Having watched her parents run successful small businesses, Amanda always knew she wanted the same freedom to build a life on her own terms. Today, as the head of Your Strata Property, Amanda feels very privileged to do what she loves to do.
“When you have a strong passion, directing it towards building something that’s truly yours rather than an employer’s was a no-brainer”, explains Amanda.
What Amanda Enjoys Most About Running Her Own Business
“I love having the freedom to take risks, make quick decisions and pivot when the context calls for it. I am completely in control of every single day: it’s up to me whether it’s a great day or not. Great days don’t necessarily come with some external confirmation of success – like a promotion or a pay rise, but they do come with a deep internal sense of satisfaction: that I am on course, doing what I love and excited for what the future has in store.”
Amanda’s Three Tips for other Business Owners
- It will take longer than you think – to achieve that goal, to get where you want to get. Be patient. The joy is in the journey.
- You can do it differently. Just because no one is doing it your way doesn’t mean it’s the wrong way, it just means the others haven’t been brave enough to give it a try or don’t have the vision you do.
- Find your ‘people’ and accept their support. There are many people out there who have achieved what you want to achieve: seek their mentorship, advice and guidance. In turn, support others who are walking a path you’ve already walked. That’s your fast track to success.
Amanda’s Ideal Business
“My ideal business does not require my constant attention to be profitable. It is flexible yet resilient enough that when I want to feed my creative side by trying something new, I can slot it in and see how it goes. It is the platform that introduces me to new people, takes me to different parts of the world and challenges me to see the bigger picture and think in new ways, every day.”
The skills and knowledge Amanda recommends those starting out in business get acquainted with, quickly:
- Know your numbers. Ask yourself: how much is this going to cost upfront? What do I need to make in my first year/ quarter/month to make sure I don’t go broke? Where is that money going to come from? Be conservative with your estimates and assume the worst. If the worst happens, will you still be ok? If the answer is yes, you’re in a good position financially to take on the risks of a new business.
- Find your “people”. Unless you’re selling popsicles on the moon, it’s pretty much-guaranteed someone has done it (or something like it) before you and can help fast track you to success. Find that person or group of people.
- Learn how to manage a team. Maybe you won’t have a team when you’re first starting out, but if you have some level of success, you will eventually bring on team members. So many business owners suffer because they don’t know how to communicate effectively with their team. This is absolutely a skill you can learn and will pay dividends down the track when you have a loyal, hard-working team in place supporting you every day.
Amanda on being a HerBusiness Network Member:
It is within the HerBusiness Network that I have found “my people”. These are the people with whom I can share both my frustrations and my wins.
Many in the Network have been there before me, so their advice saves me from time-consuming and costly mistakes.
They are a sounding board for new ideas, and a library of valuable information – from which AdWords expert to use, to where to find your next virtual assistant.
I have a small team and often work alone, but never feel I have no one to turn to when it comes to the bigger questions about business direction and planning.
Being part of the Network is like having a much bigger business, where I have advisors and other successful entrepreneurs on board, supporting me every step of the way.
