SUPPORT SMALL. SUPPORT WOMEN. THE 72-PAGE SPECIAL
ISSUE 7 SPECIAL EDITION 12. A small business beaming with positivity, it’s Mood Traders! We get the low down on their positive affirmation cards.
26. Mum’s the word as we chat to
Jess from Nanna & Bear Sensory Play on starting a biz during a pandemic.
32. We love local businesses and
Saya Medi Spa is no exception. Find out how Aleshia is keeping her small biz surviving.
38. Meet the mum and family
behind House of Harvee. Krystal takes us through living through two lockdowns with children and still be a kickass mum and boss.
46. Starting a business this year?
Or feeling stuck? Our Ideal Client Avatar cheat sheet is what you need to kick your marketing goals.
64. Nutritionist and all-round kick
ass gal Brooke Turner teaches us how to get back to a focus on our health, even in lockdown.
What We’re Lo Not many businesses have had to face tougher restrictions than the hospitality industry - so they had to get creative. @nellieandthecat
Virgo Espresso of Frankston have created the Virgo Box. Needing to get creative to still get to customers and customers now having a need for groceries, the idea of this ‘essentials box’ was created.
As if the donuts at Rebel Donuts in Mornington could get ANY better they went ahead and started delivering them. They even created these too cute donut decorating packs for the kiddos - giving mum and dad a much deserved break in iso.
oving.. Melbourne did what Melbourne does best when faced with a crisis - we got pretty with it. These beautiful masks above are from @ownsitbyanna Isolation saw us all become (attempted) chefs. Luckily for us, Horribly Healthy delivered the goods, quite literally, with her DIY Vegan “Cheesecake” Packs that even the most novice cook can use.
Follow us on social media for all things women in business. Join the community of women supporting women on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook & Twitter. Post your pics to the ‘gram using hashtag #girlbossmag
@GIRLBOSSMAG
what we’re
reading Join the Girl Boss book club as we dissect the best books for women in business
If you haven’t noticed - we’re real big fans of Suz Chadwick here at Girl Boss Mag. And why wouldn’t we be? She’s funny, relatable, and she knows what she’s talking about when it comes to branding. So when she announced the launch of her book; ‘Play Big Brand Bold’, we knew we had to be one of the lucky people to get their hands on it. Within the first few chapters, reading it was like reading a message from a loving - but tough loving - friend. She dives into why we feel the need to brand small, how we can overcome what’s holding us back and most importantly, how we can make a brand that is big and has an everlasting impact. If you’re a fan of her podcast, have seen her on your Instagram, or this is the first time ever hearing of her, check out Suz Chadwick’s new book now.
suzchadwick.com
what we’re
listening to There’s always a podcast on at the Girl Boss office. This is what we’ve been listening to this month
ONLINE MARKETING MADE EASY Everyone seems to adore Amy Porterfield - and there’s no questions why. Her relatable brand, her actionable advice and real content all bundled together make her an absolute powerhouse in the marketing sector. Her podcasts are bite sized pieces of her wisdom, and include all sorts of advice for women in business; from creating a course, email marketing and even being an inclusive brand. THE GOAL DIGGER PODCAST Jenna is the host of this real-life, business focused, no BS guide to kicking butt. In her weekly episodes she talks about a range of strategies to help make your life better and, like the name suggests, reach your goals. Whether its marketing strategies, dealing with real-life problems, or meditation and psychological help, Jenna is the girl to help you achieve your goals.
AND TO EACH ONE OF OUR GIRL BOSSES ON THE FRONT LINE - WE SAY THANK YOU
MAYBE 2020 GETS TO BE THE YEAR WE FOCUS INWARD, SLOW DOWN, AND GROW
focus on
small biz
staying
positive Meet Amelia, the woman keeping the world positive with her brand of inspirational packs. Mood Traders is the brand we all need in 2020, with their range of motivational cards to pick your mood up when you need it most - even in a global pandemic.
For those that don’t know, what is Mood Traders? Mood Traders is all things positive, motivation and inspiration. I create inspiration card packs – Happy Human and Mama Musings, filled with positive reminders and inspirational quotes. I myself am a mum of 3 boys, getting up every day trying to be the best version of myself that I can be.
What inspired you to start a motivational card business? I bought Mood Traders at a time when I was struggling with who I was after having kids and leaving the full time workforce - I was miserable and lost. Mood Traders has given me back that part of myself that I felt was missing. How has the coronavirus impacted your small business? I’ve been extremely lucky and am beyond grateful that my business has actually thrived since the pandemic began, there have definitely been some bumps in the road and delays with things coming from interstate, but all in all, Mood Traders has and continues to be here for people needing a little optimism and positivity. What are your plans after lockdown? I just want to keep doing what I can to be an inspiration and have a positive impact in people’s day.
Your brand is all about positivity, what have you being doing to keep positive in the crazy year that has been 2020? As cliché as it may sound, I take each day as it comes, and remind myself to be grateful for what I do have - the little things can make a big difference. Getting outside for fresh air, moving my body, and remembering that this isn’t forever. Enjoy each moment.
In the midst of all the hardships Coronavirus have given us, what has been the most positive thing to come out of this year? Some days are better than others, but being given the time to slow down and spend more quality and meaningful time with the kids. Having the time to be with myself, and having the time to work out what I want from life.
What advice would you give other women in small business right now? Things aren’t always great, acknowledge that we all have our struggles, emotions are allowed to be felt and not supressed, but don’t pack up and live there, take a deep breath and keep going, this isn’t forever.
What are you looking forward to most when this is over? Seeing my family! I can’t wait for the day that we can all just be together, even just a bbq in the sunshine.
Mood Traders moodtraders.com @moodtraders facebook.com/moodtraders
Why do you believe so much in the importance of confidence, and why did you decide to become a coach? I think that there is a lot of pressure on women to look, act and just be a certain way. When we do not live up to these (mostly unrealistic) expectations from ourselves and from others, it affects our selfworth and ultimately, our confidence. With the rising trends of social media, it's now even easier for experience feelings of inadequacy by comparing ourselves to the highlight reels of the lives of other people.
ask the
expert
Sarah Kindful Body & Mind @kindfulbodyandmind kindfulbodyandmind.com
When we are unable to feel confident in ourselves, in our bodies and in our abilities, we play small maybe we are afraid to be seen, be heard, take up space and use our voice for things that matter to us. In my coaching work, I really see this with women who believe they need to lose x amount of weight to be confident to do the things they want to do (eg. start a business, new career, relationship etc). When we're not confident enough to own ourselves and our uniqueness, we are actually doing the world a disservice by hiding away our authentic selves. I believe that when a woman is confident and believes in herself, she can do anything she wants to do. Confidence is not about being the 'life of the party' but rather being proud and owning who you are! And that's how I became a coach - by having the confidence in myself to own who I was and share it with the world. It hasn't always been this way though - I spent much of my life as a teenager and well into adulthood not believing in myself and feeling like my true, authentic self was not enough. I struggled with negative body image which impacted my self worth and confidence. I spent years at war with myself and my body, thinking that I needed to change it or lose weight to be confident, accepted and successful. Once I was able to get some support with my body image issues, I began to feel more confident within myself, I launched my business and decided I really wanted to share this gift with other women so that they could feel empowered, confident and free to be themselves.
with free checklist!
THE ULTIMATE
SOCIAL MEDIA WORKBOOK & CHECKLIST
travelboss meet two women working in one of the worst hit sectors right now - and how they’re surviving
educational journey’s Could you please explain a little about yourself and your business for our readers? We are Erin and Louise and we are co-founders and operators of Educational Journeys, an Educational Travel Company. We both have a love for travel and have been fortunate enough to turn our passion into a career! For Erin, the seed was planted when she studied Tour Guiding after finishing year 12, which after completing her certificate led her to purchase a campervan and spend a year travelling around Australia. This was an amazing experience but only fuelled her passion further. Europe was calling and it was here that she spent several years working as a tour guide throughout Europe and after exhausting options for work visas returned home to continue guiding groups around Australia for a couple more years. It was through my experiences that I understood the importance of travel for personal growth. Louise had ambitions to be a flight attendant during her early teen years however realised that would not prevail as she did not meet the height requirements of the airlines and so decided to study travel and tourism before working as a retail and corporate travel agent. She also lived and travelled overseas for 4 years and during that time, realised that whilst she had a great life, she lived a small life, however her exploration across the globe gave her a much broader perspective on the world and her place in it. Drawing on our own personal experiences an idea was formed and after countless hours of planning to ensure our vision aligned and that we had the right business model, Educational Journeys was born. The youth of today are incredibly tied to social media and for some their exposure to the outside world is through search engines, and we wanted to be able to provide an opportunity for them to experience the power of travel. We work with teachers nationwide, designing, developing, and executing Educational Tours within Australian and to countries around the globe that compliment the Australian Curriculum.
Obviously, the travel industry has been affected severely during 2020, how has Covid affected your business? 2020 is certainly not what we had envisioned it to be. Having both worked in the industry for 20 years we have experienced many events from Ansett collapse in 2001, September 11 attack, Pilot strikes, SARS etc etc, but certainly nothing to this scale where the industry has been completely decimated. In February of this year we had our first group depart which was a great success and more groups booked and confirmed to travel – our business in the first year of trading was on a really good trajectory, so having it crippled by Covid has been really testing and hard. I
think we are lucky in many ways that between the two of us, we could keep each other staying as positive and focused as can be which has been boosted further from our clients as they have often contacted us with messages of support – it keeps the flame alive. If there is one thing that travel has taught us over the many years it’s the ability to adapt and so we have used this rare moment to further refine our business practices and expand on our current programs so that when the time comes, we will be stronger than before.
What are the plans for the future and what do you think the plans are looking forward for the travel industry? Australians are a nation that love to travel and if 2020 has taught us anything it’s that we value connections with others above all else and the possibilities of founding such connections are endless with travel. Travel and tourism will grow again, not by reverting to what it was but by adjusting to a world that has changed. We know that when borders start to open the emphasis will be on domestic travel, which is great as it will not only inject much needed funds back into our economy but showcase what a beautiful and diverse country we have. How can we help those in the travel industry affected right now? I would say give your travel industry friends a big hug, but that is not even allowed is it?! Support Australian owned companies and your local travel agent. A travel agents knowledge, service and care can never be replicated by an online competitor. If you’re in the position to holiday/ travel, even if it is a couple of hours down the road for a weekend away, do it! Do not underestimate the importance of a couple of dollars being spent at local tourist towns. If you’re in the position to be employing, don’t skip past a resume from a travel industry applicant. Our skills are many and transferable! You will likely get a sales expert that can multi task, time manage, speak 2 languages, excel at a range of computer systems and play an integral part of a team, all whilst keeping you entertained with their vibrant personality!
Whether it’s beaches or the outback, travel ling opens up an educational experience for everyone.
What advice would you give to other women in business right now? Believe in yourself! You must value your time and what you are doing. Ensure you have an incredible support system as there will always be difficult times and those people that encourage you to never give up and cheer you on are priceless. Additionally, don’t be afraid to ask for help, it’s a sign of strength not weakness, and we all need it sometimes.
Educational Journeys educationaljourneys.com.au facebook.com/ educationaljourneys @educational_journeys
Liz is a professional (self proclaimed) cheerleader for rad local biz’s. Shouting out and cheering on those businesses who form the backbone of our community as loudly and as widely spread as she possibly can with local coffee or wine in hand, (depending on the time of day!)
local
love lifelovesandliz.wixsite.com/ lifelovesliz @lifelovesandliz facebook.com/lifelovesandliz lifelovesandliz@gmail.com
High Street Co. is bringing the modern coworking vibes to the Hastings High Street. Amy (Virtual Assistant Headquarters) has teamed up with the wonderful team from the Westernport Chamber of Commerce to bring this space to life. We have private offices, spacious dedicated desks and a massive boardroom to cater for workshops and conferences.
Our members are passionate about their businesses, our gorgeous side of the Mornington Peninsula and helping other businesses & freelancers find the social connection in working solo. cowork@highstreetco.com.au www.highstreetco.com.au highstreetco.hastings @highstreetco.hastings
Leading the Envy team is Jaki. With over 25 years in the Hair and Beauty industry with advanced certificates in Barbering, tanning and Body Piercing she prides herself on running a modern salon where clients can enjoy a full pampering experience.
Salon Envy Mornington For a hair salon you can trust look no further than Salon Envy. Situated in the heart of Mornington and home to a highly skilled and passionate team of talented stylists. Lounge in comfort in our timeless environment; a perfect refuge from your busy life.
www.salonenvy.com.au @salonenvymornington Salon Envy Shops 4 & 5 located at rear of, 136 Main St, Mornington VIC 3931
Miranda Mayle Photography Let’s create gorgeous photographs that attract your ideal clients and create a dynamic online presence you’re proud of. Specialising in small business & personal brand photography that’s simple, affordable (per hour not per image!) and FUN (no fake smiles allowed!) with results you’ll adore. You are the magic at the heart of your business and I’d love to tell your story.
w: mirandamayle.com.au e: miranda@ mirandamayle.com.au MirandaMayleAU mirandaskatemayle
focus on
small biz mum’s the word Starting a business during a global pandemic might not be everyones version of ideal, but Jess sure did make it work. Fueled by her own desire to make products that resonated with her own parenting journey, Jess co-created Nanna & Bear Sensory Play in 2020. These sensory play kits encourage children to play independently, and designed by a primary school teacher and a speech therapist - so they know exactly what parents want and children need!
Could you give our readers a little explanation about your business, Nanna & Bear, and what it’s all about? As parents, we know how hard it can be to find the time to relax and get everything you want done, whilst still providing, enriching and engaging play experiences at the same time. Designed by a speech therapist and primary school teacher, our sensory play kits keep your little ones engaged in hours of high quality, creative and independent play, giving you some much needed time back into your day!
As a mum, I absolutely love the concept, what inspired it? I have always been one of those Mums who spend hours scrolling through Instagram and Pinterest, saving all the activities I would love to put together for my 20m old son Charlie. I follow so many people that make the most wonderful, engaging and intricate invitations to play and I have so much respect for those Mummas! Whilst I have the best intentions, I usually get around to throwing together something very simple about once a week. I know there is high value in our everyday interactions and general free play, but I often wish Charlie had more opportunities to play with some of the amazing activities I see posted on social media daily. One of the main reasons that we started Nanna and Bear was to help Mums like myself – we aim to do all of the planning and preparation for you so that giving your little ones high quality play experiences is super quick and easy.
What has been the most rewarding thing since starting? It has been so wonderful seeing our kits out in the wild being loved by little hands! It is one thing for us as adults to design and create inviting play activities but it’s really up to the kids to give them the unbiased tick of approval! The videos and photos that parents send through of their little ones engrossed in our play kits really do make my day. The other wonderful thing that has come out of this business is having a project to work on together with my Mum. We spend so much time texting, shopping and sharing ideas and we have problem solved through so many of the initial bumps together. I don’t think we’ve ever been closer than we are right now, which is such a gift in itself.
You’ve only just started, what has been your biggest challenge starting a business? At this stage, my biggest challenge has definitely been finding a balance between small business life, parenting and actually getting some down time occasionally. I am a stay at home mum which means that all our business activities are squished into Charlie’s naps and after he’s gone to bed. I can’t remember the last time I’ve used his nap to relax or read a book! We were all sick for a week recently which I’m sure was due to us burning the candle way too hard at both ends! We make so many of the kit inclusions ourselves, which means there is literally hours and hours of preparation that goes into every product. We have been struggling to keep up with the demand (a fortunate problem to have, I know!) and have been working hard at refining our processes so we can always have something in stock!
“It’s always been so important just to take one step at a time! It can be so overwhelming looking at the ‘final product’ of other businesses, particularly those that have been running for years.”
jessica - nanna&bear You started as some of the country was still in lockdown (and still is here in Melbourne!) Did coronavirus have an impact on your start up? We have been some of the lucky ones in that, for us, Covid-19 has been more of a blessing than a hindrance. At the beginning of the year we were due to participate in a couple of markets which of course were cancelled. The cancelled markets as well as some other cancelled plans meant I had a lot more free time to complete a Lady Start Up course and to put some significant focus on the foundations of our brand, business model and marketing. Pausing and taking stock was such an invaluable thing to do! We are also really lucky that our products lend themselves well to a lockdown situation – I don’t think there has ever been a time when so many parents have been desperately looking for easy ways to keep their children entertained!
for joyful, imaginative, and independent play
What has been the best business advice you’ve being given? Another one of my challenges is getting despondent when looking at the ‘competition’ and the other wonderful sensory play kit businesses out there. I have been given a few pieces of advice to deal with this! One person told me to consider how many brands of milk there are in the supermarket – yet they still all get sold! Another pointed out that the increasing number of sensory play kit businesses means that more people know already know all about the function and benefits of sensory play – meaning less marketing for me when they come across our products! I also loved reading about the ‘Abundance theory’ in one of Denise Duffield-Thomas’ books – she encourages everyone to take the view that there are ALWAYS more customers. There is no reason that you and another business can’t BOTH be successful – it doesn’t have to be one or the other or a cut-throat competition! And what’s one piece of advice you would give others right now? For me, it’s always been so important just to take one step at a time! It can be so overwhelming looking at the ‘final product’ of other businesses, particularly those that have been running for years. I have been amazed how far I have come just from taking small steps… from conducting initial surveys, designing a logo, registering a business name – all the way to designing my own website and having an engaged Instagram following! It has been a gradual step by step process but we are slowly coming in to our own everyday – I can’t wait to see what it evolves into next!
What are your plans going forward for the business? We hope to see you everywhere soon! We have been focusing really hard on getting the foundations of our little business up and running, including having six different themed sensory play kits available for purchase. We currently have six kits in stock and hope to expand this range. Our next life plan is actually to become pregnant again! Having our foundations in place will mean that we can spend the pregnancy/ newborn stage refining our logistics, storage, inventory and creative processes as well as focusing on our marketing strategies and refining our customer experience. We plan to continue creating new limited edition kits as we go (because that’s the fun bit!!) and ultimately I would love to work towards a monthly release/subscription model (because I LOVE having things delivered to my door every month without me lifting a finger!) One step at a time though!
Nanna & Bear Sensory Play nannaandbear.com.au @nanna.and.bear
How has it been juggling parenthood and a new business? As I mentioned before, this is my biggest challenge that I definitely haven’t mastered yet. Having a new business at the same time as being a stay at home Mum does have its positives though – I have loved having a creative outlet and something else to focus on aside from snacks, nappies and sleep! I have also been very lucky to have the support of my retired parents. They take Charlie one day a week so I can hang out in a café and knock off a whole lot of admin over coffee and cake (one of my favourite days of the week!). Naps and after bedtime just doesn’t cut it sometimes! NEXT week I’m actually taking the day to go have a massage and relax – it is well overdue and I am beyond excited!
Tell us all about Saya MediSpa & How your journey began! I have been in the beauty industry for 15 years! Landing my first part time job in the industry when I was 15yrs old at a salon on Mt. Eliza. I studied my Diploma of Beauty Therapy at the renowned Elly Lukas Beauty Therapy Collage, this is where I fell in love with our industry and knew I would one day open my very own salon. I still have a fantastic relationship with the college and regularly speak at their Industry Leader events. I love inspiring other young women and men to follow their dreams and tell my story!
beauty Another industry struck down by lockdowns and restrictions - the beauty industry had to get creative. Here’s how Saya Medi Spa are providing to their customers in 2020.
boss
Saya Medispa was established in 2013, I was at the young age of 22! It was always a dream of mine to have my own salon. I wanted to create a space for everyone to enjoy and feel completely comfortable and welcomed. We started with no clients on our database and grew very quickly. We have many clients step into Saya and say “It’s such a calming, relaxing place” or “I feel like I’m on a tropical island” and this is exactly how we wanted our space to feel! We are always training and learning new things to keep up to date with all the latest beauty treatments so we can provide the best possible treatments to our clients. We recently made the decision to expand the business and create more of a tropical oasis in a larger space. Still here in beautiful Somerville! We are due to move late 2020 – early 2021.
Aleshia took home the award after Saya Media Spa won Body Sugaring Australia Salon Of The Year 2019. (right)
How has your small biz managed to stay afloat during lockdown, and what are your plans going forward? Being a business that’s main income and purpose is to be physically treating clients has been a struggle. We have tried our best to adapt by creating an online store so our clients are still able to purchase all of their skincare products. We have also been doing online skin consultations for clients, just like we normally would if were in-clinic only it’s over the phone, in messages or via Zoom. We have also been upping the ante on our socials with little tips and tricks for clients to pamper themselves at home! How have you managed to stay positive during 2020? Positivity doesn’t come easy for me, I struggled a lot during the first lockdown. I felt so lost and confused, being forced to close the doors of your business is absolutely heartbreaking. The second lockdown I took it in my stride to focus more on the business and get excited about the future! Lots of planning has happened during this second lockdown to help my business grow. I have found a new love for positive affirmations that I read every morning before I get up and I’ve also tried more natural remedies using essential oils to help keep me grounded. Getting out of the house, and with the nicer weather getting out in the fresh air always seems to relax me.
Aleshia-Ann Fowler Saya Medispa sayamedispa.com.au facebok.com/ sayamedispa @sayamedispa
What drove you to create a beauty business? I am extremely passionate about our industry and had always had this overwhelming feeling of needing to my own beauty business. My parents are self-employed so it seemed so natural to also start my own business. As a local based in Somerville, what’s your favourite part of working on the Mornington Peninsula? Somerville has been my hometown for 25 years now, I’ve grown up here and watched the town grow and expand over the years. My parents once had a shop a few doors up from where we are located now, it just feels like home here. I love seeing our clients out and about. The Mornington Peninsula is such a beautiful place and has so much to offer, I couldn’t see myself or my business anywhere else! What has your journey being like since starting your business? Starting a business at the age of 22 has definitely been challenging! We have had many ups and many downs! I was once told when we first opened that my “business was going to fail!” This was hard to hear at the time but I think it only made me more determined to succeed! I have learnt so much over the past 7 years since opening Saya and I can confidently say I wouldn’t change a thing! I have learnt from my mistakes and have been able to grow with the business! What has been the hardest thing about coronavirus for your business? Covid-19 gosh where do I start! I was a complete wreck when the first lockdown was announced. The unknown of what’s next I think has been the hardest. Not knowing what to do or how long things were going to last for was just so hard to comprehend.
How To Solve Your MASCNE Dealing with a beakout during lockdown? Your not alone. Aleshia walks us through how you can still look after your skin even when you can’t make it into the salon. “Keeping hydrated and drinking water is always imperative! It helps flush out toxins in the body which also helps with your skin. And SPF every. Single. Day. No matter what it looks like outside, sunny, cloudy, rainy, no matter what you MUST have SPF on your face. 90% of skin damage is caused by sun exposure! Sunscreen is for life not just for summer!” Maskne (AKA Mask Acne): Breakouts caused by wearing a face mask frequently throughout the day. The build-up of oil and sweat under your mask can create breakouts and irritation. Aleshia’s tips to help treat and prevent Maskne 1- Skip the makeup. The more your skin can breathe the better. 2- Ensure you are double-cleansing always to remove all bacteria. 3- Apply a purifying mask 1-2 times per week 4- Drink plenty of water 5- Keep skin hydrated with a good serum and moisturiser 6- Keep your mask clean, wash after each use or use disposable masks
What is something you can’t wait to do once lockdown is over? The obvious answer is of course reopening Saya and seeing all of our wonderful clients! But I am very much looking forward to going out for dinner! I can’t wait to be wined and dined! This is something my partner and I treat ourselves to at least once a month, we have definitely missed it! What advice would you give other women in business right now? Keep your head up! There is a light at the end of the tunnel and it’s slowly getting brighter and brighter! I have always said everything happens for a reason, we may not see it now but who knows the silver lining may show itself in the near future!
perfectlybeautiful.com.au perfectlybeautifulmakeup @perfectlybeautifulmakeup info@perfectlybeautiful.com.au
Perfectly Beautiful Hair & Makeup You are perfect, Perfectly Beautiful. Our experienced team of hair and makeup artists are here to help make your special day magical. We cater to all hair and makeup styles and aim to exceed your expectations by making your dream style and look a reality.
quick beauty gift guide
Malia Hair & Beauty Boutique We are a new boutique hair salon in Hastings Main Street specialising in all aspects of hair. At Malia we use MUK colour range which is vegan, cruelty free, PPD free & 80% naturally derived ingredients & NAK hair care retail range which is also vegan, sulphate & paraben free & Australian made & owned. We would love to see you for a free consultation. @maliahairboutique Malia Hair & Beauty Boutique Ph - (03) 5979 8887 23 High Street, Hastings VIC
mum boss WHY THE FUTURE IS WHY THE FUTURE OURS TO MOLD IS OURS TO MOLD AN INTERVIEW WITH KRYSTAL HOUSE OF HARVEE
AN INTERVIEW WITH ALEC ANTOINE BY SAORI SHINJIRO
For those that don’t know, could you tell our readers a little bit about yourself and the House Of Harvee Hey y’all, Im Krystal! A mother, a wife, a Accordingowner, to Wikipedia, a news article business a photo taker and a Self discusses current or recent news of either love advocate! My hubby and I have been fordaily 14 years, we have generaltogether interest (i.e. newspapers) or of a Vienna 9yrs, (i.e. Harlow 6yrsorand our baby specific topic political trade news boy Avery who is turning 2 in a couple of magazines, club newsletters, or technology weeks. We love to dance, sing and bring news websites). happiness and joy to as many people as we can through our instagram squares :) A news article can include accounts of eyewitnesses
What made you want tocontain start aphotographs, blog and to the happening event. It can the ‘House of Harvee’ social media? accounts, statistics, graphs, recollections, interviews, polls, debates on the topic, etc. Headlines can be
It all started as a little hobby, just posting used to focus the reader’s attention on a particular images of my home and the cute little (or main) part of the article. The writer can also give things I had purchased for my kids facts and detailed information following answers to bedrooms. Slowly my following grew and I general questions like who, what, when, where, why was lucky enough to meet so many and how. amazing, like minded women who shared similar likes and thoughts to me. I knew after aarticle yearisor so that needed to use A news usually on aIwell-defined topic ormy platform as related a wayinto connect and share topics that are some way, such as a factual my life of and experiences withwriter people account a newsworthy event. The is all around the world, in hopes to make objective and shows all sides to an issue. lots of people laugh along the way!
Do you have any tips for others wanting to start a blog or grow their social following? Most important and valuable tip I can give is BE YOURSELF and stay true to you a good andWhile what youconclusion believe is in.an important ingredient
for newspaper articles, the immediacy of a deadline
that copy editing often takes Youenvironment have run means a small business while the form of deleting everything past an arbitrary having small children, what has that experience like? point in thebeing story corresponding to the dictates of available space on a page. Therefore, newspaper
My reporters husband I are expert jugglers! areand trained to write in inverted pyramid There is always one of us with the kids style, with all the most important information in the which is nice. If I am out doing a wedding first paragraph or two. If the less vital details are or an event my husband and I will tag pushed towards the end of the story, then the team, and when I get home he goes off potentially destructive impact of draconian copy to work. I am very lucky that I have never willwork be minimized. felt editing that my has gotten in the way of my children. According to Wikipedia, a news article discusses
What would you like to take away current or recent newspeople of either general interest (i.e. from your blog and social media? daily newspapers) or of a specific topic (i.e. political or trade news magazines, club newsletters, or
I would hopenews thatwebsites). people who follow me technology smile and it was something that I did or said that made them smile or dance or Quoted references can also be helpful. References to laugh out loud! Having strangers tell me people can also be made through the written that I made their day is the most amazing accounts of interviews and debates. thing I have ever experienced.
You also are very passionate about interior styling, how did that come about? This is most definitely a passion that grew when we built our home. Having all these empty spaces that I had full control over was like planting an interior seed in me. Then once I started I couldn’t stop. I think my style has 100% changed over the course of time and is still very much evolving but I absolutely love to create beautiful spaces for my family and others. Do you think the current workspace is encouraging and supporting enough for women in business? I surround myself with encouraging and supportive women so for me it mostly is. However, I know first hand how cruel the industry can be. I truly believe that if we all just stay in our own lanes and cheer on other people’s successes, we can all make it to where we want to go! What has been your biggest parenting challenge in 2020? I’m assuming every parent out there would agree that school homeschooling has been a challenge this year. Seeing your child miss out on all the things we would usually take for granted, like school assemblies, school camps, group activities, play dates. It has been difficult to keep the excitement spark in the kids but I am very lucky that my 2 girls are very resilient! On the flip side of that, what is the best part of parenting in 2020? TIME! All this time to really BE with your family has been so nice. I feel as if I have really gotten to know my kids these past few months. I don’t think many of us realise how much time we are apart from our children between school, kinders, dancing, sports. It has been nice to be fully present with them. What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given? “Be so completely yourself that everyone arounds you feels safe to be themselves too”
Are there any big plans for the next year? Always big plans and ideas! I really want to give my family a white christmas so hopefully 2021 is the year! Have you come across any trolls on social media and how have you dealt with any? I have to admit that I am extremely lucky to have only dealt with a very small amount of trolls. I (have) read some nasty comments about myself and my family and it really got me down, but what people say about you, says more about them than you. What advice would you give to other mums right now? You are enough.. even on those days where you pretty much dislike those tiny humans who call you mum, you are still their hero and you are doing an amazing job.
“You are still their hero and you are doing an amazing job.�
- house of harvee
@houseofharvee houseofharvee.com
aroundthetable Can you tell us about your biz, Around The Table? I’m the Founder of Around The Table, which is a business focused on helping families to make the most of mealtimes. We sell Conversational Dinner Cards designed in conjunction with experts to empower families to connect and engage at mealtimes in a fun way, and reap the rewards of doing so. We are very practical and holistic in our approach, dinner times can be very challenging, so we also provide practical strategies, information and recommended resources to help support families with this goal.
This is such a great thing for parents, but how did you come up with the idea and concept? I say I am the Founder of Around The Table, but Around The Table really found me! My life was busy – with three kids (in 16 months), and the competing demands of family and work, I quickly found that at the end of a long day, sitting down and enjoying dinner together just wasn’t possible. The guilt I felt around not being able “to-do-it-all” sparked an interest to see how other parents were managing to work all day, drop off and pick up kids, and still put dinner on the table at a reasonable time.
But, instead of discovering the secret, I discovered I wasn’t alone. Australian families are increasingly moving away from eating together at the dinner table*, and with this change are forgoing the benefits of a sit-down meal. What many people don’t realise (myself included) is that by not eating dinner together, we are actually missing out on connecting as a family both socially and emotionally, as well as providing valuable learning opportunities for our children. I realised that I needed make a change and focus more on what happens once we sit down to eat. With this passion I founded Around The Table, a service designed to make dinnertime easier and more enjoyable so families can enjoy the many benefits of eating dinner together. With 1 in 2 Australians eating dinner in front of the television**, and increasing time pressures on parents, Around The Table provides resources and simple strategies for families to make a change. * Mars Foods ** YouGov panel July 2017--
“Support other women in business and squash self-doubt, whether it is by purchasing their products or perhaps a positive message. The little things can make a big difference.” - danielle Danielle Barrett Around The Table aroundthetable.com.au @families_aroundthetable
What has been the biggest challenge since starting Around The Table? My biggest challenge was letting go of my original picture of what Around The Table would look like. I had a very different offer and over the course of development I had to re-think how I could still achieve my goal (helping families make the most of mealtimes) but be financially viable. It sounds easy, and yes numbers talk, but when it reflects so much of you as a person, it can be challenging to accept that your business looks very different to how you idealistically imagined. What has been the most rewarding? I absolutely love that my business helps people. I enjoy knowing that what I do makes a real difference to families, to their relationships and especially to children. Without this higher purpose I am sure I would have given in long ago, because small business is tough, however seeing my product in people’s homes makes me so proud of the work I do. Has your business been affected by Covid? What are your plans to move forward through our “new normal” Yes, my business was significantly impacted by COVID-19. I previously had a meal delivery service, which was designed to remove the hassle of dinner time and enable families to focus on what happens around the table, not what goes on it. Sadly, as a result of COVID-19 I have closed this arm of the business for now. For our readers that would like to learn more about Around The Table, where can they go to order and find out more? We love people joining our Around The Table family – you can find out more and join our newsletter at aroundthetable.com.au or follow us on FB familesaroundthetable or IG families_ aroundthetable
What’s next for Around The Table? There is so much happening, we are very fortunate to have a long runway of new products available and will be launching some new items to continue to support mealtimes before Christmas. We have also have recently launched our Fundraising platform, which is a great way to raise funds for schools, clubs and community groups using our Family Dinner Conversation Cards – we call it Fundraising That Matters. We offer a service that has zero charges, no money handling and offers incentives to buy for both the customer and the cause. Take a look here: https://aroundthetable. com.au/pages/fundraising-opportunities As a mum of three yourself, I’m sure that was your inspiration for starting your business - How do you manage the juggle of running a business alongside parenting? The juggle is real! I hate to admit it, the hours I work now are longer than when I was employed, and yes that wasn’t the plan! In addition, as a business owner I find that it never quite leaves your mind. So, I do think if you are going to start a business you need to be very passionate about it, because it can be all consuming. Thankfully I do love what I do, and I know it sounds like a cliché but it really doesn’t feel like work. As for the juggling, a big upside is that while the hours might be longer than I had planned, I do have full flexibility to work around the needs of my children. This flexibility has also allowed me to volunteer and teach Primary Ethics at the local school, which is something I am very passionate about and previously was unable to commit to on a weekly basis. What has been the best piece of advice you’ve been given? This advice was from my husband, he said “Don’t wait for everything to be perfect, just start. It will always be changing if you listen to the needs of your customers so in any case it will never be ‘perfect’” This really helped me to stop procrastinating and doubting myself and press ‘go live’. What advice would you give to other women in business right now? I have two pieces of advice: Keep evolving by listening to your customers, and support other women in business and squash self-doubt, whether it is by purchasing their products or perhaps a positive message. The little things can make a big difference.
let’s find your
IDEAL CLIENT
There’s a lot of things to worry about when starting a business. There’s marketing, set up costs, the never-ending to-do list seems to grow every day. But there is one thing that you absolutely should be doing when you start a business; Creating your Ideal Client Avatar. This will be the one of the most important steps you take in your business set up. Without your ideal customer in mind, your marketing techniques may just not convert. An ICA helps you determine what products to sell, what marketing strategies to implement, and helps you connect with your audience on a deeper level. Knowing your Ideal Client well will ultimately help you sell to them well. It will help you identify their needs and wants, so you can provide the products and services they HAVE to buy right now.
What Is An ICA? An ICA – or Ideal Client Avatar – is the marketing tool that will change everything for you. Your ICA is who you have in mind when you make a plethora of business decisions. It is who you have in mind when you create your product, and sell it. This will be the ideal customer, and every single thing about them. It is a super in depth look at a single person, a person who you believe is the ideal client for your business. There isn’t broad terms like ‘aged between 25-30’ – they’re a 27 year old female who works parttime as receptionist for a bank. When I say your ICA is SUPER in depth – I mean it.
Why Do I Need One? There is a marketing strategy called ‘spray and pray’ approach. This is where you essentially throw your marketing plan in front of anyone and everyone and hope you hit a few buyers along the way. Having a ‘spray’ like marketing approach works for some, honestly. Chances are if you hit a thousand views of your product you will make one sale. But it shouldn’t be your base marketing plan. If you’re hitting 1000 people that just simply are not interested in your product, you might make one sale. But what if you targeted 1000 people that you KNOW are interested in your product? The chances of the number of people that will click through and buy your product become exceptionally higher. Plus, you’ve spent the same amount of money. All because you just did some research on who your target audience is, and who will want to buy your product, and made sure you put that product in front of them. Your effort and time is worth gold in your business.
Questions You Should Be Asking To Find Your ICA What do they wear? Where do they shop? Where do they enjoy going? Where do they go out of necessity? Are they online or offline? What media platforms do they use? Do they use content platforms such as newspaper or radio? What and where do they eat/buy groceries? How many kids do they have, if any? Where do they work, if they do? How many days do they work, if they do? Do they drive? What do they drive? What is their income? What generation do they fit into? What is their age? Appearance?
Every marketing campaign, and honestly, every business decision, you make from this moment will be centred around your ICA. You are going to get real personal with this ideal customer. There will be no secrets between you and them. If you have a vision of your ideal customer (which you should by the end of this!) I want you to find a stock photo of the person that fits your description. hese are not the only questions you need to ask yourself when identifying your ideal customer. There are 5 key points we discuss in the ICA mini course; 1. Demographics (The questions you’ve just asked) 2. Personality (What drives and motivates them, how do they spend money) 3. Interactions (What social media platforms are they on, do they read blogs, do they listen to podcasts, do they rely on word of mouth) 4. Problem Solving (What problem does your ICA have that you can directly solve) 5. Day-In-The-Life (A quick guide to what your ICA does in a day) You can explore a few of these yourself, or let us help you dive deep into your ICA in our mini course. Some ways you can build further information on your ICA; - researching similar competitor ICA’s (who your competitors are selling to) - conducting surveys - ask around! If you have friends and family, or you are a part of a few Facebook Groups or online forums, they can be great places to garner insight.
USE OUR MINI E-COURSE TO FIND
YOUR IDEAL CLIENT GIRLBOSSMAG.COM.AU
small biz gift guide Bambini Delights Bambini Delights is a childrens interior brand from Australia. Specialising in unique, stylish & designer kids lighting options with signature matching soft furnishings within our collection. We aim to inspire dreamy spaces for every bambini big and small.
bambinidelights.com.au @bambinidelights
Freestyle Interiors Freestyle Interiors specialise in styling homes for sale all across the Mornington Peninsula. We use quality furniture and accessories to help Vendors present their property in its best light. Our caring and friendly team love helping Vendors achieve amazing results.
freestyleinteriors.com.au
@freestyleinteriors
Made By RJ Made by RJ takes the humble Scrabble tile to create personalised gifts for just about any occasion. Bec is a mumma of two with a passion & attention to detail for turning letters into beautiful quotes, custom frames, unique money boxes & keyrings making them into timeless gifts & keepsakes for your family. All lovingly prepared and made in Adelaide, available to post nationwide.
facebook.com/madeby.rjframes
@madeby.rj
Shaker & Co Designs Shaker and Co was founded in 2018 by designer, maker and creator, Giselle. Not focusing on one particular aesthetic, Giselle’s designs derive from a wide range of ideas, styles and tastes from a broad and diverse range of sources and materials. Buying a piece from Shaker and Co means you’re buying quality one off pieces, sure to make you stand out in the crowd.
w: shakerandco.com/ shakerandcodesigns@gmail. com @shakerandcodesigns @shakerandcodesigns
Hear Us Roar
@hearusroarau @hearusroarau LinkedIn: Karina Bruce and Blaise McCann w: hearusroar.com.au
Hear Us Roar has a deep understanding of the curve community. It’s in our DNA. After the founders Blaise McCann and Karina Bruce spent many years working in the plus size fashion industry they became frustrated with the lack of choice, the poor fits and the inability to create pieces that respected the curvy figure – let alone flattered it. From this sheer frustration Hear Us Roar was born, a place where fashion exists first and being plus size second. The marketplace helps women of Australia who have never been able to shop in main stream stores find clothing for every occasion by designers who actually understand the curvy figure. Don’t be fooled by the fashion – Hear Us Roar is built on a strong community of likeminded individuals who support each other and carry the burden of their size through their day to day. Our inspiring pop-up space, inclusive runways and photoshoots help women to feel ‘normal’ even beautiful in a world that otherwise tells them they are ugly. Hear Us Roar is aspirational in the way that it pushes fashion boundaries into new territories for young and old alike, empowering women to truly be stylish and on trend at any size, a female rite of passage. The ethos of Hear Us Roar perpetually rests on curvy women having a choice that empowers them to express themselves through fashion and finally feel like they can create their style identity. We operate in the ‘embrace your curves’ space, without applying alienating judgement or attributes competitors often bring to their brand. Hear Us Roar has an outstanding ability to curate incredible quality, beautiful plus size clothes from highly skilled designers around the world, cut to fit curve. In particular drawing together our customers into a supportive community network based on a culture of trust, respect and shared experience while also delivering amazing customer service. Nobody puts curvy in the corner.
Francesca Laude Photography we.are.if.creative@ gmail.com @we.are.if.creative Ph: 0413 484 387
Today’s consumers want amazing content & experiences they can align with. IF Creative is the collaborative development of Melbourne based Photographer - Francesca Laude & Stylist - Sally Bernard. Specialising in content creation, high-end product and lifestyle photography for all your digital and editorial needs.
Cleaning Fairies We are a domestic cleaning business servicing south east melbourne using our Australian made 100% pure essential oil based products in every cleaning. We make a range of products with a special formulation of essential oils of our aroma cleaning sprays along with disinfectant, sanitiser and carpet essences to create an aromatic experience for our clients.
@thecleaningfairies_melb cleaningfairies.com.au @tcfairies
yvonne@bwitched.com.au bwitched.com.au @bwitched2020 @bwitched2020
Consciously marketing and promoting your business and products is my expertise. As a digital marketing and advertising consultant focused on conscious small to medium size organizations, I help you make sense of the digital world and prepare a tailored plan that is aligned with what YOU need. My services include digital marketing and paid search and social advertising strategy, execution and management, training and enablement as well as health checks. Looking forward to hearing from you!
Tiarna Robertson Makeup Tiarna is a Mornington Peninsula based Makeup Artist who specialises in Natural, Airbrushed Makeup. With over fifteen years of experience in the makeup industry, Tiarna is always evolving and staying up to date with trends and products to remain current and fresh. Tiarna’s aesthetic transitions from clean beauty into avant-garde seamlessly.
@tiarnarobertsonmakeup tiarnarobertson.com info@tiarnarobertson.com Ph: 0423 821 808
Blue Mini Cafe Blue Mini is a contender for the most unique eatery on the Mornington Peninsula. Located in the converted Rosebud tenpin bowling alley, Blue Mini captures the essence of everything local. The menu is a fusion of wellknown classics and modern dishes with a twist, while the bespoke retail emporium celebrates local produce. Enjoy house roasted coffee, grab & go meals, homemade cakes and local beer & wine.
2 Colchester Road, Rosebud 03 5981 2520 bluemini.com.au @blueminicafe @blueminicafe
Diagonal Horizon Diagonal Horizon is a Stationery and Gifting brand based in Melbourne, Australia. We personalise some regular use products, wholesale solutions and help create unique gift ideas. If you’re a busy individual always short on time, we can provide unique high-quality gift items (that you can have personalised) and offload some gifting ideas for key anniversary days.
diagonalhorizon.com.au @diagonalhorizonn
Antplanners Antplanners is all about improving your relationship with your time. We all seek the perfect work/life balance, but when struggling with this balance we often blame the lack of time. The real challenge is our relationship with our time. How do we use it to achieve our ideal life-work harmony? Antplanners has something to offer for everyone who is committed to the journey to better productivity, from workshops, programs and the perfect business tool, the Antplanner with 3 unique planners to help you stay on target and achieve your goals, by incorporating them into your everyday planning.
antplanners.com @antplanners @antplanners linkedin.com/in/ ildiracz
Big School Kids Big School Kids is an online retailer that sell fun and educational games aimed at primary-aged children to help them learn and thrive at school!
bigschoolkids.com.au @bigschoolkids @bigschoolkids
Simply Brazilian Simply Brazilian has been operating for nearly 20 years in Frankston and Mornington. We specialise in Brazilian Waxing and Treatments for Men & Women. Due to COVID unfortunately affecting so many businesses including all beauty services we have pivoted to Hand Made Re-Usable Fabric Masks and an online products shop while being closed.
@simplybraziliansalon @SimplyBrazilian simplybrazilian.com.au
Yo-Ko Original Boutique With a huge love of colour and print, Yo-Ko Original provide on trend and affordable style for the everyday woman. Priding themselves on excellent customer service and support for both the community and local makers, the Yo-Ko team would be thrilled to assist with all your wardrobing needs in their stunning new Seaford store.
@yokooriginal @yokooriginal yokooriginal.com.au 33 Armstrongs Road, Seaford VIC
Koh Living Koh Living was started by two kick ass women who are also best friends, Tui and Nyree. They love helping people connect, and they do this by creating the most amazing and meaningful giftware you have ever seen. Most of these gifts also give back to disadvantaged Australian communities. Koh Living collaborates with Australian artists to create their products, with a % of proceeds going back to the artists and charities. We believe that gift giving is a beautiful way to create meaningful connections between people, and to put a little love back out into the world.
kohliving.com.au @kohliving @Koh Living
Jasmine Fraser Jewellery Jasmine Fraser specialises in designing and creating beautiful, timeless jewellery. All jewellery pieces are handcrafted on the premises, allowing clients to @jasminefraserjewellery explore all aspects of jewellery jasminefraser.com.au manufacturing. jasmine@jasminefraser.com.au Jasmine Fraser - Handmade Jewellery
ONE WOMAN'S SUCCESS CAN ONLY HELP ANOTHER WOMAN'S SUCCESS -
G L O R I A
V A N D E R B I L T
Brooke Turner is an international presenter, writer, nutritionist, personal trainer and mother of two with 11 years’ experience in the health and fitness industry. Brooke is the founder of Balance Fitness and Nutrition and creator of the STRIVE program and Happy, Healthy Pregnancy eGuides. She believes in striving for a balanced approach to health and fitness and aims to inspire and empower others to see that healthy active living need not be a hindrance but a habit.
getting back to
Pictured to the left with her two children.
o health For our readers, can you tell us a little about yourself and your biz, Balance Fitness & Nutrition Professionally I am a qualified nutritionist, exercise scientist and personal trainer with over 10 years experience in the health and fitness industry. I am an international health and fitness educator and presenter; having spoken at FILEX, ExPRO and the Australian Fitness Show, and writer having contributed to over 100 articles ranging from print and online publications including Who, Women’s Health & Fitness magazine, Australia Fitness Network, NW, OK! and more. Personally I am an ocean goer, sun seeker and Mum of two living in the sunny north west of WA! I am the founder of Balance Fitness and Nutrition (BFN) which is all about striving for a balanced approach to healthy active living for long term mental AND physical wellbeing. BFN isn’t about eating well or moving more. Every piece of content, program, article or workshop I creates come back to my Balance Cycle and four key elements of MOVEMENT, MINDSET, NUTRITION and SLEEP. I believe that yes balance does exist, but we spend more time out of it that we do in it – it’s in a constant state of flux.
I take these four key elements and create complete lifestyle programs and levels of self awareness in clients to help them lead healthier, happier, more balanced lives, covering off on the four important pillar of movement, mindset, nutrition and sleep. There are no quick fixes, magic pills, secrets or extremes when it comes to myself and BFN – it’s all about striving for balance and whatever that means to you. We need to eat, move and think in a way that is sustainable for our long term health and wellbeing. I specialise in pre and post natal exercise and nutrition, educating and empowering women & FitPros working with women to move safely and effectively throughout pregnancy and post partum. I totally get it! I’ve been there. I know how overwhelming, confusing and conflicting the information can be on how to move and eat during and post pregnancy. I created my eBooks to bring clarity through the confusion and empower women to move safely and effectively during pregnancy and post partum.
Have you found that Coronavirus has impacted your business? How have you managed? What advice could you give to mums running a business and trying to squeeze time in for themselves and their health? Your health is without a doubt your number one priority! When you are active and feel healthy it makes you a happier, more patient and productive Mum/Wife/Biz owner (am I right?). Being a Mum myself I totally get just how hard it can be to find time for yourself, but it is one of the most important things you can do for both you, your business and your family. The way we eat, move, think and sleep are all related. When you don’t sleep well you wake feeling tired, lethargic, in a lowered mental state and don’t often have the energy or drive to exercise. You are more likely to reach for that coffee, sugar, alcohol or comfort hit, which doesn’t do anything to improve your mood and in turn impacts your quality of sleep. And so, the cycle continues (my Balance Cycle) This cycle can go two ways and we want it to be in a positive flow. Finding time to eat well, move more, do things that fill up your cup and get enough rest are essential for our optimal functioning. Try to implement some of my tips to help squeeze in time for you or check out my Workout of the Week on Instagram for real life, achievable at home workouts. .
This year – as for everyone has been interesting! I normally run face to face group training in line with school terms so that was impacted by coronavirus, as were a lot of workshops and speaking gigs. Whilst these were impacted, the time has also given me space to work on other things that have been on my ‘to-do’ list for sometime. My family and I were in America at the start of March when we had to make the decision to cut our break short, say goodbye to my sister who lives there and get home before severe border restrictions were in place. We had to do two weeks of self-isolation and during this time I created a 14 Day Self-Isolation Fitness Challenge. Basically two weeks of daily, bite sized, achievable workouts to help maintain people motivation, mindset and health during this time. It is now my 14 Day Fitness Challenge and a fantastic, affordable, and achievable program, perfect for those looking to find momentum and motivation when it comes to exercise. Creating the foundations for those small, daily habits for long term health! So many businesses have been impacted by COVID-19, but I like to look for the positives and I feel this time has really forced many businesses to adapt, embrace and become more innovative in order to survive
What inspired you to start? For as long as I can remember my passion has always been healthy, active living and I knew that one day I would have my own business. I studied Exercise and Sports Science at Uni after finishing High School and then went on to do a Post Graduate in Nutrition whilst I was working full time in Health and Safety in the mining industry. Balance Fitness and Nutrition was born in 2013 but was only ever operated in a very part-time capacity. The fork in the road that really got it all happening was when I was faced with a redundancy or a redeployment whilst I was on maternity leave with my first child. A chance to take some money and pursue my dreams on my terms and with the flexibility I wanted, now being a Mother, or continue working in a role that I enjoyed but wasn’t my passion and still be consumed by everything ‘I wanted’ to do but wasn’t doing. I took the first and it was one of the best things to happen to me!
You’ve kicked some really big goals since starting, what has been some of your highlights? Thank you! It has been a wonderful ride and the highs help to outweigh the lows (I’ve had my fair share also). Some of my most recent highlights include: Speaking at ExPRO Fitness Summit, Singapore Creating my first education package for Fitness Professionals on working with women who have had children – ‘The key questions you need to be asking post natal women, and why’. Featuring on the front cover of Australian Fitness Network Magazine A fitness feature, both article and images in Who Magazine. Polar Global Ambassador
You’re also a mum of two, while running a successful business! How has the juggle been for you? The juggle has been real! I joke that Juggle Street shares the same post code as Struggle Street. Juggling two young kids (4 & 2yrs), a husband who works shift work and my own business is always interesting! It is a constant adjustment of my own ambition, expectations, and our beautiful reality. My full time role is being a Mum to my munchkins and they take priority, but I also wouldn’t be myself if I wasn’t kicking goals and working away on my business so it is really important that I make that time. I try to separate work and mum life as best I can so that I can be fully present in both roles. It sounds great in theory – but full transparency, it doesn’t always work out that way. As a lot of my current work is online and/or writing I fit it in around nap time, get up earlier or get it done of an evening. The key is to prioritise and schedule the work and to simply take action, or it doesn’t happen. I have become very accepting of what is achievable and realistic when it comes to work. I think the thing that has been my greatest asset in this is my level of self-awareness. The very tool I coach my clients to implement and that features in all of my online programs. I am very aware of my energy, mental health and regularly ‘check in’ on my four key elements to help me maintain my version of ‘balance’. I look at my sleep, mindset, nutrition, and movement, identify what is lacking vs dominating and take some small, simple steps to redirect that energy to help me feel happier, healthier and more ‘balanced’. I am also much more comfortable and confident in the alignment of and saying yes/no to things to make sure I’m not bubbling away in a pressure cooker. I am also extremely lucky to have a great support network. My husband always supports my crazy goals and ideas, and have wonderful family and friends. I believe that everything has a season, particularly motherhood and raising small children. When you are in the thick of it it feels it will last forever, but in the scheme of things it is such a small window of time. Next year sees my eldest in full time school which will mean more time for BFN.
My mission is to in recognise that he hindrance but a habi and fitness profes understand the impo and nutrition throug period. You can check eBooks. And that n urban, regional or re
nspire women across the globe to ealthy, active living need not be a it. To educate and empower women ssionals working with women to ortance of safe and effective exercise ghout pregnancy and the post natal k out my Happy, Healthy Pregnancy no matter where you live whether emotely, you really can achieve great things!
- brooke turner
keeping fit in
LOCKDOWN
Even as restrictions ease across the country, and even in Victoria, many of us are still struggling with staying home so much this year. Brooke lets us know her top tips for staying healyhy and fit in lockdown.
movement
Plan your week – start prioritizing movement. Treat it like a meeting, appointment. Be flexible, but schedule it in to your diary as BUSY time. Base it around your roster, partners work commitments, kids activities and stick to it. Then tick off or record each session you do so that you can keep track of your commitment. Aim for small achievable movement sessions – daily. Just 10 minutes of HIIT exercise can do amazing things for your mood and mental health. You don’t need a gym or fancy equipment. You just need to get out of the chair and moving. My 14 Day Fitness Challenge is perfect for this, designed to get you moving, build some momentum, find that motivation to move again! Find a friend – accountability, connection, and exercise at the same time – a winning trio!
nutrition
Don’t buy it to begin with - If you know you don’t have great self control, don’t buy it to begin with. If you do buy it – IF in doubt – THROW it out. Make small but consistent changes – it can be tempting to want to cut out complete food groups – go on a detox, juice diet, no carbs, no sugar but this only sets you up for poor eating behaviours, failure and guilt. Instead what small changes can you make? Can you reduce the number of coffees/day, eat a piece of fruit instead of lollies, have some soup over lasagne? Don’t get upset over bad day of eating – it’s a lifestyle. Everything in moderation
mindset
Get outdoors! Even better – get active outdoors. Connecting with nature in this way has both mental and physical health benefits particularly useful in managing and reducing stress and anxiety. Practice the power of positive affirmations such as I am enough, I am calm, I am capable in addition to breathing. I do this with my kids also and it is so effective in regulating our stress. Switch off – turn off those notifications that keep popping up when you are busy doing something else. Switch off or reduce your time scrolling on social media. Comparison is the thief of joy and something we can all be guilty of whilst scrolling.
sleep
How are you sleeping? The importance of sleep and its effect on everything else is underrated. Without adequate sleep the way we eat, move and think are all affected. Those who sleep less than 6 hours/ night are 50% more likely to suffer mental health disorders, stress and anxiety! Choose either of these to start to implement: Setting an alarm to go to bed – for the same time each night Reduce your daily intake of caffeine, alcohol and sugar or No screen time before bed.
Remember, consistency is better than perfection and the hardest part is getting started, so start somewhere, anywhere. My 14 Day Fitness Challenge is perfect – you can use code GIRLBOSS for a sneaky 15% off and come and join my STRIVE Community and feel happier and healthier!
W: balancefitnessandnutrition.com.au @balancefitnessandnutrition facebook.com/balancefitnessnutrition
What would you say is one positive that you have taken away from this year? There are still so many positives despite 2020 being such a wild ride. The big one for me is the support I have seen for local business by local communities. It has also been a year of (almost) forced change, adaptability, innovation, and resilience. We have all grown from it in some way. What advice would you give other women in business right now? If you don’t do it, someone else will. That project you want to be working on, the great idea you have. Stop thinking about it and take action, because if you don’t someone else will. You’re amazing and you’ve got this!
What can we expect to see next from you and the biz? I am so excited for the next 6 months+ of Balance Fitness and Nutrition. I’ll still be writing for some of your favourite online and print publications on all things health, fitness, mindset and nutrition, along with the launch of an accredited short course (to be released very soon!) for FitPros on ‘Key Questions You Need to be Asking Post Natal Women, and WHY’. I am also working away on to have my Complete Pre and Post Natal Package for FitPros Course out in Q4. Q4 is very busy with Pre and Post Natal workshops, consulting work and some exciting collaborations with some of my favourite brands, and 2021 is shaping up to be a goody – do stay tuned!
SUBSCRIBE
today
GIRLBOSSMAG.COM.AU
it’s time. ready to start your business? our free 7-day startup course will give you everything you need to become your own boss. GIRLBOSSMAG.COM.AU