From Chasing Success to Creating a Life That Fits | With Mia Lake

I absolutely loved this conversation with Mia Lake.

Mia is the founder of Mia Lake Interiors, mum to her little man and one of those women who just gets it. We chatted about business, motherhood, ambition, style, boundaries and how success can look so different after kids.

What I loved the most was how much of this conversation wasn't really about interiors at all. It was about creating a life that works for you and your stage of life and needs at that time. 

Mia shares her journey from working with her dad to starting her own business and growing a team, but also the messy bits we don't always see. The juggle, the shifts in priorities, the breakdowns, the pressure and the constant recalibration that comes with trying to do meaningful work while raising a family.

We also chatted about:

• Why motherhood changed what success means to her
• The reality behind Instagram and running a business
• Building a team and protecting culture
• Confidence, style and feeling good in yourself again
• Boundaries, self-care and listening to your body
• Why flexibility matters so much when you're raising kids
• Supporting women and creating environments where people thrive
• Being able to adapt to your environment from Office to Building sites 
• Choosing a life that fits, instead of chasing someone else's idea of success

There were so many moments in this conversation where I found myself nodding along, and taking Mental Notes for myself. :) 

So many of us have spent years chasing the next thing, only to realise that what we're actually craving is a life that feels good. 

A life with enough space. 

Enough flexibility. Enough joy. 

A life that fits.

I hope you love this conversation as much as I did.

♥ Christina

Connect with Mia:

Instagram: @mialakeinteriors
LinkedIn: Mia Lake
Website: www.mialakeinteriors.com.au

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Good morning, Mia Lynn. Hello, how are you? I'm good. It's so exciting to have you in here in sort of the podcast studio. I wanted to just, I suppose, before we start, talk to how I met Mia, and that was a long time ago in COVID time. Dare I mention it? Five years ago or more. It's probably more probably six. We used to have our copies together. I think at one stage we probably threatened on um wines in the park, but then I got pregnant. So it didn't help. That pregnancy ruining our fun. Illegal drinking in Veganskill Park. But that's how we met. And I think um along the way, in what I've endeavoured to do is I started seeing you come up and up more and more on my Instagram feed. And because we're looking at buying a house now as well, I got really interested and it just really pulled at me to reach out to you and go, please come in and tell us your story about I'm so glad you did. Yeah, about everything that you've been up to in the last four or five years. I know that we kind of message every now and again, but we fell out of contact. And I know that a lot of the listeners will love to hear your story on how you've made it, and you make it look so easy on Instagram. But we all know that like business is never the fake world of Instagram. Yes. Um so today is really about you know exploring what me and Lake Interiors is all about, how it started, and where the idea came from. Yeah, all right.

SPEAKER_01 1:25

Well, uh I've been doing interiors for a long time now, but me and Lake Interiors has been probably six years old. I actually started the business and COVID happened and got pregnant, and I was like, oh yeah, what am I gonna do here? And I just kind of went, all right, I'll just keep going and see, see what happens. And even when I had William and it was COVID, you know, I worked from home and it just didn't matter if I had a Zoom at 7 p.m. or, you know, lunchtime or whatever it was, I just worked around his little schedule. And then slowly and you know, step by step it grew. And here we are today.

SPEAKER_00 2:07

And was there any stage of you at that point where it was like something really called at you to do your own thing? Or like what was it?

SPEAKER_01 2:15

Was it one thing or was it several little steps or um so I it was funny when I started the business, it wasn't like starting from scratch. So I had worked in a couple of different design firms, which was incredible, and then I had this opportunity of working with my dad, and he's an architect. And so I worked in his architectural firm, and that time there was only like three of us, and it grew to about a team of I think we were 14 or 15, and I grew an interiors team then, and so he was Vic Lake Architecture, and so I grabbed the Instagram handle, uh Mealake Interiors, and that's how that's how it started. And I worked for him for about five or six years, and it just became time, you know, leave my parents again and start start at the beginning, go into the big white world again by myself. And it was really funny because in some ways I felt like I was starting at the very beginning, and it was it was quite bizarre not having all the systems in place, but I also already had clients and I knew what to do. So that gave me a huge advantage, I guess, at the beginning.

SPEAKER_00 3:25

But even that initial first step, you know, like even if you weren't work, you know, working for your parents, I've been there myself where there's a pull, and you know, I talked to it I think on one of my last podcasts. Like you have to probably start forming a bit of a nest for yourself before you make that big jump. Because you can't just jump in with nothing because it would be even harder and you'd have all the money pressures and yeah, but if you kind of start farming it from the time that the idea comes into your head, then it's just a kind of an easier transition.

SPEAKER_01 3:54

I wish I started a little bit more planned. It didn't it didn't quite go that way, but it it actually was nice in the way because I think sometimes it's great going in prepared and it's amazing all the startup costs because it can sink you. Like I remember going, I can't afford to replace the ink in the printer, what do I do? Yeah. Because all those costs just add up in the beginning. But at the same time, I think if I knew all the hard hurdles that you have to do, potentially I wouldn't have done it. So I'm glad I was a little bit blind that I'm that sink or swim kind of girl and I know sinking's not an option, and so you just figure it out.

SPEAKER_00 4:35

Yeah, you just get you do, and that's business all over. I remember the first time my bath statements were due. I'm like, what does this even mean? Like, what do I have to do? And I still every three months go, can somebody else just gather all that? Yeah. And I never put it on my calendar, so I end up scrambling on a weekend trying to do it. But you know, could you have it any other way? So before we started recording, we talked about that you had one person when we used to go for our coffees in Beaconsfield.

SPEAKER_01 5:02

And now you've grown to spy of this now. So Whitney's been with me since the beginning. She's actually been with me since b before the beginning. She did work experience with me when she I was working at Dad's and she had just finished her college. Uh sorry, she had just finished college, and it was actually the same design school I went to, and she reached out and I was like, you know what? I really could do with a hand because it was just me at my desk from at home for about six months, and she came on board and she worked beside me, and then in the room beside me, and then we moved to another place, and then we got another team member, and then another team member, and then William came and it went back to just me and her who worked from the dining room table for a while with William in my arm, so all of me bobbing him to go to sleep. Yeah, so she's definitely seen all different stages of life. Sometimes I worry I've scared her.

SPEAKER_00 5:59

Yeah, she was like, I'm not having kids. She does say that sometimes. Or me, I think everyone has that stage of like, no, life is really good, you know. But I mean that's a testament to you, Mia, that because like you've obviously you've done the hard year. It's like we talk about juggle and work-life balance, and there is just the juggle. I don't think there ever is a balance.

SPEAKER_01 6:20

I think there's always I believe in balance. I just think it's what you have to put your attention to at the time. Yeah. So it's a balancing act. Yeah. But I don't know if I believe in balance of a perfect pie chart of life and divvying up your time equally. It just doesn't work that way.

SPEAKER_00 6:35

No, and I think like people have asked me, how do you do it? And I'm like, Well, I left a full-time job to work for myself, but to actually work more hours, but do it flexibly. Like that's how I kind of explain it because that's what it is, right? There was like, you know, one of the Sundays I had to log on and do some work because I just wouldn't have gotten to it all week. So Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 6:55

It is, it's like shift work. Like you you clock into mum mode and then you clock into work mode and you know that swaps throughout the day and throughout the night. Yeah. You know, even last night I was up to two just because I have to. Like my son was sick last week and I've just got to catch up before the week starts. Yeah, before Monday starts. Yeah. So that's just the reality of working for yourself, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

SPEAKER_00 7:22

And you don't see that on your Instagram reel where you're sitting there and you just see all the beautiful pictures of your house moving up. You don't want to see me at that time of night. It's not glamorous. You don't look like you've um stayed up till two. You look very amazing today. So I guess in terms then of your business, right? Because I was, you know, really keen on like how it's not just about aesthetics. Like, can you explain to us like what it is all about around the design?

SPEAKER_01 7:46

And I think most people think you go to an interior designer to have a nice-looking home. But the reality is I focus on the aesthetic second. I'm very big on function. You know, the first stage of a project's what we call the floor plan review. And I literally look at the floor plan, every little minute corner, the joinery, the storage, you know, the journey that you go on. And I imagine how you would experience the house from the day, it's from the second you wake up to when you walk out the door in the morning to when you come home at night, and you know, right before you go to sleep. And I really think a well-designed home can support you and your loved ones, and it can really change your life for the better.

SPEAKER_00 8:32

And I mean, in terms of like even your artwork and stuff, I think I'd read somewhere that you like you really pick some personal touches as well for people to tell a story, and you know, it's not just like what looks good on the wall.

SPEAKER_01 8:44

Yeah, like I think things that have got soul and character, that's what makes the home more interesting. I think you know, you can walk into a showroom and it can look great, but it doesn't have any soul or heart. And I think a home needs to reflect the owners, it needs to tell a story, and it needs to make you happy.

SPEAKER_00 9:06

And I think I'm just looking at you going, oh my god, maybe I need to get you to look at a floor pad of a house that we saw at the weekend. But I mean, it is so true, isn't it? Because I mean you move into something and you don't know until you move in because you're like, oh shit, there's no storage, or you have to walk through here to get to another place.

SPEAKER_01 9:21

And like and it sort of makes your your mornings or your nights or your day like a bit jagged and awkward. And you know, if you can do things quickly or seamlessly, it just changes the experience. It doesn't become a chore, it just you do it with ease.

SPEAKER_00 9:36

Yeah. And do you think then in terms of like when we touched on your motherhood and starting the business, do you think motherhood drive drove on your ambition a little bit further?

SPEAKER_01 9:46

Or Yeah, look, it's changed it's changed the way I look at the way I run the business and the way that I choose my time. And you've got to be really intentional because every moment I'm away from him, I've got to make it count. So what was the question again?

SPEAKER_00 10:06

We were just talking about what I'd asked you is like, do you think having William made your ambition stronger to have your own business?

SPEAKER_01 10:14

Or yeah, so I think I'm definitely I've always been ambitious, but I think what I'm working towards is a different type of life than before being a mum. You know, before it was probably the simple successes like money in the bank, having a nice car, having a nice home. Now it's really about quality of life and having those moments with your son that really, really count.

SPEAKER_00 10:38

Oh, that's so nice because I think everyone will have said that that I know that like they look at and they just try and climb the corporate ladder and they try and get to this stage.

SPEAKER_01 10:47

But then, you know, obviously we live in Sydney and we still need to earn a good amount of cash, but like you don't want to miss on the moments either of when they're growing up and And I think it's really important to stop and just be happy in the moment because if you keep chasing those goals, like you think of property prices, it just keeps moving and moving and moving, and you'll just never be happy if you don't get to those points. So I think it's really important to stop and enjoy the small things and the big things they come, they come with putting in the hard work, and they can come in ways that you wouldn't even imagine. I always laugh how the universe delivers things to you, you know, you ask for something and it comes in a completely different way. Yeah. But yeah, no, William has definitely changed my my focus and approach to life.

SPEAKER_00 11:35

And so I guess in that Brett then, like with William, like what does your week look like? Like you obviously can do, can you do some pickups or like can you factor in that time?

SPEAKER_01 11:44

Yeah, definitely. Like life has shifted and it's shifted in many different seasons. So when he was little, we had a nanny, and then you know, and I was working from home so I could do the feeds and be with him as much as possible. And as he got a bit bigger, I then got an office so I wasn't there in the daytime, that I would leave early, or I could sneak home and in lunchtime. Now life's completely different. He's at preschool four days a week, and I do most of the pickups and drop-offs. I've just gone through a very yucky, you know, divorce and separation, so that's a whole new season of life. And so I've gone from being the working mum to a single working mum, and that's definitely really made me evaluate how to do everything. And you know, you use your time in the car. I call it my mobile office, that's where you do your phone calls, and even using Chat GPT to help, you know, make things faster or work out. What time do I need to leave so I can pick up my dry cleaning and you know, delegating things like my ironing, you know, that's an expense that I choose to do because it's important for me to turn up to work looking good each day. And I prepare my clothes a week ahead. I've got what I call my little edit rack. Oh, have you? Yeah, it's funny. And I lay out my clothes based on the calendar, and I just, you know, anything I can do in the morning to not waste time. You know, they're the little tricks that means I can actually do what I have to do. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 13:15

And how tell me that we'll have to talk on the wardrobe because I always love your style. Do you rent some wardrobe? I I know a lot of people start renting like some of their wardrobe and then they do a week of renting and then they give it back a month or something.

SPEAKER_01 13:28

I've done that in the past, but it was it was quite funny, like it was a really fun experience, but then I kind of like missed having my own pieces. The what the way I look at clothes now is a little bit like investing in you know furniture or art. I like to find pieces that are of good quality. I'm not a label person, I'm not obsessed by a label, but I do appreciate good design and good quality and trends are fun, and you might lean into it with a jacket or shoes, but a lot of the clothes I have, they've you know been with me for two or three seasons, and I think you know that's because they're good quality and nice, nice pieces.

SPEAKER_00 14:05

And that's so important because like we talked, I I'm doing a huge clear-head as well, like your style changes as well. I think when you become and I think in in in the sign of the times as well, it just changes. Like, remember before the corporate you have to wear the big high heels and the skirts and stuff, and I'm like, I can think of nothing like No, it was funny.

SPEAKER_01 14:24

After William, I really struggled with what my identity was because I used to wear lots of dresses and heels and boots and it just didn't match anymore. And I actually invested in a stylist, and it was the best thing I ever did because they spent the time with me the way I would with a client, but it was so nice to be on the other end, and you know, I remember everyone going, Why do you need a stylist? Like I was like, it's just nice to not have to think, and it was overwhelming because my body had changed and the way that I wanted to show up was different, the activities I was doing daily was different. Anyway, I ended up picking clothes, like a capture wardrobe, but I I gave the brief of not being boring, like I can't just be in the same monotone colours. Um so we played with a lot of colour and it really sparked joy again. And then from there I had the confidence to go from there and do it myself. Yeah, that's so nice.

SPEAKER_00 15:26

And so did you get like they do the colour wheel and all that stuff as well, or not?

SPEAKER_01 15:30

I think it was more and I I think this is what I liked. It was more about how you felt. And obviously it had to look good and it had to suit your body type. And I I kind of understood those parameters similar to interior design, but you know, there were some clothes that you put on and you're like, oh, I feel like me, and it just gave me confidence. So there's rules which, you know, are good rules of thumb that I just think sometimes rules are to be broken. And if you feel great, then you're gonna reflect that confidence in what you do.

SPEAKER_00 16:01

I went into witchery the other day, and this girl just looks so undone, but like really in a cool way, and she had it broken every rule. And I was like, God, you look really well, like you look really cool. And she was like, Yeah, she said all these rules are made to be broken exactly that. She was like, dress how you want to dress and how you feel, and dress she said the most important thing is get your size and get that correct, and then you know, if you like something, obviously put it on you, but don't follow the rules because sometimes that's just that's gonna make you feel a little bit like awkward. Yeah. And so I took that advice afterwards. I was like, right, I'm gonna buy all the things that um I probably shouldn't. Because we often laughed. I worked in a company last year and we were like, maybe we should get the colour wheels on. And I'm like, but I think you can put something up against yourself and go, that is washing me out. You know, if you've got a bit of an eye for detail too.

SPEAKER_01 16:50

Look, I think it's really helpful for people that don't have a clue or they don't understand, but I guess I can see colour in a different way, and I I I I know what looks good and what doesn't look good.

SPEAKER_00 17:00

Um that I think a smile on your face is probably the best, the best thing. Yeah. Yeah, I think so. And I think you've got an advantage because you've got that eye as well. Some people might need the you know, the extra help too. That's a good piece of advice. You'll have to give us the style of name. So look, I guess, you know, a lot of my work comes from this is a part of it, like this is the podcast, and it's around motherhood and and ambition. But then my other world is going into workplaces and dealing with leaders and how you deal with people as humans. And, you know, I run workshops now as well on psychosocial safety in workplaces, which I never would have pictured myself doing five or six years ago. I, you know, I used to like standing up in front of like managers in a small management meeting, and now last week there was like 25 people, 23 of them got no, 22 of them guys, and then the rest are female in the room. And I was like, gosh, I'm so glad I pushed myself forward in this. The one piece I don't do now is manage people, which I did for 11, 12 years in a company. How how do you think that shifted in your time from just you and you're one plus one and now you've moved to a group of women?

SPEAKER_01 18:13

It's definitely it's one of those things. I think it's a learned skill. And I think I had one approach to fit all, and I I don't believe that works. I think everybody that people hear things differently or they make decisions differently. And I know with clients and with staff or builders or you know, you kind of got to listen to them and then work out how do I communicate in a way that they're gonna understand or they're gonna hear or they're gonna adopt. And I think when you can kind of shift or adjust the way you approach a situation or a person, you'll end up with great, much greater success.

SPEAKER_00 18:57

And from what I'm hearing from you as well though, like you obviously have, since you were a mum, probably had a different mindset because I think of myself like manager pre-kids, and I'm like, God, I hope I was nice. I always talked ahead, and I'm like, I hope I would let you go to the school carnivals, or I wasn't trying to like block your your mom time.

SPEAKER_01 19:18

But do you think that's shifted in some way because you've got a different kind of Yeah, look, there's one other person in the office that's also a mum, and I'm mindful of the other team that don't have children to still give them the same I'm I'm mindful in the office, you know, there's there's one person that's also a mum, and then there's three that that aren't, and I'm mindful of giving them the same flexibilities because you know they might have a dog or an event that's exciting to them, or you know, just life comes up. So I don't want to treat mums special, but uh uh you kind of once you are a mum, understand that those little moments really count. You know, I know Kate that works for me, her daughter had the ease to have parade. She said, Can I go? And I said, Of course you can go. And she took this photo and she it was her daughter smiling at her, and you're like, you could just tell on her face that she was so proud that her mum was there. And I want that for my team. I want them to show up for those amazing moments.

SPEAKER_00 20:20

And I think that's really important, isn't it? Because it was kind of I just got goosebumps when you said that. Because it's like there was I remember there was this one particular time where I went into school and I was dropping our sheen off and the teacher was kind of looking at me going and realized I was all dressed, so she knew then it was like I was going to work, and she was kind of like, so she got the office to ring me. And you know, he'd gone through a bit of a hard time in school. He didn't adjust really well because then he was going from small fish into you know a big pond. Yeah, and she got one of the office to ring me, and she's like, Listen, we are giving OShin an award today, so I don't know if you can come back. So I rang, you know, it was like I was a consultant at the time and I had a meeting, and I rang, and I just was really honest. I was like, I'm not gonna come to that meeting because I want to go back in and be there for Oshin, but I can come an hour later. And they were like, Absolutely, of course. Yeah. I think people get it. Like, I think people nowadays it's it's changed, you know. 15 years ago it wasn't like that, it was like just put them in and that's it, there's no flexibility.

SPEAKER_01 21:19

And you know, but it's nice too, because I I know with some of my clients, like they shift meetings around, you know, they're a father and they want to go to a sporting event or a war uh an award, a ceremony. And you know, I I love that everyone is making that shift to prioritize those moments. And it's nice too, because when you do give to your team and you give them the option to be there for for things that are important to them, I know, you know, they'll message me after hours or they'll make up the time elsewhere or they'll put in extra effort with something else. So you kind of get rewarded as well.

SPEAKER_00 21:56

Yeah. And I think I've I have these conversations all the time. in workplaces. I'm like, you know, if you give people that little bit of flexibility, you'll get that back ten times over. Whereas if you stop people and block people and don't allow them flexibility, you'll have just silent, quiet quitters going, well, they don't give it to me, so I'm not going to give it to them. And we'll just do our bare minimum. The bare minimum and they won't stay with you for long. No. And I mean you want longevity, right? Yeah. So you're just all female, isn't it?

SPEAKER_01 22:25

In your Yes, but we're actually we're looking to hire someone else and we've done some interviews and there was a boy on the list. Oh wow. You're you're branching. Yeah, potentially. We'll see, we'll see. I've got a couple more interviews to do, but it was kind of it was nice. And we're we're looking at lots of changes at the moment with the business and maybe that's one of the changes we might do. Who knows?

SPEAKER_00 22:52

You know what, that's it. And like sometimes it's nice little balance. All I think I just always say with such a small team it needs to be the right fit. And it doesn't matter what the background it's just that same you can tell I think when when someone comes in you can eyeball them and go, you're either gonna fit or you're not gonna fit.

SPEAKER_01 23:09

Yeah culture's so important because I spend so much time at work and you know I've had situations before where you know there's conflict or someone's in a bad mood and it's like poison. It just can destroy the whole culture within an office. So I'm super protective of the you know the people we have around us. You know I've even gotten rid of clients before because they were stressing people out. And I don't want work to be like that. We've got this motto make beautiful and it's not just about the interiors it's about everything and you know how we spend our day is you know that motto is really important make beautiful.

SPEAKER_00 23:50

And I think that's a really important one that you've just said there because I also touch a lot of architects and project management companies and I go in and I you know I sit with them and we go through risks and what do you think your top psychosocial risks are and they're like dealing with builders is like one of them because there's been a lot of claims you know particular ones in general and it's the female architects going out that seem to cop it a little bit more in in some of the organizations I was in. Yeah and I think that's really sad.

SPEAKER_01 24:20

Yeah there's some really like old school mentalities in the industry and I'm so glad it's changed. But I remember being young and you know I'd go onto building sites and I really had to arm myself with knowledge and show them that I actually knew what I was talking about. And sometimes it would take a couple of goes to actually get them to listen. But in a way I'm sort of grateful because it gave me confidence and it forced me to really understand what I was presenting. I had to learn the jargon and you know even just then shifting the way that you speak to your audience like you see me on a building site and sometimes I'll start swearing or the slang comes out and you're a bit more relaxed because that's the audience there. And then you go have your meeting with your you know your clients and you're all perfect and polished. Yeah so you have to yeah yeah so you it depends you know on your audience of which audio which me you're gonna get and I mean I think that's important that you can kind of blend into that and you know we have a chat about that all the time in workplaces.

SPEAKER_00 25:24

I'm like it's fine you can go out there and you can swear especially with project managers but like when you come into the office you can't because you don't know what kind of backgrounds are here or who's listening or what kind of tender ears are are in the workplace. But because it's a big pivot you do, right? So you're in like you're in the the female world in your office, you know maybe another boy will join but then you're back out there and you are dealing with builders and developers and real estate and architects and the developers and yeah there's a lot there's a lot of males.

SPEAKER_01 25:55

I like I like it because it shifts the energy and sometimes some of that girly cattiness that can sometimes come out when in there's an all-female environment like I'm just not interested in that world. So the boys seem to steer clear of that as long as they pull their head in and they're being respectful.

SPEAKER_00 26:14

But I think that's a good point actually turning up and knowing what you're talking about. Like I can relate to that I remember in my first organization I worked in here and I used to have to like go in all armed and it was only when I helped one of them in particular two of them out of a really kind of shitty situation that they were like okay this girl actually knows what she's talking about but it's almost you have to prove yourself.

SPEAKER_01 26:38

You do and you almost see the penny drop there was like a look on their face where they're like oh okay we'll listen to her.

SPEAKER_00 26:44

Yeah she knows what she's talking about goddamn her no but it's good it's good that you have that ability to be able to mould yourself into a little bit of a different shape when you're dealing with them. Yeah it almost became a bit of a game it's like all right I'll get him I'll get him I'll prove him I'll prove him wrong so tell me then when we talk about culture and cattiness and toxic is there any particular time or person that comes to mind when you when you think about this in a difficult situation?

SPEAKER_01 27:14

How did you Yeah look I think interior design there are a lot of females in the industry and I've worked in different firms and it's really strange this sort of competitive world. I remember there's probably two women at different jobs when I was younger that just didn't treat me nicely and it's because they had more authority over me. And I remember one of them I was we were sitting at our desk and she's like Mir I can hear the toilet running can you go flush the button? I'm thinking if you can hear it you go do it. Yeah I'm not a toilet slusher Yeah I know and you know I think sometimes people can use those moments to put you in your place and show power and authority and I've just you know I now have my name on the door and I have staff that I do everything that those people do too. Like I don't think of myself any better than anyone else people are people and you treat them kindly with respect. That's my rules.

SPEAKER_00 28:21

Yeah and I think it doesn't matter either like you're so right in like what level I've talked about this in all of my workshops I'm like it's a basic human right for people to be treated fairly treated well you know like I always talk about inductions like are you doing a proper fair induction for when people start are you introducing them to a team all of their team and showing them where everything is and where the nicest coffee shop is around the area because it's gonna be new to them. But all of them things actually really do count.

SPEAKER_01 28:51

Yeah and I think it doesn't matter who you're dealing with whether it's the delivery guy, the Uber driver you know the foreman on site the client like I treat all of them the same and I've got projects that are a little money value and some that are huge money value to me. And I treat those clients exactly the same. And they get the same Mia every time. And I think it matters because you know that small little project might actually that person might be born into a larger firm and then they always remember the treatment that they've received from you and the connections like I've I've been working for 20 something years now and you know some of the suppliers that you know when I was a baby little designer Mia they still deal with me now and you know those relationships are strong and they can help you out. There's other designers you know we used to work together and we're still friends and we bounce ideas off each other. So I just think anyone you cross paths with you don't know when you're gonna see them again.

SPEAKER_00 29:53

And I think as well in terms of like you talked on connection there and I think it's important like how do you keep yourself in the know or do you have any kind of networking groups or female founder groups or look I I did a lot of them when I was before William and now time is very very limited.

SPEAKER_01 30:13

So you know as he gets a bit bigger I'd love to do more like that. But I think just having strong friendships and one of my goals at the moment is to make work feel as social as possible so it can fill my cup with the social and the work category and it's nice you know there's a stylist for example she runs Bowerbird and she's having like a networking group and the invitation came out and it was like no dickheads allowed. I was like I love it I love it where we kind of feel like we're the same. We just don't want to deal with people that are rude or arrogant you know that don't make life fun. You know works something of passion for us and you know if we can do it with other people that are like minded it's gonna be fun for all of us.

SPEAKER_00 31:00

Yeah and that's all I think it's imperative isn't it because like we I laugh at that because I used to have an audiced hiring policy where we used to work I'm like well you went against the hiring policies that's your problem now. Um but it's true because it just takes that one or two people that can like take it down and it spreads through and yeah I remember having one particular girl that used to report in to me and I used to absolutely hate going into the office and like back then there was no working from home. But the minute I'd get in and and we only I only talked about it actually to another colleague I'm I'm back in that workplace helping them out with some things now and she was like God do you remember that person I'm like I used to she was like she was so toxic and I'm like it used to shift my energy like I used to have to go home and like have a bath in sage and I just steals your energy not just at work but outside of work.

SPEAKER_01 31:52

Yeah you know and it it can play out in so many different areas of your life and it's those people can show up anywhere and everywhere not just work and I just think you've got to learn to identify those people and you've got to set boundaries for yourself. It's so important.

SPEAKER_00 32:10

It's so interesting you've touched on boundaries because I'm like right what are are you great with boundaries or have you gotten better I have definitely gotten better.

SPEAKER_01 32:19

This is something I'm learning. I am a very giving person you know if someone comes to me with a problem I'm like yeah of course I can help but what I was realizing that there's so many people that what I call takers or grabbers and they were actually stealing my time or my energy from people that actually deserve it. So it's hard it's hard for me to not put my hand up and help but when I then can help someone that actually really needs it or really deserves it then I go okay this is why I do it.

SPEAKER_00 32:55

Yeah and I think it for me boundaries came easier once my time got poor as in I didn't have as much time to to throw it.

SPEAKER_01 33:07

You can't because it it doesn't exist. Like the reality is I work beyond what a normal person would be I I creep into the early mornings or the late nights you know and I can't waste that time. I can't actually put any more into the day because I do have to sleep but I don't I want to do that for things that count and be really intentional and whether that's to earn money for me and William or whether it's to help someone in need and you know fill up your cup you know that's why that's interesting because you know everyone like was saying do you like what's do you make money from the podcast?

SPEAKER_00 33:46

Have you got sponsors I was like no but like I feel like when I was on maternity leave I always had that little calling or there was a little nudge wanting me to do something but I didn't listen to any inspirational stories and I didn't hear anything to say that you could do different to like you know climb up the corporate ladder and you know get a little bit of flexibility if you could but you know if you didn't then you just make do. Yeah. And that's why that's why all along I remember distinctly and my nephew I hope he listens to this but he was like a podcast. I said it about six years ago when ushin was like about one. Yeah I was like yeah I'd love to do the podcast and he was like what you do a podcast it's famous people do because back then it kind of was only like all the famous and I'm like but like people could just listen to like inspirational stories about females and women and people in business it doesn't even necessarily need to be that and he's like but I do kind of think there's like when I evaluate if I'm gonna do something you know it's either good for the business or it's good for the income or I go it's good for the soul and it re-energizes you and you know if your cup's full you can give so much more back and the business will succeed from that.

SPEAKER_01 34:58

William will benefit from a happy energized mum. So sometimes you do do things not because it's good for money or good for the business but just because it's good for the soul.

SPEAKER_00 35:08

Like I love these Mondays and I always appreciate when I reach out to people and go, would you like to come on my podcast, my little baby podcast? Yeah but it's about connection isn't it yeah yeah yeah because I always felt like you know I was telling my husband that like Mia and he was like Mia Mia and I was like remember yet she had little William and the dog he was like oh my god do you still keep in touch with them and I'm like no but I follow her on Instagram yeah that's what the good thing about Instagram is you know these people that come in and out of your life you're still connected and weirdly you you know what they're doing. Yeah but you see a photo for two seconds. Yeah it's funny isn't it because like it's been like that you mentioned you listened to the Kiri Gallagher one I mean we used to have barbecues 20 odd years ago like we'd go to her house and she was like how did you end up there and I'm like I think it was through our other friend Giggy that used to bring us there. But you know I hadn't met her in ages and it was just so lovely to connect. We stood outside here for about an hour and a half talking because you know it was just catching up so I think that's the nice part because a lot of my time is kind of working at home and building things in the background and you know going into clients and delivering workshops but this is actually that joyful kind of soulful piece for me as well. Fills up the cup.

SPEAKER_01 36:17

Yeah yeah it does is there anything else that fills up your cup is there any I'm in my woo-woo era so like um or the whenever there's a full moon crystals believing in the universe which I ultimately I think is just believing in yourself you know I try meditating I try to do Pilates but you know life can sometimes pull you away but what I've learnt is to when it when the time comes is to go back again. So back at back before I you know if I gave up on something that was it and then I'd try something new. Now you know I I couldn't get to Pilates for two weeks and I had a moment on the weekend where I could go but it was only a stretching class and I was like oh and I went no go just go and it was so nice to just have that time and you know connect with your body and you know I'd been in my son's bed a week because he's been sick so my neck hurts it was quite good to stretch and you know I think those moments for yourself to be able to recharge and focus on your body and it become really important now.

SPEAKER_00 37:30

I think as you progress in life you get older you get older it's the same for me. I'm like oh I'll go to yoga and I remember actually a couple of weeks ago I was like oh it's Jessone she's not really into like she I'm not gonna sweat with her and I went there and I was like oh my god I just needed that of yeah to kind of get back into your own body and like just feel how you're feeling rather than pushing it aside because you're so busy.

SPEAKER_01 37:56

Yeah and the best thing was I got out of that class and then I've I've pooped in for tomorrow morning. So you know it kind of gets you back into the rhythm. It does, doesn't it?

SPEAKER_00 38:04

It's like it's just that habit that you're forming again. Yeah. Mia it's been lovely to talk to you but I always ask a couple of end questions of my guests.

SPEAKER_01 38:13

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 38:14

If there's a f a woman or anyone at home listening to this podcast, mainly females listen to it now I was looking at the stat the other day what would you tell them if they're looking to start an their own thing or make a bit of a change in their life in terms of like career wise?

SPEAKER_01 38:29

Yeah look I'd tell them to pause and really think about the why. I think sometimes people want change to escape and doing your own business is definitely not an escape. It's not the easier option I think eliminate the ego the ego does not serve you at all. So I'd really look at the core reason as to why and then if you want to make that change then I would just immerse yourself in it every way possible. So whenever people call me and say I really want to get into interior design I go go do work experience. Like go do a week free somewhere and just go see what it's like and go, yep, that feels good or if it doesn't then you know but and then knowledge is power I always tell people like you just have to power up with with your knowledge because when when you go to that building site with the builder that doesn't believe you if you can tell them exactly why then they'll believe you. So knowledge is definitely power and I think you just have to look at how can you do it realistically because life isn't perfect. There's always going to be hurdles you know for me it meant hiring a nanny it wasn't the cheaper option and it it sometimes meant that I wasn't actually making money but it now I make money because I made that sacrifice then. I think they're so important actually outsourcing when you said about the ironing like having my clothes ironed is one of the things that I go you know what I can show up presentable that time that I would be ironing, you know, I can now spend with my son or work on a project you know my time's worth more than that. And it really is so you know I could iron for an hour each week or I could set myself up for the week and look at the week ahead and I'd much rather do that.

SPEAKER_00 40:24

And I don't like ironing like it drives me insane. You know I still consider the CSGR thing because I'm like that looks a bit easier but yeah I'm not into it. Yeah I think I'm gonna take that tip before and the edit rack plan your clothes for the week is the best tip I've got. Yeah I have to do it the night before I I don't know it's like anything even in terms of the podcast I'm like you know people are like have you planned it out a month in advance I'm like no it literally downloads to me on what I'm gonna focus on and then I just do it rather than the pre-plan. But I like that idea about the clothes. I need to get rid of all the old ones first and then do a bit of a refresh. The last question Mia is is there anyone else that you think people and my listeners given the audience need to hear in their ears?

SPEAKER_01 41:09

You don't have to answer it now right now if you don't want or if anyone can't come to well maybe the stylist I mentioned earlier Jane was she was really good for me. She really rebooted my confidence in myself and my body and gave me a sense of style again. So maybe Jane could be someone that you speak with.

SPEAKER_00 41:29

Yeah I think so because you know coming up as well I've got a naturopath and we're talking all stress and hormones and stuff so it would be really good because I think all of the listeners when I look at the actual stats as well are people of our age and they want like just to look after themselves and we're going through different stages of our life and I've talked to many people about this like your st style just changes and it's really hard to dress yourself like when after you get out of the leggings and especially in COVID time you have to put yourself together again and that's a really tough thing.

SPEAKER_01 42:00

So yeah you can pass you I just really go in listening to the brief and understanding the stage of life that I was at and yeah it really adjusted everything for me.

SPEAKER_00 42:09

Right Jane you're gonna be getting the crowd Mia thank you so much I really do appreciate your time. I know that it's like taking your your couple of hours out of Monday but I have really enjoyed this chat and I'm sure my listeners will too I I really enjoyed reconnecting with you too. Thanks Mia I am just gonna put a little note on the end of this that if you could like and subscribe and leave a review or share it with a friend if they love it too, that would be amazing.