Bev Wilkinson is a speaker, author, and founder of Celebrate Living History. She’s passionate about storytelling, capturing the essence of what makes us human and how our experiences can connect us to people in ways we didn’t know possible. She has always enjoyed writing and even as a child had pen pals from all over the world. She knew that she loved people and writing, so enrolled at Griffith University, Gold Coast to study journalism. She fell in love with feature writing and being able to inject emotions into her writing, asking questions that help bring a little more insight into a person’s world.
After graduating she struggled to find work using her degree and undertook lots of casual work. This experience eventually led her to start her own internship program, so students can get real-life experience and feel proud of their work while using their skills. She approached one of her old lecturers, Professor Stephen Stockwell, about her idea for an internship program which he was supported. That was when Celebrate Living History was born, giving journalism and PR students the opportunity to write stories to be cherished for many years to come.
Through simple storytelling, she has been able to bring people together who would ordinarily never have an opportunity to connect. In almost a decade of working with students and seniors through Celebrate Living History, she discovered a passion for connecting generations. This is an area she expanded when she wrote Entrepreneurs: Generations Apart, a book about 51 international business owners and entrepreneurs from very different generations, the under the 30s and over 60s. She was continually inspired by the answers these business owners gave to her questions about what drives them to thrive doing what they love.
These inspirational stories made her itch to tell her own story. She wrote about all the casual work that she had done over the years which provided the funding to make all her creative dreams happen. This book grew into Diaries of a Casual Worker, which aims to inspire everyday people to keep following their passions. It is now her goal to take all that she has learned over the years to continue to make people smile in the HUGEST way. She wants to inspire people to take a chance on themselves and if they have a dream just try and make it a reality.
For more details, visit their website here.
Here we sit down with Bev, to know a bit more about her journey as an entrepreneur.
Q. What inspired you to become an entrepreneur?
Bev: My dad is my biggest inspiration he got retrenched instead of taking it to heart. He created his own quality assurance business from nothing. He went on to become very successful and gained so many clients.
My dad showed that you can have an idea and if you work hard enough, you can be a success. I think being an entrepreneur runs in my family, ideas come to me, and instead of thinking that’s going to be too hard. I think how can I do this? How can I make this a reality?
My brain works on a creative frequency that’s for sure! It takes a very special person to act on a simple idea and make good stuff happen.
Q. How did you get started?
Bev: Looking back I did not set out on becoming an entrepreneur. I fell into entrepreneurship it started way back in 2011 when I joined the NEIS program (New Enterprise Incentive Scheme) this program enables you to learn about starting and creating a business.
Also, NEIS enabled me to create a business plan and I started my very first business called Golden Days Images which was creating a DVD showing old photos in tune with music for the seniors in my local community.
Funnily enough, it was at the dog park I was talking to my friend about my new business and she said why don’t you create an exhibition to celebrate these stories and use this as a marketing platform for your business I said Ok Cool that sounds like a good idea. I had never run an exhibition and I had no idea what to do. But I said Yeah ok I’ll give it a go.
So, I spoke at all these community groups which included the Frankston National Seniors, Probus all these little community groups about my exhibition in Frankston. The exhibition was held at Bartiste at the time it is no longer in Frankston.
While interviewing seniors in the community one of these people stood out it was Dorothy Dempster and she was talking about her uncle who used to give out free uniforms to students who could not afford uniforms and its these little stories that people don’t know within the community and it’s those little acts of kindness. I thought it would sad if I wasn’t there to document these stories and if I wasn’t there to hear this story.
After hearing her story, I booked a ticket to the Gold Coast that’s where I studied journalism at Griffith University and I randomly decided to fly up to the Gold Coast and see my old lecturer Professor Stephen Stockwell.
When I arrived at Griffith University, I knocked on the door of Stephen’s office. I saw Stephen sitting down on the floor surrounded by all these books and I gave him a massive fright. I said Hey Stephen, I hope you remember me I have this idea of an internship program to connect young people with seniors to document their stories in the community. I hope you like this idea and luckily for me that was the very beginning of Celebrate Living History, next year will be our tenth year of running which is a massive achievement. Who would have thought an idea in my head would go on to document all these stories for 10 years.
We have had students from not only Griffith University but also students from Swinburne University. These stories range from love stories to war stories to even Filipino recipes. There is a whole range of really interesting stories. I am so proud to be the one to make that happen. That’s what inspired me to be an entrepreneur in a roundabout way.
Q. What was your biggest startup challenge? What steps did you take to overcome it? What did you learn?
Bev: Not really knowing what I was doing and learning along the way. I did not set out to create an internship program connecting students and seniors. I literally just had an idea and went with it.
I think looking back I should have created a plan but then again maybe that would have taken the fun out of it!
Q. What is the Most Memorable Thing You’ve Done Since you Started your Business?
Bev: Back in 2016 I applied for the Winston Churchill fellowship and the application process was so hard! It took me months to write this application which saw me connect with programs in the USA that focus on connecting young people with seniors.
I literally fell in love with these programs and wanted to meet these creators that were so passionate about the wellbeing and mental health of seniors.
Unfortunately, I was not successful however this application planted the seed for me. I wanted to go so badly.
So, I took on three jobs and managed to save for all my flights and accommodation. I made this tour a reality! In 2017 I flew to six cities in the USA and spoke at the 2017 Global Intergenerational Conference in Milwaukee about Celebrate Living History and my love of connecting seniors and young people.
It was so amazing speaking at the conference and being respected for what I do with Celebrate Living History. I loved that people lit up when I spoke and that my simple talk was something that was unique and memorable.
Q. What is one book you recommend, and why?
Bev: I love Andrew Denton he is someone that I look up to, he has a series of books Enough Rope with Andrew Denton and I love his interview style.
He inspired me so much while I was at university, I would just comb over his interviews and just learn. He is very conversational and he has a great repertoire with people I have learned so much from just reading the questions that he asks. Just simply learning from reading his books.
Q. What are your top 3 favourite online apps, tools, or resources and what do you love about them?
Bev: I love Canva it is an amazing resource to create professional posts and banners. I’m pretty clueless about graphic design and this site makes it so much easier for me.
Pixabay is great for getting free images to compliment a story on the Celebrate Living History website.
Skype is a great way to stay connected with students and conduct interviews for free.
Q. In terms of legacy, what is the mark you’d like to leave on the world?
Bev: I think if I can inspire just one person to go on and pursue their dreams then that would be an amazing mark on the world. What I love about working with interns from Griffith University is that I am there at the very beginning of their careers. I am there to help mentor these students and I find that very rewarding.
This year is the 10-year anniversary of Celebrate Living History and that is very special to me. From just an idea in my head, this internship program has grown so much beyond me. I am so happy that Celebrate Living History provides a reason for young people to just simply connect with a senior to document part of their life that otherwise would be lost forever. There are so many stories on the website covering many subjects from love, war, or even recipes.
Celebrate Living History is an online legacy and I am so proud these stories will live on even when the seniors have passed away. That my little idea sparked a legacy.
Q. In one sentence, what’s the best advice you’d give to someone just starting out on their entrepreneurial journey?
Bev: Being an entrepreneur requires believing in yourself. We have to see the big picture and make those little steps to making our dreams a reality.
Being successful is not going to happen overnight and you will struggle. Most likely you are going to have many casual jobs to support yourself. And that’s ok never feel ashamed that you can never fully let go of having an employer. I like having income flow in and just working simply on my passion without the constraints of Will this make money? How can I make money? Flow throughout your head.
Do what lights you up inside and magic will happen.
To keep up to date with Bev and her journey, connect with her on Facebook, Bev Wilkinson and Celebrate Living History.
