So today, Aspire turned 8!  Whilst I don’t plan anything too elaborate to celebrate, I always acknowledge it in some way.  So let me share with you what happened today.

I announced to the team that I was needing to duck out for 20 minutes, no explanation given, no explanation asked of me.  So off I ducked to the local bakery for some baked goods to treat the team, from me, in celebration of our birthday.  So on the way back, I busted Emma, our administrator, on her way out.  She is a hopeless liar, and we quickly discovered I was off planning a surprise for my team, and them me.  Not wanting to disappoint my team, we agreed to continue the lie, I gave her my treats which she would bring up when she returned with my other surprise.  EPIC FAIL!  I busted the rest of the team decorating the office with balloons, etc., using craft from my daughters craft box….so I had to come clean!  We all pretended to be surprised and continued the celebrations!

Why I share that story is it made me realise that they appreciate me for the job I do as the business owner, and I appreciate them for what they do for me and the business each and every day.  Without each other, we simply wouldn’t be here to celebrate our birthday every year.  I am so grateful for my wonderful team.  Thanks dudes.

Being in business presents challenges like no other.  My moto in business is roll with the punches, as they come in all shapes and sizes, hard and fast, and often disguised to others as nothing of great concern.

So how have I survived this long?  I don’t really know, but what I do know is that I absolutely LOVE what I do, and being able to live my life’s purpose.  I was so grateful to have learnt my life’s purpose, which is to “help others by providing opportunity”.   I am lucky I get to do that in many ways through Aspire, my team (includes you Frase!) and clients, each and every day.

And I don’t use the term ‘survive’ loosely.  It really feels like survival at times.  I’m sure we’ve all felt that in one way, shape or form.  And you don’t need to be a business owner to feel like that, but that’s where I’ve felt it the most.

If there is one thing that has turned me around at the lowest of low times, it is self-belief.   It is the reason I started, and the reason I will keep on going.  Self-belief must be really big and heavy, as it always seems to sink to the bottom of your life.  Below all the other ‘stuff’ like worries, self-doubt, stress, and other simply stuff like ‘what’s for dinner tonight?’

It was only a month or so ago when I felt like I had reached my limit of what I thought I could achieve in business, and was ready to throw in the towel, but not without a fight.  So I gave myself permission to stop and think, to empty my head of all that ‘other stuff’ in an attempt to salvage that self-belief that I knew was still there.  Guess what folks….I found it! AGAIN!  Something this time around tells me it won’t get lost for a while….

Thank you to my team for allowing me to live out my life’s purpose, and frankly, putting up with my sorry arse at those times when I’m close to rock bottom.  My clients for trusting me to do my job, and allowing me to have fun doing it (T&J!) – you are all so great.  Thank you to those who give a shit about me, just generally.  Those mums at school who ask how I’m going then cop my 10 minute rant while I decide, my volleyball pals for allowing me to totally be myself and release anything negative in my life.  My kids, they are ace, need I say more.  My fellow business owners for sharing my pain.  My neighbours for hearing my stories over the back fence.  All of you, thank you from the bottom of my big fat heart.

But most of all, thanks to my biggest inspiration, my Dad.  For all your courage and values, they will live on in me and my family long after you leave this earth.  My most raving fan, my mum.  Aaaaahhhh, she thinks I can rule the world (so long as she’s not included in that!).  And my biggest believer, 100%, my wonderful husband.  I drive him nuts, he drives me nuts, but his belief in me never waivers.  Never. Except maybe when I make him watch the Kardashians on Foxtel.  Maybe then it waivers a bit.

Stay tuned, so much exciting happening at Aspire – I simply can’t wait to share it!