Last night we attended the Canberra Women in Business Awards at Hotel Realm. It was a great night with about 500 people attending to enjoy a three course silver service dinner.
The awards recognised the achievements of Canberra women who are having success in their business. Several MLAs attended to show their support.
Karen Porter from Solace Creations Double Glazing was awarded a highly commended award for the Canberra Business Woman of the Year category. This is recognition of hard work and dedication to bring double glazing into every home in Canberra.
For any other woman in business, it is worth your while to join the Canberra Women in Business and see what support services and networking that you can get.
Tonight I am a guest speaker at the National Women in Construction mentoring dinner at the MBA.
Karen
On July 4 2014, Solace Creations Double Glazing won the ACT Telstra Micro Business Award for 2014.
In late 2013, Solace Creations was one of 600 micro businesses (less than 6 staff) in the ACT that was nominated for the Award. We went through a very stringent process by an external body that involved an 86 page application, scrutiny of three years of our financials, references from staff, a supplier and a client along with our business plan, risk management plan, marketing plan and business continuity plan.
From the application, we were one of the businesses shortlisted and this then required a 40 minute interview with two judges. The following day, we were called and told that we were one of the five finalists. At that point we were winners already.
On 4 July, we attended the gala dinner at QT in the city and found ourselves sitting amongst the top businesses in the ACT. What an amazing group of dedicated business owners.
When they announced the winner of the Micro Business Award, we were blown away and ecstatic that we were being recognised for our hard work.
I am not sure if you know how hard small to medium business owners work. I heard a funny saying the other day that as a business owner, at least you get to choose which 17 hours you would like to work.
The first five years in a business is the toughest. It is like having a baby, they are high maintenance and need you 24/7 to look after their every need. When they are five they start school and suddenly you have some free time again. This is like a business. However, there are waves and as you get to a point of growth then the business is higher maintenance again. You manage the growth and put more staff, better technology or systems in place and then the business becomes less needy.
I would like to recognise small to medium (and micro) business owners. These people are the key to pulling our country out of financial pain. These people pay taxes that fund schools, hospitals, roads etc. These people give up so much so that they can earn their own livelihood and feed their families. These people employ other people who also have families to feed and taxes to pay. The flow on effect from one business owner is incredible and is far reaching.
I look forward to sharing the next part of my journey and the effect that the Telstra Award has had on me and my business.
Solace Creations Website
Karen
