Hello

My name is Dean Franklin

In 1986 I left school, a handful of ‘O’ Levels nothing spectacular. I wasn’t worried, I wanted to be a woodturner and cabinet maker.

I accidentally fell into sales, I was good at it. My experience selling eggs as a schoolboy set me up to succeed. But, the thing is, I never chose the corporate life, I was headhunted into it. 30 years later, after selling everything from pond pumps, pet toys, to industrial lasers, I was sitting wondering how did I get here. When or where did the creative dream die? Would I keep wearing the golden handcuffs, or do something about it? Would my creative skills remain relegated to hobby status?

At 55, I made a decision, not a ‘I’ll try’ or ‘I’ll see how it goes’, but the kind of decision that gets you up before the rest of the house is awake.

Today, the book is published. I have a registered jeweller’s maker’s mark at the London Assay Office. My new studio is nearing completion and I am enjoying my daily work as a handyman.

I live with my wife Beth, our children, and a black Labrador called Salty. We have a new home looking out over fields at the foot of the Blackdown Hills, within easy reach of our favourite woods and the Quantock Hills. Life now is very different to what it was just a couple of years ago.

If you are currently sitting at your desk thinking ‘how did I get here,’ I wanted to be an artist, a jeweller, author, woodturner, but the money’s good, I have a mortgage, a family, a dog, and I don’t have the time. I can’t just quit.

I want to say, do not quit your day job, do not ‘burn your bridges’, there is another way. You can build your dream life from where you are right now. One Protected Hour at a time.

If you want to make a change and have someone walking alongside you, you’re welcome to email me directly at hello@protectedhour.com to start that conversation.