passion

One sad, sorry Wednesday morning, whilst lying in bed scrolling through my Instagram newsfeed and ignoring the many alarms emanating from my clock radio, I came across a particular meme that stopped me in my tracks. It was an image of popstar Beyonce Knowles on stage, in costume, mid-dance move. Arms high above her head. The caption read, “You have as many hours in a day as Beyonce”.

I’m not encouraging everyone to become Beyonce, but social media was right. Beyonce DOES have the same 24 hours in a day as us mere plebs, and while I certainly don’t aim to be a pop culture phenomenon (or suggest that her lifestyle and music is for everyone), I do know that I certainly have 24 hours in my day to achieve amazing things. Just like you. Just like Australian pro surfer Sally Fitzgibbons. Just like my hairdresser Sarah. Just like my good mate Jen.

So what does it take to achieve amazing feats of excellence in the same 24 hour period as everyone else? What sets those that do apart from those that don’t? How do they motivate themselves through rough patches, how do they remain humble whilst still reaching for more? Five of Australia’s top athletes, Jessica Fox, Sally Fitzgibbons, Jordan Mercer, Ellyse Perry and Anna Flanagan, give us their inside scoop into their passions, inspirations and motivations behind who they are and what they’ve achieved.

1. They were all influenced and inspired by other people

Greatness doesn’t exist in a bubble. Sure, it ultimately comes from within, but without great role models or personal cheer squads in our corner, clamouring for our success, it can be a long and lonely road to where we want to be. Sally Fitzgibbons says top athletes serve as her inspiration, particularly Australian former Olympic track athlete John Landy. “He exemplified the meaning of hard work, determination and wore his heart on his sleeve”, Sally says. For Australian world champion slalom canoeist Jessica Fox, people who overcame obstacles to reach their goals serve as her inspiration. She cites Olympic Gold Medallist, Australian track cyclist Anna Meares as someone with tenacity and mental strength. “She overcame so many setbacks in her career to come back and perform in those major competitions like the Olympics”.

But it doesn’t always have to be people in your industry that influence and inspire you. Ironwoman Jordan Mercer draws inspiration from kids with special needs, thanks to her charity work with the likes of Noosa Seahorse Nippers, Surfers Healing and Paddle4Autism. She also draws inspiration from family, like her Aunty Jen.

Australian Women’s Hockeyroo Anna Flanagan

Australian Women’s Cricketer and Footballer Ellyse Perry

2. They maintain a life that doesn’t always revolve around chasing their goals

Being goal-orientated is a great thing, in fact, it’s essential to achievement. But being a well-rounded individual is also important. It keeps you grounded, it keeps you sane. If you’re constantly chasing your goals without taking a step back and experiencing the joys the rest of your life can offer you, then what is the point of all this goal-chasing?

Top athletes are the same. All-rounder Ellyse Perry, who represents Australia in both cricket and football, maintains hobbies and goals separate from her competitive sporting life. “I study part time at uni, spend a lot of time at cafes, and love seeing family and friends”, she explains. Australian field hockey player and Hockeyroo Anna Flanagan is much the same. “I love blogging and writing”, she says, “But otherwise skateboarding and hanging out at the beach are where you will generally find me in my free time”.

3. They know the importance of staying healthy

We all know that life gets busy sometimes, and you might be too busy to hit the gym, or make yourself a nutritious meal, or hell, even just have a proper breakfast. But life is a marathon, not a sprint, and burning out due to stress or poor diet and inactivity is the quickest way to stop you reaching your goals.

Mercer is a big believer in food being the best source of nutrition, by fuelling your body with food that will nourish you, without potions or pills. Fox agrees, and stresses that fad diets and supplements aren’t always the best thing for you. “I really just believe in a balanced diet, and that you can get everything you need from a good diet. I tend to try and stay away from fads, and try and eat for my exercise”.

In fact, it’s a point echoed by Flanagan, too. “A healthy lifestyle is far more satisfying than constantly being on fad diets and yo-yoing with weight”, she says. “Exercise makes you happy, and is so good for your body”.

Ironwoman Jordan Mercer

Slalom Canoeist Jess Fox

4. They are passionate about their passions

As you’d expect from top performers, their passions really are their passions. It fuels their lifestyle, it gets them up in the morning, it pushes them to try harder. This is how you should be with your passions, too. Find something you know will make you happy pursuing, and gets you going. Fitzgibbons says it’s important to see women loving what they do in life. “I’m passionate about seeing women radiating happiness, standing up for what they believe in and living their passion with confidence and pride”.

Perry knows that her passion for sports fuels her, with or without the accolades. “Even if I didn’t make it to the highest level, I’m sure I would still be playing sport, but from the moment I played my first game for Australia, I knew I wanted to make it my career”.

A healthy lifestyle is far more satisfying than constantly being on fad diets and yo-yoing with weight

Flanagan’s passion for field hockey grew when she represented the country at the Olympics, particularly as she was surrounded by other athletes at the top of their game. But it’s what you put into your passions that produce what you get out of it. “I truly believe that what you put into a career, you will get out”, she says. “I think good things don’t come easy, and it’s reminding yourself of what you want through the hard times”.

5. They know how to motivate themselves and remind themselves of the why behind their actions

Sometimes you set yourself a goal and then work towards achieving it, but then lose your path along the way. Maybe you needed to take a side step in order to go forward, or even pause for a while to train or retrain, or focus on your family or health. Whatever the reason, if your motivation is strong, you will continue on your path no matter what. “I always have my ultimate goal of becoming World Champion to motivate me and push me through those hard days when you are exhausted”, Fitzgibbons explains. “It gets me out of bed before 5am every morning to go out and work harder than the previous day”.

Australian professional surfer Sally Fitzgibbons

Perry also finds that just getting up and out is a step in the right direction. “I always find once you get going, it’s never as bad as what you thought it was going to be, and I always end up enjoying it”. Sure, you might not be a champion athlete, but this positive attitude can be used in any situation. Got a presentation you need to prepare for? Need the push to finally work on your resume for career progression? It’s the motivation to just get up and take that step that makes the difference between sitting still or moving forward, even just slightly. Fox definitely applies this mindset to her training routine. “The saying goes that the only session you regret is one you didn’t do”.

Remember also that your why is important. Why do you want to achieve this goal? What is it about this lifestyle that makes you so determined to strive for it? Mercer gives herself short-term and long-term goals to remind her that the hard yards she’s working through now will all be worth it in the long run.

The only session you regret is one you didn’t do

If you want to succeed in anything, be it in your career, your health or your finances, your determination to make it through the rough times are what’s going to get you to your goals. Fitzgibbons remembers clearly the advice given to her by tennis legend Martina Navratilova, “She told me that champions adjust. No matter what obstacles you are faced with, they find a way to be the best they can possibly be”.

All images courtesy of athlete’s promoters and used with permission. Featured image via Pixabay under Creative Commons CC0

Erica Enriquez

Erica is a Sydney-based writer and digital marketer, and can often be found pounding away on a keyboard, writing about everything from travel, lifestyle, well-being and anything in between. When she is not writing, she is STILL writing, developing copy and content for websites and marketing collateral. Erica is passionate about film, literature and culture (high brow and low brow), as well as pro-social causes supporting cultural engagement (counting travelling as one of them). In her spare time, she loves nothing more than to curl up with a good book, go for a nice dinner with friends or spend time with her partner.

Passionate leaders are making their mark and changing the world. Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, Pharrell Williams, Richard Branson, the list goes on. They make things happen. They think big. They inspire others. They are my mentors.

Before they got where they are now, people thought they were crazy, or arrogant, or weird. They didn’t fit. During an interview with Pharrell Williams on a radio one of the listeners called and said that he went with Pharrell to the same school at Virginia Beach and he remembered how annoying Pharrell was when he was constantly playing drums. “I’m glad you did,” he said now.

So how all these leaders do what they do. Passion is key.

Continue reading →

January is often the month we ponder what changes we would like to make in our lives – with our career featuring prominently. To help you along the way, Leaders in Heels continues its new year series of posts on how you can make the change that you have been dreaming of.

Career Change and You

We often imagine that our career path is set in stone and that we will move along this path in an organic way. So when we realise that the career we began many years ago is unfulfilling, what do we do? Our ladder is against the wrong wall, how do we get down, get support and turn our professional life around? It can be lonely and bewildering.

I worked recently with a client who had been in the same career for many years. She is a smart interesting woman who knew that her career was not going anywhere yet she was caught up in the “being plain stuck world”. It was scary and lonely for her to think about career change on her own. In the coaching sessions we worked on a plan identifying her passions and purpose. I also challenged her on the “beigness” of her life, helping to find the spunky sassy woman within.

My client became inspired to look for a career path that ignited her passion. Within 6 months she was in another job being paid 50% more, and importantly reclaiming the sassy woman within. She has recently returned from a trip to Istanbul and Italy. In a few years time will buy a property in Italy and run a small B&B alongside her passion for food and cooking. She is a new woman.

So how can you move down this path? You can, and here are some tips to start turning around your life. Remember the passion that you felt when you first started your career? You can bring that feeling back into your life. The way you start is by building a solid foundation towards a renovated career path. Read the following sections slowly as your Brain and Mindset are the most crucial parts in helping leverage and move your career ahead.

1. Passion

Start this exercise in a comfortable place, relax and let your mind be open. Ask yourself, what are the parts of your life that you are passionate about? What excites, inspires you, what would you do even if you were not paid? Let your mind run wild with these thoughts and images. This is a fun way to bring the picture of your personal and professional potential alive.

2.Vision

Now ask yourself the question “what will my new career path look like”. Put a vision board together with as many images as you can find. Once you have completed the vision board, spend at least 5 minutes observing your masterpiece. Remember that you have created this picture. You can make this vision come alive and move into reality.

3. Writing

Start by writing about the vision in front of you. What stands out? You may find that the board contains both images relating to your professional and personal life. So write a page about each section of this vision. What do these images mean to you, how do you feel about them, what thoughts come up, are they familiar images. If not, be inquisitive – do these images connect in some way to parts of your career path you have ignored?

4. Action Plan

This section is the core of your new direction. It is important to leverage this story into a step-by-step strategic plan to move forward. A bit like putting a jigsaw puzzle together. Pull out the parts that immediately connect, do they provide answers to the career path you need to be on? Ask friends to contribute or get professional help in bringing your new career path alive.

This is not the time to stop; your vision board is evidence of the smart, sassy woman you are. She needs to come out in 2015 and not be left behind. Do you want to look back at end of 2015 and say why didn’t I? Move ahead now!

Featured Photo Credit: Pixabay

Sally Arnold is an award winning author, speaker and business coach who specialises in moving individuals and organisations out of stuckness. She is able to turn around challenges towards resolution and success through her innovative business Creating Encores.

Sally’s offer to readers of Leaders in Heels: Free 10 minute Power coaching session to assist in becoming clear about moving ahead in career reinvigoration. Contact Sally at sally@creatingencores.co.

Passion is one of our six traits in the Leaders in Heels Manifesto. It is also an essential element in starting up your own business, and quite often it can be your passion alone that will help drive you to follow your dreams and turn an idea into a product or business. Leaders in Heels interviewed PACKQUEEN founder and MD, Monique Samara, to hear how a love for wrapping gifts turned into a successful business.

Located in Thomastown, Victoria, the PACKQUEEN empire grew from a small-time packaging business to an online store that offers thousands of packaging products and now manufactures a large majority of those products themselves. From gift wrapping, gift boxes, wine boxes and more, this business is aiming high.

Tell us about the PACKQUEEN story – how did you grow to become a leading manufacturer of packaging products in Australia?

Prior to operating my own business, my background was within law and education. I have taken a lot of knowledge from both these areas to successfully apply what I have learnt from both industries to the operating of my own business in an area that I love.

We are not your regular packaging business. At our core, PACKQUEEN is a leader, innovator and manufacturer of packaging products run by a talented group of women. From start-up businesses through to large multi-national corporations, with our simplistic approach we are able to provide a solution to suit any business’ packaging requirements.

I work with an amazing team including 10 talented individuals who are passionate about what they do. Starting as “Specialty Boxes”, the business has grown and evolved considerably over the past few years.

We listened to our customers and from that feedback, we officially relaunched our new brand, PACKQUEEN. Along with our new identity and philosophy we launched our new website on a state-of-the-art platform that will provide a better user experience.

What inspired you to start PACKQUEEN?

Put simply, I love working with packaging and paper. Ever since I was a child I loved stationery and presenting things in beautiful gift boxes and gift wrapping. What evolved as a fun thing to do over the years, turned into a passion and became my business.

My family has been involved in industrial packaging and paper for over 20 years so with business in my blood, it was only a matter of time before realising my true calling. It all started with one gift box and an idea. The idea that I could help other businesses with presenting their products in amazing packaging.

Over the last 5 years, I have strived to provide our clients with packaging products that have helped them achieve successful solutions. We work with the best materials in the industry to provide our customers with high quality products at affordable prices.

Getting started – what research did you do?

I spoke with a lot of different business owners about what they required in terms of packaging. I also read a lot of business books and journals from various experts to expand on my knowledge. I am constantly learning every day and it is important to continue to strive and learn and be diverse and innovative.

How did you find your suppliers? Was it easy building relationships?

We worked hard to develop and continue our relationships with our suppliers. It is important that you treat suppliers as a partner. In any effective relationship, building and maintaining solid supplier relationship is about ‘give and take’.

It is important to respect your supplier as they should yourself. We only work with suppliers that demonstrate and express the same level of respect and understanding that we at PACKQUEEN possess.

How do you market your business and what has been successful in reaching your target market?

As an online packaging business, our primary form of marketing is online. We put a lot of effort into maintaining our online presence so both new and existing customers are well served when they interact with us online. Our new website aims to provide a better user experience based on customer feedback and we also have a blog that promotes hints and tips for our customers to customise our products.

I would highly recommend using a great marketing system such as MailChimp. A great marketing system can help you achieve and promote your products to your target audience.

What challenges did you face in getting your business idea off the ground?

The hardest part of getting our business off the ground was a mixture of challenges including finding the right staff that shared the same vision, implementing systems that work effectively in all areas of the business and developing the right sales and marketing strategy to suit our business goals.

You mentioned innovation is an important part of your business, what innovative products or systems do you use?

At PACKQUEEN, we offer a range of different biodegradable packaging supplies. For example, our fully-recyclable presentation gift boxes come in different sizes and colours. They can also be customised to our customers needs. It is undeniable that eco-friendly packaging has been trending these days. Even the most simple, recycled look for your packaging can become special once you add a creative touch using bright and colourful labels.

PACKQUEEN has come up with these great e-books to help make packaging easy for you. Tailored to specific industries with tips and tricks on things such as tying the perfect ribbons, packaging delicate items and guides on packaging design, you can download PACKQUEEN’s TOP 10 Guide to Designing the Perfect Hamper, just in time for Christmas.

What are your goals for PACKQUEEN now?

The goal for PACKQUEEN now is to expand our Melbourne team and continue to be leaders in packaging with a specific focus on small to medium size businesses. We are continually refining our systems, providing cost effective manufacturing and specialising in custom design and manufacture of packaging solutions to meet our diverse customer’s ever changing needs.

We are looking forward to evolving over the coming years and sharing this experience with our customers, it’s exciting!

Finally, what advice would you give our Leaders in Heels readers thinking of starting their own business?

Research, research, RESEARCH!

It is extremely important to research and understand your target market and the platform you wish to market through. If you are thinking of starting an online business like PACKQUEEN, it is important to understand that there can be substantial set ups costs involved even though it is online.

You can find more information at the PACKQUEEN website www.packqueen.com.au

If you’ve ever dreamed of changing careers, you’re certainly not alone. (I myself have made the switch a time or four.) Maybe you are wondering what your next career step should be, or thinking about branching into a new field, and it can be daunting. With the average person moving between 5-7 careers during a lifetime, we talk to three inspiring women for whom professional reinvention involves image, passion and determination.

After 30 years of working in the corporate sector, Soraya Raju decided she needed a career that expressed her personality. So she started Strategic Style. Soraya says,“ I decided I wanted to help men and women to navigate through the maze of complexities with my own experience.” She found her passion and because she is self-employed seeks business networks such as Leaders In Heels, and associations, such as AICI, that guide and inspire her in her business endeavours.

For Susanne Taylor, her career change was extreme. She owned a Commercial Fit Out/Project Management firm when she decided her passion was image. Her determination gave her the courage to start her business in early 2014, called Biddy & Jean. Susanne says her challenges are “juggling all roles in the business myself. Sales, marketing, book keeping, administration, social media etc. Often I will think of a great new idea and want to implement it straight away, however this can lead to feeling overwhelmed, as it becomes another thing on my list to implement. I am very hard on myself and sometimes expect miracles!” She is not alone.

There are also many women who choose not to do a total career change, but do a side shift instead. Claire Bigelow from Rockwell Creative is one of those women. Claire has been in the education and image industry for more than 20 years. Her passion is to “determine the right combination of aesthetic solutions to complement [women’s] appearance and express their individuality.” Yet, she has the challenge of having a fulltime job and establishing her business. Claire recognises that “juggling work, children and starting a business has its challenges–but even more so, deciding which exciting project to dive into first”.

All three entrepreneurs have combined image, passion and determination to suit their lifestyle and needs. All three women are passionate about making their mark in business. Like most women they face challenges and obstacles that at times it can be disheartening. When asked for tips to help other women make their mark in the business world they stated:

Soraya’s tips:There is no such thing as perfection – just aim to do your best.

Dress the part – Businesswomen need to portray the right image to create that first impression. Always check the dress code of the company you work for or your customers you are serving and dress accordingly.
‘Phony syndrome’ – Women tend to doubt their skills and live in fear in case they are found out they are not good enough. Be confident because you wouldn’t be there in the first place if you were not good at what you do and offer.
Delegation – Women are naturally nurturing, however they tend to be perfectionists and hesitate to delegate. Avoid being a control freak. There is no such thing as perfection – just aim to do your best.

Susanne’s tips:Look for opportunities to learn a new skill and share knowledge.

Communication – is paramount. Always show courtesy and be open in your dialogue with others. Speak clearly and concisely. Be polite in written and verbal communication. Get to know your peers, take an interest in them. What are they really like? You may share similar interests, which can help build rapport.
Leadership – Lead by example, demonstrate respect for your colleagues, clients and yourself. Listen to others requirements and offer solutions. Be willing to go the extra mile, encourage, support and help peers. Set goals and treat yourself and/or team when achieved. Look for opportunities to learn a new skill and share knowledge. Take calculated risks and challenge yourself and your colleagues. “ Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you”.
Body Language – Maintain eye contact when engaging in conversation. Keep an open stance and pleasant manner. Listen carefully and acknowledge others comments. Be authentic and true to yourself.

Claire’s tips:The visual clues upon first meeting determine whether someone is likely to engage with you

Be congruent and consistent – in your image, language, message and manner. People will feel comfortable that you are exactly what they see. This builds trust, rapport, respect, and encourages supportive relationships – essential for good, sustainable business.
Use colour to your advantage – colour psychology is so powerful. Subtle cues with colour can not only enhance and flatter your appearance, but also influence the reception you get from people you do business with. Think strategically about what you want to achieve as a result of the interaction, and use colour to support your message.
Be remarkable and memorable – include elements into your style to help you stand out from the crowd and add interest to your look. People listen to others they find interesting. The visual clues upon first meeting determine whether someone is likely to engage with you – to hear your message. Supporting your business and brand by using with visual cues that link back to your brand such as brand colours, can also help you to stand out and your interaction memorable. Using interesting elements in your outfit such as statement jewellery, scarves or other accessories might also become a talking point for networking events.

What is evident in the business world is that your image is your brand and the brand of the business you own or represent. It is important that you are in sync so that you are projected as credible, likeable and authentic.

You may have reached a point in your working life when you need a new challenge, or you may be thinking about a completely new career direction. It can be unnerving and frightening but at the same time exciting. Whichever direction you take, you need passion and determination to succeed.

Cosimina Nesci is a professional & personal brand specialist who is passionate about helping others realise their potential as a professional. She is on the board of the Association of image Consultants International (Sydney Chapter) in the marketing role, and her goal is to market the women who work as image consultants across Sydney. She has a broad expertise in design fundamentals – an expertise that now enriches her work as an image consultant and brand expert.