My "not so" digital transformation!
It's been a year of self-reflection, embracing change once again and choosing to grow and make "lemonade from my lemons." You see, this year I turn 50! Fifty years of learning, life lessons, love, loss and now reflection.
Through these musings, I would like to share my story, experiences and musings... I hope you'll join me for the ride!
The Essence of My Journey: Creativity and Connection
My career began in the intimate setting of skin and skincare, where each client's story was an experience. It wasn't just about the science of beauty but about understanding each person's story, dreams, and the silent stories told through their mood, silence, and skin. I to this day remember a client named "Jen" who called her olive tree "Grow Dammit" because it refused to flourish, and I fondly recall how she shared how this tree eventually flourished and bloomed (she believed because of the name, which she affixed to the tree itself, I kid you not!) My background in skincare, grounded in personal connections and tailored solutions, seamlessly translated into wanting to create content that resonates on a personal level with a broader audience.
This led to my learning how to blog when blogging was still relatively unknown. And the wordsmith was born! I met fabulous women, all of whom have matured and aged like fine wine and continue to flourish in their chosen fields, It is such a privilege to meet women of strength and creativity.
The Overlooked Value of Experience
Throughout my career, I've seen society's high regard for formal qualifications, often at the expense of valuing the profound insights and skills honed through experience. As someone who values education—having seen its importance firsthand in recruitment and educational institutions—I also champion the recognition of experiential learning. The depth of understanding and adaptability gained through real-world experiences, especially in a field as fluid as digital marketing, often outstrips what can be learned in a classroom or online. My journey underscores the path "qualified by experience," a route that brings with it a nuanced understanding of human behaviour and digital trends. And on a personal note, one of my late father's favourite nonsensical qualifications, a QBE (it should be real).
A Mosaic of Experiences
Transitioning into digital marketing in my forties was not just a career move but my belief in lifelong learning and adaptation. The skills and insights I've garnered from my years in skin care have not been left behind; instead, they have been recontextualised, adding depth and empathy to my work in digital spaces, especially as I currently work in the field of aesthetics. Continue to journey with me as we talk of expanding horizons and share some fun stories that have been a part of my unique story.