Clever Mamma Profile: Bowenworkz Australia

This week I'm delighted to introduce you to another fabulous business mum from the Clever Mamma directory, Sally Whelan from Bowenworkz Australia Health & Wellbeing. Located in Caldermeade in Victoria, Sally is a mum of three and works part time as well as running her business... plus she makes some mean scones!

1. Tell us a little about yourself and your business... I have a lovely self-employed husband and three teenage kids. As well as operating my clinic part-time, I'm an Assistant Manager part-time at a Community Centre.

2. How did your business begin? A Naturopath introduced me to the Neurostructural Integration Technique in 2000 and I was blown away by the immediate effects the gentle moves had on me, and whilst learning the very basics, witnessed astounding changes in the bodies I was working on. This muscular-skeletal technique, suprisingly, seemed to come naturally to me so I progressed in training through to Advanced techniques. Ten years later the power of NST still takes me by surprise occasionally.

3. The bits I love... I love, really love, seeing the profound and often miraculous changes my clients experience. It is such a joy to be a part of another person's healing experience - especially when that means they can fall pregnant!

4. The bits I not-so-love... Bodywork can be very strenuous on the practitioner's arms so I limit my clinic hours to three days per week, I would love to do more.

5. Devonshire Tea versus Coffee & Cake??? Definitely Devonshire Tea. I make wicked scones, always have chunky strawberry jam and cream on hand and have a coffee machine at home for a nice cappuccino... mmm mmm...

Thanks for stopping by Sally, it's always a pleasure meeting another amazing woman in business. Be sure to check out Bowenworkz Australia on the Clever Mamma directory and stay tuned for more mums in business profiles.

Clever Mamma Profile: Babysitters and More

This week our fabulous Clever Mamma profile is from Tanya of Babysitters and More. Tanya and her lovely business partner Kate have 5 kids between them so certainly know all about running busy households and the help that us working mums need to maintain our sanity... Alas Babysitters and More was born!

1. Tell us a little about yourself and your business... Busy families and/or working mums can’t really “do it all” by themselves – I have learnt that through my own experience over the last 11 years since my first daughter Evie was born and I decided I wanted to combine motherhood and my career. With a husband working unusual hours and a job that required late evenings we quickly learned that the standard childcare options of crèche and child care centres were not going to fit the bill. Since that time I have employed 6 nannies (life is full of change - for us and for them) and several cleaners to help me keep everything ticking over. Even with an extremely supportive husband, extra help at home keeps us all sane!

2. How did your business begin? My business partner Kate & I have said for years that we wanted to start a business – we just hadn’t found the right idea! One Christmas Day we were sharing champagne, turkey and business ideas when the idea of a one click stop for all home help needs started to form. We spent the next 6 months researching and understanding the market and building our business plan. We got on a roll after that, engaged a web developer and here we are now almost 8 months since we launched!

3. The bits I love... The opportunity to be creative and innovative – we are always looking for ideas to improve the site. Also meeting some fantastic motivated people and working with my best friend.

4. The bits I not-so-love... The juggle of still working full time, being a wife, a mum and helping to run a new business.

5. Any tips for other Clever Mammas? Spend time up front on the business plan.

6. Devonshire Tea versus Coffee & Cake??? Definitely coffee & (chocolate) cake – have been known to be selective about my barista!

Thanks for sharing some of the Babysitters and More love Tanya. Wanting to find out more about the many services offered by these very Clever Mammas? Head over to the listing on the Clever Mamma Directory.

Clever Mamma Profile: Admin Angels

This week Clever Mamma chats to the lovely Barb from Admin Angels. With two little angels of her own (plus a third beautiful bubs on the way), and a business offering everything from admin to event management, she is one busy mamma!

1. Tell us a little about yourself and your business... Admin Angels is a “Virtual Assistant” business offering small to medium sized businesses administration and bookkeeping support on a needs basis. About me – well I’m a Mum, a wife and I love scrap booking (my “me” time!), going to the movies, camping, traveling, reading and karate.

2. How did your business begin? I started Admin Angels when I was on maternity leave with my first daughter. She was about 8 months old and a great sleeper during the day, so I was quite bored and wondered what I could do. I always thought about being an “office angel” to small businesses, so I did some research and stumbled into the world of “Virtual Assistants”! I now have 2 beautiful daughter’s (4 years old and 2.5 years old) and I’m 6 months pregnant with my 3rd child. I have 3 contractors working with me regularly to help me out with workload and I’m about to put on another contractor.

3. The bits I love... I love the flexibility of being self employed, being here for my children when they need me, and doing work that I thoroughly enjoy.

4. The bits I not-so-love... Having to sack clients, which I’ve had to do a couple of times.

5. Any tips for other Clever Mammas? Don’t give up and listen to people’s advise, but always follow your own instinct.

6. Now the important stuff, Devonshire Tea versus Coffee & Cake? Oh, can I please have a hot chocolate and cake?? Not a coffee drinker and have been off tea since being pregnant.

Thanks a bunch for stopping by Barb. To get in contact with Admin Angels, it's super dooper easy, just head over to the listing on the Clever Mamma Directory. Hmm... I think every Clever Mamma needs an "Admin Angel" in her life, don't you?

Clever Mamma Profile: Compose Life

This week Sarah from Compose Life has taken some time out of her busy schedule to say hello to the Clever Mamma community. Based in a beautiful coastal region of Victoria and with two gorgeous girls, it’s not hard to see why Sarah is truly loving life!

1. Tell us a little about yourself and your business... I am located in a beautiful seaside peninsula in Victoria where Compose Life is based. I blend my business with my life as wife to Craig and mother of two beautiful girls who are both at primary school. My husband works on the oil and gas rigs so is away for up to 4 weeks at a time so I have a very good understanding of the challenges that come with running a business, house, family and getting some me time in there too! We lived in Darwin for two and a half years where I learnt some valuable strategies to succeed in work, life and health. With pre-school children at the time we were in Darwin and being away from family and friends, I learnt that things changed for the better when I took responsibility for my actions and decisions. Only I was responsible for creating a successful life.

In my business, Compose Life, I work with women to discover what they most desire in their life, and we work to successfully bring it all together so that they are open to achieving extraordinary results both personally and professionally, right now. And what is really great is I have clients I work with over the phone all over Australia!

I have a wide and varied background in health promotion, management, administration, hospitality and retail service both in Australia and London. I studied Business Management and Psychology at Monash University, and also have an Associate Diploma in Public Relations. These have been applied in corporate, government and not for profit sectors. I am now part of The Coaching Institute and Small Business Academy.

2. How did your business begin? A few years ago I lost one of my closest friends, Dione, to breast cancer aged 39. As tragic as that was, I have always looked for the learning in everything. She taught me in her final years, through her actions to live your life right now. I remember she celebrated her 37th birthday with quite a big party and I said to her, “It doesn’t have to be that big - save the huge one for your 40th.” Her reply was, “Why would I wait to celebrate life?” Wow - that was like being hit by a train. So this business is her legacy. I changed my life and my families life. We jumped off the cliff into the unknown, moved to Darwin and lived! After her death and returning to Victoria, I decided I needed to create a business that will empower women to live an extraordinary life right now! Get on with achieving what they want to achieve right now. In saying that I understand the challenges we face at home so my focus is getting that right, to allow the space to pop out and become the best version of you that is possible.

3. The bits I love... The most rewarding part of what I do is the messages I get after I have had a session with a client. For example a client sent me a text the other day and said, “I feel very empowered over my own destiny. I stopped whinging and procrastinating and started doing!” Another client emailed me after a session and wrote, “I am feeling soooooooooooooooo much better, jealousy is pretty much non existent. I am choosing to respond and not react especially when it comes to my partner. Little things that would have gotten to me just seem to slide off and away. I am just really chilled and at peace and I can only imagine it is going to get better. Thank you so very much from the bottom of my heart for helping me, I can’t wait to play more with my unconscious, hahaha so exciting and I cannot wait to see the real me at the end of it.”

That is the reason I do what I do.

The other part of my business I love is the workshops I run. I have so much fun at them and I love seeing the light bulbs go off around the room!

4. The bits I not-so-love... Well.....I have to say the ‘books’! I am getting better and I am going to be employing a PA soon that can do all that for me :)

5. Any tips for other Clever Mammas? A big tip from me is be responsible for EVERYTHING you do - your actions, results and your non-actions and non-results! Own it, there is no room for blame, excuses and reasons! This can change your life and when we move to a place of complete responsibility we move to empowerment.

6. Now the important stuff, Devonshire Tea versus Coffee & Cake? Can I say champagne with cheese and biscuits? :)

It's been great learning more about you and your inspiring business Sarah! To find out more about how Compose Life can help you feel empowered both in your business and personal life, check out the contact details on the Clever Mamma Directory.

Clever Mamma Profile: Envious Solutions

Say a big Clever Mamma hello to Melita Valcich from Envious Solutions! Based in New South Wales, Melita's business offers services including marketing, event management, promotions, copywriting.... plus even more! Keep reading to see how this clever mamma can help your business.

1. Tell us a little about yourself and your business... I'm a mother of two children ages 6 and 5. My life is very busy juggling the demands of motherhood and a very new business. I love my children but also wanted to get back in the marketing game. With having my own business to run, although it can be very demanding at least I can still work it around my children. Cheers to late nights working but at least I can still pick up my children from school and help them with homework.

With over 10 years experience my marketing career did not start once I finished school. I worked with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) for 12 years in which I did graphic design work that led to lots of creativity which spilled over to the need to market. Hence I began my studies part-time whilst still working at the CBA. Once I completed my Diploma in Marketing the CBA moved me over to work in the marketing department of Custodial Services. It was a very exciting time for me as the world of marketing opened up and I mostly enjoyed organising the large events. Later I moved to work with Brady Australia and its sister company Seton. Whilst there I worked heavily on their promotions and loyalty campaigns which grew their sales to over $1.2 million.

2. How did your business begin? Envious Solutions began as a need arose for small businesses to market themselves without the big budgets that larger businesses can accommodate.

3. The bits I love... I am constantly getting to meet new people and am able to help them with areas of their business they don't necessarily know too much about. Also the flexibility. I have a great passion for marketing and love to help others grow their business and prosper.

4. The bits I not-so-love... Well I guess that would be the long, late hours that are required at times. But my clients are important to me and I want to give them 100%.

5. Any tips for other Clever Mammas? I guess it can be hard to do all this and I'm still in the early stages of my business so you can feel a little alone. But you don't have to feel that way, we just need to get out there, network and meet the other Clever Mammas and together I think we can conquer all!

6. Now the important stuff, Devonshire Tea versus Coffee & Cake? I would without a doubt take a coffee and cake, mmmmmm, might have to go turn that kettle on.

Thanks Melita. It's been great getting to know you and your business a little better. To personally say hi to Envious Solutions head over to the listing on the Clever Mamma Directory . You'll find more information and even some direct contact details.