Unexpected Opportunities + Amazing Outcomes Because Of Them!
Welcome to Episode 27!
It was 2019 and I had travelled from the comforts of our beautiful little small town, to the big smoke - the city of Newcastle and to give context for those who aren’t familiar, Newcastle is a 3 ½ hour-ish drive to the coast from here but is 25 times bigger than our little town.
I had travelled to meet one of my idols - Denise Duffield Thomas. She was holding her book launch for her then latest book Chillpreneur and I had decided to put on my big girl pants and take myself, on my own, to her launch. Well, for this little introvert, it sure was a nerve wracking experience but I made myself go because I just wanted to be surrounded by her energy, and to meet her in person. The morning of, the nerves really hit me. I was going to an event by myself, that also had a networking opportunity beforehand, what was I thinking. Who would I talk to? What would I say? I almost backed out, however the excitement of meeting Denise got me through.
When I arrived, I checked in at the front counter of the event cinemas in Kotara, and headed on through, where I walked into a room full of women who were chatting, laughing, and lining up to meet Denise in a side room before the actual event began. So I thought the safest place for me to start would be to join the line. There she was. And what an experience it was to meet her in person. She signed my book, we got a photo together, we had a little chat and then off I went. Off into this sea of women all chatting in front of me.
Well I froze. I defaulted back into my old habit of standing there, hand on my handbag which was my comfort zone, holding the book Denise had just signed, and looking around trying to appear ok that I was there by myself. While inside, I was actually dying thinking I wish I had the courage to just talk to someone.
My thoughts were interrupted by a beautiful soul. Her name was Robyn and she called me over to a lovely group of ladies who were all chatting about the event. Her gesture completely broke the ice for me and my nerves were at ease from that moment on. Everyone introduced themselves, we chatted about what we were there for, our excitement for seeing Denise and then went into the cinema where I sat beside Robyn throughout Denise’s show. It was an amazing experience seeing Denise on stage and hearing her thoughts around her latest book.
Now, I was visiting Newcastle again a few months later and thought I’d reach out to Robyn to see if I could visit her clinic and hopefully catch up again while I was there - When we met at the DT event, she had mentioned that she ran a clinic in Newcastle and their focus was skin. So naturally I was really excited to try their facials and to experience what she was creating. Much to my excitement, we went for a coffee catch up after my facial.
We sat down at my now favourite cafe in Newcastle, the Autumn rooms in Darby St, and started chatting away about what we both did. The more Robyn spoke, the more I realised I was so out of my depth in her world. I had absolutely no idea that the lady before me owned the salon and was writing her first book. Her ideas, her thoughts on her industry, the practices she was implementing and creating, the people she was bringing together, the way she thought of her clients above all else, her life story in getting to where she was, all of it. I was absolutely gobsmacked.
If I had of known who this lady was before I reached out to see if she was free to catch up, I probably never would have had the courage to reach out to her in the first place. Little old me, a photographer from a small town with big ideas, but who certainly did not have her shit together, sitting in front of this amazing woman who had accomplished all these things I could only dream about, talking to me about her story.
It was such a privilege, and one that would open my eyes to a whole new world.
As I drove home from that Newcastle trip, I could not stop thinking about the experience I had having a hot chocolate with Robyn and how open and willing she was to share with me, simply because I reached out and asked.
It reminded me of the “brekkie meetings” that I would go to with my Mum and Aunt at least , and I’m going to admit it, every second or third morning, let's just say once a week at least for our boutique. So what we would do is, we would go for brekkie before we opened the shop and would call it a brekkie meeting so that it appeared as though we were working right. During these so-called meetings, we would just talk candidly about everything. In actual fact it probably helped us more in our boutique than anything, because it was where we would get things off our chest, talk about ideas, Mum would come up with new events that we had to have organised yesterday. But, this thing that we were doing, it became known as our brekkie meeting. Because even though it started as something social, and a good excuse to go for brekkie before work, it became more of a beautiful start to our work day than anything. And what surprised me the most, was that I had this experience that I would have with my mum and my aunt, so family members, but I had this experience with Robyn, who was a stranger really, she didn’t know me apart from meeting me at the DDT event. She had no reason to be so open and honest with me, but there she was.
So driving home, an idea was born.
What if I could have this experience and create this experience back at home too with not just my mum and aunt, but with every business owner in our town?
I pulled off to the side of the road because I couldn’t wait any longer. I had the feeling. You know what I am talking about. The feeling you get when you know you’re onto something and you have a good idea. I set my phone up for voice recording. I don’t know if you guys do this, but whenever I get a good idea I record myself talking it out while I’m in the moment and while the idea is forming, and I set out talking out this idea in my head from start to finish. I wanted to create an event in our home town for other business owners, to come together and chat candidly about anything and everything - nothing to be off limits. To hold our own business brekkie meeting open for all business owners.
Now we did already have other business events being run, however they came in the form of more formal settings and held during evenings. What I found with these events was that they felt more traditional, so minutes were taken, motions were passed, things like that, but nothing real was ever spoken about. And when I say real, I mean people's stories.
What if everyone came together, walls completely down, competition gone, and just had real, raw and honest conversation with other like minded people where they could be inspired, encouraged, uplifted? No limitations, no formalities, no expectations. Just like having a cuppa with a friend. And, the more I spoke out the idea, the more excited I became. If this event could bring the business community together in our town, imagine the benefits it would have to those businesses as well. Not just the business owner, but the business. And in turn, imagine uniting business owners, inspiring and encouraging them, uplifting that business community spirit. I was certain it would have a positive, flow on effect.
After I spoke this idea out into a recording. I had to ring my mum and Aunty Tan and tell them as well. It’s something I still do to this day. If I get an idea, I need to talk it out with the team. They were just as excited too. They wanted to know when it would begin. So as soon as I got home, I started a facebook group, I invited every business owner I could think of at the time who I was friends with on FB, and scheduled our first meeting. And called it the Gunnedah Business Brekkie Meeting. A little tribute to our brekkie meetings for the shop, and inspired by my conversation with Robyn from newcastle.
The Gunnedah Business Brekkie Meeting has run nearly every single month since 2019 when it was born - give or take Covid months when we were in lockdown and also when I went on maternity leave having my second child.
During Covid, I found our business brekkie to be the most beneficial community for our businesses and I know that's a pretty big statement, but I honestly and genuinely believe this with my whole heart. We held zoom meetings instead of meeting in person because we couldn’t, and the ideas that sprang up because of those zoom calls impacted the business owners and our town.
I have found our meetings to be an amazing connection between business owners, creatives, aspiring business owners and entrepreneurs, but to also connect our business community with our local council and chamber. There have been so many wonderful collaborations and connections that have been formed by those who have attended that have really impacted the ideas brought to life by each business.
And seeing our business community support each other, encourage ideas, offer help, be there through tough times, listen when there are tears that need to be shed, and smiling and laughing together has honestly been a beautiful experience to witness.
From something that began as a trip to Newcastle to meet an idol, Denise DT, a coffee (or hot chocolate) with another business owner, to a whole community that inspires, uplifts, supports and encourages, the Business Brekkie Meeting has evolved over the years and will always be a beautiful reminder of what is possible when you put yourself out there.
So what were the biggest takeaways from all of this? Well, I have 3…
SAY YES TO OPPORTUNITIES. GET OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE. FEEL THE FEAR AND DO IT ANYWAY.
There is a very good reason why these statements are on all the quote tiles and totally overused. It’s because WE are our biggest blocks and sometimes, no majority of the time, we need reminding that nothing grows within our comfort zone. You need to get uncomfortable and do the things that feel hard or make you nervous right now. Because those things will make you grow. And growing is where ideas are formed. It’s where skills are born. And it’s where you reach the potential you were born to reach.
IDEAS ARE FORMED NOT ONLY WHEN YOU BRAINSTORM, BUT ALSO IN THE MOST HIDDEN OF PLACES WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT THEM!
Be open to ideas flowing anytime of the day and have a way to capture them when they do. As I mentioned during this episode, I record mine on my phone, or another little trick if I can is to write them in a google doc titled “ideas 2024”. Don’t wait until tomorrow when you’re sitting in your office. Write the idea as soon as it happens. That’s when all the good stuff is flowing. You’re in the moment. Don’t lose it.
WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER!
No matter who you are, or what business you created, the moment you decided you wanted to work for yourself, you became a part of the club. The business buddy club. And no we don’t have badges, but we have something stronger. We have heart. And that means we’re here for you. I know I am. The moment I created the business brekkie, I realised that competition is only a thing when we make it. That when we decide to just be open and honest and talk candidly with other like minded people - regardless of if they're in the same industry as us, with the same offers or not, that we are still all human, experiencing this world of business, fumbling our way, having no idea what we’re doing, and just wanting someone to chat with to know we aren’t alone and we’re doing ok.
I will forever be grateful for the experiences I say yes to, for the moments when I feel so much fear and nerves, but still push through, and for the times when I just go with the thoughts in my head that turn into big, crazy ideas. Because it is these moments that create so much joy and bring about so many wonderful experiences.
Are you ready to say yes to new opportunities, to push through your nerves and to bring to life those amazing ideas that you have? Send me a DM on instagram @iamtaylahmaree and let me know what you’re doing next?
Looking for more?
I love to help rural creatives build an impactful small biz with heart and I do that through photography + business mentoring. If you want to learn more, head on over to our photography or mentoring pages here :) Or send me a text, I can’t wait to chat with you xx