A win for the hustlers

On Monday night, I was honoured with the title of the Local Business Awards Gold Coast Most Outstanding Business Person of the Year 2024.

The Local Business Awards is an awards program that has been running for 40 years throughout Sydney and Melbourne.

This is the first year the awards have expanded throughout the country, so I am truly thrilled to have been selected as the inaugural winner of the Gold Coast's Most Outstanding Business Person of the Year for 2024.

What a proud moment to receive such an honour in a room full of hundreds of respected business owners across a myriad of different professions and trades.

Many of the businesses represented last night have rich histories, operating for 50+ years with hundreds of staff, turning over millions of dollars each year, some each week.

I haven't found success in business in a traditional sense, I have hustled hard from as young as I can remember - I've had three incarnations in business (so far!), as well as always being involved in property and property development.

I have always been a proud entrepreneur. I have never kept this a secret.

I have always had my fingers in many pies and a strong instinct as to when to get in and when to get out - and an even stronger fighting spirit.

And of course, I've had Ingo by my side for almost my entire adult life. Ingo has always been my voice of reason and my rock, yet he has always given me the space to do whatever I have wanted to do (and still backed me when things haven't gone to plan!)

I have also been blessed to have parents I can always turn to for advice and teachings on pretty much every aspect of business. Whenever anything has gone wrong for me in business (which has been more times than I care to remember), I can always count on my parents to have a story of their own to share, and advice on how to best deal with every situation.

So in respect of this great honour, I feel it is fitting to impart what I have learnt during my 25+ years in business - yes, I started my first "real" business when I was 20 (I turn 45 in a couple of weeks) - and have been self-employed ever since.

This ditty is as much a life lesson as it is a business lesson - ?????? ???? ??????! ?????????? ?????? ???????????? ???????????????? ???????? ??????????.

When you put yourself out there, some people will feel threatened.

These people like to create their own narrative around your success, just to make themselves feel better. Let them.

But keep on going and hold your head up high - you know your truth, you know where you came from, you know the risks you have taken, you know the blood, sweat and tears you have poured in to every project, you know the sacrifices you have made.

The best advice I ever heard comes from Dr. Seuss: “???? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????????????? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ??????'?? ???????????? ?????? ???????????? ?????? ???????????? ??????'?? ????????.”

Don't be sucked in by smoke and mirrors. Not everyone is the real deal. I've learnt this lesson the hard way!

Stay humble, but always recognise your hard work and your efforts. Even when things don't go to plan, always be proud of you!

Always seek and listen to constructive criticism and advice.

Learn from people who have been there, done that and bought the tshirt.

Trust your gut instinct but don't be afraid to take calculated risks, just be prepared for the consequences if things go pear-shaped.

Do the best you can, within your capacity, to give back to those who are less fortunate than yourself - this doesn't necessarily need to be financial, but can be in the form of your time or expertise.

Speaking of time, our time is our most valuable and precious commodity and cannot be replaced. Quoting the great philosopher, Seneca: “We're tight-fisted with property and money, yet think too little of wasting time, the one thing about which we should be the toughest misers.”

And most importantly, life is not fair. So just be kind. <3