My last blog talked about the start of my journey into the unknown world of starting up a business from scratch and becoming a self-employed mediator.

I’m hoping you will continue to enjoy my ramblings about #startups, creating a brand #unlockhorns, getting out there #BuildingRelationships, observing some of the best, embracing the world of #socialmedia and #digitalmakerting and holding my nerve…..
 
I hopped, skipped and jumped through my first blog about my decision to become a mediator. Once I had made the decision, now what did I do? I had to actually act upon the business plan I had spent so much time drafting! So I took the plunge and enrolled on the next available CEDR course in London and started my new career path in December 2016.
 
Preparing for the CEDR course was time consuming, in a typical Sam fashion and again covered in baby milk (and the rest!!), I threw myself into the prep around nap time, doing all my reading and exercises, going through the mediation simulator and learning my roles for the role play exercises. Yes, you read correctly, ROLE PLAY!! - and more than one role play at that!! The very idea of role play filled me with dread (and to be honest still does). I would much rather be thrown into a real life situation any day than pretend to be in one. So again, with Rosie in one hand, listening to me babble on and my confidential role play briefings in another, I practised my roles. I became Mrs Lowe, MD of a company and angry Claimant, Mrs Lowe aggressive litigator who trusts no one, Mrs Lowe, a blatant thoughtless Defendant who has a complete disregard for the law and Mrs Lowe, Mediator extraordinaire. The latter did not have a confidential briefing, nor did it have a role to learn, the latter was what I was going to be assessed on, what I ultimately wanted to become, it involved being thrown in at the deep end with characters from all walks of life and then to learn to sink or swim! Now that was the exciting part, that is what the whole thing was all about.
 
Mike and Rosie travelled down to London with me, it was the perfect time of year, early December. The Christmas lights were up and it was acceptable to get super excited, even though Rosie had no idea what day of the week it was never mind what time of year it was. Every morning I dressed her in a different Christmas themed outfit and got her ready for her outing with Daddy Day Care. Each morning the two of them would walk me to Holburn Bars and then off they went exploring (and eating their way through London!!) whilst I entered the world of mediation from a perspective that I had never seen before.
 
Having represented parties in many many mediations over the years, I had never appreciated how exhausting it is for a mediator until I collapsed on Day Two of the course with the repeating mantra in my head, “I am not sure that I am cut out for this!” Fortunately, all lawyers in the room were warned at the beginning that we WILL feel out of our comfort zone in the first two days and we WILL be exhausted having to make our brains behave in an alien way and it WAS true. However on Day Three, which was an ALL DAY ROLE PLAY!! it all fell into place. I started to think and become a mediator, my skills as a lawyer developed into skills as a neutral third party
 
Each evening, we would stroll back to the flat, through Lincoln’s Inn or wander around Seven Dials followed by a mulled wine under the Christmas Tree in Covent Garden. It was simply gorgeous. I had been on the biggest journey of my life so far growing a small human just 6 months before and to share my new journey, toasting the start of a new era with her, in such a wonderful place, was simply perfect.
 
After three days of learning and two solid days of assessments, I collapsed on the train heading back up North with Mike and Rosie. He showed me all of the photos of their amazing time in London, Mike must have walked 1000 miles that week! I haven’t even mentioned the run he had to do back to the flat on the morning of Day Four when I arrived outside Holburn Bars without my bag (and therefore my notes!!) and I was up first for assessment that morning ……. I’m not sure I was at the top of the list of his favourite people when he arrived back hardly being able to breathe!
 
Once I was home, there was still a hand written assignment to do after the course, I submitted it and then celebrated my best Christmas yet with the little lady! Once I found out I had passed in January 2017, it certainly deserved a celebration of a bottle of fizz and some yummy food, but in reality it resulted in half a glass of wine and a snooze on the sofa after Rosie had gone down to bed! The dreaded role plays had been worth it (and actually I have to admit were good fun!). I knew that establishing myself as a full time mediator was not going to be easy, but I am willing to work hard to achieve it!
 
NEXT STOP: Branding! My creative journey as Concentus Mediation, developing the website and establishing #unlockhorns ….