“After decades slaving to headlines and deadlines, I’m developing my laughter lines.”
After working in a corporate and government setting, Heather Joy Campbell embarked on a journey to become an accredited Laughter Yoga Teacher.
She trained in India with the founder of Laughter Yoga, Dr. Madan Kataria, and in 2017, she became a global ambassador for Laughter Yoga International.
In addition to her training in India, she also attended the University of California, Berkeley, to study the science of happiness and to further educate herself on joyful practices.
Heather Joy uses her training and studies to deliver online and face-to-face ‘laughter sessions’ where she focuses on mental and physical wellbeing.
After her mum passed away, she launched The Happydemic in 2016 but has only started prioritising it since November 2018.
Even with COVID-19, she still has her free Saturday morning social laughter club where she helps people connect, make friendships, and feel less stressed.
Who’s your favourite entrepreneur and why?
In all honesty, I don’t have a favourite entrepreneur. I’m moved by social change agents but have no ‘favourite’.
What do you enjoy most about running your own business?
I love the ‘doing’ — running a laughter yoga session, developing a program or delivering training. I don’t have a clue about ‘running the business’ side!
What three pieces of advice do you wish you’d been given when you started?
- You need systems
- Be bold. Be as confident in yourself as you are in the process
- Value yourself and your time
What advice would YOU give someone thinking about starting a business?
- Have your financials sorted
- Develop a business plan and revise it
- Find a nurturing tribe of like-minded people who’ll support you and not bring you down
- Find reliable expertise in the areas you struggle with and ask for help
What skills and knowledge areas would you recommend those starting out in business get acquainted with quickly?
Dare I say ‘systems’ again!
Ask yourself what do you really need now. Prioritise.
What does your IDEAL business look like? Even if you’re not there yet.
My IDEAL business would be a collective of practitioners delivering laughter yoga in workplaces, aged care, community organisations and schools all over Queensland. (I’m not out for world domination!). Right now, there’s ME and while I have travelled from one end of the state to the other physically, it’s not feasible. I need to develop, for now, online for beyond Brisbane.
What problem does being a Member of the HerBusiness Network solve for you and your business? And, how?
Collective wisdom, brainstorming and understanding. A safe space to ask for help and shout out success too.
Learn more about HeatherJoy Campbell and The Happydemic.
