What have you learnt about yourself during your time a business owner?
I’ve learned that I need to delegate more… and that delegating is a skill.
You talked last time about the importance of work and family balance – do you feel you have found the right balance and, if so, how have you achieved this?
This is still a work in progress if I’m honest. As my children are now older, they have more of a social life than me and are pretty happily independent, so the last year has been about me detaching from hovering in case they need me and getting used to my newfound independence. This leads Mumma Bear to having the opportunity to be more committed to her own social life, beach walks, yoga and Pilates classes. No excuses ha ha.
I feel as though the wheel has turned in the family lifecycle to where we are all comfortably on the same page with our independence – the door is constantly opening and closing as they, their friends and me come and go. It is both amazing and inspiring to experience your children as young adults with their own ambitions and dreams. When your children are little and waking through the night, early in the mornings and you wonder if you are ever going to have a Sunday sleep in again…then that happens. It is crazy how that time machine then suddenly has you teaching them to drive! And you find yourself wishing you could have a day back again when they were a little koala bear snuggled in your arms. Time doesn’t really mean anything until you have children and then the reality of making every day count, all the good, bad, ugly and awesome days, takes on its true meaning.
So the work-life balance now relates to being more about me seeing myself as a priority on the list and giving myself permission to play.
If you could go back and give yourself 3 pieces of advice before starting your business, what would they be?
Don’t doubt yourself.
A good accountant, analytics and a book keeping system is gold. Integrate these in soundly to the infrastructure and foundations then you can do what you do best and confidently lose yourself in the process of creativity.
It’s never going to be perfect. Don’t wait for the perfect moment or conditions, just start and keep going. You can always adapt to conditions as you go. You will be happy you gave it your best shot and learned at the very least.
What is next for Mayella? What goals and dreams do you have for the future?
The drawing/dream board is always full. We have some exciting ingredients blending in across the range at the moment waiting for me to finish the label content so they can be born.
Some of these new products are linked into some social good programmes, humbling and joyful at the same time to be able to share the love out into the community and our environment. Community, like family, is everything to embracing happiness as an individual and a society. Our belief is we are one Individual and together we are One – the message post pandemic has been loudly thrown into the public arena and the global consciousness.
Our dream is to be a healthy part of taking the positive steps to embedding the new normal where, as individuals and communities, we take responsibility for living well, and realise good health is in our hands to create. We’d like to be a part of that actualising, where the masses embrace health and wellness is in what we choose to do on a daily basis – the time is now for our planet and people to actively do what we need to do to be well, sustainable, happy and healthy… a green smoothie in everyone’s hand; that’s our dream, corny but it’s a start.
Acai Berry Overnight Oats
This recipe is a great healthy breakfast that you can prepare in advance and it can last all week either until you want to enjoy it or serving up portions each day from your “mother container” in the fridge.
Bonus, the 100% natural ingredients in Mayella Acai Berry Beautiful add a natural no fuss, no drama antioxidant boost to every bite! Feel free to mix it up and try your favourite Acai oats combination.
Recipe:
2/3 cup rolled oats
2/3 cup your favourite milk – almond, rice or coconut milk are delicious.
1 tbsp chia seeds (can also use hemp seeds)
2 tbsp maple syrup (find true maple syrup not imitation or “flavour”)
2 tbsp vanilla coconut yoghurt
1/2 tsp true vanilla powder or essence
2 tsp Mayella Acai Berry Beautiful Blend
Place all ingredients in a container, stir really well and put in the fridge overnight. Serve up portions and enjoy as is or top with fresh banana, berries, almond or peanut butter as you wish.
Enjoy hot or cold.
Head to the Mayella Organics website to find out more and to view their range of products. You can also follow their journey on Facebook and Instagram.
