Coffee with Charlotte Frische

Charlotte Frische

Founder and Director of How To Associates

Coffee in Chiswick 

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

The common thread in my career has always been people. From working in sales for my Father’s business to working in bars, acting, to managing clients in banking and finally executive coaching.  So whilst there have been many twists in turns with the roles and titles, my curiosity and love of people has always been centre stage. Looking ahead, I want to fulfill my potential by encouraging others to fulfil theirs. 

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

The decision to trust my heart and choose to do what I love!  I always wanted to be an actor and there were many other talented friends at school who would have loved to be actors too but many of them chose the safer route, by being lawyers or consultants.  And whilst I did not make a career out of acting, it has been a key stepping stone to my current career. Most of the decisions I have made, apart from banking, have been to follow my heart and my curiosity. 

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

Courage, self-belief and perseverance. We started How To in a bull market and within 6 months we were flying to New York delivering training for a number of companies and I thought ‘this is easy’.  Suddenly, the financial crash of 2008 hit and we had no bookings for 3 months. I started to take it personally and worry it was about me. Rationally, I knew it was the global economy and not me! So I had to give myself a firm talking to. That was a real test of my self-belief. 

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

It’s all going to be okay. 

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

The biggest challenge is fear! People are afraid they are not good enough. But there are so many successful people who have encouraged us to set fear aside: if you doubt your power you give power to your doubts (Honore de Balzac) or if you think you can or you think you can’t you’re right (Henry Ford), or Eleanor Roosevelt’s ‘do one thing every day that scares you’. As Susan Jeffrey’s book says ‘Feel the Fear and do it anyway’. 

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

Infinite. If you really want opportunities. If you want a job or a safe income; that is not the same thing as wanting opportunities. Start with your imagination first. Dream big. Take your time dreaming. Wait. Let more ideas percolate. Then start looking at what’s a possible first step. And then take action. 

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

Be yourself. If you are doing something you genuinely love it won’t feel like work. When you are genuinely interested in what you are doing you will be relevant because you will be all over your specialist subject or interest like a rash! 

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

Tim Ferriss Tools of Titan. A lot of people are searching for answers but if you read this book you realise there is no formula. And there are rarely fast formulas! 

There are lots of stories people believe about returning to work as a more‌ ‌mature woman —  there are no jobs or that it is more difficult for a woman and all that kind of stuff. And maybe it’s true.  But I think you if you follow your heart, you’ll want to get up every morning and take the world on!