Something that always is asked as an entrepreneur is…. why?
The start of my business journey
I have been a business owner in one form or another since 2003 when I started my entertainment business. Little did I realise at the age of 19 what I had started. My key driver was the desire to sing after first performing on stage at the age of 10. I was presented with an opportunity to have training to help me to work on the pub & club circuit, so I took it and ran with it.
I am still an entertainer to this day, 22 years on, with a business that has grown in a variety of ways & has provided me with some amazing experiences that I would never have dreamt possible.
I would not have experienced any of it or become the person I am today without taking that chance and doing something totally out of my comfort zone to chase my dreams.
The formation of Inspiration Coaching & Support
I have had other businesses since then including a baking business, retail businesses in makeup sales, crystal jewellery and gifts business and my care consultancy business. Each business has brought a new level of fulfilment whilst leaning into my skills and knowledge.
My coaching business came from a different place. Following 15 years working within the NHS & private sector which was a part of the 24-year journey of working as part of the health and social care system I was becoming more and more frustrated with the firefighting approach to healthcare from a physical and mental health perspective. I had noticed more and more that in attempts to advocate for patients I didn’t fit the expectations of the system leaders which caused me more frustration.
Within my role in the community mental health transformation, which to me did not feel transformational, I saw the amazing work being carried out within the community from private providers and the voluntary sector. This opened my eyes to a different world where the risk adversity I observed within the system was eradicated and true transformational work could take place – however it was always hit with funding cuts and budgets being reallocated meaning it could never really reach sustainable goals.
For years I had attempted to find ways to manage my own physical and mental health in the very system that was causing barriers and challenge. Being a solution finder, this journey took some years of trial and error eventually leading me to a coaching programme for myself. In 2022 I found the coaching programme for me, the accountability and being part of a community meant that I had the drive and determination to implement the strategies and really achieve the results I desired. My aim “not to be flabby and 40” – I smashed it out of the park and some! Little did I realise how much this would transform my life to where it is today and put me on the path of leaning into my calling.
As I neared the end of my contract supporting the community mental health transformation, I looked for my next role. This role did not materialise – my role of service within the NHS was coming to an end.
My colleagues were encouraging me to seek other avenues even saying “Can you not see that the universe is trying to guide you in a different direction? You are a natural coach”. The idea of stepping out of my comfort zone and starting from scratch scared the life out of me. We had just purchased our dream family home – how could I possibly take such a risk? The universe certainly had other ideas and decided that no matter how many jobs and job interviews I went for my destiny was changing.
I found the coaching course for me, a spiritual life coaching diploma, and started the process thinking that I would be able to work on building the business whilst having the security of an NHS contract of some sort.
My beautiful friends and coworkers showered me with comments when I started my business such as;
“I completely love what you’re doing & I am so inspired by it.”
“It’s such a brave decision but also a totally natural step. Your experience as a nurse, mother, woman, sportsperson…I could go on! You are so relatable and full of warmth and expertise. I have no doubt you will be a massive success!”
Their support and faith in me helped so much. Being told by numerous people that I was an inspiration to them led me to the name of my business Inspiration Coaching & Support. Not just coaching but support and other avenues of support to ensure that people are able to have a safe space for themselves in this crazy world of constant pressure and expectation.
My WHY
Why did I go into business……? The universe had decided it was the path aligned for me. Through my own coaching journey, I had been able to acknowledge what health and wellbeing was for me.
Has it been easy since August 2023 to fully embody this life and my values?
No…not journey of transformation is easy, it takes time, sure footed small steps and lots of slips. It is something of a test and a resilience builder. It has numerous intricacies and challenges to negotiate.
Would I change it?
Not a chance!!! I adore my business, I adore supporting others and helping them to realise who they are, how powerful they are and what they truly want for their life. How can I not? What I do matters and makes a difference – that’s all I want.
My question to you is…What do you want from your life?
