Blog
Want a short dose of our best bits on your lunch break?
Want to see what we’re like before joining the Members Club?
In need of some inspo?
Check out all of our latest blog posts here – and if there’s something you’d like us to talk about, then let us know!
If you love this, you’ll love our FREE Facebook Community too – come and join us!
Great Sleep = Great Skin
Great Sleep = Great Skin and at the moment, in the middle of a pandemic many people aren’t getting a great sleep – and their skin is being impacted. Here are some great tips to lower your stress levels and get glowing!
2 Ways to Stop your Business Running Out of Money
Most people go into business to make money. When you started you might have accepted that you might not make a profit your first year – but now that you’re generating decent revenues – where is all the money?
Give Yourself a Break
As if January isn’t bad enough for us all being bombarded with encouragement to sign up to transformation workout plans, post-Christmas detoxes and ‘advice’ on detoxes, cleanses and faddy diets. Now we’ve also been thrown into a full national lockdown.
Who wears the trousers? How to achieve equality, harmony and happiness in your relationship.
I absolutely HATE the saying “Who wears the trousers in your house?” What utter sexist crap! Thing is, most people these days don’t even realise what they’re saying.
The secret sauce to smashing the glass ceiling and being seen as the credible expert you are
I love this saying that came up recently in one of my entrepreneur circles… “If you can’t get a seat at the table, build your own f**king table!”You might be thinking, ‘what’s that all about?’ I’ll explain.
The assertive woman guide to handling conflict, confrontation & challenge
Here’s a regular thing I hear from women – they’re told they’re way too emotional in the workplace. Funny that, because I’ve never known a man get that kind of feedback.
Do you suffer from ‘Waffleitis’? 5 ways to ensure you get heard and land your message with impact
There was this woman I used to work with a number of years ago. She was a gregarious, bubbly lady. Large as life, heart of gold, mad as a box of frogs.
Doormat, Diva or Alpha female bitch from hell – which one are you?
You probably immediately associated yourself with one of the above. It’s also likely other people flew into your head too.
The simple and sure fire way to confidence, self worth and self esteem
If you’re anything like me you’ve had more than one occasion in your life when you’ve looked in the mirror and not recognised the woman staring back. You don’t know who you are anymore?
3 ways to get out of your own way and step into the woman you long to be
I’ve coined a new phrase this year but it’s caused me some bother and a bit of controversy. I understand why. That phrase is ‘Woman Up’.
I Didn’t Know I Was an Impostor
I didn’t see how I was acting in car sales as imposter syndrome at all. How could it be, if all I was trying to do was improve my knowledge so that I could do better? The answer lies in not what I was doing – but why!
Can I Speak to a Salesman, Please?
Being a woman in a male dominated salesman industry is tough and the term glass ceiling could have been made for the motor trade. Fi Duffy talks about how sexism is still rife – and how she handled it.
How to be Super Productive Every Day
Let’s be honest here. It doesn’t all get done, ever. So let’s work with what we’ve got and figure out how to make ourselves super productive every day and get most of it done!
The 3 Types of Limiting Beliefs
Limiting beliefs are embedded ideas that we often don’t even realise that we have, but that stop us from doing certain things or make us conform to certain behaviours. They can sabotage our success or make us stay small.
Am I Fit?
I’m a lass who grew up in the 90’s so the word “fit” for me, still makes me laugh! Boys would yell it across the halls at school, and builders would follow a whistle with it in the street. As a teen, I’m pretty sure every girl in my class prayed that someone would call her fit today.
The Controversial Way to Accelerate your Career
How much cash did you spend on your appearance in the last 12 months – including makeup, lotions, potions, ‘procedures’, nails, hair, clothes, shoes & handbags? Then I’d like you to tot up how much you spent on your personal development last year….
I’m Already Assertive…. I think!
Assertiveness is something that I’m good at – when I care about the “thing” in question. But, if I genuinely don’t care, & I’m still pumped from work/thinking about the kid’s schedules/wondering when I’ve got time to get my bits waxed then I’ll utter the words that my husband dreads…..
How to set yourself up for success to make 2019 the year to live the happy, fulfilled and successful life you deserve
I’ve even been giving myself a dose of my own medicine these past couple of weeks. It’s that time of year where we all start reflecting. We look back at the goals that we had set ourselves at the beginning of the year. Quite often we start beating ourselves up because we haven’t achieved them […]
Top 10 Tips to being brave in 2019
Why aren’t women as brave as they could be? That’s a question I found myself asking today. It’s a question that has come about for me personally in being too scared to act on my dreams. It was watching a video of one of the influencers I follow, Harriet Minter, that stopped me in my […]
Festive Party Fashion – 5 top tips to rock your Christmas Do!!
It’s great having a ‘resident’ Personal Stylist on board here at VS HQ. Feeling great in what you are wearing makes a huge difference to the impact you have on the world and how you ‘perform’ – whether that’s in smashing a presentation at work or bagging a date with the hot guy from the […]
Top Tips for leaving the 9-5 and becoming an entrepreneur
It’s National Entrepreneurs Day! Hoorah! I love that I’m a entrepreneur these days. It means for me that I finally have the freedom to work as I like, with who I like, when I like and I get to bring all my crazy ideas to life! The definition of an entrepreneur is a […]
What to do when the boss is being bullied (and that boss is you)
It’s Anti Bullying Week and I believe it’s important to shine a light on the less obvious cases of bullying that takes place, particularly in the workplace. When you’re a young, teenage girl growing up, some of the experiences you have with the other girls around you are quite frankly, shocking! Girls can be […]
7 Ways to Beat Overwhelm
Why asking the universe will get you fuck all (and the IRL answers to getting what you want)
I tell you what, I’m at the puking stage of all the codswallop manifestation bollocks that is flooding my feed lately from a bunch of unqualified riff raff calling themselves coaches. I can’t be doing with all this airy fairy, pink and fluffy, woo woo shit (my coach calls it woo woo – it […]
It’s Supposed to be Fun to Pretend
Rachel Parris described imposter syndrome as “A normal feeling that 99% of people have but someone had to give it a name.” And it is very, very normal!
Are you a vulnerable person? Here’s 5 reasons why you should be
What? You want me to be vulnerable? But that’s just for weak and wimpy people isn’t it? You couldn’t be more wrong. Being vulnerable is the new super power for those who want to be their own hero and take ownership for creating the life they dream of. Here’s the thing. It’s liberating – […]
The 7 steps to turn envy into inspo!
Why am I blogging about envy? Well, I’ve experienced it myself quite a lot lately. Here am I working hard to get the business I’m hugely passionate about off the ground (any help gratefully received btw – just hit share on this post, job done!) and yet I feel encompassed by others speeding past me […]
Does your relationship need an MOT? Tops tips for getting the spark back…
Have you been watching Wanderlust? If not, where have you been? I’m finding this series captivating and intriguing as it examines a 20 year relationship going a bit flat, the couple then deciding to have an open relationship and seek sex outside of the marriage. I’m no prude but I’ve found it a bit cringey […]
7 ways to be more mindful at work
If you’re one of the many people who find themselves super busy every day at work, with back to back meetings, conference call central, emails coming out of your ears, lunch on the hoof and let’s face it, you wouldn’t be alone if you get to the end of the day without having had time […]
7 mindfulness tips for normal people
OK, so today is Mindfulness Day. Happy Mindfulness Day! Unless you’ve been hibernating under a rock for the last year or two, you’ll know that mindfulness is the new cool thing on the block! But, if you’re anything like me, you may have snubbed this ‘airy fairy’ practice, thinking it’s just for hippies, tree huggers, […]
Have we lost our direction in the quest for women’s equality?
Given its women’s equality day and we’re in the business of helping women to live up to the life they want and deserve, its only right we throw our twopeneth in on the subject. Now, I’m gonna risk it for a biscuit and stray from the well trodden path with what might be a slightly […]
Feeling energy sapped? Your summer energy makeover starts right here!!
Sounds a bit like the start of X factor doesn’t it? Actually, that’s good. Because an energy makeover might be just what you need to give you that special something right now. If you’re anything like me, whilst I’ve loved the summer of 2018 and it’s abundant sunshine (and I certainly wouldn’t complain), it has […]
When was the last time you looked up at the sky?
When was the last time you looked up at the sky? And I mean actually stopped. Put a blanket on the ground and lay looking up at the actual sky? Not recently huh? I can tell you exactly the last time I did it. I’m ashamed to say it was over 12 years ago. I […]
7 habits of happy and fulfilled women
It’s International Happiness day today and given we’re in the business of helping women live the happy and fulfilling life they deserve it seemed very apt that we should contribute in some way. Now, we’re kind, thoughtful, caring and sharing kind of gals, so we want to spread the love and share our 7 habits […]
The gender pay gap…let’s discuss
Soooooo…. this gender pay gap business…. let’s discuss. Naturally, given the business we’re in, this is a topic close to our hearts at V&C. We are all for complete equality and all that swag. At the same time were not man haters, in fact there’s a couple of handsome hunks we know of who […]
Why it’s good to be a “Bad Mom” (even if you’re not a mum)
Oooh that got your attention didn’t it? If for no other reason but because the American ‘Mom’ language riled you! Ha! But it’s deliberate. The reason it’s there is because I went to the cinema with a group of lovely friends last night to see Bad Moms Christmas. It was hilarious! I highly recommend it. […]
The Millennial Conversation Crisis
Under the age of 30? It’s time to step up your conversation and become more interesting and interested! We believe that there’s a micro-society under the age of 30 who struggle to hold a decent conversation and be ‘interested’. More concerned with their phones, their appearance and themselves, we believe that a generation of conversation narcissists is […]
Want to go on a course but don’t have the time or money? Here’s how…
I meet a lot of women through work who have a burning desire to learn something new. They are almost desperate to continue to grow. To progress their career. Hone their skills to handle situations better. To give themselves a new lease of life or renewed purpose. Sound familiar? However, I reckon about 90% of […]
Why am I so stressed?
Ironically yesterday was World Mental Health Day so it felt apt to share my experience with you this week. I had a bit of a wobble at the weekend. It snook up from behind and twatted me on the head when I least expected it. Saturday morning I had a meltdown and couldn’t stop crying […]
Why women are their own worst enemies…
Right, I’m just putting it out there this week. Women are their own worst enemies. Discuss…. Here’s my two pennies worth: I’ve had so much whizzing around in my head this week. I’m not going to attempt to regurgitate it all here as it would actually look like a pile of sick. So here’s what […]
What if the Hokey Cokey really is what it’s all about?
Ok, strange blog title I know and you must think I’m nuts for even coming up with this topic as a blog post but bear with…. In my downstairs loo at home we have this sign up on the wall. I bought it when on a hen do in York about 5 years ago, simply […]
What to say or do if your daughter (or son) thinks they’re fat
“Mummy, do I look fat?”. The dreaded question. The one that knocks you sideways and fills you with dread. Especially when those words come from a 4-year-old child. Yes 4 years old! My daughter, stood in front of me with her new school uniform on. Asking me, with those beautiful big blue eyes, the most […]
Should I feel guilty for going to work?
My daughter started school last week. I was surprised about how emotional I felt. Seeing her in her uniform. So smart. So ready. Time to let go. On the third day she got a bit teary as I tried to leave. She looked at me and asked, “Mummy do you have to go to work? […]
3 reasons why it’s not just time for the kids to go back to school (you should too!)
I always see September and the beginning of the autumn season as an opportunity to recalibrate oneself and refocus any goals that have gone wonky or off course through the summer and mid part of the year. As a mum, I’ve spent the first 6 months working my arse off with my eyes firmly on […]
Why is the world full of idiots? (Or is that my confirmation bias basking in the glory of telling me I’m right…again!)
I really dislike Range Rover drivers. They think they’re the dogs bollocks don’t they? Sat up high in their big, posh, overbearing, gas guzzling trucks. Looking down on the rest of us. It infuriates me. No more so than a few weeks ago. It was a typical Friday night. I was racing home to collect […]
What does your behaviour say about you?
I lost my temper this morning. I was driving to work along a 30mph road. The road I live on. Out of nowhere a black, Audi A3 drove up behind me, swerved onto the opposite side of the road and accelerated off in front of me. My response, “You f%^$**) () £@£$”. I was flipping […]
How to be successful at whatever you do
Well, that’s surely the million dollar question, right? There’s no point in beating around the bush. There is NO magic pill for this. It comes down to pure hard graft. I’m talking about this topic this week because it’s something I struggle with myself and I notice it in many other women too. I’m just […]
How to switch off autopilot
Have you ever driven to work, got there, parked the car and thought, I don’t even remember how I got here? A scary thought considering you’ve just been in charge of several tonnes of steel. On the occasions when I do remember my drive in, I’m more likely to remember a great song I heard […]
Will a boob job boost my confidence?
The short answer to this question is YES, if it is the root cause of your lack of confidence. Not sure? I thought as much. Let’s discuss…. So, you’ve been thinking of having a boob job for a while. You’re lacking a certain something, something has vanished from within you. Maybe it was never there? […]
How to let go when someone or something has pissed you off!
On Monday this week something happened to me that I haven’t experienced in a long time. And it felt liked I’d been toe pecked right in the fanny! Have you ever been on the receiving end of someone’s behaviour or actions that has left your blood boiling and not known how to deal with it? […]
How to stay cool under pressure
It’s officially my favourite two weeks of the year! Wimbledon fortnight. I love it. I particularly love watching the singles matches. Especially the Mens games. And no. Not for that reason, naughty. No. I love the speed and variety of the mens game. It’s so exciting when you get a couple of serve/volley players battling […]
What to do if your boss is a dick! (how to manage your manager to put it nicely)
This week I thought I’d answer a question that I get asked quite a lot or that I observe as a major frustration when coaching women. That question is….’what do I do if my boss is a dick?’ I use this language because that’s what comes out of people’s mouths. What they really want to […]
How to dress in your 40’s
I’ve always been a fashion follower rather than a leader. And its cost me a fecking fortune over the years. In my twenties I scoured fashion magazines, searching for the latest looks, wore whatever was ‘on trend’. Whether it suited me or not. In my thirties I went through a bit of a Madonna esq-chameleon […]
The Art of Assertiveness – how to accelerate your career and your relationships
We ran our first workshop this week in Manchester. A taster session of our first secret – “You’re Pretty Confident”. After the stress of the proverbial technical ‘set up’ challenges, (goes with the fricken territory!) it went really well. We had 25 women who had a jolly good time (there were cupcakes and cocktails), learnt […]
Big girls don’t cry
If, like me, you watched in horror, as the events unfolded in Manchester last Monday, you may have felt an incredible sense of sadness and fear for the future. I was stood in a hotel lobby in Cyprus, surrounded by other people, watching the aftermath on the news. There were many different people there. People […]
6 simple steps to get the life you love (and deserve)!
I had a brilliant night on Saturday. One of my closet friends invited me to a gin party at her house. And I like gin! It was kind of an Ann Summers type set up (maybe Tupperware would be a better example), you know, a rep comes round and does a bit of shizzle, you […]
WTF….Retro sexism is rife!
Have you ever used this phrase?… “If I had a quid for every person who asked me that, I’d be a bloody millionaire!” Yeah, me too. I specifically found myself saying it only yesterday actually whilst having steam coming out of my ears and fire out of my nostrils. Why I hear you […]
Do you suffer from Imposter Syndrome and The Confidence Gap?
Why oh why do we do it to ourselves? As soon as we hit the ‘stop’ button after our live broadcast last Saturday, we turned to each other and said, “shit, I can’t believe that just happened!” We were, of course, referring to the fact that the technology had let us down. We’d had to massively […]
Can you keep a secret?
I’ve been let down a lot this week. People not doing what they promised. Others saying one thing to me, but another to someone else. And the ugliest one, being lied to. Sounds a bit dramatic now I read it back so let me give you some context. These have all been relatively minor […]
A gift to your future self
Do something today your future self will thank you for. A good friend of mine told me a story once about a guy who was, on the surface, extremely successful in every aspect of his life. Happily married, 2 kids, fancy house and a very respectable, highly paid job. Yet when it came to […]
3 simple ways to kick start your “fuck it” mentality
WARNING: this blog contains the F bomb a lot, not because I’m being a potty mouth, because it happens to be the blog topic. So please excuse my French. Chloe will tell you that when she first met me, 11 years ago, I was a worrier. I gave a fuck about everything! It was […]
The Violet and Charlie first official blog
Firstly we’d like to say Hi, welcome to Violet and Charlie and thank you for taking the time to read our first official blog. You probably don’t know that much about us so it seems to make sense to start at the beginning and tell you our “why”. We believe wholeheartedly in role […]