Where There's a Will There's a Way

Travelling on the motorway at the weekend I observed hundreds of cars so fully loaded that you couldn’t see through the back window. I think it was students, leaving the nest and being driven to their new homes.

Thirty-five years ago, I left my hometown of Leigh, Greater Manchester. A small place where everyone talked to each other at bus stops and most people worked in a factory or down a pit. I moved to the East Midlands. To Loughborough to be precise, to embark on a degree course in Textiles and Fashion Design.

Me, mum, dad and boyfriend and all my worldly goods packed into the car on a Sunday afternoon. They helped me unpack and then I was left, on my own, in grotty halls of residence. Sharing a room with a complete stranger. It was exciting and a bit scary all at the same time. I was alone and the only way I could keep in touch with my loved ones was by queuing for the pay phone in the corridor outside my room, along with the 30 other girls who lived there.

I’d worked hard to get this opportunity. I’d done an extra year of study to get to this point. I’d applied the year before and been unsuccessful at securing a place – it went on interview and your portfolio of work. My drawing had let me down. Rather than accept the place I was offered at my second choice uni I’d decided to have another go the following year.

That year I drew and drew and painted and drew…I improved a lot. I also worked 2 jobs evenings and weekends in pubs alongside. I was determined, focused and getting that place on one of the most prestigious art colleges of the time was my absolute priority. My dad’s mantra had always been if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.

Where there’s a will, there’s a way – another phrase I believe to be true. If you want it enough, you’ll do whatever it takes.

And this brings me to think about where I am now and what I’m doing these days. I had a chat with my husband last night about my business. He’s so very supportive and believes in me 100%. He’s been the one that’s kept me going over the past few years when the going’s got tough and I’ve felt like packing it all in.

I’ve tweaked and changed my ideas in my business based on gut instinct and how successful things have been. Each year I’ve evolved and refined what I want to do and how I want to do it. What’s the point of working for yourself if it’s not making your heart sing…?

I was chatting with someone earlier this week explaining my services and why I now prefer to offer longer mentoring packages and taken away any ‘quick fix’ options. I would rather turn custom away that go against what I know works best in the long term for clients. Otherwise it’s not a rewarding experience for me. I’ve made lots of sacrifices over the past few years to enable me to stick with my passion and to remain on my crusade.

I want to know that I’ve given my clients the best possible for them to learn and understand what works for them, and why. so, they can make sustainable transformation and informed decisions when clothes shopping in the future. If you want a temporary makeover or personal shopper, I’m not your gal.

It’s about not making do. For me or for them.

Empowering women to tackle their failing wardrobes and put themselves higher up the list of priorities remains my mission. I’ve devised a group mentoring process that means it’s an affordable option once they’ve decided the time is right to stop making do with clothes that are not making them look good and feel fab. Personal styling is no longer just for celebrities and ladies who lunch. I’m here to share the secrets that facilitate the process of dressing with confidence.

You can take a horse to water though. Over the past few years since I’ve been running online courses it still bothers me how many women will make the decision to purchase and then not make the time to do the work. They want the outcome but not enough to make doing the work a priority. It’s an occupational hazard, I want to help women who are feeling like they are in a rut.

I’m offering a helping hand to get out of the rut but sometimes it’s easier to stick with what you know than make changes. Life gets in the way. Often, they are juggling family lives and jobs, helping out with grown up kids, elderly parents etc. All things that take up mental bandwidth and leave little time for themselves. They are not making themselves a priority, which is a shame, but I know it’s hard and despite their best intentions when they sign up it just doesn’t happen.

It’s like choosing cake when you want to lose weight. You want to lose weight, but you don’t want to put the effort in to lose the weight. Until you make a conscious effort to change nothing will change.

I used to get bothered by it and worry that my course content wasn’t appealing enough etc. But then these people are in the minority and I get such amazing results from those who do put the work and are actually ready to make the change that I accept that some people just aren’t ready to put themselves higher up the list and will carry on making do until the time is right for them.

When you want something enough, you’ll make it happen. Where there’s a will, there’s a way – If you want it enough, you’ll do whatever it takes. Determination and focus are what get results. Like when I worked 2 jobs and put in an extra year dedicated to improving my drawing to get that place at Loughborough.

If you’re ready to dedicate a bit of time each week to help yourself make changes I’m here to help you dress with confidence and tackle that failing wardrobe. You’ve got to promise to try and meet me halfway though.