2007 Events

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February Event - Clock and Compass

Award winning speaker Padraic O'Máille discussed the difference between our 'clock' and our 'compass' in an entertaining an thought provoking presentation.

Understanding the difference between the Clock and the Compass: Time Management

Many complain that there are not enough days in the week for them; Padraic disagreed and said that it was all about attitude. He urged us not to fall into the trap of being a Victim (‘I’ve too much to do’, ‘others are piling work on me’, and the classic ‘no-one understands me’). Instead transform yourself into a Wizard, one who performs magic - seem a bit fanciful? It’s not - the Oxford definition of magic (creating a process to get results) is eminently achievable by us all.

Choosing to be more productive is the first step to more effective working.

Another step is to surround yourself with the following types of people; Challenger (to assess your ideas, progress etc.), Funny (to stop you stressing, help you chill out), Role Model (something to aspire to – it’s always good to have a target) and Positive (to spur you on, particularly in moments of weakness). When assessing options Padraic proposed the 10-10-10 system, whereby you consider the potential implications of your decision after 10 minutes, 10 months and 10 years have elapsed.

As always, planning is vital and Padraic suggested that instead of preparing an annual plan you should, at the end of each month, prepare a plan for the next month and use action-oriented language (do, start, complete) throughout. He recommended a 4D system for getting through stuff, Do, Delegate, Dump or Date-Activate it – everything should be allocated one of these D’s.

His parting pearl was Gratitude – even when all appears lost, be grateful for the things you have. When you get up in the morning be happy that it’s not raining, that you can walk to the kitchen and that there’s some milk left for your cornflakes!

For almost 20 years, Padraic has helped many of Ireland’s leading businesspeople, executives and presenters transform the way they think about their communications, inspiring audiences and individuals to “unleash more of their power”. Creator of “The Power of Presentation” seminar, Padraic helps individuals and organisations present themselves powerfully in person, in print and on the podium. www.pomaille.com

photos ( photozone )

Dervla O'Connor, Ramada Viking Hotel; Ruth Foley, Simply Mortgages.ie; Mary Doolan, Swiss Financial Services.
Sisters Deirdre Staff, ILI and Elizabeth O'Mahony, PWC

International Women's Day Luncheon at Becketts

International Women's Day is a major day of global celebration for the economic, political and social achievements of women. It is a day to celebrate the gains women have made and to focus on the changes that are still needed.

Network Waterford hosted a special luncheon in upstairs in Beckett’s Restaurant, Dunmore Road on Thursday 8^th March. Representatives from Waterford One World Centre joined us to explore the working roles of women in developing countries, focusing on women producers of Fairtrade goods and how the challenges and opportunities that they face relate to those of women in Ireland.Internationally renowned harpist Lynn Saoirse won the Hamper of FairTrade goods generously sponsored by Ardkeen Stores

2007 marks the 150th anniversary of the first recorded organised action by working women anywhere in the world. The action took place in New York on March 8, 1857, when hundreds of women in the garment and textile factories staged a strike in protest of low wages, long working hours, inadequate pay, inhumane working conditions and the lack of the right to vote.

Claire Gogarty President with Agnes Ogunleye, left, and Susan Gallwey, Waterford One World Centre

"Ladies at the lunch" from front on left: Claire Gogarty, Susan Gallwey, Patricia Roche, Maura O'Grady Kennedy, Caroline Acheson, guest, Mary Roche, Claire Phelan, from front on right: Agnes Ogunleye, Lynn Saoirse, Milia Tsaoussis-Maddock, Brid Richardson, Mary Darlington, Claire Phelan, not in photo Mary O'Halloran, Christine Shanahan and Jill Hincks

Siobhan Wall gave a talk which was fascinatinginsight into how the home and working environments impact on our health. Siobhan, a registered nurse who now uses alternative healing such as reflexology, massage and yoga-based relaxation, covered the subjects of water, air, nutrition and energy and their pollutants in an introductory way. In the office we need to:

• be aware of the amount of chemicals we add to our environment through the use of cleaning chemicals, air fresheners, furnishings
• monitor levels in radon gas in the home for areas where it naturally occurs
• make sure the office has fresh air and that Air Conditioning systems are regularly maintained
• check for noise polulants
• consider the layout and amount of equipment in our office workplace that are emitting EMF's and affecting us.

l to r: Collette Bannon, H2W; Pauline Bracken, Life Coach; Leoni Forristal, Ivax and Helen O'Gorman.
photos: CCImages

Tower Hotel, Waterford - Wednesday 25th April

In a very informal session, Julie talked to us from a position of experience, telling us how she went about building up a very successful business over the last 15 years.

Julie went into a big company, TNT, as their only saleswoman, in a business that didn’t really have any other women in it, the delivery business. Then when they eventually pulled out of Ireland, she was made redundant. She saw that there was a real gap in the market, if only she could plug it, as she had noticed that American companies, despite wanting to get into Europe and its markets, could not because they had no base in Europe, which she might be able to provide. And provide it she has. She started up her own company, Euro-Base as a logistics company with only one company having promised her business.

One thing she learned was to get the company’s contracts onto a more balanced basis, as they had been quite dependent on the new high-skilled part of the business. Her other tip was: keep putting money back into the business, while she didn’t always like it, she now agrees it is the best way to run a business.

It seems that nothing will faze this woman, and she is where she deserves to be, that is at the head of a very successful company, which has just moved into a newer and much bigger premises. Long may they last, and go from strength to strength.

Orla Kinsella, Sun Life Financial and Genevieve Shouldice,
Bisys Hedgefund Services.

Jill Hincks, Passion for Creative and Melissa Quilty, Tweedy Group

"As a group, women are relatively poor. We might wish this wasn't true but it is, not just in developing countries. Even in the richest countries of the world, women own less property and other assets and earn less money. "The good news is: every business can be wealth proofed to ensure that the owner gets the returns financial and emotional that she deserves." Anna Ross, co-founder Women of Wealth Anna shared with us how to wealth-proof our businesses so that they feed our widest and deepest definition of wealth and make us (i.e. the owner, not the business) financially wealthy

26th September - Ramada Viking Hotel

Dreams of success, progress, starting in business, making a significant contribution ... are evidently alive and kicking! Veronica addressed a full house for this Enterprise Week event, with exactly what we need!!
Following a wine reception and a “business taster” buffet, generously sponsored by Ramada, Veronica Canning, The Academy for Leaders shared her creative and innovative techniques for overcoming barriers to change. Veronica’s ideas are practical and easily and immediately applied. With insights and skills that can be used the next day.

Veronica Canning is recognised in Ireland, the U.K. and abroad for her expertise in Thinking Strategies for Success, involving setting goals, realising them, overcoming challenges, and embracing change. For the past twenty years she has continuously held positions requiring creative future thinking. Her experience includes work with Government, industry and the Not for Profit sector.
As an author she has published four books and been the series editor for a range of management books.

Many thanks to event sponsors: Waterford City Enterprise Board, Ramada Viking Hotel and Ardkeen Stores. Ciaran Cullen, Bill Rafter and Jacqui Gaule.

24th October at 6pm - Ramada Viking Hotel

Do you have an area of focus or do you let networking just happen naturally? In business, if you want anything to have a return, you need to plan your path, pick your tools, and leave as little as possible to chance!

In the heyday of the Celtic Tiger, many companies just sat back and waited for the phone to ring, but now the phones have stopped ringing and pro-activity is required. We need to get out there, meet people and expand our circle of contacts.

Network Waterford's Evening of Networking and fun with Tricia Murphy of TIG Alliance was a huge success, with a great group of people and oodles of positive energy as members and guests tried out new and innovative ways to introduce themselves and their business to new faces.

Tricia is Ireland's foremost Networking Skills Strategist, facilitator and trainer, former President of Network Dublin and a regular presenter on the European training speaker circuit. She has written many articles on Networking and appears regularly on Radio promoting Networking as an acquirable business and professional development skill. Tricia is also an accredited Skillnets facilitator

Claire Gogarty, President Network Waterford; speaker Tricia Murphy, TiG Alliance and Jill Hincks

Elaine Sarah Comerford, Goldsmith, Elaine Sarah Designs; Grace Downes, Sales Executive, Ramada Viking Hotel and Carol Thurston, SEBIC.

Right: Sue Williams and Genevieve Shouldice, Citi Hedge Fund Services

28 November in the Tower Hotel

“Enduring business success starts with creating a winning mind set, complete clarity of purpose, and a lot of hard work” Monica Leech, CEO Waterford Chamber

Waterford Network was delighted to welcome Monica as a guest speaker at final business event for 2007. In her talk entitled: Creating a Winning Mindset, Monica's iminitable grace and style entertained us with a down to earth and at times challenging view of business life. In her usual frank and open style she shared the concepts and ideas that, in her experience, help build enduring success and can have transformational results when applied to business.

Being successfully self-employed involves thinking and acting differently, developing a Business Mindset! Monica believes a lot of businesses think that hard work in itself is going to deliver long term performance excellence but that is simply not the case - “I like to think of this as bullet proofing your business for the future when “playing to win” may well become “playing to survive”

Monica was appointed Chief Executive of Waterford Chamber in October 2005. Prior to this she operated a communications consultancy company providing strategic communications advice to a number of high profile private and public clients. She was Communications Advisor to Minister Martin Cullen and the Department of the Environment Heritage and Local Government and the OPW. She served as a Member on the Higher Education Authority 2000 - 2005. Monica was President of Waterford Chamber in 2000 - 2001 and was President of the national chamber organisation Chambers of Commerce of Ireland 2002 - 2003.

photos CCImages