From Running a Recruitment Business to Being a Career Coach: Helping You to Take Control of Your Profession and Your Life

1. The Success in Recruitment and My Unique Approach

For over 20 years, I successfully ran a recruitment business. My approach was never about just filling vacancies; it was about finding the right people and positioning them in ways that made hiring managers sit up and take notice. I invested the time to deeply understand both the roles and the individuals I was working with. This not only set me apart but also led to consistently higher success rates in connecting candidates with opportunities that truly fit.

2. Realising a Gap: The System Isn’t Geared for Candidates

But over time, it became clear to me that the recruitment system wasn’t truly built to serve candidates. It had to prioritise company needs first, and it often overlooked the potential in individuals who didn’t fit a conventional mould. I knew there was a more effective way for individuals to manage and control their own careers, a way to unlock more fulfilling opportunities—on their own terms.

3. The Catalyst: A Change in Perspective and Purpose

During this period, I came across Dean Graziosi’s *Millionaire Success Habits* after reading T. Harv Eker’s *The Secrets of a Millionaire Mind*. These books made me confront the limitations in my own mindset. Dean’s focus on creating habits for long-term success shifted my thinking entirely. He emphasises that real success starts with a change in mindset—letting go of old beliefs and embracing a new perspective to create a life and career of true significance. I realised that while recruitment was a profitable venture, I wanted more than just financial success. I wanted to create something that would empower individuals and leave a lasting impact.

Careers Matter was born from this desire—to help people take control of their professional journey and their lives. It wasn’t just about getting people hired; it was about helping them regain control in a system that often sidelined their needs.

4. The Experiment: Juggling Recruitment and Careers Matter

For a while, I tried to balance both worlds—running Careers Matter and my recruitment business during Covid. And to some extent, it worked. But as time went on, I realised that the high-pressure environment of running a recruitment business wasn’t the direction I wanted to continue in. At 68, it wasn’t about retiring—I have no plans to do that—but it was about creating something that keeps me challenged, engaged, and fulfilled. I wanted to build a business that aligns with my own lifestyle choices, that allows me to stay connected with people and help them achieve real, meaningful change.

5. A Lifestyle Choice with a Purpose

Careers Matter is now my main focus because it allows me to work closely with people and guide them towards the careers they genuinely want. I take immense pleasure in seeing individuals transform their lives with simple yet impactful changes. Even something as straightforward as refining a CV can be the difference between landing the right role and missing an opportunity. For me, it’s no longer just about helping companies fill their vacancies; it’s about empowering people to take charge of their journey.

If we’re not helping people make positive change, then what’s the point? Recruitment gave me the opportunity to support companies and candidates alike, but now, it’s about helping individuals regain control, clarity, and confidence in their careers and lives.