Reading Material

Just back from a (very wet) weekend in Norfolk. The intention was to soak up some inspiration; instead we just got soaked.

But did get stuck in to the very good "Life's A Pitch" by Stephen Bayley and Roger Mavity. It's worth a read.

check out the book's website at lifesapitch.uk.com

Leap!

My new book Leap! Ditch Your Job, Start Your Own Business And Set Yourself Free is published later this year. The book is a punchy and idiosyncratic take on the new world of work. This is for wantrepreneurs, graduates, freelancers, start-up enterprises and anyone thinking of quitting the 9-5 for the new world of work. Recent years have seen the biggest increase in those going self-employed, with over 3.5m workers “doing it by themselves”. There are also a growing number of students wanting to run their own business, and a whole generation of people in their later life who have decided to set up on their own rather than opt for full retirement. People who have worked for big organisations all their working life and are now quitting to either set up as consultants or launch their own start-ups.

Whether you’re 18 or 68, and thinking of going it alone, it’s hard to know where to start; with so much uncertainty you can feel vulnerable and isolated. So start with a Leap!

There are plenty of courses, events and books on setting up your own business but nothing that really tells it likes it is: the ATTITUDE you need to get started, the ENTERPRISE you need to demonstrate to be successful, and how to maximise the WORK/ LIFE balance to get the best EXPERIENCE.

That is the essence of Leap!

The book will be published by Wiley in December.

Welcome

Welcome to the Scrambled Up World Of Work.

Times are changing…fast. Traditional working practices and the concept of a conventional job are increasingly becoming things of the past as we struggle to make sense of a new marketplace where the only limit to success is your own imagination. This is a world of no rules and no walls. Traditional trading barriers are down; the concept of bricks & mortar companies where employees go to work 9-5 is crumbling. The challenges – and the opportunities – for the entrepreneur-within are huge. For micro-businesses, home-workers, freelancers, it’s all for the taking.

Being self employed is not just about having good ideas; it’s about being enterprising, innovative and actually - making it up as you go along. The thought of running your own business can be both scary and exhilarating. If you’re stuck in a rut and bored working in a dead-end job, it’s easy to think that working for yourself is the answer to your prayers. But it’s not that simple.

Working for yourself can be a liberating experience, reinvigorating your life with a new energy. But it can be lonely at times. What are the pitfalls? What are the upsides? And, what about the really important stuff - who’s going to make the tea?

My new book “Leap!” is a stimulus for taking the plunge to work for yourself, giving inspiration, ideas and anecdotes on how to succeed in the scrambled up world of the New Entrepreneur.

see a video trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DV6daWm6n6E