Life-changing decisions can stem from many things
For me, taking the plunge into self-employment is the end result of my journey following the sudden death of a loved one last year. It may sound cliché but I now understand why many people effect change in their lives after suffering a loss.
Grief can be a baffling experience. I can say without hesitation I have never felt anything like it. It’s something you move through not get over. It can create a huge shift in your outlook.
Some people decide it’s time to do something radical like volunteering in Africa, moving cities, or re-train. Some choose to retain the status quo. It’s a personal journey so the outcome is different for everyone.
Grief became the catalyst to start my own business – and consequently, start this new blog. I should probably have begun with a topic like ‘recruitment tips’ or ‘how to write a good CV’ – that would be the easy option, wouldn’t it?!
But first I wanted to share why Fraser People is more than just a name to me
It’s scary to put yourself out there, and I (like most of you), have had that voice in my head creating all the usual objections about why we can’t do something rather than why we can. But hey, to quote US research Professor Brené Brown: “Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen”.
So here goes…
Throwing in a paid job and taking several months out last year to contemplate life, in general, was exactly what I needed to do. Hanging out at the beach with our much-loved dog, Frodo, was just the tonic. With family, friends, and some wonderful clients as a sounding board, it became clear to me that starting my own business was what I really wanted to do.
Being able to build a business that fully embraces the values I believe in: strong relationships, honesty, and exceptional customer service is incredibly important to me. So I’ve taken everything I’ve learned from my life’s journey so far and found the inner strength to jump right in and do things my way.
I’m proud to say I’m now re-energised and grateful to have a new focus. “Life is short” is no longer an over-used term from my point of view. Instead, I’m embracing tech executive and author Sheryl Sandberg’s philosophy: “Option A is not available so let’s kick the shit out of Option B!”