Come fly with me ...

My journey back to work has been a bit up and down, like all ‘journeys’ (how much do we all love that metaphor but hey it’s the one we all use) but mine started over 10 years ago when me and my amazing husband desperately wanted to start a family.  Now this might not seem like the forum for talking about procreation and starting my business (although I can see some kind of analogy here), but you know what having been to a talk where the amazing Debbiedoodah presented her thoughts on being true to yourself (which resonated with me) I decided that this is my path, my reasoning and I’m not going to make something up that I think people want to hear.  I’m going to be true to myself, my brand and where it takes me who knows but I’m unashamed of my reasoning.  It’s actually one of the reasons behind my brand name ‘DAM Girl Social’.  There are other reasons to do with some amazing women I’ve met along the way, but I’ll come to that in a bit.  

 So, let’s start somewhere way back when, when I was a little less grey, had a bit more energy (think late night karaoke and oodles of shots) and a full-time job as a Marketing Manager.  As I mentioned I had hit a time of life where a family was increasingly more important however, that wasn’t meant to be as straight forward as I’d anticipated and so found myself in a situation whereby, I was all consumed by having a baby.  Now this is another story altogether but it’s fair to say that my 3 year struggle emotionally and physically meant that when I was lucky enough to have a baby I was in no rush to rush back to the workplace and we took the decision that I would take time out and concentrate on being a mum to our two amazing boys.  Okay, so I had a tricky start (it has stayed with me believe me but I am fully aware of how lucky I am), and having two boisterous boys has its own challenges but by enlarge having that time off has been amazing, exhausting, thrilling, confidence debilitating, exciting and challenging all in one package of motherhood (did I mention life was a roller coaster?).  Once school life kicked in, I realised my boys needed me a wee bit less (well between 9 and 3.30 at least) and I needed something for me, to help build up my confidence again.  I have been extremely involved in helping the school over the last 3.5 years, bringing in funds of £55k+ through events I ran alongside my co-chair (now we would definitely make a good business partnership), and before that a short stint at Governance at another school my first son started at, but the time had come to do something for me and my family.

 What is it about having kids that knocks your confidence though?  This is a blog that needs addressing all on its own.  But it’s true though, we start off as strong, professional women have a kid or two or three or more and suddenly we don’t seem to know our worth.  

 Still with me?  Okay, so last year I decided to embark on my own ‘getting back to work self-motivation program’.  First stop was a 3 day ‘Back to Work’ course with Successful Mums where I got the chance to meet the motivated and inspirational Jane Knight who is all about helping women, especially mums, find their mojo and while they’re at it pop a crown on our heads and stand tall.  To be honest it’s not really my bag and for those who know me well will probably realise that I struggled with this particular concept but I have since taken it on board (you can even find a pic on my Insta) and I’m walking a bit taller with a straighter invisible crown these days.  As I’ve said before #thismumcan and is!  Anyway, by taking the course I identified a gap in my CV – Social Media Marketing! It was taking off as I took off 10 years ago, and so I missed the whole transformation of business with all things Social.  And for any advert looking for Marketing roles it was apparent you need to know this Social stuff.  

 This takes me neatly onto the ‘Techpixies’ Social Media Marketing course created by the amazing Joy Foster and delivered by the funny, fabulous Sophie and Jess, and the warm and lovely Theresa too (awesome business coach btw, can’t recommend her highly enough)!  With my fellow ‘Pixies we embarked on an 8 week course covering most things Social. I met a great bunch of women a couple of whom I’ve stayed in touch with and who have helped shape the name.  I’m hoping to have a collaboration with them soon and kick start a new FaceBook community but that’s still very much in the brewing stage.  

 Okay so I did the course and my confidence inflated a bit, not loads but a lot more than that first day we all introduced ourselves around the table.  I was able to apply some of my learning to my friend’s Insta and after a bit of research, some strategy, a presentation, and finally some brave pants posting, things started to move in the right direction.  Insta followers increased steadily and has now hit a 120% increase from when I first took it over, and the all-important new clients and collabs have emerged along the way too.  So, I knew I could do it, and my confidence inflated a little bit more. I dared to believe I could forge this new skillset into some work that I could fit around my boys.  Which after all is my reason for doing all this. Remember way back when in the beginning of this ever increasing blog, I mentioned the struggle to start a family, and how that that has stayed with me, well being there for my wee ones has been my priority throughout.  I’m after a work/life balance on my terms and freelancing in social media marketing is providing that opportunity.  

 Ha! This is all sounding very confident.  Don’t be fooled though, Imposter Syndrome is fully functioning and likes to kick my confident butt on a regular basis.  You know the ‘who do you think you are starting your own business, what do you know?’ type narrative.  But even in the face of this self-doubt I found a course that has helped, and I’m going to be frank, boot me royally up the backside and out of any indecision, procrastination, and totally out of my comfort zone. Its once again with the fabulous Successful Mums, this time on their ‘Business Start Up and Digital Skills Course’ and it’s fair to say I have learned LOADS!  I have also moaned loads.  Why?  Because I was disgruntled at the amount of work, I was having to do in my own time that I hadn’t banked on.  But then the realisation kicked in, you know some kind of epiphany that I wasn’t doing this for the course tutor, or Successful Mums, I was doing it for MY business.  Even this blog is because I’m being nudged to get it done.  For 5 weeks I’ve been thinking, yeah yeah I’ll write something, I’ll do a blog…, but look at me now I’m on a roll and you can’t stop the verbal bullshit!  (Don’t worry it’ll all be over soon 😉).  The point? Oh yes, so I’m being encouraged to keep at it; get the work done, do the business plan, the financial forecast, the GDPR policy, create my brand and marketing strategy in real terms. Not hearing how to do it and then going off and doing it down the line, actually starting my business as part of the course.  It’s made me take the leap.  Climb out of the warmth of the nest, teeter on the edge and then just f’ing fly, because ‘DAM GIRL’ you need to believe in yourself.  

 ‘DAM’ by the way, since you ask, stands for ‘Decidedly Average Mum’.  I, in no way, think I’m just average but in a social landscape of ‘mumpreneurs’ who frankly make us doubt ourselves (even when it’s not intentional), and 6 figure salaries we’re supposed to be aspiring too, or that we must be able to work, look stunning, get the kids to school yadayadayada means, I think, that there’s a gap for us more ‘average’ types.  I’m hoping that you see this as a refreshing take on this venture back to work.  I had a couple of babies, so what?  But I hit a low in confidence and I think it’s worth talking about, so having a brand that says: ‘I’m an average mum like you, just trying to get back to work and fit it around my family, it can be a bit hard, it can be a bit shit at times, but its feeling kind of good with each day my confidence builds, and if I can do it then you most definitely can too!’

 So, this might not be your average ‘starting your own’ business blog.  In fact, some might say (and be right) that its maybe altogether too honest but its who I am; I know, that by working with me you get a hardworking 110% kinda gal who will ALWAYS do her best by you.  Its who I am, and who I’ll always be.  

We can all be ‘DAM’ Good, so give me a shout I’d love to hear how I can help you xoxo