Introduction – From the book Go Girl Go! ñ Real Stories of New Zealand Women in Business
This project started back in 1999 through my own frustrations as a newly self-employed writer. After completing a journalism course by correspondence Iíd decided I didnít want to go and work for a newspaper or a magazine ñ I wanted to freelance. This seemed easy enough and I was sure it was the answer to my dreams of freedom. I started writing and soon I had a few regular contracts and I was surviving, but only just. The hardest part was not the writing but the business side of it ñ knowing what to charge for my work, getting agreements from people, sorting out taxes and accounting procedures. I bluffed my way through blindly for months not wanting to ask anybody for help for fear of confirming to them that I really didnít know what I was doing!
One day I came home to my partner frustrated and upset. I felt I had no idea what I was supposed to be doing and said to him ìItís so hard. You canít just go into Whitcoulls and buy a book on it.î ìThatís your answer,î he said. ìWrite a book for women about getting started in business.î That upset me even more, how was I supposed to write a book for the rest of the world when I didnít know what I was doing myself? ìThatís easy,î he said. ìGo and talk to successful businesswomen and ask them how they got started.î My initial reaction was ëwhat a cheek!í ñ How rude to ask these successful women to share their secrets! But the more I thought about it, the more it seemed like a good idea.
When I first sent twenty letters out to successful business women I knew of in my area, I expected about five to be interested in my project. I hoped for ten. Eighteen of those women were happy to be interviewed ñ the response was overwhelming! The first thing I learned through this project is that most people are happy to help you ñ you just have to be brave enough to ask! I took my search nationwide and was met with the same enthusiasm. After interviewing about sixty amazing women, all with fantastic stories to tell, I realised I had to stop, it was getting harder and harder to choose which stories to include in this book.
I have endeavoured to select fifteen stories as vastly different from one another as possible, incorporating different types of businesses, age groups, ethnic groups, geographical locations and personal circumstances. A big thank you to all the women who took the time to share their experiences with me. I learned from each and every one of you. Now I hope others will be inspired and motivated and learn from the stories shared in this book.
Enjoy!
Jacqui
Excerpt from Go Girl Go! ñ Real Stories of New Zealand Women
Link to Buy the book
This project started back in 1999 through my own frustrations as a newly self-employed writer. After completing a journalism course by correspondence I’d decided I didn’t want to go and work for a newspaper or a magazine - I wanted to freelance. This seemed easy enough and I was sure it was the answer to my dreams of freedom. I started writing and soon I had a few regular contracts and I was surviving, but only just. The hardest part was not the writing but the business side of it - knowing what to charge for my work, getting agreements from people, sorting out taxes and accounting procedures. I bluffed my way through blindly for months not wanting to ask anybody for help for fear of confirming to them that I really didnít know what I was doing!
One day I came home to my partner frustrated and upset. I felt I had no idea what I was supposed to be doing and said to him ”It’s so hard. You can’t just go into Whitcoulls and buy a book on it.” “That’s your answer,” he said. ”Write a book for women about getting started in business.” That upset me even more, how was I supposed to write a book for the rest of the world when I didnít know what I was doing myself? “That’s easy,” he said. ”Go and talk to successful businesswomen and ask them how they got started.” My initial reaction was ‘what a cheek!’ How rude to ask these successful women to share their secrets! But the more I thought about it, the more it seemed like a good idea.
When I first sent twenty letters out to successful business women I knew of in my area, I expected about five to be interested in my project. I hoped for ten. Eighteen of those women were happy to be interviewed - the response was overwhelming! The first thing I learned through this project is that most people are happy to help you - you just have to be brave enough to ask! I took my search nationwide and was met with the same enthusiasm. After interviewing about sixty amazing women, all with fantastic stories to tell, I realised I had to stop, it was getting harder and harder to choose which stories to include in this book.
I have endeavoured to select fifteen stories as vastly different from one another as possible, incorporating different types of businesses, age groups, ethnic groups, geographical locations and personal circumstances. A big thank you to all the women who took the time to share their experiences with me. I learned from each and every one of you. Now I hope others will be inspired and motivated and learn from the stories shared in this book.
Enjoy!
Jacqui
Excerpt from the book – Go Girl Go! – Real Stories of New Zealand Women
By Jacqui Thomas
Published 2001, JT Publishing Ltd
This project started back in 1999 through my own frustrations as a newly self-employed writer. After completing a journalism course by correspondence I’d decided I didn’t want to go and work for a newspaper or a magazine - I wanted to freelance. This seemed easy enough and I was sure it was the answer to my dreams of freedom. I started writing and soon I had a few regular contracts and I was surviving, but only just. The hardest part was not the writing but the business side of it - knowing what to charge for my work, getting agreements from people, sorting out taxes and accounting procedures. I bluffed my way through blindly for months not wanting to ask anybody for help for fear of confirming to them that I really didnít know what I was doing!
