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“Marie-Gon has made me realize that I am truly capable of doing this. I originally come from a small Flemish village. After a stint in Ireland, I ended up in London, where for the past 20 years I’ve managed communications for government construction projects. In that role, I’ve gained a wealth of practical knowledge about keeping projects on track, ensuring they are delivered on time and within budget. For a while now, I’ve been toying with the idea of combining this expertise with my interior design studies to launch my own business, to create more freedom in terms of where and when I work. But then again, who do I actually know in London, and just how good am I?”
I was feeling a bit unsure and was looking for a European mentor to help expand my knowledge. I found Marie-Gon through Instagram. After 23 years living as an expat in English-speaking countries, it’s a wonderful gift to have a Dutch-speaking coach. On top of that, Marie-Gon is a top-tier professional in the field.
She is a mentor in the true sense of the word: generous with her advice, patient, wise, and very easy to talk to. Sometimes, experts are reluctant to share their knowledge for fear that their students might outshine them, but not Marie-Gon. She genuinely delights in the leaps forward that her ‘mentees’ make. She has helped me realize that I am truly capable of doing this.
Stepping off the corporate treadmill
I have always had an affinity for interiors, culture, and art. I’ve also renovated my own properties. That inspired others to ask me for help, an Irish friend building a house on the coast, a friend who opened a café, her parents. That’s when it dawned on me: this is how I can step off the corporate treadmill.
Although the idea of establishing myself as an interior designer in London initially felt daunting, I have now launched my company, Atelier KTJ – thanks to a ‘vote of confidence’ from Marie Gon.
I knew immediately that I wanted to work with Marie Gon, even though I had to take on extra work to afford it. She recognizes my strengths and patiently guides me in a direction I hadn’t seen myself. I can ask her for advice on anything – pricing, products, my website layout, you name it. If things aren’t going smoothly, she senses it intuitively and sends me an email to offer encouragement.
“You have someone looking over your shoulder; it’s really helpful.”
I get a lot out of Marie-Gon’s masterclasses. And if I ever need anything else, I just send her an email, she always responds. She asks good, critical questions, helps you move forward when you’re stuck, and possesses such a wealth of experience and insight; it’s an enormous asset for me. It’s wonderful to have someone looking over your shoulder.
A mind of its own
I have no idea what the coming year will look like, given the current economic situation. Will I lose my job, or will I have to resign in a few months because I’m simply overwhelmed with work as an interior designer? Who knows? You can try to plan everything, but life has a mind of its own.
I now have some great projects in my portfolio, backed by strong testimonials. I keep getting new assignments through word-of-mouth I just finished one for an art gallery in the heart of London. For the time being, I’m still able to balance this with my regular job. Marie-Gon has been a huge help in that regard, too. “If you take a day off for a project, make sure that day is well-utilized,” she advised. “Don’t take time off just to work on your website; you can do that in the evenings or on the weekend.” These kinds of small nudges keep me moving in the right direction, ensuring I take the necessary steps to turn my dream into a success and eventually reach a point where I can work whenever and wherever I choose.