{"id":2409,"date":"2020-10-21T11:46:31","date_gmt":"2020-10-21T10:46:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/business-school\/?p=2409"},"modified":"2020-10-21T16:45:24","modified_gmt":"2020-10-21T15:45:24","slug":"be-true-to-yourself-and-your-dreams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/business-school\/be-true-to-yourself-and-your-dreams\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cBe true to yourself and your dreams\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
Bernie Davies is a serial entrepreneur who\u2019s on a mission to inspire individuals to follow their dreams and start businesses by helping them take control of their lives.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There will be plenty of students that aspire to run their own businesses after studying at university. Cardiff Business School undergraduate Matt Ellis caught up with author and businesswoman Bernie Davies who has written a book on how to do just that. During their conversation, she offered some advice to budding entrepreneurs. <\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cStudents who aspire to become entrepreneurs and run their own\nbusinesses in the future must trust their instincts and be true to what makes\nthem original \u2013 but also work hard, prepare for opportunities and network\nextensively.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s the advice of Bernie Davies<\/a>, a serial entrepreneur who\u2019s on a mission to inspire individuals to\nfollow their dreams and start businesses by helping them take control of their\nlives. She says her messages are as relevant to students considering their\ndreams as seasoned business executives seeking inspiration for a new venture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTo succeed in business, you need to be original and identify your true core strengths. You must fight for everything, and never give up,\u201d Bernie said. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Davies has recently has published a new book, Your Business Your Way<\/a><\/em>, which is designed to help individuals fulfil their potential in business by better understanding what is truly unique about them \u2013 and the businesses they create. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Boasting\nan incredibly diverse CV, Davies initially made her mark as an attorney-at-law,\nquickly becoming head of property at NewLaw Solicitors<\/a>. Since\nthen, she\u2019s moved on to building her career as an entrepreneur, business\nstrategist, motivational speaker, and author. Her extensive list of successes\nincludes singlehandedly delivering monthly sell-out training seminars to\nhundreds of South Wales businesses, serving as a Dynamo Role Model for the Welsh Government<\/a>, and owning Introbiz\nWest Wales<\/a> \u2013 an award-winning\nnetworking business. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nBernie Davies story is remarkable. From her initial move to the UK from\nJamaica, she was faced with the prospect of being unemployed and having to claim\njobseeker\u2019s allowance, to which she responded by starting up her own charity to\nestablish her territory in the UK. \u201cI felt that I always wanted the freedom to\nexpress myself, and having that self-confidence and self-belief was definitely\na main factor in my decision to pursue a career in business,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout\nthe book, Davies emphasises the importance of finding your \u201cwhy\u201d \u2013 a key\ningredient for success. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTo succeed in business, you need to be original and identify your true core strengths. You must fight for everything, and never give up.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Your\nBusiness Your Way<\/em> also\nfocuses heavily on the concept of networking. Networking has become an integral\npart of business and is something that students need to grasp in order for\nsuccessful employment post-university. In her own words, Davies believes that\n\u201csuccess comes from opportunity and preparation\u201d, and that students must\nprepare thoroughly, ask questions, and listen closely to become successful\nnetworkers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead\nof celebrities, Davies urges students to consider \u201creal people\u201d as the role\nmodels in life. She cities her family as her main inspirations, including her\nmother, father and brother-in-law, who always express themselves through\n\u201chard-graft and integrity\u201d \u2013 these are the same traits that have enabled Davies\nto win Swansea Black Icon 2019, alongside being voted in the top 100\nbusinesswomen in Wales for 2017. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With\nevery success, there are many challenges. Her biggest challenge in business is\npeople management, in the sense that there is no single correct approach to\ndealing with people. She claims \u201cpeople are the greatest resource\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To\ncombat stress, her top tip is to start encouraging others, spreading positivity\nand giving others hope. For sound mental health, Davies recommends morning\nmeditation, alongside constructing a daily checklist to ensure that goals are\nticked off throughout the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For\nany student interested in starting a business, the advice is simple – know who\nyou are. Develop ambition and focus on your own craft, setting achievable aims\nand objectives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bernie\nDavies urges students to read her book. \u201cThe book has it all. It\u2019s an honest\ninsight into my business career, whilst giving you the tools to find your true\npersonality and how to engage to do business.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your\nbusiness Your way<\/em> offers\na unique perspective on business development, helping people find purpose\nduring a journey of self-discovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Matt\nEllis is a third-year undergraduate studying <\/strong>BSc Business Management (Marketing)<\/strong><\/a> at <\/strong>Cardiff\nBusiness School<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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