“Operation Elevate”

When I finished my BA and MA degrees my aims and goals were to build up my studio tools and equipment, alongside setting up my business. At uni we are told this takes on average 5 years so I was under no illusions as to how long it would take; It was a long hard slog but I got there and I’m really proud of everything I have achieved.

I feel like I was knocked a bit off kilter during lockdown, as many do, and only now getting back into the groove again. And I realised that I had been working so hard towards my goals that now I have reached that point I was a bit lost, I needed a bit of outside help so I could have a bit of clarity and focus on my next lot of goals.

I have recently joined a womens networking group (although its much less cold and hard business like than that label suggests) Southwood Social Hub. Run by Hayley who is the chairleeder everyone should have in their lives, I had seen the group mentioned in many posts on instagram by self employed women I already follow. Suddenly one day I thought of course, I need some help, everyone in Hayleys welcoming circle seems to be so proactive and encouraging, they are exactly the kind of people I want to surround myself with.

Yesterday I had a one to one with Hayley, and although it was only two hours it was everything I had hoped for and more. I had no expectations other than I knew she would be detached enough to see my business clearly, and experienced enough to come up with some great suggestions on how to take things forward. And thus “operation elevate” was born, a name which came to me after our session while I was waiting for my lift home and while its a bit cheesy it makes me laugh so it has stuck.

Hayley listened, understood where I was and where I want to be and fired back so many ideas and suggestions, with plans of action for them all too.

And lets not ignore so many aha moments where she asked why I was doing certain things the way I was doing them, only for me to see that I started that way years ago and while I had outgrown these procedures and systems I hadn’t acknowledged that. It is so difficult to see when its your business and you are in it every day. Things were definitely due a refresh.

So, what changes are in store? On the whole nothing is changing as such, but I will be refining, streamlining and elevating a lot of what I do to reflect where I am at skills and experience wise in my business now. And I will be creating a new course for people who want to learn how to create their own silver jewellery at home, with a view to making it a little business for them.

There will be a few new things on the horizon which I am VERY excited about, but these are mid term goals rather than anything instant, and I have already given some of the pages on my website (those around the workshops and what to expect etc) a massive shake up.

It is so difficult being self employed and working on your own the majority of the time. You need a sounding board. Not one that will constantly agree with you but one which will challenge you to better yourself, and through in new idea grenades that you just wouldn’t think of in a million years. And that is exactly what Southwood Social Hub is, a nurturing supportive group of a wealth of different experiences and skills all on hand to tap in to when you need a little outside help. I cannot recommend it, and Hayley, enough. Watch this space….