Move over Madonna: How I Became the Queen of Reinvention!

 

Some things in life are just meant to be — and I learned that the hard way! After 40-something years, a mental & physical breakdown, and a whole lot of uncertainty, I finally found my true path. Here’s how I became the Queen of Reinvention!

I never really knew what I wanted to do when I was younger. My earliest memory is wanting to be a hairdresser. I worked in a salon as a junior, sweeping hair and making tea after school and on Saturdays. I loved it, but with a dodgy hip (since birth), it was never meant to be. Then, one day, I was flicking through the Stage Newspaper (for the arts and entertainment world) and saw an ad that caught my eye: “Can you dance like Britney and sing like Whitney?”. The Spice Girls had just taken over the world, and I thought, Why not?

So, off I went — sneaking onto trains to London most Saturdays (no idea what I told my parents I was doing!). I learnt all the songs, all the dance routines, and after weeks of auditions, I made it to the final four! But they ended up choosing 2 other girls — I was only 16, and they told me to focus on my studies. It’s hilarious though looking back. My school leavers’ book is filled with people asking for my autograph — even the Teachers 👇

Umm, does anyone wanna tell me what she meant by "interesting member"? 😂  

Anyway, back to school I went. When exams were finally over, I had no clue what to do. While figuring it out, I decided to get a job and earn some money. My mum helped me land a role in the canteen where she worked [something to do with sky broadcasting]. This opened my eyes to the world of business, but again, I knew that I was destined for greater things other than selling sandwiches so I enrolled in a part-time evening course studying Web Design, way back when you had to learn code to build one. Though that path didn’t quite take off, my love for the digital world was already beginning.

So, what did I do? I started a career in insurance, of course!🤷🏻‍♀️ But unsurprisingly, it wasn’t for me. I felt like a caged animal, stuck following scripts and chasing KPIs and targets. I knew I was meant for something different.

But different it wasn’t. I returned to the busy, bustling salon environment I knew and loved — this time as a Nail Technician. It felt like home again. Creating mini works of (nail) art, allowing my creativity to shine. Before long, I decided to start my own business, becoming self-employed and training in other areas of the beauty industry. Social media was growing in popularity and I designed all my own stationery, price lists, and posters — I loved every bit of it. But there was a downside… the hours were unsociable. And as a 20-something, enjoying the fruits of life, I wanted my evenings and weekends back.

So, I upped sticks again and found myself working in… you guessed it, Customer Service!🤦🏻‍♀️It was a big, open-plan office with all the departments on one floor. I worked in stationery & workwear, alongside accounts, customer service, and… the Design Team. I was in awe! Watching them design logos, print materials, and more, I knew that was where I wanted to be.

So when a junior designer position opened up, I jumped at the chance. But with no training and no clue what Adobe even was at the time, I didn’t make the cut (and rightly so!) Still, the spark inside me was flickering, and I knew it wasn’t over yet.

About a year later, I landed what to me back then, was my absolute dream job — I literally ran away and joined the circus! (Okay, I hardly ran away… I was their UK office manager, but still!) Showbiz, sparkle, sequins (yes, I wore sequins to the office!) — it was incredible, designing their show posters, organising events and helping schools raise £1000’s. But after four years, a global pandemic, and some serious burnout, (I’ll save that for another time) I knew I had to leave. But what could possibly follow running two UK circuses? Everything else just sounded… boring!

Just another day at the office!

I started offering my admin skills as a VA, but something felt off. I felt like I was playing a character, having to “act” professionally when all I wanted to do was be creative and listen to music! Then when a few people asked if I could help with their social media, I thought, can I? I didn’t really know much about social media. I’d dabbled in graphic and web design in the past, but never really progressed. I guess I never felt good enough — there are so many amazing creative people out there already! Could I really make a career of it?

So, I did what any self-respecting Queen of Reinvention would do — I LEVELLED UP! I took every free and paid course I could find, smashed my Level 2 Digital Marketing diploma, and now I’m diving into Level 3. I’ve fallen in love with the creativity, the strategy, the stats, the storytelling — every bit of it. And if you love what you do, can you really call it work?

So, here I am, figuring it all out, one social media post at a time. It’s been a wild ride, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. If you’re on your own journey of reinvention, or just curious about the digital marketing world, let me know, or follow along! Let’s connect, share stories, have fun, and maybe even learn a thing or two!

Stay awesome, stay you,

Love, Leeanne x

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