“My clients are passionate about the work they do and I’m passionate about helping their business to thrive”
Tahlia Meredith of The Melbourne Freelancer offers virtual business support to solopreneurs and small business owners. She specialises in online business management, course support, and project planning, ensuring business owners find more fun and freedom in their businesses.
Tahlia holds a degree from the University of Melbourne, majoring in Psychology and English Literature, along with a certificate in Small Business Management and a Graduate Certificate in Counselling. She has completed various courses in online business, writing, blogging, marketing, and social media.
Before founding her business, Tahlia spent nearly a decade in business administration roles. She also worked as a personal assistant and assistant adviser to the Deputy Premier of Victoria, supporting the communications team. She is best described as multipassionate, with a strong focus on personal development.
The Melbourne Freelancer was founded after Tahlia was made redundant from her job and had to determine her next steps. It turned out to be a blessing, as The Melbourne Freelancer was born. Now, she works with seasoned business owners throughout Australia, lending her extensive experience and skills.
Tahlia, with years of experience, has the business knowledge and strategic thinking to turn business owners’ visions into reality. Tahlia can handle all aspects of online course creation, from designing branded materials to managing content and email sequences.
Tahlia, a member of HerBusiness since 2023, shares how being part of the HerBusiness Network has transformed her business approach:
“Being a member of the HerBusiness Network holds me accountable to staying in the CEO role in my business. For many years, I would just follow my nose and see what happened. While this approach led to some cool outcomes and taught me a lot, it also meant I often got stuck behind mindset blocks and unhelpful habits.
These days, I stay focused on a bigger vision for my business and my life, making decisions that align with that direction. Additionally, I’m more aware of potential pitfalls and can make different choices to move past them more quickly.”
When she’s not working, Tahlia enjoys coffee or Pinot Grigio with friends, reading crime novels and personal development books, and watching documentaries. She’s fascinated by flamingos, loves emojis and gifs, and geeks out over stationery and organisation.
Who’s your favourite entrepreneur and why?
There are quite a few! Mostly women, who show what can be done when you lean into your strengths and are not afraid to do things your own way.
A current stand out is Tina Tower, because of her optimism and focus, and her ‘grain of salt’ approach to a lot of the messaging around what women in business are supposed to do.
Why did you start your business and what gave you the idea?
I’d been made redundant and wasn’t quite sure what my next step might be. What I was seeing in the job market wasn’t exactly lighting me up, so I started to think about what I knew how to do that people will find useful enough to pay me for.
I never had a lifelong dream of running my own show, it’s more that I fell into it by following my curiosity. Of course now I’m so grateful for where I ended up!
What do you enjoy most about running your own business?
The flexibility it gives me, both in terms of time but also choosing the work and the people I collaborate with.
What three pieces of advice do you wish you’d been given when you started?
- Get good financial advice. I didn’t do this, and didn’t understand pricing – both leading to mistakes that took years to overcome.
- Don’t wait til you feel ready – it’ll never happen. You’ll learn so much more when you dive in and start doing.
- You know so much more than you give yourself credit for.
What advice would YOU give someone thinking about starting a business?
Have a crack! It’s much easier to start a business than you think so if any part of you has wondered about it, just get out there and give it a go.
What skills and knowledge areas would you recommend those starting out in business get acquainted with quickly?
Marketing, mindset, and time management. These are the areas both I and my clients are always working on and refining as new challenges come up and/or business stretches you in new ways (which it ALWAYS will).
What does your IDEAL business look like? Even if you’re not there yet, what would it look like if your business was ideal?
I can’t imagine ever doing away with 1:1 client work completely – I love it too much. But my current dream is to introduce leveraged income streams so my revenue relies far less directly on the hours I’m at my desk. I’d spend the reclaimed time learning and developing skills and hobbies that directly and indirectly serve my business and clients (I LOVE to learn!)
What problem does being a Member of the HerBusiness Network solve for you and your business? And, how?
It holds me accountable to staying in the CEO role in my business.
For many years in my business I’d just follow my nose and see what happened – which did create some cool outcomes and taught me A LOT, but also meant I’d get stuck behind mindset blocks and unhelpful habits fairly often.
These days I’m staying focused on a bigger vision for my business and my life and making decisions that’ll point me in that direction. Plus I’m more present to the things that’ll probably catch me out and I can make different choices to move past them more quickly.
Learn more about Tahlia and The Melbourne Freelancer.
