The Growlersworld Interviews

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The Growlersworld Interviews is an ongoing quest, bringing you closer to successful and creative people in all walks of life.

Rawle Austin presents...

A conversation with Joyann Clarke - Branding a new Entrepreneurial Journey!

Joyann Clarke is aiming to build a powerful global brand from the ground up. I spoke to her to learn about her motivations and inspirations. Rawle Austin: Can you introduce yourself to Growlersworld.com readers? Joyann Clarke: Hey World. My name is Joyann, I am 27 years young, a born Guyanese raised in the UK.

RA: You’re an up and coming business woman, why did you choose to follow this path?

JC: From a young age I have been fascinated with travel, I have always suffered from “Wanderlust” and am enthralled by the prospect of new and unknown places. I also realised that sating this lust to see and go places meant disassociating myself of certain of the usual day-to-day ties…

So I have had an idea from the get-go that I needed to create my own employment - this is a concept I learnt during my first year of college when I undertook a 2 year Advanced Business & Finance GNVQ.

Further to that, since I was undergoing my GCSEs and started to look forward to college, university and then, ultimately, a career… the vision that always came to mind was me perching sexily (in satin and pin stripes) at the edge of a solid oak desk, surrounded by glass and a view - and, of course, telling some poor employee “you're fired!”. (Jackie Collins- “Lady Boss” eat my smoke)!

As time went by I translated this to meaning, I wanted to be powerful in the corporate setting, leading a team or department… or business! As fantastic as this sounds - it was the beginnings of a solid career mind, a leader I suppose.

As soon as I had finished my studies I started to travel as often as I could. Since discovering the Internet in 2000 I have never looked back, it is incorporated into every element of my life.

RA: How did you get started in business? JC: I was lucky enough to be given one of the more desirable placements while attending Dunraven School for 2 weeks work experience - my first real experience of the live working environment. I was sent to a Solicitors Office, a busy, successful firm, with a very young and vibrant team of faces and people who I could relate to - this was the most inspiring thing for me as I saw that certain stereotypes were breakable.

I also saw that with the right attitude, energy and dedication, I too could succeed in this office environment - it was real! (Nothing like the Jackie Collins novels)!

As time went by I realised more and more that perhaps the ideal business for me would be essentially based on investing in people, be it community orientated or aimed at empowering people in some way that enabled them to carry on business activities of their own, etc.

I am also privileged to be surrounded by a few people who have also started their own business and I have seen the transition from having a small idea that could take off to having a tool that could really change lives and create sustainable futures!

RA: Can you describe your entrepreneurial journey to date? What is your business experience?

JC: Well, I went back to that placement for the entire summer holiday - with pay. I then went on to college and decided that I was hungry for work and wanted to start building my portfolio of practical administrative experience.

After the Business Studies course I took on 3 A Levels at Croydon College. After which I decided to take a year out to work full time and get a solid work experience record.

There I was enlisted as an apprentice in Legal Cost Drafting. I never looked back. I have since refined this skill and also enhanced it with the ability to draft Public Law Case Plans.

I also gained extensive Legal Secretarial skills such as audio and copy typing, drafting and producing appeals, statements, contracts and affidavits.

Later I learned strategic planning and other similar corporate tools such as writing bids, fundraising for charities and business start-up costs etc.

At the moment I am very focused on fine tuning and refining my fundraising abilities and records locally as I intend to sell this service and duplicate it abroad.

There is a growing trend in charity involvement and charitable giving so tapping into that trend and capitalising on it for the benefit of not-for-profit making organisations that rely upon this genre of income is very important to me.

As an artist and forever a student, I am keen to increase knowledge of my website designing abilities.

As I feel that the Internet is essential to anybody in business today and certainly in the future, I am passionate about helping potential customers to make an impact on their service users by blowing them away with a fantastic website.

RA: What are the three most important business related skills you have learnt so far and how do they help you?

JC: The most important thing to date is Strategic Planning. This is essential as it has shown/taught me that in business, without this, you are like a fish out of water - or worse - improvising.

Not only can you track your progress at a glance, you are able to ascertain if you are indeed meeting targets or performing to meet the objectives of your business across the board be it financial, administrative, subjective, etc, you can also see what specific performance is required to bridge the transition and progression from one strategy to the next.

Strategic planning is also essential not only for monitoring but used effectively, can also serve a dual purpose as a solid foundation for constructing quality assurance systems.

My knowledge of strategic design, compilation and implementation was acquired through my work with the Metropolitan Police when I worked with the Human Resources department of the Business Management & Planning Group (BMPG) based at Scotland Yard within the Forensic Science Directorate (FSD).

I was based in a very small and intimate team so I was exposed to every function of BMPGs purpose and targets, I was able to fully understand how each role and task was linked to the next. I had brilliant tuition and training from two qualified and experienced Human Resources Managers, Bindu Sharma and Duane Baird.

Secondly, learning Legal Cost Drafting as a skill has been instrumental in me having the confidence and drive to start my own business. I identified at the start of my billing career that this was a very uncommon skill and meant that a legal cost drafter is always in demand!

There are several solicitors’ offices on every high street and under 100 established cost drafting companies that are national known. Most of the others rely mostly on word of mouth and referrals.

The legal profession is one of the oldest and is certainly always in demand by almost everybody at some point in their lives for one reason or another, at some point a lawyer needs to be paid and there is a very complex and specific way in which governing bodies say that clients can be billed, therefore there will rarely come a time when a cost drafter is out of work or facing such a prospect.

Finally, I have to say that understanding computers - not just being able to type - but recognising its pivotal role in business today, how it can be a tool to success and certainly how invaluable the PC is to the individual and the business as a whole in its ability to function, produce, maintain and display.

The computer is definitely one of my most prised, loyal, reliable and dependant assets to date. (Without it, much would not have been possible)! To go one step further - The INTERNET! Where would I be without it?

RA: What is your ultimate ambition for your business?

JC: My ultimate ambition for my business is that it thrives and expands beyond the parameters of national status, my mission is to be an international entity.

RA: What advice would you give to someone who wants to start their own business?

JC: Go for it! Aim for the Sky, go through the roof.

Most importantly, be willing to take chances and give it 110%, it you don’t believe in your business idea DO Not expect anyone else to! Take all the advice around, go to seminars, read manuals and take advantages of all the FREE tools available out there - there is so much!

Banks have business plan designing instruction booklets, how to design a budget, etc… and don’t let me get started on all the guidance and tricks of the trade, information and guidance that you can find on the internet!

RA: Who inspires you in business and why?

JC: In business I am inspired by my Mother who started her own business with absolutely no capital whatsoever, yet is now thriving and has setup a sister company to capacitate the growing demands of her service users.

I am also generally inspired by anyone who has an idea, no matter how obscure and sees it through to fruition, generally I am inspired by those who have made something of nothing simply by applying belief and perseverance - Nelson Mandela is inspiring to me because he is living proof of this.

Needless to say I am truly inspired by all those Rap artists who not only make banging tunes that get me rocking on the dance floor, but who also have some positive, powerful and above all informative messages that we can feel!

I rate JayZ so much, because he is always true to himself, he is consistent and he knows himself, that is why we respect him so much, he is unshakeable.

JayZ also maintains me respect because he is always innovative in looking at ways to increase and above all, sustain his wealth. By creating brands and merchandise that will maintain marketable value, he is ensuring long-term investment and income.

He also does a tremendous amount of work towards regeneration of disadvantaged communities and this is very important to me generally.

Richard Branson is also a massive inspiration to me for his imagination and again, branding and capacity building. His brand is known and trusted and above all - consistent. Like JayZ - anybody who wants to sell a product will beg him to endorse it, e.g. JayZ and IBM.

For this reason I also have a bit of respect for P Diddy - from rap star to endorsing top blue chip products.

RA: How do you keep yourself motivated to achieve your goals?

JC: Pictures of my travels are all I need Rawle. My Holiday Album.

Those picturesque shots, memories of glimpses of paradise are all I need, I just tell myself that I will be waking up to that and eating fresh food and listening to the first waves of the day and feeling the sun get hot…

It is hoped that I will at some point (very soon) require a relocation to facilitate to setup of an offshore branch to accommodate the growing needs [of the business].

RA: What impact does the internet have on your business and how will you incorporate the World Wide Web in your future plans?

JC: The World Wide Web is essential to the future and sustainability of my business. It is THE KEY!

Without the web, my business would be limited to national and possible even London wide status. The internet will facilitate almost 50% of the business activities which ultimately means doubling my potential annual turnover as a direct result of incorporating it into my business activities.

RA: You have an ambition to live overseas. Why does this course of action attract you?

JC: Well Rawle, I was born in the sun, and spent the first 5 ½ of the first magical years of my life in what I consider paradise! My siblings and I (then 5), were told by my grandmother that we were coming to England to see my Mum and Dad and our new baby sister (the only one of the four of us born in England)! Of course we were excited but the main question we all had was when would we return?!

We were assured that Mum and Dad would decide that and let us know but we would indeed at some time return. Some 22 years later Rawle I am still waiting for that confirmation.

I therefore decided that I had no option but to take myself back to that haven of constant sunrays, serious heat and a laid back philosophical outlook that comes as standard!

My travels have intensified these feelings of wanderlust and need for sun and heat on a daily basis, aside from being what I know naturally - it also helps me to feel optimism, positivity, wellbeing and general peacefulness.

I have not felt that since I was a child. There is a constant threat of failure and a deep seated sense of urgency that comes with the hustle and bustle of inner city urban life that I feel desperate to eradicate. I also feel that in another surrounding and lifestyle I will be more open to other things besides work.

I have done a lot of travelling and seen many major cities, but nothing compares to the feeling of "coming home” that overwhelmed me when I when to Dominican Republic in Easter 2006. I stayed in Puerto Plata at a beautiful resort “Hacienda Garden Club” situated on Cofresi Beach.

I had a strong sense of déjà vu! That was the first time in years that I had a feeling of weightlessness, I had a strong sense of belonging and an intuitive knack of knowing /familiarity with the surroundings, the people and the careless feeling that I call “CarriCom”!

I also feel that the skills I have acquired can be an invaluable and lasting contribution to the Caribbean community (where I will choose to settle) once harnessed and channelled in the right way and correctly applied.

This is something I plan to develop and market to a wide service area, a service that can then be duplicated and re-used and become widespread.

I am also keen to lower my stress levels, lower my living costs and really accumulate liquid capital to invest offshore by purchasing land and property that can be used to facilitate community provisions.

I plan to make a home and life for myself that can mean that I do not need to return to England to live but only to visit. Ideally Rawle, I would like to have a family and raise the young 'uns in a different environment to the one I am seeing and envision in London/England.

RA: How do you like to spend your spare time?

JC: Well, currently I spend 90% of my spare time at the PC, either chatting to friends and/or relatives locally and abroad, researching business ideas or concepts, shopping or downloading music and movies - I love the foreign films at the moment.

Aside from the World Wide Web, I read a lot. I love a good detective novel, Patricia Cornwell will forever have my utmost admiration and awe. I read a lot of James Pattersons’ and John Grisham too. I have also discovered Kathy Reichs who is similar in style to Patricia in her detailed narration of forensic pathology.

More recently I discovered Minette Walters whose novels tell unforgettable stories and are imprinted in my memory, another new English novelist is Martina Cole, whose novels I await greedily.

For light reading I enjoy a John Francome novel, all of which are centred on the horse racing profession. Of course, an all time favourite and indeed my first love is the King himself - Stephen. He has yet to write a bad novel or even an “average” one.

RA: And finally, what words of wisdom would you like to leave us with?

JC: Often people focus on all the things that are barriers and what/whom and why they cannot get to where they are heading. If you agree and accept that you are indeed on your way up or indeed to wherever it is you are going, and are sure that there is a reality in this achievement then you are half way there.

Focus on all the positive things that you can do, the objectives that are attainable and accept the things that you cannot change, there is a solution to everything even if the ultimate act is simply to walk away.

In business and in life, the act of trying and failing is preferable to have never tried or never done.

Back to my reference to Nelson Mandela, freedom or indeed imprisonment is very much emotional and mental as it is physical. Much like the teachings of religion “…the kingdom of heaven is all around you… it is inside you…”

The principle is that searching for things externally is not always the answer, like going from one church/religion to the next, when it would be so much more simple to create and nurture a relationship with oneself!

The freedom and peace that comes from this relationship is priceless - “the Greatest love of all“, and the empowerment that comes with it makes one feel invincible!

Life is short, sweet and precious! LIVE!!!

The world is a very small place and there is so much to offer, never be accused of merely existing - just experience life as much as possible and always be open to change and new experiences, be it people, places or concepts - Just live and strive!

Mishel Isaacs - Loving Media Anthropology and Sharing Success!>

<Paul Nicholson - Designing Art for a New Age!

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