Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
I am very fortunate that at the moment my husband and I both work part time so are able to spend enough time together and with our feather and fur babies. We split all domestic duties so that no one person has to bear the entire burden. At this stage, we do not have our own children but are foster carers, so when kids are staying with us, there is additional pressure on our time and attention, which we usually manage fairly well. My husband is my balancing force and biggest supporter so for that I am very blessed and grateful.
The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
I believe one of the biggest challenges I am continuing to overcome is fear. Not believing in myself or my abilities, thinking there is too much competition out there, worrying that I will get it wrong. Being an entrepreneur, particularly when you have a mission and motivation that is bigger than just making money, is scary and requires next level faith and perseverance. I really do believe in my mission and my products and want to see consumers make better choices for our planet. This continues to drive me to keep overcoming every day.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
I love being able to forge the direction of my own business. It is rewarding seeing ideas come to life and you always get a little rush when a sale comes in. I also love receiving feedback on our products from happy customers and feel as though what I am doing is making a difference in the world, rather than just going to a job every day that does not align with my mission.
The difficulties, of course, are usually around money, cash flow and time. Starting out small is hard and you have to do every task yourself and wear many hats. I have so many ideas and visions for the future that it is hard to be patient in the place I am in now. Running your own business demands a lot of your focus, money, creative and mental energy. But it is also a rewarding joy.
Hopes and dreams: What next?
I hope to continue growing the business, both through expanding our products and our reach and through the completion and launch of the Green Earth Kids show and songs. My aim is to create a brand that is synonymous with quality Australian-made environmental education and entertainment and would love us to end up being the place people go to first. The next steps are improving our website and launching our show and songs, then we would like to release our own line of educational resources and eco products including several books which are already in the works. Our signature book is The ABC of Sustainability which should be available for pre-order this year! Watch this space…
Visit the Green Earth Kids website to find out more and follow their journey on Facebook and Instagram.
