#awinewith Laura Furiosi
MEET Laura
Laura is the Founder of Bossy Mummy Mentoring & Co-Host & Producer at The Divorce Course Podcast.
Find Laura here:
Bossy Mummy website or Instagram @bossymummy.
Transcript
Danielle Lewis (00:09):
Amazing. Laura, welcome to Spark tv.
Laura Furiosi (00:13):
Thank you for having me, Danielle
Danielle Lewis (00:15):
I am so excited. Um, you know, before we hit record, we were just reminiscing over all of the same people that we know and how we've been potentially seeing each other at events, but this is the first time that we're actually speaking, so I'm so excited to have you on the show and share your story.
Laura Furiosi (00:32):
Yeah, well I think it's, it's, I love the part of networking in any state, I think in Australia, although business women get together and, and it's interesting how everyone knows everybody else through every, and everybody helps each other out. And that's, you know, what I absolutely love about working with any woman in business, pretty much.
Danielle Lewis (00:50):
It is so good, isn't it? I must admit. I, um, so Spark is my second business, but I'm always blown away at how generous other business owners are. You know, I mean, we're a, we're sales courses and coaching, but like, I swear to God that I get more outta it than the people we coach. You know, I'm always like, oh my God, that was my therapy today. I've got so many tips. I've got all these to-dos, like, women in business are so amazing.
Laura Furiosi (01:20):
Yeah. Yeah, a hundred percent. And I, and I really like, I started out, uh, 10, 12 years ago in, in the baby industry selling baby swimwear and the women that I met when we were all starting out small. Um, and, and now they're huge companies all over the world in, in Woolworths and, and you know, all over everywhere. Um, but we all started off really small and we all helped each other out right at the get go. And then through the whole journey of the process of, you know, that business. And even now in my new businesses, I'm still getting help and still helping all of those women because it's just like this huge network. And, and it is. I love that aspect of it. And, and I think, I honestly think that's half the reason why any business I've worked in has been successful <laugh> because of the kindness and, and the generosity of everybody. And that, that, um, giving and, and getting thing that we have going on. And I don't know if it's an Aussie thing or if it's everywhere, I don't know. But I love it and it helps me so much.
Danielle Lewis (02:24):
I love it. I totally agree. So now you said something very interesting, then you said you were in the baby swimwear industry, so hold the phone,
Laura Furiosi (02:34):
<laugh>.
Danielle Lewis (02:34):
Yes. Let's tell everyone firstly what it is you do now. Yes. Um, and then let's give a little bit of a backstory. So, uh, mm-Hmm. The career with, without the businesses. Yes. There was obviously another business. So tell me your story.
Laura Furiosi (02:49):
Well, um, I have been working in, I guess you could say it's always been technically sales, um, and marketing in a way. Um, but currently what I do is two things. I'm, I've got two businesses. One is coaching women in business, um, usually helping women with kids that just don't know how to juggle the whole thing and wear all the hats and how to work in being a mom at home and also try and building a business from scratch. Uh, and on the other side, I also have my other business, which is the divorce course. And we have a podcast and an online course, uh, where we coach, uh, women predominantly again, to get through the divorce process, hopefully staying out of court and, you know, educating and empowering them. And so that's kind of where I'm at. I do both of those things. Um, sadly, probably need to stop one of them and focus more on the other one 'cause it's getting
Danielle Lewis (03:43):
Insane. Me big. No, hey, hate, I hate that. I'm just, I'm the same. I'm like, I have all of these bloody ideas and not enough
Laura Furiosi (03:48):
Time. <laugh>. Yes, that's right. And I, I think it's like nudging nud. It's like they're fighting for my attention, but my whole life in business, I've always been in the Bossy Mummy. It's called Bossy Mummy. And I've always coached people, um, before I didn't charge. Now I do, um, because I really see the value in, in seeing other people have great ideas. They just sometimes need a little bit of support in getting that idea off the ground, and then they fly off. And now they're huge businesses too. So I love that. I've always loved that. Um, and, but I, yeah, I do need to focus more on my divorce course podcast now <laugh>, because it's taken off, so,
Danielle Lewis (04:26):
Oh, gosh. Amazing. So how did you get here? So, I mean, obviously you said you had the, uh, children's swimwear business. Yes. But what is that backstory? Was there a career? Was that the business? Like, talk to me about how you actually got to these two things.
Laura Furiosi (04:44):
Okay, so yeah. Well, I started out as a teacher, um, and then Oh, cool. <laugh>. Yeah. And that was lovely. Uh, but then needed to work from home. And I, I've got some, um, chronic illnesses that make it hard for me to work full time. Mm. Um, so I tried to think outside the box and then, you know, started doing, uh, creating swimwear, uh, because my daughter was little and her outfits were annoying me. So I just like, I'll do this. And then people wanted to buy it, and then it just snowballed into a website. And then, which back in the day was a huge thing to have, you know? Mm-Hmm. <affirmative> 15 years ago. Uh, and then baby expos shows, and then that snowballed into international sales, uh, where we were in stores all over the world, um, and distributed everywhere and in Australia and DJs and, uh, chemist Warehouse, all of that.
(05:31):
And then it all kind of came to a bit of a halt. Um, but I, at the same time was still coaching Mm-Hmm. <affirmative> and helping people with the three PL as well, a warehouse, three pl. Uh, and then, and then, yes, it all came to a bit of a halt, and then I just needed to take a step back and focus a bit more on me. Mm. And I was, of course going through a tricky, uh, separation. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>. Um, and I have a mother who is a lawyer, and I would ring her <laugh> all the time and go, what does this mean? Because I obviously had lawyers too. And mom would explain it to me and I'd go, oh, okay. And then something else would happen. I'd be like, what does this mean? And eventually I realized, oh my gosh, what do people do when they go through the divorce if they don't have mom <laugh>? Yeah.
Danielle Lewis (06:15):
Have a lawyer mom, like, on most of us.
Laura Furiosi (06:18):
Yes. And then people caught wind of the fact that maybe I was going through a divorce, and so they were asking me for tips and I'd say, oh, ring my mom. Ring my mom. And, and then I realized I was saying the same thing over and over again, and mom was too. And I said, mom, why don't we just put it on a podcast? And you can say, go and listen to episode two, and then you don't have to say the same thing to a million people. So Nice. We started a podcast just kind of like, as a way of giving back to all the help that I'd received through that tricky time. And, um, mom wanted to have her voice out there a legacy 'cause she's about to retire. And, and then, yeah, it just went mental. I think people really grabbed a hold of it and loved it so much. And so, yeah, we just snowballed from there to creating a course so people can follow along and, and, and do it themselves and educate themselves and, and know what the process is. And, and that's where we're at today.
Danielle Lewis (07:09):
That is amazing. So I, um, just personally, so 2020, um, 'cause you know, obviously in 2020, the whole world, all of the things shifted,
Laura Furiosi (07:19):
Didn't it? Yes. <laugh>, everything imploded.
Danielle Lewis (07:21):
Totally. And went through, uh, not only partner separation, but business. So we were co-founders in business as well as partners. Mm. And holy crap, it's like, and we were together for 10 years, uh, not married, but after 10 years, everything's bloody linked. Yes. It's, and it was so messy. And so like, and you don't even know who you are as a human anymore after a decade of being with somebody. Like,
Laura Furiosi (07:47):
Yeah. Yeah. So tricky. I think it's the business as well. If, if you probably found this, your business and your partner becomes part of your identity. Mm. And then when that's slowly unpicked and unraveled, you're like, Ooh, who am I, <laugh>?
Danielle Lewis (08:01):
What am I doing? I'm still asking myself that question. I'm still going like, who am I outside of these businesses? And, you know, I'm very lucky. I'm, I'm repartnered as they say. Um, and that's fabulous. And it's all like for the best. But it's, you know, you don't just wake up in the morning and go, everything's fine now, <laugh>.
Laura Furiosi (08:20):
Yes. No, you don't. You don't. And and I, and I really do think if anyone's listening, who's got a business and that, you know, and, and I know if you're listening to this, you're probably a very driven woman. Uh, but just be aware that it isn't all you and you always trying to have an anchor that's outside of your business so that if everything does go to crap because of, I don't know, some supply issue or your business goes broke, or you end up separated, you know, that you've got something else to hang onto in, in a storm. 'cause I think, I'm sure you figured that out, <laugh> and I figured that out pretty quickly too. Yeah. <laugh>. Yeah,
Danielle Lewis (08:59):
It is. No, but you're so right. Like it is such great advice. Um, you know, and I think, I mean, it's tricky, right? Like, you go into relationships, whether it be a personal relationship or a business relationship with these rose col colored glasses on, right? Like, you just, you're in this like, loved up state. And I think even when you start a business, you're in a loved up state. I think that's why I start so many businesses. 'cause it's like that, it's like dating for the first time. Yeah. And you're like, oh my
Laura Furiosi (09:26):
God. It's the fun is so fun.
Danielle Lewis (09:30):
Screw the actual getting customers and scaling part. Yeah. I just wanna start all the time. Yeah. Yeah. Um, but you do, like, you go in going, everything's gonna be amazing. Like, it's all good. I don't wanna listen to anyone that says, don't go into business with a family member or a partner or whatever you think will be the anomaly. We'll be the ones that make it. And look, I all, I do know of couples who are super successful business people as well. Totally. Come on. I think a little sprinkling of, um, reality and safety net not such a bad thing. <laugh>.
Laura Furiosi (10:05):
Yes. And and entrepreneurs are naturally a positive. They're positive people. They've got a positive mind. You'd have to be thinking super positive to think you can start a business from scratch. Yeah. And, and project it out to the world. You have to be positive. Yeah. You can't start at the beginning and go, well, this might not work. Or we might, so I, I understand There's a lot of my like, it's just like a little, Hey, maybe I should just have an exit clause, or maybe we should have a plan if something goes wrong or one of us gets sick or, you know, I guess Yeah. But, but it is a bit of a downer. But like you said, I really love starting businesses. That's my favorite part. <laugh>. So I can see why my, you didn't like the dating side so much. The re-dating was not as fun. <laugh>.
Danielle Lewis (10:46):
Oh, I know. I was, I I was very lucky. I literally met my new partner very, very quickly randomly, so. Oh, that's good. I got to avoid like the, I went on like two crap dates, <laugh> on a dating app and went, never doing that. That's really good. I know. How do these kids do it? <laugh>.
Laura Furiosi (11:07):
Oh, I dunno. I, those dating apps, they're terrifying. And I just went, whoa, okay. Things have changed. The world is different. <laugh>.
Danielle Lewis (11:15):
Oh my God. I don't think I could deal with it. I was very lucky. I, um, I was a regular at a little wine bar and got sat next to a regular <laugh> who was also that we've ne our paths had never crossed Yeah. In all the time. And then like, after I, you became single, like, just happened to be seated next to them and fireworks. Crazy.
Laura Furiosi (11:36):
Oh, that's lovely.
Danielle Lewis (11:37):
So it, it's, I I think it's a great story, <laugh>, but I'm so glad that I missed the dating app situation. Like Yes. I, um, just from having a quick foray into it, I'm like, oh my God, I, I now understand why people are so messed up about dating now. It's ridiculous.
Laura Furiosi (11:56):
Yeah. Yeah.
Danielle Lewis (11:57):
Um, anyway, we could have a whole podcast on that. Let's <laugh>, let's park that one. <laugh>.
Laura Furiosi (12:02):
That's a new business idea. A better dating app.
Danielle Lewis (12:05):
<laugh>. I know. Like an in real life. Let's go back to those events they used to have. Like, you know, when they get all the singles in the room, I'm like, oh God, in real life for the win
Laura Furiosi (12:14):
<laugh>. I agree. I agree.
Danielle Lewis (12:16):
Oh my God.
Laura Furiosi (12:17):
Go for it. <laugh>.
Danielle Lewis (12:18):
Okay. Anyway, let's not start a new business on this podcast, <laugh>. So talk to me. Okay. I'm super interested in, so obviously you are a little bit like me. Love starting new businesses, have all the ideas. Yeah. Uh, and you mentioned at the start that, um, the divorce podcast might be pulling your attention a little bit more. You might have have to need to focus on that a bit more. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>, what is it like running two businesses? How do you actually juggle the two? Um, yeah, I'm, I'm just interested in that. 'cause I know we do have a lot of multi-passionate entrepreneurs dialing in.
Laura Furiosi (12:50):
Yes,
Danielle Lewis (12:50):
Yes. Have you have you and which I love, I adore that, right? Yes. I totally, I know there's, you know, an Instagram guru saying focus and niche, but I'm like, nah, I don't, nah, don't sleep, don't sleep. That's the solution. No, but I'm still keen. Have you found a method in the madness of managing two businesses side by side?
Laura Furiosi (13:13):
Well, funnily enough, um, I kind of had figured out how to manage my stay at home parenting with little kids and my other business. And I've kind of used that model now for my two businesses. Um, obviously the one that's bringing in most of the money is the Divorce course podcast. So I focus on that most of my time. Mm-Hmm. Uh, and then the business coaching, which is my passion, always bossy Mommy. Um, I, I kind of now treat it like the stay at home mom stuff I used to do, you know, and, and I, I, I'm super scheduled. Like I'm super organized and scheduled, so I have specific things that have to be done for each business. Yeah. And I have specific days I do it. Yeah. And it's like routine for me, clockwork. So I don't get up in the morning, go, what am I gonna do today?
(13:58):
I get up and I go, oh, it's Wednesday. I have to do this, this, and this. And, and then if I have any spare time, 'cause I'm getting faster at doing things, yeah. That's when I can squeeze some more bossy mummy in. Um, I leave one day fully for, uh, business coaching for that for once a week. And then I, and then I squeeze bossy in as I, when I can, uh, around it. And I guess that's like anyone who's starting a business and they've got a, a job. Like I, I do coach a lot of women that are working full-time and they're trying to get their side hustle as a full-time hustle. Yes. Um, and it's all about, you know, finding that time. When can I do it? And sometimes unfortunately it is, I'd really like to watch that new Game of Thrones thing, but I'm gonna do this instead. Um, you know,
Danielle Lewis (14:41):
Yes. You're gonna launch a course instead. Yep.
Laura Furiosi (14:44):
Yes. Yeah. And when it, when it comes to those big projects, like when we had to do the course because it's huge, uh, and lots of videos and PDFs and all of that, and it took forever, but I decided I was just gonna write off two weeks and not do anything else but that. And it was intense and I knew I only had those two weeks and there wasn't much sleep involved. Um, but once it was done, it was done. So yeah, if it's a big project, I focus fully on it and otherwise I have the same things that I do each week that are getting me to my goals. So yeah. That's how I kind of squeeze it all in. Yes.
Danielle Lewis (15:17):
I love that because I'm not gonna lie, as I said, I get most, I get a lot out of these systems <laugh>, you know, just as everyone dialing in, I'm kind of in that funny phase at the moment where I've got all of these things on my to-do list that I wanna get done before the end of the year. Mm. But unfortunately, that's like putting me in a bit of a sense of overwhelm, like in the, yeah. Oh my God, I don't even know where to start. And I, so I really love that idea of, okay, these are the non-negotiables that I schedule in. Yeah. And then kind of everything else is the side hustle. Everything else is the nice to have.
Laura Furiosi (15:51):
Yes. Yeah. And then you have to kind of say, well, if I do wanna have this nice to have thing, what am I gonna give up? What am I sacrificing? And then you'll know whether it's worth it if you're willing to sacrifice it. But it, it is, it really does. It's a numbers game. There's only a certain amount of hours in the day and what you focus on grows. So you've gotta make sure that most of those hours in the day are on what it is that you really, really want. Not, you know, or like, 'cause like we said, we have so many ideas <laugh>, so you just gotta have like
Danielle Lewis (16:21):
Two pages full. There we go. That I'm going, oh my God. When, when Danielle, when is that happening? <laugh> Yeah.
Laura Furiosi (16:28):
But I, I literally, at the beginning of each month, I have a section in my diary too, and I go, look, I, I write everything down I wanna do Mm-Hmm. And I go, can I fit this in? And then I just leave that for the following month. And I might not get to it at this year, but we'll get there eventually when I get better at things. <laugh>.
Danielle Lewis (16:43):
No, I think it's so good, right? Because I, and I love the idea of, okay, well what am I willing to sacrifice to do that extra thing? That might be, it might be a good idea or it might just be on a whim that I'm deciding that that's a good idea. Um, and am I willing to sacrifice that? Because I think, you know, there is also, as you said, sometimes there's family, sometimes there's health, sometimes there's us as humans outside of our businesses. You know, when, when do we get time for that? If all we're doing is like business, business, business.
Laura Furiosi (17:15):
Yeah. That's right. And, and that is something I've really tried to work on this year, um, to really, 'cause 'cause I've always been that, you know, I can do anything I'll push on. It's all good. Mm-Hmm. And then I think everybody's learn through the last two years. Okay. Maybe pushing yourself completely to the brink is not a good idea. <laugh>. Um, and I was like, okay, well from now on I'm gonna, I, I actually have a list every month and I make sure I've scheduled in at least two appointments that are for me taking care of me. Mm. Yep. And two or three seeing friends. So I have to book in and make a commitment. Okay, I'm gonna do that. And, and I know it sounds trivial, but like going to a cafe and seeing your friends or your business mates or your family for half an hour, an hour fully lifts you and gives you that extra boost to go. So I've really pushed myself this year to schedule that in and I've noticed a huge change. 'cause otherwise I was always like, oh, I can't really fit you in. I'm sorry. But now I'm like, Nope, I'm gonna do three people. I'm gonna see three of my friends. Otherwise you don't see them ever. Yeah. You just, you just like go, oh, I didn't, I haven't seen you for like six months. <laugh>, where did the time go, <laugh>.
Danielle Lewis (18:21):
I know. And and you're right though, if you don't actually plan for it Yeah, you are. It's very easy to say, oh well my calendar's full this week, so I literally can't do it. Yeah. And I love that you're actually intentionally at the start of the month going, no, no, I have this many friend dates, I have this many self dates. Yeah. And they actually ha get in the calendar before everything gets filled up.
Laura Furiosi (18:44):
Yeah. Otherwise you end up setting yourself up for failure too. 'cause you will probably end up going to see them 'cause you'll feel guilty that you haven't scheduled in. And then what it is that you're supposed to be doing falls aside. And if like you, and if any of your listeners work from home for themselves, you can easily just go, I'm gonna take today off. And then that's when you get a crop it 'cause you're like, oh, I'm so far behind. Or, oh, I feel really bad because I didn't get what I was gonna get done, done. So yeah. It's, it's, it's hard. But, um, I have noticed that it has had a huge effect on my mental health.
Danielle Lewis (19:16):
So Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And, and also interested because obviously you said you, um, you know, had, have kids Mm-Hmm. <affirmative> you obviously, you also mentioned that you have the, some health conditions potentially that, you know, preclude you from doing kind of more full-time in-person work. Yeah. Um, so I think that this scheduling in this time and looking after your, whether it be physical health, mental health actually makes a big impact on business. I don't think we can understate how much looking after ourselves actually translates into our business success.
Laura Furiosi (19:51):
That's so true. Because if you are, if you're sitting at the computer and you're writing an, an email marketing <laugh> and you're trying to pump people up and you are feeling like crap or you're depressed, um, you, you can't write it well enough, it's not gonna come across, you know, and, and you know, you and I both do podcasting and when I'm really down in the dumps, you can hear it, you know, and mum's like, hang on, just press pause. I'm gonna tell you like five terrible jokes just to pep me up <laugh>. So, so it does, it really affects your business and, and, you know, your ability to sell, especially with selling, um, you've gotta be super confident and happy and got that, that energy that people wanna be attracted to. And if you're not feeling it, it's just not gonna work. So it does really affect, I've, I've noticed a huge change in even listenership and, you know, our webinars, et cetera, for from, you know, my mind shifts <laugh>. So Yeah. It's something you've gotta really think about. Yeah. It's a good investment in yourself and your business. Yeah,
Danielle Lewis (20:52):
Totally. And look, you're not wrong. I, um, I totally resonated with it like today, right? Like showing up here, we're interacting, we've gotta be energetic. Um, yeah. And I think about like, you know, the days where I'm struggling and I had scheduled in to like batch create reels or something. <laugh>.
Laura Furiosi (21:10):
Yeah. And you're going
Danielle Lewis (21:12):
Like, I hate everyone. I hate the world and now I've gotta pretend to be perky and give you sales tips.
Laura Furiosi (21:19):
Yeah.
Danielle Lewis (21:20):
Just doesn't kind of work out.
Laura Furiosi (21:22):
No. That, and that's, and that's a perfect example, like getting in front of reels or you know, TikTok and Yeah. If you're not feeling it, you can't, unless you're a really good actor, it's really hard to fake and it comes across.
Danielle Lewis (21:36):
That's why I usually have a glass of wine in
Laura Furiosi (21:38):
My, because you know, that's a good idea, <laugh>.
Danielle Lewis (21:42):
Not that I'm condoning that at all.
Laura Furiosi (21:45):
You know, <laugh> Dunno how to explain that to my kids. <laugh> Mommy's doing tiktoks and I'm drinking. Sorry, kids. Yes. Yeah. No, yeah. This is, trust me, it's hard enough trying to explain. Well that's, it's hard enough me explain to them that standing in front of a ring light doing stupid things with my hands is work. But, you know. Yeah. That's part of marketing too, isn't it, <laugh>.
Danielle Lewis (22:04):
Yeah. Well, and look, and that's the funny thing, isn't it? Like we have to wear all of the hats, right? So yes, not only are we bringing our energy up for, um, you know, one-on-one interactions with our clients, but it is also that sales and marketing, it is writing the emails, it is all the things,
Laura Furiosi (22:22):
All the tech. And I think the tech is the thing that kills me the most is the behind, you know, the websites, the funnels, all that kind of stuff where you're just like, oh, I don't understand this properly. Or, you know, Facebook ads that always kills me as well. So yeah. All of that
Danielle Lewis (22:39):
Hate it, <laugh>,
Laura Furiosi (22:41):
All of that. Yeah.
Danielle Lewis (22:42):
And that's, and it's interesting, like, you know, the energy not only to just show up and be perky on a reel, but also the energy to learn, because you're right. You know, the tech side of things, the funnels, the ads, the, this is all like, it actually takes energy to sit down and go, right, I have no idea what this is. I have to learn it. And I kind of have to learn it quickly because I've also gotta be the sales and marketing person today. I've also got meetings and coaching at x time. Yeah. So maintaining that energy to learn as well is huge.
Laura Furiosi (23:17):
Yeah. And, and your brain's gonna be open to it. So yeah. I look, I've caught myself, uh, you know, fast forwarding through like courses to learn how to do I do that and then realizing, oh crap, I've missed something. I have to go back and watch it again because I've missed some thing 'cause I can't figure it out. So yeah, I think it's, um, try to, yeah. Having that energy to do it properly the first time and not cutting corners and Yeah. No, it's really painful. But yes, <laugh>
Danielle Lewis (23:47):
No, I love it. I love it. So what do you think, so reflecting on your previous businesses and the two you have today, what do you think have been some of the biggest lessons for you? So my intention for this podcast is always to help people shortcut success <laugh>. So don't make the mistakes that we did <laugh>, um, or, you know, or make them smaller. Yeah. Um, so I'm interested in what potential lessons you've learned in the multiple businesses that you've had that you can kind of go hand on heart. These are the ones that probably maybe trip me up the most, but were the most important lessons to learn.
Laura Furiosi (24:25):
Okay. Well, one of them, I think that really reflecting back and, uh, I, I wish I had learned the lesson before I made the mistake, was your version of success doesn't have to be what everyone thinks it has to be. You know, people think success is, you've got like, you know, I, I thought okay, everyone thinks my successful business for the swimwear will be when I've got a warehouse, an office, and all this stuff. And so I pushed them and I've been working from home, looking after my kids doing school pickups, all of that for years. But then as we got bigger, I thought, oh, well that must be what I have to do next, because that's what success is for everyone. And then I ended up stuck in a warehouse in an office that I had to drive to and staff that I had to look after.
(25:07):
And I, I couldn't do what to me was success was being able to do a business from home with my kids. And, you know, I realized, you know, don't push yourself because that's what everyone says you have to do. Yeah. Do what it is that you wanna do and be happy with. You know, find it finding your heart. What is it that I wanna be able to do on a day? What is it that I want my week to look like and how can I get to that? And if I'd asked myself that question, it wouldn't have been, oh, I'm gonna drive through, pick our traffic in the morning and the afternoon, go to a warehouse, not see my children, get somebody else to pick them up and then run it all and go international traveling and all that sort of stuff. I didn't wanna do it to everybody else.
(25:44):
They're like, wow, you're so successful. But in my heart I was like, this sucks. So yes, <laugh>. And so I think now, um, with these two new businesses, um, I've managed to think, okay, what is success to me? And it is working from home, being able to take care of myself if I get sick, having a business that will continue to make money, whether I'm working on it every day or not. Yes. And that's what this bus, these businesses are, you know, yes, I might get staff again, but I'm not gonna ever have them go to my office. Like I'm going to have, you know, virtual stuff so I don't have to look after that side of it. And yeah, it's just your version of success. Make sure you're not creating yourself a hamster wheel that you're gonna be stuck on forever or feel guilty about if you just say, Hey, I don't wanna do this anymore. It's too, too much. So yeah, that, I think that was probably the biggest lesson that I've learned and, and I love Yeah.
Danielle Lewis (26:33):
I love that so much. So I did exactly the same thing. Like when we started scrunch a decade ago, it was all like, raise big amounts of capital, um, you know, have these huge teams have an office and it's like, I always say this, you know, you never see a headline that's like, um, you know, mom gets to spend time with her kids and run a successful profitable business. Like, we don't see headlines like that. We see like new fancy office or just hire new fancy person or Yeah. Raise billions of dollars. Mm-Hmm. So I don't think we even like talk about that enough that success doesn't, and also like how miserable the people are that run those
Laura Furiosi (27:12):
Types
Danielle Lewis (27:13):
Businesses, <laugh>.
Laura Furiosi (27:14):
Yeah.
Danielle Lewis (27:15):
Oh, and you know, that we all, we all talk about burnout, but nobody talks about designing the business that you actually want to support the life that you actually want.
Laura Furiosi (27:24):
That's right. And I think some of those bigger, uh, businesses, and look, I'm sure there's some out there that are loving it. Um, but I, they have those, you know, those self, uh, care rooms and those sleep pods and all this meditation space that's like a bandaid for the main problem, which is yeah, it's not, it's not the right place to be at <laugh>. So, you know, I think yes, you can have all that stuff, but really if you look at it, what is it that you wanna do? Where do you wanna be? How can you get your business to get you to a point so that you can be doing that? Yeah.
Danielle Lewis (27:56):
Yeah. I, I could not agree with you more. And I think, you know, actually giving yourself the space to figure out what that looks like for you. Yeah. So, and whether that's through, you know, obviously I, as I imagine you do that in your coaching <laugh> Yeah.
Laura Furiosi (28:11):
Yes. Business owners.
Danielle Lewis (28:12):
Um, but you know, giving yourself the permission even if you don't have a coach, if you are sitting, you know, listening to this podcast right now and you're like, oh my God, are you telling me I can design the business that I want <laugh> <laugh>. Um, but I think it's about that stopping like, yes, you've got two pages worth of to-do items today that you're probably not gonna finish. Maybe take me afternoon off and figure out what you want that business to look like, to know that if anything on the to-do list is actually contributing to creating that business. Or That's
Laura Furiosi (28:41):
Right. Whether you
Danielle Lewis (28:42):
Do all the wrong stuff.
Laura Furiosi (28:43):
That's right. I think if you've got your vision of you in the future, sit down and think about it. What do you do in the morning? Where do you go? Who do you talk to? Yeah. Are you talking to anyone? Are you, you know, and then, and then ask yourself, have a look at what you've got on your to-do list. Is any of this getting me to where that is? And if not, why am why is it on my to-do list? Like how can I, how can I change it up? And, and the thing with my structure of every week is every one of those set tasks that I have each week is a little step that gets me closer to my main goal. So, because it's now a habit to do it, I don't even have to think about goal setting as such because I've already set it into concrete that I know over time that will build up.
(29:25):
But, you know, if you get to your desk in the morning and you're just running this big long to-do list because Joe Blogs sent you an email asking for it. Like, but, but do I need to do this? Is this where I wanna go? Because otherwise what happens is you let other people pull the direction of your business and your business ends up going where everybody else thinks it should go. But you are the captain, you are flying the plane so they can sit in the back and you take it where you wanna go <laugh>, because you don't see any pilots taking any directions from other people. So,
Danielle Lewis (29:55):
Oh my. And like it's so that is such a good analogy, right? Because you're right. What if like the hundred people in the back of the plane were shouting orders at the pilot? We, we would never get to Hawaii <laugh>.
Laura Furiosi (30:07):
Nope. Nope. We would not <laugh>. And, and you wouldn't even get anywhere in particular. You'd just be, you know, and I think that's what emails are. That's why I never read my emails until lunchtime. So sorry, <laugh> to anybody that seeks emergency, they can call me, but I don't read my emails till lunchtime because by then I've had my set task done, so no one's gonna take me off my path. Yeah. Um, then I read my emails, then I deal with any issues that have come up throughout the day because, you know, it's, it's all about just taking that right direction. Yeah. Oh,
Danielle Lewis (30:40):
I love that so much. I feel like I'm a bit of a slave to my emails sometimes. And I even catch myself going, what are you doing? You're just like looking at this inbox and you're not even, you're not even replying to them <laugh>. So why don't you just like, close that tab and do something on the to-do list that is gonna push you closer towards your goals. Oh my God, that is so good. I love it. Yeah. And okay. Oh, sorry you
Laura Furiosi (31:05):
Go. I was just about to say, if you're a people pleaser like me, that took me a long time to get over saying, oh, I'm not gonna answer that until later. I'm not gonna read it. But it is definitely, if you're a people pleaser, work on it because it's so good for your productivity.
Danielle Lewis (31:19):
No, I love that. I feel like that's the first thing I'm gonna do after this recording is close my tabs.
Laura Furiosi (31:25):
<laugh>. Good. <laugh>. Oh,
Danielle Lewis (31:29):
So good. Okay. So I'd love to leave the Spark community just with one final thought. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>. So just reflecting again on your, um, time and I'm kind of probably gonna draw on the divorce podcast here and, and your inspiration for getting that going. Mm-Hmm. <affirmative>, when we are in the thick of challenging times, um, whether it be a, um, you know, relationship breakdown, business breakdown, or just our own heads, right? And we're going, oh my God, I've created this bloody business and I dunno why I did it. When we're in the thick of those challenging times, do you have any advice for a founder who might be struggling to take the next step?
Laura Furiosi (32:12):
Well, look, I think when you're in super challenging times, the first thing you need to do is take a step away and just disconnect from everything and sit down and have a think about where you're at and where you need to be and be kind to yourself. 'cause in challenging times, if you put more pressure on yourself, you carry more load and give yourself more expectations, you're gonna get nowhere fast. So literally, um, take it just one step at a time, one day at a time. If it's so overwhelming that you can't even like, think about tomorrow, just think about the next hour. Okay, what can I do in this next hour? What am I capable of? What, what, what can I deal with? And, and as long as, like I've said to some people in, in our, in the Divorce Course podcast, if you're going through a super hard time and you can't deal with it, just think of one thing that you could do today so that you can pat yourself on the back and feel good about it, you know, and build yourself back up.
(33:07):
But of course, you know, women in particular seem to think we are just meant to keep soldiering on and not let anything bother us and, and not tell anyone about, you know, oh, I've just got separator, I've got divorce. Or no, you're not telling anyone. You are carrying all that on your shoulders. So take a step away. What is it that you can do to help yourself? And then what is just one thing you can do? You know, don't get dug into the future. Just think about today. And if it's really bad, just think about the next hour.
Danielle Lewis (33:36):
I love it. That is absolutely incredible. Laura, thank you so much for spending your time and imparting your wisdom on the smart community. It's been absolutely incredible.
Laura Furiosi (33:47):
Oh, thanks for having me. I loved it. <laugh>
Danielle Lewis (33:49):
Awesome.
