Everyone is doing the Okey Cokey!

Put the UK in
Pull the UK out
in, out, in, out
Shake it all about.

If you haven't heard about the EU Referendum coming up on the 23rd June 2016 then you're probably a tortoise and are just coming out of hibernation in your shoe box under the stairs. For the rest of us, it's world wide news.

The British public have been given the chance to decide for themselves if they think we should stay in the EU or not. Everyone can and will be effected by either decisions but we need to decide and time is running out. No more sitting on the fence bull sh*t. We're about to make the biggest decision we've had to make in a very long time. I can't see us getting another shot at this kind of opt out any time soon.

I've made no secret of my decision to vote OUT. Yes, I know it'll be hard, yes there will be consequences for a while, but doesn't any change come with disruption? We need to look at the big long term picture and we need to vote for what we feel comfortable with.

Every one seems to have an opinion. On the off chance Barak Obama is reading this - You sir, can kiss my arse. If you think our great country will roll over because of you, you are sadly mistaken.

For those of you who are confused about what is going on, here are some, what I think are, impartial facts about The UK and The EU.

"- The UK joined the European Union in 1973 - Back then, it was known as the Common Market. But over the past 43 years, the EU has taken control over more and more areas which don't have anything to do with trade - such as our borders, our public services, and whether prisoner shave the right to vote

- When we (TheUK) joined, there were just 9 member states - Now there are 28, the most recent being Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia. Five more countries are being considered for membership: Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Turkey. If they are let in, they will have the same rights as other member states.

- More than half of net migration to the UK comes from the EU.  More than a quarter of a million people come to the UK from the EU in the 12 months to September 2015- the equivalent of a city the size of Plymouth or Newcastle in just one year.

- While we're in the EU. the UK can't make trade deals on our own. This means we currently have no trade deals with key allies such as Australia, New Zealand or the USA - or important growing economies like India, China or Brazil. Instead of making a deal which is best for the Uk we have to wait or 27 other countries to agree to it!

- The EU costs us £350 million a week. That's enough to build a new NHS hospital every week of the year. We get less than half of this money back, and we have no control over the way it's spent - That's decided by politicians and officials in Brussels, rather than the people we elect here.

- You don't need to be a member of the EU to trade with it.  Switzerland is not in the EU and it exports more per person to the EU than we do. The big banks and multinationals might be lobbying to keep us in, but small and medium businesses feel differently. Only 6% of UK firms export to the EU, yet all have to abide by EU regulations on their business.

- EU law overrules UK law. This stops the British public from being able to vote out the politicians who make our laws. EU judges have already overruled British laws on issues like counter-terrorism powers, immigration, VAT, and prisoner voting. Even the Government's proposed new deal can be overturned after the referendum: It is not legally binding.

- There are risks with voting either way. Experts, politicians, and businesses are divided. People have to weigh up the risks and potential benefits of each course of action for themselves. "*

Whatever you decide to do, make sure you do it for the right reasons but more importantly - make sure you do actually vote!


Until Next Time,
Keep smiling, It's going to be ok.
Miss Make It Happen

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*Facts obtained from www.eureferendumfacts.org leaflet - you can get further information from the site or by texting FACTS to 88802 (Standards charges apply)

Be Proud!

We're all under pressure to like certain things wether it be the same style as our friends or what the fashion industry dictates we should be wearing.

We're programmed to be institutionalised, commercialised, robot human sheep.

We tend to herd together with like minded people. Those people with the same opinions, style, views and taste. Anyone who doesn't fit in with out choices is deemed strange, weird or even wrong.

And I for one am fed up with it.

My best friend and I have grown up together. She's my rock, my confident and my size 6 boot up the butt when I need it. She's my voice of reason and she is the ying to my yang. For anyone that knows me knows I like the colour green, getting dirty, pushing my physical limits, I do not want marriage and kids and am not apposed to getting electrocuted with 10,000 volts for "fun". Jamie is my complete opposite. She likes the colour pink, anything that sparkles, is girlie and has an amazing husband with a little girl and one on the way.
We are opposites, and it works. We've never been on holiday together because we would probably kill each other, we don't socialise together unless it's with the 4 friends that we actually share, we don't like the same men and to be fair our biggest link is probably "dot dots" aka chocolate. But it works.

Opposites attract as much as similarities do.

If you've listening to a track on the radio and you like it - Tell people. Be proud.
A few months back I was on a road trip and my friend Anne. She needed to get something off her chest.
"I've bought a new album, you're going to be so disappointed in me"
Without skipping a beat I responded "You've bought the Justin Bieber album, haven't you?"
Truth was, I'd not only been blasting out the album for weeks but i also, at the grand age of 31, had a full dance routine to go with at least 2 of the songs.

Why are we so scared to like something and actually tell people about it? When did it become acceptable to hide our passion because society or our peers say it's wrong. If you like something be proud. F*ck what everyone else likes. If all your friends are voting labour but you want to vote for the green party - do it! If you want to wear socks and sandals, do it. If you want to wear a dress with doc martins, you rock it. If you want to stay home rather than hit the club, good for you!

If you want to add milk AFTER you pour water on your tea bag then get the F*ck off of my blog, I can't even look at you right now. ;)

Be you, be proud to be different, shine bright my little stars!

Until next time, keep smiling.
It's going to be ok

Much Love
Miss Make It Happen.
Website - Facebook - Twitter - Podcast - YouTube
*The MMIH Show on Kick It Radio will be launching SOON*

It's a write off.

Did you know that we're all human?
Yep.
You, me, everyone!

I know we're meant to be strong, not show weakness, never be ill and god forbid if any of us actually moan about it but i'm fed up with it.

Over the last couple of weeks, myself and a fair few self employed people have been ill one way or another. There has been silent suffering, hospital visits, secret comfort sessions and of course - soldiering on.

So many people feel that they need to suffer in silence because they think people will not take them seriously if they show a sign of weakness. This is where we need to stop seeing business owners as machines and start treating them like people. We're all going to have off days, days that we want to curl up and hide. That's perfectly normal.

If you're going through a hard patch at the minute, don't be afraid to share the stress with someone. You're human and are entitled to have off days. Keeping it bottled up, feeling ashamed etc etc etc isn't going to do anyone any good.
Last Friday, it was decided that although the week had been somewhat productive work wise, we were going to write it off on a health level. Sometimes you really do just need to say "F*ck it and Forget it".

So remember, up until the point they actually turn you in to a Robo-cop type person, you're allowed to take a break and have a moan.

Nikki Butlin, www.NikkiButlin.com, has just written a great blog about 'Taking Time Out'. It kind of goes hand in hand with this one. Check it out and let us know what you think.

Until Next Time,
Keep smiling, It's going to be ok.
Miss Make It Happen

Website - Facebook - Twitter - Podcast - YouTube

Taking the next step.

Lets be honest, I don't care who you are or what you do, what you look like or how successful you or others think you are; Stepping outside of your comfort zone and taking the next step is scary business.

No one really wants to stay stuck in the same place, you all want to move forward and grow but it's hard work and can be terrifying.

MMIH is working behind the scenes to change things for the better - for both us and those around us. We're launching on different social medias, becoming more accessible and also launching our first set of online courses. To the outside world it looks like we're cool, calm, collected but in reality we're working 18 hour days, scared and freaking out.

Thats perfectly normal.

We're about to tread in to the unknown and although it can be scary it's also very exciting. The thing you need to remember when stepping in to the unknown or out of your comfort zone is that you don't need to do it alone. Build a squad of people who are your cheerleaders but that will also kick your butt when something isn't right.

I have a fair few people who I talk to about this stuff but I have a core4. These 4 people are privy to the inner depths of my head and I trust them profusely. At the moment, I don't make any decisions without first running it past at least 2 of them. This is not because I don't believe in myself, It's so I can enjoy the process of moving onwards and upwards.

So when you're ready to take the next step please remember
1) It's ok to be scared/excited
2) Believe in yourself, you're great!
3) Prepare the squad - Even King Arthur had his knights.
4) Just take the step!

It's just turned spring - What a better time to grow as a person or business?!

Until Next Time,
Keep smiling, It's going to be ok.
Miss Make It Happen

Website - Facebook - Twitter - Podcast - YouTube

Take the step in to the unknown. 

Peaks and Valleys

I've been self employed 6 years this year. I took the big leap in 2010 and to say I haven't looked back, would be a lie.

I've looked back at the comfort blanket of PAYE on many occasions. The guaranteed wages, the set routine, the sick pay, holiday pay, office parties and work/family unit, some one to be accountable to, other than myself.

This last 10 days has been particularly tricky. I'm usually an optimist. I try not to look for problems or the bad in situations. There are no problems, just pending solutions. This week my little world went in to free fall, through no fault of my own. Sh*t started to hit the fan in my business and personal life. I knew who I could turn to but instead I rolled up like a hedgehog and hoped it would go away. I planned a pity party for one and I wanted to hibernate.

Thankfully I have some amazing friends, they sensed what was going on and rather than joining the pity party and feeding me chocolate, they put on their boots and aimed them at my behind. Within 12 hours I had gone from hibernating hedgehog to Sonic the hedgehog. I still had problems but I now also had ideas, solutions and 2 absolutely amazing opportunities. One as a writer and another from a Radio station.

I'm a big believer that things really do happen for a reason. My life had to start to fall apart so I could be pushed out of my comfort zone, change things and see the opportunities that I'd actually been creating for myself. Granted the two big opportunities were offered from outside influences but it was my hard work with my blog and podcast that got me noticed in the first place.

If things are starting to free fall in your world, please don't do what I tried to do. Embrace the change and look for the bright side and opportunities. You don't have to receive them from outside influences, you can use this time to try some thing new, launch a product, change your master plan. Things are falling apart anyway, you might as well try something risky.

Look forward to catching up with you soon
Until then,
Much Love
Miss Make It Happen

Website - Facebook - Twitter - Podcast
*YouTube coming soon*

Take the leap, it could lead to success. 

Second Chances

I'm not usually one for second chances. I am however one to hold a life long grudge, even if it's to my own detriment. It's not a quality that I admire in myself and to be honest i'm working on changing my outlook on chances and grudges.

I think i'm going soft in my old age. That or i've just started to realise that not everyone is perfect like me, and you might just make mistakes every now and then ;) My gramps was one for a grudge. If you got put on his naughty list, you stayed there. If i'm honest, I think I might have got it from him. I've got a lot of myself from my Gramps.

So, back to second chances. Recently, I was put in a position that made me think and question my own reasoning. A long time ago I put my trust into someone and I got burned. It was bad enough that my friends also carried the burden too. Years later our paths crossed again and I realised how much of a grudge I was carrying. I also realised 2 other things. 1) How heavy this burden had been to carry for all these years and 2) how much I didn't want it any more. I was done with the grudge, the hate and if i'm honest, I wanted this person back in to my life.

A friend of mine had recently lost her husband, someone who I considered a friend too. Scrap that, they always have and always will be like family to me. It made me realise, at least reinforced, my belief that life is too short. So we made the decision there and then, after visiting J's grave, that I would contact the person and we'd talk it through. Before we met up, I contacted the friends that were there to pick up the pieces the first time. It wasn't a great conversation but they agreed that it was my choice and whatever happened they had my back.

I also carried out a basic online survey. 50% of people said Yes, They give second chances. 14% said Nope and 36% said it depended on the situation. Thats 86% of people who would give, or at least consider giving someone a second chance. I was a bit shocked it was so high.

So, I bit the bullet and hoped I wasn't about to make another big mistake. Turns out there really are 3 sides to every story and after long discussions, honesty and a bit of a laugh the past was finally buried and boy does it feel good.

I'll be making a conscious effort to spot the grudges i've been holding for too long from now on. I'll either talk to the person or just let them go.

No one wakes up in the morning and decides they'll intentionally hurt someone. sometimes a mistake is just a mistake. Surely, everyone deserves a second chance?

I'd love to hear your thoughts on second chances.

As Always,
Much Love
Miss Make It Happen

Website - Facebook - Twitter - Podcast
*YouTube coming soon*

It's not always an attack

Did you know that it's not always a racist, sexist, homophobic, religious attack?

Some people are just arseholes and deserve a kick in the butt!

Why on earth do we always have to look for an excuse for someone being bad? Maybe the man or woman is just a bad person. It has nothing to do with their race, religion, colour or geographical location.

We all know - White men can't jump or every black guy is going to mug your gran, right? wrong!

We've started to build these stupid social stereotypes that make everyone seem the same as their similar looking counterpart.

I'm from East London. In my little corner of London we joke that if you're 30, have a job and no kids, then you are weird. Jeez, If you hit 20 without getting knocked up you're doing well. It's not the greatest of places any more but wow, does it come with a lot of history.

Anyway, back to my point. Why do we need to put people in to a group before hating on them? It is our stupidity of doing this that allows our media to scare monger. If you sit and think for 2 seconds before declaring all Muslims terrorists, you'll realise how ridiculous it all sounds.

Lets all make a pact right now, if someone is an arse - you can say mean stuff. If they are not - Then don't. Actually, don't be mean to anyone, it only fuels their idiotic behaviour and creates ripple effects for other people.

If we're all nice, the world will improve. Not only for us, but for future generations.

Think before you start to tar people with the same brush. Not all white people support the KKK, not all germans are nazis, Not all muslims are terrorists, etc etc - you get the picture. If you have to judge, judge a person on their direct relationship to how they treat YOU.

Until next time
Much Love
Miss Make It Happen

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