Sorry Not Sorry

The pictures above and below are from a recent trip to Daydream Island for a VIP retreat I ran for my Inner Circle clients.?

I remember sitting here, basking in the stunning view of the ocean, thinking how lucky and fortunate I am to do the work I love in such incredible locations with amazing clients. I had flown in a day early to treat myself to a massage, and now here I was, soaking in the scenery.?

Just a short while ago, I was back from an exhilarating trip to New York via London, mingling with some of the most phenomenal women globally, and discussing big strategy.?

I enjoyed a private showing at MoMA, met with the Mayor of NYC, and experienced numerous VIP moments and legendary experiences (as some of you might have seen in my stories about 11 Madison Park).?

And then it hit me…?

This isn't just luck.? I've worked bloody hard for this.

It's easy to look at others, envy their achievements, or judge them. I bet even some of you might have thought I was gloating at the start of this email.??

It's even easier to tell ourselves we're just lucky.

But let's be clear: luck only plays a small role in achieving and sustaining success.

I worked for this and I won't apologise for my success.

Why won’t I hide or apologise for my success any longer? Well…

From the age of 14, I've been working.?

I built a career in London and then left everything behind to move to Sydney with nothing but a backpack and no job or place to live. Starting over was tough, but I worked tirelessly, invested in people to help me grow, and made sacrifices along the way. I missed birthday parties and sports days because I was working. Yes, that was my choice. And before anyone gets judgy about it thinking I abandoned my children to work, let me tell you, Jason, my hubby, was there for our kids. I didn't spend money I didn't have. I spent countless hours creating intellectual property, writing books, and always staying centred on my overarching vision.

But it wasn’t all smooth sailing.

Our first business venture failed spectacularly - we were conned out of $60,000 by a dodgy business partner. Our second venture was bootstrapped, and during this period, my husband lost his job. At one point, we had only $50 in cash in the bank. With three kids in school and having to move house, we sold belongings to make ends meet.?

Those were terrifying times (I share more in this podcast from a few months ago).?

Then came COVID-19, which cut us off at the knees, wiping out 80% of our revenue in the first quarter. We had to reinvent, reshape, and face our fears to recreate our business multiple times.

This life wasn't given to me; it was earned through relentless hard work and perseverance.

And now, I’m committed to helping others build a life and business by design, sharing all my failings and wins.

My business is an open book.

I am 100% in service to my clients because I'm fed up with seeing their businesses negatively impact their lifestyles or become shackles around their ankles.?

I've been there, and I know that's not what life is about.

So, sorry, not sorry for creating a life and business by design. I'm proud of my love for constantly reshaping and recreating.

The next season of my journey is unfolding, it’s going to be exciting and I can’t wait to share my wins and my failures with you as I create a business that works for me and the world I am trying to help shape for the next generation of women and leaders.?

Success isn't just about luck; it's about making tough decisions and sticking to them.

It's about choosing to work when others are relaxing, investing in personal and professional growth when it feels risky, and staying committed to a vision even when the path forward is murky.?

To every woman in business, remember that the journey to success is paved with hard work, sacrifice, and relentless determination.

But it’s also a journey that is incredibly rewarding. Although I had to sacrifice to get here I am now reaping the rewards of every tough decision that made me umm and ahh in the past. So if you’re doing it tough right now, if the cost of living and the cost of running a business has you feeling stressed or anxious, I am here to let you know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

By focusing on not just building a successful business but a business designed to support you, you’ll also have a moment where you can say “sorry, not sorry,” for all those moments where you had to prioritise your business.??

And if you’re looking for support right now drop into my inbox because now might just be the right time to join a group of women who are excitedly saying, “sorry, not sorry,” for their success.?

A group of women who are hitting goals every month.?

A group of women lifting each other and elevating their businesses together.?

We’ve only got a few places left in Elevate this month, and I’d love for one of them to be yours.?Interested to find out more? Send me a message or email me and I'll forward details of how we roll.

Janine x