After working as a Personal Assistant in a toxic work environment, Marsha decided that she would be her own boss and started Marsha Lake Secretarial Services in 1982.
At Marsha Lake Secretarial Services, Marsha helps business owners to spend more time focusing on specific areas of their business, by supporting them with virtual office secretarial tasks, either face-to-face or remote and within their deadline.
Marsha genuinely loves to help people professionally present their work, and to receive their feedback and thanks.
Gaining trust from and making long-lasting friendships with clients brings about positive energy into her business.
Most importantly, Marsha loves that she doesn’t have to report to anyone but herself!
Who’s your favourite entrepreneur and why?
Maxwell Maltz ‘Psycho-Cybernetics’ – have always worked on the principle of ‘being positive’ which really resonated with my thinking, especially in the early days of commencing the business.
What do you enjoy most about running your own business?
Genuinely love to help people to present their work in a professional way, and receive their feedback and thanks. Gaining trust from clients and making long-lasting friendships with them and who would in turn not hesitate in recommending MLSS to their colleagues. Continually learning about business, working on new areas where I can use my expertise, setting up systems and new programs. Always looking to improve and educate myself. Not having to report to a boss!!
What three pieces of advice do you wish you’d been given when you started?
- You must work on the business, not just in the business.
- How to gain clients – marketing advice.
- Require a team/associates around you with expertise in other areas of business, who can help you when you need it. You cannot know about all areas of business yourself.
What advice would YOU give someone thinking about starting a business?
- Research, research and do more researching!
- Talk to business people who have run successful businesses and ask as many questions as you can think of.
- Ensure you have people around you who can give you advice e.g. Accountant, Bookkeeper at the beginning.
What does your IDEAL business look like? Even if you’re not there yet, what would it look like if your business was ideal?
The continual flow of daily business, working with varied industries and, time to work on
business and marketing strategies. An ideal business would also include good cash flow, a
website with heavy traffic, and a network of business associates in other areas to assist and network with.
What problem does being a Member of the HerBusiness Network solve for you and your business? And, how?
“I became a HerBusiness member because, although I have been in business a long time, you
are always learning new areas in business.”
Having a network of like-minded women in different areas of business is a beneficial part of
why Marsha is a HerBusiness member. Marsha has 38 years of business ownership
experience, which she can utilize to assist other members. She is offering a free one (1) hour
consultation either face-to-face via Zoom, to discuss how MLSS can be of assistance to you.
Please email her at marsha@mlss.com.au to learn more.
Learn more about Marsha Lake and Marsha Lake Secreterial Services here.
