The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
There have been so many challenges along the way, but I’d say the biggest one, which we still face today, is getting people to see the vision. We often have an idea or a vision that’s big, and sometimes others can’t quite see it yet. We’re always trying to get people to buy into that idea-whether at the consumer level, getting them to switch to a new product, or at the retail level, convincing stores to stock it.
Right now, we’re working on disrupting a whole new category for good. It reminds me of the early days-the excitement and the potential impact. But we’re also bumping up against people who wonder, “What if it doesn’t work?” or “Why go a different way from the rest of the industry?”. Disrupting anything new means there’s a period of being misunderstood until the idea makes sense. Once it does, in Thankyou‘s case, it has led to incredible growth.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
I once heard a quote: “I didn’t want to work a 9-to-5 job, so I started a business. Now I work 24/7”. That pretty much sums it up. One of the pros is freedom-you get to be the captain of your own ship, set your own course, plan your path, choose your hours, and even take holidays when you want.
But the last part of that quote is also true. While it’s not exactly 24/7, you carry a responsibility with you constantly. The responsibility of payroll, other people’s futures, and in our case, the mission we’re on. If things go well, we help a lot of people, but if they don’t, the impact is huge. There is a net benefit, but I think society often glamorises entrepreneurship and starting a business as the ultimate freedom and success. If that’s what you’re chasing, you won’t find it there. Everyone’s wired differently, and I have huge respect for both business owners and people who work within businesses. It’s all about finding what suits you.
Hopes and dreams: What’s next?
At Thankyou, we’re working on the biggest category launch we’ve ever attempted. It’s been four years in the making and even longer in the dreaming. We’ve always wanted to take the step we’re taking next year. For anyone who knows our story-the Coles and Woolworths campaign, Chapter One, No Small Plans, the 7-Eleven campaign-if you combine all of that and multiply it by, say, ten or even a hundred, that’s the scale we’re aiming for with our next launch. What’s on the other side of it isn’t just an incredible product for consumers but the most remarkable impact Thankyou can make for a world in need.
Visit the Thankyou website to find out more, and connect with them on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.
