At 45, I finally have the life I always aspired to lead

When I turned 41, I decided to completely change careers – and it helped me create the life I always dreamed of.

Between the ages of twenty and thirty, I lived in France and worked in the hospitality industry for 15 years, running luxury ski chalets, working as a chef and teacher.

I enjoyed my career in France, but after the birth of my daughter, I wondered about a change. My job in hospitality was physically and mentally demanding and involved unsociable working hours.

Ready for a change, my husband, daughter and I moved to the Isle of Man following the opportunity my husband had to start a business on the island.

My initial goal was to settle our family into our new home while working in a teaching role on the island. However, after having our second child, I was ready for a new challenge.

I wanted to make a change in my 40s to give myself more flexibility with my family – and an idea quickly formed in my head about how to do this.

A change in midlife

As soon as we moved to the Isle of Man, I felt perfectly connected to the local community. I immersed myself in island life. I am a natural creative and I felt a desire to do something related to the island.

The Isle of Man is unique as it is the only entire nation in the world to be designated a UNESCO biosphere. It is an international mark of excellence, awarded in recognition of the island’s unique flora and fauna. This also means that businesses on the island are striving to achieve a better balance between people and nature.

I knew I wanted to do something related to my passion for food and after observing salt crystals forming along an island beach, I saw an opportunity to produce my own sea salt here , locally and sustainably. I started collecting buckets of salt water and boiling it at home to create salt crystals.

From those first steps, I saw that there was an opportunity to start a business – I had a lightbulb moment.

The more I researched and refined my plan, the more I saw the opportunity to combine my interest in food and the Isle of Man biosphere. Sea salt was produced locally on the island hundreds of years ago. It was an opportunity for me to revive the tradition of an island producing its own food products in a sustainable way.

The Isle of Man already has a vibrant food and drink sector, home to a wide range of artisan producers. So it was exciting to get involved in this growing industry.

Initial concerns

There were of course wobbles and hesitations throughout the process of launching my business, but as I went along, I gained confidence in realizing that I wasn’t starting from scratch and that I had already a lot of knowledge that could help me in my journey.

Another thing that helped me was a fantastic support system. That’s the beauty of island life. You are very connected to local authorities, which makes it easy to talk to people in government, which has been very helpful in starting a business.

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A change of pace

The main thing that’s changed since starting my business is my work-life balance: I have the lifestyle I’ve always aspired to.

I can be there for the children. Living by the sea allows me to go swimming regularly, which makes me feel incredibly grounded. I am proud of what I have created and feel truly driven by passion for what I do.

Tips for those wanting a quarantine change

1. Remember that you are not starting from scratch

When I decided to retrain, I told myself that I was returning to skills that I had built during my life in hospitality and teaching. I knew I had to use them to my advantage. It will be the same for other middle-aged women. Don’t worry because you’re not going in blind.

2. Don’t be afraid to fail

I have faced many challenges in my career. Don’t see failure as a bad thing but as a guide and indicator. I went through a period of trial and error to figure out what I wanted to do after moving to the Isle of Man. This process allowed me to come up with an idea that might work. Try to view failure as a way to learn.

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3. Remember why you want change

Change is intimidating, but it is also a gift. The leap of faith I took transformed my life and that of my family for the better.

4. Celebrate and support women

When I was setting up Isle of Man Salt Co, I started following the Female Founders Rise movement. Their work inspired me when I found myself in difficult situations. They highlight the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs. I believe celebrating women entrepreneurs creates a ripple effect, inspiring others to take the same step. This is what I want to show my own daughter and other women.

Learn more about Isle of Man Salt Co.