I hope you are all enjoying reading our Powertex UK certified tutors success stories. Here is another by our design Team member Donna Mcghie. I hope you find this one an inspiring read as much as I did. Are you looking for a change of career? To find out how to become a certified tutor in your area send an email with a bit about yourself to info@powertex.co.uk.
How I Came to be making a Powertex Sculpture in my local bank
A few years ago I
was lucky enough to be accepted onto the Lloyds Bank Social EntrepreneurScheme.
With a background of
working with mental health charities and inclusion work I have always used
creativity as a way of engaging with people.
And I firmly believe that mental health wellbeing is important all for of
us, even those who are lucky enough to wake up every morning bright eyed and bushy tailed. Each and every one of us (I think) can
benefit from having a creative outlet of some sort or another.
The beauty of
Powertex Workshops is their accessibility. There really is a powertex workshop that is
suitable for everyone.
This is a way of thinking that comes naturally to me, and because of that I feel very comfortable in my role as a Powertex Tutor.
What I’m not naturally comfortable with, is the role of business woman.
However, on the Lloyds Bank
Social Entrepreneur Scheme, under the guidance of a wonderful mentor, my mindset began to change. I learnt about business plans. I learnt about money management. I learnt about keeping accurate financial
records. All of which, as a ’creative
person, I had shied away from before.
So it really tickled
me when I was asked if I would consider sitting in the lobby of my local Lloyds
bank to do one of my fabric sculptures and talk to people about the scheme.
Me? The worst money management person in the
world? Talking with some sort of
authority in a bank? They were having a
laugh, surely.
But one of the other
things I learnt on the scheme, was to say yes to things. So I did.
I said yes. And that is how I
ended up sitting in my local bank, creating an angel out of Powertex.
People were
interested. People stopped to chat. People asked about Powertex, about my
business, about the scheme. Someone even came up with a name for my angel. Penny, what a perfect name for someone
created in a bank.
So the day was a
success. I was a success. And that’s another important thing I have
learnt. Not to be scared of
success. Not to be shy of saying when
something has worked out well. Not to belittle what I have achieved so far. These are the photos that were taken on the day. (I made sure to put lots of protective floor covering down, as I find it impossible to work without making a mess!)
So thanks to
Powertex, and to the Lloyds Bank Social Entrepreneur Scheme, I am now saying
yes to a lot more things. As a
result I have been interviewed more than once on local radio staions, and am due to be being filmed for local media running a workshop.
Is it scary? Umm, yes. Really
scary actually, for a natural introvert like myself.
Would I recommend it?
Absolutely. I'm learning that as long as I am myself when I'm interviewed, I can, and do, quite enjoy the process.
Positive
affirmations are like marmite, you love them or loathe them. I’m a fan as long as they are not too
syrupy. My favourite ever is ‘jump and
the net will appear.’ Well I
jumped. It wasn’t quite a leap of faith,
as thanks to the Lloyds Bank scheme, I have my business foundations well in place. But it was still pretty daunting standing on that edge and plucking up the courage to go for it. But I'm so glad I did.
And really, you can’t go far wrong with
Powertex can you? I'd love to know where Powertex has taken you.
You can find out more about my workshops on my website www.artandmurals.co.uk or my facebook page www.facebook.com/artmuralsbydonnamcghie
