August 15, 2023 • 34 mins
Having a small business really gives you a great opportunity to flex your creative muscles. After all, when the team is small, you have to wear many hats to get things done.
In this episode, I discuss the creativity that comes with being a small business owner, with the lovely Sasha Eburne.
A search for creativity (and a little thing called ‘Rona), prompted Sasha to take the leap and start her own Virtual Assistant business. Now she has grown her business, and coaches others to do the same.
Happy listening!
xo Abi
P.S. For more information about this episode and our guest, head to: www.crispcomms.co/podcast-episodes/creativity-as-a-business-owner/
Creativity: Uncovered is lovingly edited by the team at Crisp Communications.
Creativity: Uncovered is a registered Australian Trade Mark.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Hello and welcome to Creativity (00:00):
Uncovered. My name is Abi Gatling and I'm on a journey
(00:11):
to uncover how everyday people find inspiration, get inventive and open their imagination.
So basically I want to get the low down on how people find everyday creative solutions
for home, work, play and everything in between. And through this podcast I'm looking to uncover
a whole suite of tried and tested ways that you can use to summon creativity the next
(00:36):
time that you need it.
Now today I'm speaking to Sasha Eburne. Sasha is a fellow Queenslander, a business owner
and a coach and she works in the virtual assistant or VA space. And I'm keen to hear about how
creativity has impacted her life and how it relates to being a VA. So welcome, Sasha.
(01:00):
Thank you so much for having me.
Ah, no, my pleasure. And so you know this podcast all about creativity but before we
actually jump into that, I wanted to quickly talk to you about your career. Because you
know we've spoken in the past and you said you've worked in hospitality and wedding planning
and freelancing. But now you're actually the owner of a VA agency and also you coach other
(01:27):
people to scale their own VA agency. That's right.
That's correct, yes.
Yes, okay. So that's, I mean, that's quite a journey. A range of different roles there.
So tell me how did you move? Like how did you get from weddings and hospitality into
VA? Like what was that journey like?
(01:50):
Yeah, so great question. And I guess after 20 years in hospitality events, predominantly
in hotels, COVID happened. And like a lot of people around the world were heavily affected
and coming from the hospitality industry was essentially just shut down. I worked in the
(02:12):
first hotel that became, sorry, the hotel that became the first quarantine hotel in
the entire country.
Oh, wow.
So we were the first to go and I worked in sales at the time and obviously we didn't
need sales because we became quarantine. So yeah, and it was probably only three or
four months after going back from maternity leave as well. So I hadn't really been back
in the workforce for that long. And then COVID happened, stood down and then did any number
(02:38):
of things to keep going and keep afloat. And it was just by chance that I was doing body
shop at home during the pandemic as we're all at home. So what better way to jump on
a virtual body shop party and buy some body shop?
Oh, I didn't know they had virtual ones. That's cool.
They still do. Yeah. You don't have to go in. I think they still continue that post COVID.
(03:01):
And I went and met up with an old industry colleague to give her her body shop and had
a coffee outside of the cafe because you couldn't sit in the cafe at that time. And I was like,
what are you doing now? I know that you got made redundant and all of these things. And
she's like, oh, I'm a VA and didn't really know what that was. And coming from hospitality
and events, I was just like, oh, she could do it. I could do it. And jumped into a whole
(03:23):
lot of Facebook groups that she invited me to watch the space for about six months. And
then I was EA to a director in a real estate firm and wasn't really enjoying the office
environment, 40 minutes to work every day and just decided one night to jump on those
groups to see if there was anything there. And then a couple of leads I set my business
up overnight and website in a couple of hours. And then within 24 hours, I had my first client.
(03:50):
Wow. That's cool. I like that you're the opportunity and went for it.
Just went for it. Yeah. Yeah. So what exactly is a VA and what sort of things do you do?
Yeah. So it varies. And eventual assistant predominantly is a self-employed person that
provides a service remotely. And traditionally speaking, a lot of people start in a space
(04:10):
by offering administration services, executive assistance, type of roles, email management,
diary management, life admin. That's certainly a lot of where people start. Now we go well
beyond that scope. We do a lot of digital marketing, content creation, website design.
We support a lot of business coaches and supporting their course creation on tech.
(04:34):
Just any number of things. Many, many hats. It just kind of grows and we grow with our
clients as well. So if a client turns around and say, "Oh, I need help with this," generally
it's something that we as a team can take on. Yeah. Wow. Okay. And so now you're a business
owner and you coach other business owners. Tell me what's the difference between doing
(05:01):
that and working in an industry that you've been working for so long being hospitality?
Yeah. I guess it gives me the option to be creative and just do things out of the norm.
And working as an employee, working with different brands where you're so bound by the rules
and the expectations. It's really great because now I can just do what I want or if you want
(05:23):
to change things tomorrow, you can. And it's just really about the flexibility to doing
it in the way that we want to do it. Yeah, absolutely. So then do you think that's typical
of being an employee or do you think that's typical of being in hospitality itself? That's
to stay in your lane mentality or this is the way we do it. Don't change it.
(05:46):
Now that I'm so far out of the employee, I believe it's a traditional employer-employee
type of relationship. I know that there's a lot more companies that it's a little bit
better now since COVID and a lot more you work your way wherever you want all of that.
I still feel that a lot of what they're doing is on someone else's terms. Yeah. Yeah. I
(06:06):
don't think it's just straight to that industry. I think it's across the board in an employee
scenario. Yes, okay. And so now when we spoke last
time, you're talking about how it's such a joy to be creative in your own business.
Yeah. Do you think that is that something that
you think you've been craving for a long time, that opportunity to be creative? And do you
(06:30):
think that perhaps you could have tried to squeeze that out of hospitality or do you
think you had to make that jump into being your own business owner to get that opportunity?
Or perhaps you didn't even think that you wanted it and now you've just on a reflection
to feel like you like it. So many options for you to choose from or any of the above.
(06:51):
I think it was probably more the initial one that you said. I think I always had that creativity
inside of me and I was always trying to break the mold. It would come time to create new
packages for the events, the apartment or things like that. And I would normally create it,
but we would still have to deliver it to the marketing team. So I would try and put my creative
spin on it before it would get to them and then they'd have to brandize it and put their
(07:13):
brain standards on it. So it's kind of like I was just still trying to buck the trend.
And then in my freelance, well, I guess in both the hospitality and my freelance wedding
career is I did actually go and study wedding styling so I could really learn how to be
a lot more creative with the psychology color and how to really support a bride in being
(07:34):
creative in her wedding and bringing the look and feel to life rather than just being that
hotel person that just does the food and beverage. I wanted to be able to support them to actually
create the bigger vision. So it's definitely always been in there craving to come out.
Yeah. So how did you choose to do the wedding planning things? That seems like a kind of
a nice little middle ground between where you are now and the hospitality. But do you
(07:59):
have an interest in that area or how did you choose that?
Yeah, so it kind of chose me. So a lot of hotels, yeah, a lot of the hotels that we
worked in weddings, we did weddings in the hotel. So I was always interested in events
and then I was in a hotel and they're like, okay, well, you're going to stop being our
weddings person. And I'm like, this is so exciting. Like I've just always been fascinated
(08:21):
by weddings. I love them. They're beautiful. The romance, all of that.
And then such a happy occasion.
Exactly. And then this just started, you know, this whole big amazing thing. And then even
working in resorts, like it was so beautiful, like I worked on Heyman Island and we did
beautiful weddings. We used to go to White Haven on helicopters. So like it really kind
(08:42):
of, when I was delegated it, and then I was just like, this is just a whole new world for
me because I just thought it was so beautiful. And then I wanted to take it to that next
step. So that was freelancing as well as, you know, when I was in the venue space as
well.
Yeah, that's cool. What, so what was like the most creative thing you were able to do
(09:04):
in that role? Or was it just the freedom? And you know, is it kind of like, is there
a formula for weddings that people follow? Or is it sort of a blank piece of paper in
your, in the world, your oyster to be as creative and as lateral as you, as you want
to be?
Yeah, it's definitely the freedom to be as creative as you want to be. And I think when
(09:24):
you're freelancing, you have a lot more say with the bride. When you're a venue coordinator,
generally they already have a stylist or they have a wedding planner. So it's, you're very
much in the background and you are kind of in your own land of the hotel. A lot of the
events that I did say when I was on Heyman or even when I was in Benowatu was events for
the hotel. So I got to plan the 2000, I think it was 2020. There was it. I kind of remember
(09:51):
what year it was, maybe 2011. Music celebration for the entire resort on Heyman Island. So
you know, what that flow was and that was, you know, entertainment, that was music, stilt
walkers, the design for the tables, because it was like a progressive kind of dinner throughout
the entire resort. And that was really fun because there were no rules. It was just like
(10:15):
you have to be able to entertain them, provide food and beverage and have everybody have
an amazing new year. So to get a really small brief like that and just to kind of make it
whatever it's like. And then also when I was in Benowatu, I did Christmas and New Year's
there as well. So when you're doing events that are like ticketed events or for the resort,
it's kind of like go for gold. Whereas if you're doing it for a client, obviously, you
(10:36):
know, it comes down to what the client wants.
Wow. That sounds so cool. Did you live, did you live in Benowatu and all these places
at the time?
Yeah.
Wow.
So you lived in a resort in one of the hotel rooms.
Oh, what was that like?
I could have a housekeeping every day. It was, it was nice. However, it was very difficult
(10:57):
to switch off.
Yeah.
Because, you know, you'd finish a wedding and you'd go back to your room, but the wedding
would be happening on the beach in front of your room. So it's like, oh, are they enjoying
it?
Yeah. And then like staff know that you live on site. So they're constantly calling you
on your day off or, you know, so it is, it is quite intensive. And on Heyman lived in
(11:18):
the Star Village.
Yeah.
Wow.
Very similar as well. And they had, I think it was a, I can't remember what it was, but
it was one week you would only have one day off and then the following week you'd only
have two days off. But being in events, if your day off was a day that one of your couple
or your event clients were leaving, you had to go and take them to the boat. So it was
(11:39):
kind of a 24/7 type of role as well.
Oh, wow. So that definitely was leading you into becoming a business owner. It's very
a lot of switch off.
So that seems to be like a really nice natural progression into, into the VA stuff because
you're wearing many hats, you're coordinating a bunch of different things. You're working
(12:03):
with someone and you have to kind of know them intimately, I suppose, to be able to deliver
to them. Do you think that there's been a crossover between that and your work now?
Yeah, definitely. And I think when it comes to, you know, even sometimes we've done branding
for some business coaches, they're like, oh, my portal, where my coat, my, my courses
(12:24):
are, it just looks old. We need a redo. So, you know, we've jumped in to do that. And just
to kind of come up with something when the business owner really hasn't given us any
brief to then share with them what we think the vision is. And for them to be like, oh,
my gosh, I could not have imagined what that would look like. It's, it's pretty cool.
Yeah. So it's mostly in the visual space that you're creative in your current role or?
(12:47):
Yeah, I'd say so. Yeah. It's been both, which is great. So I do a lot of strategy with the
clients and that's kind of where another strong suit's coming out for me. And then I do have
team that are really creative. But generally, I have like the visual in my head and then,
you know, portray that to them. I'm like, can you go away and create these graphics
(13:08):
and then kind of deliver on that? And it seems to work really well with the team because
even what they provide for me to deliver to the client is sometimes better than what I
had in my head. It's kind of like the brains behind the idea. And then they go and do the
work. Because, you know, as a business owner, you have a lot less time and a lot less patience
to sit there and put all the graphics together. So I come up with it and somebody executes
(13:31):
it. I mean, that's half the battle, isn't it? It's, you know, you come up with an idea,
but being able to articulate it and take people on the journey with you to get that buy-in
is certainly sometimes it's a struggle. Yeah. So that's been a learning experience for me
(13:52):
as, you know, as my team has grown. We're in our team of four at CRISP. And we do a
lot of visual stuff. We do a lot of design and websites and things like that. But I've
always been the one who's done the shashie and onboarding and all that type of thing.
So I come up with the ideas and trying to get the team on board and articulate what I want
(14:15):
is sometimes hard when you don't work in the same state or even in the same country.
Yeah, exactly. You're learning a whole new, a new normal doing it remotely.
Yeah, yeah. But I think it's here to stay. I feel, oh yeah. Yeah. Also, if someone asked
me the other day, would I be getting an office for my team now it's growing bigger and bigger?
(14:36):
And I was like, oh, I don't know. I kind of love working from home. I think they love
working from home. I don't, although I'd love to see them more often. I think there's other
ways you can be creative and do that and get together and still build that connection outside
of working together in a physical office. Yeah. 100%. Has that ever crossed your mind
(14:58):
or like whereabouts are your team located? It has crossed my mind. And then I just think
about the dollars relating to a space. Yeah. Why would I have this ongoing extra cost when
we all have these offices already and we can connect so often and so much? I do like the
connection piece because we do have a team in Sydney that I've never met in real life.
(15:25):
I have a team member in Thailand and she's just living there with her family, but she's
from the Gold Coast. So I know who are already. And then my business manager lives in Germany
because we used to work together in a hotel in Abu Dhabi. So it's kind of like, even if
I got a space, the whole team wouldn't be together. So if everybody was in Queensland
(15:48):
and it would make sense, I think for community collaboration potentially, but when not all
of them are here, it seems pointless because then it would only create a further divide
with the people that are not in the state. Yeah. That sort of halfway point of being half
online, half not online is a hard one to balance. But I also like the idea of if you're fully
(16:12):
virtual, it means that you can give opportunities to people that you've worked with and you
know that you work really well together from your past life. But also you're not limited
just to the local community and the local skillset. You're like, "Oh, I've got this
person in Perth. He's amazing. I would love to step into their work." Exactly. That should
limit their opportunities because they're not based in the same state as you. I completely
(16:36):
agree. In the past, I used to, you know, when I was single, no child or any of that, I used
to just move wherever for the jobs. Yeah. And then you get to a certain point in your life,
you're like, "Done doing that." But now you actually don't have to. And I think, yeah,
I think it's great. I mean, my business manager, we've been friends for over 10 years and the
fact that we've worked together before as well. So I know that we've got that pohesiveness,
(16:58):
that respect for each other that we can separate work from business and it just works really
well. So why can't she work for me? I think it's really great that we have the opportunity
to work together again and we don't have to be in the same city. Yeah. Yeah. That's great.
And so how do you manage collaboration? And so you've got a business manager, I guess,
(17:18):
that is for growing the business BDM style, right? Or... Not really. I mean, I think in
the beginning, maybe that was the suggestion. She's really what we'd call an online business
manager because she's kind of been with us from really early on. It's kind of morphed
and grown and just didn't want to change the title. But she's working really well in the
(17:41):
digital space and the graphics and our social media. So we started having her sort of head
up a lot of the social media. So that's kind of working for the moment. And I guess with
that, it's not time specific as in, right, it's not just sitting there needing to pass
work over. So the time difference doesn't have any effect on us. It's kind of like,
well, we know that we need to deliver work by this date to then get checked, to then
(18:04):
get posted out by this date. So it's more of a day timeline, which I think works really
well. And we do have, I guess by 2pm, we kind of have a day crossover. So the time's not
too bad. So then if everyone's sort of separated out and she's doing social media for your
business, or she's doing it for your clients, doing for the clients. Oh, okay. So I'm going
(18:25):
to ask like, how do you get consistency across the brand when you're in different time zones,
different locations? How do you articulate that and stay cohesive? Yeah, I guess by having
the same person do it for one and having brand guides, which yes, it's kind of a flip side
(18:46):
before because I actually used to try and buck against those, you know, brand guides and
things like that. And I've got an implemented one for me. However, you know, if the team
would be like, Oh, I actually think this graphic might be good. And I'm open to that. Like
I'm not, I'm ridded per se as in, you know, you need to use the same fonts and things
like that. But I don't have a, you can only use this logo on this background. It's just
(19:11):
as long as it's clear, like, don't go and put a pink logo on a pink background because
you won't see it. So as long as, you know, initiative is being used and they can still
be creative. I'm not that set in stone online. And however, with clients, we always make
sure that we follow the client's brand guide dance because that's what they're paying us
(19:31):
to do. Yeah. Well, I think it's interesting. Like, I kind of made the distinction between
a brand guide, guidelines and brand Bible. And I think that you are, if you are in a
super corporate environment, perhaps hospitality, big chain of hotels, or for me working, I've
(19:53):
worked in the government, I've worked at universities, they're brand Bibles as in you, they say it,
you do it and then there is no leeway. Whereas brand guides, I feel give you that flexibility
to still come up with new ideas for the brand, flex your creative muscle, but you do it within
(20:21):
those guides. The guides are font color, fonts, colors, imagery, tone. And I like that. I
like that. That I feel like you should empower your team to still become become creative and
come up with their own ideas. Because otherwise it's boring for them. It's boring for us.
(20:44):
It's probably boring for the audience. And more clients as well being like, did I read
this one already? No, how was the last one? Then it looks exactly the same.
Yeah, it needs to look different for, you know, for people that are digesting the content
as well. Yeah, yeah, for sure.
So jumping back again to creativity, because when you're talking about I can just see that
(21:07):
you're coming alive. So I want to know like, what is creativity to you? And like, how does
it make you feel what I can see that you're getting very animated?
Yeah, it's, it's funny because I don't know we talk about it as much in this context.
And, you know, it's probably, I guess, reminding me how much I do like it. And I think Canva
(21:29):
has probably allowed us to have that creativity. And one has probably allowed me to be creative.
And probably especially in the beginning of business, I would never have so many different
brochures, pictures, graphics, any of that, because I'd be paying somebody a lot of money
(21:50):
to create these graphics. So I think that that has allowed us to be creative and allowed
us to bring it out of us as well. And it's, you know, like I talked about, like I was
kind of bucking against kind of letting it out before and now it's just like, oh, you
know, this big huge explosion of creativity and color and a lot having the opportunity
(22:13):
to, I guess, express myself in that. But also it's just like, how do I put my vision for
my business out there to everyone to come and work with us as well? Because it's not
just colors on the page. It's just like, well, that's emotions as well. And if you then talk
about the psychology of color, well, how does that then sit with somebody else and how do
they receive the information that you're putting out because of the look and the feel? And it's
(22:38):
like, well, how does it make them feel? So I think then that that's just putting a lot
more emotion into the creativity and the design side of things.
Yes, I agree. I think there's so much more to design than just making something look
lovely. There's there, there's so much thought that actually goes into it. And yeah, you
(22:59):
mentioned Canva. I agree. Like, you know, I was, I was actually at a webinar, sort of
like summit thing a couple of weeks ago, topic for designers and topic of Canva brought
up and the man of the eye rolls and like shutters and like, oh, you know, and I was just
(23:19):
thinking, I don't see an issue with it. I don't see an issue with Canva. I love the
fact that it has enabled people to tap into this creativity that they have inside of them
and do it easily and express themselves. I think that's great. I don't think it's taking
away from traditional graphic design. I don't think it's taking away from, you know, the
(23:43):
perfect like the truly trained professionals in that space. It's a different offering for
a different type of client.
I 100% agree. And even some things that I do when I go for printing, I have to send it
to my graphic designer because of the quality. And I can't, you know, if it's something that's
printed like I wanted to get some notebooks printed and I wanted to get some t-shirts
(24:05):
printed for my team, I can't export a vector file. So there are limitations to Canva that
that allows you the fact to then go and use the resources of a graphic designer. And I
think maybe this is the kind of pool that's happening in the business industry at the
moment is to charge APT and all the copywriters being scared, you know, 12 to 12 months, 24
(24:26):
months down the track, we're probably going to be in the same situation where, you know,
us as non copywriters are going to have the use for tap GPT. But when it comes to, you
know, talking about SEO and conversion and, you know, highly skilled copywriting, then
that's when you go and pay for a copywriter. So I feel like it's very similar that I think
everything still has its place.
(24:46):
Yeah. Are you using chat GPT in your business at the moment? Or is that sort of part of
your long term plan?
We use it for ourselves, like when I'm just throwing stuff together or I'm doing braces
and things like that, or if I'm doing my own website stuff. However, for clients, no.
If clients are paying us to write, then we have our caption and copywriter writing it.
(25:10):
Yeah, I definitely think there's a place to work alongside the chat GPT. And that thing,
I mean, that's brought up, been brought up a few times on the podcast that this sort
of AI, what is the impact of it on creativity? But I think it's a starting point. I think
it's something to work alongside. But as you said before, it doesn't have the emotions
(25:35):
and it doesn't, you know, the motionality and the thought and the deep research behind
some of the things that we're doing, color selection, font selection, writing emotively
for a client, getting the right tone for a particular client. That's just something
that I mean, currently the currently AI can't do. We'll see if it moves into that space.
(25:59):
But I truly think that there's a space for humans to work alongside it.
Yeah, 100%.
Yeah. So do you think that I know you found this opportunity to be creative in your current
business? Do you think that do you think that everyone needs to be creative to run a business?
Or do you think it just kind of makes a little bit more fun and more easy?
(26:20):
I personally think it makes more fun and easy. I think there's some people that don't believe
that they have any creativity bone in their body. And maybe that's just because they haven't
explored it or they have no interest in it. And then that's where we talk about hiring
for skills gaps. You know, so if they have that gap and they have that block and they
can't be creative and they don't know how colors are put together, then they can use
(26:43):
one of the tech resources to play or they can get support team or even hire a graphic
designer for those things. And I guess the other benefit of hiring a graphic designer
is a graphic designer can support somebody that isn't created to actually draw everything
out to then go and make the magic happen, so to speak. So they know what questions to
ask to then go and create the outcome.
(27:06):
I love that you said skills gap just there in life.
Yeah.
It's such a business minded thing. But it's true. It's true. I mean, that's why you outsource
is like you have skills gap or there's some type of deficit. That's why you outsource is
like skills or time or money.
Do you want to sit there and go learn it or just pay somebody else to jump in and do it
(27:29):
and get it done quicker?
Yeah. Yeah. So yeah. Okay. Well, that's really interesting. So tell me about you. Like when
you're trying to be creative, sounds like you've got a lot of opportunities in your
business to do that.
What are some things that you do to get into the mindset to allow you to be creative?
(27:54):
I think it's probably more often changed over time. And I think it's more about one, probably
a lot of pictures that maybe I've seen in the past of, oh, that looks great. And then
kind of putting my in-sense on it. But now it's very much about knowing how it's going
(28:14):
to land for the client. And it's kind of like when you talk about copy, you want to talk
to your ideal audience. When I create designs now, I'm just like, well, how will that person
receive it? And what is it going to make them feel? Because it needs to resonate with what
you're putting out. So if you're talking about say business coaching, it needs to kind of
give them the feel of the transformation that they're going to get when they jump into business
(28:37):
coaching. If it's more about services, how is it going to make them feel knowing that
all of the stuff on the list and the graphics is going to take them to the spot where they
don't have to worry about it?
So I think there's a lot of that kind of comes into it. And it's very much about how is it
going to make them feel in the transformation? Whereas before it was probably like, it just
(28:58):
looks good.
Yeah. And what's your brainstorming technique like? Do you have one? Like for me, when I
come against a problem that I can't do, I take a walk or I change, turn my mind off
it to then it will come to me when I least expect it.
(29:20):
I find that if I get a bit of a block, I just ask the team.
Oh, ask your team? Okay.
Yeah, I'm just like, I know I want this, but I don't know what I want it to look like. Can
you give it a go? And then nine times out of 10, it comes back up. That's not what I
was thinking, but I love it. Let's go with that.
That's good. Harnessing the brain power of your team.
Yeah. Just using everyone's creativity, which is great.
(29:43):
Yeah. I love that. Are you constantly surprised when things come back and you're like, that
is better than I could do. Or that's different. And I love it.
I was like, why did I even spend my time thinking about it?
Yes. Totally. I've thought that several times throughout the last couple of years since I've
had a team like I, in the past, I probably would have been really prescriptive about
(30:04):
what I want done. And then now over time, I'm just like, you've got the skills for this.
I'm just going to say what I want to achieve, how you get there is up to you. And I am constantly
surprised and amazed and impressed by what comes back to me. It's just, I find it very exciting.
Yeah. I think sometimes it's even better because sometimes you could sit there and over think
(30:27):
it and you could give them the list and listen to the list. And then it comes back and it
just hasn't hit the mark. I find more often than not when I don't give a brief, that's
when it's way better than I could imagine. Wow. Okay.
Sorry. It's same sitting there and overthinking it.
Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. Because I'm sure there's another thousand things that are on your to-do
(30:49):
list.
It's a never ending to-do list.
So now that you've found yourself being more creative at work, has it inspired you to create
a thing outside of work?
It has. It's at the moment, a lack of time. But there's a lot of other, like I see it
all the time on people's Instagrams, like pottery classes or the sip and paints. My friend went
(31:14):
and did a sip and paint the other day and she painted a turtle. I'm like, this looks
really good. I think I would love to go and do that. So yeah, definitely there's a lot
more of that that I'd like to do. And I think it's probably more about, you know, start
scheduling it in my diary at least once a month just to kind of get that creative outlet
going.
Yeah. I feel like that's been a theme on a couple of these episodes is that once people
(31:36):
get a taste for it, they are trying to seek out other opportunities. Obviously, time is
effective when you're running a business. But once you start being creative, you're like,
oh, I need more. Insatiable. Absolutely. Yeah. So last question for you. What would you
recommend for others who say that they want more creativity in their life or in their
(32:02):
career and they're not necessarily getting it at the moment?
I think do the things that we just spoke about go and try new things. I mean, new experiences
are great even if they're not creative. You know, even if they're not creative. Anything
outside of the norm. Even just, you know, Google unusual things that you can do on
weekends and things like that. You'll be surprised, you know, how creative you can be with that.
(32:23):
And even just jump into Canva. And even before I was in business, you know, when I found out
about Canva, I was always designing, like, my birthday invitations or, you know, going
to other websites to do those. So, you know, when things come up in your life, just be creative.
Or if you're going to do a Facebook event, create a really cute banner for your birthday
or someone's baby shower or even, you know, for other people's baby showers, I've created,
(32:46):
you know, really nice, you know, like the quizzes that you do and things like that. So
just kind of incorporate that into your own life. And you don't always have to go and
buy the pre-created pads, the paper that you can do and you can do it all yourself.
Yeah, cool. So try new things and look for opportunities to be creative.
Yeah. Oh, that's fantastic. Well, thank you so much for joining me today, Sasha. I really
(33:10):
appreciate it. Thank you so much for having me. It's been great.
No, not a problem. And also a big thank you to everyone who has tuned in to listen to
Creativity (33:19):
Uncovered today. I really hope that this episode has inspired you to try something
new if you just aren't being fulfilled currently with your creativity. And as always, I really
hope that this discussion has helped you summon your creativity the next time that you need
it. Until next time, thanks so much for listening.
(33:41):
.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
(34:05):
Yeah.
If you've made it this far, a huge thank you for your support and tuning into today's episode.
Uncovered has been lovingly recorded on the land of the Kabi Kabi people and we
pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging. This podcast has been produced by
(34:29):
my amazing team here at Crisp Communications and the music you just heard was composed by
James Gatling. If you liked this episode, please do share it around and help us on our
mission to unlock more creativity in this world. You can also hit subscribe so you don't miss out on any new
episode releases.
Uncovered. My name is Abi Gatling and I'm on a journey
(00:11):
to uncover how everyday people find inspiration, get inventive and open their imagination.
So basically I want to get the low down on how people find everyday creative solutions
for home, work, play and everything in between. And through this podcast I'm looking to uncover
a whole suite of tried and tested ways that you can use to summon creativity the next
(00:36):
time that you need it.
Now today I'm speaking to Sasha Eburne. Sasha is a fellow Queenslander, a business owner
and a coach and she works in the virtual assistant or VA space. And I'm keen to hear about how
creativity has impacted her life and how it relates to being a VA. So welcome, Sasha.
(01:00):
Thank you so much for having me.
Ah, no, my pleasure. And so you know this podcast all about creativity but before we
actually jump into that, I wanted to quickly talk to you about your career. Because you
know we've spoken in the past and you said you've worked in hospitality and wedding planning
and freelancing. But now you're actually the owner of a VA agency and also you coach other
(01:27):
people to scale their own VA agency. That's right.
That's correct, yes.
Yes, okay. So that's, I mean, that's quite a journey. A range of different roles there.
So tell me how did you move? Like how did you get from weddings and hospitality into
VA? Like what was that journey like?
(01:50):
Yeah, so great question. And I guess after 20 years in hospitality events, predominantly
in hotels, COVID happened. And like a lot of people around the world were heavily affected
and coming from the hospitality industry was essentially just shut down. I worked in the
(02:12):
first hotel that became, sorry, the hotel that became the first quarantine hotel in
the entire country.
Oh, wow.
So we were the first to go and I worked in sales at the time and obviously we didn't
need sales because we became quarantine. So yeah, and it was probably only three or
four months after going back from maternity leave as well. So I hadn't really been back
in the workforce for that long. And then COVID happened, stood down and then did any number
(02:38):
of things to keep going and keep afloat. And it was just by chance that I was doing body
shop at home during the pandemic as we're all at home. So what better way to jump on
a virtual body shop party and buy some body shop?
Oh, I didn't know they had virtual ones. That's cool.
They still do. Yeah. You don't have to go in. I think they still continue that post COVID.
(03:01):
And I went and met up with an old industry colleague to give her her body shop and had
a coffee outside of the cafe because you couldn't sit in the cafe at that time. And I was like,
what are you doing now? I know that you got made redundant and all of these things. And
she's like, oh, I'm a VA and didn't really know what that was. And coming from hospitality
and events, I was just like, oh, she could do it. I could do it. And jumped into a whole
(03:23):
lot of Facebook groups that she invited me to watch the space for about six months. And
then I was EA to a director in a real estate firm and wasn't really enjoying the office
environment, 40 minutes to work every day and just decided one night to jump on those
groups to see if there was anything there. And then a couple of leads I set my business
up overnight and website in a couple of hours. And then within 24 hours, I had my first client.
(03:50):
Wow. That's cool. I like that you're the opportunity and went for it.
Just went for it. Yeah. Yeah. So what exactly is a VA and what sort of things do you do?
Yeah. So it varies. And eventual assistant predominantly is a self-employed person that
provides a service remotely. And traditionally speaking, a lot of people start in a space
(04:10):
by offering administration services, executive assistance, type of roles, email management,
diary management, life admin. That's certainly a lot of where people start. Now we go well
beyond that scope. We do a lot of digital marketing, content creation, website design.
We support a lot of business coaches and supporting their course creation on tech.
(04:34):
Just any number of things. Many, many hats. It just kind of grows and we grow with our
clients as well. So if a client turns around and say, "Oh, I need help with this," generally
it's something that we as a team can take on. Yeah. Wow. Okay. And so now you're a business
owner and you coach other business owners. Tell me what's the difference between doing
(05:01):
that and working in an industry that you've been working for so long being hospitality?
Yeah. I guess it gives me the option to be creative and just do things out of the norm.
And working as an employee, working with different brands where you're so bound by the rules
and the expectations. It's really great because now I can just do what I want or if you want
(05:23):
to change things tomorrow, you can. And it's just really about the flexibility to doing
it in the way that we want to do it. Yeah, absolutely. So then do you think that's typical
of being an employee or do you think that's typical of being in hospitality itself? That's
to stay in your lane mentality or this is the way we do it. Don't change it.
(05:46):
Now that I'm so far out of the employee, I believe it's a traditional employer-employee
type of relationship. I know that there's a lot more companies that it's a little bit
better now since COVID and a lot more you work your way wherever you want all of that.
I still feel that a lot of what they're doing is on someone else's terms. Yeah. Yeah. I
(06:06):
don't think it's just straight to that industry. I think it's across the board in an employee
scenario. Yes, okay. And so now when we spoke last
time, you're talking about how it's such a joy to be creative in your own business.
Yeah. Do you think that is that something that
you think you've been craving for a long time, that opportunity to be creative? And do you
(06:30):
think that perhaps you could have tried to squeeze that out of hospitality or do you
think you had to make that jump into being your own business owner to get that opportunity?
Or perhaps you didn't even think that you wanted it and now you've just on a reflection
to feel like you like it. So many options for you to choose from or any of the above.
(06:51):
I think it was probably more the initial one that you said. I think I always had that creativity
inside of me and I was always trying to break the mold. It would come time to create new
packages for the events, the apartment or things like that. And I would normally create it,
but we would still have to deliver it to the marketing team. So I would try and put my creative
spin on it before it would get to them and then they'd have to brandize it and put their
(07:13):
brain standards on it. So it's kind of like I was just still trying to buck the trend.
And then in my freelance, well, I guess in both the hospitality and my freelance wedding
career is I did actually go and study wedding styling so I could really learn how to be
a lot more creative with the psychology color and how to really support a bride in being
(07:34):
creative in her wedding and bringing the look and feel to life rather than just being that
hotel person that just does the food and beverage. I wanted to be able to support them to actually
create the bigger vision. So it's definitely always been in there craving to come out.
Yeah. So how did you choose to do the wedding planning things? That seems like a kind of
a nice little middle ground between where you are now and the hospitality. But do you
(07:59):
have an interest in that area or how did you choose that?
Yeah, so it kind of chose me. So a lot of hotels, yeah, a lot of the hotels that we
worked in weddings, we did weddings in the hotel. So I was always interested in events
and then I was in a hotel and they're like, okay, well, you're going to stop being our
weddings person. And I'm like, this is so exciting. Like I've just always been fascinated
(08:21):
by weddings. I love them. They're beautiful. The romance, all of that.
And then such a happy occasion.
Exactly. And then this just started, you know, this whole big amazing thing. And then even
working in resorts, like it was so beautiful, like I worked on Heyman Island and we did
beautiful weddings. We used to go to White Haven on helicopters. So like it really kind
(08:42):
of, when I was delegated it, and then I was just like, this is just a whole new world for
me because I just thought it was so beautiful. And then I wanted to take it to that next
step. So that was freelancing as well as, you know, when I was in the venue space as
well.
Yeah, that's cool. What, so what was like the most creative thing you were able to do
(09:04):
in that role? Or was it just the freedom? And you know, is it kind of like, is there
a formula for weddings that people follow? Or is it sort of a blank piece of paper in
your, in the world, your oyster to be as creative and as lateral as you, as you want
to be?
Yeah, it's definitely the freedom to be as creative as you want to be. And I think when
(09:24):
you're freelancing, you have a lot more say with the bride. When you're a venue coordinator,
generally they already have a stylist or they have a wedding planner. So it's, you're very
much in the background and you are kind of in your own land of the hotel. A lot of the
events that I did say when I was on Heyman or even when I was in Benowatu was events for
the hotel. So I got to plan the 2000, I think it was 2020. There was it. I kind of remember
(09:51):
what year it was, maybe 2011. Music celebration for the entire resort on Heyman Island. So
you know, what that flow was and that was, you know, entertainment, that was music, stilt
walkers, the design for the tables, because it was like a progressive kind of dinner throughout
the entire resort. And that was really fun because there were no rules. It was just like
(10:15):
you have to be able to entertain them, provide food and beverage and have everybody have
an amazing new year. So to get a really small brief like that and just to kind of make it
whatever it's like. And then also when I was in Benowatu, I did Christmas and New Year's
there as well. So when you're doing events that are like ticketed events or for the resort,
it's kind of like go for gold. Whereas if you're doing it for a client, obviously, you
(10:36):
know, it comes down to what the client wants.
Wow. That sounds so cool. Did you live, did you live in Benowatu and all these places
at the time?
Yeah.
Wow.
So you lived in a resort in one of the hotel rooms.
Oh, what was that like?
I could have a housekeeping every day. It was, it was nice. However, it was very difficult
(10:57):
to switch off.
Yeah.
Because, you know, you'd finish a wedding and you'd go back to your room, but the wedding
would be happening on the beach in front of your room. So it's like, oh, are they enjoying
it?
Yeah. And then like staff know that you live on site. So they're constantly calling you
on your day off or, you know, so it is, it is quite intensive. And on Heyman lived in
(11:18):
the Star Village.
Yeah.
Wow.
Very similar as well. And they had, I think it was a, I can't remember what it was, but
it was one week you would only have one day off and then the following week you'd only
have two days off. But being in events, if your day off was a day that one of your couple
or your event clients were leaving, you had to go and take them to the boat. So it was
(11:39):
kind of a 24/7 type of role as well.
Oh, wow. So that definitely was leading you into becoming a business owner. It's very
a lot of switch off.
So that seems to be like a really nice natural progression into, into the VA stuff because
you're wearing many hats, you're coordinating a bunch of different things. You're working
(12:03):
with someone and you have to kind of know them intimately, I suppose, to be able to deliver
to them. Do you think that there's been a crossover between that and your work now?
Yeah, definitely. And I think when it comes to, you know, even sometimes we've done branding
for some business coaches, they're like, oh, my portal, where my coat, my, my courses
(12:24):
are, it just looks old. We need a redo. So, you know, we've jumped in to do that. And just
to kind of come up with something when the business owner really hasn't given us any
brief to then share with them what we think the vision is. And for them to be like, oh,
my gosh, I could not have imagined what that would look like. It's, it's pretty cool.
Yeah. So it's mostly in the visual space that you're creative in your current role or?
(12:47):
Yeah, I'd say so. Yeah. It's been both, which is great. So I do a lot of strategy with the
clients and that's kind of where another strong suit's coming out for me. And then I do have
team that are really creative. But generally, I have like the visual in my head and then,
you know, portray that to them. I'm like, can you go away and create these graphics
(13:08):
and then kind of deliver on that? And it seems to work really well with the team because
even what they provide for me to deliver to the client is sometimes better than what I
had in my head. It's kind of like the brains behind the idea. And then they go and do the
work. Because, you know, as a business owner, you have a lot less time and a lot less patience
to sit there and put all the graphics together. So I come up with it and somebody executes
(13:31):
it. I mean, that's half the battle, isn't it? It's, you know, you come up with an idea,
but being able to articulate it and take people on the journey with you to get that buy-in
is certainly sometimes it's a struggle. Yeah. So that's been a learning experience for me
(13:52):
as, you know, as my team has grown. We're in our team of four at CRISP. And we do a
lot of visual stuff. We do a lot of design and websites and things like that. But I've
always been the one who's done the shashie and onboarding and all that type of thing.
So I come up with the ideas and trying to get the team on board and articulate what I want
(14:15):
is sometimes hard when you don't work in the same state or even in the same country.
Yeah, exactly. You're learning a whole new, a new normal doing it remotely.
Yeah, yeah. But I think it's here to stay. I feel, oh yeah. Yeah. Also, if someone asked
me the other day, would I be getting an office for my team now it's growing bigger and bigger?
(14:36):
And I was like, oh, I don't know. I kind of love working from home. I think they love
working from home. I don't, although I'd love to see them more often. I think there's other
ways you can be creative and do that and get together and still build that connection outside
of working together in a physical office. Yeah. 100%. Has that ever crossed your mind
(14:58):
or like whereabouts are your team located? It has crossed my mind. And then I just think
about the dollars relating to a space. Yeah. Why would I have this ongoing extra cost when
we all have these offices already and we can connect so often and so much? I do like the
connection piece because we do have a team in Sydney that I've never met in real life.
(15:25):
I have a team member in Thailand and she's just living there with her family, but she's
from the Gold Coast. So I know who are already. And then my business manager lives in Germany
because we used to work together in a hotel in Abu Dhabi. So it's kind of like, even if
I got a space, the whole team wouldn't be together. So if everybody was in Queensland
(15:48):
and it would make sense, I think for community collaboration potentially, but when not all
of them are here, it seems pointless because then it would only create a further divide
with the people that are not in the state. Yeah. That sort of halfway point of being half
online, half not online is a hard one to balance. But I also like the idea of if you're fully
(16:12):
virtual, it means that you can give opportunities to people that you've worked with and you
know that you work really well together from your past life. But also you're not limited
just to the local community and the local skillset. You're like, "Oh, I've got this
person in Perth. He's amazing. I would love to step into their work." Exactly. That should
limit their opportunities because they're not based in the same state as you. I completely
(16:36):
agree. In the past, I used to, you know, when I was single, no child or any of that, I used
to just move wherever for the jobs. Yeah. And then you get to a certain point in your life,
you're like, "Done doing that." But now you actually don't have to. And I think, yeah,
I think it's great. I mean, my business manager, we've been friends for over 10 years and the
fact that we've worked together before as well. So I know that we've got that pohesiveness,
(16:58):
that respect for each other that we can separate work from business and it just works really
well. So why can't she work for me? I think it's really great that we have the opportunity
to work together again and we don't have to be in the same city. Yeah. Yeah. That's great.
And so how do you manage collaboration? And so you've got a business manager, I guess,
(17:18):
that is for growing the business BDM style, right? Or... Not really. I mean, I think in
the beginning, maybe that was the suggestion. She's really what we'd call an online business
manager because she's kind of been with us from really early on. It's kind of morphed
and grown and just didn't want to change the title. But she's working really well in the
(17:41):
digital space and the graphics and our social media. So we started having her sort of head
up a lot of the social media. So that's kind of working for the moment. And I guess with
that, it's not time specific as in, right, it's not just sitting there needing to pass
work over. So the time difference doesn't have any effect on us. It's kind of like,
well, we know that we need to deliver work by this date to then get checked, to then
(18:04):
get posted out by this date. So it's more of a day timeline, which I think works really
well. And we do have, I guess by 2pm, we kind of have a day crossover. So the time's not
too bad. So then if everyone's sort of separated out and she's doing social media for your
business, or she's doing it for your clients, doing for the clients. Oh, okay. So I'm going
(18:25):
to ask like, how do you get consistency across the brand when you're in different time zones,
different locations? How do you articulate that and stay cohesive? Yeah, I guess by having
the same person do it for one and having brand guides, which yes, it's kind of a flip side
(18:46):
before because I actually used to try and buck against those, you know, brand guides and
things like that. And I've got an implemented one for me. However, you know, if the team
would be like, Oh, I actually think this graphic might be good. And I'm open to that. Like
I'm not, I'm ridded per se as in, you know, you need to use the same fonts and things
like that. But I don't have a, you can only use this logo on this background. It's just
(19:11):
as long as it's clear, like, don't go and put a pink logo on a pink background because
you won't see it. So as long as, you know, initiative is being used and they can still
be creative. I'm not that set in stone online. And however, with clients, we always make
sure that we follow the client's brand guide dance because that's what they're paying us
(19:31):
to do. Yeah. Well, I think it's interesting. Like, I kind of made the distinction between
a brand guide, guidelines and brand Bible. And I think that you are, if you are in a
super corporate environment, perhaps hospitality, big chain of hotels, or for me working, I've
(19:53):
worked in the government, I've worked at universities, they're brand Bibles as in you, they say it,
you do it and then there is no leeway. Whereas brand guides, I feel give you that flexibility
to still come up with new ideas for the brand, flex your creative muscle, but you do it within
(20:21):
those guides. The guides are font color, fonts, colors, imagery, tone. And I like that. I
like that. That I feel like you should empower your team to still become become creative and
come up with their own ideas. Because otherwise it's boring for them. It's boring for us.
(20:44):
It's probably boring for the audience. And more clients as well being like, did I read
this one already? No, how was the last one? Then it looks exactly the same.
Yeah, it needs to look different for, you know, for people that are digesting the content
as well. Yeah, yeah, for sure.
So jumping back again to creativity, because when you're talking about I can just see that
(21:07):
you're coming alive. So I want to know like, what is creativity to you? And like, how does
it make you feel what I can see that you're getting very animated?
Yeah, it's, it's funny because I don't know we talk about it as much in this context.
And, you know, it's probably, I guess, reminding me how much I do like it. And I think Canva
(21:29):
has probably allowed us to have that creativity. And one has probably allowed me to be creative.
And probably especially in the beginning of business, I would never have so many different
brochures, pictures, graphics, any of that, because I'd be paying somebody a lot of money
(21:50):
to create these graphics. So I think that that has allowed us to be creative and allowed
us to bring it out of us as well. And it's, you know, like I talked about, like I was
kind of bucking against kind of letting it out before and now it's just like, oh, you
know, this big huge explosion of creativity and color and a lot having the opportunity
(22:13):
to, I guess, express myself in that. But also it's just like, how do I put my vision for
my business out there to everyone to come and work with us as well? Because it's not
just colors on the page. It's just like, well, that's emotions as well. And if you then talk
about the psychology of color, well, how does that then sit with somebody else and how do
they receive the information that you're putting out because of the look and the feel? And it's
(22:38):
like, well, how does it make them feel? So I think then that that's just putting a lot
more emotion into the creativity and the design side of things.
Yes, I agree. I think there's so much more to design than just making something look
lovely. There's there, there's so much thought that actually goes into it. And yeah, you
(22:59):
mentioned Canva. I agree. Like, you know, I was, I was actually at a webinar, sort of
like summit thing a couple of weeks ago, topic for designers and topic of Canva brought
up and the man of the eye rolls and like shutters and like, oh, you know, and I was just
(23:19):
thinking, I don't see an issue with it. I don't see an issue with Canva. I love the
fact that it has enabled people to tap into this creativity that they have inside of them
and do it easily and express themselves. I think that's great. I don't think it's taking
away from traditional graphic design. I don't think it's taking away from, you know, the
(23:43):
perfect like the truly trained professionals in that space. It's a different offering for
a different type of client.
I 100% agree. And even some things that I do when I go for printing, I have to send it
to my graphic designer because of the quality. And I can't, you know, if it's something that's
printed like I wanted to get some notebooks printed and I wanted to get some t-shirts
(24:05):
printed for my team, I can't export a vector file. So there are limitations to Canva that
that allows you the fact to then go and use the resources of a graphic designer. And I
think maybe this is the kind of pool that's happening in the business industry at the
moment is to charge APT and all the copywriters being scared, you know, 12 to 12 months, 24
(24:26):
months down the track, we're probably going to be in the same situation where, you know,
us as non copywriters are going to have the use for tap GPT. But when it comes to, you
know, talking about SEO and conversion and, you know, highly skilled copywriting, then
that's when you go and pay for a copywriter. So I feel like it's very similar that I think
everything still has its place.
(24:46):
Yeah. Are you using chat GPT in your business at the moment? Or is that sort of part of
your long term plan?
We use it for ourselves, like when I'm just throwing stuff together or I'm doing braces
and things like that, or if I'm doing my own website stuff. However, for clients, no.
If clients are paying us to write, then we have our caption and copywriter writing it.
(25:10):
Yeah, I definitely think there's a place to work alongside the chat GPT. And that thing,
I mean, that's brought up, been brought up a few times on the podcast that this sort
of AI, what is the impact of it on creativity? But I think it's a starting point. I think
it's something to work alongside. But as you said before, it doesn't have the emotions
(25:35):
and it doesn't, you know, the motionality and the thought and the deep research behind
some of the things that we're doing, color selection, font selection, writing emotively
for a client, getting the right tone for a particular client. That's just something
that I mean, currently the currently AI can't do. We'll see if it moves into that space.
(25:59):
But I truly think that there's a space for humans to work alongside it.
Yeah, 100%.
Yeah. So do you think that I know you found this opportunity to be creative in your current
business? Do you think that do you think that everyone needs to be creative to run a business?
Or do you think it just kind of makes a little bit more fun and more easy?
(26:20):
I personally think it makes more fun and easy. I think there's some people that don't believe
that they have any creativity bone in their body. And maybe that's just because they haven't
explored it or they have no interest in it. And then that's where we talk about hiring
for skills gaps. You know, so if they have that gap and they have that block and they
can't be creative and they don't know how colors are put together, then they can use
(26:43):
one of the tech resources to play or they can get support team or even hire a graphic
designer for those things. And I guess the other benefit of hiring a graphic designer
is a graphic designer can support somebody that isn't created to actually draw everything
out to then go and make the magic happen, so to speak. So they know what questions to
ask to then go and create the outcome.
(27:06):
I love that you said skills gap just there in life.
Yeah.
It's such a business minded thing. But it's true. It's true. I mean, that's why you outsource
is like you have skills gap or there's some type of deficit. That's why you outsource is
like skills or time or money.
Do you want to sit there and go learn it or just pay somebody else to jump in and do it
(27:29):
and get it done quicker?
Yeah. Yeah. So yeah. Okay. Well, that's really interesting. So tell me about you. Like when
you're trying to be creative, sounds like you've got a lot of opportunities in your
business to do that.
What are some things that you do to get into the mindset to allow you to be creative?
(27:54):
I think it's probably more often changed over time. And I think it's more about one, probably
a lot of pictures that maybe I've seen in the past of, oh, that looks great. And then
kind of putting my in-sense on it. But now it's very much about knowing how it's going
(28:14):
to land for the client. And it's kind of like when you talk about copy, you want to talk
to your ideal audience. When I create designs now, I'm just like, well, how will that person
receive it? And what is it going to make them feel? Because it needs to resonate with what
you're putting out. So if you're talking about say business coaching, it needs to kind of
give them the feel of the transformation that they're going to get when they jump into business
(28:37):
coaching. If it's more about services, how is it going to make them feel knowing that
all of the stuff on the list and the graphics is going to take them to the spot where they
don't have to worry about it?
So I think there's a lot of that kind of comes into it. And it's very much about how is it
going to make them feel in the transformation? Whereas before it was probably like, it just
(28:58):
looks good.
Yeah. And what's your brainstorming technique like? Do you have one? Like for me, when I
come against a problem that I can't do, I take a walk or I change, turn my mind off
it to then it will come to me when I least expect it.
(29:20):
I find that if I get a bit of a block, I just ask the team.
Oh, ask your team? Okay.
Yeah, I'm just like, I know I want this, but I don't know what I want it to look like. Can
you give it a go? And then nine times out of 10, it comes back up. That's not what I
was thinking, but I love it. Let's go with that.
That's good. Harnessing the brain power of your team.
Yeah. Just using everyone's creativity, which is great.
(29:43):
Yeah. I love that. Are you constantly surprised when things come back and you're like, that
is better than I could do. Or that's different. And I love it.
I was like, why did I even spend my time thinking about it?
Yes. Totally. I've thought that several times throughout the last couple of years since I've
had a team like I, in the past, I probably would have been really prescriptive about
(30:04):
what I want done. And then now over time, I'm just like, you've got the skills for this.
I'm just going to say what I want to achieve, how you get there is up to you. And I am constantly
surprised and amazed and impressed by what comes back to me. It's just, I find it very exciting.
Yeah. I think sometimes it's even better because sometimes you could sit there and over think
(30:27):
it and you could give them the list and listen to the list. And then it comes back and it
just hasn't hit the mark. I find more often than not when I don't give a brief, that's
when it's way better than I could imagine. Wow. Okay.
Sorry. It's same sitting there and overthinking it.
Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. Because I'm sure there's another thousand things that are on your to-do
(30:49):
list.
It's a never ending to-do list.
So now that you've found yourself being more creative at work, has it inspired you to create
a thing outside of work?
It has. It's at the moment, a lack of time. But there's a lot of other, like I see it
all the time on people's Instagrams, like pottery classes or the sip and paints. My friend went
(31:14):
and did a sip and paint the other day and she painted a turtle. I'm like, this looks
really good. I think I would love to go and do that. So yeah, definitely there's a lot
more of that that I'd like to do. And I think it's probably more about, you know, start
scheduling it in my diary at least once a month just to kind of get that creative outlet
going.
Yeah. I feel like that's been a theme on a couple of these episodes is that once people
(31:36):
get a taste for it, they are trying to seek out other opportunities. Obviously, time is
effective when you're running a business. But once you start being creative, you're like,
oh, I need more. Insatiable. Absolutely. Yeah. So last question for you. What would you
recommend for others who say that they want more creativity in their life or in their
(32:02):
career and they're not necessarily getting it at the moment?
I think do the things that we just spoke about go and try new things. I mean, new experiences
are great even if they're not creative. You know, even if they're not creative. Anything
outside of the norm. Even just, you know, Google unusual things that you can do on
weekends and things like that. You'll be surprised, you know, how creative you can be with that.
(32:23):
And even just jump into Canva. And even before I was in business, you know, when I found out
about Canva, I was always designing, like, my birthday invitations or, you know, going
to other websites to do those. So, you know, when things come up in your life, just be creative.
Or if you're going to do a Facebook event, create a really cute banner for your birthday
or someone's baby shower or even, you know, for other people's baby showers, I've created,
(32:46):
you know, really nice, you know, like the quizzes that you do and things like that. So
just kind of incorporate that into your own life. And you don't always have to go and
buy the pre-created pads, the paper that you can do and you can do it all yourself.
Yeah, cool. So try new things and look for opportunities to be creative.
Yeah. Oh, that's fantastic. Well, thank you so much for joining me today, Sasha. I really
(33:10):
appreciate it. Thank you so much for having me. It's been great.
No, not a problem. And also a big thank you to everyone who has tuned in to listen to
Creativity (33:19):
Uncovered today. I really hope that this episode has inspired you to try something
new if you just aren't being fulfilled currently with your creativity. And as always, I really
hope that this discussion has helped you summon your creativity the next time that you need
it. Until next time, thanks so much for listening.
(33:41):
.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
(34:05):
Yeah.
If you've made it this far, a huge thank you for your support and tuning into today's episode.
Uncovered has been lovingly recorded on the land of the Kabi Kabi people and we
pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging. This podcast has been produced by
(34:29):
my amazing team here at Crisp Communications and the music you just heard was composed by
James Gatling. If you liked this episode, please do share it around and help us on our
mission to unlock more creativity in this world. You can also hit subscribe so you don't miss out on any new
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