Today marks 3 years since I launched my own business, and there's not a day that goes by I don't continue to learn, be proud, pleased and even more uncertain - all at the very same time!

To mark the occasion I wanted to share what I've learnt for others who might have taken that leap, or better still - for those considering it, yet hamstrung by the 'great unknown' that lies on the other side...

Yesterday I got to see 20 amazing individuals roll into Melbourne after 6 days of riding a total of 800km's around country Victoria, in temperatures nearing 40 degrees...

I only witnessed a fraction of the week they had, but it certainly moved me. And this photo captures one of those moments. The 'Rider of the week' taking a moment during his acceptance speech, and an arm of support reaches out to him.

This photo depicts what I know to be true...

Of all the km's I've run the last few years - I've learnt more about 'life' than I have about 'running'.

And I was again privileged to line up at the start line of another marathon (#5) in Sydney on the 17th of September.

I learnt a hell of a lot in the weeks and days leading up to it, during the race itself, and reflecting afterwards. So I wanted to share a few of these learnings with you - incase any resonate, in life, or running...

This is a quote I heard in a movie... and I just love it!

For context - it was advice given by a coach just moments before a race. And the runner did do something marvellous! But they're words that lend themselves to absolutely anything, not just running...

Greatness has no time limit.

This quote isn't mine, but one that continues to inspire me after seeing it at the 35km mark of the London Marathon earlier this year. Completely spent - I let go of chasing a 'time', realising greatness was about so much more...

Last night I had the great privilege of hearing from 5 inspirational speakers at the ICMI Women in Leadership Showcase. All incredible women, making a difference in their own way.

Amongst them was one of my all time favourites Anna Meares OAM. I was even one of those annoying guests that loitered around until the very end - determined not to miss the chance to meet her and mumble out some words of thanks, just before she ‘left the building’. And I’m so glad I did...

This blog was inspired by a beautiful friend, Bruce. We caught up a few days ago and had a brilliant chat about 'life'. You know those people who are so humble about life and full of wisdom, they just offer bite chunks of it to you in such a subtle way... Bruce is one of those lovely characters.

I shared with him my new brand I'd planned to launch in the coming days, and of my decision to move on from a brilliant business I’d been working with, to make space to follow my passion and do more of my own thing. Despite having already made these decisions I could still sense an element of doubt and hesitation in my voice.

It was the same doubt and hesitation I had earlier that same day...

And what a privilege it was to watch 2 of the greats stepping it up tonight.

So much has and will be written about them, as it should be, but above all, I believe these 2 set the most brilliant example of 'class, commitment & courage'.

As Roger gives a little blow to his finger tips - cooling the sweat before he receives serve... Rafa very indiscreetly pulls out a wedgy... But hey, whatever works...

Ironically inspired by taking on something BIG - I found it was the ‘little things’ that actually stayed with me in the days that followed.

That something big was my 4th Marathon – back where it all started, the Melbourne Marathon, where I ran my 1st one 8 years ago.

Those nut bags who choose to take things like this on, all go through various journeys to get there, and my lead up certainly wasn’t ideal... With about 6 weeks to go I over did it...

When I contemplated what I might call my business - I was fresh through an Ironman finishing line, and my thing was and still is about 'Being the Difference'. It's at the heart of all I do - it's about helping people realise their potential, being bigger versions of themselves - and the part I hope I am, and can play in that.

But what did 'Be the Difference' mean from a business offering perspective? It didn't quite cut the mustard for a business name, so I pondered some more... The name had to have 'marketing' in there, it's what I'd done for nearly 20 years... (yes I am now that old to quote 20 years ago...!), and it was what I knew, and loved!

But I'd grown beyond just 'marketing' expertise now...

"How are you? - Busy. I'm soooo very busy..." this conversation played out for you recently? I'm as guilty as anyone, but I'd like to change that and challenge the use of 'busy' and 'no time' from the pallet of words we choose to use...

The truth is we are all busy, doing lots of stuff, and it does often feel like we have 'no time'. We get caught up in the rat race of life, and that my friends isn't going to change... the pace of the world around us is speeding up, not slowing down. We often just bounce from one thing to the next, from one person to the next, one location to the next.

The busy-ness of life is an occupational hazard...

A recent conversation really got me thinking… (as they often do!). I was mid workout when I started chatting with someone about what we both did on the work front. We had something in common – for a long time we both worked for other businesses, and were now doing our own thing - doing something we loved, on our terms.

“I’m so happy I’m now the master of my own destiny” - he said. And my response was like a knee jerk reaction - “Yes me too”.

But it was funny, as those words came out they didn't quite feel right and I began pondering on this whole concept of masters of our destiny...

As I celebrate 12 months on from pressing the 'launch' button on Marketing Energizers, I reflect on lots of things, but none more so than the one action I took that was by far the most pivotal. The one thing I did that allowed both the preceding actions,  and subsequent actions, to be fully realized and all bring me to where I am today, doing what I am doing today.

It's the one we often put off, we shy away from, we avoid at all costs. We take the easy route and look the other way. We stick to the certainty of what we know, instead of the uncertainty that doing this one thing will most likely result in...

Every day I become more in awe of how much inspiration, strength and spirit we can draw from kids. And for that reason I am dedicating this one to ‘The Little Champions’.

As they grow they’re so focused on trying to fit into our boots, but I believe it’s us big kids, who should strive to fit into theirs. If we measure boot size in spirit and strength - not length, these guys have oodles of it. It should be bottled in those single digit years...

How many times do we rely on "other people" to make us feel good? "Other things" to make us feel good?

“We’ll be happy when we see xx, when we hear xx, when we get xx, or when we feel xx”.

If you listen to conversations around you - really listen, you might be surprised at how often this actually plays out… with others, and more importantly with ourselves!

You know the problem here? Most of these elements are out of our control. We’re relying on the environment around us to make us feel good...

I recently celebrated my 40th birthday... A number I thought was so very old, not that many years ago. Then as it got closer, for various reasons, I became to appreciate the privilege it was to reach such a milestone. And it was one I wanted to celebrate, not let pass quietly by, like we too often do.

My little nephew Will answered the phone on his 7th birthday...

I’ve just spent the last 3 days with the most incredible group of people.

When I first met Sam Cawthorn last year, I felt slightly embarrassed I’d not heard much about this Young Australian of the Year (sorry Sam!). Some 10 years ago he’d had a major car crash (involving a head on with a truck...), and was pronounced dead. He was resuscitated, but left with an amputated right arm and a permanent disability in his right leg, and has gone on to make his own unique difference to the world encouraging others to ‘bounce forward’, using his story as a platform to inspire and encourage others to share theirs...

As Australia Day nears, in a country full of patriotism at home and abroad, I thought it fitting to write about 'pride', and the impact it can have on us - deep, deep within us.

It’s the kind of pride that brings a smile to your heart, a tingly sensation to your body, a little height to your torso, and goose bumps all over. We’ve all had moments like these. And if you've let yourself really 'feel it', it's something you can't forget, you don't want to forget...

Granted they do provide shelter, and we are lucky to live in a country where they are commonplace, but for the purpose of this blog stay with me…

Shelter. That is their purpose. That’s what a roof does – it shelters us.

It shelters and protects us. It keeps us safe and comfortable. It allows us to live in artificial like conditions – where we control the temperature, the humidity, the sound and wind factors…

If this is sounding a little un-natural, that’s because it is...