14 years during my job in the City and then working for the Police and then almost 3 of these years with my own business.

What is the Juggle to your Hustle?

I started my own business just under three years ago whilst I was a single Mum to 3 children and juggled alongside this a job working as a coach and trainer for the Police. I squeezed in my business activity in tiny pockets of time for 2 years before taking the leap of faith and sacking the boss last year!

Tell me more about your business?

I am a professional network marketer in the health and wellbeing world, working alongside Forever Living Products, the brand leader in aloe vera health, nutrition and personal care. I look after clients who use my products and have a team spread across several countries. It works like a franchise although most franchises start by investing thousands of pounds. With me, people join by buying a business owner box of products for £199.75 and get some key products to start using along with their website and all the marketing materials to get going. The box also comes with their personal coach and mentor (me!!) and I happen to be a qualified coach, mentor and trainer so can guide and support them to get going. But it doesn’t stop there, and that mentoring support continues to be available, Forever!

Some people are looking for a small retail business where they can earn whilst they learn and get healthier in the process, both with their bank balances and their bodies! Some people wish to have a team and earn a full time salary, part time and some people are looking for a change of direction and want to build a large business and live a dream life. The latter is a 2 to 4 year plan and this is the journey I am enjoying. We welcome people from all walks of life and my team is made up of men and women from many different professions working the business alongside existing jobs to begin with.

What is your Hustle and Juggle story?

There have been so many moments of the good, the bad and the rather ugly of my hustle and juggle! The biggest challenge was squeezing my business in around my police job and the children as a single Mum of 3. I only had tiny pockets of time but decided to cut out the TV and other time wasting activities and dedicated 5 to 10 hours each week building a small retail business. It wasn’t easy but it was fun and I instantly saw the results so the extra juggle was worth it. I really did not have time but was determined to change my life and focus on my dream. There have been many stories along the way, from people not understanding what I was doing, people ridiculing and a few ‘naysayers’ but I remained positive and knew I had got my hands on an incredible opportunity.

I have had many interesting times like turning up to school on a day where the children were supposed to be ‘dressing up’ and my Son hadn’t as I suddenly realized the letter informing me of this had been safely filed away! to more times than I can remember taking calls from clients and people wanting to join my business who I didn’t know with the children deciding to have a stand up shouting match in the background. Why is it that as soon as we take a call, hell breaks loose in the house despite the preparation we do in advance, for example, lots of food on the table and entertainment provided with a film on or ipad close by!!! As soon as the call stops, the noise stops. Of course, there are many more stories, like arriving at school with something I am wearing inside out etc. Although I have never resorted to going to school in my pjs! Sure it may happen one.

I am lucky, however, that I can easily run my business around my family and now have the time freedom to not miss anything that is going on in their lives, at school etc. And if I want a day off, I look in the mirror and ask the boss! She is very kind and always says yes!!

What’s your message to anyone reading this to inspire them to keep going and remain visible?

My message to anyone starting out in business or working in an existing business that is not growing as quickly as they wish is to keep focussed on your dream and do not let anyone persuade you that what you are doing won’t work or you can’t do it. Learn to have a strategy of handling disappointment and build the hind of a rhino! Work on your belief. Belief in your business, products and services and your belief about yourself. If you have doubts and fears, face them, get support and do lots of self development work and coaching to hone your craft. Action cures fear! Keep focussed on ‘I can and I will’ and one day when you look down from the top of the mountain the view will look prettier because the journey has been so exciting with its ups and downs. Work on your visibility too, your brand and the image you want to create to show your authentic self so keep honest and down to earth. Visibility and branding is still work in progress for me and professional help comes in very handy.

If like Caroline you are Hustling & Juggling and would like to share your story with others please find out how you can do so here. I would love to hear from you.

I love Caroline’s words of wisdom – Action cures fear! Keep focussed on ‘I can and I will’

If you need a daily reminder then visit the Justle™ shop for mugs of inspiration and join my “Buy A Mug, I’ll Give You A Plug” campaign!