I am someone who has always known what my next career steps would be, tactically and strategically planning ahead. When I found out I was going to be made redundant at 32 weeks pregnant you could say I was feeling a little overwhelmed, and extremely invisible to the career sharks above me.
I’ve always been extremely ambitious and career orientated, and the idea of not having a role to go back to once my parental leave was over was not a welcome thought.
I interviewed for three in-house counsel roles in the lead up to my redundancy, on each occasion telling my interviewees I was pregnant and on each occasion being told I had come second for the role.
I was frustrated and confused.
As the old saying goes “there are many paths that our lives will take us on, but fate is a one way street” and when I was approached by the new owners of the company I had just sold to work as a contractor to them for 2 days a week, as they say, the rest is history.
I started work as my own firm the day after I left my old job. Working for the one foundation client I had until I was 39 weeks pregnant and then I took 6 weeks off. After that I worked when baby Nicola was sleeping for the next 3 or 4 months and then a lot of people started asking me if I could take on new matters.
Soon the amount of work became overwhelming, I needed help! At this moment I had a sudden vision of an alternate reality. My vision was me working flexible, realistic hours that suited my already hectic lifestyle, and passing this freedom on to other people, and in particular other working mothers.
Cut to two years in and I’m standing amongst 100 business contacts friends and family launching my new book, after also just winning the Telstra Business Women’s Award (Start Up).
Being visible is how I differentiate my business in a crowded marketplace. It’s being brave when the last thing I want to do is be visible. It’s using my personal profile in PR, photography, You Legal TV and memes on social media to leverage my business and personal brand to get noticed.
You don’t need to be a business owner to be visible.
I think being visible is setting yourself apart from the competition. Put yourself up for that promotion. Believe in yourself. Email the CEO. Talk to someone influential at an event. Take yourself out of your comfort zone, no kidding, it’s where the magic happens. Make sure your managers know how much hard work you have been putting in to your work.
In a sea of old school traditional legal firms who are doing the same things they’ve always done, I’ve chosen to be visible and show personality behind the brand, and the values we stand for; to be unstoppable, fresh, thoughtful and to have my clients and team loving their lives.
The result – I am working toward a 1 million + turnover this financial year, I saw a 400% growth in You Legal in its first year of operating, investors are approaching me, I was the winner of this year’s Start Up award winner at the South Australian Telstra Business Women’s Awards and have just released my debut book, How to Avoid a Fall from Grace: Legal Lessons for Directors.
One of the most visible women in history, Oprah Winfrey, once said “Luck is preparation meeting the moment of opportunity”. Luck alone does not bring success. In order to be truly lucky, you must study, learn, reach out, engage and prepare! When you are prepared, then you will see moments of opportunity ready for the taking.
While daunting at first, in order to truly succeed you need to ensure you are prepared to be the face of your success and step out in to the limelight.
Sarah Bartholomeusz, aged 36 years old is married with two young children and lives and works from Adelaide, South Australia. CEO of her start up business You Legal, Sarah set up the law firm after being made redundant from her role as an in-house lawyer when she was 32 weeks pregnant.
Sarah, recently won the 2015 Start Up Award at the Telstra Business Women’s Awards in the South Australia category, was a finalist in the national Telstra Start Up Award category and has just released her very first book titled How to Avoid a Fall from Grace: Legal Lessons for Directors.