“My three worst business mistakes”, speaker Karen Skidmore tells new Athena Weybridge businesswomen’s group Local entrepreneur Karen Skidmore’s three worst business mistakes were trying to sell coaching skills rather than the advantages; trying to sell what she thought clients needed rather than what they wanted and undercharging.

She was speaking at the new Athena women’s networking group (www.athenaconnect.com) in Weybridge, which met last Thursday 26 November at The Ship Weybridge. It was attended by over 30 local businesswomen including Sally James, presenter on Brooklands FM, who also runs Unismart.

In her talk “Roller Coasters, Roundabouts and Dead End Streets”, she told the journey of how she created her business CanDoCanBe.com on her own terms. “Focus on what you’re good at and enjoy doing,” she said. “I honed in on public speaking as I enjoy it. I made sure I got five speaking engagements a month for four months. It was a great vehicle for getting myself known.”

She also recommended e-mail newsletters. “This is still the backbone of my marketing strategy,” she said. “You need to build up your database so you have a good subscriber list.”

The new Athena women’s networking group, started up by local business partners Robyn Hatley and Tricia Taylor, regional Directors, meets once a month. Running from 12 noon to 2pm, the business lunch meetings provide informal networking time, a sit-down lunch and the opportunity for women to promote their own business. The aim of Athena is to help women grow their businesses by sharing experiences, exchanging skills and giving and receiving referrals in a non-pressured environment.

The next meeting will be on Thursday 28 January. For bookings (places are £25 including lunch) and further membership information, please call Robyn Hatley 01932 422573 or Tricia Taylor 01932 882 340, or e-mail robyn@theathenanetwork.com Robyn knows the challenges faced by small businesses, as she also runs her own business “Mums The Business” (www.mumsthebusiness.com) specialising in helping other mums successfully start up and grow their own home-based business. Her business partner Tricia Taylor, mum of three children, runs Mundane Tasks (www.mundane-tasks.co.uk) supporting small businesses with their administration and bookkeeping requirements.