6. Corporate Career To Thriving Jewellery Designer (With Karen Young)

This week on the podcast we’re joined by the jeweller Karen Young. Karen had a successful corporate career and has made the transition to following the thing she loves - jewellery - and now has two thriving businesses. If you are considering making a transition from your job to a handmade business then I know you will find hearing Karen’s story fascinating.     EPISODE RECAP Welcome (2:14) Tell us a bit about being in a corporate career and transitioning to being a jewellery designer? (3:11) We often have a lot going on - do you think the first step is to stop and realize it’s a lot? (6:36) Did you feel any guilt about leaving your job? What kind of feelings came up for you? (7:44) How did the idea of being a jewellery designer come about? (10:22) How did you train to grow a business while you were working? (13:52) Sometimes people who come from a corporate job think they don’t have skills to run a business. But you have so many skills! (17:15) Were you concerned about how your friends and family would judge your decision to leave your corporate career to start a business? (18:41) When I first said I wanted to start a jewellery business, people thought it was a hobby. Did you experience any of that? (22:05) What lessons did you learn in the first year of your business? (24:45) Take the time to look how far you’ve come (29:07) What advice would you give to anyone who is thinking about starting a handmade business? (31:00) You have two businesses - can you tell us a little bit about them and what’s next for you? (33:39) Any final advice? (39:41)     RESOURCES Karen Young Jewellery Karen Young Photography  Karen Young’s Instagram Karen Young Photography Instagram  Jewellery Photography Course