Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
30. The One With The Real Talk About Business (No Fairy Tales Allowed) with Elsa Mitchell
16 Plays14 days ago
It’s the final episode of the year - and what a way to wrap things up. I’m joined by the brilliant (and hilarious) Elsa Mitchell - business mentor, podcast host, and one of the big reasons I started this podcast in the first place.
This chat is equal parts real talk, laughs, and truth bombs, as Elsa shares her journey from owning a hair salon and building multiple businesses, to stepping into the mentoring space - and what she’s learned about success, resilience, and the behind-the-scenes realities of business life.
We talk about what’s changed in business over the years (hello Yellow Pages days), why connection still wins, how personal life always impacts business (even when we try to pretend it doesn’t), and why rural and regional women are becoming a powerful force in Australia.
And of course… a mic-drop reminder to end the year:
The sooner you stop caring what people think, the sooner your life will move forward.
In this episode, we chat about:
- Elsa’s journey: hairdressing, business ownership, and becoming a business mentor
- Why being “the best” isn’t everything - connection matters more than perfection
- How social media changed the game (and why it can feel harder now)
- The common patterns Elsa sees in women in business - especially mums and midlife women
- The fine line between being “authentic” and still feeling professional when life is messy
- Advice for starting a business when you feel time-poor: start with an hour a day
- Mum guilt, family juggle, and making choices that actually suit your season
- Why community (especially in rural/regional areas) is everything - and how women are rising
Where to find Elsa:
Website: elsamitchell.com.au
Instagram: @elsa_mitchell_ (Elsa loves a voice DM)
Connect with Victoria / The Mindful Educator:
Website: victoria-r.com.au
Instagram: @the.victoria.r
Email: hello@victoria-r.com.au
Thanks for listening — and if you’d love to be a guest on the podcast next year, send me a message. I’m already excited for what’s coming in 2026.
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction and Guest Background
00:00:39
Speaker
Hello everyone, welcome back to the Mindful Educator podcast. so today is the last episode of this year. So I've got a very special guest, a woman who I absolutely adore, and that is Elsa Mitchell. So welcome Elsa. Yes, we're going out with a bang, aren't we Yeah, we are. Save the best for last. Definitely, definitely. So thought we might start off. Do you want to just introduce yourself so people know who you are, what you do, and yeah, we'll go from there.
00:01:07
Speaker
Yeah, okay. This is so fun being on the other side of the mic. Normally it's me interviewing people. So, and yeah. um Well, I'm Elsa Mitchell and I am a business mentor and I also have a podcast called, oh, God, am I allowed to it? Bossy bitch. Yeah, you do love to say it. and I work with women and men, but mostly women, all over Australia. I have a bit of a love for rural and regional Australia because I'm a farm girl at heart, and i basically, I teach people how to run a business successfully, and the reason I do that is because I've done that for many years. I owned a hair salon for 14 years and had a building company for
00:01:47
Speaker
I don't know, five or six years. And yeah, it's a very long and twisted tale, but here I am, um you know, trying to build success and wealth for other business owners around
Entrepreneurial Journey and Business Insights
00:02:00
Speaker
Australia.
00:02:00
Speaker
Yeah. And you do a great job at it as well. So Elsa um runs a couple of things. One of them is a mentor Academy, which I've been a part of, which is amazing. And I know you've also got is it MHQ um as well for those that kind of a little bit more advanced. not Yeah.
00:02:17
Speaker
the men and Well, the Mentor Academy, we've started fondly referring to as the Mental Academy. MHQ is in person in Perth. what What was happening was I was finding there was quite a lot of people that were saying to me, I don't really need, like because Mentor Academy comes with quite a lot of educational resources.
00:02:36
Speaker
um piece to it yeah And there was a lot of women that were like, I don't really need the educational piece or I'm not interested in the educational piece, but I would just really love to have some women to connect with because we know it can be very lonely yeah um when you're running your own business or working for yourself. And so was like, oh, okay, I'll just put something together. And it's very tongue in cheek. It's called MHQ and it stands for Millionaire Headquarters. I know it's cringe, but it is meant to be funny. But at the same time, like, you got to put it out there, right? Manifesting. yeah Yeah. I was helping a girlfriend go through her wardrobe. um She's moving house last night. yeah And she was like, what about these? I'm like, girl, we're rich. We're just going to buy new ones, throw them out. Yeah.
00:03:22
Speaker
They knew needed. but but Yeah. Oh, that's so good. So how did you make it? I did. Take it to your make it. I know, right? So were a hairdresser for how many years was that? I was a hairdresser for 20 years. had my own salon for 14. I bought it when I was 25. Yeah. Yeah.
00:03:41
Speaker
yeah So what are kind of some of the big things that you learned during your time when you were having your own hair salon and doing all that type of thing? um I know you've got some wicked stories about different things. So that's one thing about Elsa. She's always got the best stories.
00:03:55
Speaker
Well, I'm prone for the theatrics, you know, and I never let the truth get in the way of a good story, you know. um ah the salon. So i actually started the salon because i wanted to own a business. I didn't really love the hair, which I kind of feel guilty saying that. not that I was a terrible hairdresser, but I used to kind of say there's a thing in hairdresser land and you'll know this, to everybody's been to the hairdresser is you can be a really really, really, really, really good hairdresser. But if you've got a pretty shit personality and people don't connect with you, then you probably are not going to be super successful. Whereas you can be an average hairdresser and have the gift of the gab or, you know, be able to connect with people really well. And, know,
00:04:41
Speaker
you will be fully booked and majorly successful all the time. you know what mean? so I think that I was an average hairdresser and just very good at connecting with people. So um i i literally went into hairdressing at 17 with the intention of setting up my own business. And that's the beauty of when you're 25 and you don't have any children and I didn't have any money, but yeah I managed to con some people into loaning me some, is you have that just fearless,
00:05:11
Speaker
You know, i'm not going to fail. I can do anything. And then you get older and you have kids and you get all this responsibility and you get a mortgage and you crave for that kind of fearless energy ad you know, when you were 25. Definitely. And also I like to talk a lot about back then we didn't have – social media, but we did, no one was really using it. I always felt like I was one of the first businesses on Facebook and I was like, oh wow, this is so exciting because it's free marketing. And then that very quickly changed. yeah So it was so about having to promote your business and not yourself and customer service and taking good care of people was the way you grew your business, you know, whereas now,
Human Connection and Business Success
00:06:00
Speaker
it's a whole different ball game. It's much more personal. Yeah. Much more close to home, which I think is actually a bit harder.
00:06:09
Speaker
Yeah. I like to say was, my businesses were born in the yellow pages days and we used to be so pissed off. We had to spend all the money on the yellow pages, but, um, now we long for those days cause it was so much simpler.
00:06:22
Speaker
Yeah, definitely. And um it's really interesting hearing you talk because I know like you were saying, you know, average hairdresser, but you had a great like personality or the rest of it. And I'm like, isn't that kind of what most successful businesses are anyway, though? Like people don't necessarily have to be the best at what they're doing, but it's more how they present themselves, how you interact with others, all the rest of it. Like those kind of lessons kind of they come through in different things, don't they? Yeah, because people can be quite forgiving, you know, if you make a mistake, if you've been a really good human being, right? So yeah ah even interestingly is I've been, you know, with the AI movement, I've watched quite a few videos from or like masterclasses or whatever you want to call them from the people that are creating the AI software, you know, like the people but that are building ChatGPT, the people that created the iPhone and they're
00:07:18
Speaker
Their stories, and I guess this is a strategy to make us not fear AI, so I am mindful of that, but a lot of what they're saying is kind of tying back into you know, whilst AI can replace a lot of things, it can, it will never replace the human element. And what will always get one person over the line over the next is their, you know, bedside manner, if you want to call it that, the way they do have that human touch, you know, that's not going anywhere. so
00:07:49
Speaker
um Yes, you to answer what you were saying, absolutely right. um I always think if you treat your people, well, it was very Richard Branson, isn't it? You know, like if you look after your staff, they'll look after the clients, you know, it's it's a chain reaction. So i really believe in a lot of his messaging around that. Yeah. And I know like, obviously having been in your world for a few years and stuff, I know that you're very good at connecting people. You're very good at um obviously communicating with people. Like it's, it's one of your really good skills. And I love how you're always like, Oh, I know someone that could help with that. and you know, you're always willing to kind of, yeah, help people collaborate and set up those meets and all the rest of it as well, which is awesome. So there's not, there's not too much of that out there um so much these days, everyone's kind of getting very competitive. So it's lovely that, know, Yeah, it's been a competitive year, hey? Like it's been super competitive. I'm like, what what have you done?
00:08:44
Speaker
When there was a time when we would share each other's stuff on Instagram and promote each other. And yeah, it's just I guess, you know, can use the economy as an excuse, but it has felt very every man for himself over the past year, which is interesting. a little bit sad as well. It's disappointing, yeah. I'm like, what happened to the women supporting women and championing each other? feels like it's kind of gone a bit quiet in that space. Yeah, which, you know, like when you actually see it and witness it firsthand as well, like it's absolutely amazing. When women do get behind each other, like we're pretty unstoppable. It's awesome. Do you know what I mean? love it. And I've always had a bit of a theory that if the human race in general, and not just women, had the ability to be more collaborative can you imagine how much more successful and wealthy we would all be like imagine if you could get five friends and you all chipped in to buy an investment property you know you like the amount of times I see businesses and I'm like oh if you and you could come together but I know they can't because I know that this person over here no way can release any control I'm like, oh, you guys could be huge.
Personal Challenges and Business Resilience
00:10:00
Speaker
Yeah. It's not a skill we possess. Yeah.
00:10:04
Speaker
And if you would have heard the phrase, um never go into business with anybody, especially family or friends. Yeah. It sucks. Like the world would be a different place if we could all just team up and share and figure it out. And I mesh all our skill sets instead of, yeah, facing them off against each other. So, yeah. so with the women that you work with, like, are there any kind of things that you know Because I know that, like, obviously there's a few of us that mums, there's some that aren't. Like, is there anything that you kind of, any themes or common things that often come out? Because you would see a lot of behind the scenes when it comes to people's businesses and people themselves. So is there anything that you've noticed over the years? Yes, definitely. There's two things probably that I could speak to. The first one um is the more the woman that's kind of done raising the kids, maybe they ran their fifties and I call it their time. So they've kind of spent a lot of time maybe supporting their partners or being a mom or, um you know, prioritizing everybody else or looking after sick parents, whatever it is. And then suddenly it gets to midlife and there becomes this like,
00:11:13
Speaker
They just, they fire up, right? They're like, what's next? I want to learn. um and quite often what happens is their partners are of winding down. They're winding up and they're winding down because they're like, I've been working my whole life. I'm done. I just want to go fishing and drink beer.
00:11:29
Speaker
that, that's been a very, very, very strong theme that I've seen come through. The second thing that I have noticed is, and this can take a little while, usually when I work with people and as I get to know them, and it takes ages to get to know someone, like really get to know someone, right?
00:11:50
Speaker
We forget that. um You know, you can be married for a few years and be like, what the hell? So as I really get to know people and I peel back the layers and peel back the layers and peel back the layers, what I notice is then there's always something personal, something in their private life that's happened or is going on that then it, of course, impacts their business, right? But obviously people are deeply, they don't want share. They want share if, you know, they've got some not so nice things going on or,
00:12:26
Speaker
Maybe their husband's got a gambling problem and they're in debt. even And so i can I can come in and go, hang on, you've got this huge business earning millions of dollars. It's amazing. So I can be scratching my head going, what's what's the missing piece here? why is and Why are we not making this shift or getting it where we need to be? And then the minute I can come find out what's going on behind the scenes, it all makes sense. I'm like, oh, I get it now. Okay, you've this is holding you back because of X, Y, and Z. You're spread thin because of X, Y, and Z, or you've been burnt, or... someone's let you down or
Balancing Life and Business
00:13:00
Speaker
you're you know there's there's always always ah something in the background and even like we've talked about this many times victoria is like if you've been burnt out in the past yeah then that fear of like i don't want to ever be in that situation again so you sit in this like oh kind of stuck because you're so scared of doing too much so
00:13:22
Speaker
Yeah, it is very, very interesting. So it's almost like if you could fast forward through the yeah the dating phase and get to the nitty-gritty at the start.
00:13:33
Speaker
Yeah. And that's one thing like. People are always aware that that's what's holding them back. Do you know what mean? Yeah. Because I know a lot of your clients, like a lot of us quite long-term clients as well. So you really get to know us and, yeah, our little quirks and all the rest of it as well. You'll be like, oh, yeah. Yeah. how far I can push people and not push them. Yeah. Oh, maybe I need to step back a little bit this time. Yeah. One of the girls said to me the other day, just feel like you've never really like roasted me, like given it to me. And I was like, oh, well, I didn't think you were ready. But now that you're asking. But if you want I'll give it to you. But buckle up because you asked me to roast, not roast you, but just be very firm and kind of, I guess, honest in what really think. And I'm like, okay.
00:14:19
Speaker
But when you do roast, you always do it in such a loving way. A little dash of humor thrown in, so it works well. I always say it's like, yeah, taking a dump on your chest and then throwing glitter on it. Love it.
00:14:33
Speaker
Yeah. love it Just that imagery. that but ah So what made you decide to do all these, like to become a business mentor, to do all this? I know you've got a bit of a background there and I'm not, it's up to if you want to share it, but yeah. It's kind of so weird because I never wanted to be a business mentor. That was, it was not something I ever set out to do.
00:14:58
Speaker
i kind of spent about five years in limbo land knowing that I was meant to do something else, but wasn't really sure what. It's very freaking hard when you've got successful businesses that are making good money that are very, you know, not easy, but easy.
00:15:16
Speaker
easy because you've got your systems, you've got your very routine, you know, it works, what doesn't work. Like it's like become second nature. So to walk away from that is really, really hard. And so i spent about five years with the salon and the building company and kind of going, i feel like there's another thing, but I couldn't quite work it out. And then,
00:15:34
Speaker
What I did notice was that um in having completely different businesses that they both had the same foundations pretty much, right, to make them tick, the same kind of core methods, values, you know, even energetically and the type of makeup you have to be as a human being to make it work. And then was blogging long time ago. where That was a really cool thing to do for
Empowerment and Future Plans
00:16:00
Speaker
like five seconds. Yeah. But I was blogging for my business and nobody else was blogging for that. I'm always doing a cool thing when it's not cool. I love that. Yeah. And then, and then blogging died and everybody then started blogging for their business. Cause what we worked out was that that, um, was really good for search, um, engine. So Google search. So my businesses were always popping up number one for lots of search terms. And that was a really great way for me to grow my business. So I have a very weird and unique set of skills. And then so through the blogging kind of world, my close girlfriend, Christy Morton and I, Christy had left her corporate accounting, you know, in the city, big job, like, you know, had kids, started blogging as well. became a massive nerd building websites and was really good in the tech space. And we were just having a lot of conversations around, we didn't know many women that were making enough money in their businesses to support themselves or their family, like were.
00:17:05
Speaker
And we wanted to change that. So we kind of started doing this thing together. um We didn't really know what we were doing or where it was going to go. we kind of didn't feel right at the start either, but we're like, we'll just keep throwing things out because we were pretty sure it would just land where it was meant to. And then we started traveling up to the...
00:17:25
Speaker
Pilbara and the Kimberley and all over regional WA running workshops. Christy would do a lot of the nerdy stuff like websites, SEO, and I would do a bit of social media or other business-y type things that were in my um blogging, obviously, which was in my wheelhouse. And then Christy got sick and um she got breast cancer and she passed away. Within 18 months of her diagnosis, she was 30 years seven when she got diagnosed on the 1st of the 11th and yeah 18 months later so she had three little girls um and that obviously was a complete game changer for me in my life and sold my salon left my marriage And the building business. And yeah, kind of that all happened within about six months, Christy passing away, and leaving my marriage.
00:18:19
Speaker
So I went from having, you know, this steady income and a home and all of these things to nothing. Yeah. um And so I jumped up the cliff and I went all in. Yeah.
00:18:32
Speaker
You did indeed. yeah but and this is just where I landed, I think, you know, um and it's interesting because I thought it would be a lot like hairdressing, you know, because all you do is gossip all day long and talk, but actually it's nothing like hairdressing because I did the talking all day long, right?
00:18:53
Speaker
and yeah Normally I'd be listening to my clients tell me all their juicy goss and I'd just be smiling and nodding and laughing. yeah But now I've realized that I have, it's my energy, it's my job to um lift up others, inspire others. And if I'm off my game, then I've got nothing to offer. you know what i mean? So yeah know I have to be so mindful that my energy is good so that I can meet my clients where they need to be at.
00:19:22
Speaker
Yeah. Um, which is interesting because obviously I went through the hardest years of my life ever, like grieving and going through a horrible divorce, um,
00:19:33
Speaker
you know, it was the worst, the absolute worst. And in amongst that, I was trying to be the best version of myself. yeah ah yeah Like, yeah, so literally some of the most stressful experiences you can ever go through. And there you are, like, yeah, smiling my way through it. You know what people was, this is what you said before. People were so good. You know, like,
00:19:57
Speaker
You know i could burst into tears. i You know people were amazing. Like, I think it's such a fine line to walk because we get told to be our raw and authentic selves, you know, in our marketing for our business. But by the same token, if you're suffering or you're struggling, whether it's grief or illness or...
00:20:18
Speaker
divorce or whatever it is, you also are very mindful that you don't want your audience going, oh my gosh, she's a hot mess. I don't want to work with her because you're like, I still got to pay the bills. Yeah. And it's such a fine line, isn't it? It's like showing that vulnerability, but also, you Yeah, it's like, oh, okay, thought how's that actually going to be received, though? Yeah, you're like, I'm a hot mess, but hey, I'm not too much of a hot mess. I can still do a really good job in my business. And know my stuff. Yeah, yeah. yeah like ah I can cry and give good advice the same time. Well, it's an energetic exchange, right? And that's not just with what I'm doing now. I think that's with every business. Yeah.
00:20:56
Speaker
Right? If your energy is good, that trick that trickles through. Yeah. So how do you like, how do you navigate that? Cause I know that obviously you've got children as well. You've got children at various ages, you're doing all the things. Like, how do you actually navigate all this whilst running a business? Like, is there anything in particular that works for you? you finding you just kind of on the fly? We'll make it up each week. I think there's,
00:21:22
Speaker
ah i think there's um Yeah, it's it's not easy, let me tell you, and because we have five kids in our house and not only do we have five kids, but they are overachievers. So we have sport all the time and...
00:21:39
Speaker
they work and they have, they're always there. sound like I'm complaining, but I'm academically really strong. They're always winning awards at school. um So yeah, you're showing up for a lot of things. It's not just a drop you off at school and that's it. It's like, Oh, we're doing all the extracurricular as well. I was, I've been saying this week, you know, we talk about the wheel of life, right. yeah Where you, you know, you've got your parenting or, your friends work, you know, and it's like, where are you at with each one? And I've been saying, well, this week my parenting part piece of the pie is colored in the whole way. yeah But everything else is empty because I've been showing up for my kids this week, yeah but I've not gotten any work done. So think I've had to learn to stop apologizing. I feel like i'm always saying, oh, I'm really sorry. I've been really busy. I'm really sorry. I had this, I'm like, I've just got to stop apologizing. you know what I mean? Like life is busy. We're allowed to not be perfect all the time. yeah um it is absolutely a juggle. And I think it's just getting to know yourself.
00:22:44
Speaker
But you have to want things bad enough, right? Like you che this is a choice I've made. Yeah. I've made a choice to have this full, full, full life. So um i just am now, you know, I've learned that at the age of 43, no longer need to be the last person standing at a party You can leave a little earlier. I don't have to be the last person there. I actually, Elsa, you can go home early. You don't yeah have to be the party girl anymore. You know, naps. I'm allowed to have a day nap. yeah I think, yeah, there's no rules. You just have to do what works for you. I love to sleep.
00:23:24
Speaker
Yeah, that's good. Naps and day naps. Bring it on. You know, you read the 5 a.m. club and all those people like, you know, to be successful, you'd be up at 5 a.m. and journal and do all the things. And I'm like, mate, I need to sleep.
00:23:35
Speaker
Yeah.
00:23:38
Speaker
Me and 5am don't mix. No. I'm like, who are those sickos getting up at the time? Good on you if you can. I used to be able to, you but the last few years, no I got up at 6am to drop my daughters at the Victoria's Secret store opening at Karen Up. So I'm feeling like a winner today. yeah And like, you're almost in your afternoon already. Yeah. Feels like well and truly nap time. Yeah. You've lived a full day.
00:24:05
Speaker
Exactly. Yeah. Oh, that's so good. So what would you say, like if people are coming to you and they're like, oh, you know, else so I want to start my own business, but you know, I'm a mom, I'm doing this, I'm doing that. Like, would you have any suggestions for them? What would you say to them if they wanted to get started in this sort of area?
00:24:22
Speaker
That's a really good question. I'm glad you asked that because I know for me, i spent so many years kind of going, i ah want to do this thing. I don't really know what it looks like. I don't really know where to start and I don't have time. Right. I don't have, I don't have enough time. And someone once said to me, well, can you do an hour a day, an hour a day? And I was like,
00:24:41
Speaker
Okay, yeah, I can. They'll like start there. So that's always my advice to people now is like an hour a day or half an hour a day. It's whatever you prioritize, right? It's like when you say I don't have time to exercise. But when you prioritize it, when you really like feel like crap and you're like, I am going to make this a priority, then you find that time. so Yeah, that's my number one thing. If you're time poor, just even half an hour a day. yeah The other piece of advice I will give is and I don't say this to put anybody off, but I think there's a lot of fairy tales around having a business and no one really talks about that. It's actually quite, you've got to be very resilient.
00:25:27
Speaker
Yep. And you've got to have a lot of courage and and you need to have a thick skin and be prepared to do all the things and know that it takes time. i think everybody wants this quick win, but it takes, i always like to say, yeah know, it can take 10 years to become an overnight success.
00:25:46
Speaker
Yeah. You usually only get the the success bit at the end. You don't get all the years of when somebody else tried to start 10 other businesses and this is the one that just landed, you know? no Yeah. so So the want has to outweigh the fear.
00:26:06
Speaker
You have to want it so bad that you will at all turns when it gets tricky or hard or you're tired or your stuff comes up, your money blocks, your imposter syndrome, your possibility your fears of failing, your fears of succeeding, all those things come up for you. You've got to want that business so bad that you will do anything to navigate through those but both energetic blocks but also other blocks, you know, yeah all the things that could potentially happen. Yeah.
00:26:42
Speaker
And I think this is what people don't realise as well. Like I know so often you see on Instagram or Facebook, you know, people are like, oh, I made this, you know, these many millions and this and that. And people probably don't realise exactly what's gone into actually them getting there to that point as well. They don't know like all the, for lack of a better word, hustle that's gone on behind the scenes or whatever it might have been or how many years they've been like chipping away at it as well. So, yeah, I think there is kind of like this glorified like oh this is amazing like I just start my own business and the money's gonna come rolling in yeah I don't believe in passive income I don't believe in the four-hour work week I'm like if that's your a vibe that's cool but that's that's I'm yeah I'm more about the real to talk and yeah I get spoken about more behind closed doors right but this is that thing because everybody wants to create the illusion of success so that
00:27:39
Speaker
that's what people think. And then they, you know, um I remember I had a girl when I went to my salon, I went to her boarding school with and she rang up one day out of the blue, hadn't seen her for like 20 years. And she was like, Oh, hi Elsa, it's Nikki. And I was like, Oh, cool. Um, like 30 Nikki's that come to this. She's like, we went to school together. And I was like, still not getting it. And, um, anyway, she, um,
00:28:06
Speaker
she said, oh, my God, um you just look like you're doing so well on social media. And I was like, yeah, that's what it's meant to make you think. Yeah, yeah. That's not the start. I was like, yeah, my business is doing really well, but my personal life behind the scenes is an absolute shit show. Sorry. Everything else is kind of not swear on this podcast because I'm like, I know mine's marked explicit, but yours isn't. That's fine.
00:28:33
Speaker
Yeah. And this is the thing, isn't it? Like, and I know, especially, you know, having children, like for both of us, at you know, there are going to be times, like you said, where it's okay. The work's going to have to pause. We're going to have to focus our attention on our family and our children or whatever it might be. So I think it's, it's so nice that you're actually out here being really realistic about it instead of being like, Oh,
00:28:54
Speaker
ah It's all like, yeah, la this is amazing. It's like, well no, there there is a reality to it. Like we have to, we have to be realistic and going, yeah, at times my family is going to be a priority. Other times the business will be a priority. Like it's yeah, that juggling act, isn't it? Really? So yeah. And I heard something really good recently, actually. Somebody said this and I went, oh, that's, and it's not the first time I've heard this. So it's a good reminder is if when your kids are old enough, you know, to have that conversation. So, you know, I at the dinner table be like, okay, well, this is where my business is at now. Hmm.
00:29:29
Speaker
If I were to make it bigger, then it would mean, in the all the positives, we'd have more money. yeah We can go on nicer holidays. I can buy you more things um or not, you know.
00:29:45
Speaker
You don't need more things. I want to spoil them. Yeah. ah But on the flip side of that, that means I can't pick up from school every day. You're going to have to get the bus. You might have to walk. Yeah. Can't always do all these things. You're going to have to step up. So what do we as a family just want? want What do we decide is best for us? And I can guarantee you my kids are going to say, we'll get the bus home. Yeah. Yeah.
00:30:11
Speaker
because we want the money. yes Bring us all the holidays. Yeah. i mean, that's just my family, but yeah other other, you know. and I love that you kind of, you're bringing them into that decision making as well. That's actually a really good idea. so Yeah. I've heard some great stories from wildly, wildly successful women that have said, you know, they got ah an inheritance or a payout for something and they've sat down with their, know,
00:30:38
Speaker
families and their kids and gone, okay, i we can either invest it in a business and this is what that would look like, or we can buy a house. And they've let their kids be a part of that decision. Obviously this wouldn't work for everybody, but I really love that because yeah and then it alleviates a lot of that mum guilt, right? Yeah. If you're like, well, we talked about this and we decided as a family, yeah you know, you guys, they're kids. I understand. They don't always understand they're not always ready for those things, but it doesn't hurt, does it?
00:31:10
Speaker
No. And, yeah, oh, my gosh, the mum guilt. The never-ending mum guilt. Exactly. i know. i suppose, yeah, and it gives them that, um yeah, like I mean, the kids like to be involved. They like to feel like they're a part of what's going on. So it's giving them that responsibility as well. It's like, okay, well, yeah, you you know, we're making this decision as a family. So i really like that. That's cool. Yeah, it is good advice. It's not mine. I've stolen it, but I do really like it. Yeah.
00:31:38
Speaker
Yeah. My son, ah was apparently they did podcasting at school this week. ah Yeah. And he said to his teacher, my mum has a podcast. We
00:31:50
Speaker
already we only do that. And, yeah, that's that's what she does for her business. And his teacher was like, oh, I love podcasts. And my partner texted me and he's like, uh-oh, the teacher knows about your podcast.
00:32:07
Speaker
and i And I was like, I wonder if you remembered what the name of it was. was because yeah he's such a like goody two shoes. I can't imagine him like wanting to say bossy bitch to his teacher. He would have been too embarrassed. So yeah pretty funny. Oh, that's so cute though. I love that they're doing podcasting. How awesome for them.
00:32:28
Speaker
It is very cool, yeah. think when they're, like, younger, like primary school age, they love it. And then when it gets to teenage, like that 13, 14, they're like, oh, my gosh, mum, so embarrassing. don't want anyone to know you've got a podcast. And then they circle back again to being like, oh, actually. Do your kids listen to yours?
00:32:49
Speaker
Not anymore. um Apparently that one of them said the other day, oh their friends' mums do because I make the show up. I made all their friends subscribe ah like a like a few years ago. Yeah. And they reckon that all their parents have, like, subscribed as well. Yeah. um Yeah, I hope – I think they're just so over it. In the beginning they did, but, you know, because it would be come on in the car and stuff because it would on my playlist. So now when it comes on, everyone's like, oh, my gosh, turn it off. Yeah.
00:33:23
Speaker
I must admit one of my kids is um like keeps trying to listen to it. I'm like, oh I'm like, oh, I can't hear it. So funny, isn't it? So hard to listen to your own voice. I know. It's so funny, but yeah. Oh, that's so good. So if people are wanting to start and out in business, like how can you actually help them? What do you, what's your role in all this?
00:33:44
Speaker
What would you? oh good question. um I, it kind of looks different for everybody, but the way, cause in my life, industry can be a bit shady um you know i'm not into the whole follow my blueprint i've got the strategy make six that's not me i think everybody's different and what works for one doesn't always work for the other right um because it just it just doesn't so whilst there's core foundations so i'm very into the core foundations and there's there aren't some non-negotiables right like
00:34:18
Speaker
There are certain things you have to do and have to have. you you can't avoid those things, whether you like it or not. So I'm very into let's get those foundations right from the start. And then ah a lot of it is giving people the courage and validation that they're seeking. Like, what do you think about this? Or is this a good idea? Or how should i execute this plan?
00:34:42
Speaker
Yep. So I guess a lot of strategy, um a lot of the clarity. Accountability is a big thing um because when people are paying me money and they know that they've got to jump on a call with me, they have to have done the things that they've said they're going to do I kind of say it's like when you hire a nutritionist. Like if you aren't feeling healthy, you know what you need to do. You need to stop eating burgers and drinking Coke and beer. We know that.
00:35:09
Speaker
But if you've paid a nutritionist and you're jumping on a weekly call, you might not eat the pie the night before if you know you've got to tell you're going to eat the pie. You know, like yeah it's a similar thing. It's like I just am like, right.
00:35:24
Speaker
But I think as well the other thing for people is they don't know where to start. Like there's so many things, so many things. Like the mountain is huge when you're putting a business together or even when you've been in business for a million years because we're moving in a really rapidly changing world. So therefore then they often get stuck and don't do anything. So I'm like, here's where we start yeah and we layer. So like to say we pull it all out, all your ideas, what you're willing to do, what you're not willing to do, what's in your maybe bucket. um And if you're not willing to do bucket is the most full, then we've got problems. Okay. start a business you should probably get a job um and then it's like we put the put all the pieces together like a jigsaw puzzle so I help people go this is the next step then this is the next step and this is what to prioritize and I'm just that sounding board how does this look and then as well like you said I am the master connector so I'm like you need to speak to this person you need to speak to this person and you need to collaborate with them um
00:36:27
Speaker
yeah, that is something that i I think is one of my strengths yeah is the connecting of people. Yeah. Yeah. And that's so good as well. Cause yeah, it is, it's so overwhelming when you're wanting to start a business and yeah, like you said, sometimes you just like, where do I actually start? How do I actually do all this? And yeah, it's, it's a bit of a process. So it's good to know that you're there to be able to help people kind of through that and give them a bit more clarity than, perhaps It's like if you were flying a plane for the first time, right, and you jumped in and you looked at all the buttons on the board, on the dashboard, and there's like a million buttons and you wouldn't even know which ones to push. Yeah. That's like starting a business. I'm like, push this button, pull this lever, you know, then we figure out how to take off. Yeah, yeah that's awesome. And I know one of the things that you've um you've mentioned you've been doing a bit of as well is going like to the more regional areas too and speaking to people there. And how are you finding all that? like's yeah What's been happening in those regions that you're loving the most at the moment?
00:37:29
Speaker
I love, because I'm a farm girl at heart. um I was born and raised in the country. My family's still in the country. I would be in the country if it weren't for my blended family. um So they are just my people. I find when I do the rural regional type stuff, it's different type of connection. It's very, feels very authentic. um I feel like I make deeper connections. Yeah.
00:37:56
Speaker
real They're my people. Yeah. but They are just what they get me. They get my jokes. They get my sense of humor. um Not every, you know, not everybody always gets me and that's okay. um But out there and they appreciate you showing up because we forget that, you know, yes, you can learn everything online, but not everybody learns that way. Yeah.
00:38:21
Speaker
And not everybody wants to learn that way. you know what I mean? So there's still visual learners. There's still, I like to learn by, i will still show up to an old school event in person because that's how I like to consume information and knowledge.
00:38:35
Speaker
I don't like to, I will fall asleep watching online courses. I don't want to read and learn. yeah i want to go to something and connect in person. and I think that ah connection and community is so important prevalent in the country. So therefore, when I show up there, I feel that it's more appreciated. It's more and a deeper connection. yeah.
00:39:02
Speaker
Yeah. And i think, yeah, it definitely is appreciated because even, you know, only a couple of hours from Perth where where I am, but even getting people to come up sometimes can be such a mission. So the fact that you're willing to go to these areas to bring your knowledge and all, all that you bring, like that's amazing. And I'm sure. Yeah, definitely. I always say do the things that your competitors aren't willing to do um Yes. But ah where was I going with this? I think the, the,
00:39:30
Speaker
ah Rural communities, particularly the women, they've become very fierce. That's become a very sacred, almost like a secret society because, you know, that is the perks of the online space. It's given a real voice to rural women. And peace there's so many people doing some phenomenal things in that space. So it's pretty cool. It's pretty exciting. And, you know, it's not easy to tap into those communities sometimes as an outsider because we're very – strong on advocating for supporting local. yeah ah Yeah. Yeah. So even I sometimes feel like a bit, oh, don't want to step on anyone's toes, but
00:40:12
Speaker
It's a hard – they're hard communities to infiltrate because they are fiercely loyal. They are fiercely supportive. um And that's pretty awesome. And they they're certainly um ah a strong voice, I feel, that's rising in Australia. And i that's pretty awesome. There's yeah some pretty dynamic – um And I say the women because I feel like traditionally we know that women in the country, we're baking in the kitchen doing aerobics.
00:40:44
Speaker
Not anymore, my friend. Well, we may still be doing some of that, but we're also doing unstuffed. opportunities weren't available right they just weren't because what were you gonna there was no you know there's two things in town a bank and a hospital you know if you're lucky yeah you know yeah it was not a lot of opportunity for women to create a career or start a business now there's so much opportunity because there's so much available on the online space you know which is awesome and it's people kind of I think
00:41:19
Speaker
have really lent into that ah supporting Australian businesses and women supporting other rural women, you know, the the values behind people's buying decisions have strengthened significantly, which is one of the perks of social media.
00:41:38
Speaker
Yes, yes. Yeah, we've got to focus on the positives. I love Oh, awesome. Thank you, Elsa. I'm just a bit conscious of time because I know we've been chatting for a little while. And I will go for days, Victoria. So you just ring that end of the Oscar bell, you know, when they're like, that's enough.
00:41:57
Speaker
Well, I do have to ask a couple more things. So firstly, if people are interested in working with you, where can they find you? I love a voice message. So, i mean, come and stalk my website. I'm an open book. I have my pricing, loud and proud. yeah I don't make you dig for anything. So you can come and check out my website, which is just elsamitchell.com.au or same on Instagram is my favorite platform, Elsa Mitchell. And I love a voice DM. So slide into my DMs anytime. Yeah.
00:42:26
Speaker
yeah Awesome. And lastly, if you could leave the listeners with one piece of advice, what would that be? o ah The sooner you stop caring about what other people think, the sooner you will succeed.
00:42:40
Speaker
or your life will move forward or you will have growth. ah love that. And that's so true. It's so true. Because I was that person. and It wasn't until Christy died that I went, you know what? Life's too short. We sweat the small stuff and it only stops ourselves from being where we should be or want to be, want to be.
00:43:02
Speaker
Yeah. Oh, I love that, Elsa. Thank you. And thank you so much for coming on today and having a chat. Thank you for having me. Anytime. And so, yeah, that's that's our last episode for this year. That's crazy.
00:43:15
Speaker
it's a big thanks to Elsa that I actually started the podcast as well. So it was a very, very thing. I know. feel a bit emotional because we mapped out this and we went back and forward thinking of names for the podcast and all the things. And look at us now. We're wrapping up a whole season. I know. This is the 30th episode. You've done so well. You should be very, very proud yourself.
00:43:39
Speaker
Thank you. I guess, like I said, that yeah, team effort, team effort. Wow. You've had some pretty amazing guests on so far and that's not nothing. So up to you, Victoria. That's awesome. Yeah. And I'm, yeah, I'm excited to see who we can get on for next year as well. So if anyone's listening, that's like, yeah, I'm i'm keen.
00:43:58
Speaker
Please let me know it because i loved him I love having a chat. Awesome. All right. Thanks everyone.