THE INSIDER’S GUIDE
TO RAISING A FAMILY
As I write this, my six -year-old is at
daycare and my three-month-old
is at my feet in his bouncer. Raising
a family while growing a business
takes a lot of inner strength.
By Marlies Hobbs
WHILE GROWING A BUSINESS
A
re you trying to
raise a family while
also growing your
business? Take inspiration
from the achievements
of Marlies Hobbs, the
working mum behind the
internationally expanding
Paleo Café franchise, who
also recently received
the national Emerging
AusMumpreneur Award.
decide that it is chaos, exhausting and
ultimate failure, then that is exactly what
will become true for you. If, instead, you
see it as a wholesome life, exhilarating
and a successful existence without
regret, then that will become true.
As I write this, my six-year-old is at
daycare and my three-month-old is at
my feet in his bouncer. Raising a family
while growing a business takes a lot
of inner strength. A burning desire to
realise your dreams. This is because in
order to be successful, you need to be
passionate, persistent and patient in
both your family and your business.
In the past three years, I went from being
a DINK (double income no kids) lawyer
to becoming a first-time parent and
endured a traumatic struggle for my son
Troy’s health. I turned that experience in
to a positive and created the Paleo Café
concept, then franchised the business,
opening a further 11 cafes in under 12
months. I authored the bestselling Paleo
Café Lifestyle & Cookbook, received
several awards, including the national
Emerging AusMumpreneur Award, and
welcomed our second son Zac.
While I feel very grateful for what my
family and business team have
achieved, it certainly has not been
without sacrifice. Life has, at times, felt
very isolated, sometimes with very little
time to socialise or maintain meaningful
personal relationships. My husband is
also my business partner and co-founder
of Paleo Café, so we tend to live and
breathe the business. My husband is also
the father of our beautiful sons and they
are the centre of our universe. Of course,
like many busy couples this leaves little
time and energy for “us”.
Raising a family while working is
probably the most rewarding, yet
challenging time of anyone’s life. And
if that work is your own business, it just
adds to the challenges.
What makes it all worthwhile however,
is knowing that we are leading by
example, proving to our children that
anything is possible when you believe in
your dreams and are prepared to work
hard to achieve them. We both believe
that we are working hard now to ensure
a brighter future for our family. There is
a game plan but it is a marathon, not
a sprint. Pace yourself and be patient
because your hard work will pay off if
you stay focused on your dreams, rather
than your challenges.
To everyone else who is chasing the
same dream we remind you to “look
after each other, stay focused on where
you are going and celebrate when you
get there!”
Paleo Cafe franchises
are currently available in
Australia and overseas.
Visit paleo-cafe.com.au
more info/video
You have your family. They are the love
of your life, adorable, cheeky,
exhausting, the centre of your universe
and completely dependent on you. And
this may include your partner! You love
to cook them a nice meal, keep a clean
and tidy home, be there to read them a
bedtime story and to spend quality time
together.
Then you have your business. It is your
passion, your calling in life and you
feel deeply committed to delivering
excellence for your customers, who you
cherish. No one quite loves your business
the way you do. So you overcompensate
for that. You work even harder, you think
even faster, you stay even later.
LEARN, TRAIN & TRANSFORM
YOUR CAREER
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Now combine these two scenarios. What
do you get?
A wholesome life? Chaos? Exhilaration?
Exhaustion? Success? Failure? All of the
above?
To be honest, I don’t quite know the
answer. In fact, I don’t think there is an
answer.
What you get out of life, whether that
be family, business or a combination
of both, is whatever you decide. If you
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WHAT’S NEW IN FITNESS - AUTUMN 2015
WHAT’S NEW IN FITNESS - AUTUMN 2015
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