This is an example of someone who originally chose a career that wasn’t ‘her’ and is now doing one that she chose – her talents are finally being hatched which is very exciting!
Pippa came to us ready to create a new career she was passionate about. Her career and next phase of life started together.
Pippa had worked in insurance all of her working life. She was recommended to me by a personal trainer I knew well.
She had chosen insurance as a steady profession to enable her to support her parents. Once they had passed away and she was in her mid 40s, she realised that it was her time to do what she wanted and put her needs and wants first.
She was an accomplished piano player, tutored children in the piano in her spare time and was also an active member of the church. She had many skills, including secretarial, with the potential to have a portfolio career that would serve her well while becoming self-employed in a downturn.
Like many people who have been employed all their lives, she had never had to think about what she might market, who she might market herself to, and how to set up a business.
I helped her to see that she could make a living out of teaching the piano to children as well as other ideas such as summer schools. We considered which target audiences to focus on, who specifically she was passionate about teaching, what their needs were and what made her unique – her features and benefits – plus pricing, brochures and other aspects of marketing.
With my help, she spent about 8 months planning her own business and then resigned, quite shocking her colleagues and being the envy of many!
Her previous employer left open the option of her doing insurance contract work, which is quite a seasonal market with peaks and troughs, and she also had an offer of part-time PA work for her church.
I helped her to think through and structure her commitments so that she had time for herself, and encouraged her to consolidate her finances so she had a financial cushion to give her peace of mind.
“You have an amazing ability to help me believe in myself and my abilities – priceless, and a huge motivator to keep going.”
Pippa Fernee