My guest this week on the podcast is the wonderful Becky Avery, owner of Hazel & Blue - a Wiltshire based company making soy based candles and candle making kits that smell absolutely divine. Becky is someone who has always dreamed of having her own business. Before Hazel & Blue there were several other ideas but none that made it to fruition. But a perfect storm of falling in love with the candle-making process, hitting a milestone birthday and having time off for a major operation all combined to give her the push to launch her business and she hasn’t looked back since.

• How she always dreamed of running a business
• Hitting a milestone birthday and realising she didn't want to reach retirement age and never haven't tried to start a business
• Despite enjoying her job in healthcare, there was something about following through with a business that she had built herself and which she was proud of
• Gaining confidence in speaking when you know your business inside-out
• Being thorough rather than a perfectionist
• Having her business as side-hustle gave her the opportunity to grow and develop without the financial pressure of needing significant sales
• The importance of having time to lay down the solid foundations of your brand, your why and your ethos
• In nursing the patient is at the very core of what you do and they lead the care you provide; Becky has turned this core belief round to placing her customer at the heart of what she does
• How her project management skills transferred from her nursing management role into seeing the bigger picture

• Becky's Instagram - @hazel_andblue
• Hazel & Blue website - www.hazelandbluecandles.co.uk
• Becky's Facebook page - www.facebook.com/HazelandBlueCandles
• My Instagram - @thehappysideof40
• My website - www.thehappysideof40.com
• Sign up to my monthly letter, sharing details of my research into finding a fulfilling career and career change for women - www.thehappysideof40.com/newsletter/
• Kayte Ferris at Simple & Season - www.simpleandseason.com