Donna: In today's episode of the She's In Business podcast, I am mixing it up. I am not going to follow the usual format. What I've decided to do is invite a few of my Ready To Rise program graduates onto the show to talk to me and to share with you what it's like to be in the Ready To Rise program. What happens in the weekly group coaching sessions and what the ready to rise community inside the private Facebook group is really like. The reason that I'm doing this is because you need to know, not just from me, but from the ladies who have been through the program, how it feels, what they've learned, how their business and their lifestyle has transformed to what it is today.
It's all well and good hearing it from me, how I can help you from feeling, you know, going from feeling exhausted and overwhelmed to thriving as a business owner. But hearing it firsthand from ladies I've helped is how I can really show you the results. So I chat with Rachel who joined the program and built her business from scratch in just six weeks to support herself and her young daughter.
I chat with Hayley who is a mom of four, and she had joined the program with an established business and took an incredible shift in her business direction. And her momentum is off the charts. And I chat with Melissa, a mom of two. She is transformative business using the power of planning and is moving forward in leaps and bounds with her marketing.
And I chat with Ellice. It was also a mom of two. There was feeling lost in what to do next for her business and needed some guidance to learn how to plan strategically. And since then her business has expanded into the wholesale market and she's in the process of launching a second business. Now as you listening, if you want to know where you can find the help to also transform your business, I want you to know that the doors to the ready to rise program are open.
So if you've been considering joining a program that will help you to go from feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, and on the path to burnout, to becoming a thriving business owner. If you want to shape a healthy work-life blend so that you can step into your potential of your business and be in the moment with the people who mean the most to you and have some time of self-care.
Then now is the time to join the program. If you are ready to rise, you can click on the link in the show notes to join the program or go to donnahann.com/course. If you'd like to, you can jump on a 15 minute discovery call with me where we can chat and explore the program, in more detail. You can DM me. You can email me and we can get that set up the doors close on the 15th of March. And I would love to welcome you into the program, but for now, let's go and jump into the podcast where you can hear from the ladies who have graduated the program, just what it's like to be part of.
Hayley is the founder and creator of Merely Bugs Handmade, a high quality handmade clothing company for little girls. Hayley came to me wanting to be everything to everyone. It was bursting with ideas of how she could diversify while at the same time I could tell she was struggling to find her direction of what she wanted the business to become.
Hayley is a go getter. She gets in and she gets it done. So I challenged, Hayley to unearth what it was she really wanted. And then we created a plan together for her to achieve those goals within her business. And as you're here, she's feeling more connected to her business. She has the clarity to know which direction to drive her business and she's seeing the results.
So Hayley is joining us from the headquarters of Melibugz Handmade. So welcome to the podcast, Hayley. Thanks for having me. So your business Melibugz, Handmade has been around for a few years now, hasn't it?
Hayley: Yes. It was established in 2016. So this year I'll be celebrating my six year.
Donna: Ah, how exciting is that? So for the ladies listening, why don't you tell me a little bit about your business?
Hayley: As a recent Melibugz. Handmade was established in 2016. I specialize in girls handmade fashion. So through sizes, one through to 10, it's an Australian boutique style fashion label that makes limited handcrafted collections of pretty practical, fun, but sweet clothing and accessories.
Donna: Tell me a little bit about your family situation. Cause I know that you're a busy Mum of four kids, right?
Hayley: Yeah, I do. I have four kids, so I've got husband and four children. They are 21, 19, 8 and six.
Donna: What was the inspiration in you starting your business?
Hayley: I think it came from having my little girl, so I had three boys and then a little girl.
I always loved to sew.
And I was good at it. So over the years, even having boys, like I still made all my own like cushion covers and curtains and things like that. Just homely things. And then when I had Amelia, I was like, oh my God, I need all the pretty things. So yeah. That's how it originated.
Donna: Now, I was thinking about how our paths first crossed and I actually don't know how you found me.
I can't remember whether we had that conversation. Were you actively looking for a business coach at the time?
Hayley: No, I wasn't, I wasn't looking at all. And then I think I was tagged by somebody in a competition to win a spot in your program.
Hayley: So that's how I found you.
And from there, it just, yeah, I just kept following.
Donna: Okay. So what sparked your interest in the Ready to Rise program and working with me?
Hayley: I knew I was feeling so lost. Like I was indecisive. I had no direction anymore, like with my business and I was completely distracted by all the shiny things and by all the shiny things. Going through my head was, oh, I could introduce a poise line or, oh, what about fabric earrings then ladies handbags.
And I just wanted to be like a big one-stop shop and that led to overwhelm and confusion. So then I didn't even know for certain, if I wanted to continue in such a saturated market, felt like it was getting too hard. And I find myself comparing my business to other businesses. And I had been watching successful businesses in the industry close down, and I thought, well, if they can't make it.
So I truly needed clarity for my business and for myself.
Donna: Yeah. And I totally can relate back to our first conversation that we had because we jumped on a discovery call together and there was a few messages back and forth, I think at that point as well. And what I remember and looking at my notes before we jumped on the podcast today, you were really concerned about feeling like you were feeling really stuck on what to post on socials and being consistent with your marketing.
And you wanted to be more productive with your time. But what stood out for me was exactly what you just said is that you needed to get that clarity on the direction. And, you know, you needed to know what the future was for your business and build that confidence in not being everything to everyone and not comparing yourself to, the other things that were out there and really hone in on what it was that you did really, really well. And then to do more of that and just listening to you speak, like you can hear now that clarity has really opened you up. And since then, it's been really beautiful to watch you grow your business with that new sense of purpose.
Yeah.
Hayley: So like they couldn't agree more. Yeah. And clarity is just there.
Donna: Yeah. And so since joining the program, how has that renewed sense of purpose and that clarity helped you.
Hayley: As I know what it is that I want to do. I know what I need to do, and I know what works. So it's been tried and tested and I don't need all those little extras to hog up my time, so to speak.
I want to put my time and energy into what works well.
Donna: Yeah. And so the other thing with our discovery call that we talked about is that what I found in speaking to you is I felt like you needed more support, like in chatting to you, you know, you said to me, or, you know, I'm just feeling kind of alone.
Like I don't really have anyone else to bounce off and all that kind of stuff. And I want to know from you, from your perspective, what's it like inside the ready to rise community because we have weekly group coaching sessions together, and we also have the closed private Facebook group where you can post questions and throw up ideas and all of that kind of stuff.
What's it like from your perspective being in that community?
Hayley: I love it. Like the women I have met online and had the privilege of going through the program with, are just also lovely and supportive. I feel really privileged to be able to share a space with so many talented like-minded driven, ambitious women in that group.
Donna: Yeah.
Hayley: It is really like having a cheerleader in your corner.
They're encouraging you, they're offering advice in a different perspective on things and just being there and listing when times are tough and things aren't going, according to plan, it's a really safe space to be. And I hear other people out there might be thinking that. Yeah, but you can get all that from your family and friends, which yes you can.
But for me, I just feel like the women in this community just get it. They just get it because they understand better as they're faced with similar, if not the same challenges within their business and personal life, they're on the same journey as me and they have shared experiences and can offer a different kind of support than what your friends can.
Donna: Yeah, definitely. So, were there any other really big takeaways that you got? What learnings that you got from doing the program that you might like to mention for the benefit of other people listening?
Hayley: Yeah, so many, but the biggest one for me probably was the whole planning thing. Like we all know we need to plan, like, it's just, it's in our head already, but having, someone there to guide you and support you and show you how good planning and time management actually works. Like, you know, I've gone from not planning anything at all to now mapping out each month, then doing my 90 day planning and even daily and weekly tasks, you know, which all helped me stay on track now and I don't get as overwhelmed.
So that's been great. And the balance, the balance between business family, and self-care like, self-care was non-existent for me. And I've now learned that it's actually okay for me to make time for me. Um, yeah, when I burn out well, everyone burnsout.
Donna: Yes. So true. So true. So what were the big things in relation to getting that work life blend in having that balance or the ideally the blend between work and family and self care?
Was this something that really clicked for you? Was there something that you've implemented that has really changed that? Or do you just think it's more of a mindset shift that you took the most value from?
Hayley: I think both definitely mindset, but I've actually started to do a few things for myself. So whether it's in the morning or the late afternoon, when it's nice, like, Ooh, I actually jumped in my pool now and I just like, and I float and I eat that close my eyes and just chill for like five or 10 minutes.
Donna: I remember really clearly that you openly expressed to me that you had some hesitations around the upfront investment in purchasing the ready to rise program. When we had our discovery call and I talk all the time about how the program helps women go from feeling overwhelmed to becoming a thriving entrepreneur, but you said to me, I'm just worried that there's no guarantee. And I remember my response to that was like, well, there is a 30 day money back guarantee, but if you show up to the weekly calls and you're implementing the strategies and the templates, you will come out the other side feeling opposite to the way that you feel now.
And you'll come out with the business tools and the strategies that you can use for years to come and the mindset practices and all of that kind of stuff. So thinking back to that time, when you were hesitant around investing in yourself to join the ready to rise program, what would you say about that now? Like, would you say it was worth it? Would you say if there's other women sitting on the fence because of a financial commitment, like, how do you feel about that now?
Hayley: I wouldn't hesitate now. Like I know that you get so much value out of this course. And it doesn't
matter if you've been established for years or if you're just starting out like the tools and resources that you provide throughout this course. And the information is just priceless.
And like you said, you're going to use that the years to come and not just on me, you can use it in personal LIFE, there's sections in there that no there's tools for other areas of life, not just business. And yeah, I just, I don't know why I hesitated. I should've just said, yeah. I'm in, I'm excited, but it's trusting in yourself and knowing that you've got to, once you've done it, you've got to put in the work because if you don't put in the work, you're obviously not going to get anything out of it. So show up, put in the work and you will have endless rewards.
Donna: And now that the 12 weeks is finished, you decided to extend your access and become an ongoing member, which I love because I get to see every week too.
But what's your favorite part of the program? What made you want to stay and continue your like monthly membership to extend your access to all of the information and the weekly coaching and all of that sort of stuff. What's your favorite part of it?
Hayley: All those weekly coaching sessions. So that face to face sort of interaction is what keeps me around.
Well, there were bits and pieces, maybe that I didn't quite put as much work into, like in the first round. So going back a second time and staying on and being able to have access to all of that again, it just helped me, finished, I guess
Donna: What's on the horizon for you now. What plans have you got for the future of your business? Melibugz Handmade. Cause that's exciting. I want to know more about it and I want to share that with everyone who's listening.
Hayley: Wow. Well, I has a bit of a rebrand on the horizon, so that's really exciting, which will be completely more aligned with my brand. So I'm really excited about that. It's still in the concept stages at the moment.
I'm not sure when I'll actually switch all over yet, but it is coming soon. We have a bit of aSAP. Uh, an Easter release and an order and release.
Donna: If you're listening and you've got a little girl and you're looking for some beautiful handmade clothing, definitely check out Hayley's collections. Cause she check you, change them up all the time. Right? Like you change out the fabrics and each season you have different combinations of like your clothing, what's beautifully together that you can mix and match stuff. Hey.
Hayley: Yeah. And that's the idea behind it. Most items can all seasons as well, which is what I love because everything can be layered. So you're getting so much value in. You can wear it for spring or summer, but then you can put a long sleeve, little really thing underneath it for winter with boots.
So everything is yeah. A long time.
Donna: Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. And you're expanding more and more into the national market too, right? Not just locally because your business is primarily online sales is that.
Hayley: Yeah. Yeah. I recently only had it as Australia wide, but last year I decided to open it up and pretty scary, but I, um, yeah, I now do offer worldwide shipping.
Donna: How exciting is that? Look at you go so good. So let's give your business a big shout out. Where can people find you on socials if they want to order from you?
Hayley: Yes. So they can visit my website at www.mealybughandmade.com or you can find me on Facebook or Instagram at Mealybugds
Donna: Awesome. And I will link those things into the show notes. So if you're listening, you want to go check Hayley out. Then you can scroll down to the show notes and hit one of those links and go and have, get your hands on some beautiful handcrafted items for the next season that's going to be released.
So thanks so much Hayley for joining us today and sharing with everyone, listening, what it's like to be in the program, but also sharing your beautiful business that I know is going to continue to soar to new Heights.
Hayley: Thank you so much for having me. It's been a pleasure.
Donna: Rachel is the owner of the newly founded business Returning To You.
Rach did not have a business, when she joined the ready to rise program, she just had an idea and a vision of a lifestyle that she wanted to create for herself and her daughter, which included working in her passion. Rach is a life coach. She helps women to embrace who they are, work through their challenges and step into who they were born to be.
She also supports, connects and empowers women through women's circles and is a Reiki practitioner. Her journey through the ready to rise program was certainly that what started as an idea, became a brand new business in just six weeks.
So welcome to the podcast, Rachel, thanks for joining me today.
Rach: Thank you for having me.
Donna: So to get us started and to help the people who are listening, get to know you a little bit. Why don't you tell me about you and your business
Rach: Okay. So my business's Returning To You essentially it's a life coaching business. It was inspired by my own journey of returning back to myself. I, a couple of years ago, I actually had a marriage breakdown and I found myself very lost in the whole was I started self sabotaging, I was using alcohol to numb out. And one that sort of hit me and I thought, what am I doing? So I actually embarked on some workshops, self-development workshops and then found this coach program. And initially I actually did it to for my own self-growth, but as I actually got into that and got some feedback, I realized that I can actually help and inspire other people.
So that's pretty much where Returning To You has come from.
Donna: That's beautiful. Rach.
Rach: Yeah. Thank you.
Donna: And so how long have you been in business.
Rach: So I'm very new to business. I started my business officially just in October last year, which wasn't going to happen until February this year. So very new to business. Yes.
Donna: Yes. So you joined the program in September. I think it was, I think it was September that you joined their bats and then like really quickly, you had this idea that you weren't going to open the doors until February this year, but you are like not stuff. It I'm opening them earlier. I'm getting in, I'm getting my hands dirty and I'm just going to do it.
And that's so inspiring. So I want you to talk us through, like, what was the thought process and just getting in there and doing it?
Rach: I think the main thing that really helped me get in there and do it is actually the support I had within the Ready To Rise program, not just from yourself, Donna, but also the other ladies in there.
Um, and I was questioned a few times. Well, why don't you just start. And I had to really look at that and think, well, why aren't my starting? And yeah, that was actually a self-belief that I had on myself. So I actually said on a group coaching call, okay, I'm going to open a Facebook page. I can't remember what the date was, but then I also felt it was like, it wasn't pressure to do it.
It was upstate something I was going to do. And if I say something I'm going to do something, I will do it. Yeah. So that really helped me just get out there and do it.
Donna: It's having that accountabilities and that.
Rach: That's the word I was looking for. Accountability. Yeah. Yeah. And when I actually did within the group, if one was like, wow, dumb. And it was, it was really cool. It was like, yes, I did.
Donna: Yeah. So tell me let's retrack a little bit. How did you hear about the ready to rise program and what made you jump in at that time?
Rach: I heard about it through a friend of mine. We were talking one day I was about a couple of modules into my coaching certification.
And when I started getting this feedback about how I'd made a difference in people's lives, it's like, hang on a minute. Maybe I could actually do this. I do have something I can offer. So I was talking to a friend of mine and she said, you know, I know Donna, does that she does business coaching for a woman I'm like really? She goes, yeah, she's my go-to. So I was like, okay. And I actually think it was that day or the next day that I actually jumped on a message shoot. And that was, that was probably around nice may eight April may. So that was quite a few number of months. I think I reached out to you before you're opening the doors next.
That's right.
Donna: Yeah. I do remember that. And you're like, when are you opening it? So I'm like, oh, not for a little while yet. And you were right there as soon as the doors opened, you were like straight in on you. So, uh, what were you looking for in a business coach? Did you have an idea of what you wanted or you were pretty well open book?.
Rach: I was pretty much an open book. I didn't really. I guess, fully understand or appreciate what a business coach can do for you. What I was looking for with knowledge and support and how I can actually start a business. Because obviously when I joined the program, I didn't have a business. So that was really what I was looking for.
Donna: Yeah. Okay. And how did you feel initially coming into the program when there were, you knew that the majority of women in the program already had their businesses up and running and you would just, you just had a concept, you just had an idea. Did you have some initial feelings around that?
Rach: Absolutely. I did. I think my initial feelings was this isn't for me, these women are going to wonder what I'm doing. They already have a business and here's this person who thinks she can open up a business. It probably took probably only a couple of weeks in the program when. You know, that completely changed around for me.
And I had a number of the woman say to me, you are so lucky that you have this at your fingertips before you open your business. And I totally get that now. And I think I'm very blessed that I found this before I did open a business.
Donna: Yeah. Yep. And it's interesting that isn't it, that we sometimes have all these fear and this self-talk that happens, but you know what all of those women at some point started their own businesses too.
So it's like listening to what you're saying. You're like, oh, who am I to start a business? They started one too. So they know exactly what it feels like. And I think that's where the beautiful support within the community comes. And like, how would you describe what it's like to be inside the community of ready to rise for anyone who might be wondering what that's like?
Rach: oh! So supportive. I mean from day one, don't hold back. If you've got questions, put them out there. The ladies are so supportive. And they have particularly, I guess, for someone who hasn't opened a business yet, or who is just starting, they have a lot of knowledge to give you. So it's really winning in that regard too. Whereas you're not just getting your help Donna, but you're getting these other people who have experienced starting a business too. So yeah. Jump in straight away and ask all your questions. Like there's no one sitting there going, I'm not going to answer that. Like, yeah. So supportive. So welcoming, very grateful for that group, actually very grateful.
Donna: And so Rach, you made an amazing start on your business. And what I respect about you is that you decided to listen to your inner knowing and take things slow and gradual in building your business. I have a lot of respect for that because it doesn't have to be the hard hustle you can grow your business, however you want to be that slowly over time or whether you want to get in there and really kick started and, and really push. But the beautiful thing in creating your own business is that you can do it however you'd like. So I just wanted to just emphasize that I think what you're doing in slowing things down and just letting your business grow organically and still actively being in there and, you know, growing your business, but at the same time letting it happen, because tell us about like your family situation is that you're a solo mum, right?
Rach: Yes. So I separated from her husband is that two and a half years ago. So I have just one daughter
That is challenging within itself. And I did have this idea that I can't be a single mom and I can't have a business, but I think when you really want something or when you're really passionate about something, you can have whatever you want to have.
And yes, it is a juggle and sometimes it is the daily grind. But like I said, if you really want something and you're passionate about something, you can do it. Anyone can do it. Yeah. I think that's what I've realized about myself because never did I think that I could open a business ever. And I've done it as a single mom.
Donna: Yeah. And hats off to you.
Rach: Yeah. And I'm very proud of that too. I think. Yeah. Sort of, I guess life is sort of coming together for me.
Donna: Yay. Yeah. I love that. I love that. And now, since you've completed the program, what do you miss the most?
Rach: Oh, Donna seeing your face every week. Absolutely. The coaching calls every week was definitely a massive highlight for me and worked so well for my growth in obviously actually I'm in the business before I wanted to just that support, that reassurance, that encouragement and connected with the other woman.
I mean, women in business. We're all the same and we're actually really supportive.
Donna: So good. So tell me, cause we didn't really get into the guts of what you offer within your business. So let us know, what is it that you cover within your business? What are the services you offer or plan to offer in the future?
Rach: Yeah, so I'm a certified life coach. I'm also a Reiki practitioner and a woman's circle facilitator.
Donna: As a solo mom. It's a beautiful thing that you're creating your dream and you're teaching your daughter that she can also go after her dreams as well in watching how you model that to her. So I just think it's amazing and I love everything that you do, Rachel, and I'm so glad that you discovered the Ready To Rise program and that we were able to help you to open your business returning to you.
So let's give a big shout out to your business, to your social handles. If people want to check out your services, attend one of your beautiful women's circle. Or looking for a life coach, where do they find you?
Rach: So on Facebook, on returning to you on Instagram, it's Returning The Letter, the number two and the letter you call also the slightly different.
Donna: Well, I'll link to those in the show notes so that if anyone is interested in discovering, Rach.
And what rights does, but thank you so much for jumping in today and being so raw and honest in sharing your journey into business newness into the business world.
Rach: Yes. Thank you. This is probably something I have shared that I probably haven't actually shared before, but I've had quite a lot of different life experiences and these challenges.
And I think when you have these challenges and experiences and you work through those, you can really help other people. So yeah, that's what I'm all about.
Donna: Are you ready to change the way your business operates so that you can run your business rather than it running you and get more of a healthy blend between work family, time and time for yourself to rest and recharge.
I know what it feels like to be spinning your wheels and feeling like you're not getting anywhere. I know the feeling of mommy, guilt and exhaustion. That makes you question if it's all worth it. And what I also know is that it doesn't have to be that way. If you have the passion and determination to take your business to the next level, and you want to make this your best year yet and avoid burning out, then you need my framework.
My Ready To Rise program will help you. And take you from feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and burnt out to feeling energized, inspired, and ready to grow your business and create more freedom for your family's needs and your own self care. Plus you have me as your business coach along the way, the doors to my ready to rise program are now open, but they do close on March 15th at 7:00 PM.
Don't let another year go by get off that hamster wheel and start to reshape your business into one that you absolutely love. Secure your place online at Donna Han.
Ellice is the powerhouse behind Sariah Pretty's a growing company that just keeps growing.
Ellice creates beautiful earrings for her online shop. And pop-up shops have business was established before Ellice joined the program and she came to me wanting more direction so that she could continue to grow it.
During the program, we explored the huge potential for becoming a wholesaler and leveling up her equipment to meet the demands of her business. Since doing that Ellice say massive profit growth and has opened a second business. So I've got some very exciting results for you in this chat with Ellice.
So welcome to the podcast, Ellice.
Thanks.
Ellice: Thanks for having me.
Donna: So let's jump straight in. Can you give us a bit of a peek into the world of a Ellice? What can you tell us about your business? When did you open the doors to your business? When did it all start?
Ellice: It started just sort of seven years ago, but it was more of just a little hobby while I was at home with three little girls.
I wanted to buy pretty earrings, but obviously on maternity leave, I didn't have the money. And I decided I was going to make some, even back then. I was still in the hobby mindset still, but I still wanted to go to markets and that, yeah, it wasn't until the last couple of years that I started to change why I thought about it and not, this is my job. This is my business and I going to make it happen.
Donna: Yeah. And I love that because I think sometimes even the way that women talk about their businesses, like, oh, it's just my little side hustle. It's just my little business, but it's way more than that. Because just being brave enough to put yourself out there as a business owner and go, this is what I've got.
This is the product or the service or whatever. That's massive in itself. And so sometimes we play it down and we play it small. So yeah, it's really great that you're like, no, this is my thing. This is what I'm doing. What is it that you actually do within your business? Serao Pretties??
Ellice: I create earrings, studs, dangles. Just statements so people can wear in the ears.
Donna: Yeah. And I think that they really asked statement earrings. Hey, I love them. Like the ones you're wearing today. I really brought, I love those and yeah. And I love them too. I've got a whole bunch of your earrings.
Ellice: You do! I love watching every time you are in your stories say she's got,
Donna: But, what's the inspiration behind the business. Cause it's quite an unusual name. Serao Pretties. Where does that come from?
Ellice: That was, yeah, just the name I chose back then. Not having any idea. I was going to get to where I am, but it's this S is for my husband's name E is for my name and R A O is my three girls first initials.
Donna: Yeah. And what do you love the most about running your business.
Ellice: Definitely just being at home like today, actually one of my girls is I'm sick and it doesn't, it hasn't affected me with work. You know, I can still be at work and, but also can be at home for my kids and be able to take them to soccer training and take them to school sport after school and yeah, and be home for when they're sick and get just things like that is a hundred percent why I started, but not, it's not the reason like I continue to do. I just love my business. It doesn't feel like I work at all.
Donna: How good is that? So when you joined the ready to rise program, it was back in may 20, 21,
Ellice: But, I just love talking to other women, especially like when they like on a path, it's just like, go and get it. I just want to like be involved in. The motivation and all that chat.
Donna: Yeah. Cause it's contagious, isn't it? Yeah. And the energy and I, that's one of the reasons why in the Ready Rise Program, it's not just a course that you get the videos and you get the workbook and you just listen to me talking and take the lessons from that. It's more than that. It's like the community side of it in building those friendships and building out your network and having our group coaching sessions and the Facebook group and all of that.
It's part of it. Isn't it. Do you remember how you stumbled across it? Was it through something similar or was it Hayley that told you?
Ellice: No. So I do remember, and it was, I got a little excited though, when you said that, because I was actually in a local mall at a popup with my earrings and a good friend of yours Halena.
And when she just got talking and you could see the passion in her too, and she just tells me all this stuff about you and then that's when I joined. Basically pretty much straight off to, within a week of talking to her.
Donna: And I actually, before we jumped on this podcast, I pulled out my notes from when we first had our conversation.
But can you remember why it was that you joined? Like, was this something that you were hoping to get out of the program?
Ellice: It was definitely like, I wanted to be more organized in my day, my day to day activities, because prior to the course, it was just wake up a new, vague idea of what I had to get done during the day but it was, there was no plan and I would spend 12 hours a day in my office, not getting as much work as I should be getting done in that sort of time.
Now I'm basically quite happy to be just working nine to three this year. And so I'm much more productive than I was doing.
Donna: Yeah, cause isn't that funny? Cause you think, oh, I've got so much I need to do. And so you work more hours, but if you haven't got a plan in place, if you haven't got some sort of a strategy and a structure, not just a structure to your day, which is one really good strategy to use, but also like having a bit more of a long-term vision of what you're doing and why you're doing it and how it's all going to connect together.
If you're not doing that, then you really sort of spinning your wheels. And like you said,
Ellice: Bluffing, around doing 50 half, half harder jobs instead of any, like nothing was getting completed or just starting a heap of things. And yeah, definitely. I've from, um, the ready to rise program. A definitely. Got a lot out of how to plan my days.
Donna: Yeah. Cause I remember us talking about that and you saying that you're feeling really lost that you didn't know what to do next and you wanted to get that guidance in learning how to plan in advice to calm that overwhelm. And it's so common. Like in fact, I think every person who's joined the Ready To Rise program has expressed that same feeling and those same needs in a slightly different way.
Yeah. And I remember too, when you joined the program, you were so busy. Like, and I don't think that that has stopped because you're always, you know, doing pop-up stores and you know, your socials are awesome, but you just had that popup store that you were talking about in the Stocklands shopping center.
So you would have been super busy. How did that play out for you in managing your time between running your business and then immersing yourself into the videos and the workbook and the coaching calls.
Ellice: I didn't find a hard at all because I was so excited and so eager to make the change that I looked forward to it.
Do you remember may actually, before you even really sleep on and I was like, begging you, we could you just put the videos like so I really want to watch.
Donna: Yeah, yeah, definitely. Because I know that sometimes there's hesitation in that in we go, well, I know I want to do this professional development. I know I need it for the future for my business.
Cause it's to make things easier and all of that, but right now I don't have the time. And I was actually talking to a friend last night on the phone and we were talking about business and investing time into professional development. And like you said, I think when you make the choice. You're making a commitment to yourself, not just financially and in paying for it, but also you're like, I'm excited about this, cause I know it's going to create a shift for me, but you've really got to have that mindset in going, okay. So I've made the commitment. I have to value myself and show up and actually do the work. And, and then over time, like over the 12 weeks that we did our coaching calls the same day and time every week.
And so it becomes part of you've rutine that you look forward to. I do,
Ellice: Me too and I love, and it was, there's not too many people in my life that I feel like I can talk to about my business because they just don't get it. Like everyone in my life is supportive as you know, so I supported, but they just don't understand.
And the girls in the group were just, and you just go, you were there, listen, I'd always had fantastic feedback and yeah.
Donna: Yeah. And that's it. Yeah. To like those, the other women in the group, they help you to stay motivated and support. Like everyone is so supportive and you were so supportive in, like, you could try this or have you done that?
Like to the other ladies in the group too,
Ellice: Just helping to motivate people to, got to do better and go harder and stronger and give them the cofidence that they are, good enough.
Donna: Yeah. Cause I think as business owners, no matter how long you've been doing business or how successful your business is, as you a stepping up to the next level and you're going into that next growth phase, or, you know, you're trying something new, maybe it's a new revenue stream or something like that.
It's that moment of internal resistance that you get where you're like, oh my God, can I actually do this? I don't know if I'm ready for this. Am I good enough for this? Have I got the skills? And we all go through that and I like absolutely would call anyone's bluff that says that they don't like, I experienced that myself as well, but when you've got the tools around you, that you go, okay, when I'm feeling this, I know that I can do this and it will pull me out of that.
And one of those techniques is to be in a community of women that goes, hang on a minute, maybe you did this and you did it really well. Or like you totally have got this.
Ellice: What you would just said there reminding me of how I was feeling like I had these a list of things that I wanted to achieve. I had a melt on my list, but it was, it felt like too much of a, too hard to reach a complete dream.
And I think before our way to even finish the course, I'd ordered my big machine. That was on my list. And I just did it because I was just holding back.
Donna: Yeah. And then like you would wanting to go into more like branch out into wholesaling where you're creating the materials and the earrings for other people to buy from you, for them to put in their own retail stores and stuff like that.
And you did that, you know, you built your lookbook and your proposals and stuff like that. Like, so you, you really achieved so much and really, yeah. Really proud of you when I look back over all of the stuff that you got done in that time. Yeah.
Ellice: Thank you. Yeah. I try and remind myself all the time to look back when I'm having, you know, hard days, I think, oh, what am I doing?
What I balled out. I just want to show you sell the business. There's no way I'll live with that. But yeah, even though like, look, just stop and look back at old photos. It's like, oh my God. Yeah, come for ever.
Donna: Yeah, you really have. What do you reckon was your biggest takeaway from doing the program? Like what was the most impactful thing for you?
Ellice: Definitely like there was a couple, there was, so I love having my house and kids and all that organized and household denies. And there is a part in that Ready To Rise that focuses on like, as moms, we have a huge responsibility in upkeeping the house, and I know if that's not kept up for me, that really affects everything in my life.
It affects how I can concentrate during the day. If I know there's washing, that's piling up. And that's one of the reasons why I've actually tried to stick to a nine to three workday so that I can, I am making time for those things because they do affect me if I don't keep up with them. But also. Yeah, the thing was like, I am good enough and I am capable of the things that I'm dreaming off and that's complete protein with this machine that I bought.
And, um, yeah, like I look, yeah, it just blows me away. I still have it and I cut my own earrings and yeah.
Donna: Yeah. Look at you. Go well, love that. And it's really clear. You can see how much you love your business. So what's on the horizon for you now. What plans have you got for the future of Sorao Pretties? Like what's happening for you?
Ellice: Because of this machine that I bought, I actually decided to start a second business creating, um, milestone discs and announcements it starting off as a business and not a hobby, which is really exciting. It was,
Donna: that's so exciting. Cause I actually caught that on. I think you put it up on Instagram.
Maybe that you're starting this new thing. I was like, what? You're doing another business. Sorry. It's so exciting that you've got the, your existing business that you've had for what? Six, seven years did you say? It's been that long now that that's like going gangbusters and you started another one, but I love what you said about you're starting it as a business and not a hobby.
Ellice: Yes. Yeah. And mainly because I know what I'm doing now. Yeah. Back, I feel like seven years ago. I was like I may be always living with blinkers on, but I don't really feel like the Instagram world and like businesses, aren't what they are today, you know, a lot of businesses. Yeah. So, yeah. But anyway, I guess I'm very
excited.
Donna: Yeah. And so, and what about the wholesale side of things? Cause is that something that you're going to go more into now that you've kind of looked into that a bit more?
Ellice: Yes. So I I'm already am wholesaling with some businesses brought around Australia and almost so that's what I do one of my mind, cause there's probably new businesses wholesaling to baby boutiques and that, but yeah, I feel like that business once I've got my range up and running, you know, chosen and all that, that can really just run itself where with earrings, I need to put a bit more time into it because styles and that changed, so frequently. Yeah, but yeah, the wholesale soul be, yeah, definitely wholesaling for both businesses, earrings into like boutiques and flower shops and gift shop.
Donna: And that's so smart because you really want to diversify your business offerings. So you've setting yourself up for one, to be more passive, not completely passive, but a little bit more passive, but easier to run.
Like you said, doesn't need, it's a lot easier. It's not really dependent upon you getting in there and keeping it fresh and changing it up all the time. And then you've got the earrings, which you do keep it, uh, change out your stock all the time and keep those new collections rolling through. So that's really smart business ownership and having that more diverse offering and as well, you do your direct sales through your website and, you know, through pop-up shops and, um, your market so diversified there, but then you're also wholesaling. So you're building a really, really healthy business.
Ellice: Thank you. Yes that's. Yeah, I love it. I just love it.
Donna: All right. So where can we find you? Give us your social handles and your website.
Ellice: Yes, so I'm on Instagram and Facebook. I love Instagram the most. But yeah, you can find me of that, but my, um, it's Serao.pretties that's Instagram and my website is just seraopretties.com.au,
Donna: And I'll make sure that I link those into the show notes as well.
So if anyone's listening, you want to go check out the collections that at Ellice offers and go and buy some beautiful, bold earrings that are gonna help you to express your personality. Then you can go and get them from there. Thanks, Donna. Thanks for joining me today. Thanks so much.
Melissa is the founder and creator of Big Sis Little Bro and embroidery company that specializes in making memories.
Melissa creates bespoke plush toys, imported with personal messages, milestones, and celebrations. And when I first met Melissa, she was looking to grow her presence online through social media. And I knew that if I could help her to identify and understand her ideal customer. And adopt a planning strategy have business would leap forward and she shares more about that in our chat.
So welcome to the podcast Melissa
Melissa: Thanks, Donna. I'm really happy to be here today.
Donna: So Melissa, for the people listening today, why don't you tell us a little bit about your business?
Melissa: Okay. So my business is called Big Sis Little Bro, embroidery mama home-based business, located in Rakim. Well, I do embroidery and my niche is where I actually I'm in broader stuffed animals with things like your birth details, your like get well soon happy birthday, those sort of things, as well as like baby blankets.
That's sort of my little nation. That's my little business in a nutshell. So I started the, my own little business started like a bit of a hobby, um, when my son was born. So it would be about eight years now that I've been in business...
Donna: And you're a mum too, right? Like your family situation. You've, you're a mom.
How old are your kids now?
Melissa: So I'm a mom of two. So Holly is, um, 10 turning 21. Okay. So now she's turning 11 this year and Leighton is eight turning nine this year.
Donna: Right. And you're a qualified teacher too. So you've got,
I am a qualified teacher. What made you open your own business? Being that you are a qualified teacher, you've got that steady job and that income, what was the intention in starting your own business?
Melissa: Okay. So what I was on maternity leave, I've found it really sort of isolating that sort of. Being a teacher. We use our brains every day. So it was a lot of things of if I don't use it, I lose it. So I was looking for something just to do while I was on maternity leave. And I, um, my auntie had been into embroidery, so she showed me a few things on her embroidery machine and, my embroidery machine popped up on Gumtree for $300. And I was like, oh, let's go and have a look at that. So yeah, I bought that. It was basically to give me something to do while on maternity leave. Not that maternity leave him and looking after a baby was boring, but yeah, just being somewhat active with what my brain every day, um, I needed that, just that little something else to do.
Donna: Yeah. And you're certainly not alone in that too. Cause I was in a very similar situation when I had my kids. And I know that in speaking to a lot of women and working with a lot of other women, it's the same thing. We want to still be able to be who we are as well as being a mom. And part of that is using our brains. Keeping active in schools and all of that kind of stuff. And it's great to have that, that side gig that has now blossomed into a fully fledged business for you. That's incredible.
Melissa: So, yeah, I've just basically upgraded from the $300 machine to now I own three industrial sized machines and going now moving from the, um, taking over the garage, which I have in, um, in the process of building the, a little workshop out the back of the house and, ah, I've got all that, that sort of thing has good to see how the business grows along those lines.
Donna: And it's also lovely that you share that story, that it has been an eight year journey for you because it's not necessarily something that businesses can happen overnight.
Melissa: I definitely like I started, like, it was all please. Like if you want to order his pictures on Facebook, please message me with all your information and I will send you my bank details and you just put the money in my bank to now, full on automated. Here's what my website, here's the designs you can pick from here's the colors you can pick from, and it all sends through and, and basically your payments all done online. So it grows with you as you continue on the journey and your business
Donna: Yeah and of your business journey has been working with me. And so I want to, I was looking back over the time that we've sort of known each other because our paths crossed via. If I remember correctly, maybe you discovered me in a different way, but this is what I, when I think that is that we were a part of the online networking group.
Melissa: So you were a guest coach, I think that they, the time and had been in business for that long, that I thought, looked at myself and thought, I need a plan here. I need something to do to grow this business, or otherwise it's just going to become defunct in. And it's just going to be something I outgrow instead of growing with me. So you basically, I think was a couple of free things, were looking at social media and how we could actually use our social media to its full advantage when you actually offered that webinar.
And it was a three day webinars. So we actually went on for three days and we actually had to do little points at all every time and do our homework and make sure we understood how to do those things. I actually thought, you know what? This is something that I need to do. And because you had offered it for free and you were so personally in your way in which you spoke to us and that you're friendly and you were happy to give your little context of things.
That's when you launch the Ready To Rise, start really dry stuff. And then I thought, you know what? I'm on board. I'm happy to pay. I want to know more from Donna.
Donna: Because when I hosted, when I first launched the Ready To Rise program and I did a webinar. You were like, you immediately signed up at the end of that webinar.
Melissa: Yep. I sort of had spoken to the financial bloke and he said, well, what's your business plan? My business plan. I don't have a business plan. It's like, well, you need a business plan. You need to actually look into your business and get it sorted because otherwise it's just not going to work. It's going to fail.
So, yeah. So it was that sort of thing. There was never any hesitations about,
Donna: Was there any the challenges at that time that you can remember that you knew that you needed to take action?
Melissa: Oh, look, my website, my website was just like something that I had made in the background and it was, it was terrible. It looked unprofessional, those sorts of things.
So it's those sort of things that you need to invest your time into to actually make your business what it is. I've had no visions. I had no goal statements. I had no goals. I had no avatar. I had nothing. It was just basically, oh, I just think this business is going to continue because I put it on Facebook and on the, you know, on the classifieds thing and get up and get an order from that.
I now know it's more than just that.
Donna: It's been lovely to see you put a marketing strategy behind your business. Like for me, that's been watching you and helping you along. The biggest change that I've seen is that marketing strategy that you've put into place.
Melissa: Yeah. So, you know, I've gone from the off the cuff Wim posting of posts, and we're probably a hundred percent sales posts to scheduled every day posts that aren't just about sales, but about building the emotion for your customer, building the background, giving the behind the scenes of what happens within the company.
Donna: When you think about. The program, the registrar's program, what was the most valuable part of the program for you?
Melissa: Okay, so the most valuable part, there was a couple of parts. The most valuable part probably is the goal setting. So there was the five-year goal setting, that those sort of things, and then it was broken down to the 90 days goal settings and then broken down again.
I broke it down again into month. So making sure that I was hitting those goals, making sure that I've got, I got somewhere in the future to go towards, because otherwise I just think that it's something that there becomes the fund and if you've got no goals, you've got no drive to do the business. So that was one thing.
And then the second thing was that was most important and probably the best advantage, which comes back to your marketing strategy was knowing my avatar. Now I'm quite lucky in the fact that. To avatars. And so for those people that don't know what avatars are is, it's your ideal customer. So yeah, I actually have the grandmother that has the newborn and, you know, once everything for the newborn and is quite excited, the newborn is being born.
And then I've got the best friend who's going to be buying this as a momentum for their best friend's child that will have it forever.
Donna: Members of the ready to rise program that have really accelerated that business have been the people that have really stepped up and taken action. And we've seen that with your plan to really revamp your website and to really step up with your social media marketing.
And so really if you're planning on joining a program, whether it be this one or another one, you need to get in there and get your hands dirty and actually do the work if you're a member. But at one point after you had already joined the program, you expressed to me that you had a little bit of a reservation around self care.
Do you remember that? Yeah. So do you mind sharing what your reservations or what your feelings were around self care? And it has that shifted?
Melissa: Yeah, that's probably the burner of myself and something that I really needed to work on and getting away from that guilt because. If you're not looking after yourself, you can't look after anybody else.
And that's the biggest thing that I've learned.
Donna: You did say to me like, oh, I was a bit apprehensive because you do talk about self care so much. And it's not really my thing and I kind of thing. But once you get to know the style of coaching and that it's not all just, we were that it's actually about practical, purposeful things that you need to do for yourself that has a direct benefit to you and to your business and to your family.
And I think too, the other thing in, in listening to what you're saying in the way that you've advanced your business in taking it up to that next level is all of the tools and all of the, that initial investment that you made into the program, you can now rinse and repeat those things for years to come.
Melissa: Yeah, and it doesn't mean that, uh, like I don't need, like, I don't need extra coaching. I need extra coaching. I fully advise anybody to find a business coach if you are struggling. Or if you're finding the fact that you don't have a business plan or you don't have a direction, you don't have a plan. You don't have goals.
You need those and in the investing in the Ready To Rise program has shown me steps to actually become more organized, become more focused and become a better business person in saying that still need coaching. Still need those steps. Still need the push, the drive behind you to continue with those sort of things.
I don't think anybody stops learning. I think that the more that you are learning the better than you become.
Donna: Yeah, absolutely. I couldn't agree more with that. So now that you now, one of the future plans, like I know you've got this five-year plan that you created at the beginning of your Ready To Rise journey.
What's on the cards for Little Sis Big Bro embroidery in the future.
Melissa: Pretty exciting for Big Sis Little Bro. I'm really excited in the fact that my five-year plan was to get a bricks and mortar business. However, knowing what I can do personally, and, and what it's going to cost to continue to do that, it's probably not something that is going to come to fruition, but looking more into consignment sort of stuff, where there's plenty of these little shops that were all local little businesses come together and, and do those being invested in those sorts of things, getting out to markets and, and getting my business scene.
And my biggest thing that I'm going to be doing this year is making sure that I've got my product seen where. Most needed. And that is the maternity wards of the hospitals, the opposition, our offices, the midwives, like all those sort of things. That's where I need to be. And those, those are always something that I have had in my background.
So that's my future direction. I need to get into those areas and I need to get those things happening.
Donna: Amazing, amazing.
Melissa: Just google, Big Sis Little Bro embroidery, and it will come up. So it's all there linked to the map where I am linked to my phone number, you can just press the little call button and it gives me a call.
Donna: Thank you so much. Being on the podcast today, we've made really saying, sharing all of your business journey, where we can find you, and also what you got out of the Ready To Rise program.
Melissa: No worries.
Donna: And don't forget the doors to the Ready To Rise program are open right now, but they will close on Tuesday the 15th of March at 7:00 PM.
So you don't want to miss out head over to donnahann.com to grab your spot.