Vida Coaching

I’ve been having a lot of conversations lately with people who say they feel stuck.

Not unhappy enough to make a dramatic change, but not fulfilled enough to feel settled either.

It’s that uncomfortable middle ground of “something needs to change… I just don’t know what.”

And honestly? I’ve been there too. I know how frustrating it is to keep going round in circles in your own head, trying to figure it out.

That’s what led me to create my Dream Job Starter Pack.

This isn't another overwhelming guide or list of “top careers” you should consider. Instead I've created a simple, thoughtful starting point to help you:

- Get clear on what actually matters to you
- Recognise the strengths you might be overlooking, and then
- Start joining the dots towards a direction that feels right

Because clarity doesn’t come from overthinking, it comes from asking yourself the right questions.

If you’re in that “in-between” place right now, this is for you.

For your free copy, click on the link below to access your Dream Job Starter Pack now:

https://mailchi.mp/0a819fead360/dream-job-starter-pack

And if you want help turning your insights from this starter pack into clear, practical next steps then please get in touch.

Last Sunday marked ten years since I officially started my own coaching business.

To celebrate, my husband surprised me with a ten-year service award (bless him), and we went out for Sunday lunch because I don’t have any work colleagues to celebrate with!

This is the longest I’ve stayed in any role by quite some distance. Before this, my record was two and a half years.

The difference now is that I’ve finally found work that truly fulfils me, and I have the freedom to design my days in a way that supports my life.

Being my own boss suits me as I’ve never been any good at being told what to do 😉 and running my own business gives me the autonomy I never realised I needed.

It also allows me to work flexibly around my daughter, my dog and a few health challenges, creating a great work-life balance - most of the time!

Most importantly, I’m still as passionate as ever about the impact coaching can have. It’s such a privilege to be able to support people as they navigate change and create the lives and careers they want.

I’ve been reflecting recently on the past decade, and thought I’d share three lessons that stood out to me:

1. Stay connected to your ‘why’.
Remember the reason you set up your business in the first place. It’s easy to get caught up in noise and lose sight of what matters to you.

2. Avoid comparing yourself to others.
Every business owner has different values, motivations and personal circumstances. What you see online is rarely the full picture. Focus on your own path.

3. Expect change and diversify where you can.
Over the past ten years we’ve seen Brexit, a global pandemic and ongoing geopolitical and economic uncertainty. Relying too heavily on one client or income stream can leave you vulnerable when the world shifts around you.

How about you? What lessons have you learned as a business owner?

If you're hoping to change career or secure a new job, a career coach can offer you support, guidance and add real value.

There are lots of great career coaches out there to choose between - shock, horror I'm not the only one😉- which is actually very good news, as different people want different things from a coach.

For example, some people want encouragement whilst others like to be challenged. That's why many coaches offer a short discovery/chemistry call to make sure there's a good fit between the potential client and coach and that expectations are managed (sadly I don't have a magic wand, even if I use it as an analogy at times!)

I've been in business almost 10 years and my coaching style has always been professional, approachable and supportive. Those are the 3 words I try to embody, as well as going the extra mile and being my client's biggest cheer leader!

A recent testimonial from Andrew gives a bit more detail about what you can expect when working with me (for the full testimonial please see the recommendations on my LinkedIn profile).

So if you need support with your career and my coaching style sounds like a good fit for you, why not get in touch to arrange a discovery call?

I was watching BBC Breakfast this morning and they were talking about job scams which immediately piqued my interest.

Apparently Action Fraud in the UK has received almost 5000 reports of fake job scams over the past 12 months, double what it received the year before. Job seekers are often targeted on social media or through messaging apps.

People who fall victim to this type of fraud lose an average of £4,500 each according to Jobs Aware. They are tricked into parting with cash by being told it's for training or rewards.

So, what can people do to avoid being taken in by these scams? BBC Breakfast's Ben Boulos gives the following advice:

- If you're made to feel under pressure it's usually a warning sign
- A job that offers a lot of money for little work is often too good to be true
- If the employer asks you for money it's likely to be a scam

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0lspbpb

Have you ever been approached about a job that you've later found out is a scam?

What are 'fake job scams' and how can you avoid them? - BBC Sounds BBC Breakfast's Ben Boulos takes us through examples, and how to protect yourself.

How do you feel when you return to work after a holiday?

I'm just back from a fantastic week in Crete and, I'm not going to lie, getting to bed at 3.30am on Monday morning after a delayed flight, unpacking, washing and trying to catch up on emails has not been fun!

However, it's been a pleasure getting back to what I do best - talking to my clients and supporting them with their career challenges.

I'm lucky, I enjoy my job - do you?

If you've got back from holiday with a feeling of dread about returning to work then why not give me a call and find out how I can help you find a job you love!

In a few hours I'll be off to my daughter's speech afternoon and then she finishes school...for 9.5 weeks.

It's a very long time but thankfully Evie's now 14 and is far more independent and easier to keep entertained!

I remember all too well how challenging the juggle of work and childcare was during the holidays when she was younger though.

And I still get the occasional pang of mum guilt - especially towards the end of the holidays, when it feels like Evie's spending too much time in her bedroom and we both need some structure back in our lives!

So today, it felt fitting to share a blog about ditching the mum guilt during the summer holidays (with some survival strategies in there too) as a reminder to all the parents out there, including myself, that we're doing our best and that's ok.

https://vidacoaching.co.uk/ditch-the-mum-guilt-its-time-to-show-the-school-summer-holidays-whos-boss/

Wishing you all the best of luck and please share any other tips you may have - I'm sure they'll be a lot of grateful parents out there!

Vida Coaching - Career Coaching in Maidenhead, Berkshire - Ditch the mum guilt – it’s time to show the school summer holidays who’s boss! Ditch the mum guilt! In this blog, I've put together 10 top tips to help you show the school summer holidays who's boss!

Today I wanted to share a testimonial from a former client, Ana.

Ana had a challenging job search. The market has been tough for people trying to find jobs within the tech industry and particularly to find marketing roles within that sector.

However, Ana was a model 'student'. She treated the job search like a full time job, implemented all the strategies we discussed and had incredible resilience despite numerous disappointments.

The result? She landed the 'dream job.'

The best things in life don't always come easily but if you persevere you will get there.

Ana was a pleasure to work with and I think I was almost as happy as she was when the offer came through😊

Ana mentioned that I made her feel 'understood and empowered' during her job search and provided 'unwavering support'.

If that sounds like something you need to help you land your dream job why not get in touch?!

I was listening to the radio this morning and Pitbull was being interviewed!

For those of you who don't know, he's an American rapper and singer who definitely has some cheesy lyrics and, as it turns out, some pretty cheesy quotes.

One such quote was 'The biggest room in the world is room for improvement.' It did make me smile, and the listeners were loving it!

However, it also got me thinking about where there's room for improvement in my life and so I thought I'd come on here and ask you to think about it too!

For me it's work-life balance. After a very busy 6 months, I had a week in Marrakech over half term to reset, and planned to start finishing work earlier once I got home. However that doesn't appear to have happened so that's going to change - starting today!

How about you? Do you need a better work-life balance or would you like to develop in your career? Is it time to leave your job or make changes in your personal life?

Feel free to share in the comments below or give it some thought today. What's the first step you can take to improve that area of your life?

As this week is , I wanted to shout about the benefits of apprenticeships and remind people that they are accessible to both experienced professionals and school leavers.

Apprenticeships are more than just training programmes, they offer hands-on experience, mentorship, and the opportunity to earn while you learn.

Whether you’re starting out, changing careers, or upskilling, an apprenticeship can be the key to unlocking new opportunities.

For employers, investing in apprentices means shaping the next generation of skilled professionals while fostering loyalty and innovation within your team. It’s win-win for individuals and businesses alike.

If you’re considering an apprenticeship, head over to my blog to find out more: https://vidacoaching.co.uk/the-benefits-of-apprenticeships/

💡 Have you benefited from an apprenticeship, or mentored someone who has? I’d love to hear more about it in the comments below.

Vida Coaching - Career Coaching in Maidenhead, Berkshire - The benefits of apprenticeships In this blog, I thought it would be helpful to look at a topic I haven’t spoken about much… apprenticeships!