The long version
Wall Street, four businesses, a recession and one question from my son.
Nothing about my career has been a straight line. Every turn taught me something about money, about work, and about what a business is actually for.
My first big job was with Dean Witter, on the 60th floor of the World Trade Center. Then came a round of redundancies, and I learned early that a job is never as safe as it looks.
I moved to London and kept working in finance, living in a small flat in Kensington.
Back in Ireland, Goodbody hired me for my technology background.
I opened the third Curves franchise in Ireland while studying for a Master’s at UCD Smurfit Business School, with two babies at home.
With my sister-in-law as my business partner, one club became four across the south-east.
I spent the best part of a decade dealing with the banks. The money was hard. Not knowing who I was without the business was harder. Rebuilding started with how I thought about money and my own worth.
I qualified as a financial adviser and built an advisory business from nothing, working 8am to 10pm for years to do it.
My son Pierce asked me at nine o’clock one night. I didn’t have a good answer, so I changed the question.
I qualified for the first time, working fewer hours than ever: an assistant, then Fridays off, half of Wednesdays and no evening calls.
A friend recommended the programme and I nearly doubled my income within six months. I became a certified Thinking Into Results consultant and started coaching women in business.
My income went up 35% that year. Rest and money had stopped being a trade-off.
I qualified for the Round Table for the tenth time, still taking my Fridays. Now I teach the method in a small group of ten women.
