Things change. We change. Embrace the journey and welcome the new.

When you open this newsletter in the morning, I will likely be sat in my car, feeling nervous and excited. Not only is it my son's 16th birthday, it's GCSE results day, a double whammy and a day when so many kids will hope and pray their hard work has paid off as they embark on their next adventure.

Good luck to all the kids and parents out there today!

On another note, I have a confession to make. Like other business owners who step into their leadership light, I dared to believe that my expertise makes a difference.

With a lovely visit today from a fab local company to request another cohort goes through a leadership programme, three messages the past two days from leaders wanting support to transition in their career, (one of whom I supported to make an effective career transition many years ago) and with my first two spaces filled on my group programme to see leaders take control of their career, life feels good.

This summer has been quieter in the business, but also been a great time to reflect and channel my energy into some changes in the business.

Here are a few changes I have been working on:-

1- Quitting the bus-y-ness.

Not the business, although I will admit, I thought about it several times since starting.

But it wasn't the business I wanted to quit. It was the bus-y-ness. Which meant saying no to some things.

I think many founders feel a juggling act to start, working hard, not smart, not having clear direction and trying to do it all alone. Not something I want to feel again. I value getting the right support over feeling like it's a hustle.

I would urge anyone to consider what is no longer bringing you joy, and if you say no to it, what will it enable you to say yes to? What will bring you greater joy?

For anyone feeling like you are in the midst of a load of busyness, I would urge you to reflect on what aspects you want to change.

2- Recognising what I have outgrown and welcoming things evolve.

I have quit the name of the business Career Studios.

To be completely honest, when I called the business Career Studios, it didn't feel quite right.

You may have seen from posts that I picked the name Career Studios at a time I was getting divorced and deciding whether to call myself Suzanne Penny, Lane or Penny-Lane! Now things feel so much happier and more settled, it seems a great time to take that step forward and embrace change.

I trusted and listened that the right name would come. I could no longer ignore all the feedback I have been getting from people who have attended my coaching and my group workshops, which is how they have felt as a result of our work together, and how much they have appreciated and needed the space to learn and grow.

So welcome to the world Empowered Space (People Development).

We will be focusing on core areas of:-

Space to Transition - Outplacement and coaching support for positive career transitions.

Space to Lead - Team and Leadership Training and 1-2-1 coaching.

A reminder that it's great to evolve and it's fine to outgrow something.

A question for you, what do you feel you have outgrown and what are you doing about it? Not sure? Ask yourself what the first step to take is.

3- Trying to do it all alone.

How often do you feel you are actually playing to your strengths and not just juggling a load of plates and feeling like you are spinning?

I especially see this of other founders in the early stages. We convince ourselves that we have to do it all (and to an extent, some need to until we start to get clients). But we can waste such a lot of time, money and energy trying to be all things.

I know personally, I wasted a load of time, money and headspace trying to juggle it all. I convinced myself I did not have enough money to pay someone else, but it cost me way more than getting the right support in place. I would urge you to regularly stop and reflect on what aspects of your work are energising you and playing to your strengths, and what aspects are draining your energy and taking your time.

It's so important that we play to our strengths and welcome support from others who are better than ourselves (and invest in it, as the right support will help us than hinder us).

4- Constant fear of making a wrong decision or failing in some way.

I procrastinate a lot. I have learnt it's heightened with ADHD and all the overthinking zaps my energy. It became harder with a new business, especially with a lack of deadlines or commitments and I feared failure in some way. Yet the funny thing is, when I first started the business and did what felt right, it felt more joyful than constantly doubting and over-thinking. Now I am embracing how much I have learnt and embracing my spontaneous nature, at the same time have made changes to my diary to create space to be strategic.

Journalling also helps this (when I create space for it). I haven't been journalling over the summer, but would urge anyone who is feeling overwhelmed or procrastinating (I often find I procrastinate today about the same thing I was procrastinating about last week etc- it becomes a cycle), so get your thoughts out of your head and onto paper.

So future plans?

I will continue to work with organisations and individuals to help them to support their people to make effective career transitions and thrive in their career. Work will be delivered by myself and a hand picked associate team. Here are 5 things I am going to manifest and welcome:-

1. A fabulous group programme in September. If you would like to join and are ready to make positive change before 2025, I would love to support you. We will be focused on self-leadership, strengths, setting healthy boundaries, having challenging conversations and being proactive in your career management (ie. building your personal brand and having a robust networking strategy for your ongoing career). I do not have plans to repeat this offer. I want to record some content for a digital course and am giving a small, fab cohort the opportunity to attend live and be interactive. Right now, it's a steal at ￡350 and the price will increase in September. So if you want to benefit, DM me for details. Spaces are limited.

2. Partnering with select HR and Recruitment Companies to offer my outplacement services. This is an area I want to build a team of heart-led experts who make a difference to people's lives. I am only interested in partnering with those who will commit to giving candidate's interview feedback and treat them with integrity.

3. I want to launch and deliver my first in-person retreat in 2025 (don't ask me where, I will be looking into venues but gosh, that would bring SO MUCH joy!!

4. As for me personally, since my diagnosis at the age of 46 for combined type ADHD, I am going to explore being a qualified ADHD coach so I can help ADHDers like me to make even more effective transitions and I figure it will also be beneficial to myself too. I have learnt loads from receiving ADHD coaching and reading books around the topic.

5. Maybe, just maybe, I will create space to start dating again! It's been a while since I could have given that headspace, but now I am all about creating and embracing space, never say never!

If you are still reading this far, I have created a quiz for you to give you some areas to consider when it comes to taking control of your career. You can download it here:

https://www.empoweredspaceforpeople.com/f/careeractivist

Thank you Career Studios, I'm not sure I would go as far to say I have loved you dearly. The first two years were especially hard, but I have always loved supporting my clients. Thank you to Emma Thompson , Sally Chesman , Karen Birchmore , Emily S Gardner and to Lydia Berman for branding, and for Katie Needle for taking my new photos.

Empowered Space, let's do this. Although not alone. With the help of my team and not forgetting each of my clients.

Although next week I am taking a well deserved week off, but you get the gist!!

We are all stronger together.

Love and Light, through the good times and the curveballs,

Suzanne

xx