⚡️The Mischief Movement Podcast⚡️

Ep.78 SWITCHTRACK Claire Alexander's Austin Adventure: From London Fashion to The New Girl in Texas

• Zoe Greenhalf • Season 7 • Episode 78

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What happens when you feel restless in your current life but the idea of change feels overwhelmingly scary? Claire Alexander knows this feeling intimately. Two years after her first appearance on the podcast, she returns with a story of transformation that will resonate with anyone standing at a crossroads.

Claire has completely reimagined her life by relocating from London to Austin, Texas – a journey that took nearly two years of planning and persistence through numerous obstacles. As a fashion brand consultant who built her business to be location-independent, she embraced the opportunity to start fresh in a new country. Yet even with careful preparation, she discovered that becoming "the new girl" at an older age brings unexpected challenges and surprising rewards.

Her story goes beyond geographic relocation. Claire has expanded her professional identity by becoming an Arbonne consultant, embracing a business opportunity that aligns with her values around sustainability and women's empowerment. What makes this dual pivot fascinating is how she's navigated finding community in both endeavors, demonstrating that connections are vital when rebuilding your life. From networking events she'd rather skip to serendipitously meeting fellow female motorcycle riders, Claire shows how putting yourself out there – however uncomfortable – creates the foundation for your new reality.

For anyone contemplating a major life change, Claire offers refreshingly practical wisdom: "Nothing good comes from staying in your comfort zone." She advocates for messy action over perfect planning, reminding us that courage isn't the absence of fear but moving forward despite it. This conversation serves as both inspiration and practical roadmap for those ready to switch tracks but unsure how to take that first step.

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Have you ever felt trapped by the daily grind and responsibilities, shrunk yourself to 'fit in' or followed the rules then realised they didn't bring you the success or happiness you'd been promised? Tick, tick and tick. My life had plateaued, my unused potential was wasting away and I felt powerless to change anything. I wanted to escape but instead of running away, I decided that ordinary is optional, and I could DECIDE to live authentically, put FUN back on the agenda and do more of the things that made me feel alive. This podcast is one of them and through these conversations I'd love nothing more than to be able to help you do the same!

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Zoe Greenhalf:

Welcome to Switch Track, a summer mini-series brought to you by the Mischief Movement podcast. These are the real-life stories of rebels who changed direction by choice or by force, and found freedom on the other side, because sometimes life plays a tune that doesn't quite fit and the most powerful thing you can do is flip the track entirely. I'm your host, zoe Greenhalgh, disruptive coach, mindset mentor and mischievous guide for quiet rebels and unconventional humans who are done settling and ready to redesign a life that actually fits. In this series, we're catching up with past guests who've dared to pivot, disrupt and create something more aligned to who they really are Short, snappy and full of insight. Each episode is a reminder that you're allowed to change, to evolve and to burn the old script if it doesn't serve you anymore.

Zoe Greenhalf:

So, whether you're standing at a crossroads, itching for more or quietly plotting your next move, this series is for you. Let's jump into today's SwitchTracks story, excited to be chatting with my lovely friend, claire Alexander, who we spoke to back on episode five actually. So you were right at the beginning, I was. Oh, then. It's really lovely to have you back and find out what you've been up to. So do you want to just let everybody know where were you in life the last time that we spoke.

Clare Alexander:

Yes for me. So we've met camp vc, me and you were, like before we spoke on the podcast. You were and you were thinking about doing the podcast and I said you do it. And then I was a guest on your podcast and at that point I was running my fashion consultancy. I'm a fashion brand consultant. I help small brands and emerging designers set up and grow and launch their businesses, helping them become profitable, making sales and making good business choices. And maybe they don't know how to find a factory or a fabric or create a garment and bring it to life. So I help them do those things, help them take that idea and bring it to life. And that's where I was and I was still working for like Motorcycle Club, that's right and I was living in London. Well, london slash Essex borders, so that's where we were and things were going.

Zoe Greenhalf:

Yeah. So then then obviously, what changed and what made you take that leap?

Clare Alexander:

so when we spoke yeah, so that's, that was what two years ago yeah, two years ago yeah, two years ago. Um, even back then I knew I wanted to move from where I was. I was restless and I didn't know what it was. And what's changed since we last spoke is I now live in a different country.

Zoe Greenhalf:

I live in.

Clare Alexander:

Austin, um, and I've been here since March, so not that long yet but what changed was, basically, I wanted to experience somewhere different. I'd lived in London for 14 years with my husband and we wanted to change, and we wanted to experience a new life and do something different. And it's big and it's scary, and I was, yeah, not sure where. And then we traveled around a few places in the US, because he's a US citizen who was born in America. So we traveled around a few different places and decided on Austin, and so we, literally we had quite a few obstacles to even get here. Lots of things happened that like curveballs, roadblocks, so many things and we still managed to make it happen. But it was a process, really at least two years. I think the idea is already there when we when I saw you at Camp BC, we were sort of thinking about where, but then to put that into place it took a really long time. There was lots of things that happened.

Clare Alexander:

So the challenge was to get here and, yeah, and the leap was I wanted to try something different. And, and you know me, I'm like, okay, I want to try something different. And, and you know me, I'm like, okay, I want to try new experiences. I want to do different things. I want to try new businesses. I just think people like me are restless and we want to try new things. So that's why I did it, and it's that it's not been without its challenges, and I was so focused on getting here and actually think about what it would be like. When I got here um, and it's fantastic, I love this city, it's amazing. But I'm the new girl again and yeah, that's something that I forgot about I'm like, oh, because when we run businesses, we're running our own businesses. It's not like that new girl feeling of walking into an office.

Clare Alexander:

So you're like, okay, I've got to learn everyone's names and make friends, and so that's that's sort of where I am and my other pivot sort of my other big changes that I've taken on another business, so we can we can talk about that as well.

Zoe Greenhalf:

So, yeah, things have changed, still in fashion, still consulting, still helping people, but from a different place and with another business as well how awesome, though, that you know the fact that you're in that position, running your own business, and a business that you could then just move to another country with you.

Clare Alexander:

Has that made it easier for you, do you think? Yeah, I mean, because we'd always had an idea in our heads that we wanted to move somewhere else. So even when I started my fashion consultancy five years ago, it was in my head then when I started it oh, it would be really good to have this business so that I can work from anywhere, Because that's kind of like the dream, isn't it? It's like okay, if I can live and work anywhere, where would it be? And if I've already got my work, and that's something that I don't have to find when I get to somewhere. And that's a big change, isn't it?

Zoe Greenhalf:

That means you can make slightly bolder moves yeah once you've got there, your income still continues yeah, and what was the other pivot that you said, that you've made, you've taken on another business?

Clare Alexander:

yes, um. So six months ago, one of my client my fashion brand clients, julia introduced me to a brand called Arbonne, which is a health, wellness and beauty brand. I'd never even heard of them at that point and to say I've become obsessed since is an understatement. So I'm now a consultant and a brand ambassador for Arbonne and we sell beautiful, clean, non-toxic, vegan nutrition, wellness and beauty and skincare products and what I love about them is they're beagle.

Clare Alexander:

So the people and planet before profit, which is really important, because you know, what I do with a consultancy is help women build businesses, but by making sustainable choices and using factories and making considered well-made goods.

Clare Alexander:

So when arbonne okay, because arbonne finds you I think that's how it happens people tell you the opportunity, and when that came to me and I was told about it and what this company was and how it worked, I was like this is, this is something I want to be part of, definitely so now I work as a brand ambassador, independent consultant, but we are a part of a bigger team and one of the things that we do is help other women come into the business, build and help them to make income. So for me, it really aligned with what I already did, because I'm helping women get a bit more wealth distribution, and I'm all for that, like, let's make money, let's put it into hands of people that want to do well and do better and have their own income streams, and I just think having multiple income streams in your portfolio is really important in today's world.

Zoe Greenhalf:

and the thing with that is it it's passive and it can be completely limitless, like your earnings yeah, it could be whatever you wanted, you know and are you finding that having the two businesses is working quite well for you in that sense?

Clare Alexander:

Yeah, because, as well with the, with Arbonne, the community aspect. When Julia introduced me to the business, I already knew I was moving. It was already planned. You know things were happening. My husband went in the February, I went in the March. I knew I was going and one of the things was that it's global and that it's very big in the US, so here I could come and meet like-minded people and find a community and a network. And, as you know, zoe, like I'm very big on community and finding like-minded people.

Clare Alexander:

It's really important to have your tribe. So that really appealed to me and it's incredible how close all of us in our team and the team in the UK that we're all together in. We'll talk every day like voice note. It's a community.

Clare Alexander:

We have calls every week, there's events on, there's things to do, so you're always with people, um, that are like-minded, that want to build something that want to to be in a positive space and I think, in a world where everyone can be quite negative and, yeah, in in a sort of different headspace, that is a really good place to exist and obviously it's all about wellness and feeling good and helping people feel better about themselves. Yeah, that you can do that with what you put inside your body, what you wear, what you put on on your skin, everything it all works in synergy yeah, so it's quite, it's all quite aligned in that way then for you, because it really kind of speaks to your existing values exactly, and I just think, yeah, it just gives you a confidence, doesn't it?

Clare Alexander:

if you feel good, you're going to present better, you go to show up with a better energy, um, and if I can help people feel like that, then I'm, I'm down, I'm in so it's been wonderful, like to have that and feel supported through this transition with with that community, because, as you know, as like when you're working by yourself and you're for yourself, it can be quite lonely, like you don't, you don't always have that that sort of network around you. So to find a community that you you can speak to day in, day out, and have that support, it's really important. Yeah, yeah, and that's one of the big draws, I think, for people that have come into our team is this like they love that aspect of it and they, they want to share that with other people yeah, yeah, I actually had these two kind of pivots coinciding with each other.

Zoe Greenhalf:

What do you think have been like the scariest parts or the most challenging parts about what you've done? Since we last spoke? You said that the journey to America itself had been pretty lengthy and quite full of obstacles, but has anything been particularly challenging or scary in that?

Clare Alexander:

yeah, I would say that the scariest part is you're going into the unknown. You don't know, but you've never lived in that place before. You don't know anybody, you don't know where anything is, you don't know the roads you drive on the other side. Um, your life is completely changed overnight and you've got to find everything like you've got to find out where to do this, or where to go to the shops or like where, where does everyone hang out?

Clare Alexander:

where's the gym, where's you know? Just anything like the monday thing. Where do I get my hair done, I get my nails done, like it's just you. You have all that stuff and you're all of a sudden you've got to find everybody and you gotta find friends. And I think it's challenging, when you've already established a friendship group or a networking group of people, then to become the new girl again and it's like okay, it's so hard when you're older, isn't it to be the new girl again?

Zoe Greenhalf:

and I think you know, as a parent, sometimes I don't appreciate the advantage I have that sometimes friendships just come from your kids. You know you find yourself hanging out with another parent that you know and and that's a way in. But when you don't have kids and you're just wholly reliant on yourself or your partner, I think that can be double, doubly scary you.

Clare Alexander:

You really have to put yourself out there, but you have to look at it. You can't just sit and expect people to come to you. You've got to go to them. Like yeah, I was telling you before we started. Like I went to a networking event last week like a book club for women entrepreneurs. I it started at seven. By that time I'd done a full day and I was really want to go out, but I went and had a great time.

Clare Alexander:

You have to just put yourself out there and do it, whereas you never. You've got to just look off and get out there and present yourself and find your people and I think that's the scariest thing, isn't it? It's starting over. Starting over is really hard and like even things like buying furniture and you've got all your furniture at home but you've got to buy all that again. It's starting over, but trying to keep in mind that you did this for a reason and you know that something really good is going to be on the other side of this transition. Yeah, I mean talking about life on the other side of this transition.

Zoe Greenhalf:

Yeah, I mean talking about life on the other side of that change. What surprised you the most so far? I mean, I know you haven't been there a massive amount of time yet, but has anything particularly struck you and made you go, wow, that wasn't expected.

Clare Alexander:

What surprised me the most was the conversation I would have over and over again. I feel I'd be here and have all these different chats, but you've really got to seek out those conversations because everyone will say oh, you're british, what brought you to austin, why are you here?

Zoe Greenhalf:

so you have this same conversation you need to start just making up some random stories and see who believes them so you kind of have this same conversation over and over until you get to know someone, don't you?

Clare Alexander:

you have that, yeah, you probably get into talk to loads and loads of people the same thing, and then you'll gel with someone. Then it moves past that and then it gets good and I guess I would have to do that. It's like that stuff was a bit of a surprise. I'm like still talking about the road. I thought I'd left that.

Zoe Greenhalf:

I thought I'd left that home come on, you work with fashion brands. Get yourself a t-shirt printed. Yes, I am British. Don't ask me why I've come here. I should. That's what you want.

Clare Alexander:

Slogan um, that's surprising. But like other things have been really surprising, have been like good surprising, like how much more we are outdoors all the time, like it's just, it's just so nice, you're just outdoors a lot more. And like I'm up earlier because we have to be out earlier because of the, the heat, so I'm at a dog way earlier than I would ever in the uk, which is good because then my day is set up. I'm up earlier great different rhythms.

Zoe Greenhalf:

Yeah, yeah, so what's a? Texan winter. Like I know, you haven't experienced it yet, but probably they do.

Clare Alexander:

They can sometimes get snow, um, but it lasts about three weeks. It's a really short winter. It's really short. I'll take it 100. The other thing that's been surprising I have met already two women here that ride motorcycles, so I think there is quite um a community of female riders, um, both by chance like meeting those, so I can't wait to actually get or was it by chance?

Zoe Greenhalf:

that's what I'd be asking. You know, somebody's watching, watching over me here and wants me to get back into the motorcycle environment and meet people like me yeah, and both of them were friends of friends.

Clare Alexander:

I were here like yeah, we met a person here and they brought that friend along and actually I connected the two that I knew because the other lady that I met she'd only lived here a few weeks. So I connected to the one woman that I knew who rode motorcycles yeah, but you're so good at that, that's what you do.

Clare Alexander:

They went out and rode bikes all day on Sunday and were messaging me you've got to get a bike and I'm like, I know. So that's definitely in my future because I feel like that's already a group that's like now existing.

Zoe Greenhalf:

Look, there was no group until you rocked up, and now there's three of you.

Clare Alexander:

Oh, there's three. Maybe there was no group until you rocked up, and now there's a three of you so there's three, maybe more amazing.

Zoe Greenhalf:

Oh, that's cool, um claire. What would you say to somebody who knows deep down that they really want to change something, but they feel stuck or scared to do it?

Clare Alexander:

I've said this to you before feel the fear and do it anyway, because nothing comes from staying in a comfort zone. Nothing good comes from staying in a comfort zone. You'll just be bored for the rest of your life. But you have to move over that. You have to go through something and like experience uncomfortable feelings to get to the good bit and unfortunately you can't do anything but go through that. You can't go around it. You can't. There's no shortcuts, so just just go for it, whatever.

Clare Alexander:

That is like starting your own business and doing it like on the side, to start with, while you're working full-time, so you can build that up, build your confidence into doing that, move into a new place, learning to ride a bike, whatever it is. Just take those first steps, like even if it's just going to a community thing and meeting other like-minded people so you can ask them questions, um. But just don't take too long. Like don't overthink it, don't try and perfect it either, because messy action is way more important than like perfect. Like perfectly done, because nothing's perfectly done, we're not perfect. And like don't think anybody has got their shit together because they don't just just get started. Just take some, because you'll be surprised at how much courage you actually have when you do something, and you'll surprise yourself and you'll feel really good for it.

Zoe Greenhalf:

Yeah, absolutely. Oh, Claire, it's been amazing like having this catch up and finding out you know how life looks two years on and like it's amazing, isn't it, that sometimes two years feel so far away, yeah, and yet looking back, you can really see how far you've come in a very short space of time it's incredible, like it's wild, it's like a new business and moved to a completely new continent.

Clare Alexander:

So it's yeah, life takes you in different places and I'm just here to go for it and just enjoy the ride for sure.

Zoe Greenhalf:

Amazing. Just remind everybody where they can find you. You know how they can get in touch. Sure, you can find me at Claire underscore.

Clare Alexander:

Alex underscore consults on Instagram claire-alex-consults on Instagram, and you can find me on my website, which is wwwclaire-alexandercouk.

Zoe Greenhalf:

Thank you so much, claire. All the best with your American experience. Do you think you'll move back to the UK, or is it kind of like an open-ended thing? At the moment You're not sure what's happening.

Clare Alexander:

I think we should revisit that in 12 months and find out where I am, because I did like I always said you need to give somewhere at least a year to see if you like it fair enough where you want to be, but so far I don't think I will. But never say never to anything oh, we need.

Zoe Greenhalf:

We need the subtitles come to be continued brilliant. Well, we will catch up sooner than in a year, but oh, yeah, absolutely absolutely.

Zoe Greenhalf:

I need to find out you know, further down the line, what you're, what you're deciding. Maybe you'll end up moving across the states to another place in America, exactly. Who knows, life is wild, isn't it? Who knows, it's a big place, brilliant. Thank you so much for joining us, claire. All the best, my love. Okay, thank you. Speak to you soon. Thank you for listening to this summer mini series. If you're already feeling that itch to pivot, or even just to pause and rethink, this is your reminder that you don't have to do it alone. Whether you're craving clarity, courage or just someone to say you're not crazy for wanting more, I'm here for that. You can book a free call with me using the link in the show notes. No pressure, no expectation, just space to explore what's next for you. So stay rebellious, keep making mischief and meet me back here next week for another episode of Switch Track, because changing course might just be the most powerful move you make you.