Happy

first entry since winning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've had a great couple of weeks;
The shop celebrated its first birthday, and the very next day i was announced as winner of the ifwecanyoucanchallenge for South Tyneside. Then I went on holiday for a week....
Back to reality, I'm posting this at close to mid-night on the longest day of the year, its still not long enough for me!
Holidays are great, but on the back of everything that happened before we went, it means that there is so much to do.
In describing how it felt to find out I'd won, it was a bit like getting the results of my finals, telling myself I'd be happy with a 2.2, but secretly hoping for better. I didnt get quite as drunk in response to this result, but the elation and joy were just the same!
I am so grateful to everyone who took the time to vote for me; it was great telling my staff and my parents I'd won, Their faces were a massive reward.
I've had congratulations and cards from the mums in the school queue, flowers, champagne and when i came back from holiday on friday, my staff had decorated the shop with congratulations banners, and popped a bottle as soon as i walked throught the door. I only had a sip, all glasses prescribed on Friday will still be accurate!!
Lots of my patients have been popping in to congratulate me personnally, I've felt truly special.
Meeting this week to discuss how i take everything forward, and how i make best use of my prize, I'm really excited as it means I'm now going to be able to develop the business in certain directions much sooner than I thought, and have expert business advice to help me along the way. Exciting times ahead........

Busy week

Month ends

Its funny when your picture keeps on popping up in the paper, the coverage of the whole event has been pretty high profile, so another article keeps on appearing when i'm not expecting it.
Its been great for business, and for my general credibility as a new business, my patients seem to like it; I just happened to bump into one of them in the butchers and she proceeded to tell everyone in there who i was and how i'd been shortlisted for "that competition" , a tad embarrasing, but its all good.
Its coming up to the first anniversary of my shop opening and i'm thinking of ways to advertise around it. Again, the competition helps, but the anniversary falls the day before the winners are announced so I will have to hedge my bets and proclaim myself as finalist and not winner (yet)
My staff have been absolute stars in getting people to vote for me, no-one leaves the practice without a brief on how to vote, lets just hope it pays off.
I was really pleased this week when someone came in for an eye examination who was another woman with her own business, with small children like me. We had a really good chat and shared networking ideas, she left with a bundle of my business cards to take to her next networking group,(which i have been invited to join). This is what i love about the north-east. I've lived lots of places, but i doubt it would have happened like that anywhere else.