This week’s Ambassador Feature is with Helen Edwards, Sustainable Home Hub

2018 AusMumpreneur Sustainability Award bronze winner

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Tell us the story behind why you love what you do and why you’re so passionate about sharing your message.

I grew up with bohemian parents who valued the environment and were passionate about people and planet, the arts and stories. I have lived with depression and anxiety in my past, and I saw so many people also getting stressed about life, it made me want to do more, especially for my beautiful boys. I strongly believe that mental health, wellbeing and sustainability are closely connected. My focus is on reducing eco-anxiety, removing barriers to sustainability, and helping you to take small simple actionable steps towards a more sustainable life. I created the Sustainable Home Hub – to help people find what they need when it comes to designing, building, decorating and living in their homes, and to help sustainable, eco and handmade businesses to grow, making it easier for people to make sustainable choices.

 

Tell us a story about a challenging time you faced, how you overcame it and what lesson/lessons/wisdom this experience has taught you about life and business.

I think that my personal journey with anxiety and depression, as well as living with chronic conditions for most of my life, have taught me that you can either sit in the corner and disappear from the world, or take it full on, despite these things. I struggle daily with my health, but I try to keep a positive mindset and allow myself time to deal with what is needed, while not allowing it to push me down. In business this is very important because there are so many times where you feel like giving up. It is important that you step away and nurture yourself, rather than giving up, or beating yourself up. It is all about balance.

 

Image source : Instagram @helenedwardswrites

 

What are 3 pieces of advice you would give someone starting out in business?

1. Don’t try to rush things – it takes time and you have to learn patience and the ability to stick at it for the long haul. There will be times where you think that nothing is working out, but you never know what this one moment is leading to.

2. Don’t listen to critics – yourself included – unless it is constructive. We all need feedback and if you are unsure about something you should seek input. But don’t let it crush you.

3. Do not get carried away with thinking that social media stats are your business. Social media is one part of the marketing and community development for your tribe. It is also a time sucker and a place that can be filled with comparison and negativity. Again, keep balance.

 

What is your proudest business achievement? Why does this mean so much to you?

My proudest business achievement was being a state finalist for the Australian of the Year awards for my charity work. It was recognition of 16 years of extraordinary effort by myself and my small family team and volunteers, to make a difference to so many people’s lives. I also think the recent completion of my first fiction novel for middle grade children is an enormous, life-long achievement and I finally feel like I am finding my tribe and doing what I have always wanted.

 

Finally, what do you believe is the secret to success?

Genuine love for what you are doing, hard work, relationships and networking, dedication and self-belief.

 


 

About our AusMumpreneur Ambassador

Helen is an award-winning writer, blogger and author. She is Mama to 3 sons and lives in Adelaide with her family and 2 cats. She has been writing and reading since before she went to school. She wanted to be a writer for as long as she can remember, so, she went off and became a social worker. Seriously not writerly. But in fact, it was, because most of her work was about people’s stories. Helen founded an award-winning diabetes charity in 2013, which she ran until 2016. She started a blog called Recycled Interiors in 2013, which is now the Sustainable Home Hub. Helen is passionate about our beautiful planet. She is currently writing a middle grade novel set in rural NSW against the backdrop of drought, which includes the rescue of a baby magpie, the most wonderful night sky, and one girl’s journey to discovering courage, heart and friendship in unexpected places; she is completing her PhD Thesis, and planning many more books! She does not get a lot of sleep.

To learn more, please visit Website, Facebook and Instagram.