Gillian Pritchett

In November 2005 when my dad died, I decided to leave a successful, challenge-filled, adrenalin-rich international corporate career that I loved to do freelance work in business strategy and marketing with some occasional teaching so that I could spend chunks of time with my mum in the UK. I started a website, built programmes and wrote books – all linked to helping people start and run a business. I taught two of my programmes at McGill University in Canada for several years.

Then in 2012 my lovely, talented mum was diagnosed with vascular dementia. Although not severe and never became so she was too vulnerable to remain in her home alone. But… she loved her home and her beautiful garden. She was a talented artist who loved to paint. She loved music. She would have shrivelled away in a care home and lead a very  a diminished life. She deserved better. So… I went back to the UK to live with her; to keep her happy and safe. Illness and frailty forced her into a nursing home in 2014. I spent hours each day with her trying to compensate for the inconveniences of being in a nursing home. She passed away in April 2015. By then I’d spent all my life savings and incurred debts. I had no-one to help me out. I was all alone in the world.

Solution – get a job.  Hmmm.. far easier said than done in ageist UK.

Since I couldn’t get a job, not even a basic admin job using a dumbed down CV, I had no choice but to create my own income stream(s) . There were many things I could do that I enjoyed doing and people needed but they didn’t thrill and excite me. Motivation is essential to succeed in business and Motivation is a world away from desperation to succeed because financially your life depends on it. You’ll eventually succeed but in a limited way because there’ll be no joy and that will adversely reflect on all the work you do and how you do it.

I’ve followed Marisa for a few years and always liked her personality and style. When I listened to her webinar about Start With You I had an inkling that somehow I’d discover something of value.

I haven’t found my True North Business but I have found two very important things:

Number One – Doing the exercise about the emotional events in each decade I realised that while I think I’ve lead a charmed, happy life I’ve actually suffered a lot of bullying, rejections, serious illnesses, life threatening accidents and yet here I am in the Autumn of my life still trucking, still determined to succeed in the face of adversity. I realised how resilient, tenacious, hard-working and determined I’ve always had to be and still am. I knew that if I have those characteristics then I could dig myself out of this hole. Clear all the debts incurred during the mum years and secure my old age and heck, have some fun and travel too.

Number Two – whilst my True North Business is lying in wait for me in a future I can’t see yet, I have some inklings as to what it might be. Meanwhile …  In working through the exercises, I realised I could repackage me and what I do in a way that actually makes me feel excited about myself and what I am capable of doing for people. I decided to style myself the Make it Happen Specialist. My ‘You know when…’ might read: You know when someone decides to start a business, or grow their business, or build their programme or take time out to travel they invariably faff about and end up doing very little or even nothing to make it happen? Well when they enlist my support they achieve clarity, take action and make their goals and even their dreams reality”. I felt so excited by this. I was still jazzed when I woke up the next morning. I’ve even bought the domain name www.makeithappenspecialist.com. Watch this space !