Coffee with Janene Spencer

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Janene Spencer

Freelance Graphic Designer and Ooobop Blogger

Age: 53 

Coffee Location: Coffees at The Swallow75 Goldhawk Road, London W12 8EH 

Describe your career path in two or three sentences including any twist or turns ending with where you are now and where you see your future.

I’ve been a graphic designer since I was 18. And I’m currently self-employed.

KB: Did you always want to be self-employed?

No, It was a panicked decision following a redundancy from an advertising agency I’d been working at for 11 years. I turned up to work one day and there was a sign on the door saying offices closed due to nonpayment of rent. I was devastated, in stark contrast to some of the older people who were almost relieved. Later that day, I received a phone call from a friend of mine who’d left a year earlier to start up his own business, he had heard about what had happened and offered me some freelance work to fill the gap whilst I was looking for a new job... starting the following Monday!

That “gap” lasted seven years but technically, I was self-employed from that point on. The job was fun and in the West End and I worked with some great clients but then I fell out terribly with my friend — that old adage: never work with friends and family, echoing loud and clear — and I walked out. I have never done that before or since. I was in a total panic and my partner said why don’t you go ”properly” self employed’. So I updated my CV and signed up with some agencies and within two weeks I was working. It happened. I didn’t make an active choice. I don’t think I have ever made an active choice about anything! 

What decision / experience proved to be the most helpful to your career?

Fear. Absolutely. Fear of not being able to pay rent, fear of my work not being good enough, fear of being out of work. I left home at an early age, I didn’t go to university and I had just a handful of O-Levels and an A-Level in art, I had no savings or financial support of any kind. At one point it was just me and my daughter. I had to make it work. Fear is like rocket fuel!  

What do you think are the most important qualities for sustaining a fulfilling career(s) as you grow older?

Fear obviously! Also, finding work that is relevant to what you enjoy and finding people you are inspired by. There needs to be a lure to a job. If it’s not fulfilling, you’re not going to work hard and if you don’t work hard you’re not doing your best and you won’t stay very long. Also, not putting all your eggs in one basket. Juggling multiple clients is far less risky than having just the one or two large clients. 

What advice would you give your 20 year old self knowing what you do now?

I am not sure I’d do anything differently. My naivety, eagerness to learn and respect for everyone who was willing to teach me has got me far. To have had more faith in myself would have led me down a different path for sure. I would probably tell myself to speak to lots of people in order to make more informed decisions. You probably in your gut know what to do but in order to realise it you need to hear confirmation from lots of people. Everyone will tell you something different so listen to everyone before making up your own mind.

And, I definitely would tell my 20-year old self not to freak out too much out about making mistakes because these are the things that later in life you will be glad you made then and not now. They propel you further, quicker, so the earlier you can make those mistakes the better. 

What are the biggest challenges for people wanting to make a career re-entry or re-invention later life?

Tricky one. I can’t ever imagine not working. I am pretty sure I would never consider completely re-inventing my career, doing something completely out of my comfort zone. That seems a bit crazy given I am quite happy with what I am doing.

KB: What about your sewing and Ooobop blog? Is that an re-invention?

JP: I am passionate about sewing and I have branched out to take dressmaking commissions. Half of which have come from work connections. So there are little branches off my career path that I’ve added to what I already do.

KB: The Idea of branches is really nice.  You can experiment and see where they go — they may blossom or they may not.  

JS: I think of extensions rather than re-inventions. I can’t see myself ever making enough money from dressmaking alone, but it has opened up new possibilities and opportunities for me. For example, just recently I was commissioned to design and make a wedding dress and at the wedding itself another guest approached me to collaborate with her at a sustainable-fashion event. Sometimes, it’s all down to a chance meeting and being open to the way life zigs and zags. Just do what you do and love what you do and people will recognise your talent and want to work with you. Being creative is never really going to earn you lots money but on a day to day basis you will be happy to have the joy of doing something you love. For me this is a better pay off than being miserable every day to earn a big fat paycheck! 

What are the opportunities for people wanting to work into their 50s, 60s and beyond.  

JS: This is a tricky one for me too. Depends on the industry, I guess.

KB: So what about graphic design?

JS: Design isn’t age-ist, well not that I’ve experienced in children’s publishing houses. Although people are surprised when they find out how old I am because mostly they are younger than my eldest daughter — a lot are straight out of uni with maybe five years on top of that but there are older people as well. I don’t feel like I am 50 when I am working with a 20-year old.

By being older, I feel like I have an added advantage — I know a lot more than they do and I like the response when I can show people different ways of doing something and why we do it that way — there’s a banter about what you know especially, among the people who are quite into what they are doing. I like the benefit of being a bit older but I also like the benefit of forgetting how old I am with younger people. I don’t feel out of place and I can still drink them under the table!  

What is your top tip for staying relevant in today’s job market

Definitely keeping up with technology. I make a point of updating and renewing my hardware and software so I’m never behind the times. Social media is definitely your friend. Social media connects you with some amazing communities and can potentially get you a job if you put the word out in the right way. It can get you noticed and give you a massive instant audience. I never had that in my 20s! Opportunities are everywhere online.  But don’t forget to get out and talk to real people too — face to face conversations are still important.

You also need to be confident about your work. If you are confident then people have confidence in you. I can be the most nervous, unconfident person — I’m useless at selling myself but if I stop and think about how much experience I’ve got compared to other people I work with, it is definitely something to be proud of and if you can champion your own experience, you’ll have the ultimate edge over a 20 year old. In any case, the idea is to keep creative and carry on! 

Recommendation: Favourite book to read, podcast to listen or website to browse while drinking coffee?

Sadly not much time for reading, but I do listen to a lot of podcasts. I like listening to people that are passionate about what they are doing — it’s so uplifting and makes me think I can be like that or I can do that too. I’d recommend Creative Pep Talk — the host, Andy J. Miller is a bit over excited and a little crazy but I quite like him. ProBlogger I listen to for help and advice with my sewing blog. Entrepreneurs on Fire is another one.

And then Ted Talks — I listen to them mostly when I run. I run when have a head full of stuff. It’s the best way to untangle everything! I like the randomness of the talks because there is usually something that clears the noise and help me focus on what they are saying rather than the thing that is bothering me.  

You can follow Janene on Instagram @ooobop

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