Our Press Launch & Collaboration over Competition
Last week I flew to Sydney to do a media launch and press lunch for the opening of the new luxury sanctuary here in Bali.
It was a whirlwind of a trip that had me fly Monday night and leave Sydney airport Tuesday morning straight into my first press interview!
The lunch on Thursday was incredible, with 40 editors and journalists from some of my all time favourite magazines.
As I stood there, up the front of the room, looking out over Australia’s key media personnel, the most intense wave of emotions came over me. I realised something, something really big.
I’d made it.
It really wasn’t until that exact moment that I reflected on everything it took to get me there.
For anyone who has built before, you know it’s a massive undertaking. Well, add a global pandemic and building in Bali to the mix, and let me tell you, it’s not for the faint hearted!
The last two years have really felt like a constant uphill battle.
While the excitement of the build was there at the beginning, it became really easy to lose touch with that joy when each day I faced new challenges…
There were huge delays in materials and the costs of materials rose day by day without any warning which continued to blow out our careful budget. Building in a pandemic also obviously meant that workers were often sick and off for days or weeks at a time and we had to manage the logistics of a build site with ever-changing restrictions and rules.
With our full Balinese team still fully employed, it was a juggle putting on a brave face day after day and then towards the end, constantly racing against the clock to get the project completed in time for guests arriving.
When Bali did reopen we also didn’t anticipate the incredibly fast bounce back! And while it was exciting and reassuring, it also meant that daily we were also navigating the ever changing laws and rules for entry. We were informing guests of information that we ourselves were having to google that very morning!
Not only was I mentally, emotionally and physically exhausted, I also had a severe case of ‘mum guilt’ as I strove to be a great mum and be there for my young girls during the pandemic, on top of the mounting stress of the build and taking care of our Balinese team too.
To say my life was out of balance would be an understatement!
One of the things I love telling women on retreat is that you don’t have to worry about making any decisions. How blissful that sounded to me when I was being faced with making literally dozens of really massive decisions every day. I realised that decision fatigue is absolutely a real thing!
All I could do to get through each day was try and be present with what was right in front of me, whilst also holding onto that tiny glimmer of light that was at the end of what felt like a very, very long tunnel!
But honestly, standing there in the press lunch, looking out over a sea of excited women’s faces, eager to hear about the new luxury wellness sanctuary, those two years of drama and roller coaster rides felt worth it. One hundred percent.
I’d finally reached the end of the tunnel and realised those random curve balls thrown my way on an idle Tuesday that kept me up all night were done and dusted.
I looked across to my beautiful friend Sara and we shared a knowing smile, tears in our eyes. Sara knew exactly the emotional overwhelm I was feeling, because she felt it all too.
Sara and I had decided to do a co-launch with Escape Haven and her newly renovated and expanded property Soulshine; a beautiful resort in Ubud that blends rock’n’roll vibes with wellness.
When asked why we co-launched, the answer was simple- because we wanted to promote both brands and support one another, just as we had done over the last two years.
Sara had been along for the ride with me every step of the way.
We knew exactly what one another was going through and shared many, many late night calls sharing our hopes, our fears and the ‘challenge of the day!’ While the rest of our family and friends looked on from afar and tried to offer advice or support, Sara and I were in the thick of it side by side and knew we could count on one another for anything.
For two years we navigated the highs, the lows, the insomnia, the huge losses, wins, emotions and disasters along the way. There was plenty of laughter (and tears!!)
I felt so much pride watching Sara deliver her presentation and as always, was so inspired by her, her journey and what she was now offering to the world.
What this journey made me realise is that as women it’s easy and quite common to fall into competition with one another.
However, when we focus on collaboration over competition, really incredible things happen.
Sara and I may both own wellness resorts than run retreats in Bali, however, we never look at one another as competition. In fact, we are constantly finding ways to help support another and we share openly about business practices that work, ones to avoid and bounce ideas, share inspiration and give honest feedback so we can both expand, grow and succeed.
Having Sara along for the ride has meant that the challenges have been bearable and the celebrations have been that much more joyous.
It’s a reminder that we rise by lifting others.
Both Sara and I had made the decision to keep our Balinese team on during the pandemic despite having no income. Our teams were by our side every step of the way and were as excited and as proud as we were that this moment had finally come.
Rather than standing in a conference room in Sydney, it felt like we were standing at the end of a marathon; we had finally made the finish line despite all the hurles, hiccups, set backs, u turns and detours!
It would have been easier at times to have given up, and yet, we’d not only made it, but the vision we had and the why behind the vision was stronger than ever before.
When women support women, we can accomplish so much.
I see this every week on retreat, the way that women immediately band together and how healing and transformational this is.
Whether it’s cheering one another in the surf or listening intently to one another’s heartfelt stories. Our guests feel safe to open up, to share both tears and laughter and leave feeling expanded, seen, inspired, confident and nurtured.
Having a business that is by women for women is something I feel truly grateful for every single day and I’m so immensely proud that we can now share this with our beautiful community of grateful guests.
If I’ve learned anything from the journey ( and trust me, I could write a book on the lessons!), it’s two main things:
- Always stay true to your dreams and don’t give up, even when it feels like all the odds are stacked up against you.
- Never underestimate the power of female friendships and their ability to heal, fuel, nourish, inspire and support you- in good times and bad.
Join us for a Luxury Women’s Retreat in Bali!
If you’d like a blissful and indulgent week to really unwind, restore and tap back into your feminine energy around a group of like-minded women, join us on a Bali retreat!