It's always wonderful to see independent people making their way in life, love and business but we all need support along the way.

As an self-employed business woman, I found myself being able to work to my own schedule whilst being a Mom to two young children and working from home. It has loads of advantages in that I could drop and collect my kids from school, make my own hours and arrange clients visits during times that suited my family requirements. The disadvantages were that I felt isolated at times in having to be the marketing, sales and advertising, project administrator and financial person along with being a wellness coach to my clients, running groups, workshops and retreats in person, all this and trying to write my book. I still wonder how I managed it all!?

Today as I sit here and write this, I am still working from home, but have spread my wings and given myself space to ask for support in the things I am really not good at! I don't have to be superwoman!! Many of the things that I was unable to do, I just put aside and told myself I didn't need them for my business, but now I realise that if we don't keep up with technology and keep learning, we will be left behind and our business won't grow and develop.

I had heard of Samantha Kelly and Women's Inspire Network on social media and followed with great interest at the content of their posts and tweets. It wasn't until Samantha connected me to a fellow Coach and Author Hilary Connor that I realised that I needed that connection with other like minded women in business who were all there to support and help each other to grow and learn from one another. I have since connected with so many wonderful ladies in our galway meet up which was started by Asumpta Gallagher and reconnected with some old friends too. Only this morning I had a message from Sharon Thompson asking me to do a crowdcast with her, I smiled as I replied immediately saying "Yes", knowing that this was a learning opportunity for me as I replied with "you will have to show me how to do that". Everything new can be daunting at times, but it is also very exciting to know that there are so many wonderful people in this group that are willing to share their expertise and skills with us.

The more we connect and share with each other, the more we will grow and develop ourselves and our businesses. I always believe that no matter what we learn, it is not just so that we 'know stuff' but that we are able to pass it on to another.

This is the start of my journey with WIN and I am so happy to see where it will take me as so far it has been amazing.

Sharon Fitzmaurice

Holistic Wellness Coach & Author