OC: TELL US ABOUT LITTLE HOBO PROJECT AND WHAT YOU DO
TA: Creative Project Management, Developing & Consulting for independent professionals, brands and projects in the new business environment. That is the fancy way of saying we do all sorts of work on all sorts of projects…but what we really love is the creative foundation in all things.
OC: HOW DO YOU DEFINE SUCCESS?
TA: What an exciting time we live in that the concept of success is beyond profit.
It depends on what you set for your goals really…success for me is about achieving those goals. Do you feel good about what you are doing everyday? Are you stimulated? Are you evolving? Are you serving a bigger picture? Is your energy appreciated? Are you growing? Are you helping others? Are you excited to work? These are goals I have set for myself and I return to them constantly to reevaluate energy spent on projects.
OC: WHAT KICK ASS DAILY HABITS DO YOU HAVE IN PLACE?
TA: I make sure to walk as much as I can and also have face to face with clients an colleagues. It is important to get out of the house or the office and get your body moving. There is something quite rewarding about going for a walk and having your meeting at the same time. There is also a strong following growing for the standing at your desk approach, and I couldn’t agree more anything that breaks you from sitting at a desk for most of your day is a bonus for me.
Another is project by project focus. It is so easy to bounce around on what you are working on. In our work environment, most of us don’t have anyone to answer to. It is important to manage your time and set targets for yourself, large and small, so you can achieve little wins every day!
OC: WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY?
TA: Knowing that I helped someone pursue their dreams makes me happy. Really happy. Being asked to be a Maverick for Owners Collective made me happy. These days, as my value of success evolves, humble and happy seem to go together.
OC: TELL US ABOUT A HIGH POINT IN YOUR CAREER
TA: Recently I had to dissolve a business partnership for a particular project. It was a difficult situation as both parties were not seeing eye to eye and I was left with two choices. I could opt to fight for what I deserved financially / professionally which would have drained me and also continued to fuel the opposing party’s desire to control and have the upper hand.
Or I could have learned my own lessons from the experience to grow as a business woman and actually pursue that during the business dissolving process. If I chose the latter I could then direct my energy at projects with higher success* potential.
I removed emotion and fear of failure from the entire scenario and reviewed my goals… were they being served? No, so I walked away and the outcome was beyond my wildest dreams. When you serve yourself and those that are supportive of you, with dignity and truth, its always comes full circle, acting on that dignity and respect to my goals is my high point.
OC: CAN WE ASK FOR A LOW POINT? WHAT DID YOU NEED TO KNOW TO GET OUT OF THERE?
TA: I had a friend and colleague that once told me we can never fail, every attempt is worth it. I truly believe in this concept – In building blocks, in persistence, in determination and positive thinking. But that does not mean I haven’t cried, I haven’t been lost, I haven’t felt failure for a moment.
To get out of this feeling, whenever it may creep up…I apply goal setting sessions, clear the mess around me, review all elements of the situation at hand and get a grasp on it realistically… Is it as big a deal as I am making it out to be? Do I posses the tools I need to resolve it? If not what shall I learn so that I may I gain from this experience?
OC: TEA OR COFFEE?
TA: COFFEE, LOTS OF COFFEE… And Kombucha.
OC: HOW DO YOU GENERATE NEW IDEAS?
TA: By creating an environment conducive to creative thinking…whatever that means for you. Sometimes it is chatting with a friend, yoga or surfing, clear thinking, brainstorming with blank butcher paper, cooking, gardening, going to the beach, research…. Basically, when you have a clear head, a happy body and a stimulated creative flow the ideas want to come!
OC: IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO START YOUR CAREER OVER AGAIN, WHAT WOULD YOU DO DIFFERENTLY?
TA: Set goals, month to month, yearly and overall goals. But most of all I would have taken extra measures to learn the ins and outs of running your own business so I could have stressed less.
OC: IF YOU COULD SHARE ONE PIECE OF BUSINESS ADVICE WITH OTHERS, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
TA: ENJOY EVERY BIT OF IT. EVEN THE STRUGGLE. YOU MADE THIS CHOICE AND YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN REALISE YOUR DREAM. That does not mean you have to do it alone, but be prepared for challenges, setbacks, pain, joy, all of it. Take the highs and the lows, they are what moulds you.
OC: GIVE US 3 WORDS THAT OTHER PEOPLE WOULD USE TO DESCRIBE YOU
Vivacious. Busy. Passionate…or at least I’d like to think they would 😉