Entrepreneurs Month: Amazing Grace

But her journey to becoming a successful entrepreneur has been beset with harrowing barriers. She is a shining example of how, with enough determination, drive and dedication, the entrepreneurial mind-set can win out even against the toughest odds.

In our second in a series of articles for Coutts Entrepreneurs Month, Grace tells her story and shares her thinking on what makes someone successful.

My name is Grace...

...and I am an entrepreneur.

My workplace well-being company, WorkSpa, supports organisations across the UK to help them improve employee productivity, satisfaction and welfare. We provide a range of holistic services to support the mental and physical well-being of employees. This month we celebrated supporting our 60th client.

But this is a far cry from what my life once looked like: a long-term battle with addiction to escape the reality of losing my father at 15 to Parkinson’s disease, being raped at 17 and the death of my boyfriend at 19.

I was raised by my single mother, who taught me the value of education and to never become a victim of my circumstances. My father was sick and, when I would visit him, I massaged his hands to help reduce the tension from his medication – unaware that massage and well-being would later become my destiny.

I was assaulted shortly after he passed away, and left the area to keep safe, travelling down to sixth form while in hiding in the hope of getting a place at Bristol University. I did. But during my first year my supportive and caring boyfriend was murdered.

Against all odds, I graduated. But this was not through a healthy response to my adversities. I simply shut them out, suppressing my pain through alcohol and drugs.

three ways to create a mind-set of change

At 28, I ran into the man who had harmed me and realised I could no longer hide from the pain. I took him to court, and he was later sentenced to 13 years in prison. This was my trigger to change, and there were three things that helped me do so. I believe these things can apply to any number of circumstances, not just my own, and can be particularly useful for entrepreneurs.

• Self-empowerment: a successful entrepreneur must be aware of who they are and their strengths and weaknesses. If you are able to accept this, you become empowered to overcome your weaknesses and maximise your strengths.
• Accepting change: once you have recognised your strengths and weaknesses, you must look to change yourself for the better. Knowing when and what to change is key to becoming the best version of oneself.
• Facing your fears: I have learnt that change is not be feared but only to be understood. The more we understand, the less we fear and the more resilient we become.

Following years of self-destructive behaviour, I made the decision to change and followed my passion to start my business. I remembered the difference it made to my father’s well-being all those years earlier and wanted to help others.

Realising I had to become more serious about my life, I checked into rehab; I am now more than two years sober.

Starting from scratch

With the help of The Prince’s Trust enterprise programme I developed my business plan. The programme provides support for young people like me, teaching them the skills to set up a business through mentorship and training.