Podcast Summary
Entrepreneurial Journey: Growing up with entrepreneurial parents instilled a strong work ethic and ambition to be a businesswoman. Personal sacrifice and a level of selfishness are crucial for entrepreneurial success, but are often perceived differently for women.
Tash Oakley, the co-founder of Monday Swimwear and author of "Accessibly Obsessed," shares her inspiring journey of turning a blog into a successful business worth over $50 million. Growing up with entrepreneurial parents instilled in her a strong work ethic and ambition to be a businesswoman. She emphasizes the importance of personal sacrifice and even a level of selfishness for entrepreneurial success, which she believes is often perceived differently for women. Oakley's refreshingly honest conversation about the realities of entrepreneurship is a must-listen for anyone considering starting their own business.
Childhood experiences: Early experiences of moving frequently and starting to work young instilled a strong work ethic and financial independence, shaping the speaker into a confident and driven businesswoman.
The speaker's experiences of growing up, including her mother's work ethic and frequent moves, played a significant role in shaping her aspirations and work ethic. Moving to the US as a teenager broadened her horizons and made expanding her business there feel like a natural next step. Starting to work at a young age instilled a sense of financial independence and a strong work ethic. The speaker's curiosity and determination to understand various aspects of work and business, even in seemingly insignificant jobs, contributed to her success. Overall, these experiences helped her become a confident and driven businesswoman.
Curiosity and open-mindedness: Having a curious and open-minded attitude towards work and different roles can lead to valuable insights and opportunities for career growth. Expanding knowledge and understanding of other roles and departments can help individuals progress and potentially move into new roles or sectors. Companies and managers play a role in fostering a culture of learning and growth.
Having a curious and open-minded attitude towards work and different roles can lead to valuable insights and opportunities for career growth. Employees should not limit themselves to their current role or lane but aim to expand their knowledge and understanding of other roles and departments within their company. This can help them progress within their career and potentially move into new roles or sectors. Additionally, managers and companies have a role to play in fostering a culture of learning and growth, allowing employees to put ideas forward and celebrating their strengths. Overall, being aware of the ins and outs of business and the different career paths can set individuals up for success and help them make informed decisions about their future.
Passion and Fulfillment: Starting a business or career based on passion and fulfillment is crucial for long-term happiness and success. Stay true to what brings you joy and ignore societal pressure.
Starting a business or pursuing a career path based on passion and fulfillment, rather than just for the money, is crucial for long-term happiness and success. The speakers shared their personal experiences of starting a business and emphasized the importance of recognizing what truly brings fulfillment, whether it's being a business owner or pursuing a different path. They also highlighted the need to be informed about the realities of owning a business and the importance of finding direction early on. The speakers met on social media and started a bikini-themed Instagram account, which organically grew into a successful marketing platform for swimwear brands. They started making money from the account on the day they launched it, but their success came from staying true to their passion and lifestyle. The speakers encouraged listeners to focus on what brings them joy and fulfillment, rather than societal pressure to become an influencer or business owner.
Passionate business: Starting a business based on passion and fun can lead to unexpected success, even if it's unconventional. Focus on filling a gap in the market and maintaining momentum to build a sustainable business.
Starting a business based on passion and fun can lead to great success, even if it seems unconventional at first. The speakers, who started a bikini Instagram account called "Bikini a Day," didn't initially plan to make money or become influencers. But they took it seriously and charged for posts when they started noticing interest. Their account took off quickly, and they eventually started their own swimsuit brand, Monday Swimwear, due to the lack of options for larger cup sizes. They found success by focusing on the gap in the market and creating a product that fit their specific needs and desires. The speakers emphasized the importance of appreciating the little wins and maintaining momentum, which helped them navigate the industry and build a business with longevity.
Customer focus, Product fit: Creating a product that truly fits and complements the customer's body leads to high customer satisfaction and repeat business. Building a strong foundation and understanding the customer's needs are essential for a successful business.
Creating a successful business requires a strong foundation and a focus on the customer. Monica and Paula of Monday Swimwear emphasized the importance of creating a product that truly fits and complements the customer's body, leading to high customer satisfaction and repeat business. They also highlighted the significance of taking the time to build a strong foundation for the business, learning from mistakes, and understanding the customer's needs. Monica shared her experience of asking for help and persevering through challenges to find the right factory and production process. Ultimately, they prioritized creating a brand that improves people's lives and keeps them coming back for more.
Business growth through strategic hires: Making strategic hires can lead to significant business growth, but it's important for business owners to recognize when to delegate and hire key personnel to avoid being overwhelmed by admin tasks.
Running a business involves taking ownership and making crucial decisions that impact the lives and careers of your employees. Pride comes from being the one to navigate the company's future and build a strong team through strategic hires. However, it's essential to recognize that there comes a time when delegation and hiring key personnel becomes necessary to avoid being overwhelmed by day-to-day admin tasks. These pivotal hires can lead to significant growth and expansion, but it's important to remember that business ownership is an evolving role with ongoing learning and adaptation required. Additionally, taking care of one's health and well-being is crucial to ensure long-term success and avoiding burnout.
Self-care for Entrepreneurs: Entrepreneurs should prioritize self-care practices like breathwork, meditation, and breaks to manage stress and maintain health and productivity. Women especially need to prioritize self-care due to unique effects of high cortisol and constant stress on their bodies. Successful people understand importance of independence and prioritizing own needs, even if perceived as selfish.
Entrepreneurs need to prioritize their self-care and set boundaries to maintain their health and productivity. This doesn't mean working less, but rather implementing practices like breathwork, meditation, and taking breaks to manage stress and bring down adrenal levels. Women, in particular, need to prioritize self-care due to the unique effects of high cortisol and constant stress on their bodies. It's important to balance career ambitions with personal well-being and not feel guilty about prioritizing oneself. Successful people understand the importance of independence and prioritizing their own needs, even if it means making tough decisions or being perceived as selfish. Ultimately, the relationship with oneself should come first, as it is the most constant and important one.
Value and Priorities: Understanding and prioritizing personal values leads to confidence and personal growth, being self-reliant and present for joyful moments is crucial.
Recognizing and prioritizing what truly matters to us in life is crucial for personal growth and success. This could be our relationships, our career, or our personal interests. It's essential to understand that our truth and happiness don't need to align with others and to be self-reliant in building our confidence and relationships with ourselves. The speaker emphasized the importance of being present for key moments that bring joy to us, while also acknowledging that everyone's priorities are different. A valuable piece of advice she received from her mother was to be self-reliant and have a healthy relationship with oneself, which can lead to confidence and personal growth. Overall, the conversation highlighted the importance of understanding and prioritizing our values and building a strong relationship with ourselves.