Each Monday you can read our Monday Motivation Feature.
This Monday we’re introducing you to Amy Hobson of Focus Your Future. Amy is a subscriber to the Woman Who Achieves Academy and is taking her business to the next level by powering up her personal brand.
Name: Amy Hobson
Business Name: Focus Your Future
Who inspires you and why? I am inspired by so many different people. My good friend Denise who lost her battle to cancer last year was one of the sunniest, brightest and most kind hearted people I know and I will always try and be a bit more like her. I recently read Becoming by Michelle Obama and was absolutely inspired by her story. Her grit and determination to remain passionate about what mattered to her and to not be changed by the world around her was truly inspirational.
What was your first job? My first part time job was a “Saturday Girl” in a card shop when I was 15. Since then I’ve had a fairly varied career including Customer Services Area Manager, Stock Broker, and Franchise Operations Manager.
What’s your top business tip? Always be you. People still do business with people so don’t be afraid to let your personality and expertise shine through. If you are a small business it’s usually you that makes your business unique.
What’s your favourite business book or podcast? My favourite business book is an old one; Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People. My Dad read it years ago and gave me a copy when I started in management. Even though it was written in the 1930s the principles still very much apply today. I dip in and out of different podcasts but one of my favourites at the moment is Postcards from Midlife.
What’s your favourite quote? “Never put the key to your happiness in someone else’s pocket”. It always reminds me that to be truly happy you need to trust in yourself and not rely on someone else for them to make you happy.
and just for fun…
Who would at the top of your guest list for dinner and why? Richard Attenborough. I would love to listen to the stories he could tell about his travels.
What’s your favourite film? I love film and cinema so I watch a lot and always have! If I had to pick just one it would be The Lake House with Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock.
Tell us about an embarrassing moment (one you can laugh about now). One of my most embarrassing evenings was being questioned by Police about what me and my best friend were doing on a night out in Solihull. We were trying to find a geocache that we had tried and failed to find with our children and were crawling on our hands and knees to find it when the police found us. Luckily they believed our explanation!
Look out for next Monday’s Motivation feature and another local woman in business.
Want to know more about the Woman Who Achieves Academy and how it can help you power up your personal brand? Read more…