The Wise Why

Hello, and welcome to the Wise Why. This morning, I am joined by Dawn Taylor from DLT Greetings, and she is absolutely inspirational. I’ve been invited to run because it is October. And rather than me explaining why I invited Dawn on and why she’s wearing pink, I’ll go straight up to Dawn because the why is not about me. So, Dawn, please introduce yourself and explain why we held off till October to get you on the show.

Hi. Good morning, Kirsty. Yeah. Thank you for having me on your podcast. I’ve been waiting for this for quite a bit of time. But yeah. So, well, I’m Dawn, and I founded my company DLT Visions just a year ago this month, actually, Kirsty. I founded DLT Visions, which is my venture to help women business owners find their confidence and be themselves on social media. I do this through one-on-one coaching, personal brand photography, and social media strategy.

But also along this journey, which started well in 2018, basically when I was diagnosed with breast cancer, it started a journey for me of transformation. So, yeah, I wanted to share a bit about my journey today and mark October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month—a special month for me. Partly because at the end of this month, I will be six years clear. And yeah, it’s all linked; October’s my month.

Breast cancer has affected our family. I won’t break confidence, but it has affected our family, and it was incredibly difficult for us. It was during the pandemic, and I felt powerless. I couldn’t get to the person; I couldn’t see them. The long-term effects after breast cancer—it’s not the breast cancer; it’s the chemo and the long-term effects after that—that have just… yeah. It’s still impacting today. So I won’t go personal, but I’d rather if you could explain your journey because everyone’s scared when they hear the word cancer. How did you find out that you had cancer? Were you doing a breast check? You know, people are scared to even do breast checks.

So yeah, if you’re worried about breast health today, we are gonna talk about that. Yes. If you could just explain how it all happened.

Yeah. So yeah, I was a humanitarian aid worker. I worked for a medical aid charity; I was living in Amsterdam as a technical adviser supporting the field in water and sanitation and all sorts of health-related things in emergencies. I was just about to go off to Ethiopia to do a training course for the field staff when I found a lump in my right breast while in the shower and thought that doesn’t feel right.

I wasn’t a big checker; I wasn’t really into checking myself regularly but thought let me go to the GP. So I rang the GP and got an immediate appointment. Basically, she had a feel around and thought there’s something there—nothing to worry about, Dawn—nothing to worry about—go to Ethiopia and I’ll book you in for a mammogram when you get back.

So I went off to Ethiopia thinking none the wiser. Came back and had the mammogram; then there were some white dots called calcifications that needed checking out further so I was referred for a biopsy—but that didn’t happen immediately as it was around Christmas time when everything slowed down.

When I finally had the biopsy done in January 2018 after being told there’s nothing to worry about again—they said we’re just gonna do a second biopsy because we’ve got this new machine that’s being installed—and then they said there’s still something not quite right so they referred me for an MRI.

And then it all went pear-shaped basically on February 5th 2018 when they told me it was bigger than they thought—it turns out there was a 10-centimeter tumor that wasn’t detectable on mammogram! Can you believe it? It’s one of these ER positive tumors but basically they said you’re gonna have to have chemo, mastectomy, radiotherapy—you’re gonna get the full works done.

This was all diagnosed in Amsterdam so I went oh my god! And you know what? I don’t know; I was in shock but went off on holiday the next day on February 10th for my normal skiing holiday in Austria—kind of basically blocked it out until reality hit home on the last night when I told my friends what was happening.

I came back home to The UK because I’m single and had no support really—I only lived in Amsterdam for work—and told my boss everybody what was going on but basically got home and had my treatment in The UK with support from my family especially my sister.

I went through the full journey—the full works—and yes, I’d love to tell you more about that if you like.

No! No! We really appreciate you sharing that part of your story but let’s talk about how you’ve turned your life into helping other women empower them after your experience with breast cancer because you’ve had help and coaching support along your journey too.

Yes! Basically throughout 2018 while having cancer treatment—I moved back into my life as a humanitarian technical adviser—but then COVID happened right? So we were all working from home during 2020-21—and then it came time where I’d have to start traveling again that made me realize with everything I’d gone through during treatment—my body wasn’t quite where it used to be; my brain wasn’t either—and so that’s when started getting help.

I got help from an amazing organization who organized psychologists for me during those tough times which helped navigate how I felt but realized that wasn’t quite enough so got myself another life coach too—we would walk together outdoors which felt like therapy in nature funded by my organization who were absolutely fantastic throughout this whole journey.

That’s when realization struck—I needed help; I’ve been doing everything myself being completely independent—but through talking with my life coach realized there’s more than just work; needed focus on myself too especially given how much trauma I’d experienced including losing my mother from another type of cancer.

All of these led me toward making major decisions in 2022 regarding parting ways with my second career—moving back into The UK starting fresh from scratch where invested into myself again buying house buying car then launched business!

So invested again—another coach joined Tech Pixies community focusing mindset/social media strategies while also investing photography—a passion I’d held onto since long before—and found brand photography could help visible women business owners online through imagery while knowing mindset plays significant role too!

Now I’m guiding women business owners like myself who are changing careers or starting businesses down similar paths I’ve traveled wherever they’re at—to help them reach their goals faster thanks due benefits gained from having coaches!

It’s brilliant! Women face so many challenges throughout their lives—we’re told we can have everything: career travel children etc.—and yet many times reality hits hard whether becoming moms hitting menopause or facing traumas like cancer!

If there’s one thing could say—it’d be you’re brave & wonderful—I genuinely appreciate sharing story today!

On note of moments—the one question always love asking people: Has there been any singular moment where realization hit home regarding decisions made?

Oh absolutely! It pinpoints back towards life coaching—asking for help realizing didn’t need do everything alone—that awareness sparked transformation within me!

Honestly—you wouldn’t recognize older version of myself five-ten years ago—quite shy introvert focused solely on helping others while neglecting own needs until those sessions revealed blocking feelings surrounding self-image navigating changes post-mastectomy flatness etc.

That would probably be pivotal moment: asking experts hiring coaches who could provide different perspectives helping reframe challenges leading towards incredible transformations now visible across social platforms!

Lastly—is there anyone personally supporting behind scenes during tough times aside from professionals?

Definitely! My sister Gail stands foremost as rock alongside her husband Bruno—they welcomed & supported throughout diagnosis appointments surgeries ensuring safe spaces available always!

Brilliant friends from university & later life rallied together traveling distances offering emotional support—it meant world knowing never alone despite anything faced!

As we conclude: anyone watching please remember stay vigilant regarding health checks—as Annette mentioned earlier congratulations on nearing six-year milestone—long may continue!

Thank you everyone tuning into Wise Why today—we appreciate every single moment shared here together!