Pep Talk!

This is my first blog and I thought I’d take the time to reflect on my year so far.  What an amazing year I’ve had!  Having been coached myself in a business context, I decided to leave my corporate job and legal career and start out on my own with my own Executive and Business Coaching enterprise.  For me, this has been the catalyst for so many new things happening to me, outside of my business life.

Getting things right professionally has meant that so many other things have fallen into place.  My business now gives me the independence and flexibility I craved.  I can set up meetings when they suit me (to a certain extent!), I can take my lap top into the garden if it’s a nice day, or decide at the last minute to take some time off and have a duvet day.  Of course it’s not all idyllic – getting up for a networking meeting at 6.30am is not my idea of fun (not being a morning person) but it’s my choice, which is the difference which makes the difference.

It has also given me back my family life.  Like many professional career women I had lived with the gnawing guilt of having it all, but having nothing.  By this I mean I got the status and intellectual stimulation of a professional career but didn’t get to see the “little” things like watching my son play football for his school or being there when he got home to hear his stories about his day.  My stress has reduced dramatically, I’ve lost weight, taken up running (including some 10k races which I never thought I’d be able to do!), and I’m feeling more healthy than I had for a long time.  I’ve also got my mojo back!

My “mojo” is responsible for many things I’ve said yes to this year!  I said yes to being a model for a charity fashion show my friend was running.  I said “yes” to being a Life Drawing Model, which for me was like a parachute jump for someone else – scary and exciting at the same time.  I’ve started baking again too, and my son now swears by my chocolate brownies.  I’ve already made the Christmas pudding and presents this year will be homemade jam!  I judged recently at a school’s business challenge.  I’ve also gone back to doing ballroom and Latin American dancing (which I learnt as a child).  I even decided on the spur of the moment to buy a bicycle and have been out and about enjoying the Hertfordshire countryside.  And it seems that every time I’ve said yes, it’s filled up my confidence bank a little more and means that I’m more likely to say yes to the next opportunity.  I’ve got my eyes on trying out a climbing wall next!

Sure, I don’t have the income I used to, and can’t blow cash on a whim but then I don’t need to any more to make me happy.  Gone are the days of dreading Monday morning and willing Friday to come around – for me there aren’t enough hours in the day to do all that I want to do!  If I was going to advise anyone I’d say start small and try something you’ve always wanted to do or used to love but have been put off doing.  Take the chance to say yes when someone invites you to take part in something – you might even enjoy it - I have!