Clothes Aren't Going to Change the World

#IWD2023 ?

Happy International Women's Day?

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I was super proud yesterday to have hosted a room full of women celebrating and supporting each other. Yesterday we celebrated the first birthday of the fab network. Women from up and down the country, (some making 6 and 8 hour round trips) came together and it was such an amazing few hours. The energy in the room was awe inspiring and the feedback and comments I’ve had so far have blown me away.?

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We were privileged to have one of the UK's empowerment specialists Taz Thornton sharing some of her wisdom and teachings. She led some activities that had us breaking wooden arrows with our throats and walking on glass! Not your usual stuff for a networking meeting. Then we were all awestruck as we watched her stick a 6 inch needle right through her hand without a drop of blood.?

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It really was a day of empowerment. I am full of gratitude and my heart is full to bursting that I get to do this in the name of work. I’ve always found it really difficult to understand why, other women would be prepared to stick the knife in, against their sisters for their own gain. I’ve had a couple of colleagues in the past who often professed to prefer working with men. Apparently, it’s less bitchy. In my opinion gender is not the issue, it's about values and integrity.?

How my women's business network started?

Anyway, today is my day to reminisce and celebrate…here’s the post I wrote in the bath, which started it all, this time last year…?

?4pm Sunday 6th March 2022?

"I’m celebrating making a decision that has been percolating for over two years...?

The seeds were sown pre lockdown as I decided to terminate my memberships to existing networking groups I’d been part of for some time. They were OK but I felt like it was time to move on. I’ve tried other groups for size since. None have been quite the right fit.?

A bit like shoes that you like the look of but aren’t really 100% comfortable. There’s a little pinch here or there. You know that they’ll be OK for sitting down in but if you wanted to really go for it, to dance and let your hair down, aka full on being YOU, they make your tootsies very uncomfortable.?

Or belly stopper knickers. They’re OK for a short while, you can handle the pressure and they make a great first impression, but you can’t wait to get home, get them off and let it all hang out.?

That’s how I’ve felt in most of the places I’ve found to hang out over the past few years. So, now, today, I’m done. I’m creating *THAT* space. That community, that tribe. Where I feel totally comfortable to be me and everyone else who decides to hang out with me is the same.?

It’s for women, those who are around fifty ish and beyond, they are so done with all the bullshit and politics , they want to be heard and seen not put in a corner like Baby.?

They are happy to be empowered and embracing midlife, they acknowledge the wisdom their age provides. They may or may not be ready to embrace their greying hair or laughter lines – this tribe don’t mind – as long as you are open and honest, happy to explore why you’re not ready.?

It’s for women who’ve been through shit, are resilient and have come out the other side having learnt the lessons. Women who feel empowered by life experience but who need to feel like other likeminded women have their back when required.?

It’s for women who are open minded, aren’t fearful of trying new things, women who are open to exploring the woo woo and have discussions around the universe and the law of attraction. Women who aren’t scared by a card reading or visiting a medium for example.?

It’s for women who aren’t going to clutch their pearls if an F bomb gets dropped or even an occasional C word if the time is right.?

It’s for women who identify as, or who would like to be more ‘ballsy’ and who don’t get offended by that word or the energy that surrounds it.?

It’s for women who are my tribe. The ones who want to put two fingers up to the should judges and are not ready to blend into the background of midlife mediocrity.?

It’s a space where we feel safe to say what’s on our minds without judgement, to speak freely but kindly and support our sisters.?

We’ll perhaps meet and chat, have a dance or be playful, listen to speakers, grow our minds- who knows how things will evolve? For now I’m looking for women who want to be a part of it. The F.A.B.* Movement female, authentic and ballsy...."?

Clothes aren't going to change the world?

I created a free Facebook group and had 84 members within 24 hours…and now here we are 1 year later!?

I wouldn’t call it a complete pivot...but my business has changed slightly since last March.?

This quote from Anne Klein had got me thinking?

“Clothes aren’t going to change the world, the women who wear them will.”?

When I first read it I was like WOW! *THIS* is what it’s all about. This is what my work does at the deeper level. I’ve always known that I’m not ‘just’ helping women look nice, it’s SO much more than that and at times I felt like I was on a one woman crusade to get that message across. At times unable to really articulate the sense of empowerment, depth of transformation and then the ‘so what’ factor and turn it into tangible outcomes for marketing purposes.?

So, when I saw this quote it really spoke to me. It inspired the start of a slightly new direction for my business. The FAB Network was born. The ethos is still about empowerment, visibility and connecting with your identity and with others, being seen and heard – it’s just that clothes are not the focus, community and holistic personal branding is.?

I’m bringing together fabulous, strong, heart centred, likeminded women in a space where we can connect and grow, learning from each other as we set about changing the world through our various businesses.?

I’m so chuffed with how it’s all growing, and the momentum is building. There’s a real sense of community which is what I wanted. So, yes, clothes are not going to change the world- I’m gathering the women who will instead.???

Women in business - supportive, empowering, warm and welcoming?

‘I can't recommend Lisa's FAB network highly enough. Lisa has created a group which is supportive, empowering, warm and welcoming! As a style and colour coach Lisa really sees you and the network she has created reflects that ability if you are or aspire to be authentic and ballsy this is the group for you!’ ?

Zoe Saari?

‘In true Lisa fashion, she has brought us a networking group with all the authenticity, honesty and joy I've come to associate with the woman herself… when I walk into a FAB room I feel like I've come home to my sisterhood. To my tribe.?

And after a year after joining I can honestly say it's one of the best investments I've made in my business. As a solopreneur, often the only people I see on my patience and as much as I love them sometimes you need the water cooler conversations (let's be honest, my boss is a bitch and sometimes I need to complain about me).?

So, if you haven't found your networking fit, you're tired pretending to be someone else to fit in, you just want somewhere to be you and meet other kick ass business women who are there to support you give FAB a try you won't regret it.’ ?

Katherine Bellchambers-Wilson?

Online networking for women in business?

Today is a day of (relative) rest. I'm still buzzing from the incredible powerfully empowering activities and I'm taking time out just to process everything that we experienced yesterday. Our next meeting will be Weds 12th April online. If you haven’t visited one yet, but like the sound of it, hit me up for a ‘golden ticket’.?