help people secure their retirements.
I loved working as a lawyer – I loved calling myself a lawyer (it was a hard-won degree, and I’d put myself through my two degrees over 5 years (Law and Arts, majoring in Sociology), I’d fought hard for it, and I was proud of my achievements. I worked my way up the superannuation ladder, getting experience in all sectors, and my last job was one of the top in its field - running a superannuation fund as the Fund Executive Officer & Company Secretary for a company’s internal $90 Million Dollar Super fund. It was a great job – and I often tell my mum – nothing about it was anything remotely like being an actress – sitting behind a desk dealing with documents! But you’ve got to love mums who want to ensure their kids are on the right path!
I’m so grateful for my time as a lawyer – I’d reached a real pinnacle in my career running that super fund, and I learnt so many amazing skills and experiences that have set me up for my life as an entrepreneur and my legal career paid for my makeup line, Iridis Cosmetics, so I can’t begrudge it at all!
On a personal note, my journey of self-discovery involved a LOT of counselling – 7 years – and delving into the traumas of my past, and examining the things that held me back. My amazing counsellor helped me work through all of that and got me to a point of gratitude, release and increased self-awareness which really helped me in my business, as well as my life! Invest in yourself – it’s the best investment you’ll ever make.
The Global Financial Crisis was a turning point for me also – there were no jobs for superannuation lawyers – the industry was in crisis. And it was that turning point of being out of work, being quiet and in my head rather than just “doing” the whole time, that freed me up to create the idea of my makeup company – Iridis Cosmetics. I’d been out of work about 6 months at that point, and was mapping out all of my skills and experience on one side of a huge piece of paper and then writing down what I loved doing on the other side of the paper. And because I was quiet and contemplative, the idea for Iridis Cosmetics dropped into my mind and heart from the universe (or my higher self really), and it came in fully formed – all the details – except the actual brand name! I knew what the products would look like, that they’d be imported from America and Canada, that we’d have Makeup Artists teaching women how to do their own makeup in group lessons, and selling our product. I still worked as a superannuation lawyer for 8 years, while I developed the business model and systems and the makeup brand for Iridis, before I finally quit law forever in 2015. I haven’t looked back in the 3.5 years I’ve been a Hair & Makeup Artist and Founder & CEO of Iridis Cosmetics.
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