More radio interviews.. BBC Radio Leicester and Lincolnshire

Following on from winning the Extraordinary Entrepreneur award last week, I've since been very busy being interviewed by the Leicester Mercury, being a guest on BBC Radio Leicester and on BBC Radio Lincolnshire.
The article in the Leicestershire Mercury, was great (despite having a couple of mistakes in it, including stating that I worked in a shed, converted into an office!) Here's the article
http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/news/extraordinary-woman/article-2205654-detail/article.html
On Thursday I had a great time on the Tony Wadsworth show, I really enjoyed being on there and Tony was kind enough to say that I was 'truly inspirational', what a great compliment. In addition to that, he asked if I could come back as a regular contributor, which is absolutely fantastic - he even said off-air that I remind him of Rosemary Conley, inspirational, down-to-earth and a lovely lady - well that can't be bad. Here's the interview:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p007v84b/The_Tony_Wadsworth_Programme_Extraordinary_Business_Woman/

Yesterday, another radio interview, this time with the lovely Melvyn Prior at Radio Lincolnshire - another thoroughly enjoyable and fun interview - local BBC Radio presenters and staff are so professional and great at putting you at your ease. Melvyn completely got where I was coming from too, we both talked about how each of us had a dream and went for it - it's great to connect with people like this, it really fires me up to crack on with my goals and ignore those vampires that try to slay your dreams.

Here's the interview: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p007xpzf/The_Morning_Show_25_05_2010/

It is an absolute privilege to have a voice through the media and it is something that I am really passionate about. Through talking on the radio, at presentations and as an Ambassador, I hope to be able to inspire other people who have a dream to go for it. As I said at my talk at the Business Link Staff Conference, 'Don't worry about the 'how to's' and 'what if's', the only thing you need to worry about is living with the 'if onlys'.

Speeches and awards, what a week it's been!

What an absolutely fantastic week it's been this week. Here's just a taste of some of what I've been up to:

Monday

To start off the week, I was invited to address 300 Business Link, UKTI and Train to Gain employees at EMB Ltd's staff conference at the East Midlands Conference Centre. David Polkey and the fabulous PR and Communication Team at EMB Ltd wanted to use me as their Case Study story, somebody who has set up their own business and has an interesting story to tell! Well, with help from David who put together my powerpoint presentation, I told the conference about how my 'Why Not?' philosophy had taken me from inputting electricity meter readings, to Zimbabwe then onto Downing Street. Going from my childhood, I explained that how by setting goals, focussing on my dreams it had enabled me to travel around the world, do charity work, be on TV's Deal or No Deal, win money and invent a successful product, Count On It labels, which now retail nationally and internationally.

After my presentation I had some great feedback, people said that they really enjoyed my presentation and that it was inspiring to see that someone who had experienced setbacks along the way, still maintained a positive focus on their dreams and aspirations and was doing what they loved.

Since doing my speech, I have been asked to do another presentation which is fantastic. Motivational talking and presenting, is definitely an area where I feel I can make a difference - watch this space!

Tuesday

Funnily enough, my second appointment of the week was again at the East Midlands Conference Centre. This time I was there as I had been shortlisted for the Extraordinary Women Awards 2010, in the Extraordinary Entrepreneur category. What a fabulous day this was, organised by Vicki Espin and her 'extraordinary' team, the day was a fun-filled, enthusiastic and inspirational event. Attended by inspirational women from around the UK, the event aims to recognise the achievements of women who have not been recognised before. Women who are living extraordinary lives, having extraordinary achievements. After listening to fantastic presentations by Sue Stockdale, Lisa Warner, Trish Davidson and Alicia Kite, the time had come to announce the winners, they were:-

Nikki Sharpe who won Extraordinary Personal Contribution 2010
Patricia Eufron Lunn who won Extraordinary Personal Endeavour 2010
Kim Cottee who won Extraordinary Young Woman 2010
Alison Thompson who won Extraordinary Organisational Success 2010

and me, Lyndsey Young, who won Extraordinary Entrepreneur 2010!

I was absolutely flabbergasted as I was shortlisted in the same category as Alicia Kite and Gillian Brown two fantastic ladies who are achieving amazing things. But there it was, I was announced the winner.

What a wonderful day it had been, I couldn't have imagined that just by doing what I absolutely love, my passion, I would have received an award, but I am really grateful and proud. To anyone out there who has a dream go for it, for those who know someone who is doing something extraordinary, nominate them - I cannot recommend it highly enough. Nominations for 2011 are now open and all the details are here: http://www.extraordinarywomenuk.com/

Good luck!

Lyndsey

p.s. Wednesday was a great day too, radio and press interviews and photos, I'll update you soon...

Help at first site - Sunday Times Business First article

As I have mentioned countless times before, Business Link have been and continue to be an invaluable source of information and advice since I first launched my business and Count On It labels a couple of years ago. From general business information to more complex issues such as protecting Count On It labels design and trademark, Business Link have given me support and straight forward advice which has not only saved me valuable time, it has saved me a substantial amount of money, which as any small business owner knows is vital to its survival. Business Link's 'supersite' clearly and easily guides you through the wide range of issues that all business owners face and has up to the minute advice from a wide body of agencies, including IPO, UKTI and CIM, furthermore it is all available for free.
Therefore, as I am a great advocate of Business Link I am thrilled that Count On It label's story has been used in Wendy M Grossman's article in this Sunday's Times, Business First 'Help at first site'.
Here's the section of the article where Count On It labels and me, Lyndsey Young, mummypreneur feature.

My Downing Street visit

What a fantastic evening Thursday 11 February was. This was the date that I, along with approximately 100 other entrepreneurs and business people, where invited by Gordon Brown to attend a celebration for SME's at No.10 Downing Street. I had been invited in my capacity of a successful business person/entrepreneur and an example of a business that has been helped by Business Link.

Via the wonderful world of Twitter, I already knew a couple of people who were attending, Claire Young (from The Apprentice) and Nadine Hill, The Dream PA, as well as Julie Meyer, BBC's online Dragon, from Dragon's Den and John Cowell (Simon Cowell's brother) and fellow Business Link advocate, Penina Shepherd from Acumen Business Law, so felt pre-prepared for what lay ahead.

Spookily, on the train heading down to London, I spotted a lady wearing the same outfit Nadine had described as her Downing Street outfit on her blog - and yes, it turned out to be her - we were both sitting on the same train carriage!

Later that evening, once having had my bags screened and body scanned, I was finally walking down the world-famous street - it was amazing. I hate the over-use of the word 'surreal' but to be so close to such an iconic house was 'surreal' - you could be mistaken to thinking you were just seeing a great studio backdrop.

Parked immediately outside of the house was Sir Alan Sugar's car and it was there, on the steps of No.10 that I had my photograph taken - see above.

Once inside we left our personal belongings with security and then headed up the stairs punctuated along the way with paintings and latterly photographs of every Prime Minister our country has ever had - again, another awe-inspiring spectacle.

Just as I arrived at the top of the stairs and into the Reception Room the first person I laid eyes on, and looking back at me was Sir Alan Sugar. We then went into another room where I met Claire Young, Mike Kershaw, from the prestigious event solution company, The Concerto Group amongst others.

Unfortunately The Prime Minster was called away at the last minute, so we had the pleasure of Lord Mandelson who gave a short address thanking us all for our great efforts during an incredibly difficult time and identifying how the Government and businesses can work together moving forwards.

After this address, I then mingled with the other guests including John Cowell, from Cowell Consulting before the party drew to a close.

Suffice to say it was an amazing evening, one which I will always remember, not only for the honour of being invited, but for the great people I met whilst I was there. Next stop, the Queen's Garden party....

My invite from Gordon Brown to attend 10 Downing Street

How exciting, I have just received an invitation from Gordon Brown to attend an event at no.10 Downing Street to celebrate the success of Britain's small and medium sized businesses.
The reception, which will be held in a couple of weeks time, aims to bring together a wide variety of entrepreneurs and business owners to toast their success through what has been a very testing time. I suspect I have come to the attention of Downing Street's Events Office through Business Link, whose help and support I have received over the last couple of years. Since starting my business in 2007, I have been in touch with Business Link from the outset. Primarily I got in touch with them to ensure I got solid advice and support to build the foundations of my business, then latterly they have been there to help with more complex issues such as Intellectual Property law and PR for my first product, Count On It food labels.
Since receiving my invitation I have found out via conversations on Twitter that Claire Young (you may remember her from the BBC programme The Apprentice) and Nadine Hill, another mumpreneur will also be attending. I am really looking forward to the event, not only will it be a fantastic opportunity for me to meet like-minded people, on a personal level it is a once in a lifetime opportunity - something will definitely be telling the grandchildren about.