Monday Mumpreneur with Jackie Walker
Every Monday we feature a mumpreneur who’s ready and willing to open up their lives to us. They share with us their motivation, challenges and proudest moments in business and they also tell us how they take time to nurture themselves. It’s lovely to have them here at Mums Got A Business and we hope you enjoy connecting with them too.
I'm delighted to introduce you to a wonderful lady who I was honoured to 'meet' when I first came online back in 2007. Jackie is a coach who 'Walks her Talk'. She comes from a place of understanding via her own life experiences and she brings so much of herself to her work.
I have had the pleasure of watching her grow and develop her business and herself over the last few years and I know that one day will will meet in real life and deepen the connection we already have. I look forward to it....
Your name: Jackie Walker
Your website: www.JackieWalker.me
Brief description:
My website is built to answer relationship questions via the blog, and to provide downloadable and self directed products to those who aren’t yet at the stage of working with me on a one:one basis.
How many children do you have? Two girls - Alex 16 and Katarina 14.5
Where do you live? Near Lauder in the Scottish Borders
PC or Mac?
PC, although an iPad is on my shopping list as ‘everyone’ tells me it makes life much easier!
Tell us about your business
When I started working in relationship coaching, I was The Divorce Coach, after a few years, I recognised it’d been a cathartic journey, as so many are. I found that working at the symptom end of the problem wasn’t where my skill set, nor interests lay any longer. I began to write differently on my blog, and went through quite a long period of confusion about what I was ‘meant’ to do and where my passion lay.
Unsurprisingly, despite repeated attempts to escape, it’s still relationships! Having got it cleared up in my mind, I love supporting and encouraging others to create healthy relationships from the outset. (Does anyone run wedding fairs 😉 ) Divorce isn’t the problem, understanding why you’re in a relationship with a person is.
We aren’t taught how to relate at school, and few of us have any idea of what a relationship is for, let alone how to make them work, or when to let them go. I work with people who have relationship doldrums or rough waters, whether it’s with their partner, family or work colleagues. Most of all I put the person back into the relationships – after all they are the key component!
What motivated you to become a mumpreneur?
When I walked out of the court room after our divorce hearing, I said ‘I want to do whatever I can to support others to avoid this’. I then started to train as a coach, found it wasn’t enough and trained as a therapist (NLP/hypnotherapy/Timeline) and have since added a whole heap of spiritual trainings to the mix. I still hold the same intention, although the delivery method has altered.
What’s been your biggest challenge in business?
Being referred! Many of my clients are so relieved to talk to me, but they didn’t want to admit to their friends or family that they’d sought advice!
How have you overcome it?
Broadening the scope of my work to include all relationships has made a huge difference, as has publishing a downloadable product. I’ve included relationship generality to the mix. Still however, I find that some people are ashamed of admitting they have a relationship issue. BUT, I ask you – have you ever met anyone who’s got perfect relationships across the board of self, partner, family and friends!
What’s been your proudest business moment?
Without a shadow of a doubt it has to be finding I’d made 3 sales within 40 minutes of my e-programme going live! Or wait, maybe it was the first time I was asked to give an interview on BBC radio? Nope, really it was the first!
What’s your catchphrase or favourite quote?
People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime – learn which it is.
What do you do to relax or nurture yourself?
I love to walk along the River Tweed, the seashore, or just somewhere off the beaten track. I also love to shut my eyes outside on a deck chair, unfortunately, this summer hasn’t provided many opportunities!
What was the last treat you bought for yourself?
It’s got to be my hairdressing appointment! My hairdresser left Edinburgh and moved to New York, but he comes back every 6 weeks and without fail I have an appointment. I feel if my hair is ‘right’, I’m right!
Favourite colour: Purple
Favourite flowers: Sweetpeas
What one piece of advice would you like to give to a new mumpreneur?
Grow a circle of help and support from people who understand what you’re doing, before I did that, I floundered.
Fancy featuring as one of our amazing mumpreneurs? Drop me an email over on the contact page - and I’ll be in touch. Or let me know in a comment below. And remember to drop by every Monday to welcome our latest profiled mum.
