🎧 In this episode (LISTEN TO THE EPISODE) Diane talks about how her passion for cleaning houses and her cleaning business of 20 years, which helps saving marriages and arguments between kids and families.
She also says that her biggest change coming with age is learning about self-development and growing as a woman. The peace of mind that comes with age, is also a huge one.
She believes that everyone comes into your life for a season and a reason, and that you’ve just got to enjoy every moment because you live once and it's only for a short time.
You can find Diane here:
10 Facts About Diane
(at the time of the project)
1. 49 years old.
2. Diane has 2 adult children - 21 daughter and an 18-year-old son.
3. Diane has done a lot of self-development courses throughout the years.
4. She is very passionate about the hospitality industry and has a diploma in Hospitality Management.
5. Diane has a cleaning business that she’s been running for 20 years now. Started up from scratch. And now she has 15 staff. At first, it was called Keen To Clean. It's now Cleaner Than You Think.
6. Before buying her business 20 years ago, she was deciding between a café and a cleaning business.
7. Diane is very passionate about cleaning. She actually loves it. She’s actually saved marriages and saved arguments between kids and families.
8. Diane loves to have fun, freedom and adventure.
9. Biggest challenge at this age – “The peace of mind. Knowing that there's some things that you just can't control.”
10. Positive change with age – “I've experienced so far would be just learning about self-development, just growing as a woman.”
Watch Diane's VIDEO interview HERE
LISTEN TO THE EPISODE:
INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT (auto-generated) :
Hi, you are listening to My Body My Story podcast,
Life is gonna come at you. Left, right and centre. And it's more about how you handle it.
This is the 45 or 45 chapter where we celebrate rule breakers and role models, the women who inspire us to live life our way and to show that sensuality, beauty, soul and true essence. Here we talk about what it's like to be 45 Plus, adjusting to the changes that come with time, and will listen to the stories of our participants. If you have an interesting story to share, we would love you to participate, you can email us on info@aleksandrawalker.com or visit our website, www. aleksandrawalker.com
Hi, Diane, welcome to the studio, and welcome to the project. And while you are sitting in the makeup chair, and Nicole is doing makeup for you, I'll be asking you a few questions.
Sure. Thank you.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I'm 49 years old. I have two children, one's 21. Well, they're not children really anymore. But 21 daughter and 18 year old son just turned. And I have a cleaning business that I've been running for 20 years now. Started up from scratch. And now I have 15 staff. And I love to have fun. I love freedom. I love adventure. And yeah, that's pretty much it till now.
Okay, and what are you most passionate about?
I'm passionate about love. So I wear my heart on my sleeve. And you know, relationships, love between family and friends is very important to me. So I'm passionate about love. I'm passionate about my business and my kids. And just, I like to work hard and keep busy.
About your business. So why cleaning company? And how have you come to this?
Yeah, when my kids were little I decided I wanted to run a business I was very passionate about the hospitality industry at the time, because I had a diploma in Hospitality Management. But it came to that point where I, you know, had to take a big risk, buying a cafe and running that which I was confident about. But my husband at the time was not sort of like he didn't like to take risks. So, the other option was a cleaning business. And I haven't never looked back because I was able to have the lifestyle that I wanted and also not miss out on anything my kids did through throughout their school years. So and the business that I started 20 years ago was called Keen To Clean. it's now Cleaner Than You Think. But Keen To Clean was, you know, was my baby and where it all started. And yeah, it's just evolved through there from that.
And now if someone wants to check, where they can find you?
Oh, I'm on Facebook as Cleaner Than You Think. I'm on you know, Instagram. All the social media really. And I've got a website so it's cleaner than think.
And then recently, I also bought another branch of my cleaning business called Germ Shield Solutions, which basically, you know, puts a protection on all surfaces for 30 days and just protects against viruses, bacteria, germs, and anything like that. So I am very passionate about cleaning. I actually love it. People call me crazy, because I get really excited and passionate when I'm cleaning houses I do, I just really love it.
So it's more about the commercial?
No, it's more residential. I just I love the idea of you know, like helping people you know, and giving them some freedom, some time to spend with their family and friends as well so, you know, as to take that burden off them. I've actually saved marriages and saved arguments between kids and families and everything because You know, it just takes that. And it's also helpful with mental health, I've had a lot of customers cry to me because they just can't cope. And I always believe like a messy home is like a messy mind. And so, you know, when we go into a disorganized home, and we're cleaning it and walk out, it's such a satisfaction to see the end result. And that's what I love about it.
So let's move to age issues. So everyone knows that with age we change, but what positive changes have you experienced so far?
Positive changes I've experienced so far would be just learning about self-development, just growing as a woman, you know, that there is room to change, and that your past is your past. And that, you know, you can actually create possibilities for your future. So, I've done a lot of self-development courses throughout the years. And basically, there's a fight or flight and my motto would be when the going gets tough, the tough get tougher, bit like that song in the 80s, or 70s, whatever that was (Billy Ocean song – editor). But um, yeah, so my positive changes is just growing within myself, self-love has been a very big thing. And just knowing your worth. I've had multiple relationships, 15 years of marriage, that broke down, then I had, you know, a five-and-a-half-year marriage that just broke down, and then I'm with my current partner. Now, that's only been very, very recent, so six months, but you get to know what you're worth, you know, and you want what you deserve, which is, you know, to be treated with respect and to just be treated good, and to feel that you are loved, loveable. And just the peace of mind, peace of mind is huge. I think as you grow older, that's something that you aspire to, is the peace of mind.
It's funny that we just get to this point only with age that we don't understand about self love. In the younger age, though, I think that the younger generation now learning earlier
They are, I find this so confident. I mean, my 21 year old daughter, I always say to her, you know, you're we're very, very similar, but she's an upgraded version of me. You know, that's what I tell her right now. She's an upgraded version of myself, because she has confidence, she never says anything bad about herself. And, you know, like, they've got the social media, and they just, you know, a lot of them are influencers, and they just, you know, they just talk about themselves in their lives. And, you know, and I find that this generation has a real confidence about them. Yeah, even about their body shape and their body type. You know, I, from when I was at school, you know, if you're not skinny and beautiful, you don't really fit in anyway.
Yeah, on that, on that if you started this conversation already, I want to ask you the question about the body image, where do you think this idea comes from?
Well, that's social media. And back in the day, it was magazines. I feel that it's changed over the years, you know, where once this sort of that skinny body image was, you know, was whatever, all the girls wanted to now I think, you know, like, the more full of body is also very beautiful. And, and I think, like, my daughter was saying, I actually went to the gym with her the other day, and I'm like, where are these lumps and bumps come from, you know, in my thighs? And she goes - Own it! She said. And I went, Well, yeah, you know, I'm just I'm 49 years old, I'll own that, you know, but she just said, you know, these days if there's not a quick fix for a defect, if you want to call it, in your body, then it's accepted. That's what she said. So I thought that was really good.
Oh, that's interesting. I wonder when did she get it from?
I'll have to ask, but I think in her age group, we're you know, 21 and, you know, like on social media, where everyone kind of tells their story and where's whatever they're wearing and you know, goes out and you know, a lot of them were pretty much next to nothing they size but I think You know, people are a lot more comfortable in their skin these days. I think
So what, what is the biggest challenge you're experiencing at this age?
I think, just the peace of mind, both, I suppose right now the uncertainty of everything that's going on, you know, there's nothing, there's, there's nothing anymore that there's certain. So you kind of have to I'm, what I'm, what's more challenging is, is accepting what's going on, and not letting it, you know, take over your life, that's my phone, completely overwhelming. Knowing that there's changes, trying to accept that, you know, there's some things that you just can't control.
Yeah. And, and it's a lot of things,
there's a lot of things that you can't control, but just to do your very best with what you've got. And just, you know, just life is gonna come at you, the left, right and centre. And it's more about how you handle it than anything else, I think
Yeah, that's true. If you would describe your greatest accomplishment, what it would be?
I gotta say, my kids. But um, you know, I'm proud of myself for sustaining a business for, you know, for 20 years. And even through these tough times, I've managed to come out the other side. And still, be going when there's a lot of businesses that stopped. And here I am buying another one in the amongst at all. So, you know, like I said, I've kind of got that attitude, when, the going gets tough, you just have to keep going, and keep going. And not, you know, play victim and just, you know, go for it.
So, if you would go back in time and meet your 30 year old self, what advice would you give her?
Look in the mirror and love yourself, from top to bottom and inside and out! It's a bit of an emotional experience for me to say that, but yeah, just really concentrate on self-love and just use it. And just have peace about yourself. And always be true to yourself and follow your heart. Sorry, now I'm crying, and my makeup is gonna be that's fine. Thanks, Nico.
If you need a tissue… but it's good, that means that this big block gone now?
Yep, sorry,
..probably it's this 30 years old, like 30 years is the age where you meet this question of self-love the most. From my experience, like you're starting realize that you need it more and that you didn't have it before. Like, I don't know, in our generation, I think that all the women of our generation, they had this question in their 30s. That's why it took so emotional reaction for you.
Yeah. Well, you know, at the time, I was 30, I was married with to two little kids. And when I was 40, you kind of broke down years, just find yourself in a situation thinking - Where do I go from here? You know, so prior to 30 I was always partying and travelled around Europe and went to many different countries and had a lot of fun and freedom and friends and you know, quite fun times, but you know, back then, and then you just, you know, you just go through the motions and you and you meet people and everyone comes into your life for I say, a season and a reason. Yeah. You know, and I've always followed my heart and battled between my heart and my head. Oh my gosh, it doesn't stop. And it's still going. I was going to say still, it's still going I don't think it'll ever start but you know, you just got to be happy with where you're at. You know, you just got to enjoy every moment because what you live once and it's only for a short time. I'm really leaving a legacy is also very important to me. You know, and with my business now my daughter's, you know, she, she owns half of it. She's my business partner as well. And we're very passionate, both of us, and we just want to make it good and big and growing.
I love family businesses, and I love when children want to continue.
Yeah, and you know, when she finished school, I was like, there is no pressure. I don't want you ever to feel obligated. But my son left school to a little bit unsure about what he wants to do. And now he's working for me as well. But he's also got his own paths to follow as well. So, but right now, we, the three of us live in a house, that me and my daughter own. We all work together, we all live together. And, you know, sometimes we even go out together and It's good times.
..corporate meetings. Yeah.
They're at the house. Yeah. So no, it's good. I'm really happy.
So what advice would you give younger women who will eventually reach this age and undergo the changes we're going through now?
Invest in yourself, and yourself development you know, invest in different ways of making money. You know, just invest in yourself, your health, your wealth, your happiness. Learn to love yourself, and focus on the good, not the bad. Just focus on your positives. Talk to people.
So, also, I want to ask - What does it mean to you feeling good, and looking good, and what comes first?
Definitely feeling good. Because if, you know, if you feel good, you're going to look good. But it all comes from within, really. So, if you're confident within yourself and you love yourself, what you know, what you look like. It's the only matters to you. So you know what other people think of you is really none of your business. So, yeah, it's just definitely feeling good, because it definitely comes from within no matter what. But, you know, it's important to look after yourself inside and out, and just keeping healthy and fit, and looking good. Isn't that important?
And what makes you feel the most beautiful?
Even though I believe it comes from inside, I really do like being told compliments. Yeah, I do love compliments. But what makes me feel beautiful, I think is, you know, just having opportunities to get dressed up, you know, and just, you know, feeling good about myself. And I find if I'm eating properly, and if I'm exercising, I feel good inside and outside. And when I'm not doing those things, I'm not feeling as good. So, you know, I think it all comes from inside and a healthy lifestyle. Definitely, definitely a healthy lifestyle. Yeah.
And my last question - Do you have any favorite quotes about being a woman?
Quotes? I love that song from Shania Twain (Man! I Feel Like A Woman - editor), the best thing about being a woman you know, it is about having fun, and enjoying your life in every moment. accepting yourself
Or it can be a saying, a thought about being a woman.
Yeah. Thoughts about being a woman is to feel beautiful and have fun. You know, just have fun with life and don't take life They seriously, you know, and follow your heart.
Thank you, Diane, thank you very much for sharing your story and joining our project. I hope you will enjoy the rest of your day and the photoshoot. Thank you.
Thank you very much. I look forward to it.
If you have an interesting story to share, we would love you to participate. You can email us on info@aleksandrawalker.com , or visit our website www.aleksandrawalker.com
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This is the 45 over 45 chapter of MY BODY MY STORY podcast, where we celebrate rule breakers and role models - the women who inspire us to live life our way and to show their SENSUALITY, BEAUTY, SOUL, and TRUE ESSENCE.
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