Lots of parents choose self-employment or freelance to answer the lack of flexible working available to them. For others, your ideal career “itch” will only be eased through self-employment.
However, there are times that self-doubt can creep in and hold you back.
What do I know?
I don’t have enough experience.
Everyone else knows more than me.
In this week’s blog, I wanted to share the self-employment story of a good friend of mine, Helen Mincher, Co-Founder and Director of yoga leggings company Flip The Dog.
Co-Founder & Director Helen Mincher
Hopefully, this insight will show you how passion, transferable skills, and building on your experience can create a career a flexible and rewarding career path.
From corporate marketer to ethical clothing guru
I had always worked for large online corporations in marketing, and so the idea of working with a tangible product and building a business around a passion point was really appealing. As was the ability to have an immediate impact, rather than navigate the increasingly weighty corporate structure. I found that especially once I’d had children, I resented the time I was forced to spend away from them in ‘work’, as it lacked meaning for me.
Changing things up and starting my own business was the perfect antidote to this. I’m crafting a business that I’m really proud of and whilst I adore being a mom, I need to keep learning and feel achievement outside of this space
The idea for Flip The Dog came about organically. After trying and failing to find a pair of coloured leggings for a yoga retreat that looked and felt good, we decided to explore making some ourselves. The more we learned, the more our confidence grew that we could produce something that women loved and would feel inspired to wear. However, our candy striped prototype pants were swiftly parked to one side we uncovered some unsavoury truths about the fashion industry – staggeringly it’s the second largest polluter in the world, behind only the oil industry. Whilst we’d always wanted to ‘give back’ in some way, it no longer felt enough just to donate some of our profits to charity. Furthermore, as a start-up, we felt very strongly that we had a responsibility to provide an environmentally and socially responsible product. Our business and processes had to be sustainable and create a positive impact throughout the supply chain. Being fresh-faced to the industry has meant we’ve had a very steep learning curve but it has also worked to our advantage as we don’t have a legacy ways of doing things. We’ve been able to make decisions which benefit people and planet (not entirely forgetting profit!) and provide a genuine, sustainable alternative for active-wear consumers.
The beautiful designs
I asked Helen what advice she would give to parents looking to branch out on their own. (excuse the pun!)
Trust your gut instincts – it’s got you this far! We entered an industry, the inner workings of which were (and still are in many ways!) totally unfamiliar and unknown to us. We found that in many ways we were able to benefit from this naivety and curiosity. Ask questions and keep asking questions, especially if you don’t feel something is right, or you can’t find what you are looking for.
Even in this new industry, we are still relying on the skill base we have built up: branding, marketing, negotiating, project management and successful partnership building.
What else have you learnt? What has surprised you about this new phase in your career?
I am used to writing marketing plans, and I think starting a business from scratch and building out a business plan certainly compliments my marketing skills. Having to kick-start everything from scratch feels like I am learning something new every day – which I love!
Helen is a real inspiration to me; I hope that this has given you a boost to push forward for your business. So, take a few moment and think about where you skills can take you next?
If you would like to take the next step towards a new career or employment, then my online course Take Care of the Business of You is the one for you. Sign up by midnight on 1st July to get it for the special price of £35.
Find Flip The Dog online www.flipthedog.com
You can also follow them on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter
I’m a return to work, career, work-life balance and confidence coach for Mums and Dads.
Find out about how I have helped parents just like you!
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.
