CAN YOU INHERIT COURAGE? - Helen Gilfillan

Helen Gilfillan

If you think starting your own business is challenging – I certainly did – then consider how I felt when I took up motor racing a few years ago, which challenged me mentally in an entirely different way!

I’ve always enjoyed a challenge, be it studying, learning a new sport, training for, and running a marathon, cycling the Cap de Formentor, my most challenging climb of Sa Calobra, in Puerto Pollensa, Mallorca, and even a mini triathlon! Also, my decision to leave full-time paid employment two years ago to start an HR Consultancy! The challenge of motor racing though brought about real discomfort on one hand, but so much enjoyment and exhilaration on the other. What a way to completely clear your mind of anything else that you’re worrying about; get in a racing car to compete on some UK’s wellknown circuits!

So how did I come to race?

My late father started racing in his early 70s with an Austin 7, and I started to watch him. The whole camaraderie of the day was a joy; so much kindness amongst drivers, each helping others fixing cars in between races showing teamwork and collaboration at its best and most supportive. Nothing was too much trouble as this was ‘hobby’ level racing where each race has a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, not dependent on cumulative points to win a season. (I’ll admit not all motor racing is the same when you’re competing for world championships, and money!) After supporting Dad a few times, I started to get ‘itchy feet’ and wanted to have a go. As much as it was exciting and challenging, on the flipside seeing some of the crashes and near misses, whilst knowing Dad was in one of those cars, was quite horrific! But you can’t compete without obtaining a racing license. Dad was keen for me to race and booked up my test; I passed and was on my way. Not being keen on me driving the Austin 7 without safety belts or anti-roll bars (as if I would roll it), Dad purchased a Centaur MKV11 which did. My first attempt in the car was on a Lincolnshire go-kart track where Dad’s friend also raced. Well, that was different! I managed a few circuits trying to get quicker, but a go-kart circuit is more about manoeuvring corners and the odd hairpin rather than speed! Alongside this, I was struggling with the racing boots and the siting of the brake and accelerator in

comparison to a normal car and guess what… in a state of panic I slammed on the wrong one to go crashing through the tyres! That was the end of my first session in the Centaur! I thought Dad would be furious, he was more relieved I was OK, even though the car (and the tyre wall) weren’t! The car was fixable! The nose was a bit crumpled, and the front wheel axis was buckled but nothing that couldn’t be repaired. (I believe the corner is now known as ‘Helen’s Hairpin!’)

My First Race Next time out was on a track at Cadwell Park! It was the most scary, exhilarating, and humiliating experience! I couldn’t believe how slow I was in qualifying and the race itself. However, that’s where you also see collaboration working. You need a support team to make it all happen and my Dad was always there for me.

So that was the start of my racing experience (I say that rather than career)! The biggest motivation and enjoyment for me was the absolute pleasure it gave Dad. I can still picture him now, hanging over the pit lane wall as I was whizzing past.

I did have some successes and managed to get on the podium a couple of times from two races on the same day.

One of my other experiences with the car was filming for TV Series ‘Strippers – Cars for Cash’. This was hilarious; unfortunately, people still manage to see program re-runs or on YouTube. Basically, they strip down cars and sell the parts between two teams and see how much money they can get. They were selling an engine from a Reliant Robin, which is the engine in the Centaur, and they contacted my Dad through the Racing Club to ask if he was interested in purchasing the engine. My delightful Dad offered to buy the engine and offered me up for the filming at the same time!

As much as I enjoyed the racing, it did really push my courage to its limits; being of a certain age with responsibilities and a single mum with two children, it is a dangerous pastime. Racing is predominantly a male environment, I’m not sure whether they have more courage or are more boisterous, but I’m sure my Dad expected me to ‘get stuck in’ on more occasions and to take more risks. I found that really difficult, especially when my two girls were watching me race when I felt huge vulnerability.

Unfortunately, Dad’s aortic reconstruction due to an aneurism was major surgery that meant he was out of action for a while. Amazingly, not altogether; two years later, he passed a medical and was back racing again! He was certainly a go-getter and wouldn’t be beaten.

We raced for a few more years but the effort on race days started to take its toll on Dad. So, we both gave up racing and he sold the cars. I have been asked if I wish to ‘arrive and drive’ and race again, but when I think back, my motivation and enjoyment came from watching my Dad in his element and maybe being the son, he never had!

Courage came over me again when I decided to leave a full-time job as a Statutory Board Director as HR Director of Western Europe in 2019, and to start out on my own! Dad had unfortunately passed away the year before I took this plunge, but he knew it was something I had always wanted to do. My decision followed a few years of procrastination with the final hurdle of completing a Masters’ Degree, a resignation from my role where I managed to negotiate a consultancy agreement to deliver training, succession planning, and recruit my successor all for my previous employer. This stepping-stone provided the finance I required to keep afloat and pay the bills, during my first year of setting up.

My HR consultancy business opened on the first anniversary of Dad’s death coming with the ‘bitter-sweet’ feel of knowing he would’ve loved the fact I’d taken the plunge, that I love what I do and find great reward in passing on my expertise and knowledge to business owners who didn’t go into business to do HR! I wouldn’t

change my decision at all; the flexibility of setting my hours, my days of working, and being able to manage my work/life balance. I chose to join an HR franchise as I appreciate and rely on that collaboration with other HR professionals; suddenly changing from working in large organisations to ‘going solo’ can prove daunting to come with a sense of isolation. In my network of franchise owners, we share ideas, speak about challenges, and have accountability groups; it works both ways and works extremely well. More recently, joining Collaboration Global has extended those collaborative relationships; as I grow, I realise I need experts around me who specialise in other areas of business; not just HR.

One of my daughters was doing GCSEs prior to lockdown and now A Levels. It’s great that I can be at home, not necessarily checking over everything, but just being there helps. I get to work on a Saturday and Sunday if I choose to. I enjoy time out to play golf if I want to, having re-found my love of the game recently, another sport I started due to my Dad. We had some great holidays on the Isle of Arran playing all seven courses on the small island. (I plan to go back there later this year to scatter his ashes (ssshhhh)!)

Upon reflection, it’s been great to write about my courage as I don’t always feel I’m that courageous, until people point it out to me. It’s (also) important that you realise and appreciate that you’re braver than you think you are, and that anything is possible, if you put your mind to it.

Go do it!

You can contact Helen at:

Email: helen.gilfillan@hrdept.co.uk Telephone: 07443 672963 Website: www.hrdept.co.uk/bishopsstortford-halstead