Tag Archives: business courses

5 things to do this year to help reach your money goals

Posted on February 3, 2019 | Leave a comment

I hope you’re feeling thrilled about your future prospects for 2019 and make amazing things happen.

Like you some of us found 2018 rather challenging, but it has helped to shape us into who we will be over 2019. Here is a list of 5 things to put in place this month to help you focus and become more disciplined. A little tip, use your mobile phone diary to set up reminders.

Article by Diane Shawe

DEFINE YOUR WORD

Think about the year ahead and ask yourself what one word would best represent your dreams and direction for 2019. This is a powerful practice because no matter how busy or scattered we may get at various points in our 365 day journey, we’ll always have our word to hold onto and guide us through.

Here are some examples of words to consider (you can also think of them as themes for the year):

FOCUS, REST, COURAGE,

ABUNDANCE, MY VALUES,

SIMPLIFY, ELEVATE, ORGANISED,

SPIRITUALITY, LEGACY,

CHARITY, IMPLEMENT. PHEONIX

Take some time and really reflect on which word holds the most meaning to you in the pursuit of your personal goals. Then take a piece of paper, write your word on it and hang it where you can see it every day. You’ll find that more and more, your thoughts, decisions, and actions in the new year will flow in harmony with your word.

CREATE YOUR READING LIST

As entrepreneurs, we know that reading great books for our personal and business development is essential if we really want to take things to a new level each year. However, if you’re like most entrepreneurs, you probably have a mountain of books that you are still intending to read and you know you have to be more selective about exactly which books you’re going to focus on (and implement!) in the year ahead.

So in 2019, instead of getting overwhelmed by it all, get intentional and put together a reading plan.

Here are some questions to help you create your list:

Which particular books will help me the most right now?

What area of my business am I resisting due to lack of knowledge?

Are there any books that I should read again and implement better this time?

FOCUS ON ONE THING

With the beginning of a new year, it’s exciting to launch into everything we want to do all at once to improve our lives and our businesses, but that’s a recipe for getting quite overwhelmed and discouraged before too long.

There is so much value in focusing on one thing at a time. It’s better to work on 12 habits or goals one at a time, month by month, and successfully achieve them all in a year, than it is to work on everything all at once and only be able to to finish 2 or 3 due to lack of focus.

MOVE PAST AN OLD FEAR

One of the things we love most about a new year is the feeling of a fresh start that it brings. Use the momentum of starting fresh to face a fear and do something you were afraid to do in 2018.

SET A 90 DAY MONEY GOAL

It’s so important to set your goals around money and map out your plans for how you’re going to achieve them. Money loves clarity and the more clear you are about how much you want your business to grow and how you’re going to make it happen, the more you can expect to see results!

First, identify how much money you want to make in your business over the next 90 days. Working from the framework of a 90 day goal is particularly effective because it’s not too long or too short when it comes to achieving something amazing, so don’t be afraid to dream a little bit out of your comfort zone.

Next, map out what that looks like in terms of clients and sales. How many clients would you need in order to hit that goal? How many sales per month, per week, per day? By honing in on these numbers, you’ll be able to set your daily, weekly, and monthly goals with clarity and ease. Best of all, you’ll be able to focus on taking action and making it happen. 🙂

10 Ways to Boost your Hair Extensions Business by Diane Shawe

Posted on January 16, 2019 | Leave a comment

Article by Diane Shawe Author: Extracts from Getting Started in the Hair Extensions Business

Sometimes you find things are going great and then the big slump takes a hold. How can you evaluate what you have done right and where you are going wrong?

Doing a SWOT analysis will give you a true picture of how your hair extension business could or should be running. It is essential to work out why some things are working in your business and why some are

SWOT stands for ‘strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats’. It is a well-known term in business and marketing. Performing a SWOT analysis is a very important part of running the business. It must be taken seriously

It is your own audit of your business no matter the size of it and should be done on a regular basis, at least annually. It’s not very complicated but could help keep you ahead of your competitors.

You may discover problems that you had no idea even existed. These can be addressed before they get out of hand. It will also highlight many assets, which could be utilised better, even opportunities, which could be taken advantage of.

The results of your SWOT analysis will be the basis for your marketing plans and decisions.

‘What they don’t tell you about getting started in the hair extension business’ summary from page 20 – 35 author Shawe D 2007

1) Form business alliances

Join up with other businesses to help each other build a bigger clientele.

Form an alliance with another business that has the same type of clientele as yours, for instance a business which involves beauty, nails, tanning, or fashion.

You can take this alliance as far as you like. You could set up shop together, or just refer clients to each other. You could do some advertising together and share the cost. Another idea is to hand out gift vouchers for each other. Each gift voucher could be for a free service.

It’s best if you both cater to clients who are at the same end of the market.

There’s not much point in marketing to people who simply can’t afford to come to your hair extension studio or pay for your services.
2. Choosing a Business

Choose a business where the people have the same business ethics as yours and a good database of clients.

3) Network

Throw the occasional cocktail party and invite the surrounding business owners, managers and employees of your choice. If you can build relationships with these people you may gain them as clients. Remember most men have girlfriends or wives and most women have other lady friends also.

They might also refer some of their customers and friends to you. Do this especially with the staff of beauty and fashion shops in your area. They are ideal people to get referrals from.
4) Get Quality Training

There are over 36 different hair extension techniques in the market place. If you really want to plan to be a success in this market, then you have to choose to become totally proficient in several techniques. There are many types of clients out there with varying hair problems, plan to be of service to you target market. Restricting yourself is restricting your potential income.

5) Be Classy (even if your working from home)

It’s best to set your hair extension studio up so that the right impact is made right from the moment the clients make an entrance or you make an entrance. Remember that the more professional the hair extension studio looks, the more you will be able to charge, as you will attract a more up market clientele. I always advise that the overall look must not out way the warmth and welcome of the studio. Clients like to feel relaxed with the staff and environment, not as if they are on show.
6) Flowers at reception or at your home always add a touch of class.

So does a smiling face, which helps to make each client’s, visit a welcoming visit right from the start. You can make the waiting area more impressive by including a great retail area, some hair extension brochures, and a book containing before and after photos. Provide some new, interesting magazines and hair books. Toss the old or torn ones out.
7) Always protect the clients clothing.

There should be a cupboard or rack for coats, or like some hair dressers have, a small dressing room for clients, who are given a gown to wear. This is a great idea as it removes the problem of high collars being in the way and clothes being ruined.

8) Get rid of shabby items.

Make sure there is a place for everything and enough storage space, so that the hair extension studio can be kept tidy. Get rid of the old wraps, used or shabby towels, and worn brushes. Never have dirty combs or tongs lying around. All of these things make a bad impression on clients.
9) No Carrier bags or damaged cases.

If you are mobile don’t turn up with carrier bags or a damaged beauty case. Make sure you are presentable and that your hair looks emaculate.
10) Don’t be afraid to change with the times.

If your hair extension studio starts to look outdated give it a facelift. Invest in the latest equipment. Make sure that the chairs not only look good, but also feel comfortable. If you are mobile make sure your equipment is up to date in line with your techniques.

The most valuable ebook for your hair extension business Click to order

What they don’t tell you Visit www.needahairmakeover.co to view a selection of 1 day courses.

Call us on 0121 318 2880 to discuss our courses we train in over 14 different techniques or if you would like to book an appointment to have your hair extensions done

9 Steps to The Killer Covering Letter

Posted on March 26, 2017 | 27 comments

It has become almost common knowledge that most potential employers do not even bother responding to unsuccessful candidates that apply for vacant jobs.

Sometimes you need to give yourself the winning edge. Think Clint Eastwood with the sun behind him in a gun fight. Sometimes in giving massive importance to the CV, the value of a strong cover letter is often neglected. The key to securing that dream job is a combination of a well-crafted CV and a killer cover letter. While the CV lists your important achievements and skills, the cover letter coerces your prospective employer into hiring you. The cover letter very finely articulates your desire to work for the company. To stand apart from the competition and make yourself an attractive hire, you need to draft a killer cover letter. Here are the 9 Steps to landing that job…

1. Knowing what they want, what they really really want

The cover letter offers a window to your personality and qualifications. But apart from that, it is also a way to demonstrate how much you really know about your prospective employer. To do this, you need to research on the company, the financial growth statistics, the industries that your employer serves, etc. Learn about your potential firm and showcase that. Only when you know what they want and who they are looking for, will you be able to portray that in your cover letter.

2. Giving it that personal touch

When you are searching for a job and have focused on one, make sure you find out the name of the contact person. Beginning your cover letters with formal salutations such as “Dear Sir or Madam”, gives the impression that you don’t know whom the letter should be addressed to. Personalise your cover letters while retaining a semi-formal tone. Lack of knowledge in these areas can significantly impact your chances of getting the job you want.

3. The Art of the Powerful Opening

Avoid the clichéd opening paragraphs and instead strive to make an impact with the introduction. In a powerful opening paragraph, you have to briefly state your objective in applying for the job and how you heard about the opening. While being creative in your openings, don’t forget that cute introductions do not work. Give your cover letter the necessary gravitas without being too sycophantic.

4. Start Right

After the introduction, comes the body of the cover letter where you detail your achievements without repetition. In this part of the cover letter, you are expected to expand upon your achievements as mentioned in the CV and provide further examples of how you can help your potential company grow. For example, if you are applying for marketing positions then be sure to explain how you can develop a marketing strategy to bring in additional revenue for the company. Simply said, put your best foot forward.

5. Finish Strong

The closing of the letter should definitely express gratitude for the HR manager’s time and patience. End the letter by outlining the next steps on your part. Never expect a potential employer to follow up with you. Demonstrate your proactive nature by stating that you will follow up for the job. This will also indicate your enthusiasm for the job. Remember to include a phone number or email address so that the firm can get in touch with you first if required.

6. Money Later

The motivation behind taking up any job is money. To be happy in your job you need to be paid well. Don’t become hasty and quote any figures in the letter. Wait for a formal meeting to discuss salary issues.

7. Details Matter

Remember to spell-check your cover letters and get them proof-read from friends or family. Be sure to thoroughly check your cover letters till you are completely satisfied with them.

8. How does it Look?

In case you are submitting your cover letter by email, make use of word processing software such as MS Word. Write your cover letters in Word, making use of a standardized format. Align the text correctly and ensure that the letter is cleanly formatted. Punctuation should be in place. While you spend a tremendous amount of time on preparing the CV, you sometimes end up neglecting the cover letter. Formatting is essential otherwise the HR manager reading your cover letter might just have to spend his or her time deciphering it.

9. Check That Grammar

Make sure that you adhere to grammar rules and make use of them while writing your cover letter. Incorrect grammar used in the wrong places can not only create a wrong impression, but also change the meaning of what you intended to convey.

These are such simple steps to write a killer covering letter.

ü Draft your letter so that it highlights your skills, achievements, goals, and motivations.

ü Don’t meander from the main topic.

ü Stick to the basics and be direct in your approach.

Do the above and nothing can stop you from getting that job.

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Tagged 1 day hair extension course, business courses, covering letter, covering letters, diane shawe, employment courses, express training courses, how to get an interview, job application, killer covering letters

A Quick and Easy Way for job Seekers to Gain Valuable Soft Skills Qualifications

Posted on December 10, 2013 | 2 comments

The Academy of Vocational and Professional Training (AVPT) is pioneering a way for people to gain valuable new training with the focus on the soft skills that can often be the deciding factor when it comes to a potential employer’s decision after an interview.

All AVPT’s training can be done through a mobile phone or tablet meaning it’s easy to study on-the-go. The tutor, course material and everything else can easily be accessed whenever is convenient. This drastically cuts down on the time it takes to qualify.

Mobile learning is the way forward as 56% of all people on Earth have a smart phone with 50% of those people using mobile as their primary gateway to the Internet (State of Mobile Survey 2013). Because most of us have a phone or tablet glued to our hands at all times, it makes sense to use that time wisely and invest in our own futures.

This sort of learning allows people to gain new qualifications in a matter of weeks with AVPT’s Express Courses and supportive online Virtual Tutors for each student.

Diane Shawe the CEO of Academy of Vocational and Professional training says “The whole country needs to invest in ways to help up-skill every individual so that they can either find work or generate their own income from supplying a service or product” she goes on to say “we need to utilise technology, embrace more adaptable ways of empowering individuals to lead a responsible, inclusive and financially rewarding life so as to buck the increasing trend of unemployment”

Delegates can learn anything from leadership and project management skills to social media and care to skills, hair and beauty through to Security and hospitality.

With so few jobs around at the moment, it’s these skills and certifications that could mean the difference between a job offer, resuming the job hunt or a better change at succeeding in business. Experience and references might tell the story of these skills but it’s accredited certifications that prove their existence.

AVPT understands the competitive job market and has created these courses to help people improve their skill set in the most efficient amount of time possible.

About the Company

AVPT is the only UK Globally Accredited online and workshop based provider of over 390 Soft Skills courses using a cutting edge, proprietary online Learning Management system.

It takes an awful lot of time and effort to create a training course; Designing, researching, writing, and appropriately presenting it. Especially difficult though, even more so is the time taken to create an on-line learning system to work fluently and securely with various technologies. We know this because we have done just this.

What most people, employers, entrepreneurs and even some educational institutions do not have in today’s current environment is time the necessary resources and the infrastructure they need to support and achieve their learning objectives. Both our online and workshop based courses are a cost effective way to deliver and up-skill a wide cross section of our society. Designed to be student (user) centric and time sensitive. We believe that online courses can save time, are easily scalable, reduced acquisition costs per person, measurable, provide a flexible virtual support system, Less paper/ink (environmentally green!) and are generally less stressful owing to their user led flexibility!

Mobile LMS

Learning Management Solution (LMS) & Portal Hub

The Academy of Vocational and Professional Training has a sophisticated LMS solution that is not built on a static system. Yet the user interface is clean, clear, accessible, and easy to understand and work through. It uses little bandwidth, making it quick to load and use, and accessible on a scalable model. Globalisation has changed the way we communicate, do business and relate to each other and technology can help to up-skill a far wider audience.

In today’s ever changing environment, the real promise experts say, is providing learning experiences that are more tailored to individual students that enables more “learning by doing,” which many students find more engaging and useful. Our ‘Chunked’ teaching approach revolutionises the learning experience.

Social Impact

The importance of transferable skills. There can be no doubt about the importance of a degree and a solid academic background but it’s not the only thing that employers will be interested in. Especially where there is strong competition for entry to a job, employers have to find a way to choose. Educators must focus on the personal qualities and skills that can be developed while studying, and acquired as information in mutual exchanges of information. In a competitive employment climate, these can be just as (or more) important to employers as a degree certificate. Employers are looking for people with transferable skills.

For more information email