PM Collective - The ART of property management
The ART of property management with Ashleigh Goodchild is a leading platform supporting collaboration not competition through an online community and events throughout the year with one purpose: to create happier property managers. She creates connections for property managers looking to create momentum in their careers and personal life. Join Ashleigh and her guests as they discuss challenges, struggles, mental health, mindset and give advice to property managers and anyone in the industry. To get the support in your property management career, join our PM Collective Facebook and Instagram community.
PM Collective - The ART of property management
Key Strategies for Building a Thriving Real Estate Brand
This conversation is a Q & A with the lovely Skye Taylor who has just resigned from her stable full time job to jump in to her property management business full time. She has had the safety net of her current job but had a list of questions to ask me so she can make sure she stays on the right track and gets the support she needs. If you are wondering how to build a powerful personal brand on platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.... we discuss how these will set your real estate agency on a path to success. I share the key to staying ahead by embracing new technologies and trends, and why hiring a Virtual Assistant (VA) for consistent social media engagement is a game-changer.
Curious about how to avoid burnout while scaling your business? This episode is packed with wisdom on the importance of enjoying your entrepreneurial journey and the benefits of hiring help early on. Learn how even a modest investment in a VA can offload mundane tasks and keep your energy focused on what you love. Ash offers personal anecdotes and practical advice on aligning your strengths with your team members to ensure a sustainable and enjoyable business journey.
Ready to streamline your operations and boost productivity? Dive into essential business growth strategies, from financial management to selecting the right CRM system for lead generation. Ash discusses the pitfalls of trying to save money by doing everything yourself and the value of hiring experts early. Whether it's managing property keys efficiently or maintaining a positive mindset, this episode covers it all.
And to hold Skye accountable to double her business in 3 months, we have a Part 2 coming up!
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cool. Thank you for meeting with me today, ash. I am very excited to get into this. I've prepared a list of questions that I want to ask you as a very experienced veteran of real estate agencies, in the sense that you've been doing this for how long now?
Speaker 2:uh, probably 24, 25 years now. Someone used veteran on me before and it feels extremely old. Oh, we don't mean it that way. No, it's okay. I'm not offended by it, but it's the second time someone's mentioned it to me, so I should be flattered. It's a good word to use.
Speaker 1:Yes, there's definitely some other words that we won't use, but I think that, with your wealth of knowledge and experience, I wanted to have a chat with you today and ask you some questions about your early days in business.
Speaker 1:So I have started my own agency nearly two years ago, but what a lot of people don't know is that I was also running a full-time job at the same time as starting my agency.
Speaker 1:As a single parent, I felt that this was the best choice for me. I didn't have a heap of savings to start, so I needed to start the lowest cost possible and still have a way to pay my mortgage, support my children, and so that time has recently come to an end. I have resigned from the full-time job and am going into the business full-time, and so I thought what a great way to think about the startup agency and those things that you need to do at the start in order to get you moving started, but to now have the luxury of working on the business full-time. I also thought that other people may benefit from those who are thinking about starting their own agency what they can do in the beginning for the best chance of success. So I have some questions and I'll start with. If you were starting all over again, way back to the beginning, what key activities would you focus on?
Speaker 2:I think that if I and I would probably have started these activities before I had even started the business. So there are some people that I speak to that are like still studying their actual full license to open up their real estate and I feel, like the social media and increasing their following on like LinkedIn specifically, I think, is something that anybody can do, and I don't say this to be of any disrespect to your current business or your current boss. But like LinkedIn, for example, is like your online resume. It's it's your reputation and you can build that wherever you are, whether you're working for someone, working on your own, working for someone, but planning to work on your own, like for me, that's something that anyone can do at the very start, probably even before they have their business. That's where I would be, because it takes like a time to build up that following and that reputation online. So for me, I think that that's something that I would have if I did it again. I would have done that a bit earlier, but back 25 years ago, linkedin wasn't really a thing for me, so I didn't know, but I really I would definitely have done that. And I think the other thing that, like I will refer this one back to Instagram.
Speaker 2:When Instagram came on board, we were very I personally was very hesitant and very slow to get onto it, and you'll wait till, you know, a year or two. You're like we're just quite slow sometimes to implement stuff. But I feel like if I had implemented straight away I'd have a much bigger following. And I sort of have that mentality when anything new comes on board, like TikTok or threads or whatever it is like, just because you might not love it, just do it because this is the way that you're going to continue to advance your business and your career by getting on board before you realize it's actually important. So I think and that's relevant, obviously, for LinkedIn and all of that so, just trusting the world and the new things that come up you know what what I mean.
Speaker 2:Don't be so stubborn, just like, do it and then trust that. Give it a go. Give it a go, that's right. So I think for me, if I was to reflect back, that's definitely something I would have done at the very start and spent a lot of attention and definitely treated it as a priority. So, particularly LinkedIn and I would actually go as far as saying YouTube at the moment as well and then just a database in general.
Speaker 1:And so I think anyone who follows your content knows how big you are on social media and that's been a key part of your strategy in not spending money on marketing but working on that personal brand. Shall we say so, given that the times have changed from when you started your business and where we're at now? So starting a personal brand whatever position you're in, just get moving on it. How important is consistency in that, do you think?
Speaker 2:Very consistent, yeah, very important, and if you can't be consistent, then you should be getting someone in. So I don't know whether you have got a VA and I'm sure one of your questions will be at some stage like what's the next step? I would be saying to you that a VA is someone I think you should be bringing into your business sooner rather than later.
Speaker 2:I don't think you should wait to think you can afford one. I think you should be treating it as an investment and not as an expense. And it's an investment to have a VA who is going to do all that consistency in the background. So they're the ones that are going to you know, hold you accountable with you know uploading content. They're going to you know, hold you accountable with you know uploading content. They're going to increase your following consistently, like mine does, and they just constantly follow the people that you need to so that you can.
Speaker 2:It's just that consistency is something that you don't need to do yourself. Like, get someone to help you do that for a very low cost yourself. Like, get someone to help you do that for a very low cost, um, but I promise you that you are not well, I don't mean that aggressively, because that sounds really mean you won't be consistent and I don't think anyone can expect that they can be consistent when they are getting distracted with the day-to-day management of the business and the um and you know, property management and all of that. Like, if something is going to give because you've got a really big full-on week, I can tell you right now it's going to be the content.
Speaker 2:I'm content absolutely every single time, but it's sort of the most important thing that needs to be. So, um, it needs to be done, but I think, with consistency. People think that consistency has to be every single day and it doesn't have to be every day, like I used to be every day and now I'm probably three times a week on some platforms, like consistency is just consistent, whether that's probably not any less frequent than once a week. Ideally, I think three times a week is perfect. Five times, you know what? If you can, great, but that's really, really important and I would be treating it as an investment, so I'd be investing in someone to keep you consistent.
Speaker 1:That's perfect. I think I agree with that. When I started I was like we're going to do five to six days, no negotiation, and then of course, the business gets busier. And you're right, it is the first thing to go. And then you're feeling the guilt because you're like I made this commitment that I was going to do this five days, and it's a lot.
Speaker 1:So you kind of segued into a couple of other questions for me.
Speaker 1:I want to talk about perhaps what used to be it might be different now but perhaps the bridge of 100 properties where someone will build to 100 properties, and that's the point that we either need to take on staff and what the next step is. So you sort of touched on the VA. I do think now, compared to perhaps 10 years ago, that 100 properties may be not the number, because perhaps client expectations are different, that perhaps that number might look like somewhere now, compared to perhaps 10 years ago, that 100 properties may be not the number, because perhaps client expectations are different, that perhaps that number might look like somewhere between 50 and 70. So I'm really curious to understand your thoughts on someone, particularly you know, who is a sole trader in the beginning, or if they're in a partnership, whichever, but they're in that point that it's okay. What do we do next? Do we go with the VA first? Do we hire the property manager? So, by the sounds of it, you're suggesting to go with the VA first.
Speaker 2:I am Not that I did it that way, mind you, but that's definitely what I would be recommending. I think that in business, we need to enjoy the journey and we don't want to get to a point where we're forced to make a decision with staff because we're at our limit.
Speaker 2:And I think you might have actually been at that stage when you previously had your business where you burnt yourself out to a point. So, like I guess, learn from that. But you got to a yourself where you burnt yourself out, you didn't enjoy the journey and you've you know, you've bought the business. So I feel like really getting a VA is such an inexpensive option. If you sort of do it yourself and you don't, you don't have to be busy to hire one, like there's so much they can do in building your database in the back end, all of that mediocre stuff. Um, I would actually encourage you to be getting one like straight away who can join you like in the journey. And I mean, if we were to throw some costs around, so VA's, like if you got one one-on-one, like personally, not through an agency you would be looking at about, and I'm sure people are going to have a little comment on this, but let's call it ten dollars an hour, give or take a bit ten dollars an hour.
Speaker 2:I remember getting mine and I said to her I've never had a VA personally before, so I'm not sure, like how it's going to work, what I need you to do. But I said to her I can afford 20 hours per week. So well, actually it might've even been 16 hours per week, I can't remember what it was but I, sort of you know, said that this is what I can afford. Now you might say I can only afford five hours a week. I can you right now.
Speaker 2:That's the best 50 bucks you're going to spend in your business any day of the year and you'll be able to find someone who can just do that five hours a week for you whether it's one hour a day or five hours, you know, in a day but someone who can grow with you for the business.
Speaker 2:Keep on tack, I'm ticking away at that consistency for you, but then, as you grow, get them to start doing the managing authorities. I think sometimes when we we bring people on like we sometimes do it in reverse we we get so busy and big and then we bring someone on and it's a bit chaotic for them. But imagine bringing people on before you actually need them. So if you know that in six months' time you're going to need a VA, bring them on now and slowly get them built up to that. I just feel like you are going to move in business a lot quicker because your energy is going to allow you to focus on your clients a lot more and not be bogged down and I know that might sound like a bit woo-woo, but I really am big on energy and I feel like that it's no different to property managers being a property manager and a BDM at the same time Like their energy can't be in both areas, but the minute they focused on one. That's where they really perform so well so.
Speaker 1:I feel like really long.
Speaker 2:this is a really long answer, but I feel like you should say I can budget $50 a week. I'm going to find a VA for five hours and you get them in as soon as you can, because there's so much they can do for you, and then have a plan that that will increase to 10 hours, to 15 to 20 hours. You know, maybe it's just each month it increases.
Speaker 2:It would be good to do the other, and I think that's a problem. People get to that 100 and then they just try to make that decision of like, oh, what do I do? And you really got to come back down to like, what do you actually love Like? Do you love property management? Do you love content creation and like the business, entrepreneurship, or do you love BDM? I think I know what you love. I actually think you love entrepreneur being an entrepreneur and a donor.
Speaker 2:I, you know, don't know you incredibly well, but I would say straight up that's what you love, yeah, correct. And so always have that in mind, that that is my job role, that's what I'm doing, and always employ the other people to complement you. So that'll be a property manager. So, even then, when it comes to that, like you know, who do you get first by getting, and you probably love BDM, because BDM and your business is also Similar, it's growing the business.
Speaker 2:So, like I feel like that's where you're going to be strongest.
Speaker 2:Um, so when you get a VA, the other beautiful thing about getting one sooner rather than you need one is it's actually probably going to delay the need to get that property manager.
Speaker 2:So it will save you money in the long run because you'll be able to manage a bit more before you need that property manager. But then when that property manager does come into the business when you need them, they're going to have the support of a VA who is highly competent, able to probably even train them in some systems if they need to in your processes and actually make that property manager's life a lot easier. So I feel like, definitely for you, like the VA I'm actually having this for all businesses VA first, then the property manager and then you stay in your zone of genius which is the business, and going back to that journey, like the plan of having your own business, isn't to get to a point where you're completely under the pump and then you hire, like why can't the journey of business be to hire people straight away and be that business owner from day one?
Speaker 2:and you know, jump in and focus, Like I guess what I was going to ask you at the start was like do you have, do you have, any regrets? Like having, like working and having the business. Like, do you believe that you would have been able to grow your business faster if you didn't?
Speaker 1:yes, yeah, absolutely, and that's um. I think we, when we first connected um, you had spoken about your journey and you've mentioned it many times in your content about how you took out I think it was $30,000 loan and that was your six months of income, and you told me to do exactly that and it stayed with me. Um, but I was really against wanting to take on any debt because of the situation that I was in, that if it didn't work. You know, I've got two kids to take care of on my own and I didn't want to take that risk. However, I think there is a different mindset when you back yourself, which is what I'm doing now. I'm not actually at the point that the business is going to support me, so there is definitely an element of faith that I'm needing to take that leap and just go all in, and it's terrifying.
Speaker 1:But I equally believe it's a different kind of energy that failure is not an option here, as opposed to previously. I would go into an appraisal, for example. Previously I would go into an appraisal, for example, and it's a bit of a different energy in the sense that oh well, this is great if I get it, but I don't need it because I've still got a salary that's paying my bills. Um, so it's almost like I wasn't taking it seriously, if that makes sense. Um, I very much was, and I've worked some ridiculously long hours, but it's a different energy now that I'm approaching with the business, and hence why I reached out to you with the idea for this podcast that I want to make sure that this has every chance of success, as opposed to when I actually officially opened doors, it wasn't a do or die whether it worked or not, because I still had that salary as a security blanket.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and absolutely I think. Yeah, we all have those security blankets and they make us live a very mediocre life and you can't. If you can't put a hundred percent into your business, then why should you have a hundred percent of the returns? So when you're working for someone, your growth is going to be what? Like it's going to be only half the growth like you could have. You could have had double the growth if you were focusing just in your business. And yeah, and I think you find that that energy is going to flow through. And the other thing is is like and I speak to so many people I have never, ever, ever, come across one person who has regretted going out and taking a risk on their own. Never, not once. Like you know what, if you are going to be that person, sky, you'll be the first in Australia that I've ever heard of well, that's very comforting to hear so.
Speaker 1:So thank you, and I think I can agree with that. It makes sense that if I worked out that I can consistently grow two listings a month while working full-time, I should theoretically be able to double or triple that without the full-time job dragging down that timeframe. So I do think, given my time again, I would have liked to have made the leap sooner for sure, but that's okay, we learn. We're here now. I've lost my train of thought. I'll come back to that one, because you've given me all these different tangents that relate to the questions that I had planned for you. The number to replace your salary I wanted to touch on. You spoke about that being sort of six months' worth In those days. Did you find that was about right, and do you think that's still relevant now, yep? Or do you think that perhaps a shorter timeframe would be achievable, or even a longer timeframe? What are your thoughts on that now?
Speaker 2:No, I still think like if I was to do it again, I would still be budgeting for six months of covering costs, whether it's savings or a loan, would still be budgeting for six months of covering costs in, whether it's savings or a loan. So, um, I then saying that remember that I also had my business partner who did sales, so the sales definitely did bring in you know those that, those money, yeah. So so I just guess I want to disclose that that it wasn't purely just property management and relying on that one.
Speaker 2:So, it was two of us but that was still two salaries To cover. Yeah, but it was still two income sources like sales and property management. When I've spoken to other business owners, they've been very similar in that they've also did around that $30,000. So I feel for the six months, so I feel like that's probably still relevant. I think six months. I think whatever timeframe you give yourself, you will work yourself towards that. Again, like we talked about, like that pressure and that energy of having to get the business, If I only had three months, I probably would have made it happen in three months. I gave myself six, so I used the whole six. I think if you give yourself 12 months, you'll probably use the whole 12 months because you're probably not going to shine to the last couple of months, because you've got that like holy crap, I really need to you know I don't have much money
Speaker 2:left. I'm going to need to make it work. I really need to. You know, I don't have much money left. I'm going to need to make it work. So I think that I think that's still relevant. I think that it's normal to have a little bit of a backup plan, like what if it doesn't work? I think that would be a normal thought process for you to have and going okay, if it doesn't work and it's not enough money, then, um, my second option, which I don't want to do, is to go get a loan. Or my second option is to get a part-time job. Or my second option is to, um, you know, approach a sales agent to. You know what I mean.
Speaker 2:Like, I'm not saying that you ever have to think anything more than that. I'm just saying it's okay and normal to have those, have a plan B, and have a plan B just in case and, yeah, there's lots of different plan Bs that you could have. So that's just something that I just want to mention. It is quite normal to have that thought process. I think that, yeah. So the question was is that still achievable? I think that it is. That's the six month I reckon you'll. You'll use whatever time you give yourself. So six months is so.
Speaker 1:If I've declared to myself and my mastermind group that I'm going to double the business in 12 weeks, I'll make it work right.
Speaker 2:I think you will absolutely.
Speaker 1:I'm just putting it out there. We're doubling these numbers in three months. Well, now you've also promised the.
Speaker 2:Yeah, the rest of Australia that's listening. Uh, the same thing, so well done. Feel free to message Sky Taylor and check in on that people please do be accountable.
Speaker 1:We're making this work um again, I I want to focus on your early days, so apologies if this sounds a bit repetitive, but what do you think were perhaps some big setbacks or major things that happened, and how did you overcome them? Like, was there anything that you're comfortable to share, that you went? Oh God, all those early moments in business that really sort of shake your foundation.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I had a pretty smooth start because I had my business partner and I also didn't have children, and I didn't have that you know I had a partner at the time so I didn't have a lot of other pressures and that's like very intentionally why I started then, because I knew that this was at 23.
Speaker 2:That's the only time I had that. If I had waited another couple of years or five years, I'm then going to have dependence, you know, a lot more to take into account. So I was very intentional with starting when I didn't have that, but I probably like one of my biggest things that I probably would have done different that, I think, did mean a slower growth was and it also came with costs and problems and unnecessary expenses to the business and that was always when I was trying to save the business money and I just took on so much and I took on the bookkeeping. So the property management, then obviously the BDM and then our marketing. I did all our bookkeeping, I did our best I'm not an accountant and I am very clueless when it comes to that and it got to the point where fast forward in the business me doing the bookkeeping there was stuff that I had entered wrong and done wrong and we ended up having to you know, have an ATO tax payment plan.
Speaker 2:And it wasn't because I intentionally did anything wrong, I was just. I don't know, you're not an accountant? I'm not an accountant and I don't like I was doing exactly what the accountant told me to do, because we sort of still had the accountant but not the bookkeeper and then. But then they just assumed that.
Speaker 2:I knew like everything else which I didn't know. What you don't know. Yeah, it was exactly that. And so, um, that was when we we had to go get a bookkeeper and I and I know it sounds really silly, but like our bookkeeper might be, I don't know call it 360 a week or something like that, which sounds so minimal now, but I was just forever just going, oh, like I can save business this, I can save the business that, and, um, that was one of my biggest things that I did wrong in my early years, which is why I sort of, I guess, harp on about bringing people in earlier because it will save you that money in the future um, and you know you, you do you just, you just try to.
Speaker 2:You know, oh, it's only going to take me five minutes to do that. I can do bookkeeping in the evening. It's not going to affect my you know, management during the day, like all these things that we do um, but they're at a detriment. So that's probably one of my biggest um flaws and things that probably um made the business um a little bit more difficult to run at the start, probably didn't advance the business as well as maybe it could have been, because I was so distracted with everything um and yeah, in hindsight I should have gone. No, I'm a business owner.
Speaker 1:It's very normal to have these people in your do you think it comes back to like a control thing as well, like wanting to have control and oversight over it? Not saying you're a control freak, but I feel like when you're the type of personality you are, you kind of want to be doing all of the things just naturally and you're just a doer, it's like, yeah, I can do that, I can do that.
Speaker 2:And I mean at the end of the day, you know when it it's like, yeah, I can do that, I can do that. And I mean, at the end of the day, you know when it is your own business and you're paying for these people, you know in your mind you're thinking, well, I'd rather pay myself an extra $300 a week and do it myself, and like that's quite normal for us to think I, um, now I can say that it's absolutely worth every single penny. So learn from those, those mistakes of mine. But, yeah, a bit of control over the business. But it was definitely more me wanting to save the business money. Um, just, you know, to make that six months last longer and things like that. Um, I mean, it was only a couple of years ago that we stopped cleaning the offices ourselves. Like we'll still clean.
Speaker 1:Oh, wow.
Speaker 2:Yeah, because that's just what we did. It sounds really frugal and really tight, but it was just one of those things that we just did.
Speaker 1:And I have got that sense from listening to all of your content that managing finances and I don't know that, I love the word frugal but making sure that unnecessary expenses are not there. That was one of my questions on. You know, managing finances in those early years, cash flow is obviously everything to every business. Do you have any tips on how people can do that and I think that's probably one of them is making sure you are saving where you can but investing in those things that are going to free you up to focus on perhaps dollar productive tasks.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so I'm sure everyone's doing it these days. Um, I was a very slow learner, um, but having that separate tax account is every every week. We transfer money into that tax account. So that comes out of our general account into our tax account and that's where we pay our buses and our tax. So that 100%, like I don't know why we never had it before. I think we only started having it about three or four years ago and so we just, you know, whatever money we had in the general account we had and yeah, like we paid it fastest out of that the whole lot. So, definitely having those separate accounts the question you had before was about like how much money to cover a salary.
Speaker 2:So one thing that I've always worked on and you could actually probably and let's have a quick disclaimer that I am no accountant or financial advisor on this, I'm only speaking my experience but I think that if I was to be setting up my own business, like on my own, because at the moment I'm in business with my brother-in-law I'd probably have three different accounts because I've always worked with the third, third, third rule. So you've got third profit, third admin, third salary. I always work with that whatever salary you want to earn whether it's $50,000 or $200,000, you need to bring in three times that income. So your wage should be three times the sorry. Yeah, your income should be three times your salary. And that goes the same when you're employing staff and you've got a property manager looking after a portfolio, making sure that the salary is around a third of that portfolio income. So I guess what I would have probably found helpful is if I had an admin account where all the bills came out of. I had the profit account and that would probably also include sort of the tax, but also then the salary account as well, so that I could clearly see whether I was spending too much on technology and subscriptions, whether I was spending too much in salaries. And sometimes those three buckets can vary, like I know some businesses where they might have 20% admin costs because they've got really good tech and maybe 40% profit or maybe 40%, or actually it would be 40% salary and 40% profit and then 20% admin. So it can vary, but it should probably fluctuate, give or take around that third, third, third bucket. So that would probably answer that question in regards to what you should be aiming for as an income to replace salaries and that would also be reflective when you hire someone. Making sure that when you hire someone, you sort of have that clear plan that you can bring in a third of three times that income to support that person. And yeah, probably that would be my bit of financial sort of advice from my experience would be definitely having those separate accounts.
Speaker 2:I don't recommend and I hear a lot of people doing this and again, I'm no financial expert but I see people where they only take a wage reflective of what they've bought in that month and I think I don't like that. I feel like you're doing a full-time job. You should be paid what, what you would if you were working anywhere else. So I'm pretty big on that.
Speaker 2:So, making sure you've got the savings or the business loan to allow for it, because I think that that slows people down quite a lot and you don't want to be just having a business for the sake of having a business. Like you know, like you need to be earning the same amount of money, need to be earning the same amount of money you would. Your business needs to survive with paying someone what they would, what their market salary would be, and that's one thing that we always did is when we started, we got paid exactly what we would if we were working for somebody else. So I'm pretty big on that. I think we shortchange ourself a lot as business owners, and I don't think we should be. I think from the start you should be getting paid exactly what the market would pay you.
Speaker 1:I definitely agree with that and I think a lot of business owners and not just real estate specifically but I think a lot of people go into business wanting to get that time freedom, earning capacity and they end up just they've bought themselves a job because they're not drawing down an appropriate wage. And that's certainly a really valid point and I appreciate all your financial tips there. I think, with you know, in those early days when finances might be a little bit leaner, you know there's obviously what you say, what you can aim towards, um, and I like the idea of the 30, 30, 30 rule and the buckets. That's really useful.
Speaker 1:Um, I'm actually also running at the moment like an advertising account because obviously in property management we need to generally. I don't know how you do it, but I'm funding my um landlords advertising bills until we rent the property. So I've just found that useful to just keep that off to the side so that way I'm not worrying about that when the bill comes in, because it can take some time to then flow through to the business. So I like the idea of the financial buckets. I think that's really helpful to manage the cash flow.
Speaker 2:That's an idea and, you know, don't be afraid to be a little bit different, but just as a thought, one idea that you could do if you are funding the marketing till it's leased out and if that becomes a bit sort of difficult, is like, let's say, hypothetically, the advertising with the portal costs you $150 on the bill, just as an example, and you charge $200 for advertising or $250, whatever you could always say to an owner listen, advertising and marketing is $200, but if you want to pay it up front, then it's only going to be $150 and then you could get the money in earlier to pay it.
Speaker 2:Well just as an idea.
Speaker 1:I do like that thought yeah, I mean, I don't mind funding it because there's obviously a markup. Pay it Well, just as an idea. I do like that thought yeah, I mean, I don't mind funding it because there's obviously a markup to it. That is an ancillary revenue line in the business, so I'm not overly bothered, but I do like the idea of perhaps offering it because everyone wants a deal right. So that could actually be a really unique selling point at that listing presentation.
Speaker 2:Even if you went with the like, if advertising was $150, but you had either $250 or if you want to pay up front, then we can discount it to $200.
Speaker 1:So you've still got a little bit of a margin, Just as an idea if it ever becomes a pain point, that would be pretty cool to see.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no, I love that. Thank you for that, Kate. You also mentioned and we've touched on the va. One of my questions was you know, how do you balance your, your time in the early days which I feel like you've already answered this but you know, when you're um, either in a business partnership or a sole trader, and you're wearing all of the hats, you're doing the accounting, you're doing all of the hats, you're doing the accounting, you're doing all of that. Would you suggest that perhaps having structure or some sort of ideal week scenario would be beneficial to ensure that those dollar productive tasks get done? Like how would you structure your week if that were you?
Speaker 2:Yeah, like, obviously it was going back a long time ago so I kind of don't know how I did it back then, but I've probably always been very similar with I'm not like strict, but um, what I definitely do is because content is so important to me and I actually feel so unorganized if I haven't got posts out or if I'm not sort of on top of my socials. Um, that's always a morning thing, um, I also do plan that. So, like yesterday, I felt like I'd been really neglecting my socials. So yesterday I put, um, did a big um plan 4 pm collective actually where I scheduled in two posts a day because I had heaps of content to do so, um, that for me, helps me definitely feel organized. So, whether I do that in the morning or pre-plan that on the weekend, either, or, and then I tend to do all my face-to-face appointments, so all my appointments I have to do in person. I always do when I don't have the kids, so like that's my school hours. And then the way that I see it is all my admin work, my emails, my bookkeeping, all of that. That was always an evening job and I know that sounds bad and people are going to be like you shouldn't be working evenings, but unfortunately, when you're a business owner, you do work evenings. So I just want to be a realist with that.
Speaker 2:I definitely use, yeah, the days just for the face-to-face appointments and I probably have to scale it back.
Speaker 2:It's probably one thing that I'm not doing great at where I will book every single um, like I'll use every single hour of my day with zoom's, face-to-face appointments, and I leave no time to do admin, which is why I have to then do it in the evening, where now I'm probably trying to limit myself to only two face-to-face um or two zoom appointments a day, and then that gives me enough time to do some admin, some emails, support the team and all of that as well. So because I prioritize my content, that's always first in it and that's just being mindful of when you're the most creative, like for me, I'm most creative on the weekends, when I don't have anything to think about. In the mornings I'm probably a lot more creative and that's when I work better, where all that monotonous, boring stuff like admin, like I'm very happy to do that in bed at the end of the night. So for me, that's the best time for me to be pottering on my emails. So yeah, that's sort of the structure that I generally follow and that's how it works.
Speaker 2:It's just being mindful of how it works, but when you've got children, your emails and stuff you can do in the evening. You can't do it in the evening.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm a bit of an early riser so I find, come five, six o'clock, my brain shut down. So I sort of would look at prioritizing just because of where my brain works at five to seven am window, when I've got my children. That that's where I can really power through some admin. But I really do like your perspective on it, on how to structure it. And, yeah, being mindful of the appointments during the school hours is definitely a key one. But, yeah, that constant balance.
Speaker 1:I think of wearing all of the hats which would hopefully start to lift as you bring in the VA, the bookkeeper, the various supports to free up that time. So, thank you, you answered exactly what I was meaning when I asked that question. It may have been a little bit vague. My very last question for you and we've kind of, in a roundabout way, worked through nearly 10 questions. I think mindset is so crucial for anyone running a business, whether it's the early days or if you're a seasoned veteran. Whatever it may be. What tools or strategies do you implement to ensure that your mindset is right and that you're protecting your energy so you can do what you need to do?
Speaker 2:I feel like I'm a really bad example of this. I am Like and I probably look like I've always got my shit together and I've got that good mindset, but I don't always so like, I'm not one of those people that love going to the gym, that you know do a lot of self-care, like things like that. I'm not that person of you know. That's what people. How do you cope without that? Um, I probably cope, like. I'm just trying to like, even reflect of, like what I do sometimes, like even things like just um, in the morning or when I get home from work, I might just put a face mask on and just have a face mask on while I'm, you know, doing dinner or something like that. Um, which sounds really stupid, but like it feels like I'm doing something feels like a bit of luxury for you.
Speaker 2:A little bit of luxury. Um, at the moment, like I've got so much skincare and I'm and I am focusing on, like you know, we always have like face masks and moisturizers and they just pile up in your cupboard and I'm trying to get a bit of a vanity detox where I'm just going to use everything that I've got every scrub, every face mask, every moisturiser before I let myself buy a new one anymore yeah.
Speaker 2:I'm at that stage, uh, so I'm. That's why I'm sort of focused on like moisturising every day and um, and doing those face masks. I mean, I'm forcing myself to go to the gym and I really I still I've been doing it for like, you're still hating it, still hate it, still hate it, and I, yeah, it's just I'm just not getting any closer to enjoying that process.
Speaker 2:I mean, I won't lie, I think if I was third person Ash looking in, I would say that I'm probably a lot nicer and happier when I do go to the gym. I don't feel it internally, but I'm pretty sure that I do manage.
Speaker 1:I feel like maybe you haven't found your exercise yet, like that one thing that you enjoy, like I think you've tried the Reformers pilates is that right? Yeah, and you've got a personal trainer, or you're working with someone, yeah, working with a person now.
Speaker 2:I've tried um downloading ladder. I don't mind it, like I don't. I find I think I just get bored because, like, I really do like reformer pilates, but then once I've done it for three months, I'm like you, you know, I just find it boring. My trainer's great, like, I really actually do like her and like, but yeah, it's just because it's 6 o'clock in the morning and then I've got Ladder which I've downloaded and I actually don't mind Ladder. It's a pretty cool app which like stays my, like the trainer stay in your ear while you're doing like, um, like just sort of matte pilates with weights and things like that. Like that's pretty good, but I just find it all of it such a chore and just really interrupts my day because I just I guess my brain is just so creative at the moment that I just really want to get into doing creative stuff all the time. So I am, but I also don't have like and I'm sure I do like it's me and my mindset blocking me, but you know, just to go for a walk and put a podcast on and I can do it, but then something's, I've got to sacrifice something else to do it and that's really. I struggle with that.
Speaker 2:So, managing it all, I guess, more from a mindset point of view, my biggest challenge thing I would say is that everything apart from going to the gym, everything that I do, I enjoy. Like I'm now in a business not doing anything that I don't want to be doing, so I've now outsourced everything that I don't want to be doing. So I really do enjoy my days. I enjoy my job, I enjoy my tasks, I enjoy everything. So I don't really feel the need to have to escape and go to the gym, release, like you know, whatever hormone, the stresses of the day. Yeah, because I don't really have a stressful day, like I definitely do have, you know, little spot fines I've got to put out and clients but they don't. That doesn't stress me. I don't have enough of them for it to be massive. And if I do have a really crappy day, which is unusual then I will just feed myself something delicious for dinner and get uber eats and then I'm happy the next morning. So, yeah, that's that's really I.
Speaker 2:My mindset hack is to try to eliminate everything you don't enjoy doing and only do things you like, because that's the thing with business owners, when I see so many that have been in the industry for so long and when I see them and I say you know how's work, how's business? And they go oh Ash, you know, and they complain about it and I think to myself my God, I don't want to invest 20 years or 25 years or even 10 years of business to be stressed out Like you are having this business so that you can create an easy life for you. You know, I always say you can make now a little bit harder to make your life, your future self, a bit easier, or you can choose the easy path, now that you'll be forever working your ass off. So I feel like I really really enjoy business and where I'm at and my team and if I did like, really if I did want, to go for a walk every day at 10 o'clock in the morning, but I choose not to, but I could if I want.
Speaker 1:Because you're loving what you're doing, because you're in your zone of genius.
Speaker 2:Correct, so I don't feel like I have to escape anything but my 15 year old reminds me you know, mum, you know you can do that when, if you want, it's you. That's in the way it's like, yes, I know, but yeah, you just don't. I guess you just don't want to be. You've got to remember why you're in business and you've got to remember that it is such a journey and you just want to be taking full advantage of being a business owner. Enjoy it and get to. You know where you want to be, which is having you know your property managers and your team, and you'd be an amazing manager and business owner with you. You know, having staff like that's where you're going to really shine even more and really mentor those people like I can see you sort of being such a mentor to those people that join your business. So enjoy the journey and then your mindset won't need to be free to the gyms but you like the gym?
Speaker 1:yeah, I do. I do love the gym, um, and you mentioned it. Like you know, I'm I'm not very nice. I'm not very happy if I am missing a gym session because work's gotten in the way. So it definitely keeps me happy and nice, um, but I genuinely love going. So, um, just as much as I love working in the business, but it just sets me up for the day when I get to go. So we each have our things. That's why I was curious what your thing might be, because I know you've sort of been vocal about the fact that you're like oh, I'm here at the gym again.
Speaker 2:I don't want to be, and you know my PT. She's been away for three weeks um over in Europe, so she's back um back now, so I'm back to it tomorrow back to it because she's had a break and now it's on.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I think for me, like what I'm trying. What I'm really wanting to create in my life which I don't do is I'm really trying to just create habits. Like you know I'm I'm good at creating. Well, actually, you know, I'm probably not even great at creating habits, because I now got a VA that does all my habits for me, like all my you know consistency behind the scenes. But that's really where I'm challenging myself to get into that routine, that a little bit more of a stricter schedule each week and being stricter with, now, only two appointments per day, getting stricter with I go to the gym.
Speaker 2:I just want to sort of be that person that says, yep, I go to the gym twice a week, I only do two appointments, I do this and that where I feel sometimes like I'm just like each day I check my diary, what have I got on today, and I sort of, you know, get through my week without that control of, like my set schedule. I, even if it's just like you know, on Wednesdays I work from home, or this day I do this. I think that's what I'm craving and I'm just craving those habits which I still haven't created in my business. But I'm happy, but I just feel like I'm at that stage in my life where that's probably where I need to be, because, yeah, when you first start in business, you sort of just do everything and anything to get by. You're at the business, the mercy of the business, you know where business is now all good, which mine is good.
Speaker 2:I should be reaping the benefit of having a bit more of a structured you know life and you know going out and having Fridays off or going out for lunch and yeah and not having any guilt associated with that, which is the hardest part of business, because I can imagine, even like with you starting up like that would probably form a lot of guilt guilt like I shouldn't be having lunch with a friend because I should be working on the business yes, yes and I do recall that from last time you know I'd finish the work day and go, put on a movie and go.
Speaker 1:I shouldn't be relaxing right now I should. I should be doing xyz like it's probably endless. But like you say, if you're in that zone of genius and you're doing the work you enjoy anyway, you don't necessarily need the break to recharge no, no, so, and so that's coming back to your sort of questions for you.
Speaker 2:So when do you?
Speaker 1:you've got a week before you're out on your own I have three weeks and they going to feel like the longest three weeks ever, but we're wanting to just have this structured so that at the end of that three weeks we are running so hard and we're going to make this happen.
Speaker 2:And then you. So when you say you use the word we. Oh, I think it's just habit just me, just me and me and myself, yeah, yeah, um and my big dreams, yeah, um, and is there anything that you are doing in the last three weeks in preparation, or you're just going to do what you've just been doing and then hit the ground?
Speaker 1:running? Yeah, that's a really good question. I'm still perhaps very much in survival mode because I still have to see out my obligations with my amazing employers. I don't want to do the right thing by them, but definitely as the business has gotten busier and that's where I've reached that point that I've had to make the decision to leave. A lot of my systems and processes perhaps have fallen a bit, so I want to make sure that they're all, I guess, back up and running. So, like one of them, for example, I have the standard membership with PropertyMe.
Speaker 1:I want to get the next version so I can get the checklist and, I think, the renewal task. That would then save me time later on. So I want to get that sort of stuff up and running in the next few weeks. Just little things like that. I want to make sure that I have that structure, particularly around what perhaps are prospecting tasks. So like my meetings with referral partners and ensuring that I do those so that I don't get caught up in the business and not working on the business, because I know that was potentially a mistake that I made last time around. It's so easy to get caught up in it and you're so busy and you're just running and it's like what's going on, but what's actually going to move the needle? Those tasks need to be locked in and in my calendar, otherwise they don't get done. That's just how I operate, so planning all that out so that we can give this the best chance of success and then you've got like you're pretty good at content anyway, so you'll just continue with that.
Speaker 2:Continue that, yeah. And then I would suggest that, just yeah, being strict with the tasks that you've got each day and working on the business. There will be a few people out there wanting to know this question. So what are the main? And I know that you've already sort of you know, had your business like you've still got your business, so it's sort of relevant, but not've had your business like you still got your business, so it's sort of sort of relevant, but not but the main programs that you're using at the very start, because I think this is something where a lot of people ask the question like what do I need?
Speaker 2:now and what would like, what stage one for programs and then what stage two. So at the moment you've got the basic property, me subscription and anything else, inspection express, without a doubt.
Speaker 1:Um, I think for and I hope no one's in property me listens to this I think for the first month I was using the inspection platform in property me. Um, and yeah, I am 100 on board with Inspection Express. Their product's amazing. I just recently turned on the AI feature and it's so fun.
Speaker 2:Right, I'm going to start using that this week. Actually it's interesting because I actually don't mind the PropertyMe inspections and the only reason why we had got Inspection Express was because PropertyMe were too slow with bringing out their paperless reports. And then, as soon as I got Inspection Express because Property Me were too slow with bringing out their paperless reports and then as soon as I got Inspection Express, they brought it out. So I was like oh, it doesn't matter, I'll just have it.
Speaker 2:But yeah, I actually don't mind the inspection part of Property Me, but the AI I'm going to start trialling this week, so I think that's going to be a huge time saver.
Speaker 1:So you've got got. Do you have any other product or are they the only two you've got at the moment? I, and obviously the um, the platform for I've played around with a few different platforms for like management agreements, tenancy agreements and whatnot um, I did trial the inspection express payful as office that they have, um, and it's great aesthetically, it's pleasing, it's a really user-friendly process, um, but they're mainly set up for victoria, so and I could be wrong, I'm not sure about all the other states, but I had to have my own documentation, upload it into their platform and then create all the signature fields within it, so they're not fully across every state for that to work, which is a bit of a shame. Um, so I just use the standard rea forms here, which is fine, but they need an upgrade.
Speaker 2:It's a bit clunky what abouthate relationship with IRE I have, I guess?
Speaker 1:stage two. I'd like to use IRE BDM, mainly because of the reasons you've talked about it. I have used it in the past at other offices and once it's all set up I think it's great. It's just that initial and I think you had Jo help you out with the initial bit, because it's just setting up of it. It's a bit of a nightmare.
Speaker 2:So what do you use now for your CRM then?
Speaker 1:It's not great, but we have an excel spreadsheet.
Speaker 2:No, you need to. Okay, I think you need to bring that forward. I think that the IRE BDM, like it is well, it doesn't even have to be IRE BDM, it just has to be a CRM where your, where your um, where your clients go into and something with the ability to be able to have a campaign set up. I don't know of other another CRM that does that. I'm sure there's something in it, but for me, ira bdm is like 100 percent, uh, like needed I. I just I would be making those inquiries and just finding out how much it is to get that set up. Honestly, because it's um, it is just so much easier to stay in touch and just those, like I said, those regular campaigns. And we've got campaigns set up for new investors that haven't got a property yet and new investors that do have a property. So they both need something different.
Speaker 2:It's got short links so you know your clients. You can make your own link builder to use on your social so that they can download their fee schedule. You can add it to your website. I feel like that is that might be a missing piece. I think you need to bring that one forward a little bit. To be honest, I would go. I mean, yeah, the Property Me upgrade, you know definitely. But I would actually have gone as far as saying you know what I'd be getting? Ira BDM, before I did a proper upgrade.
Speaker 2:Before that, if it was a different, like if it was a financial, you know, balance Because that's one thing that I actually did during the business journey is that whenever I saw a new product, I would use the opportunity to have a look at what else I had and I would swap it out.
Speaker 2:So I would never get in a position where I was just adding things on, adding programs and apps on all the time, because it can get out of control if you do that. So definitely going you know what, like I actually probably think that this is money better spent in the business and I don't think we're using this enough. So I'm actually going to remove that program, I'm going to add this one in, and so financially, we were always pretty stable and not in a position of just taking on everything and using all the programs, you know, only 50% or 60%. So, yeah, depending on what the costs are for those things. Yes, you know the PropertyMe upgrade would make life easier and more efficient, but you know, if you look at it holistically, you're probably going to spend less time. Like it's going to save you just about the same amount of time by having the IRA BDM.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's a fair point, and that was definitely a mistake I made last time was that I signed up to anything and everything and, before you know it, you're committed to stuff that you just don't need. So I've gone the opposite way this time and we're slowly adding them all in, like I'd love to have TAPI one day, but that's like a stage two or three.
Speaker 2:It's not right now yeah, yeah, it's not a pain point, but if you think about it like you, your main focus right now is lead generation, so why would you not have the best product available for lead generation like that? Is like that is all you should be focused on right now.
Speaker 1:Yet you haven't got the system to even do that properly yeah, because I think I think I I need to find out more about ire. Like I found the program frustrating at times, I think because it has so much capacity to custom to your organization that it's a bit overwhelming, um, so I will definitely look into that further. You're you're absolutely right. Growth needs to be all I'm focusing on. I think with the Property Me upgrade, I was looking for removing the stuff that's not dollar productive. So let's make this more streamlined so I can be out there talking to people, meeting people, doing what I do best.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:But equally. The other option is the VA.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, yeah. I think this is a completely random sort of you know um, you know uh thing I'm about to say, but we don't always look at it holistically like the whole business. Um, and just recently, um, just an example of when I haven't looked at it holistically and I've shot myself in the foot is my kids want to go on a holiday and they really want to go to Bali. But Bali I've always associated with cheap. Like you know, I want $500 flights to Bali. I don't want to spend over a thousand dollars for a flight to Bali. So I found flights that were cheaper in the school holidays for Singapore. So I was like I'm going to book Singapore because we haven't been to Singapore as an actual holiday and it's cheaper than Bali, but then by the time I add on the accommodation and our spending money, I'm probably going to be spending a lot more going to Singapore than if you just go to Bali, then just go to.
Speaker 2:Bali. But I shot myself in the foot because I've been so stubborn over the flights and not wanting to pay over a thousand dollars per person for flights, but really it would have been cheaper for me, so sort of smaller situation, I know exactly what you're saying. I need to be looking at the whole picture, um, and not just at yeah, but I mean at the end of the day is if you like.
Speaker 2:I don't think an excel spreadsheet is great, but if you've got a way that you can both email everyone, it's not the same as having a campaign, because campaigns are set up in line with when that client's contacted you, so they're on a journey with you.
Speaker 2:But regardless, staying in touch with your database and putting and sending like a newsletter or something like that on a regular basis will still hold some purpose.
Speaker 2:So if you're not ready to get it, please just make sure that you've got a good system that allows you to send them regular newsletters and all of that. And then I would like, as a goal, I would probably be having a goal to really increase that database. So, whatever you're at at the moment, your goal is just increasing that database, because the way that I see it is that you like they might be clients that you're going to get now, and there's going to be a lot of clients that you don't get now but just keep them on the journey with you and really use that. Be a lot of clients that you don't get now, but just keep them on the journey with you and really use that as a bit of a trail book so that that's really looking after your future business as well, and don't be too worried um about whether you get them or not. Just keep on creating, increasing that volume to the database.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's like all you should be doing, yeah yeah, no, the.
Speaker 1:The spreadsheet is more to track when to contact people. Um, I have, obviously, an email campaign that I send regular emails to, but I do like the idea of the journey, um, because someone who has been on my email list for six months can be very different to someone who's on my email list today.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, I'm sure you can colour code your Excel spreadsheet with that I know I'm making it harder than it needs to be.
Speaker 1:Yes, you are. Yeah, no, I will definitely look into that this week, that's for sure. Thank you for the tip.
Speaker 2:And is there any? Going back to the original sort of question, so is there any other programs you're using then? So just Inspection Express and PropertyMia your main stage one apps.
Speaker 1:Yes, that's correct. I'm literally checking my list to see if there are any others, but no, that's it. And obviously you know RP data for appraisals and whatnot, but that's it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's good because a lot of people always ask that. And yeah, I think um like iore or some version of um iore for app processing and um stuff yeah, we have um.
Speaker 1:We have tenant options here in sa, which is really, really user-friendly. I was using iore for the applications um, but I think that's where my love-hate with it comes that it wasn't set up properly so I found it so difficult to use that I really just need someone to like someone like Jo, to just go set it up for me.
Speaker 2:Yeah, correct, and I think tenant options is great and I do love it and I know that's essay-based, but I guess when it comes to technology, swapping it out for IRE for the application and the BDM side of things is sort of easier, because I'm very much about not having so many programs expensive. Yeah, correct, so like that's something like that. I personally would have considered, um and yeah, that definitely being like a stage two and I think, a stage three, I think TAPI. You'll probably find waiting for stage three for TAPI at whatever stage that is in terms of numbers of properties.
Speaker 1:Are there any other programs that you would recommend?
Speaker 2:Oh, I'm using Airtable. Don't recommend it Like well I do now because of the size of our rent roll, but definitely like it's a lot of energy. I went down a rabbit hole and it's taken me a long time to be happy with it. But you know, if Airtable said we're no longer, I also wouldn't complain either, like you know, I already mean yeah but like I've lost a limb, but Airtable wow, that says a lot, doesn't it?
Speaker 2:yeah, um, but that's okay, but it is good, like, don't get me wrong, it's very good for our processes and stuff like that. But do I recommend it? Probably, um, probably not. Um, I think it's um, definitely things like Fluesauce, which is a procedure sort of workflow that is for property managers. I think that, like, I would be exploring products like that instead, to be honest. But then Property Me has got some such good features now, with all their renewals and their templates and their checklists, it's sort of really covering a lot of bases at the moment. Their improvements and upgrades are definitely going really good. I think I'm proud of what they've developed, even just this year, and, yeah, made our lives a bit easier. I don't think there's anything else. They would be my main things as well.
Speaker 1:I actually only just signed up to use Log it Out to manage my keys. Again, that was an Excel spreadsheet beforehand.
Speaker 2:Well, you can log it in from me, can't you?
Speaker 1:Well, it's the tracking and the logging it out. So if a contractor has a key, you're right.
Speaker 2:I think the next module you can manage key, um, I wonder which I haven't upgraded to yet, so yeah, ah, so yeah, so I would say so. I used to use log it out, um, but now, under property me and because I'm on the, the high membership, I don't know what's included in the um, the basic one but um, the keys is really good because you check them out in property, meaning Sure they might not get the automatic SMS I mean then maybe there's a trigger for it. I don't know, but it's very easy to then see what keys are logged out and then to quickly go through and send them an SMS, and if you had a VA they would actually be able to do that anyway for you. So I'm not sure how much log it out is, whether you should keep it or not keep it, but I think you'll find that Property Me will be sufficient for a smaller rent roll for what you need.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no, that's a fair point. I hadn't even realised that the key component is a feature of the next upgrade. I just went oh, we've been mucking about with this for too long. We need to get something to manage this, because I don't want the you know something to go wrong because we were trying to hold off on an additional subscription.
Speaker 2:So yeah, keys are a pain in the butt, though, everywhere you go.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, definitely, um, and every business I've worked in there's been a challenge, so wanting to make sure that mine are at least as controlled as they can be. Yeah, um, but yeah, no. I think that's all the software.
Speaker 2:I'm got my brain's now spinning with what we've discussed well, I was going to chat with you and, for those that are listening, like, really, this is a sort of understand, even sometimes, just what's going through your mind, like you know, as a, as a new business owner or someone that is sort of taking that leap, like it's really good for other people to hear what's in your brain, what questions are you? Are you, you know, running around thinking of and having the confidence just to ask someone to make your life easier?
Speaker 1:Make it easier.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I mean you are a classic example of someone who had a business before, had a property management business, didn't have that support which you've often said, and the business sold.
Speaker 1:And I got out? Yeah, because I didn't have that support network, which is why, as you know, we do the coffee catch-ups and they are so important to get to know other business owners and see how just like the conversation you and I have had today see how other people are doing and going oh that's heaps better than how I've been doing it. What am I doing? Let's do it that way.
Speaker 2:Yeah and again, the coffee conversations and surrounding yourself with those people so that you can enjoy the journey. And that's really what it's all about. You just want to enjoy the journey, have a nice business life, you know, do well, um, do the right thing you know by the community and just enjoy the process really yeah, exactly that's definitely something that I want to focus on this time around is enjoying the journey.
Speaker 1:So thank you for pointing that out.
Speaker 2:That's exactly why we're doing it yeah, absolutely well, I'm very excited for you, I look forward to I'm seeing how it goes and um and I know that I'll speak to you beforehand but um, be good to sort of even do like a bit of a six-month or like actually you said three months, didn't you before? I said three, I did, I might quickly put that in my calendar, the three-month mark.
Speaker 2:Let's do a three-month check-in Follow up with Sky, and I could even go as far as calling this podcast part one in the anticipation for part two.
Speaker 1:How's that for accountability? Just checking in with me in three months, let's do it.
Speaker 2:And next minute I'll have all these different business owners saying can we do one as well?
Speaker 1:Let's do accountability podcast we could actually have a whole series of accountability podcasts. Yeah, because I've just declared very publicly in multiple places, not just here but also within my mastermind that three months this is going to look entirely different. I'm doubling the business, yeah.
Speaker 2:And it could be like where you've got those, like from a marketing point of view, like where are they now? You know, on TikTok there's this guy that I've been watching, I think. I don't know his name is Caleb Tower or Caleb, and he's a finance guy. Have you seen him?
Speaker 1:I know I'm watching a finance guy.
Speaker 2:I don't know if that's his name, though yeah, he's a young guy and I don't even know why he started coming up on my stuff, but he does a podcast, he does financial wellbeing and just helps people.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:Yes, he's got me as well and he's so good. He's so good and I don't know why it started coming up in my feed, because I don't even know if I, like, like, have followed him.
Speaker 2:I think it just comes up, but he gets people on the show, helps them, like, understand um, and just sort of say, you know accept responsibility for where they are with their finances, um, and eliminates any excuses they've got, like one the other day was like oh, the cost of living is just so much. And he's like, well, no, your spending is too much, like it's not the cost of living. You know, stop going out three times a week for dinner, like that type of stuff um. Advice is so basic and so spot on every time, and that guy that he's been talking to, that guy who's so annoying and he's got the bandana on his head.
Speaker 1:Um the one that was like unimpressed with him and he's like I'm not going to listen to you.
Speaker 2:Yeah, correct that one and so it keeps on coming up. But, um, but he gets them back on the show to sort of see where they are now with the debate. So, anyway, I was just referencing that um where it's like where.
Speaker 1:We should definitely do that. Yes, we should do that, but I guess I'm not. I don't want to be giving you any kind of excuses why we haven't got there in three months, right?
Speaker 2:No, but whether you get there or you don't get there, it doesn't actually matter, because you are going to be closer than what you are now. You're not going to go back, even if I didn't.
Speaker 1:You're only going to be closer than what you are now, you're not going to go back, and if I didn't, you're only going to be going forward so you never have to worry about that.
Speaker 2:You will. You know, you might sort of you know you might have excuses of why, because we don't know what life's going to throw at you over the next three months. There could be some genuine excuses, but to be able to reflect on those excuses publicly and to somebody else is what's going to help you get to that next stage. So I don't. So, yeah, whether you do or whether you don't, it's still going to be a productive chat, um, because when we start, um, vocalizing you know our experiences.
Speaker 2:It helps us, you know, learn as well. Yes, it helps us, you know learn as well, so I don't feel like there's any negative to it at all yeah, I agree. And me being me, probably what I'll do just because it makes me easier than not having to remember is I'll actually probably finish off this conversation and just send you a calendar invite for a Zoom in three months, because then it's just in our diaries.
Speaker 1:Yeah, let's do it.
Speaker 2:Let's do that, and then it's done and I really look forward to seeing where you're at. Either way, we can either call it a counselling session or it'll be a celebration we're not sure. So watch this space. We're not sure, so watch this space. Yep, love it. Thank you, um, and make sure you reach out at any time, uh, in between, if you need anything else as well. Um, but I yeah, very much look forward to seeing how you go and, um, yeah, fingers crossed you get to that goal thank you, ash, and much appreciated, for all your pearls of wisdom today my pleasure.