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Following on from last weeks guest blog post from Kathryn Chadwick, we asked ICE member and 5-9er, Catherine Woods, to share her experience of the 5-9 club.

You don’t know if you’re good at something until you take the plunge into the unknown and just do it.Cat

In August 2015 I was extremely lucky to get a funded place at Welsh ICE. I applied because I had started an amazing business the year before, but I was getting so many things wrong. I needed help and lots of it.

When you take that leap of faith and start your own company it can be very lonely and scary. Without support, you sometimes feel like you are wandering off into the wilderness not knowing what you are doing. If you’re thinking of starting a business or have already begun then you will know what I’m talking about.

My time at ICE has led to me being back on the correct path. I have mentors, I have training, but most importantly I have around me some of the most beautiful and clever people you’ll ever meet.

I also asked if I could join the ICE 5 – 9 club aimed at new business women to develop their business ideas. Although mine was already a trading a business, I really felt that this club would help me fill some holes in my business and help solidify the foundations, so I applied and was accepted. I haven’t looked back.

I know that lots of people have variables in their lives, kids, mortgages, jobs. So to consider driving all the way to Caerphilly for 5pm til 9pm can seem daunting, when you’ve worked all day (in a job you hate maybe) and you are tired. You feel you have other priorities. You think, how am I going to fit this in? How am I going to do this? I understand.

If you want to change your life, you’ll do it. If you love your business or business idea, you’ll do it. If you hate your job, that is powerful. Hate is an excellent motivator to get off your ass and make changes. I did this 2 years ago. Trust me, you’ll find a way.

If you want to know whether you’ve got entrepreneurial spirit in your blood, here’s what you should do: You cut out watching your favourite soaps, you reprioratise your life, you pick a dream, join the #5to9club club and you hit it with everything you’ve got. You’ll soon find out if it’s for you or not.

If you prefer doing anything else instead of building a fantastic business, that’s great, but you’re not allowed to complain about your job. Like I’m not allowed to complain about my lack of free time, sleep and my 5-9 working day. That’s 5am to 9pm people.

I chose it, I love it, I’m doing it.

If this sounds like something you’d enjoy and you’re wondering how to improve your business or even if it’s a business still at idea stage, contact Welsh ICE. The 5-9 club is a brilliant place to start.

What can you expect?

It’s a place where business people can help and support each other with their ideas, moving from ideas to ACTION!

Learning from your peers and getting advice and support made all the difference, I hope it does for you. You get to tap into the expertise of people who have already been where you are now. Time is a very precious thing and by joining Welsh ICE you can most certainly cut to the chase a lot quicker.

If only I’d have had this support at the beginning. Where had ICE been all of my life? I was struggling by myself. I don’t want you to struggle. You should contact ICE and see how they can help you.

The type of things you’ll learn about are how to research your competition, test the market and how to put a proper plan together. You’ll learn about all the legal stuff, which can be quite scary, along with managing your money, yourself and much, much more.

Are you ready for the next intake? The first one was for women only but I believe it’s now being opened up across the board. So boys, you should contact ICE too.

It’s made a huge difference to my business and to me as a person. I feel more confident and empowered to take on the world.

If you think you’ve got what it takes get in touch. It’s a tremendous and rewarding way to live your life.

– Catherine Woods, Green Valley Moves

Thanks, Catherine!

You can apply for the next 5-9 club from the 4th of January.