This week we’re really excited to welcome Tommy Ludgate as our next My Icon Story printfluencer. Tommy is no stranger to My Icon Story and last year created her very first print as a 10 year wedding anniversary gift for her husband. The best part of this story is that I met Tommy at a female founders meet up called Found & Flourish but had no idea that she already knew about My Icon Story (and had even bought a print!)
We got chatting and she mentioned her My Icon Story and the bespoke icons I designed for it. I instantly knew exactly who she was by the print she had ordered 🙂 (We’ve added some photos at the end of this feature) It’s always such a joy meeting my customers face-to-face as it very rarely happens being an online business. More often than not, I only understand a customer’s story through the icons they choose but never really know the story behind each one and what it means to the customer. This is one of the reasons we launched our Printfluencer series, to offer founders a new visual way to share their story accompanied by some short and snappy questions to provide context.
Over to you Tommy:
TOMMY LUDGATE, BRIGHTLY IMAGINE
In a tweet (280 characters) what do you/your business do?
I am a coach for creatives. I help you to navigate being in a creative industry.
Did you have a job/career before starting your business?
My background is as a singer and vocal coach. I have released my own music and my debut album reached the Top 10 in the iTunes Blues Chart! I have been vocal coaching for 10 years and still do this alongside coaching creatives having qualified as a Life Coach.
Why did you decide to start your own business?
I have always been my own business so it was the only option really! Whether it has been as a performer or coaching people. Launching Brightly Imagine followed me training as a personal and business coach whilst I was pregnant. I then launched four months into motherhood. I don’t know what I was thinking! The business gives me maximum flexibility but I also love working with creatives. It can be tricky working for yourself and generating projects but, having done it for years, I know the deal and get such a kick from helping others do the same.
Tell us a bit more about Brightly Imagine
I did a post graduate course in Teaching and Learning, which is where I was introduced to life coaching. I took some books away on holiday to Mallorca to explore it further and had one of those pivotal moments in the jacuzzi. I was reading some of the basics of coaching and felt I was reading a description of me and how I am. I knew then that I had to pursue this work. I was so excited to get going with it but it took me some time to find the right course to get qualified and figure out a way to fund it. I’m so thankful I got to complete my training before my son arrived as it meant I was ready to launch and start building the business.
If you were a recent customer of your business, what would you write in the review?
“I had a renewed energy and sense of direction after my session with Tommy. It was so refreshing and inspiring!”
FINISH THESE SENTENCES…
My business is amazing because…it is built on people connecting with each other through conversation to make something happen.
This time next year…I will be continuing to meet creatives IRL through events and workshops and be thriving on all the conversation!
TOMMY’S MY ICON STORY
BRAND NEW SIZE: Mighty Mini My Icon Story (fits 3-4 icons), Aquamarine gradient background with white icons and solid black wooden frame
Tell us the story behind your My Icon Story print?
Graduation Mortar Board: I graduated in 2007 having done a degree in Popular Music Performance. My dream was to be an artist. I had already been writing songs and wanted to be a world famous Soul & Blues singer.
Microphone: I had always performed, having been in a Pop girl band and then continued to do so at venues around London including the Jazz Cafe and Barbican.
Record Label: Once I had finished my degree I had to figure out a way of pursuing my dream. I entered a competition and managed to bag myself £15k towards making and releasing an album. It was called ‘Wall Of Words’ and I released it on my own label. I had some interest from Universal Music but nothing much ever came of it and so I fell into vocal coaching and built a career doing mostly this.
Rainbow: As you know, I am now a coach and work alongside creatives – from actress to aspiring children’s author, from personal stylist to PA. I absolutely love championing creativity – whether this is in work, business, or the next passion project!
JUST A BIT OF FUN…
You’re in a cocktail bar. What do you order?
Espresso Martini
What’s your favourite type of shoe?
My new Dr Marten boots with zips and laces for ease!
If you could have any other job in the world, what would you be?
Interior Designer
Before we end this wonderful Printfluencer feature, I wanted to share with you all the very first My Icon Story print that Tommy created last year as a 10 year anniversary gift for her husband. It was such a pleasure to create as Tommy got in touch to request a couple of bespoke icons to make her print even more personalised. Below are some photos Tommy shared with me as well as one of the bespoke icons she asked me to design for her My Icon Story.
THANK YOU
Thank you Tommy for sharing your story with us and for creating your second My Icon Story. We can’t wait to follow your success as a woman in business.
To find out more about Brightly Imagine check out their website Brightly Imagine and follow Brightly Imagine on social:
Instagram @brightlyimagine
All headshots of Tommy have been taken by Vicki Hull Photography
If you’d like to nominate a founder to be featured in our Printfluencer Series, please email laura@myiconstory.com
To create your own My Icon Story visit our design-your-own here. We also offer a free icon request service so any icon you can’t find, simply drop us an email to info@myiconstory.com or use the Submit Request form on our homepage.
