It felt like her book was written for me, she covers all topics from running a business to having a family, and how she balances it all (with help!). I love how open and honest she is about her experiences and Mum guilt (I’m sure all Mums have this at some point, I know I have). She shares her journey in life an in business, and you really feel like you get to know her and what drives her. A bit like the above. If you don't take care of yourself first then you won't be able to give your full potential to others including your children. Prioritise your wellbeing results in prioritising your children. I realise, though, that it is not the same in all organisations, and we could be better even in my own organisation, for example in the imagery we use to advertise our products. There is a lot more work to do. Businesses need to consciously resist the temptation to hire ‘people like them’. We need to realise we are hugely disadvantaged if we do not hire a workforce that represents our customers. We need to ensure a pipeline of good candidates. And we need, perhaps, to force the issue for a bit, to create more role models as we have done for women.

But, having hit fifty, I suddenly felt that I had a lot to say. Not because I have always got it right, but mostly, actually, because I haven’t. And now I realise that that is OK too. The book “If in doubt, wash your hair ” is a memoir by Anya Hindmarch, a globally renowned entrepreneur, the founder of an award winning global brand known for it’s craftmanship and creativity, a mother of five and also a step mother. In this book, she shares her life experiences from the challenges of managing business, family and her own personal happiness at the same time. Anya shares about her journey as a businesswoman in fashion, most notably for the “I’m not a plastic bag” campaign, her life experiences and juggling life as a working mother (as do many successful career women). Her writing style is succinct and clear, with lists at certain points just like her personality. It’s motivating and straightforward like speaking to a friend. She makes entrepreneurship sound so easy, yet not everyone could have made it a success like her.Comforting, practical and beautifully personal. This book feels like your best friend telling you it’s all going to be ok’ Fearne Cotton Long before I ever heard the phrase “self-care”, I knew that washing my hair was the best way to turn a day around. Bubble baths make me hot and bored. Dry body brushing, jade-roller facials, foot exfoliation: all of those sound like chores to me. But washing my hair is a reset button for the day. It is cathartic, like having a good cry. (When needs must, you can do both at the same time, and not end up puffy-faced.) There is the olfactory rush of lemon or grapefruit or rose, the purifying sluice of water rinsing a bad day down the plughole, the satisfying chemistry-lab alchemy of bubbles and lather. Should you still need convincing that a hairwash can be spine-tingling, the scene in Out of Africa where Robert Redford gives Meryl Streep an alfresco shampoo is guaranteed to convert you. There is mention of some wide-reaching advice which should appeal to the typical reader, but these came almost as an after thought at the end of most chapters, as opposed to her own story and experiences woven around the advice that is promised on the cover.

If I am part of a 'transition generation' in which we women are trying to live up to our mothers' examples, despite now often working as hard as our fathers did; likewise men are often subconsciously following the patterns set by their fathers.' Reading the title – If in Doubt, Wash Your Hair – you may think that this is a simple book, one to glance at mindlessly beach-side, but while the tone is light, the content is significant. Anya is very transparent about what it’s like to be an entrepreneur managing a multi-million dollar business, but she also lays bare the price she’s paid for her success, both emotionally and mentally. Really enjoyed this brilliant, inspiring and empowering book!! Anya Hindmarch is a world famous businesswoman, entrepreneur, CEO, and a mother to five children (3 of whom are her step children who she's looked after since they were small). In the early 2000s, she created an it bag that everyone had to have, known as the "I'm Not a Plastic Bag" bag. I remember even my mum had one!

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I thought writing this book would be like writing eight essays, but in fact it’s quite hard to be vulnerable and in public. It does sort of go against the grain, for me, honestly. But I was inspired by the younger generation. They’re very good at being open about how they feel and frankly that’s very impressive. I thought it was important that my generation does the same, but perhaps with some layers on the experience that we’ve had. It shows our journeys are not linear and it’s often hard to move forward when you are full of doubt. 3. MAKE THE GREMLIN ON YOUR SHOULDER YOUR FRIEND

Covid- 19 swept through our lives while I was writing this book. It changed so much, while at the same time reinforcing all the things I already knew. It emphasised the fragility of our planet. It made us stop and consider our core values and what was really important to us. It made horribly clear the overriding importance of looking after our physical and mental health and our families. It brought home to me how much good fortune I have had in my life so far.

If you’re struggling with motivation and self-doubt, this book may be of great help to you. A quote I loved reads, “if you are reading this and wondering whether to do it, then my advice would be: do it. Expect failure. Expect difficulty. Take risks. Don’t be scared to start again. And try to remember to enjoy the journey.” Giveaway With the exception of anger/aggression (which should be worked out in private) ...emotion is a female superpower and if women have an edge in business, it is in fact often because they do bring emotion to the workplace. A growing business is built on emotion. Every family has their own moments when -parents are afraid if they gave more affection to their younger child than the older ones If in doubt, wash your hair’ was often what the designer responded with, when asked to advise busy mums and working women. “It’s one of those things that can change your day, even if it’s so trivial and silly. And it stands for so much else.” That said, the winning takeaway from her book is that ‘emotion is a female superpower’. “Workplaces have traditionally been perhaps male, and emotion considered a weakness. I was upset after someone said something unfair to me at work one day, and was told, ‘Anya, you must take emotion out of this.’ It made me stop and think: no, emotion is what we do really well. Men know too that it is emotion that builds businesses and loyalties. We must never lose it, not just in the office but at home too!”

I never imagined that I would write a book. I am by nature an intensely private person and there were so many reasons not to put my head above the parapet and commit to paper for all eternity the jumble of thoughts that passes between my ears. The title of this book “If in doubt, wash your hair” has caught my attention. As soon as I saw the title, I immediately wondered what in the world that this book could possibly be about. In this exclusive excerpt from the book, she shares why sometimes, her best advice for busy women is something as simple as washing your hair! Read: EAM Jaishankar embarks on 5-day visit to UK London: Far-right clash with police as pro-Palestine rally starts One of the exercises in her book is to write down what makes one happy. “It isn’t always money, so sit down and unravel from a personal perspective: what is success to you, and the people who make you happy? There are common threads. What are your happiest moments? It’s not a new car.” While she has been criticised on online forums for her obsession with lists (she has them for ‘where to eat’ and ‘what to watch’ as well), Hindmarch insists this keeps her head clear. “Life is stressful, with lots of role changes. We need to be quite kind and manage to prioritise ourselves. As foundations of family, it doesn’t work if we don’t. We need to put on our oxygen masks.”Anya has a host of accomplishments to her name – she’s been awarded Designer of the Year by various institutions numerous times, she received an MBE in 2009 for services to the British fashion industry and a CBE in 2017 for services to fashion. She’s also a UK trade ambassador and is a trustee of both the Royal Academy and the Design Museum. And now, she can add author to the list, having written her first book, If in Doubt, Wash Your Hair. We read it, and we have some thoughts. If in Doubt, Wash Your Hair Review She honestly and openly delves into her battles with anxiety and her life spent building a business. It’s not at all glamorous – years spent working at her kitchen table, cash flow problems and the realisation that when she is struggling at work, she struggles to be mentally present at home. She doesn’t spout any magic formula for dealing with it all, but is very honest in saying that being in business is tough and the only way to get around it is to get through it. A diverse workforce is vital, both ethically and commercially, but my position on how to achieve this has changed. Most of my career has been in the era of ‘equality for women in the workplace’. It has not been achieved yet – clearly – but until recently I was somewhat skeptical about the various efforts made, and used to say, ‘I don’t want to be put on a board just because I’m wearing a skirt.’ I felt that progress was being made and would continue to be, naturally and organically, as women continued to deliver and prove their worth. I argued against quotas or other measures to ‘force’ change, as it seemed to me that they could undermine women.