From 10 days after leaving high school with a mediocre set of O’Levels and GCSEs, I was employed consistently until 2003.
Then, I started my Bookkeeping and Payroll consultancy, which I ran until November 2008 when I was fired from a new, full-time contract role and experienced a flare up of the RA.
By that stage, I knew I was in deep doo-doo financially and Bankruptcy was the logical next step, so I cancelled my FMAAT (Fellow Member of Association of Accounting Technicians) before it was taken off me and closed the business.
In March 2009, I was declared Bankrupt, moved to Redhill, and wasn’t able to work again until October.
Nine months in temp admin and payroll jobs, I was ‘let go’ again and started this business in July/August 2010.
And here I still am.
The time I spent working as a Psychiatric Nursing Assistant stands out in an otherwise accounting dominated history.
That was an example of me following my inner guidance when it didn’t necessarily make logical sense.
I learnt so much about people working with patients with Alzheimer’s.
Physically it was hard graft, lots of lifting in the days before hoists were commonplace, and patients would hit staff often through their fear and confusion.
There’s no doubt in my mind that the demands of that role escalated the progression of RA, yet it was the role that taught me the most of all the skills I use in my business today.
The payroll role in St Barnabas Hospice, a place I adored.
I grew up across the road from there and both of my first husband’s parents passed there.
I enjoyed working in such a beautiful, spiritual place that made a real difference, and I loved the team all the way up to the CEO.
It was my dream for many years to work there and I am so happy I made it happen.
The last mention has to go to the travel job.
This is the role I was guided to apply for, four months after passing my AAT finals.
They created a Deputy role just for me, and I achieved the Senior Management position 6 months later.
The travel industry is quite possibly THE best sector of all, and that’s why I’m so in love with being an Independent Travel Agent alongside my core marketing and copy business.
As an ITA, you can research and book travel for yourself and your friends and/or clients, making commissions on those bookings.
I’m a P&O Cruises specialist, after almost 100 nights on board, across a variety of their ships, routes and destinations.
I also spend a “ridiculous” amount of time in their communities, so I absorb a lot of intel such as where the best cabins are, all the way down to being able to advise you on which perk to choose.
So, if you are ever on the lookout for a cruise on P&O Cruises UK, hit me up to book.
Or, if you are an avid travel researcher already and want to become an Independent Travel Agent yourself, let me know and I’ll send you deets.
Veronica Pullen
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