How the work/life balance dream unfolded...
I wrote this just as I was finishing my social media management course... It gives a flavour of why I'm here and my mission to achieve that work/life balance that we all deserve! If you are looking for your equilibrium, follow your heart.... Yesterday was my birthday, so I've been gifted my past and can't wait to open the future...
It was a passing thought on many an occasion. How do I do this better? How can I work better without feeling guilty for leaving the family at home or how can I be a better mum, not an exhausted one waiting for the next flight to Europe for work?.. A conundrum. It’s a delicate balancing act that required support from a nanny, in my case, or can you really find that perfect solution? That’s where digital mums stepped in. I’d seen the facebook ads on several occasions and they slipped into my subconscious. It had been tabled with the hubby on a late night chat over several glasses of wine but it wasn’t the right time. Could I? Should I? Would I? Can I step out of the corporate world and work for myself? Doing what? How can I take my professional experience and carve a career for myself and balance family life better?
Then it came, the little push that I needed. In May 2017, I found myself ‘available’ for new adventures.
So I called digital mums, I attended a webinar and within 24 hours, I’d paid my deposit. I’d signed myself up to the social media management course, starting in June 2017. I had to do something with my time, no?
I felt apprehensive but excited. It’s empowering to know that you’re taking control of what happens next. We went away as a family and I read a book “she means business”.. and I did…and I do…
Having started the course in June, I quickly had to find a ‘passion’ to develop into a grass-roots social media campaign. What would I choose? What did I love about Winchester as it had to be based on your current locality. The idea came quite quickly. I love the independent businesses in Winchester. I wanted to re-connect with the city that I avoided for years whilst working away. Time to bed-down and regain my love of Winchester: #Windependents was born. Time to explore and see what was happening in our little city. The campaign brought new adventures, information, business awareness, shopping experiences, tasting adventures and so much more.
The most challenging part of the course was trying to work out the balance of running a campaign, meeting new people, understanding what makes the city ‘tick’ whilst balancing the family needs (3 kids under 7yrs) and project managing a build!
The campaign has really taken hold and I’ve loved meeting new people virtually and in real life too. I’m a social butterfly and the experience has enhanced that. I’m finding the Suzy that perhaps got lost under the ‘Oh that’s Alfie, Lily and Ella’s mum’. Time to let her free again…
I’ve learnt so much whilst studying with digital mums. Crazy things that seem habitual now: having a weekly google hangout with my peers from Alnwick, St Albans, Banstead, Ferndown, Sheffield and Maidenhead. Having the life-support that is whats app, to ask those dumb questions like ‘Where’s my twitter analytics gone this week?’… Having never tweeted, I feel empowered and happy to know how twitter ‘ticks’. I’ve learnt so much about the platforms and optimised posting.. The list is endless.
One of the most enjoyable parts of the course was equally the scariest: hosting a tweet-chat. I stacked on the pressure by hosting a new tweet-chat for a well known brand in Winchester and had the lovely Jane Devonshire as my special guest. I was so nervous but proud that buffer didn’t let me down, neither did the wifi, which also petrified me and the hour flew by. It was brilliant and couldn’t have wished for a better chat!
The course isn’t a breeze. You need time to dedicate to running this campaign and studying at the same time but I’d totally recommend it. It’s learning style may not be for everyone but the content is great and the experiential learning is fantastic. My peers worked, were on maternity leave, were finishing maternity leave or were aiming for the new life. It is suitable for all but you do need time to focus every day, which can be difficult. The evenings became a laptop study zone and that did upset the other half, occasionally…
The future looks clear now. DigitalMumsHQ, have set me free from the corporate cage and I have launched my business becoming SociableSuzy, the freelance social media manager that I so craved to be at the start of the journey. It seems unreal but I’m excited to explore this new path and see how much of a work/life balance I can create. It's month two of freelancing life, I have some lovely clients and I'm delighted.... So far so good....