Julie Blatch
Julie Blatch
As the renowned Baker and Motivational Speaker , Tom O ’ Toole from Beechworth Bakery in Victoria said , “ It ’ s only that little bit extra , that tiny weeny little bit extra you do , that will make you “ Extraordinary ”.
He also said “ don ’ t let the dream catchers take away your dreams ” – the people that put down your ideas or tell you that you could not possibly do such and such . This resonated with me so much that I began putting it into action . I had always been motivated to go the ‘ extra mile ’ and ‘ step off that cliff ’ to move out of my comfort zone in my personal life and business endeavours , but here was someone delivering this advice who had actually achieved amazing business success and didn ’ t have a degree or MBA or formal training other than as a baker . Talk about ‘ Walk the Walk ’!
This said to me , “ you can do anything you set your mind to ”, and that is how my life has unfolded .
My name is Julie Blatch ( nee Newton ) and I left school in year 11 as my interests were not in having a career as I would be married soon and have a husband to look after me . ( Yes , I know , I cringe as I write ).
My first job was as an Audit Clerk for Accountants in Dee Why , Sydney . Although I am now a Professional Accountant , being an Audit Clerk was definitely NOT where I got my inspiration from .
I had successfully completed a secretarial course after leaving school , and this qualification saw me through the next 15 years , including being very useful when travelling and working overseas – London in particular . This was my first major cliff jump – travelling and working overseas on my own .
I also worked in large and small organisations in Sydney and Northern Beaches area and seemed to gravitate to the Bookkeeping / Accounts and finance areas of the firms I worked for . I was still a Secretary , ( and later Personal Assistant and Executive Assistant ) but worked for Finance Managers and Professional Accountants . I developed great organisational and administrative skills and became very good at making other people look great .
So , in the mid 1980 ’ s I started an Accounting course through TAFE while travelling to Sydney 5 days a week to undertake an Assistant Accountant position with EMI Records – my next cliff jump and going that little bit extra . I didn ’ t finish the course , but I was now very interested in not making other people look good , but rather gaining qualifications in Accounting for ME . I never thought that I would ever work as an Accountant - it was more a personal quest .
I was by now living in Alice Springs , having travelled through there on my 12 month ‘ Round Australia ’ campervan trip , and secured a 6 month tenure with the Mayor as her Assistant , speech writer and protocol officer – another cliff jump .
It was in Alice that I started my first business ‘ Workzone ’ – Secretarial & Business Support and Recruitment . 12 months later I won the Telstra small business award for the whole of the Northern Territory .
I took another huge jump and applied for University entry and began my Business Degree ( by distance education ) at the ripe old age of 32 . And wouldn ’ t you know it , as soon as I turned my life direction towards a possible career , at the age of 34 I met and married my husband Tim in Alice Springs . We left there 3 years later with our 2 year old Anthony so that Tim could take up the Airport Managers position at the new Ayers Rock Airport .
I continued to study and work between children – Mollie was born in 1993 in Alice , and in late 1993 we moved to Canberra , but only for a couple of years . We went on to own and operate the General Store in Nimmitabel ( a town of 200 people ) for 8 years while the children were young , While Tim & I worked in the Store , incorporating a Deli , Coffee Shop , Post Office and Liquor Off-License , I continued to study until in 2003 with my family around me , I graduated from Charles Sturt University , Wagga Wagga , with a Bachelor of Business Degree , majoring in Accounting & Legal Studies – 14 years after my initial enrolment .
The incredible satisfaction this gave me was unbelievable . As a 16 year old who left school in year 11 , couldn ’ t do maths to save herself , I was now a degree qualified accountant . The great thing also was that while finishing my degree , I had been working for Boyce Accounting firm in Cooma , where I began as a trainee accountant , and was mentored , nurtured and allowed to absorb all the reality of working as an Accountant , and I loved it . Over the next 7 years I worked as an Accountant and training Accountants .
My world changed 9 years ago when Life reminded me that those closest to you are the most precious and important people in the world . I was at the time travelling all over Australia delivery nationally accredited training to budding Bookkeepers and Accountants . I needed to be home . After a tough 12 months , our lives were blessed and 8 years ago Tim and I started our Accounting and Business Advisory practice – MYC Partners in Woy Woy , on the Central Coast of New South Wales . MYC Partners now has a prominent position in Woy Woy , employs 5 local staff , has over 1,000 clients and is part of the local community .
I have jumped off so many cliffs and landed on my feet – sometimes a bit wobbly , but with a little bit of extra commitment , my life has been incredibly interesting and rewarding .
Throughout this journey I have always shared my knowledge and experience to assist others . I mentor , encourage and speak out to women about seeing the opportunities that are out there , even though sometimes , we have to make the opportunities for ourselves , by doing that little bit extra and jumping off cliffs .
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Autumn 2018 | Business 2 Business with a Twist
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