This is a snippet of how my life was…

I decided I wanted to be a lawyer at age 13 – I wanted a decent income, a desk, a computer and a briefcase. By age 35 I was forced to stop and re-evaluate my life goals.

On the one hand I had the new house, supportive husband, beautiful boys, successful legal business, but on the other hand, I felt like I was letting my children down on a daily basis and I certainly didn’t feel happy. I didn’t feature anywhere in my list of priorities. When I asked myself who Hannah was, I didn’t have an answer that didn’t start with the word lawyer.

On the one hand I had the new house, supportive husband, beautiful boys, successful legal business, but on the other hand, I felt like I was letting my children down on a daily basis and I certainly didn’t feel happy.

I felt there was a huge hole that my career, family and business weren’t filling. I felt guilty about the amount of time I wasn’t spending with the children, or at least without a phone in my hand. Becoming self-employed was my dream, what had happened?

Where was the happiness at the end of the rainbow?

I’ve been a commercial property lawyer since 2006, I’ve run projects, managed teams and helped recruit and train younger lawyers. At the same time as juggling clients and managing expectations. For 6 years I’ve run my own legal business as part of a challenger law firm. This role sees me act as business advisor and general “go to” person for many of my lovely clients. (I can choose who I work with now that it’s my business!)

I know what it’s like to be a wife, mum to now 3(!) adorable boys and to climb the corporate ladder with a constant eye on the finances and the future. It’s one hell of a balancing act.

I’ve heard many other lawyers, friends and parents share similar stories.

When it all changed…

Late in 2015 I realised that I’d achieved (and exceeded) all of my goals, but something was missing inside and the emptiness hurt. What did I do to fix it when I already had everything I’d wanted? This realisation hit me so hard.

The timing was “perfect” looking back, although at the time it felt rubbish! My Dad had just been diagnosed with cancer and we were waiting for the ultimate prognosis.  Facing the thought that my rock and constant supporter might not always be there, made everything so much harder.

When I started having panic attacks while my 2 year old slept upstairs, I knew something had to change.   It couldn’t just be tinkering around the edges, something new for a few weeks or months.  I need wholescale life changes.

After much studying and investment in myself, I tried out everything that anyone I trusted recommended to me (and actually I still do!)  I found a set of daily habits I could adopt. I went from the burnt out lawyer and feeling like a failing mum, to the happy, fulfilled and excited version of me that I am today. I feel that I live with real purpose and I’m not waiting for the next career goal, pay rise or house move to bring me happiness.  Happiness is around everyday when you know where to look for it!

I’m passionate about helping other women to make a real change in their lives and also about working towards a change in the culture around stress in law. It doesn’t have to be part and parcel of the job. We don’t have to lose so many highly trained lawyers through long term illness or because they decide that they can’t balance work and family life.

It can change for you too.

It is possible to have it all – success, happiness and peace.

Whether you want to climb the corporate ladder, enjoy where you are with peace, or maybe run your own business with joy, ease and success – all without burning out, I’ll show you how. I’ve condensed these into manageable steps you can weave into your already busy life, if you’re willing to take that decision and make a change.

It is possible to have it all – success, happiness and peace.

It is possible for you to wake up happy and excited to start the day knowing you can cope with the daily stresses without losing so much of yourself that there’s nothing left for your family, colleagues or clients.

There’s a way to feel motivated and inspired so that you can live your life and have your career, the way you want it to be. That’s what I and authentically speaking, are all about.