Mining, Motherhood and Building Talent in Industry

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Episode five. Uh, we've got Tegan from Talent Mining. Um, originally from New Zealand, come over here for a two week holiday. Hasn't gone home since.

I think everyone resonates with that or some a lot of people do. Gone up north, been in the Port Hedland area, families there as well. And then after years of being with the Tier 1's, um, growing a family, kids, all that stuff. Comes back to Perth, kicks off her own gig, and, um, she's a crack of a person.

Bubbly laugh. Um, and uh, great to bear around. Plenty of energy. We resonated heaps.

It's really cool. Um, yeah. So, watch this episode, like and share it. I haven't asked anyone that.

Mitch keeps kicking my ass. So, please get on there, like and share YouTube, um, Insta, Spotify, Apple. Get on there, guys. Check tan out.

And, hope you enjoy this one. Sit back, chill. Even when I was in those contractor roles, I always rely on the expert. As a leader, I always want like people to be happy and do the best and work where they want to work and like where they're glowing.

So, I'll never try and know everything. I think you learn that in business and you're already saying it now early days is like find the Michael Jordans like find better people to do a better job than you. Yeah. Make your life easier.

Being a business owner, you're under so much pressure like mental fatigue of like you know everything. I'm going to start. You just had a big shift recently, right? So, let's say six months ago.

I can't remember when it was. Um, say about 6 months ago, I think you reached out online or something like that. You're doing your DD and you're researching to kick off uh labor hire. You got all these ideas like we all do as an entrepreneur and we leave a bigger company and then you got u relationships and you've got work and opportunity and then you're like, what have I got to do?

And then you're like, what's insurance cost? What's this cost? What's this cost? and you reached out.

We had a chat and I'm like, "It's labor higher. Don't do it." You're like, you're you're like, "No, I'm doing it." And then you come in the office and I think I think I humbled you a little bit with it all just because of costs and risk and uh but you come with a heap of ideas and it was great and your background. So when when was that? When did you have the idea?

When was the big shift? When did you leave your corporate world? When was it? A year ago officially.

Um I wrapped up at BHP after 11 years. And um I guess how it all came about was the year previous I had gone on a girls trip actually in Hamilton Island and all the girls were entrepreneurs and I was like they like yeah they like living their life reckon didn't have a work schedule like wearing Louis Vuitton. I was like, I work in the mines and I'm still not getting I need to do something, you know, but obviously it just kind of inspired me that like I have always been interested in business, but I was like, how am I going to create a business, you know, what am I going to do? And so I started a Tik Tok, the Mining Mum.

Started like doing little spiels about what it's like working in the mines, being a mum, yada yada yada. And then from there, I was just getting like so many messages like, "How do I get in the mines? What do you do? Like what is it like?" Um, and then, you know, from there I started like writing back to people.

I was like, this could actually turn into something. Wow. You know, um, and so that's kind of when I launched the podcast because I was like, how do I make it a little bit more serious? Um, I was like, I need to kind of transition into the corporate world.

So, you see the value in it just by being a bit bit left field there. Yeah. Bit of FOMO and then turned into a bit of a TikTok and then you're like, people actually interested or engage with you? Yeah.

Exactly. And so I was like, "Well, I'm a bit boring, so why don't I interview other people about their stories, too, so I can get like, you know, more more content, more people." You're not boring, by the way. That's just self judgment. Cuz I did exactly the same.

I still took three years like, "Why don't I interview others cuz it'll make it easier for me." Yeah. Exactly. Cuz I think I'm boring and I think I got high energy like you. So, um, but if that's what helps us kick off, so be it.

Yeah. Exactly. And I was like, "Oh, it's super interesting to find out like what other people did, how they got in the industry." I've only done like you know one kind of mainstream in the industry. Um so I like to interview all walks of life.

Um and then yeah from there I guess I kind of had launched it um and done like about 3 months and it was really starting to take traction and then my team got offered redundancies and I was in that limbo of like it's safe. I've worked here for 11 years. I'm in a really good position. They're going to offer me another role.

Um or I could take the massive payout and kind of bet on myself and do something outside of this this world and also leave you stayed and safe obviously. Yeah. And and like you know the perks of it was that I was getting my bills paid. I had a house, I had a car, you know there was no real outgoings but then in the other other side there was this burning desire to like leave this world and know that I wanted more.

So um yeah took the leap. remember resigning? Can you remember pulling the pin? Well, actually it was my friend who was my boss at the time.

She came in and she was like crying. She was crying. She was telling me she's like, you know, I just have to tell you we're going to be making your team redundant blah blah blah. We can redeploy you blah blah blah.

And I was just like I was fine. Like I was like that's fine. Like she's like why are you not sad? I was like look you know like I just knew the minute she told me that I was just your gut.

Yeah. I was going like I was just like this is amazing. This is like winning the lotto. Like I would not have even left like I would never have even saved this much money.

11 years as well which is great right and it gives you that little bit of buffer to to take that risk which is why most people don't. Yeah. Exactly. And like again I would never have even saved the amount of money that it gave me.

And also we we had kind of a house and everything in Perth and it was like let's make the move. You know, you can't live in a regional town and raise kids forever. I mean, some people do, but for us, it was like depends on your own mindset and personality. Exactly.

Let's take the risk. So, yeah, that was the first. So, you hit a roadblock. You're in a fork in the road and um a big 180 come and your obviously friend/boss come in and you took the risk.

Yeah. And uh it's put you where you are today. And it's like it's put you back in the beginner seat. Yeah.

Oh my gosh, the lessons. Yeah. What's your biggest lesson? It's been wild.

Honestly, every day is a lesson. Like you don't know what you don't know. Yeah. You don't know what you don't know.

And like Yeah. things are just dynamic and people are crazy and amazing. Like you know, I I something I I haven't said it for a while. Um one of the biggest things I think is whatever you do, especially when you go on your own, you got to be passionate for.

And it's not because of the wins and the money that comes with it and all that cuz that takes ages, right? Yeah, but you need the passion to get through the hard days. So, when things are really hard and the chips are against you and 10 things went wrong tomorrow morning, you need to have that passion to get through it so you can get to the good days and um and your energy and your passion and like you got good relationships. You've had a great time up there.

It's not like you regret it. You're not holding anything against you're like, I'm going to use this to go to the next level, which is great. And it's a really good way, you know, glass half full. Really good way of looking at it.

Um and look where you are. Yeah. Well, it was only ever a one-year plan to go to the mines and it turned into 11 years. So, you know, I I think yeah, definitely grateful for what I achieved and had like, you know, friendships, relationships, and even like work career that I never expected.

So, something we got in common is being with BHP and then taking the jump, right? So, one thing I learned, probably my biggest learning out of it was leaving BHP, being there for a few years, whatever it was in the mining and then just how important the relationships you built in there, right? Just with people and companies when you leave, how it matters. And people don't just come to you when you think they're going to.

Everyone loves that you've been with BHP, but people don't just move when you go do your own thing cuz you're high risk cuz you're new again. That's 100% what I've learned. Took years. It's like to be honest, it's more people that I've learned outside of my work that have taken risks with me.

Yeah. Because the people that know you, they're like, they've just taken a People like us are usually mad cuz you take the pun, you're mad. So they're like, I don't know if I want to do that yet. Let him get some credit.

Runs on the board. Yeah. Exactly. But now that I have done over a year, everyone's starting to be like, "Oh, cool." Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. You're safe.

very common synergy me and you got I remember that and I'm like I've got all these relationships transport mining and all that like no it was outside of that and then like two three years in you have a beer you have a coffee or a lunch and like all people start chatting with you and you're like do you know about this I'm like yeah know about that because what what happens the win I believe and you'll relate to this being in that game for 11 years but then going back and supporting that industry you know the game better than any other recruiter or say insurance broker I know it pretty well because you come from it. So then you you understand it and learn it. So when when they do come up to chat with you and go, "How you doing? Do you understand it?

Contracts or the dynamics of the industry?" You're like, "Do back." You lived and breathed it for that long. Yeah. So you're So go let's keep touching on that. So you were Port Hedland based mainly, weren't you?

That's your That's your backyard. Yeah. So what what was your what was the what was it like over the 11 years living there? like give us a When I first got there I was like 22, right?

And it was like it was the heyday. Like I remember um you know there was heaps of backpackers, there was heaps of pubs, there was festivals, like everyone was on Crazy Money, there was the Bali flights. So we used to like you know work for two weeks and then we'd fly to Bali for a week and like I was pretty much a resident in Bali on my weeks off. So it it was wild and and I loved that period like um it was all mainly before the co like time everyone like it was heaving up there.

Then obviously when I got pregnant I had my first child it kind of tamed out a little bit. Um what year was that? First child 2017. Um boy or girl?

I have two girls. I have two girls. You have Yeah. Yeah.

Two girls. So um like obviously dynamics changed there. Um, and then just I guess I was doing long shifts, long hours, like split rosters, and then you just kind of have to transition your whole life to daycare hours. Yeah.

How how supportive and I know I probably know the answer to this was like work and all that with having children. Well, the first child I would say like it wasn't really a flexible working in the beginning. So, it's a bit different back then. Yeah, it was it was like they hadn't fully endorsed the the They do now.

Yeah, they do now. But um back then like I remember I had to go back to shift first and I was just like how am I going to make this work? Like I you know like daycarees only work Monday, Friday and the first job like I was hustling to get another job because I was like I can't keep doing shift. Um I can't work on the weekends.

My partner did shift. I basically harassed a project manager that was in my department that I could like help and be a coordinator and it was Monday to Friday and it was an infrastructure project. So like running heaps of the planning, building civil projects. Um and I had been in that department but I was like a laborer in that department but I was like if you take a bid on me I promise I'll deliver you NPI or whatever they call it was site infrastructure.

Yeah. Yeah. So it was like doing all that. So just just about that I just want to highlight that.

So like once again that was a huge roadblock for you after having bubs which is already a roadblock and you're like how the am I going to do it and like it's amazing how resourceful or how we make happen. And it's like now, right, you're doing it all again, but in a different dynamics, but you're like, how am I going to do this? You know, would you say daycare is only Monday to Friday? You no doubt got shift.

Yeah. Um, you know, you probably lack of sleep. Your routine's up. Like, let's be honest.

But but look what happens. Yeah. And you build you take that risk and you make some decisions and it it's it's probably part of your resilience of where you are today and why you're going into business, right? You're like, I can do them late nights and double up and you know.

Exactly. And I was like I remember I like went and got my poly welding ticket. I like got my excavator ticket like just to prove that I could supervise those guys. Yeah.

Like I was like every day knocking on the door like hey have you processed my application? He was probably Dave. Love him. He was he was like you know what I mean?

I'm losing sleep. Exactly. Yeah. So um then he signed me off and I went into that coordinator position which was Yeah.

Amazing. really ever done. Yeah, exactly. Well, yeah.

He ended up having a motorbike accident a few months later. So, I quickly went from coordinator to supervisor running all those projects and I just remember being like, "Holy, like, what did I what did I wish for?" Wow. So, so tell me the day of the the project supervisor, like how did it look? You got up in the morning.

What time? Like what? It was like basically six till six cuz we were running like multiple projects with contractors and stuff like projects like what were you doing? Installing water lines, refurbing buildings.

It could be anything. Yeah. Anywhere in Headland or one site? It was just there was five sites um across the Port Hedland scope.

So it could have been anywhere across those sites. Obviously, originally I thought it was going to be like 7 till 4 type of thing, but it's slowly like, you know, you need to be there by 6:30 to get the boys signed on or girls, sorry. Either um the trades signed on and then, you know, they usually have their own supervisors, but you got to still like check in um and do those types of things. And then, yeah, wait for them to pack up, leave sight before you can leave sight.

So, basically, I would be sitting outside the daycare before like 10 to 6 waiting for them to Yeah. Put the daughter into the daycare, run to sign on the guys, then like Yeah. Shoot off to the other jobs, do some quotes, do some meetings, and then Yeah. You didn't let nothing beat you basically.

No. I remember like how hectic it was. Like I was so sleepd deprived. I would walk out at the end of the day like probably4 to 6 before I had to rush to go pick her up and be like, "Did I drop her off today?" You know, just so sleepdeprived that you're like, "Drop my kid off." Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah, you're just like I vividly remember being like how did that how did the day happen, you know, like cuz you you in projects obviously you can be so cooked from just so many things happening like mentally and then you're like how did I survive the day, you know? So what what just sacrifice doing that? Obviously time and sleep.

What else got sacrificed? Obviously relationship always cops a bit of it, you know, cuz I think you know the old school saying that you pass each other in the hallway. Maybe not so much that but you're you're wrecked, right? So you you're present but not present at times as well when you get home.

Yeah. Did you take the little one home and then offload or what was your part of the husband? Yeah. And he's always done roster too.

Like literally our whole relationship of 10 years has been us working different swings. Him doing FO. He's literally just quit his job to do Fiverr to come work in the business. This will be the first time in 10 years that we've ever gone on the same same kind of roster.

Okay. So what's the risk there? Well, yeah. Exactly.

We've never done it. We've never worked together and we've never worked on the same type of like, you know, schedule. So, it's going to be interesting. Are you excited?

Excited. Like, I'm s I need it because at the moment he's doing FIFO. Obviously, we're crazy as hell. What's he do?

He's up in the port at Port Hedland um doing shift manager and supervisor out there. Yeah. Cool. Cool.

So, it'll be a bit of a like once again, he'll be back in the beginner seat. Yeah. Exactly. be so comfortable, used to it, you know, probably do it with his eyes closed and then and not just coming back, spending that extra time with you and then working together, button heads and all that stuff, but um just coming back and being fresh and different routine and way you wake up in the morning and not having to fly out.

Yeah, 100%. But we're going to juggle it. Like he's a detail person like he would read that insurance policy inside and out where I'm like too much like let's keep get it go. You know what I mean?

Let's get it done. Let's move move. You know, I'm just like, get done. He's like, but have you did you read that?

That was 1.6%. Did you know that we did? And I'm like, that's a you thing. That was last week.

Yeah. Yeah, exactly. That's done. Um, but also I think just like managing the kids as well.

Like this whole year has been a bit of a ride off in the sense that like just he's been doing FO and then I've been juggling the kids and the business side. It's like, dude, you're doing school hours for the first six months and then we'll kind of work out the balance between it. But um it'll be good for him, too. That's awesome.

That's awesome. Um I was just saying I just had lunch with a client and we're just talking about like having business partners. Uh someone I got over at East Jackson and we were talking about like he had something personal happen. Um probably the worst with the best mate and like didn't want to take work off and stuff like that.

And I'm like when you're part of the business now, it's like it the reason we do business is really flexibility, not money. Money money comes with it because it doesn't come for a long time. M so really it's about flexibility comes right and um we were just talking about it at lunch as well with the client and he said exactly the same he goes people don't realize that now going back to you guys and your husband coming back and you know working with you it's like it's that flexibility piece and that's the benefit you will get working together is wicked if you can make it work and you're like you know where each other's at and then pick up drop off the kids and all that kind of and you still get that presence and be present not present and not present I think one thing like and you would resonate with This is like being a business owner, you're under so much pressure like mental fatigue of like you know everything. And so it just even to have him across some of the things to really understand the scope of like you know say for example we had a job with 15 people that were meant to go out last week.

It just got pushed back four weeks. That means we got to find like work for 15 people plus we're now at a loss of being paid for four weeks. Right. So that is a stress like but I can't reiterate that to him fully because he doesn't he's not in it.

So I think it's going to give like that really when he's in it. It'll he'll relate to explain it. It'll be like you'll be bouncing off each other. Like job just got pushed out.

So what are we going to do here? I got B and C. Yeah. Exactly.

It's it's amazing what you do on your own but when you go and have someone to to work with or you know bounce off it's it's a huge help. Yeah. Yeah, exactly. And I'm like you in the sense that like obviously this is my baby.

I love this business, but this is not the only thing that I do and I don't and so I need someone there to support to kind of take more of the leadership stance so that I can bounce out do podcasts and like all these other things, you No. So, so I've learned a lot about that over the last 10 years. But before we go, just before you went to Headedland and BHP, um, let's touch on what are the couple of other things you got going on. Obviously, your podcast is touch a bit bit on the podcast.

What's going on there? So, yeah, the podcast has been You're going to teach me a thing or two. Yeah, it's been pretty good. Obviously, it's a bit of a niche.

Um, and and I've been interviewing some really exciting guests. We haven't launched. I've had a bit of a break um for the last 3 months, but ready to get back into it. Um yeah, so basically just mainly interviewing professionals or um obviously just the women.

No, no, we do everyone. So what what's it called? The Mining Mum podcast. The Mining Mum.

That's what I do. Yes. So basically I'm the Mining Mum and then I'm interviewing mum. You're the Mining Mum.

Yes. Yes. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. And so then I interview people about their journey. Um, and I love like inspiring stories. So whether it be like they've started their own company or they're a manager at a company or even like I've had operators that used to be real estate agents and so or like people that were in the army and they've transitioned to mining.

It's really like you know just a relatable topic to people. Um, so now it's been amazing and I've made some really great connections and cool I'm pumped for this year cuz we're kind of like I'm one of those people like every year bigger and better like that's just know the feeling you have me I'm like yep bigger and better we're doing this I got these guys mad I come back out in January and I I usually take an extra few days or a week and I did this year that extra week the thinking that goes on it's like I think I'm having a break and I am and I'm clear but it goes through my head I know like the whole time really cuz be wound down. So, you're not on unless a client I haven't done that yet this year. Like, can you imagine me right now if I wind down?

Like, I haven't had a wind down yet. And like, but you're you're you're a bit in the infancy still. So, it's like it's on. You don't have a choice.

No, I don't have a choice. Like, I can't. Once again, you're doing all that stuff on your own. Like, when your husband comes in, that will shift that.

You don't have a choice. And it's it's a bit subconscious like you don't even know. You're just constantly on. There's like but you're excited about it.

It's new. You got to make it work. It's like the resources, the resilience, the and you want it to your standard. Y like you know that's the thing that I am struggling with.

I've started to hire people now. Speed trumps perfection. I know like that's me. I'm just like boom boom boom boom boom.

Like real like speed whether you call it speed to market whatever like just get a obviously you don't want client and you don't want to put anyone at risk but really you got to just make it happen. And like you're good at that too. But the problem with people and me and you're very similar. That's why I can say this is like you got to be careful because you go too much and you just don't want to put yourself at risk cuz you don't want to go do all the hard work till midnight do and then you go and do something that buckles you for a client cuz then it it just negates all the hard work you've done.

And that I think that maybe one of the things that I've learned that's been my biggest lesson is that I am speed. Like I just go and do it and your husband's going to be good. Yeah. And and so like that's where he's coming in is that like you you know I've gone out and done things without getting a contract or like because I'm just getting it done or like yeah I haven't negotiated the terms and then like I've gone out and placed six ads for this company that then don't they change their mind and they don't go with that role and then they might have went the other way.

Exactly. So I just spoke about it at lunch just just quickly. It's like there's two decisions or more but two and it's like you pick one but if you dwell on what could have happened yeah you're not going to like if you pick one it doesn't work but it gets you 10% forward stop pivot and go again 100%. That's how I feel like even though yeah I may have lost $500 on that.

I've learned and now I know Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Exactly.

Now I've put those roles out and like you know I've had applicants and I've met new people and you learn while you're doing it. It's cheap learning. Well, it's not cheap learning, but it's learning why you're doing it. Like you go get asked to do that again, you will have a different conversation, you draw the line in the sand, you might get a bit of money or not pay as much or already have the template or the setup to do it.

Yeah. Exactly. Nothing's a waste. Yeah.

You know, it's the whole point of the journey, right? It's like all our stepping stones and Yep. cost us money and time. And I remember when Jackson come on over East three years ago and he's like you'd be working on a client and I'm like and then like the first comment always, I'll put business cards under windscreen wers.

Like trust me, I I did the same, right? You do all that stuff at the beginning, but it's like that stuff doesn't move the needle really. You don't realize that till later, right? But then you'll be working on a client for like 3 days and it'll be like $500 client and you'll be like you're getting paid a dollar an hour or 50 cents.

Like but you need to do that stuff. Exactly. You learn along the way. Yeah.

The process, the people skills, the outcomes, whatever industry and risk it is and like now all that investment is a beast. Yeah. Yeah. You know.

Yeah. I'm like kind of following like the hamozi. Have you read that book? Thousand leads, a thousand sales.

Yeah. Yeah. So like obviously the first year they say like be the cheapest, be the fastest, and learn the most. And then next year scale.

So like obviously when I first met you I was like I'm just going to go cheap for the placement fees cuz I'm learning everything. And I got some rings under the belt. Now I know how much it actually cost me, how long it takes. D.

this year we're gonna start scaling up scaling up till we can get to that tier. Fantastic. Don't don't get me wrong, I would have loved to go on and be like, "Yeah, 20%." for roles, but that like I didn't have any y any like runs on the if that makes sense. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. Definitely. And like it's not about making money in the beginning and and if you think you're going to like or if you do, you're very lucky.

But if you think you're going to like you're a bit bit a little bit naive, right? And I'm talking about No, no, no. It's like you got to you got to get in there and just go. It's like where you lose money is time.

M cuz you're there all night, you'd hardly sleep. You're up for three from starting the name of the business to getting clients to doing all the stuff, right? Like if you add all that up, like you go backwards a fair bit, right, before you actually kick off. Um but then it's the grit and the hustle afterwards.

And you know, like you said, you do need to be the cheapest of bit. You can't go charge when you got no runs on the board. Yeah. No straight cred.

But then when you get a you know, you got to be determined and you got to be ambitious. You got to do that people think you're not going to get. Exactly. That's what helped me get me where I am a lot.

He's like, "You're not going to get that client." You're like, "Okay, tell me that again." Exactly. Yeah. 100%. So, no.

So many lessons. So many. I always say the two the number one skill in business is people skills. Now, I know this is really big for you because of I can just tell by talking to you when I met you.

So, how much is your relationships? And it it doesn't mean about like doing favors around, but just being a good person and having people skills over the years and being an energetic person and probably helping people over the years. How much does that help you now from where you at? Yeah, it's it's everything.

Um even like obviously I was talking to one of my clients yesterday and I told him, "Oh, bloody hell, the 15 are going to have to find them all jobs and we found like 11 of them work." And he's like, "Honestly, that's so good." Like that's just a people thing. like some companies be like, "Sorry, you got no work for 4 weeks." But we like actively went out and tried to get them work. So, I guess that's definitely something that for my company I try and instill in everyone is that like answer the phone, be polite, build relationships. Like everything is relationships.

Take them for wines, take a bowl of wine when you go to a new client. Like I'm just very big on that. I I think one of the biggest thing is um and it's like when when you ring me, I'll be in a meeting and like probably you clients like yourself in the first 12 months, year and a half are like probably more demanding than the rest of them because sorry no that's part of it. It's like chicken's calling and I'm like I know that when I talk to you it's probably it'll be I'm going to do this or I got a new client or something because I know the way it works, right?

I do the same. So it's like but it's picking the phone back up and answering or going to I can't come back to you. I'll come back tomorrow. It's like certificate.

It's like can't do it. I'll come back to you Monday, Tuesday. I forgot it was Aussie day. So, Tuesday.

And um but it's all about like you're you're in this like bit where you're trying to please your clients cuz you're trying to get runs on the board. You're in this like crazy bit. I told um I'll answer that today actually. I'm like, "No, you just need to get me this today because it's been like a week, week and a half and you guys made a mistake, etc.

I shouldn't say the name, but but anyway, but I'm like this client's early days, got great clients, growing all that stuff, and you're telling me I'm going to go back because you just made a mistake. I can't give a certificate." Yeah. I'm like, "No way." So, they were really good. Really, really good.

Went back to Sydney, escalated and go, "Hey, we do this one off cuz we made the mistake. We delayed them by a week." Yeah. And they come back and they fulfilled and sent it through today, which is good because once again, when you're in this crazy stage, you're trying to get runs on the board. You can't have any mistakes cuz you're like, you're going to get judged.

You, you know, you need And I'm like, "Oh my god, I had to call." I was just like, "Oh god, oh god." And because obviously you know me, I'm speaking. It's like, "Oh my god, just calm down." Like yeah, that's one thing I'm learning about like you know in my company everything I do is speed. Y so then when I'm trying to train up my team I'm trying to reiterate that. Slow down.

Yeah. I I I got to stop and reflect all the time when I'm like chatting even in this podcast like my mind's constantly going even chatting with the team especially now like I'm really clear and focused and I got more energy than I've had in a long time. So like I'm in my zone and you got to stop sometimes and like you know you got to the great thing is you're like I got to slow down or reteach or just reiterate what you're doing. The thing is you don't want them to be where you're at.

Yeah. Because they're your sweeper. They're your backup. They're your support.

You want them to be your yin and yang, your people that join you. You don't want another one of you. No. Like they don't want another one of me.

It'll drive them mad, you know. So Yeah. Yeah. So you need them people in the background and we're not all meant to be the same I think especially in business and when you're growing at the beginning.

Yeah. Um you don't have to answer this cuz I don't know a lot about you but before you were 21 22 and went to Port Hedland. What were you doing? What happened?

Where were you born? I grew up in um Gisbon which is like east it's on the east of um New Zealand. It was it was amazing. So it's a it's a small surfing town and they had the biggest festival in New Zealand.

Wow. So from the age of 12, I was jumping the fence and using fake IDs to go to this massive festival. So we grew up like in a party town basically. Um you know from high school we were throwing parties and celebrations and every weekend was something.

And so I guess that kind of has like instilled who I am. obviously still a bit of a partyier, but um you know just a people person, social um and and yeah, so it was amazing place to grow up and it was really safe like you know we were like walking the streets going to parties with our passion pop or whatever we were doing back there. Yeah. So um and then after that I obviously finished school and um went and studied fashion and so I went to like a fine art and design school.

How old were you then? I was 17. Wow. Yeah.

So I moved to the city. Um I was flooding um with you know uni other uni students. Um and yeah studied fashion for two or three years. Um and I think like I kind of realized I didn't want to be a fashion designer.

I was more into like the styling and um TV and film dressing. Um, and I quit uni and went and worked for some retailers like fashion labels and worked in retail for a little bit. And then I got my first job in TV. And so I started doing like wardrobe dressing and assisting.

And then yeah, from there basically when I was about yeah 19 started going into TV and film, mainly working on Power Rangers for for the longest time. Yeah. And doing like um Yeah. Costume dressing.

And So where was that filmed? In Oakuckland. It was, was it? Yeah.

Yeah. So, I remember that. That's nostalgia for me. Power.

Yeah. Yeah. So, I did that for a couple of seasons. Um, until Yeah, I was about 21 and then decided I wanted to go to um Hollywood cuz my best friend had just moved over to LA and I got an internship over there for 3 months.

Yep. Um, for a celebrity stylist. So, packed everything out, went and couch surfed with some friends and kind of name drop. What happened over there?

I was working in Beverly Hills for this celebrity stylist and um living in Hollywood on my friend's couch. So, um yeah, it was it was wild. Again, you know, going to work every day, partying every night. Like I remember being so poor.

This is hilarious cuz like obviously, you know, you're young in America. I was on my OE. I probably had only saved 10 grand for the whole 3 months. So, it's like an unpaid internship as well.

You got to pay everything. Is that right? Yeah. Because you like girls obviously get to go along to all the parties and get invited and stuff.

We'd be going into booths and I remember like people would give you wads of cash and throw it in the air and you're like I need some money for my lunch tomorrow. Like wow. Yeah, it was it was one of those experience but it was amazing like you know how do you reflect on it now like just like not having money obviously being young living life you probably wouldn't change the experience I'm guessing right probably taught you a lot but you probably won't we're not going to lose their memories either right no 100% but yeah it's just like again how do you be resourceful when you don't have the funds or like you know you don't have everything there for you take it off the guys in the booth yeah exactly pick it up off the No, it's just like one of those things that I was like, God, we were really just winging it in life, you know? Um, so yeah, obviously the the 3 months finished, my visa finished.

I went back to Oakland and I was working like a couple of hosp like I want to fast track getting some money so I can apply for green cards. And my dad and brother were in the mines at the time. My dad's like I was like, can I have a loan? He's like, no, but you can come over and get a job.

And I was like, "Yeah, cool. Okay, cool. I'll come over for 6 to 12 months, save some money." That's it. Yeah.

And then um and then yeah, I'll be back in America. And yeah, never went back. That old chest night. How much does that story happen?

And I was going to say it earlier. Um how many East Coast people go, I'm going over for 6 months and then they're still here. I know. Exactly.

Kind of sucks you in. How good's WA? Honestly. Yeah.

To us, this is home now. I don't think I see myself kind of living anywhere else. Um, now we're embedded in it. We know how good it can be.

And um, so yeah, I come here 04 and uh, with the Navy and I I love it. I reckon it's always unreal. And we used to say it was 10 years behind. You don't really hear that now.

I think we're miles ahead. We got the money. Everything's built off of mining resources, whether you're a cafe, hairdresser, or construction engineering. But like we're bu we're building infrastructure now which we didn't have a lot of considering the money we got here.

Tech and innovation we're leading in a lot of ways which is unreal. And then you know get to all this stuff the podcast and all that. I think we we do really well and I think we're now a modern city and we lead in a lot of ways. I don't know what your take on that I didn't buy more houses here when I was working and put I'm like god damn we could have easily done that.

You don't know what you don't you don't know. No one knew, right? What's going on with the world now and the economy and money and fiat and digital and like who knows where it's going to be in 5 years. Like you you could not go this is where it's going to be.

Yeah. Like I know you can't and you can't back then. And I think cuz we're you know um what is it boom and gloom kind of state up and down. It's unknown.

Yeah. Like someone turns off commodity or you know turns it up it changes the whole thing and it and it goes through every industry. Hairdressers, cafes, you name it. Restaurants.

M so we got to be very careful you know like how many people I can't remember when was the boom and then it all dropped and everyone lost so much 2012 yeah I think so 2013 and then it all went downhill because everyone went and bought houses thought it was going to last forever cuz they want to support their guys up north there it's 30 year companies there from drilling companies to mining companies constru whatever and they end up going they end up losing everything their personal house and everything because they went that far in debt you know Port Hand was a big one you know houses worth what a mill or 2 mill and then they're worth 400 grand like how do You do that when you're minus, you know. Um hopefully a lot of people have learned from them cycles though. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. So you would have been what is it now?

26. So what's that? 16. You So you went when did you go up there?

Uh yeah. I would have been up there actually in that point doing the Roy Hill project. Yeah. And my boy was born that that year.

Yeah. 14. Yeah. It was cool.

I like Portland. I spent his time there in Newman. Mainly Newman and Port Hedland. Different lifestyle, but it's absolutely beautiful up there.

in its own way as well, right? Yeah, 100%. What was your win up there? Besides work and all that, like what's outside that would you do?

What was your hobbies? What you know, we traveled a lot. Um, but also just like building really good friendships and you know, we brought the caravan and the 200 series and my dad had the boat. So, it was kind of like we got into all of those things as well.

Um, and it's just such a simple life. Like I think, you know, here just getting on the motorway and then being late all the time and having to run around. I'm like, God, it was like 5 minutes to work, 5 minutes to pick the kids up. Like everything was so easy.

You know, you can always your friends are always free. You're always having barbecues cuz no one's like got heaps of stuff to do. So, you know, you you're definitely a lot closer to people. I think more present.

Like I've got friends that I've been here now for a year and I still haven't seen. So like cuz everyone's just busy the quality of time um and what you get done I suppose in a year or in a in a period. Yeah. And I think as well like having a secure job with bills paid and like there's something to be said.

Obviously you're still stressed and you might be off in a day but like not having financial worries or not having to constantly be stressed about where your income's coming from. Would you change it? Would I change it? No way.

Back. No. Like look, there were times last year that I was like, "Oh god, what have I done?" Like, you know, um but I think now that we've started the the traction of moving forward, like there's no looking back. You know what though?

Like you're in your 30s, like you could say you can the whole bit. You could probably go straight back up, get a job, move back up just say you wanted to, you know, you got that safety net. So it derisks it for you. You can take the risk.

Yeah. It's around moving, you know, all that. But at least you're giving it a crack. It's better than not knowing.

Yeah. Well, that's what I think as well. Even if like So, yeah, I'm 34 now. If I was to smash it out in 5 years, um I'm still 40.

You know what I mean? Like, yeah. So, two girls, any more kids? We go through this all the time.

I don't think mentally I could right now. Like, I'm like, I can't take on anything. How old are both of them? Uh, one's eight and one's four.

One's eight and four. So they're they're like, you know, there's a there's a gap, but like I've always wanted a little boy, but then what if I had three girls? They already f Oh, twins. Yeah, they already fight so much.

I don't know. It's one of those things. If it happened, it happened. I wouldn't actively try, but I think we'll get to a limit where like, yeah, we're not doing it.

Yep. Yeah. Cool. So, when's the when's the first day for the hubby?

So, he finishes on the 4th of Feb. So, you got him like on the 5th. Yeah. Yeah.

Well, um I think I was just like, "Yeah, start the week after." I've already started pulling him into like some legal stuff and I'm like, "That's you now." Like that's your jam. And because he's worked up in um like port running drivers, like truck drivers and stuff, he's like, "Oh, if I can like start interviewing them, I'm like, "Yep, cool. Start your portfolio like if that's like your niche you want to start going after." Oh, cool. Yeah.

Start talent pooling for those. So, uh, I'll just touch on you probably like don't add more people to your insurance. No, no, no, no, no. I wasn't thinking about that.

I'm thinking about like your old man's involvement. You reference him a lot. Obviously look up to him and bounce off him. I haven't met him yet, but you speak very highly of him.

And someone else was talking the other day said he's an absolute legend. Um, what's happening there? How's like he's obviously a mentor, been up in the game a long time. Yeah.

Yeah. So, he's his own car company up there, like rental cars. So he's just doing that at the moment. Then yeah, he's a bit of a entrepreneur too.

So he's got a few other things in the works. So yeah, obviously great sounding board I believe. Yeah, from what I hear and see. Yeah.

Yeah, basically. And same as my brother. He's overseeing the business too. Um or his own business.

So we work quite closely together. So yeah, every day we're on the phone just bouncing stuff out. And it's good, I guess, to have people that are in the same situation. And and your brother's name Sam.

Oh, Sam Lewis. Yeah, that's right. Yep. Going through the same thing.

He's an absolute legend. So, I spoke we obviously moved all these insuranceances over thanks to you. And um when we got chatting um a few mates of mine from Navy days that have been up Port Heaven forever, Josh Day. Yes.

Um I think he knows Ando David Anderson as well, really close mates with um so they're all Navy lads with me and we got on chatting with Sam and he's like, "Yeah, really close. I talk to Josh all the time." So, such a small world up there and I'm not even up there, you know what I mean? But he loves it up there and he he runs a good gig too. Sam, we have really good chats, honest chats and just where he's heading and you know being in that white collar engineering project management space.

He's uh he runs a really good ship type ship as well. So for you guys as siblings to have each other to bounce off is and you are opposite by the way. as you he's very detailed, you know, he's typical white collar engineer, project manager, which is probably a bit more reserved than you are, but obviously he's taking the risk and he's not just a oneman band. He's he's doing a good gig and he knows he's he's got a really good balance, but I could see how you two would bounce off each other and learn and, you know, do all that stuff if you get stuck, which would be cool.

Yeah. I'm guessing that's a great reflection of probably your old man up there. Yeah. So, was Sam up there the whole time?

Yeah, he was. Yeah. before you or after or he was he was there before all of us. So he left New Zealand and came over like when he was 16 or 17 and got his scaffy tickets.

So he's on here next then. Yeah. Yeah. He was the first one.

So he kind of Yeah. got on um got into it first and then my dad went over. Yep. So I haven't gone the personal side with Sam but has you got kids?

Yeah. Same. Cool. I don't think he just proposed.

Um yes like amazing ring. I was like to my opponent might need to upgrade. Sam's not doing your other half any I know. He's like we we like we've been engaged.

We haven't got married yet. Actually we meant to get married in 2020 for co and then yeah obviously it got cancelled two months out before. So still got to do that as well. That might have got put on the back burner now that business.

It's really hard to think about it when you know like you've got so many other things going on like yeah I'm just like it's one of those things you know keen to do it but like how big do you do it and as you get older it's like when you when we were I think yeah 30 was when it was going to happen. Um no actually younger than 30. Oh my gosh I'm getting old. Um yeah so we were going to have likeund and something people and then now I'm like do we still do it so big?

Don't know. Yeah. Yeah. So you reflected on it a bit now.

What's priority? What's important? So you must have spent as most do when when you first got engaged all this time to prep for all that, right? And then what what got in the road of that?

Was it co or co? Yeah. So we were meant to get married 2020 in June and basically March 2020 everything shut down. So we lost like 30 grand cuz we' prepaid a lot of it.

You might have saved yourself now if you're not having 100 and you're only going to have a small. You might like 30 is all right. Yeah. Yeah.

Well, I think like because um we Port Hedland never shut down. We just kept working. So, we didn't actually like you know how a lot of people lost money and lost their jobs and stuff. I kind of saw it as like oh well we still have our jobs and we're still working and glass half full.

Yeah. Exactly. So, it is what it is. But it's just like kind of made it hard to pivot into like okay what are we doing now?

Yep. Yeah. Cool. So, with the business uh let's dig on that a little bit more.

You've taken you've taken the jump all that. How many months you reckon it's been? So officially like I started doing consulting probably in Feb, last Feb. And then I really took on my first person like contract in Yeah.

would be like five months ago. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

So say you're halfway through there. Yeah. Right. And um so I think it was August.

Yeah. Another six months goes by the 12 month mark. Like how's it look for talent mining? Well, yeah.

pretty wild to think like we've we potentially have gone from one person to now we've got about nearly 30 people going out on projects in March. So I guess by August hoping to look at that like 50 plus mark and just for a little plug what type of people what's the niche there? So like this niche I guess we have like the utility side and then they have concreers coming in. So more like the trade side as well but then obviously we do like a lot of the permanent placements in the in the white collar space as well.

So I think the perms the perms is it's probably the most beneficial. Yeah. Um from my perspective from a risk perspective because the workers comp etc. But are they harder to place harder to find or are they easier?

different scopes. One company that I've been working with is quite niched, so they have to be a specialist in in pumps. Yep. So, that's been quite hard to find because it's a certain type of pump.

It's slurry pumps. Like, you need it to to have that background and like mechanical engineering also in sales. It's hard to to find people that suit the sales mechanical side. But then some of the things that I'm helping Sam with like planners, project managers, because I was almost in that world, I do know my next question.

It must must help a lot. I you know, usually where my strengths come from a bit, understanding the client and like you being in that space industry and around that environment for so many years, it must help a lot. Hey, when you talk to Lingo and relate to the client 100%. I also think um like you know when we take on a new client I obviously like to know them because you know what's going to fit for that company what they look like what they act like how they talk what their experience is before we even put them forward.

Everybody obviously has their own preference. So it's really good to like get to know the client before we go and choose the people. Yep. what's something out of their la last 11 years whether it was a really huge roadblock with BHP um because obviously over your 11 years you probably you shifted obviously you had had a little one and you know you you begged and annoyed Dave and all the rest of it what was probably one of the biggest learnings that you take away for today like what's something that was maybe a challenge maybe you overcome it what not or learning but today you're like you reflect on it and it helps you in business I think just having like that belief in myself.

So obviously I started with no experience as a landscaper utility and then worked across project supervision um contract management and then superintendent. So like yeah it was really relationships like and always trying to help people like y so do you know something I think about I had breakfast I was just doing a post with Jesse earlier about from Greg G his name is from fantastic as a CEO um framework network that I just joined and I was having brekie with him the other day he was from over east and and something just related to me then and it's kind of relative but it's like be your own best mate and it's like learning to back yourself and really like going in. And I think like what you said before like back yourself, support yourself, you know, like I think that's a big piece, right? Um especially when you take the big jump in your comfort zone.

Yeah, exactly. And it's confidence, but like also being a bit humble to and making it more about like for the people as opposed to like I'm really good like give me this job, you know? Well, you get humbled when you start anyway. go and get confident and like someone ask you something like it'll humble you cuz you be like I wasn't prepared for that.

Yeah, exactly. But next time you will be if you give a basically and I kind of like even when I was in those contractor roles I always rely on the expert. So like as a leader I always want like people to be happy and do the best and work where they want to work and like where they're glowing. So I'll never try and know everything.

Yep. Um I think I think you learn that in business and you're already saying it now early days is like find the Michael Jordans like find the better people that do a better job than you. Yeah. Make your life easier.

Yeah. Because what we're really good at is probably making quick decisions and piecing it together and being entrepreneurial and having a vision. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. But usually when you're good at that piecing stuff together, you need really good people to do it. Exactly. Trying to, you know, you got to let go of the ladder rung and let other people do it.

I think the what's the rule? 80% or more let them do it. Yeah. 100%.

And I was just saying to Carl, one of my clients today, I'm like, I allow other people to make a decision. Ask forgiveness later even. I I'll empower it sometimes. It's like just don't the client or don't buckle the business.

If the decision you're going to make is to any of them too, don't do it. Yeah. Exactly. Other than that, take a chance.

Yeah. You know, ask forgiveness after. Yeah. Exactly.

Because um and I love initiative. I cannot stand when you're paying someone freaking $50 an hour and they're like, "So, what do I do next?" I'm like, "Dude, so so you you done it. You're a bit like me when I first started. It was only a few weeks in we went and got an office.

So only a couple of months in after talking to you. You went and got an office just around the corner here. So how's that going? So good.

It barely changes dynamics. I think that was my going to be my question, right? Like you could have worked from home, stayed at home and done it all as you do. Um and and it's the cost effective option.

Yeah. But getting street cred, getting runs on the board, especially when you talk mining and that, right? Not just your local community. I think going and getting an office and we're having a discussion here about this office where I move it on or stay here after July.

But I think there's a lot of credit in having it, you know, to keep yourself motivated. Yeah. Having somewhere to go and split you from doing all them hours from home. Yeah.

Especially when your hubby's coming in. At least you got two places you can, you know, get out of the space. Yeah. Yeah.

And um and just having a place for clients to see and feel. And I think that self feeling like dress good, feel good. Yeah. 100%.

I think all that comes into it too. Yeah. Yeah. And even like having Yeah.

having clients come in also building a team. We all work from the office Monday to Thursday and then everyone works from home on Friday. Cool. So like you know you get that team dynamic.

I just don't think you get the same rapport when you're at home. And you know what it's like when you're a business owner in the beginning you're like penny pinching. You're like are you doing the hours? How do I know?

How do you know if you're good? Like I just think um yeah instead of being Oh. Did you set up the podcast in the office? Yeah, podcast office.

Yeah. When do you think you're going to kick it off? So, I've got like a few preloaded interviews, but we're going to do like a bit of videography for the reals and stuff like that. So, that's all happening next week.

I think probably like mid to late Feb. Yep. Cuz we also have all those big jobs starting. And I'm like, I don't want to overcook myself like this year.

I need a kind of like Yeah. I've been so bad on the fitness front and I just need to like find that true balance because I've just been all in on the business then put on like 10 kgs. So, it's one of those things like, you know, sacrifice. This year I'm like get to the gym, get your head in the right place, sleep properly, eat properly, stop being so chaotic, you know.

So, ah, good. Good. Yeah. All right.

I suppose we'll wrap it up there. It was really good. One thing, a couple of things. What I what I probably will do and especially you being in the the early stages of business, I reckon in six months we'll come back and do a recap.

Yeah, for sure. I um every even the Shane I had on this morning I said the same. He's actually doing e-commerce over east early days. Cool.

Yeah. I said we'll recap in six months even if it's a shorter one or a bit different dynamics or in your office or something like that. Um probably have to you got to set up in there so we could probably do that. Yeah.

Um I suppose key takeaways from today going over your journey. What what would they be? What what comes to mind? Oh, back yourself.

Y back yourself. Back yourself. And then yeah, resilience. Always being resourceful.

Like how if you want something to happen, it's not going to happen. You have to find a way. Yep. You got to find the money on the floor to keep going.

From your party days in uh in New Zealand to now, what was probably your biggest resilience builder? What comes? I think moving to Port Hedland. Yeah.

I remember like I was having such big anxiety attacks that actually my appendix popped like 6 weeks before I was leaving cuz I remember thinking am I making the right decision like what am I doing like I'm literally giving up my dream to go to the middle of nowhere like you know really I just remember being so anxious about it and yeah like it wasn't the end of the world I could have left at any time but I didn't but also yeah like I think That was the biggest thing was making the choice. For anyone else making that shift, how long did it take you to go I'm okay with this and it's actually a really good decision cuz obviously the first four to eight weeks you're probably still questioning. I reckon months like I was like still telling everyone I'm leaving. I'm leaving.

I'm leaving until that was 2 years and then you know like I was still leaving somewhere that you're never leaving. I'm like look yeah just what kept you there and I'm guessing it's connections and social just building that community. Yeah. And I think yeah, the money.

Yeah, that'll do it. But the problem is we just spend more, right? So it's actually not the money. No, it wasn't.

It is at the time, but Yeah. Yeah. And you know what? Like I never expected to enjoy like I I genuinely think of my favorite jobs were the first jobs like digging.

We used to say digging holes, kicking goals, driving trucks, freaking you know everyone. We were also like we were like this is what are we doing? It's 50° we're digging holes, but like just the friendships you build and like looking back I'm like those are my favorite jobs instead of sitting in offices and telling people to do things. Um it was like being on the tools.

Yeah. Cool. Yeah. So from the mummy mining, who do I who do I get on here?

Who who can you refer or recommend to get on here? I reckon one guy who's going to be my first launch um is Shane Lemur. He does Lemur resources scaffolding. Yeah, Scaff.

Yeah, you'll love him. I don't know him, but we connected and I think we spoke a few times. Yeah, he's got a really awesome story and he's just like very disciplined and like you know Shane well. Yeah, cool.

Yeah. I might have to hit you up to help get him on. Yeah, right. So, Shane.

All right. That's awesome.