Lisa Messenger's Blog

Always be Open.

Some of the most beautiful experiences midway through this tour have come from the most unexpected of spaces. This always happens to me when I’m open, present and take the time to really connect with people and, more importantly, listen. One such extraordinary experience happened in Townsville when I was blown away by a conversation with my Uber driver Brettlyn who told me about the work she does with disadvantaged youth in remote areas. I wanted to listen to her forever!

Everyday is a Learning Opportunity

During our conversation, Brettlyn said one of the most rewarding parts of her work was watching the kids grow in skills and confidence. During one of their group activities, she sets them a task of planning a budget for a fishing trip. They have $200 to spend on equipment and can keep anything left over. Well, they all excel (and have lolly money left over!) As she said, “When there’s something big at stake, they are all brilliant mathematicians. Everyone is a genius if given half a chance”.

Start a Ripple Effect

I got into that Uber to go food shopping, but I also got a dose of inspiration. Brettlyn directed me to the best place to buy fresh fruit and veg in Townsville. Then, she refused to let me update my Uber booking and drove me the extra 10-minutes for free. Here was a person who didn’t know what I do for a living but was willing to go the extra mile (or five kilometres!) That’s why I’m only too happy to shine a light on her work with The Australian Social Engagement and Wellbeing Academy.

Please check them out: asewa.com.au.

There are many myths around productivity which we’ve all been tricked into believing; you have to work 9-5, you have to sit at the desk, you’re more productive in an office and self-care should be ‘fitted in’ before or after your work hours.

But, anyone who has given themselves permission and freedom to work in their own way will testify that there is no one more productive, creative and inspired than an entrepreneur in flow. And, to be in flow you have to find space to step into your ‘genius zone’– the magical mental space where creativity wakes you up with excitement and no problem or issue can dampen your brightness.

You can find your genius zone anywhere – in a bustling office, in the back of a taxi, at an airport when your flight is delayed by six hours. But, more likely than not, the greatest lightbulb moments occur when you move away – mentally or physically – from the constant tug and pull of life’s commitments.

The idea for Collective Hub came about in the first place after I gave myself space and time to ask the universe, “How can I be of service?”. I prayed, visioned, manifested over a matter of months and years. More importantly, I didn’t try to rush or force the answer.

Bigger Isn’t Always Better

Sidestep your Ego.

‘For far too long companies have focused on size. More profits. More subscribers. More leads in the funnel. Bigger, so the establishment believes, is better.’ This is a line from a blog post by Evan Carroll on why bigger isn’t always better. Some of my favourite speaking gigs have been the smallest – beautiful, intimate, regional workshops where I can really get to know the audience. Everyone’s ego loves the thought of a huge, packed-out venue. But which situation makes you feel more whole?

Embrace your Quiet Side.

On one hand I have this yearning to be a ‘messenger’. I want to be in service, live out loud and share my learnings along the way in order to lift others higher. But I also love to be quiet and still, spend time meditating and writing, away from the buzz of busy events and social media. If you feel the same, that’s okay! As ideas-people, it’s important to balance the high-energy of entrepreneurship with serene moments of solitude and contemplation. That’s when the best brainwaves can spark!

One Step at a Time.

After ‘breaking’ Collective Hub to remake it, everything I do is on a project-per-project basis. Although I have a lot of big plans for the future, I’m not actioning them all – yet. Instead of feeling the need to sprint ahead of myself, I’m only pressing ‘go’ on the projects I want to happen very soon because that means I can stop at any time if I choose to do so. And, that’s a wonderfully, liberating feeling. It just takes trust – that every idea will become a reality at the perfect time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

READING

Book: Be More Pirate by Sam Conniff Allende – How to find your cause for rebellion and create “good trouble”

Mag: Blogosphere – I subscribed, because I’m always looking at better ways to blog

Book: From Me to You by Elyse Knowles – a series of fun summaries about living a life with positivity, passion and purpose.

 

 

VISITING

Catch me on the Queensland leg of my tour over the next two weeks – ten towns in ten days! I kicked off with Townsville yesterday and it was AMAZING! See all dates and locations here.

 

 

WATCHING

Documentary: Saving Banksy – feed your love for street art and rebellion.

 

PLAYING WITH

App: Gaia – for truth seekers, yogies, dreamers and believers. I love anything that revolves around seekers, rebels or change makers.

 

Elevate & Celebrate

I want to take a moment to thank everyone who has supported me and Collective Hub. I could have chosen (as many do) to quietly close down the business for a while and step into the shadows. Instead, I decided to publicly share my shortcomings, in the hope it would help our community. And, it seems to have had an incredible effect. I’m receiving emails from people who’ve found the courage to pivot their own lives, professionally or personally. As one reader said, “You weren’t lying when you said your new book is super gritty, raw and honest!” But I’m glad I put it out there if it inspires others to embrace a positive change.

Own your Decision, Fully

Some people seem surprised that, in the centre of such a changeable time, I decided to embark on a speaking tour. I’ve had friends who are incredibly courageous entrepreneurs say, “I would do anything to avoid getting up on stage right now if I were you.” But every time I talk so honestly about the journey of Collective Hub, it’s like a therapy session. I become even clearer on our why, I revisit all our important lessons and I’m reminded why I chose to change the direction of the brand, as hard as it was. It’s the fuel I need to truly step into my decision and own it, for every person who might find themselves in my shoes.

Resume Service with a Smile

It is not easy to announce a new venture after a perceived ‘failure’. I’m in awe of entrepreneurs who get back into the game after ‘losing’. Why on earth wouldn’t we celebrate their bravery and dedication, instead of looking for an excuse to gossip and pull them back down? For me, Collective Hub’s pivot is part of our history – a very important part. That’s why, on social media, you’ll see I’m smiling at the camera. Because, it is possible to embrace an ending with grace and hope. I could choose to dwell in darkness but I prefer to chase the light.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WATCHING

The Defiant Ones on Netflix

 

VISITING

ROCKHAMPTON!

Live In Conversation – An Evening Event

October 15, Smart Hub

Click Here To Find Out More

 

 

LISTENING TO

Podcasts: the Aubrey Marcus Podcast

 

READING

The Food of Argentina

by Rachel Tolosa Paz (my amazing cousin BTW) and Ross Dobson.

 

Tell the world of your grand plan.

If you are going to dream, then you need to get out there and do something with it. You don’t have to follow every idea – in fact that would be ridiculous, and if I had taken that stance, I’d have a mildly successful dripping wax company instead of a growing global multimedia movement. But you do need to do something with some of them.

The key to success is to do, so here are five ideas to help you get off the fence if you’re sitting rather close to the ‘gunna’ camp (as in, someone who’s ‘gunna’ pursue their dreams; you know, one of these days).

   BREAK IT DOWN

Define your idea or dream and start to drill it down in a very practical, specific way. Ask yourself all of the tough questions, putting passion aside. Can it work? Can it make money? Is there a gap in the market? How will I fund it? What’s my timeframe for success? What hurdles are in my way? What risks do I need to take? Can I start this and hold down my existing job? What are my realoptions here? Is this just a pipedream, or am I genuinely willing to do what it takes to make this happen? And if I am willing, what is my strategy from today to X?
   SHOUT IT OUT

Once you’ve mapped out your idea and asked yourself the tough questions, the next step is to sell it to people that matter. This is not just family members, although their support can be key, this is about identifying potential partners, clients, investors, distributors or producers and gauging their interest in your idea. You may need to be persistent here, and this is when you really divide the gunnas from the implementers, because a true gunna will give up after about eight setbacks. The latter will make it to at least 100. When I first came up with the idea of Collective Hub magazine, I began knocking on doors and I would have approached upwards of 500 people. The ‘nos’ were incessant in an unstable magazine industry but I 100 per cent believed in the idea and felt in my gut that it was right, so I kept going. I was willing to work very hardto get it off the ground, and I did for a few solid months, putting considerable time and resources into it. When that final ‘yes’ came, it was a bloody big one – and it felt oh so sweet. If I had given up at the 200-setback mark, there would be no Collective Hubtoday.
   WRITE A CHEQUE

When you have a solid idea and have also gathered some supporters, it’s time to put your money (and resources) on the line to make it happen. It can be your own money or money you have gathered from investors, family, crowdfunding – whatever. The key is to make a financial sacrifice. Dreams become real when we open our wallets – overseas holidays shift from sheer wanderlust when we book flights; property aspirations become real when we bid at an auction. As the old adage says, ‘Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also’. If you aren’t willing to invest financially (not just with your time), this is a clear indication that you don’t believe in your idea enough to see it through when things get tough.
HANG OUT WITH INSPIRING PEOPLE

This is one of the most crucial steps in any budding entrepreneur’s journey to success – you have to consistently put yourself amongst clever, innovative, disruptive entrepreneurs on a similar journey to you. Courses and conferences are one of the best opportunities for this. Hear from experts, then mingle with everyone in the breaks, hearing about their mistakes and wins, sharing contacts and troubleshooting together.
GET ACCOUNTABLE

Intentionally tie yourself to someone who will drive you hard and keep you on course. This is one of the best gifts you can give yourself – this person will be like an annoying rock in your shoe, but they could also be the difference between you actually realising your dreams and letting them just hang around as conversation fodder for years. Whether you achieve success or not is irrelevant – I’m certainly hoping you succeed, but at the end of the day, I really just want you to have a rock-solid go at life; to get on the bus, to go somewhere, to do something, to chase that idea, to follow that dream, to aim for the stars while you have a chance.

Pick gratitude always.

I am a big believer in the universe sending you messages. Call it woo-woo, synchronicity, coincidence or just your mind playing tricks on you, but every now and again, I’ll see something, hear something or smell something that gives me a sharp reality check… just when I need it.

This morning I was training in the park before work. A few days a week I fit in a solid hour of boxing with my trainer, which I love. My dog, Benny, was running around in circles in the sunshine and I was having one of those epic exercise sessions where you feel fit, healthy, strong and the best version of yourself (as opposed to the ones where you feel like your legs are made of lead and you want to scream obscenities at your trainer).

In between upper cuts, I took a moment to take in my surroundings. It’s amazing how often we walk around with blinkers on, not really ‘seeing’ what is around us. I’d been in that park for 20 minutes but hadn’t noticed until then a group of young guys in hoodies, just metres away, who were drinking beer and, sadly, passing around a needle. At 8am on a Wednesday morning. As I tried to digest this scene, a garbage man strolled past me, stopping to pick up a chip packet on the grass.

When we saw me glance his way, he smiled – a huge, genuine, open grin – and said with total sincerity, “What a beautiful day. How great is life!” He then continued on his way with a spring in his step, as if he was a tourist on holiday, not a labourer at work. I don’t judge the group of young guys who were self-medicating on that beautiful morning – that’s their decision for life even though I am definitely not planning to make it mine. But the reason this reality check made me shiver was because I’ve had dark periods in my own life, where I was drinking to escape, drinking to forget and drinking to numb myself.

In my out-of-control days, that could have been me (although drugs were never my thing), I was lost and alone, living a life of guilt, fear, remorse and shame for a long time. It was interesting to stop and note the juxtapositions at play. Then there’s this garbage man, with the most amazing, vibrant, optimistic energy, reminding everyone he meets how great life is.

The simplest messages at the most unexpected times can give us our greatest learnings. And I don’t believe these reminders are accidental. As often happens with nudges from the universe, for me this one was perfectly timed. A couple of nights before, I’d begun to get the feeling that my ego was not in check and I was not the nicest version of myself. Okay, I’ll call it – I had a braggy, self-absorbed, ‘don’t you know who I am?’ moment. Ugh! I’m not proud of it, but I’m only human. It was quite a momentous time for me in many ways – I was about to celebrate my 10-year non-drinking anniversary and things were really, really taking off with The Collective. I could feel my mind racing away into ‘it’s not enough’ territory. How could we change the world, the universe, infinity and beyond?

That’s why I’m not surprised the universe decided to whack me over the head with a wake-up call this particular morning. It was time to stop and acknowledge my journey, where I was in that moment and the direction my life has taken, as opposed to where it could have gone. To take a moment to thank the universe and be grateful for the position I found myself in and for the lucky escapes, the near misses. And quite frankly, pull my head back in. So I said to my trainer, “I need to stop boxing.” I needed to stop doing, stop fighting and to start feeling, enjoying and ‘being’. I was in a beautiful park, after all, so what better place to stop and smell the roses? That’s why I called the first chapter of one of my books ‘Attitude & Gratitude’. These two words sum up everything that I believe makes me a good entrepreneur, and even bigger than that, a good person to be around.

We are all the directors of our own mindset. We may not be able to control outside factors, we can’t stop bad things happening or ensure our path is pebble-free, but we can choose how we react to the annoying jabs, the pain and discomfort.

A lot of people – friends, colleagues and readers of the magazine – often say something like this when they meet me, “You’re so calm. How do you do it?” The reality is I haven’t always been like this, and like all of us, I still have my moments. I was once the fieriest person, prone to reacting quickly without thinking and flying off the handle. But as The Collective has taken off and life has become busier, even more overstretched and crazy, the calmer and more grounded I’ve become. Being stressed takes energy, arguments take time and these days, I am short of both.

I’ve trained myself to change my attitude to one of gratitude, even when I have seven meetings and three evening events to juggle in the course of one day, when all I want to do is go home and read a trashy novel in the bath. I could get into a grump and stomp my feet (and every so often I do) but that won’t shorten the to-do list in front of me. So I have trained my mind to look for the positive in every situation. Hundreds of time every day, between getting out of bed and falling back into it, we can choose how we react, where we smile or frown, laugh or swear, give a compliment or a criticism that will raise someone up or knock them down.

Learn to invest in you.

Continuous self-improvement of yourself as a leader or key player in a business is what will propel your business or department forward – but when life and work gets busy, we often put ourselves at the bottom of the pile and this is where many business leaders and senior staff go wrong.

If your most valuable asset is your mind, then allocate funds towards it in a formal way. If you don’t, it won’t happen and an entire year will fly by without you attending something life-changing. Instead, be brave – even if it’s visualisation at this point – and allocate a specific amount to yourself and your mindset when you are allocating funds for the next financial period. Call it something wacky like ‘mindset investment’ if you want – whatever is necessary, but the key is to do it.

Allocate a specific amount to your mindset when you are allocating funds for the next financial period. Call it something wacky like ‘mindset investment’ if you want – but the key is to do it.

Think big and aim for the top – go to at least one significant conference or thought leadership event a year (if it hurts a bit to sign off on the conference fee, then you’re on the right track), then be very strategic and thrifty with any other opportunities. With any opportunity (big or small), I try and measure its success on these three principals:

Did I have at least one mental shift while I was there?
Did I come up with at least one new good idea which will help me or the business significantly?
Did I make at least five solid business connections?

Hopefully you can say ‘yes’ to all three – that’s what I aim for and use that as a personal measure of success for myself and my staff. If not, simply move on to the next event or networking opportunity in search of these personal outcomes.

If you’re looking for creative breakthroughs, fresh innovation and fist-pumping success for your business or department, it almost always starts at the top. So let curiosity be your guide and invest in conferences, education, courses and any chance for solid, helpful peer-to-peer interaction. Your business (and mindset) will thank you.

“My business depended on it.”

In my first few weeks of business, I raided the company piggy bank. But not to pay for business cards, a working phone line or even the rent; I rallied the spare cash I had for something so much more indulgent – to send myself to a conference.

As I look back on that decision, I am so ridiculously proud of myself for even then, at the very beginning of my business journey, I had the foresight and guts (going totally against the ‘rule’ that paying the rent is far more pressing in those early days than softer needs like PR and networking) to put the best weapon I had – my brain – first.

It’s important to point out that I’m not exaggerating here – at this time in my business life, I had barely any semblance of a client base or steady income. I was right at the beginning, with a huge smile, lots of ideas, about two clients, a mobile phone the size of a football, and some technology held together by Band-Aids.

“I rallied the spare cash I had for something so much more indulgent – to send myself to a conference.”

I still remember the moment I wrote the cheque for $1,200, where I was standing and even what I was wearing – not because I’m into fashion per se, but because of the significance of the moment.

Everyone seemed to be talking about this one particular business expert who was revolutionary – a real disruptor and thought leader – so I looked into him and discovered he was about to have a two-day conference. But the ticket price was $1,200. Obviously, this was out of my reach by about $1,199. But, after labouring on it, I eventually thought, ‘Stuff it; I need this’. On the cusp of expanding my thinking – it was time to think big – I bit the bullet and sent off the cheque (and no, it didn’t bounce).

At the conference I discovered hundreds of learnings; really meaty ones that I could take home straight away and implement. The thinking challenged mine, some of it frustrated me, angered me, some inspired me and some definitely empowered me… but, above all, it threw me into a room with smart, innovative people that lifted my entire being. What happened over those two days changed me forever.

“At the conference I discovered hundreds of learnings; really meaty ones that I could take home straight away and implement.”

On a practical, revenue-generating level, that event also threw me into a room of my business’s exact target market, and I was able to convert a handful of them immediately to clients, each bringing in around AU$50,000. It was the start of many new clients, and the people from that room and their networks formed the basis of my business foundation, from which Collective Hub would later grow.

For that one little conference ticket, I’ll be forever indebted.