The Accident That Led Me To My Laptop Lifestyle

I’ve always loved being my own boss, ever since I started my first bricks and mortar recruitment business back in 2003. A friend had recently set up his recruitment business and persuaded me that it would be a great idea for me as well. It was scary at first, but looking back, was one of the best decisions I ever made.

That’s not to say that I haven’t been “employed” by other people since then, I’ve had to be through necessity at times, but the desire to be my own boss, working for myself, on my own terms, when and where I want, has never left me.

Running a bricks and mortar recruitment business is very different to the way I work today and it was a fall while I was bouldering (one of my great loves!) that changed my direction and got me back on the right path.

It was the week before Christmas, actually it was the 21st December 2016 and I was bouldering. For anyone who’s never been bouldering, it’s basically climbing without ropes. Anyway I fell from the top, landed awkwardly and ended up in A&E with a ruptured achilles tendon.

Immediately after the accident I was in plaster up to my knee and on cruches for the first 6 weeks and out of action for 6 months. At the time, I was employed full time and forced to work at home every afternoon with my leg raised in the air to avoid a blood clot (which explained a lot as I’d seen people in that position on tv or films before, but never understood why ~ every day’s a school day!)

Now up until this point I had been doing what many full time working mums do, and rushing at both ends of the day to get the kids to breakfast club and then collect them on time (I was often late!) from after school club at the end of the day.

Having the accident literally forced me to slow down as I couldn’t drive and I certainly couldn’t rush, anywhere (you try being in plaster up to your knee and not being able to put any weight on that leg!)

I was very fortunate as so many parents at school helped me with picking up and dropping off the kids. As a single parent with few family members close by, I don’t know how I’d have managed otherwise, people really rallied round to help me, which I’m eternally grateful for.

Whilst I was working at home I kept thinking, this is really nice. I loved not having to be in the office and I loved being at home to greet my kids when they got dropped back after school. It was then that I realised just how miserable my life had been prior to the accident. I knew I needed to make some changes.

I began to search for a way out. Having worked for myself in the past I’d always wanted to do so again, but things were very different this time, I was now a single parent and the main provider, I had a mortgage and bills to pay, not to mention, 3 people to feed.

I started googling “work from home”, “flexible working”, “make money online”. I kept seeing the phrase “passive income”. It’s crazy to think now, that at the time I’d never even heard that term. How much my life has changed.

My online journey started with Amazon FBA. I then set up a digital marketing agency to generate leads for businesses using FacebookAds and Sales Funnels. I’ve since learnt all about chatbots and messenger marketing. It’s been a steep learning curve, and at times I’ve doubted myself.

So fast forward 3 years, to today. I now work from home most days. I still do some contract work as a sales coach and a talent acquisition consultant, because I will always love the recruitment industry and want to stay connected with it.

The rest of my time is spent working on digital marketing project for clients and most recently doing affiliate marketing.

I now have the lifestyle I want and I can enjoy being here every day for my kids, which is my why.

If you’re still considering starting an online business, my advise would be to pay for some training, if you can afford it. If not then do your research online. There’s lots of free information available.

Just remember that starting anything new will take time and will require some effort up front, but if you stick with it, you will get there.

It is possible to create change in your life and if I can do it, then anyone can.

Good luck!

Sharon Marie xx