Career Transition Story - Shona Gates
Do you want to bounce outta bed in the morning ready to change the world? Do you want to trust yourself wholeheartedly that everything falls into place with aligned ease? Do you want to be pushing yourself to dream a little bigger because you are simply smashing out your goal?
I am right there with you! Shona completely changed the trajectory of her career from reaching the top in business management to being an entrepreneur powerhouse. Shona shares how she has made mistakes but also how she picked herself back up which has landed her here, at this point.
I know you are going to enjoy this just as much as I did.
Tell me, what did you want to do at the very early stages of your career? What was your big career goals then?
When I was a little kid, I wanted to be so many things. I wanted to travel ( but not for pleasure, for business ) I wanted to have clients, I wanted to play dress up, be able to abseil down a building, I wanted to speak different languages .. I basically wanted to be one of the “Charlies Angels”.
But I also knew that while jobs like that existed in Hollywood movies and tv shows, they weren’t a reality in the real world. Unlike my peers who knew they wanted to study medicine, or who went to pursue an arts degrees, I had absolutely no idea.
So, I took the safest option finishing high school and went to do exactly what my mum did, at exactly the same place
Can you tell me how you started your career and what you could see was your career trajectory?
I became a qualified optical dispenser with OPSM and Luxottica. In 3 years, I rose to be a manager, and eventually was headhunted to manage a spec savers franchise too. I took all the leadership courses and was ready to conquer the world, but at 20, I was managing a store and maxxed out, working 70-80 hours a week. I had to sit down and reassess where I was at and where I was going ?
What are you doing now?
I did a complete flip, from medical and retail … to service based and online consulting. Two completely different industries, and completely different worlds really.
I currently run two companies. Bronze addiction spray tanning, I founded over 7 years ago after having my second child. At Bronze Addiction we mainly focus on wedding and event group bookings for flawless natural spray tans.
My Second company and brand Sexy Selfish is all about empowering and exciting women about their financial future, helping them transform their relationship with money and become their most badass wealthy selves. Through the Sexy Selfish brand I help clients globally with my online courses, workshops, one-on-one mentoring, membership as well as my amazon best-selling book “Goodbye Money Guilt”
Was there a pivotal moment when you decided to change your career direction? Or what made you decide to change your career?
I sat down with the big boss of Specsavers to talk about what was next for me, and they basically said “you have reached the top with us”, next step was to wait until I was 35 for a raise when I became a “senior optical dispenser” or go back to university to become an optometrist or ophthalmologist … I liked the medical field, but I didn’t like it that much to go and study for another 6 years.
It just didn’t sound very appealing to me; I was ready for the next challenge …. Motherhood. Becoming a mum and being on maternity leave forced me to learn a lot about myself, and where I thrive. For me that is in business, I’ve started many companies over the years but the privilege of maternity leave really allowed me the time to focus on areas I shined. With the support of my husband and the companies I have founded, I have now been my own boss for over 9 years .. and I haven’t stepped back into the world of optics since.
Did you know it was what you wanted to do or did you have to do some exploring to find your passion?
It definitely took some time, I tried the MLM thing. Started companies and closed then when I realized it wasn’t what I was looking for and I’ve failed more times than I care to admit. But I’m also tenacious, stubborn and always enthusiastic. So, I bounce back pretty fast. It’s been a constant evolution, trying things, failing and trying again .. till 3 years ago I really found my feet with Sexy Selfish. I’m passionate about what I do, and regardless of whether I made $0 or $100,000. That month, I’ll still be bouncing out of bed in the morning ready to change the world
Was there any key steps you took to help navigate you towards your new direction?
There were definitely some confusing times, as I transitioned from one business to the next, or feeling like I was constantly searching. But, working with a mentor really helped me feel a little less crazy. She helped me to see and embrace options and opportunities I hadn’t noticed before and taught me to trust myself before anyone else. Once I valued and trusted myself the rest fell into place with such aligned ease.
What has changed for you since transitioning your career (feelings, well-being, life in general) - and what do you see yourself doing for the next 5 years / career goals now?
Everything, absolutely everything.
I’m more confident, secure, empowered, independent, vulnerable, open, responsible, kind, calmer, more patient, more present and on the list goes …. Being in business is a fast track for self-development, you have to level up your mindset and learn as you go otherwise you are never going to grow. So, it feels like it has been a pressure cooker for growth, and I have loved every step of the way.
In terms of the future, I have to be a honest, I’ve ticked off most of my goals already ( published a book, built a global brand, had 5 figure months, been a guest speaker etc etc ) It’s actually time for me to sit down and start creating some new goals, pushing myself to dream a little bigger.
One thing I know for sure is that I love the flexibly of being able to decide my own direction, create my own path and follow the little soul nudges where ever they guide me. So, I guess, watch this space ….
What advice would you give someone who is deciding to move through a career transition?
Buck up babe. It’s going to be a bumpy ride and it has to get harder before it gets better. Like knowing you can only level up in a video game, if you fight the baddie at the end of the level. Its’ kind of like that … you can’t avoid it. The challenge, the confrontation, the pain or frustration, it is part of the growth.
Once you embrace the chaos, messiness and tangle of feelings and emotions that come with this time it’s actually a lot easier to move through. Practice a little bit of self-compassion, and remember how brave you are to be taking this leap.
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You can find Shona via her Website: www.sexyselfish.com or Instagram HERE: or Facebook HERE
Doesn’t Shona’s story just make want you to bottle up her drive and determination. Such an inspiration and a real example that it is possible, it is achievable. Thank you Shona.
If you would like to have a conversation around how you can transition your career, build confidence in your direction with clear actionable steps, I would love to chat - you can find out more here