On the brink of baby #2 and a breakthrough year in business
If you're just here for Sydney property news, you can skip today’s newsletter. It’s not about real estate at all.
It’s about the wildly courageous decision I made three and a half years ago—to quit my salaried role while also in the thick of trying to start a family. It’s not a decision many women in their mid-30s make. Most value the salary, the certainty, and the paid maternity leave over the gamble of writing their own story.
It feels like the right time to reflect though:
It’s almost two years since my daughter Sophie was born, and in November I’ll be welcoming my second child!
This past year has also been my busiest and most financially successful in business yet; the fruits of a lot of hard labour finally paying off.
In those 3.5 years, I’ve:
Earned about 80% of what I would have if I’d stayed salaried
Worked about 30% less especially thanks to flexibility after Sophie’s arrival (and my love of holidays)
Helped 50 people buy their first home, next home, or an investment property in Sydney
Spent $0 on marketing or advertising, building a referral-based business from scratch
Hired a full-time assistant
Had one child (soon to be two) while navigating the emotional rollercoaster of five pregnancies
The thing about running your own business is: you get to define what success means.
Some might think that because I’ve earned less overall, it’s not “successful.” But I couldn’t disagree more. The time, the balance, the energy I get from loving what I do, the impact I can have and not needing someone’s permission to spend time with my family all mean far more than a little extra salary.
Don’t get me wrong I work bloody hard. There are long hours, most Saturdays, and balance is a constant juggle. I’m not spending three days a week sitting at the beach. But I do get one day a week with my daughter when she’s not at day care, time with her at the park every day, and I’ve managed seven overseas holidays in that 3.5 years. On balance, I feel like I’m winning.
People often ask my thoughts on starting a business or how to turn an idea into something real. I’m no expert, but here’s my advice:
You won’t be “successful” overnight. No one is. Be clear on your lead indicators the small signs that tell you you’re on the right path and decide what you’ll do if they’re not showing up before you hit a financial wall.
Just start. Nothing will ever be perfect. Any website is better than none. One product is better than none. One client is better than none. My website is still the same one I launched with 3.5 years ago (and any designer would be mortified!). But it works. I rank on page one of Google for every suburb I target. Maybe I’ll use my upcoming mat leave to finally refresh it.
Don’t compare your Day 1 to someone else’s day 700 or 7,000. Everyone starts with zero followers, zero clients, zero income. Learn from people ahead of you, but remember what parenthood has taught me well: comparison is the thief of joy.
Be honest about being new. Whether it’s with potential partners or clients, own it. People are surprisingly willing to help when you’re upfront. Tell them no one can beat your enthusiasm or passion.
Play to your strengths. Don’t double down on weaknesses. If you’re great at social media but hopeless with numbers, get good accounting software (Xero!) and lean into what you’re good at. Do the bare minimum in weak spots until you can outsource.
Don’t outsource what you don’t understand. Learn the basics especially with things like SEO before paying anyone. If someone promises page-one Google rankings in four weeks for $3,000, they’re just taking your money.
You don’t need a niche on Day 1 but don’t be all things to all people. Early on, I took on buyers anywhere within 20km of the CBD. I learned a lot, but it was overwhelming. Now, I mostly buy for people who want to live within about 5km of where I do and it’s a much better fit.
Do as much as you can while still salaried. Get your qualifications, build your website, test your idea. Some say you should have a Plan B, but I once read: “If you don’t have a Plan B, you have to make Plan A work.” That’s stuck with me.
Read Company of One. It’s a brilliant, practical book that I re-read every year to stay grounded in what truly matters on scaling your own business.
If you’re thinking about starting your own business or taking the leap to become your own boss I’m always happy to chat over coffee or lunch. I’m so grateful to those who gave me their time when I was preparing to take the leap.
Hopefully, I’ll squeeze in a few more newsletters before the baby arrives (you never really know!) and then I’ll likely take a short break until early next year.
