What2do4crew interviews Carmen Clews

It's been a long time since I met up with Carmen, she joined a middle east based airline back in the early 90's.

How long were you working for the airline and what part did you enjoy most?

7 years and of course like anyone else, the best bits were...the trips away, shopping, seeing new places, exploring, new adventures, new people and cheap flights!...

What is your new business and what does It do?

We offer an extensive range of rental marquees and event equipment, and also provide an exclusive customized event design and decoration service. www.harlequinmarquees.com

How did you come up with the idea for your successful business?

A family friend in the uk who ran a marquee rental company there, asked about the marquee business here, after a short research we saw that there was definitely a gap in the market for high end, premium quality marquees...jumped at it, and have never looked back!...

Who is the most influential person you have ever met.

I admire and take inspiration from two men, Richard Branson whom I have not yet met personally (but loved his book 'Losing my virginity') and Sheikh Mohammad, who is incredible with how his runs his country like his own business, such an entrepreneur in the right place at the right time.

What drives you and what are your goals.

I am driven to create something of beauty which I can be proud of and my goals are to find inner peace, harmony and tranquillity!...and have an enormous amount of fun getting there!

Any advice for crew who have ambitions to set up new businesses?

Take advantage of what being a cabin crew member can give you, its really a fantastic opportunity to get setup and ready to go, you have the time off to do courses, studies, research. You also have the opportunity to travel and see things to be inspired by. Take advantage of the fantastic courses that the airline provide to improve yourself with and improve your leadership and management skills. Strive to develop and get on the promotion courses, they are worth a fortune. What I learnt during my time with the airline has been invaluable, particularly the invaluable skills of communication, prioritising, organisation and of course grooming!....all of these things set you in great stead for having your own business. Only then, when you have taken full advantage of your experiences with the airline to the max, and are as ready as you'll ever be, leave to start out with all the passion and focus you can muster!....with that you can make ANYTHING work!...

What influenced your decision to start up your own business?

As crew, I found it extremely difficult to know 'what to do' after such a haphazard lifestyle, I knew an 'office job' just would not do it for me!....I also did not want to be dictated too by anyone, but wanted to work independently...having my own business was definitely the answer!...its a great challenge to find the focus and self discipline to put all of ones energy into making something work for yourself.

What are your best memories during your time as a cabin crew?

All the great people I met, which I guess was mostly the cabin crew, the passengers were only 'great' in the way that I learnt so much about different nationalities and behaviour and how to best deal with them and situations!...all the fun, laughs and socialising both in Dubai and on layovers, the elephants in Shri lanka, the Hong Hong markets, The Sax bar in Singapore, Brown Sugar in Bangkok and shopping in London, Paris and Rome!....

Looking back would you change anything in regards to the time spent with the airline?

I should have maybe left a little bit earlier than I did, as by the end I had started to lose my patience with customers and this is not a good situation to be in, for either party. Im really happy that I maximised my time there, with art courses and sourcing products on trips for an art & handicraft shop which I opened. I travelled as much as possible on concession flights and I really wouldn't change any of that!...

When you travel as a passenger do you ever use the attendant call button.

No, never!

What is your fav restaurant in Dubai.

No fave but a few good ones are The Exchange @ The Fairmont, Noodle House, Meat Company (even tho I dont even eat meat!), and Dubais 1st Organic Veggie restaurant at the spa @ Madinat.

Any advice for those crew living in Dubai.

Make the most of it, always!....use your time here to your own benefit, what ever it is youve always wanted to do or ways to improve yourself there is something here for everyone. Theres yoga and martial arts, fitness centres, art & handicraft courses, in fact educational courses on anything!....theres kayaking, climbing, trekking, falconry, even skiing...learn to snow board whilst here!....theres sushi making classes at the Ritz, scuba diving and kite surfing courses and of course Arabic classes!....so in your spare time draw, sculpt, write, ski, mediate, surf...what ever it is, there is plenty of options and opportunities Dubai has to offer, you just have to get out there and do it, dont just wait for it to come to you, it generally doesn't!...

Which layover was your best and why.

Loved Shri Lanka for the elephants, shopping, smiling faces and wind blowing through your hair whist on a tuk tuk...!

Any advice to beat jet lag...

I tend to set my watch to the time of the place Im going to whilst on the journey and start getting into the sinc by thinking Im already in that time zone and eating accordingly, and sleeping only at the time I would normally be in the evening I arrive...its all perception of the mind.

Lastly what is the best advice you can give to cabin crew.

Enjoy it and maximise it totally for your own benefit but only whilst you still enjoy it, get the hell out when that changes...!

Many thanks from what2do4crew and the very best success for your future.....