Annelies Kleyweg’s Journey to Finding Her Perfect Dream Career using The Career Equation
In a recent podcast episode, Zoë Schofield sat down with Annelies Kleyweg. She is the owner and “gites executive officer” of Le Moulin de Clapier. It is a stunning mansion in the beautiful Dordogne area of France. Annelies decided to pursue her dream career. She left her corporate management and leadership roles. She pursued her dream of running a hospitality business. Now, she’s focused on this new venture in the French countryside.
Annelies’s journey is a testament to the power of following one’s passion and finding the right career equation. Her story begins with a holiday in Canada, where she and her husband stayed at a gite and started fantasising about running their own. This sparked a desire for change, leading them to take a leap of faith during the COVID-19 pandemic. Annelies shares, “We said, if we don’t do it now, we will never do it. And, so, we just packed up, sold our house, and went. Yeah, it’s really strange, and everybody said we were crazy, but we said, well, you can’t fail, right? If you don’t make it, it’s not a failure. At least we tried.”
Problem-solving and Communication
Annelies discovered her talent for communication at a young age. It was particularly in her ability to connect with people of all types. She recalls, “I could communicate with all sorts of people, even when I was young. My grandfather was a grumpy old man. And I could say the same thing but with different words. Even when I was six or seven years old, he would just say, ‘Oh, okay, now I understand.'”
This skill, combined with her problem-solving abilities, has served her well throughout her career and in her new venture.
Passion: Building Foundations and Creating New Experiences
Annelies’s passion lies in building strong foundations and creating new experiences. She explains, “I had a colleague. We were comparing skills. She says, ‘You always make sure there’s a foundation. It’s not visible, but without a foundation, you have nothing.” This passion is now manifested in renovating their mansion. Not just in the physical bricks and mortar but also in creating memorable experiences for their guests and building her dream career.
Impact: Creating Lasting Memories in her Dream Career
In her new role, Annelies aims to create fun experiences and help clients make new memories. She says, “It’s not about pleasing all people, but making them think about why they like things. In my case now, having a great holiday, making memories, looking back at a fun time.”
Environmental Fit: Freedom and Authenticity
The move to Dordogne and starting her own business has allowed Annelies to create an environment that suits her. She describes it as “relaxed, open, and honest” with space for reflection. This stark contrast to her previous corporate experiences has brought her a sense of freedom and authenticity. She finds this new way of life energising.
Entrepreneurship to Build Your Dream Career and Work-Life Balance
Running Le Moulin de Clapier has presented new challenges and opportunities for Annelies and her husband. They’ve had to learn new skills, from plumbing to carpentry. They did this while navigating the intricacies of the hospitality industry. Annelies reflects on how her current role differs from her previous corporate positions. “The freedom you get with that is unbelievable. It’s so worth it, to be honest. And, that’s compared to all the management roles I had before. They were also challenging in a different way, a different hectic, different dynamics. I’m now more relaxed than ever.”
Moving Abroad and Embracing Change
Relocating to France during the pandemic was a bold move. But one that Annelies and her husband felt compelled to make. They’ve embraced the challenges of learning a new language and adapting to a new culture. Annelies shares, “The French are so kind. You can ask them anything, so that’s cool.”
Career Coaching and Personal Growth
Annelies’s experience with career coaching played a significant role in her journey. She explains, “The career coaching helped there to look at it like that, right? You think about, okay, what is my passion? Where do I get my energy from? And sometimes you don’t realise it. So talking about it and pinpointing or writing it down, it makes it real.”
Conclusion
Annelies Kleyweg switched from corporate management to running a gîte in the French countryside. It is a powerful example of how finding the right career equation can lead to a more fulfilling life. She has created a thriving career that brings her joy and purpose. She did this by aligning her skills, passion, and ideal environment. Her story serves as an inspiration for those considering a switch to whatever their dream career is.
About Annelies Kleyweg
Annelies Kleyweg is the owner and “gites executive officer” of Le Moulin de Clapier. It is a beautiful mansion with gite accommodation in the Dordogne area of France. She has a background in corporate management and program leadership. Annelies made a bold change to pursue her dream career of running a hospitality business in the French countryside.
Annelies’s journey exemplifies the power of following one’s passion. It showcases the importance of finding the right career equation. Her skills in communication, problem-solving, and leadership were strong. She wanted a more balanced and fulfilling life. This led her to leap into entrepreneurship. Now, she and her husband are creating memorable experiences for guests. They do so while enjoying the beauty and culture of the Dordogne region.
