Many of us decide to turn over a new leaf for the New Year, but for some brave souls it presents an opportunity to change their whole career and lifestyle - here's how one reader did it, and how you can do it too.
Jon Cope
Helen Knox-Johnston, 30, worked for seven years to become a TV researcher, but having finally achieved her goal, she found she hated it. Eventually she ditched her chosen industry and set up a yoga business.
'Researching for television was always my dream job, but it turned out to be a nightmare. For every brilliant, creative person in the industry there were two complete crackpots determined to further their careers at the expense of my sanity. The stress, worry and frequent boredom quickly became unbearable, but I stuck at it. I couldn't just give up what I'd worked so hard for.' To wind down, Helen attended Saturday yoga classes. 'I was instantly hooked. It was the only place I could relax and "shine" - no mean feat, as I was frequently hungover, another feature of TV life!'
While practising at home, Helen fantasised about training as a yoga teacher. Then, after four and a half years working in TV, she was made redundant. She didn't hang about. 'Within a week, I'd left London for a month-long residential yoga training course in Dorset. It was an all-absorbing, life-changing experience. Going without TV, alcohol, caffeine and my own choice of food was tough. But gradually, through the fog of tiredness and aching limbs.
I found an incredible strength and peace of mind. Yoga was definitely my calling.' Coming back to London was tough. For the first time in years, Helen had no job, and little idea of how to start teaching. Worse, within an hour of returning, Helen's partner of four years announced that he was moving out. 'I was heartbroken but the meditation and exercise techniques I'd learned helped me keep calm.' Before long, the excitement and positivity she felt about teaching revitalised her. 'I tried to find cheap spaces locally to take classes and spent hours designing flyers, cycling round to display them in newsagent and healthfood shop windows. Finally, a local gallery offered me a beautiful space for free!'
Straightaway, Helen started teaching small classes and within a month had amassed a small but loyal following. Meanwhile, she was building a crucial network of friends in London: the tight-knit circle of yoga teachers. 'Eventually, established teachers would ask me to cover for them. I also used my TV research skills, cold-calling local gyms for teaching spots. Soon I was teaching eight classes a week while holding down a nine-to-five admin job.'
But Helen's biggest break came when she rewarded herself with a trip to Australia. 'One of the girls I met there mentioned that her yoga teacher in London wanted to sell her business. I jotted down the contact details and emailed her as soon as I got home. Two weeks later, she called and we agreed to meet. Now I've taken over her teaching space and clientele. I can hardly believe it's just 12 months since I qualified to teach yoga.'
The start-up costs of Helen's career change were relatively low - about £2,000 for initial training, plus a few pounds for publicity. Buying the business was costly, though, with rent and goodwill costing about £24,000. However, this is repayable in instalments, and Helen is confident that she will retain existing clients, as well as attracting new ones.
'Naturally, there were low points along the way - early sessions where no clients attended reduced me to tears. But the highs easily outweigh them.'
So does she have any regrets? 'No way! I'm earning a living doing something I adore that makes equal demands on my brain and body, producing an amazing feeling of balance. I feel years younger and am learning new things constantly.
'Now, at the end of a day's work, instead of feeling stressed, worn down and unappreciated, I feel alive, full of energy and calm. The satisfaction pervades every area of my life. And I really have realised my dream.'
