Strong Woman Chronicles

When Passion meets Profit

One of the joys of working with people who want to align what they do with who they are is I hear of all kinds of business ventures that tie-together passion & profit.

Cynics among us say this just isn’t possible. That is, making money at what you love doing.

TOSH!

I work with plenty of people who do just that.

One client swapped his Operational Director’s post to run a ski chalet business; another swapped a Directorship in a corporation for 3 days heading up an export business and the rest working on the family farm; while one client traded a senior post to re-train as a chef and after an entrepreneurial spell is about to re-enter the corporate world – this time with food as the centre, because that’s his passion.

Here then is a super duper example of someone bringing together passion [in this case literally] with profit.

Coffee, Cake and Kink is the brainchild of Alan who dreamed of a stylish space where he could enjoy quality coffee and kink. His idea sprung from frustration with a lack of a stylish, upbeat space where he could enjoy three things he likes most in life - coffee, cake and kink!

With almost everything you see at the cafe for sale (with a possible exception of the personnel), customers enjoy cakes but also much more. From gifts, mugs, postcards and coasters to books, prints and art to cuffs and jewellery, all their merchandise is top quality kink.

Not satisfied just as a café, you can find classes on all manner of sensual subjects here as well as events featuring scrumptious art. I’m delighted to meet clients here for an almond macaroon and a steaming coffee – how clever Alan is to team up his desires so neatly.

I wonder then: how could you combine your passions and bring ‘profit’ to your life?

Who Lives in a Life like This?

I’ve been quiet for almost a month, bar a quick post yesterday. That’s rare. I thought I’d let you into what I’ve been up to. It’s a mish-mash of big-tiny leaps and maxi-micro steps towards an intentional life I am proud of.

Here’s what my month has included:

1. Procrastinating over how to raise 100k for the South Pole trip - I need 25k to get me there, the rest is for charity. Progress since then: After a very hopeful start, one leading sex toy & lingerie retailer declined to sponsor me to take a vibrator to the South Pole. I’m in the process of taking this idea to other leading players in this arena and remain buoyant, if not orgasmic, they'll see this PR opportunity for what it is.
2. Agonising over not being in the ‘zone’ to train ~ mentally ~ then waiting for this mind set to shift ~ forcing never helps, I find. Progress since then: Exhilaration after a 10 k run followed by a minor bout of pleurisy and now I’m eager to run like the wind &  to lift weights to shape my batwings. The body though is telling me it has other ideas. I pray they will start speaking to each other soon.
3. Enjoying five and a half days on my own, by the sea, on holiday without booking anywhere to stay ~ first spell alone, ever in my life ~ Progress: Bliss. Time to reflect on what is true, what I need, who I am and what I stand for ~ Highly recommended!
4. Being ‘headhunted’ to coach the CIO [Chief Investment Officer] of a super-league Finance company – jumping through more hoops than an Olympic athlete might. Progress: a politics-rich scenario, my gut told me was one to watch carefully. In the end the contract went elsewhere ~ whew. If there’s one big lesson I’ve learned it’s to step away from games-playing business. Meanwhile, I look forward to coaching Ambassadors & Diplomats ~ thanks to the Foreign Office.
5. Applying to join the panel of top TV show, ‘Loose Women’ ~ video & detailed application sent ~Progress: no news is good news, maybe?
6. Leading endless meetings with Company Directors who seem to sit along a continuum from mildly-interested to wildly-into hiring me. Progress: Great connections made here ~ oh and I never do business with City types glugging 3 bottles of red wine at tea-time while talking business. Their decision making is marred and I can’t be sure they truly value what I can bring. Really happens, folks.
7. Driving to the best warehouse packed with the high street goodies at knockdown prices. Progress: lots of yummy candles, and gorgeous home-ware sitting in my home.
8. Partying and eating with friends ~ including Jack, number 3 son [did I mention they have numbers?] ~ Progress: freedom, lightness, bags under the eyes.
9. Kick-starting a relationship audit ~ from closest relationships; clients through to each and every connection I have. Progress: My wonderful friend, Ali differentiates between soul suckers and those who feed the soul. Put bluntly, that’s what I’m looking at. How about you? When was the last time you took a look at the people you have in your life?
10. Re-jigging my written Vision Story ~ Progress: I’m getting clearer on the shape of the life I want. Sure it changes as I change and that’s the fun of it. It’s alive and informs my daily practice. Watch out for an announcement for Vision Story Seminars for Strong Women in the coming months!
11. Being hired by an extraordinary woman ~ at the top her business game, a delighted mum of a toddler yet she wants to review where she now puts her energy, talents & heart. Progress: Large grins.
12. Researching if I can wear contact lens at The Ice ~ will they freeze onto my cornea? Progress: I’ve discovered Gary Rolfe, Arctic Explorer who says he ‘wears disposable contact lenses, glasses just freeze to my face. A week’s supply are kept thawed next to my body, the rest lay frozen on the sled’.

Bun in the Oven?

Out shopping to buy last items for Meredith’s Big Day, an odd thought hit me. I’ve been mind numbingly tired for a couple of weeks and I’ve been explaining this away to myself as the last remnants of the pleural infection I had in the Summer. What if this fatigue of mine is nothing to do with that? What if I’m exhausted because I’m pregnant yet again? And as this question reaches my brain I register I’ve only ever felt this stupendous deflated energy in the first months of pregnancy.

I’m overwhelmed with what this will mean for me. I count the months on my fingers to see exactly when my 8th baby will be born. This is crucial information because in December 2006 I’m destined for the South Pole. This timing gives me maybe five months after the birth to get into tip-top condition to tackle the journey to the Pole. I’m quaking inside thinking about the prospect of breastfeeding and literally shaping up for the Pole.

Back home, I find the pregnancy tests stored under my bathroom sink. I’m an organized woman on this score – after so many pregnancies these tests are a basic requirement. Downstairs, the rest of the kids are re-telling family stories of when Jack swallowed coins & how Freddie took pictures of me-in-the-shower to school for his pals to see. Meanwhile, I don’t need to read the test leaflet; I pee on the right place and wait.

What a long time 3 minutes can be!