This month, I wanted to share something a little more personal. After reading ‘Start with Why’ by Simon Sinek at the CEO Book Club last month, hosted by Helen Christopher, and with a little encouragement from Nikki, I found myself reflecting on what truly drives me — not just in business, but in life. So, I decided to put it into words: this is my why.
For years, I lived to work. My days were a blur of long hours, skipped lunches, and late-night emails on my BlackBerry. I’d get home, throw together some dinner, sit on the settee still working, go to bed, and do it all over again. Weekends and holidays were the only time I came up for air — but even then, my mind was rarely switched off.
When I was made redundant in 2011, it felt like the end of an era — but actually, it was the beginning of something better. For the first time in years, I had the chance to stop, breathe, and think about what I wanted.
I decided I didn’t want to jump straight into another high-pressure corporate job. I wanted to build a life — and eventually a business — that gave me flexibility, balance, and freedom. I took the phrase “the world is your oyster” to heart. It felt symbolic of that moment: a world of new opportunities waiting to be explored.
At that point, I was also really hoping to start a family, something I’d wanted for some years. My outplacement adviser Roger and I talked about “Plan A and Plan B” — Plan A being the baby, and Plan B being the business. I focused on both. I worked on my project management qualifications, updated my LinkedIn profile, created business cards, built a website, and set up the practicalities like an accountant. I didn’t know what shape my future would take, but I knew I wanted to design it on my terms.
Fast forward a little, and Plan A came to fruition. After another round of IVF, with egg donation, I was incredibly lucky to welcome my daughter into the world in 2013 (pictured above with me at her Christening). Around the same time, a contract role I’d been working on came to an end — perfect timing really. It allowed me to slow down, focus on my family, and also care for my mum, who was living with Alzheimer’s.
That time with her was something I’ll always treasure. It gave my daughter the chance to get to know her Grandma, and it gave me the chance to be there — really be present — for both of them. Something that would have been impossible in my old corporate world.
Through all of this, my priorities and values shifted. I stopped measuring success by how many hours I worked or how busy I was, and started focusing on what truly mattered: time, health, and happiness.
When I eventually launched Oyster Flame as a Virtual Assistant business, it wasn’t just about creating a business — it was about creating balance. I wanted to use my skills to help others achieve that same sense of calm and control that I’d been craving all those years ago. Because I know what it’s like to feel overwhelmed, spinning plates and trying to do it all. And I also know how life-changing it can be when you finally get to stop, breathe, and find a better way to work.
So if what I do through Oyster Flame — whether it’s setting up a CRM, cleaning up a spreadsheet, or simplifying a process — helps someone else reclaim their time, reduce stress, or even take that long-overdue weekend off… then that’s my why.
Helping people work to live, not live to work.
If reading this made you pause and think about your own why, I’d love to hear it. What drives you? What are you working for? And if you’re ready to bring a bit more balance back into your business (and your life), let’s chat — because that’s exactly what I help people do.
👉 Get in touch or book a free call to start creating the breathing space you’ve been craving.