The power of thoughtfulness for business success
Meet Jen and Jen. Well, Jenny Sjollema from PA Angels and host of South Essex events and Jenny Animashaun from JA Business Services hosts of our Braintree/Halstead events and our Essex Charity Coordinator. They may look thoughtful in the image above but they are more than just looking thoughtful, they are thoughtful.
As a businesswoman with Lupus, I don’t drive to a lot of my speaking engagements and events I attend and these two fabulous Jen’s are the business women that travel around the UK with me the most. (That is not the interesting part!)
The interesting part is that as a businesswoman I don’t know about you but I’ve always had an issue with asking for help (that’s probably why I still rely on that chapter in my book on the fears that impact on success!) It took me years to suss that if I wanted to achieve big I’d have to accept help. (When I wrote the book I couldn’t think of one person that has achieved great success completely alone, from rock stars and athletes to entrepreneurs and CEO’s no one gets there alone. Can you think of anyone?) And as such these Jen’s are essential to my success. And so I want to share why this is so important;
- They care about my success. Do you know how important it is to know that you are not alone? Not only do you get a sounding board and support on tough days it also means you are more likely to get the results you want because you’ve shared your goals with others.
- We are part of the BWN team meaning we work tirelessly for each others success and our members. This is great news because a) it helps raise their profile to grow their own businesses, b) it helps them feature in the press and on the radio and c) we get to learn new skills from each other and d) obviously is we get more business!
- Being a thoughtful businesswoman is good for business. The 2 Jen’s don’t get a great deal of benefit from driving me around the country (well they do call it car coaching!) but by being thoughtful to me it means I hold them in possibly even higher esteem than I did already. There is a bond. I would do anything for them.
When you read these things can you say you are a thoughtful business owner? Do you show you care? Do other business owners know that they can rely on you? By showcasing your thoughtfulness not only do you build rapport which leads to a desire to do business together it also means that you get to showcase your professionalism something that I fear is woefully lacking for some.
PA Angels Fly’s Through the Sky for Farleigh Hospice
PA Angels Fly’s Through the Sky for Farleigh Hospice
Jenny Sjollema, 41, of Heybridge Basin, Maldon, Essex flew through the freezing cold sky’s in Beecles, Suffolk on Friday 20th February to raise money for Farleigh Hospice as part of the £50 Birkett Long Business Challenge in Mid-Essex.
“I decided to do the challenge, after my friend Stella Bradbrook had been diagnosed with liver and bowel cancer earlier in the year. And I decided to do the skydive having overheard another lady at the cheque presentation evening that she was doing one, and I thought, well why not!”, Jenny said.
She reached speeds of up to 120mph on her free fall, and was on the ground in less than two minutes!
Jenny took over About My Area Maldon and Burnham from Stella in the Summer, having taken over Chelmsford and Witham previously, she now runs Mid-Essex websites. About My Area is a community based website, supported by local news.
“Once I’d decided to do the skydive, I went full steam ahead, promoting it on the website, social media and the local press,” Jenny said. “I have raised over £800 to date for this AMAZing cause, that have supported Stella and her family over the last few months.”
If you would like to support Jenny to raise funds for Farleigh Hospice, you can do so by going to www.virginmoneygiving.com/JennySjollema
Or feel free to give Jenny your money when you network with her at The BWN in Essex!
Essex Business Women – Endeavours Beyond Business
BWN business women are no strangers to raising money for charity. Having raised 1000’s of pounds for charities including Farleigh’s Hospice, Colchester Mind, Little Havens, Comic Relief, Children in Need and even making donations to Colchester Food Bank Christmas 2014. So its something to celebrate when not one business woman but 5 are raising money for local charities alongside running their own businesses.
It was a proud moment when at the January Essex Networking event at Five Lakes Crowne Plaza business women were supporting and helping to raise the profile of these business women and their charity plans.
It’s great that the ideas range from pampering and fun to “Wow I’m glad it’s you and not me, here’s a fiver!”
Here we take look at the business women doing their bit;
First has to be Jenny Sjoellma from PA Angels, About My Area Chelmsford and About My Area Maldon. If it wasn’t enough to be running 3 businesses Jenny in 17 days time will be jumping out of an aeroplane for Farleighs Hospice. Jenny said “My friend and colleague, from whom I took over AboutMyArea, was diagnosed earlier in the year with bowel and liver cancer. She is progressing well with her chemo and couldn’t have done so without the help of Farleigh Hospice. Skydving will be one of the things off my bucket list” Stella Bradbrook is a business women known and loved by The BWN so we are whole heartedly supporting Jenny, but happy to be doing it with our feet on the ground! To support Jenny learn more here. And remember if you can’t spare any money just sharing the link on your social media could help.
Next up is not just one BWN business woman but 2! Tracy Shave a Laughter Yoga Instructor from Moulding Futures wanted to take part in the Farleigh’s £50 challenge so asked at The BWN if anyone would like to work on it together. Photographer Jayne Lloyd jumped at the opportunity and so together they are putting on a unique event. This event will get Essex women together. All having a make over, sharing cake and chat and finishing the event with a photograph of them holding a giant heart with a message for whomever they wish written on the heart. Tracy said “I’m so lucky to still have my Nan but I thought how lovely it would be coming up to Valentines day if Essex women could have a special picture they could treasure for always and show Farleigh’s how much they care too. To learn more click here – again if you are busy or already have a chosen charity for the year a tweet and a Facebook post would be gratefully appreciated too!
Karen Daniels from The Aloe Life and Luxury Florida Villas was so touched by Jayne and Tracy’s idea and passion that she created a hamper that will be raffled off at the event being hosted by Tracy Shave and Jayne LLoyd.
Lastly but very impressively Gayle Berry from Blossom and Berry Baby Massage and Training runs Little Blossoms Project Malawi. In the UK Gayle can be seen selling beautiful unique gifts and love specs to raise vital funds and to raise awareness of her work in Malawi. You can learn more here and even purchase a Feel Good Metal Feather Necklace or Love Specs.
We have already heard reports that BWN business women have shown their support for all of these worthy endeavours. Its rather cool seeing life through Love specs, you should try it. And lets be honest we would all rather put our hands in our pockets than jump out of a plan, so good luck Jenny!
Charities often tell us that when businesses support them its no just about raising money, the really important thing for many charities is that thanks to businesses like The BWN business women, charities and their work to help others gets noticed and recognised. It really is a win win situation!