Amanda has been working online since 1996, starting out an an internet assistant in a small startup web design business. Since that time she has gone on to manage a consulting team at one of Sydney’s largest digital marketing agencies, as well as being an online health and beauty content manager, an SEO manager, and the digital marketing manager for 2 of Australia’s largest online pharmacies.
In 2010 due to a second baby on the way, Amanda launched her own online store to be a fulltime WAHM. She decided to merge her 3 passions – babies, organic products and digital marketing to create the space she needed to be at home with her family and 2 children, whilst still being able to continue her much loved career. Amanda has started to plan the launch an organic kids store as her next project, and it is her dream to be able to employ other WAHM’s to help in her businesses.
What is your website addy?
What kind of family environment did you grow up in?
I had the classic nucleus family where mum was at home and dad worked. The gender roles were very specific – mum didn’t work, and dad couldn’t cook a boiled egg let alone pair up 2 socks. I always used to feel sorry for the kids who went home to empty houses because of working mums. I knew my mum would be at home with something yummy to eat . I did think though that there was no way I wanted to stay home and cook and pair socks for the rest of my life (although… in the words of Mia Freedman once I got ‘clucky’ and wanted a baby “i just wanted to sit at home and fold teeny tiny little socks!”
What were the early days like trying to break into the industry?
I fell into the internet industry really early (1996!) and was an internet assistant for a little web company in North Sydney. I happily updated the (static) pages of some really big law firms. I vividly remember that internet related topics weren’t even a part of the uni degree I was studying part-time in the evenings at the time, and I remember thinking my job waaaay cooler than anything university could teach me.
What kept you going when times were tough financially?
My daughter’s little words of encouragement that I’m the best mum in the world and my belief that I am soley responsible for my life situation – which always gave me the power of knowing I was totally capable of turning things around.
What ‘normal’ jobs have you done?
- Digital marketing manager for 2 of Australia’s leading online pharmacies
- Australian team leader for a large digital agency in Sydney
- Health and beauty content and SEO manger at myshopping.com.au
Were you ever tempted to get a ‘real job’?
Yes, in fact even when I originally took the role as Digital Marketing Manager with the online pharmacy. I had accepted the role, but the day before I was due to start I got the dreaded “I just can’t do this again” feeling. I had taken a few months off after leaving my previous job to be at home more for my daughter, and was very depressed one day sitting in a cafe thinking that I had to choose between my career and my family… yet again. After a huge tug of war inside myself I had decided to let them know I couldn’t take the role as much as I would have loved to. I told them my situation, and the outcome was that they wanted to fit in around my lifestyle and family commitments. I was elated when the 2 Directors came back to me with the offer to have all the flexibility I needed with work at home being possible. That was fantastic for 1 and half years. Having a second a baby on the way was what propelled me into creating something where I could fully be my own boss.
Do you see your life as a balance between ‘life’ and ‘work’, or are they well blended?
They are well blended. I see my role as a part of my life – not as a ‘job’. It’s definitely a blend of work and life for me, as I can help with homework in between creating new ad groups in adwords or twittering a new product and making dinner. I can sit in bed with my laptop and work at 10pm if I feel like it because I am happy, and not exhausted from a long commute to work.
How do you balance ‘life’ with ‘work’ from a time point of view? What routines do you have?
I can be a bit addicted to the computer, so I do force myself to get out of the house for dinner some nights so I can eat pizza, or try a new local restaurant with my family and my friends, so as to not be tempted to turn on the computer and see how many people used the latest exciting coupon offer I just splashed all over the web. Being strict with “turn it off” times is the key. During really hectic times I also put a rule in place called “no laptops in the bed” – it doesn’t take much to turn your sleep and relaxation quarters into a second office!
I have never struggled with motivation to sit and work at home because I love what I do, and I am proud of the work from home opportunity that I have created. Oh, and the also because the mortgage has to be paid!
What do you see as the essentials for a happy existence?
Happy home life has equalled a MUCH happier working life for me.
What are some of the challenges you’ve faced in growing your business?
Separating work and home life can be a challenge at times. Sometimes I find myself in the habit of listening with half an ear to my daughter. When I catch myself I make the effort to actually STOP what I am doing, and turn to her and give her my full attention for all of 1 minute (and mostly that was all she needed to ask me a question or get some help with something). Similar to a colleague or your boss interrupting you for help really!
How many hours do you work in a typical working day and do you work weekends?
I would say the normal 8 hours a day is realistic as an average, give and take that some days I work longer if I have an email campaign going out (ok was up until 3am once), but at home that is totally do-able. I am in my PJ’s and happy. I am pretty much “online” all day. I duck out around 3 to get my daughter during school terms, that’s my coffee break.
I do often work weekends. I’m a bit addicted to graphs and stats. I may do a few hours here or there – whatever moulds in around my life. I generally do a quick cross check of everything early every morning and then again before sleep on weekends, but would not hesitate to jump on and do something if I had flash of brilliance
Can you describe a typical day?
I wake up (22 weeks pregnant mind you), stumble downstairs to find my daughter has the rabbit out and he’s ice skating across the wooden floors, it’s 10 past 8 and we have half an hour to get out the door for school. We pull it together and make the 4 minute drive up the hill to school. I grab my (decaf) coffee and am back on my computer by 9 to start work. I check my revenue stats & orders religiously first thing every morning, then check all social media happenings, emails and adwords. I then set an agenda of quick fixes (some things are glaringly obvious), and then help get orders ready for the packing and admin lady. I also put aside time for research into new organic products. My favourite part of the day is when boxes of new organic baby goodies arrive – I love to open boxes!
Sometimes I eat lunch at my desk, sometimes I manage to eat a hot home cooked lunch in the sun in my beautiful bush backyard, listening to my chickens clucking!
At 3pm I pick my daughter up from school – that 20 minute break makes me really feel part of the community, and part of my daughters world. A quick chat to other mums, I wave to the canteen lady, a smile at some of her friends, a quick walk through the schools much loved & student tended organic vege garden – it’s just so important to me. I have been known to stand on the school oval watching my daughters running carnival race whilst on a conference call!
What qualities do you respect and value in people you work with? Why are these qualities important to you?
I love pro-active people, and results driven people. I prefer to get KPI’s and then be left to reach them in my own way, so I admire people that think along those same lines.
What do you do in your spare time?
I love to write, walk in nature, read, cook & dine out.
Who or what other businesses or business people inspire you?
Anybody who decides to reach for their dreams or follow their passion inspires me – no matter what it is.Mia Freedman inspires me – she transitioned from the corporate world to get a better work/life balance and pursue her freelance career. The recent burst of successful celebrity chefs is also inspiring to watch – I love Jamie Oliver (his recipes that is).
I also love seeing the many online ‘mumpreneur’ groups out there that inspire and encourage WAHM’s – I visit often!
Do you Twitter? Do you Blog?
I started to twitter recently @ Organic_Baby and have already connected with some fabulous groups and support networks. I haven’t managed to start blogging just yet, but it’s definitely on my roadmap
If you were able to invite any three people to dinner, who would they be and why?
- Barrack Obama’s digital marketing manager – a job well done and I would love to ask some questions and gain some tips.
- John Wood – the senior Microsoft Executive who left his job and started Room to Read, which has donated more than 1.2 million books, and established over 3600 libraries in various poor countries. What an inspirational dinner guest
- My husband – because I’m a bit of a hopeless softy and would miss him
Do you have a favorite saying? If so, what is it?
If it is to be, it is up to me!
If you could be a superhero, what would you want your superpowers to be?
Teleporting would be my chosen super-power, so I can be wherever I ‘think’ to be in a flash!
What is the biggest challenge to young people today?
Finding their ‘spot’ in the world, where they can live out of place that makes them truly happy and fulfilled. Aka finding their own passion and turning that into something that can be a fulfilling job for them.
What community organizations are you involved in? Why is that important?
I love my community. I support local community projects by offering my help, digitally of course! I work as a volunteer by maintaining and updating the Blackheath Action Highway Group’s website, and my husband and I also created the local History & Philosophy Forum websites to support those wonderful community groups.
Do you remember the exact moment you decided to work from home?
Oh yes. In November 2008 I excitedly told my 8-year-old daughter I would take all my annual leave for the year in December, so I could spend school holidays with her. Her reaction made me freeze. She clapped her hands together, then hugged me and excitedly cheered “Yes!! Oh wow, you will be like a REAL mum! Can you cook creamy tuna pasta for me, and even drive me to school mummy!?”. Ouch.
What has your biggest challenge been? Your biggest achievement? Your proudest moment?
Biggest challenge: Trying to be the best mum & wife in the world, at the same time as trying to be the best in my career and finding time for my personal passions.
Recent proudest moment: I spent weeks in exhausting afternoon battles with my 8 year old over doing her homework, and I was trying so hard to instil into her that focus, dedication and taking responsibility for actions were not just about homework, but greater lessons in life. She finally agreed to complete her homework each day (without a battle!). Within 3 weeks she walked through the front door holding the school principals award for “consistently having outstanding homework quality”. As a mum I was thrilled to pieces. I (well my ego) asked her if I could write “thanks mummy!” on the front, but she said no
What would you spend your very last $10 on?
Fruit & Vege seeds
With one week to live, what would you do?
Write my life story as a gift to leave behind for those I love. I would include funny bits and important thoughts and feelings that I want my children to read when they were old enough, as well as other family members and friends who would feature in it.
If you ruled the world, what would be the first law you put into place?
Staggered office working hours, so we don’t have every single city being descended upon for a 9am start – it’s ridiculous! We could free up highway traffic congestion and reduce pollution, commute times, stress & road rage, if we just staggered official work start/finish times by an hour or 2, in all major capital cities. I know if I leave to head to the city at 6:15am from the Blue Mountains – I am at work around 9. If I leave at 8am – I am there by 9:30, so where’s the logic!? Hey and lunch queues would be smaller too!
Leah Gibbs is the Founder and Business Manager of Lifestyle Careers.
Lifestyle Careers is an online recruitment job board. Our niche and specific focus is the advertising of flexible employment and work at home positions. It is designed for professionals wanting to balance their work and personal life.
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