The spark that lights my fire every day is my boutique online mailorder business. It ticks the best box of all – I love what I do. These are my stories about my adventures in business. The people I meet. The customers I serve. Quirky tales about my products. And my enchanting lifestyle on my remote property in rural Australia with my dogsx3, my partner Victor and my rambling country garden under my beautiful BIG sky.

I’m not talking about brokering world peace when I ask you that question.

I’m talking about the passion you, me and the likes of Australian Olympic Swimming Champion Ian Thorpe feel, that makes us want to do something spectacularly well.

You see, there’s only a thin divide between us.

And champions like Ian Thorpe.

Some of us excel and do wonderful things on the world stage.

And some of us excel as champions in a niche world.

On a much smaller, but just as important scale.

In our family life.

Our own business.

Or working in someone else’s business.

Our hobbies.

Whatever your niche is, it takes passion and fire in the belly to traverse the Yellow Brick Road . . .

. . . from abysmal cook . . .

. . . to better cook . . .

. . . to above average cook

. . . to extraordinary cook . . .

to super extraordinary cook.

Julie Goodwin, winner of the first MasterChef series in Australia, is not an overnight wonder.

The fine line that divides the top 5% in anything, from the remaining 95% – . . .

. . . is passion.

And most people are passionate about something.

But it’s a rare person who is passionate about everything.

For some people, their passion drives them to do things that are extraordinary by anyone’s measure.

Regardless of whether you’re the butcher. Baker. Candlestick maker.

Most people would love to live in a home where unconditional love abounds.

Where home is synonymous with the words mutual respect and safe haven.

All the time. 24/7/365.

But the effort to create this environment can be overwhelmingly difficult at times. And defeats many people.

So it’s rare to find a home that fits that criteria.

Most people live in homes where husband / wife / partner are often not on the same wavelength.

Children are sometimes extremely difficult and obstreperous, so add to the angst of the household.

Friction amongst family members can mean that quality time together is a wish.

Rather than a given.

I know a couple who are passionate – and I mean passionate about creating that safe haven, mutual respect environment for themselves, their children and their pets. Yes. Their pets!

I’ve been mesmerised by them for almost twenty years.

And in that time I’ve never heard them be critical of any member of their immediate family.

Their children are self confident, polite, popular and lovely to be around.

Their pets are calm. Obedient. Lively. And equally delightful.

And the entire family glows with mutual respect for each other.

Their secret?

Husband and wife both come from homes that can only be described as off the wall dysfunctional. Constant criticism. Verbal abuse. Bickering. Lack of support and love from their family members. No manners. Et al!

I’ve met the parents of both.

And each time, I readily admit to being in a state of shock and walking away not wanting to believe what I saw and heard.

When husband and wife met each other, they discovered they both shared a deep desire to live in utopia.

Surrounded by love.

And mutual respect.

They both recognised that the only place where they can take control and create that environment is in their home. Not the work place. Or on the buses or trains. Or society at large.

But in their home.

And that’s the home they’ve created for each other, their children and their pets.

The first time I walked inside their front door, I could feel ‘IT’.

The harmony. The tranquility. The peacefulness.

It reverberates off every wall.

They saw ‘what is’.

And filled in the gap of ‘what could be’ with their passion and commitment to live life in a completely different way.

There is a certain level of difficulty involved in just two people getting along and living in harmony.

Let alone a family of six.

To me, this is an amazing feat!

On a different scale, people create a great business by seeing ‘what is’. And filling in the gap of ‘what could be’.

When my partner, Victor Pleshev, an architect who is also the designer of all our products, and I first started this business, we were gypsies.

Travelling to agricultural shows, home shows and field days to skirmish with other exhibitors about whose product was the best.

And we often commented to each other about the number of hat stalls selling bush hats made in Australia.

One slow wintry morning – amongst many slow mornings! – we shared a cup of coffee and the warmth of a fire burning in a 44 gallon drum, with another exhibitor – of hats.

And commented to him on how different hat bands were from one maker to another.

And how stylish and distinctive some were.

This is his story.

Major brands of bush hats in Australia are recognised not only by their brand name and style of hat, but by their hat band as well.

For lesser known hat makers like our coffee break companion, a hat band can make or break a ‘look alike’ hat style.

So having a distinctive and stylish hat band that’s different to all other hat bands and one which is also recognisable, is highly desirable.

And this hat making gentleman flies to New York City to have a new hat band styled for each new hat design.

By a little old man in a grimy walk up industrial building in the meat packing district of Manhattan.

Who designs a hat band for anyone who can afford it. No matter how small or insignificant you are.

And guarantees your hat band will be different to every other hat band he designs for the rest of the hat making fraternity.

No appointments are taken. It’s a wait your turn, stand in line proposition.

And wait they do. In line. Outside his building. Just as if they are waiting in line to buy tickets for a Kylie Minogue extravaganza.

Because when you finally get to see the little old man sitting behind his desk, he only has eyes for you.

And treats you as the most important customer he’s seen that day.

And you walk away with the most gorgeous hat band in the world.

In your eyes.

I heard that story in 1995 and have never forgotten it.

Because the teller of the story tells it with such passion about the creator of his hat bands.

And you can sense the passion of the elderly gentleman who wants each person to have something that is unique to them.

Both sides of the relationship can see ‘what is’. And have the passion to fill in the gap to ‘what could be’.

I know it’s hard to believe, but there are men and women who work in someone else’s business who are extraordinary in the extreme.

One of my most endearing memories is the first Christmas Victor and I spent together as a couple.

We went to David Jones department store in Sydney to buy a Christmas tree.

And all the trimmings.

We are taken under the wing of Mary.

A matronly woman who never stops smiling.

And never stops helping.

With the aid of her extensive knowledge, we choose a tree that is perfect for us.

Along with the most beautiful baubles, lights and tree top ornament.

We spend in excess of two hours in the cavernous DJ’s Christmas decorations department.

Christmas lights blink everywhere.

Articulated snowmen bow and smile.

Christmas Carols are piped into every corner.

Tinsel is draped over the edge of every counter.

All the time, Mary takes my hand and with Victor in tow, leads us from location to location. So we can look. Examine. And choose.

The tree and decorations are still in use. And Mary is fondly remembered every Christmas.

She traversed the ‘what is’.

An average sales assistant.

To ‘what could be’.

An extraordinary shopping experience.

Simply because of her passion and delight in helping us.

And wrapping it up in her memorable panache.

On yet another different scale, hobbyists are amongst the most passionate of people.

I have in my possession three of the most beautifully crafted spindles that hold paper towels.

Created by an elderly wood turner hobbyist who saw ‘what is’ and tinkered with ‘what could be’.

Each spindle is different.

What they have in common is his beautiful choice of timber for each one.

His artful design and expert wood turning.

And the richness of his highly polished finished product.

It is as much a prized objet d’art as it is a functional and useful household accoutrement.

I want more. To give as gifts.

But his waiting list is so long he’s closed it off.

So I’m on the waiting list.

For the waiting list.

Passion for anything is the difference between the top 5% and the remaining 95%.

And is the mantra by which I run my business.

And is the mantra for every business where you have an outstanding, memorable and ‘mark it down as a business to come back to’ experience.

Because some of us cannot see why a person would want to waste their time to run a business without filling in the gap between what is. . .

An ordinary business . . .

. . . To what could be . . .

. . . A thriving business that gives its owners and customers great joy and makes us willingly want to walk over broken glass to make our customers happy . . .

Because we love what we do.

And believe that our customers are worth it.

If you reflect on the reason why you love going back to a restaurant, a retailer, a printing company, a garage, chemist, et al, I’m sure you’ll discover there’s someone there who makes you feel special.

Brilliant service. Superb technology. Knowhow. Attention to detail. A caring attitude.

It’s called passion.

And it changes the playing field for everything.

This Ironing Diva loves sharing the importance of passion in your life.

The only effort required to be extraordinary is . . .

. . . passion.

Yours!

I hope you have that fire in your belly . . .

. . . for something.

Join me next time?

Tell me what you think.

Your comments are always welcome.

Your stories, thoughts, experiences add to the fabric of the conversation.

And I acknowledge your comment with a reply.

All the best,

Carol

Photos are courtesy of Ironing Diva and taken on her rural property in the beautiful Central Tablelands of NSW.

Photo 1 is the sun filtering through She Oak Alley at sunrise. She Oak Alley is a sloping grove of She Oaks at the back of my hectare of garden.

Photo 2 is the dirt road that leads up and into my rural property.

Photo 3 is a Willie Wagtail and her three chicks nesting in my Cherry Plums outside my kitchen window.

Photo 4 is a cluster of Sawflies, also known as Spitfires, which are related to Wasps. They’re making their way along the ground in my grove of Eucalyptus Yellow Box. To feed off the leaves of the eucalypts. If they make it to the trees before the bigger birds see them. . .

Photo 5 is a family of Rosellas feeding on the ground under my row of Gleditsias.

Photo 6 is an eye stopping Ornamental Quince growing behind a fence on the trip into Rylstone NSW. This Quince has been amazing me for 19 years.

Photo 7 is the rich red leaves of my Northern Red Oak in autumn.

Photo 8 is a King Parrot swinging in the top of one of my Cherry Plums at the end of autumn.

Photo 9 is of Baby Plums in my West Garden.

Photo 10 is of Buttercups creeping around a stump.

Photo 11 is Erigeron – Mexican Daisy – spilling out and over a huge pot in my Hanging Garden. The garden that encloses my Hills Hoist!

Photo 12 is a vase of the blowsy and intensely fragrant Papa Meilland roses that were scrambling along my fence line just a few days ago.

If you take the time to look your best and love using beautiful products, I invite you to visit Simple Solutions For Difficult Problems at InterfaceAustralia to view my product range. These are practical, every day, useful products designed with flair, gorgeous to look at, simply wonderful to use and guaranteed to WOW! you with their ingenuity.

As they have for over 250,000 men and women around the world.

Designed in Australia by my partner, Victor Pleshev, who is an architect. With my input, of course!

And made with love and care in rural Australia by men and women who have a disability. They put their heart and soul into everything they do. And it shows.

The Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover is loved around the world because it never moves on your board.

Classic Log Lugger keeps you and your home squeaky clean and woodchip free when bringing your firewood inside.

Roadworks Apron is so big, it covers all of me. And you too! And everyone in your family. Why spoil your clothes when you can cover up in something this gorgeous?

Mr Chin’s Laundry Bag is a beautiful way to store and carry your laundry. And so perfect for tucking into your luggage when seeing the world!

Travel Bug Shoe Bags keep your shoes from causing mayhem in your luggage. Collette Dinnigan gowns and unrestrained Louboutin shoes are not good luggage mates.

Sweet Shoo Fragrance Sachet is intensely fragrant with a spicy mixture of cedar and Victor’s secret potion of essential oils. Once you have one, you’ll want more.

We chose the following products because they resonate with us. And discovered our customers love them too. And because they are not only made in Australia, but are of superb quality.

Kanimbla Extra Virgin Olive Oil is made from olives grown in the organic olive groves of the Kieran family in Mudgee NSW. It’s a family affair. Andrew, Rachel and their three young children lead an envious and charmed life amongst their olive groves.

And the Brass Bristle Brush with its wooden handle is the BEST tool we’ve ever used for getting rid of pet hair on upholstery, drapes, car seats, et al. It’s made in Australia. And this small family company is a delight to be associated with. I love them because they’ve resisted the pressure to be ‘Made In China’.

Every product is a joy to use. I guarantee it.

I have strong opinions that my business should be run for the benefit of you. You might like to listen to them here. I think you would enjoy starting at May 2009.

On 30th March 2011, I was interviewed on BlogTalkRadio by Tony Gambone about Building An International Business From The Ashes Of A Recession. Click this link to listen. Enjoy!

{ 2 comments }

I’m the purveyor of the The Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover.

And it’s assumed that my conversations with customers revolve around ironing.

Yes! But up to a certain point only.

While I’m taking their order, that’s true.

But once that’s completed, we chit chat about many other things.

I can only compare myself to my hairdresser, Jenny.

She seats me in my chair. Swaddles me in her big cape. Looks in the mirror. Waves her comb in the air. Smiles. And asks:

How are you today? What’s new?

And the conversation can go in any direction from there.

Ditto for me on the phone with customers.

The beginning is always about the product. Their preferences. Additional information they may require.

But it always ends about them. Their hobbies. Their family.

All the tidbits I need to kick start a more general conversation come out while taking their order.

Because people who iron live a life amongst their family. Co-workers. The community. et al.

And I just LOVE getting to peek inside the lives of other people.

Since 1994, I’ve observed a common thread weave itself into many conversations.

It’s called . . .

Memories are made of this!

And some of the best ever memories are part of traditions or rituals or annual / monthly / weekly / daily events.

Like Maureen’s story that starts in 2001.

When she’s a grandmother to two preschool grandsons.

She takes delivery of them every Wednesday. And introduces them to the delights of baking.

They arrive at 6:30am. And are ready to hit the kitchen shortly after.

Wearing their own mini chef aprons made by a friend of Maureen’s. Complete with a chef’s hat.

And according to her, the flour flies everywhere.

Her counter tops are chock-a-bloc with mixing bowls and spoons.

White aprons turn the colour of whatever is being prepared.

And the hardest part is distracting her young grandsons while the oven does its job of baking.

And the second hardest is keeping their fingers off the finished product while it cools.

And the best part is sitting down with her young grandsons to share the fruits of their efforts.

10 years later her grandsons are teenagers.

And scoff at the tensions that rise high on MasterChef.

To her utter delight.

And amazement.

They remember their jousts in her kitchen with great fondness.

And recall them filled with fun and lots of laughter.

Lasting memories linger for all.

Victor and I exhibited on a regular basis at Mosman Markets on the salubrious upper north shore of Sydney NSW.

In the gorgeous park across from the Allan Border Cricket Oval.

I couldn’t help observe a regular visitor to the markets who always arrived with his son on his shoulders.

I remarked one day how lucky his son was to be high above the crowd, able to see all beneath him.

And discover he’s following in the tradition of his own father. Who always carried him on his shoulders when young.

He remembers clearly his delight in being above the crowd and able to see all around him. And the comforting pleasure he felt in being physically close to his father.

And wants his own son to have these memories.

My friend Martha is the one who introduced me to the concept of having a ‘Remembrance Plan’.

She adores all her grandchildren and they spend many weekends with her throughout the year.

Martha goes to great lengths to make sure they love every minute of the time spent at ‘Nana’s Camp’.

I think her grandchildren are soooo lucky to have a grandmother who pulls out all stops for them.

She thinks she’s the lucky one.

She assures me she reaps what she sows.

And now that they’re almost teenagers, she’s aware she won’t be there with them forever.

And wants to make sure they have only happy memories of her when she’s six feet under!

Grandparents aren’t the only ones ‘making memories’.

Some memories are made unintentionally.

Like busy parents who acknowledge the importance of spending time alone together.

And make regular ‘date nights’.

To recall them fondly years later, when they’re empty nesters.

Birthday celebrations with friends that morph into an annual ritual.

Like me and my friend Yvonne. We haven’t missed a birthday since 1970. And reminisce about how long we’ve been celebrating the passage of time.

People who meet regularly because they share a common interest. And find it so much fun, it becomes an important and integral part of their lives. And find themselves passing on memories of ‘the good old days’ to newcomers.

Darren Rowse, the person behind ProBlogger in Melbourne Victoria, posted a photo on Google+ on 11th October 2011 of him reading the paper with a cup in his hand and his cute as a button son glued to his side.

The caption was simple, but says it all:

Good Morning World!

This is how I start my day – paper, tea and the boys.

I have glorious memories of Russian Easters in Sydney.

My partner, Victor Pleshev, is a Russian immigrant who arrived in Australia as a young child.

And while his father, Dio, was alive, he and Victor’s mother, Margarita, celebrated the Russian Easter with great excitement.

From 1977 to 1997, Victor and I dressed up in our best finery to attend the midnight Easter service at the Russian Orthodox Church in Strathfield NSW.

With his parents.

It was standing room only.

Dio and Margarita didn’t mind being squashed inside the church.

Victor and I preferred standing outside in the chill air. With the majority of the other churchgoers.

Holding candles.

The church choir was always riveting. Outside of a Welsh choir, nothing compares to the resonant tones of a polished and well rehearsed Russian choir.

Towards the end of the service, the Russian priest, his acolytes and supporters, leave the church to come outside, carrying a large cross. And bless the crowd.

When they walk back inside, the choir gives a resounding last overture.

The church bells start ringing.

And the service is over.

Families and friends embrace each other.

Kiss on both cheeks.

When everyone possible has been greeted. Kissed. And small talked to . . .

. . . we depart and drive to Dio & Margarita’s home in Carlingford NSW to partake of their immense Easter feast.

Which they spend days preparing.

The early morning hours are spent clinking glasses and toasting everybody and everything. With Russian vodka. Chilled. With a sliver of lemon peel floating in the bottle. Of course.

Cracking the shells of beautifully coloured easter eggs artfully dyed by Dio. And smearing the eggs with the best Russian caviar. Before it was banned.

Eating huge quantities of Margarita’s specially prepared Russian delectables.

And ending the festivities with the traditional Paska and Kulich.

And during the time we lived in Balmain, Victor and I would make our way back home just in time to see the sun come up as we drove across the Iron Cove bridge.

Dio moved on to another world in 1998.

Margarita is 84 years old and becoming frail.

But the memories of Russian Easters spent with them still linger. And I can feel Easter by the chill in the air and smell it in the falling of the autumn leaves.

Memories make up the fabric of our lives.

And I acknowledge that not all are good.

But the memories we embrace with fondness are the ones we fall back on and linger over and can’t help but make us smile.

How we relate to other people is how we are remembered.

Good. Bad. Or indifferent.

Our legacy is the memories other people have of us.

Are you like Martha? Do you have a ‘Remembrance Plan’?

This Ironing Diva would love you to share your memories with us.

Join me next time?

Tell me what you think.

Your comments are always welcome.

Your stories, thoughts, experiences add to the fabric of the conversation.

And I acknowledge your comment with a reply.

All the best,

Carol

Supporting links to websites.

Photos are courtesy of Ironing Diva and taken on her rural property in the beautiful Central Tablelands of NSW.

Photo 1 is a Papa Meilland climbing rose in silhouette at first light. Reaching for the stars.

Photo 2 is a sunrise, sprinkling gold dust over the top of a tree in the paddocks.

Photo 3 is a Crimson Rosella. Preening himself at first light in the tree tops.

Photo 4 is Rosa Rugosa. Escaping through the fence into the paddock.

Photo 5 is a gorgeous peach cloud. At first light. In my BIG sky.

Photo 6 is Vinca creeping out the fence and encircling a tree stump in its beauty.

Photo 7 is climbing Lorraine Lea roses, spilling over the gate to the woolshed.

Photo 8 is Papa Meilland roses climbing along and smothering my fence.

Photo 9 is a rustic bird house. Keeping vigil on the pergola that covers my side gate.

If you take the time to look your best and love using beautiful products, I invite you to visit Simple Solutions For Difficult Problems at InterfaceAustralia to view my product range. These are practical, every day, useful products designed with flair, gorgeous to look at, simply wonderful to use and guaranteed to WOW! you with their ingenuity.

As they have for over 250,000 men and women around the world.

Designed in Australia by my partner, Victor Pleshev, who is an architect. With my input, of course!

And made with love and care in rural Australia by men and women who have a disability. They put their heart and soul into everything they do. And it shows.

The Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover is loved around the world because it never moves on your board.

Classic Log Lugger keeps you and your home squeaky clean and woodchip free when bringing your firewood inside.

Roadworks Apron is so big, it covers all of me. And you too! And everyone in your family. Why spoil your clothes when you can cover up in something this gorgeous?

Mr Chin’s Laundry Bag is a beautiful way to store and carry your laundry. And so perfect for tucking into your luggage when seeing the world!

Travel Bug Shoe Bags keep your shoes from causing mayhem in your luggage. Collette Dinnigan gowns and unrestrained Louboutin shoes are not good luggage mates.

Sweet Shoo Fragrance Sachet is intensely fragrant with a spicy mixture of cedar and Victor’s secret potion of essential oils. Once you have one, you’ll want more.

We chose the following products because they resonate with us. And discovered our customers love them too. And because they are not only made in Australia, but are of superb quality.

Kanimbla Extra Virgin Olive Oil is made from olives grown in the organic olive groves of the Kieran family in Mudgee NSW. It’s a family affair. Andrew, Rachel and their three young children lead an envious and charmed life amongst their olive groves.

And the Brass Bristle Brush with its wooden handle is the BEST tool we’ve ever used for getting rid of pet hair on upholstery, drapes, car seats, et al. It’s made in Australia. And this small family company is a delight to be associated with. I love them because they’ve resisted the pressure to be ‘Made In China’.

Every product is a joy to use. I guarantee it.

I have strong opinions that my business should be run for the benefit of you. You might like to listen to them here. I think you would enjoy starting at May 2009.

On 30th March 2011, I was interviewed on BlogTalkRadio by Tony Gambone about Building An International Business From The Ashes Of A Recession. Click this link to listen. Enjoy!

{ 4 comments }

I remember when I first heard the concept ‘do something every day that scares you’.

I was just out of university.

Working for Dr Docherty, the roly poly Dean of the School of Business Administration at George Washington University in Washington DC.

It was his mantra.

Big things don’t happen in your life if you play it safe.

And it’s the mantra repeated over and over today that turns athletes into champions.

And changes the lives of ordinary people.

Because . . .

The inability to move out of your comfort zone and do something that unnerves you is what keeps people in their rut.

Every business man and woman who exceeds their expectations does it by testing themselves in different waters.

It’s how we grow our business and expand our knowledge base.

But it applies to our personal lives as well.

As an avid reader of business books, autobiographies and trivial magazines, it’s a given that people who move away from their couch potato status travel much further in life.

Even if the journey is painful.

Losing weight to an obese person is terrifying.

Food is their security blanket.

Reducing their intake or depriving them in any way is a threat to their comfort zone. And plays havoc with their mindset.

But those who take the steps to shed excess kilos always wax lyrical about the increased quality in their life.

IVF treatment for a couple is fraught with anxiety and fear. It’s not always successful. Losing an embryo to miscarriage is filled with just as much heartache as the death of a born child.

But when it works, it turns a couple into a family.

Starting a university education as a mature age student is not the same as just out of high school. Family obligations need to be juggled. Time to study has to be organised. Job requirements still have to be met. For many, it’s an emotionally weighty endeavour.

But when the degree is completed, life can be very sweet.

Single parent self talk is mostly about being scared.

Especially those who have lost their partner to death.

There’s uncertainty in having to make decisions on their own.

Of being both mother and father. Of juggling work and family obligations. Of never knowing if what they’re doing is right – or enough.

It takes a strong parent to step up to the plate, accept what is, and give single parenthood its best shot. Without rancour and bitterness.

But these are often the parents most admired by their children. Who appreciate what their single parent gives up to give them the best life possible.

It’s only a tiny step to do something that scares you enough to change your life.

But it can be an insurmountable obstacle.

As witnessed by the friends and family we know who can’t/won’t give up smoking. Alcohol. Drug addiction.

Who stay in a soulless job rather than look for a new one. Even though they’re deeply unhappy and unappreciated where they are.

Who dream of ‘X’. But settle for ‘Y’. Because it’s safer.

Fear is part of daily life.

It’s how you and I manage it that matters.

And some of us are luckier than others in being adventurous.

For some, it’s easier to confront the unknown and jump in the water to see what happens.

Even though not everything has a happy ending.

Testing the waters is always subject to rejection and/or failure.

Failure is part of the learning process. Thomas Edison did 10,000 experiments before he turned the lights on.

And rejection is just a little whisper in your ear telling you to go knock on another door.

Ask JK Rowling.

12 publishers rejected her Harry Potter book as unsuitable.

Bloomsbury, who said YES!, is laughing all the way to the bank.

And JK Rowling is a billionaire.

A personal friend was a biochemist at a major university.

And decided it was time to follow her dreams.

With no safety net and with some considerable trepidation, she ditched her career in science and at age 50 decided to study to be an accountant.

Because it was a portable career. And she was interested in its methodology.

Five years later she qualified.

Her friends were highly amused that she would even think she could get a job.

She marched into an employment agency. Said she’ll take any temporary accounting job available. And worked non stop for 5 years. 4 years in one company, where she resigned as head accountant.

Because she was weary of the corporate world and wanted a change.

She cashed in all her insurance policies, sold everything of value, bought a caravan she could handle on her own and toured Australia for 5 years, including crossing the Nullarbor several times.

She was a person of no fixed address, dropping into internet cafes to stay in touch with her friends and family.

She had one dream unfulfilled.

She always wanted to live by the water. But not being cash rich, she assumed it would stay a dream.

Until she stopped to stay at a caravan park on a beautiful, free flowing river.

Discovered one site was for sale. Which was remote from the main camping ground.

And fronts the river!

Where she now lives the life of her dreams.

Not exactly as pictured when first thought about many years ago.

But every night at sunset, she walks from her home to sit on the river bank, and drinks a toast to her good luck.

All it takes is one little, itty bitty step to overcome the fear of doing something that scares you.

And changes your life forever.

Some changes are small.

Like being able to enter a crowded room where you know not a soul . . .

. . . walk up to a stranger . . .

. . . and kick start a conversation.

It’s both exhilarating and liberating.

Other changes are huge.

Like sailing your catamaran around the world. With a young family on board. And come back with stories to tell that are the envy of all your friends.

And ditching security for the life of a happy wanderer.

Ask any woman with dependent children who walks out of an abusive relationship about the courage and level of difficulty required to do that.

But then listen to her tell you about the profound changes to her life from that moment on.

Every one of us is itching to do something that requires a bit of daredevil behaviour.

How ready are you to pick up the baton and run with it?

I readily admit rolling the dice and trying new things is not for everyone.

But those who confront their fear of what lies ahead, and travel down the path to a new frontier regardless, rarely regret their actions.

We’re not all champions like great athletes.

But those of us who . . . ‘do something every day that scares us’ . . . will not end our days uttering those fearful words:

It’s the things I didn’t do that I regret the most!

This Ironing Diva hopes you’ll join me next time.

In the meantime, tell me what you think.

Your comments are always welcome. Your stories, thoughts, experiences add to the fabric of the conversation.

And I acknowledge your comment with a reply.

All the best,

Carol

Photos are courtesy of Ironing Diva and taken on her rural property in the beautiful Central Tablelands of NSW.

Photo 1 is the sun bursting through this morning’s mist.

Photo 2 is my wonderful, BIG sky in my wild blue yonder.

Photo 3 is the Joan Sutherland of my garden, a pitch perfect Shrike Thrush, sounding Reveille at first light in my maple tree.

Photo 4 is Poppa Rabbit having a quiet cigar away from the children in my grove of eucalypts.

Photo 5 is iridescent blue Vinca creeping through the cracks in the rock wall in my front garden.

Photo 6 is Choisya, that gorgeously fragrant Mexican Orange Blossom, that grows in my walled garden. From garden to vase.

Photo 7 is a pair of Welcome Swallows perching on the electricity wires to my woolshed in this morning’s misty sunburst.

Photo 8 is a Wattle Bird sitting on the side gate that leads to my eastern paddocks. Contemplating its next move.

Photo 9 is a Black Cockatoo, swinging in the wind, on the top of one of my pine trees.

If you take the time to look your best and love using beautiful products, I invite you to visit Simple Solutions For Difficult Problems at InterfaceAustralia to view my product range. These are practical, every day, useful products designed with flair, gorgeous to look at, simply wonderful to use and guaranteed to WOW! you with their ingenuity.

As they have for over 250,000 men and women around the world.

Designed in Australia by my partner, Victor Pleshev, who is an architect. With my input, of course!

And made with love and care in rural Australia by men and women who have a disability. They put their heart and soul into everything they do. And it shows.

The Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover is loved around the world because it never moves on your board.

Classic Log Lugger keeps you and your home squeaky clean and woodchip free when bringing your firewood inside.

Roadworks Apron is so big, it covers all of me. And you too! And everyone in your family. Why spoil your clothes when you can cover up in something this gorgeous?

Mr Chin’s Laundry Bag is a beautiful way to store and carry your laundry. And so perfect for tucking into your luggage when seeing the world!

Travel Bug Shoe Bags keep your shoes from causing mayhem in your luggage. Collette Dinnigan gowns and unrestrained Louboutin shoes are not good luggage mates.

Sweet Shoo Fragrance Sachet is intensely fragrant with a spicy mixture of cedar and Victor’s secret potion of essential oils. Once you have one, you’ll want more.

We chose the following products because they resonate with us. And discovered our customers love them too. And because they are not only made in Australia, but are of superb quality.

Kanimbla Extra Virgin Olive Oil is made from olives grown in the organic olive groves of the Kieran family in Mudgee NSW. It’s a family affair. Andrew, Rachel and their three young children lead an envious and charmed life amongst their olive groves.

And the Brass Bristle Brush with its wooden handle is the BEST tool we’ve ever used for getting rid of pet hair on upholstery, drapes, car seats, et al. It’s made in Australia. And this small family company is a delight to be associated with. I love them because they’ve resisted the pressure to be ‘Made In China’.

Every product is a joy to use. I guarantee it.

I have strong opinions that my business should be run for the benefit of you. You might like to listen to them here. I think you would enjoy starting at May 2009.

On 30th March 2011, I was interviewed on BlogTalkRadio by Tony Gambone about Building An International Business From The Ashes Of A Recession. Click this link to listen. Enjoy!

{ 6 comments }

David Lega was born in 1973.

Paralysed.

It’s a medical condition with a name.

AMC.

And he defied the odds by becoming an outstandingly productive person who creates opportunities while being limited by his condition. He’s on the world stage as an international paralympic athlete, a lawyer, a public speaker and an entrepreneur.

He achieved all this by competing only against himself.

In his words:

“People who always compete against others will face too many defeats. That’s what kills enthusiasm in a young student, athlete or entrepreneur. But when you look to your own development – today I made a somewhat better product presentation than last week! – this will lead to good business further down the road.”

I read this yesterday in the book “Masters Of Success”. And feel compelled to share it with you because what David says is true.

In reading comments online and listening in on teleseminars, I’ve observed that what most business men and women suffer from is a sense of failure brought about by comparing themselves to others and, in their eyes, simply not cutting the mustard.

True freedom in business is setting your own benchmarks.

Once you experience the heady delight of marching to your own drumbeat, you’ll wonder why you ever let another person call the tune.

In 1992, my partner, Victor Pleshev, an architect, and I lost everything in Paul Keating’s recession we had to have. We escaped bankruptcy by the skin of our teeth.

We had to reinvent ourselves at an age when most people were thinking about staying in their comfort zone rather than escaping the city lights for the rural life and starting from scratch all over again.

And in the words of Winston Marsh, one of Australia’s leading business consultants, who recorded our story as a series on 9 CD’s, we ‘built a business from broke’ simply by listening to ourselves.

Because everyone around us said we couldn’t build a world wide business from the Australian bush. Before the internet. Before email. Before call waiting came to our rural valley.

And certainly not on the back of an ironing board cover.

Because the world hates to iron.

David is the first person I’ve read to voice the concept of compete only against yourself.

Believe me, it’s still stressful.

You still have parents and friends and business acquaintances pointing at you, comparing you to their friends and associates.

And finding you, at times, wanting.

And once finding out that we’re the purveyor of an ironing board cover, they express absolute dismay that there are enough people left in the world who iron, to place enough orders so we can pay the mortgage.

But it’s not nearly as stressful as continuously looking around you and seeing people who make you feel small and insignificant because you think they’re more successful than you.

Because if your goal is to be successful, you’re measuring your improvement all the time.

You’re counting the micro guide posts that are telling you that today was ever so much better than yesterday.

My accountant used to reassure me by telling me that if I end the month with $1 more than it cost me to be in business, I’m making a profit.

And that was my goalpost.

Today I have more than 250,000 customers around the world for my Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover.

And there are an additional 5 products to my bow.

And Victor has re-established himself again as an architect with a thriving small rural practice.

Because we learned to set our own benchmarks and compete against ourselves.

We told the rest of the world to leave us alone to get on with our own dreams and aspirations.

And we’d get to the goalposts at our own pace.

This Ironing Diva is off her soapbox.

The book “Masters Of Success” can be purchased on Amazon and is worth having in your library. A link is in supporting links.

As is a link to David Lega’s website. He’s worth having a peek at.

Join me next time?

Tell me what you think.

Your comments are always welcome. Your stories, thoughts, experiences add to the fabric of the conversation.

And I acknowledge your comment with a reply.

All the best,

Carol

Supporting links to websites.

Photos are courtesy of Ironing Diva and taken on her rural property in the beautiful Central Tablelands of NSW.

David Lega

Masters of Success by Ivan Misner

Winston Marsh, Australia’s Leading Business Consultant

Photo 1 is a Sacred Kingfisher who dropped in to say G’day after a day of drenching rain

Photo 2 is a King Parrot free amongst the clouds

Photo 3 is a Honeyeater objecting to a Willie Wagtail sharing its domain

Photo 4 is a Honey Bee nuzzling my Tagasaste that drapes my western fence line

If you take the time to look your best and love using beautiful products, I invite you to visit Simple Solutions For Difficult Problems at InterfaceAustralia to view my product range. These are practical, every day, useful products designed with flair, gorgeous to look at, simply wonderful to use and guaranteed to WOW! you with their ingenuity.

As they have for over 250,000 men and women around the world.

Designed in Australia by my partner, Victor Pleshev, who is an architect. With my input, of course!

And made with love and care in rural Australia by men and women who have a disability. They put their heart and soul into everything they do. And it shows.

The Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover is loved around the world because it never moves on your board.

Classic Log Lugger keeps you and your home squeaky clean and woodchip free when bringing your firewood inside.

Roadworks Apron is so big, it covers all of me. And you too! And everyone in your family. Why spoil your clothes when you can cover up in something this gorgeous?

Mr Chin’s Laundry Bag is a beautiful way to store and carry your laundry. And so perfect for tucking into your luggage when seeing the world!

Travel Bug Shoe Bags keep your shoes from causing mayhem in your luggage. Collette Dinnigan gowns and unrestrained Louboutin shoes are not good luggage mates.

Sweet Shoo Fragrance Sachet is intensely fragrant with a spicy mixture of cedar and Victor’s secret potion of essential oils. Once you have one, you’ll want more.

We chose the following products because they resonate with us. And discovered our customers love them too. And because they are not only made in Australia, but are of superb quality.

Kanimbla Extra Virgin Olive Oil is made from olives grown in the organic olive groves of the Kieran family in Mudgee NSW. It’s a family affair. Andrew, Rachel and their three young children lead an envious and charmed life amongst their olive groves.

And the Brass Bristle Brush with its wooden handle is the BEST tool we’ve ever used for getting rid of pet hair on upholstery, drapes, car seats, et al. It’s made in Australia. And this small family company is a delight to be associated with. I love them because they’ve resisted the pressure to be ‘Made In China’.

Every product is a joy to use. I guarantee it.

I have strong opinions that my business should be run for the benefit of you. You might like to listen to them here. I think you would enjoy starting at May 2009.

On 30th March 2011, I was interviewed on BlogTalkRadio by Tony Gambone about Building An International Business From The Ashes Of A Recession. Click this link to listen. Enjoy!

{ 6 comments }

My business is online.

And offline.

Offline is what I love the most.

Because talking is my passion.

To my partner and architect, Victor Pleshev.

To my Dogsx3.

To myself.

And to other Homo sapiens.

Living and working on my remote rural property in the beautiful Central Tablelands of NSW, most of my conversations are courtesy of technology.

And one of the oldest pieces of technology still surviving.

A telephone connected to a plug in the wall.

An email on Sunday enquires about The Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover.

The question is so technical I don’t think a reply email can do it justice.

A Sunday afternoon phone call from me takes Alex by surprise.

And after a lengthy conversation, covering all her questions, she decides she will think about placing an order.

I offer to send her a brochure. Which is declined.

Everything is on your informative website, she replies.

With a heavy heart, I bid her adieu.

Rejection is part of being in business.

Joy, Jill, Wendy, Kym, Anthony, Tim and Eliza are memorable exceptions.

Wendy doesn’t like ordering online and takes advantage of the offer on my website to place an order by telephone.

It’s not how the conversation starts.

It starts with questions. And answers. And chit chat. And diversions.

When I feel the timing is appropriate, I ask if Wendy would like to place an order.

Absolutely! You had me at hello, she says.

Wendy is totally smitten by the warm and personal manner in which her phone call is answered. Her questions addressed. The friendly exchange of information. The interest in her and what she does.

None of which takes place when placing an order online.

And I am smitten by Wendy. She makes me feel very warm and cosy.

Not only does she ooze charm down the wire of a telephone, but in her follow up thank you email as well.

Complete with a link to a Shannon Lush, A Current Affair, TV segment regarding cleaning your home using natural products.

Which I put out on Twitter. And which is retweeted a squillion times.

That link is at the end of this story.

A link which keeps on giving is, I think, an appropriate description.

Kym floors me.

She could have ordered online. She’s on my website while talking to me.

But rings specifically to say hello.

She’s a returning customer.

From the days when Victor and I used to show our wares once a month at the quaint, beautiful and up market Mosman Markets on the upper north shore of Sydney NSW.

In 2005 we sent her a Superior Felt Underlay by mail as we had sold out by the time Kym fronted our stall late in the day.

And she reminds me we were apologetic at being sold out and mailed it to her postage free.

This phone call is to replace her 2005 cover.

Ending the phone call by telling her I confirm the despatch of every parcel by sending her an email so she knows it’s in the post and when it will arrive, she quips,

I still remember your thank you note from the first parcel you sent. Complete with lavender and bookmark.

Memories are made from hearing the unexpected.

And being reminded that little acts of kindness often make the biggest impression.

Joy is a similar call.

She’s replacing a cover purchased so long ago she’s forgotten when.

But remembers the story about Victor’s mother, Margarita, being the catalyst for the cover.

And that our covers are made in our rural region by men and women who have a disability.

I use the occasion to catch up on family news and make sure I enter all the snippets into my database.

To bring me up to speed for our next conversation.

Jill is a new customer.

Her board is a giant in the world of ironing boards.

It’s 140cm long x 48cm wide.

And she can’t find a replacement cover to fit.

She finds me online through my best online friend, Google.

She’s simply confirming the Extra Large cover will indeed fit her board size.

And goes away with a tip about making her own underlay because there is no commercial underlay that will fit a board longer than 139cm or wider than 45cm.

And I’ll share it with you.

Before commercial felt underlay became available, our grandmothers used pure wool blankets. Which are a fabulous base to iron on.

I suggest you visit an Op Shop and look for a single bed wool blanket. It must be pure wool because a synthetic blanket will start to melt from the heat of your iron.

Fold the wool blanket in half horizontally, place it on your board, trace the outline of your board with a pencil or piece of chalk, and cut it a few centimetres wider so it not only covers the top of your board, but goes down the sides as well.

And this pure wool blanket is every bit as firm as the Superior Felt Underlay I supply.

Tim is a very old customer.

Harking back to the days when Victor and I first started this accidental business and we exhibited at the Orange Field Days. Between 1994 to 1997.

Tim hasn’t ordered since 2003.

He’s online. Looking at my website. And has a question about the Superior Felt Underlay.

His wife has a new Tefal Steam Station iron. And he wants to know if the Superior Felt Underlay will absorb the moisture from the steam station.

I can happily say no! It doesn’t.

By an uncanny coincidence, and I mean this is ESP working at its optimum level, this was confirmed by a phone call from Anthony just an hour before.

He ordered in March. And his wife has exactly the same steam station. While chatting on the phone, he waxes lyrical about how much his wife loves it.

They also use the Superior Felt Underlay underneath their Fitz Like A Glove Cover.

He’s placing a repeat order for their daughter. As a gift.

Eliza is a patchworker.

And she’s on the telephone because a friend tells her about the Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover she’s just purchased.

Word of mouth is my best offline friend.

Eliza is a passionate quilter and makes quilts for her family.

And gives them as gifts to her friends!

To have a friend like that . . . .

And once a year members of her quilting club make a quilt each to donate to a weekend fundraising event.

This event raises funds to pay for the raw materials that go into the making of the many quilts the club donates to the elderly in nursing homes in their region. These quilts are often the only personal blanket owned by the elderly patient and it becomes a treasured keepsake.

One thing I’ve observed is that patchworkers and quilters have very BIG hearts and spread their love of their craft far and wide to help others.

We chit chat.

As I do.

And learn that during the event, she’s there to give hands on instructions to anyone interested in the art of quilt making.

We chit chat some more.

Specifically about my fundraising program called The Money Tree.

And before I know it, I’m preparing a parcel packed to the brim with Fitz Like A Glove Covers and Superior Felt Underlays to help them with their fundraising.

Fingers crossed they do well!

But . . .

. . . The icing on the cake is today.

It’s online first thing this morning. When I check orders at 6am.

It’s from Alex.

Seeing her order for her Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover full package of:-

Fitz Like A Glove Cover
Superior Felt Underlay, and
Best Boy Pressing Cloth

makes my heart sing.

She’s thought about it.

Given it a thumbs up.

And lights up my day with the same glow as the morning sun sprinkling gold twinkle dust on this Eucalyptus Yellow Box earlier this week!

My week is not made of work.

My week is made of snippets of joy gleaned from the men and women I converse with.

My anonymous online business is my bread and butter. And is how I receive most of my orders.

But it’s my offline dalliances that seduce me with their allure of getting to know someone better.

A little bit at a time.

Akin to the Rodgers and Hammerstein song, Getting To Know You, in The King and I.

This Ironing Diva loves sharing her day with you once again.

Join me next time?

Tell me what you think.

Your comments are always welcome.

Your stories, thoughts, experiences add to the fabric of the conversation.

And I acknowledge your comment with a reply.

All the best,

Carol

Supporting links to websites.

Photos are courtesy of Ironing Diva and taken on her rural property in the beautiful Central Tablelands of NSW.

Photos in this post were taken in her rambling country garden and are of:

Lorraine Lea roses
Cherry Plum blossoms
Half moon rising in the east
Apple blossoms in springtime, complete with bees
Sour Plum blossoms
Eucalyptus Yellow Box

4 minutes of Shannon Lush’s all natural cleaning tips on A Current Affair. Spring clean for next to nothing.

The Money Tree

If you take the time to look your best and love using beautiful products, I invite you to visit Simple Solutions For Difficult Problems at InterfaceAustralia to view my product range. These are practical, every day, useful products designed with flair, gorgeous to look at, simply wonderful to use and guaranteed to WOW! you with their ingenuity.

As they have for over 250,000 men and women around the world.

Designed in Australia by my partner, Victor Pleshev, who is an architect. With my input, of course!

And made with love and care in rural Australia by men and women who have a disability. They put their heart and soul into everything they do. And it shows.

The Fitz Like A Glove™ Ironing Board Cover is loved around the world because it never moves on your board.

Classic Log Lugger keeps you and your home squeaky clean and woodchip free when bringing your firewood inside.

Roadworks Apron is so big, it covers all of me. And you too! And everyone in your family. Why spoil your clothes when you can cover up in something this gorgeous?

Mr Chin’s Laundry Bag is a beautiful way to store and carry your laundry. And so perfect for tucking into your luggage when seeing the world!

Travel Bug Shoe Bags keep your shoes from causing mayhem in your luggage. Collette Dinnigan gowns and unrestrained Louboutin shoes are not good luggage mates.

Sweet Shoo Fragrance Sachet is intensely fragrant with a spicy mixture of cedar and Victor’s secret potion of essential oils. Once you have one, you’ll want more.

We chose the following products because they resonate with us. And discovered our customers love them too. And because they are not only made in Australia, but are of superb quality.

Kanimbla Extra Virgin Olive Oil is made from olives grown in the organic olive groves of the Kieran family in Mudgee NSW. It’s a family affair. Andrew, Rachel and their three young children lead an envious and charmed life amongst their olive groves.

And the Brass Bristle Brush with its wooden handle is the BEST tool we’ve ever used for getting rid of pet hair on upholstery, drapes, car seats, et al. It’s made in Australia. And this small family company is a delight to be associated with. I love them because they’ve resisted the pressure to be ‘Made In China’.

Every product is a joy to use. I guarantee it.

I have strong opinions that my business should be run for the benefit of you. You might like to listen to them here. I think you would enjoy starting at May 2009.

On 30th March 2011, I was interviewed on BlogTalkRadio by Tony Gambone about Building An International Business From The Ashes Of A Recession. Click this link to listen. Enjoy!

{ 2 comments }