I work, alongside my mum in our family company of Pam Brown Mortgages, and I specialise in protection. It is my job to make sure all clients understand the importance of insurances for both the mortgage and their family, and therefore I deal with everything from life insurance, income protection, children’s critical illness cover and everything in between.
At this point, I believe it would be typical for me to say it starts at 5 a.m. with a gym workout and meditation before starting the working day – that would be a lie! I’ve never been a morning person, and I don’t believe I ever will be. My usual morning starts around 7 a.m. with a 5k dog walk, before heading into the office for 9:30 to start the working day. I like to schedule in as many client appointments as possible back-to-back in the mornings, before lunch, so then I know how I can schedule and manage my afternoon and evening work.
Admin. If I have planned my day correctly, I try and schedule in client appointments in the morning in the hope that they turn into business. I will then spend the afternoon doing the application processes and admin side of things. I do not have any admin help, so I complete the whole process from start to finish – therefore, I need to make sure everything is planned out for each individual client.
For me – some would say this is lucky and some would disagree – I am self-employed, and therefore the working day isn’t just 9 to 5. I much prefer to work in the evenings, and I do find that to be the most productive time. This is because the majority of our clients work within the day and are therefore most contactable during the evenings – or sometimes I just find that I have less distractions when it comes to finishing off the admin side of things.
I love my job, and I don’t necessarily see it as work. If a client needs me at 6 in the morning or 10 at night, I am always available – that’s the beauty of having emails and being able to do this job from wherever you are. However, my favourite thing in the world to do is travel, and so I do plan as many holidays as possible throughout the year, where I will shut down for a few days at a time.
I get to spend the day getting to know people. Talking about death and cancer and children dying may take its toll on some people but, for me, it’s just the reality of this job and I absolutely love it. It opens people up in a way that you don’t experience by speaking to people at the supermarket. You learn about their worries and experiences, and you really get to know certain people.
I am the biggest foodie – but I also am celiac and therefore have been gluten free for the last 10 years. Cooking delicious meals has become one of my favourite things to do, however I am very lucky to have an Italian partner who can cook the best Italian food – think pasta, risottos, pizzas and breads every night.
Walking and going to the spa. I think everyone needs a little bit of me time, so getting out into the fresh air for a walk or run to clear the mind always helps, or spending half an hour of my day in the sauna focusing on my breathing and relaxation.
Comparison is the thief of joy. Never compare yourself to someone else, unless you’ve walked in their shoes; you have no idea what journey they have been on. Just be you, and if you do what you love and go to bed fulfilled and happy every night, continue to do that.
Extremely important. Having people around you that you know won’t judge you if you ask a question, or who support you without question, is so essential. This has got me through situations throughout the last four years in this role. There have been many times where imposter syndrome has kicked in, and having people around me say ‘you’ve got this’ has got me through.
You don’t need any formal education for this role. I do have a degree in Education, and a master’s degree in real estate development, but I cannot say I’ve used that knowledge throughout this journey. You learn something new every single day and, if you are willing to learn, you don’t need anything else.
