02: Let’s just fake everything until we make it
Today we're joined by Mary Growth from the Growth Collective Hub. We talk about challenges starting our own businesses like handling uncertainty, imposter syndrome, and that hilarious thing called work/life balance. Mary also talks about her work in corporate wellness, and the importance of emotional health in the workplace.
Number of f*cks given in this episode: 10
Mentioned in this episode:
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Episode transcript
Christine: Welcome to the Fuck Around and Find Out Podcast. Yes, Chris. There you go. We're your hosts Rah, Emily and Chris. We're three women who have built and run our businesses and are here to shoot the shit on everything about women in business and running your own
business. Rah. You're from
Rah: work from Rah . Yes. I want to tell us a little bit about you.
Thanks, Chris. I'm Rah and I'm a digital marketing and systems specialist. And I work exclusively with women in their small businesses to help them with their social media podcasting. Also things like websites, email marketing, um, Google business profiles, email management, those sorts of things. Cool. And yeah, I've been working for myself for just over two years after working For other people for [00:01:00] however many years, 25 ish years.
And now I get to have the fun that I've always liked from my day jobs that I've had and now work with amazing women and help boost their confidence.
Christine: Cool. Seriously. And reaching a bigger audience. I love that. Thanks Chris. I really do. Yes. So Chris, tell
Rah: us about you.
Christine: Well, I am one half of the awesome Juniper Road.
Um, I seriously fucked around a lot with this starting back in 2019. Got him up to my own biz. It was a bit of a reinvention of self. I worked for a university. And I was being made redundant, and the joy of being made redundant in a university is you get told about it 12 to 18 months prior to losing your job.
It's a mindfuck. It really is. Anyway, I decided that in the words of Abraham Lincoln, I needed to invent my own future. So I did, and uh, did some training, because that's my [00:02:00] personality type. I, uh, I like to have a little bit of knowledge, and um, and stuff. And yeah, started my little business back then. And I won't say little, because I shouldn't say little.
It was a big thing for me. A very brave thing to do. I'd always been an employee. But anyway, I digress. Juniper Road, operational and shared services support to small and medium businesses. We have a humongous, or like I say, plethora of services that we can provide. Um, From marketing, digital marketing, like website builds and social media, through to C suite style, E suite, um, EA support, um, data entry, Oh, I love a good bit of data entry.
Bit of bookkeeping, support in different areas, templates, documents, you know what, seriously, back end stuff, it's the operational things to the small businesses that we like to do. Yeah, yeah, once. [00:03:00] That is so true. And I like to say, are we creating a team for women with women? Yes. And I've just joyfully joined forces with Emily just over 12 months ago.
And I can't say that I've had a better time in business. Amazing. Best version of
Emily: marriage. There is. Oh, absolutely.
Christine: Biz wife
Rah: over there. So that's a nice segue. What's your, tell us your version of the events of your business. All she said was lies. Tell us the truth. Um,
Emily: yes, Chris and I, I had a child and didn't want to go back into the corporate world ever again because it was horrible and not set up for parents like ever.
Um, and then I'm one of those people that I don't, Need to teach myself. I just do it because I definitely fuck around and find out. And if I want to make a business, I just build a website. Before I do the business itself, new business idea, website straight away. Um, [00:04:00] and I did the VA game, which thankfully was during COVID because I was also on Matt leaves.
That gave me some time. And then I left my job and was doing my own business and then realized we needed to join with Chris. Because why would we be doing it alone when two of us could do it so much better together? Um, and yes, best choice ever. We've ever made.
Rah: Um, my husband inherited another wife. Well, who's the winner in all this?
I would say it's Ben.
Emily: I feel like you'd argue with that, but yeah, sure.
Rah: He's here. He can't argue. He's just got more
Emily: people to tell him what to do. So,
Christine: so we're going to win it with this podcast, of course. We're going to do a little bit of a mix of just the three of us nattering on and talking about stuff.
And then, of course, we're going to have some absolutely marvellous guests sprinkled throughout the series. And today We are absolutely ecstatic that we have got the fabulous Mary Groth from the [00:05:00] Groth Collective joining us in The Bella Vista Podcast Studio. Yes. Hello, Bella Vista. And hey, Mary, how you doing?
Hi,
Rah: Christine. Thanks for having me, guys. It's so funny having you in a professional context when we're so used to gas bagging with you. I know. Now it's recorded. No pressure.
Christine: Yeah. Yeah. But I suppose this is just a nice extension of gas bagging and, um, you know, and just talking about stuff and getting things sorted and in business and challenges.
I mean, you're a mom, got two beautiful, beautiful boys. Um, and you know, lots of experience and, um, and knowledge and growth to share. And that's no pun intended, because being in business is the hardest gig. Like, I knew it was going to be hard, but I cannot believe, I didn't realise how hard it was [00:06:00] going to be.
And hey, I, you know. I am a mum as well, and so that is even hard, fitting that all in, um, with it all, and, um, nothing against, um, you know, any of us women, or women in business doing it without being a mum. Hello. Because exactly right. And I wanted to recognise you. But you're a firm mum as well. I am a firm mum.
It very much counts. The seriously, like, I'm sorry to segway, but I mean Hurley won't leave me alone. I was walking him at 9 o'clock last night. Oh, beautiful boy. Oh, he's gorgeous, but you know what, it's like I need my walk and he will not let me work from home unless he's had food. first had his walk, and he comes in and bangs under my elbows to interrupt me.
So there are demands. I actually think the dog is harder work than the 17 year old who has access to my car. But, um, so tell us a little bit about the Growth Collective.
Mary: Thank you. I will. But firstly, I just wanted to say [00:07:00] thank you. Thank you to all three of you for having me as your first guest, I'm so so honoured.
Um, yeah, it was just so lovely to have that invite, so You were
Emily: naturally our first choice.
Mary: Naturally. Um, yeah, so the Growth Collective, um, we're a little business here. No, I won't say we'll, we are a business here in Sydney. Um, so we offer predominantly corporate wellness programs to small to medium businesses.
Um, so a lot of the medium to large businesses mostly have corporate wellness programs. Um, and having worked a decade in the corporate world, um, and knowing, you know, all the issues that can happen culturally and in leadership and, um, you know, just with, you know, in the morale of businesses. Um, I really felt that, you know, small to medium businesses really tend to miss out on getting employee kind of engagement programs.
Um, I also co own, uh, Seal Appeal Tiling and Waterproofing with Hubby. and have, you know, been [00:08:00] alongside him for the ride in terms of our little small business and have seen, you know, even himself, what he has gone through in terms of, you know, building a business, the isolation, doing it on his own. Um, and so Growth Collective was kind of born from me starting off having my therapy practice and, um, Providing individual kind of therapy and then venturing off and doing coaching programs with high performing women Drawing on my background from corporate and coaching and leadership and then I kind of combine them together to create, you know corporate wellness employee assistance programs For small to medium businesses so that they don't miss out Because a lot of the bigger Organizations are tailored more for large businesses and aren't really affordable.
So, um, yeah, I kind of put it all together and the growth collective hub was created About a year ago now and yeah, we kicked off starting our corporate wellness initiatives including [00:09:00] Employee assistance programs which we embed in there. And yeah, so our motto is to provide and support Emotionally healthy workplaces, which I'm very, very passionate about.
Um, and which is so important, especially in this climate as well with everything going on in the economy and just in the world in general. So yeah, that's what we do. Can I ask a question? Yes.
Emily: What size businesses, because obviously small to medium can cover quite a lot of I know with Chris and I, like some small businesses can be one person, but I'd imagine one person businesses aren't quite your client range.
Mary: Um, so, you know, I'm happy to service at like, you know, anybody, because I feel like if somebody needs the service, then I'm happy to help. So, you know, if it was a solo business, for example, I can get in and help do leadership or just like, you know, business coaching with, um, Um, and then, you know, once they kind of expand and if they do get employees underneath, then, you know, we can expand [00:10:00] our services.
So it's really like it really is like a fuck around to find out. So whoever approaches me, the number one thing is that, um, they and the business value emotional wellbeing and, you know, prioritize, you know, the mental and emotional health of their employees and themselves. And if they value that and with values aligned that I'm ha I'm so happy to work with that person.
God, I wish more
Emily: businesses did that.
Mary: Yes, exactly. Yeah.
Rah: And I think it's more important for businesses nowadays because it's so much more competitive to keep it. To attain and then retain. Yes. Oh, huge. Your stuff. Yes. Yeah, a hundred percent
Emily: Absolutely. Culture's so, such a hard thing to have. Yes.
Rah: Yeah. But once you've got it, it's gonna make, make it so much easier to find amazing people to work with you.
Mary: Exactly. Yeah. Absolutely. And even the cost of, um, you know, reten re like not having good retention is so high. Oh yeah. With employee turnover. So, you know, implementing an employee assistance program, um, you know, the results actually show that it [00:11:00] increases. retention rates and productivity, which also obviously helps bottom dollar for businesses as well.
Christine: Yeah. Well, it's all investment in, in your resources, isn't it? If you invest this sort of service within your organization, um, and you know, and whether or not it's, I don't know, like, you know, you, you put this program into your workplace and to your team, create great culture, maybe, um, Un unplug, un um, unpack, you know, maybe there isn't a great team member in a team, you know, and therefore, how do you sort that out?
Weed out . Yep. You know, the, the rot that's in within a team or something like that. Um, but it's, so it's really, IM important because we all. We all bring our personal baggage to our desks, um, and you know, and sometimes you can't help that. Yeah. And if you are, and if that is a constant and [00:12:00] impacts on people around you, that brings them down.
So having an employee assistance program would be awesome.
Mary: Yes,
Christine: absolutely. Yes, very much so. And, and I know that like within our group, so of course we don't, we don't have that, but that doesn't say mean that we won't have that. Yeah. Um, and it's certainly something to be on our, our blue sky thinking, um, But trying to create a really positive culture within a team is very important.
So it's all part and parcel of it.
Mary: Absolutely, because as you said, the ripple effects of having, for example, a toxic, you know, team member or, um, you know, somebody that is significantly, um, toxic. you know, has mental health issues at one point in time or is, um, yeah, it can really like have a negative impact with within the whole team, within the whole business.
So it's really important, you know, for those issues to be addressed in a very positive and nurturing environment. Um, and it can make all the [00:13:00] difference. Yeah. Oh my
Christine: God. Yeah, absolutely. I can only imagine, um, your, um, husband, But like in the, in the seal business, like just, I would imagine there would have been a certain level of toxicity with the client facing stuff and, you know, angry customer is always right, mentalities and stuff.
So, you know, whenever you're having to deal with that, in any organisation, there needs to be a lot of support.
Mary: A lot of support. Um, absolutely. Yep. Yeah, especially for, you know, the leaders and the directors in the business, because it can be so isolating, you know, you're doing it all on your own and you might have a coach or you might have other, you know, people in place, but, you know, drawing upon an employee assistance program or even just, um, the leadership side of things is, can be so, so beneficial, you know?
Yeah.
Christine: Yeah. No, absolutely. And I think like in that business coaching and helping with those leadership, you know, And you know, getting your head set on straight. I know that in my, [00:14:00] my immediately, you know, world is that, um, you know, it's like I have to take lots of different hats off and you know, when it's like, this is this time and I got to take that, my business CEO hat off and I've got to put my mum hat on and do all of that.
And then I put my wife hat on. You know, firm hat on and then I come back and put my CEO hat on at 10 o'clock at night and things get a bit depressing and, and all of that. And yeah, so many hats.
Emily: Well, I think that leads into the, why, why did you start your own business? Why did you move out of corporate and why did you start Growth Collective?
Mary: Um, I've always known that I wanted and was going to have a business. I just never knew in what. Um, so early on, you know, hubby, got made redundant as well and um, out of the corporate world. And he was, you know, or had already had 20 years experience in tiling and waterproofing. So I wanted to live vicariously through him and said, why did you open a business?
And he was like, no, that's so scary. I'm not doing that. And I was like, Yes, you are. You're going to open a [00:15:00] business. You're going to be great. So I really like lived vicariously through him. It was kind of like a beta test. If he can do this, I can do this. So of course he did it and he did it quite well.
And you know, um, but just watching him alongside, I started getting quite envious cause I'm like, I want to be in the driver's seat. I want to be making these decisions. And yes, I co, you know, I co own the business, but Lee is kind of, in charge there. So I'm like, Hmm. Anyway, so I left corporate because, you know, in large corporate toxic environments, kind of all of that.
And I'm like, Oh, I can't do this anymore. I really want to go out and just help people. Cause that's what I've always wanted to do. So I went back and finished my studies in psych counselling and, and coaching and stuff, and then went off and, um, opened my own practice as a, Like a counselor, a psychotherapist and thought, yeah, this is a dream.
I want to just have my own thriving counseling practice because I love helping people. It's just great. So I went off and I did that and I loved it until I didn't love it [00:16:00] anymore. And I thought it's just, it's really heavy working with clients back to back. And, um, I know I want to help people, but you know, I want to help them on a, on a bigger scale.
Then I went out and started doing more coaching with women, which also, again, I love. And then I think I mentioned before how I've kind of combined the two and, um, The Growth Collective Hub was created in terms of helping, you know, businesses create emotionally healthy workplaces. It's nice how it always evolves, isn't it?
Yeah, and it was kind of like, I was thinking about it earlier, like, fuck around to find out. So, right, this is what I want to do. Yeah, I did it. And didn't know whether, you know, it would succeed or not. It did. And then I'm like, right, okay, I want to tweak it a bit. So then I've tweaked it, and then Tweaked it again.
I'm like, this is it now. Like, I believe that this is what I really want to do as my business. This is what I want to grow.
Emily: Yeah. Yeah, that's exactly, I think everyone starts something going, I think I might try this. And then, yeah, sometimes it's exactly that. Okay, this works. And I'll keep adapting. And other times it's like, Oh, this is not what I thought I was going to be doing.
You know, you [00:17:00] pivot again completely as well, I think. Absolutely, I think, and
Christine: it's really important, you know, it's that growth, that mental growth, that growth as a person. Um, and we, um, we've been, um, talking to some potential new team members recently. And one of the things is we say is like, you take what you do now, that you love, that you're good at, and muck around with it, fuck around with it, and work out what you don't want to do, and what you're prepared to do that you don't love, but you do it for whatever reason, and often it just comes down to, hey, I need to put food on my table for a while.
Um,
Rah: and even just how we're all evolving with our businesses. If you told me two years ago that I would not be working. 90 percent of my time would be spent, I assumed, working within a particular CRM that I'm certified in. Yep. And it is about 5 percent of my work and, you know, 75 percent is social media.
Christine: It's amazing really. It's funny how it [00:18:00] turns out. Organic growth,
Emily: organic growth. Yeah. Oh my
Christine: God.
Emily: Isolating. Well we've deviated very far but um, um, the next question we have for you is what has been your biggest challenge you've faced so far running your own business? Ha ha ha.
Mary: I think my biggest challenge would just be, you know, the uncertainty of having your own business.
Like, you have a job, you go, you've got your job description, you have your manual, you know what to do. And, you know, you do your hours, and there's a lot of structure and there's a lot of certainty. You're getting paid this amount. When it's your own business, it's all on you. It's all you. Um, and you've just got to create it and there's no manual for it, you know?
Um, and I think it's for me anyway, it's, it was quite hard and still is sometimes holding that uncertainty and then, you know, going to implement a new service or structure and, um, Um, yeah, just obviously leaning on supports [00:19:00] and coaches and others is helpful because um, other people that have walked the same path as you, but I think, you know, implementing for me anyway, proper structures for my business, um, and support systems has, has been super important in kind of attacking that.
Yeah. I think people
Emily: underestimate the transition from corporate where all, you know, it's Salaried work to running your own business is, you don't have the security of a consistent income or consistent hours and you have to go and find the work and actually put yourself out there to find the client or sell the product or whatever it might be and it's not just automatically given to you, like it is, it's a 24 hour job, like non stop and it's the hardest you'll work.
ever. If you, you won't have the same level of stress as you might've had under us. I mean, you might, depending on who you are, but, uh, the, you did under a salaried role, but it's next level, it's more work than you'll ever, ever do in your life ever.
Mary: And you really have [00:20:00] to step out of your comfort zone in terms of, you know, marketing yourself, your business, um, putting things in place.
You've got to step out of your comfort zone constantly. Yeah, that part of it too. But I love that part, obviously, you know, growth collective. It's all about personal growth and emotional growth. And, um, yeah, if I didn't always step out of my comfort zone, I wouldn't be where I'm at. So,
Rah: yeah, yeah, that's key.
Mary: Yeah.
Rah: So I'm just going to sit here and fangirl at you. But also from working with you when I've had you coaching me, um, you have these truth bombs and you know how to get to a question. That's like hitting a nerve. Yes. And you're like. Oh, that hurt. But yeah, rub it a bit more. Let's, let's work that. Oh, I like that.
Yeah. Touching them raw. You're a bitch like that.
Emily: The best kind.
Rah: Yeah. Um, Oh, I sounded a bit. But it works, right? No, no, but it does work. Yeah. Oh, it totally works.
Christine: And it's amazing, you [00:21:00] know, um, When you don't realize, Ra, that you needed to unpack whatever that was, and, but it's just something you said, and it's amazing how cathartic it is to do the exercise.
Painful sometimes, but cathartic.
Rah: And so, obviously, there have been challenges, but on the other side of the coin, what have been your, like, what amazing moments, woohoo
Mary: moments. Yeah. There's been heaps, but, um, I think, you know, on the flip side of challenges, like having the ability to, you know, um, own and run something, a business that you're passionate about, that you really care about, that, you know, that excites you, that challenges you.
Like I couldn't think of anything better, you know? Um, so that is really, I think when I first launched my corporate, well, when it all came together, I was like, Oh my God, this makes so much sense. [00:22:00] And I was so excited and just created everything. And ever since, like, things have felt really in flow, you know, that feeling where everything just works out, everything starts fitting into together.
And it's like, you just know you're in the right place at the right time. It's all meant to kind of be. you know, meant to be whatever kind of terminology, but it just has felt so good. Um, so since then, I, um, you know, have been, I got introduced to women with altitude and have met so many amazing women. Um, and yes, all three in this room, but I am pointing
Rah: vigorously at the rest of us.
Mary: That's how we all met. Yeah, but you know, the ability to the freedom to do what I want to do. Um, having that control over my day, over my year, over what I want to create. Like it's my creation. It's like my artwork, like, you know, it's got my imprint on it. It's just so beautiful. And I just love that about having my own business.
Um, do you
Emily: ever feel imposter syndrome? [00:23:00]
Mary: Absolutely. How do you deal with it? I tend to come out and do a like, um, a bigger perspective kind of thing, like a, a bigger view and kind of think, okay, this is how I'm feeling internally because of, you know, A, B and C. But again, feelings aren't real as in they, they feel real, but they're not facts.
So, and I know that, um, I, I coach people on this all the time. So I do a kind of big picture view and think about myself holistically, where I'm at and what's going on. And then I go, Oh my God, no, I am doing good. Okay. Stop. It's okay. It's all right to feel like that. It's obviously triggering things from my past, which are making me feel insecure, but they're not real.
It's okay to feel this way, but I'm not going to act on this right now. So I never act on those feelings of insecurity. 'cause if I did, I wouldn't have my business today. Yeah. That's, I would've shut down. It's a good, a long time ago. It's much more mature
Emily: than my, I'm gonna ignore it and fake it till I make it.
Mary: Yeah. Well, you know, whatever works right. Let's just fake everything until I make it. Yeah. Yeah. That's you pushing on [00:24:00] as well. That's you going, you know what? I'm not going to let this consume me. I'm going to keep going and then you start seeing those successes and then that reinforces that positive again.
Right. Very much. Yeah.
Rah: And actually speaking about imposter segue, I can do or a mini insertion here. Um, I sounded sexual, I'm sorry.
Christine: Bring it on.
Rah: Wow. We love it. We love it. We love it. Um, so one tip, um, on imposter syndrome, um, if people are interested is to look up someone who is an amazing guru on busting imposter syndrome.
Side note, she's one of my clients, but she's actually amazing. Subscribe to her newsletter. Her name's Alison Shamir, it's Alison with one L, and it's s h a m i r dot com. Um, and if you sign up to her weekly newsletter, um, you'll She's one of those people who puts together a newsletter that is honestly, it's a blog post that she sends every week.
And it's all about breaking through imposter syndrome, but [00:25:00] also understanding the source of it. So whether it's coming from trauma, which is something that Mary and I have worked on with working through my own blockages with business. Um, but also whether, um, Sometimes it may be justified that you're feeling something, but it's actually not imposter syndrome.
You're being belittled by a jerk boss at work. Those sorts of things. Um, and yeah, so her newsletter is a hard recommend. We'll put the link in the show notes.
Christine: Oh, very adult. I
Rah: think we're podcasters. Put up big girl pants. I love my big girl.
Emily: We're almost out of questions, but one of the questions I love, and then Chris has got some wonderful segue questions, but um, what is your one piece of advice you'd give other women wanting to start their own business?
Just do it. Love it. Nike. You're the second person that told me to do it
Mary: today. I love it. But yeah, just do it. Like, um, there's always going to be so many reasons why you [00:26:00] shouldn't, or why you should wait, or why you should still work at this job. And they're always, it's just our brain's way of keeping us safe.
Um, it's our brain's way of going, no, don't do that thing because it's going to feel really uncomfortable. And if you want to start a business, it probably means that you eventually will, but the difference will be starting it now versus five or 10 years on. And then looking back on, Oh my It wasn't even that bad.
I should have started earlier. Um, so just do it, get the right supports in place, get some structure in place, um, get a coach, get whatever you need in place and just do it and you know, fuck around and find out. So, you know, it's like trial and error. Um, something might not work. That's okay. It's not a failure.
It's a learning opportunity. Build from that. Keep going. Um, and yeah, it actually works out. Take the lead. Just do it. Life's too short. Yes. Well.
Christine: I've got a question for you Mary to tie this all in and um, and everything. So if I had lots of magic powers and I was [00:27:00] able to give you a box that had all the things that you had lost over your lifetime up until this point, what would be the one thing or item or being that you would truly love to get out of that box?
Mary: Tough question. It is a really tough question, and um, obviously a few things are popping into my mind, but to be honest with you, I'm going to say nothing, because I feel like everything that I have lost, I have lost for a reason, and you know, um, since I've, losing those things, I have learnt, and I've grown, and I have evolved.
into the person I am now. And I truly believe I was meant to lose those things for a reason. I have got goosebumps
Christine: up my arms. Seriously, that is just like, that is just like the [00:28:00] best
Mary: answer. Because it's easy for me to say, Oh, you know, I'd love to have my beautiful little doggie Chanel back. But then at the end of the day, she's not meant to be here for a reason.
And anything else that I've lost is there. It's just, You know, yeah.
Christine: Yeah. Yeah, we're going to wrap up because um, we have Had the pleasure of Mary for a long time And it's been an absolute pleasure It's not about that, but you know, I mean we do really appreciate that and especially because and not just because you are at inaugural Guests or anything like that But you know, this is kind of like a little bit of an unknown quantity for us You Um, as well, and you, you know, we can't do it, you can't have a name called Fuck Around and Find Out without being, um, absolutely, or not absolutely totally organised, like missing charges and cables and bits and bobs and all of that sort of stuff.
Um, but seriously, Mary. Thank you so, so much for joining us and having a chat today. Oh, thanks for [00:29:00] having
Mary: me. And I just love this podcast and the name and everything. So I'm so proud to be part of it today.
Rah: Having these conversations is a hundred percent why the three of us came up with the idea originally, because it just gives us an excuse to.
A catch up a bit more, um, but also shoot the shit. Yes. So, Mary, tell us how we can find you online if we wanted to find out more.
Mary: So my website is www.growthcollectiveco.com au. Um, otherwise on Instagram, growth Collective Hub and Facebook, again, growth Collective Hub.
Christine: Stay tuned. Stay tuned out for the next episode.
Like
Mary: Sharon,
Rah: subscribe, subscribe oh and leave this in review. So thanks for listening to fuck around and find out the podcast with. Chris and Em and Rah and we'll see you for the next [00:30:00] episode.
