EastCoast HR Group has approached prominent and everyday Sunny Coasters about their careers. Follow our Friday Feature to find out what inspires those around to go to work every day!
Annette Sym – Author, Publisher and Speaker
What was your first job?
My first job was working at my dads butcher shop in the school holidays. I wonder if this is why I am now turning more to a vegetarian diet. Past memories ?
Who are the people that have made the biggest difference in your career and why?
There have been many people who have supported my Symply Too Good journey, starting with my first printer John. I also think that doing all the Anthony Robbins events 20 years ago was fabulous. It made me look at my business in a different way. I remember one thing Anthony said that changed my business was “you do what you do best and then find others that do the rest that they do best”. After the Life Mastery that was in Hawaii and went for 9 days I completed book 2 and signed on a manager ?
What is the best piece of advice you have been given?
It would be that you should always think about the customers and what they need. It is about finding what their pain is in their life and help them fix it. Obviously mine is all about losing weight and empowering these wonderful people to believe in themselves. I always go back to the Annette of 100 kilos and ask her what do you need? It’s the best way to know how to support my followers.
Think back to five years ago. Did you envision your career as it is today?
After 21 years in business I know that nothing stays the same and it’s important to not keep it the same. I think 5 years is a long time in business , everything is digital and things change so quickly. I knew enough back then that social media and online selling would be an important part of my business. What I didn’t see back then was how rapidly newsagents would decline and they were my main retail outlet. This has significantly impacted how I run my business today.
How do you approach work – life balance?
Being a homebased business I’m very aware that I have to set boundaries, so at the end of my work day I close the door to my office and I am home. I try not to work Fridays as I feel that I should be able to manage my work load in 4 days. I love my job and so I have to make sure that I recharge my batteries so that I can keep giving my absolute best to my business/followers.
What is your proudest moment in your career?
There’s been many…getting my payment from my distributor for my first million dollar cheque was quite profound ? I also was super proud of every cookbook that I launched. With awards it would have to be when I won Telstra Australian Micro business of the year in 2004 and getting a robe and an Honorary Senior Fellow Award at the Sunshine Coast University for Healthy and business advocacy.
