Success after completing The Kevala Centre Stress Management Course

by Karen Wilson

As I sat in the sales meeting and looked around the table I knew that logistics was no longer for me. As much as I respected the elder members of the team for what they

Had continued to do in order to support their families, it scared me to think that this could be me in 20 years time!

I knew I wanted to change my career and wanted nothing more than to work for myself, but what on earth was I going to do? I was never the academic type and left school at 16 with the basic GCSE’s. At that age all I wanted to do was earn money and go out partying!

I’d always had a keen interest in health and holistic therapies and had tried a few, so I thought about something in that area, however I knew I could never be a therapist as I have a very short attention span (my poor husband only gets five minute massages a couple of times a year). So I started hunting around on the internet and found the “Stress Management Diploma” and the rest is History!

I began studying and like most distance learners it took me months and months to complete the first module. Once I’d conquered this, I was on a role, then low and behold I went through an extremely stressful time not only in my job as a sales rep but I got married and moved house and city all within a couple of months.

Fortunately I was able to recognise the symptoms and new something had to give and so I found a new job. I continued in sales whilst studying and the more I understood stress and the more I heard about it in the news I knew there was some fantastic business opportunities out there. Then quite out of the blue I fell pregnant. This was the kick up the bum I needed not only to get on with my studies but to start seriously looking into setting up a business.

Returning to my job part time wasn’t an option and I didn’t want to be a full time stay at home mum. So over the coming months I buried my head in my books and whizzed through my modules. By the time I was due to go on maternity leave, I only had a couple of modules left to complete, my website was live, my company name, logo and business cards where done and my husband and I had made the decision this was it for me. No going back!

So I left work on the 31st October 2003 and I can’t begin to tell you the relief I felt knowing I wasn’t going back. And knowing we had some very exciting and scary times ahead of us. On November the 13th 2003 Olivia Sophie Wilson made her entrance into the world. I spent the next six months, being a new mum, finishing my studies and trying desperately to prepare myself for the following May when Olivia would start nursery.

So six months passed (quicker than any six months of my life), Olivia started nursery and Relaxing Alternatives was officially born. My idea was to deliver stress management training with a difference. I wanted to deal business to business as that’s what I do best and knew that I could make a difference to people’s lives.

 The first five months where hard, really hard. I found it so difficult not bringing a wage into the house. And no matter how much my husband reassured me, I felt worthless. For 11 years I had paid my way through life and now I was relying on my husband to see us through. After a lot of tears and beating myself up, things began to happen and doors started opening. Whilst there was still no money there was light at the end of the tunnel and large companies where agreeing to give me work.

I agreed to do one day free of charge for a large American company who wanted to do something on the launch of their new stress policy .The condition was that if they liked what they saw then they would seriously consider setting aside a budget for further training in 2005. This was my first ever session. I was asked to split it into two half day sessions (not the best option but they are the customer!) so they could get more people through it.

I delivered it to 24 middle mangers that day and they loved it. The feedback I got was amazing. So much so that they have agreed to put all middle management around the various UK sites through the training and a budget has been agreed. I’ve delivered a couple so far and I love doing what I do. I get a real buzz from it and the best thing is that every session just gets better and better. As well as delivering in house I have started holding my own workshops where I arrange the venue etc and invite small companies to send one or two of their employees. I held my fist in January and it was a great success and I’m holding another on in May and spaces are being filled very quickly.

As well as delivering stress management training I’m also helping therapists build their own client base by offering companies onsite therapies. I open the doors to the companies, do the meeting greeting etc and set dates for the therapists to go in and do what they do best. So far we have HSBC and PriceWaterHouseCooper on our books and both require therapists onsite on a monthly basis. All this and I only work

2 days a week (oh plus most evenings once the little one is in bed and the house chores are complete!)

I have great plans for Relaxing Alternatives but my daughter comes first so I have to grow my business at a pace I can cope with and without my family suffering. But watch this space!!

I hope this was a little bit of interesting reading for anyone setting up their own business and please feel free to email if you have any comments, questions or would like any advice.
 
Find out more about Karen's venture by visiting