The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
The biggest challenge to date is definitely COVID-19. The nature of our industry meant that we couldn’t re-open until we entered Level 2. It was definitely the most frightening and stressful time I’ve had in business to date. After being in a flap for the initial couple of days, I quickly decided that I needed a plan. There was no point sticking my head in the sand and hoping it would go away. The word ‘pivot’ became a real buzz word, but that was our only option. We had to adapt and adapt fast.
I became fiercely protective of my business and was determined it was going to survive.
The silver lining of having navigated our way through this, is that we are more focused than ever on business growth and have realised how important it is to diversify and not be solely reliant on one or two income streams.
For better or worse: What are the pros and cons of running your own business?
The downside is definitely carrying all the responsibility and risk of a business. That can be all consuming at times and it pays not to dwell on this too much as a business owner in order to avoid falling into the trap of operating from a place of fear. This is not a good frame of mind to be in when making strategic decisions!
The upside is being in control of your own destiny and being able to shape your own lifestyle.
Hopes and dreams: What next?
We are really excited about our online classes that will be launching in November. This is the end result of being thrown in to the COVID-19 lockdown and having to scramble to be able to offer something in the online space as quickly as possible. We are refining this and making something pretty special that will be available to people nationwide. We can’t wait to launch!
Visit the Tiaki website to find out more about the classes and services they offer. You can also join their supportive communities on Facebook and Instagram.
