Why do you do what you do?

Or, how I ended up being an engineer because I wanted to be a writer...

I'm the oldest daughter of a family of four kids. We were a very poor family, and academic expectations were low. In fact if you managed to finish school without getting pregnant that was considered a great result.

I wanted to be a writer, but a careers advisor told me there were no jobs for writers. So I told the tooth-sucker that I'd be an engineer instead.?She wasn't impressed with that choice either.

Against the odds and her advice, I got a technician apprenticeship at BT Fulcrum in Birmingham - that's me in the photo pretending to measure a waveform with equipment that isn't even plugged in (magic electronics). Eventually, I became the first person in my family to get a degree - a first class in engineering don't you know!

I've recently realised that I'd always had this paradoxical relationship with authority.

• I was a good girl, responsible, took care of my sisters and brother, got things done, did as I was told. I did what authority figures told me.

But often, they were just plain wrong.

• So I rebelled and did what I thought was best.

I ended up working for some big electronics engineering companies (you might have heard of Mitsubishi Electric?) But, I wasn't a very good engineer - I talked too much and was a distraction. I got made redundant from a small games designer and ended up in engineering recruitment as a stop gap - does anyone ever dream of being a recruiter when they're growing up? I quickly became one of their top earners and realised I was wasting my life.

Then life threw me a lifeline...

One morning, I accidentally opened up an old folder flopping about on my desk and found an article I'd written in 1994 for the computer company I used to work for (I'd set up a newsletter so I could at least do some writing and talking, you've got to interview people, right?)

I'd interviewed my future husband (he didn't know it at the time, and he's now my ex) about "The Internet" - back when we use to capitalise it. Now engaged, we were just about to set off on a trip to Thailand, so I shoved the article in my backpack. This was way back in 1997, when the internet was just a baby. That holiday in Thailand was when I realised I should start a web design and marketing company.

It couldn't be that hard, could it?

I started as soon as I got back. I gave my notice to the recruitment company, bought a computer for home and got me a modem! I persuaded my brother to join me. We were now a web design company.

Of course I knew nothing and had a steep learning curve, but our first client (the recruitment company) got us started. We grew, rented offices, got more clients, learnt how to make websites (lol), all was going well... and then it wasn't. I had to make redundancies in 2001.?It was an awful time, the hardest of my business career.

I felt like a failure, that I'd let everyone down.

It was then that I wrote a book, with my brother Joe, about what we'd learned growing the web design and marketing company. The book (The Gorillas Want Bananas, 2003 - 20 years ago!) was a great success, we published it ourselves back when Print on Demand didn't exist. We had thousands of books in the office, we shipped them one by one and I sold them at the back of the room during speaking events.

My speaking fees increased (I told you I liked talking, right?), I was invited to bigger stages, our business grew again and it was then that I realised other expert business owners should write a book! My first book publishing business was born.

That realisation - that the authority my book created gave me access to other people's networks, stages, events and resources - has been my driving force for the last 20 years. I know that my book helped me (I've now written more than 20 for myself or with co-authors) and I know a well written book, that has a business purpose, can open doors and stages.

Being a published author is the best credibility clue your potential clients need to read.

My own books are super important to me because having books as assets saved me when I wasn't able to work (midlife crazy crisis), gave me royalties when I sold my last publishing business (what was I going to do with myself now?), kept the horses fed when I was between clients (back to freelancing for a while).

I know that books are still the best credibility clue, they are the most atomic way to get an idea across, they are valued and treasured.

I want to hear from you

If you've been through challenges in your business, the ups and downs, comment and share your story. I'd love to hear why you do what you do.

About Debs Jenkins: I've been in the publishing industry for the last 20+ years. I started, grew and sold a publishing company. I've ghostwritten and rescued books. I've also written 20 of my own books.?I've helped 139 authors get more than 180 books written and published. Now, I'm breaking the rules again - let's write valuable books, together, where everyone wins. OK by you?

I've been described as a force of nature (and other things). My cohort publishing program and our coaches will help you break through any barriers, we're dedicated to getting your book published and working for you. Oh, and there will be no bullshit!