Jackie King-Turner

No, that isn’t an exhortation to get more into craft activities, but the words of a University lecturer many years ago.    It’s my title and inspiration in this posting because I have learned a lot about the value of focus since I last wrote. 

I was offered the opportunity to put together a presentation skills course using Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) techniques (I’m a Master Practitioner).  In the spirit of “Whether you think you can or you can’t, you’re probably right”, I looked on it as an opportunity to refresh my skills and add to my personal portfolio.  What I discovered is that I had underestimated the time it takes to put together a course from scratch when working on your own.  Also, whilst all the NLP knowledge has been sitting quite happily in my subconscious, it needs a little more time to emerge “front of house” again.  (Milton Model hypnotic language patterns, anyone?)  I’m sitting here, writing this with a pile of books and notes to one side of the laptop.  I needed to refresh my memory, but also now realise, that as an extravert, I need to work with someone if I’m going to produce a meaningful day of learning.

This means that for the moment, I need to stick to what I can do without the requirement to produce a magnum opus.  My “sticking to my knitting” involves being realistic about the time I have available and concentrating on my sales coaching activities.  There seems to be a plethora of small companies out there, who need to put the “what this means to you” into their sales activities.  I am also going to treat myself to some of my own medicine and develop a more robust and sustainable marketing and business plan.  In the words of a financial advisor I saw recently, “Jackie, you need to go and earn some more money”!

Those were the words of a friend who balances a high profile career at one of the UK’s leading business schools with the demands of family life.  Since my last post, there has been a lot of talking, balancing and not a lot of writing!  I have been diverted by a bout of chicken pox in the family, a small celebration called Christmas and secondary school entrance exams.  If the key to a successful blog is the frequency and regularity of the posts, then there is some room for improvement.

So what did I learn before my quest was put on hold?  At a generic level, it seems vital to hold your nerve.  It appears that many women put a toe in the water of post-children employment.  The experience may be at best slightly agoraphobic and at worst just too unwelcoming, challenging and too much of a compromise.  They then retreat to the comfort zone and safety of the local book club and school PTA. (And yes, I am involved in both, before you ask, so I’m aware of the risks!)  At a personal level, if I refer to my friend’s earlier comment, I certainly felt the agoraphobia and “will they find me out” but have a character trait which I hope will get me past that stage.  Fundamentally, I get frustrated and slightly claustrophobic when part of totally inward-looking community groups.  As an extravert, I thrive on the bigger picture.  I hope that this will get me through the pain barrier.

As part of my aim to “keep talking” (for readers who are questioning this and think I should be listening, please be assured that listening is 80% of the process), I joined a Women’s Business Networking Group, SWIB (Supporting Women in Business).  I attended the first meeting full of trepidation about everything from the content to the dress code, let alone whether I would “fit in”.  I was accompanied by another Mum also planning her return to employment.  Moral support!  What I found at the meeting was a group of supportive women, some with families, some without, but all blazing a trail for entrepreneurship without being in the least bit intimidating (could be because many of them were coaches….).  I learned a key lesson that evening, namely that “Who you are is good enough”.  I began this journey thinking that some sort of transformation would have to take place.  I now realise that I can start from where and who I am now.  A small point perhaps but a very liberating one for me.  I am not the same person who left corporate life over 11 years ago.  I now see this as a strength rather than a cause for concern.

Armed with this new knowledge, I attended a party to celebrate the 20^th Anniversary of getting my MBA.  Along with the receding hairlines (luckily not affecting me) and glasses (had those already), I noticed a general relaxation about careers and life in general.  When we were at business school, we would have given Lord Sugar’s Apprentice contenders a run for their money.  Now, the mood at the party was all about celebrating each others’ success in whatever area of life it was achieved, with the understanding that the routes and destinations were diverse.

I’ll close this post by concluding that I’ll retain as my mantra “Who I am is good enough” as the New Year unfolds.

So, in my last posting, I nailed my colours to the mast of the small and medium sized business.  Then, last week, I had lunch with a University friend who is several years ahead of me in the entrepreneurial world.  She has been running her own accountancy practice for the last 2 years, having previously worked in one of the “Big 5”.

Imagine my surprise when my intention to concentrate on the SME (Small and Medium sized Enterprise) market was greeted with the assertion that it was my lack of confidence which was steering me away from the corporate world.  According to my friend, the corporate world was not all about 8.00 am meetings in the City and “Lunch is for Wimps” any more. In her experience, she can set her own agendas and timings with her larger clients as much if not more than the small companies.  The sales cycles are longer but the potential revenue is greater. 

Now I’m confused.  I’m torn between wanting to have a specific, focused sales proposition for “Brand King-Turner” and not wanting a potential market to be closed off to me.  Given the limited time available to me, however, I’m not sure if I can be all things to all people (and, according to Henry Ford, I’m probably right!).  In the next two weeks I have some more sales coaching lined up in the SME market, so I’ll have more ideas shortly.  Look out for the next instalment!

Last Wednesday, I woke up to the sound of the alarm and a new section of my life began.  After 11 years as a full-time mother, I re-entered the world of paid employment.  Whilst many women are compelled to work, I count my blessings that I have been able to devote my time to my children’s’ early years.  Now, however, the time has come for me to contribute to the family finances. I have started this blog as a documentation of my return to work, to chart what I learn during the process and how I develop “Brand Jackie King-Turner”. 

Pre-children, I was an International Sales Manager for one of the world’s largest Telecomms companies.  If I wasn’t on a train or a plane, I was on a conference call or in a meeting.   My success (financially) in that field has supported my ability to step “off grid” for so long.  I always felt that the corporate life only allowed me to use a portion of my total capabilities.  I was certainly an A* in analytical thinking and competitiveness, but left any compassion and soul at the door of the office.   Ultimately, I don’t believe that competitiveness is an overly healthy trait in a Mother, so that has been sidelined for a while.  Sometimes I can’t help it, and it comes out from behind a rock and roars! 

So, here I am.  I now work with companies to put the customer focus into their sales offerings.  These companies are much smaller than the ones I was used to in my “old life”.  Working with smaller companies offers one (at least!) compelling plus-point!  I can be far more “all of me” in this environment.  There is no need to put on the “corporate” face.  Perhaps this is because the entrepreneurs I work with have also opted out of the corporate world to follow a grand idea, passion or interest.  Whilst they may work long hours, it is to support what they want to do with their lives overall, rather than a corporate objective.

So what can you expect?  I’ll be drawing my own conclusions about what works and doesn’t work to improve my clients’ sales focus.  I’ll probably also ponder on how I’m integrating all those diverse sides of me.  The corporate woman of mystery and keen horsewoman has been replaced by a mother, belly dance troupe member, community radio presenter and now sales coach.  Ultimately, though, it’s all about me integrating the optimum parts of all of this to move into the next stage of my life.  Please let me know what  you think!