Seven is a series I created for my blog a few years ago where interviewees complete seven sentences of their choosing. I’m resurrecting it and it was suggested that I should take part…. so here goes.

My first ever job was in a stationery shop as a Saturday girl. I was fourteen and earned £10 a day. It was a busy place with high demand for typewriter ribbons and faxes, two products that are now defunct, which either shows how far technology has come since the 90’s, or makes me sound ancient.

I believe that in business your network is your most valuable asset. When I set up my first business in 2008 I had zero connections, bags of enthusiasm and no idea how challenging running a business would be. I turned up at lots of networking events and functions and shook a lot of hands. I was very fortunate to meet people who offered time and wisdom, who were kind and supportive, and who believed in me.

I’ve never taken that for granted and I do my best to pay it forward by supporting others who need help. I’m also very protective of the network I’ve worked so hard to build, only introducing people who have good intentions, rather than those who want to sell, sell, sell or expect something for nothing.

The biggest challenge I have overcome was a battle with my confidence. I lost someone who was very important in my life and in a fog of grief I found it hard to be in sales mode or say yes to new opportunities that came my way.

Grief becomes more manageable over time and I’ve turned the corner, but I still need to have a word with myself and say ‘You can do this!’ every so often. My motto has always been ‘if you’re not a bit scared it’s not worth doing’ and I remind myself of that in the wobbly moments. It usually works. The other solution is to get out in the fresh air with my four legged friend.

I listen to my intuition, jazz, Christine and the Queens, 90’s classics, songs I’ve never heard of that Spotify suggests, and anything that transports me back to my partying days. I also love podcasts on all kinds of weird and wonderful topics. Desert Island Discs remains a favourite as the interviews are full of pearls of wisdom and seem to always have the answers to whatever I’m trying to figure out.

One of the most random things that’s ever happened to me was meeting Jack Vettriano. Before he was famous his paintings used to hang in a gallery that I would meander around on my way to college. Years later when I worked for British Midland, Jack was a passenger on my flight to Nice.

I was in charge of the cabin and as there were only two passengers in business class I had the chance to sit down and chat with him. I think he was impressed that I really knew about his art, or maybe that one wall of my bathroom was painted a shade of ‘Jack Vettriano’ red. (Hey, it was all the rage at the time!) A few weeks later he sent me a limited edition signed print. I couldn’t believe it, I thought that was pretty cool.

If I did a TED Talk it would be about the importance of friendship. My friends and I have carried each other through all the highs and lows of life. Births, deaths, marriages and divorces, plus a lot of wild nights out in between.

Twenty years ago we’d be queuing up for the dancing in our killer heels and little black dresses, now we’re in more comfortable shoes and home by midnight. But the laughter, love, respect and care we share has never changed. We joke that we’ll always be friends because we know too much, but the reality is I’m very lucky to have them. 

I’m currently working on a new series of training workshops. I’ve specialised in social media strategy and social media training for over ten years now but often I get asked to do other marketing, PR and ‘people’ related projects.

The workshops I’m developing are about creative thinking, working as a team, effective communication and problem solving. So far they’ve gone down a storm and are great fun to deliver.

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