I run a company. Virtually every day I do something that is designed to either enhance the reputation of that company, or to increase its market position. I'm more than comfortable with this, in fact I (secretly) quite enjoy it.
What I do not particularly enjoy, and have spent years shying away from is self promotion. I don't particularly want to stand up and say 'hey - look at what I am doing over here' in the hope that the Press and my peers will rush to observe the wonders that Annette Burgess is performing today.
So, I found myself in a quandary a few months ago when I had finalised my planning for the Young Woman of Business award. An award that would give to the recipient my support for their future, whether in employment or in their own enterprise. I had to declare that I had something to offer to someone; worse still I would have to get the Press involved to be able to publicise the award to get as many people interested as possible to maximise the amount of nominations to find the right person for the first award.
I needed a PR agent.
For someone who does not want to crow about what they are personally doing, putting myself 'out there' and saying that young women could benefit from my experience, contacts, knowledge and expertise was pretty daunting. What if 'they' didn't agree? What if Young Woman of Business, after creating http://youngwomanofbusiness.co.uk website, and @YWofB on Twitter fell flat on it's face? My chosen PR Agent summed it up best, when he asked how I felt starting my own business. The emotions and trepidations were exactly the same, but I still went ahead and did it, and years later it is still employing increasing numbers of people. I know that some of these feelings are what stop some people starting their own enterprises, or trying to develop their careers, and I have a responsibility to try and help if I can, and with the experiences that I have had and the contacts I've generated I know that I can give young women a head start.
Here I am then, taking the plunge into self promotion with the express aim of making sure that the award winners get the very best possible start in whatever it is they have chosen to do - and it is working. Despite cringing every time the PR agent makes a new contact for me, it has resulted in the Huffington Post inviting me to do this blog series which is an enormous opportunity to whoever I will be supporting. On top of that:
- David Jones MP (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales - @DavidJonesMP on Twitter), has actively promoted what I am doing on Twitter and has stated that he thinks it is "a very good idea".
- Shirley Ayres (@ShirleyAyres on Twitter) who is a social media expert in social care who is a significant part of http://www.disruptivesocialcare.com/ which is aiming to "shine a light on innovation that will support people to live fulfilling lives" has given me her wholehearted support together with significant Twitter coverage
- Russell George AM (Shadow Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development - @russ_george on Twitter) has not only tweeted about what I am doing, but has come to my office to discuss it amongst other things we are doing in the region
- Sam Kelly (@funkygoddessirl on Twitter) who is the MD of Funky Goddess in Ireland, and who successfully appeared on the Irish Dragons Den and runs her own successful company selling a product range that supports teenage girls making the transition into womanhood (http://funkygoddess.ie). She is also the power behind the weekly #irishbizparty SME support group on Twitter that brings together the best and brightest Irish SMEs in a collective support forum. The support I have had from Sam has been phenomenal and I am hoping to talk her into be the first business person to take on her own version of the award.
- FSB (Federation of Small Business - @FSB_HQ and @FSB_Wales on Twitter) where I am a member, have committed to unbelievable support and will be using their massive influence to help promote the award both nationally and locally, not least of all because it very nicely dovetails into their "Real life Entrepreneurs" campaign (http://www.fsb.org.uk/real-life-entrepreneurs), but also (they tell me!) that it is a "really exciting initiative
When there is already so much support, and the PR agent tells me there is more to come, I know that swallowing my pride and just getting on with it will prove to be worthwhile for the award winners.
I have an opportunity to make a change in a few people's lives and I have a responsibility to do that if I can. I just hope that other business people think so to.