The other day, someone asked me, “You’ve got a lot going on? What do you do for you?" And let me tell you, it got me thinking.
The past six months have been a fulfilling journey, full of twists and turns I never saw coming. Life has a way of shaking things up when you least expect it. And guess what? They are right—I have had a lot going on, including some of my proudest and most incredible professional milestones.
We've had the opportunity to work on some truly inspiring projects recently, including our first international high-end retail space, three amazing fun-filled food outlets in Westfield malls, and supporting our client in completing their first commercial retail space for Kāinga Ora. It's been a fulfilling journey, and I couldn't be more grateful for the experience.
For me, things started to shift after a lightbulb moment: I needed to shake up my definition of success. Sure, I was rocking it as a creative, but as a business leader and a mum? Let's just say I was feeling the pressure. Suddenly, I was expected to be this superhero, effortlessly juggling work, family, and everything in between. But let's get real—even superheroes need a break sometimes.
So, I reached out for help from a professional business coach, Sarah Greener. My preconceptions of working with a coach were that I would be in for tips and tricks for fancy flow charts and tools. But you know what? I have been so grateful my coach has helped me see that I was looking in all the wrong places. While yes, the nuts and bolts are important, it's also about focusing on what I need to do to build a business that suits our family life. I soon realised I needed to invest in what truly mattered: quality time with myself and my loved ones.
To find balance, there has been some tough conversations at home that were honest and curious discussions about planning, dividing up chores, streamlining our routine, and even outsourcing some tasks. It wasn't easy, as we both had beliefs that needed to be challenged, but every little change to share the load and find smarter solutions in our home life made a world of difference and started to show in the energy that would show up for my clients' projects.
And let me tell you, setting boundaries? That's been a game-changer. Learning to say no to things that don't light me up allowed me to say yes to the things that did—like hitting the gym (RPM sessions, anyone..addicted much Bridge?!) or sketching away in my happy place. Take, for example, that Saturday meeting request. It wasn't urgent or on-site, so I kindly asked to reschedule. The people pleaser in me would have said yes! But now, I've given myself a permission slip to say no. Why? Because those weekends are for my kiddo and are precious; it's one of the boundaries I've set for myself.
But here's the kicker: embracing this shift wasn't just about me. It allowed me to show up as a better version of myself for my clients, spreading a little more joy along the way.
So, here I am, sharing my story in the hopes that it might resonate with someone. I’m far from perfect at balancing it all, but hey, who is?
If you're feeling overwhelmed by the chaos of everyday life, just remember: sometimes, the most profound transformations start with the simplest of shifts - like booking in that spring cleaner and rethinking about what success looks like to you. For me, it's about making space to reconnect with the things that truly matter.
Kia Kaha x
Bridget
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