The Power of You.
The Power of you is about a Black female entrepreneur being made redundant and using this negative experience to fulfil her dream of owning her own consultancy. Having the self-belief to invest in her dream. At the time 1998, there were not many Black female consultants in the UK. It was a challenge to build her brand through networking and the use of PR. It is a story about the challenges faced in gaining respect in her industry (HR) as a facilitator, conference speaker and corporate trainer and coach. The book walks you through the highs and lows of establishing and growing a business and the tools used to bounce back and remain resilient. It encompasses starting from nothing with no money and building a business that allows you to visit thirty countries and get paid to do so.
What inspired me to write the book?
As a conference speaker at corporate events, one of the questions that was posed to me on numerous occasions was “how did I get from being a mother of two children with no job, to going to Buckingham Place, and receiving my MBE from King Charles, for my contribution to Business and Exporting?” This question was mainly asked by female members of the audience. Many of them have the desire to be an entrepreneur, but something was always holding them back from achieving their goal. They wanted to know my story. In normal circumstances I would be travelling around the world, giving speeches, or facilitating training. But during the Covid Pandemic in the UK we were not allowed to leave our homes. I found it difficult to be incarcerated in my home and had to find an outlet, I decided to use that time productively and write my story.
What is my target audience for the book?
My target audience is women who want to fulfil their full potential and feel that they need some inspiration, but also some useful tools that they can implement. One of my reviews calls the book ‘A road map to business success!’
What do I hope readers could get out of the book?
I want women to be inspired by my journey to come to the realisation that very ordinary people such as myself who have the drive and determination to succeed can create opportunities for themselves and live their best life. My book guides the reader through, the early days of getting established, building strategic alliances, because you cannot achieve and succeed alone, overcoming the global recession in 2008, dealing with stress and anxiety, whilst still being a mother and a wife.
What are your future goals/plans for the book?
- I would like to devise a training programme around the book using the key messages around:
- Having the right mindset
- Overcoming imposter syndrome
- Building your network
- Building strategic relationships
- Create a companion for the book, with each chapter having a key message and a daily lesson and affirmation.
- I would like to have a ‘Power of You’ retreat in the Caribbean.
- Do a Ted-Talk around the book and the lessons learned.
I am a mother and grandmother of four granddaughters, my book also covers legacy, setting an example for them and leaving a legacy of hope and positive inspiration. I was born in the Caribbean and moved to the UK when I was 6 years old, then at aged 56 I returned to the country of my birth. I share the second part of my journey and culture shock of being a returnee in my second book called Prime.
