Hi pals,
I recently wrote an article for Psychologies Magazine about ways to get out of a rut. It’s one of the most popular themes I work with in coaching: supporting individuals and teams around how to get un-stuck. If it feels like you’re doing the same things over and over and not seeing the results you want, or you’re really craving a positive change, I’m here to help you.
If this resonates, I have lots to offer this month to help you move forward. I’m running two in-person events in Worthing in July and I’m available to work face-to-face or online with individual clients throughout the month.
I've enjoyed various new ways to get out of a rut myself recently, including co-working with Happy Freelancers, an inspiring sustainabiliTEA event at Bird & Blend and retuning to my fav ecstatic dance venue in London.
As always, Pete and I co-hosted a fun Write The Book session this month too, with our guest, YA author Jenny Valentine. She inspired and encouraged us to write even as little as 164 words a day, reminding us that eventually, over a year, that will add up to a full book’s worth of words. If you’d like to join the next Write The Book cohort in September, contact me about a free taster.
Let me know if you feel stuck and how I might be able to help move you forward. My details are below.
Have a super day! Big love,
Helen
helen@coachingbyhelen.com
Coaching By Helen
- Coaching For Creative People -
Pic: By Vicky Critoph of me at Happy Freelancers in Brighton with JC Yoga guiding
Guided Journaling & Vision Board Workshop: only 4 tickets left!
- Coaching By Helen x Bird & Blend -
Tues 24th July
18.15-20.15
Worthing, UK
Join me in person at ‘The Nest’ – Bird & Blend’s Worthing HQ – for this very special summer journaling and vision-boarding workshop. Enjoy a cuppa brewed for you by an expert tea mixologist, while I guide you in journaling and vision-boarding techniques.
I’m particularly delighted to be holding this workshop at Bird & Blend, an inspiring owner-managed business and B Corp who put their ethical values at the forefront of how they run their thriving company.
This event is particularly suitable for people who run their own creative businesses. Everyone is welcome (18+).
£30 per person
Vision-boarding materials, journal & herbal tea included
Limited places left, booking essential
Other events in July:
Tues 2nd July (free)
Queer Creatives: LGBTQ+ breakfast event at Colonnade House
Weds 31st July (free)
Write The Book taster event for authors-to-be
Case Study: Esther Collins
Textile and Mixed Media Artist
What's the story of your business?
I run workshops and courses on textile art and embroidery. I give talks and presentations to local groups and interested parties. I am a practicing artist and regularly exhibit and sell my work.
Why do you do what you do?
I am passionate about textiles as an art form and about creativity as a means of self expression and wellbeing.
Having spent a lifetime involved in art in some way or another (having had a previous career as a Graphic Designer and then teaching adults in both Northbrook College and for Aspire Sussex), at this point in my life, I feel confident in my abilities and that I have the life experience to go it alone. I absolutely love teaching and sharing my skills and enthusiasm with others, but I sometimes felt restricted teaching in formal adult education and frustrated by the often excessive admin and lack of effective marketing. I learnt web design and marketing skills from my previous time as a graphic designer and enjoy putting these to good use for my own business. I have always been independent and self motivated and have found the challenge of setting up my business really exciting and interesting. I feel I've found the perfect life balance in being a freelancer and having the freedom to decide my own working hours. To me, it's the perfect combination of still having time to be creative and make my own work, but also to have the interaction and exchange of ideas with other people.
Has there been a big turning point for you in your career so far?
Could you tell us a bit about that?
A turning point came when I was lucky enough to be able to build my own studio in our back garden in 2019. This gave me the space and environment I was craving to be able to really get stuck into making the art I had been desperate to work on for a long time. In 2017, I put my teaching career on hold to undertake a Foundation in Textiles course for two years and so was ready to launch myself in my new career as a freelancer teaching textile art. Then came lockdown, which put the brakes on my plans, as I suddenly found myself home schooling my twin sons. However, it also gave me the time and space to really dig deep into making art and to learn, practice and develop my new skills and make them my own.
In 2021, I was part of a successful exhibition in the Oxmarket Gallery, Chichester, which gave me the exposure and confidence I needed to finally launch my in-person workshops. Having my own workshop gives me the opportunity to run courses with minimal overheads and smaller numbers than I could afford to do, if I had to rent a venue every time. I also teach at different venues throughout Sussex, such at the Sussex Prairie Gardens and for local embroidery groups, which helps me gain new students and network more widely.
How has Helen's coaching helped you?
Helen has helped me in setting goals to do the tasks I know I need to do and being accountable! She has offered a new perspective and helped me in "seeing the bigger picture" and suggesting different angles I hadn't previously thought of. Her positivity and encouragement have been really motivating and her email support and feedback in between sessions has been great to keep me on track.
What really motivates you in your work?
As a creative person, I love the excitement of coming up with new ideas for courses and workshops and having ideas for new artworks. There's such a satisfaction in "being in the flow" and seeing my ideas come to fruition. It's real kick to sell a piece of work and to know that something I've made has resonated with another person. My main motivation though is the pleasure I get from interacting with students when I'm teaching and from sharing my work. There's nothing better that watching someone have that "A-ha!" moment when they learn a new skill and from witnessing the amazing work that my students produce. I've met some very inspiring people over the years and I'm sure I get as much out of teaching workshops as they do!
Anything else you'd like us to know about you and your business?
I also create and teach a range of bespoke private workshops, from embroidery to felting, for small groups and am available to provide courses and workshops for local organisations. I am passionate about art and wellbeing and give talks and lectures to interested groups. Please see my website www.esthercollins.co.uk for further details.
Coaching By Helen bespoke coastal retreats
Let me design a 1-2-1 retreat just for you
“It helped me recognise my strengths - as much as the brakes I put on my own personal and career growth. I found taking the time to unpack then challenge my thinking life-changing.” // 1-2-1 retreat client Natalie
“I am just back from a day long retreat with Helen by the seaside and to say it exceed all my expectations would be an understatement, plus the day was rounded off with a fabulous yoga session. I came back with a different outlook!”
// 1-2-1 retreat client Kerry
I love to design and host unique 1-2-1 retreats for individual clients. This offering grew out of various requests from busy, talented, creative clients for something deeper than a monthly 1-hour session and more bespoke than a group event. I’ve been offering this for several years and yet I very rarely mention it. It’s a bit like a secret menu item at a high-end restaurant. So I thought it was time to bring this exciting offering out into the limelight.
Perhaps you’ve worked with me before, or maybe you’d be signing up for the first time.
Talk to me about what you need and how I can make your day life-changing for you.
Here are the sort of themes we could work on together over a full day or half day:
Resilience and future-proofing your career
Planning the next chapter in your business
Unlocking your creativity
PR strategy / selling points / content planning
Career-change
Big life change, eg. relocation
New business planning
Or whatever you’d like to work on with me
Time to get brave!
The first step is to send me an email:
helen@coachingbyhelen.com
What I’m reading:
A Little Art Education by Lynn Barber
I just had the pleasure of meeting famous journalist and writer Lynn Barber at the launch of this book locally. She’s the brightest and most inspiring 80-year-old you could imagine. This beautiful little book contains snapshots of what it was like to interview famous artists throughout her career, including Salvador Dali and Tracey Emin.
What I’m watching:
Wilding, based on the book by Isabella Tree
I was lucky enough to see this in the cinema with an in-person Q & A. Nature lovers will adore Wilding and I think it’s a must-watch for any human to be honest!
What I’m listening to:
Cerys Matthews
I’m currently sat here listening to Cerys Matthews’ show on 6 music. Cerys is part of my Sunday morning routine (as is writing my newsletter) and I’m enjoying listening with a bowl of blueberries & yogurt and a lovely cuppa as I look out at this morning’s blue sky.
6 Music is the soundtrack to my Sundays as I’ll tune in later to Now Playing with the wonderful Tom Robinson. I regularly contribute to their crowd-sourced playlist and get a real sense of belonging from the online discussion with other music lovers every week.
A gift for you! £5 to spend on tea (link below)
Claim £5 off at Bird & Blend:
Hope you’re all doing well and enjoying the sunshine and festivals. I’m aware times are tough for creative freelancers right now, so do reach out if you need support. I’m here.
And if you’d like to be included in a future newsletter, let me know.
Big love!
Helen x
helen@coachingbyhelen.com
Thank you for subscribing to this newsletter. If you’re a free subscriber and would like to upgrade to paid, you’ll also receive access to my 50 Ways to Win New Business series.
Still reading? You might enjoy my book, Founders, Freelancers & Rebels
photo by Billie Charity of Layla Robinson reading my book: Founders, Freelancers & Rebels. You can buy it online or order it at your local bookshop.