Growing up, I followed a fairly logical path. I studied Business Management at the University of Nottingham, niching in on marketing and branding, before starting my career in advertising upon graduation. In my role, I planned media campaigns and strategies for some of the world’s biggest brands. A work-hard, play-hard career that I loved.
But as I worked my way up the ladder, it began to lose its shine. I’d progressed quickly and managed a large team. But the higher up I got, the more ensnared in bureaucracy I became, and the further I moved from the day to day client contact and brand building that I loved. My hands were forever tied as a result of office politics, and I began to resent the way that people were treated. The role of creativity was being reduced, and I no longer felt fulfilled.
Setting up my own business had always been at the back of my mind, but I’d always been an over-thinker and could never seem to settle on an idea of what I wanted to do. But, back in 2017, the stars all seemed to align, and I realised that wedding planning would be perfect. It would combine my love of planning, organisation and spreadsheets, yet would also provide me with the creative outlet that I was had been lacking.
Once I’d locked onto that idea, that was it. I pushed on and sought out the relevant training. My job had provided me with many transferable skills which were perfect for wedding planning, but I also found that by launching my own business I was suddenly developing a whole load of new skills too. I attended a course, got myself a coach, and that was it – I was off. No beating around the bush – once I had locked on to this goal, it was all I wanted.
There was no one ‘epiphany’ moment, but rather a cumulation of various thoughts and feelings all coming together, and it just made sense. I was bored of working for poor, uninspiring leaders, and bored of working my arse off and not reaping the full rewards, so decided to take things into my own hands. I backed myself and knew I could make it work.
Within a year of launching, I had not only set up a second business (travel planning – one of my other main passions), but managed to quit my 9-5 (which, in reality was more of an 8-7, and a complete time drain when also trying to juggle two businesses!).
Since setting up my own business, I’ve felt a sense of satisfaction and fulfilment like never before. Yes, the lows are low, but the highs are so high, and there’s no feeling like bagging those first big clients and ticking off your goals. Aside from having a job I love, it’s given me the freedom and flexibility I craved, allowing me to take a step back and enjoy life more. And now, having launched as a coach (something I’ve wanted to do for a while now, having previously coached during my corporate role), I get to experience it from the other side too – empowering other women to achieve their dreams and celebrate their successes.
With every year that passes, I’ve realised that life is too short. Time goes by in the blink of an eye, and there really is no time like the present. For once, I was glad that I had managed to shake my over-thinking nature (I think that comes as part of being a planner!!) and just dowhat I wanted to do. Sometimes, you just have to stop worrying about what others might say or think – and just go for it. And right now, I have no regrets.
