Podcast appearances and mentions of tracey warren

What if one conversation could shift the direction of your business and lead to more successful sales? In this episode of the Sales Maven Show, host Nikki Rausch welcomes back returning guest Tracey Warren for an inspiring conversation about business evolution, mission-driven work, and the power of strategic offers. Tracey shares how she transitioned from social media marketing to helping nonprofits build stronger donor relationships and create lifelong supporters. She also reflects on a breakthrough moment during a 15-minute spotlight coaching session with Nikki—where they designed a VIP Day offer that will now help nonprofit teams collaborate more effectively, reignite momentum, and ultimately drive more successful sales and support for their causes. Tune in to discover the impact of intentional offers, the importance of community, and how VIP Days can help organizations reach their goals faster and more efficiently. Find Nikki: Nikki Rausch nikki@yoursalesmaven.com Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram Sales Maven Society Work With Nikki Discussion To download free Resources from Nikki: www.yoursalesmaven.com/maven

Many entrepreneurs debate creating a unique voice on social media. It's understandable for brands to question the wording they use when there's so much content out there. After all, your word choice is how your ideal clients recognize how aligned you are with their needs. What words connect with them the most? Your very own Sales Maven, Nikki Rausch, is here to offer tips, techniques, and strategies to master your sales conversations. Discover methods to place yourself in the position to thrive in business and produce true value for your audience. Today, learn how word choice matters when selling during this Sales Success Story on this episode of the Sales Maven Show. Tracey Warren manages her company, Ignite Your Champions, as a community creator, content creator, and engagement specialist. She makes social media marketing fun, simple, easy and effective so you can eliminate the hustle and scarcity thinking that often comes with owning a business. Business coaches and consultants hire her to provide consistent social media content and presence that gets ideal clients to take action. In today's episode, Nikki and Tracey discuss how word choice matters when selling. Tracey talks about how changing a few words upgraded her content, and now this word choice habit has become a fun challenge whenever she creates content for social media. Listen as Nikki and Tracey talk about embracing the little ways to make your content unique to you and your ideal clients. Nikki invites you to join the Sales Maven Society; take advantage of this opportunity for you and Nikki to work together. Bring your questions, concerns, and sales situations; she provides answers and guidance to boost your confidence. Join the Sales Maven Society here, click add to cart, and then at checkout, use coupon code: 47trial to get your first month for $47.00   In This Episode: [00:27] - Welcome, and thank you for listening! [00:49] - Tracey Warren helps you build a media presence that gets your ideal clients to take action. [03:34] - Tracey explains the title of her upcoming book that you can't ignore. What's the story? [05:01] - Sometimes support means showing up as a cheerleader. [07:55] - Tracey talks about how changing these few words changed her content. [10:25] - Embrace the little ways you can make your content unique to you. [13:23] - Have fun and experiment with language to attract your ideal clients. [16:10] - Tracey talks about the amazing community of the Sales Maven Society. [18:20] - Thank you for listening. Nikki is so grateful you are here!   For more actionable sales tips, download the FREE Closing The Sale Ebook.   Find Nikki: Nikki Rausch nikki@yoursalesmaven.com Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram Sales Maven Society Work With Nikki Discussion To download free Resources from Nikki: www.yoursalesmaven.com/maven   Find Tracey: Tracey Warren Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram Ignite Your Champions: Build Your Business by Creating Connection and Community Six-Word Lessons for Successful Social Media

Do you find yourself constantly busy, but aren't achieving the success you think you should? Community and Content Strategist and Author Tracey Warren was tired of watching women struggle with their businesses, so she decided to do something to help. Her book, Ignite Your Champions, teaches how to build content and community through social media, online marketing, and in-person relationships.   You will hear: How the “Do all the things” mentality hinders your success How to stop being busy and start moving forward How we are getting social media wrong And more!   About Tracy Warren: Tracey Warren teaches business owners how to grow a business and create a profitable community with ease and joy by making marketing fun, simple, easy, and effective. She is an author, truth teller, community creator, and fun, authentic speaker. She is a bold example of how authenticity and vulnerability can be a huge asset for entrepreneurs who want to build community.    Check out Tracey's book, Ignite Your Champions: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09F8Q58P8/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1   Schedule a free call with me to learn more about my True to You course: https://marijwuellner.youcanbook.me   Send me a DM and share your biggest takeaways with me! https://instagram.com/mariwuellner   Come join me in my FREE Facebook community, Living on Purpose: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1134719986595218/ 

Today's bonus episode of the podcast comes from the "It Should've Been Me" Community Project. Who do you turn to when the messy middle of building a business becomes TOO MUCH to handle? Today, we have Tracey Warren a very raw and vulnerable “It Should've Been Me Moment” and what she did to navigate through that moment to remind us all - even when it's hard - there is a way through. If you've enjoyed this story and want to hear more stories like this one, sign up for the community project at drmichellemazur.com/me

On this episode of the Write.Publish.Market. podcast, Jodi interviews Tracey Warren. Tracey shares with us the process she used to not only write her book, but how she reignited curiosity in her book after the book launch. Can you guess the number one reason Tracey discovered as to why her sales were declining? She stopped talking about it as much as she had during launch. We all know it can feel like we're doing nothing but talking about our product or service or business, but in reality, people aren't seeing it as much as we think they are. Jodi and Tracey talk about key ways to talk about your book without talking about your book, so definitely tune in for those tips! They also chat about getting started with your book and areas you may be stuck on. Sometimes it looks like a new method or environment, and sometimes it is purely about making the time. Tracey shares that she had to get away for a weekend and brain dump her whole book before she could get started. Jodi calls this a “working living document” and highly encourages all of her clients to have one of these as they get started with their books. And you can too! Head to the link below for the full transcript and to meet our guest.  Show Notes  

Biz Bites Monday: The Connection Queen Tracey Warren Have you ever wanted some insight on building more community? Join the conversation with the Connection Queen herself, Tracey Warren. She owns and operates two businesses, both that are centered around creating community - which is absolutely her zone of genius. InSpark Coworking is a shared office and workspace for in person community. Ignite Your Champions is her new business that is about bringing ease and joy into your marketing activities - knowing you can get farther and faster when you are surrounded by Champions than you can alone. Check out her website to learn more: https://igniteyourchampions.com --- Join our FB group for Female Business Owners & Entrepreneurs Who are creating Big, Bold Businesses! https://marybicknell.com/facebookgroup  Follow me over on Insta: https://www.instagram.com/marybicknellbebold/   Find business building articles on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marybicknell/  Grab the Closing the Deal Script: https://marybicknell.com/closingthedeal  --- Listen every Monday for your Biz Bites: 10-minute bite-sized action step for the week. And every Wednesday for all things personal development, removing your self-imposed psychological glass ceiling, a little bit on relationships, mindset, confidence, business, entrepreneurship, money, and all the things needed to get out of mediocrity because….why choose average? Let this podcast be your go-to, how-to for growing your business, to elevate your mind. Created for the woman who wants more. Are you a business owner, mama, entrepreneur, consultant, coach, speaker, author or do you just want to have it all? Whether it's how-to have a 3-day work week, to finally feeling like the badass you are, I've got you covered. More resources: ***Ready for some personalized attention? Want to scale your business? Ready to have high-touch success coaching? Let's talk: marybicknell.com/callwithmary ***Want to chat live? Every Tuesday @ 830 am pst,  join me on Instagram, LinkedIn or Facebook for the Behind The Scenes Stories of Success: The wins & the fails @marybicknellbebold ***Make sure to follow, download and leave a review right here. https://leadalifeuncommon.libsyn.com/ ***Grab your copy of The Guide to Your Hidden Thoughts About Money & Success, https://www.marybicknell.com/podcast/ ***Need help Closing the Deal? Grab your training: The Art of the Ask: How to have a sales conversation and enroll a new client without feeling pushy, salesy, and asking for the big bucks. https://www.marybicknell.com/podcast/ --- Lead a Life Uncommon™:  Because You Deserve To Be A Woman You Are Proud Of. Be, Do & Have Whatever the Hell You Want....Unapologetically & Guilt-Free. Hey, It's Time for you & your future self to feel happy & proud every single day. I'm Mary Bicknell, LCSW. My company SeeTheSigns, LLC is a global consulting company that helps women Catapult out of their psychological limitations to become the go-to leaders in their industry. I'm committed to waking you up, see yourself with new eyes, and fully embrace your power! Time and truth are the core values in the company. As a former psychotherapist turned Success & Leadership Mentor, I'm candid with you out of deep respect for your time. I have found telling the truth in the name of support has become a lost art in the world of bullshitters. Being truthful with all women, my clients, my daughter and myself is the catalyst for transformation so we can all Lead a Life Uncommon™, because why choose average?

Talking with author, community creator, and business consultant Tracey Warren.

Tracey Warren opened the first co-working space in Snohomish County in 2017. Today we talk with Tracey about co-working, building community, and all things small business.Thanks for tuning into this episode of the Exploring Washington State Podcast! If the information in our conversations and interviews are enjoyable and valuable to you, please head over to iTunes, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review. Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver great, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more amazing listeners just like you! If you want to read about some of the many amazing places to explore in Washington State, you should just pack your bags and go! Explore Washington State is the perfect place for inspiration.    Check it out today.   Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ExploringWash)

Tracey Warren is a Community and Engagement Specialist and the Founder and CEO of InSpark Coworking, a collaborative workspace for entrepreneurs, freelancers, and remote workers. She is known as the connection queen and shows women entrepreneurs how to create amazing content that can help build a thriving community with ease. Tracey is also an author, truth-teller, community creator, and authentic speaker. She is a bold example of how authenticity and vulnerability can be a huge asset for entrepreneurs who want to build community. Whatever trail she blazes and every journey she travels, including her recent victory over breast cancer, she shows up fully as herself. She wants you to know that you can too. In this episode… For someone who has built successful businesses, Tracey Warren knows that it is okay not to care what other people think. She also knows how important it is to understand yourself and the people you serve.  However, this does not come easily for most people — especially women. They fail to realize that being leaders sometimes requires them to make independent decisions without worrying about what others say or think. It is perfectly okay not to agree with everybody. Tracey advises women to give themselves permission not to care what other people think and to be comfortable with who they are. In this episode of the Lead Like A Woman Show, Andrea Heuston interviews Tracey Warren, the Founder and CEO of InSpark Coworking, to talk about building an engaging community and creating value your way. Tracey also talks about her Ignite Your Champions business, her new book, and her experience battling breast cancer. Stay tuned.

Kate interviews Tracey Warren, owner of InSpark Co-Working, Social Media influencer & Expert, Community Creator, Speaker & Author. Tracey teaches business owners how to grow a business & create profitable communities with ease and joy by making marketing fun, simple & effective. She is a truth teller & connection queen. Tracey is a bold example of how authenticity & vulnerability can be an asset for entrepreneurs who want to build their business by creating community. Whatever trail she blazes or journey she travels, including her recent victory over breast cancer, she shows up fully as herself. Tune in to find out more about the power and value of community and how to build it!

Ignite Your Champions with special guest Tracey Warren. Website: https://igniteyourchampions.com/

If you're a business owner marketing, and networking is crucial – but not everyone knows how to go about that, or has the time. That's where Tracey Warren, Business Coach/Consultant, and Author of Ignite Your Champions comes in, she is committed to “helping you create community online and off, so that you can build your […]

"Change never stops ... When I was running my social media marketing company, I kept thinking that one day I would arrive. And I would arrive and know exactly what I do and who I am in the world. And arrival - like that's a joke right?" - Tracey Warren

In this episode of R, D and the Inbetweens, I talk to Dr. Ghee Bowman, Tracey Warren, Kensa Broadhurst, Laura Burnett and Catherine Queen about being a mature PGR - the benefits, the challenges, and what Universities need to do better.   Music credit: Happy Boy Theme Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/   Podcast transcript   1 00:00:09,170 --> 00:00:15,800 Hello and welcome to R, D and the In Betweens, I'm your host, Kelly Preece, 2 00:00:15,800 --> 00:00:32,210 and every fortnight I talk to a different guest about researchers, development and everything in between. 3 00:00:32,210 --> 00:00:36,170 Hello and welcome to the latest episode of R, D and the In Betweens. 4 00:00:36,170 --> 00:00:39,140 That's right. You are hearing my dulcet tones again. 5 00:00:39,140 --> 00:00:47,930 I am back after a three episode break where the wonderful Dr. Edward Mills guest hosted a few episodes for me. 6 00:00:47,930 --> 00:00:53,450 So in this episode, I'm going to be carrying on a conversation that started actually on Twitter. 7 00:00:53,450 --> 00:01:02,660 So a number of our PGRs raised issues with some of the support that's available at the university for them as mature PGRs. 8 00:01:02,660 --> 00:01:12,050 And so we thought it'd be really valuable to have a conversation about what it means to be a mature PGR, what that even is, what the challenges are, 9 00:01:12,050 --> 00:01:24,710 what the benefits are, and also what advice they have for any mature students who are thinking of starting or about to start a research degree. 10 00:01:24,710 --> 00:01:29,110 So let's start with introductions. Ghee and Tracey happy to go first. 11 00:01:29,110 --> 00:01:37,920 Hello, my name is Ghee Bowman. I finished my Ph.D. in history in well I submitted in September 2019. 12 00:01:37,920 --> 00:01:41,810 I am now. I'll be sixty in two months. 13 00:01:41,810 --> 00:01:54,380 I came back to do a PhD as a relatively mature student because I found a story that really fascinated and intrigued me. 14 00:01:54,380 --> 00:02:00,770 Hi, I'm Tracey Warren. I did an EdD or I'm doing it. 15 00:02:00,770 --> 00:02:06,860 I submitted about four weeks ago, so I got my viva in three weeks. 16 00:02:06,860 --> 00:02:18,470 I was working in Abu Dhabi and Dubai when I started this journey, so I did it as a distance learning international student. 17 00:02:18,470 --> 00:02:21,080 That's great. Now, Catherine and Kensa. Hi. 18 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:30,770 Yeah, I, I've been working in private practise for over thirty years as a town planner and a landscape architect, 19 00:02:30,770 --> 00:02:34,160 and there was a real world problem that troubled me. 20 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:41,720 And I had the bright idea of coming back to university and actually doing a PhD to try and answer the question that I had in my mind. 21 00:02:41,720 --> 00:02:50,330 So I actually applied for a Ph.D. that was advertised, fully funded and with a supervisor that I particularly wanted to work with. 22 00:02:50,330 --> 00:02:55,040 So I've come back into human geography. Hi, my name is Kensa 23 00:02:55,040 --> 00:03:06,050 I am a second year full time student at the Institute for Cornish Studies, which is in Exeter's other campus down in Penryn in Cornwall. 24 00:03:06,050 --> 00:03:15,470 I had been a teacher for about twenty years, having done the normal university master's degree straight after undergraduate. 25 00:03:15,470 --> 00:03:22,700 And then I was made redundant and very serendipitously that summer that I left school. 26 00:03:22,700 --> 00:03:34,100 My PhD, which came with funding for my fees, was advertised and I thought, why not I'd always wanted to do one 27 00:03:34,100 --> 00:03:40,220 So I applied, got this award at the studentship and started the PhD and last. 28 00:03:40,220 --> 00:03:41,990 But by no means least, Laura, 29 00:03:41,990 --> 00:03:52,160 I'm Laura Burnett, I'm doing a PhD in history and archaeology and I did the undergraduate degree in archaeology and then I worked for a few years, 30 00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:58,820 digging and so on then went back into the Master's. And then I worked professionally within archaeology for about fifteen years. 31 00:03:58,820 --> 00:04:06,740 And I always knew I wanted to come back and do a Ph.D. but it was around identifying a topic that I knew I wanted to do and I knew would work. 32 00:04:06,740 --> 00:04:12,710 And then timing wise, it's been about fitting around kind of family requirements and so on. 33 00:04:12,710 --> 00:04:17,390 And that's why I started now and partly why I've chosen to start in Exeter 34 00:04:17,390 --> 00:04:19,670 Thanks, everyone, for those fabulous introductions. 35 00:04:19,670 --> 00:04:28,190 I think what that really captures is the varying routes back into or into postgraduate research and postgraduate study. 36 00:04:28,190 --> 00:04:31,580 And I wondered if we could just take a little bit of a step back, actually, 37 00:04:31,580 --> 00:04:38,210 and think about what we mean by the term mature student or in this case, mature PGR. 38 00:04:38,210 --> 00:04:41,300 They'll be kind of an official university label, 39 00:04:41,300 --> 00:04:47,570 which generally encompasses somebody who has'nt gone straight through tertiary and further and higher education. 40 00:04:47,570 --> 00:04:54,920 So GCSE's A-levels, undergraduate degree, master's degree straight into some form of research degree, 41 00:04:54,920 --> 00:05:03,230 but that doesn't necessarily work as a label for everyone. And I wondered what you thought of it as a term and how you felt about it as a 42 00:05:03,230 --> 00:05:08,270 label and a classification of who you are as a as a researcher and as a student. 43 00:05:08,270 --> 00:05:13,970 I think it is reasonable to label it. I don't know whether we can define how quickly I think is quite typical. 44 00:05:13,970 --> 00:05:17,870 My experience in talking to students is one or two years gap, 45 00:05:17,870 --> 00:05:25,020 but I think all of us here are people who've had a much longer gap the between kind of finishing our undergraduate off. 46 00:05:25,020 --> 00:05:29,820 As you know, it's not just one or two years of working at that or saving up some money. 47 00:05:29,820 --> 00:05:34,860 We've all had quite substantial gaps, which probably did change both our life situation, 48 00:05:34,860 --> 00:05:40,890 but also the kind of experience and viewpoint we bring to doing a Ph.D. 49 00:05:40,890 --> 00:05:45,630 So I think it's worth thinking about a separate group, but I wouldn't say it's people who just haven't gone straight through. 50 00:05:45,630 --> 00:05:52,830 I'd say probably the people have had at least four to five years of professional experience before they come back. 51 00:05:52,830 --> 00:05:57,480 I you know, I kind of I self identify as young. 52 00:05:57,480 --> 00:06:03,870 And this is an expression that someone as someone said the other week to me and I thought that's such a great thing to say. 53 00:06:03,870 --> 00:06:11,670 So I mean, I don't know what mature means, really. I mean, yes. I mean, you know, when I started my PhD, I was in my mid 50s, 54 00:06:11,670 --> 00:06:18,300 but in some ways I would kind of question what, you know, what what the differences are. 55 00:06:18,300 --> 00:06:26,690 I mean, it's partly I think it's I you know, on the whole, I think I'm blessed with the ability to get on with people of all ages. 56 00:06:26,690 --> 00:06:33,540 And so I kind of you know, I didn't I never struggled with people, you know, 57 00:06:33,540 --> 00:06:39,390 my fellow students who were in their early 20s or or their mid 20s, mid 20s seems to be the norm. 58 00:06:39,390 --> 00:06:44,850 But, you know, there was certainly some who were kind of like, you know, twenty two years old starting a Ph.D., 59 00:06:44,850 --> 00:06:48,990 which, of course, I never imagined myself doing when I was anything like that age. 60 00:06:48,990 --> 00:06:55,770 But I don't know. I just kind of think that, yes, it's a long time since I was an undergraduate. 61 00:06:55,770 --> 00:07:05,640 And I am very grateful for doing I'm very glad that I didn't do a Ph.D. when I was 20 or 25 or 30 or, 62 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:09,120 you know, actually it was the right time when I started in my mid 50s. 63 00:07:09,120 --> 00:07:18,670 So I kind of reject the premise here, actually, that there is anything different about being a mature student. 64 00:07:18,670 --> 00:07:25,650 I think you do that. You do. When it's right for you. It doesn't work for everyone, you know, and it it's not always easy. 65 00:07:25,650 --> 00:07:29,970 But in my case, it was the right time. Yeah, I love that. 66 00:07:29,970 --> 00:07:36,360 And I think in all of your introductions, when you were talking about how you came to doing your research degree, 67 00:07:36,360 --> 00:07:44,940 you were all talking or providing us with stories that were very much about the right, the right time and the right topic. 68 00:07:44,940 --> 00:07:49,980 So from my perspective, I think it's a combination of experience, 69 00:07:49,980 --> 00:07:59,430 opportunity and an eagerness to get into the world of work that I really didn't want to go through any more formal education. 70 00:07:59,430 --> 00:08:06,510 And I obviously did the undergraduate degree straight through to Masters, literally, because I didn't know what else I wanted to do. 71 00:08:06,510 --> 00:08:12,540 I didn't know what I wanted to do as a job. And I had quite a. 72 00:08:12,540 --> 00:08:19,170 A negative experience as a master's student for my first master's degree, 73 00:08:19,170 --> 00:08:26,790 and actually I think had I then gone straight through to a Ph.D., wouldn't have been I wouldn't have the maturity that I have. 74 00:08:26,790 --> 00:08:39,090 Now, some people might argue I don't. And now having had sort of 20 years away from mainly away from academia and having worked in the real world, 75 00:08:39,090 --> 00:08:44,770 I know I'm quite happy to sort of ask things and go, OK, but I'm not happy about that. 76 00:08:44,770 --> 00:08:49,080 And this is what I want to do. And please, can you help me with this? 77 00:08:49,080 --> 00:08:57,480 And I think that 22 year old, 23 year old Kensa would not have had that self-awareness or that confidence to ask for 78 00:08:57,480 --> 00:09:04,350 those sorts of things and therefore have got the most out of what was available to me. 79 00:09:04,350 --> 00:09:09,930 And maybe that's maybe that's a reflection also of how academia's moved on. 80 00:09:09,930 --> 00:09:13,430 But I think that. 81 00:09:13,430 --> 00:09:21,590 As other people have said, it's the right time for me, I think it would have been a far more I'm not saying it's not stressful today. 82 00:09:21,590 --> 00:09:28,610 We all know that and we all know the amount of work and pressure that we often put ourselves under. 83 00:09:28,610 --> 00:09:34,520 But early twenties kensa  would not have talking about myself in the third person. 84 00:09:34,520 --> 00:09:41,060 would not have coped with that in the way that I find that I'm able to do so now. 85 00:09:41,060 --> 00:09:45,800 I just wanted to reinforce what Kensa said. I completely agree with that. 86 00:09:45,800 --> 00:09:50,060 I mean, I'm not quite as mature as Ghee, but not far off. 87 00:09:50,060 --> 00:09:54,170 And I don't feel that I would have had the confidence to do what I'm doing now. 88 00:09:54,170 --> 00:09:59,210 I think impostor syndrome is a problem for everybody, regardless of age. 89 00:09:59,210 --> 00:10:07,820 And I think sometimes as an older student, you can find a problem, but you also have the resources to to work with it. 90 00:10:07,820 --> 00:10:13,640 You have the confidence to ask the questions. You're not so worried about how you appear to others. 91 00:10:13,640 --> 00:10:20,910 Yeah. And it's that that thing of being able to be confident enough to say, actually, I'm struggling with this. 92 00:10:20,910 --> 00:10:23,360 Can somebody help me? Can somebody advise? 93 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:29,150 And I think mature students maybe find that a little bit easier to do because you don't really have anything to prove. 94 00:10:29,150 --> 00:10:33,710 It is lovely talking to the mature students. And actually that was something that really surprised me coming back. 95 00:10:33,710 --> 00:10:42,020 I thought I would be massively older than everyone else and I was massively heartened in my first few days to sit next to lots of the 96 00:10:42,020 --> 00:10:48,860 people who were older and to go into the Induction in history and realise I was not the oldest person there by about 15 years, 97 00:10:48,860 --> 00:10:50,870 which is what I clearly expected to be. 98 00:10:50,870 --> 00:10:59,150 So I think people perhaps right now myself, I wasn't aware of how many mature PhD and research students there are. 99 00:10:59,150 --> 00:11:07,250 So I think that's something I hope, you know, this will make people realise, if I think you're coming in, is that this is not an unusual situation. 100 00:11:07,250 --> 00:11:10,730 Yeah, and I think that's really key because there is even in the way that I frame 101 00:11:10,730 --> 00:11:16,670 this and challenge this so beautifully is is this assumption of difference. 102 00:11:16,670 --> 00:11:23,700 And, you know, like saying actually, you know, we're all human beings coming to this at the right time in our lives. 103 00:11:23,700 --> 00:11:29,240 So are we really that different? But also, you know, the community is diverse. 104 00:11:29,240 --> 00:11:34,580 And so I wondered if you could maybe reflect on what it was like coming in as a mature 105 00:11:34,580 --> 00:11:40,910 student and what your experience was of of your assumption of of perhaps being different, 106 00:11:40,910 --> 00:11:44,880 but also the reaction and response from your peers? 107 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:53,990 I think I've been really lucky. The department I went into, everybody was absolutely lovely and it just wasn't even a consideration. 108 00:11:53,990 --> 00:11:58,880 You know, I was at Freshers Week with everybody else, OK? I wasn't out partying, obviously. 109 00:11:58,880 --> 00:12:03,230 But, you know, I was just with a bunch of other people who were all starting at the same time. 110 00:12:03,230 --> 00:12:05,480 They were all fantastic. We got on really well. 111 00:12:05,480 --> 00:12:13,280 And I didn't really feel that age was even a consideration at any stage on that kind of carried on right the way through for me, really. 112 00:12:13,280 --> 00:12:18,140 I found everybody very supportive. And it's just it's a community of people. 113 00:12:18,140 --> 00:12:22,070 I think age is just a state of mind. Yeah, age is a state of mind. 114 00:12:22,070 --> 00:12:24,920 I love that. And I think for me, 115 00:12:24,920 --> 00:12:33,560 what made the crucial difference was that I came back and did the Masters more or less well I had a year between the Masters and the Ph.D. 116 00:12:33,560 --> 00:12:42,980 So I was starting a Masters in my fifties after having been out of formal education for twenty years or so. 117 00:12:42,980 --> 00:12:52,550 And and so I struggled a bit when I started the Masters with kind of getting back into, oh, OK. 118 00:12:52,550 --> 00:12:58,640 So here's a confession. When I was an undergraduate, I did my undergraduate degree in the early 1980s at Hull university. 119 00:12:58,640 --> 00:13:03,380 And it was a degree in drama and I was the worst student you can imagine. 120 00:13:03,380 --> 00:13:07,100 I was you know, I was partying I was living it up. 121 00:13:07,100 --> 00:13:13,130 I was doing lots of productions, but I was not doing the work that was required to do to do the degree. 122 00:13:13,130 --> 00:13:23,270 And I very nearly failed. I came out with a 2:2 and I even though I was quite bright, I was just not doing putting the work in. 123 00:13:23,270 --> 00:13:30,830 And and that was, you know, that was so it was never nothing could be further from my mind when I was twenty. 124 00:13:30,830 --> 00:13:32,450 Than I would be doing a PhD. 125 00:13:32,450 --> 00:13:41,120 So I had to kind of between that stage of finishing my bachelor's degree and starting my master's degree 30 something years later, 126 00:13:41,120 --> 00:13:48,170 I had to go through a long, long journey, which involved all kinds of stops along the way, where I realised, 127 00:13:48,170 --> 00:13:54,350 for example, that I was able to to write reasonably well, which is a skill I had anyway. 128 00:13:54,350 --> 00:14:00,840 But I didn't kind of I didn't have the confidence to realise that I was able to read and, 129 00:14:00,840 --> 00:14:07,560 you know, read some kind of difficult theoretical text as well as the more straightforward. 130 00:14:07,560 --> 00:14:19,720 And that I could tell that I could cope, but even so, starting the Masters, as I did in September 2014, I think it was was an interesting shock. 131 00:14:19,720 --> 00:14:28,540 And coming up against some of the some of the kind of the sort of the styles and the 132 00:14:28,540 --> 00:14:36,310 ways of being and the ways of talking and the and the how seminars were conducted, 133 00:14:36,310 --> 00:14:41,320 those kind of things are done quite some quite theoretical stuff which I struggled with. 134 00:14:41,320 --> 00:14:47,690 And that was the difficult part, having then finished the Masters and done well in the Masters. 135 00:14:47,690 --> 00:14:55,260 Then when I started the PhD that that was an easy transition at the same university, it was the same department, some of the same people around me. 136 00:14:55,260 --> 00:14:59,950 So, yeah, it was the Masters beginning. That was a difficult thing. 137 00:14:59,950 --> 00:15:08,560 And I think I just going to make two points and one of them builds on Ghee's so if I start with that one that I'm thinking about, 138 00:15:08,560 --> 00:15:10,900 kind of positioning yourself in department. 139 00:15:10,900 --> 00:15:18,280 One thing I found a little strange is coming in as someone who's used to managing their work and managing their own time. 140 00:15:18,280 --> 00:15:23,320 That's in some of the university setup. It's a little bit more hierarchical. 141 00:15:23,320 --> 00:15:29,530 So my supervisor is massively long suffering because he he keeps going about things, 142 00:15:29,530 --> 00:15:35,260 saying things like, you know, has Laura checked your permission to do this ? He just very calmly says, yes, if I haven't, 143 00:15:35,260 --> 00:15:41,200 because I completely forgot that I need to ask my supervisor whether I could do this thing that they could relate to, 144 00:15:41,200 --> 00:15:47,620 but not because I'm not in the habit of asking somebody else's permission to do in research. 145 00:15:47,620 --> 00:15:54,160 So, yes, they're very, very sorry about that. But I do think that can sometimes be perhaps difference. 146 00:15:54,160 --> 00:16:00,610 The students who go straight through when they need to move from being a student in a 147 00:16:00,610 --> 00:16:05,920 hierarchical relationship within the department to moving to be a collaborator and a colleague. 148 00:16:05,920 --> 00:16:10,090 And obviously people, who come in as mature students and perhaps people in something like archaeology, 149 00:16:10,090 --> 00:16:15,190 which is very collegiate subject in general, are more used to that relationship. 150 00:16:15,190 --> 00:16:23,440 And I think you have to have the right supervisors and colleagues around you who are expecting that they're not expecting you to be a slightly shy, 151 00:16:23,440 --> 00:16:28,700 retiring or unsure students. They realise that you are a professional experienced person. 152 00:16:28,700 --> 00:16:37,660 Right. The other point I was going to make about freshers week and joining in, as someone who 153 00:16:37,660 --> 00:16:41,800 I've got my family responsibilities and I have young children and also, 154 00:16:41,800 --> 00:16:44,590 although I live reasonably close to Exeter about an hour's driveway, 155 00:16:44,590 --> 00:16:51,910 so I've not moved to Exeter to do the PhD so I can get involved in some department of life. 156 00:16:51,910 --> 00:16:55,240 And that was one reason I chose Exeter was I am close enough to do that. 157 00:16:55,240 --> 00:17:02,560 But I didn't really take part in things like some of the more social side freshers week or some of the more social side the department. 158 00:17:02,560 --> 00:17:07,600 And that does make a difference, I think. And yes. 159 00:17:07,600 --> 00:17:16,750 And I think to sort of carry on with what Laura says, I live relatively near the Penryn campus, but I started at funny time of year. 160 00:17:16,750 --> 00:17:23,320 I actually started in November of twenty nineteen. So I sort of missed out on all the induction things. 161 00:17:23,320 --> 00:17:31,330 So I very much don't feel part of the social side of Penryn campus at all. 162 00:17:31,330 --> 00:17:36,130 However, three months later, we then went into lockdown. We went online. 163 00:17:36,130 --> 00:17:43,150 And the great thing that I think actually has made my PhD and again, it feeds back to this, you know, 164 00:17:43,150 --> 00:17:50,560 not not feeling older or not not not sort of being perceived as being older than the other students. 165 00:17:50,560 --> 00:17:58,210 Is the online community and online sort of support community has has been great and everyone is equal. 166 00:17:58,210 --> 00:18:05,950 Everyone is treated equally. So you really don't notice who's a mature student and who isn't. 167 00:18:05,950 --> 00:18:12,190 And the other thing that Laura was saying about it's the idea of asking permission. 168 00:18:12,190 --> 00:18:19,210 I never do. I'm very, very lucky with my supervisor because I all of my supervisions start with, well, I've done this. 169 00:18:19,210 --> 00:18:27,190 And he goes, okay, then, you know, and I think that possibly comes with the confidence, the maturity that we were talking about earlier. 170 00:18:27,190 --> 00:18:29,650 That's sort of. Okay, well, I, I, 171 00:18:29,650 --> 00:18:39,730 I'm used to having to run my entire life and having to organise this and spin lots and lots of plates because I had to do that throughout my career. 172 00:18:39,730 --> 00:18:46,270 So therefore, I don't ask people if I can do something, I just go ahead and do it. 173 00:18:46,270 --> 00:18:57,310 Yeah, so agreeing with Laura on lots of things. What's really clear from what you're saying is that there are a number of things that as a 174 00:18:57,310 --> 00:19:06,010 mature PGR and somebody who's been out in the world of work for a period of time and that, 175 00:19:06,010 --> 00:19:10,360 you know, there you bring things that are incredibly useful to the experience. 176 00:19:10,360 --> 00:19:19,990 You know, you talked about that kind of confidence and the ability to ask questions and to kind of develop your independence as a researcher. 177 00:19:19,990 --> 00:19:23,290 Yeah, I think that's absolutely right. You know what it's about? 178 00:19:23,290 --> 00:19:24,950 I think it's about skill. 179 00:19:24,950 --> 00:19:33,850 That's what I think is, you know, kind of for me, the difference between between doing it now and doing it and not having done it. 180 00:19:33,850 --> 00:19:38,200 And so I think is like managing a project. 181 00:19:38,200 --> 00:19:49,640 You know, it's like managing a really complicated, multi lateral, multi faceted project, which is basically me. 182 00:19:49,640 --> 00:19:54,740 I'm on my own with some support from the supervisors. 183 00:19:54,740 --> 00:19:58,070 I like that idea of going into the supervision and saying, I've done this. 184 00:19:58,070 --> 00:20:03,950 And that's a really positive way to do it, is that, you know, you say this is where I'm at and this is what I've got to do. 185 00:20:03,950 --> 00:20:06,470 And this is these are the successes I've had since we last met. 186 00:20:06,470 --> 00:20:14,420 And these are the struggles and the questions that I'd like you to help me with, rather than waiting for the supervisor to start the conversation. 187 00:20:14,420 --> 00:20:15,470 That's really good. 188 00:20:15,470 --> 00:20:25,670 But, yeah, the idea of of, you know, being able to you know, through my other experience in my life, my varied experience, I know how to plan things. 189 00:20:25,670 --> 00:20:30,410 I know how to schedule things. I know how to fill time. 190 00:20:30,410 --> 00:20:38,120 If I'm waiting for something, I know how to manage the information. 191 00:20:38,120 --> 00:20:44,140 I mean, a lot of it, particularly in history. So I did a history PhD. It really is about managing information. 192 00:20:44,140 --> 00:20:48,530 It's about managing my secondary reading and my primary you know the sources that 193 00:20:48,530 --> 00:20:52,910 I'm looking at in the archives and being able to handle all of that material. 194 00:20:52,910 --> 00:20:55,820 All of that is stuff I think that one gets in life. 195 00:20:55,820 --> 00:21:03,320 You know, that if you've got some experience as a person out with a job or with a family or both, then, you know, 196 00:21:03,320 --> 00:21:11,240 you gain that experience and you can then bring that to you in the way that somebody is in their 20s, maybe can't yet. 197 00:21:11,240 --> 00:21:16,220 Since then, I think I bring a whole lot of skills to it. 198 00:21:16,220 --> 00:21:22,910 But actually, I find I work on academic stuff is probably quite different to how I work on things I've worked on professionally. 199 00:21:22,910 --> 00:21:29,300 It's very seldom you do such a big project professionally and I've done some research and evaluation and that's similar. 200 00:21:29,300 --> 00:21:38,810 But it's rare that I do this sort of work professionally. So I'd say that actually there's kind of yes, there are skills I bring. 201 00:21:38,810 --> 00:21:43,550 And probably the thing that brings me to student is perhaps a lack of panic there. 202 00:21:43,550 --> 00:21:49,310 Are there more there are bigger disasters in my life. There are bigger problems in my life when things go a bit wrong with the PhD 203 00:21:49,310 --> 00:21:55,220 when things are a bit tricky with the PhD relatively, it matters a lot less than other things get bigger by life. 204 00:21:55,220 --> 00:22:00,470 So which is possibly not what supervisors want to hear. But I kind of like my PhD I kind of want it to go. 205 00:22:00,470 --> 00:22:03,890 Well, I want to do all of that, but it's not the be all and end of my life. 206 00:22:03,890 --> 00:22:12,560 And it can't be because, you know, I have other people in my life who are in the end more important, which is sad but true. 207 00:22:12,560 --> 00:22:22,050 What I would say is I have found it slightly difficult because I have a way of working academically, which tends to be very intense. 208 00:22:22,050 --> 00:22:26,660 I tend to I'm I'm definitely someone who used to say doesn't stop moving til the ground, 209 00:22:26,660 --> 00:22:32,150 starts shaking that I really I like to very much work towards something, but then have a very intense period. 210 00:22:32,150 --> 00:22:37,910 And that's not always compatible with having a family life and working part time as a Ph.D. 211 00:22:37,910 --> 00:22:42,050 So that's something that I've had to learn to do as a mature student, 212 00:22:42,050 --> 00:22:48,560 which is different from how I worked when I was in my 20s, did my undergraduate or did my master's degree. 213 00:22:48,560 --> 00:22:53,900 And I could just completely focus on a period, on a piece of writing I was doing. 214 00:22:53,900 --> 00:22:56,720 And I just can't do that because I have two kids in school. 215 00:22:56,720 --> 00:23:02,120 So there is I've actually had to learn to work in different ways in which you're a student. 216 00:23:02,120 --> 00:23:06,980 But yes, like I bring bring a whole lot of kind of life experience to it, which helps. 217 00:23:06,980 --> 00:23:12,170 Yeah, I really I really identify with what Laura is saying. 218 00:23:12,170 --> 00:23:17,450 But one thing for me was actually working at the same time as studying and I found 219 00:23:17,450 --> 00:23:23,660 I was wearing two hats and I actually found that really difficult to juggle. 220 00:23:23,660 --> 00:23:29,240 My professional life was writing reports and communicating in a certain way, 221 00:23:29,240 --> 00:23:35,840 and the writing that I was doing was very different to the writing I was doing as part of my PhD. 222 00:23:35,840 --> 00:23:44,780 And that became quite a struggle for me, actually, because you were having to adopt these two personas and write in two very different styles. 223 00:23:44,780 --> 00:23:49,490 So you do need to be very organised. I think this is something that Ghee was saying. 224 00:23:49,490 --> 00:23:56,420 And, you know, don't underestimate the fact that you are trying to manage all these things and have a family life on top of that. 225 00:23:56,420 --> 00:24:03,050 So, you know, it does take a lot of organisation. So if you have project management skills, certainly that goes a long way towards it. 226 00:24:03,050 --> 00:24:07,850 But I do think that mature students have slightly different requirements. 227 00:24:07,850 --> 00:24:14,570 For me, it was the kind of the academic writing side of things and, you know, just needing a bit more support on that front. 228 00:24:14,570 --> 00:24:20,510 So we've talked about the benefits and the strengths that you bring as a mature PGR 229 00:24:20,510 --> 00:24:25,340 What about the challenges? What about what are the barriers that you faced? 230 00:24:25,340 --> 00:24:37,310 And certainly one thing I found difficult is having had gone from when I was a full time younger student, 231 00:24:37,310 --> 00:24:49,000 is the way that academia's moved on and things like methodologies and sort of understanding of particular. 232 00:24:49,000 --> 00:24:54,760 Themes and ways of working, especially within history or you just have no idea, I mean, 233 00:24:54,760 --> 00:25:00,310 I'm somebody who did my computers with just about coming in obviously they coming in when I was at school. 234 00:25:00,310 --> 00:25:07,180 But when I was an undergraduate, I did all my work handwritten. Everything was longhand when I did my masters. 235 00:25:07,180 --> 00:25:13,120 Yes, I did wordprocess my essays, but we didn't have a university email addresses or anything like that. 236 00:25:13,120 --> 00:25:17,230 So, you know, we're talking about that sort of gap. 237 00:25:17,230 --> 00:25:24,130 So it's not necessarily technology I usde technology the whole way through my career, but understanding the sort of, OK, 238 00:25:24,130 --> 00:25:32,140 this is how we've now decided that you structure a piece of writing and you need to make sure that you included this stuff and the other. 239 00:25:32,140 --> 00:25:44,110 I think sometimes people assume, you know, what that is and somebody's coming straight through would do because they've done an undergraduate degree, 240 00:25:44,110 --> 00:25:48,370 especially in history quite recently, probably in other subjects 241 00:25:48,370 --> 00:25:53,650 So history is my experience and I don't know that. 242 00:25:53,650 --> 00:26:00,610 So that, in a way has been a barrier and you just have to go, OK, I have no idea what you're talking about. 243 00:26:00,610 --> 00:26:09,370 Please, can you help me you know? Occasionally you get the slightly taken aback look, but most people are happy to point you in the right direction. 244 00:26:09,370 --> 00:26:16,630 Yeah, I agree with most people have said and I think there are just a number of things I've noted here. 245 00:26:16,630 --> 00:26:28,150 And the supervisors I've had have been really understanding of me as an older student because they understood that there be other life commitments, 246 00:26:28,150 --> 00:26:35,200 family work. So I don't I found them very supportive. 247 00:26:35,200 --> 00:26:46,250 And despite everything that they have pushed things through quite gently in many ways, for me it was the challenges definitely of juggling work. 248 00:26:46,250 --> 00:26:54,040 I was working full time, so every weekend was basically doing the research. 249 00:26:54,040 --> 00:27:01,570 So for me, it's been it was tough the first two years getting assignments done. 250 00:27:01,570 --> 00:27:10,720 And then when the research itself took over, what I found was that that was much more within my remit to deal with timescales. 251 00:27:10,720 --> 00:27:17,190 So that was that was great. I could actually plan that out, thinking of my work commitments. 252 00:27:17,190 --> 00:27:21,030 For me, I was as I said, I was an international student, so for me, 253 00:27:21,030 --> 00:27:29,190 I struggled with time because there was a time difference between the UK and where I was living. 254 00:27:29,190 --> 00:27:37,980 So that wasn't just the case of being a mature student. I was juggling work and dealing with time differences when I wanted to contact my supervisors. 255 00:27:37,980 --> 00:27:47,700 But as I said, again, they were very understanding and some of them were even messaging me over weekends because I worked on the Sunday. 256 00:27:47,700 --> 00:27:55,680 The other thing for me was writing and I couldn't agree more with Kensa and that for me my writing style was very different. 257 00:27:55,680 --> 00:28:01,920 And that was something that the supervisors commented on. And I reflected on this thinking. 258 00:28:01,920 --> 00:28:06,480 As a younger Tracey, I wouldn't have written like this. 259 00:28:06,480 --> 00:28:17,700 I wouldn't have written so confidently about my approach and my perspective, because I that, she said, was a very individual engaging style. 260 00:28:17,700 --> 00:28:23,690 And I don't think I would have done that or had the confidence to do that. The younger me. 261 00:28:23,690 --> 00:28:29,450 And also for the research itself, I actually don't think I could have done this research because this has come over 262 00:28:29,450 --> 00:28:35,180 time experience in my profession and within that particular job at that time. 263 00:28:35,180 --> 00:28:40,850 So the questions developed out of my work in practise in my life. 264 00:28:40,850 --> 00:28:51,440 Yes. So the barriers, I think there were the biggest one was juggling time for me and the distance with big time time difference. 265 00:28:51,440 --> 00:28:57,710 But it was actually asking people for help and the right people that I struggled with. 266 00:28:57,710 --> 00:29:07,640 Sometimes I wouldn't know who to go to, whereas if I was on campus or perhaps come through Exeter as an undergraduate, 267 00:29:07,640 --> 00:29:12,050 I might have known quicker where to go for advice on who to ask. 268 00:29:12,050 --> 00:29:16,420 But most of the time my supervisors have been very long suffering. 269 00:29:16,420 --> 00:29:22,390 Yeah, there are lots of things coming out there about being or not being a part of the academic community, 270 00:29:22,390 --> 00:29:26,890 and I wondered if we if we could spend some time thinking or talking about that, 271 00:29:26,890 --> 00:29:37,650 what kind of whether or not you felt welcomed into the academic community, what the what the barriers were again. 272 00:29:37,650 --> 00:29:42,650 I think one thing I would caution against is more think about people who perhaps think listening to this thinking thing, 273 00:29:42,650 --> 00:29:46,890 one is what worth thinking about. What subject I wanted to do 274 00:29:46,890 --> 00:29:53,260 I did think carefully about which university to attend, and partly because I have the experience. 275 00:29:53,260 --> 00:30:03,330 Someone else I could very well who did a of doctoral partnership as a mature student with the university that was some distance away. 276 00:30:03,330 --> 00:30:09,270 And I think that creates difficulties in terms of being able to contact people, 277 00:30:09,270 --> 00:30:14,730 but it also creates difficulties and perhaps perhaps take it sometimes opportunity to think. 278 00:30:14,730 --> 00:30:22,920 And so one reason I wanted to come to Exeter was because they had a strength and a community of people working in the period I want to work in, 279 00:30:22,920 --> 00:30:25,710 but also because they were close enough, for example, 280 00:30:25,710 --> 00:30:29,010 that I could get involved in teaching because that's something I really wanted to make sure I teach. 281 00:30:29,010 --> 00:30:36,630 My Ph.D. will spend some time practising teaching, and I was able to do that because I live close enough of course the things going online. 282 00:30:36,630 --> 00:30:38,730 It's made it much easier to be part of 283 00:30:38,730 --> 00:30:47,370 which has been wonderful and allowed me to really work meet more of the other students and staff working on similar periods to me, 284 00:30:47,370 --> 00:30:50,250 which perhaps I couldn't see, but I knew they would be there. 285 00:30:50,250 --> 00:30:57,690 I couldn't kind of be there at five o'clock on a Tuesday afternoon to actually go to seminars, meet them where I was being invited to do that. 286 00:30:57,690 --> 00:31:02,040 So previously I think that was a barrier with things that time, your seminars and so on. 287 00:31:02,040 --> 00:31:10,140 But I do think, you know, when you're thinking about where to go and look for your supervisors, the right people, that happens. 288 00:31:10,140 --> 00:31:17,310 If I think about that, do you think about that community and also what other things you want to do as well as do the research, 289 00:31:17,310 --> 00:31:22,230 whether being close enough to be involved in the department in that way is important as well? 290 00:31:22,230 --> 00:31:29,430 Of course, funding is can be a big control as well, yeah, a slight kind of double edge thing here, which I think is, you know, 291 00:31:29,430 --> 00:31:40,300 my grey hair and the fact that I look like, you know, sometimes I get respect from people just for that. 292 00:31:40,300 --> 00:31:48,630 Sometimes because I'm an older white male, some people will give me respect, which maybe I don't deserve. 293 00:31:48,630 --> 00:31:59,280 And that is on the whole, it's a good thing for me anyway. However, I sometimes I think I've had experience of younger academics, you know, 294 00:31:59,280 --> 00:32:10,710 even quite senior academics who are perhaps slightly uncomfortable with having somebody who is a lot older than them, who is, you know, 295 00:32:10,710 --> 00:32:17,280 at that but at that junior level, because there is a very strong hierarchy within the university, you know, 296 00:32:17,280 --> 00:32:27,450 undergraduate masters, the professor, etc., etc. There are these very clear strata within the university. 297 00:32:27,450 --> 00:32:35,800 And if there's somebody, you know, on a higher stratum than me who is a lot younger than me, then sometimes I think they struggle. 298 00:32:35,800 --> 00:32:38,190 I don't think I struggle on the whole. I don't think I do. 299 00:32:38,190 --> 00:32:45,890 But I think I've experienced I get older or younger academics who who don't feel quite comfortable in my. 300 00:32:45,890 --> 00:32:49,280 And I don't know what one can do about that. And equally, you know, 301 00:32:49,280 --> 00:32:58,400 lots of other academics and other members of staff and students who are perfectly comfortable with the case of 30 something years older 302 00:32:58,400 --> 00:33:01,820 but some people do struggle with it. I totally agree. 303 00:33:01,820 --> 00:33:05,630 I think possibly the thing that mature age, 304 00:33:05,630 --> 00:33:14,900 mature age students bring to the PGR community and maybe the university community as a whole is that we have this experience, 305 00:33:14,900 --> 00:33:17,480 this larger experience outside academia. 306 00:33:17,480 --> 00:33:26,750 And we are totally used to having to deal with people at all stages of their life and all stages of their own various journeys, 307 00:33:26,750 --> 00:33:33,950 and therefore actually dealing with a supervisor who might be 20 years younger than us. 308 00:33:33,950 --> 00:33:35,060 That's not my personal experience. 309 00:33:35,060 --> 00:33:44,090 But, you know, or people who have just got their kids who are far younger than us or people that who are far older than us, 310 00:33:44,090 --> 00:33:49,850 doesn't faze us perhaps as much as it would do to somebody in their very early twenties. 311 00:33:49,850 --> 00:33:55,040 And I wondered how that works for you, Tracey, because we're talking about kind of living relatively close to the campus, 312 00:33:55,040 --> 00:33:59,790 whereas, you know, for quite a bit of your studies, you've been on the other side of the world. 313 00:33:59,790 --> 00:34:03,260 So what's that sense of community been like for you? 314 00:34:03,260 --> 00:34:15,920 Yeah, I think for me the challenge was actually having engagement with the student body and my fellow researchers as a community. 315 00:34:15,920 --> 00:34:22,850 And at the time, although we have good technology that wasn't open to me until the pandemic, 316 00:34:22,850 --> 00:34:31,280 which you and I have discussed before, the actually the pandemic opened more opportunities for me. 317 00:34:31,280 --> 00:34:51,440 And I feel that following my courses and access and seminars, conferences, going online, I feel I've got much more community with fellow researchers, 318 00:34:51,440 --> 00:35:00,320 whether that's younger researchers or not, because I certainly meet many more researches online. 319 00:35:00,320 --> 00:35:06,230 In the last year than I did the previously, so I think it isn't a case of distance, 320 00:35:06,230 --> 00:35:12,020 it's a case of opportunity and access and thinking of it much more broadly. 321 00:35:12,020 --> 00:35:17,060 Yeah, I'm really glad you used the word community, because that's made me think about that again. 322 00:35:17,060 --> 00:35:28,310 And I'm kind of thinking that I really have felt I did I didn't feel very much that I was part of the the big university community, 323 00:35:28,310 --> 00:35:35,060 which is I mean, you know, it's an enormous community and it does it's not I mean, when I was an undergraduate just to go back there again, 324 00:35:35,060 --> 00:35:39,680 you know, there were a hundred students in one building studying drama at university. 325 00:35:39,680 --> 00:35:44,780 And we were completely a family. And in Exeter, 326 00:35:44,780 --> 00:35:51,410 there are over a thousand students doing history as undergraduates and they are 327 00:35:51,410 --> 00:35:55,880 all scattered across the place and there's no sense of them being one community. 328 00:35:55,880 --> 00:36:03,740 So and I think Exeter is a big university. And I think it's it's it's it's hard to pin down where the community is. 329 00:36:03,740 --> 00:36:12,020 But I always thought I did feel, you know, I was part of you know, I was I spent a lot of time in the library. 330 00:36:12,020 --> 00:36:23,240 I was kind of I would often eat on campus in the day time in and out of the guild, you know, making I mean, I was on university challenge team, 331 00:36:23,240 --> 00:36:32,390 we didnt get on the TV, but even, you know, the kind of lots of things that made me feel as if I was as if I was part of this big group of people. 332 00:36:32,390 --> 00:36:37,700 And I think that that for me really made it work. 333 00:36:37,700 --> 00:36:41,600 And I think I had a again, I had a confidence about that. 334 00:36:41,600 --> 00:36:44,580 I mean, I think that's a word that people have used. 335 00:36:44,580 --> 00:36:52,550 I had a confidence about joining things and going up to people and saying, hello, what can I join in, you know, that kind of stuff. 336 00:36:52,550 --> 00:37:02,180 But that I didn't have when I was if I just want to think about how some of this difference what you want to get out of the PhD 337 00:37:02,180 --> 00:37:08,510 you know, are you doing it professionally to move yourself forward professionally, and you know where that's going to go? 338 00:37:08,510 --> 00:37:18,170 Are you doing it to actually change careers? Are you doing as an experience to develop yourself intellectually, to develop new insights, new research, 339 00:37:18,170 --> 00:37:24,260 in which case that kind of social aspect of being part of a university community can be really important 340 00:37:24,260 --> 00:37:29,630 because you want to open your mind to new things and to meet new people and to be part of that or like, 341 00:37:29,630 --> 00:37:35,480 say, if you if it's a much more this is a professional step within my own career, developing my own skills. 342 00:37:35,480 --> 00:37:42,260 You may not actually feel that need because you are already have that community within your professional practise. 343 00:37:42,260 --> 00:37:46,340 So I'm probably somebody whose perhaps move on that a bit 344 00:37:46,340 --> 00:37:55,520 I think when I first came back to do my PhD, very much so this is something that was part of that myself, actually within my career. 345 00:37:55,520 --> 00:37:59,690 But I wasn't very clear about where I wanted what I want after 346 00:37:59,690 --> 00:38:04,380 And if I actually I'm still not and I still get lots of different ideas. But actually, let's go back, in fact. 347 00:38:04,380 --> 00:38:11,500 So I assumed I would never want to come back in academia after my PhD because I thought it was 348 00:38:11,500 --> 00:38:19,450 Possibly sometimesa hit horribly competitive for very small rewards and not perhaps that collegiate in some ways, 349 00:38:19,450 --> 00:38:27,310 and I didn't really feel that was the kind of society I'm working. But actually, I really loved to kind of, you know, teaching and studying again. 350 00:38:27,310 --> 00:38:31,540 And, you know, maybe there are opportunities for me that grateful to be part time. 351 00:38:31,540 --> 00:38:36,250 I've got years to worry about what I'm going to do afterwards. I and try lots of things in the meantime. 352 00:38:36,250 --> 00:38:41,920 That's also what Iwanted to do was to give myself that space to have a PhD part time 353 00:38:41,920 --> 00:38:48,010 So I knew I had some income coming in and some work, but also to give myself space to explore new things. 354 00:38:48,010 --> 00:38:54,130 So I suppose why you're coming to do the PhD might impact what other things you to look for and what you really need. 355 00:38:54,130 --> 00:38:57,940 I was just listening to to what Laura said and smiling. 356 00:38:57,940 --> 00:39:05,050 I came I mentioned earlier I came into to do my PhD because it was to solve a problem I had in my career. 357 00:39:05,050 --> 00:39:08,290 And I was doing very well in my career. It was going great. 358 00:39:08,290 --> 00:39:14,260 There was no question of me going into academia, you know, and I was going to go back into my job and I'd be better informed. 359 00:39:14,260 --> 00:39:22,270 Well, that was just rubbish, because doing a PhD changes you as a person in lots of really good ways. 360 00:39:22,270 --> 00:39:29,830 And doing it part time, I think has helped me to kind of compare my working life with my academic life. 361 00:39:29,830 --> 00:39:34,630 And when you're in your 50s, people don't have any great expectations of you to go into academia. 362 00:39:34,630 --> 00:39:40,720 They think you're going to stick with your life in practise. And actually, I've just completely fallen in love with academia. 363 00:39:40,720 --> 00:39:48,700 I'm due to submit my PhD in September, and I've already been successful in securing a permanent lectureship, 364 00:39:48,700 --> 00:39:52,810 which I started in the New Year in Liverpool, and I just couldn't be happier. 365 00:39:52,810 --> 00:40:00,910 I'm a completely different person. I now have a totally different life and I just feel like I've come home, you know, 366 00:40:00,910 --> 00:40:06,430 and I like being in consultancy, but I'm just absolutely delighted with the way things have worked out. 367 00:40:06,430 --> 00:40:14,350 Anddoing a PhD has given me skills and experience and confidence and all the things that I didn't have before. 368 00:40:14,350 --> 00:40:19,990 And that's why I would just say to people, just go for it, because you really don't know where it's going to take you. 369 00:40:19,990 --> 00:40:30,400 That's just completely fantastic. Catherine, congratulations. And talking about kind of, you know, going onto an academic career. 370 00:40:30,400 --> 00:40:38,260 It's a really nice Segway actually, into what started this conversation, which was about career support for mature students, you know, 371 00:40:38,260 --> 00:40:40,900 who aren't kind of haven't gone through that, I don't know, 372 00:40:40,900 --> 00:40:47,080 conveyor belt of education without without getting off and doing professional work and so on. 373 00:40:47,080 --> 00:40:57,280 Don't know if we could speak a bit about that, about kind of what support you actually need as mature PGRs as you already have had careers 374 00:40:57,280 --> 00:41:02,830 who have sought a PhD as a professional development opportunity or as a career change? 375 00:41:02,830 --> 00:41:13,390 You know what? What is it that you need that's different? I can I can start this off because I'm slightly to blame for the entirety of this podcast. 376 00:41:13,390 --> 00:41:21,370 I have having been a teacher in secondary schools, I have absolutely no desire to go back to that. 377 00:41:21,370 --> 00:41:28,690 Not dissing teaching as a career at all. I have the utmost respect for my former colleagues, especially the work they've done in the last year. 378 00:41:28,690 --> 00:41:32,920 But it's not something I want to return to. So I'm that's OK. 379 00:41:32,920 --> 00:41:37,360 I'm in my second year of my Ph.D. stage. I need to decide what I'm going to do afterwards. 380 00:41:37,360 --> 00:41:39,820 I need to start looking at options. 381 00:41:39,820 --> 00:41:51,610 So I'm going to as many I spent the sort of spring term this year going to as many careers seminars and talks and so on as possible and got very 382 00:41:51,610 --> 00:42:01,510 frustrated very early on because there was just this assumption that people looking for work were aged 22 and had an undergraduate degree. 383 00:42:01,510 --> 00:42:10,810 And I actually went to one to where the person said he was, you know, the Exeter graduate who they'd got in to do the talk, 384 00:42:10,810 --> 00:42:15,850 said, oh, yes, and you can make senior management by the time you're 25. 385 00:42:15,850 --> 00:42:20,080 And I, you know, had had we actually physically been in the same room, 386 00:42:20,080 --> 00:42:27,340 I think I'd probably having said I'm mature and have grown up and what I probably would have thrown something at him. 387 00:42:27,340 --> 00:42:34,720 There is just this assumption that people looking for work or have just finished university and have no 388 00:42:34,720 --> 00:42:41,800 experience and are looking for a career and they just want money and they want to live in central London. 389 00:42:41,800 --> 00:42:50,860 And we all know everyone, undergraduates, schoolteachers, children and teenagers in school, everybody knows that is not true. 390 00:42:50,860 --> 00:42:56,230 So why is this still this fantasy still being peddled in career seminars? 391 00:42:56,230 --> 00:43:03,100 And I didn't challenge him in that one. But then I went to another seminar probably a few days later. 392 00:43:03,100 --> 00:43:09,520 And actually I did turn around to go hi person in my mid forties here who's had one career. 393 00:43:09,520 --> 00:43:18,000 Doesn't know what they want to do with their life after the PhD, please don't assume this, and actually got a really positive response from that. 394 00:43:18,000 --> 00:43:24,550 But but yes, there is this. You know, I think. 395 00:43:24,550 --> 00:43:27,670 Maybe that's that's something that we need to do as mature students, 396 00:43:27,670 --> 00:43:31,990 but there are a lot of mature students as we've discovered and we need to challenge these 397 00:43:31,990 --> 00:43:38,180 stereotypes and say and also let alone with the way that society has changed, 398 00:43:38,180 --> 00:43:42,460 spot the historian here, the way society has changed over the last 50 years, 399 00:43:42,460 --> 00:43:48,580 people do not go into jobs at the age of 16 and stick with that one company until they're 65. 400 00:43:48,580 --> 00:43:53,740 Many, many people have either changed jobs or change careers partway through their lives. 401 00:43:53,740 --> 00:44:06,340 And I think that's hopefully careers services and whoever will start to realise this and start to sort of tailoring things to, 402 00:44:06,340 --> 00:44:12,880 you know, maybe we need to go and ask for it rather than expecting it to be handed this information to be handed to us on a plate. 403 00:44:12,880 --> 00:44:19,940 But I think that people need to start catering for a wider range of needs. 404 00:44:19,940 --> 00:44:26,680 That sounds like actually the university's career department need to do some targeted sessions or or a theme stream, 405 00:44:26,680 --> 00:44:31,600 which is about mature students, not necessarily only PGRs 406 00:44:31,600 --> 00:44:37,870 but, you know, students of in any level or department or whatever who are, you know, 407 00:44:37,870 --> 00:44:43,690 who are kind of coming in again after after experience family and work. 408 00:44:43,690 --> 00:44:50,920 And you know how that is different and what they you know how it is, because the fact is, we've all got a hell of a lot to offer. 409 00:44:50,920 --> 00:44:54,910 You know what? It's just a question of finding the right. 410 00:44:54,910 --> 00:45:00,160 The people who are looking for that stuff that we've got to offer, you know, and we are. 411 00:45:00,160 --> 00:45:03,400 Yeah, we're great. I agree obviously with Ghee we are wonderful. 412 00:45:03,400 --> 00:45:12,400 And people would be lucky to us in their career, I think also because if we're dissing the career service providers, who arent here to reply 413 00:45:12,400 --> 00:45:20,170 they could also be missing because I know some of the conversation in amongst issues more broadly is about things like this 414 00:45:20,170 --> 00:45:28,690 terrible phrase of atl-ac the kind of people who are doing PhDs who aren't then planning to go on to an academic career and obviously from people, 415 00:45:28,690 --> 00:45:36,250 the students or from people who've done some of those other careers and therefore perhaps have some useful insights into that conversation. 416 00:45:36,250 --> 00:45:49,150 Or, you know, they could be the university could be exploiting some of our links into kind of industry and into other other areas of the subject. 417 00:45:49,150 --> 00:45:57,520 And it might perhaps be to call back something we spoke about earlier in that subject where sometimes some of the other 418 00:45:57,520 --> 00:46:04,450 people who work in department have gone through perhaps more traditional route have stayed in academia their entire career. 419 00:46:04,450 --> 00:46:14,560 And actually therefore, that kind of wider understanding, that of those uproots is sometimes not perhaps there to the same extent. 420 00:46:14,560 --> 00:46:20,170 And that's something that the that could can usefully not just mature students, 421 00:46:20,170 --> 00:46:27,790 but by setting it is more of a conversation and the way we can the community with an extra can contribute and work together. 422 00:46:27,790 --> 00:46:31,930 This could be something that other students can benefit from as well. 423 00:46:31,930 --> 00:46:39,580 And the people working in these career service jobs might benefit from some of our expense. 424 00:46:39,580 --> 00:46:41,570 Just very quickly, Laura you;re just spot on. 425 00:46:41,570 --> 00:46:47,320 I and I think the amount of times I've been in an academic situation and I've seen academics with loads of experience who don't know, 426 00:46:47,320 --> 00:46:53,650 for example, how to run a meeting, who don't know how to handle a seminar, you know, who only have one way of doing things. 427 00:46:53,650 --> 00:46:58,750 And that's what they've been doing for 20, 30 years within an academic context. 428 00:46:58,750 --> 00:47:03,700 One thing I'd say is perhaps sometimes the nature of this being something that the university 429 00:47:03,700 --> 00:47:09,700 needs to do for students to recognise that if the university is a community, 430 00:47:09,700 --> 00:47:15,250 a kind of academic collegiate community, then this is something we do together in collaboration. 431 00:47:15,250 --> 00:47:21,130 This isn't something the university needs to do for students as a kind of someone lower down the hierarchy. 432 00:47:21,130 --> 00:47:29,560 Perhaps this is this is a this is a we work together at which, you know, I know some people do work collaboratively and that's true. 433 00:47:29,560 --> 00:47:33,730 But I think that can we talk a little bit earlier on about sometimes that that 434 00:47:33,730 --> 00:47:37,690 hierarchical relationship that can creep in and that that that is a problem, 435 00:47:37,690 --> 00:47:41,950 I think. And that perhaps is very here. You're right. 436 00:47:41,950 --> 00:47:47,470 And I think that working in collaboration and that reciprocity is really important because one of the 437 00:47:47,470 --> 00:47:55,450 big philosophies of the way that I work is no one knows better what PGRs need than PGRs themselves. 438 00:47:55,450 --> 00:48:03,640 And so I think it's really important for us to working in collaboration, to work together on this and to wrap up. 439 00:48:03,640 --> 00:48:05,740 I want to think or imagine that, you know, 440 00:48:05,740 --> 00:48:14,320 there's somebody listening to this podcast who is considering doing a research degree as a mature student or is just about to start. 441 00:48:14,320 --> 00:48:23,890 What advice would you give them? What do you wish that you knew at the point at which you started or were considering applying? 442 00:48:23,890 --> 00:48:28,870 It's not so much of what I wish I'd known better, what I have come to realise, 443 00:48:28,870 --> 00:48:35,790 and that is don't be put off by thinking, oh God, I'm a mature student, what on earth my doing with my life? 444 00:48:35,790 --> 00:48:41,860 I suddenly take three or four years out to do a Ph.D. Just go ahead and do it. 445 00:48:41,860 --> 00:48:45,550 You can have whatever whatever life journey you've been on. 446 00:48:45,550 --> 00:48:52,390 You have acquired the skills and the knowledge and the ability to do a Ph.D. and you know, 447 00:48:52,390 --> 00:48:57,640 whether that juggling lots and lots of different things and commitments plus full time study, 448 00:48:57,640 --> 00:49:02,920 whether that's juggling a full time job and part time study, you have learnt those things. 449 00:49:02,920 --> 00:49:07,930 You have learnt those skills. And what you need to do is just think I can do this. 450 00:49:07,930 --> 00:49:12,670 The support is there and I will learn so much about myself. 451 00:49:12,670 --> 00:49:17,740 And maybe it's not just about learning about yourself. I will gain something. 452 00:49:17,740 --> 00:49:22,840 And actually I do have the right to do this for me. 453 00:49:22,840 --> 00:49:28,120 So I would say then don't be put off by thinking it's just something that people who 454 00:49:28,120 --> 00:49:34,480 are very brainy in their mid twenties do not describe myself as very brainy either. 455 00:49:34,480 --> 00:49:43,270 But yeah, just go for it. Yeah, I mirror some of what Kensa's said, so I just jotting down a couple of things. 456 00:49:43,270 --> 00:49:49,420 And I think the main thing that people said to me about it was a marathon, not a sprint. 457 00:49:49,420 --> 00:50:01,690 I go at my workplace or life at like a hundred miles an hour or a hundred and forty kilometres an hour along the Dubai Abu Dhabi highway. 458 00:50:01,690 --> 00:50:08,230 And I was still expecting to do that with my doing the doctorate. 459 00:50:08,230 --> 00:50:15,730 And it was only on reflection recently that I recognised that if it was a marathon and that 460 00:50:15,730 --> 00:50:24,940 a different process and different pace and then also mirroring what Kensa had said, 461 00:50:24,940 --> 00:50:36,250 the word I put down was skills, is that I have acquired so many amazing skills during this journey, 462 00:50:36,250 --> 00:50:44,290 and that's through my workplace and life as well as through this research opportunity. 463 00:50:44,290 --> 00:50:50,680 So I think if anybody was debating whether to do it, I'd say absolutely, 464 00:50:50,680 --> 00:50:56,950 because you learn so much on the way and incorporate a lot of your life skills. 465 00:50:56,950 --> 00:51:02,980 I was just going to completely echo what the others have said I think that it's much better that I can so i'll just agree with them on that. 466 00:51:02,980 --> 00:51:10,600 Ang one point I was going to raise which hasn't kind of come up some where in the podcast was about doing it in combination with having a young family, 467 00:51:10,600 --> 00:51:15,070 and that I have two boys who are now just eight and five. 468 00:51:15,070 --> 00:51:23,770 And so I started when they're three and five. And obviously that of many mature students have perhaps caring responsibilities as do younger students, 469 00:51:23,770 --> 00:51:29,700 but actually a part-time PhD combines really well with having a family because there is flexibility about where you fit the work. 470 00:51:29,700 --> 00:51:38,110 And so that can really that can work quite well in that I work much more intense because of the times I can take the time off to the holidays. 471 00:51:38,110 --> 00:51:46,120 So if you're thinking will having a young family prevent me from doing a PhDit can actually be a type of work that fits pretty well with it. 472 00:51:46,120 --> 00:51:50,110 But I think what's been inspiring this podcast has been seeing how yes, 473 00:51:50,110 --> 00:51:54,280 go in with a clear idea about why you want to be doing the PhD be clear about why you want to do that topic, 474 00:51:54,280 --> 00:52:01,570 about what you really value about that topic and you know about why you've chosen to do it, where you've chosen to do it. 475 00:52:01,570 --> 00:52:07,000 But I think what to expect expects that that change, that growth you have to PhD. 476 00:52:07,000 --> 00:52:13,690 And so don't be surprised if it goes in a different direction as you work through and that you change as you're doing it. 477 00:52:13,690 --> 00:52:18,700 But, yeah, I would agree with people. I think that's it. But I have been glad to do it now. 478 00:52:18,700 --> 00:52:25,330 You know, I wasn't in the place where my kids were very small babies. It wouldn't it would be more much more difficult. 479 00:52:25,330 --> 00:52:29,350 And I don't know whether I'd have come to my twenties. 480 00:52:29,350 --> 00:52:37,570 I would probably have done a different PhD. So, you know, it it fits people at different stages. 481 00:52:37,570 --> 00:52:42,760 Yeah. I mean, I'm just going to agree with everybody else. But one thing I would say is be kind to yourself. 482 00:52:42,760 --> 00:52:49,000 My supervisor often says to me to stop being so hard on myself, he reckons I'm my own worst enemy. 483 00:52:49,000 --> 00:52:53,320 And I think sometimes we do put a lot of pressure on ourselves as mature students. 484 00:52:53,320 --> 00:52:59,920 So just something to be aware of. I also think we shouldn't stereotype ourselves, OK, we're mature students. 485 00:52:59,920 --> 00:53:04,870 But, you know, I think we've seen today that actually it doesn't make a lot of difference what age you are. 486 00:53:04,870 --> 00:53:08,740 We all deserve to be there and we've all earned the right to be there. 487 00:53:08,740 --> 00:53:14,500 And just to reiterate what other people said, just be prepared to come out as a different person at the end of it. 488 00:53:14,500 --> 00:53:22,570 Yeah, thank you. I mean, it's one of the things I think I want to say is, is that it's it's not for everyone. 489 00:53:22,570 --> 00:53:28,650 I think that some. That should be said to anyone who's thinking about going to university at any level, 490 00:53:28,650 --> 00:53:38,340 if they're a 17 year old thinking about an undergraduate degree or if they're thinkin

Tracey Warren's firm belief that community is the key to success in life and business has led her to become the founder and CEO of InSpark Coworking and the driving force behind the “Ignite Your Champions'' movement. She's also an author and a motivational speaker with a penchant for content creation and supporting women in business.  In this episode, Tracey shares her thoughts on community building, the power of manifesting, and learning from failure. She also talks about how her coworking space came to be, and we envision a prom-like networking event for entrepreneurs. Episode details and video can be found at: http://shittyideatime.com/58 Connect with Tracey at: https://igniteyourchampions.com/ https://www.facebook.com/thetraceywarren https://www.instagram.com/igniteyourchampions/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/thetraceywarren/   For support & info about starting and growing your small business, join the Shitty Idea Time Business Collective (formerly The Small Business Incubator) or find me on Instagram @shittyideatime

Tracey Warren: "I believe community is the key to success in life and business. That is why I do what I do. As a community creator and connector, InSpark Coworking was exactly the right business for me to open in 2017. We started as a way to create community and connect in person with local business owners. Now, shifting and working with business owners focused on building relationships, creating community and growing engagement - online and off. Every day, I get to connect with and support women in business – hands on! I didn’t know when I started, but this is exactly what I was born to do! I am a rabid supporter and loving truthteller. And, I am so excited to cheer you on when you are successful, and encourage you when you need a gentle nudge. Most days, you will likely find me quoting some random movie line or breaking into song based on our conversation – or laughing out loud at something I found funny! Ultimately, I believe we are better together, and coworking is just one part of that! In addition, I love sharing about creating community as an author, speaker and frequent podcast guest." --------------------------------------- About Erin Female-identifying and want to be a guest? Book here! https://WearHappyConsult.as.me/conversationsaboutclosets Erin Keam is a stylist like no other, thanks to her unique The Happy Wardrobe Method. This Method, which provides instant insights and lasting results explores beloved possessions in your home to find personal themes and create a one-of-a-kind Style Statement, transforming your wardrobe and positively impacting your closet, business, career and life. Oh, and she teaches you to look great, get dressed easily and with confidence. Discover your style brand and get to your ideal closet (& life) faster! https://www.thehappywardrobe.com/ Click to book a FREE Wear Happy Consult (she's on PST time) https://WearHappyConsult.as.me/FREE Or to talk about how you look on camera https://WearHappyConsult.as.me/ZoomReady Or to sign up for her FREE Zoom-Ready workshops https://www.thehappywardrobe.com/zoom-ready Activity --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/erin-keam/support

Nikki loves on-air coaching calls, and on this episode of the Sales Maven podcast, she is working with Tracey Warren, a longtime friend, client, and society member. Tracey wants to know how to start a membership from scratch. She wants to have a plan for growing her email list and filling her membership as quickly as possible. Nikki shares some suggestions on things that Tracey can do to build her email list and bring people into her community. Nikki believes that people sign up for content, but they stay for the community, so she suggests starting a beta group for her membership to test the waters and see what is working for the members and what isn’t.  “Nobody knows what they are going to do until they get in there and do it.” Tracey is excited to start her membership but is hesitant because she doesn’t know what she wants to do yet. Nikki says that things evolve once you get up and running, but the only way that happens is to get started. Nikki believes that Tracey must have a way to feed new people into the group, and she shares some ways that Tracey can do this. Nikki feels that webinars are a great way to get people interested in your content, and she thinks you should use the same content multiple times because they will always hear something new if they are listening. Tracey says that she has changed the language in all the emails she sends to people because of what she has learned from Nikki and the members of the Sales Maven Society, and that is just one of the benefits of being a member. Are you ready to join? If you find value in this podcast and want to ignite your sales, Nikki invites you to join the Sales Maven Society. This is an opportunity for you and Nikki to work together, you bring your questions, concerns, and sales issues, and she provides answers and guidance to boost your confidence. Join by going to www.salesmavensociety.com, click add to cart, and then checkout and use coupon code: 27trial to get your first month for only $27.00! In This Episode: [00:44] Welcome to the show! [01:49] They discuss Tracey’s book Six-Word Lessons on Successful Social Media. [02:34] Tracey talks about her business and shares her background. [04:47] How would you describe InSpark Social? [06:38] Tracey shares what she would like Nikki’s input on. [09:03] Nikki shares her suggestions for Tracey. [11:00] Nikki speaks about the membership model and how fulfilling and financially rewarding it can be. [13:21] Tracey asks about the content she would need to do the beta trial. [16:19] Nikki discusses a group she recently signed up for and the spreadsheet that everyone in the group filled out. [19:08] Nikki gives examples of ways Tracey can retain the members once she gets a group started. [20:28] Listen, as Nikki shares some things she did to retain members, what worked and what didn’t. [21:44] Tracey shares an idea she had as Nikki was sharing for an add on service. [24:08] Nikki speaks about doing beta testing a couple of times of the year with a select few people. [26:02] Nikki says there has to be something to feed new people into the group and shares examples. [28:08] Tracey wants to know if webinars are as effective now with the pandemic? [30:45] Nikki discusses the content she might want to have in her webinar. [33:30] When you know your message is good, keep putting it out there. [34:06] Nikki shares why she loves the idea of doing the same webinar over and over. [35:01] What is the next step you are going to take? [36:22] Tracey shares one benefit she has received from being a member of society. [38:00] Thank you so much for being on the show! Find Nikki: Nikki Rausch Email @yoursalesmaven Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram Sales Maven Society To download free Resources from Nikki: www.yoursalesmaven.com/maven Find Tracey: InSpark Coworking Nurture Your Network Bingo

Today on Creating Your Happy Place, we chat with special guest Tracey Warren! CEO of the co-working space In-Spark, this eternal optimist faced (and conquered) a cancer diagnosis with a smile. In this episode she shares why she started a co-working space (and addresses some of the challenges of co-working) along with her story of facing cancer during covid. Listen to how she brought sunshine into 2020 despite the challenges.---Champion igniter, Tracey Warren supports women entrepreneurs and asks, "What if you already knew everyone you needed to know to be truly successful in your business?" "How would that change things for you?" She is an author, truth teller, authentic speaker and remarkable community creator who brings an army of champions and advocates along on whatever trail she blazes including her recent victory over breast cancer. She’s excited to cheer you on when you are successful, and encourage you when you need a gentle nudge. Most days, you will likely find her quoting some random movie line or breaking into song – or laughing out loud at something she found funny!Follow her on Instagram at Instagram.com/thetraceywarren---Rebecca is CEO of her Seattle-based residential interior design company Seriously Happy Homes, author of the book Happy Starts at Home, and host of this podcast! She's a business consultant to her fellow residential interior designers through Seriously Happy Coaching & Consulting and a small business mentor with SCORE Seattle. She can't resist a costume party or a cat video, and has a weakness for Oreos, Taco Bell, and Scotch whiskey.

The Money Hour with host, Tina Mitchell, and co-host, Keelan Harvey of Highlands Residential Mortgage. This week's show features guests, Eileen Vierra of Memory Books by Eileen LLC, Tracey Warren of Nurture Your Network, and Jana Riggan of Newcastle Life.

In this episode I talk to Tracey Warren about the challenges of being a self-funded, distance, international PGR. You can find Tracey on twitter @TraceyW19521302   Music credit: Happy Boy Theme Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Podcast transcript   1 00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:11,000 Hello and welcome to R, D   2 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:32,000 And the inbetweens, I'm your host, Kelly Preece, and every fortnight I talk to a different guest about researchers development and everything in between.   3 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:36,000 Hello and welcome to the latest episode of R, D and the In Betweens.   4 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:44,000 I'm your host, Kelly Preece. And in this episode, I'm going to be talking to another of our postgraduate researchers, Tracey Warren.   5 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:52,000 So Tracey contacted me after we released an episode of our doctoral college podcast, Beyond Your Research Degree,   6 00:00:52,000 --> 00:01:01,000 where I talked to James Alspp, who was a self-funded postgraduate research student and is now working as a secondary school teacher.   7 00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:11,000 Tracey got in contact because she was pleased to hear the experiences and the challenges of being a self-funded student articulated in this way.   8 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:16,000 And so we decided we'd record an episode of the podcast about her experience of   9 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:22,000 being not only a self-funded but international postgraduate research student.   10 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:26,000 So, Tracey. Are you happy to introduce yourself? Okay.   11 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:35,000 My name's Tracey Warren. I'm a self-funded international.   12 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:40,000 Research student on the EdD programme, which is a bit of a mouthful.   13 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:46,000 I sometimes have to remember which part of that sentence to remember.   14 00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:51,000 So I'm self-funded, which means that I pay for it myself.   15 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:56,000 I'm an international student, although you can probably tell I'm British.   16 00:01:56,000 --> 00:02:01,000 But the main reason I'm an international student is because I lived abroad for quite a long time.   17 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:14,000 And when I started this research degree, I was living in the UAE in Abu Dhabi, and hence why I am classed as an international student.   18 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:23,000 Why the EdD and why a research programme? Well, that's a, that'll probably take up a lot of the time, but   19 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:28,000 Yes. It's something that has been on my mind for quite a long time.   20 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:32,000 I'd say about 15, 20 years.   21 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:39,000 So it's been something that's been part of at the back of my mind, thinking about doing.   22 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:49,000 Whilst I've been having my very busy career and 15 years ago or thereabouts, I had had an offer to do research at Manchester.   23 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:58,000 And then life comes along and a whammy. So I put it to one side and life carried on.   24 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:07,000 And then in 2016, I decided, you know what, I need to revisit this.   25 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:12,000 So I say, yes. The grand old age.   26 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:21,000 I think at the time, 52, I decided that this is something I need to take up before I got too long in the tooth.   27 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:30,000 Why a research degree? Because I've had a lot of experience in education, management, leadership.   28 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:42,000 Special Needs Inclusion International UK that I just thought that I could bring something to the wider audience.   29 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:48,000 And that's why I wanted to do something in research. At the time, I thought I knew what I wanted to do.   30 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:52,000 But obviously, as time's gone on, it has become much more narrow.   31 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:57,000 And I'm in the fourth year. So it's been quite a long journey for me, though.   32 00:03:57,000 --> 00:04:03,000 So for two years, I was at Exeter for February and then summer.   33 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:16,000 So it's been quite a lengthy journey, but one that's not only been challenging, but also completely interesting and totally absorbing.   34 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:19,000 That's fantastic. What an introduction.   35 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:25,000 So you've spoken a little bit about why you wanted to do the research degree, but I wondered if you could talk about the other side of that,   36 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:32,000 which is not just the decision to do the research degree, but to fund it yourself.   37 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:49,000 Well, the self funding was a no brainer, really, living abroad meant that I had very little in the way of access to opportunities for funding.   38 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:54,000 So not even from the company that I worked for would have even considered that.   39 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:57,000 I mean, we are talking of when I think I first started out,   40 00:04:57,000 --> 00:05:03,000 it was about seven and a half thousand pounds a year and it's risen to about nine and a half.   41 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:11,000 So it's a lot of money and therefore the decision to go down this path.   42 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:18,000 I knew that I am a complete a finisher, so therefore I knew that I would get there.   43 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:27,000 But the decision to actually go down the route of doing a research degree at that level of funding requirement,   44 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:39,000 I sort of knew that by the end of it, with flights we travel with, accommodation, we are talking of over 4-5 years of an investment.   45 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:45,000 And that's the word I would use of about fifty thousand pounds, which is a heck of a lot of money.   46 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:51,000 And it was something that I knew from the start.   47 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:56,000 And it's only now just becoming challenging because obviously I'm going to approach a fifth year.   48 00:05:56,000 --> 00:06:01,000 So the rationale was very, very clear.   49 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:09,000 The reasoning for going self funding was very clear that I had no alternative.   50 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:13,000 But also, I knew that I had to work to find that funding myself.   51 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:26,000 So I did work full time for the first three years, as well as juggling everything else that I was required to do for the for the cause.   52 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:35,000 So that was a leadership director position and trying to juggle a research.   53 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:38,000 Part-Time Degree. So let's just pick up on that a minute.   54 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:46,000 What is it like to undergo that juggling act of a full time job and a part time research degree?   55 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:54,000 You have to be very organised and also almost blinkered because, for example,   56 00:06:54,000 --> 00:07:00,000 I also commuted between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, which took out three hours a day minimum.   57 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:06,000 So during the working week, it was very much blinkered work.   58 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:10,000 And then weekends, it was very much focussing on. I've got two days.   59 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:23,000 This is how many hours a week I could do. So it was being very organised about my timing and planning well ahead, like I'd write an action plan.   60 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:30,000 And also, I had very little in the way of holidays. Living abroad is very different.   61 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:35,000 You have very different terms and conditions to your employment.   62 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:38,000 So I was only entitled to 22 days a year.   63 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:51,000 So even coming back to Exeter. For the requirement for I think it's February or March, like a two day weekend and then the summer school.   64 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:59,000 That was part of my leave. So for the first two years, it was hard work, knowing full well I had very little in the way of holiday.   65 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:07,000 So being very well organised, well planned and focused was the only way to get through it.   66 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:12,000 It was tough the first few years. Yes, incredibly tough.   67 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:18,000 And the level of dedication it takes to undertake a research degree under any circumstances is huge.   68 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:28,000 But to do that was working full time and knowing full well that you you're giving up your free time, you're giving up your holidays is colossal.   69 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:41,000 But I think that's that's a level of. Not just focus, but eagerness to to make that leap, because I also had a lot of backing.   70 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:51,000 You know, my husband who has been amazing because it meant me spending a lot of time in my study.   71 00:08:51,000 --> 00:09:02,000 So that in itself was a big decision at the start that we knew that I'd have to give up a lot of time.   72 00:09:02,000 --> 00:09:11,000 So the big holidays that we'd have, we reduced and the time going out at weekends was reduced.   73 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:19,000 So there was like a not a written, like a not to a code,   74 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:24,000 but we had the understanding that it was for a very short period of time and that so long as I   75 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:32,000 was clear and dedicated that I could get through it with the support of my husband and my family.   76 00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:40,000 Absolutely. And a lot of the rhetoric around being a part time student is that it's not just an individual commitment.   77 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:42,000 No, you have to have a level of support.   78 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:52,000 Like, for example, there were times when I had to get assignments in that it was all day all nighters and he'd throw food in through the study with,   79 00:09:52,000 --> 00:10:04,000 you know, door like he or his food. So, yeah, I think it's the level of support you've got behind you that that helps.   80 00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:10,000 I know I, I couldn't have got to this stage without that level of support.   81 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:20,000 What's it like being an international student? What is it like starting out at what is a very considerable distance from the university?   82 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:28,000 There's two things, really, because I have relocated back to UK and September the 30th of last year.   83 00:10:28,000 --> 00:10:43,000 So I've got two perspectives. So as an international student, I think up to and I'd say up to almost COVID, I would say it's quite disembodied.   84 00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:57,000 I felt very much part of Exeter and being a student when I was there, especially during those spring and summer schools,   85 00:10:57,000 --> 00:11:07,000 I found them great because it was that opportunity to connect with like minded people, academics, my tutors, my supervisor.   86 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:18,000 And therefore, it was it was quite it was quite absorbing being there during those times and all embracing because you   87 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:26,000 met others in your cohort and mix with other people from different cohorts in different groupings.   88 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:37,000 So it was an amazing experience, but very disembodied I would say because you'd fly in or I would fly in as an international student,   89 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:43,000 arrive, check in, throw my stuff into my room and start reading and preparing.   90 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:52,000 So those times are really great because I found as if I was part of the university when I was away.   91 00:11:52,000 --> 00:12:01,000 There was a little bit of disconnect, and I found that quite challenging because I actually quite like a spark with people.   92 00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:08,000 I like that engagement. So I had to then think about how I was actually going to gain that.   93 00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:17,000 So a group of us actually did like a WhatsApp group and and supported each other through the first couple of years.   94 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:23,000 So that was nice because we actually kept in contact. But as an international student.   95 00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:29,000 It's part time and living abroad. There is that little bit of a disconnect,   96 00:12:29,000 --> 00:12:36,000 and I will then talk about what's happened recently because I would be constantly sending e-mails about what's happening.   97 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:41,000 And I'd be really fascinated.   98 00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:50,000 Oh, I really want to join in and listen to that, or I'd love to be there during that time, or there will be some course that would be really useful.   99 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:56,000 And when I'd ask for perhaps it could be put online or whether it could be recorded.   100 00:12:56,000 --> 00:13:11,000 That wasn't possible at that time. Which was. I'll say disappointing and disheartening, but I'll say since COVID it's amazing what's happened.   101 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:19,000 I feel as if now, though the opportunity has been embraced by Exeter,   102 00:13:19,000 --> 00:13:30,000 and I feel that now they've recognised that the use of virtual online training access is possible.   103 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:36,000 And I feel much more part of the university.   104 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:45,000 Now more than I had before, because there's a lot more happening through zoom through teams.   105 00:13:45,000 --> 00:13:53,000 So there's much more engagement online and a good one, I think, is how we got in touch with the shut up and write sessions.   106 00:13:53,000 --> 00:14:03,000 I was fascinated. Oh, OK. I'd love that. But since they've gone online, I have actually been attending, I think, for the last five, six weeks.   107 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:11,000 And to me, that has really helped my writing really helps with engagement with other students and understanding that I'm not the only one.   108 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:17,000 I'm not actually alone. There's other people struggling as well and sharing those successes as well.   109 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:21,000 Even if they're small, those type of sessions have been great.   110 00:14:21,000 --> 00:14:28,000 The fact that they're now online and I can access them. So I think there's almost been like a journey for Exeter.   111 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:39,000 And for me, as well as a distance international student, because I had to find a way of being engaged, motivated.   112 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:44,000 And I think it has been.   113 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:50,000 Very. Upsetting about what's been happening in the world.   114 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:55,000 And for certain people, it's been really distressing.   115 00:14:55,000 --> 00:15:01,000 But there's also been another side of seeing what opportunities have happened and taking note.   116 00:15:01,000 --> 00:15:09,000 And it's been amazing to see what's happened with the university about it now going much more online and giving greater,   117 00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:21,000 greater access to people like me. So I wonder, what have the other challenges been for you as a part time international self-funded student?   118 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:30,000 We've talked about access to on campus support. But what else what else has been a real challenge or a barrier to you?   119 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:37,000 That's quite tricky cause I always try and turn things around. I talked about the negative and I'm not one that always harps on the negative.   120 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:49,000 I always try and find positives. I think if you got if you are doing a research degree or a degree part time with.   121 00:15:49,000 --> 00:15:54,000 You have to be well organised and planned.   122 00:15:54,000 --> 00:16:01,000 I think the best thing was actually being provided with all the dates of assignments so I could put them in my calendar.   123 00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:08,000 And I'm a very electronic person anyhow. So I had all of that down, all of my dates.   124 00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:19,000 It is about being organised and about developing that, developing a rapport with the other students in your group.   125 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:24,000 Also with your supervisors. I think that was crucial for me,   126 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:34,000 especially if the last two years whilst I'm in thesis stage developing that rapport has been crucial because there's times or I've been like.   127 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:47,000 You know, I've got to write reports for my CEO. And having that relationship to be able to say I need that space, but also for my supervisor,   128 00:16:47,000 --> 00:16:53,000 Yeat but Tracey, you know, you've still got to keep within target dates and then and timescales.   129 00:16:53,000 --> 00:17:02,000 And for them to understand that you're in a different you have different priorities.   130 00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:06,000 So it's those priorities ebb and flow.   131 00:17:06,000 --> 00:17:10,000 So, for example, I knew that I needed to get an assignment done.   132 00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:15,000 So work didn't just take a backseat, it rolled along.   133 00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:19,000 But I was able to change my priorities during that period of time.   134 00:17:19,000 --> 00:17:26,000 So it's it's looking at your priorities being action, planning, being well organised.   135 00:17:26,000 --> 00:17:30,000 Knowing the library really well. Yeah.   136 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:36,000 I'm a great reader and organising not just your time, but organising your files.   137 00:17:36,000 --> 00:17:40,000 That was something that I learnt.   138 00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:50,000 From doing an open university course was that, you know, to get your literature sorted out very quickly and a system for that.   139 00:17:50,000 --> 00:17:54,000 So I think that's fair. Any student. But for me, it was very much so.   140 00:17:54,000 --> 00:18:03,000 I could find it very quickly, both it in my literature organising my filing so that I could gain it easily.   141 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:07,000 So, yeah, I'm being very adept.   142 00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:11,000 So, for example, I'm talking about I love to learn.   143 00:18:11,000 --> 00:18:16,000 So like youtubing, I've had to do use and NVivo this during my thesis.   144 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:24,000 So I'm adept at looking at courses online to check out how to use things.   145 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:31,000 So it begue being self disciplined as well as self-reliant.   146 00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:37,000 And that's part of being a researcher I think is actually eagerness to learn.   147 00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:41,000 And therefore, if you've got a problem, how to work around it.   148 00:18:41,000 --> 00:18:45,000 And I think that's those are the key things I've had to do, be independent, self-reliant.   149 00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:56,000 And a problem solver. Okay, so imagine for me that there's another Tracey out there who's about to embark on a research degree   150 00:18:56,000 --> 00:19:00,000 and they're going to be thinking about doing it part time.   151 00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:11,000 And as an international student and funding it themselves, what advice would you give them before they started?   152 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:24,000 I knew would be tough, but actually that's the part that's been the toughest, is the writing up their thesis?   153 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:31,000 I'm used to writing. I had to write reports for various people and thousands of words that I've never been a problem.   154 00:19:31,000 --> 00:19:38,000 But writing this thesis up has been the biggest challenge, whether it's the case of the blank screen.   155 00:19:38,000 --> 00:19:44,000 I'm not sure. But I am now at, say, two thirds through.   156 00:19:44,000 --> 00:19:52,000 I think if it was, the advice to myself would be.   157 00:19:52,000 --> 00:19:56,000 Think about the writing beforehand. Okay.   158 00:19:56,000 --> 00:20:08,000 I've taken a lot of time preparing all the data, collecting it, analysing it, but I really hadn't anticipated how challenging this writing had been.   159 00:20:08,000 --> 00:20:17,000 So I think if I'd have known that my my the advice myself for myself would be to go read many more ideas   160 00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:26,000 that I'd been published to go and have a look at some of those before I started writing.   161 00:20:26,000 --> 00:20:34,000 So that's one of the things I think also that the old adage of it's a marathon, not a sprint.   162 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:40,000 That's never been me. I'm such a goal orientated person.   163 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:45,000 Yeah, I could do this. I can do this. But actually, that has been one.   164 00:20:45,000 --> 00:20:48,000 Probably one of the best things that.   165 00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:56,000 I had to remind myself of especially the last couple of months, because I have found through writing since about March.   166 00:20:56,000 --> 00:21:06,000 And I think some of COVID, it has impacted on me. So I think keep reminding myself that you're in for this for the for the long term.   167 00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:10,000 So even if you only write 100 words a day, just do it.   168 00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:21,000 I think for me, that was the best thing, was keeping myself motivated and always give myself some space.   169 00:21:21,000 --> 00:21:26,000 I think those were the three. If I had to give myself that advice four years ago, that's when it would be.   170 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:33,000 And be kinder to myself. Think sometimes we're not.   171 00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:40,000 I think sometimes we're not. We might be kinder to others, but we're not always kind of kinder to ourselves.   172 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:45,000 That's a really poignant piece of advice and I think.   173 00:21:45,000 --> 00:21:52,000 So if that's what you need, if that's what you'd say to Tracey, what would you say to universities?   174 00:21:52,000 --> 00:22:03,000 What do they need to think about more in terms of the lived experience of being a part time international self-funded student?   175 00:22:03,000 --> 00:22:10,000 For me, I think the university needed  to engage much more with their international students,   176 00:22:10,000 --> 00:22:20,000 not just send an email saying, oh, those these courses going on at the student, there's this seminar, this I just felt.   177 00:22:20,000 --> 00:22:28,000 Yeah, okay. But that actually doesn't help me. And I feel that they have they are making those changes,   178 00:22:28,000 --> 00:22:36,000 and I feel sad that it's taken some some of it has taken a pandemic for it to make that big change.   179 00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:41,000 Yeah, I completely get that, but I think, like you and I try and see the positives.   180 00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:51,000 And I felt really, really energised by some of the shifts and changes that have come about lately because of the pandemic and the shift online.   181 00:22:51,000 --> 00:22:57,000 And it's like so it's like when you're thinking about accessibility and inclusion, you don't make things accessible.   182 00:22:57,000 --> 00:23:02,000 You don't think about inclusivity just to support the needs of one person.   183 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:11,000 You do it because actually providing things in multiple formats, in multiple kinds of engagement, it benefits the entire community.   184 00:23:11,000 --> 00:23:16,000 It benefits everybody, not just that individual person with specific needs.   185 00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:26,000 Oh, you said it so beautifully. Yeah, I'd say I'd say it's about inclusivity because that is actually part of my research is about inclusion.   186 00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:32,000 And to me, when I've been doing going through the process of a thesis and writing,   187 00:23:32,000 --> 00:23:37,000 some of it was quite poignant and it was a bit that's how I actually feel.   188 00:23:37,000 --> 00:23:45,000 And and being part of something and that's why I said the key words to me were about engaging,   189 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:55,000 feeling a part of something, and therefore that helps you with motivation and inclusivity or diversity.   190 00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:57,000 It's amazing the world out there.   191 00:23:57,000 --> 00:24:07,000 And the university has the opportunity to engage much more with international students, which will then increase their diversity of ideas.   192 00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:14,000 And that in itself is is worthwhile because there's a lot happening out in the world.   193 00:24:14,000 --> 00:24:22,000 And it's just saying that there is a blinkered view or there has been because this is amazing research,   194 00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:28,000 some amazing ideas, but it's sad that it's it it it's inward looking.   195 00:24:28,000 --> 00:24:30,000 And I feel that that engagement,   196 00:24:30,000 --> 00:24:45,000 participation and idea of opening out and being much more inclusive would gather these ideas and increase participation by international students.   197 00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:51,000 I think what we've seen with the Shut up and write sessions is actually it doesn't need to be anything particularly complicated.   198 00:24:51,000 --> 00:24:55,000 Oh, absolutely. I love watching and see where everybody is.   199 00:24:55,000 --> 00:25:03,000 I mean, I can see the same the same group, core group comes in and that's great because that's that's probably the stage you're at.   200 00:25:03,000 --> 00:25:09,000 I mean, certainly for me, it's very right. So between nine and 12, I'm going to do this.   201 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:14,000 And that's great. It helps to organise your day if you're that type of person. And it helps you to focus.   202 00:25:14,000 --> 00:25:20,000 But not only that, it also helps you to feel part of a community. And that's why I talk about engagement and participation.   203 00:25:20,000 --> 00:25:25,000 You need to feel part of a community, the community of Exeter,   204 00:25:25,000 --> 00:25:32,000 and that that should be what the that the university should be about of making people feel.   205 00:25:32,000 --> 00:25:37,000 Part of that community. Community of learners.   206 00:25:37,000 --> 00:25:45,000 Thanks so much to Tracy for taking the time to talk to me and making some really, really powerful and salient points about.   207 00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:51,000 About kindness to yourself and but also the importance of community of learners.   208 00:25:51,000 --> 00:25:54,000 And that seemed to be something that kept coming through.   209 00:25:54,000 --> 00:26:07,000 About the challenges of being that international part time self-funded student is how how you engage with and how you develop that sense of community.   210 00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:16,000 I was also really, really interested to hear her talk about the disembodied nature of being an international student,   211 00:26:16,000 --> 00:26:21,000 particularly somebody that used to research embodiment in in digital world.   212 00:26:21,000 --> 00:26:25,000 So that's something that to me sounds like a challenge.   213 00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:36,000 And I'm one I'm going to think a lot more about, about how we can bring embodiment back into the virtual world, into the online training that we do.   214 00:26:36,000 --> 00:27:08,476 And that's it for this episode. Don't forget to, like, rate and subscribe. and join me next time where i'll talking to somebody else about researchers, development, and everything in-between!

Tracey Warren believes community is the key to success in life and business. She walks the walk & talks the talk.  Tracey has created InSpark Coworking – a REAL space for business professionals to work and build community.  Tracey is always there cheering you on when you are successful and encouraging you when you need a gentle nudge.  She has coined a great phrase for use in her coworking space: Are you interruptable? I love it. Most days, you will find her quoting a random movie line or breaking into song based on a conversation – or laughing out loud at something she found funny!  Tracey can be found at:  InSpark Coworking 425.245.7998 tracey@insparkcoworking.com   A little about me: I began my career as a teacher, was a corporate trainer for many years, and then found my niche training & supporting business owners, entrepreneurs & sales professionals to network at a world-class level.  My passion is working with motivated people, who are coachable and who want to build their businesses through relationship marketing and networking (online & offline). I help my clients create retention strategies, grow through referrals, and create loyal customers by staying connected.   In appreciation for being here, I have a couple of gifts for you.       A LinkedIn Checklist for setting up your fully optimized Profile: http://janiceporter.com/download-checklist.html       An opportunity to test drive the Follow Up system I recommend by sending a FREE greeting card (on me): www.sendacardeverytime.com   Connect with me: http://JanicePorter.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/janiceporter/ https://www.facebook.com/JanicePorterBiz https://twitter.com/janiceporter   Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a note in the comment section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or Stitcher. You can also subscribe from the podcast app on your mobile device. Leave us an iTunes review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on iTunes, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on iTunes.

We were visited by some adoptable dogs in studio, brought in by Tracey Warren and Esther Heine, volunteers from the Sato Project, who rescue abandoned dogs in Puerto Rico and bring them to the United States!

Tracey Warren, at her heart, is a community creator. He mission is to help move the needle for women in business. Sometimes that is her standing on the sidelines cheerleading; other times, it's gently speaking the truth in love to help YOU get to the next level.Tracey Warren spent 19 years as an Avon lady, working and building community in the Direct Selling industry. She migrated those skills to social media, becoming and expert at helping others to build community online. Her newest vernture, her true calling and her HOME -- if home is where the heart is - is InSpark Co-working, a sharted office community for entrepreneurs, freelances and "office misfits" to work, collaborate, and plot to take over the world (in a good way)!

Have you ever wondered “Can all this social media stuff really make a difference to your bottom line?” Tracey Warren’s answer is an absolute YES!  Tracey is a social media superhero, able to establish reputations online, create communities and build relationships. She wants to change the way we use social media to market our businesses. She believes that one of the worst things to be on social media is forgettable. She wants to improve the way we as entrepreneurs show up to be seen and heard, so we are not just memorable but unforgettable. Tracey is known for her tell like it is style for this both funny and full of humor.  This powerful interview she talks about how to be more visible and how it’s ok to be different.   You can find her at http://www.readysetgrowmarketing.com/index   Referenced in this episode:   Sally Hogshead, The Fascination Advantage

Segment 1: In our Trends and Insights Segment we talk with Tracey Warren about how to use real-time video to enhance your message and build connection with your audience.Segment 2: Our Success Interview is with networking and sales expert Tish Times. She talks with us about her strategy for growing and diversifying her business, Tish Times Training and Coaching.Segment 3: The Business Builder Segment is all about how to leverage your existing coaching into a range of products that serve a diversity of clients.

Have you ever wondered “Can all this social media stuff really make a difference to your bottom line?” Tracey Warren's answer is an absolute YES! Tracey is a social media superhero, able to establish reputations online, create communities and build relationships. And she wants to change the way we use social media to market our businesses. She believes that one of the worst things to be on social media is forgettable. She wants to improve the way we as entrepreneurs show up to be seen and heard, so we are not just memorable but unforgettable. Tracey is known for her tell like it is style for this both funny and full of humor. There is no mistaking however the innovative and creative ways Tracey creates communities for her clients. Communities that allows them to focus on building relationships offline, so they can make more money.

Segment 1: Our Trends and Insights Segment features Kristie Keever, owner of Freshly Stated, talking with us about the importance of incorporating story telling into your message to make an emotional connection with your potential clientsSegment 2: The Success Interview is with Tracey Warren, owner of The Social Playground. She's giving us her insights into how she became an "accidental entrepreneur" and how she is growing a successful social media company.Segment 3: In the Business Builder Segment we are talking about why it is essential for you to identify and define your ideal client.

Consumerism: a history of our modern, material world and the endless quest for more 'things'. Laurie Taylor talks to Frank Trentmann, Professor of History at Birkbeck College, University of London and author of a study which examines how the purchase of goods became the defining feature of contemporary life. They're joined by Rachel Bowlby, Professor of Modern English Literature at University College London. Also, the middle class bias in work/life balance research. Tracey Warren, Professor of Sociology at the University of Nottingham, suggests that working class experience of precarity complicates the debate. Producer: Jayne Egerton.

You’ve heard the speaking tip: Know your audience Have you ever thought “how the heck am I going to do that?” Most blog posts and article tell you why you need to understand your audience, but they don’t tell you HOW. And if they tell you how, they have you chasing down the wrong information. The type of information that provides you with very little insight about your audience for the vast amount of leg-work that you have to do to get access to it. In this episode you’ll find out: why it’s critical to know your audience before you prepare your presentation how to start mapping out the journey your audience embarks on during your presentation why Google may not being your best option for audience research and the correct tool to use instead (hint: it’s always with you) the game changing question you must answer about your audience before you write one word of your speech. Mentioned in this episode: Check out Social Media Manager, Tracey Warren, at Read, Set, Grow CEO The Rebel Speaker Facebook Group - Come join the community of instigators, renegades, and rebels out to make an impact with their message.

Tracey Warren | Creating Connections by BSR Broadcasts with Jackie B. Peterson