Six years ago, I started my own business- CareerTips
I started it simply- with a few articles about CVs, interview preparation, job applications and career strategy, focusing on supporting people who were trying to make their next career move. After a few initial sessions with my clients, I quickly realised that looking for a new job is never only about careers. There is more than just a CV update or interview preparation. Behind every person there is a story to share, emotions to deal with.
Over the past few years, many of the people I’ve worked with have been navigating complex transitions from career changes, relocation, burnout to navigating life and career through infertility, and pregnancy loss- experiences that profoundly shape how we experience work and life. That is what sparked my interest in supporting people who are grieving in the workplace, and in raising awareness of how little we still talk about grief at work.
CareerTips eventually became Anita Pryzmont Coaching & Consulting, simply because the new name better reflected the work I was actually doing, which is a combination between Coaching and HR Consulting.
When I look back at the last six years, what stands out most is not really the change of name or even the services I offer. It is what running my own business has allowed me to build.
Leaving a secure, well-paid corporate job and choosing to work for myself was not an easy decision. I had people around me who thought it was a great idea and supported me in every way they could. I also had people who didn’t believe it would work, suggesting me to stay with the safe option.
For many people, success still means working for a recognisable company, having a certain title or being able to attach ourselves to a well-known brand. One of the things I have noticed through my own journey, and through my work with clients, is how strongly we still connect success with some type of social status. Walking away from that can feel like losing part of your identity. There can be a fear of failure, judgement and even social rejection.
Working for myself has given me things that are incredibly valuable to me. It has allowed me to be independent. It has given me the sense of freedom and autonomy to decide how I work, who I work with and what kind of work I want to build. It has allowed me to work with clients in different countries and to continue running my business while living and working between different places.
Most importantly, it has allowed me to build my work around the areas I genuinely care about. That came from a much deeper conversation I had to have with myself six years ago: if I continued working in the same environment, what would my life and work look like a few years down the line? And what needed to change for my work to become more aligned with my values, needs and the kind of life I wanted to build?
To EVERY coaching client who chose to work with me, every company that invited me to support their employees, and every small business that trusted me with their HR challenges- THANK YOU. Working with you has helped me grow and develop as a coach, gain new perspectives, and, in many ways, grow as a person too.
To EVERY company I have consulted with or worked with over the past six years- THANK YOU for trusting me, giving me the opportunity to work with you, and allowing me to be part of your journey.
You are the reason I have been able to do this for SIX years.
A big part of this journey also belongs to the people who supported me behind the scenes.
Wendy Chin was my first coach and played an important role in helping me with the initial steps of starting my own business, building the courage and focus on my strengths I can bring. She also gave me the opportunity to support Pinnacle HR and contribute to its growth, which became an important part of my own professional journey.
My husband, Piotr, has been there from the very beginning ( I would need to write a separate article to mention all the areas where he supported me with). From business decisions to IT, accounting and all the practical things nobody really talks about when they talk about entrepreneurship- but most importantly, he gave me courage during the moments when I doubted myself.
And, as always, thank you to all the wonderful people who shared my posts, stayed in touch, and supported me along the way.
Six years of running a business certainly haven’t been six years of having everything figured out. There have been changes, doubts, mistakes, new ideas and plenty of learning along the way.
But there has also been freedom, independence, meaningful work and the opportunity to meet and support some incredible people. What is important to me is not only reaching a certain goal, but also enjoying the whole journey of learning, growing and developing along the way.
And for that, I am very grateful.
Here’s to SIX YEARS- and to whatever comes next.