Like most trainers, I fell into training! My background was retail and, having studied for a Retail Marketing degree, my ultimate goal was to have my own shop. However, during my degree, I completed a work placement at Next Head Office based in Leicester in their HR/Training Dept. and caught the bug – it just felt right. From there, my career progressed very quickly and I worked for a number of High Street retailers in their training depts. reaching the position of Head of Training.I was itching to work for myself so the retail shop dream went and in came the training consultancy.I love my work, which makes it all worthwhile. I get up in the morning and firmly believe I don’t work, which I think comes across in everything we do – it doesn’t feel like work. I love the freedom and interaction with different types of people and characters I meet day to day. The opportunity to make a difference, support and challenge and see people grow, either in business or personally is invaluable. This gives me a real buzz. The retail background enables me to have a commercial outlook on things which gives me a difference from other training consultancies.Every day is different, dealing with different levels of client. People make me tick and that is what I love.The difficulty in loving what you do means you do not take breaks so having to switch off can be a problem, however, I am kept busy with family and sport. I do believe in a work-life balance and those who are self-employed will know how much of a struggle this is. However, I believe in practising what I preach and, therefore, having fun, taking time out of the business and having a life really helps.