Kirsty James Networking

11/07/2025

09/07/2025

Consistency and Community:
2 of the themes discussed yesterday whilst networking & 2 of my favourite C-Words.

2 networking events this week
1 attending (yesterday). 1 hosting (tomorrow).

I've attended Alex of Altrincham HQ's events for years and he has attended mine. We always discuss the importance of collaboration, mutual referrals and date-sharing to support each other's respective offers. I've sent folk to his events and he allows me to mention mine because we don't step on each other's toes - geographically, with dates or formats.

Respecting and working with - not against - your "theoretical" competitors can be invaluable.

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We also discussed the importance for networkers of attending different events, getting involved in the community, and maintaining consistency and visibility - on or offline - even when you get busy!

Great to hear all about the community focused-work done by speaker Denise Laver - I learnt plenty, thank you.

And lovely too to have a few of those less deep and meaningful but equally valuable networking moments.

Stolen chats in the loo.
I joke about networking in the women's toilets a lot but it really is a thing.

And chatting about whether what you wear matters when I found myself sat in the "yellow area".

And yes, what you wear does matter, I think. It shouldn't, of course. But it can help. I always wear colour. Easier to stand out and be found - and brightens up the day too 😉

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Onwards now to the 2nd event tomorrow.

KTS Women in Business bi-annual lunch at Groobarbs Field Kitchen - SOLD OUT which is wonderful for our speakers Dr. Jill McGarry - Sleep expert, Jazz McPhail and Saskia Lightburn-Ritchie as well as our sponsors Bennett Brooks, McAllister Family Law/Beyond Law Group, and Capital.

06/07/2025

Lovely day to top off a very busy but enjoyable weekend

06/07/2025

What a fab weekend! All work - ish, but lots of play! I'll come back to Saturday's TEDxNorthwich when I've gathered my thoughts. As for today, it saw a very enjoyable first - Polo!

A great day at Cheshire Polo Club for the National 4-Goal Championship sponsored by WR Partners. Huge thanks for your organisation and generous hospitality.

Best work-related Sunday in ages! 🍾🐎

04/07/2025

Friday Feel-Good Feedback this week is absolutely this 👇
Do you have a young person aged 16-25 in your business or life? Please share this opportunity with them.

Launching this project has to be one of this week's highlights.
It's my Big Idea for this year.
And no, I'm not pitching to do a TEDx talk - been there, done that 😜

But it does relate to TEDx and links to my personal values of community give-back.

Because it is about layering in some impact goals into the TEDxWarrington plans.

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❌ Putting on a great live event is 1 thing and comes first.

I have the privilege of supporting, coaching and spotlighting speakers to get their idea to stage, and of working with a volunteer team of 30 amazing local people.

❌ Putting ideas out into the world on the TEDx YouTube channel once the talks are approved by TED comes next.

The reward of knowing that you are part of a legacy-making vehicle that facilitates the ripple effect of further conversation and potentially behavioural change beyond your shores is quite something.

❌ But what about on the ground in the my home town of ?

And what about tomorrow's voices?

And what about sections of society who have no idea what TED/TEDx is and might benefit from its inspiration and education?

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When TEDx changed its strapline from 'Ideas Worth Spreading' to 'Ideas Change Everything', it was done so strategically. To move away from the notions of viral information overload and online noise.

To focus on impact.

And now, so too are we in Warrington, starting this year with a focus on young people.

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Please take a read, visit the new Impact section of the TEDxWarrington website (off the About menu) which we'll be adding lots more to, give us your thoughts and ideas for the future, and share this year's opportunity with young people near and far so that we can increase the reach what we're delivering to a wider audience. Thank you 🙏



NB. Written by me, not AI - I just still like emojis 😂

30/06/2025

How are you with the N🚫’s? Saying No? Receiving No’s? Issuing No’s? I’ve struggled with some No’s this last few days and the impact they may have.

I believe the phrase below stands true on so many levels.
“No” can be so tricky because of its relationship with emotional wellbeing and the perception of success and opportunity.

On saying ‘N🚫’
I hold my hand up and acknowledge that standing firm with my boundaries remains a work in progress. I’m a person who ‘says Yes, then figures out how’ (ref. Branson) - great for opportunities, less so for wellbeing balance and realism sometimes. I grew up being a fixer and believing that if you can help and you can give things a shot, why wouldn’t you. But I accept that I’ve often been rubbish at saying No to my own detriment.

On receiving (and accepting) N🚫’s
Well, life and business teaches us those lessons in bucket-loads. I’m sure we’ve all had plenty of No’s – kind or hurtful in intention or result, they're part of the bigger picture.

And on issuing N🚫’s
Well, I still find these super tricky because I like to see the positives in everyone and give people an opportunity.
"Man/Woman-up", folk say, "don’t get caught up in emotion".
Maybe, but maybe not.

Over the weekend, I have issued a LOT of N🚫’s as we completed the first selection stage for TEDxWarrington. Though the decisions were the result of hours of discussion and deliberation by a wider curation team alongside me, I do feel the burden of the “No” issuing.

Curating for TEDx is a privilege and a huge responsibility to procure the right ideas but also to handle the No’s with care. I take time writing the rejection emails and try to be encouraging as I know these things will cause upset for some lovely people.

The line I use in my replies is shown.
“It may be a No now, but that does not mean it is a No forever”.

We know that 'No’s' build resilience and yet it can still feel upsetting to issue and receive them.

I was once told to throw down any No’s in front of me and let them create the stepping stones to the next Yes.

I hope that I have handled them right this time and that those receiving No’s will see that analogy too.

27/06/2025

Friday-Feel-Good Feedback... is this!
With ups & downs, I've wondered all week if I'd make tonight's fizzy travels.

What a bonkers week!
100% not sustainable I know.

* A very sad funeral for a business friend and client.
* Speaking on networking at Barclays business breakfast.
* Fundraising lunch event with CAFT, packed with fun and fundraising.
* Drafting content for a website.
* 6 great 1-to-1s and some solid introductions received and offered.
* Lots of driving around Cheshire and the Wirral with no clue where I was.
* Helping a client cover staff absences.
* A plant sale fundraiser with my Mum.
* 2 exercise classes squeezed in between work visits (by changing in the car and hotel loo).
* Reviewing the fortnights TEDx marketing plans.
* A charity trustee interview.
* Creating new networking training resources and client research using AI.
* Drafting the community impact plans for TEDxWarrington.
* Annual mammogram. Gotta love the Clarks Shoes-esque boob-sizing/squishing machine. Has to be done these days.
* Dealing with caterpillar attack on my garden.
* Final Friday Networking Matters event today at Lymm Business Centre with Heather Hiley Financial Planning, the fab Neil Lewis - The Empathy Coach and a great group of attendees prepared to be vulnerable and supportive. Loved today!
* Mental Health crisis with a contact asking for help and short notice contacts (thanks to the 2 contacts who helped on this).
* Packed child 1 off with 6 uni mates to France (after finding right sized cabin bag & playing cards) and prepped child 3s meds for his school trip.
* Loads and loads and loads of reviewing TEDx speaker applications with my curation team (so grateful for the late night excessive hours they've volunteered this last fortnight).

And now...
Off duty. Yay!

En route to Newcastle (Uni open day with child 2 of 3). She's asleep (work experience this week has left her pooped and without her mothers' reserve tank of energy 😜)

I deserve this fizz.
And will enjoy it.

And though Teddie❌ was in my bag, he's on strict instructions to give me a weekend off.

But I raise the glass not to my bonkers week but to ...

1. The memory of a departed client who impacted so many. Via her eulogy this week I was even motivated to get over my lifetime Mersey tunnel hang up and try it. And the Runcorn bridge too! Week of firsts.

And
2. I also toast the 60th birthday of my best friends husband, no longer with us either to celebrate today.

To departed friends - mine or yours - thank you for giving us perspective even in our busiest working weeks.

Cheers!

19/06/2025

Just me & Teddie❌ taking time for a quiet moment & some thoughts on networking time and follow ups.

The quiet before the storm perhaps??

18/06/2025

For 6 months a year, my little❌ comes everywhere. He's a cheeky munchkin really. And I say "he" because for a while my husband thought I was having a love affair with someone called Ted.

Here's Teddie❌ on holiday in Cornwall recently trying to break my break, and then again last week chatting to Alpacas from the Woodlands Alpaca Farm during an event at our fab 2025 venue, Warrington Youth Zone.

Wherever I am right now, my little Teddie❌ will not be far.

And rightly so.
TEDx is one of my odd love affairs in life.

And with less than 1 day to go till core applications close for TEDxWarrington 2025, getting the message out about this opportunity for speakers, sponsors, the Youth Zone, the town of , and young people (watch this space - lots coming on this point), means Teddie❌ has a place in my bag and life on the road with me for the rest of this year - though I will book a holiday without him for Christmas for sure!

Keep an eye on the TEDxWarrington page, other socials, newsletter and website for other updates.

After all, I do need to try and talk about something else on here that's related to the day job 😜

29/05/2025

❌📢 10 days into the 31-day application window and I'm getting plenty of questions about how to apply. Here's a post that may help 👇

I hope to share a few more tips myself soon (whilst obviously remaining impartial and letting the wider curation team do their job).

If questions arise, there's an 'Ask a question' button on the website home page beneath the FAQs, with people at the end of the email to assist with queries not answered on the website or via the application guidance notes.

Good luck to those applying 🤞

How to apply to 2025? 🤔

💻 The only way to submit your application is via the official TEDxWarrington website, following these steps...

❗ Visit the website application section at: speak.tedxwarrington.com

❗ Check the Key Dates you need to be available for, especially the pitch evening, which is the next round of selection.

❗ Read the Applicant Guidance Notes.

❗ Complete your online application (directly or by setting up an account to come back to). It involves a short video and a few questions.

❗ Wait to hear if you’ve been selected to present at the Pitch evening on Tuesday 15th July for Core Applicants and Tuesday 2nd September for Young Applicants.

❗ Don't miss the deadlines!

Application deadline for core applicants: 5:00 PM, Thursday 19th June 2025.

Application deadline for young applicants: 5:00 PM, Thursday 31st July 2025.

We can't wait to see your great ideas this year!

21/05/2025

🔍 Did you spot this? Who do you know with an idea to share?
That little red ❌️ is certainly keeping my team & I busy with this launch. Please view/share the call out for speakers/performers. Open till 19 June.

Big news! TEDxWarrington applications are OPEN 📢

Could you be a speaker or performer?

If you've subscribed to our newsletter or stayed up to date with our social media recently, you'll be aware that the TEDxWarrington 2025 event theme is 'Identity and Purpose'❤️

💡 We're looking for speakers and performers with new ideas and creative content loosely connected to this theme that will spark conversation and incite change.

Apply via our website to go live on stage at the TEDxWarrington event on December 2nd and share your idea with a global TEDx audience.

If you have a great idea worth spreading, you have nothing to lose, so go for it 🏃