Bio The path that led her to this point
Growing up with my Dad in the Air Force meant we moved around a lot, experiencing living in different cities throughout Australia and the US.
I loved the freeing feeling of exploring a city for the first time and capturing it with my camera.
Throughout my working life I continued to move around Australia, and longed to travel overseas again.
I focused on building a career and worked in a range of roles across varying industries, from Hospitality to Human Resource roles in the corporate sector but struggled to find that ‘something’ that really struck a cord in my heart.
After getting married, we bought a house and renovated it. We loved the process and while we'd often entertained the idea of starting a property business we made the move to London.
From 2007 to 2009 I continued to work in Human Resources but with Europe on our doorstep travel was much more of a focus than my career.
Then an opportunity to fulfil that desire of having a property business took us back to Australia.
As well as working part time outside of the business, I also started a creative side-project, manufacturing loungewear to sell online.
I loved the challenge of the property business and the sense of achievement from creating something from nothing with the loungewear business.
With the property business set up, and manageable from anywhere, the lure of doing more travel overseas was too strong and we moved back to London in 2011.
Though we wound up the property business in 2012, I continued selling the loungewear online.
I then couldn’t imagine not continuing to carve out my own path.
I started to explore my passion for photography further - first by necessity, while doing product photography for my store, and thereafter in other personal projects.
The more I worked on these projects, the more I realised that it was what I wanted to keep doing, and that I had to take a leap and throw myself into it.
I signed up to a photography course and while I was completely outside of my comfort zone my heart was reassuring me that I was right where I was meant to be - it was a real turning point for me.
Around that time I launched burrow.28 selling prints and cards based on my photography.
In December I closed the loungewear store to focus on burrow.28 and my photography full time.
Q&A Insider advice & tips
What's been your greatest achievement to date?
Probably launching my first online business.
Even if approached initially as a side project, I’m really grateful for having done it.
It taught me a lot about running an online business, and a lot about myself really showing me what I was capable of. I simply wouldn’t be at this point without having done it.
What's been your biggest challenge so far?
The biggest probably, being the inner voice of self doubt! Letting go of the fear and just going for it.
Also, going from an office environment to working solely can be isolating so creating a network of supportive and like minded people is really important. This is something I wished I'd put more importance on establishing in my first business.
Best lesson you've learned along the way?
One of the biggest and hardest to learn, was that things are always going to matter more to you than they will to anybody else.
Getting something out, even without it being in what you consider it’s perfect state is, OK.
In fact, it’s crucial, it’s the only way you can gain feedback to improve, move forward and establish something.
A website, book or resource that has helped you in your business or inspired you and why?
I have so many business resources that I love and tap into often, but here are a few favourites:
- Start Something That Matters by Blake Mycoskie
- The $100 StartUp by Chris Guillebeau
- Marie Forleo
- Jonathan Fields - The Good Life Project
- Jess Lively - The Lively Show
Which person or brand do you most admire and why?
I admire the way in which Samm Blake has carved out her own path as a successful photographer.
And I’m inspired by anyone who goes out on their own to create their own path - which is why I love reading WIB!
What advice would you give someone starting an independent business in your industry?
If you are thinking of starting your own business, all I would say is, go for it.
Don’t wait for the perfect time, there will never be a perfect time, start now with what you have.
It’s going to be hard, sometimes lonely, and at times you’ll definitely feel like giving up. Just keep going and truly believe in yourself.
Finish this sentence
Everything changed for me when…
I backed my self and just went for it.
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