Highs and lows, good times and bad - are all part of life’s journey. Like the change in seasons, we can all be sure that we’ll have to adjust to deal with life’s hurdles.
While some changes are born from choices, others are more unexpected. Overcoming adversity can help strengthen character and change the direction of our lives - often for the better. Mental health, relationship breakdowns, grief or a change to our physical health, are just a few examples that can make us re-evaluate the balance of our lives. For many of us, work is a key area for a life overhaul.
At least 53% of small business owners ranked their happiness level at a nine or above after launching their businesses, and with the average Brit working just over 42 hours a week, it suggests that people who have taken the plunge to go it alone will reap more rewards when it comes to having a fulfilled work life balance.
To help inspire you, we share stories of five women that have experienced tragedy to triumph, by launching their own businesses, and we’ve provided tips on how you can do the same:
Name: Sara Prior
Age: 42
Location: Liphook, Hampshire, UK
Company website: www.cloudnineknits.co.uk
When did you start your own business?
February 2018
Is it a full time or part-time job?
Full-time job with part-time hours that revolve around childcare.
Previous job role:
Operations Manager
What is your business?
I run arm knitting and giant crochet workshops using giant yarn. I also make and sell giant and super chunky yarn products online and through different retailers.
What was the adversity that led you to start your business?
In 2017, my husband and I each suffered the unexpected loss of a parent within a week of each other. It was a tough time dealing with grief that made us seriously re-evaluate our lifestyle and re-prioritise how and where we spent our time. To try and recover, we took a break from employment and this inspired us to start businesses based on our hobbies. We love what we do now and have never looked back and would recommend anyone to follow their passions.
How has your business enhanced your life?
It allows me to work from home and spend more time with my family. My stress levels are generally far lower as doing what you love for a living tends to make you feel very fulfilled.
What is your top tip for anyone starting a business?
You have to wear many hats when you’re launching your own start-up so I would highly recommend automating as many tasks and processes as possible. Ascend by Wix helps me do just that for invoicing, workshop bookings and emails as it helps me reduce multiple spreadsheets and paper diaries. It also allows you to set up a free website.
Name: Sarah Cooper
Age: 40
Location: Guildford, Surrey
Company website: www.my1stphotos.co.uk
When did you start your own business?
Dec 2017
Is it a full time or part-time job?
Full-time
Previous job role:
Recruitment Director
What is your business?
We make fabric photo albums for babies and toddlers. All the products are handcrafts in our studio in Guildford, Surrey, and each album is completely bespoke to each customer. you choose the photos and the text.
What was the adversity that led you to start your business?
I was diagnosed with preeclampsia when I was 31 weeks pregnant and had an emergency c-section a couple of hours later. It was highly traumatic and my daughter was 9 weeks early and weighed only 3lbs. We wanted a way to be connected when we were apart as we had to leave her in special care for four weeks whilst we went home every night. My business partner printed off some photos of us to put in her incubator so she could see us - and our idea stemmed from there.
How has your business enhanced your life?
We love what we do and have learnt so much. Becoming mothers has given us a different focus and has definitely helped us understand our target market. We taught ourselves to sew, designed our own products, learnt printing techniques, researched social media marketing, PR, etc.
What is your top tip for anyone starting a business?
Keep going. Immediate success is very rare, so believe in yourself and push on through the tough times.
What are the struggles / disadvantages you have faced after launching a business?
Juggling motherhood and working, but luckily I have a very supportive house husband which allows me to be flexible.
Name: Bella Rareworld
Age: 41
Location: London
Company website: https://www.BellaRareworldBipolar.com/
When did you start your own business?
Oct 2008
Is it a full time or part-time job?
Full time
Previous job role:
Direct marketing and event management
What is your business?
I’m a professional speaker and trainer for networking and as a mental health speaker. Under the brand Bella Rareworld Bipolar, I share my personal story, challenges and life of an entrepreneur living bipolar disorder.
What was the adversity that led you to start your business?
I decided to be my own boss due to my mental health illness (bipolar), as I felt that I wasn’t tapping into my strongest skill sets of verbal communication and building strong business relationships. The change in career allowed me to control of my work load and choose clients that I want to work with. I would definitely say being a networking speaker has helped me during my dark days of depression because I love meeting new people and characters in business.
How has your business enhanced your life?
My business has motivated me to write a book about how bipolar saved my business and my life. This has also inspired me to start an online business, with a new brand called “Think Plan A”, which will provide online training and workshops, as well as an online community to help SMEs reduce stress in business and offer coping techniques to their employees.
What is your top tip for anyone starting a business?
It’s key to create both small and big goals alongside your vision. I have learned how to reward myself when achieving small goals which improves my mental health. I used to focus only on the long-term big goal and these often had a negative effect on my self-motivation.
What are the struggles / disadvantages you have faced after launching a business?
For the first five years of my business I got burnt out because I was overworked. I did not understand the difference between “work smart” vs “work hard”.
Name: Emma Soos
Age: 42
Location: Nottinghamshire, UK
Company website: www.thewomenshealth.clinic
When did you start your own business?
2016
Is it a full time or part-time job?
Full-time
Previous job role:
Nurse and laser trainer
What is your business?
The Women’s Health Clinic offers women the opportunity to discuss and seek treatment for multiple conditions. I redefined the use of lasers and now Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation (treating 3,000 women since launch) is the mainstay. We also offer menopause care, sexual health, reproductive health and more recently medical aesthetics.
What was the adversity that led you to start your business?
My own personal gynae issues post my first child were terrible. There was mechanical damage from a traumatic birth subsequently requiring surgery and physio that caused issues in the bedroom as well as bathroom. As this could not be addressed by a conventional care pathway, I decided to develop my own.
How has your business enhanced your life?
It has been incredibly humbling to see the wonderful effects we have had on so many of our patients. We can literally change someone’s life for the better in as little as one appointment. To help someone who believes they have exhausted all treatment options and have to live with lifestyle limiting conditions is wonderfully rewarding.
What is your top tip for anyone starting a business?
Find yourself a good business partner with skills that enhance your own and then embark on this amazing journey supporting each other with love and a hefty dose of reality checking.
What are the struggles / disadvantages you have faced after launching a business?
Bringing challenging female health issues to the forefront is not easy. The number one question we are asked is: “Am I normal?” However, trying to raise awareness of what is normal and educate women is tough as, while things are improving, the media isn’t overly keen on our patient stories of overcoming their issues.
