#awinewith Meghan Kent
MEET Meghan Kent, Founder of Golden You Leadership
You can find them here:
Transcript
Danielle Lewis (00:00):
You are listening to Spark tv, where we bring you daily interviews with real women in business at all stages. I'm your host, Danielle Lewis, and I am so grateful to have you here. So good. Meg, welcome to Spark tv.
Meghan Kent (00:15):
Hello. Thank you for having me.
Danielle Lewis (00:17):
I am so excited to have you on the podcast because we're humans that actually see each other in real life. I
Meghan Kent (00:25):
Know it's strange that we're catching up like this. I know.
Danielle Lewis (00:29):
Which is cool because obviously everything we do at Spark is virtual because we've got members everywhere. So I kind of just prioritize virtual and then I've got this beautiful little women in business community going on here where I get to see people in real life and it's so good. But then I forget to have you guys on the virtual stuff as well, so this is fantastic.
Meghan Kent (00:54):
Yeah, I'm really excited to be a part of this podcast.
Danielle Lewis (00:58):
Love it. Well, let's start out by telling everybody who you are and what you do.
Meghan Kent (01:03):
Okay. So my name is Meg, Meg Kent. I am the owner and founder of Golden New Leadership, which is a youth camp business that I started about three years ago now. So I'm coming into my third year and also have the director with my husband of our auto electrical company called Tech Auto. So yeah, we've got the two businesses and I just work different roles. Well in Golden UI do everything. I work by myself. And then with Tech, auto, electrical, obviously my husband's the trade person, so he goes out and does all the tricky stuff and I do all of our administration and all the office bits and pieces with his help because he'll order all the electrical parts and quote on things that I don't know how to. But yeah, so I have the two different jobs that I do at the moment.
Danielle Lewis (01:58):
I love it. And you also have a family as well. How the hell do you do everything?
Meghan Kent (02:04):
I'm lucky. My kids are really awesome, so that makes it a lot easier. But my children are all quite big, so our eldest is 22 and our youngest are twins who are 14, so it's a lot easier as they get older. They sort of are a little bit more independent. They don't need me as much sadly, but I also, they help each other as well. So we obviously live outside of Kalgoorlie, so I'm 38 kilometers out, so the traveling back and forth for kids stuff can sometimes be challenging, but my eldest daughter has got a license, so we all just work together as a team to make sure that we're able to get through everything that needs to happen in the day. So it can be busy, but I dunno how to do it any other way.
Danielle Lewis (02:52):
I know I think sometimes business owners are kind of wired like that. It's like we just take on more and more and more. And it's almost like the more we take on, the more we seem to be able to accomplish. But if we have nothing to do, we'll not do the one thing on our to-do list.
Meghan Kent (03:09):
Yeah, definitely. That is definitely my personality. I have to have a list, I have to know what's happening and it has to be busy and full because, well, as you know, a business owner you are anyway, but when things slow down, you start to think, what am I doing? What have I forgotten? What am I missing?
Danielle Lewis (03:29):
I know I also, also sometimes if it's getting a bit quiet and slow, I don't want to do anything. It's almost like I have to be stressed out to achieve anything.
Meghan Kent (03:39):
I think that procrastination is a very big thing and sometimes it's the easiest things too, and they're just the most challenging. You think, I don't want to do that. It's going to be so hard, or it's going to take up so much of my time. And then you do it and you're like, oh, that was actually really easy. I probably, that's only three
Danielle Lewis (03:57):
Minutes.
Meghan Kent (03:58):
Yeah, probably should have done that a week ago. But yeah, I feel the same. And especially I guess when the to-do list isn't so big, but also when everything just seems like those small little tasks and you know, could just bowl them over if you've got in there and got it done.
Danielle Lewis (04:14):
Yeah. Oh my god, I know I just rewrote my to-do list for the day and I was like, wow, there's a few of these things that have been on here for weeks and I know it's an email. It's like one thing I have to fire a customer and I've had that on my list for a while and I'm like, it'll take, I even have formulated the email in my head and I'm like, I dunno, I just keep putting it off. It is one of those jobs, it's literally going to take me three minutes and I keep putting it off
Meghan Kent (04:46):
You. That would probably be a little bit daunting though. Sorry.
Danielle Lewis (04:49):
Yeah, I think I'd be good though. Sometimes customers are crap.
Meghan Kent (04:56):
Yes,
Danielle Lewis (04:56):
Yes. And I know that they're not a good egg and I was like, it's just not worth my sanity. I have just over the last decade in business, I've had really amazing customers, really crap customers, and now I'm at the stage where I'm like, I will work my butt off for anybody. So I only want to work with people who actually appreciate that.
Meghan Kent (05:22):
Yeah, I love that. I think that's really important. It's good for you, good for your business as well
Danielle Lewis (05:28):
And my sanity.
Meghan Kent (05:30):
Exactly. And how good does it feel to cross stuff off your to-do list that
Danielle Lewis (05:34):
You're going to have to be my accountability buddy. So I email you later say, when I've done that job,
Meghan Kent (05:40):
I've done it. I finally did. It took me weeks that I did it. And then you can rewrite your list, how you've done this morning and then cross stuff off. And by the end of the day you're like, there's a celebration in this because you have just completed your to new list.
Danielle Lewis (05:54):
Oh my God. The things we do as solo business owners to give ourselves, keep motivated. Yes, absolutely. Oh my God, I love it. So tell me what came first golden you or working with your partner in the auto business?
Meghan Kent (06:14):
Yes, so take auto Electrical started first. We've had been in business for about eight years now. So that started as my husband working for himself, still going out. We work in the mining industry, so still going out on site and doing labor hire and stuff. And since then he's grown that part of the business by creating different auto electrical parts. And so now we supply parts and we have an employee that we just put on last year. So it's slowly starting to grow into a space where we are wanting to move, but it's always very scary because taking the next leap is you need a premises, you have bigger overheads, there's all those things that will come with it. So my husband, Tim, has been doing this business pretty independently, I must say, because I've always had another job before Golden New. So I would help where I could, but I also had full-time work.
(07:12):
And then once I resigned from my position that I had, I started to step into the tech space to be able to help him because he was getting busier and busier. So now I do most of our administration stuff, like our reconciling the payroll, invoicing, paying the bills, socials when we get around to the socials and stuff like that, just to try and lighten the load. So it's been a lot of learning. There's a lot of things in there that aren't in my strong suit. So yeah, it's been a couple of years of having to really learn how to do these things the way that, well, firstly, how they're meant to be done, how it first works for Tim so that I'm supporting him in his role as much as possible. So yeah, it can be a little bit challenging because it's a field that I don't know a lot about either.
(08:03):
So ordering parts and stuff like that, that still has to go back to him because I don't know what you're talking about, know what you need. But yeah, so that was the first business that we've had together coming up eight years this year. And then three years ago after I had resigned from my position, Tim was talking about, we were looking at just how we were going to grow tech because at the time that was the two of us working in the same business. And I was like, oh, I don't know if that's the pathway that I want to go down. I feel like I've worked in community, I work with teenagers, I'd worked with, I love being a community member and volunteering and those kinds of things. And he had asked me then what it was that I felt that I wanted to do.
(08:55):
And being a mom of teenagers, I was like, I really think that I want to do youth camps in the ball fields. I could see a gap in our market where our teenagers were kind of missing. I don't know that they were missing out. There are so many amazing services, but there was just a gap for those fine soft skills like learning about goal setting and leadership and teamwork and opportunities outside of the gold fields, understanding that they're not restricted by where they live. They've actually got so much opportunity being out here. But what I was seeing even from myself as a teenager growing up in this region, they get to year 10 I suppose. And that's that sort of time when you're like, okay, I'm either going to go this way or this way. I'm going to get a job or I'm going to go to further my studies. And the kids were seeming to think that was quite a pattern where it was like you either have to go to university or you have to wear high vis because we work in a mining town and it's really daunting when you're 16 thinking that you have very limited options when really there's so many. So I decided then that I would start a youth leadership camp program with lots of little other elements that I want to bring in, but we're still building. So yeah, then we've started Golden New, which has been amazing.
Danielle Lewis (10:18):
It's so cool. And I, you actually took a minute to reflect on what you love, what you're passionate about, and how amazing that your husband was on board with what's your dream as well as my dream, because actually starting a business from a place of what do I actually enjoy, sometimes I think we fall into our businesses a little bit and we're like, oh, now I do this.
Meghan Kent (10:44):
Yeah, I think so too. And I feel very, very lucky that I have got such a supportive husband because it means that I am able to try something new. Obviously at the very start starting a business Golden, you had no funds, we had no money, there was no spare money to get started. So not only was it an investment that we had to put into just to get started, which was very minimal, but an investment of time, which would obviously take me away from my family and from Tech Auto. So there's a lot that went into it. And I'm lucky that I've been able to do this because I know that so many people out there can get into the situation and everybody does if you have to work, it's like, okay, what am I good at? I'll find a job where I can do what I need to do for my family. So I'm very thankful that I have had that opportunity to do something I'm really passionate about. It's been great.
Danielle Lewis (11:43):
It is so cool because you are right. I think sometimes, I mean, it's very easy for us to say time is the big thing, and yes, you need that, but realistically, businesses do cost money to run. I even just think about sometimes when my husband and I talk about it, he's like, how do you spend that much money? And I'm like, look, I go through the line and it's like, I don't know what I can cut here. When you think about the software tools that you need, the external support, all of the things, it's like it adds up so quickly. It is actually, even if you are running your business so lean, it can really, really add up. So actually starting a business, I think people don't realize that being able to make an investment in it and realizing that you might not make a lot of money out of it for a while is kind of the harsh reality.
Meghan Kent (12:35):
Yeah, it's definitely been a couple of conversations about, so are you going to keep doing this, doing this? Yes, I'll be, I'm like, I'm just nearly there. Yeah, because it is definitely something that I didn't really think too much about. It was very, I'm very much a person who's like, this is what I'm going to do and I'm just going to jump in and do it. And then everyone, my husband and everyone else is like, how are you going to do it? And I'm like, I don't know yet, but I'm
Danielle Lewis (13:07):
Doing it. We'll figure it out.
Meghan Kent (13:08):
Yeah, we'll work it out as we go. So there's been a lot of challenges by having that sort of mindset, but it's been good at the same time because you have no choice, you've committed and you have to work it out. Yeah,
Danielle Lewis (13:21):
Totally. And I think you have to have that. I dunno if skill's the right thing, character trait of who cares? I am going to make it happen. I will figure it out along the way because I think also lots of people don't start because they're like, I dunno what to do. I dunno what the steps are. And I'm like, I don't know. So I've had four businesses in 12 years. I was calculating the other day, I'm like, I have still no idea what I'm doing. I'm still just putting one foot in front of the other. And it's also like you can't even know because everything changes every year.
Meghan Kent (13:54):
I think so too. And there's just so much learning. If I had known how much I was going to have to learn and how much I had to commit and so forth at the start, first of all, I probably wouldn't have listened, but it'll be alright, I got this. No. But if I had known how much work and time and things that I didn't know that I would have to learn, I definitely would've taken a minute to probably think about it. And I probably would've been one of those people that would've been too scared to start because with Golden U growing the business from absolutely zero, we don't have another organization here in the Goldfields that does the same thing that I do. I'm obviously a small business, so not a not-for-profit. And I reached out to a few camps to just see if I could find out some information, a bit of guidance, a bit of someone I could speak to because there's nobody doing what I'm doing.
(15:01):
And I didn't really have a very good, nobody was very forthcoming with their information or anything like that either. So I had to really, everything that we do now has been trial and error. I've had to really spend time learning how to do everything from formulating a spreadsheet correctly to what type of insurance we are needing and making sure that the camp's running efficiently, guest speakers, the itinerary mentors, just trying to get kids to come to camp, that relationship building, promoting socials, like everything I hadn't had to do really anything like that. I'm really good with people. I have a lot of contacts through what I was doing previously. So I had that behind me as well and very passionate and the personality where like, oh, we're going to make it happen, but without those, I didn't have much else. So the last three years has been a lot of learning and it's been a journey and I've absolutely loved it. And I'm always learning every day. There's just new stuff every day and I'm like, oh my gosh,
Danielle Lewis (16:18):
It's so true. And I think that also doesn't end right. It is such an important character trait to have that love of learning and love of solving problems because I think that's really all the business is be passionate about something, learn every day and learn to love solving problems. I
Meghan Kent (16:42):
Think so too, because that seems to be the consistent pattern.
Danielle Lewis (16:46):
Yeah. Oh my God. What do you think your biggest challenge has been starting a business?
Meghan Kent (16:54):
I think so there was a couple of things. So with tech, there was a lot of things that I needed to learn just in the system that we use and making sure that I was doing that and we invoice monthly and stuff having I'm very much a visual, hands-on, have to do it again and again and again. So it took me a while to make sure I was getting everything correctly. So I did make a few mistakes at the start we all have, which is, so for tech, it was definitely that sort of stuff because that's out of my comfort zone with Golden New. The challenges have been continuous, the constant learning like I'm saying. But I think one of the big challenges is that we don't have an office space as such. I haven't got a dedicated, even in my home, we've got a big family, so there isn't an office.
(17:48):
So I work literally from the kitchen table can see, or the kitchen bench, which can be really difficult because I find it really difficult to separate my home and my work. So I feel like I need a space. When you have a dedicated work space, you walk in and you're definitely, your mindset changes. I'm here to work where I feel like without that I struggle to just stay in that mindset, I suppose. And because it's only me, there's nobody else to motivate me, I have to keep doing that myself. So that's been definitely a challenge. And also for not currently at the moment with tech, we don't have a workshop, so we're working towards that. But I know that Tim struggles with the same thing because often he'll be working in our yard or he'll be working on site or whatever, but to try and separate walking away from the workshop and closing the office and come back home is completely different When it's your administration stuff is all done at home. So it is nothing for us to be at nine o'clock at night and Tim's like, oh, I'll just quickly, and I'm like, no, put it away. So I think that's the challenge in small business is that you are the only ones doing it, so it has to be done.
Danielle Lewis (19:07):
It's so true. And it's like, I don't know if you feel this, but I feel guilty if I'm not doing something or achieving something. We were having this conversation before we hit record about, well, I'm currently in the process of missing my January goal of my first book. I'm supposed to read a book of month, and I picked the longest, hardest book to read and I've not done it. But that whole idea of if you're not doing, if you're not achieving, if you're not ticking off the to-do list, if there's something that's left undone, I just feel guilty all the time. If I'm relaxed or having fun and I'm at home because I feel like it is my office, I should just be doing something. Do you have any tips for that separation? Has anything worked for you guys?
Meghan Kent (19:59):
Not yet. Don't worry.
Danielle Lewis (20:01):
That's why I'm asking because I haven't figured it out.
Meghan Kent (20:04):
I think for me, when I'm in the mindset, so we have a big whiteboard, which is just in our main area, and we just load it up with things to do. I get a real kick off ticking off the to-do list. So when I'm like, right, I'm going to start and I always try to start with the hardest thing and work my way down
Danielle Lewis (20:25):
Because
Meghan Kent (20:25):
Once I've done the hard thing, I'm like, oh, that wasn't so bad. And then I get into that mindset momentum. But in regards to the office, I don't have any advice. I just still work at home. I could go and hire an office space and stuff, but I'm outside out of Kalali. So in our town, there isn't anywhere at the moment and I don't want to have to travel to go to work
Danielle Lewis (20:53):
Because
Meghan Kent (20:53):
It has the purpose of working from home.
Danielle Lewis (20:56):
I know I was thinking there's actually the commerce hub, they have office rooms, but because it's not really, there's no one in there. I was like, I'm kind of going to be going from my office is set up to an empty space with no people. It's not actually ticking any boxes. But I've been thinking that as well of the value of just having somewhere else to go get that different energy to try. And
Meghan Kent (21:24):
I think if you've got a big project on, I know when I was working a couple months ago and I was doing my other role, I was working for tech and I had Golden U,
Danielle Lewis (21:35):
If
Meghan Kent (21:36):
I walked into my work office, then it was straight away, right? I'm here to do this work. And I couldn't even think about my other roles. I work towards that. So that's what 2025 is about. We're hoping to get a workshop with a workspace and sort of create a bit more of a work-life balance. So that would be probably the biggest challenge I reckon, when you work for yourself and in small business as well, and just having to wear all the hats there is just us. So I think that, yeah, but again, I dunno if it is a challenge, but I dunno if it's such a negative because we've had to learn things that we wouldn't have had to if we had been working for somebody else or there was someone else doing the roles that we're doing. So I do love that.
Danielle Lewis (22:24):
Yeah. No, you're so right. I reflect on when I worked in corporate for 10 years, and I always think about all I did was the same thing every day. Literally. I think I had five different roles over that time, and I swear to God, I did the exact same thing every day. And it was like, I remember sitting in a meeting once and I was saying whatever my spiel was, and I was like, wow, the same words just kept coming out of my mouth. This is horrific. And then you switch to being a business owner and you're like, I wish I could do the same thing every day because I'm
Meghan Kent (23:02):
Not ripping the thing to thing. You're like, I wish that I could just have the same thing to say every day with the five little jobs that were expected of me. That'd be great. Totally. Yeah, I
Danielle Lewis (23:14):
Agree with you. I didn't think it's a negative. I do agree with you that it's challenging, but it's not a bad thing.
Meghan Kent (23:21):
And out of your comfort zone, I'm all about that. So being able to learn something new is not a negative, but it would be nice to have some help sometimes, because if there's jobs that you hate, you could delegate.
Danielle Lewis (23:33):
Yes. Oh my God. The dream. The dream. Okay, I could talk to you all day, but let's wrap up this podcast with one last piece of advice. So reflecting on time in business, what would be a piece of advice that you would give to another woman on her business journey?
Meghan Kent (23:52):
I think my biggest piece of advice would be don't be afraid to ask for help, because you can't do everything all by yourself all the time. So really know your strengths and weaknesses, and if you do have weaknesses, find somebody who specializes in that space and learn from them. So not only ask them to help you, but ask them to teach you or show you or point you in the right direction so that you can get a better understanding. But obviously some stuff you should just definitely look for professionals, an accountant, don't try to do things that there's skilled people out there that are able to really help you grow your business and make sure that you're doing everything the way it should be done. So that would be my advice. I always ask for help. I always look for people around me who are more qualified, who know that space of business better than I do, and I ask them for help.
Danielle Lewis (24:52):
So good. I love it. Meg, you are absolutely incredible. Thank you so much for sharing your story and your time and your wisdom with the Spark community. I know everyone would've gotten a lot of value out of that.
Meghan Kent (25:06):
Thank you for having me. It's been an honor to be able to come and talk with you.
Danielle Lewis (25:10):
That wraps another episode of Spark tv. Shout out to Spark TV sponsor IP Australia for their amazing support of the Spark Podcast and women in business. And if no one tells you today, you've got this.
✨ Thank you to IP Australia for supporting the SPARK podcast and women in business ✨
