It takes a village.
When you set your mind on something and it seems like a heavy weight to hold, let alone execute, you really do need a support system.
The Confidence Star has been part of my assignment for so long. I just needed a platform, someone who believed in it as much as I did.
It’s strange because the star was born 16 years ago. For a little boy called Cameron, then in 2016 we officially made the physical star for my son Quincy who was diagnosed with autism and I wanted him to know how to cheer for himself. The peace of mind I had going to bed knowing that if I wasn’t around, he would have the ability to cheer for himself.
In 2017 a nonverbal boy called David stood in front of the star, I guided his hand over the statements on the star. I was watching him through the reflection and I saw one giant teardrop run down his face after rubbing his finger across the last statement: “I like myself”. I knew then this was bigger than me and my family. We started delivering assemblies in schools across the UK. We started sending them to Australia, Somalia, Spain, Nigeria, America and recently there’s one in Bali.
My challenge is – I can only spread them as fast as I can speak.
Until Sarah Thorne suggested I produce some stars as awards for her team. Last year the stars were delivered and I watched the power of the words for professional women. Sarah said to me that night: “I think every woman needs a star, to remind them how far they have come and remind them who they are and what they can achieve.”
Then she said: “Leave it with me!”
12 months later she said, I’m in!
Tears rolled down my face as I held the phone to my ear. My first thought was, thank God! I don’t have to do this alone anymore! The incredible Jane Lambert is spreading them to the children who are struggling and going through assessments for ADHD and autism. But I didn’t have someone speaking for the women and leaders. Until Sarah Thorne. Next, the focus is on the young adults.
If you want to go fast – go alone, if you want to go far – go together!
Collaboration is not something I’ve learned in the last 20 years of running businesses. I’m more of a transactional person usually. But thanks to Leila Alinaghian, PhD, who sat me down in term two of my Master's degree at Cranfield School of Management did I finally learn the rules of collaboration, and I will be grateful forever.
Thank you Sarah Thorne, Dr Julie Mills OBE, Lisa McDonald for all your support.
Huge thank you to Neville Tosar for being the man behind making the stars. Without Nev and his team, we would have nothing! It takes a village they say.
