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After winning The 2019 Abbey Scholarship I was invited to partake in a monthly blog for Abbey England, talking about the ups and downs of business and the saddlery industry. Abbey England is one of my main suppliers of hardware and leather. Check our their website HERE.
To read the original post you can find it HERE.
Hi all,
I’ll start off by saying if you were ever to read one of the blogs I’ve written over the last year, this is the one I’d want you to read. Especially seeing it’s the start of the new decade and many are taking a moment to give their life a once over.
The exact moment I realised I needed to change my life happened in 2014 when I was sitting on a bale in the hayloft trying not to cry at work. It was in that moment I was at my “rock bottom”. I’d felt totally useless and incompetent for so long and that day had been the breaking point. That night I went home and googled “inspirational quotes” to try and kickstart a more positive mood and feel better but what turned up was one from Joan Rivers “Life doesn’t get better- You get better”.
Since that day I’ve been on a journey of constant continued self-improvement to get better. Funnily enough it didn’t happen overnight, and it wasn’t easy or straightforward. Many times, I was told to give up (Still am in fact!) and get a “proper job”. I’ve been laughed at by others for having no social life and staying up late to work, but none of that bothers me. What bothers me is when people come up to me and say, “I could never do that”.
It makes me laugh because I was the one saying that. Never in a million years did I ever think I could stitch two bits of leather together never mind be an actual saddler. Fast forward a lot of blood, sweat and tears, and here I am, because I decided to “get better at life”. Here’s a bit of common sense: talent has nothing to do with it. It might give you a leg up, but that’s where it ends.
Everyone must start somewhere so just start! NONE of us were born walking. We all had to learn, some faster than others, but we all did it. The thing is you don’t see toddlers berating themselves when they fall. They don’t vow to never try again, and you don’t see anyone telling them to give up!
So today stop and take a minute to ask yourself “what do you really want to do?”. If it’s not what you’re doing now, think of what you need to do to get there. Do you need to find a mentor, do you need to find some funding, do you need to go on a taster course, or do you need to go watch some YouTube videos? Stop making excuses for yourself, start finding solutions.
If you’re still not feeling confident about it all, I’m telling you now, I know you have it in you to achieve what you want. You’ve just gotta take the leap. If that doesn’t do it for you, I’d like you to imaging meeting your 5-year-old self, what would their reaction be? Without seeming too morbid, one day you’re going to be looking back on it all, so why not make it all worth it. I know my 5-year-old self would think I was the coolest person ever- apart from the “boyfriend” thing- that would be “ucky”.
Lastly, I’d like to say a quick thank you for everyone in helping me achieve my dream. To the Society of Master Saddlers for all it does, to all the masters out there who take me under their wing and to QEST, Future Makers and Abbey England for their financial help. It really does mean so much to have people believe in me and support me the way they all do.
So folks, that’s me signing off. It’s been a pleasure writing to you this past year and I hope it’s helped one person reading my ramblings. I know I’m looking forward to reading this year’s scholarship winners blog. Until then- go out and live your dreams guys.
Good Luck- go impress your 5-year-old self.
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