Total Luxury has decided that everybody needs to have a good read, so we are interviewing women who own and operate their own business and have asked them how they do it.    Enjoy the read, get inspired.  There will be a new interviews every month.

April 2009

 

 

 

Meet Michelle from Little Aid who is very passionate about her business which is teaching mums, dads and grandparents first aid for our angels, something that we all should know!

What is your business – Give us your best line !!!!
First aid training for parents, grandparents and babysitters.   Little Aid is mobile, professional, affordable and now even offers a fundraising incentive!
What made you start a business on your own?
I started mostly because of my passion for the subject (baby and child first aid.) I just knew there had to be a better way to get the message of first aid out there. Especially new parents that are often overwhelmed with their new responsibility, knowing what to do should things go wrong instils confidence.  Then there’s the bonus of being able to work my own hours around my kid’s commitments, and I’m actually earning more this way then when I was working for someone else. 
What rewards do you get from operating your own business?
Now I get to choose my own hours and don’t have to answer to a boss – my “boss” is now my clients, who provide most valuable feedback.
How do you juggle business and family life?
I’m fortunate to have support from my husband, friends and family when I need to go to a meeting or conduct a course.  My kids occasionally help me with little set-up projects around the home and now say they want to be a “Little Aid worker” when they grow up! I do everything from home except the actual courses. My first priority is, and always will be, being able to do things like Kinder Duty, being there to pick them up from school, and being there for extra-curricular activities. Of course there are occasions where I just can’t but fortunately it’s not all that common.
What do you suggest is the best things to do on a regular basis to balance life, work and family?
Take care of yourself! If you do that, the rest falls into place. I’ve done the mistake putting going to the gym on the backburner, and everything suffers as a result.  You really do need to manage your time well.  I love walking to school, this is valuable uninterrupted time with my kids.
Does your family support you?
Absolutely!   They know I’m not only happier running my own business, but I’m actually home more and earning more money this way, whilst remaining highly affordable.
What keeps you going?
The feedback is a massive plus, makes me realise I’m going in the right direction. The fact that Little Aid is getting busier, mostly due to word of mouth is amazing.  I have a vision for my business and so far, so good.  This alone is extremely encouraging.
What is your favourite way to relax and unwind?
In a nutshell, I just love spending time with my family. I love summer, we’re always outside, enjoying swimming and BBQ’s together. Otherwise we’ll be watching a movie, enjoying a cheese platter together and I’ll have a wine with my husband. I absolutely love going out for dinner though it doesn’t happen all that often.
What do you want to tell the women of the world?
Find out what you want – then grab hold of it with both hands and go for it! Have the confidence to make it happen and don’t let anyone hold you back.
Most important do you have a favourite holiday spot you want to share with us?
My parents have a holiday house up the coast where we share in their fishing adventures which I love.  But I have a goal to take my kids somewhere exciting each year.

 March 2009

 

 

Meet Peta from Busted Bling who came up with a fantastic idea

just by breaking her arm!!!

 

 
What is your business – Give us your best line !!!!    
 
Creative Cast Covers – because having a cast shouldn’t leave you feeling broken!
 
What made you start a business on your own? 
 
I always knew it was out there waiting for me, however it took until I broke my arm in 2 places last September for it to all click – hence, Busted Bling was born out of sheer frustration and the need to not have an ugly, dirty, boring plaster cast!
 
What rewards do you get from operating your own business? 
 
The sense of achievement – even if it doesn’t become a huge success, I will always feel a sense of pride that I did it. My life motto is no regrets! I don’t want to wake up one morning wondering “what if”.
 
How do you juggle business and family life? 
 
With a great husband, a good routine, lots of chocolate and buying shoes!
 
What do you suggest is the best things to do on a regular basis to balance life, work and family?
 
Take time out for yourself – read a book, go shopping and remember that family will always come first (although that is easy to say because I am guilty of working till all hours!)
 
Does your family support you? 
 
Totally – at times the boys don’t understand why I am working so hard, but I hope it will reward us all one day!
 
What keeps you going? 
 
My inner motivation to be the best that I can be, to be unique and to always try. Plus I would like to be financially secure for my children as they grow up (my parent’s weren’t for me)
 
What is your favourite way to relax and unwind? 

 Buy shoes!!!!

What do you want to tell the women of the world? 

No matter what life throws at you, catch it, turn it over and put it in your pocket. Everyone goes through bad times, but it is what you do with them that will define your life. Never give up; never stop reaching for the stars, because one day you may just be one.

Most important do you have a favourite holiday spot you want to share with us? 

Camping with my kids in outback Queensland. God’s country, no mobile phones, no TV’s, only fresh air, great swimming and zero care factor about washing your hair!!!

 

 

 

 And Holly from Futunat8gal a unique directory service for online businesses.

 

What is your business – Give us your best line!!!!
 
Putting online businesses in the spotlight using printed directories.
 
What made you start a business on your own?
 
The flexibility of setting my own hours and taking the responsibility for my own actions. Only having myself to answer to and being around for my family was also very important.
 
What rewards do you get from operating your own business?
 
Immense satisfaction from my achievements. I enjoy being able to do something that promotes women in business.
 
How do you juggle business and family life?
 
I try to stick to a routine as much as possible. I can usually check my email around 7am before the 6yo gets up. Then I get her ready for school and by 9am I am usually ready to dedicate my day to my business until I pick up my daughter from school at 3.30pm. I spend time with her and the housework until she goes to bed at 8pm. Then I am likely to do more work on the business. I try to do whatever I can in my business during weekdays so I have weekends free to spend with my family.
 
What do you suggest is the best things to do on a regular basis to balance life, work and family?
 
Have a routine but be flexible, make sure you spend QUALITY time with your family, go on an occasional walk, picnic or drive away from the house and your business. Most of all enjoy what you do! There’s a quote that says “Pick a job you like, and you will never work a day in your life!”
 
Does your family support you?
 
Absolutely! Like most female entrepreneurs will know, sometimes you can have several different business ideas on the go at any one time. My family has watched me go through this over the years and regardless of how strange the ideas may have seemed, they still manage to support me in the ways they can.
 
What keeps you going?
 
Knowing that I am building a business that will help my family to be self sufficient. Knowing that I am helping others to do the same and knowing that I am being a strong role model for my children.
 
What is your favourite way to relax and unwind?
 
Having a coffee with my eldest daughter (21 yo) in a local cafe or simply catching up with friends.
 
What do you want to tell the women of the world?
 
Believe in yourself and you will achieve anything you want to achieve.

Most important do you have a favourite holiday spot you want to share with us?

My most favourite holiday spot is beautiful Tasmania. I am very drawn to places surrounded by natural beauty. I haven’t been for five years, but 2009 and maybe the year I return.

February 2009 

 

 

 

Meet our first lady Shontelle from Citrus Pages a fantastic webs design business.

What is your business – Give us your best line!!!! 
 
Citrus Pages website design with a TWIST! We create personal, FRESH, functional, STANDOUT websites!
 
What made you start a business on your own?
 
Having children ultimately led me to owning my own business, I needed flexible hours. I started website design as a hobby while running a previous handbag and accessory company. I found I loved creating on the web more than retail so I retrained and Citrus Pages Website Design was born.
 
What rewards do you get from operating your own business?
 
Flexibility.
I can manage my time around my children’s schedules and having a web based business means I can travel anywhere and still keep up with all my work commitments, which is a real bonus.
 
Diversity of Client Base
Although I’m a Canadian citizen, I spent 9 years in the Philippines, 3 years in Australia and now Malaysia for the past 2 years, through which I’ve been able to network and get a great referral business.
 
How do you juggle business and family life?
 
To be honest I still find this tough at times. I have however fixed a routine of regular work and “kids” time. I once read somewhere ‘Don’t answer your work phone while playing with your kids unless you are prepared to interrupt your work to colour with your kids’ – I liked that.
 
What do you suggest is the best things to do on a regular basis to balance life, work and family?
 
SHUT my computer off! I used to be very bad for “just checking my email” before bed and ending up working all night. Now I shut my computer off at the end of the day and do not turn it on until the morning after I have dropped the kids at school. Also through better time management during the week I’ve also stopped working weekend’s which allows me to have uninterrupted quality time with my family.
 
Does your family support you?
 
Yes very much. My husband is very supportive and my biggest fan. I have two sons and a daughter. My sons think it’s cool that I work on apple mac’s and my daughter is too young to realize, as her baby gym is on the floor in my office.
 
What keeps you going?
 
Persistence and Feedback. I find it hard at times, but then when I finish something and think, wow I created that or I solved that issue (much of website design is about creative solving) I get such a sense of satisfaction (and adrenalin), but also when my client’s give me positive feedback it drive’s me on to think about how I can improve my work process or skill set.
 
What is your favourite way to relax and unwind?
 
My family, good friends, good food, and good wine.
 
What do you want to tell the women of the world?
 
Get comfortable in your own skin, be kind and generous and carry on…
 
Most important do you have a favourite holiday spot you want to share with us?
 
Redang, a small island on the east coast of Malaysia. The best family holiday I have been on yet. Snorkelling off the beach we saw black tip sharks, clown fish, sea turtles, heaps of fish I do not know the names of. The beach was gorgeous; the hotel was fantastic for families with water slide and pool (for a change for the beach) and big comfortable family rooms. I can not rate it enough, and can not wait to get back there.  Go to http://www.lagunaredang.com.my/ (note closed during rainy season so check your dates).

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