I don’t suppose that I am the first to feel as I do , and I don’t suppose that this is the last time I will feel like this either …… such is life I suppose. Tell me more ….how do you feel? I hear you cry …( or maybe it’s just them darn pesky voices again, swirling in my head ) ….well…… I feel used and abused …. ( why don’t I learn ? ) …… and hoodwinked by some folks I thought of as friends. It is some small comfort that I have been told by one of the perpetrators ” It’s nothing personal ….Just business!!! I still want to be friends! Perhaps in the future we can etc etc etc ….yada yada yada!” I am a simple soul, I treat people the way that I would like to be treated by them. I trust. I believe. I am an onion and I will build another layer to preserve my core! Today I have lost a small amount of my naivety! Overnight, that openness and trust will be rebuilt! …… that is me I suppose. I know that I am right!!! I completely and totally believe that my vision for the building and development of …. and within …. the small business and sole-trader market is the way to go ……………. perhaps within the ‘corporate’ sector too. I ALSO KNOW THAT I AM NOT ALONE!!!! ….. I agree that ‘Business is Business’ ……. ( what else would it be ….. a banana!!!! …. now there’s a thought!! ) …… but surely the way forward is truly to build relationships built on mutual trust and respect …… and that it is time to ditch the ‘dog eat dog’ mentality that seems to permeate the business world, and to realise that by helping each other, we are in fact helping ourselves. Think about it, it ain’t rocket science! I know that I can make a difference! I know that I am a fantastic speaker! I also know that I alone do not stand a cat in hells chance of achieving my goals alone! I need help and guidance ….but I also believe!! In Onion World ….my world …my dreams are being helped to fruition ……. (did I have a dictionary for my tea?:) ) ……. by like-minded friends within the business community. I do not see others as competitors or rivals …… they are either friends, or friends that I have yet to meet! (Who said that first? … I’ve nicked that from some-one. Thank you, whoever you are) We tend to help and encourage our friends throughout our lives don’t we? How much love and support do we get in return? Think about it ………. think a bit more …… and now …. …. …. … think about turning business acquaintances into friends! How cooool would that be? It can be sooooo easy. All you have to do is start building a relationship. Try and put aside the almighty dollar. We all need money I know, but look beyond that, to the PERSON that you are dealing with. How dissimilar are they to you? Bet you’ve got more in common with each other than you possibly thought. Well, I’ve had my little rant and now it is off to bed …. up early in the morning …. places to be … … people to smile at and build relationships with. Remember, who said business had to be boring???!!!! Luv and Hugs Heather xxx