Navigating Changes, Personally & Professionally

Changes at 50

Nine years ago this month, I was in Rishikesh, in northern India, on holiday with an ex-partner.  Our accommodation overlooked the Ganga River – the view was stunning, and monkeys would regularly swing by the balcony too!

Whilst there I met an astrologer from the UK who wanted to read my astrological chart; she then told me that the next 5 years of my life were going to be hard work … great!

However, little did I know how true that was going to be.  By September 2015, a few weeks before my 50^th birthday which he was helping me organise, my then partner, simply upped and left following an argument, leaving me with EVERYTHING, including the all the financial stuff to sort out.

Has that ever happened to you?  Let me know here if it has.

Professionally Focused

I then made the decision to stay single rather than put myself through any more relationship angst. After 5.5 years in another challenging relationship (I’d previously done 20 years with my ex-husband) I’d had enough. I realised that I could find the challenges I loved in work, although I now know that you have to be careful what you wish for!

I upped my personal development and focused on myself and my business, and employed a part time administrator and a cleaner to free up more of my time to do so.

I booked myself on to “The Best You Expo” at the Excel in London to deliver a talk.  And then realised I needed something to promote – progress over perfection!  It did however prompt me to write Shining a Light on You, How to Manifest Your Dream Job.

I expanded my business and moved my office from home to the village. I employed and trained up new consultants.

I travelled solo, walked The Camino de Santiago, and took myself off on yoga retreats in Europe, and to South Wales where, following the relationship break up, I ended up with a rental property and became an accidental landlord.

I continued to undertake further studies and kept on layering up the extra levels of work as I outsourced recruitment / admin activities to my consultants and now, full time office manager.  This included coaching, delivering talks, regular appearances on Notts TV, Radio Nottingham, other local BBC radio stations and Radio 5 Live.

In short, I was juggling loads of stuff and my son leaving school, going to college, encouraging him to start work, as a single parent.  Which wasn’t all that easy.  If you read this blog you’ll understand that I now know why that was.

Personally challenged

The hard work around my business eventually paid off as 19/20 was my best trading year ever.

However, the start of 2020 saw an insurance claim go in as I had to have a garage conversion ripped out and refitted due to a leak.  So many issues and problems ensued with the insurance assessors and work that needed doing, which was of course also impacted by Covid restrictions.  I also had issues with an employee at the same time who I had to let go at the end of her probation.

Welcome to 2020!

And then Covid arrived exactly 4 years ago now and instantly flatlined my recruitment business.

I pivoted, created my YouTube channel, studied (NLP certificate), turned my book into a digital course, invested in social media marketing training (we won’t go there!) suffice to say I was in whirlwind with it all.

Recruitment picked up in dribs and drabs but never fully recovered.

Love is

The best thing about 2020 was meeting Gareth at the end of summer.

By this point I’d most definitely embrace the 5 years of hard work that the astrologer foretold, although she clearly missed the following 3 years of hard work caused by Covid, Brexit and the economy!

Whilst at last I had found myself a fabulous relationship there was still so much more to work to come which was both exciting (launching my podcast, co-authoring another book, and creating my alternative Instagram account) and beyond challenging.

And it’s now 3 months since Gareth and I relocated to Norfolk, I rebranded as The Norfolk Coastal Coach, and we started our exciting next chapter together.  We’ve spent our time unpacking, getting ourselves settled, embraced our new local parkruns, yoga, house, and garden stuff, and we’re currently organising a new kitchen to replace the one that was probably fitted in the 1970s/80s!

We love it!

Navigating the My Mindset & More Changes

I love the life we’ve been able to create for ourselves.

However, it’s still presented me with personal challenges.  I’ve stepped back from my activities on social media to give myself some space to recalibrate and get my head around the changes.

All my working life (40+ years) I have been self-sufficient.  Because of all that has happened over the last few years culminating in my business insolvency (recruitment not coaching) last August, at the moment, this is no longer the case.

Whilst my money is invested in the house, I have found myself having to adjust to being more reliant on Gareth.  Unfamiliar territory for me.  It doesn’t feel right. I’m having to adjust whilst I continue to rework my working life.

An aspect of this took a twist last week too when the organisation I was hosting an online networking meeting was sold.  Whilst I had the opportunity to continue with the new owner I chose not to.  There are times when you need to reassess your priorities, and this was one of them.

• More changes.
• More shifts.
• More unexpected stuff.

No wonder I’ve felt shattered lately.

I’m still very much focused with the quantum realm and reworking my reality.  I remain positive and focused, particularly now I’ve removed so much of the stuff that was frazzling my brain. I’ve also just finished uploading my first course, Manifest Your Dream Job (an abridged version) onto Insight Timer.

I’m working on doing less and earning more, inviting in exciting opportunities, and expansion, whilst continuing to create an amazing new way of life with Gareth.

It’s all good stuff.

Lifestyle Tips & Takeaways

I thought I’d run this blog through ChatGPT for the fun of it as I’ve had some eye raising results in the past.

This time I asked for 10 top tips from the copy.  Here’s the short list, if you read beyond this point, I’ve also included the full results.

• Embrace Change with Open Arms
• Prioritize Self-Reflection
• Invest in Personal Development
• Delegate and Outsource
• Cultivate a Positive Mindset
• Set Boundaries
• Embrace Minimalism
• Balance Work and Personal Life
• Adapt to Unforeseen Challenges
• Celebrate Small Victories

They aren’t quite the ones I would’ve gone with but that said I am quite impressed!

Do you want to change your life in anyway?  You do?!  Brilliant – get in touch and lets chat.

ChatGPT’s full summary

Embrace Change with Open Arms:  Life is a constant journey of change. Instead of resisting it, embrace it as an opportunity for growth and self-discovery. Use challenges as stepping stones to a more focused and fulfilling life.

Prioritize Self-Reflection:  Take time for self-reflection regularly. Evaluate your goals, values, and priorities. This practice helps you stay aligned with your true self, allowing you to make decisions that contribute to your overall well-being.

Invest in Personal Development:  Continuous learning and personal development are key to staying focused and empowered. Invest time and resources in expanding your knowledge, skills, and mindset. This will enhance your confidence and resilience in the face of challenges.

Delegate and Outsource:  Recognize the importance of delegating tasks that don’t align with your core strengths or goals. Whether in personal or professional life, outsourcing can free up valuable time and energy for activities that truly matter.

Cultivate a Positive Mindset:  Train your mind to focus on the positive aspects of situations. Even in challenging times, maintaining a positive outlook can significantly impact your mental well-being and empower you to overcome obstacles.

Set Boundaries:  Establish clear boundaries in both personal and professional spheres. Learn to say no when necessary and prioritize activities that contribute to your goals. Setting boundaries is crucial for maintaining balance and avoiding burnout.

Embrace Minimalism:  Simplify your life by decluttering physical and mental spaces. Adopting a minimalist lifestyle allows you to focus on what truly matters, reducing distractions and promoting a sense of calm and clarity.

Balance Work and Personal Life:  Achieving a work-life balance is essential for overall well-being. Set realistic work hours, prioritize leisure activities, and spend quality time with loved ones. A balanced life contributes to increased focus and productivity.

Adapt to Unforeseen Challenges:  Life is unpredictable, and challenges are inevitable. Develop adaptability and resilience to navigate unforeseen circumstances. Accept that setbacks are part of the journey and use them as opportunities for growth.

Celebrate Small Victories:  Acknowledge and celebrate your achievements, no matter how small. Recognizing your progress boosts confidence and motivation. Regularly reflect on your accomplishments to stay motivated on your journey from frazzled to focused.