October 13, 2025 • 53 mins
When growth feels noisy and success looks like burnout, it’s time to change the game. We sit down with heart‑led business mentor and Reach founder Mandy Millen to unpack how clarity, connection, and consistency can transform a small business without sacrificing wellbeing. Mandy’s story begins with a family crisis that taught her resilience and hope, and it traces her path from corporate marketing to wellbeing, mentoring, and building a thriving community. The throughline is human: people buy from people, and authentic storytelling paired with clear messaging beats glossy templates every time.
We dig into the most common blockers—misaligned messaging, scattered tactics, and course fatigue—and replace them with practical moves. Define your ideal client and their problem in plain language. Articulate your transformation. Build a simple, repeatable content rhythm. Hire a VA earlier than you think and automate repetitive tasks so your creativity can breathe. Mandy shares why mindset is the operating system of your business, how daily practices and firm boundaries protect your energy, and why a mentor plus a supportive community can accelerate results faster than going it alone.
We also explore the balance between AI and authenticity. Use AI to brainstorm, structure, and speed up workflows, but don’t let it replace your voice. Audiences feel what’s real. Mandy explains what makes Reach different—vulnerable, curated conversations in calming spaces that foster trust, collaboration, and commercial wins as a natural outcome. If you’re ready to replace posting‑and‑hoping with heart‑led strategy and meaningful momentum, this one’s for you.
You can contact Mandy here https://www.instagram.com/mandy_j_millan/
If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs a boost, and leave a quick review—what’s one change you’ll make this week?
You can follow Emma at:
https://www.instagram.com/emmaritchiewellness/
https://www.facebook.com/emmaritchiewellness/
https://www.youtube.com/@emmaritchiebecomingyourwarrior
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_01 (00:01):
Welcome to the Becoming Your Warrior podcast.
This is the place where you getto feel inspired and empowered
to step into your very bestlife.
Hello, um, today on the BecomingYour Warrior podcast, I'm joined
by Mandy Millen, a heart-ledbusiness mentor, founder of
(00:24):
Reach, and a passionate advocatefor creating success without
sacrificing well-being.
With over 20 years of experiencegrowing businesses and
supporting hundreds ofentrepreneurs, Mandy knows first
hand what it takes to overcomeburnout, find alignment, and
build meaningful connections.
And in this conversation, we'regoing to explore the challenges
(00:45):
that she's faced, how she'schanged her relationship with
herself and others, and thelessons that she has learned
that now allow her to help somany others thrive.
So welcome Mandy.
Thanks, Emma.
It's lovely.
Lovely to chat to you today.
Yeah, lovely to chat to you.
And I mean that's quite a lotthat we're going to talk about
today, but um, I guess for me,the first place that I would
(01:08):
love to start really is can youshare before we get into your
background?
Can you share an area of yourlife where you've really faced a
big obstacle or challenge andyou've overcome that?
SPEAKER_00 (01:21):
Well, there's so many.
So many.
Um I mean, a big personalchallenge for me, which really
was a was a tough time in mylife, was when I was in my late
teens, around 16, and myyoungest of my elder brothers he
had a brain hemorrhage out ofthe blue at 21, fit and healthy.
(01:45):
Um he collapsed, and it was atumour on his brain waiting to
go off.
Um, and yeah, it was it was sochallenging, so so challenging.
He I mean he was in a coma forabout six months, we didn't know
if he was going to live, and toget to get through that, I mean,
he he's he's well now, thankgoodness.
(02:07):
Uh, but it left him heavilydisabled um and not being able
to walk properly, and um, heneeds full-time care.
But but what that did for me andthe challenge that to go through
that was it was so worrying atthe time, and it was so
challenging to know if he wasgoing to live, and how we would
(02:28):
get through that as a family,was to really be positive and to
really lean into hope and toreally connect as a as a family
and have trust that he would beokay.
And I remember my dad actuallysaying to me at a young age, if
you can get through this andbelieve and trust, then you will
(02:49):
be able to really push throughso many challenges in your life,
and I do believe that now.
I feel that that really set themarker for me because it was
such an uncertain time.
Um, and yeah, he actually now isone of the most positive people
you could be around.
Like he sees his double visionas a gift, and what would a
(03:10):
blind man give for his doublevision?
And so he has sort of set thatenergy for me and my family in
terms of being positive and notmoaning and being really
grateful for what we have.
SPEAKER_01 (03:21):
Oh wow, amazing.
What's your what's yourbrother's name?
Paul.
Paul.
Oh, bless him.
SPEAKER_00 (03:27):
What what an absolute legend, right?
That's amazing.
He's an absolute legend, yeah.
I got I got the chance toactually care for him for six
months and um, yeah, a long timeago, and be his carer and help
him physically and train him andwork with him, and it was just
it was really challenging, butit was such an amazing
experience, yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (03:47):
Yeah.
And and so, well, I mean, thankyou for sharing that.
That's that's huge.
Um, I mean, were you beforethat?
Was you would you say yourfamily was positive?
Because I'd say you are like oneof the most positive people I've
ever met, and your energy isamazing and infectious, but like
did that positivity exist inyour family before that, or was
it that experience?
SPEAKER_00 (04:07):
Yeah, they are positive people, definitely.
They are positive people, youknow, they are entrepreneurs,
they've created their own lifeby design.
So I come from a family ofentrepreneurs, my mum, my dad,
that they were always doing whatthey wanted to do for
themselves.
So there was a level ofpositivity with that.
Yeah, there wasn't a lot ofmoaning, there was hard times
(04:29):
and challenge and stress withyou know running small
businesses or what have you, butgenuinely they were really fun,
if you were to ask anyone.
That like which is one of mycore values, they're fun people,
um, yeah, and definitelypositive.
SPEAKER_01 (04:43):
Yeah, and so both your mum and dad were
entrepreneurs as well.
SPEAKER_00 (04:47):
Yeah, yeah.
So my so my dad had uh his ownhe he started off selling teddy
bears in the east end of Londonas a market trader, and then he
got into cars and was sellingcars, and then he expanded and
became um the owner of a tirefitting company, and then he
scaled that to five premises inLondon, tyre fitting, and then
(05:08):
started exporting in and out ofSouth Africa.
Um, so that was my dad, and thenhe went into he was a real
entrepreneur, and then he gotinto golf magazines, which is
another story.
But he ended up taking Paul, mydisabled brother, out with him.
Um he created the magazine, hewrote the magazine, he got
sponsorship for the golfmagazine, and Paul would go out
on the deliveries with him,socialising with all the golf
(05:31):
clubs, so it was social for him.
So that was amazing, that wasamazing.
That was my dad's background,and my mum was a florist for a
long, long time.
She had her own small business,which I worked in from the age
of 12, selling fresh flowers.
Yeah, and my brothers all gotinto uh being mechanics and tire
fitters, and my my middlebrother Jamie just received
recognition for best uh tireretailer in the UK.
(05:57):
So he's just so it he's amazing.
He's taken on my dad's legacy,who he sadly lost five years
ago.
SPEAKER_01 (06:03):
Yeah, wow, and so I mean, growing up in that, like
seeing your your both yourparents in business, like
initially in small business.
Um, I mean, what was that likefor you?
You mentioned sort of working atyour mum's florist from the age
of 12.
I mean, has work and businesslike just always been there in
your bones, I guess?
SPEAKER_00 (06:22):
Yeah, 100%.
It's in my DNA when I look back.
Just just, I mean, as I as I saywith a lot of entrepreneurs that
I work with, I s I saw the gritand determination with them and
the freedom and the flexibilitythat they had.
You know, it wasn't nine tofive, we'd be packing magazines
on the weekend or going to theflower markets early in the
mornings, but they created theirown schedule and they work for
(06:45):
themselves, and and that's whatI really loved.
Uh, but I mean, my journey wasdifferent.
I went into big business andthen I've come full circle.
Now I'm with small businessesagain.
But when I look back, my heartand my DNA is definitely around
supporting small businessbecause of that influence from
my family for sure.
SPEAKER_01 (07:06):
Yeah, and you mentioned sort of like growing
up with two entrepreneurialparents, like there were
struggles in there as well.
What what were what was one or acouple of the struggles that you
witnessed?
SPEAKER_00 (07:17):
The struggles would be boundaries, and which we all
know as small business owners,so is actually when to stop and
actually cutting off time.
As I say, it's great that theythey we could work at weekends
or um set things up for you knowdeliveries and and and also
(07:38):
working in flowers or the tyresor the magazines, but sometimes
at the weekend it would be itwould carry on into the
weekends, and that would alsoaffect family life as well.
Yeah.
So I would say boundaries wouldbe the biggest one.
SPEAKER_01 (07:52):
Yeah, beautiful.
And and obviously being a mum oftwo yourself and and having a
family yourself, is thatsomething like now that that
that you catch yourself on?
Is is the boundaries?
SPEAKER_00 (08:04):
Yes, definitely.
I feel boundaries are really keyfor me as a mum with two very
active young children.
Is if I'm not looking after mywell-being, creating those
boundaries, then I'm not used toanyone else.
As a mum, as a wife, as amentor, it's key that I really
protect my energy.
SPEAKER_01 (08:23):
Yeah, beautiful.
And we will get into reach, wewill start talking about reach
soon.
But before we do, I'd love justto find out from you.
Like, let's just say a scenario,like someone with just early
starting out a small businessand they have know nothing about
marketing, and they they somehowfind you, are lucky enough to
(08:44):
find you, and they come to youand they're like, I don't know
where to start, this is whereI'm at, you know.
I'm seeing clients, I've got afew things going on.
What would be one of the firstthings that you would advise
them on when it comes tomarketing, when it comes to
getting themselves out there?
SPEAKER_00 (09:02):
I would say it's a great question, and there's lots
to it.
Like, where do I start?
I would say if they've alreadystarted and they have a small
client base but they want toexpand more, I would say, in
terms of the business, is what'san area that they really love.
Like it's important to be lit upby your work.
(09:24):
So if it's about they want to becustomer-facing, they want to
help people, but they don't wantto perhaps put themselves out
there and and be and be visible.
I would say that it's reallyabout getting into the mindset
shift because right now peoplebuy into people even more.
So it would be the focus wouldbe really on who are your ideal
(09:49):
clients, who do you really wantto serve, and what are their
problems?
Because you would be hearingthose problems all the time when
they come to you, and to focuson those problems and understand
your solution and how you helpthem with the transformation is
key.
Once you have that locked in,then you want to become visible,
(10:13):
you want to be sharing yourstories and how you've helped
others in that situation andstart to build your brand and
share your voice.
And there's so many options wecould go into, but I think that
would probably take up the wholetime on how to do that in terms
of tactics and in terms ofstrategies.
But there's so many optionsright now for free organic
(10:36):
marketing for you to step intothe light and to do that, and
it's just as long as you knowwho you're serving and what
their problems are and what yourtransformation is, that's where
you want to really dive indeeper and share more to build
your brand on who you really areand understand your voice and
your visibility.
Because if people can't see you,they can't buy into you, and so
(11:00):
get away from the Canvatemplates.
We need them as a holding point,but really it's your energy that
people want to buy into,specifically if you are a
business like ourselves where weare of service to people, which
is fundamentally who I support,and which is where I've come
from in my businesses as well.
That would be my key, and then Iwould say that your messaging as
(11:25):
the next point would be superkey as well.
Because a lot of the time I seepeople wasting energy on
creating marketing of what theythink sells their product or
service, but really wherethey're missing it is what we
just spoke about, which is well,what's the problem and where's
the solution?
Because people have such a shortattention span, right?
(11:46):
Six seconds.
So we need to understand thatthis is for us from a customer
perspective, and and then themessaging needs to land and be
aligned with that.
And there's so many ways to dothat.
You can craft that yourself, butthere's also systems out there
that can really help you laythat foundation, and then it's
(12:07):
really about taking action andbeing consistent on the channels
from a marketing perspective,and then once you've got a grip
of organic marketing and you'vegot that consistency of brand
and the trust is there, then youcan elevate with different types
of marketing, paid marketing toreally rev things up.
SPEAKER_01 (12:25):
Yeah, yeah, and and and I mean for you, like when
people do find you, and let'ssay someone's been in business
for a couple of years or youknow, they've kind of tried
everything, like what what's oneof the biggest, not mistakes,
but what what do you think isone of the the yeah, the biggest
distractions that people buyinto, whether it's buying
(12:46):
multiple courses or or whatever,like when people are starting a
business, because they there'syou know, this is their skill,
this this thing that they do, itmight not necessarily be
marketing, but what's thebiggest kind of complaint or
issue or um confusion thatpeople come to you about?
That's a good question.
SPEAKER_00 (13:07):
There's lots.
I'm like, where do I start?
And there's so many.
There's so many.
I would say the overarchinggeneral would be the messaging.
Because the messaging just isn'tlanding.
So people are just tryingdifferent aspects, different
(13:29):
visuals, different approaches,but the messaging isn't
connecting with their target,customer, their pain points and
showing the transformation.
Like just as simple, as simpleas that, okay?
And like their brand promise andwhat they do, what is it, what
is it that you do?
I think there's a real blockwhere some people don't even
know what they do, let alonethen selling it to other people.
(13:52):
Because we don't understand,we're not gonna buy.
So it would be a messaging, uh,which is what I see as a
messaging, but as in terms ofwhat the the customer would come
to me and what they'reoverwhelmed with is like you
said, is they're just spinningtheir wheels, nothing's working,
nothing's landing, they'reposting and hoping, they're
trying to connect with theirclients, but it's not landing.
(14:13):
That would be a confusion.
Spinning wheels, overwhelmed,not connecting, exhausted.
SPEAKER_01 (14:20):
Yeah, I mean, I think that's how I found you.
Like you sound familiar.
Just tick off all of those, allof those.
So, so tell me a little bitabout your own before we again,
before we get into reads,because you know that that
that's super powerful, and I'mreally excited about that.
But tell me about your ownentrepreneurial journey because
you've mentioned you were in thebig corporates, obviously, you
(14:42):
you grew up in that, had thatbig corporate experience, but
then with your own businesses,like when did that evolve?
SPEAKER_00 (14:50):
So a rewind coming out of university, I started
working for big businesses inmarketing.
So I I graduated in London withan international marketing
degree, and my thesis was ininternational branding.
So I've always loved brand andstorytelling and connection and
trust.
Went into working for big firmsin Sydney, uh running marketing
(15:14):
teams, and I just feltcompletely lost and disconnected
in that world for me, and whichI know we'll touch on, but for
me, it was reconnecting tomyself and what I wanted to do,
which was to be of service.
That's what was coming throughfor me all the time is to help
people, and so that's where Ishifted and and worked in
well-being.
(15:34):
And my first business was as aPilates teacher and building my
Pilates practice in the UK, andfrom there I sold that business
and moved back to Australiabecause that I went back to the
UK.
I'm gonna hop around, but I I Iwas in Australia after uni for
the big businesses, went back tothe UK, lost, and decided to
(15:58):
have a complete change of life,set up my Pilates practice in
the UK, sold that business, cameback to Sydney, and set up my
Pilates practice in Manley, andthen scaled that business into a
corporate well-being business,placing meditation, Pilates,
yoga, mindfulness facilitatorsall over Australasia.
SPEAKER_01 (16:20):
Wow.
SPEAKER_00 (16:20):
And then got into mum life, had my wonderful
children, took a step back, andthen realized that mentoring was
really where I wanted to bebecause people were starting to
come to me and actually askingme for advice.
So I started to set up aconsultancy firm myself, and
then I just landed on well, I'mmeant to guide people and I'm
(16:41):
meant to connect people, hencehow the community started, and I
went from there.
So it's it was it's a bit of ajourney, and there were so many
challenges throughout, and butthat's where I am today, and
that's why I can help peoplewith not just the marketing but
also the mindset because I facea lot of challenges with my
mindset throughout that journey.
(17:01):
It wasn't like, and then I didthis, and yeah, and then I just
cruised into that, and like itwas mega challenging.
SPEAKER_01 (17:08):
Yeah, and and how much of a part do you think that
plays in small business andrunning a business's mindset?
SPEAKER_00 (17:16):
It's everything because it's interesting when
you ask me about the marketingand where should you know, where
could we go and what could wedo?
The processes, the strategies,the tactics, the solutions are
one area to deliver and topresent to you.
But if you're not willing to dothe work and get out of your own
way and take actionconsistently, you're never gonna
(17:39):
do it.
And so for me, holding myclients accountable and pushing
them forward through the blockswhich I faced early in business
and what I see all the time.
And as you would know, someonewho works with people with
mindset, is if we can't get pastthat, nothing's gonna happen,
(18:01):
nothing's gonna change.
It's a belief that we need toget rid of.
So for me, in the early stageswhen I left big business and I
went into the sparkly world ofwellness, I constantly had who
am I to be in wellness?
No one's gonna like me, no one'sgonna connect with me, no one's
gonna believe me.
But I had to push past that, andthe more that I pushed past that
(18:23):
and overcome that and got aroundthe right people who coached me
and helped me every day, andsuccessful entrepreneurs who
were ahead of me, then I wasable to execute.
And now that's I mean, whatthat's 15 years ago, nearly over
15 years ago.
Now I can execute very, veryquickly.
As I don't see it as a mistake,I see it as all that's a
(18:44):
learning, I'll move on.
Whereas before I'd thumb ifsomething didn't work out, it
would I'd procrastinate andshould I do this?
And can I take action and oh mygod, second guessing?
Whereas now I'm further along.
SPEAKER_01 (18:55):
Yeah, and and for you, like you know, just
referencing the fact that youknow you sought out these people
that were a little, you know, abit ahead of you in in various
areas, like what what kind ofimportance would you put on that
in terms of having that coach,having that accountability
partner?
SPEAKER_00 (19:13):
It's everything, it really is everything.
I mean, it's absolutelypriceless to have guidance and
support and accountability,which is why I'm so passionate
about what I do, is iseverything.
I wouldn't be where I am today.
There's no way I'd be takingmoves and and being able to
support people at this levelwithout that.
(19:34):
That was everything for mebecause I wouldn't have I
wouldn't have scaled, I wouldn'thave solved that business, I
wouldn't move to Australia.
I just wouldn't have done it.
SPEAKER_01 (19:42):
Yeah, yeah.
And and so can we talk a littlebit about the creation of Reach?
Because it sounds like it it waskind of like an organic thing
initially, where you've had youryou two kitties, people are
starting to reach out to you.
I mean, just even that word,there you go.
So how so how did it kind ofevolve?
(20:05):
Like and what was the vision, Iguess, initially?
SPEAKER_00 (20:10):
It's really interesting because I didn't sit
down with Reach and think, thisis the vision, I want to create
this.
It happened organically, where Iwas invited.
Uh, I was actually brought likeI remember I was breastfeeding
my daughter, a lady approachedme who had a successful career
and said, I'd heard about you inwellness, and I think it would
(20:31):
be really great to set up awomen in business event on the
Central Coast where I live.
And so we run ran two verysuccessful events, and that
didn't work out, thepartnership, and afterwards I
just knew that the connectionthat I saw, the deeper layers
(20:54):
within the events was somethingI was so profoundly inspired by
was the connection, which is oneof my core values as well.
And I then went into workingwith another lady, another
partnership where similar, itwas a very similar offering, a
little bit more holistic, wherewe ran some other events.
(21:16):
Again, that partnership didn'twork out in terms of values, and
and then it was just anawakening.
It was I I need to just do thismyself.
This is for me to step into thelight now and actually hold
space for community and bringall of my experience and not
just in my work career, butactually, as we were talking
(21:38):
earlier, like my DNA and myfamily, my lineage of
entrepreneurs and being aroundpeople.
Because when I actually lookback to my family, they were
creating relationships,cross-referrals, friendships
with local businesses.
Naturally, they didn't have anyevents, they didn't have any
communities.
(21:58):
I didn't have that in mywellness business starting out.
I had to knock on doors, buildrelationships.
When I look at it from acommunity aspect, I just knew
that when we look at a marketingstrategy as a whole, and
holistically, partnership andcollaboration should always be
(22:18):
at the forefront.
Not only from a businesscommercial value perspective,
but that that was sort of whereI was coming from to start.
But now with REAGE, it's justway more powerful.
The meaningful relationshipsthat are happening, the trust,
the support, especially as weare getting more and more
isolated as human beings, isjust really where it's at.
(22:40):
So, yeah, as you can see, Icould talk underwater about this
subject because I'm I'm 60events in now.
I'm nearly three years ofbuilding this community myself,
running these events, seeing andcurating these conversations
with heart-led open-mindedentrepreneurs, and just the
emotions that are brought aboutthrough this community are just
(23:04):
so different to what you wouldhave from a normal business
networking event or community.
Does that answer your question?
It was a really long way.
SPEAKER_01 (23:16):
We just I just got to see all the classic Mandy,
you know, energy passion comingout.
Lots of hands.
Lots of hands, lots of hands.
And and what do you think?
I mean, what what do you feelmakes Reach different from any
other kind of marketing network,you know, community event for
small businesses?
(23:37):
What do you think that is?
SPEAKER_00 (23:40):
It is the heart-led conversations which are
specifically curated aroundvulnerability and the locations
which help to really relax thenervous system.
So for me, my core values arefun and connection, and so it
(24:02):
has to be fun and connected.
Yeah.
And so the conversations that wethat I facilitate and my other
leaders is around, yeah, what'snot working in your business?
What are the challenges?
Where do you feel blocked rightnow?
And so people are meeting withstrangers sometimes and actually
sharing that, and they just feelso heard and seen.
(24:23):
Where I feel in today's lifepeople aren't having these real
conversations and actuallylifting each other up, they're
very surface-level PowerPoints,strategies.
What can you give me?
Here's my business card, can wedo business?
Whereas I feel when we come inon a real heart-led level and
genuineness, that's where thefriendships are are really
(24:46):
developed, and then there's thatnatural flow of connection.
Absolutely, yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (24:51):
And I think you know, having been to a few of
them myself, like I would say,like the the energy is super
friendly.
It's not like, oh, I'm here todo how it's not like what can I
do for you, what can you do forme?
It's super friendly.
You just kind of feel likeyou've walked out of there
meeting other like-minded,lovely friends um who might be
(25:13):
able to help you down the trackin what in one way or another.
But it yeah, you definitelycreate that safe space for
people, so yeah, it's beautiful.
It's beautiful.
Yeah, well done, you reallyappreciate it.
SPEAKER_00 (25:26):
Um but just but just to just to touch on that.
The reason why people say to me,Wow, all the time, these people
are really my kind of peoplethat are here.
Like it's quite rare, you know,that everyone is really
friendly, everyone is reallyupbeat, everyone is really
caring, everyone is reallygenuine.
But that's because they've comethrough my messaging, as we were
(25:48):
talking about before.
So I'm very specific in who Icall in because it isn't
everyone's cup of tea.
People do want the PowerPoint,the structure, they want to get
down to business with a businesscard and go.
That's fine.
But this is a different approachto doing business, and there is
a lot of commercial value, butwe don't place that as the
highest priority.
The commercial value just comesnaturally.
(26:10):
I've seen millions of dollars ofcommercial value of people
working together, but they'vebecome friends, and there's no
pressure to bring people,there's no KPIs on who you've
got to introduce or what haveyou.
It's very relaxed, like yousaid, and fun.
SPEAKER_01 (26:22):
Yeah, yeah, that's beautiful.
And also, I I think as well,like just you know, just even
sort of adding to that, it's um,yeah, that messaging, and just I
mean, that's just crystal clearbecause it's very like it's
about like-minded people, youknow, it's very, very that kind
of energy.
Um, you did touch on, and wedon't need to go into it in in
(26:43):
too much detail, but one of thethings we talked about was a
couple of in your ownexperiences with your own
businesses, relationships orpartnerships not working out.
Like, what has that taught youabout any kind doing any kind of
business with anyone?
What has though what what havethose experiences taught you?
SPEAKER_00 (27:04):
They have taught me so much, and I feel the main
message is to really be up frontwith those that you're working
with, and perhaps before thelearning was to discover whether
we were aligned, and not knowingwhat the other person's values
(27:27):
were, what their core valueswere, and looking back in
hindsight, our core valuesweren't aligned, and so it's
it's taught me to have thosereal, genuine, upfront
conversations, which you and Ihave had, you know, as soon as
we met, someone recommended usto chat, and so it was, you
(27:48):
know, we had such an upfront,honest cards on the table, as my
dad would say, genuineconversation to really feel if
we're aligned rather than goingheadfirst into oh, let's just
build a relationship and see howit goes.
It's it's taught me to reallyyeah, have a have an upfront
conversation and check in thatour values were aligned before I
(28:10):
start to partner with someone.
SPEAKER_01 (28:12):
Yeah, yeah, because I think I've I've definitely
seen that with friends of mineas well who have gone into
business with friends and thendown the track, and even even
myself, you know, I bought ahouse with a really beautiful
friend of mine who is still afriend, but you know, we had the
house for eight years, andduring that time I realized our
values were very different inthe way that we approached it.
So, um, so I really dounderstand that it's it's so so
(28:35):
important.
Um, and you said that yourvalues of fun and connection,
where do they come from?
Where do those two values comefrom?
SPEAKER_00 (28:44):
They I haven't actually ever I've been asked
that question.
Uh I mean then they're just twoof them, there are others as
well, but I'm just just for thepurpose of this conversation.
Uh with fun, I feel it'sdefinitely inherited from my
family, as I was saying.
Fun was definitely a value forthem.
They like to have fun, theyloved adventure, they took
(29:07):
risks, they were entrepreneurs,they were creative, it was that
fun energy.
And for me, I like to be aroundfun people, I like to have fun
conversations.
Who doesn't want to have fun?
Like life can be challenging allthe time.
And for me to feel light andcreative and in the right
energy, just fun brings that forme.
(29:29):
So if I really tune in, it'sjust always where I want to be.
Yeah, with fun.
And and the connection isconnection means a lot to me
because I think connection toself, you know, I've learned the
inner work is really importantfor me, and someone who's been
meditating every day for thepast fully 18 years now.
It's really important for me tohave that inner game and that
(29:52):
connection to self and where Ireally want to go and listen to
my intuition, connection toothers.
At a deeper level, so to reallylisten to where people are at
and connect with them at adeeper level and connection to
others in terms of community aswell, which is why I drive that
um my community reach is becauseseeing that connection is
(30:16):
everything.
Like I I always am so excitedfor a reach event.
I'm never thinking, oh, I've gotto run this, or this is about
financial gain.
This is about seeing theconnection alive actually makes
me buzz.
SPEAKER_01 (30:31):
Yeah, that's beautiful.
And and that kind of like foryou, that insight of like being
of service and doing that first.
Do you find that approach andlike the monetary stuff is is
kind of second?
Yeah, can you talk to me alittle bit about that?
SPEAKER_00 (30:49):
Well, I feel that when you're when you're leading,
when you're on purpose, and youfor me, knowing that that's
getting a buzz from connectionand really helping people, same
with me, connecting others toeach other, like understanding
collaborations and puttingpeople in touch with people,
because that's my drive, when Ireally listen to that
(31:10):
intuitively and follow whatfeels good, then that's my focus
in life.
That's what's always been myfocus.
When I follow that, then whenpeople look back over my life,
they'll they'll say to me, Wow,you're really lucky and you've
done all these things, andyou've created this and you've
created that, and and I'veliterally have just followed
(31:32):
what has felt good, which hashelped me guide people
easefully, and and really feltfulfilled.
And I think fulfillment is thename of the gang.
Yeah.
Because when you feel fulfilled,it's it's genuine.
People know it.
SPEAKER_01 (31:49):
Yeah, yeah.
Have you ever had someone like asomeone come and be part of your
community and their businessdoes not make them feel good,
and you've had to kind of advisethem, like kind of maybe we need
to go in a different direction.
Have you ever have you ever hadthat experience?
SPEAKER_00 (32:08):
All the time, all the time, yeah.
And I think a lot of that aswell isn't isn't perhaps the
business making them feel good.
I feel that they're doing allthe things in their business,
which is not making them feelgood.
So it's about, I mean, wherewhatever level you're at in your
(32:28):
business, whether you're in thestart-up set stage, whether
you're in the scale-up stage,it's it's about understanding
what you can do and and whereelse could you perhaps get
support to take off some of thatbecause that's where people stop
to feel excited because there'sso much to do.
SPEAKER_01 (32:46):
Yeah, yeah, I've definitely been through that
stage which you've helped mehelp me through.
Because I I like admin is not mystrong point.
I'm just kind of like, ugh, andso yeah, when I started working
with you and you were just like,you need to get a VA, like you
need someone to take this off,and it it's been such a journey
of like letting go of things andtrusting and handing things
(33:08):
over.
But now it's like I wake up inthe morning and I'm like, cool,
what's in the diary?
It's not like ah, I've gottalike tweak this, and so yeah,
that that's been such a gamechanger.
SPEAKER_00 (33:18):
Yeah, and and and like as you said, there's humans
that can help, and there's alsoso many so much automation and
systemization that can just takeaway some of that load so you
can feel excited and creative inyour business.
Creativity is key, and to feelcreative, we've got to have
space.
(33:38):
Whereas if we're doing all thethings, it it becomes too
difficult, and that's where Isee people lose excitement.
SPEAKER_01 (33:46):
Yeah, yeah, that makes sense.
And and you sort of mentioned aswell for you, like meditation's
been a really big part of yourlife.
Like, have you got any otherkind of mindset, kind of tools
or or things that you do foryourself?
Because obviously, you know, youhelp people with their
businesses, but you're also inyour own business yourself.
(34:06):
So, how do you keep your mindsetsharp?
SPEAKER_00 (34:11):
Meditation number one lots of list writing and
debriefing to myself for sure,and the boundaries are really
strong.
So, for me, I have after myschool and daycare drop-off with
my young children, I set asideuh an hour every morning, and
(34:32):
that's my well-being hour, andthat's where I usually hit the
gym, and I'm obsessed withswimming in the ocean all year
round.
So, genuinely, gen generally, Iwill get in the ocean every
morning as well, and that's justa connector for me.
It's it's where I can reallyunderstand where I'm at, and
that everything is okay, andthat I'm grounded and guided and
(34:55):
supported, yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (34:56):
And and talking about that guided guided,
because it's like you know,everything you're saying is
you're like you're followingwhat feels good, you've got
these practices.
Do you kind of when you talkabout guidance, how does that
show up for you?
Like, what do you mean byguidance?
SPEAKER_00 (35:12):
It's it's again, it comes back to connection, so
it's connection to self.
So whether that's downloads orlight, when I'm meditating, I
just feel very held andsupported.
But I have, you know, not haveto, because I feel half is very
rigid, but I get to sit insilence, which is absolutely
(35:33):
key, and to just be with nodistractions and no open tabs,
and it is just a quiet spacewhere I feel held, and that's
where I may get downloads, whichcan happen all the time.
Like when I'll say to my clientsin the mornings, I'll be like,
Wow, I just got this download,and this has happened, but
genuinely I try to detach fromthat from from mind from the
(35:55):
monkey mind doing the work, andthen actually sit in complete
silence of light, um, andusually grounding, yeah.
So if I'm as I said, if I'm inthe ocean or my feet in the
grass, like for me, it just itjust feels nature is huge for
me, hence why you'll always seeme doing videos outside.
Like, that's where I feel goodbecause people say, Oh, you love
(36:15):
it, you're by the beach, likebecause I feel good.
So if I feel good, I want tolean into that even more, and
hence why I have the outsideevents, it's people uh feel
good.
SPEAKER_01 (36:25):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
Because yeah, all the venues arejust absolutely gorgeous.
There's always water, it feelsspacious, it's like yeah, it's
it's really beautiful whereveryou wherever you pick the venues
to be.
SPEAKER_00 (36:37):
Yeah, because I want people to expand, you know, I
want people to feel expansiveand not into yeah, contracting
sort of energy, more open andexpensive.
SPEAKER_01 (36:48):
Yeah.
And where do you where do yousee kind of because I know
you're you're so passionateabout small business, like where
do you see small business goingin the next few years,
especially with like AI comingin and all this kind of stuff?
Like, what's your sort ofvision?
SPEAKER_00 (37:04):
I feel it's a really great time for small business
now.
I feel that just from my workalone, I have so many calls
coming through from those whoare being made redundant in big
businesses.
We know that AI is coming in,it's taking over a lot of roles,
(37:24):
and lots of people are now in aposition where they can say,
Well, this is my life, right?
I have one life, and it's timeto do something that I really
love.
And with the systems, theautomations, the connection that
is available, there's never beena better time to really lean in
(37:45):
on what you love, who you wantto be of service to, and then go
for it.
Because right now, as well,there has never been a greater
time for people searching forpeople to help them.
SPEAKER_01 (37:58):
Yeah, absolutely.
And and can we just touch onlike obviously being in business
and and being in a smallbusiness where you're working by
yourself, that importance of thehuman connection as well?
SPEAKER_00 (38:10):
Yeah, I mean it's huge, it's huge.
Having people around you thatsee you, inspire you, motivate
you, hold you accountable iseverything.
If you don't have what I hear alot is the self-belief, a lot of
small business owners they havea passion, they know their
service is good, they're hearingit, but deep down they have that
(38:31):
judgment on themselves and thatself that you know they're not
worthy.
And having people that see youand inspire you and can get
behind you, not only in acommunity, but mentor to get
behind you will create thebiggest shift because anything
is possible.
Anything is possible.
You just have to understand thevision and see the actionable
(38:53):
steps, which is where I lean inon more than ever, is is really
mirroring the potential of thosethat I'm working with.
SPEAKER_01 (39:01):
Yeah, and I mean for you now, like obviously, your
top of your game, like helpingall these people.
Do you still reach out?
Do you still have a mentor?
Do you have coaches?
Do you have people you workwith?
SPEAKER_00 (39:13):
Yes, yeah, I still have those mentors around me,
and I still have amazingentrepreneurs who are now
friends that I can speak to allthe time as well, because it
just takes one conversation, onepowerful conversation of nuggets
of wisdom.
Like the the key word for me atthe moment with so many
(39:34):
entrepreneurs that I'm workingwith as well is you would know
them as well.
Like with Chat GP and the wayit's going.
I mean, yeah, there's so manyframeworks and structures and
wording that's being produced,but the wisdom and the heart-led
support from a human being whoreally cares is everything.
SPEAKER_01 (39:54):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (39:54):
And so getting around those people on a regular
basis is what's going to createa shift for you.
SPEAKER_01 (39:59):
Yeah, absolutely.
I really, I really wish, handsdown, when I when I started my
small business, like five yearsago, I started it part-time in
the middle of COVID.
But I I wish that someone hadsaid to me then go, don't spend
any money on any courses, go andfind a mentor.
I really do wish because I I dofeel like even though you know
(40:22):
things have worked out perfectlythe way that they are, I do feel
that is that is the step that isthe for me.
It's like once you get thesystem thing set up, find
someone that you can trust thatyou can call, that can be
accountable, you know, come andfind somebody like you, find a
community like Reach, and inthat you will feel so supported
(40:44):
and just not alone and kind oflike, oh, I don't know what the
heck I'm doing, and just wastingso much money as well, because
you're just trying to buy allthese courses to figure out
stuff that you're like, youdon't really need to know
everything.
You're not gonna knoweverything, you know.
You can find someone who's amarketing guru like you and like
come to you and and get thatsupport, you know.
SPEAKER_00 (41:06):
So, yeah, no, and I I get that.
Like, there's just two things Iwant to touch on with there is I
feel that people are there'slike a sense at the moment of
course fatigue, you know, peopleare getting an ebook or a
shortcut cut to this, or let'stry this, and the amount of
people that have said to me overand over again, I've tried this,
I've had this course, I'vedownloaded this, I've done this,
(41:27):
and tried it themselves.
But to get a heart-led kick upthe butt by someone who believes
in you, it's like focus on this,do this, stop trying to do all
these different things.
Like, we need to focus, right?
Blinkers on is really key, youknow, with everything.
Same, you know, with me.
I want I'm I'm looking atup-leveling my fitness soon and
getting a PT because I'm doing,you know, going through the
(41:50):
motions, lifting weights.
I'm not really pushing myself,I'm not really it's we need them
for everything.
And the other thing I wanted totouch on, love, was the
isolation part and being aroundother people.
And I feel, you know, asentrepreneurs, small business
owners, is we are working athome a lot, which gives us
flexibility and it's great.
But the amount of ideas that wehave as entrepreneurs and and
(42:11):
actually taking that into actionis when we get around other
people who are oh, me too, orI'm struggling with that too, or
that's a great idea, or I'm notsure about that because I'd
heard about this, or justsoundboarding is everything.
SPEAKER_01 (42:24):
Yeah, it's so important, and that human
connection aspect of it, it'slike right now.
I mean, I can feel it in thecommunity that I'm in, just this
surge of people wanting to beconnected.
It's like we've had five yearsof whatever's been going on, and
it's kind of like now I feellike people are like, ugh, I'm
missing something, I'm missingbeing around people.
(42:46):
So I think what you're doing atReach and bringing so many
people together in such a funand connected way is just magic,
and yeah, you're just doingincredible work.
So yeah, it's so cool, it's socool, and it's so I think it's
really nice, like you know,talking to you about marketing,
but really it's about mindset aswell.
It's like that's and I lovebecause you've done your own,
(43:09):
been on your own journey withthat and studied that as well,
and just for you to be able tobring that to people who are
like, ugh, I feel a bit stuckhere, and yeah, that's magic.
SPEAKER_00 (43:19):
Yeah, and the things for me is I don't well, you were
calling me a marketing guru,like for me, I'm not you know
you roll your eyes actually.
Yeah, because there's no hiding.
Um it's for me, yeah, it'sdefinitely a more of a heart-led
approach and looking at abusiness holistically rather
(43:40):
than being a digital marketingspecialist.
Like, as you know, I have mycollective of you know ad
specialists, my AI specialists,I have my VAs, like they're all
specialists in their field, butfor me, it's about the
opportunities in a business as awhole, like it's looking at
every opportunity that we can,collaborations and partnerships,
marketing, branding for me isprobably my favourite.
(44:03):
In fact, it is is building abrand, the storytelling
connection again throughstorytelling to our clients and
the right partners.
That's key.
Um, but as you say, mindset, youknow, and and being an NLP
coach, and I know you are too,is is understanding patterns, is
seeing the blocks and reallyhelping people navigate that
because otherwise they're juststuck in that loop forever.
(44:26):
So seeing that freedom comethrough and knowing that they
can achieve this is amazing, andgetting that's getting that
response from my clients justsaying, Thank you so much.
This is you know, this hasreally helped me, not just with
business, but helped me evolveinto someone I really want to
become, and that's where I thinkat the moment, particularly with
the power of personal brands, ishuge.
(44:48):
People are looking to people whoare genuine, have lots of
storytelling that connects withthem, and there's a there's a
real opportunity, realopportunity.
I'm working with even now, Ihave six clients who are over
the age of 65 who have beenthrough journeys, I mean,
absolutely incredible journeys,and realize now that the energy
(45:12):
they have from being of serviceis super powerful, and so they
come to me going, Well, I don'tunderstand technology, what do I
need to do?
And it's actually quite simplebecause the tools are there and
now they're showing up, and andpeople just want to work with
them because, like you said,people want to get around people
more, they don't want to alwaysuse the technology and AI, and
they want a real person to helpthem move the needle in their
(45:34):
life and business.
SPEAKER_01 (45:35):
Yeah, and I think that's that's something that I'm
for me, just the authenticitypiece as well.
It's kind of like now it's likeyou know, I think AI is
incredible and I'm definitelyembracing it in my own business.
But for me, it's like if I canfeel that something is off or it
is like especially people using,you know, in service businesses,
(45:59):
it's like, for example, I knowI'm never gonna put myself in a
situation where it's like I'mhanding over my image to that
that just isn't something that Iwant to do because the
authenticity of a real personspeaking to you for me is is
key.
So it's really interesting now.
I'm finding myself unfollowingum certain people or whatever
(46:19):
that are using that.
So are you are you do you feelthat authenticity piece is is
important or will you beembracing AI and all areas?
SPEAKER_00 (46:30):
Authenticity is key for me.
I feel it's so poignant today instanding out in a saturated
marketplace, but also it becomeseffortless when you're talking
about content and showing up andvisibility, which is key.
Like you said, people can feelit, right?
They understand if you know.
So what if you create a videoand you know you don't have the
(46:53):
perfect elocution elocution indelivering?
People want to know it's you andthat you really care about what
you're talking about, and so AI,I feel the important part is use
it as a tool and work with it,but don't let it replicate you
in your business.
Yeah.
Because if you have an idea,what I love for you know,
(47:14):
someone me that likes to sp tobrainstorm all the time is I
might come up with an idea or amasterclass or a group
discussion or something, and Ican run it through in my brand
voice, which has been tailoredto sound sound like me and take
on everything, you know, allparts of my life and who I am,
and then it will give meframeworks from there.
So it's you know an extensiveideas platform, but I wouldn't
(47:36):
ever let it replicate me and whoI am.
SPEAKER_01 (47:38):
Yeah, I feel the same.
I don't know, there's just somesort of part of integrity,
right?
Where it's just like if I wantto talk to people, I it needs to
be me.
It's but I can see theattraction of how easy and fast
it is to do that, but it's justlike it's not the way I see me
going.
SPEAKER_00 (47:55):
So and that's it, it's it's a tool, you know, it's
using it's a very amazing tool,and I think it's also a bit
daunting.
We don't know where it's gonnago and how far it's gonna go,
but that's why for me, mycalling is to lean in even more
into the deep and vulnerableheart-led conversations because
(48:16):
it's just the absolute extreme.
Yeah, even my AI specialist saidthe other day it's interesting
because we're tailoring a lot ofAI packages for a lot of
businesses that I'm workingwith, and he said it's
interesting because we'resystemizing and helping people
with AI for the tools.
But he said, But Mandy, you'realmost like you know, the
feminine energy, feet in theearth, people outside in a
(48:36):
circle, you know, having theseconversations, but then you've
got AI as a tool, and it is it'sa real like contrast, yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (48:44):
But how amazing that you've been able to embrace that
and and bring that in, you know,and and still be grounded in the
energy of yourself, which is youknow a huge part of reach as
well.
Like it's it's you, it's thatit's your energy coming through,
not AI's energy, it's justsupporting supporting that.
Yeah, yeah, amazing.
(49:05):
And so, what's coming up forReach?
What what have you got planned?
What's what's your vision?
SPEAKER_00 (49:10):
What what's happening?
There's so much happening, it'svery exciting.
We have our next event thisThursday at uh felon's in Manley
on the water, and that's everymonth in Manley.
Uh, and it's it's just takenoff.
I'm really blown away.
Um, I was almost not dared totry it in Sydney.
(49:33):
I probably wasn't ready, right?
This is that whole inner criticpiece.
Like, I was like, Oh, I'm notsure if I'm really I'm really
procrastinating, but launched inManley, it's gone amazingly,
have an amazing community therealready, and every month we meet
up there, and also on thecentral coast, which has been
running for nearly three yearsnow in November.
Have two locations on thecentral coast where we meet
(49:54):
monthly.
We also meet as a whole, soManly and the Central Coast, we
meet online for anaccountability piece and
networking, and I mentor everybusiness as well.
So I'm in every member'sbusiness, catching up with them
and guiding them and helpingthem with direction, marketing,
and mindset.
So Reach is flourishing, it'sreally growing, and I I keep
(50:15):
getting questions from differentpeople asking me to launch
Reaches in different locations.
So Newcastle, Sunshine Coast,all different areas, and I'm uh
I'm definitely open to it.
So I'm not saying they'rehappening yet, but I am in that
trust energy of as we mentionedbefore, if it feels aligned like
(50:36):
Manly did, everything was youknow layering up.
You're helping me lead inManley, we met, and it was so I
mean, it just was effortless,wasn't it?
I mean, it was just crazy.
You just suddenly came to areach event, you looked at me
and said, This is amazing, I'min.
I threw my arms around you, andthen there we were, and it was
like, wow, and then the launchwas in torrential rain, and
(50:56):
there were still 38entrepreneurs.
Yeah, it was incredible.
So so for me, which which couldsound woo to people, but for me,
I feel that I'm really beingguided by this movement, and I
feel like it's a movement, andso when it feels right, I will
move as well.
SPEAKER_01 (51:12):
Yeah, yeah.
Oh, that is so incredible, andyeah, I mean, I love being part
of the Reach community, and youknow, thanks for trusting me and
and bringing me in.
And and and where can where canpeople find you, Manly?
I I know there's going to belots of people listening to this
who are like in the smallbusiness place and feeling a bit
overwhelmed and all that kind ofstuff.
(51:33):
And you know, can peopleinternationally reach out to
you?
You know, is that a possibilityas well?
Yeah, for sure.
SPEAKER_00 (51:39):
Yeah, if you're feeling overwhelmed, you're
feeling stuck, you're spinningyour wheels, and you're watching
this, and think, oh, I coulddeal with some of her energy and
focus, then you can definitelyreach out to me uh on my
Instagram.
We can add the links uh onLinkedIn, and um, as I say, the
reach community, you can comealong for a free trial for the
first event and see how you gowith that.
(52:00):
Um, yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (52:02):
So I was what's your website as well?
Where can everyone find you onyour website?
SPEAKER_00 (52:07):
Well, the best thing is just to go to my Instagram,
which is Mandy underscore Junderscore Millen, and then go
from there.
Then I've got my landing pages,which is to work for me on a
one-to-one basis and also withReach.
SPEAKER_01 (52:20):
Yeah, amazing, amazing.
And is there anything else thatbefore we wrap up this beautiful
heart-led conversation?
Is there anything is thereanything else you'd like to add?
Any final messages for any smallbusiness out owners out there,
anyone who's struggling withanything?
SPEAKER_00 (52:40):
I would say to really take some time out in
terms of listening to yourself,where you want to go, who you
want to serve, what does successlook and feel like for you on
your own terms?
Life is too short, and it's timeto go and get it.
SPEAKER_01 (52:59):
I love it.
Amazing.
Amazing.
Well, thank you so much.
Thank you.
Um, it's so lovely to see you onhere, and I will be seeing you
at the Reach event soon as well.
Yes.
Um, but yeah, thank you for allyour wisdom and and sharing so
much and giving so much valuetoday, and really appreciate you
and your beautiful energy.
Thank you.
(53:20):
Um we'll see you soon.
SPEAKER_00 (53:21):
Thanks, um, lovely to chat to you.
Bye.
SPEAKER_01 (53:32):
Thanks for listening today, and if this episode
helped or inspired you, justremember to share it to your
friends or family who could alsouse some inspiration today.
We are all about sharing thelove.
Welcome to the Becoming Your Warrior podcast.
This is the place where you getto feel inspired and empowered
to step into your very bestlife.
Hello, um, today on the BecomingYour Warrior podcast, I'm joined
by Mandy Millen, a heart-ledbusiness mentor, founder of
(00:24):
Reach, and a passionate advocatefor creating success without
sacrificing well-being.
With over 20 years of experiencegrowing businesses and
supporting hundreds ofentrepreneurs, Mandy knows first
hand what it takes to overcomeburnout, find alignment, and
build meaningful connections.
And in this conversation, we'regoing to explore the challenges
(00:45):
that she's faced, how she'schanged her relationship with
herself and others, and thelessons that she has learned
that now allow her to help somany others thrive.
So welcome Mandy.
Thanks, Emma.
It's lovely.
Lovely to chat to you today.
Yeah, lovely to chat to you.
And I mean that's quite a lotthat we're going to talk about
today, but um, I guess for me,the first place that I would
(01:08):
love to start really is can youshare before we get into your
background?
Can you share an area of yourlife where you've really faced a
big obstacle or challenge andyou've overcome that?
SPEAKER_00 (01:21):
Well, there's so many.
So many.
Um I mean, a big personalchallenge for me, which really
was a was a tough time in mylife, was when I was in my late
teens, around 16, and myyoungest of my elder brothers he
had a brain hemorrhage out ofthe blue at 21, fit and healthy.
(01:45):
Um he collapsed, and it was atumour on his brain waiting to
go off.
Um, and yeah, it was it was sochallenging, so so challenging.
He I mean he was in a coma forabout six months, we didn't know
if he was going to live, and toget to get through that, I mean,
he he's he's well now, thankgoodness.
(02:07):
Uh, but it left him heavilydisabled um and not being able
to walk properly, and um, heneeds full-time care.
But but what that did for me andthe challenge that to go through
that was it was so worrying atthe time, and it was so
challenging to know if he wasgoing to live, and how we would
(02:28):
get through that as a family,was to really be positive and to
really lean into hope and toreally connect as a as a family
and have trust that he would beokay.
And I remember my dad actuallysaying to me at a young age, if
you can get through this andbelieve and trust, then you will
(02:49):
be able to really push throughso many challenges in your life,
and I do believe that now.
I feel that that really set themarker for me because it was
such an uncertain time.
Um, and yeah, he actually now isone of the most positive people
you could be around.
Like he sees his double visionas a gift, and what would a
(03:10):
blind man give for his doublevision?
And so he has sort of set thatenergy for me and my family in
terms of being positive and notmoaning and being really
grateful for what we have.
SPEAKER_01 (03:21):
Oh wow, amazing.
What's your what's yourbrother's name?
Paul.
Paul.
Oh, bless him.
SPEAKER_00 (03:27):
What what an absolute legend, right?
That's amazing.
He's an absolute legend, yeah.
I got I got the chance toactually care for him for six
months and um, yeah, a long timeago, and be his carer and help
him physically and train him andwork with him, and it was just
it was really challenging, butit was such an amazing
experience, yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (03:47):
Yeah.
And and so, well, I mean, thankyou for sharing that.
That's that's huge.
Um, I mean, were you beforethat?
Was you would you say yourfamily was positive?
Because I'd say you are like oneof the most positive people I've
ever met, and your energy isamazing and infectious, but like
did that positivity exist inyour family before that, or was
it that experience?
SPEAKER_00 (04:07):
Yeah, they are positive people, definitely.
They are positive people, youknow, they are entrepreneurs,
they've created their own lifeby design.
So I come from a family ofentrepreneurs, my mum, my dad,
that they were always doing whatthey wanted to do for
themselves.
So there was a level ofpositivity with that.
Yeah, there wasn't a lot ofmoaning, there was hard times
(04:29):
and challenge and stress withyou know running small
businesses or what have you, butgenuinely they were really fun,
if you were to ask anyone.
That like which is one of mycore values, they're fun people,
um, yeah, and definitelypositive.
SPEAKER_01 (04:43):
Yeah, and so both your mum and dad were
entrepreneurs as well.
SPEAKER_00 (04:47):
Yeah, yeah.
So my so my dad had uh his ownhe he started off selling teddy
bears in the east end of Londonas a market trader, and then he
got into cars and was sellingcars, and then he expanded and
became um the owner of a tirefitting company, and then he
scaled that to five premises inLondon, tyre fitting, and then
(05:08):
started exporting in and out ofSouth Africa.
Um, so that was my dad, and thenhe went into he was a real
entrepreneur, and then he gotinto golf magazines, which is
another story.
But he ended up taking Paul, mydisabled brother, out with him.
Um he created the magazine, hewrote the magazine, he got
sponsorship for the golfmagazine, and Paul would go out
on the deliveries with him,socialising with all the golf
(05:31):
clubs, so it was social for him.
So that was amazing, that wasamazing.
That was my dad's background,and my mum was a florist for a
long, long time.
She had her own small business,which I worked in from the age
of 12, selling fresh flowers.
Yeah, and my brothers all gotinto uh being mechanics and tire
fitters, and my my middlebrother Jamie just received
recognition for best uh tireretailer in the UK.
(05:57):
So he's just so it he's amazing.
He's taken on my dad's legacy,who he sadly lost five years
ago.
SPEAKER_01 (06:03):
Yeah, wow, and so I mean, growing up in that, like
seeing your your both yourparents in business, like
initially in small business.
Um, I mean, what was that likefor you?
You mentioned sort of working atyour mum's florist from the age
of 12.
I mean, has work and businesslike just always been there in
your bones, I guess?
SPEAKER_00 (06:22):
Yeah, 100%.
It's in my DNA when I look back.
Just just, I mean, as I as I saywith a lot of entrepreneurs that
I work with, I s I saw the gritand determination with them and
the freedom and the flexibilitythat they had.
You know, it wasn't nine tofive, we'd be packing magazines
on the weekend or going to theflower markets early in the
mornings, but they created theirown schedule and they work for
(06:45):
themselves, and and that's whatI really loved.
Uh, but I mean, my journey wasdifferent.
I went into big business andthen I've come full circle.
Now I'm with small businessesagain.
But when I look back, my heartand my DNA is definitely around
supporting small businessbecause of that influence from
my family for sure.
SPEAKER_01 (07:06):
Yeah, and you mentioned sort of like growing
up with two entrepreneurialparents, like there were
struggles in there as well.
What what were what was one or acouple of the struggles that you
witnessed?
SPEAKER_00 (07:17):
The struggles would be boundaries, and which we all
know as small business owners,so is actually when to stop and
actually cutting off time.
As I say, it's great that theythey we could work at weekends
or um set things up for you knowdeliveries and and and also
(07:38):
working in flowers or the tyresor the magazines, but sometimes
at the weekend it would be itwould carry on into the
weekends, and that would alsoaffect family life as well.
Yeah.
So I would say boundaries wouldbe the biggest one.
SPEAKER_01 (07:52):
Yeah, beautiful.
And and obviously being a mum oftwo yourself and and having a
family yourself, is thatsomething like now that that
that you catch yourself on?
Is is the boundaries?
SPEAKER_00 (08:04):
Yes, definitely.
I feel boundaries are really keyfor me as a mum with two very
active young children.
Is if I'm not looking after mywell-being, creating those
boundaries, then I'm not used toanyone else.
As a mum, as a wife, as amentor, it's key that I really
protect my energy.
SPEAKER_01 (08:23):
Yeah, beautiful.
And we will get into reach, wewill start talking about reach
soon.
But before we do, I'd love justto find out from you.
Like, let's just say a scenario,like someone with just early
starting out a small businessand they have know nothing about
marketing, and they they somehowfind you, are lucky enough to
(08:44):
find you, and they come to youand they're like, I don't know
where to start, this is whereI'm at, you know.
I'm seeing clients, I've got afew things going on.
What would be one of the firstthings that you would advise
them on when it comes tomarketing, when it comes to
getting themselves out there?
SPEAKER_00 (09:02):
I would say it's a great question, and there's lots
to it.
Like, where do I start?
I would say if they've alreadystarted and they have a small
client base but they want toexpand more, I would say, in
terms of the business, is what'san area that they really love.
Like it's important to be lit upby your work.
(09:24):
So if it's about they want to becustomer-facing, they want to
help people, but they don't wantto perhaps put themselves out
there and and be and be visible.
I would say that it's reallyabout getting into the mindset
shift because right now peoplebuy into people even more.
So it would be the focus wouldbe really on who are your ideal
(09:49):
clients, who do you really wantto serve, and what are their
problems?
Because you would be hearingthose problems all the time when
they come to you, and to focuson those problems and understand
your solution and how you helpthem with the transformation is
key.
Once you have that locked in,then you want to become visible,
(10:13):
you want to be sharing yourstories and how you've helped
others in that situation andstart to build your brand and
share your voice.
And there's so many options wecould go into, but I think that
would probably take up the wholetime on how to do that in terms
of tactics and in terms ofstrategies.
But there's so many optionsright now for free organic
(10:36):
marketing for you to step intothe light and to do that, and
it's just as long as you knowwho you're serving and what
their problems are and what yourtransformation is, that's where
you want to really dive indeeper and share more to build
your brand on who you really areand understand your voice and
your visibility.
Because if people can't see you,they can't buy into you, and so
(11:00):
get away from the Canvatemplates.
We need them as a holding point,but really it's your energy that
people want to buy into,specifically if you are a
business like ourselves where weare of service to people, which
is fundamentally who I support,and which is where I've come
from in my businesses as well.
That would be my key, and then Iwould say that your messaging as
(11:25):
the next point would be superkey as well.
Because a lot of the time I seepeople wasting energy on
creating marketing of what theythink sells their product or
service, but really wherethey're missing it is what we
just spoke about, which is well,what's the problem and where's
the solution?
Because people have such a shortattention span, right?
(11:46):
Six seconds.
So we need to understand thatthis is for us from a customer
perspective, and and then themessaging needs to land and be
aligned with that.
And there's so many ways to dothat.
You can craft that yourself, butthere's also systems out there
that can really help you laythat foundation, and then it's
(12:07):
really about taking action andbeing consistent on the channels
from a marketing perspective,and then once you've got a grip
of organic marketing and you'vegot that consistency of brand
and the trust is there, then youcan elevate with different types
of marketing, paid marketing toreally rev things up.
SPEAKER_01 (12:25):
Yeah, yeah, and and and I mean for you, like when
people do find you, and let'ssay someone's been in business
for a couple of years or youknow, they've kind of tried
everything, like what what's oneof the biggest, not mistakes,
but what what do you think isone of the the yeah, the biggest
distractions that people buyinto, whether it's buying
(12:46):
multiple courses or or whatever,like when people are starting a
business, because they there'syou know, this is their skill,
this this thing that they do, itmight not necessarily be
marketing, but what's thebiggest kind of complaint or
issue or um confusion thatpeople come to you about?
That's a good question.
SPEAKER_00 (13:07):
There's lots.
I'm like, where do I start?
And there's so many.
There's so many.
I would say the overarchinggeneral would be the messaging.
Because the messaging just isn'tlanding.
So people are just tryingdifferent aspects, different
(13:29):
visuals, different approaches,but the messaging isn't
connecting with their target,customer, their pain points and
showing the transformation.
Like just as simple, as simpleas that, okay?
And like their brand promise andwhat they do, what is it, what
is it that you do?
I think there's a real blockwhere some people don't even
know what they do, let alonethen selling it to other people.
(13:52):
Because we don't understand,we're not gonna buy.
So it would be a messaging, uh,which is what I see as a
messaging, but as in terms ofwhat the the customer would come
to me and what they'reoverwhelmed with is like you
said, is they're just spinningtheir wheels, nothing's working,
nothing's landing, they'reposting and hoping, they're
trying to connect with theirclients, but it's not landing.
(14:13):
That would be a confusion.
Spinning wheels, overwhelmed,not connecting, exhausted.
SPEAKER_01 (14:20):
Yeah, I mean, I think that's how I found you.
Like you sound familiar.
Just tick off all of those, allof those.
So, so tell me a little bitabout your own before we again,
before we get into reads,because you know that that
that's super powerful, and I'mreally excited about that.
But tell me about your ownentrepreneurial journey because
you've mentioned you were in thebig corporates, obviously, you
(14:42):
you grew up in that, had thatbig corporate experience, but
then with your own businesses,like when did that evolve?
SPEAKER_00 (14:50):
So a rewind coming out of university, I started
working for big businesses inmarketing.
So I I graduated in London withan international marketing
degree, and my thesis was ininternational branding.
So I've always loved brand andstorytelling and connection and
trust.
Went into working for big firmsin Sydney, uh running marketing
(15:14):
teams, and I just feltcompletely lost and disconnected
in that world for me, and whichI know we'll touch on, but for
me, it was reconnecting tomyself and what I wanted to do,
which was to be of service.
That's what was coming throughfor me all the time is to help
people, and so that's where Ishifted and and worked in
well-being.
(15:34):
And my first business was as aPilates teacher and building my
Pilates practice in the UK, andfrom there I sold that business
and moved back to Australiabecause that I went back to the
UK.
I'm gonna hop around, but I I Iwas in Australia after uni for
the big businesses, went back tothe UK, lost, and decided to
(15:58):
have a complete change of life,set up my Pilates practice in
the UK, sold that business, cameback to Sydney, and set up my
Pilates practice in Manley, andthen scaled that business into a
corporate well-being business,placing meditation, Pilates,
yoga, mindfulness facilitatorsall over Australasia.
SPEAKER_01 (16:20):
Wow.
SPEAKER_00 (16:20):
And then got into mum life, had my wonderful
children, took a step back, andthen realized that mentoring was
really where I wanted to bebecause people were starting to
come to me and actually askingme for advice.
So I started to set up aconsultancy firm myself, and
then I just landed on well, I'mmeant to guide people and I'm
(16:41):
meant to connect people, hencehow the community started, and I
went from there.
So it's it was it's a bit of ajourney, and there were so many
challenges throughout, and butthat's where I am today, and
that's why I can help peoplewith not just the marketing but
also the mindset because I facea lot of challenges with my
mindset throughout that journey.
(17:01):
It wasn't like, and then I didthis, and yeah, and then I just
cruised into that, and like itwas mega challenging.
SPEAKER_01 (17:08):
Yeah, and and how much of a part do you think that
plays in small business andrunning a business's mindset?
SPEAKER_00 (17:16):
It's everything because it's interesting when
you ask me about the marketingand where should you know, where
could we go and what could wedo?
The processes, the strategies,the tactics, the solutions are
one area to deliver and topresent to you.
But if you're not willing to dothe work and get out of your own
way and take actionconsistently, you're never gonna
(17:39):
do it.
And so for me, holding myclients accountable and pushing
them forward through the blockswhich I faced early in business
and what I see all the time.
And as you would know, someonewho works with people with
mindset, is if we can't get pastthat, nothing's gonna happen,
(18:01):
nothing's gonna change.
It's a belief that we need toget rid of.
So for me, in the early stageswhen I left big business and I
went into the sparkly world ofwellness, I constantly had who
am I to be in wellness?
No one's gonna like me, no one'sgonna connect with me, no one's
gonna believe me.
But I had to push past that, andthe more that I pushed past that
(18:23):
and overcome that and got aroundthe right people who coached me
and helped me every day, andsuccessful entrepreneurs who
were ahead of me, then I wasable to execute.
And now that's I mean, whatthat's 15 years ago, nearly over
15 years ago.
Now I can execute very, veryquickly.
As I don't see it as a mistake,I see it as all that's a
(18:44):
learning, I'll move on.
Whereas before I'd thumb ifsomething didn't work out, it
would I'd procrastinate andshould I do this?
And can I take action and oh mygod, second guessing?
Whereas now I'm further along.
SPEAKER_01 (18:55):
Yeah, and and for you, like you know, just
referencing the fact that youknow you sought out these people
that were a little, you know, abit ahead of you in in various
areas, like what what kind ofimportance would you put on that
in terms of having that coach,having that accountability
partner?
SPEAKER_00 (19:13):
It's everything, it really is everything.
I mean, it's absolutelypriceless to have guidance and
support and accountability,which is why I'm so passionate
about what I do, is iseverything.
I wouldn't be where I am today.
There's no way I'd be takingmoves and and being able to
support people at this levelwithout that.
(19:34):
That was everything for mebecause I wouldn't have I
wouldn't have scaled, I wouldn'thave solved that business, I
wouldn't move to Australia.
I just wouldn't have done it.
SPEAKER_01 (19:42):
Yeah, yeah.
And and so can we talk a littlebit about the creation of Reach?
Because it sounds like it it waskind of like an organic thing
initially, where you've had youryou two kitties, people are
starting to reach out to you.
I mean, just even that word,there you go.
So how so how did it kind ofevolve?
(20:05):
Like and what was the vision, Iguess, initially?
SPEAKER_00 (20:10):
It's really interesting because I didn't sit
down with Reach and think, thisis the vision, I want to create
this.
It happened organically, where Iwas invited.
Uh, I was actually brought likeI remember I was breastfeeding
my daughter, a lady approachedme who had a successful career
and said, I'd heard about you inwellness, and I think it would
(20:31):
be really great to set up awomen in business event on the
Central Coast where I live.
And so we run ran two verysuccessful events, and that
didn't work out, thepartnership, and afterwards I
just knew that the connectionthat I saw, the deeper layers
(20:54):
within the events was somethingI was so profoundly inspired by
was the connection, which is oneof my core values as well.
And I then went into workingwith another lady, another
partnership where similar, itwas a very similar offering, a
little bit more holistic, wherewe ran some other events.
(21:16):
Again, that partnership didn'twork out in terms of values, and
and then it was just anawakening.
It was I I need to just do thismyself.
This is for me to step into thelight now and actually hold
space for community and bringall of my experience and not
just in my work career, butactually, as we were talking
(21:38):
earlier, like my DNA and myfamily, my lineage of
entrepreneurs and being aroundpeople.
Because when I actually lookback to my family, they were
creating relationships,cross-referrals, friendships
with local businesses.
Naturally, they didn't have anyevents, they didn't have any
communities.
(21:58):
I didn't have that in mywellness business starting out.
I had to knock on doors, buildrelationships.
When I look at it from acommunity aspect, I just knew
that when we look at a marketingstrategy as a whole, and
holistically, partnership andcollaboration should always be
(22:18):
at the forefront.
Not only from a businesscommercial value perspective,
but that that was sort of whereI was coming from to start.
But now with REAGE, it's justway more powerful.
The meaningful relationshipsthat are happening, the trust,
the support, especially as weare getting more and more
isolated as human beings, isjust really where it's at.
(22:40):
So, yeah, as you can see, Icould talk underwater about this
subject because I'm I'm 60events in now.
I'm nearly three years ofbuilding this community myself,
running these events, seeing andcurating these conversations
with heart-led open-mindedentrepreneurs, and just the
emotions that are brought aboutthrough this community are just
(23:04):
so different to what you wouldhave from a normal business
networking event or community.
Does that answer your question?
It was a really long way.
SPEAKER_01 (23:16):
We just I just got to see all the classic Mandy,
you know, energy passion comingout.
Lots of hands.
Lots of hands, lots of hands.
And and what do you think?
I mean, what what do you feelmakes Reach different from any
other kind of marketing network,you know, community event for
small businesses?
(23:37):
What do you think that is?
SPEAKER_00 (23:40):
It is the heart-led conversations which are
specifically curated aroundvulnerability and the locations
which help to really relax thenervous system.
So for me, my core values arefun and connection, and so it
(24:02):
has to be fun and connected.
Yeah.
And so the conversations that wethat I facilitate and my other
leaders is around, yeah, what'snot working in your business?
What are the challenges?
Where do you feel blocked rightnow?
And so people are meeting withstrangers sometimes and actually
sharing that, and they just feelso heard and seen.
(24:23):
Where I feel in today's lifepeople aren't having these real
conversations and actuallylifting each other up, they're
very surface-level PowerPoints,strategies.
What can you give me?
Here's my business card, can wedo business?
Whereas I feel when we come inon a real heart-led level and
genuineness, that's where thefriendships are are really
(24:46):
developed, and then there's thatnatural flow of connection.
Absolutely, yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (24:51):
And I think you know, having been to a few of
them myself, like I would say,like the the energy is super
friendly.
It's not like, oh, I'm here todo how it's not like what can I
do for you, what can you do forme?
It's super friendly.
You just kind of feel likeyou've walked out of there
meeting other like-minded,lovely friends um who might be
(25:13):
able to help you down the trackin what in one way or another.
But it yeah, you definitelycreate that safe space for
people, so yeah, it's beautiful.
It's beautiful.
Yeah, well done, you reallyappreciate it.
SPEAKER_00 (25:26):
Um but just but just to just to touch on that.
The reason why people say to me,Wow, all the time, these people
are really my kind of peoplethat are here.
Like it's quite rare, you know,that everyone is really
friendly, everyone is reallyupbeat, everyone is really
caring, everyone is reallygenuine.
But that's because they've comethrough my messaging, as we were
(25:48):
talking about before.
So I'm very specific in who Icall in because it isn't
everyone's cup of tea.
People do want the PowerPoint,the structure, they want to get
down to business with a businesscard and go.
That's fine.
But this is a different approachto doing business, and there is
a lot of commercial value, butwe don't place that as the
highest priority.
The commercial value just comesnaturally.
(26:10):
I've seen millions of dollars ofcommercial value of people
working together, but they'vebecome friends, and there's no
pressure to bring people,there's no KPIs on who you've
got to introduce or what haveyou.
It's very relaxed, like yousaid, and fun.
SPEAKER_01 (26:22):
Yeah, yeah, that's beautiful.
And also, I I think as well,like just you know, just even
sort of adding to that, it's um,yeah, that messaging, and just I
mean, that's just crystal clearbecause it's very like it's
about like-minded people, youknow, it's very, very that kind
of energy.
Um, you did touch on, and wedon't need to go into it in in
(26:43):
too much detail, but one of thethings we talked about was a
couple of in your ownexperiences with your own
businesses, relationships orpartnerships not working out.
Like, what has that taught youabout any kind doing any kind of
business with anyone?
What has though what what havethose experiences taught you?
SPEAKER_00 (27:04):
They have taught me so much, and I feel the main
message is to really be up frontwith those that you're working
with, and perhaps before thelearning was to discover whether
we were aligned, and not knowingwhat the other person's values
(27:27):
were, what their core valueswere, and looking back in
hindsight, our core valuesweren't aligned, and so it's
it's taught me to have thosereal, genuine, upfront
conversations, which you and Ihave had, you know, as soon as
we met, someone recommended usto chat, and so it was, you
(27:48):
know, we had such an upfront,honest cards on the table, as my
dad would say, genuineconversation to really feel if
we're aligned rather than goingheadfirst into oh, let's just
build a relationship and see howit goes.
It's it's taught me to reallyyeah, have a have an upfront
conversation and check in thatour values were aligned before I
(28:10):
start to partner with someone.
SPEAKER_01 (28:12):
Yeah, yeah, because I think I've I've definitely
seen that with friends of mineas well who have gone into
business with friends and thendown the track, and even even
myself, you know, I bought ahouse with a really beautiful
friend of mine who is still afriend, but you know, we had the
house for eight years, andduring that time I realized our
values were very different inthe way that we approached it.
So, um, so I really dounderstand that it's it's so so
(28:35):
important.
Um, and you said that yourvalues of fun and connection,
where do they come from?
Where do those two values comefrom?
SPEAKER_00 (28:44):
They I haven't actually ever I've been asked
that question.
Uh I mean then they're just twoof them, there are others as
well, but I'm just just for thepurpose of this conversation.
Uh with fun, I feel it'sdefinitely inherited from my
family, as I was saying.
Fun was definitely a value forthem.
They like to have fun, theyloved adventure, they took
(29:07):
risks, they were entrepreneurs,they were creative, it was that
fun energy.
And for me, I like to be aroundfun people, I like to have fun
conversations.
Who doesn't want to have fun?
Like life can be challenging allthe time.
And for me to feel light andcreative and in the right
energy, just fun brings that forme.
(29:29):
So if I really tune in, it'sjust always where I want to be.
Yeah, with fun.
And and the connection isconnection means a lot to me
because I think connection toself, you know, I've learned the
inner work is really importantfor me, and someone who's been
meditating every day for thepast fully 18 years now.
It's really important for me tohave that inner game and that
(29:52):
connection to self and where Ireally want to go and listen to
my intuition, connection toothers.
At a deeper level, so to reallylisten to where people are at
and connect with them at adeeper level and connection to
others in terms of community aswell, which is why I drive that
um my community reach is becauseseeing that connection is
(30:16):
everything.
Like I I always am so excitedfor a reach event.
I'm never thinking, oh, I've gotto run this, or this is about
financial gain.
This is about seeing theconnection alive actually makes
me buzz.
SPEAKER_01 (30:31):
Yeah, that's beautiful.
And and that kind of like foryou, that insight of like being
of service and doing that first.
Do you find that approach andlike the monetary stuff is is
kind of second?
Yeah, can you talk to me alittle bit about that?
SPEAKER_00 (30:49):
Well, I feel that when you're when you're leading,
when you're on purpose, and youfor me, knowing that that's
getting a buzz from connectionand really helping people, same
with me, connecting others toeach other, like understanding
collaborations and puttingpeople in touch with people,
because that's my drive, when Ireally listen to that
(31:10):
intuitively and follow whatfeels good, then that's my focus
in life.
That's what's always been myfocus.
When I follow that, then whenpeople look back over my life,
they'll they'll say to me, Wow,you're really lucky and you've
done all these things, andyou've created this and you've
created that, and and I'veliterally have just followed
(31:32):
what has felt good, which hashelped me guide people
easefully, and and really feltfulfilled.
And I think fulfillment is thename of the gang.
Yeah.
Because when you feel fulfilled,it's it's genuine.
People know it.
SPEAKER_01 (31:49):
Yeah, yeah.
Have you ever had someone like asomeone come and be part of your
community and their businessdoes not make them feel good,
and you've had to kind of advisethem, like kind of maybe we need
to go in a different direction.
Have you ever have you ever hadthat experience?
SPEAKER_00 (32:08):
All the time, all the time, yeah.
And I think a lot of that aswell isn't isn't perhaps the
business making them feel good.
I feel that they're doing allthe things in their business,
which is not making them feelgood.
So it's about, I mean, wherewhatever level you're at in your
(32:28):
business, whether you're in thestart-up set stage, whether
you're in the scale-up stage,it's it's about understanding
what you can do and and whereelse could you perhaps get
support to take off some of thatbecause that's where people stop
to feel excited because there'sso much to do.
SPEAKER_01 (32:46):
Yeah, yeah, I've definitely been through that
stage which you've helped mehelp me through.
Because I I like admin is not mystrong point.
I'm just kind of like, ugh, andso yeah, when I started working
with you and you were just like,you need to get a VA, like you
need someone to take this off,and it it's been such a journey
of like letting go of things andtrusting and handing things
(33:08):
over.
But now it's like I wake up inthe morning and I'm like, cool,
what's in the diary?
It's not like ah, I've gottalike tweak this, and so yeah,
that that's been such a gamechanger.
SPEAKER_00 (33:18):
Yeah, and and and like as you said, there's humans
that can help, and there's alsoso many so much automation and
systemization that can just takeaway some of that load so you
can feel excited and creative inyour business.
Creativity is key, and to feelcreative, we've got to have
space.
(33:38):
Whereas if we're doing all thethings, it it becomes too
difficult, and that's where Isee people lose excitement.
SPEAKER_01 (33:46):
Yeah, yeah, that makes sense.
And and you sort of mentioned aswell for you, like meditation's
been a really big part of yourlife.
Like, have you got any otherkind of mindset, kind of tools
or or things that you do foryourself?
Because obviously, you know, youhelp people with their
businesses, but you're also inyour own business yourself.
(34:06):
So, how do you keep your mindsetsharp?
SPEAKER_00 (34:11):
Meditation number one lots of list writing and
debriefing to myself for sure,and the boundaries are really
strong.
So, for me, I have after myschool and daycare drop-off with
my young children, I set asideuh an hour every morning, and
(34:32):
that's my well-being hour, andthat's where I usually hit the
gym, and I'm obsessed withswimming in the ocean all year
round.
So, genuinely, gen generally, Iwill get in the ocean every
morning as well, and that's justa connector for me.
It's it's where I can reallyunderstand where I'm at, and
that everything is okay, andthat I'm grounded and guided and
(34:55):
supported, yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (34:56):
And and talking about that guided guided,
because it's like you know,everything you're saying is
you're like you're followingwhat feels good, you've got
these practices.
Do you kind of when you talkabout guidance, how does that
show up for you?
Like, what do you mean byguidance?
SPEAKER_00 (35:12):
It's it's again, it comes back to connection, so
it's connection to self.
So whether that's downloads orlight, when I'm meditating, I
just feel very held andsupported.
But I have, you know, not haveto, because I feel half is very
rigid, but I get to sit insilence, which is absolutely
(35:33):
key, and to just be with nodistractions and no open tabs,
and it is just a quiet spacewhere I feel held, and that's
where I may get downloads, whichcan happen all the time.
Like when I'll say to my clientsin the mornings, I'll be like,
Wow, I just got this download,and this has happened, but
genuinely I try to detach fromthat from from mind from the
(35:55):
monkey mind doing the work, andthen actually sit in complete
silence of light, um, andusually grounding, yeah.
So if I'm as I said, if I'm inthe ocean or my feet in the
grass, like for me, it just itjust feels nature is huge for
me, hence why you'll always seeme doing videos outside.
Like, that's where I feel goodbecause people say, Oh, you love
(36:15):
it, you're by the beach, likebecause I feel good.
So if I feel good, I want tolean into that even more, and
hence why I have the outsideevents, it's people uh feel
good.
SPEAKER_01 (36:25):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
Because yeah, all the venues arejust absolutely gorgeous.
There's always water, it feelsspacious, it's like yeah, it's
it's really beautiful whereveryou wherever you pick the venues
to be.
SPEAKER_00 (36:37):
Yeah, because I want people to expand, you know, I
want people to feel expansiveand not into yeah, contracting
sort of energy, more open andexpensive.
SPEAKER_01 (36:48):
Yeah.
And where do you where do yousee kind of because I know
you're you're so passionateabout small business, like where
do you see small business goingin the next few years,
especially with like AI comingin and all this kind of stuff?
Like, what's your sort ofvision?
SPEAKER_00 (37:04):
I feel it's a really great time for small business
now.
I feel that just from my workalone, I have so many calls
coming through from those whoare being made redundant in big
businesses.
We know that AI is coming in,it's taking over a lot of roles,
(37:24):
and lots of people are now in aposition where they can say,
Well, this is my life, right?
I have one life, and it's timeto do something that I really
love.
And with the systems, theautomations, the connection that
is available, there's never beena better time to really lean in
(37:45):
on what you love, who you wantto be of service to, and then go
for it.
Because right now, as well,there has never been a greater
time for people searching forpeople to help them.
SPEAKER_01 (37:58):
Yeah, absolutely.
And and can we just touch onlike obviously being in business
and and being in a smallbusiness where you're working by
yourself, that importance of thehuman connection as well?
SPEAKER_00 (38:10):
Yeah, I mean it's huge, it's huge.
Having people around you thatsee you, inspire you, motivate
you, hold you accountable iseverything.
If you don't have what I hear alot is the self-belief, a lot of
small business owners they havea passion, they know their
service is good, they're hearingit, but deep down they have that
(38:31):
judgment on themselves and thatself that you know they're not
worthy.
And having people that see youand inspire you and can get
behind you, not only in acommunity, but mentor to get
behind you will create thebiggest shift because anything
is possible.
Anything is possible.
You just have to understand thevision and see the actionable
(38:53):
steps, which is where I lean inon more than ever, is is really
mirroring the potential of thosethat I'm working with.
SPEAKER_01 (39:01):
Yeah, and I mean for you now, like obviously, your
top of your game, like helpingall these people.
Do you still reach out?
Do you still have a mentor?
Do you have coaches?
Do you have people you workwith?
SPEAKER_00 (39:13):
Yes, yeah, I still have those mentors around me,
and I still have amazingentrepreneurs who are now
friends that I can speak to allthe time as well, because it
just takes one conversation, onepowerful conversation of nuggets
of wisdom.
Like the the key word for me atthe moment with so many
(39:34):
entrepreneurs that I'm workingwith as well is you would know
them as well.
Like with Chat GP and the wayit's going.
I mean, yeah, there's so manyframeworks and structures and
wording that's being produced,but the wisdom and the heart-led
support from a human being whoreally cares is everything.
SPEAKER_01 (39:54):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (39:54):
And so getting around those people on a regular
basis is what's going to createa shift for you.
SPEAKER_01 (39:59):
Yeah, absolutely.
I really, I really wish, handsdown, when I when I started my
small business, like five yearsago, I started it part-time in
the middle of COVID.
But I I wish that someone hadsaid to me then go, don't spend
any money on any courses, go andfind a mentor.
I really do wish because I I dofeel like even though you know
(40:22):
things have worked out perfectlythe way that they are, I do feel
that is that is the step that isthe for me.
It's like once you get thesystem thing set up, find
someone that you can trust thatyou can call, that can be
accountable, you know, come andfind somebody like you, find a
community like Reach, and inthat you will feel so supported
(40:44):
and just not alone and kind oflike, oh, I don't know what the
heck I'm doing, and just wastingso much money as well, because
you're just trying to buy allthese courses to figure out
stuff that you're like, youdon't really need to know
everything.
You're not gonna knoweverything, you know.
You can find someone who's amarketing guru like you and like
come to you and and get thatsupport, you know.
SPEAKER_00 (41:06):
So, yeah, no, and I I get that.
Like, there's just two things Iwant to touch on with there is I
feel that people are there'slike a sense at the moment of
course fatigue, you know, peopleare getting an ebook or a
shortcut cut to this, or let'stry this, and the amount of
people that have said to me overand over again, I've tried this,
I've had this course, I'vedownloaded this, I've done this,
(41:27):
and tried it themselves.
But to get a heart-led kick upthe butt by someone who believes
in you, it's like focus on this,do this, stop trying to do all
these different things.
Like, we need to focus, right?
Blinkers on is really key, youknow, with everything.
Same, you know, with me.
I want I'm I'm looking atup-leveling my fitness soon and
getting a PT because I'm doing,you know, going through the
(41:50):
motions, lifting weights.
I'm not really pushing myself,I'm not really it's we need them
for everything.
And the other thing I wanted totouch on, love, was the
isolation part and being aroundother people.
And I feel, you know, asentrepreneurs, small business
owners, is we are working athome a lot, which gives us
flexibility and it's great.
But the amount of ideas that wehave as entrepreneurs and and
(42:11):
actually taking that into actionis when we get around other
people who are oh, me too, orI'm struggling with that too, or
that's a great idea, or I'm notsure about that because I'd
heard about this, or justsoundboarding is everything.
SPEAKER_01 (42:24):
Yeah, it's so important, and that human
connection aspect of it, it'slike right now.
I mean, I can feel it in thecommunity that I'm in, just this
surge of people wanting to beconnected.
It's like we've had five yearsof whatever's been going on, and
it's kind of like now I feellike people are like, ugh, I'm
missing something, I'm missingbeing around people.
(42:46):
So I think what you're doing atReach and bringing so many
people together in such a funand connected way is just magic,
and yeah, you're just doingincredible work.
So yeah, it's so cool, it's socool, and it's so I think it's
really nice, like you know,talking to you about marketing,
but really it's about mindset aswell.
It's like that's and I lovebecause you've done your own,
(43:09):
been on your own journey withthat and studied that as well,
and just for you to be able tobring that to people who are
like, ugh, I feel a bit stuckhere, and yeah, that's magic.
SPEAKER_00 (43:19):
Yeah, and the things for me is I don't well, you were
calling me a marketing guru,like for me, I'm not you know
you roll your eyes actually.
Yeah, because there's no hiding.
Um it's for me, yeah, it'sdefinitely a more of a heart-led
approach and looking at abusiness holistically rather
(43:40):
than being a digital marketingspecialist.
Like, as you know, I have mycollective of you know ad
specialists, my AI specialists,I have my VAs, like they're all
specialists in their field, butfor me, it's about the
opportunities in a business as awhole, like it's looking at
every opportunity that we can,collaborations and partnerships,
marketing, branding for me isprobably my favourite.
(44:03):
In fact, it is is building abrand, the storytelling
connection again throughstorytelling to our clients and
the right partners.
That's key.
Um, but as you say, mindset, youknow, and and being an NLP
coach, and I know you are too,is is understanding patterns, is
seeing the blocks and reallyhelping people navigate that
because otherwise they're juststuck in that loop forever.
(44:26):
So seeing that freedom comethrough and knowing that they
can achieve this is amazing, andgetting that's getting that
response from my clients justsaying, Thank you so much.
This is you know, this hasreally helped me, not just with
business, but helped me evolveinto someone I really want to
become, and that's where I thinkat the moment, particularly with
the power of personal brands, ishuge.
(44:48):
People are looking to people whoare genuine, have lots of
storytelling that connects withthem, and there's a there's a
real opportunity, realopportunity.
I'm working with even now, Ihave six clients who are over
the age of 65 who have beenthrough journeys, I mean,
absolutely incredible journeys,and realize now that the energy
(45:12):
they have from being of serviceis super powerful, and so they
come to me going, Well, I don'tunderstand technology, what do I
need to do?
And it's actually quite simplebecause the tools are there and
now they're showing up, and andpeople just want to work with
them because, like you said,people want to get around people
more, they don't want to alwaysuse the technology and AI, and
they want a real person to helpthem move the needle in their
(45:34):
life and business.
SPEAKER_01 (45:35):
Yeah, and I think that's that's something that I'm
for me, just the authenticitypiece as well.
It's kind of like now it's likeyou know, I think AI is
incredible and I'm definitelyembracing it in my own business.
But for me, it's like if I canfeel that something is off or it
is like especially people using,you know, in service businesses,
(45:59):
it's like, for example, I knowI'm never gonna put myself in a
situation where it's like I'mhanding over my image to that
that just isn't something that Iwant to do because the
authenticity of a real personspeaking to you for me is is
key.
So it's really interesting now.
I'm finding myself unfollowingum certain people or whatever
(46:19):
that are using that.
So are you are you do you feelthat authenticity piece is is
important or will you beembracing AI and all areas?
SPEAKER_00 (46:30):
Authenticity is key for me.
I feel it's so poignant today instanding out in a saturated
marketplace, but also it becomeseffortless when you're talking
about content and showing up andvisibility, which is key.
Like you said, people can feelit, right?
They understand if you know.
So what if you create a videoand you know you don't have the
(46:53):
perfect elocution elocution indelivering?
People want to know it's you andthat you really care about what
you're talking about, and so AI,I feel the important part is use
it as a tool and work with it,but don't let it replicate you
in your business.
Yeah.
Because if you have an idea,what I love for you know,
(47:14):
someone me that likes to sp tobrainstorm all the time is I
might come up with an idea or amasterclass or a group
discussion or something, and Ican run it through in my brand
voice, which has been tailoredto sound sound like me and take
on everything, you know, allparts of my life and who I am,
and then it will give meframeworks from there.
So it's you know an extensiveideas platform, but I wouldn't
(47:36):
ever let it replicate me and whoI am.
SPEAKER_01 (47:38):
Yeah, I feel the same.
I don't know, there's just somesort of part of integrity,
right?
Where it's just like if I wantto talk to people, I it needs to
be me.
It's but I can see theattraction of how easy and fast
it is to do that, but it's justlike it's not the way I see me
going.
SPEAKER_00 (47:55):
So and that's it, it's it's a tool, you know, it's
using it's a very amazing tool,and I think it's also a bit
daunting.
We don't know where it's gonnago and how far it's gonna go,
but that's why for me, mycalling is to lean in even more
into the deep and vulnerableheart-led conversations because
(48:16):
it's just the absolute extreme.
Yeah, even my AI specialist saidthe other day it's interesting
because we're tailoring a lot ofAI packages for a lot of
businesses that I'm workingwith, and he said it's
interesting because we'resystemizing and helping people
with AI for the tools.
But he said, But Mandy, you'realmost like you know, the
feminine energy, feet in theearth, people outside in a
(48:36):
circle, you know, having theseconversations, but then you've
got AI as a tool, and it is it'sa real like contrast, yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (48:44):
But how amazing that you've been able to embrace that
and and bring that in, you know,and and still be grounded in the
energy of yourself, which is youknow a huge part of reach as
well.
Like it's it's you, it's thatit's your energy coming through,
not AI's energy, it's justsupporting supporting that.
Yeah, yeah, amazing.
(49:05):
And so, what's coming up forReach?
What what have you got planned?
What's what's your vision?
SPEAKER_00 (49:10):
What what's happening?
There's so much happening, it'svery exciting.
We have our next event thisThursday at uh felon's in Manley
on the water, and that's everymonth in Manley.
Uh, and it's it's just takenoff.
I'm really blown away.
Um, I was almost not dared totry it in Sydney.
(49:33):
I probably wasn't ready, right?
This is that whole inner criticpiece.
Like, I was like, Oh, I'm notsure if I'm really I'm really
procrastinating, but launched inManley, it's gone amazingly,
have an amazing community therealready, and every month we meet
up there, and also on thecentral coast, which has been
running for nearly three yearsnow in November.
Have two locations on thecentral coast where we meet
(49:54):
monthly.
We also meet as a whole, soManly and the Central Coast, we
meet online for anaccountability piece and
networking, and I mentor everybusiness as well.
So I'm in every member'sbusiness, catching up with them
and guiding them and helpingthem with direction, marketing,
and mindset.
So Reach is flourishing, it'sreally growing, and I I keep
(50:15):
getting questions from differentpeople asking me to launch
Reaches in different locations.
So Newcastle, Sunshine Coast,all different areas, and I'm uh
I'm definitely open to it.
So I'm not saying they'rehappening yet, but I am in that
trust energy of as we mentionedbefore, if it feels aligned like
(50:36):
Manly did, everything was youknow layering up.
You're helping me lead inManley, we met, and it was so I
mean, it just was effortless,wasn't it?
I mean, it was just crazy.
You just suddenly came to areach event, you looked at me
and said, This is amazing, I'min.
I threw my arms around you, andthen there we were, and it was
like, wow, and then the launchwas in torrential rain, and
(50:56):
there were still 38entrepreneurs.
Yeah, it was incredible.
So so for me, which which couldsound woo to people, but for me,
I feel that I'm really beingguided by this movement, and I
feel like it's a movement, andso when it feels right, I will
move as well.
SPEAKER_01 (51:12):
Yeah, yeah.
Oh, that is so incredible, andyeah, I mean, I love being part
of the Reach community, and youknow, thanks for trusting me and
and bringing me in.
And and and where can where canpeople find you, Manly?
I I know there's going to belots of people listening to this
who are like in the smallbusiness place and feeling a bit
overwhelmed and all that kind ofstuff.
(51:33):
And you know, can peopleinternationally reach out to
you?
You know, is that a possibilityas well?
Yeah, for sure.
SPEAKER_00 (51:39):
Yeah, if you're feeling overwhelmed, you're
feeling stuck, you're spinningyour wheels, and you're watching
this, and think, oh, I coulddeal with some of her energy and
focus, then you can definitelyreach out to me uh on my
Instagram.
We can add the links uh onLinkedIn, and um, as I say, the
reach community, you can comealong for a free trial for the
first event and see how you gowith that.
(52:00):
Um, yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (52:02):
So I was what's your website as well?
Where can everyone find you onyour website?
SPEAKER_00 (52:07):
Well, the best thing is just to go to my Instagram,
which is Mandy underscore Junderscore Millen, and then go
from there.
Then I've got my landing pages,which is to work for me on a
one-to-one basis and also withReach.
SPEAKER_01 (52:20):
Yeah, amazing, amazing.
And is there anything else thatbefore we wrap up this beautiful
heart-led conversation?
Is there anything is thereanything else you'd like to add?
Any final messages for any smallbusiness out owners out there,
anyone who's struggling withanything?
SPEAKER_00 (52:40):
I would say to really take some time out in
terms of listening to yourself,where you want to go, who you
want to serve, what does successlook and feel like for you on
your own terms?
Life is too short, and it's timeto go and get it.
SPEAKER_01 (52:59):
I love it.
Amazing.
Amazing.
Well, thank you so much.
Thank you.
Um, it's so lovely to see you onhere, and I will be seeing you
at the Reach event soon as well.
Yes.
Um, but yeah, thank you for allyour wisdom and and sharing so
much and giving so much valuetoday, and really appreciate you
and your beautiful energy.
Thank you.
(53:20):
Um we'll see you soon.
SPEAKER_00 (53:21):
Thanks, um, lovely to chat to you.
Bye.
SPEAKER_01 (53:32):
Thanks for listening today, and if this episode
helped or inspired you, justremember to share it to your
friends or family who could alsouse some inspiration today.
We are all about sharing thelove.
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