I’ve had a lot of fun over the years working in so many different types of businesses. I’ve done everything from IT to optometry and in every department from admin, accounts, marketing and sometimes I’ve worn all the hats at once!
I’ve enjoyed learning how businesses (both large and small) function, interact and improve. I’ve had the unique opportunity to see them from the inside. I never stopped asking questions and gained knowledge and experience from incredible people throughout the businesses I worked in. Those people gave me a unique gift.
They showed me how to look at each of these businesses form their perspective; an accountant, business owner, ops manager, helpdesk operator, sales consultant, engineer and the list goes on.
The one thing I always struggled with was working in an office. You see, I have anxiety. I felt frustrated by the way conventional businesses needed me in the office all the time. It gave me a strong desire to want to design my workdays in a way which would be the most productive for me. When my daughter arrived that desire became even stronger.
One afternoon, driving home from the office I heard an ad on the radio which led me to discover Startup Grind. It was one of those pivotal moments which I think I will always vividly recall.
The next event was in 2 days. I got my ticket, nervously entered the venue and sat quietly at the back. I was astounded by these incredible people and unbelievable stories. Not just from the people on stage but those wandering around the conference room. They were, each and every one of them, amazing.
I wanted to work with THOSE people!
The ones who dared to be different and strike out into the unchartered.
I decided to leave corporate and enter the world of entrepreneurship applying the years of experience I had gained by studying the inner workings of businesses.
I started off working very closely with the young owner of a social media company. Her business was growing and she didn’t feel equipped to keep up with the changing needs of her business, staff and clients. I helped her structure and formalise her growing business so that she could manage a 100% remote team.
Since then I’ve gotten to work with many different entrepreneurs & solopreneurs helping them to gain clarity & self-assuredness in their business by banishing self-doubt. Through taking the lessons I’d learnt from big business, distilling it down and showing them how to apply these learnings to their business I helped them confidently spread their wings so that they could soar.
I even managed a coworking space and got to plan a wedding in between!
I loved life! I could design my own schedule, work on the projects I was passionate about, work with people who amazed and inspired me, take time off when my daughter needed me and find time for myself in the middle of it all. I had managed to keep all the best parts of business.
I was now doing work I loved. The other half of my dream was where I did that work from.
When I was younger I’d always dreamt of living in the country and having a pet sheep. I still had that dream. Wide open spaces, the quiet and solitude. Not for everyone, I know, but the kind of place anxious folk enjoy.
But I didn’t want to give up being involved in business. I still wanted to work with THOSE people.
I was working on a big project remotely and decided to take the plunge and move 2 hours drive from the city to a quaint cottage on a working dairy farm.
What I found was that when I left for the country people still sought me out via phone or via email looking for guidance. One even made a day trip of if to visit me on the farm! When my contract ended I decided I wasn’t going to work on full-time projects anymore.
I want to be more flexible and available for you. I want to be the sounding board you need.
Designing a business you love into the life you lead is no small mountain to climb. Making decisions and taking action in your business is hard.
It’s harder when you don’t have a business partner to lean on, to spitball ideas with. Someone who can give you another perspective on how to achieve your goal and help shift you out of self-doubt.
It doesn’t have to be hard. Because you don’t have to do it all alone. You can have a sounding board.