Operating @ 80% Awesome

It's a new "half term". Not that we've really noticed because our children haven't been out of their pjs before 10am for weeks!

Some of us might be preparing to send our children back to primary school, while other parents may be digging deep for some fresh resolve for another six weeks of "home learning" or "home schooling".

But what if choosing to educate your children from home was a thing? How does that even work? How can we all put less pressure on ourselves to recreate the school environment at home?

In this episode, Rachel talks to Bekkie Graham, a mum of four from Newquay whom five years ago, decided to do just that. She took her two older sons out of mainstream education, soon followed by her daughter and then youngest son.

In this podcast, she talks about the broad spectrum of alternative and home education. Hear about how her kids, now aged between 18 and 9, are still able to benefit from recognised qualifications such as GCSEs whilst exploring hugely different academic paths,

She shares some advice and support on what to do if you gearing up for another six weeks of home learning.

Bekkie is fascinating to listen to.

About Bekkie Graham:

Hear 80% Awesome co-founder Rachel Picken talk to empowerment coach Polly Jukes about one of the Coronavirus taboos - why do people appear to be drinking so much?

Alcohol sales are said to have gone up 30% in the UK and 55% in the US since Coronavirus crisis took hold.

Since the pandemic, the public and social media narrative has been big on alcohol - be it the holiday feeling of good weather, the stress of managing life under lockdown, or simply because of boredom and/or a way to signal day into evening. 

Polly is open and honest about her own journey to live alcohol free, which she began two years ago.

Rachel also shares some of her own experiences exploring the Sobersphere, alcohol free (AF) community and quit-lit. 

About Polly Jukes:

"I help newly Alcohol-Free women eliminate shame and guilt to discover their authentic self so that they can learn to take control of their life and start being who they want to be. Gaining clarity, freedom and peace. 

"Unlike others focusing on the past, my clients tell me their results are lasting, fulfilling and life changing from creating an enriched future they actually want to be fully present and with purpose."

Joining us for Episode 2 is one of our biggest cheerleaders, Esther Brown.

Esther is head of business engagement and partnerships at the University of Oxford for Social Sciences and humanities , and paved the way to the world's leading university becoming our first workshop client! 

We launched 80% Awesome in March, back before Coronacrisis started, to celebrate International Women's Day with Said Business School's Professional Women's Network.

Rachel introduced Esther to the Lean Life Canvas back in January, when they were comparing notes on being burning the candle at both ends. Rachel happened to have an LLC and some post-it notes about her person (standard) and she shared it with Esther.

This podcast also marks and exciting new step for 80% Awesome - we now have two of our tools, the LLC and Famban - Family Kanban - available as kits to buy in a box (technically a tube!).

This first episode is a long time in the making.

We first recorded it back before Christmas, and then our audio files are stranded in Rachel's office whilst the UK is in lockdown.

Join Claire and Rachel as they talk about the impact of the Coronavirus crisis on professional women and mothers - plus what happens when all the additional life admin and stress is added to the picture - bereavement, ill-health, home-schooling and more.

Claire talks about overcoming suspected Covid-19, along with her husband who has a life-limiting illness.

Rachel discusses the triple-stress of bereavement, poorly father-in-law and bizarre circumstances where her ex-husband discovers he can log into her business account.

They talk about bringing our whole selves to our Zoom meetings, letting things slide in the domestic department and what things we can Jettison from our lives in order to concentrate on the important aspects of surviving a global pandemic.

80% Awesome is a community of humans who are striving for a life that's a little less perfect.

Join the Facebook community here:

Operating at 80% Awesome is a concept and community by two friends - Claire Eason-Bassett and Rachel Picken.

It's about giving yourself permission to not be 100% perfect.

Whilst our ideas have been developed over the past two years, living through the Covid Crisis has made even more sense.

Join Rachel and Claire as they share their experiences of juggling busy careers with parenting, running a house-hold, trying to stay healthy and sane.

They will also introduce some of their tools including the Lean Life Canvas and Famban - Family Kanban - to make life a little easier, and dare we say it Agile, during these turbulent times.

Check out the website: