Are you really ready to become more?

I was born to a working-class, farming family in a small village in the north of England. My dad was a poultry farmer and my stay-at-home mum juggled kids, the farm and the market on weekends. While riding around on my dad’s lap on the tractor, he would often say (in his strong northern accent) ‘Where there’s muck there’s brass, love’, which meant, ‘if you put in the hard work, the money will come’.

My mum, would share her pride at being ‘the first girl in the family’ to attend Leeds secretarial college and then the disappointment at having to give it all up when she got married.

I received a full student grant and financial support from the government to go to university. There’s no way my farming family could have funded my further education without this. Suddenly, I was off (hooray!). I packed my backpack and headed to Birmingham, not realising at the time that I would never return home to live again.

I remember that first term—the conversations, the people, their backgrounds—my eyes were well and truly opened to the world of possibility, and also to self-doubt, lack of confidence, imposter syndrome, imperfection and all of my flaws.

I worked and played hard and graduated four years later with a Bachelor of Science, a significant amount of debt, some lifelong friends and a suitcase full of memories.

Over the next eight years, in London this time, I tackled the ongoing, exhausting battle between striving for more and proving I was good enough. I was determined to ‘make it in a man’s world’ and prove to my dad that I could do it.

Despite rising through the ranks, self-doubt always told me I wasn’t smart enough, savvy enough, brave enough or good enough to be there.

By the age of 27, I’d fallen in love with an Aussie, Jason, and decided to run away from those nagging doubts and try again — somewhere new. I left my job, sold my belongings, packed my backpack (again) and moved to Australia.

Over the next 10 years, I rebuilt my career in a country where I had no friends and no proof of who I was or what I could achieve. I lived on the verge of burnout and breakdown while juggling three young children, a full-time corporate job and horrendous bullying at a senior level. Deciding I’d had enough I chose to leave to set up and bootstrap my own business.

Then, my husband’s company went into receivership and he lost his job. With no regular money coming in we hit rock bottom financially. We had to sell up, downsize to a rental, live off credit cards — we even went as far as having conversations with mates about camping in their backyards (I’m serious!).

Through it all, Jason believed in me—that was all the fuel I needed to open my eyes and make a change.

I took back control and I worked. I dug deep, I hustled and I invested in the right people around me to keep me focused and on track.

I formed the LBDGroup, a network for commercially smart women who collaborate and support each other (which I sold in March 2019).

Since then, I’ve built a global speaking and training business, working with some of the most inspiring business owners and leaders who are committed to driving change in their industry.

In 2011 I founded the not-for-profit First Seeds Fund with an incredible board of women who, together, helped many parents and kids in disadvantaged areas in Australia.

I became a partner at Thought Leaders Global. In 2017, I received an Honorary Doctorate of Science from the University of Aston in Birmingham and was privileged to be asked to speak to the graduating year of students. I’ve been to Harvard and continue to invest in myself. I’ve even written and published three bestselling books.

Why am I telling you this? It’s not about stroking my own ego, telling you all the things I’m good at, or all that I’ve done. No, it’s about owning the good stuff — the achievements and the nagging internal voices along the way — everything I’ve told myself I’m not doing ‘right’ or could do ‘better’.

Like so many of us, my journey was never and will never be all unicorns and rainbows. That’s not life.

But what I've learned is that for so long I was striving and proving I was good enough – self doubt always challenged me and the relentless quest to prove?I was good enough left me exhausted, on the brink of burnout, constantly battling imposter syndrome and the fear of failing.?

It was only when I realised that the only constant in all of the change was ME – who I was being and who I wanted to become.?

Since then I have chosen to step into my own version of brilliance – to be intentional about everything I do for the impact it makes.?I’ve learned to accept who I am and be pretty gentle and forgiving of myself. I’ve learned that I have certain strengths where I can add a lot of value, and equally, I have a hell of a lot of weaknesses that are hard to change. I’ve learned to accept all of this about myself, and I’ve learned to get curious about my behaviours, and about how and why some people get under my skin. I’ve learned to continually lead from a place of courage and acceptance of others, of loving unconditionally and teaching always.

What I have learned is that undertaking any meaningful endeavour...

...launching a business, building a new product offering, expanding your team, entering a new market, writing a book, developing a new website—requires you to be at your best. It requires you to be brilliant—and yes, this is often easier said than done.

Truth be told, we can’t lead others or bring out the best in others until we lead ourselves.

Imagine what more you could achieve in your business and life if you stepped in to your own version of brilliance.

Ask yourself this - what do I need to change and do from today that my business and future self will thank me for.

If you would love to chat more about your business goals, what's getting in the way right now and how to create a commercial smart plan for next I'd love to chat. Message me and we can set up a time that works.

Until next week

Janine x