There is life in the old girl yet!
Well it has taken me a couple of days but I think I have my brains back on line and the old thought processes turned towards working again! I have beaten down the demons of depression and lethargy, kicked out the thoughts of uselessness and incompetence and decided it's not me! It's them!!
So I am builging the framework for my new business. I have had even more encouragement and backing from people - even an old friend I met in Tesco who is doing his own thing now! So I have started to develop my company. The website is underway, the business plan stated (well the headings and the vision anyway), I've sent more emails out over the last two days than I think I ever have in such a short space of time, to let people know my new information. And now I start to develop business. All in Europe at the moment, some in Belgium, some so far in Denmark and some in Italy, small fry so far but hey - it's a start! It has also been good to find that although I no longer represent ICELE or indeed the Local eDemocracy National Project, people are still asking me to speak at their conferences. I have just recieved a request for one in Valencia in November (that's quite a confidence booster at the moment).
I've also got my office sorted at home. Into the garage has gone the dining table and the chairs... well we usually eat on our knees anyway... and into the dining room has gone the computer and desk, the printer and the filing cabinet, along with the bookcase which is now full of the work psychology book library I've developed over the last few years and a few bits around democracy and democratic engagement.
I shall be able to announce my new business soon - and I now have three partners who will be working with me so we will definitely be an 'and Associates'! I've had an exciting time trying out loads of different logos and working out what 'atitude' I want the company to have, and then a steep learning curve in terms of tax, vat, exemption and so on... it's a minefield! I have to say Job Centre Plus have been really helpful.... tehy have some really useful literature.
So again watch this space - you kow you all need really good advice and help with democratic engagement and inclusion! And what about accountable members? And community consultation? And democratic businesses? Now there is an interesting one for you to think about!
;-)
So I am builging the framework for my new business. I have had even more encouragement and backing from people - even an old friend I met in Tesco who is doing his own thing now! So I have started to develop my company. The website is underway, the business plan stated (well the headings and the vision anyway), I've sent more emails out over the last two days than I think I ever have in such a short space of time, to let people know my new information. And now I start to develop business. All in Europe at the moment, some in Belgium, some so far in Denmark and some in Italy, small fry so far but hey - it's a start! It has also been good to find that although I no longer represent ICELE or indeed the Local eDemocracy National Project, people are still asking me to speak at their conferences. I have just recieved a request for one in Valencia in November (that's quite a confidence booster at the moment).
I've also got my office sorted at home. Into the garage has gone the dining table and the chairs... well we usually eat on our knees anyway... and into the dining room has gone the computer and desk, the printer and the filing cabinet, along with the bookcase which is now full of the work psychology book library I've developed over the last few years and a few bits around democracy and democratic engagement.
I shall be able to announce my new business soon - and I now have three partners who will be working with me so we will definitely be an 'and Associates'! I've had an exciting time trying out loads of different logos and working out what 'atitude' I want the company to have, and then a steep learning curve in terms of tax, vat, exemption and so on... it's a minefield! I have to say Job Centre Plus have been really helpful.... tehy have some really useful literature.
So again watch this space - you kow you all need really good advice and help with democratic engagement and inclusion! And what about accountable members? And community consultation? And democratic businesses? Now there is an interesting one for you to think about!
;-)
posted by Isobel @ Saturday, June 24, 2006
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