Every entrepreneur has one vital business asset that he or she can’t do without. It’s time. Time is a priceless commodity that you can’t recoup once you have lost it. 

Whether you are just starting a business or have already got a couple of year’s trading under your belt, you need to take stock of how you are using your precious time to ensure you have the best life and business you can. 

Do you feel rushed? Are you overworked? Do you have goals to achieve? Or are you just surviving? 

 

It is sometimes difficult finding the right balance between work and life. The ideal is to get things done in your work time so that you can do all that you want to do in your own time. 

 

Think of the things that inspire you and they will drive you to succeed. Some people have dreams of owning a special sports car, while others want to retire early or have holiday homes in the sun. 

Many people have a lot of dissatisfaction in their lives but learn to live with it. Are you one of them? 

 

As a business coach, for the world’s number one business coaching firm, I recommend you to regularly take stock of how you invest your time and resources. 

 

What are the hot topics that you are tolerating? What needs to change? I have a formula which you can use to assess your own situation. The formula is Dissatisfaction (D) times Vision (V) plus your First Steps In Business (F) should be greater than any Resistance (R). In summary, (D x V) + F >R. 

 

 

Photo opportunity: The Vine is opening at Vine Street, Great Bardfield, Braintree Essex. CM7 4SR. 

 

 

 

Wine and food lovers are in for a special treat as an international connoisseur and her husband are opening one of the first ‘eno-gastro’ pubs in Britain, just a stone’s throw from London. 

 

Tanya Mann, a certified educator in Sherry Wines, who has worked for 13 years in the international wine industry, and her businessman husband, Stephen Mann, are opening “The Vine – Eno-Gastro Pub and shop” in the ancient village of Great Bardfield near Braintree, Essex – only 40 miles from London. 

 

The couple are using their talents to provide a unique wine tasting experience combined with gastronomic delights, hence the phrase eno-gastro. 

 

‘I believe that understanding what we are drinking helps us to appreciate and enjoy the whole experience more. Nowadays, people care more about their health and well-being and we are aiming to offer organic wines to take away that are produced in a new way by organic viticulture, using fewer chemical additives (for example sulphur dioxide) during the wine-making process,’ said Tanya, a native Russian, who is an active member of the ‘Circle of Wine Writers’ and is an award-winning project manager. 

 

Stephen, a director of several multi-million pound companies and a former restaurant manager, said: ‘We are hoping locals and holidaymakers will come along and enjoy our “English cuisine with a twist” accompanied by some carefully selected award-winning wines from some of the great wineries (sparkling) in Britain and the rest of Europe.’ 

 

The Manns philosophy is to protect the boutique-sized wineries that have produced wine for many generations. 

 

Tanya said: ‘There are many amazing wines from old vines, which combine great quality, with unique complexity. Our wine-producing partners are careful to protect the environment while producing their vine crops and send us wines from ‘the hands of nature’. 

 

‘We also want to pay great attention to English Sparkling Wine producers who are currently winning international awards for their wines. We are aiming to introduce more unique wines from across the globe and make “The Vine” known as a worldwide centre for wine connoisseurs and English culture lovers.’ 

For further details email Tanya Mann info@tanyamann.com 

 

 

 

Tanya Mann is a wine expert with 13 years of experience in the international wine industry. She is a Certified Educator in Sherry Wines, is currently a Diploma level student WSET (Wine and Spirit Education Trust) and holds degrees both in Chemical Technology and Psychology. Having studied in Enoteca Italiana Wine School in Italy, she has experience of working in Selfridges wine department in London and Chateau Margaux in Bordeaux. She is also associated with digital wine marketing projects: www.isherryweek.com and www.glassofbubbly.com. Tanya gained her love of matching wine and food under her tutor Michael Gamero - enogatronomy expert from French Hospitality School Lui Marten Bree. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Acorns is a lovely, bright welcoming pre-school and everyone is valued for who they are,” said Jenny Macalister, the Manager of Acorns. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Business Women are breaking into the ‘male domain’ of mechanics, thanks to new workshops teaching them how to take care of their vehicles. 

 

Auto Chicks is a two-hour session in basic mechanical safety and car maintenance at Vehicle Repair Solutions, Rowhedge Business Park, Colchester. The garage’s mechanic is giving free monthly car maintenance demonstrations to women, with no obligations. 

 

“In this day of equal opportunities, women need to know basic car maintenance,” said Sarah Brice, the garage owner. “Here in a garrison town like Colchester, women might not have anyone to call upon if they find their cars fail because their partners might be serving abroad. 

 

“It’s important for females to be given the opportunity to learn what they can do to keep their cars in a state of good repair to help avoid things going wrong, especially as it’s winter. We hope it will also help women in our community feel safe about accessing the male-dominated world of mechanics.” 

 

Only 66 per cent of women know how to change a tyre, according to tyre company Continental, compared with 96 per cent of men. And more than half of women never check the condition of their spare tyre. At Auto Chick, female car owners are shown all the tips and tricks they need to know about their vehicles, including how to change a tyre, how to test their tyre pressure and how to check their tyre tread is legal. 

 

“My friend and I had a pleasant evening and enjoyed a drink and some nibbles and came away feeling wiser and more confident we will know what to do in an emergency if our cars breaks down” said Sally Anne Christian. 

 

 

Eating fish and chips, paddling in the sea, sunbathing beside beach huts or seeking thrills on a traditional seaside pier are favourite summer activities of the British holiday maker, and along the Essex coast you will find all this in abundance. Every year, millions of visitors are drawn to Essex by the array of picture postcard coastal towns and beaches which never cease to delight. 

 

So it’s not surprising that according to a LocalPeople Poll, nearly eight million people are planning to holiday at home in the UK this year and many of them will be sun seeking in the South East. According to a survey by the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), increasing numbers of Brits are opting to holiday here.  

 

 

 

John Doubleday’s list of public commissions reads like a New Year’s honours list and includes the likes of Dylan Thomas, Charlie Chaplin and Nelson Mandela, to name but a few.  

 

The Langford-born artist and sculptor, who has had more than 30 solo exhibitions across the globe, is currently working on a sculpture of the Queen.  

 

Although he is delighted to be working on the commission of Her Royal Highness, he says he is not overwhelmed by her position in society and it has come at a time in his life when he feels confident that he will produce, ‘an interesting and powerful result’. 

 

 

 

An Essex based mobile marketing start-up has scooped the Silver Award in the Digital category of the Ixion Enterprise Awards 2014 after surviving many of life’s difficulties. 

 

Single mum-of-four, Nelly Mhangami beat 300 other entrants to win the Silver Award in the Digital Category. 

 

She proudly received her prize after overcoming the challenges of long term unemployment, homelessness, zero capital and domestic violence to start a business using only her benefits as capital. 

 

She established Business Apps Plus in November 2013 with the objective of helping businesses market their services on customers’ mobile devices. The company, which was recently renamed Mobile & Mortar Ltd, develops digital technology to market businesses. 

 

‘I feel honored to have been awarded the Silver Award. My business is only six-months-old and this gives me the zeal and determination to continue building and improving it,’ said Nelly, who studied MSc in Electronic Commerce at Anglia Ruskin University. 

 

‘My business helps local businesses gain and retain customers, increase sales, save time and money by doing away with paper processes. We have seen our clients' sales and market share increase in a short space of time after they embraced mobile marketing solutions and tools. 

‘If I can find the determination to overcome being jobless, homeless, financial difficulties and being battered by my husband, others can too.’ 

Nelly’s now ex-husband was kept in cells overnight after abusing her, but Nelly decided not to press charges because of her three children. He never returned to the family and Nelly and her children were homeless for two week and were put in temporary accommodation by the local authority. 

She attributes her success now to hard work and determination. 

She said: ‘Challenges would come eg. huge debt and a lack of capital, but l had to look beyond the challenges and concentrate on making life better. I have a desire now to assist women and girls who have been through tough times to start their own businesses. I am willing to mentor them and help them realise that there is light at the end of the tunnel.’ 

Nelly Mhangami, ithe director of Mobile & Mortar, is keen to hear from anyone who is currently at crossroads and has no hope and by telling her story of hope, faith, determination and hard work she wants to encourage others.