• testing twitter with facebook #fb #

There are now 161 members in the LinkedIn Network Group.

I would like to welcome our latest members:

Colly Murray, Network & Sys Admin @ DIT | Owner @ RetroVino.com

Trevor Coen, Sr Analyst-Non Trading Support at Bank of America

Tommy Weir, Owner, Janey Pictures

Damien Gilheany, Sales at Bosch Security Systems

Jonathan Pipe, Computer Engineer at ‘the computer guy”

• preparing for this evenings Leitrim Business Network meeting - 6.30pm - The Ramada Hotel - http://bit.ly/a3smtY #

29 Companies attended the March Network Meeting yesterday evening.

Our new agenda item entitled ‘Member Presentations - learn from your peers’ featured:

1. Fiona McGuire - Fiona McGuire Photography

2. Kevin Callaghan - Kevin Callaghan Construction

3. Oonagh Monahan - Alpha Omega Consultants

Each business owner presented their business, 1 improvement they have introduced and 1 challenge they are facing where other members suggesting ideas and possible solutions.

Some great ideas were shared both by the members presenting and those in attendance.

It is planned that this be a regular feature and we encourage members to get in touch if they wish to present. It is an opportunity to promote your business and get ideas and suggestions around the challenges you face in your business.

We also encourage members to sign up and contribute to the Network Group on LinkedIn.

Further notes from the meeting are available in the podcast below.

**Next Meeting**
**Member Presentations – Learn from your peers**
**Business Network Podcast**
**Introduce yourself with LinkedIn**
**Introduce a business**
**Network Feedback**

**Next Meeting**

The March network meeting will take place on Tuesday next March 2nd at 6.30pm in The Ramada Hotel.

**Member Presentations – Learn from your peers**

As discussed at the last meeting, we would like 3 network members to make a 5 minute presentation about their business.

This is an opportunity to introduce your business to other members in addition to practicing your presentation and sales skills.

We would also like each business owner presenting to cover 1 improvement they have introduced to their business and 1 challenge they are facing where members could suggest solutions.

1 Minute - You and your business
1 Minute - An improvement you have introduced
1 Minute - A challenge you are facing
2 Minutes - Feedback/Suggestions from members

**Business Network Podcast**

I have started the network podcast again and I am looking for members to interview. Again, this is an opportunity to promote your business and practice your presentation/sales skills.

Podcasts will be uploaded to http://www.leitrimbusinessnetwork.com/ and http://www.facebook.com/LeitrimBusiness

**Introduce yourself with LinkedIn**

There are now 156 members in the network LinkedIn group

I have set up a discussion called “Introduce yourself” where you can do exactly that so please do.

**Introduce a business**

Do you know of another Leitrim based business that would benefit from joining the network, if so why not bring them along next Tuesday, it’s FREE?

**Network Feedback**

We continue to encourage you to send up feedback and suggestions about the network, topics for discussions and presenters you feel would be of interest to the group.

Martino Newcombe and friends

Word just in from Martino Newcombe and Tom Nixon of Trojan Horses that we can see them and their magnificent horses at work this coming Tuesday night at 8.30pm, RTE 1, on Ear to the Ground.  Do some home work by checking out their blog site in advance of the programme and you’ll begin to really understand why these two guys have such belief in writing horse logging back into the Irish forestry story. Fantastic work.  Enormous commitment. And I’ve no doubt it will be fantastic viewing on Tuesday night.  don’t miss it!

• New podcast at http://bit.ly/ct2Kny #
• RT @thedockarts: The Dock’s Spring Programme just about finalised…very exciting…its gonna be a good one folks #

Text Version

“Welcome to the Leitrim Business Network Podcast. It’s been a while since we’ve done a podcast so we’re back now using a new piece of software and we will have more frequent podcasts. Briefly, I am going to discuss the business network itself for those who maybe new to the network. It’s a network for businesses based in County Leitrim and we meet on the first Tuesday of every month at 6:00pm. It’s free to join the network and there is information available at Leitrimbusinessnetwork.com. So I am using today’s podcast to put a call out to Leitrim Business Owners if they would like to be interviewed.”

30 business people from across the county attended this months network meeting. Therese Hackett of Ciúnas gave an informative presentation on Presentation Skills.

Joe Lowe updated attendees about the new financials supports available from Leitrim County Enterprise Board.

Under ‘Sharing New Ideas’ the following 3 ideas were suggested:

1. Enclose an addressed envelope when issuing statements from your business making it easier for customers to send payment

2. Companies should consider applying for an Innovation Voucher from Enterprise Ireland and also introducing a voucher system for their own business as a way to get new customers e.g. free 2 hour consultancy

3. Focus on your own health as well as the health of your business.

The next meeting will take place on March 2nd - Details to follow.

A lovely relaxing weekend enjoying my new home. Went to Garadice lake with Brendan and Coco yesterday and marvelled at the ice that’s still on the lake … it’s like sheets of glass.

Coco was in dog heaven and ran and sniffed and checked everything out. I just strolled happily enjoying the quiet and the fresh air. I’d made us corned beef sandwiches with mustard and Brendan brought along a flask of tea … lovely.

I rang both my parents on Saturday as it was their birthdays.

Pa was 78 and Mum was 74 … they’ll outlast me for sure. Both are full of life and energy and I love them very very much.

Dad and I chatted away happily about all sorts of things. He’s always been so supportive of everything I do. And I’m green with envy as he and my stepmum Liz got a Wii for xmas … and they’ll never love it as much as I would!! Dad did say that he’s played golf on it.

He usually plays golf on Saturday mornings very early because of the heat. He didn’t on his birthday as it was in the high 30’s C … in the morning! He was born and reared in Ireland [as was Mum] but he can’t understand how people can live in this cold.

I was reared in Oz and can’t stand high heat … go figure.

I was cooking the corned beef when I rang Mum and we had a fine time exchanging recipes and she told me how Gran used to cook it.

Always lovely to talk with them.

And now it’s Monday and I plan an active working week:

• asking for advice and support from Leitrim Enterprise Board about Life Dreaming
• doing 2 days research and writing for my Dublin contract
• continuing the pr for my Blogsite Design workshops. My free ad in the Visual Arts Ireland enewsletter should get some takers
• talk with one of my SKIL2 mentors about interface design and getting someone to build the prototype
• do some online research and writing for Mary in Oz

I also want to email some family and friends and have a catch up … and Coco wants to go play outside … and there’s the marmalade to make … and groceries to buy … and dreaming to be done.

I’m typing this from my warm bed because … I can.

I can work and be comfy at the same time … and it’s Monday so I like to ease myself into the week.

I hope you have a lovely week.

slan

Liz