Beginning to blossom

Hard work and consistency was something that never frightened me. In fact, its something that gave me a sense of security and comfort. It gave me a sense of control and I liked that feeling.

My career included all facets of the tourism / hospitality industry from waitress to working as the Executive Secretary to the CEO, CFO and Board of Directors of a large Publicly Listed company.

This was different from how I grew up. My parents always owned conventional businesses and worked hard for their success.

When I married my husband and we started our life together things changed. I left my corporate career and moved to conventional business. I liked the idea of being able to manage my own time, my own direction and build something that was ours. Pouring heart and soul into a family business so to speak.

We worked our butts off. We were 28 and were running 2 multi million dollar businesses.

Now almost 10 years on I reflect on this time as a pivotal moment of growth in our lives.

Everything was ok until we had our gorgeous son. Working our butts off and achieving goal after goal seemed to tick all the boxes. The freedom we thought we had was only skin deep.

When our son was born, business became a nightmare. It was this push and pull between creating an empire and being the best parent a child could ask for. I think this is relevant to conventional business and full time employment. Your time is never really yours. In addition to this in conventional business security is never yours either. Your empire is always at the mercy of anyone who wants to challenge you. For instance the building industry.... you complete a project and the builder goes broke....your not paid! The debt is yours to take care of. Unfortunately, I speak from experience with this example.

It's either massive risk or the 40 / 40 / 40 Plan. I kept thinking there had to be a better way. Our world is changing at such a pace that its hard to keep up. What I realize is that we have to be open to change, to progress and to the concepts of the past 100 years to be turned on their head.

Don't get me wrong, we have been fortunate to have had the opportunities we have. But in hindsight the hours we have worked verse the monetary income is crazy.

When our son was diagnosed with Aspergers and things become increasingly difficult at home, conventional business no longer served us. After 12 years of business I decided to sell my conventional retail store. It wasn't really a choice, it was a necessary decision that as a family needed to be made. Frog needed me to be a full time mum.

It was at this time in my life that it really dawned on me that what I thought I was building for my family, what I thought was a legacy was ultimately nothing. I was no better off than someone who worked the 9 to 5. In fact, I was actually worse off because I worked longer hours and incurred more risk.

I remember the day I handed the keys to the business to the new owners. OMG the relief I felt was huge. At the same time I felt a sense of loss because the business had defined who I was for so many years.

The months following the sale I was joyful and happy and free but over time doubt, emptiness and lack of purpose seemed to creep in. I was super busy and with Frogs therapy and settling him into school and the challenges that we faced at home my days were full. As time went by I really lost my sense of self.

Almost a year after the sale of the business, I was approached by my now gorgeous friend and business associate. I was introduced to the world of social marketing.

I have to say that in the first instance I was skeptical to say the least. Looking back to that time now, I smile because I really didn't understand what I was saying yes to back then. I thought it would allow me to meet new people in a new town, give me something to do that allowed me to use my brain, buy botanically based premium products at wholesale and earn a little extra cash. OMG was I naive.

3 months into this new adventure I quickly realized that the world was at my fingertips. This industry was so much bigger than me, than our family. It opened a world of new possibility and opportunity that was very unexpected.

The first would have to be personal development. There is not a day that passes that I am not grateful for the introduction to PD through this company. To say that it has changed our lives and relationships is an understatement. In all honesty, I don't think my sons progress would have been nearly as progressive had it not been for the PD journey I have been gifted and introduced to.

The extra income quickly grew and allowed us to have more opportunity to pay for therapy for our son. I'm grateful everyday that I can be mum in the fullest of ways and yet still earn a full time income and only work part time hours. Where was this 10 years ago.... I mean, its such a blessing.

I have met so many amazing people through this business. It is a privilege to be in a position to be able to gift this to others. The culture, the business opportunity, the growth, the adventure, the products and the fulfillment that comes with it.

Its incredible how one leap of faith can steer your course in a whole new direction. We never fail so long as we fail forward and we never fail at being ourselves. What ever you want to do, do it now! There are only so many tomorrows. Everyday is a good day to DREAM BIG!

Love Kate

xo