The Business Your Way Podcast

After running a very successful business herself, Sandra Julian is more passionate than ever about helping woman and minority populations create a business that gives them freedom. The Business Your Way Podcast is about throwing out the traditional rule book and learning how to run YOUR business YOUR way. 

Don’t you just shake your head about the unbelievable journeys life takes you on? I mean, it happens to all of us at some stage. When you’re in the thick of it, it may feel like a mad rollercoaster. All you can do is hang on, try to roll with it and trust that your instincts are on the mark. But when you look back, you shake your head and wonder how all this happened… to YOU. 

My own business story is exactly like that. I honestly didn’t roll out of bed one morning thinking that today was a good day to start a business. Truth be told, I just happened to be at the right place at the right time, with the right skills, surrounded by the right people. Opportunity knocked, and I simply said… ‘Oh Yeah, I’m coming!’

Crazy, right!? 

But while I simply walked into a door that was opened for me, the fact that I turned it into a successful business with 12 people across 2 cities turning over 2.5 million dollars was entirely my own doing. My secret? I remained curious and solution focussed the entire way through. 

But let’s start at the beginning. 

This is me!

We’re 14 October 1999. I’m nine months pregnant with my second daughter and there I was, setting up conference rooms and the registration booth for the very first Maori Economic Development Conference. It was an exciting time, and I was all geared up to return the day after for the actual conference. My daughter decided otherwise….

But out of that conference followed one or two events per year. It wasn’t my sole focus by any means;  I was also offering operational support for people starting out in business. Until I became aware that I needed some focus. My business in domestic business events was born. It turned into a success that exceeded my wildest expectations.

The constant throughout the entire journey was finding the answer to the question: ‘How do I do that?’ I was managing a constantly evolving operation and, as a result, I was always figuring things out.

Business MY Way

I was never one to follow the rules, and what was common practice in business didn’t resonate with me. As a person, I don’t care too much about everybody else. I was only interested in what would work for me and for my clients. If I was going to do it, it was going to be in a way that made sense to me. Simple as that.

Looking back, I had plenty of moments where I had people looking at me strangely, clearly thinking, ’What planet are you on, lady?’. But time after time, I came up with an idea that would move my business forward.

I vividly recall a conversation about a phone system servicing two business locations. It just didn’t exist. Interestingly enough, we all use it today. Who knows what our world will look like in 10 years’ time?

The key is to take your blinkers off; pay attention to your changing needs, but also to the forever changing world. It’s my solid belief that the ability to change leads to longevity in business. With 50% of start-up business not surviving their first 5 years, that’s an important consideration.

Business YOUR Way

20 years later, and I’m looking back at all this knowledge and experience. Once again, my focus is shifting towards support for growth stage online business owners to streamline and scale your business with strategy and systems that work for YOU. Who says you need to do it this or that way?

Your business should work for the life YOU want and the lifestyle YOU envision, rather than the other way around. It should never be a shackle around your ankles. When done well, your business should give you:

• Freedom of Time
• Freedom of Location
• Financial Freedom

And it’s my goal to help women and minority populations to create a business that gives you freedom. Pie in the sky? I’m the living proof it’s not.

The Business Your Way Podcast

So…

Here I am. Sandra Julian.

Ex-Legal Executive for top law firms in Australia and New Zealand, past Teacher of Adults Business Admin and Computing, successful owner of ‘Auaha Business Events’ and proud mama of ‘Business Your Way’ and the Business Your Way Podcast.

I’m a big fan of podcasts myself because they take you behind the scenes of how business are operated and how they are overcoming challenges. The organised AND the messy. And I want to be that person for you.

So let’s give the traditional rule book the boot and learn to do business YOUR way.

Here’s a start: In my opinion, there are 4 key focus area that you need to put time and energy in. How you piece them together is as unique as you are yourself. Those key fundamentals are:

• Lead your business
• Grow your business
• Deliver your service
• Run your business

Sounds (too) simple?

Maybe it is, maybe it’s not. We’ll find out in the next episode of the ‘Business Your Way’ Podcast.

Until then, be well and be safe wherever in the world you call home.