Beth’s story
Beth Derry is one of the most experienced sustainability copywriters out there. She helps the world's most influential companies and business leaders talk about the big stuff, from climate change and human rights to cyber security and business ethics.
Beth joined Vision 20/20 because she was on the cusp of taking a new professional direction. She felt ready to move forward, but needed some support and inspiration to help her get started. This is her story.
I want to be thriving and waking up inspired every day
When I decided to sign up to Vision 20/20 I was at a cliff edge - but not in the negative sense.
I have a great job that interests me – I write about good stuff and I don’t have to look for work. But I was taking most of what came my way just to pay the mortgage and I knew there was more I wanted.
I’d been on quite a journey and it felt like I was ready to stretch my wings and fly - I just needed some support and inspiration first.
“I had had all these ideas and this energy, but I’d been too scared to let it out. However, it no longer felt comfortable to do nothing. ”
I knew I didn’t want to let my fears stop me from discovering what more was possible. I wanted to be thriving and waking up inspired every day, rather than just some days.
Having reached my mid-forties, I was at a place in my life where I knew I could trust my instincts and that I’d be able to make things work – so I had no doubts about starting the program.
Beth reflects on her journey at Happy Startup Summercamp
I had thought of myself as a freelancer, not a startup
I’d been following The Happy Startup School for a long time and dipping in and out, but thought of myself as a freelancer, not a startup.
However, I shifted my thinking the more I believed that I can shape my work and start creating on my own terms.
This allowed me to step away from being someone whose time was mostly owned by others, and to start thinking about what I wanted to do and the impact I could have personally.
“I felt a real fit with the happy startup community and why the program was right for me”
What is the direction I want to go in that is truly authentically me?
I haven’t always received the support I needed to build my confidence in the past, which has limited my self belief. Being part of the program helped heal those past wounds.
The kind and encouraging support I received from my fellow participants was new to me which is why it was so impactful.
I could feel myself changing as the programme progressed and the feeling of being more clear and confident hasn’t gone away.
I now feel ready to share my thoughts with the world and to help leaders connect their heads with their hearts.
I had started the program with the question “What is the direction I want to go in that is truly authentically me?”.
“By going through the program I managed to find the answer. ”
Connect with Beth on LinkedIn or follow her amazing new project Lovely Messy Humans, on a mission to change the conversation around teenage self-harm.
