When you begin your career, you may think you have it all planned out. You know what you are going to do and when; you can even see it, right down to the job titles and desk lay out! One of the things that have I learned is that neither our life, or career, goes the way we expect it. However, all of our experiences, skills, and values can be used to build the work-life balance you want. This month’s Inspiring Parent features Ben Birchall, who has actively created a career to enjoy.
Over to you Ben
My name is Ben Birchall, I’m an HR and employee engagement specialist who runs two Play Cafes. Our cafe, the little Green Frog in Lichfield and the little Green Bookworm in Sutton Coldfield Library which is a joint venture with a local charity, FOLIO Sutton Coldfield.
Having studied Management Sciences at Loughborough University, I joined an employability and training business in Birmingham, developing growing the HR function. As the business expanded, I joined the executive board as Director of HR and Organisational Development with a clear remit to maximise the performance of the business through its people. Our approach to employee engagement saw us recognised as being in the top 25 business to work for in the UK in 2010, 2011 and achieving 2nd place in 2012.
In 2013, after 11 years in one business, I went self-employed as an HR and Employee Engagement Consultant working with a range of small, medium and large businesses to maximise business performance through people.
In 2016 my wife, Debs, (a Theatre Stage Manager) and I developed the concept of the little Green Frog Cafe and opened the doors to our cafe in Lichfield in August 2016 during the same week that our 5th child, Nell was born!
The decision to go self-employed in 2013 and set up our Play Cafe in 2016 was driven by our desire to spend more time together as a family and to make the most of every opportunity that came our way. For us, this had become extremely important following the loss of our third son, Caleb, to a stroke just before his second birthday in September 2012. Nothing could have ever prepared us for this loss and, with our eldest boys being just five and three, we were very aware of the impact that it could have on us as a family.
In reflection we got through this time and continue to deal with losing Caleb by always being there for each other and by living a life that would make him proud of us, he is never far from our thoughts. The career change I made in 2013 made this possible.
When opening the cafe in 2016, we had no experience in hospitality other than being a customer! What we did have was a really clear vision for what families with young children needed and a really strong desire to make it happen! The extent of our training was a half workshop on ‘how to set up a coffee shop’. In reality, much of the knowledge and skills that I had developed through my studies and work were largely transferable. Other than that, I relied on working with experts, talking with potential customers, gut instinct and Google!
However, one of the key challenges in hospitality is getting the right people and enabling them to do a great job, loving what they are doing and staying with you! My in-depth understanding of employee engagement has played a huge part in the success of the business.
The biggest challenge has been switching off! Running two cafes which are open seven days a week, 362 days a year, for which you are solely responsible, can dominate your thoughts and be distracting at times! The key to overcoming this has been developing a team that I can rely on and by being more proactive and organised in the way I work.
I have been amazed by the impact that the cafe has within the community beyond just being a place to bring the kids to play while you have a decent(hot!) cup of coffee (Clara: It REALLY is a good cuppa!).
During a week at the cafe, you will see people making new friends, sharing advice, support, and even a shoulder to cry on as they face the struggles of being a new parent. You’ll see expectant parents learning the ropes and making new friends at an antenatal class. Business owners networking while their children play or sell their things at a pop-up shop. You’ll see parents working out with their little ones at a squats and tots class and staying for a chat about how they can be more healthy and increase their energy levels even though they aren’t getting much sleep!
You’ll see a community coming together in a world that can at times appears ever more isolated by technology. It’s a truly joyful thing and it reinforces everyday that we made the right decision to change our careers!
A significant event happened in our lives which made us sit up and take stock of what was really important to us and our family. My advice to any other parent considering a change, don’t wait for a wakeup call. Wake up now! Speak to your nearest and dearest about what you all want from your day to day lives, what is really important to you? How close are you to having this? What could you tweak, change or overhaul to achieve the life that you can all be proud of? Don’t coast, life is too short, make the most of every moment!
Having visited the Little Green Frog many times, I can vouch for the inclusive and welcoming atmosphere that Ben, Debs and the team have created. So, today, I am going to challenge you with this thought. What do you want to achieve in the next 12-months and how are going to make it happen? Start today!
Want to join a support group of working parents creating a career to enjoy? Join The Balance Collective and find over 500 parents looking to create a career to enjoy not endure.
Clara Wilcox is a straight talking, practical and experienced coach helping clients navigate the tricky waters of returning to work, career changes and professional development. The Balance Collective is a social enterprise focused on improving the lives of parents, by working together to build inner confidence and promote a healthy work/life balance.
