Well it seemed like a great idea at the time. Like many mums who have stayed at home while their kids were tots, I was ready to use my brain again and have some financial freedom.
So I thought about what job would let me still be there for my children yet fulfill my requirement financially and personally. I had spent many years in the Corporate world, battling the battles of the Business Giants but I found this ultimately pointless and unrewarding once I started to have babies. My priorities changed and I’m glad about that.
I have been lucky enough to have the privilege of being with my children for most of their younger years and for that I am eternally grateful (thank you, husband!). But yet again, things change as the little nippers go to school.
I followed my interests and found out that I could sell a beautiful South African jewelry line, that I’d always loved, here in Australia. In Northern Queensland it was relatively unknown so I bit the bullet and signed myself up with the company as a Consultant in a ‘Party Plan’ kind of role. I had very little help as there was no-one else in the area and it was very scary at the start. But so worth it, I pursued this doggedly for over a year and in 2014 was one of the top sellers in Australia.
I loved it! The product is beautiful and easy to sell, I could run the business exactly as I wanted. I got to dress up pretty, ditching the sweats for some sparkle, make-up and heels. I definitely rediscovered part of me that had disappeared for years in the haze of nappies, washing and Sesame Street.
And then there was the cold, hard cash. That was the best! I had a stash of money that I could spend on anything I liked without feeling guilty (not that my poor husband would ever complain).
I quickly learned that you get out what you put in and as all mums know, we’re used to giving at least 110% to that particular job, so everything after is easy!
I became a Team Leader, then a Manager and now there is a lovely network of Consultants promoting these fabulous jewels here. And at this point I have more or less stopped. Why?
I think that the role gave me a perfect start back into the world of work and let me discover another way of doing things, working for myself in a flexible way. I have since started up an online business selling skincare products from Ireland, I would never have done so if I hadn’t taken that first step. But that’s another day’s story….