When Simone Preston realised there was an unmet need for a women’s business networking group on the NSW Central Coast, she decided to go into business for herself and start one.
But she learnt quickly how important good time management skills are – especially when you operate a home-based business.
“I always wanted to experience what it would be like to run my own business,” Simone said. “I saw a need within the Central Coast region for a forum for women to congregate together and network … so I just had to do it.”
The Imminent Group – comprising two businesses, Imminent Marketing and Business Women Connect – was formed in February 2005. Business Women Connect created a platform for women from home-based and corporate businesses to support, guide and motivate each other at a monthly lunch and workshop. Ms Preston undertook a variety of public relations, marketing and event management projects through Imminent Marketing.
Simone said she was so focused on getting her business off to a flying start that she almost allowed it to become her whole life.
“I found with operating the business from home I lost my social network. I felt that I had to be at home working on the business all the time. My time management was very poor. There was so much to do and I would start at 6am and often not finished until 8pm each day to get things done.
“I realised that I needed to treat my home-based business like a traditional job and get up, shower, start work at a reasonable hour, then work out my priorities on what I needed to finalise that day.”
Simone also increased her productivity with better planning for meetings away from her home office. “I managed to reduce the down time of travelling to and from appointments by scheduling them only twice a week. I timed them so I would go from one appointment to the next and then return to the home office.”
Looking back, Simone feels she did not know enough about starting a home-based business. “I thought that it was going to be really easy to work for yourself having your own flexible hours and that the work would just pile in. It was more the case of being so disciplined and be hungry to get that next job in.”
Success came so quickly that she had to revise her plans for the business. “I had no intention of employing anyone but the business grew so much within the first three months that I needed help. I soon had some part-time workers.”
As Simone’s business grew quickly, she discovered that she had the drive to support that growth. “Not only was I doing some marketing and events but Business Women Connect identified that there were other regions that didn’t have a women’s business group to support them in their local area, so we grew to meet that need. The business really overwhelmed my expectations to where it ended up. It grew from one region to seven regions.”
Simone has since sold her business but sees the overall experience as a positive one. “I learnt so much and one day I would hope to run my own business again. I am very happy that I had an idea and that my idea helped other women in business – and still does to this day.”
After four years of running The Imminent Group, Simone said she felt she needed a new challenge. “I had set the business up, built it up from just an idea and I needed to look for a new challenge that I could get passionate about.”
She found what she was looking for at Glenworth Valley Outdoor Adventures, Australia’s largest and most successful horse riding and outdoor adventure centre in the unspoilt wilderness of the NSW Central Coast hinterland.
Simone’s role as an adventure consultant gives her the work-life balance she wants. “It was a big change for me but I am doing something that I have always wanted to do and that is to enjoy life and work with horses. I have the best of both worlds having three horses and working where they are stabled. I ride my horses every day and work in the office where I am still creating and implementing new ideas for a business that is growing and growing.”
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Nicole Cowan is a journalist and editor who has joined the growing ranks of treechangers, relocating from Sydney to country NSW. She is using her writing skills and media know-how for clients across the state through Write Destiny. info@writedestiny.com.au
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