Where Did It all Begin?

I suppose you could say that it has taken me a while to feel settled and know the direction that I wanted my life to take. However there has been one constant throughout all of my career changes and that has been 'Business'.

I started first proper job as a Saturday girl in, what was, Miss Selfridge. I was 16 and earning my own money with discount of clothing that we sold! Perfect! I quickly advanced to a weekend supervisor position and loved building on my leadership skills. Although I enjoyed the clothes and the fashion I soon realised that my favourite part of the job was behind the scenes either counting money and doing the accounts, organising the rota or jobs that needed done or filling out paperwork. I loved the business side of the job! I changed my plans of  going to university to train as a teacher and climbed my way up the management ladder within Arcadia. After a stressful time, some bullying in the workplace and generally feeling unhappy with being shat on I knew I had to make a change which really had an impact on me because I was happy in my position and loved what I did. I was, however, still very young and not strong enough or confident enough to stand up for myself and out the older management who were blaming others for their misdemeanours. So, I left! In one way I would tell my younger self to stand for what's right but to be fair I have no regrets as everything happens for a reason and I may not be where I am now without that lesson in life. If you are reading this and in a similar situation stand up for yourself and don't let them get away with it! 

After a couple of 'fill in' jobs I decided that it was time to go to university. I had arrived at the realisation that business was the subject that I enjoyed and wanted to explore this further. So I worked full time as a personal assistant for my Uncle and attended university full time too. I loved it! After its completion I came a full circle and decided that yes I loved business but I had always wanted to teach, so why not teach business? I gained my PGCE two years later. I knew this was the correct path for me and enjoyed every minute of being in the classroom. 

Now here is where life threw a spanner in the works! Plodding away, happily as a single woman who shuddered at the thought of marriage I went on a holiday that changed my life. Never one to take a simple path I met my now husband JJ, on holiday in Turkey, and after a coupe of years and a wedding in Turkey I found myself living there and teaching English. I don't want to bore you with all the details but fast forward a couple of years, a couple of children later and a couple of businesses later and made the choice to work from home. I had been diagnosed with Crohns disease and was struggling health wise and my daughter had appointment after appointment at the doctors, physio, hospital (she has cerebral palsy) and emergency admissions for breathing issues. JJ and I opened a barbers salon in 2010 and it is still going strong even after a couple of location changes JJ has kept his loyal customers and COVID did not defeat us.. although it came close! 

I chose do go down the Network Marketing Path with The Body Shop at Home... and 4 years later I am still with them. I love everything about the company from the values and beliefs to the ladies in my team who are all magnificent. I have met so many friends and a few who I would class as my closest friends. It really was a game changer for me when I joined up. I had become a bit secluded and lonely and gone from an outgoing party animal to a bit of an introvert. The Body Shop changed that for me and I will forever be thankful for that. You can find my group, The Little Shop of Self Care, here.

I knew that I needed something more I was missing the teaching side and the 'business' side and I decided to go back to my roots and do some business coaching, specialising in start up businesses. This has always been my strong point and I loved the idea of helping others so began 1-2-1 coaching sessions. I am currently about to launch 'The Start Up Business Hub' which is a membership site, alongside a Facebook group, to support women in starting up their own businesses. For those who do not have a business background it can be really overwhelming and conversing with business professionals, who use jargon and terms that can be really confusing,  often puts people off. If a new business, The Body Shop at Home, A Barbers Salon and two children were not enough I have recently started lecturing again, part-time, in a local college. This is soon to move to full time too! I am busy and I am happy and I have more yet to come and big dreams to turn into reality. That will not happen by sitting back and waiting. So here we go and watch this space!

To preregister for my FREE taster membership you can fill out a form here.