Who is the face behind Happy Kaleidoscope?
How did it all begin?
Dreaming about owning a thriving international business in which I do the work that I enjoy, led to me creating Happy Kaleidoscope in 2023. It was a case of if not now, when? I didn’t want to look back and wonder ‘what if’ I had been brave enough to step away from the comfort blanket of a secure monthly income. What could I have achieved?
Setting up your own business is not for the faint hearted. For me, it took courage and, at times, left me feeling raw and vulnerable. Especially, when I avoided calls following up on payments that I owed on a bad day or scoured the menu for the least expensive item to eat on a good day!
Defending my decision to be an entrepreneur and not stay in full time paid time work was tough. My decision was based on a dream and a vision not logic and sensibility. Feeling
emotionally drained and energised at the same time has been a familiar state of being!
Surrounding myself with people who believed in me was critical to my success. Thank you for your unwavering belief and support.
Why Happy kaleidoscope?
Thinking about a name for the business was fuelled by my love of butterflies. I discovered that a collective of butterflies was called a kaleidoscope.
Playing with a favourite childhood toy kaleidoscope created a diversity of colours and patterns. Encouraging sight and consideration of things from different perspectives is a significant part of my approach when coaching, mentoring, training and consulting with individuals, teams, groups and organisations.
Reflecting on different meanings behind the word ‘kaleidoscope’ then brought me to the connection between a kaleidoscope and diversity. Living and working in a country of over 200 nationalities and languages, as well as varying degrees of physical, mental and learning abilities and economic status creates a unique learning environment. One that can be a beautiful celebration of diversity, when you take the time to open your mind, listen, learn and, at times, challenge.
Working with a diversity of clients gives me a deeper appreciation of the joys and challenges that may arise for members of our communities who can find themselves marginalised, subjected to micro (and not so micro) aggression, facing health and other inequalities and feeling unheard.