About

Who is CanDoCanBe?

Hi, my name is Karen Skidmore and I work with coaches, trainers, consultants and small business owners to show them how to use the right marketing tools to attract the right clients.

Where did it all begin?

In the summer of 2004, I left an 11 year career with a large recruitment group. I suppose I had a typical corporate career – promoted to manager and business director over the years, managing teams, training internal employees and building business for new brands.

But returning after my second maternity leave, corporate life just didn’t appeal any more. So in September 2004, I became a “Corporate Refugee”. I became an accredited coach and started up as a self-employed Life Coach with an ambition of running a successful coaching practice on a term-time basis around my two children.

After 5 months, I almost gave up!

Even with my 11 year corporate sales experience behind me, it was a tough transition selling “me”. And after realising how many hours of coaching I had to sell each and every week to make my financial targets and how incredibly challenging it was to achieve this momentum (never mind trying to start it!) I considered for a split second of asking for my job back.

BUT … (thank goodness!) I didn’t.

What has CanDoCanBe grown to be?

It is now 2011 and over the past seven years I have learnt a lot! I have learnt a lot of “what-not-to-do” such as being everything to everyone and thinking that the only way to get clients was to spend money on advertising.

And I have learnt a lot of what can be done whilst still being a mum to 2 children [and a dog!], working with clients during term-times only.

During 2005 and 2006 I focused on helping women in business and worked in partnership with the University of Surrey for a couple of years, running a European Social Funded CanDoCanBe Women’s Enterprise Programme.  I trained and coached more than 200 ladies through this three month enterprise programme, including several marketing modules.

In 2005, I set up the CanDoCanBe Women’s Network which grew to monthly events across 4 locations across Surrey & Berkshire in 2008.   A lot of fun to run and manage!

Over the past two years, my love of web-tech has naturally embraced the sudden growth of social media.  And I have developed my services and products to reflect the demand for practical, how-to guides for marketing in today’s business world.

Known as a bit of a web-tech geek, I now offer practical, no-nonsense marketing help for small business owners who struggle to attract a constant and consistent flow of clients. I help them understand who their clients are, teach them how to productise what they offer and how to use the right marketing tools so they can attract clients naturally and avoid the “hard-sell”.

The opportunities for small business owners to create a recognisable brand, both on the web and off, are huge in today’s business world.  It is possible to harness the power of blogs, social media and email newsletters to create conversations and turn strangers in to clients.

And if you are looking for a guiding hand and be shown some short-cuts and simple steps to take so you can start using tools such as blogs, email newsletters, Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn, alongside the more traditional marketing strategies – then get in touch.

Showing you how to use the right marketing tools in your business is what I love to do.

Why the name CanDoCanBe?

I’ve always had that all important “can-do” attitude.  Even at school, I was a practical child who just got on with things.

Working my way through my coaching accreditation opened up my understanding of NLP and personal belief strategies.  But that infamous book “The Secret” never really did it for me.

Believing deep down in your own success is important.  And you can do and can be what ever it is you want.

But the real “secret” for me is the taking action bit.  Not big, audacious actions – just little, baby steps each and every day.

I love having the flexibility of running a term-time business which allows me to work with clients during term-time and be “Mum” in the school holidays.  I suppose I have proved it is possible to start up and run your own business on your own terms.

With a bit of CanDoCanBe Attitude, anything is possible!

What about you?

CanDoCanBe wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for business owners like you.  I would love to hear your story – how you came about starting your own business.  Connect in any way you like.  I’m on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and still use the good old-fashioned methods of communication like email and, of course, the phone!

Get in touch – it would be great to hear from you.

Phone :   ++4 (0)1428 607745
Email:    Karen@CanDoCanBe.com

Karen on Twitter:  www.Twitter.com/CanDoCanBe
Karen on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/WebTechClub
Karen on LinkedIn: www.LinkedIn.CanDoCanBe.com