I trialed a super flexible payment plan, like a layby arrangement, whereby participants can elect to pay any amount towards their trip when they can and this was a huge hit. I’ve also recently offered a ‘funcation fund’ encouraging women to commit to putting money aside for a muMEcations getaway, even if they are unsure of when they can travel or where they would like to go, and this has also been really popular. I have some women paying $10 and $20 every couple of weeks and it makes me so happy that this flexibility makes our trips accessible.
Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
This is super tricky and an ongoing challenge, particularly as I also work as an NDIS Support Coordinator and currently have my 6-year-old daughter home from school due to stage 3 Covid restrictions and a 3-year-old home most weekdays.
I’m really passionate about working both on and in my business and embrace any opportunity for learning, so am always super busy and often distracted when the girls say “Mum watch this” or “play with me” for the hundredth time.
I don’t believe there is the perfect work/family life balance when it comes to working mums and recently saw a meme on social media that referred to this theory as “schmalance”…I thought it was a perfect description!
My hubby loves having the girls hang outside with him in the garden on the weekends, so I usually catch up on my work then and also work at night after the girls have gone to bed. My goal is to start getting up super early to be more productive…another work in progress!
The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
Covid-19 has by far been the biggest challenge in both my business and personal life and living in Victoria, the constant uncertainty and changes to lockdown restrictions and remote learning has caused some anxiety. Although now that we are in round two of restrictions, I’m definitely feeling a lot less stressed and have really made an effort to shift my mindset about remote learning!
Extended travel restrictions have forced me to cancel four (two Victorian and two interstate) trips, however I am feeling confident that the Great Ocean Road trip to Lorne in November will go ahead and it’s actually booked out which is super exciting!
I’ve also found the dreaded imposter syndrome quite unexpected and overwhelming and realise that this is most likely an ongoing challenge that I will need to work through.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
Running your own business gives you all the feels and, most of the time, is exciting and inspiring. I’d read a lot about there being a lot of sweat and tears being a business owner and hadn’t really experienced this until Covid hit – it certainly gave me a reality check!
Before Covid, being able to work flexibly around Aidee’s school and sporting life has been the biggest pro as a business owner. When I was working part-time for an organisation last year, we were reliant on the after school care program and it wasn’t a great option as she kept getting in trouble and coming home with (even more) crappy 6-year-old attitude!
I guess the biggest con to being a business owner, particularly as a fairly new start-up and given the current climate, would be the slow and irregular (or non-existent!) income. I’m really lucky that I have my sub-contract work as an NDIS Support Coordinator that has increased significantly since earlier this year and gives me a regular income. I’ve also got a considerable number of Jetstar and Qantas flight credits so have got my flights covered for next year’s interstate muMEcations which no doubt will be financially beneficial!
Hopes and dreams: What next?
So many hopes and dreams for muMEcations! I’ve really been in a Covid funk for the last 3-4 months, however am starting to find my mojo again and my brain is spinning again with ideas!
My aim for muMEcations has always been to secure funding and sponsorship to offer my trips at a heavily subsidised rate for mums caring for children with additional needs or facing health, social or financial hardship and I am continually working towards this goal.
I’m super passionate about responsible and transformative travel and will eventually offer extended cultural and community development trips abroad. I’ve spent some time working and traveling in the Middle East and India and would love to run some trips back to these incredible countries when the world is ready to explore again.
I’ve also identified a gap for getaways for single women who don’t have a support network nearby to help look after children while Mum takes some time out. So, I’ve been working on a trip model for mums and their kids whereby Mum can still have some well-deserved time out and the kids will also be entertained.
To find out more, head to the muMEcations website and join their supportive communities on Facebook and Instagram.
