When I was 10 years old my friend and I held a Tombola stall at the local park festival. We stocked up with cheap but shiny goods and sold raffle tickets for 50p. 

By the end of the day we had made over £100. (But my mum lost a lot more money as we used her dining chairs for the stall and they got smashed up… oops!).

On another occasion, I went Carol singing with my friends as people gave us money (one guy gave us £50 – I’m sure that was to get us to go away!). 

I’ve always been entrepreneurial. It comes naturally to me to think outside the box and to make a decent profit margin. 

But I followed the crowd and went to school, sixth form and eventually university. 

Fortunately though I had started bellydancing from age 14. So by age 18, when I was spotted dancing, I was offered a regular gig dancing in a restaurant. 

This was brilliant as I was being paid to do something I loved.

A year later, whilst studying for my degree, I made my way to the live semi-finals of ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent. 

Not only did this boost my profile but it meant I could charge more for gigs and appearances. 

That, coupled with teaching Bellydance classes and workshops, meant I was earning a decent living. 

I fell into bellydancing as a business but it got my ideas flowing about dance schools and running a franchise as well as kids classes. 

Sadly, Zumba got there before me! 

But nonetheless my experience in the media and entertainment world meant I had the tools to start another business in PR (I had also previously worked at a Social marketing firm) and I saw a niche for a dynamic and digital PR company. 

That PR company is now part of EvokeMediaGroup.co.uk and we specialise in video production. 

I still run my Bellydance schools and I also work freelance as a journalist/blogger/vlogger. I love the variety and flexibility that my career offers. 

People always say to me: “I wish I had your guts!” 

But I truly believe that if you’re passionate and have drive you can make anything happen.

Yes it’s not always a smooth ride running your own business but for me the positives majorly weigh out the challenges. 

And I’d love to see more women leading the way in the corporate world which is why I have joined up with Female Entrepreneur Week to help YOU start and succeed in business. 

I’m an Official Female Entrepreneur Week Blogger.

Female Entrepreneur Week is launching on 21st June 2017. 

Over the course of 10 days, female entrepreneurs from across the globe will be coming together virtually to celebrate FEW! You’ll get the essential steps to start and grow your business.
Led by 6 inspiring entrepreneurs, participants will get access to specialist tutorials, tools and advice. 

 Female Entrepreneur Week (FEW) 21 – 28 June 2017.

(so packed with goodness it’s shed the normal limitations of what mere mortals call a ‘week’ and squeezed itself out either side of the weekends)

♥ Few people have the courage or imagination to start their own business.

♥ Few people have the strength to seek help and support when they need it.

♥ Few people have the tenacity to keep going when quitting is the more attractive option.

Are you one of the FEW?

The inaugural FEW launches in June 2017. The brain-child of serial entrepreneur, author and podcast host Nadia Finer, she has brought together 6 shining stars in the entrepreneurial world to give you just the right amount of tools and training to skyrocket your business – without the overwhelm.

Meet The FEW Crew

Over the course of FEW, participants will have access to the following training

• Pump Up Your Profits: Turn your dreams of consistent $5k months into your business reality – with Business Coach, Nadia Finer.

• Connect With Your Ideal Client – your first steps to selling – with Laura Robinson, digital copywriter & founder of The Worditude Club
• Scale up – Leverage your time and expertise with a membership site – with Colin Pal from Thinkific.

• Be the Boss of Your Business Finances – with Jo Simpson, founder of the Financial Growth Academy.
• TUES 27 Become An Influencer – Develop your reputation as an expert using PR – with PR Coach & founder of The Publicity Program Becs Miller

•  Build A Buzz – Use Facebook ads to attract an audience and new customers – with Facebook ads guru Caroline Wood
• Branding Essentials with graphic designer and founder of Designta Louise Clark.

Women can sign up to FEW and access the free training and resources here: www.femaleentrepreneurweek.com

There are approximately 18-squi-billion different tools, techniques, tips and tricks available to entrepreneurs. You can’t learn and implement them all. And you don’t need to. You can have a stupendously successful business by focussing your energy on just the essentials. And we will show you how.

When you join FEW you’ll receive: 

• Tutorials from each of the FEW Crew – focussed on just the essential steps to build your business.
• Access to our temporary Female Entrepreneur Week Facebook Group – where you can meet other fiercely ambitious women, determined to make it as their own boss.