How Grief Turned One Mother Into a Global Phenomenon - Annabel Karmel's Story

00:00:00: There's always difficult times in a career, but do what you love and just something worse than niche.

00:00:04: I think the opposite of success is not failure.

00:00:06: The opposital success does not try.

00:00:08: You can teach your child to be fantastic musician if it becomes part everyday life.

00:00:13: Everybody wants their child have healthy diet Whoever they are.

00:00:16: when he has a child its most important thing.

00:00:18: If don't believe yourself who will believe you?

00:00:20: And we dont push ourselves out comfort zone.

00:00:23: You're never going true entrepreneur.

00:00:30: Welcome to

00:00:31: Her Voice Impacts, the first episode.

00:00:35: My name is Daniella Eon

00:00:37: and I'm

00:00:38: here to see women's voices being amplified especially in an area

00:00:46: of

00:00:46: arts entertainment culture creativity entrepreneurship leadership even tech innovation.

00:00:57: On The Her Voice Impact podcast we interview women from

00:01:01: all around the world

00:01:03: who have

00:01:03: major success, who are

00:01:05: influential on the global stage.

00:01:09: They all have a story.

00:01:11: every woman has a journey

00:01:13: and

00:01:14: how her voice was amplified.

00:01:17: she's here

00:01:18: to express

00:01:20: how she got to where she is And also maybe give you some insight into you taking those first steps out, into fulfilling your life's mission.

00:01:32: All with purpose and passion!

00:01:35: Her voice impacts is all about YOU coming in to YOUR destiny but having these women who have walked the path, who are major pioneers and catalysts.

00:01:49: And also doing their part in the world to even

00:01:53: heal the world

00:01:54: bring more philanthropic energy into the world and making

00:02:00: sure

00:02:01: that they leave a legacy.

00:02:07: So without further ado I had the honor of having Annabelle Carmel with me.

00:02:14: She's an absolute powerhouse and first of all, thank you for inviting us into your wonderful

00:02:19: home.

00:02:19: That is a pleasure!

00:02:21: You

00:02:22: have an amazing story And I'm sure it will inspire lots of women.

00:02:27: At the same time...I've heard that females and mothers in particular Have said Your

00:02:34: cookbooks

00:02:35: are the Bible In their kitchen.

00:02:37: It was extraordinary

00:02:39: isn't?

00:02:40: You built

00:02:40: this empire over six million copies sold worldwide.

00:02:45: And also please tell me if I'm wrong, forty seven books?

00:02:50: Fifty one okay crazy isn't it a new on coming out in February called Finger Foods?

00:02:55: yes i always writing book literally since they wrote my first book.

00:03:00: That is an absolute amazing achievement.

00:03:03: Annabel, please I would love to know the journey about this and how it started because i'm sure that there's an inspirational story behind it.

00:03:12: It was a tragedy actually...that got me into writing books..I played the harp And I was very happy being musician....I got married and wanted to have child took two years to get pregnant gave birth with little girl called Natasha over-the-moon.

00:03:28: She was perfect, absolutely gorgeous.

00:03:31: And then one day when she's three months old... ...she didn't look quite right and I called in.

00:03:34: a doctor actually took her to see him.. ..and he gave me this lecture about how first time mothers worry about their children but actually they're much stronger than you think they are!

00:03:43: And i almost felt embarrassed by having disturbed him.

00:03:46: went back home the next morning.

00:03:47: she did not look at all good.

00:03:49: talked with another doctor.

00:03:51: He examined her.

00:03:51: Then he said ''I've got to go and see another patient just left for ten minutes''.

00:03:55: Well, he didn't go into seeing that the patient.

00:03:56: He knew there was something wrong with her and he was trying to get admitted to Great Ormond Street Hospital which is for seriously ill children And it came back in a room saying that... ...he had tried to get him to that hospital That they were something seriously wrong with here.. ..he thought there's been some thing going on around his brain.

00:04:10: I actually went to St Mary's which another hospital all day.

00:04:13: They did lots of tests and eventually they did a CAT scan.

00:04:16: Then called me into my room at like five o'clock and said she'd never be normal again or might die When she got transferred to great Ormond street hospital because she was on the critical list.

00:04:25: First day she was in a normal ward, second day.

00:04:27: She's an intensive care for five days.

00:04:30: She was there and on the fifth day They said they want to have a meeting with me who is on a ventilator at that stage And then told me about thinking part of her brain had gone and they put it my arms say put little dress and She died.

00:04:43: took four-and-a-half hours.

00:04:44: first I It was just the most terrible thing Is something that you never think will happen to you?

00:04:48: And i do talk About it because I think a lot of mothers don't understand that when you have very, very young child and this is not very common but can happen.

00:04:57: So they're very vulnerable.

00:04:58: And someone who kissed her with the cold sore That then developed into encephalitis which is swelling in their brain Which is irreversible!

00:05:06: And i always try to say it to mums now... ...I work for The Lullaby Trust which has amazing charity To keep your children safe.

00:05:14: Not let people touch them or kiss them because They don't have the antibodies to be able to deal with infection.

00:05:21: And I was told when i left grade almost in a hospital, like if you have another child just take it to the park You know?

00:05:26: Don't let people hold her Keeper yourself until she's bit older and...I did that With my second child Because its something That you think will never happen To YOU.

00:05:35: but It happened TO ME!

00:05:37: And y'know..i can't even tell you how I felt.

00:05:38: It was beyond

00:05:40: terrible Beyond emotions

00:05:41: And all I wondered Was ANOTHER BABY!

00:05:43: AND IT WAS SO HARD AT THAT TIME.

00:05:46: And I wrote my book because, My Second Child was the world's worst eater.

00:05:50: A boy called Nicholas...I didn't have great joy with doctors and my doctor didn't come even though i told him that he is in labour.

00:05:56: He told me it would be a long time..he went upstairs to get things.

00:06:00: The baby's head came out and said to his husband ''i think im having the baby''.

00:06:04: Anyway he didnt actually believe me till he came in And then the baby was born still attached by the cord and no one came for like two-and-a-half hours.

00:06:13: Oh my goodness!

00:06:13: So it was also quite worrying, I thought i might lose my second child but luckily he's a strapping thirty five year old now just got married But I was running a playgroup in London, and all the mums had young children.

00:06:30: And I were saying to them that my child doesn't eat.

00:06:32: it's like we're at your child!

00:06:33: So many of them have children who are bad eaters or very fussy and difficult... ...and i wasn't making up all these recipes for Nicholas.. ..I gave him copies with these recipes and every week they would come back and say wow this is

00:06:43: amazing!!

00:06:44: My child loves them.

00:06:45: what else do you got this week?

00:06:46: And as giving them out for few months then said you know why should write about book.

00:06:50: There's me, I can't even type.

00:06:52: And i'm thinking like how could I write a book?

00:06:54: You're playing the harp though!

00:06:55: Yeah but that is very different.

00:06:57: Anyway so I thought you know...I wanted to make some meaning from her short life and sort of give something back It just..you have this kind.

00:07:05: why did she die?

00:07:06: Like?

00:07:06: Why was she born and want to do something about it?

00:07:08: So I started to research Charlie Trisham.

00:07:11: It was extremely difficult because all the experts I asked were giving me different opinions, like when to introduce peanut butter.

00:07:18: And it was really hard.

00:07:19: so i worked then with Institute of Child Health which has touched great almost your hospital and is a research arm.

00:07:25: So everything in this book was based on scientific research.

00:07:29: This book sold six million copies.

00:07:34: came out in nineteen ninety one My way!

00:07:37: I sent it to fifteen publishers who turned down.

00:07:39: Yeah, how did that feel?

00:07:41: I couldn't get... oh terrible.

00:07:43: And then i could not get a literary agent and eventually gave it to somebody else playing tennis with who took it for a book fair and big American publisher.

00:07:50: Simon & Schuster published it Then Random House published it and sold out immediately.

00:07:56: It made my career.

00:07:57: this book has been the bible is still number one best-selling book on feeding children worldwide.

00:08:02: And imagine you hadn't pursued and kept

00:08:05: going up to that fifteenth

00:08:06: time.

00:08:07: Well,

00:08:07: I could have...I almost did!

00:08:08: It

00:08:08: feels like an endless audition doesn't it?

00:08:11: Like..it just

00:08:11: does an end!

00:08:12: It's very hard get started but i think the why you do something takes you through it.

00:08:16: And my why I did something was for Natasha and there is a passion because I loved it and love cooking and eating and I love see children eat good food.

00:08:25: After all one in three of us will die from a diet related disease.

00:08:29: So best thing we can done basically instill good eating habits Yes.

00:08:33: And for me, Natasha bought that to me and thats my life's work.

00:08:37: now That is what I do Every day i think about.

00:08:40: how would you get children eat food like broccoli or spinach Or the things they may not necessarily love.

00:08:46: You don't want them just eating chicken nuggets & chips.

00:08:48: So make healthy foods so delicious.

00:08:50: They dont' wanna have junk food.

00:08:52: Wow!

00:08:52: Now guess this

00:08:53: a mission in your life.

00:08:55: It isn't just

00:08:57: food

00:08:58: itself.

00:08:59: There something intrinsically inside of you Believes that you have to pursue this.

00:09:05: Is it like leaving a legacy in

00:09:07: us?

00:09:07: It is my legacy and I will live on beyond me because these books we'll carry on but My daughter works with me so she will carry on, and she loves what i do too And she loves eating and cooking.

00:09:15: So oh wow...I will carry On them.

00:09:17: sure and I have three children now.

00:09:19: so after Nicholas was born I had two girls which Was lovely and by my life has been.

00:09:25: I mean I did so many different things.

00:09:26: no II do children's menus in hotels, but I make sure it is beautiful and healthy food.

00:09:32: Yes!

00:09:32: We do the Jamera Carton Tower.

00:09:34: we do some of your hotels all over the world.

00:09:36: So you've expanded

00:09:37: because i remember watching a little video And You had said something about...I

00:09:41: went

00:09:41: from their kitchen

00:09:42: table

00:09:43: to The global stage and thought what a quantum leap that Is?

00:09:46: Because To Some people they either think

00:09:49: how

00:09:50: on earth Do you do That?

00:09:52: What mindset did actually have Put yourself obviously in front of camera.

00:09:58: I mean, i've seen you doing live cooking as well like how does this happen in you?

00:10:02: Well...I think being an entrepreneur it's not a part-time job.

00:10:06: It is your whole life!

00:10:09: You cannot separate yourself from what you do and we have to have passion for

00:10:13: that.

00:10:14: And..i was quite successful in UK supermarkets.

00:10:18: so we supply all the UK super markets.

00:10:20: then one day because i done quite alot tours in Australia I was rung up by the number one frozen food company in Australia.

00:10:38: And now we've been in Australia for ten years.

00:10:42: We're on every single supermarket, all these coals.

00:10:45: I go there two or three times a year and everybody knows me In Australia.

00:10:48: i'm always surprised like because Every single supermarkets stocks my food.

00:10:52: My books are popular There.

00:10:53: You just never know.

00:10:54: Like do P&O cruise liners?

00:10:56: I do the Sani resort in Greece which is an incredible Resort.

00:10:59: How does it feel?

00:10:59: Twenty-nine restaurants in it.

00:11:01: It's

00:11:02: being known that way.

00:11:03: I guess it's normal now, like in the beginning.

00:11:07: It must have felt a little bit... I

00:11:08: think he gives you a platform to be able do good things so that we love work for charities.

00:11:12: That

00:11:12: is wonderful!

00:11:13: Look at all these beautiful

00:11:14: things!

00:11:14: My mission is kind of erase obesity and children because children are blank canvas.

00:11:19: They don't know what salty food or sugary food.

00:11:22: So if start off with eating habits they won't want to eat crisps and chicken nuggets.

00:11:28: No exactly If train your child from the very begining which i'm doing.

00:11:32: my children loves salad.

00:11:33: They love the food that I make, they don't want cakes and biscuits.

00:11:37: Because the

00:11:37: half of it is so good!

00:11:38: It's unbelievable!

00:11:39: You

00:11:39: try to make a very

00:11:40: tasty... I'll make very good salads.

00:11:42: So but you can do that.

00:11:44: anyone can do That And everybody in the UK uses my book.

00:11:47: literally There are easy recipes.

00:11:50: But The biggest thing i've done recently Is My App.

00:11:56: So an app has always been with me.

00:11:58: Yes The great things like its always on your phone.

00:12:02: If we're at supermarket We cant think what to make.

00:12:04: Just put chicken or broccoli what you're going to have in your fridge maybe and all the recipes will come up.

00:12:10: Oh it just shows

00:12:11: you!

00:12:11: It's so easy, I wanted make a fifteen minute meal or family meal.

00:12:15: about twelve hundred and fifty recipes on the

00:12:19: app.

00:12:20: And these are all inside the app?

00:12:22: That is phenomenal!

00:12:23: Yes,

00:12:23: it has a complete digital weaning course how to feed your child in very first year from their very first purees or finger foods All the way through How To Do With Fussy Eater's How To Deal with Allergies.

00:12:34: It Has An Allergy Tracker So You Can Take A Picture Of Your Child's Reaction.

00:12:38: Then You Write Down What They Ate How Soon After That Happened.

00:12:41: When you go to your doctor that really helps them diagnose what that food is, it's caused to trigger the reaction in your child.

00:12:49: A lot of people think their children are allergic or something but they're not and then take them out for a diet which isn't good.

00:12:54: Oh wow!

00:12:55: Yeah so its really important know truth about allergies because there aren't very big percentage of children who have allergies, about six percent.

00:13:03: And lots will grow up with it.

00:13:04: The interesting thing is egg allergy as a commonest

00:13:07: Yes

00:13:08: But if you can't eat something like scrambled eggs eggs into a meatball or cake.

00:13:15: They

00:13:15: can't tell it's in?

00:13:16: Well, It is not that they cannot tell its'in A baked egg...they often tolerate and by having the small amount of egg helps to grow out of their egg allergy.

00:13:24: So my day was avoid all eggs in anything.

00:13:28: so avoid meatballs with eggs chicken nuggets dipped in an egg.

00:13:31: That was completely wrong advice because tiny bit of egg help the child become immune to the egg allergy.

00:13:37: Its interesting

00:13:38: Not for

00:13:38: everyone but large proportion children So they can grow out of it.

00:13:42: It's amazing how you know all these things.

00:13:44: like.

00:13:45: I've been

00:13:45: doing this for over thirty years

00:13:47: in your brain and Annabelle, I want to ask are you constantly always thinking about something new that you could come up with?

00:13:53: Like is there something inside of you or an intuitive hit?

00:13:58: Is a spiritual thing just so driven by the mission?

00:14:05: I think it is my life's mission and my passion, And i always have new ideas.

00:14:10: Yeah!

00:14:10: And...I'm very lucky that you know My Life Is Really Busy & I do amazing things That we had a huge Christmas event Which was in the Jamiro Carlton Tower.

00:14:18: We invited loads of influencers And..i am going to Turkey To visit vegan factory after that And... It just opens so many doors!

00:14:26: I mean yeah its such A global business now Because everybody wants their child Have healthy diet Whoever they are Whatever Their budget is Anybody can Do it.

00:14:35: Because honestly buying prepared food is more expensive than cooking broccoli and a piece of chicken or fish, which would be much more healthy for your child.

00:14:45: But I can make it tasty!

00:14:49: Well I did see you in action by the way at Taste Abu Dhabi which we just came back from, which Abu Dabih is an absolute

00:14:58: centrepiece

00:14:59: of creativity and also i think it's going to be next up-and-coming place for a lot of entrepreneurship innovation.

00:15:07: Which were all very passionate about here.

00:15:10: I want to know because at Taste Abu Dhabi, there was a wonderful connection between family and children.

00:15:16: And is this something that you're passionate about as well?

00:15:20: Bringing the family back together!

00:15:22: Because when we were doing our show all of the kids in The Parents are

00:15:30: so into it!

00:15:32: Yes, they write books on how to cook for their children.

00:15:36: So two of my latest books.

00:15:38: So this is my first cookbook, so like literally when a child's very young they can still cook.

00:15:43: They could mix and roll out dough or cut out shapes.

00:15:46: And their learning maths because they're learning about time measuring ingredients But also bonding with the mum or dad Because all children love to cook and are part of the adult world.

00:15:58: This was our first book.

00:16:00: You graduate from this book which has amazing recipes in it fun pictures, everything is photographed.

00:16:09: And I think it's really important to teach children how to cook and that has to be done at home with the mother or father.

00:16:16: Yes!

00:16:16: I used to have cooking birthday parties where there was no food but my kids made their birthday tea.

00:16:21: they cooked it.

00:16:21: They made a birthday tea?

00:16:22: And in Abu Dhabi as you saw when we were cooking for our whole family like the children and mom were with me...I did!

00:16:27: ...and I was demonstrating on how to make them.

00:16:29: The children absolutely loved it.

00:16:31: yeah i'm quite

00:16:32: amazed by interaction because You know, sometimes you get kids and parents just not on the

00:16:38: same page

00:16:40: but there seemed to be a great energy about that.

00:16:42: What were your thoughts being in Abu Dhabi itself?

00:16:46: I thought

00:16:46: it was amazing!

00:16:47: It's incredible.

00:16:48: so...I'm very lucky.

00:16:49: we had a lot of excursions.

00:16:50: So in morning before i went do all my demos I went to the Louvre, which was...I mean they are as one thing but building is even more incredible than we are.

00:16:59: You agree with you?

00:17:00: It's so stunning.

00:17:01: that roof and also seeing the sea.

00:17:04: it's incredible!

00:17:05: And some of them honestly works of art are stunning.

00:17:08: now they're building The Guggenheim So there will be a real centre There.. I also want Seawild which only opened years ago.

00:17:14: i couldn't believe how they built this unbelievable.

00:17:17: I saw the dolphins And that aquarium, which is just.

00:17:21: I've never seen anything like it.

00:17:22: It's absolutely huge and there are sharks all sorts of fish above you below everywhere... ...and its the most incredible place!

00:17:30: Its amazing!

00:17:32: Then i went to Ferrari World.

00:17:34: Went on the go-karts did a simulator.

00:17:36: You did at all?

00:17:36: Yes!

00:17:37: Went on that thing which gives your tour of Italy.. ..and was an absolute paradise for me.

00:17:41: What do you call that?

00:17:45: A sort of children's world.

00:17:48: Yes, yes!

00:17:49: So I didn't have time for that but it was amazing.

00:17:51: so and also Abu Dhabi uh...was amazing in the taste of Abu Dabbi.

00:17:55: so i thought you know..I tried lots of food at a different restaurant.

00:17:59: I did too.

00:17:59: yeah It was very good.

00:18:01: The

00:18:01: quality is really good.

00:18:02: I'm going to say

00:18:03: the standard of equality is very high.

00:18:06: What do you think about the energy around Abu Dhabi and what you feel might be coming up there as in sense of like entrepreneurship, female leadership or creativity?

00:18:19: It seems to me a very open place for that at the moment.

00:18:22: Definitely!

00:18:23: I think every time i go something new is huge has come.

00:18:29: I mean, my hotel was actually on the racetrack.

00:18:31: So it's on Yaz Island so you can see cars going past.

00:18:34: Literally whatever you do... You

00:18:36: got to feel everything!

00:18:38: And they went some amazing restaurants.

00:18:39: The food is very high standard It really is.

00:18:43: But yeah and i spoke a lot of women there.

00:18:46: They are intelligent woman and all kind have their careers.

00:18:52: I think its important to inspire other mothers.

00:18:55: Yeah tell us about

00:18:55: that.

00:18:56: not feel like just because they have a child.

00:18:58: that's the end of their career.

00:18:59: Because I think sometimes it was beginning in my career, when I had Natasha never thought about having food as her career.

00:19:07: she brought me into that.

00:19:09: and very often you learn alot through having children or your children introduce to something.

00:19:13: but i always think its important to have passion for what u do.

00:19:15: don't make money cause thats not going.

00:19:18: get you thru difficult times.

00:19:19: there are always difficult time in our careers But Do What You Love And Do Something Where Its A Niche.

00:19:24: So for me, my niche was I just do children's food.

00:19:27: I did family food and childrens' food And that really wasn't covered very well because when i tried to find a book To feed my son who would not eat it Was like put a piece of liver in some milk and poached it but he wouldn't want to eat That.

00:19:39: and then we really cared about making something thats absolutely delicious!

00:19:42: And I think were catering For the most discerning gourmet which is a fussy toddler.

00:19:47: so We have make good food its important.

00:19:50: children's menus in hotels should not be chicken nuggets and chips.

00:19:55: I know, but let me make them better quality because everywhere you go it is almost like oh!

00:20:01: It just kind of

00:20:03: the same

00:20:03: as burgers, pizza, chicken nuggets... And then children think that's only thing they can eat?

00:20:07: Then when somebody goes to someone else's house makes something fresh They won't eat this because their condition for eating food has been covered with breadcrumbs.

00:20:14: So i want to dispel that and change it.

00:20:17: so stop obesity In a simple way.

00:20:22: Yes, and you don't have to spend more money on the food You make or spent a lot of time in kitchen.

00:20:26: But I think i have simple ways And informative ways so that A mother Or father Is empowered To know how to Create good food for their child Because they are the apple Of Their eye When you have your child.

00:20:39: it's The most important thing.

00:20:41: And I just think, you know seeing overweight children at the age of five is terrible.

00:20:44: It's very sad isn't it?

00:20:45: Or having children who are through to go under general anesthesia and have their teeth extracted because they're eating sticky things not necessarily sweets but sticky dried fruit made into a fruit winder.

00:20:56: people don't understand that.

00:20:58: even hundred percent fruit in the wrong way its'nt good for teeth.

00:21:02: or giving them juice on a bottle all these things just to know about them or to understand.

00:21:06: if you eat iron like in something like spinach or porridge, they need to have vitamin C at the same meal.

00:21:11: Or they can't actually absorb their iron.

00:21:14: so if you have porridge and orange juice or strawberries that works but you eat spinach and spinach alone without something with vitamin c it won't give your iron.

00:21:22: So these little things are really important To kind of get parents to understand And understand the critical nutrients one of them being essential fatty acids.

00:21:31: So oily fish is very important from a baby's point of view from six months because it's a very important part in the brain.

00:21:38: So for six month,

00:21:39: yeah baby needs oily fish twice week?

00:21:42: Yeah I know people don't that and they never give to them.

00:21:46: then their brains doesn't develop properly.

00:21:47: its really important.

00:21:48: you can get time back.

00:21:50: so these are simple things to know and i make really easy amazing salmon recipes which is real quick and easy too.

00:21:56: but to make sure children get that essential fatty acids there no real food other than oily.

00:22:02: This is amazing, like you just got this educational thing about you as well because it seems to come so easily obviously.

00:22:10: Yeah but in a non-medical, not complicated way that everybody can understand and make within ten or fifteen minutes.

00:22:17: Because thats life all busy.

00:22:20: It's little bit of your hidden musical gift cause I do see beautiful heart behind me And its one the most amazing instruments.

00:22:32: How did you start?

00:22:34: to play that thing.

00:22:38: My mother wanted me to play the harp and I went into an exhibition, really?

00:22:40: And i think that small harp was draped with some material.

00:22:44: it wasn't a musical exhibition...and I saw The Harp.

00:22:47: when I thought oh that looks interesting.

00:22:49: my mum bought that!

00:22:50: I started playing that.

00:22:51: then I graduated from The Big Harp.

00:22:53: Then I started winning musical prizes like A Silver Cup When I thought this is good as you have to push children at young age to play but once they become good at it.

00:23:03: So I became a professional musician at the age of seventeen, eighteen.

00:23:08: I was still in school but started playing hotels in London and then I travelled to the world and played with... Traveled-the-world?

00:23:14: Playing the harp!

00:23:14: I did went to Las Vegas, went to Monte Carlo Sporting Club made albums.

00:23:19: it's amazing.

00:23:20: when i had my children I didn't want them play the harp because they're so big So I got them to play the violin, but I did a Suzuki method where their mother learns how to play and helps teach the child.

00:23:31: And they all became phenomenal musicians!

00:23:33: And my son at the age of thirteen played at the Albert Hall concerto Really?

00:23:38: Yeah Because you can teach your child to be fantastic musician if it becomes part everyday life.

00:23:44: Like when we think

00:23:45: about children learn their mother tongue But we don't consider they're a genius or that clever.

00:23:50: They just you know, but the same as an instrument.

00:23:52: So if your playing music in the car when taking them to school and sitting practice with them all become very good Wow!

00:24:00: So they didn't become professional musicians, but they all love it.

00:24:03: And the thing is my two daughters play with my mother who's now in her nineties and I think that keeps them going.

00:24:09: This is a family thing isn'it?

00:24:10: They guess there something to practice or do It's everyone cooking with their heart?

00:24:14: Yeah But its nice Its given her you know a meaning of life.

00:24:18: To play piano for children playing violin.

00:24:20: That is beautiful.

00:24:21: Lovely!

00:24:22: So do you think by playing the harp and being in front of a live audience has helped even now to this day, being able to present... I did.

00:24:31: It

00:24:31: was good training?

00:24:32: Is it helping with confidence?

00:24:34: Yeah definitely Wow Definitely.

00:24:36: because you go in front people And if don't believe yourself who's going to be believing you?

00:24:40: If we don't push ourselves out your comfort zone You're never gonna be true entrepreneur.

00:24:45: Entrepreneurs will do something knowing that they probably will fail and ninety percent it will fail, but I might get them to the next stage.

00:24:51: And i've done things that haven't worked.

00:24:53: But...I think the opposite of success is not failure.

00:24:56: The opposite of a success isn´t trying.

00:24:58: Wow!

00:24:59: Our entrepreneurs try things.

00:25:01: If you don't try something You dont know if its going to work.

00:25:03: People in a focus group give lots opinions.

00:25:06: It's only when your actually produce it..and people have to buy that.

00:25:10: you know if it's going to be a success or not.

00:25:12: My

00:25:12: goodness!

00:25:12: And not

00:25:13: everything will work.

00:25:14: and also, being an entrepreneur... You don't need to be an inventor.

00:25:16: people think oh I've got to find something.

00:25:18: so... Can't you

00:25:19: and me all like...?

00:25:20: ...I was NOT an inventor.

00:25:22: All i saw is there was gap in the market.

00:25:23: There were no good books on feeding children Yet I felt this as most important time for them when they're growing.

00:25:31: Why all these amazing books for adults are nothing for kids?

00:25:35: So

00:25:35: you saw something and it just shone out at you.

00:25:38: It's a niche,

00:25:40: isn't

00:25:41: it?

00:25:41: And then did you think in some like this is how I'm thinking.

00:25:45: You know, you've got this musical ability.

00:25:47: You have a great mindset and confidence that I'm going to put those together!

00:25:51: Why not?

00:25:53: Because it does take your confidence to do so.

00:25:55: I didn't have the confidence because when every time we were down... ...I spent two-and-a-half years writing this book but it's not gonna work or wasted all of its time.

00:26:03: And then I thought well....

00:26:07: How

00:26:08: did you overcome that?

00:26:09: It was like, I want to have a legacy to her.

00:26:11: I wanted something from my life so... Okay!

00:26:12: So it's the drive.

00:26:13: ...I carried on and just told everybody about what i'm doing even with my tennis coach who got me into getting this book published.

00:26:21: You're

00:26:21: just affirming is done

00:26:23: And when the books were published no one would buy them.

00:26:25: also The reason Publishers turned me down is no book on feeding babies had ever sold.

00:26:32: well.

00:26:32: It was so uncommercial, it's the worst subject matter for writing a book and getting your publisher to be honest.

00:26:37: So I don't know what iwas doing.

00:26:39: But this Book wrote that And became second best selling non-fiction hardback book of all time in the UK When it Was published!

00:26:46: It was like unbelievable.

00:26:48: It was unheardal.

00:26:49: They said people just buy baby food but its older than the Baby by the time the Baby eats it.

00:26:55: That can't Be Good.

00:26:57: I never thought

00:26:57: of that.

00:26:58: Oh my goodness!

00:26:59: It's got a shelf life of eighteen months and you're giving it to six month old?

00:27:03: No, we don't eat food like that.

00:27:05: We just steam some carrots.

00:27:07: they are so good for your or give them banana but its better But were conditioned into thinking about buying this pouch from the supermarket And actually lot of nutrients lost in processing.

00:27:18: why It doesn't make sense.

00:27:20: and all these snacks that are available, they have nothing in them.

00:27:23: They're empty!

00:27:24: Well when it says you've got carrot its like two percent carrot, just eat a

00:27:27: carrot!

00:27:27: It's so much better!

00:27:28: No one really reads the little fine print to see or realise.

00:27:33: I look big letters saying healthy You know?

00:27:35: Just puffed

00:27:36: up corn snacks with no goodness

00:27:37: in there.

00:27:37: Terrible.

00:27:38: Yeah Annabelle...I want to actually what advice could give even if this stands

00:27:44: even

00:27:45: maybe going into a little bit of spiritual advice, I'm sure that you've had to have faith during the time obviously with the tragedy.

00:27:52: Yes definitely.

00:27:53: And getting through that and then getting

00:27:55: the actual like passion to rise up in you as woman too.

00:28:01: create this.

00:28:02: what can tell?

00:28:04: the women who are listening, what can they do if you're in this position where... So that's why

00:28:09: I think a lot of women have quite good jobs and have a lot confidence.

00:28:13: Then they leave their workplace with their children.

00:28:15: maybe take three or four years out And then like..I'm not sure i could go back but don't want to do it before because It was very long hours and wanted be my children which is what I wanted too.

00:28:26: so writing was good.

00:28:30: take more time in the career when you're children at school.

00:28:32: So that's what I thought of, i wanted to choose a career where could still be with my kids.

00:28:35: secondly like...you can't start on your beginning but you can change what you are going to do in future.

00:28:42: so if you doing a job and not enjoying think about what else you want to do.

00:28:47: maybe leave it immediately.

00:28:48: just do part-time then find out If You Enjoy That.

00:28:54: You can really research something by sitting at home.

00:28:57: Let's say you want to open a cafe, I would go and sit in the café.

00:28:59: where do you wanna open one?

00:29:01: See how many people come in... And how long they stay there what they order.

00:29:04: that is only way of knowing if it will be successful.

00:29:07: So throw

00:29:07: yourself into it!

00:29:08: Do your own research Find somebody who can mentor you.

00:29:15: Somebody's been in that business and tell your other pitfalls.

00:29:18: really good because

00:29:19: I think You'd be surprised how many well-known people would help you?

00:29:22: And tell you what, but it is not a good idea Because of this yeah making a whole load of mistakes.

00:29:26: and i remember when I came into wanting to do food for supermarkets That I hired A consultant To find me the factory.

00:29:33: he gave Me one very Good piece Of advice.

00:29:34: He said It was shelf life that destroys The Business.

00:29:38: so have a short shelf Life of seven Days.

00:29:40: the Food May go off and you get huge wastage.

00:29:43: Yeah, so we extended the life of our food as much As we could though it was still healthy.

00:29:47: And now I do a lot of frozen food as well Which is the best for preserving food because that's completely natural.

00:29:53: You don't have nothing in it.

00:29:54: no enum is not

00:29:55: all the nutrients exactly

00:29:56: So it's completely locked-in.

00:29:58: So if that's important?

00:29:59: And then that has a shelf life of one year.

00:30:01: So think about that.

00:30:03: Wow

00:30:03: like you know I think that mentoring Is important and also to believe in yourself and push herself out of your comfort zone.

00:30:10: I would take advice.

00:30:11: and also don't think you can do it all because you can't.

00:30:16: You need people to help you, and don't mortgage your house or put your life savings into it cos when you start a business... That's really good point!

00:30:23: ...you don't make money if you lose money.

00:30:25: Don't

00:30:25: spend all of the money

00:30:28: once.

00:30:29: No It is hard to build a business.

00:30:31: Take

00:30:32: little debts.

00:30:33: It takes time.

00:30:34: Yeah that's amazing And lots of courage Passion for it and a love for it.

00:30:41: And as to fit in with your life I had children, i was spending a lot of time the kitchen cooking!

00:30:44: I loved my children...I wanted to be with them.. I'd lost a child.

00:30:47: It fitted him with my life ..it was authentic.

00:30:50: ...and Be Authentic That's The Other Thing.

00:30:52: I Love Food , I love Children and I'm in Amelia that I love and I love watching children eat My food.

00:30:58: and I have huge Instagram.

00:31:01: its like five hundred sixty thousand and you know I'll put something up on instagram.

00:31:05: then that day somebody will have made it and they'll show me a picture of their child eating it.

00:31:09: I didn't do, why did you?

00:31:10: It's more important than anything!

00:31:11: Do feel fulfilled that your done part in the world In some way to society.

00:31:17: And i think what happens is at end if want be remembered That you healed families.

00:31:26: Yes well actually got message on my.

00:31:31: an email came into me yesterday and I'd done some talks about like what happened to me in my child.

00:31:36: And she had a sick child, and she said how did you not listen to what I've said?

00:31:40: She wouldn't have gone the doctor... ...and it saved her child's life!

00:31:43: Now if we can do that just one child then he has kind of done alot even that one child.

00:31:49: If you spread your word on making healthy food You're going save many more than one child because those children are gonna grow up into unhealthy adults as they start eating the wrong foods.

00:31:57: It is really hard for them if they get really fat when their young to lose that weight.

00:32:02: It's going be very difficult, so don't let it happen!

00:32:05: Because its like sugar is an addiction isn'it?

00:32:07: It just doesn't stop.

00:32:08: the brain keeps wanting more

00:32:10: and more of... And we dont give sugar or salt in our first year.

00:32:13: I'm not saying you don´t give any sugar at all because i think if make it for forbidden fruit then they can never eat chocolates or sweets or cakes.

00:32:18: They want this and will find it.

00:32:21: But If your food is good and healthy Then they do not crave it anymore and if available Its actually not best thing to eat one of my delicious meals to be honest.

00:32:30: I agree with you Annabelle, wow!

00:32:32: Thank-you so much for spending this wonderful time here on Her Voice Impacts and i wish you more books!

00:32:41: More legacy... I hope some more time in Abu Dhabi because I loved it there.

00:32:43: It was amazing.

00:32:44: And actually

00:32:45: we'll catch up in Abu-Dhabi maybe do another episode There which would be amazing.

00:32:49: imagine all those

00:32:50: big museums.

00:32:51: Well have a new book out February.

00:32:52: So yes Okay

00:32:53: well that's done We're gonna do that.

00:32:54: thank-you very much for your time.

00:33:01: What does it actually mean when someone goes through tragedy and then Actually picks themselves back up again with an amazing confidence to create such an empire?

00:33:13: I think what we heard today was a clear example of A woman whose passion Was

00:33:20: so

00:33:20: innate inside of her that she had a mission And a why this created something inside of here.

00:33:28: That was pretty much the driving force to allow this conception, to happen of this book.

00:33:38: Of these amazing...

00:33:40: like

00:33:42: I believe it's a spiritual intervention.

00:33:44: in some way she went through something that i would imagine a lot of us have been

00:33:50: through

00:33:52: challenges in our lives where we have found Life is kind of coming at us and it's just not what we expected but It gets turned around.

00:34:05: whatever was designed to create something that Was destructive began a new seed.

00:34:13: That actually helped Millions of people.

00:34:17: when you think about

00:34:18: it so, What

00:34:20: can you do in your life?

00:34:25: make you think I have something to offer even though i've been through the situations of trauma, disappointment and loss.

00:34:37: Which is a heavy thing

00:34:40: but

00:34:40: turn it all around by tapping into your gifts and talents, and using that

00:34:47: to propel

00:34:48: you forward.

00:34:49: To give something back to humanity.

00:34:52: as a woman You have been given That gift so use it And explore It!

00:34:58: I do believe

00:35:01: that

00:35:01: YOU can create Something that will leave A legacy.