Claire Bradford: now that’s what I call time well spent

SOME things about being self-employed can really suck: the need to be CEO, accounts, marketing, HR and IT departments all at the same time, the unpredictably of income and its attendant financial issues, the working all hours, the lack of colleagues to bounce ideas off; the need for constant self-motivation… the list goes on.

But there are some days when all the hardship is forgotten and you realise just how amazing sailing your own ship can be if you do it right.

At the risk of gloating, I need to tell you about last Friday.

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Maybe it will convince you to ditch the day job; maybe it will remind you of your own flexibility; maybe it will make you jealous, but here goes:

I am the Worthing manager of the Mumpreneurs Networking Club and we hold our monthly meetings at the Thomas A Becket in Rectory Road, Worthing.

Paul and his team there are always incredibly welcoming and go out of their way to make our meetings run smoothly.

On Thursday, Paul tweeted me to suggest that, as the next day was our meeting day and forecast to be hot and sunny, why didn’t we hold it in the garden?

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Fabulous idea. When I arrived the following morning, the teas, coffee and water were beautifully set out on a table in the sunny, grassy garden and when the members arrived, it felt as though we were at a (business-themed) garden party.

Our first al fresco meeting was a roaring success and there were calls to do it again in July if the weather permits.

Following the networking, I had a meeting with a client of mine to discuss a blogging strategy for her business.

As she had been networking with me, we decided to stay on in the garden and fuelled our conversation with posh sandwiches, a cheeky Pimms and an even cheekier chocolate brownie.

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We parted company in time to do our respective school runs, buzzing with ideas and plans, full of delicious food and having well and truly topped up our vitamin D levels.

A wholly productive and highly enjoyable day spent in the pub garden and back in time to pick up the kids.

Now that’s what makes it all worthwhile!

Find more about the pub and my business by clicking the links below:

www.thomas-a-becket.co.uk

www.straightforwardcoaching.com