Inspirational Women – Gee Backhouse
Gee Backhouse is a creator of beautiful jewellery who now lives and works in France with her husband, Chris, and two dogs. She makes a very specialist type of jewellery, tiny compasses cast in precious metals. Beautiful.
Jane: Gee, you live what many women would call the dream life! How do you now make your living?
Gee: I am a goldsmith which means I work specifically with gold and other precious stones and metal. I design and make jewellery and specialise in creating unique compass jewellery.
Calling it the dream life is pretty accurate as I live in a very sunny part of the world, find my work absorbing and am my own boss. I also get to go on gemstone buying sprees which makes me one of the luckiest people in the world. Sweeties for grown-ups.
When you were at school did you have any career thoughts? Did you follow a traditional path, go onto college, or get out into the world of work very quickly?
My career thoughts were that, if I were going to be independent, I needed one! I didn’t have a clue about what I wanted to do, so struggled with how I could possibly choose what to study at A-level. In the end, with good qualifications and the drive to succeed, I studied Computer Studies at degree level.
As a female student, who’d also sneaked in a year earlier than her contemporaries, studying in a male dominated arena was quite a challenge. In spite of having been under the watchful eye of the tutors, I achieved a distinction and came out with results in the top 5%.
What was your very first job? Do you remember how much you got paid?
I started out as a programmer in 1987 working for a company in the private sector. My pay was £7,500 a year. It was a great company to work for; varied work with the space and encouragement to use your initiative. The people were interesting and there was a definite feeling of unity.
What has been the worst job you’ve ever had? With hindsight, what were the lessons you took from it?
Working for a huge organisation as an Analyst/Programmer on a colossal project with no particular visibility was dull dull dull. Oh yes, and there was a strong political undercurrent, too. Yuk. The lesson I learned from that little escapade was that, in an interview situation, the communication needs to be 2-way. My finding out about whether I’m going to like the job is just as important as the interviewer’s assessment of whether I have the right experience and qualifications.
What does jewellery making do for you?
Running my own jewellery making business does several things for me. It allows me to express my practical nature; there’s definitely something very satisfactory about being able to see the tangible results of my efforts. There is also a great sense of achievement in applying skills and techniques to meet some specific requirement or overcome a challenge. The technical requirements of the profession, for example, how different metals will behave in certain situations, also keeps it interesting.
Oh yes, and being able to bash the living daylights out of some piece of work that’s gone wrong (yes, there are days like that) using a big hammer on the anvil, is simply delightful.
Jewellery making is also a wonderful way to celebrate individuality. Each piece I make is a unique, one of a kind creation. Creating compass jewellery adds another dimension, adding independence and change into the mix. Sometimes people want to change. The changes we desire vary in nature, magnitude and significance. How we choose to achieve them is another variable. Each of my compass creations celebrates this complex uniqueness. My hope is to inspire individuals to choose their direction.
Who or what has inspired you the most?
My music teacher was an inspiration to me. As well as a being very accomplished musician, she was an inventor of electronic gadgets, for example, a foot operated page turner for music books. Her independence knew no bounds and she tackled plumbing-in her own bathroom with aplomb when she was in her 60s. She had a pragmatic approach to life; a precious rarity that I admired enormously. Of course, this also translated into her winning all discussions on the subject of my piano practise!
I shall never forget her saying that if I really wanted to learn to play the piano, then I’d make the time to practise. The idea that we can find the time and energy for anything if we’re sufficiently motivated, has stayed with me.
Gee, you grew up in the UK. How did the move to France come about? Are you bilingual? If so, how did you learn the language? How easy was it?
I grew up in the Cotswolds in the UK. My husband, Chris, had lived in many countries and the thought of living in France had always appealed to him. When pondering the idea of a bolt-hole here in France, a good friend asked us what was stopping us from moving to France entirely. Aren’t friends like that great? Friends who encourage you think about something in a different way are very special. Anyway, it turned out there was nothing stopping us. So here we are living in France!
Bilingual? No. However, Chris and I often find ourselves the only English speaking people in our own home when sharing a meal with friends. Learning the language was a mix of brushing up our school book French and diving in; making lots of mistakes, some more embarrassing than others, and asking people to correct us. Going shopping, visits to the vet or doctor, getting the car fixed, arranging for a phone line to be installed and registering a business; these are all things that happen without poring over a dictionary before hand. The gestures and shoulder shrugging continue to entertain us. It’s great fun!
What do you miss most (if anything) about being in the UK?
The British sense of humour. Curry take-aways. Cosy pubs (in winter).
What has been the best thing to happen in your life so far?
Realising that my happiness is up to me; that’s the best thing that’s happened to me so far. Actually, it’s sometimes the worst thing that’s happened to me, too! There’s that adage that goes something like this: “If you don’t like your life, change it. If you can’t change it, then change your attitude”. That sums it up perfectly. It’s not always easy, but where’s the adventure in life if everything’s easy?
How do you relax?
Relaxing, specifically, isn’t something I’m very good at! I find spending time designing creations in my special book (given to me by a friend) very relaxing, experimenting with ideas, sketching out possibilities. Poring over my gemstone collection, admiring them and being inspired by them for creations is lovely, too. They never cease to fascinate me. These activities generally take place in my design room with some aromatherapy oil simmering away, or maybe an incense stick. My design room is a bit of a den with my books, cushions, various surfaces, maps and pictures stuck to the wall, some speakers and invariably a dog or two.
A really relaxing time for me is being tucked up in my sleeping bag when we go camping. The gentle movement of the tent, the sound of the breeze, toasty toes, happy dogs. My husband, Chris, and I love this sort of freedom.
Did you plan your career/life or have events just happened?
I think of my life and career as having evolved driven by the desire to live a life of integrity and fulfilment. That might sound a bit overly moral but, really, I like being the real me and am happy to be following my dream. I’ve looked out for, and taken opportunities that have resulted in me being who and where I am right now. That journey, thankfully, is also ongoing.
Avivah Wittenberg Cox says women in France have got it right re feminism and femininity. Do you think there are significant differences between being a business woman in France rather than the UK?
My exposure to the entirety of being a business woman in France is limited. I run my own business and spend much of my time in my workshop. Having said that, I must agree with Avivah’s comment that “… French women are confident of their femininity. They wear make-up, heels, feminine clothes and have never thought they have to dress like men.”. Wherever I look, in whatever role and in whatever city, this rings true. Must get me some heels.
What dreams do you still hold? What are you working towards?
I love being out on my mountain bike. I read about an incredible bike trail in New Zealand that I’d love to do someday. It incorporated a stop-over hut used by a gold miner. Lakes, mountains, camping, outdoors. You know what, maybe we’ll even live there one day. Shorter term, I’d love for us to get a campervan. We’re very good at spontaneously whizzing off with a tent somewhere and know a campervan would be fantastic!
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Be yourself.
What advice would you give to anyone reading this and thinking of changing their lives?
Be yourself. Life’s a Journey, Choose Your Direction.
You can see more of Gee’s beautiful compass jewellery on her web site rockwaterstudio
Update: Soon after I did this interview my lovely husband secretly got in touch with Gee and had a beautiful pendant with gorgeous matching earrings made for me. The pendant is actually the initials CP for Changing People but it’s subtly done. You can see it on Gee’s web site by clicking here.
Inspirational Women- Maggie Philbin
I have followed the career of Maggie Philbin with interest for years so I’m especially pleased to bring you this interview with Maggie, a well known and much respected broadcaster. Read her story and be inspired to follow your own dream!
Jane: Maggie, you will be well known to many of our readers as the bright young thing on Saturday Swap Shop, voted by professionals as one of the most influential programmes ever, and later as the very knowledgeable presenter of Tomorrow’s World (incidentally a programme ahead of its time I’d say, in terms of how it presented women!)
But what aspirations did the young Maggie have? What did you want to be when you ‘grew up’?
Maggie: My earliest ambition was to be a trapeze artist – very ambitious when you consider I wasn’t the best co-ordinated child and also rather fat! After that I think I had impresario tendencies, rounding up the village kids and staging a puppet show when I was about 9. The profit margin was HUGE – I managed to earn two years worth of pocket money in as many hours. Sadly my parents forced me to give all the money to the local hospital.
Did you have a fairly standard path through school? Were there any early indications of the life you went onto lead?
I owe everything to a French teacher, Mrs Roberts, who joined my school the year of our GCE’s. Up until then I’d only shone at subjects which came naturally but saw no reason to any effort with others She took me on one side and said, “You’re a bright girl, and there’s absolutely no reason for you to fail French.” She was the reason for an abrupt turn around in my academic life in every subject –and for the 3 As at A level (including French!)
I really loved Physics and Maths but didn’t get on with the Chemistry teacher who used to hurl board rubbers at me, with I’m sure every justification. So I didn’t apply for vet science or medicine – a decision that haunted me at Manchester University because I walked past the medical school every day.
Looking back, one of the things I really enjoyed was doing “sketches”, I loved making people laugh. But I never thought of myself as a performer. By the time I left school, I knew I needed to take a year off to decide what I wanted to do and my Dad was furious when I opted for English and Drama!
How did you end up on Swap Shop? (A Saturday morning TV programme aimed at older children, click here for link to BBC web site).
During my final year at Manchester, I saw a box numbered ad offering “The Chance of a Lifetime” to the successful applicant. I thought it was a bogus agent or a tiny TV company but writing a tongue in cheek reply was a good distraction from revising .To cut a long story short, it turned out to be Swap Shop and to my utter astonishment, they gave me the presenting job. My daughter is named after Rose, the woman who took such a huge risk on a student with no experience.
As a young woman who had the most influence on you, personally and professionally? And why?
I’ve mentioned Mrs Roberts – who taught me early on that it’s worth making an effort with things you think you can’t do, we create most of our own barriers. And Rosemary Gill, the Swap Shop editor, was undoubtedly one of the most talented women working in television, a great mentor to have when you’re starting out. After that I was lucky enough to work with Richard Reisz on Tomorrow’s World – a seriously clever man who absolutely believed in me and gave me the confidence to report live on some of the most complicated Science and Technology stories.
Do you have a mentor now, someone you really look up to and admire?
One of my closest friends is an executive producer, Sally Dixon. Sally keeps a very close eye on what I’m doing and constantly encourages me to think bigger. Every time we meet up for supper she has a list of things for me to think about. It’s really important to have a mentor – otherwise we can slip back into a “comfort zone” and lose sight of what we really want to achieve.
You were a presenter on Tomorrow’s World and still report on innovative technology. Is there one innovation that you think has had a really significant effect on the role of women in society?
You know I’m very enthusiastic about social media – it’s a very powerful connection tool and helps women to build strong networks. And any technology that helps women to work flexibly is great – When I held those early “mobile” phones on Tomorrow’s World, I never dreamed they’d become the “computer in your pocket”.
And if you could invent one, (no limits), what would it be?
Really convincing 3D haptic conferencing, to cut down on travel time to meetings – I loathe telephone conference calls.
Have you experienced femageism in TV? I’m talking about the tendency to have older mature male presenters matched with young female presenters. How do you think women can combat this? (Assuming you think it exists?)
You do still see the “avuncular” pairing of presenters and sometimes it makes me laugh out loud, it’s so cynical! That said, there are probably more older women on screen and on the radio now, than there were thirty years ago. But it’s all about figures… and if your face pulls in viewers, I don’t think broadcasters would care care if you were 120!
What’s the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
Keep it short.
How do you relax? Are you good at giving yourself time off?
I love music, film and food and I make plenty of time for all three.
What advice would you give to any woman looking for a career in the media, TV and or journalism?
Be the very best. Specialise. There’s a lot of competition
Maggie, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk with us. I know our readers will love your story. Thank you!
You can follow Maggie on Twitter @MaggiePhilbin and read her blog here
How Inspirational Are You?
If you’ve looked at my Inspirational Women section, or receive my regular newsletter, you will see that I have a series of interviews with women all chosen to inspire YOU! I know from the many emails you send me that they do inspire you, and that you love the series. Thank you!
So I thought it might be fun if I asked you some of the questions. Please choose one or two to answer and share with other readers via the comments section of the blog. Don’t compare, never compare. You are unique. Something you have to say might just be the magic push someone else needs to make a significant change in their life!
Here are some typical interview questions that I ask of my Inspirational Women. Answer them honestly about yourself, no hiding of lights!
Your Questions
1) What was your very first paid job, and do you use any skills you acquired then in your present role?
2) Which person had had the biggest influence in your life so far?
3) What is the best piece of advice you have been given?
4) What is the best piece of advice you have ever given and to whom?
5) Have you ever encountered sexism in your working or personal life and if so, how did you deal with it?
6) How do you relax?
7) Did you plan your career/life or have events just happened?
8) What has been your best mistake and why?
9) What is the best thing for you when you’re feeling stressed?
10) What is your favourite saying, or piece of poetry, or book?
11) What has been your biggest achievement to date, the thing in your life that you are most proud of?
12) If you could change one thing in your life right now, what would it be?
Even if you don’t want to share any of your answers, do have a go at the questions. And forward this link to anyone you think would enjoy answering them too. I think you’ll end up inspiring yourself! In my experience, most women are very good at underselling themselves and it takes an exercise like this that makes you realise just how WONDERFUL YOU ARE!
Life Changing Moments
I have a great job! I cannot adequately describe the pure pleasure it gives me to receive a card or email from someone telling me that something I have done, either on a course, when coaching, or written in the newsletter, has changed their life for the better. What a privilege to be able do that for a living!
Life Changing
Recently I had a life changing experience of my own. I’ll spare you the details but suffice it to say my doctor thought I might have a life threatening illness and sent me on a succession of emergency tests. To my relief it turns out that I do not have a life threatening illness but something manageable.
I had discussed this with a good friend who said, ‘whatever the outcome, this will change your life’. And he’s right. Facing the prospect, however slight, that your life might not be going according to your plan is a salutory experience, a life changing experience.
Life Changes Can be Fun!
But life changing experiences are not always so serious! Often it’s moments of pure joy that change our lives, like births, falling in love, or even attending a course that gives you a new insight and direction in life!
What have been your life changing moments? What events in your life have caused you to re-evaluate and make positive changes in your life? Was it a person, or an event? My Inspirational Women series has many examples of women who have made positive changes in their lives; here are two of them:
Natascha Barrymore was so touched by the devastation of the Asian Tsunami that she gave up her old life totally. Her story is here.
And Susan Denmark was inspired by illness to take herself off to the Northern lights!
Please do share your own life changing moments; I’d love to hear from you - your story will inspire others!
Inspirational Woman – Kim Bennett
Here’s a testament to the power of networking! I travelled to Marlow recently to give a talk to a business networking group. Kim wasn’t actually at the event but some friends of hers were. They thought I would find Kim’s story of interest, and they are right. More importantly I think you will find it interesting and inspirational too!
Jane: Kim, can you tell us a little about Serenity Retreat (great name) and how the idea for your business came about?
Kim: Well, I went and lived and worked on a kibbutz in Israel when I was 19 and I loved it. I promised myself that I would go back once I’d saved some money. I got sucked back into London life and believing that money and a successful career are the most important things on the planet.
I am wise to this now! Starting Serenity Retreat was less a decision and more a realisation that I have no option. I got sober 7 years ago and have made some pretty poor choices in the past. I didn’t want to get to 60 and look back over the previous 25 years and wish I’d done something differently. My choice is to either live a satisfactory life or to explore the opportunity of living an EXTRAordinary life – see? No choice!
I loved my current job but wanted to follow my passion. I’ve been on a number of singles holidays. I have never had the money to go on most of the self development type holidays available and I was getting majorly fed up with having to pay a single supplement with ‘normal’ holidays. I tried the budget singles holidays but didn’t feel as though I was meeting my kind of people – people on a spiritual or self development journey.
Importantly, when I first got sober I wanted to go somewhere that felt ‘safe’ and wasn’t going to be a binge drinking destination – I couldn’t really find any holidays that catered to me. I don’t want special treatment or an alcohol lockdown, just somewhere that I could meet some interesting people and not feel as though my NOT drinking was going to be an issue.
Regardless of our backgrounds, our jobs, our history – we all need some time out, some balance and some escape from the madness that our lives can become…
So I decided to do something about it. Serenity Retreat was born.
What has been the biggest challenge in setting up the business?
To accept that I won’t go from standing start to Olympian overnight. I am, by nature, very impatient. I want things to be a success immediately. It’s taken me two years to go from idea to fruition, and the first year is unlikely to see any profit. However, I’m learning lessons…
I’m in this for the long haul, so am planning to be open to change and opportunity but always to keep my eye on the main prize – providing great holidays for single people. I accept that I have to be patient and that I have to keep chipping away at the things that will make my business a success – providing a great service, using social media, being creative with marketing and accepting that there’s an awful lot of stuff I don’t know… yet!
What has been your biggest personal challenge?
I’m a recovering alcoholic and addict, so my greatest success has been to recognise my powerlessness and get help. I am grateful every single day for the life I now have, one day at a time.
I was so very close to killing myself at the end of my drinking (I tried 3 times) that I’m now very alive to the possibilities that exist for me. I feel obligated to follow my dreams because I have been given a second chance. It’s an obligation I embrace.
Who have been your key supporters? Do you have a mentor?
My mentor would be John Dicey, Director at Allen Carr’s Easyway to Stop Smoking. This is my other business. John has been a great mentor along the way and continues to be. I’m always really impressed with the way he balances business acumen with maintaining his integrity and showing incredible empathy and kindness to just about everyone.
My friends and family have listened to my plans and have been encouraging and supportive. Incredibly so. In fact a number of them are coming to Serenity Retreat this year – so they really have put their faith in me (and their hard earned cash….!).
The therapists who are coming along have also been great. They are completely involved and interested and helpful. They are as passionate about Serenity Retreat as I am – and that’s really important to me. I feel as though I am part of a great team – how can we be anything other than a success.
It’s a tough and competitive business. Has being a woman helped or hindered you in any way?
I don’t know whether being a woman has helped or hindered, to be honest. I hadn’t given it any thought until you asked the question. I suppose as I’m a woman and it’s mostly women who come on self development or singles holidays then I know my target market quite well….
I’m very good at going on holiday… So that’s a good start. I have had good and bad experiences, so I’m putting together the most favourable bits. I have a background in customer service having been in both the recruitment and hospitality industries. I currently run my own successful business so am happy with the logistical side of it all together.
Most importantly, I really like people.
How do you relax and unwind?
Books. I love reading. Modern classics, beach junk, crime, thrillers, classics. I love them all. The odd bit of Law and Order (TV programme) doesn’t go amiss either!
What do you think is the most important decision you made in your life?
To ask for help when I needed it and to accept it when it was offered.
Do you remember what your first paid job was? And how much did you earn?
I was a chalet cleaner for Butlins in Wales! £12 a day. My sister and I would get collected at 6am and deposited at 6pm. I never cleaned a bath that had a spider in though…
If you could give the 18 year old Kim one piece of advice, what would it be?
Wow. That’s a big question. I wouldn’t have listened anyway come to think of it. But something along the lines of accepting that you’re perfect as you are and to have faith that this is the case. As I said, I wouldn’t have believed a word of it!
What would you say to women who are looking to take the plunge and go into business?
Do it. Do great research. Be honest with yourself regarding both your strengths and weaknesses. Ask for help from family and friends with the weaker areas. Write a business plan. If someone asks you a question regarding your business that makes you squirm – don’t shy away from it. It’s the universe’s way of getting your attention!
Have passion. Go for the extraordinary life….
Kim, thank you so much for your honest and inspirational account!
If you’d like to learn more about Serenity Retreat, this link will take you there.
Inspirational Women – Ally Proudfoot
Ally Proudfoot is the owner and creative genius behind Bellingham Soaps, a company that produces beautiful ethical soaps and related products. I first encountered Ally when I bought some of her lovely soaps and became intrigued to know more of her story. Ally gave up a high pressurised career in TV to enter the bucolic world of soap making. I hope she inspires and entertains you as much as she has me.
Jane: How did you get into selling soap for a living?
Ally: I had a smallholding and was persuaded by a friend to keep a pair of milking goats, I had some land that wasn’t being used and she needed to re-home them, I went to visit “Lottie and Maisie” and was completely captivated by how lovely they were, and they arrived in the back of a pick up a week later. She taught me to milk them by hand which resulted in about 6 pints of milk twice a day…that’s a lot of milk to use up! I was looking for something to do with all that surplus milk, I searched the web and found a recipe for goats milk soap. I made a batch, loved it and got hooked on soapmaking.
What prompted the ethical stance?
I’m a bit of an old hippy at heart, I’ve always had leanings in that direction. I’ve too much of a conscience to operate in any other way! I probably could make much more money if I ran my business in a “strictly for money way” I could farm out production to China, use plastic bottles and pre printed polythene labels, cut corners on ingredients, bulk my products out with cheap filler oils and employ staff for minimum wage but it’s not what I’m about, I put my heart and soul into making my products if I was to take that away I would feel like I was left with nothing!
What is best thing about running your own business?
I can work around my family, choose my hours to suit and I don’t have a boss.
And the worst?
Paperwork and the long hours!
What were your career aspirations when you left school?
I only wanted to draw and paint so I went to art college, when I got on the course I only had the choice of four options, graphics, display, photography and fashion…I chose fashion because I’d always been into sewing and I got to draw more on that course than any of the others!
What were you doing before? What kind of career path have you followed?
I was a Costume Designer. When I left college I took a job in an office…but found it so boring! I was flicking through the local paper on my tea break and saw a job in the local theatre making costumes so I rang up straight away and got it..but the wages were low and it was a struggle, about 6 months later I saw a job in the wardrobe department of the local TV station for a much better wage, I interviewed but didn’t get it as I didn’t have enough experience but as luck would have it the person who got it didn’t stay and they rang me up to offer me some freelance work, I quit my job in the theatre and ended up working in telly for over 10 years.
When were you happiest at work?
I loved my last job but the hours nearly killed me, I’m happiest now.
What has most surprised you about running your own business?
Just how much I love it still after all these years.
What is best piece advice you were given? And if no one gave you any good advice what advice would you give?
I’m not good at giving advice….but I would say don’t take on too much too soon!
Have you encountered any overt sexism when setting up own business?
No, not at all.
What would you do differently if you were to start again?
I don’t think I could have done anything differently, I started with £50 which bought me my base and essential oils, a variety of dried herbs, spices and flower petals, some boxes to use as moulds, plastic spoons, two big pans and a stick blender! I couldn’t do that now because I found out afterwards from Trading Standards that every recipe has to be certified by a cosmetic chemist at a minimum of £150 and I had to buy a trade stamped trade scale which were nearly £500…phew! The business grew naturally as my experience and customers increased.
If you have family- How do you combine being a parent with a career? (Although bet no one asks your partner this question so feel free to ignore!)
Ha ha! Because I work from home my kids think that my time is theirs, it’s sometimes difficult to say..”I’m at work” when I’m only in the dining room on the laptop, or in the soaperie next door. Having my workshop at home means I can pop in and out during the day to get house stuff done while I’m waiting for things to heat up or cool down, it suits me fine and dandy!
How do you relax?
I go narrow boating at weekends, it’s so relaxing!
What is the secret of happiness for you?
Well it’s certainly not money…being satisfied and content is way more important.
Have you a plan/ambition for next 5 years? Want to share it?
I’m about to move into a new much bigger workshop so I want to increase trade sales to match my new capacity. I also want increased brand awareness for my “Working with Nature” range of soaps and skincare.
If you could give you younger self some advice what would it be?
Don’t worry quite so much…it always works out, one way or another!
Do you have a book/quote/motto/advice to share with women who may be frustrated or discontented in their lives at the moment?
Blimey! I’m not that sage! I would say…don’t beat yourself up if you find out that you can’t do it all well…you are only one person!
Ally, thank you so much for taking the time out to talk to me and the readers. I hope your business goes from strength to strength and is as successful as you want it to be. I have your soaps all over the house!
