Coming of Age...

...yet never growing up!

It's been a wondrous journey from infancy in business.

There's been a lot of pondering going on of late which, even I questioned at times whether it was procrastination or not.

Seems not! I wonder if you can relate?

This April sees this iteration of my business enter its 20th year. I feel soooo mature saying that, lol.

But in fact I've always been older than my age...

It was in fact 1997 when I first self managed myself in my approach to 'work' and 'life'. Leaving corporate in a huff because, I felt, they were holding me back on purpose.

I stretched myself and went out on a limb working for a mutual acquaintance, where I was left to my own devices in running the joint.

There I learned fast and earned more money than sense. I played hard at the weekends (which started on a Monday!) and felt a sense of freedom not having to, for the first time ever, worry about money.

That confidence lead to me and another colleague setting up our own gig. In part because our boss was into other stuff by now. And don't worry, we're still firm friends today. Business number one.

Bumps in the road appeared on a personal level which spilled out into work and it wasn't long before a few years had passed and I realised I was back to that anxiety of money and not feeling good enough.

There's a lot to be said for trusting in yourself and, is it hindsight or is it giving your power to someone else in your life? Mmm, a bit deep but I think you get the picture.

That same friend who gave me a job years before took me under her wing and helped me back to my confident self. This time I decided to play it a bit safer and went for employment although still in a position to self manage.

This worked well for me. I was now a divorcee and single mom. It was not the story I wanted for myself having witnessed my parents history. Life's never perfect, right?

We hit Millenium and the sky didn't fall in as the clock struck midnight 2000.

I met a man. He's still my man. He's the most insightful and frustrating man I have ever met. He has been the sole witness to my personal and business life. He challenges me, like it or lump it. Most often I haven't liked it! Yet there's something to be said for him asking the questions that I was too fearful to ask myself. A barometer to be sure I am committed to this 'thing'.

A bit of bimbling about saw me start a franchise in 2004. The short story I recall is this: I was really successful at it but I lost it all. I tell myself now it's because I didn't need anyone else, like a franchisor, I just needed to travel the line to find the right station.

So AMA Publicity Ltd folded (business number two) and WAG Associates was born (business number three). AMA was short for About My Area who were effectively PR online through a community website. The pondering in me reflects that community runs deep...

WAG was merely my initials for want of anything more creative. My family referred to catch ups as right good ChinWAG's and it seemed fitting for a Chatterbox like me to adopt this for now...it remained intact for 14 years until Twitter, as it was then, stepped in and awarded me the #QueenofMakingConversation.

That's how Making Conversation Count evolved into business number four. It gave me a brand, a best selling book and an award nominated podcast. I was recognised by Lloyds through the pandemic for pirouetting my services to stay relevant and helpful. I say it gave me all this, but really it was all me. With a lot of help from some really wonderful people. You know exactly who you are!

Nearly two years ago I moved, along with my family, to the beautiful West Coast of Ayrshire. I knew not a soul.

To be honest I was petrified. All I wanted to do was stay home and be busy out in the garden. I considered taking a job. Thinking back now I scoff at myself: 'What were you thinking girl?'

I had a decision to make.

I found a letter I had written to myself after working for an ActionCOACH in 2006. You can guess what the letter said, right?

I booked to go out networking.

Fast forward to now, the only time we have, and I'm President at BNI Magnum who are a great bunch of people and Host at LinkedIn Local for Ayrshire. Community restored in my life.

So why am I telling you all about the numerous iterations of my business?

It's my time to come of age yet not grow up.

In conversations with many lovely new local folk they were brave in telling me my brand did not reflect who I am. And they were right.

Hence more pondering than usual as to how to rebalance the scales and emerge.

Enter stage right the brand genius Tom McCrorie

It was he that made me realise what everyone else was trying to politely tell me. The potted version is something like 'Wendy, you're so much more than the cartoon logo.'

That whimsical cartoon has served her purpose. At the time I wanted to show up as approachable and fun to work with. Sales can be a dreary, dull and hard landscape. Tom reiterated that doesn't give the impression of ROI for anyone serious about upping their sales and marketing game.

He's so right. I'm so glad he opened my eyes to what others maybe seeing. As someone who's built a reputation for 1st impressions how could I have got it so wrong?! And not to be unkind to myself, it felt right at the time.

Time has moved on and I'm grateful for Tom now.

My clients always see benefit from our time and work together.

So, after all that preamble, you may have noticed a retirement of 'Making Conversations Count' as the new brand beds in.

'Konpasu' definition: A simple dry magnetic portable compass. I like to think of it as 'Guiding you to be leading conversations.'

Oh, and the new website is four months in the making and close to being revealed. A labour of love I will no doubt talk about. New headshots are also coming soon because my man (remember him? tells me I look nothing like the one I use now it's 12 years old...it may be older?!!

I hope you can understand why I have been quiet the last six months. I've been building and busy working with clients. I've learned so many new things and am constantly sharing with those I speak to. I can't wait to have both wings out full stretch.

I'll leave you with the Brand Values our Tom teased out of me through this process with an offer to get in touch should you see something in me that can serve you.

Looking forward to chatting with you more often.

What's your story? I'd love to hear it.

Wendy