The Bees Knees with Karyn Harte

EP #33 - Karyn Harte (EDITED)

Wed, Jan 10, 2024 11: 39AM • 35:48

Wed, Jan 10, 2024 11: SUMMARY KEYWORDS

Wed, Jan 10, 2024 11: business, podcast, karen, lovely, people, year, retreat, living, love, calendar, marketing, blocking, australia, life, contract, thought, episode, boys, role, work

Wed, Jan 10, 2024 11: SPEAKERS

Wed, Jan 10, 2024 11: Emma Lovell

Emma Lovell 00: 01

Emma Lovell 00: Do you want to live a life of freedom and adventure? Are you wanting more than the daily grind? Me too. Welcome to the Emma Lovell show, a place where we talk about living a life you love now, I'm your host, Emma Lovell, and my number one value is freedom. I've spent the last 14 years running a business and traveling the world. And now I take my husband and toddler along for the adventure to it's possible and I know you can create a life doing what you truly love as well. This podcast will inspire, motivate and encourage you to go after your dreams to create a life you love until you get now don't wait for a time and or someday in the future. I'll be sharing episodes weekly about how I harmonize business travel and self care. I'll also bring on incredible guests to share their journeys, wins the challenges and how they're creating a life they love. Let's jump in and get dreaming. This is a space for you to manifest a life you love. I would like to acknowledge and recognize Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first peoples of this place now known as Australia. I am grateful for the continuing care of the land waterways and skies where I work live, listen, learn and play. From here on you can bear country and from wherever you are listening, I pay my respects to the elders past and present. I am delighted to introduce you today to Karen Hart. The queen bee of babies needs digital marketing and design, the founder of Buzz ware and podcast host of the buzz with Karen Hart. She's also a become a dear friend and colleague, but also a client having had Karen come on one of my beautiful retreats in the kangaroo Valley. It's been such a delight to see Karen's journey over the last few years. And for her to step into this place of alignment. And all of the wonderful things that she's creating, which we'll be sharing on the episode. I am just sometimes you know you we come across people in life. And you do feel that that connection, there's a reason that they're meant to be there. And Karen is one of those people. I love what she stands for I love what she's creating. And I know you're going to as well. Karen is dynamic force, and she's got a rich entrepreneurial heritage. And she offers a wealth of knowledge and she's immersed herself in the business communities throughout her life, which she intimately understands and and she has some faced challenges, which is what she wants to share on her podcast, the buzz with Karen Hart, which I had the pleasure of being a guest on. It came from her personal journey of rediscovery and motivation. And she also shares those beautiful stories from her guests. And look, she's a true champion of the community. She celebrate successes, she addresses challenges, and she's aiming to empower business owners for lasting prosperity. I just cannot wait for you to hear all about Karen's journey. And I hope that it inspires you as much as it inspires me. Welcome to the podcast. Karen. Hi.

03: 20

03: Thank you. Thanks for being here. Today.

Emma Lovell 03: 24

Emma Lovell 03: Like it's been a long time coming. I got to be on your lovely podcast but I feel like I wanted to have you on ages ago. Because my this is my third podcast but I felt like it would have been a great fit for my second podcast and now here we are. And you for a long time we're post it on my wall.

03: 42

03: I know a lot of

Emma Lovell 03: 49

Emma Lovell 03: manifesting I do I write clients, or people that I would like to work with or have said that they might want to work with me and I put it on a post it. And then you know, the fun thing was that we thought we were going to work together one way and then you ended up working with me in a different way, which was coming on the retreat.

04: 05

04: Absolutely. Yeah. It was actually nice and spa Marsh.

Emma Lovell 04: 11

Emma Lovell 04: Yeah, almost a year ago. They're telling me let's, you know, we'd love an elevator pitch. But tell me in your words because I've got your bio, but tell me who are you are a bit about you?

04: 26

04: Well, I am a Mokra on Takus post. I am a founder of a new agile way range. But most importantly, I am someone who lives authentically. I am very open about my journey. And it's it's six lessons Yes, but also its challenges and I think that's where all the gold is. So I am a mom of two amazing young In 16, and 20, now Raizy and also single month for a lot of devices. So a lot of the goals from my journey, I've certainly learned through those through those tough times. So yeah, pretty honest. I think I'm pretty kind and generous and committed to living with joy and, and being being happy. wants to show. Yes,

Emma Lovell 05: 33

Emma Lovell 05: love that was was something we connected on. And, you know, we met through business club with business checks. So we sort of, you know, I think had a few chats here and there, and then we had dinner on the Gold Coast. And there was a lot of realize there was a lot of synergies.

05: 52

05: I think we met, actually, yeah, it was actually during lockdown. And I was just so inspired by your way of, you know, connecting and making sure that you knew the person, it wasn't just a name, and a business or an application. It was, cuz I really were and that, that really, you know, certainly drew me and we're lucky stated that that dinner, I think we both realize, you know, that we didn't have so much in common in that way.

Emma Lovell 06: 26

Emma Lovell 06: Yeah, it is what it is about that. And you and I come from, I guess, similar background industries in a way, marketing world. But I don't know, for me, it's always been not what you know, it's who you know, Oh,

06: 40

06: I'm fine. Again. Time and time again. Yeah.

Emma Lovell 06: 45

Emma Lovell 06: Because not to say that you don't need to know your stuff. And you need to know your skills. But I think the circle, you know, the group that we were in, in the circles that we hang out, people are more than qualified, you would hope that you're good at what you do. I'd hope you know what you're talking about. But, you know, I want to know about the person you are, I don't want the I don't want the marketing pitch. And so yeah, so you've gone into casual wear, which very excited about and telling you a bit more about that. But yeah, let's start there. And then we'll work our way backwards. So where did that come from?

07: 25

07: Yeah, sure. So, I think, for me, this is kind of this is the third pillar of my of my business ventures. The first was digital marketing agency, which is all been about supporting people to navigate the digital landscape. You know, and then the podcast came on during the COVID period, where, you know, my staff was lacking a bit of my business manager, so I wanted to, you know, listen to something that was believable, so I couldn't really find any local business stories that were motivating, inspiring and relatable. So I thought, I'll just start, I'll start my own. And then it was kind of, you know, bringing, bringing joy and inspiration in the business world, but then I thought, well, how can I do that to just the everyday person, right. And that's when I came up with my clothing range, because we're working on the final tweaks of the website literally today. So I'll have a stop to watch in the next couple of weeks with the official launch in February. But yeah, what that's all about is you know, just bringing a smile to people's faces that's what this is all about make people feel good so designed by a garment styles and they have different mantras on them. And the idea is that if feeling a bit flat one day you give up on your jumper that has a lovely nature that gives you that that lift for the day. And you know also to to bring a smile to other people's faces if you're wearing it in the supermarket and you're passing by someone and it puts a smile on their face they don't bow down you know so it was about really extending that that joy in that that kindness that ivory that boldness to beyond business and then sit every day by so that's little motivation and

Emma Lovell 09: 31

Emma Lovell 09: that's beautiful What a lovely yeah progression of the business and you know, I didn't listen to one of your episodes I listened to a few including my own I like listening back to our episodes an episode that I'm on I'm not funny about it that that part happy to hear my own voice but Farah Fermax episode and very beautifully done and I got a bit teary but it was, you know, introduction In the way that you actually take the time to get to know and learn about your guests, so your introduction, and then you also read out something that I think she was surprised that you did as well, this poem that she had written which sparked her business. And I just thought that was so you know, excuse the pun of your last name, but so heartfelt in caring. And it was yeah, it was really was inspiring to listen to. Oh,

10: 27

10: thank you, it means a lot coming from you. Thank you.

Emma Lovell 10: 31

Emma Lovell 10: Oh, to be a guest as well. I was like, I thought I thought you might get me because you asked me about my life story. And I thought you'd get me somewhere in the episode, I didn't think you'd get me on the intro. to choke back the tears on the gods. I remember having a bad day. I'm just gonna go listen to that intro, and be like, Oh, okay, this is great. They need to do the same for you no pressure, I'm just gonna have to best enter in this one. But, you know, we did say that you started marketing. So But where did your? Did your career started in marketing? Where did you start?

11: 04

11: Oh, I started I, my family moved to Australia from New Zealand. And when I was a new 12 comes up a really tough time to move country to move schools. And I was went to quite a strict all girls school that had quite an extensive curriculum into Australia. And here I was at a public school. How would you know what boys are restricted? curriculum. So year 12, Bogota. It was really tough for me. And I was actually a year at eighth growing up. They put me in a year, you know, put me a year forward. So when I got to Australia, remember the principle of promising now you should really be doing we are a living and online. No way. In my last year of high school, I'm not doing your living. So stubborn, of which I see a lot of those same stubborn qualities in my 16 year old at the moment. And, yeah, hindsight, I should have listened to the principal. Needless to say, long story short, I didn't get what I needed to get really, ever ever BCF sport. And so I went straight into the workforce. And I started working for the University of Melbourne and an admin role. And I was fortunate enough to have this amazing woman, Tracy O'Brien, who was our Corporate Services Manager, and she took a shot at it, and they were actually really, you know, still potential and she sent me on every course, you know, imaginable. She really took me under her wing and developed my skill set, which ended up more in that marketing and event organizing, you know, realm. And yeah, so it's something that yeah, really where it started, from a marketing perspective, it started in New Zealand, I went back to New Zealand. And it wasn't sure how to Hotelling towers, so got really marketing specific, in in in that role. And dice a traditional math, which leaves us reveal how old I was then. But there was no digital way it was all traditional marketing.

Emma Lovell 13: 31

Emma Lovell 13: Yeah, yeah. And then that's yeah, like, I didn't know when we first met. And I don't know why I get well, actually, I do know why we met during COVID. So we didn't talk as much about how much of the past you had in the tourism industry. And nor did you know how much it passed. I hadn't traveled and tourism as well. And so it was only on my retreat that was kind of like, you were working with a hotel. It was like, oh, that's quite cool. And you're like, that's kind of my specialty. And like,

14: 02

14: Yeah, I know. And it's funny, because there is my specialty in that. That's, that's not really know. And, and that's a big part of where I'm going this year is I'm really niching into hospitality and tourism. And you know, I'm going to try and get my website and there's not a lot, there's going to be a lot that changes this in the next three quarters. That will really see me back in that niche. So I'm really excited about that. That's

Emma Lovell 14: 30

Emma Lovell 14: fantastic. Yeah, because it is it is a niche. And travel is different to tourism as well. I had a colleague who's that runs women in Tourism Australia, and she was like there's a difference between tourism and travel. And even I'm up on the Gold Coast and in a group, another group called Women in tourism Goldcoast. And there's so many more people. I think people just think of hotels and think of tourism, but there's so many other businesses and organizations that contribute to the sector. How much I mean, this year apparently has been one of the biggest years for the Gold Coast. You wouldn't believe after what we've been through, but they said it's one of the biggest years ever. In terms of spend for tourism.

15: 15

15: Yeah, yeah. So I guess, yeah.

Emma Lovell 15: 17

Emma Lovell 15: So I think there's a space, I mean, my word, which people like, whatever my word for 2024 is travel, and people like in that your word every year. And I was like, no, but like, intentionally, being that. And that is a difference. And so yeah, we wouldn't have talked about that when we first met. But also you are in quite a transition time, because you were working in a role. Kind of like contracting, right, as well as running the business. And you were, you know, we talked about challenges before you were in a time of change.

15: 53

15: Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. So that was in a, in a travel role. It was a luxury travel role as a marketing manager. And, yeah, I've always kind of worked for myself, on the side ever since the boys were one since my first was born. And I just end on from a long line of entrepreneurs by working for myself, as, you know,

16: 22

16: my, my family on both sides. Do that. So that was kind of my normal, but

16: 29

16: and I think, you know, with that being in an in a row was, you know, I always thought that's what I wanted to just have that security have the regular paycheck, you know, have my KPIs, like, all good, but, you know, six months. Role, you know, and I want to do all these other things, but then is within the role, but then there's, you know, so many restrictions and limitations and dealings when you're working for a larger organization, obviously. But that just isn't the right thing going on. Right now. I need to get back out on my own. Oh,

Emma Lovell 17: 12

Emma Lovell 17: hi. Lovely. I want to open the doors to incredible opportunities for you on an all inclusive luxury retreat exclusively for people who are ready to live a life they love. I invite you to join me for five inspiring nights in sensational SriLanka for the rest and receive retreat, hosted from second to seventh of November 2024. by yours truly, Emma Lovell. I've asked you to disconnect your senses and immerse in this exotic culture while you reconnect with yourself. You get to share this luxurious experience with 12 incredible people, while forming connections that last a lifetime. I really cannot undersell or overestimate this incredible retreat and the magic of going to a place to give yourself space and time. I want to share it with you. And if you are interested, then please head to my website. Emma lovell.au/srilanka Retreat. I'd love to see you there. And I'm happy to chat. If you have any questions whatsoever please take this opportunity to come along and join me in stunning SriLanka. Yeah, and did so in when did business start? Like did like did have a start point? Or is that kind of the thing that you always had on the side? I had. So when

18: 35

18: in 2009 I was overweight, I was in New Zealand, I had my boys and then we the dad and I went away. And I said well, I'll come back to Melbourne, my family in Melbourne. So I came back the boys and you know, they'll very young at that age, and I needed to have a job that Oh, I needed to have work that was flexible enough for me to be there as I wanted to be I knew that I never wanted to be popping them in daycare all day every day that just wasn't my style of parenting. And that is for many people and I no way is that a negative negative thing at all, but it just wasn't for me. So and with my marketing, you know experience and more recently in New Zealand we were shareholders of a conference and Event Center so we changed their pathway. But we turned that around and I had some really great results that I could then you know Canvas work with as I studied I could start getting some some local work that was you know, all the way into I have to work and work at night a lot in that sort of thing. So that was that started as as time business marketing and I started And that, but at the end of the day, you know, didn't need a bit more money than the businesses providing. So I didn't need to talk about contract roles, which I had a couple. But then in 2019, I'm like, Do you know what my boys are old enough? Now they're independent enough, it's time for me to live out my business strain. And, and I didn't want to be at this level anymore. And I've had these clients from time on my previous business, I've had a couple of both longterm clients. But I just need to get another couple and then I'm away. So that's what I did so much. 2019, it was officially Bee's Knees.

Emma Lovell 20: 43

Emma Lovell 20: Well done. That, you know, that contract roll thing as well, like, I think, you know, I've been running my business 14 years. And there were times where which I never stopped. But there are times where I took a contract. And it's something that I've had to learn. And there are other people who've helped me with that, that it's like, it's not, I felt like it was a step back, sometimes, or using some of my older skills like going doing copywriting again, on social media, or Yeah, picking up a contract. I think COVID helped me turn that around, actually, because it was, you know, really, you know, everything was hitting the fan. And it was like, Thank God for those corporate clients and those contacts that I have, that could give me a contract. And they needed that communications help, that I didn't see it as the back step then. But I know maybe like two years later, again, when I said, I do these things, we go no more of that no more. I'm not doing that type of thing. But it's like, why would you not use one of your skills? And it was one of the lovely ladies that we'd met through business chicks. Jane Hilson, it's, it's not a sidestep, it's not a back step. It's no, it's just using what's in your repertoire. And actually, it's a smart business and financial decision, like to keep things going to take some form of a contract. To keep things going.

22: 10

22: Yeah, agree, a great, and there's so much you can take from those, you know, contracts to like, the graphic designer who I was working with at the time, she's one of my core designer. So it's, it's those connections that we make along the way, and you just never know, and then a more recent world that I had, they actually are a big part of my branding team now. And if I hadn't worked with them in that way, then I wouldn't be able to offer what you're offering now in my business. So I don't think any of it's a waste.

Emma Lovell 22: 49

Emma Lovell 22: No, no, as you say, the context like I did a contract role with World Vision Australia and and 600 people in the company. So not only was it super fun, and a dream come true, I love love the organization. But I'm still getting referrals eight years on nine, nine years on from people that I worked with and collaborated with. And you know, some of them are dear friends as well. But you know, just the the opportunities that came out of what was a three month contract. That totally added so much. And then as you said, like, I think you learn, because if you're only ever in a small business, we can get them like a small small town or small business mentality, where you can learn from the ways that they do things. And there's some things that are more difficult, like you said, the way that corporates do things, there is a lot of bureaucracy and a lot of levels that are not needed. And entrepreneurs can move a lot quicker. But then there's also systems and processes and structures that we might not have, that you can pick that up and absorb that into your business.

23: 55

23: The Sandbox is great, because that's actually what I did with quite a lot of stuff there. It was a really great learning experience and our coaching. Actually, I couldn't really improve upon that when they happen on the site. Absolutely.

Emma Lovell 24: 11

Emma Lovell 24: Yeah, I'm so happy to see you. In your business fully and then, you know, I want to come back to like you said, so how do you manage your time then? And like, I think you're really you've got that great strategic mind, but like to then go, how do you kind of separate your time or focus? Or how do you make sure that they flow together with the you know, the digital marketing business, the podcast and then now the clothing brand?

24: 44

24: All right. It's a good question.

Emma Lovell 24: 48

Emma Lovell 24: And We shall come back to you in 12 months time.

24: 52

24: Exactly. No, I am super organized, I have to say like are probably a bit too organized for us. Few of my nearest and dearest but I am quite structured as well. So routine is a really big thing for me. And, you know, in order to stay well, and to stay on top of all of these things, you know, I, I'm very strict about my exercise, and my meditation, Nikki Finch, she's been able to have all to that, you know, like having getting up and going my cycle past, you know, every morning. And it goes into her Monday motivation every Monday, but it just is, it's ensuring that I've got those blocks in the diary that on my wellness is being considered and or the expiry that, it will be thought of that. And then calendar blocking on an absolute break with Calendar blocking, you know, I've got every Friday morning from nine to 11 is my best bet. So that is the time that I'm dedicating to that. And then the early days, there is a lot to do, but I never really cared quite easy with myself around when things needed to be done with both way because it was actually a side project, I didn't want to put extra pressure on myself, because it was such a big year abroad for them the digital business, and that really is the priority, because at the end of the day, the digital business is funding, you know, is funding elsewhere. So it's around prioritizing, knowing that growth of the digital businesses and temporal to every other area, or all the other areas. So prioritizing that, and the activities that are going to be money making in that space. The buzz is the podcast is a real passion project of mine. And I do my podcast these days, and well. So you know, I'll do a season of 10 episodes, then I'll have a decent break before I you know, do the next lots of that just relieves the pressure from having to have, you know, fresh new content every week. But again, that's calendar blocking. So my interviews mostly at either end of the day, so they are eight to 10 in the morning, on on Tuesday and Thursday, or, you know, Portal set, go on make sure that that passion project has, you know, either end of the day, so they are just focused on on the digital during during the day. They can retain calendar blocking and looking after yourself. I think probably the free pace. Yeah,

Emma Lovell 27: 42

Emma Lovell 27: no, I love that. And I stuffed around our calendars today. But it's takes sometimes I think I've been doing it a blocking but things change and the messages I kept getting on my cards today were about seasons. And it's like, you know, maybe that planning for next year, the seasons are changing a bit. And so the times that used to work for me don't work anymore. The days that did work, don't work anymore. So what what are those dates or blocks looking like now? And yeah, when you batch ahead? Oh my goodness, it's such an I had the pleasure of experiencing your organized podcast planning. But yeah, when you bet Oh, my goodness is such a difference, too. We did get a good chunk, and we were sort of falling behind. And it just feels so horrible. As opposed to going oh my gosh, the podcast just went out because we had planned it because it was gonna

28: 35

28: Oh, yeah, no, it's go. Yeah, absolutely.

Emma Lovell 28: 41

Emma Lovell 28: And so, I asked this question of everyone. And I'm sure it's changed a lot in the last since we've known each other. But right now or for the foreseeable 12 months or future? What does living a life you love look like?

28: 59

28: Yeah, I think flexibility is huge. Living a life, you know, I love is ensuring that I've got the flexibility and the availability for my boys it has changed a lot. Like it's, it's, it's still a big part of, you know, what I'm living a life looks like I've mentioned, you know, exercise is a big part of that. You know, obviously it's the people around me as well. And I think having a creative outlet, which, you know, I feel like my broadcast views on Instagram is the bandwidth and having purpose. Like I think that also contributes to living a life by and the bulk of our podcast series, actually all right, because Botswana and the digital business all give me a great sense of purpose. And then having you know, energy Anything goes both, you know, for my business and me personally, I think, you know, if we look at the next four months, and I've been working on this for a long time to get that done, we are moving a lot, you know, I, I love and like you say it's going to, it's going to change but are right now in the immediate future. That's, you know, that's what it looks like for me quality time scheduled in the year are not only laid back, you know, the my time with the boys time away. And that also my calendar

Emma Lovell 30: 39

Emma Lovell 30: it's something I've had to learn, uh, for me like routine and calendar a lot, you know, and structured didn't mean flexibility. But what I've had to learn over time, it's different practice. But it's that when you do have that planning that structure and organization, you actually do get more freedom and flexibility. Because you're not running around like headless chicken, you're not going waking up and wasting time going, what am I doing today? How am I going to get these things done? You've factored in that time and building in and scheduling, it sounds very unsexy and found that scheduling in me time and family time and rest time and downtime. And you know what,

31: 20

31: it's actually a real relief. Because it was a couple of weeks ago, I looked at my calendar for 24. And I spent some time and I followed it with a dear friend of mine, she's got a lovely retreat, and it's very self centered. You know, it's a long weekend. So I actually went to her and I said, I want Facebook, which is the combination with so I want these four weekends. So I've got my four weekends and Apollo Bay already in the diary, I put a deposit down from February run tamo organized and actually a really lovely, it's a really lovely feeling. I didn't expect it to be the first time I've done that. But yeah, it was such a lovely feeling to go home well thought out on weekends and in the calendar, doing what I love with someone very special. So yeah,

Emma Lovell 32: 14

Emma Lovell 32: it's of anticipation and in the booking and having something to look forward to absolutely. And I'm so I'm so happy we got to have this conversation when I'm so happy as well that I got to work with you. And I've worked with you multiple ways, but the retreat having you on the retrieve the most beautiful energy. And when you said you were even interested a little bit, I was like, yes, Karen is the exact person that I would want to call in for rest and receive. So it

32: 42

32: was a beautiful retreat you brought together that an incredible group of women and well, I was, you know, as you know, got a very close relationship with with two in particular on that work as a result of my introduction on and so on. Yeah, really forever grateful for that, which I

Emma Lovell 33: 07

Emma Lovell 33: love. You know, that's, I think, what was magic for me. And another lesson was that when you bring together the right people, you create the right space, and the right people didn't come together. It's the best thing you took away from it was each other. That's fine. That's amazing. And to walk into the room and to see everybody connecting without me needing to facilitate that. Like all the facilitation actually already been done by bringing you together. I don't have to then sit with you constantly and be like you were at are you doing this? Are you doing talking? You talking a meeting like? Like, it's not that doing work there, even though you actually were all working together, but in an organic and lovely and supportive way. I was like this is actually perfect.

33: 49

33: Yeah, no, it was lovely. It was lovely. I recommend the restaurant. Thank

Emma Lovell 33: 53

Emma Lovell 33: right. Thank you now how can we find your lovely thing? How can we find you? How can we can only put things in the show notes. I'm very excited. I've written this down and underlined it, but how can we connect with you? And I guess when this episode comes out, get to buzz aware? Yeah,

34: 10

34: absolutely. So the web up pathway.org And every purchase you make donations to save the beach, Australia, Tara, you know, very, very important. Fourth post my that. Um, and yeah, so that's our basic needs. Marketing is my website. And then get instagram handle digital marketing, LinkedIn. My name is Karen with a boy over over user digital hotspots or just drop me an email more than a love, love connection. Love communication. So balance at space needs marketing.com

Emma Lovell 34: 58

Emma Lovell 34: Thank you so much for being here, Karen. Thank you for having me. Thank you for listening lovely one. I hope this has inspired you to dream big and start creating a life you love today. If you love what you're hearing, don't forget to follow and rate on Spotify and rate review and subscribe on iTunes. It helps other awesome people to find this podcast and get motivated and inspired as well. Want to stay connected? Come and join the live a life you love group on Facebook, or connect with me on Instagram. Emma lovell.au, the same as my website. But all the details are in the show notes lovely. I'll see you next episode for more inspiration, motivation and freedom seeking Now go out there and live a life you love