The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
I have a black belt in challenges, twice divorced (even though the second one was defacto, the process was very similar due to assets and a child being involved), multiple chronic illness, severe anxiety in several different flavours, sexual harassment as normal in my old corporate life, parenting a child with illness and learning differences, and ending up on a benefit with a newly minted PhD at 45, that didn’t cover my rent.
I am pretty experienced at business challenges too, what with this being the second recession since I started. One of the major challenges (when I did more corporate gigs) was linked to the old adage “it’s not what you know it’s who you now”. After time away in WA to do my PhD, I came back to no networks, only one existing client and a real job wasn’t an option as I was overqualified. So overqualified that one hiring manager phoned me and just started laughing before she could speak, to tell me I wouldn’t even make the short list, but wow my CV was A M A Z I N G.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
A major con of how business happens now is the need to show myself on social media, in photos, videos etc. I enjoy writing and am happy to show up in blogs, but this doesn’t get you to your market. We are all online, we are all choosing products and services online, so you need to be at the party. I’m not comfortable with this, but my ‘followers’ tell me my discomfort makes me authentic.
Freedom is the major pro linked to the above.
Uncertainty and anxiety around what is happening next, or not knowing if you’ll even earn anything next week or tomorrow, that can be real tough.
Making a difference has to be the biggest pro, when a women hugs me and really leans in and says to me ‘you made a real difference to my life’, in this moment the cons don’t seem to exist.
Hopes and dreams: What next?
My main focus is moving some of my content online, to make it more accessible to the insane pace of the modern woman’s life, especially mother’s lives. Often childcare is an issue that stops mothers coming to me or my day retreats, but squeezing an hour or two on zoom that a child can attend to is perfect.
Speaking of childcare – I also have a vision of day retreats that make space for babies to be present and older children to be cared for in the same space. COVID has slowed this, but it is still on my radar.
I am also excited about the Facebook group (the She Cave) that I started in lockdown1.0 and is now a wonderful safe and free space for women to connect, share, laugh and get support.
Visit Rachel’s website to find out more about the support and services she offers, and follow her journey on Facebook and Instagram.
