1 00:00:04,160 --> 00:00:07,000 Speaker 1: Hi, I'm Britney Saunders, and welcome to Big Business, the 2 00:00:07,080 --> 00:00:09,800 Speaker 1: place where business is far from boring. And today I'm 3 00:00:09,840 --> 00:00:13,200 Speaker 1: recording on a wobbical land. Now, I somehow managed to 4 00:00:13,200 --> 00:00:16,319 Speaker 1: build an empire from the garage underneath my house, and 5 00:00:16,360 --> 00:00:18,360 Speaker 1: I'm here to share it all with you, from the winds, 6 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:23,159 Speaker 1: the mistakes, the challenging times, and the funny moments in between. So, 7 00:00:23,200 --> 00:00:25,840 Speaker 1: whether you're in business already, perhaps you're not in the 8 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:28,760 Speaker 1: game at all, Maybe you're just looking for some general inspo, 9 00:00:29,080 --> 00:00:31,600 Speaker 1: or you simply just want to hear the tea, this 10 00:00:31,760 --> 00:00:35,159 Speaker 1: is the podcast for you. Coming up on today's episode, 11 00:00:35,320 --> 00:00:38,560 Speaker 1: I'm going to talk to you about why I stopped 12 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:43,240 Speaker 1: scaling Fate on purpose. And I know what you're thinking, 13 00:00:43,400 --> 00:00:47,880 Speaker 1: What on earth do you mean you stopped scaling Fate Well, 14 00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:50,960 Speaker 1: without making any kind of announcements anywhere, It's more so 15 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:54,160 Speaker 1: been something in my head and something I've been doing 16 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:59,120 Speaker 1: in my life internally personally, I've kind of put the 17 00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:02,920 Speaker 1: brakes on growing Fate. Now that's not to say that 18 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:08,279 Speaker 1: I have gone backwards or slowed down to the point 19 00:01:08,319 --> 00:01:11,560 Speaker 1: of stopping, but it's something that I've made a decision 20 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:14,160 Speaker 1: to do, and I think it started at the end 21 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:14,920 Speaker 1: of last year. 22 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:17,000 Speaker 2: So for the last five or so. 23 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:20,920 Speaker 1: Months, I have been putting the brakes on Fate. And 24 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:24,160 Speaker 1: I'm going to tell you why. I'm going to tell 25 00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:27,319 Speaker 1: you what it is that I've been doing, and I'm 26 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:30,759 Speaker 1: going to tell you what I think about the fact 27 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:33,000 Speaker 1: that I've done that. So without further adom, let's just 28 00:01:33,040 --> 00:01:40,480 Speaker 1: get straight down to business. Let's get into it. I 29 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:43,680 Speaker 1: have slowed down scaling Fate. And actually I want to 30 00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:46,039 Speaker 1: talk to April about this just for a second. She's 31 00:01:46,080 --> 00:01:47,720 Speaker 1: in the studio with me. Do you know that I've 32 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:50,960 Speaker 1: been doing that? Oh, okay, there you go, she said, 33 00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:55,800 Speaker 1: I could tell. She said, we haven't opened a store 34 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:59,680 Speaker 1: in a while, so I don't know. I think I 35 00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:05,200 Speaker 1: made this decision consciously but also unconsciously. And I want 36 00:02:05,240 --> 00:02:08,400 Speaker 1: to say that this decision happened around the end of 37 00:02:08,480 --> 00:02:13,920 Speaker 1: last year when we were going into opening a store 38 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:16,720 Speaker 1: in Adelaide, and I've got a whole episode about that 39 00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:19,520 Speaker 1: if you want to hear exactly what happened. 40 00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:21,160 Speaker 2: It was all going ahead. 41 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:23,760 Speaker 1: I got to the point of like signing the lease 42 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:27,400 Speaker 1: and everything, and I engaged our builders and architect and everything, 43 00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:30,440 Speaker 1: and it all well didn't all fall apart. I pulled 44 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:34,200 Speaker 1: the pin on it, and I pulled the pin on 45 00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:37,799 Speaker 1: it for one reason. And I'm not going to bore 46 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:39,320 Speaker 1: you with all the details of that because that's already 47 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:41,200 Speaker 1: a whole other episode. If you want to go find it, 48 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:43,800 Speaker 1: it's called something about Faith Adelaide. I can't remember, but 49 00:02:43,880 --> 00:02:47,320 Speaker 1: you'll see it. It's from late last year, and I 50 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:49,720 Speaker 1: think it was around then, and then we obviously opened 51 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:52,280 Speaker 1: our Paramatta store at the end of last year, so 52 00:02:52,560 --> 00:02:55,800 Speaker 1: I think me making this decision tied in with the 53 00:02:55,919 --> 00:03:01,000 Speaker 1: Adelaide store falling through, and also like us opening our 54 00:03:01,040 --> 00:03:03,960 Speaker 1: fifth store, Paramatter, and it was around then that I 55 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:06,320 Speaker 1: decided I'm putting the brakes on. 56 00:03:06,680 --> 00:03:09,720 Speaker 2: And I remember it being just before. 57 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:12,520 Speaker 1: Christmas, and I've done episodes about this as well. But 58 00:03:13,240 --> 00:03:15,520 Speaker 1: the Christmas just gone, which is crazy to say that it. 59 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:16,320 Speaker 2: Was five months ago. 60 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:17,000 Speaker 3: What do you mean? 61 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:18,679 Speaker 1: I feel like I just had Christmas at my house 62 00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:22,280 Speaker 1: two seconds ago. But the Christmas of last year was 63 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:24,799 Speaker 1: the first Christmas that AJ and I took off work 64 00:03:25,639 --> 00:03:27,800 Speaker 1: in the history of Fate, and I feel like it 65 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:30,920 Speaker 1: was that as well that made me go, I'm slowing 66 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:35,040 Speaker 1: this ship down, and what do I mean by that, like, 67 00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:37,280 Speaker 1: what does it mean to like slow a business down 68 00:03:37,480 --> 00:03:41,160 Speaker 1: or stop scaling. It means I haven't gone ahead and 69 00:03:41,640 --> 00:03:45,160 Speaker 1: made any crazy big moves to make the business bigger. 70 00:03:45,760 --> 00:03:45,960 Speaker 2: Now. 71 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:48,480 Speaker 1: The only person that can make the business bigger is me, 72 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:51,960 Speaker 1: and the way that I can do that is by 73 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:57,120 Speaker 1: opening another store, essentially like making huge investments in things 74 00:03:57,160 --> 00:03:59,600 Speaker 1: like so opening another store is another is one of 75 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:02,520 Speaker 1: the biggest ways for me to continue scaling my business. 76 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:06,200 Speaker 1: The other move that I can make to scale our 77 00:04:06,240 --> 00:04:11,720 Speaker 1: business is make really strong strategical hires, so hiring someone 78 00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:15,680 Speaker 1: that's going to come in and flip the business on 79 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:18,760 Speaker 1: its head or do something that we've never done before. 80 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:22,680 Speaker 1: And the last three years of Fate, so in the 81 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:25,560 Speaker 1: last three years, we've opened four more stores, right, And 82 00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:28,520 Speaker 1: that's a lot, especially for a company like Fate where 83 00:04:29,279 --> 00:04:32,040 Speaker 1: I'm the one funding it. You know, I don't have 84 00:04:32,120 --> 00:04:34,640 Speaker 1: like a board of directors and a panel of investors 85 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:38,640 Speaker 1: or anything. For a solo owned business that's self funded. 86 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:42,159 Speaker 1: To open four stores in three years is massive, and 87 00:04:42,279 --> 00:04:44,960 Speaker 1: especially because before we did that, we only had the 88 00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:48,159 Speaker 1: one store and a small amount of employees. Like Fate 89 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:51,440 Speaker 1: has come leaps and bounds in those three years and 90 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:54,400 Speaker 1: has turned from this tiny company with one girl and 91 00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:58,320 Speaker 1: her few staff members in the Newcastle store to now 92 00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:03,160 Speaker 1: five stores and and seventy employees across the company. And 93 00:05:03,440 --> 00:05:08,159 Speaker 1: I could have kept that momentum going. And when you're 94 00:05:08,279 --> 00:05:11,599 Speaker 1: in that phase of your business where the momentum is 95 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:13,520 Speaker 1: going and the stores are popping up and more and 96 00:05:13,560 --> 00:05:18,160 Speaker 1: more people are being hired and you can see opportunities left, 97 00:05:18,240 --> 00:05:20,680 Speaker 1: right and center, and you keep doing it, it's great 98 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:23,839 Speaker 1: like you that you're in your moment. You want to 99 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:26,480 Speaker 1: ride that wave and like that is your moment and 100 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:32,279 Speaker 1: opportunity and it's really exciting to be in that. But 101 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:36,640 Speaker 1: I also am so mindful of the fact that I 102 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:41,880 Speaker 1: never want fate to outgrow me. And I could have 103 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:45,000 Speaker 1: kept opening more stores. And it's funny actually, because if 104 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:47,359 Speaker 1: I'd gone ahead with that Adelaide store, it would have 105 00:05:47,400 --> 00:05:49,719 Speaker 1: been opened by now. We were planning on opening it 106 00:05:49,760 --> 00:05:53,160 Speaker 1: in February of this year. And it makes me wonder like, 107 00:05:53,200 --> 00:05:55,480 Speaker 1: if we'd gone ahead with that and open that store, 108 00:05:55,960 --> 00:05:58,680 Speaker 1: I think I wouldn't have stopped. I think it would 109 00:05:58,680 --> 00:06:01,200 Speaker 1: have kept going and be on to the next one. 110 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:04,760 Speaker 1: And right now, this moment in time and for all 111 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:07,960 Speaker 1: of twenty twenty five. This is the first time where 112 00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:11,400 Speaker 1: I haven't been working on something extreme like a store, 113 00:06:12,040 --> 00:06:14,839 Speaker 1: because for that three year period, I was never not 114 00:06:15,240 --> 00:06:19,200 Speaker 1: working on opening the next store. And I will say 115 00:06:19,320 --> 00:06:24,760 Speaker 1: it's been very good for me and my mental health 116 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:27,719 Speaker 1: and my peace of mind to not be focusing on 117 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:30,719 Speaker 1: a big store. It's also been great for me to 118 00:06:30,839 --> 00:06:34,000 Speaker 1: not be focusing on the next big hire, because I 119 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:37,520 Speaker 1: feel like we did all of our huge hiring moments 120 00:06:37,560 --> 00:06:40,200 Speaker 1: in those three years as well, and we got to 121 00:06:40,240 --> 00:06:44,040 Speaker 1: the point where now we don't need to make any 122 00:06:44,080 --> 00:06:48,480 Speaker 1: massive hires. Do we need to open another store? Maybe, 123 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:52,080 Speaker 1: But admittedly, and my community will hate to hear me 124 00:06:52,120 --> 00:06:55,120 Speaker 1: say this, I am loving that I'm not working on 125 00:06:55,160 --> 00:06:59,360 Speaker 1: another store right now because it's allowed me to slow. 126 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:00,000 Speaker 2: Down for a minute. 127 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:05,200 Speaker 1: And it's also allowed me to take a really good 128 00:07:05,279 --> 00:07:11,360 Speaker 1: look at everything that we are doing, and it's allowed 129 00:07:11,440 --> 00:07:15,400 Speaker 1: us to refine everything that we're doing now. I think 130 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:18,720 Speaker 1: this is important for business owners to do every now 131 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:21,440 Speaker 1: and then, is to just put the brakes on and 132 00:07:21,760 --> 00:07:25,560 Speaker 1: stop the growth and stay hopefully stay the same, you know. 133 00:07:25,680 --> 00:07:29,160 Speaker 1: And I will say as well, in this time, like 134 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:31,720 Speaker 1: these five months of this year, I've been worried that 135 00:07:31,840 --> 00:07:35,680 Speaker 1: because I've slowed down and like not done anything drastic 136 00:07:35,760 --> 00:07:38,400 Speaker 1: or major to grow our business, I've had fears that 137 00:07:38,480 --> 00:07:41,960 Speaker 1: I'm going to send the company backwards. I know how 138 00:07:42,040 --> 00:07:45,679 Speaker 1: much excitement and new store drums up for our brand 139 00:07:45,840 --> 00:07:49,120 Speaker 1: across the board, because we hype it up so much 140 00:07:49,160 --> 00:07:51,920 Speaker 1: on social media that I know the impact of me 141 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:56,040 Speaker 1: doing that is far beyond opening another store, because I 142 00:07:56,080 --> 00:07:58,840 Speaker 1: know everyone just gets excited for Fate in general. When 143 00:07:58,840 --> 00:08:01,240 Speaker 1: we're opening another store, people are getting so excited that 144 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:03,200 Speaker 1: it reminds them to go visit the store that's near 145 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:06,720 Speaker 1: their house. It might encourage people to shop online. So 146 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:11,200 Speaker 1: I know that by us not opening another store, it 147 00:08:11,320 --> 00:08:14,080 Speaker 1: can slow down the business. And we have had quieter 148 00:08:14,200 --> 00:08:16,960 Speaker 1: periods throughout the five months, and then I spiral in 149 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:18,600 Speaker 1: bed and I go aj and we need to open 150 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:20,760 Speaker 1: another store. We need to do something really big and exciting. 151 00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:22,880 Speaker 1: It's not to say that we haven't done other exciting 152 00:08:22,920 --> 00:08:26,600 Speaker 1: things during this time anyway, Like we've done our Lucky 153 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:30,000 Speaker 1: seven brand trip, We've done our Fate Model search. I 154 00:08:30,040 --> 00:08:33,760 Speaker 1: think in saying the fact that I've slowed down, it's 155 00:08:33,800 --> 00:08:36,880 Speaker 1: allowed me to do other things, you know, I wonder 156 00:08:36,920 --> 00:08:39,600 Speaker 1: if we were still working on another store and growing 157 00:08:39,640 --> 00:08:42,520 Speaker 1: the team internally, if we would have even had the 158 00:08:42,600 --> 00:08:45,240 Speaker 1: time to think of doing our Fate model search. The 159 00:08:45,280 --> 00:08:47,360 Speaker 1: fate model search that we did. I've wanted to do 160 00:08:47,400 --> 00:08:49,760 Speaker 1: that for years and years and years and years and years. 161 00:08:50,040 --> 00:08:53,600 Speaker 1: And I think because I've slowed down scaling the company, 162 00:08:53,720 --> 00:08:56,400 Speaker 1: I finally had that opportunity, and I said to the girls, 163 00:08:56,440 --> 00:09:01,000 Speaker 1: all right, let's finally do this Fate model search. I 164 00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:04,080 Speaker 1: don't want Fate to grow so big that I end 165 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:08,840 Speaker 1: up hating the company or my job. Obviously, the more 166 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:12,240 Speaker 1: that you grow a business, the more stress that it 167 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:15,800 Speaker 1: adds to your life. It's amazing to grow and scale 168 00:09:15,800 --> 00:09:18,240 Speaker 1: a company bigger and bigger and bigger. And yeah, the 169 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:20,520 Speaker 1: company will make more and more money if you grow 170 00:09:20,600 --> 00:09:24,240 Speaker 1: up bigger, but also the stress gets added and added 171 00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:28,040 Speaker 1: and added. You know, it doesn't get easier the bigger 172 00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:30,480 Speaker 1: that you get. In fact, it becomes harder and the 173 00:09:30,480 --> 00:09:34,440 Speaker 1: stress becomes more. And I just think, for my own 174 00:09:34,600 --> 00:09:37,240 Speaker 1: personal sake and my own mental health, it's been great 175 00:09:37,240 --> 00:09:40,240 Speaker 1: to kind of slow things down. And you know, at 176 00:09:40,280 --> 00:09:42,720 Speaker 1: the moment, I'm not stressing about what build is there, 177 00:09:42,800 --> 00:09:46,320 Speaker 1: what day, and what contract, do I need to sign 178 00:09:46,400 --> 00:09:48,920 Speaker 1: an opening day and stock Like, it's just been so 179 00:09:49,040 --> 00:09:53,600 Speaker 1: great for myself as a person to have slowed down. 180 00:09:53,920 --> 00:09:57,440 Speaker 1: It's also given us the opportunity to fix any cracks 181 00:09:57,520 --> 00:10:00,200 Speaker 1: in our business or tend to things that we we've 182 00:10:00,800 --> 00:10:03,360 Speaker 1: like maybe neglected or things that have been put to 183 00:10:03,400 --> 00:10:07,679 Speaker 1: the side. We've been cleaning up all of our processes. 184 00:10:07,960 --> 00:10:12,600 Speaker 1: We're looking at making our warehouse operations way smoother and better. 185 00:10:13,000 --> 00:10:15,520 Speaker 1: We've gone through the whole back end of our retail 186 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:19,160 Speaker 1: stores and actually looked at the numbers and stats and like, yeah, 187 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:21,240 Speaker 1: we always look at numbers and stats, but now that 188 00:10:21,280 --> 00:10:23,800 Speaker 1: we've got all this extra time because we're not focusing 189 00:10:23,840 --> 00:10:27,040 Speaker 1: on growth, we've been able to look at all of 190 00:10:27,080 --> 00:10:30,560 Speaker 1: our stores and we've got a new system and process 191 00:10:30,600 --> 00:10:33,480 Speaker 1: in place when it comes to stock at our stores. 192 00:10:33,520 --> 00:10:34,520 Speaker 2: You know, because when you're. 193 00:10:34,440 --> 00:10:36,839 Speaker 1: So caught up in all the chaos, you can sometimes 194 00:10:37,559 --> 00:10:41,640 Speaker 1: not look at things that you should absolutely be looking at. 195 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:47,320 Speaker 1: We've just essentially stopped chasing bigger and instead what we 196 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:55,199 Speaker 1: have been focusing on is better, better processes, better employee happiness. 197 00:10:55,640 --> 00:11:00,199 Speaker 1: We've just implemented some activities that we're doing it at 198 00:11:00,400 --> 00:11:03,320 Speaker 1: HQ and I wonder, you know, if I was still 199 00:11:03,320 --> 00:11:06,280 Speaker 1: in the thick of scaling and bigger, bigger, bigger, more stores, 200 00:11:06,320 --> 00:11:08,360 Speaker 1: more stores, if I would have even had the time 201 00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:10,840 Speaker 1: to go, hey, let's do some more lunches at the 202 00:11:10,840 --> 00:11:13,480 Speaker 1: office and warehouse, like just all those little things. And 203 00:11:13,520 --> 00:11:16,160 Speaker 1: I think that's so important for me to do and 204 00:11:16,240 --> 00:11:19,280 Speaker 1: businesses to do, is to not always be chasing bigger 205 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:21,800 Speaker 1: and the next thing. And trust me, that can get 206 00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:25,319 Speaker 1: so addictive. You want to do more and more and more, 207 00:11:25,360 --> 00:11:27,640 Speaker 1: and it's so exciting and you're seeing more money coming in, 208 00:11:27,679 --> 00:11:30,480 Speaker 1: but you don't want the company to crumble underneath you 209 00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:33,240 Speaker 1: if you're just focusing on the big. So I think 210 00:11:33,280 --> 00:11:41,520 Speaker 1: my new motto now is not bigger but better. One 211 00:11:41,520 --> 00:11:46,240 Speaker 1: thing that's been great for me personally obviously slowing down. 212 00:11:46,480 --> 00:11:49,400 Speaker 1: And I feel weird saying that because people probably would 213 00:11:49,440 --> 00:11:51,160 Speaker 1: be listening to this going slowing down, like, what do 214 00:11:51,200 --> 00:11:51,400 Speaker 1: you mean? 215 00:11:51,440 --> 00:11:52,880 Speaker 2: You're always doing something new? 216 00:11:53,520 --> 00:11:56,319 Speaker 1: But trust me, when it comes to scaling, fate and 217 00:11:56,440 --> 00:11:59,960 Speaker 1: growing bigger and bigger, I have absolutely slowed that down. 218 00:12:00,760 --> 00:12:02,960 Speaker 1: And it's not to say if anyone's in the fake 219 00:12:02,960 --> 00:12:05,000 Speaker 1: community that's listening, it's not to say that we're never 220 00:12:05,040 --> 00:12:08,520 Speaker 1: opening another store again. But we really are enjoying where 221 00:12:08,520 --> 00:12:10,640 Speaker 1: we are at the moment. And I just spoke with 222 00:12:10,760 --> 00:12:13,680 Speaker 1: Xander off the mic, and he said, it's great to 223 00:12:13,720 --> 00:12:15,679 Speaker 1: hear about this journey, and you're just like kind of 224 00:12:15,720 --> 00:12:19,280 Speaker 1: focusing on the foundations rather than just continuing to add 225 00:12:19,320 --> 00:12:22,200 Speaker 1: on top of the foundations and then the foundations kind 226 00:12:22,240 --> 00:12:26,680 Speaker 1: of start to crack. But another thing that has been 227 00:12:26,720 --> 00:12:30,920 Speaker 1: great is I think it's allowed me to put a 228 00:12:30,920 --> 00:12:33,800 Speaker 1: bit more time and effort and energy into building my 229 00:12:33,920 --> 00:12:38,840 Speaker 1: own personal brand, which is so powerful for my business. Obviously, 230 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:42,000 Speaker 1: if I continue to focus on my personal brand, from 231 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:44,839 Speaker 1: my podcasts right here that I do every single week, 232 00:12:45,160 --> 00:12:48,080 Speaker 1: all the way through to new business content. 233 00:12:47,800 --> 00:12:48,560 Speaker 2: That I've been doing. 234 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:51,520 Speaker 1: I've obviously got my book that has just launched, I 235 00:12:51,520 --> 00:12:54,840 Speaker 1: think by the time this episode comes out, creating content 236 00:12:54,880 --> 00:12:58,040 Speaker 1: around that for the first time in ages, I feel 237 00:12:58,240 --> 00:13:00,640 Speaker 1: as if though I've been able to focus on more 238 00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:04,520 Speaker 1: me things instead of just constantly being all about Fate, 239 00:13:04,600 --> 00:13:07,240 Speaker 1: which trust me, I love and it's so exciting. But 240 00:13:07,280 --> 00:13:10,800 Speaker 1: I've also been able to focus on, you know, some 241 00:13:10,920 --> 00:13:12,760 Speaker 1: of the personal things that I want to do, some 242 00:13:13,080 --> 00:13:15,800 Speaker 1: Instagram reels that I want to create that are just 243 00:13:16,200 --> 00:13:20,239 Speaker 1: about businesses, and I've been doing like more business focused 244 00:13:20,360 --> 00:13:23,760 Speaker 1: reels and tiktoks and I've been absolutely loving that as well, 245 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:27,439 Speaker 1: And I feel like punintended, I'm still just getting started 246 00:13:27,520 --> 00:13:30,480 Speaker 1: when it comes to the business kind of content, but 247 00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:33,439 Speaker 1: I'm loving that as well. I've taken on more speaking 248 00:13:33,520 --> 00:13:37,520 Speaker 1: opportunities and keynotes, and I just feel like maybe if 249 00:13:37,559 --> 00:13:41,240 Speaker 1: we were balls deep in opening the next three stores, 250 00:13:41,280 --> 00:13:42,960 Speaker 1: like maybe I wouldn't be able to say yes to 251 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:45,719 Speaker 1: all those other opportunities that come my way because I'm 252 00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:47,920 Speaker 1: like sorry, Like there's been so many times over the 253 00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:49,800 Speaker 1: years where I've said no to things, so I'm like, 254 00:13:49,840 --> 00:13:52,560 Speaker 1: so sorry, We've got our Paramatta store opening that week, 255 00:13:52,640 --> 00:13:55,040 Speaker 1: so I can't come and speak at that event. But 256 00:13:55,120 --> 00:13:58,959 Speaker 1: by slowing down Fate, it's benefited me personally because I've 257 00:13:58,960 --> 00:14:01,720 Speaker 1: been able to do other things that I'm super passionate 258 00:14:02,960 --> 00:14:06,880 Speaker 1: about outside of Fate, because, believe it or not, I 259 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:09,720 Speaker 1: do have a life outside of Fate. 260 00:14:10,280 --> 00:14:16,679 Speaker 3: Hello producer X, jumping in with a very good question. Oh, 261 00:14:17,080 --> 00:14:20,600 Speaker 3: now that you're strengthening the foundations of Fate a bit, 262 00:14:22,040 --> 00:14:24,040 Speaker 3: do you have a timeline in your head when you 263 00:14:24,080 --> 00:14:26,440 Speaker 3: think you will open another store or is that kind 264 00:14:26,480 --> 00:14:30,560 Speaker 3: of all up to when that organically happens. 265 00:14:31,120 --> 00:14:31,440 Speaker 2: Yeah. 266 00:14:31,600 --> 00:14:35,720 Speaker 1: I think the way that I work is pretty sporadic 267 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:38,840 Speaker 1: and random, while some other business owners that are in 268 00:14:38,920 --> 00:14:42,120 Speaker 1: retail might have a very strategic plan of when they're 269 00:14:42,120 --> 00:14:44,440 Speaker 1: going to be opening their next door and when they 270 00:14:44,440 --> 00:14:46,880 Speaker 1: want it to open. I think it will really just 271 00:14:46,960 --> 00:14:50,040 Speaker 1: be a universe kind of thing. And I say it 272 00:14:50,080 --> 00:14:54,640 Speaker 1: to Aja every now and then because I'm I'm feeling 273 00:14:55,240 --> 00:14:58,160 Speaker 1: like I'm ready to do it again, but like I'm 274 00:14:58,200 --> 00:15:00,600 Speaker 1: always ready to do it again, And I say to 275 00:15:00,680 --> 00:15:03,600 Speaker 1: him sometimes, should I start looking and see what's out there? 276 00:15:03,680 --> 00:15:06,640 Speaker 1: And because I think Aj as well has absolutely loved 277 00:15:07,200 --> 00:15:08,680 Speaker 1: me slowing this thing down. 278 00:15:09,440 --> 00:15:12,640 Speaker 2: He always goes, Nope, Nope. 279 00:15:12,320 --> 00:15:17,080 Speaker 1: No more stores, like he just himself, He's really enjoyed it. 280 00:15:17,160 --> 00:15:20,120 Speaker 1: Because when we are opening a new store, it just 281 00:15:20,160 --> 00:15:23,200 Speaker 1: takes over our life, honestly, And I love that our 282 00:15:23,240 --> 00:15:26,840 Speaker 1: community want us to open more stores. Please open here, 283 00:15:26,880 --> 00:15:29,360 Speaker 1: open there. And I've spoken about this so many times 284 00:15:29,400 --> 00:15:33,600 Speaker 1: on the pod, but the load of work, both physically 285 00:15:33,680 --> 00:15:36,600 Speaker 1: and mentally that goes into opening a new store, like 286 00:15:36,640 --> 00:15:38,000 Speaker 1: it takes over your whole life. 287 00:15:38,080 --> 00:15:40,240 Speaker 2: And people always say open in. 288 00:15:40,320 --> 00:15:43,840 Speaker 1: Perth, and I'm like, do you not understand, Like if 289 00:15:43,880 --> 00:15:45,240 Speaker 1: I was to open in Perth, I would have to 290 00:15:45,280 --> 00:15:48,000 Speaker 1: move there. I would quite literally have to move there. 291 00:15:48,000 --> 00:15:50,320 Speaker 1: And they're like, just get someone else to do it. 292 00:15:50,400 --> 00:15:53,400 Speaker 1: I'm like, it's not that easy. You can't just trust 293 00:15:53,400 --> 00:15:56,160 Speaker 1: some rando to set up a whole store for you 294 00:15:56,200 --> 00:15:58,920 Speaker 1: on the other side of the country. Like it takes 295 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:01,240 Speaker 1: us a whole business to get to Perth from little 296 00:16:01,240 --> 00:16:07,080 Speaker 1: Old Nui. But I don't have any obviously, I don't 297 00:16:07,080 --> 00:16:10,400 Speaker 1: have any plans at the moment to open a new store. 298 00:16:10,760 --> 00:16:13,760 Speaker 1: That could change in the next month, That could change 299 00:16:13,760 --> 00:16:17,000 Speaker 1: in the next six months. We could very well never 300 00:16:17,120 --> 00:16:20,840 Speaker 1: open another store again. We could just continue the way 301 00:16:20,880 --> 00:16:23,320 Speaker 1: we are with our five stores, and that's that. And 302 00:16:23,520 --> 00:16:27,800 Speaker 1: I cannot say whether we're opening another one or we're 303 00:16:27,840 --> 00:16:32,920 Speaker 1: not at all. The future will tell us. But I've 304 00:16:33,040 --> 00:16:36,240 Speaker 1: loved slowing down. I've loved putting a focus on everything 305 00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:40,000 Speaker 1: that we're doing right now. I love not having the 306 00:16:40,080 --> 00:16:44,280 Speaker 1: stress of opening a new store. I've loved reconnecting with 307 00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:47,840 Speaker 1: all of our staff members, making sure everyone's happy and 308 00:16:47,920 --> 00:16:54,160 Speaker 1: supported and doing their roles correctly and improving processes and 309 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:57,760 Speaker 1: just focusing on being better at what we do rather 310 00:16:58,280 --> 00:17:02,160 Speaker 1: than bigger. So I've just absolutely loved it. I'm so 311 00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:04,720 Speaker 1: glad that I've done it. My stepbrother who lives overseas, 312 00:17:04,720 --> 00:17:07,240 Speaker 1: messaged me the other day and he's like, really successful 313 00:17:07,280 --> 00:17:10,160 Speaker 1: in business, and he said, like, when's the next door? 314 00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:12,439 Speaker 1: And I'm like, I've I've put a pause on it 315 00:17:12,440 --> 00:17:14,359 Speaker 1: for now, and he's like, honestly, good on you. And 316 00:17:14,440 --> 00:17:16,560 Speaker 1: like him saying that meant a lot to me because 317 00:17:16,600 --> 00:17:19,520 Speaker 1: he's like a fucking business mogul, Like he makes me 318 00:17:19,600 --> 00:17:21,520 Speaker 1: look like a little tiny speck. 319 00:17:21,920 --> 00:17:23,439 Speaker 2: But you just need to do it every now and then. 320 00:17:23,520 --> 00:17:25,760 Speaker 1: And this is the first time in all these years 321 00:17:25,760 --> 00:17:28,879 Speaker 1: that I've done this, and who knows, it might ramp 322 00:17:28,960 --> 00:17:31,480 Speaker 1: up again. And I see some brands out there, and 323 00:17:31,480 --> 00:17:34,040 Speaker 1: it's hard not to compare yourself to other brands. But 324 00:17:34,119 --> 00:17:37,919 Speaker 1: I see, you know, LSKD opens their twentieth store, and 325 00:17:37,960 --> 00:17:39,920 Speaker 1: then I'm like, oh my god, you know you think, 326 00:17:39,960 --> 00:17:40,800 Speaker 1: am I fallen behind? 327 00:17:40,840 --> 00:17:42,360 Speaker 2: Do I need to be doing the same sort of thing? 328 00:17:42,359 --> 00:17:45,800 Speaker 1: But it's so important in business to never compare yourself 329 00:17:46,119 --> 00:17:50,040 Speaker 1: to someone else on their journey, even though it's crazy 330 00:17:50,040 --> 00:17:52,040 Speaker 1: to see them popping up stores and so many other 331 00:17:52,040 --> 00:17:54,520 Speaker 1: brands just popping up stores left, right and center. I 332 00:17:54,600 --> 00:17:57,600 Speaker 1: know what's best for me. I know what's best for Fate. 333 00:17:57,920 --> 00:18:01,600 Speaker 1: I know what's best for our team and the way 334 00:18:01,960 --> 00:18:05,200 Speaker 1: that I'm working right now and slowing down and focusing 335 00:18:05,280 --> 00:18:07,520 Speaker 1: on what we already have, and also like just being 336 00:18:07,760 --> 00:18:10,719 Speaker 1: happy for what we already have and celebrating it and 337 00:18:10,800 --> 00:18:14,800 Speaker 1: nurturing it and making sure it's solid. Is that one 338 00:18:14,920 --> 00:18:19,000 Speaker 1: hundred percent the right decision for me? So I thought, 339 00:18:19,080 --> 00:18:20,520 Speaker 1: you know what, I'm gonna tell you what I've been 340 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:23,040 Speaker 1: up to lately. I don't know if anyone else noticed. 341 00:18:23,400 --> 00:18:25,919 Speaker 1: I haven't really ever spoken to April about this, but 342 00:18:25,920 --> 00:18:27,960 Speaker 1: it's funny that she's like, yeah, I've noticed. Of course 343 00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:31,440 Speaker 1: you've noticed we're not opening any news stores. But that's 344 00:18:31,480 --> 00:18:35,119 Speaker 1: kind of how I've gone into twenty twenty five. Who knows, 345 00:18:35,240 --> 00:18:37,879 Speaker 1: in two months from this episode coming out, I'd be like, surprise, 346 00:18:37,920 --> 00:18:40,720 Speaker 1: we're opening store six and seven, or maybe not. 347 00:18:41,600 --> 00:18:42,720 Speaker 2: That's the beauty of business. 348 00:18:42,720 --> 00:18:46,000 Speaker 1: You never know what tomorrow holds. But that's little life 349 00:18:46,080 --> 00:18:49,240 Speaker 1: update and fate update for me. Sorry to any of 350 00:18:49,280 --> 00:18:51,800 Speaker 1: our community that are listening and they're like, no, I'll 351 00:18:51,800 --> 00:18:56,000 Speaker 1: open in Tasmania, don't get me wrong, sometimes I do 352 00:18:56,040 --> 00:18:59,320 Speaker 1: go into commercial real estate at night, like commercial real 353 00:18:59,400 --> 00:19:01,719 Speaker 1: estate dot Com. It's like you know, real estate dot com, 354 00:19:01,800 --> 00:19:03,720 Speaker 1: but for commercial and I have a look at what's 355 00:19:03,760 --> 00:19:05,720 Speaker 1: out there. I'm like, Oh, that's cute, that's cute. I 356 00:19:05,760 --> 00:19:07,399 Speaker 1: go and have a look every now and then, but 357 00:19:07,440 --> 00:19:09,600 Speaker 1: I'm not tempted at the moment. 358 00:19:09,720 --> 00:19:10,760 Speaker 2: I'm just cruising. 359 00:19:11,280 --> 00:19:14,919 Speaker 1: We're just making sure we've got those solid foundations and 360 00:19:14,920 --> 00:19:17,680 Speaker 1: we'll see what the next couple of years we'll have in. 361 00:19:17,600 --> 00:19:18,360 Speaker 2: Store for us. 362 00:19:18,480 --> 00:19:20,639 Speaker 1: And by the way, to all of you in the 363 00:19:20,640 --> 00:19:23,399 Speaker 1: fake community, if you can't shop in store, you know, 364 00:19:23,440 --> 00:19:25,800 Speaker 1: I've got this fantastic website that you can shop on. 365 00:19:25,840 --> 00:19:29,760 Speaker 1: It's open twenty four to seven. So it's been great 366 00:19:29,760 --> 00:19:33,359 Speaker 1: to focus on online as well. But anyway, that's all 367 00:19:33,960 --> 00:19:36,719 Speaker 1: from me in this episode, and as always, I'm going 368 00:19:36,760 --> 00:19:37,320 Speaker 1: to end. 369 00:19:37,720 --> 00:19:40,119 Speaker 2: With a tip of the week. 370 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:42,320 Speaker 1: You know what, I'm just going to be lazy and 371 00:19:42,359 --> 00:19:46,399 Speaker 1: tie it into this episode and what I've been talking about, 372 00:19:46,960 --> 00:19:51,000 Speaker 1: take time to slow down. We're always all so focused 373 00:19:51,040 --> 00:19:54,960 Speaker 1: on the next thing, the next big thing, the next promotion, 374 00:19:55,480 --> 00:19:58,520 Speaker 1: the next you know, whatever it is, moving on to 375 00:19:58,560 --> 00:20:02,399 Speaker 1: the next bigger and better thing. Sometimes it's not always 376 00:20:02,400 --> 00:20:06,920 Speaker 1: about bigger. Sometimes it's just about slowing down, enjoying what. 377 00:20:06,880 --> 00:20:07,879 Speaker 2: We're doing in the moment. 378 00:20:07,960 --> 00:20:11,240 Speaker 1: Of course, don't lose sight of your vision and your goal, 379 00:20:11,800 --> 00:20:14,600 Speaker 1: but we're always in such a rush to just do 380 00:20:14,760 --> 00:20:18,160 Speaker 1: the next thing. When I think it's just really good 381 00:20:18,480 --> 00:20:22,399 Speaker 1: and I can speak from obvious experience to just slow 382 00:20:22,480 --> 00:20:25,280 Speaker 1: down and smell the roses. I know that's so cliche, 383 00:20:25,720 --> 00:20:28,200 Speaker 1: but that's what I've been doing for the last five 384 00:20:28,240 --> 00:20:30,280 Speaker 1: months and it's been great. And you know what I 385 00:20:30,320 --> 00:20:32,520 Speaker 1: think when we do slow down in whatever it is 386 00:20:32,560 --> 00:20:36,840 Speaker 1: in our careers, in our relationship, in our business journey, 387 00:20:37,119 --> 00:20:39,800 Speaker 1: when we slow down and we just take a moment 388 00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:43,320 Speaker 1: and make sure everything's a okay, it's going to set 389 00:20:43,400 --> 00:20:45,920 Speaker 1: us up for better success in the future when we're 390 00:20:45,920 --> 00:20:49,200 Speaker 1: ready to go all guns blazing again, because you've had 391 00:20:49,200 --> 00:20:50,480 Speaker 1: that time to kind. 392 00:20:50,320 --> 00:20:53,080 Speaker 2: Of chill the fuck out before the. 393 00:20:53,040 --> 00:20:56,040 Speaker 1: Craziness happens again. So that is my tip of the 394 00:20:56,040 --> 00:20:58,400 Speaker 1: week for you this week. As always, I hope you've 395 00:20:58,480 --> 00:21:01,320 Speaker 1: enjoyed listening. Please feel free to rate my podcast five 396 00:21:01,359 --> 00:21:04,280 Speaker 1: stars if you haven't already, and tell a friend about 397 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:07,320 Speaker 1: my podcast if you like as well. The good older 398 00:21:07,560 --> 00:21:12,680 Speaker 1: marketing method of word of mouth, spread the word about 399 00:21:12,720 --> 00:21:15,840 Speaker 1: big business, and you'll do some marketing for the pod 400 00:21:15,880 --> 00:21:18,520 Speaker 1: on my on my behalf. So thank you so much 401 00:21:18,560 --> 00:21:20,679 Speaker 1: to anyone that tells a friend or a fellow business 402 00:21:20,680 --> 00:21:23,120 Speaker 1: owner about my pod anyway. 403 00:21:23,240 --> 00:21:23,879 Speaker 2: That's all from me. 404 00:21:24,359 --> 00:21:27,480 Speaker 1: And remember to chase after your dreams as if they 405 00:21:27,480 --> 00:21:34,639 Speaker 1: owe you money.