others are competitive, some are nurturing, there are open cultures and secretive cultures too. Your company culture reflects your values and beliefs in the workplace. It also has a significant bearing on the success of the business. Whatever culture you choose to create must be done at the outset because its effects are ever lasting. Once the culture has been embedded throughout the organisation it is almost impossible to change it.  The people you hire must also reflect the attitudes and behaviours of the culture you are trying to create.  A good culture will guarantee success and conversely a poor culture will guarantee the opposite. The good thing about starting a business from scratch is that you have complete control over the culture you are aiming to create. In a few years do you want your business to be known for its fantastic culture which sets it apart from the rest? If the answer is yes , then work cleverly and assiduously towards creating your cultural legacy. 

Impact Legacy

What matters to you? Remember why you created your business in the first place? An impact legacy is one where the business is known for having a high impact. This type of legacy is strongly connected with your business philosophy and to some extent your life mission. This type of business is purpose driven and hopes to have a massive impact on everyone it benefits. As an example, it usually has a social purpose and innovates along the lines of improving lives through economic, environmental or social justice.  As the leader of this type of business, your example is extremely important. You literally must walk the talk. The expectations are high because this legacy you are creating is for the long time, not a fleeting moment. It is difficult to create this type of legacy if you do not believe in what you are doing. The operations of this kind of business are underpinned by a bigger mission. 

Our grandparents, great-grandparents, great-great grandparents and all of our relatives that came before us, left a legacy. In our communities our leaders leave a legacy. In our countries, the founders of our nations left behind a legacy. Everywhere we look around us, legacies are being left behind and created. Everyday at your business is an opportunity to create your legacy. Although the above three legacies have been outlined, don’t limit yourself to these. Your behaviours and actions as you build your business will all contribute to the legacy you will leave behind. When your wings eventually expire what will your epitaph say about your flight? 

​Remember every Bird has two wings, some choose to fly with one. Are your wings fully fueled? Find out more about our London Nest by sharing your secret here: www.secretbirdslondon.com, we can’t wait to hear from you

[secretbirdsldn]

“A Clipped Wing”

So many of us make excuses and as a result we never start our businesses. These are the things we tell ourselves. We rationalise them in our heads and turn them into beliefs. These false beliefs then form our reality. A reality, which never truly actualises the possibilities of making our dreams a reality. Some of us make excuses for not pursuing it. Some of us pursue it and when a problem arises we make excuses as to why we can’t move on. Telling ourselves we can’t do something, before at least giving ourselves a chance is one of the biggest mistakes we make as humans. Excuses are also a way to remove the blame away from ourselves and onto others. I can’t move forward with this business idea because no one will support. Or I can’t do it because I do not have the resources. There are so many reasons why we make excuses. We are afraid of failing, of making changes or of taking risks. Below I focus on two main reasons why we make excuses and in the end never start our businesses. 

Not Up to Par

We think we are not up to par. We believe that all those other people that start their businesses and run them well have some kind of special gene. Or they have rich relatives and loads of family support.  After all there must be some reason why they can do it and you can’t right? Wrong! The reason why they are doing it is because they simply took the risk. There are loads of people out there who start businesses with menial resources and without the support of family and friends. If you don’t challenge yourself you will never know your true potential. If you don’t push yourself you will never know how far you can go. We are all responsible for our own growth. Building a business will force you to grow. You will be stretched in ways unimaginable. You will do things you never thought you could and you will become the person you are destined to be. In many ways, a business is an enabler forcing you to deconstruct your own self-limiting beliefs. You are up to par but first you have to do it, because if you don’t you will always regret never having tried and never knowing if that idea ever really stood a chance. 

Holding on to Past Failures 

Maybe you did take that step and it didn’t work out. So your first business failed? Or perhaps you have tried at other things outside of a business venture and those failed too? This shouldn’t stop you from trying again. Some of the most successful people in our world today failed several times over before making their mark. See past failures as an opportunity to build up your resilience tank. The past is preparation for the future. All those mishaps along the way, some were good judgements and some were bad judgements and this is the way it should be. Celebrate the good and learn from the bad. You pushed through imaginary walls and broke out of your comfort zone. There are no more mental blocks just you beating yourself up over past failures. Is your life more fulfilling now? Would things be different for you now had you not made those failures? Let go of past failures and allow yourself to be open to the new experiences awaiting on the other side.  

Excuses are the reason why so many people settle, despite knowing they could do so much better. If building a business is in your destiny, then you should be out there making it a reality. Why are you intentionally clipping your wings? Not only is this shortening the distance of your flight but it is also making it unbalanced. Be that Bird that flies full throttle ascending into the sky with full power. 

​Remember every Bird has two wings, some choose to fly with one. Are your wings fully fueled? Find out more about our London Nest by sharing your secret here: www.secretbirdslondon.com, we can’t wait to hear from you.

[secretbirdsldn]

“Bird Engineering”

Are you working to earn or working to learn? Most of us see jobs as a means to an end. It is something that we have to do to survive in the world. Translation? Pay bills, buy the essentials, go on holiday (if we are lucky) and the like. Very few of us embrace the mindset of a job being a mechanism for learning just as much as it is for earning. Even those who have a career will tell you that they have done so much and made a great life out of their career but sadly they never mention the learning aspect. 

Majority of aspiring entrepreneurs are not in a position to jump full time into their ventures. Most will work a full time job either before starting to build up a savings or build their businesses’ alongside working. It is important that these jobs be seen as an opportunity to learn. Before accepting a job one of the main questions to be asked is,” How will this job help me build my business? What will it teach me? What will I learn? How will it help bring my vision to life?” Your job is an opportunity to grow. Once you start working on your startup full time, you will quickly realise how useful jobs are to the bigger picture. If you have had many jobs in different sectors, this is also an asset. Below I will explore the importance of jobs as a learning tool and why being a “job jumper” is good preparation for the entrepreneurial path.

Learning Tool

Before you apply for a job, do you consider your business idea? If you are about to start a business in the retail sector, sure one of the most practical things to do is find a job in this sector. Sensible right? Yes it is sensible but what you do when working in that sector is much more important than simply working in the sector itself. Approach each job with a learning mindset. See each task as an opportunity to learn and each project as a unique challenge. In each role see yourself as an entrepreneur and once you have mastered each role move on to a new one. If you reach at a point in your job where you’re bored, it is time to move on. If there are no opportunities within your organisation, that’s a sign that the time has arrived to seek opportunities elsewhere. If you are provided with opportunities to move around the business this will help in developing you as a generalist. Generalist tend to know a little about everything and when you first start your business guess what? You will be doing everything!  

Whilst working in these companies it is important to take note of all of the things that work well and those that don’t. Challenge yourself by thinking about what you would do differently. Would you manage your business in the same way? What changes would you make to ensure your systems were effective. There are many who take jobs because the salary is high. There are many who chase money. I wouldn’t dare imply that you turn down a decent paying job when you have bills to pay and/or a family to support. Clearly priorities matter and one should take precedent over all else. That said, if you are an aspiring entrepreneur your main goal should not be to make as much money as possible. Your main goal should be to learn as much as possible. Remember you have not taken this job to lead a comfortable life as an employee, your long-term plans are to build your own business. If you are offered a low salaried position with the potential to acquire new skills which will serve your business, then consider this a part of your big vision. Don’t settle for a high paying job that won’t involve you gleaning skills that have nothing to do with your future plans. The key here is to develop!

Job Jumper

As an aspiring entrepreneur your main goal is to avoid the rat race not get caught up in it. Most people take jobs with an aim to climb the corporate ladder. They work in one firm either for the majority of their lives or for an extended period of time. This is a very good thing for those who do not plan to own their own business. This does not mean that a corporate executive who has spent 30 years working in one firm cannot start their own business. However, you are not planning on being a corporate executive, so there is no need to get one’s self mired in the trappings of the corporate “melee” surrounding promotions. As mentioned above if the company you work for is giving you a chance to work in different positions then take it. However if you are stuck in the same role, bored and unchallenged then find a new job, which is line with some new skills you need to acquire. 

There will be people who will call you a “job jumper.” This is a most scathing term, meant to make you feel guilty for not knowing what you want. Well, here’s some news: Rare Birds know exactly what they want. Having a job is a part of that bigger plan. Job hopping may be considered career suicide for those who want to be in the job pipeline for the rest of their lives and that’s OK. For you, job hopping presents you with new challenges and the opportunity to meet new people. Job hopping is also a way to learn about new industries. All of which provide you with a fresh and new perspective for operating your own business.

Don’t just get a job where you end up coping and struggling your way through the misery until you can work on your business full time. Get a job, so that you can learn new skills, meet new people, challenge yourself and to develop as a professional. Don’t work hard on the job to get noticed, work smart on the job to develop yourself. Despite what you may have been taught by your family, friends and community “getting a job” isn’t for everyone. Much of the learning in today’s educational system is set up to teach you to be a good employee. If you know this isn’t you, then learn quickly to see jobs as an opportunity to learn as well as earn. Make sure to save some of those earnings for your business purposes. Then when you have acquired as much as you can don’t be afraid to “job hop” into a new industry. Some of the best types of innovation is created when ideas from different industries are brought together. Your future rests in owning a company, creating jobs and contributing to your society. Think of it as Bird Engineering: the application and combination of many useful skills to aid you in flight. 

Remember every Bird has two wings, some choose to fly with one. Are your wings fully fueled? Find out more about our London Nest by sharing your secret here: www.secretbirdslondon.com, we can’t wait to hear from you.

[secretbirdsldn]

“The Migratory Programme”

Once in flight, there will invariably be mistakes. Mistakes are important for the entrepreneur. The female founder must make mistakes in order to improve and enhance her migratory programme. The migratory programme has been devised to provide a vision and lay the foundation for what is to come. Despite having a perfectly set out programme there will be diversions. Things will happen and at times one will go astray. There are a myriad of reasons for straying whilst in flight. What matters most is embracing that mistakes will happen and that they are meant to teach valuable lessons. Not allowing mistakes to occur and constantly striving for perfection is actually counterproductive and won’t aid in your development as an entrepreneur. So why make mistakes? 

Fear

Fear is the reason why many don’t take risks, refuse to go a little further or try something new. The stereotype is that entrepreneurs are fearless and willing to do whatever it takes to make their business work. This isn’t the case for everyone. The truth is that fear is also a problem for the female founder. Making mistakes helps with letting go of fear. With every chance taken, fear is reduced and as a result confidence is gained.  There are many joys to be experienced as a part of the entrepreneurial journey. Granted there will be many challenges but it’s meant to be fun, empowering, enabling and much more. By making mistakes we give fear the space to dwindle. 

Improvement

There is always room for growth. There is always something to learn. Mistakes facilitate the learning process.  Every time a mistake is made we are presented with new wisdom. This kind of wisdom is the best as it is based on one’s own lived experience.   Lived experience is the best way to learn and through our failures we are allowed to do so.  The obsession with perfection as a badge of honour or as a form of prestige is completely flawed. Perfection isn’t realistic because no one is perfect and aiming for that ideal only leads to disappointment. Trying one’s best should be the aim. When we try our best we acknowledge that we are limited in our awareness. We give way for new lessons which help us improve as we build our businesses. We become better at our craft and more innovative by making mistakes. 

Humility

To err is human. It’s easy to get caught up in the daily motions of life, assuming the entire world revolves around us and our businesses. It doesn’t. As we build our businesses, the world continues to turn. Mistakes remind of us our humanity. They keep us grounded and focussed. They help us remember why we are doing what we are doing. They keep us in check. Many people fear making mistakes because they think it makes them appear incompetent.  If you have mastered something and are no longer making mistakes, this means you are no longer being challenged. This is a signal that it’s now time to up the ante and pursue new things. Remaining humble is important for building a business. It teaches us to take responsibility for our actions.  It also teaches us to forgive ourselves and others for making errors. 

As Birds migrate they are at times blown off course. Other times they just make an error in their migratory programme. They may go in the wrong direction but they always go the distance; and somehow in the end they always find their way to their final destination. Building a business from scratch involves making mistakes. Just as Birds stray in their migration so do female founders. It is by going down the wrong path that we all somehow end up finding our way. 

Remember every Bird has two wings, some choose to fly with one. Are your wings fully fueled? Find out more about our London Nest by sharing your secret here: www.secretbirdslondon.com, we can’t wait to hear from you.

[secretbirdsldn]

“Clever Crows”

There are different types of intelligence required to survive the challenges of daily life. In addition to this, there are specific types of intelligence required for entrepreneurship.  A number of intellectual skills are needed to see a vision through from beginning to end. The ability to observe, listen and react quickly whilst at the same time not compromising integrity, is a skill. The ability to make decisions in earnest as well as to balance lateral and vertical thinking are equally important. One must be pragmatic yet innovative.   While the below are not exhaustive, they are essential to building a business from scratch.

Cultural Intelligence

We live in a global village, connected by the click of a button. We see into each others lives over social media. Our mobile phones make it easy for us to speak across borders and live stream information across the airwaves within seconds. We no longer build businesses locally, we build them globally. The thought of operating within the limitations of a confined space no longer exist. Therefore the female founder must be able to relate and work effectively across cultures.  She must be adept at understanding that what may be the norm in one culture, may be outrageous in another. She should be understanding of the nuances that culture bring to everyone that she does business with. 

Social Intelligence

The socially inclined tend to be very successful at business. Business is about relationships. There is no business if there are no relationships. Relationships are the foundation on which businesses thrive. Let’s ask ourselves the question: What is a business? A complex web?  A well designed system? A business is merely a vehicle to facilitate relationships. It is a space for the relationship(s) to blossom.  The capacity to initiate, develop and maintain relationships is a skill, which does not come naturally to everyone. The female founder is an effective navigator of social intelligence. 

Creative Intelligence

Creativity is required throughout all aspects of business.  From concept to implementation the idea must be infused with creativity.  Creative intelligence isn’t just about making something new, but it is also about re-purposing the old into something new. Using innovation and imagination to develop new ways of thinking. The creative process equips the female founder with the third eye needed to approach all aspects of business.  

Emotional Intelligence

Understanding our own emotions, knowing what triggers them and being able to identify these triggers are all important.  Being self aware and being aware of how our actions affect others is a necessary skill to have. There will be many bad situations and instances where you will feel like giving up. Harnessing these emotions and understanding that they are all a part of the natural flow of things is very important.  Emotional intelligence is particularly important when building a team. The female founder uses emotional intelligence to simply put, build a happy business.

The crow is said to be one of the most clever birds in the animal kingdom. They are exceptionally intelligent. They have a memory bank, that gives them the ability to remember the most minute of details. They have a special dialect that allows them to speak to each other. They forage for food and store for a “rainy day.” Crows are also observational learners. They learn by watching! Who are they watching? Humans. When it’s all said and done intelligence helps the Bird take flight. Use your intelligence to support your mission. 

Remember every Bird has two wings, some choose to fly with one. Are your wings fully fueled? Find out more about our London Nest by sharing your secret here: www.secretbirdslondon.com, we can’t wait to hear from you.

[secretbirdsldn]

Share Your Success

Our motto: Share Your Secrets. Share Your Success.

Last week we discussed the importance of sharing secrets. This week we shift our focus to success. What is success? The answer to this question varies with each individual. For some it is the opposite of failure. For others it is the pinnacle of achievement, a position or thing obtained through hard work. Depending on one’s perspective success can also be a journey. In order to build community, we must share success. The sharing of success helps others achieve. Our stories act as a source of inspiration to others. Each story complete with its own special narrative, providing hope for those along the way. Entrepreneurship is about doing but as we know it is also about observing and listening. Storytelling is a powerful tool and here are a few reasons why we share our stories of success. 

It Brings People Together

Sharing success brings people together. Through our stories of experience we help others thrive. Sharing builds a community of awareness and empathy which creates an environment of understanding. And with understanding comes more tolerance.  A dynamic, inclusive community allows for different types of people to come together with a united vision. Sharing success helps to solidify the vision, whatever it may be. Instead of deliberately withholding successes’ for fear of coming across as arrogant, we share knowing that our community encourages success. Success on our own terms and standards. If we don’t share our success how do we expect others to learn and grow? Growth cannot be achieved through osmosis!  It is through lived experience of struggle that we are able to grow. We also include the lived experiences of others to further enhance our mission. 

It Influences Behaviour

Sharing influences behaviour.  Behaviours are learned. We tend to emulate what we see around us, particularly in our formative years.  As we become adults and hopefully raise our consciousness we also start to unlearn old behaviours and learn new ones. Learning and unlearning are recurring themes within entrepreneurial spaces. They are necessary for anyone who plans on developing a sustainable business.  As you develop your business there are behaviours which can also be gleaned from your peers. Our peers are some of our biggest influencers. Their positive behaviours should be identified and emulated simply because it has been tried and tested. You may want to give it your own personal twist, personalise it and make it your own. You may also decide to extract bits of behaviour from others which you believe will help you. We share our success to influence behaviour!

Where did this motto come from? No where special. It was devised in the spirit of sharing and represents the community which is being built. Share your secrets so that someone else can have a chance. Share your success so that someone else can be inspired to pursue their dreams. Secrets are complementary to success in that once a secret is disclosed it opens the gates for success to be achieved. Birds are sharers and so I encourage you to share, not because this community warrants it but because it is the right and necessary thing to do. 

Remember every Bird has two wings, some choose to fly with one. Are your wings fully fueled? Find out more about our London Nest by sharing your secret here: www.secretbirdslondon.com, we can’t wait to hear from you.

[secretbirdsldn]

“Share Your Secrets”

Our motto: Share Your Secrets. Share Your Success. 

The motto of the SecretBirds global community is share your secrets and share your success. Sharing underpins everything we do. Sharing is essential to our existence. The day we stop sharing, is the day we cease to exist. Why sharing? Because it’s what communities do, they share. If we study various civilisations from the beginning of time and throughout all the ages, sharing was what they did. Everywhere throughout the globe from Africa to Europe to the Americas, Asia and all in between sharing is what created community. Fast forward to today and we read of the shared economy as well as various local communities with a focus on shared values and beliefs. Sharing is  an age old concept which we keep reinventing to suit our current situation and circumstances.  Much of modern day culture, however extols beliefs which deter sharing. Don’t share your feelings, don’t share your food, don’t share your ideas, don’t share your umbrella and you better not share your pen either, she should have brought her own! In this community we encourage women to share their story. We say to them, “share your secrets and share your success.”  So why share your secrets? 

Why not share your secrets?

This may sound counter-intuitive, seeing as a secret should be something private. But is it really? Considering that no one ever really keeps a secret! What’s the first thing many of us do when we hear a secret? Share it! Keeping a secret requires so much effort. It truly is hard work! As little girls we inspired confidence in others knowing we could, in fact keep a secret.  Here we are now as grown women learning that all the secrets we have kept or are currently keeping actually contribute negatively to our lives. With time we have all learned that sharing our secrets is what helps others thrive. We learn that if we can help someone avoid some of the pitfalls of life, we do so by sharing our secrets. We also know that when we share, we help ourselves because it allows us to release the burdens of life. So, why not share your secrets? 

Secrets are curated knowledge

Secrets are curated knowledge. They stem from years of mastery as well as trial and error. This is why every entrepreneurship website share  “Top Secrets from successful entrepreneurs.”  These are people who have done it and they can speak from experience. They bequeath their well curated knowledge unto the rest of us who are still learning the tricks of the trade. We all have something to teach and we all have something to learn. The knowledge you have acquired since you took flight is also relevant, it is also worth sharing. There is something within you that someone else needs to hear. There is someone out there waiting for you to say it. So, why not share your secrets? 

Secrets keep us connected

In order to sustain a community we must share our secrets. We can’t possibly think that  we can be a part of a community by taking but not giving. The road to flight involves reciprocity.  There is no space worth being in if it only involves taking. In the long term it won’t benefit you. If you are looking for short term gains, this community isn’t for you. So, with each share we make a new connection. With each share we further develop our existing connections. Each connection is an opportunity to deepen our bonds. Bonds which help us grow as individuals and as as entrepreneurs. We stay connected because we like it. We stay connected because we want to. We stay connected because we like sharing secrets.

In the avian species the female will carefully design and orchestrate her nest. She only moves in when she is satisfied. She also chooses wisely where to construct her nest. She weaves tirelessly to build her community. In some instances she will even collaborate outside of her species if it means ensuring her survival. Birds continue to do what human beings have always done. The life of Birds, is it really that different to the life of the female founder? Next week let’s explore why we should share our success. Until then share your secrets.

Remember every Bird has two wings, some choose to fly with one. Are your wings fully fueled? Find out more about our London Nest by sharing your secret here: www.secretbirdslondon.com, we can’t wait to hear from you.

[secretbirdsldn]

“Are You Bird In-Dependent?”

Independence is overrated. The notion that somehow we can achieve whatever we desire all on our own is a farce. Some cultures praise independence. They glorify it as a badge of honour. One often wonders if all this independence has made us better? But that’s a separate blog. The fact of the matter is, no one is independent. We are all here because of a community. The first community being those who raised us, i.e family or other loved ones, the second being your cultural, social or religious community. The third would be your academic community, school, university, etc. With time and age we develop our own communities, join communities, exit communities and learn how to weave our way in and out of various social webs.  All of these communities are interlinked in that they have all played a crucial part in making us who we are today and more importantly helping us get to where we are today. Someone had to open a door for us, give us an opportunity, show the way, teach us, guide us and much more. So, truthfully the concept of being independent is a joke. In business independence will only get you so far because as we already know, your business will not thrive without relationships. These relationships will allow for partnerships and collaboration. 

There is pride in independence, this is mostly because it requires an individual who can think for themselves, make decisions for themselves and move forward with their ideas confidently. These are the outcomes of an independent thinking person, which is completely separate to an independent person. In business interdependence may prove more beneficial to your cause and here’s why.

You can’t go it alone and why would you want to?

Many of us seem to have a problem with asking for help. I am not sure where we get this from. There are quite a few theories, everything from upbringing to how we are wired and all in between. Whatever the case, we need to admit that we have been sold a lie. Lies and more lies! Pretending that you know it all or that somehow you have all the answers, will only lead to one destination: epic failure. Yes, failure is where we learn but why fail at things which are basic common sense? We only know so much, we are only skilled in a few things, therefore we must surround ourselves with people who complement us, know more than us, can guide us and help us. We need people who have gone before us and people to be behind us.  Both groups teach us something about ourselves. Moreover why would you want to go on this journey in flight all on your own? There is nothing better than sharing the ride. It is much more pleasurable and fun. Is independence really about doing your own thing or is it more so about being able to stand on your own two feet when required? And even then we can have people to support us. In business going it alone isn’t the problem. The problem is believing that somehow you can!

You solver bigger problems and innovate more through collaboration.

Collaboration is the new innovation. Working together with like minds is not only good for problem solving but also for learning and for synergising ideas. Collaboration does not dilute, it enhances. Collaboration does not mean less, it means more. The key to a perfect collaboration is ensuring values are shared, connection of the dots, making sure ideas coalesce and that communication is encouraged.  In business it is easy to make everything about you, the founder, but is it really about you or the people you are serving? The ego has a way of making us believe we are in control. There is no control in business only risk mitigation. Anyone who has built a business from scratch knows that things change from minute to minute. This is the nature of business and trying to control all aspects of the work only creates a bad environment for yourself and those who work with and for you. Big problems require a collaboration of minds, different ways of thinking and working and more importantly tolerance.

Your business will be dependent as a result of your independence.

If you continue to ignore that you need others to thrive as an entrepreneur you will remain dependent. This is because as you work together with others you can circumvent problems. These are problems others have experienced and can help you avoid. You will move quicker and more efficiently as a result of being interdependent. You will slow down and become much more reliant than required. Your business won’t grow and you may not be able to sustain it. You will often feel overwhelmed and stressed. You may also end up running around in circles doing things you don’t need to. An independent business is actually interdependently linked with all the other businesses’. They all operate in the same spectrum and need each other whether they like to admit it or not.

Questions: Does being independent mean that we give up something? Or does it mean that we gain something?  Does your independence make you feel free? And freedom is why you started this venture in the first place? Perhaps? maybe not? Nonetheless, let’s not confuse free will, choice and self determination with self-lauded delusions. We need each other. We always have. We always will. Entrepreneurship is no different. Practice interdependence. Birds live, travel and feed together. It makes their journey worthwhile. It is also essential to their survival. Do you want to survive? Or are you Bird In-Dependent? 

Remember every Bird has two wings, some choose to fly with one. Are your wings fully fueled? Share your secrets and share your success. We can’t wait to hear from you. 

[secretbirdsldn]

“Adjust Your Wingtips”

Dealing with Changes as you Develop Your Business

As you develop your idea, there will be many changes along the way.  As the popular saying goes, “Change is the only thing, that isn’t constant.”  It is important to not get too hung up on the idea itself. As counterproductive as they may seem, ideas change as you go along. The concept of your business and the intention behind it will stay the same but the delivery, focus or target market may change.  When going through the motions of  testing and developing your idea, if you are so fixated on the idea and do not allow for flexibility this can be the beginning of many problems ahead. There are various reasons as to why your idea may change.  

Your initial idea was too complex and you have found a way to simplify it.  

You may have had this idea in your mind for some time or maybe it came to you by accident. Or like most it may have come about when you had a problem and was unable to get the help you needed. However you arrived at your idea, the fact is that what you initially had in your mind may change slightly as you begin to test it. This is because the market will ultimately determine the success or failure of the business you are aiming to create.  If the market responds well, then clearly there is a need. At which point you start to engage and ask questions to garner the feedback you require to create a product that your supports will connect with and purchase.  If you ignore the market, in the end the market will ignore you but if you respond you will reap the rewards. Sometimes it is the simple ideas that do so much to solve big problems. Along the way you may recognise the complexity you are bringing to the idea, isn’t necessary after all.

Your target market has changed and you have found new a new niche.

The idea was so good when you started, you knew exactly who you were going to target or at least you thought you did. Along the way you realised the actual target group is really a nonexistent group, which you imagined or simply a group that is not interested. The good news is that you found a group who are completely smitten by what you do and now you need to shift to working with them. This actually happens all the time, it is normal, it is a part of the process. In this process you will find that you’ve developed a new niche. With this new niche comes a renewed focus, a new style and a different way to solve problems. As for why this happens, as mentioned before we get so attached to an idea that we forget that in reality an idea is nothing unless we have supporters who buy into the idea. 

Your interest has waned and you have realised that your passions lie elsewhere. 

Sometimes when you start, you think what you are pursuing is what makes you feel alive. As you commit more and more time to the work you begin to unravel and discover interests which are related to what you do but that drive you in a way, which feels very different. This feeling is something which can’t be ignored. You make a decision to pursue it and it starts to take on a a reality of its own. Does this make you an indecisive, unfocussed person? No, it makes you someone who has used their initial idea to firm up the actual idea. There is no concrete method or formula, at times you just go with the flow and these things happen. Your passions aren’t one-dimensional, they are layered, they can be complex, they can be unorthodox, this is all a part of the journey.

How exactly do Birds change direction in flight? By adjusting their different body parts to control their flight. Birds are simply put, masters of flight. They bend their wings and soar, it is engineering magnificence. As you build your business engineer your own magnificence. Deal with changes by being the master of your own flight. Continue to adjust your wingtips. 

Remember every Bird has two wings, some choose to fly with one. Are your wings fully fueled? Find out more about our London Nest by sharing your secret here: www.secretbirdslondon.com, we can’t wait to hear from you.