In this week’s episode of Notes from the Not There Yet, Beth sits down with the incredible Donna Timlin - beauty therapist, business owner and self-described “neuro-spicy” creative - to talk about the journey that shaped her long before she ever stepped into a salon.

From childhood bullying and being told she “wasn’t beautiful enough to be a beautician,” to retraining at 28 with a toddler on her hip, Donna’s story is a masterclass in rewriting the narratives that once held you back.

We explore how she rebuilt her confidence, why she believes beauty should be accessible to everyone, and how ADHD fuels her creativity, empathy and drive.

This is an honest, warm and deeply relatable conversation about resilience, motherhood, identity, and the quiet power of starting again — even when you’re not there yet.

Show Notes

In this episode, we sit with beauty business owner Donna Timlin, whose journey spans bullying, self-doubt, redundancy, single motherhood, career reinvention and the courage to follow a long-silenced passion.

In This Conversation We Explore:

• Growing up with bullying and the long shadow it cast on Donna’s confidence
• Why she abandoned her dream of beauty at 15 — and what finally brought her back
• How travel work and finding “her people” helped her rebuild her sense of self
• Becoming a mum at 26, redundancy, and the turning point that changed everything
• The moment her dad nudged her to “just go for it” and enrol in college
• Retraining at 28 with anxiety, panic attacks — and ultimately graduating with full distinctions
• Building The Beauty Boutique and leading with encouragement, not fear.
• Living and working with ADHD, and how her “neuro-spicy” mind thrives on variety
• Why beauty is for everyone, and how Donna creates accessibility in her salon
• Boundaries, balance and the art of saying no — even to 4am brow appointment texts

Links & Resources

The Beauty Boutique, Royton

Donna on Instagram: @the_beauty_boutiqueroyton

Perfect For You If…

You’re navigating a career pivot, rebuilding confidence, exploring neurodiversity, or trying to find your way back to yourself after life knocked you sideways.

Key Takeaways

• Bullying doesn’t define you - you can rewrite the story others gave you.
• It’s never too late to start again - Donna retrained at 28 with a toddler.
• Support beats fear - the best leaders build people up, not break them down.
• Neurodiversity is a strength - ADHD fuels Donna’s creativity and energy.
• Beauty belongs to everyone - every age, every size, every background.
• Boundaries matter - protect your energy, your time and your peace.
• Confidence grows when you show up as yourself, not who others expect you to be.