4 Years of living & loving my redesigned life…
In 2022 I began the new year by reflecting on all the changes that have happened over the past 2 years, either by design or through circumstances beyond my control.
In March 2020 I made the tough business decision not to design a new collection of garments. This was the first time in 23 years that I hadn't spent every day thinking about my brand, my customers and my designs while happily wading though samples of beautiful fabrics. A life-changing decision which was influenced greatly by the effects the Covid 19 pandemic had on all businesses.
When I searched my soul, I realised that the time was right for me to press pause on this huge part of my life and look at different things I could do that would make me happy.
I faced down my fears and threw myself into learning new things.... I started slowly with a six week online course in Photoshop (which I put off learning properly for so long!!)....
Then in September 2021 it was time to move to a bigger learning experience, I immersed myself in a year long adventure, studying Design Thinking for Sustainability. On the surface this course combined two of my greatest passions Design and Sustainability but it gave me so much more. I became part of a group of highly motivated people who are re-imagining the world with less waste and more personal accountability.
I can honestly say that some decisions, however difficult to make, release you by helping you to rediscover the things have been buried for so long. I am lucky to have always lived a life filled with creativity. The bonus is that I have been mentoring and teaching others how to harness their Creativity and Design Thinking to help them build their businesses in a more sustainable way.
This may serve as a few words of encouragement for anyone who is stuck in a rut and afraid to make a change. Sometimes you have to listen to your inner-voice and follow the path less chosen.
In 2021-2022 I began another chapter of my redesigned life …I completed A Graduate Cert. in Digital Entrepreneurship.
I always look forward to learning new things, education appeals to my curious nature and I am a person who likes a challenge.....and I look for opportunities to learn more about things that interest me.
I was fortunate to decide my own destiny when I became my own boss many years ago as a self employed designer. I had literally lived my dream and followed the career path that I had imagined at the age of 13.
Over the past few years, due mostly to the fallout from Covid 19, very many things changed for all of us. I realised that the time had come for me to make the most of the next chapter of my life and career. I needed change, and this change had to include all of the things that are part of who I am, including creativity, integrity, courage, curiosity and sustainability.
I brought with me all of the many lessons I learned throughout my career to date...some that have brought me great joy and others that have made me more resilient.
I took the opportunity to become a mentor and trainer to individuals, start-ups and micro enterprises (particularly in creative fields)
I receive as much as I give, from being in the position where I can help others through my learned experience.
So this is where up-skilling comes in....the world is constantly changing and in a very short space of time technology has all but taken over, making life more convenient and accessible for most.
Rather than resisting change I have decided to embrace it......
I believe that keeping an open-mindset and being challenged to learn new things/skills can result in a boost to inner confidence and emotional well-being....
I look forward to the new chapter and I hope it is as exciting as the previous ones!!!!
