How did I go from being a Contract Quality Manager working in the Corporate and U.K. Local Government Sector to becoming a Creative Entrepreneur (Digital Nomad)?

Ten years into my career, I woke up to the realisation that I had been sleeping walking through my job. I was caught up in the fast paced London City lifestyle, in progressing further up the career ladder and trapped in the financial monthly stability that a job offered.

Given the choice, I would have become an Entrepreneur soon after graduating with a Business and Economics Degree from American London and Switzerland International Universities, instead of following the expected traditional career path. Reason being, I was not intuitively drawn to, or enthusiastic about working tirelessly and retiring from a life long traditional career 9-5 pm work model.

Even though, I instinctively chose a career which was linked to contributing to good causes in the community, I still felt limited in being able to exercise my creative entrepreneurship business ideas freely.

As a result, I created a three year career exit strategy with the intention to finally leave my career and start a business. During this period, I experienced sudden life challenging and challenging circumstances such as the risk of losing my job due to restructures, sudden losses of my dad and younger sister.

I also fell short of my three year career exist strategy and became chronically ill with a debilitating condition known as Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue. This was my final awakening experience, which left me with no other alternative option health wise, but to pursue my creative entrepreneurship goals. It took these life challenging events of loss, potential risk to my financial and health welfare for me to awaken further to the realisation that life was too short to not pursue what one is truly passionate about.

Lesson Learnt: Do not wait until it's too late to pursue your intended life vision and purpose.

I was held back by self-limiting beliefs:

Some of my self-limiting beliefs consisted of self-doubt, low confidence, fear of failure and success. including self-limiting beliefs of being an introvert (shy and reserved), which held be back from having the confidence to pursue public speaking engagements including video recording.

Although, I strategically and operationally managed a quality and contracts department, supervised Teams Leaders/Managers, supported over 400 contracted suppliers (Small Business Owners) and worked alongside Executive Management Teams; I still lacked the self-confidence and self-belief in my capability to startup a business independently.

I self-sabotaged every potential entrepreneurship opportunities, which caused me to feel nervous, or anxious due to fear of failure and success.

I was overwhelmed by the whole concept of completing a business plan and all the work it took to establish a business independently.

As a result of my fears, I shelved my creative business ideas more than I can count and procrastinated for many years.

Flash forward to today what helped me break away from my self-limiting beliefs?

1. Creating a three-year career exit strategy, empowered me to have more confidence and foresight into what I could realistically achieve within the three years.

My illness forced me to realise how short and fragile life is. It motivated me to take a leap of faith in myself.

2. Ongoing Personal Self-Development Work, Coaching and Mentorship and Entrepreneurship Courses (empowered me to start overcoming my self-limiting beliefs. To also shift my mindset from an employee to an entrepreneur.

3. Being part of Social and Professional Networks of like-minded people, empowered to embrace my creative side more and to accept my imperfections. To become more aware of my self-sabotage tendencies.

4. Independent Contracting and Freelancing Work gave me the opportunity to test out my Sales, Business Coaching, Social Media and Digital Marketing Skills. To also have insight into pre-existing businesses of what it takes to startup an online business.

5. I discovered my Life Vision, Reason and Purpose in Life which is to support Creative Female Entrepreneurs and Malawian Girls to actualize their entrepreneurship goals with the support of Social Media and Digital Marketing Tools.

My Life Vision and Purpose: As result of being able to overcome most of my self-limiting beliefs and using Social Media and Digital Marketing to startup my own entrepreneurship venture, I felt compelled to support like-minded women and young girls. I saw the benefits women like me could actualise for themselves as well. How Digital and Social Media empowers women to have a voice and to share their creative entrepreneurship ventures regardless of their background and limitations in life.

Most women especially feel less confident, or unaware of how they can leverage off Social Media and Digital Marketing to help them maximise their Creative Entrepreneurship Goals.

Digital Media has the potential to narrow the gender inequality gap (i.e., salaries, education, well-being) for women and girls especially those living in impoverished remote towns/villages. There is greater potential for women to contribute to innovative entrepreneurs ideas including sustainable development in their own communities.

To learn more about my Professional and Educational background Click Here!

A LITTLE ABOUT ME!

For many years, self-limiting beliefs held me back from actualising my entrepreneurship dreams. Life changing and challenging circumstances compelled me to take a leap of faith in myself and to embrace my Life Vision, Purpose and Passion (Creative Entrepreneurship).

I consider myself a Global Citizen due to my international upbringing and education background of living and travelling in Europe, U.S.A., Canada and Africa. I am a Brit Malawian, born in London, spent part of my childhood in Malawi and grew up in U.S. and Europe.

I enjoy global travel, attending cultural festivals and artistic events. During university years, I backpacked on solo trips and with friends in Europe.

I enjoy blogging/vlogging and had never considered these activities as my creative passions from childhood, until I attend an Entrepreneurship Event year ago before leaving my full time career. From a very young age, I used to enjoy taking pictures and video recording family members or environments. I started creative writing (poetry) during childhood as cathartic experience to help me heal from personal life challenging experiences.

I recently become a Self-Published Author on Amazon; decided to take the leap and created my first practical guide handbook called "Start Your Online Business with A Life Vision Plan."

I believe there are no coincides in life. Looking back my past creative hobbies and passions, are what I am authentically connect with now. It also explains why I naturally and unconsciously gravitated towards becoming a Digital Nomad.

My illness has made appreciate the beauty of standing still, being more mindful and protective of one's overall well-being. To fearlessly follow my intuition and appreciate life in the present.

When I am not in my creative headspace, I love watching Foreign Movies/Series on Netflix. Including participating in leisurely activities, such as countryside/seaside walks. During the U.K. lockdown period, I reembraced dancing (i.e., Afrobeats ) and Yoga.

Good Causes (Live Vision & Purpose): During my career, I contributed to Adult Social Care and Health Good Causes.

As part of my life purpose and vision, I am committed to contributing to good causes associated with women and young Malawian girls.