New Year, new beginnings blah blah blah…
(This is a 4-minute read…)
So I genuinely thought when I bought my DIY website around 8 years ago from GoDaddy, it would be an easy tick-box exercise to give people info on my services. I uploaded a sh!t load of info and found a few pics that looked like someone being “free” (you know the sort, the woman in a field, arms outstretched, wind in her hair). Job done, move on!
Most of my clients had not needed the website info as they were coming on the recommendation of someone else!
2020 saw the biggest blindsiding for us all in the form of a virus that had the world stand still!
Having just had a baby, I was catapulted into isolation. Just f£cking brilliant! Almost immediately, the enquiries for my services skyrocketed! Everyone’s issues heightened because people’s usual coping mechanisms were severely hindered…. The pub was shut, the gym was unavailable, the escape abroad to get away from work was no longer possible, and your usual support network had been restricted to their own bubbles. WHAT A FECKIN MENTAL DISASTER for mankind!!!
The result? Be YOU Be Free was in demand!
The student with emetophobia (fear of being sick) terrified to sleep alone in case she got a migraine, a stomach bug, all alone with her fears to stew on.
The teenage girl who became obsessed with her weight and went down to 5 stone (in an attempt to gain some control in her life as she felt powerless thanks to the isolation). She formed rituals that would involve 50 star jumps as soon as she woke, limited food intake if any, secrecy to mask her new behaviours.
The mental health nurse whose OCD tendencies catapulted to an all-time high. Revising notes over and over, terrified of getting something wrong. The wrong dose of medication to patients could cost him his job, after all. At home, checking all the doors and windows were locked for 2 hours before he was allowed to go to bed. Laying awake ruminating over his day and where he may have £ucked up. Fear at an all-time high.
The gambling addict who sat at home on his phone frittering money away. Compelled to keep pressing those “bet” buttons. The shame, the loneliness, the extent of the losses in money and control over his behaviour. All in an attempt to feel good, to feel calm, to feel safe.
The safety we all craved during the most unprecedented times of our realities.
The referrals came in hard and fast!
I had my own boundaries to put in place. Breastfeeding a tongue-tied baby saw me repeatedly getting mastitis and no support from the health system, obviously. How much could I help these people whilst I managed my own responsibilities?
Luckily for me, by June 2020, I was getting a little more sleep and able to focus enough to begin work with my first-ever online client. BUT what about the clients needing help and escape from their home life? The ones in domestic violent relationships who weren’t able to talk freely sat at the PC in their own homes? What about the teenagers whose parents insisted they studied all day despite the fact that they were socially deprived at one of the most crucial times in their teenage development? What about the old lady who couldn’t use technology, the one who used to manage a busy retail store, had all her mental faculties, a sharp and witty direct woman now completely depressed, not eating, or taking her meds or taking any pleasure in her everyday life?
I got back in the office and saw clients face-to-face. HOW. COULD. I. NOT?!
In between all the amazing clients, I would retreat back to home life with a baby and a teenager going off the Covid rails BIG TIME. The escape in the office served me as much if not more than my clients at this time.
Fast forward to 2021! One more baby in tow because I manifested him, the one with dark hair and blue eyes finally!!
Be YOU Be Free launched its very successful 12-week coaching package tailored around turning fear and anxiety-ridden clients into confident, carefree, and happy ones.
The Be YOU and Beyond programme closely followed to provide continued support to existing clients who had completed the 12-week programme and wanted to develop professional and/or personal goals or both. The flexible monthly package meant my clients had a regular portion of time to assess their needs, get clarity, and focus on their habits, relationships, working life etc. From there, we would form a plan and use NLP and hypnosis techniques to cement their goal. Clients love the flexibility and the accountability of a weekly check with me. AND I love holding people accountable naturally ha!
So all this and so much more to say about my feelings on workaholism and why most of my clients are self-employed go-getters, neurodivergence, the power of the mind upon your body, the massive direct connection between your expectations and any outcome…. OMG these topics get my juices flowing!
This brings me to the launch of my new website in January 2025.
I wanted to provide an actual flavour of who I really am. The larger-than-life itself, deep-thinking, slightly off-the-wall woman who’s massively passionate about helping others find peace with who they are.
Luckily for me, I connected with a team of brilliant women who are just as into their profession as I am. After searching for 4 years, I finally found the right business coach. It was a bit like searching for the right partner. I needed that deep gut reaction that said absoFUCKINGlutely this is the one. When I found Rebecca Kirk, the extra string to her bow was the spiritual element. Her website screamed authentic AF!
We met and I got exactly that! This woman had done her inner work. She had nothing to prove or sell to me. Her ego-less approach was magnetic. I wanted her immediately!
Thanks to Rebecca, I met my gorgeously creative and exceptionally talented Gemma from “That’s Her Business.” OMG we clicked instantly. She “got me.” I “got her.” She talked my language and naturally, she assumed I had ADHD, which now seems to be many people’s assumption…. this makes me laugh way too much!
I really wanted to save money and felt I didn’t need a copywriter for my new website… Ever the entrepreneur that I am, believing I could do it all myself. I WAS WRONG! Cue Amy Killer Copywriter…… What a feckin dream of a human being! How could I have lived so long without her in my life? I write something and she jazzes it up beyond belief. What is really exceptional about her skills is that she makes sure she understands enough to get the brand voice perfect, she makes a piece of work concise, easy to read, and interesting. She makes me sound even more fascinating than I already am! How could I now live without her???
I am so excited to share the website at the end of January. It will contain my FREE life satisfaction quiz for you to see what area of your life may need development. It will contain information on all I offer, packages, online courses, and resources. There will be more regular blogs like this one for those of you who like a good read of empowering suggestions and life coaching tips on managing daily life to the full.
The website will be a one-stop shop for my services and offers, which I cannot wait to share with you!!
Anyway, enough about moi!
Happy New Year blah blah blah, make every day count whilst you still can!!
Love and full-on realness Natalie x
