My experience in New York; an abundance of offers to help me build my business

“If I can make it there, I can make it anywhere!” Frank Sinatra summed this great impenetrable city up in one immortal line. I can’t say that I even began to question where I would start if I was to do business in New York as the thought never occurred to me in the first place.

A group of highly spirited women arrived in Cork in July from NewJersey and I was handed a golden ticket to visit them on their own home ground thanks to a competition organised via CorkInnovates and the Cork Foundation. As the ever-resourceful Siobhan Finn and I started to brainstorm about the trip, it made sense to add some time in the heart of the Big Apple to the itinerary. Now, if you were to spend some time in NYC seeking business contacts, where would you start? At the beginning of the Summer I wouldn't have known. The answer is now overwhelmingly clear to me – the Irish diaspora. Birds of a feather…

During the course of the 72 hours spent in New York, we met 8 people spanning a wide number of organisations including New York Digital Irish and the IIBN. While the meetings were all very different, I spotted a common thread running through them. Each person was immensely positive, with wide ranging offers to help and a willingness to suggest ideas and introduce new contacts. My experience was filled with openness, warmth and a sense of connection through Irishness.

So, have I sold 100,000 wristbands and opening an office in Manhattan? If I’m to be honest, I thought this should be the result of my trip across the Atlantic. However, reality was quick to set in as I realised that the realistic objective and result of these meetings was the beginning of a valuable relationship. I have a huge to-do list when I get home. I have to create a spreadsheet of contacts, follow up individually, help them to help me, engage with them and invest time and energy in that relationship and start planning my next journey to the US. My experience in New York was exhausting, exhilarating and exciting, but now the work starts to generate the highest ROI that I can from the opportunity.

For any reader who thinks doing business in the US is only for multinationals, I urge you to think differently. Start thinking now about whom you know, what they can do to help you and what you can do for them. For any reader planning their own trip to the States with a view to navigating their way through the commercial landscape, factor in as much time afterwards to follow up as that’s where the true value sits. For any reader who is dreaming about a holiday to New York in the coming months, check out the sites of the aforementioned organisations which may give an opportunity to start your own star spangled little black book. The US really is the Land of Opportunity; now is the time for me to find IDME’s place in the city that never sleeps.

5 Photos of our kids we should all avoid sharing online.

If anyone knows how tempting it is to share our kids' hysterical, adorable, or the ‘you won’t believe what they've done now’ moments with our entire social networks, it's us. We get it. As proud parents we want to shout their children's accomplishments regardless of how big or small. But the Internet is a vast and potentially scary place, and it's our duty to protect our families. As nice as it would be if those privacy settings were a sufficient barrier, there are still limitations to every safety net that we have to be conscious of. Here are 5 Photos of our Kids that we as parents should hold off on sharing with the Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter-verse.

1. Other Peoples kids

 Everyone has their own positions on sharing their children's faces on social media, so before you go posting and tagging away after a birthday party or school trip, be sure to respect the views of the other families involved.

2. Where they go to school

We hate to think of our kids' schools as being anything other than a safe zone, but the reality is, it's a scary world out there. If you share photos of your children in the classroom or on school grounds, make sure that the name and/or features that distinguish its location are kept hidden.

3. Nude Photos

The childhood pics I have with my dad sharing bath time are among my prized possessions, however the reasons to steer clear of this category are pretty obvious. While your rationale for sharing photos of your bath time tots is as straightforward as "they're so cute!" it's simply not worth the risk of those pictures getting into the wrong hands. Most social networks employ nudity standards, but as parents we should take these a step further. If a photo could be misconstrued as being sexual or suggestive in nature, just don't post.

4. Photos that show their whole name

Just as we should stay clear of personalized backpacks and jackets for our kids, parents who post should refrain from sharing pictures that include their children's names. Whether it's a name tag for a school event, a team jersey, or holding up an A+ school report, make sure that your child's full name is blurred or cropped out of the image before sharing.

5. Anything your kids may not want public

An easy guideline to follow when you're deciding which snaps of your kids to share is this: if you think that they might not want the picture made public (now or years down the road, if they're little), then don't share it. It's as simple as that. If a photo is embarrassing, unflattering, or seems like it should be private, then respect your child. Best keep those shots to use on their 21^st birthday cake ;-)

To find out more about us visit iDME.ie

How To Help Prevent Alzheimer's Sufferers Wandering

6 out of 10 people with dementia will wander. A person with Alzheimer's may not remember his or her name or address, and can become disoriented, even in familiar places. Wandering among people with dementia is dangerous, but there are strategies you can use to help prevent it.

Who is at risk of wandering?

Anyone who has memory problems and is able to walk is at risk for wandering. Even in the early stages of dementia, a person can become disoriented or confused for a period of time. It's important to plan ahead for this type of situation. Be on the lookout for the following warning signs:

    
·         Returns from a regular walk or drive later than usual
·         Tries to fulfil former obligations, such as going to work
·         Tries or wants to "go home," even when at home
·         Is restless, paces or makes repetitive movements
·         Has difficulty locating familiar places like the bathroom, bedroom or dining room
·         Asks the whereabouts of current or past friends and family
·         Acts as if doing a hobby or chore, but nothing gets done

      (e.g., moves around pots and dirt without actually planting anything)
·         Appears lost in a new or changed environment

Tips to prevent wandering.

Wandering can happen, even if you are the most diligent of caregivers.

Use the following strategies to help lower the chances:

·         Carry out daily activities. Having a routine can provide structure. Learn about creating a daily plan.
·         Identify the most likely times of day that wandering may occur. Plan activities at that time. Activities and         exercise can reduce anxiety, agitation and restlessness.
·         Reassure the person if he or she feels lost, abandoned or disoriented. If the person with dementia wants        to leave to "go home" or "go to work," use communication focused on exploration and validation.                  Refrain from correcting the person. For example, "We are staying here tonight. We are safe and I'll be          with you. We can go home in the morning after a good night's rest."
·         Ensure all basic needs are met. Has the person gone to the bathroom? Is he or she thirsty or hungry?
·         Avoid busy places that are confusing and can cause disorientation. This could be a shopping centre,             grocery stores or other busy venues.
·         Place locks out of the line of sight. Install either high or low on exterior doors, and consider placing slide       bolts at the top or bottom.
·         Camouflage doors and door knobs. Camouflage doors by painting them the same colour as the walls, or        cover them with removable curtains or screens. Cover knobs with cloth the same colour as the door or          use childproof knobs.
·         Use devices that signal when a door or window is opened. This can be as simple as a bell placed above        a door or as sophisticated as an electronic home alarm.
·         Provide supervision. Never lock the person with dementia in at home alone or leave him or her in a car         without supervision.
·         Keep car keys out of sight. A person with dementia may drive off and be at risk of potential harm to             themselves or others.
·         If night wandering is a problem: Make sure the person has restricted fluids two hours before bedtime             and has gone to the bathroom just before bed. Also, use night lights throughout the home.

Make a plan.

The stress experienced by families and caregivers when a person with dementia wanders and becomes lost is significant. Have a plan in place beforehand, so you know what to do in case of an emergency.

·         Keep a list of people to call on for help. Have telephone numbers easily accessible.
·         Ask neighbours, friends and family to call if they see the person alone.
·         Keep a recent, close-up photo and updated medical information on hand to give to police.
·         Know your neighbourhood. Pinpoint dangerous areas near the home, such as bodies of water, open             stairwells, dense foliage, tunnels, bus stops and roads with heavy traffic.
·         Is the individual right or left-handed? Wandering generally follows the direction of the dominant hand.
·         Keep a list of places where the person may wander. This could include past jobs, former homes, places       of worship or a restaurant.
·         Provide the person with an iDME wristband, which can hold all their emergency contact and medical              information, make wearing it part of their daily routine.
·         If the person does wander, search the immediate area for no more than 15 minutes. Call "112/999" and          report to the police that a person with Alzheimer's disease — a "vulnerable adult" — is missing.

www.homeinstead.ie 

For further information on iDME wristbands please visit www.idme.ie 

and for Advice on Caring for Someone with Alzheimer's please visit 

www.homeinstead.ie 

Special thanks to www.alz.org for resource info

Making the Winning Connection: How a 15 minute pitch changed my business!

I knew entering Cork Innovates that if I won, it would help propel my business to the next level. I had been operating my business IDME, on a shoestring, having sold my car and more to create capital and initially finance its set up and Cork Innovates was the life line I needed to keep it going. I went into the first round of interviews with my shopping list, confidently telling the interview panel I knew exactly how I was going to spend the bursary of €30,000, what I hadn’t counted on was the true value of the Bursary and how much that would impact on the success of IDME.

The individual contacts from each of the Cork Innovates business partners have gone above and beyond the monetary value of the prize and have always been available to offer advice and direction which I have grown to value more than anything.

The team at the Rubicon Centre have been my saving grace, George, Peter and Paul, or the holy trinity as I like to call them, albeit behind their backs, allowing me to work with them and their open door policy allowing me to call on them at any point  I needed support or guidance, opening up their giant book of contacts for me to take full advantage of, and likewise as I was in close proximity they could just as easily collar me for an update and either pat me on the back or give me a much needed kick up the you know what but all for my own good of course to get me back on track  ;-)

Emmet at Woodland Print taught me the importance of creating that first impression and making it count, creating my business cards, stationery and packaging graphics.

Ger, Ted and Zahid at Studio49 took me under their wing and have helped develop my new website, listening to my ideas and guiding me through the online world.

Mary at Westboro Partners has been my port of call on many occasions helping me navigate financial spreadsheets, projections, VAT and Taxation queries dealing with each issue I had with grace and patience.

Gemma and Alice at the Irish Examiner have helped me create an advertising campaign which spans 12 months covering both print and even online which has been a dream of mine and finally now being realised.

Linda, Dan and the team at Voxpro have been a constant support and will be key to IDME entering the UK market.

Sharon from Brook Catering with her excellent staff and the amazing Vertigo room in the county hall will be where I will host my first IDME event where you can bet there will be a finer cuisine than my mother’s corned beef sandwiches.

Renata at Cameo Communications who also is helping me with the Newstalk aspect of the Bursary win has been incredibly generous with her time and works with me to ensure I am getting the IDME message across in the media and helping raise our brand awareness.

AIB, in particular Oonagh and Marguerite have been so approachable and again generous with their support and set me on my path towards Cork Innovates and the Rubicon centre from the very beginning.

And finally Patrick from the Cork Chamber of Commerce shared his hints and tips on getting the most out of my membership of the Chamber and highlighted for me the fantastic courses that are available to all members’

You see the true value of the bursary are the people and connections I have made in the last year, all of which has been vital to the continued success of IDME and I know these relationships will continue into the future.

It would be amiss not to note the incredible support, mentorship and generosity of two key people involved in the great success that is Cork Innovates, Ms Siobhan Finn and Mr Anthony O’Mara. I cannot stress enough how their guidance has been pivotal to my story and to IDME.

They have been my sounding block on many an occasion, Siobhan with her gentle manner and wise words where we have shared many a story and I feel a real kinship and with Anthony’s direct challenging approach, making me think bigger, better and outside the box. I will never forget the afternoon I won Cork Innovates while having some pictures taken, I whispered thanks to Anthony and as an aside I mentioned I couldn't believe I had won to which he retorted ‘then why did you enter so, if you thought you wouldn't win? You must have thought you could or else why bother?’ Well that was certainly lesson no. 1 of many to which I have been grateful to learn through our conversations, the lesson being not to put yourself down, believe you will succeed and just do it!

To you both I owe the deepest gratitude for the opportunity Cork innovates has granted me.

Cork Innovates has enabled me to focus on building my business with the assurance of having an experienced team of resources available to me but more importantly a team of people who want to see me succeed and are willing to share their time and knowledge with me in order to make that happen, which would be crucial to any start up and certainly has been for mine, allowing me to strategically develop my business.

The prestige of the win has opened many doors too not just here in Cork but nationwide and even internationally, I am heading to New York to meet with the Leading Women Entrepreneurs & Business Owners in December all thanks to Cork Innovates in association with the Cork Foundation and I think it is very safe to say Cork is now being looked on as an example of entrepreneurship with the amazing work that Cork Innovates and Siobhan Finn has been doing in highlighting our SME’s.

Cork is a great place to grow a business with wonderful initiatives like Cork Innovates, the generosity of spirit from fellow businesses who want you to succeed and the support of the City and County Enterprise Boards; there is no better time to start.

If you are a new business I would highly recommend putting yourself out there and entering Cork Innovates 2014, the Bursary purse is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the amount of exposure and network opportunities that will be available for you, all you have to do is take full advantage of it and use it!

www.idme.ie                                        www.corkinnovates.com