Midlife Mistress

20/12/2024

Always packed with thoughtful extras and special treats, big shout out to the gorgeous at for going above and beyond AGAIN with this festive parcel of goodies 🎁🎄

Give her a follow or, better still, book in for a personalised skin consultation and treatment. Her skills and service in her little haven of a studio are worth every penny - your skin will thank you 💆🏻‍♀️

20/11/2024

One of the thorniest of issues that I encounter when working with leadership teams is the discomfort of saying the things that need to be said.

Power.
Politics.
Fear.
Imposter Syndrome.
Gender bias.

Numerous things can prevent individuals and, ultimately, teams from speaking the truth and getting to the root cause of issues - it's a dynamic that I facilitate frequently as a leadership consultant.

I will be leaning into this fantastic book to up my skills further still, and recommending it to the teams I work with.

Full of top tips and practical guidance, Reitz and Higgins draw on their experience - supported by loads of well-regarded references and research - to encourage self development, reflection, and the acquisition of skills to make those tough topics a thing of the past.

Updated in this second edition to reflect today's world - where communication has never been both easier and harder - it's a must-read for anyone who finds saying what they want to a challenge, and for anyone who understands that the best way to get anyone to talk to you is to deeply listen.

*Gifted in exchange for an honest review*

11/11/2024

As an HR professional, I encounter so many tricky situations that would have been prevented had an honest conversation been had much earlier on...

The avoidance of talking about difficult situations is prolific - author shares its a whopping 70% of managers 🤯 - and we see the consequences everywhere. From missed targets, to talent leaving, to quiet quitting... the cost of avoiding conversations we perceive as 'difficult' is extremely high for businesses.

Along comes Sarah Rozenthuler's book, Now We're Talking 📖...

Based on oodles of research, it takes you step by step through how to tackle those chats you're ducking, and supports your learning with confidence-boosting exercises.

Full of self-reflection opportunities and skill-building tips, every line manager should read this book.

Grab a copy, grab a cuppa, and let's get talking!




*Gifted in exchange for an honest review*

08/11/2024

I'm going to use the 'C' word... look away now if it offends you...

CHRISTMAS.

There, I've said it...

It's coming whether we like it or not 🎄🎅

If you're struggling with what to buy the one you love (or that friend, family member, parent), then try the online shop at 💇🏼‍♀️

From vouchers to gorgeous gift boxes, they have a pamper present to suit every budget... they are SUPER helpful too if you feel out of your depth!!

I promise, your special someone will love you for it ❤️

04/11/2024

How deep is your (customers') love? 🤎

According to and his fabulous new book , it's vital that you know!

Bringing together decades of experience gained in multiple organisations with enviable brands, Tony explains how to gain (and lose) brand resonance and to quantify your Brand Velocity Score.

As the fight for brand awareness and consumer attention gathers pace, Tony walks you through what it takes to stand out and does so in a relatable way.

For big or small brands who want to gather momentum, this is the book for you 🚀

*Gifted in exchange for an honest review*

01/11/2024

We spend 90,000 hours of our lives at work... I don't know about you, but in some jobs, it's felt like I've done that in a WEEK!!

If that's how your career feels currently, then this book is for you. Whether you want to get out of or get up in your chosen profession, there is practical guidance coupled with exercises to help you make progress; it's way more than words.

Written from a place of lived experience and expertise, this fantastic book makes you feel like you're in good hands. Helping you to take control of your next move, it couldn't have come into my life at a better time.

Available to buy on NOW! 📙

*Gifted in exchange for an honest review

30/09/2024

It's the little things that can make a big difference...

And no one does 'little' better than Petite Retreat Skin Wellness.

It's the extra, thoughtful additions that Ash provides - whether you're there for a treatment or picking up your personalised skin prescription products.

29/09/2024

When life becomes 'alot', you need to pause to take a breath and lift your line of sight.

28.09.24
The sun was shining ☀️
I had an Earl Grey tea in front of me and a double fried egg sandwich in my hand 🫖🍳
My favourite person to spend time with was next to me 💖
This was our view 🤩
The waiter complimented my hair (third compliment it received yesterday!) 👩🏻‍🦰

A reminder that when life feels too much, I also need to see how lucky I am to have so much else to be grateful for.

28/09/2024

24/08/2024

Whilst he does his version of triathlon 🏊‍♂️🏃🏻🚴‍♀️I do mine 🫖💻🍳

04/07/2024

"I only have a kitchen because it came with the house" is 100% my tagline. So why have I been enchanted by the book .kitchen ??Because this is not simply a recipe book or just about the kitchen... it's about the social and psychological impact of our relationship with food.

I grew up in a family where dining together was as much about the social dynamic as it was about my mum's amazing cooking. The kitchen wasn't just where we ate, it was where we connected and communicated. Hastings captures that beautifully and transports you to a place that reconnects you with those childhood memories, helping you to explore how those shape the adult you are today. Her prompts to reflect back and scroll forward to the present through meal memories are powerful - evoking strong emotions and insights.

For many, the relationship with food is complex, and helps you to unpick that. This densely packed book has something for everyone who loves food and wants to improve their relationship with it - wherever you're starting from.

19/05/2024

No filters required.
is already beautiful enough💓

07/05/2024

I've taken off my hoodie (as much as I LOVE it 💝) and put on a frock 👗 today.

I'm off to that there London town to be a panelist at to talk about the importance of people in businesses if we want to meet our targets (or ANY business target for that matter).

I left the corporate world in March 2020. The last job I had was in the sector.

It was toxic ⚠️
People were viewed as resources. Sustainability was only talked about with regard to how many trees 🌳 the business needed to pay to be planted to offset their carbon footprint.

Obviously, none of that was reflected in their strategy or stated on the company website, but that was the reality of what it was like to work there.

I was a miserable employee, and it showed. I couldn't hold it in.

I hated them, and they hated me.
It was killing me from the inside.
My mental health was shot.

So why do I want to talk about sustainability in the construction industry today? Because I want a different experience for others than the one I had.

does NOT have to be instead of or vice versa.
Giving a cr@p about your people is not 'soft' - it has a place in hard industries.
Whole come to work wherever you work.

NOTHING is sustainable without people on board.

I'm excited for today's discussion! 🌶

03/05/2024

Next week (train strikes permitting!! 🤪) I'll be speaking at UK Construction Week about how employers can bring people with them on the sustainability journey.

I know, sounds a bit dull, right? But this is a panel of lively specialists from diverse backgrounds and perspectives on the topic, so it could get a little spicy! 🌶🌶🌶 And guaranteed a bit of sweariness from me to illustrate a point 🫢

If you're there, come and watch 👀

09/04/2024

Happy 21st Birthday to my ray of sunshine 🌤

Thank you for teaching me that love has no limits, for making me smile every time I think of you, and for being a reason to get up & keep going on the darkest days 💝

So proud of you and the gorgeous woman you've become. Have a wonderful time celebrating in Germany 🥳

19/03/2024

Could not be more grateful for and touched by my First Business Birthday gift from the gorgeous 💚

This is what 'Being Human' means and why we collaborate with amazing people like this 💙

14/03/2024

It's not the one big thing you do, it's the many small things; that's what makes a difference.

This is true in life.

It is also true in leadership.

Paying attention to the small stuff is what adds up to great leadership.

Noticing people. Seeing their nuances.

Being aware when they are present, but even more so when they are absent - and knowing why.

🚗 Are they away on business?
🏠 Working from home?
🏖 On holiday?
👨‍👩‍👦 Attending to a family issue?
🤧 Off sick?

When we view the people that work with & for us as whole humans - just like we are as leaders - we start to make deeper connections with them.

When we notice people, they feel valued and a sense of belonging.

This isn't in a grand gesture or one single interaction; it's numerous moments that reinforce to them that they matter. Doing this builds loyalty and performance.

It's simply Being Human as a leader.

Thank you to the person who noticed I'd been having a challenging few days and left some flowers on my windscreen this morning - I felt 'seen' and valued 💛

03/02/2024

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 26 - 27 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Awesome game of 🏉 today at The Principality. Soooo exciting!