A swimming pool does not make a spa: managing expectations before booking a spa day 

~ nicoladonnelly ~ 2 Comments

Since the times of Roman Baths, humans have gathered in locations dedicated to the healing powers of water. As a person born under a water sign, or as a complete coincidence, I enjoy spending time in or near water. It is where I find it easiest to relax. My fondness of baths is a bit of a joke with some friends. My preference for luxury bath products is an indulgence kindly supported by friends and family. However, every now and then, as a special treat, I like to leave the comfort of my bathtub and enjoy a day at a spa.

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“It might be too much” and other lies we tell ourselves

~ nicoladonnelly ~ 3 Comments

My friend Laura is the master (mistress?) of calling us out on the lies we tell ourselves and the unnecessary rules we create that stop us reaching our goals and feeling great. We sabotage ourselves because we fear what will happen if we really do live our dreams. We back ourselves into the corner of the safe zones that stop us doing what we want to do. We believe our own stories – tales where people might laugh at us, we might look stupid, we could fail? Some of these are as likely as encountering a tiger at the bus stop, others might just happen. So we live our lives being 75% of who we are, with 25% tucked up safe at home never to see the light of day.

What do clothes mean to you?

Now this is quite a philosophical start to a post about fashion. If you believe that clothes exist to keep you warm or cool, dry, safe or covered to a degree that society finds acceptable then this post isn’t going to appeal to you. But if clothes mean more to you – appearing professional at work, getting dressed up to attend a wedding, packing different clothes for a holiday than you would wear at home, buying a new outfit for a night out, dry-cleaning suits, appreciating how a garment fits and creates a silhouette for your body then you might just be interested in shaking things up a bit.

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Stop bitching about Facebook – how to create content people want to see and share

~ nicoladonnelly ~ 3 Comments

I know how hard it is to build Facebook reach for a business page. It’s something I have worked very hard on in the past. Like most things worth having, it’s right that it’s difficult and it’s right that you have to do a good job to get results. If it was easy then everyone would be doing it and how would you stand out from your competition?

Understanding how media companies work

Facebook offers a huge opportunity to reach an audience with no cost to entry. For FREE you can start a business page, share content and reach people based on their age, gender, geography, and interests. Facebook, however, is a business. It has to pay salaries and create a profit for its shareholders. Just like yours. It also has a duty to its members to serve content that they find interesting. This is why they regularly change things. Facebook want to offer a better experience to its members, keep members logging in and to encourage interactions. Otherwise, they have no platform at all.

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Ten things to do before starting a new job

~ nicoladonnelly ~ 1 Comment

You got the job. You negotiated your salary. You have a start date and you are looking forward to the new role. What should you be doing before you start a new job? For me, I will be spending my last week off getting organised and planning a sensible routine for new job. I also have some preparation to do.

1.     Stay in touch with your new employer

It might take a little time to check references, a contract issued and arrangements made so you may not start immediately. Do try and stay in touch with your new employer. Check if you can help chase up references. Ask if you can pop in and say hello before the start date. Your new colleagues will be curious to see you too. This will help with tip two.

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Six tips to help you ace a job interview and presentation

~ nicoladonnelly ~ 2 Comments

After a period of being my own boss I was a bit worried about my first job interview in over 4 years. I have built confidence in giving presentations but I haven’t had to answer to anyone for a while and I really had to get back to basics in terms of interview techniques. Good news – I just accepted a job offer and I am really excited to get started. I wanted to share what I think went well and helped me get the job.

1.     Know the sector

Although I am an experienced marketer I have never worked in the social enterprise sector before. I therefore found out what I could about these organisations. I didn’t set out to become an expert but I wanted to know what the challenges were and address these in the presentation. I also didn’t want to look naïve with some of my suggestions. For example, if you are presenting to a high street retailer, you shouldn’t ignore how that connects with e-commerce.

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Perfect timing – gate-crashing an art college lecture

~ nicoladonnelly ~ 7 Comments

The last six weeks have been absolutely crazy. I have gone from shop owner and company director to unemployed lecture-crasher. I have gone through disappointment, despair and desperation. A closing down sale, seeing stock and fixtures packed up for auction and the realisation that I wouldn’t be doing what I loved anymore. The numbers just weren’t working and it was time to pull the plug. Reluctantly and regrettably.

Now that the worst of it is over I am now feeling relief and am ready to embark on yet another chapter. With no regrets and a whole load of life experience that you can read in the fine lines accessorising the skin around my eyes, I am thinking about my next transformation.

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One of my favourite times: University life

~ nicoladonnelly ~ 4 Comments

The first in a regular series on favourite times.

bestdays
From a night out. Not from The Cav. I didn’t have a digital camera then. Not even on my phone…

The old cliché: those were the best days of my life… As a student in Edinburgh from 2002-2006 I frequented a club that was neither classy nor credible. It wasn’t exclusive. It certainly wasn’t glamorous, but it was fun. On a Wednesday night it was so fun it was legendary. Simply referred to as ‘The Cav’, it didn’t even need a full name. On arrival we would head straight upstairs without a look at the main club area, up to the 80s-tastic top floor. Many metaphors could be made about cheese. Let me say this. It was Dairylea. Reminiscent of innocent times. Convenient. Cheap. And the nostalgia is probably better than the reality. Anyway, one of the classic floor-fillers from that time was ‘Summer of 69’ by Bryan Adams. I honestly felt, so far, those were the best days of my life.

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A new shiny notebook

~ nicoladonnelly ~ 3 Comments

new-notebook

I always loved a new notebook. The potential of all those crisp, white, blank pages. The cover not yet covered in bottom of the handbag gunk. What would those pages contain? Thoughts, dreams, lists, notes from events. I have notebooks from buying my first house, planning our wedding, starting a business and endless lists.

I occasionally use note-taking apps for shared tasks or when on the go and caught without a notebook. Noting a song I like, Christmas gift idea, film I want to see, book I want to read etc. But I see this as perfunctory. It’s not the same as keeping a record with pen and paper. With a notebook you take time to expand.

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