Dee Blick is an award winning Chartered Marketer and author of Powerful Marketing on a Shoestring Budget for Small Businesses.
When I had my two boys (they are now two strapping teenagers aged 19 and 17) I made the decision to put my marketing career temporarily on hold. I spent an immensely enjoyable six years being a full time mum before deciding to start my own marketing business.
I had spent many years in corporate life and whilst there was never any doubt that I would resume my lifelong love affair with marketing, I wanted to do it on my terms.
What I hadn’t bargained for however was my lack of confidence.
Before having the children I had been responsible for a seven figure marketing budget, had chaired many high-powered meetings and was generally regarded as being a confident and assertive woman.
Whilst I may have honed my multi-tasking skills during my career break, my confidence had taken a nosedive and it took many hours of positive self talk before I opened the doors to my own business. That’s why I’m pleased that today so much accessible help is available for mums in a similar position.
The growth and popularity of online social networking has led to a number of excellent websites, forums and networking opportunities for mums considering returning to work – either to pick up where they left off or to do something completely different. We’ll be looking at a number of these excellent resources in subsequent articles, but today I’d like to concentrate on one called ‘Return2WorkMums’ (http://www.return2workmums.co.uk/).
Majella Wilkins found herself in a position not dissimilar to mine, commenting, “When I first became a mum, having enjoyed a successful corporate career, I was startled by the sheer number of talented and articulate mums I encountered everyday in the school playground.
“These were women who had enjoyed former, successful professional roles but had re-prioritised their lives in order to be with their children. Back in 2001, it was frustrating just how little opportunity and support there was for flexible working so that these women and their talents could be employed.
“Over recent years, however, flexible working has become more widely adopted. Whilst not perfect, there are now many opportunities for women to return to professional roles on a more flexible, family friendly basis. ”
Inspired by this and determined to do something to help, Majella founded ‘Return2WorkMums’ in autumn 2009 with a remit to inform and inspire mums about the new emerging work and business opportunities and to prepare them for a confident return to work.
Her aim is to provide practical support and expert insight on a range of return to work issues – from childcare, to household finances, personal marketing and career advancement. “For women on a career break returning to work throws up a range of issues that are real, perceived, emotional and practical in nature,” she says.
“Each woman faces her own unique issues and has to wrestle with them in order to carve out a professional role that suits her particular talents and that also fits in with the needs of her family. Having access to affordable and free support from experts and fellow professional women is invaluable. It can make the difference between doing nothing because the thought of change is overwhelming or striking out with sufficient confidence to calm that negative chatterbox down.”
Are you a mum considering returning to work and if so, will you be following the same career path or doing something different altogether?
Next week we’ll look at how to overcome a lack of confidence with some practical tips.
Tags: back to work, career plan, Dee Blick, Equality, Family Finances, kids, mum, mums, start-up, Starting a Business, Women in Business, work-life balance, working mums
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