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Kevin worked his way up the business ladder from the bottom, but has since turned to llama breeding and is a business consultant on the side. Below he talks us through his journey and shares his advice for others looking to work their way up in the world.

A bit about Kevin

Name: Kevin Woodward
Job: Llama breeder & sometime business advisor
Bio: I am lucky enough to work from home, or should I say my workshop/shed/office in the beautiful countryside of North Devon! I’m a business advisor focussing on Finance & Admin, and I also breed llamas!
You can find him online:
Blog: llamakevin goes blogging
Twitter: @llamakevin
Websites: www.ashwoodllamas.co.uk www.kvassociates.co.uk www.multiheat-energysystems.co.uk

WHAT DO YOU DO FOR A LIVING?

I am based in North Devon and currently work for myself and have several jobs: Firstly I am a consultant in my business K&V Associates Ltd, where I provide business advice and support to a variety of companies, from as far away as Singapore, and as close as Bideford. My background is finance and administration and it is this area that I provide support on.

Secondly, I am a smallholder, my wife Vicki and I own about 5 acres of land around our house, and we have decided to breed llamas and pygmy goats. This started out as a hobby, but we have realized that there is money to be made from this (probably never enough to fully pay the bills, hence needing to carry on working elsewhere) and now have 6 breeding females, 4 crias (baby llamas), 3 trekking males, and our stud, Pepsi).

There is more, we also have a small holiday cottage which we rent out, and…Finally I have a part share in a business that sells infrared heating panels. There is always more, I do some voluntary work, helping a small business networking organisation run its day to day activities.

WHAT ARE THE THINGS YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT YOUR JOB?

The flexibility and the variety, I know that each day I have the animals to look after, and when I say each day, that’s seven days a week, 365 days a year – no time off for Xmas or holidays (of course we do go away, but we have to get someone in to ensure everything is fed and watered), and then there is a bit of this and a bit of that, and always the animals to keep me amused.

HOW DID YOU GET TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW?

I worked in industry for nearly 25 years, from the office junior in a biscuit making factory, to the number 2 in the Finance department for a Oil & Gas service company turning over in its peak US$600 million. Having been made redundant, I was given the opportunity to live in the USA and continue my career or to leave – the time was right to leave and pursue my ambition of moving back to the country and owning a bit of land, and that is what I did.

WHAT WERE THE BIGGEST HURDLES YOU FACED IN GETTING THERE?

Qualifications, or the lack of them. I passed my A levels, and went on to college to be a civil engineer, but lasted just one term. I became a postman until I figured out that my talents lay in the accounting world, it was a struggle to find that first job but perseverance and the fact that I was reasonably intelligent meant I got my first chance. Studying though, was always going to be a hard chore for me, and despite gaining a 3rd place in one of the national accounting exams, I never completed my qualification, but was good at my job. Current employers were always impressed with me, but to change employers was always tough – I worked for my last employer for over 20 years, and was lucky that as they grew I was allowed to grow with them even without qualifications.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE TRYING TO FOLLOW A SIMILAR CAREER?

Don’t give up on the studying!

WOULD YOU DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN?

Yes I would, but I might try harder at the studying next time!

HOW DO YOU THINK WGYU.COM AND THE TOOLS ON THE SITE CAN HELP PEOPLE FOLLOW A SIMILAR CAREER?

Any site that pulls together aspiring individuals with successful individuals will do well.

WOULD YOU BE AVAILABLE ON THE SITE AS A MENTOR?

Would love to!

Thanks Kevin, a great story! If you have any questions for Kevin about working your way up in business, or indeed about breeding llamas, you can go and find him on WYGU where he has signed up and is willing to be a mentor.

- Michelle