Email to a FriendTo celebrate International Women's Day 2022 we are shining a light on our fabulous members and their stories.
Each and every single one of them has an inspiring story about starting their own business. So read on to find out more.
Susie. G, owner of Show the Light Ltd
What first drew you to starting your business?
From having conversations with people and listening to their stories of how they came to start their own business. They all started their own business after some kind of significant event that happened in their life:
A bereavement, an illness, redundancy, a breakup, children grown up, burnout, a milestone birthday, or simply thinking ‘there must be more to life than this….’ or …something that made them say to themselves “I’ve had enough I want to live my life now, and this is my time”
My business journey started after a bereavement, having lost my wonderful Husband in early 2019. I met Ian when I was 31, 15 years ago now, and we had a wonderful life together and I have no regrets!
After a while, grieving changed to healing ( and it does….) I started to think about my future again. I started asking myself ‘What is it I want to do? What is my purpose? What am I passionate about? What do I enjoy? What am I good at?
Well, I've always enjoyed helping people, I seem to be good at bringing the best out of people. And then I went on some training for my own personal development and discovered DISC personality profiling. It totally blew my mind, everything just made sense to me. And more importantly, I made sense to me. And I thought, ‘Everybody needs to know this! And that’s how Show the Light began, I am going to be a DISC trainer to Leadership teams!
Fast forward 2 years and lots of personal discoveries, networking and meeting lots of amazing women and shedding the corporate skin - my business has evolved.
I come alive when I help amazing badass women who have left the corporate world and started their own business, to shed their corporate skin and help them connect their head with their heart and fall in love with their business all over again!
What is the best thing about being your own boss?
I get to choose who I work with, that being clients, suppliers, referral partners and so on. I can walk my dogs whenever I want! I have time for myself and my personal development ( mainly to keep myself sane!)
The best bit is using all the knowledge & experience I have gained in my 46 years and being able to help other women in business to succeed in their life and business.
What's your advice to other women going into business?
You are in Business on your own but you don't have to be by yourself.
Running a business can be lonely and frustrating! There are so many decisions to make and when days are hard it can be easy to give up. There are so many experts out there telling you to do this and do that and it can be overwhelming!
Build a team around you, supporters, cheerleaders, get a VA to do all the stuff you procrastinate the hell about and take up all of your time!
Get a coach! I did! In fact I have had a few, as my needs have changed as I grew and developed.
What is your top tip for success?
Carve out time for YOU in your diaries for:
- Your holidays
- For your own personal development
- For FUN!
It can be so easy to think I have to be working in my business, I must get clients! And before you know it you are in your office 6 days a week and doing more hours than you ever did before!
I manage my own diary and I tell you, when I look at it every day I think who the hell did that!!! When am I supposed to eat?? I would sack myself as a diary manager every single day!
o this year I am taking my own advice. I have blocked out time in my diary for the year and planned my holidays, my personal development and time for FUN. And this is non negotiable!
And the most important part is to do this GUILT FREE! Otherwise, there is just no point!
Time off from my business is when my best ideas come!
Tell us something about yourself we might not expect?
I am actually an introvert! And shy in new situations!
For those that have met me and know me, I am sure you are all saying Yeah Right!
I also have worry, fear and doubt that comes over me in waves on a daily basis. My inner voice, questioning, Am I enough? Will people want to work with me?
But do you know what, this is ok. Because I also have a fierce determination and passion for what I do. And that is stronger than my fears.
This Ying & Yang, yoyo effect of high & low emotions is what is called being human. Putting yourself out there and showing your true self and sharing with everyone what you are truly passionate about is scary.
But wow, I couldn't imagine life any other way. Could you?