Where are you Gina?!
It’s Gina here… have you missed me? Y’know, I have missed you too but I want to take a moment to explain that while I am still around, I have a different focus at the moment which is why you’re not seeing much over here at Limitless Coaching HQ. You know that I have been in career coaching for over 10 years. … and I love… love working with a wide range of clients including working parents which was my focus until mid-2020. However, when the pandemic hit, I felt compelled to fully turn in the direction of my employed and freelance work – which is supporting students on their transition from education to employment. I have now launched “Dive Into Your Career” as a division of Limitless Coaching in which I am focusing on career coaching, mentoring and consulting for our young people entering a crazier, more competitive job market than normal. I want to help them flourish at a time when that may feel impossible and facilitate their journey in a spirit of fun and optimism, not fear and overwhelm. So what does that mean for Limitless Coaching as it was? Am I abandoning my incredible working parents and mid-career professionals who also need career support. Certainly not – I am allocating a small number of slots for one to one clients who resonate with how I support your career and life development – so if you are open to doing your sessions on either evenings or weekends and enquire at a time when I have some availability – then let’s do this. Let’s work together… contact... read more
An interview with Davinia Tomlinson of Rainchq
If you listen to just one thing today… make it this. No, seriously… even your favourite Netflix show can wait. On today’s episode of the Creative Career Solutions for Parents podcast, I am speaking to Davinia Tomlinson, CEO & Founder of Rainchq, a service which helps women to take control of their financial futures. Recorded in April 2020, in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic, Davinia Tomlinson, a marketing and business development expert with 15 years experience within the investment management and professional services industries – talks to us about the importance of money mastery for women. Her mission is to empower women to achieve their financial goals and prepare for that rainy day. It’s fair to say that we’re certainly in “rainy day” territory at the moment – and hearing this information now is interesting. Acting on it now, however will be beneficial.. potentially even life changing. This episode is packed full of useful, actionable tips to help you take positive financial steps, regardless of what your situation is right now. Davinia talks to me about why it is especially important that women pay attention to their finances and invest, 3 top financial tips which are relevant during a pandemic and beyond, what she is worrying about and what she is celebrating and together… Davinia and Gina share some personal stories of (financial) influences in their lives… past and present. As a career coach and consultant, I am acutely aware that financial awareness and action can be intrinsically linked with how we imagine and execute our career development plans… so if you are thinking about finding a new job,... read more
Navigating our (temporary) new normal
Over the course of just a few weeks, our lives have changed in the most profound ways due to COVID-19. Freedom of movement which we generally take for granted is minimised and working from home is no longer something working parents are fighting for… it is something that is temporarily expected of all of us who can and are not key workers; albeit working with our children underfoot as schools are now closed. The new normal… the current situation was the source of inspiration for this episode of the podcast and in it I share 5+ key insights into how we can navigate our temporary new morning with some positivity… even when it feels like we’re in the middle of a bad summer blockbuster movie. Please note (this should go without saying but I will say it anyway), I am not a healthcare professional and advice and ideas shared are targeted at those who have the mental bandwidth to be able to take some purposeful, powerful steps. Naturally, that may currently exclude anyone in a particularly vulnerable state health wise, economically or otherwise – and if that applies to you, please seek the appropriate, qualified support that you need, in your locality. (Oh… and in some parts of the world – even your leader (president) is spouting the craziest ideas in terms of remedies so please do bear in mind the need to tune into the medical professionals as opposed to anyone who appears to be talking in a manner which appears careless). Beyond that, this episode is designed to make you nod with resonance, laugh in solidarity and help... read moreEnough with the excuses…
I’m back… and calling myself out for making excuses on a few important fronts, in the past couple of months. Not only am I calling myself out on the blog here but I have also recorded an episode of the Creative Career Solutions for Parents podcast which includes a bit of a reintroduction about what the podcast is all about (amid my rant!) and I am transparent about some of the excuses I have been making to myself in my own life. Excuses which need to stop! What excuses are you making at the moment? What is unaligned for you? Is there something that you are saying you want but you are not putting in the actions to make it happen? I can entirely rate and want to say that if this is something you recognise in yourself – pay attention to it and then take some action. Don’t wallow in it. The episode I recorded is a bit of a cathartic rant and I hope it will give you some space to acknowledge where you are not playing full out but believe you should be as you are doing yourself a disservice if you don’t. I also share one of the best pieces of advice I have ever heard for content creators and creatives – advice from the awesome Denise Duffield-Thomas – so listen out for that and let me know if it rocks your world the way it continues to rock mine whenever I think about it. I don’t say this to be effusive… but instead to be clear how impactful her words are. This advice truly has set... read more
How are you going to change your family tree?
I just recorded a podcast episode that was so damn personal, straight up and real that it nearly took my breath away. Truly. And this isn’t to suggest that my usual podcast episodes are not real. Of course they are – they are all topics I feel called to discuss or topics that you have asked me to cover, but the one I recorded today involved no planning or lists or even deliberate messages to share. No notes beforehand. I just talked. And talked. And 19 minutes (and an editing process) later… I ended up with a podcast that I think can make a huge difference to anyone who connects with it. You can access this podcast here. The topic? How are you going to change your family tree? I think this requires some explanation because of course, the structure of our family trees just that. Structured, firm (until more people are born). What I am referring to however is TRAITS… BELIEFS… ACTIONS. What traits can you change / adapt / employ which will positively change your life and also your family tree… your kids and the generations beyond. This topic was motivated by a podcast that I’ve recently found myself obsessed with. The Dave Ramsey Show is a personal finance show which I access via podcast (and YouTube) which is likely to be a key factor in me achieving some of the personal finance goals I have now set for myself… so spoiler alert – I refer to finance goals in the podcast… and actually disclose quite a bit about my world in this respect. I do it however because I... read more
“Back to School” productivity inspiration
It’s back to school season so I have to ask… Have you spent so much time focused on the kids this summer that you are now a little but unclear on what exactly is going on with you personally? Do you need to hit a reset button to ensure you are moving forward purposefully, not just floating from busy day to busy day without a plan? Do you wish you had more time to achieve your goals but (ironically) don’t even have time to get clear on what those are right now? I hear you. I am feeling exactly the same way which is why I have created a “Back to School” inspired free 7-day “Get Your Shizzle Sorted” challenge… starting on Monday 4 September. Let’s use that annual “September, let’s get ourselves sorted”, “new year resolution type” vibe to embrace this opportune moment now that the kids are back at school (or about to be) to take some positive actions towards your goals and dreams before you get to that annoying “WTF… where the **** did 2017 go” feeling (which is just a hop, skip and a jump away if you don’t do something different now) Run by author and career coach for working parents Gina Visram (that’s me!), this challenge is for you if you resonate with any or all of the below: • You have spent so much family-focused time this summer which has been great (lol – or let’s be honest, not always so great if you or the kids were ever feeling ‘meh’) and you’re now a little but unclear on what’s next for... read more
Top tips for travelling with a toddler
Who here is excited about the prospect of travelling with a toddler? What? *Crickets*?! I suspected as much which is why I have compiled some toddler travel tips for you in the podcast below. Whether or not it’s summer where you are, it seems that loads of us are on the move at the moment and our family is no exception. Within the last few months we have actively taken a couple of breaks from our jobs / entrepreneurial endeavours and have enjoyed quality family time (in sunnier climes than we have here in London!) Where are you off to this summer? Any other travel plans for 2017 or the near future? If like me, you are a parent of a small child AND love to travel, you may feel like those things don’t go together with the ease and grace you like so in a departure (pun intended) from chatting about career and lifestyle goals on the Creative Career Solutions for Parents podcast (haven’t checked it out yet? What are you waiting for?!) – I have published a podcast episode entitled 7 (+) top tips for travelling with a toddler, which you can access here. We recently went on trips to Malta and the Dominican Republic with our toddler and through our experiences (both personal and what we saw) and I felt compelled to record a little somethin’ somethin’ that fellow mamas / papas out there might appreciate, if travel with toddlers / young child/ren is on the cards for you too. In my humble experience, even when you love your job (and *cheers* to you if you... read more
Is flexible working a myth?
Unicorns. Santa. Stilettos that don’t hurt your feet. Is flexible working also a myth? What does flexible working mean for you? Flexible working is something I’ve been interested in for years (especially since I went 4-days in my employed work so I could have one weekday to work on my coaching business) – and it has become of greater interest to me since becoming a parent. (In full disclosure: That Limitless Coaching day is now an extra-cuddles-filled mummy and Naila day… and my coaching work is back to evenings and weekends… and some nap times) It’s funny. In what feels like a previous life – I used to work all. the. hours. Seriously – to the extent that I’d sometimes get a 15-minute warning from the building’s security guard to let me know it would be closing soon. Y’see… until now, until becoming a parent, my idea of ‘contracted working hours’ was as confused as Trump’s use of the English language (#Covfefe anyone?! Yes I went there). That all changed in an instant however earlier this year when I went back to work after my maternity leave. Suddenly, my ‘end time’, certainly in terms of the time I leave the office, became non-negotiable as if I didn’t leave by the designated time, I wouldn’t be on time to collect my little girl from the childminder. Time (which once was as flexible as the most impressive yogi, claims of EU related savings on the side of a campaign bus and the current U.S. administration’s alternative facts…) was suddenly very precise. Yet this… this sort of represents flexible working. Work in which I can... read more
No FOMO here… I’ve got you
*Are you signed up to the Creative Career Solutions for Parents newsletter yet? Sign up here. Takes less than 30 seconds… and you’ll get emails like the one below, adapted for this blog, and so much more).* The post below is adapted from my (6 May 2017) newsletter… I sit here writing this as our house is quiet. No buzz of activity. No hum of TV or radio in the background. No infectious toddler laughter. I write this in one of those rare quiet moments when the things rattling around my brain are settling down into quiet contemplation. I’ve missed checking in with the Limitless / Creative Career Success for Parents community over the past couple of weeks while employed work life, home life, toddler sickness (boooo… but she’s on the up now), personal development activities (Yasssss…. I went to see my girl Denise Duffield-Thomas live here in London last week… that’ll be a proper tale on its own soon), anniversary celebrations (6 glorious years – whoop whoop!), business strategizing (got some exciting things coming up!) and more have kept me away from chilled writing… so I am relishing this time today. And I thought I’d pop in here and ask “How you doin’”? (Said Joey from Friends or Wendy Williams style depending on what you’re into). How are you today? Are you fully embracing all things weekend and family? (From park time to swim time… activities for the kids…) Are you working on your side hustle? (Y’know… your passion beyond your day job?). Are you out and about eating yummy food? Are you travelling somewhere exciting? Maybe spending time getting your... read more
Makeover your aspirations for maximum productivity this spring
Let’s be real here… At any time in the last 2 weeks, have you uttered the words “How is it already April” – or something to thaåat effect? If you haven’t (and I’m willing to bet that you have), were you part of a conversation where someone else did? Again, I’m pretty sure you are no stranger to this conversation and I will tell you why I am almost smugly confident about this. It’s because once again, time has flown by. Just beyond our amazement that 2017 had already arrived, we’re already a quarter into the year. So… don’t hold back… tell me, how was Q1 for you? What did you get up to? Which of your goals did you make progress with? Did you embrace self-care? What did you prioritise? What awesome things have you done with your family so far this year? What professional wins have you had? What can be ticked off because it’s done (whoop whoop!) or moved down – or off – the list because it’s no longer as important as it was. What did you celebrate? Remember, it’s all about the big and small wins and in the spirit of us sharing as a community, I’ve listed a few of mine for Q1 2017 here: Celebrated Naila’s first birthday Settled Naila into a fantastic childcare setting Started my Creative Career Solutions for Parents podcast Successfully reintegrated back into work after maternity leave (and delivered some important careers events for the students) Decided on where we’ll take family holidays this year (though to be fair, we’re normally more ahead of ourselves with this – making these... read more
I believe in the power to change or develop anything that needs it and I have an unshakable belief in your ability to create a career and lifestyle which makes you light up.
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