Tuesday, June 28, 2005

An Accidental Dream Job

In the Star (Kuala, Lumpur, Malaysia)

Vincent Tam seemed to have it all. An Australian accounting degree, work experience in the United Kingdom, and within a few years of his (yes -- we are featuring a male entrepreneur who can teach us a lesson or two on following bliss in life and he even takes the time to share his favorite poem with us!) return to Malaysia, he was made branch manager of a prominent bank. And then he left all of that (Escape From Corporate Malaysia!) five years ago to become . . . a yoga teacher! 

“Breathe out . . . relax your shoulders . . . bend forward towards your toes . . .”  

As the writer of the article followed his class, soothingly orchestrated by Tam’s sonorous voice amidst serene background music, it seemed like he had found his true calling in life. 

Yet, he got into it almost by accident.

Tuesday, June 21, 2005

Removing Obstacles for Self-Employment

In EUROPA

I stumbled upon this information and thought it offered a fascinating parallel to what we are experiencing in the United States. Escape from corporate Europe? You bet. Here's the lead which, if you click on the link below, includes a final report on a comprehensive study among the EU 15 countries on the obstacles that dependent employees face when they try to become self-employed.

Knowledge of markets and technologies is a key factor for the success of a start-up. In spite of this, the entrepreneurial potential of experienced dependent employees has as yet not received much attention. Special support to become self-employed is largely concentrated on young people (e.g. university graduates) or groups whose members might face special problems in finding adequate dependent employment (unemployed, minorities, women). As a result only a comparatively small number of new enterprises are founded by persons who have more than 10 years of experience in the sector in which they finally establish their own business.

Read on here.

Monday, June 20, 2005

Women's Business Centers Drive Entrepreneurship

Babson College -- Center for Women's Leadership (CWL)

New research shows that Women's Business Centers nationwide are driving entrepreneurship among economically and socially disadvantaged women. Access the full report here.

Saturday, June 11, 2005

For All You Hard-working Businesswomen

"Let the beauty you love, be what you do." -- Rumi

Take a moment for yourself and explore this new magazine. You will be glad you did. They offer a free trial issue and e-newsletter:

breathe. Enjoy.

Thursday, June 02, 2005

Escaped America and Visited Tunis!

Laurel Delaney reports.

I just returned from a trip to Tunis, Tunisia (May 21-28). For those of you who don't know where Tunis is, it's in North Africa. I participated in a businesswomen's Summit which helped train more than 200 women entrepreneurs in the Middle-East and North Africa. What an incredible experience.

Back at work, my email inbox is overflowing with a constant stream of messages from many of the dynamic businesswomen who attended the conference. I know that these communications are just the beginning of forming a lasting business (and friendship) connection. I could not be happier.

To learn more about the Summit and what took place, visit Women Entrepreneurs, Inc., where President and CEO Karen Kerrigan features a write up. In addition, feel free to visit The Global Small Business Blog where information (press release), blogging entries, and Summit participants' comments are posted.

All in all, it was a mind-opening experience. Now, I just have to figure out how to keep the dialog going and energy moving forward in a productive manner.

Hope all is well with you! Be back with you soon.