MY STORY
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How I accidentally started a business during a pandemic.
Let’s go back a couple of years.
Work Life
I was a reasonably well-accomplished quality control analyst working at a global pharmaceutical company. I loved many aspects of my chosen career and excelled at it. Unfortunately, I gave the company my all for too many years without a thank you or promotion. My confidence was fairly low and it got to the point where I no longer cared about my work; which is completely out of my character. I was constantly told to change my personality to fit a made up mould of the ‘ideal’ analyst.
Despite always being told to change I was sent to a German lab regularly to transfer some product methods ahead of Brexit. I learnt so much and formed close bonds with the team I worked alongside. With the project coming to an end, with no clarity on where I fitted in the company, I bravely left. I cried and worried excessively about it for weeks. I trusted that the company I was moving to was going to be better. It wasn’t.
On the surface, they cared about mental health and employee wellbeing but, when it came down to it, they would throw us all under the bus without hesitation. I did not get kept on past my probation and I’m so glad. Next, I found another job in a completely different lab once again. I adapted. I fit in and for the most part, enjoyed it. This could have been because it was a temporary position so the pressure was off to make something of myself there. They needed someone that would and could do the work well; I was willing to do that work without any hassle.
Then COVID hit China.
That company had some of its manufacturing plants in China so I lost my job pretty early on. Before the government had probably even had time to process what was happening. No furlough for me. But again it was a temporary job that actually ended up lasting later than was advertised and I wasn’t treated badly. It was a business decision so I didn’t take it personally.
Personal Life
A couple of months after leaving pharmaceuticals behind. My partner and I had to work through a series of bereavements that should never be allowed to happen to a person. This was incredibly tough on him and our relationship. As a result, when I lost my job I decided it was best to make myself available to him. I also didn’t feel comfortable going back into a lab as I have asthma and was shielding for a lot of the first lockdown to be on the safe side.
To add to all this; we were due to get married in the late Spring but had to postpone (twice in the end actually) so it’s fair to say I was not in a good place emotionally. Lots of tears were shed and I looked for ways to keep busy but stay indoors.
Current Life
I decided to do a course on copywriting. I am creative, always have been. I like to think of myself as persuasive as well so I connected with the topic. I nice distraction. I thought writing would be relaxing for my soul as well.
Well, let’s just say I got a little too distracted and accidentally launched a business from that course; which turned out to be amazing if you were wondering. Every month I just kept learning, writing and growing in confidence until I felt I was ready to offer my services to the world. The Chemistry of Copy was launched and my cat now has me under her little paw 24/7!
I am a small business. I understand what you are going through. I don’t ever want to become a money-grabbing writing machine. I want to keep things small and personal; with all my working energy and enthusiasm saved for my current and future clients, you!
TOP TIP: Life is too short; do what you love. Work with great people and surround yourself with positivity.