A year ago, my career took a direction I never saw coming. I started my self-employment journey, but that’s not really where this story begins…
Last year, I found myself facing something that I’d never expected. After being in a role where I had dedicated a huge amount of time, energy and experience, my employment came to an end.
And as I’m sure many others who have experienced something similar will know - it knocked me far more than I expected - it was like I was on the end of Conor McGregor’s left-hand counter punch.
It wasn’t simply about everything changing so quickly, it was the feeling that something I had invested so much of myself in could suddenly disappear overnight.
You can probably imagine how I felt. I might have had a glass (or three) of red that night, in the hope it would magically ease my mind, but it didn’t.
I've spent my whole career focusing on working hard, going the extra mile, and genuinely caring about the work I do. But as the saying goes - sometimes things go the way you hope they will, and sometimes they don't.
My head was all over the place, but I pulled up my big Bridget Jones pants and started figuring out what came next.
One of the things I’ve learned from that experience is the importance of knowing your own worth, having boundaries, and learning to trust your gut when making big career decisions. If something doesn’t feel right for you…it usually isn't, so don't be afraid to question it.
And long story short…I asked a lot of my own questions and, with a little help from Nova (my right hand AI man, formerly known as ChatGPT), I figured out my options.
This wasn’t a position I ever imagined I’d be in, but it taught me something important - taking control of your own career direction is empowering.
It was such a tough time, and so stressful, but once the dust settled, I put the boxing gloves away, stopped looking backwards and started focusing on what came next.
People have said to me, “well it all worked out for you in the end”. They would be right…it has. But I don't think people always realise what came before you finally found your feet. For me, it was months of questioning everything. My confidence took the mother of all beatings. Was I experienced enough? Good enough? Brave enough? Would anyone actually pay me to do what I’d spent years helping other businesses do? Amongst other things.
Yeah, I could have gone back into employment, which, in many ways, would have been the easier, safer option, but something in me had changed.
I realised I didn’t want to simply go back to working for someone else. I wanted to build something of my own. Something that reflected the kind of working relationships, creativity and values that matter to me.
That decision became the beginning of Creative Cat.
What felt like the end of the road became the start of something completely different.
A year later, I’m so proud that I took the leap. I’m incredibly grateful for the amazing clients I have and the variety of work I’ve been trusted with - one week I might be designing a brochure, the next planning a marketing campaign, building a website or even designing a witty sign for a pub. No two days are ever the same, and honestly, I love it!
Every project has taught me something new, and every client has played a part in rebuilding my confidence. And while it hasn’t been easy, it’s reminded me of something I wish I’d understood much earlier - your worth isn’t defined by one employer, one job title or one difficult chapter. It's defined by your values, your character and your willingness to get back up and rewrite your story.
Sometimes, the hardest experiences become the ones that quietly lead you to where you were always meant to be.
Before I sign off, I would like to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who’s supported Creative Cat over the last year. Whether you’ve trusted me with a project, recommended me, liked a post, shared my work or simply cheered me on from the sidelines - it really has meant more than you’ll ever know.
And, having reflected on the past year while writing this, I’ve realised there are probably a few more stories and lessons worth sharing - so don’t be surprised if you see a few more reflective blogs from me over the coming weeks.
If this blog resonates with just one person who's standing where I was a year ago, wondering what comes next, then it was worth writing. Don’t be afraid to take the leap. It may be frightening, but it may well be the best thing you ever did.
So what’s next for Creative Cat? Who knows! But what I do know is that taking the leap has been the best decision for me, and I couldn’t be happier.
Here’s to year two!
