Running a business is hard.
Probably no new news there.
But never have I been more appreciative of that fact then throughout these seemingly never ending lockdowns in Australia (Melbourne).
When something is hard, on one hand my brain is grappling with a situation and looking for ways to overcome it/make it less hard, but on the other hand it’s trying to integrate it into my evolution, growth, and learning.
To say I’ve learnt a lot over these last 20 months would be an understatement.
How the global pandemic has made small businesses pivot/changed/adapt has been incredible.
But you know what, it’s made me realise, more than ever, that what I do matters. The way I can impact lives is a responsibility that I don’t take lightly. Daniel Pink once said, “if you create something that can change people’s lives and you care about it, you have a moral obligation to go out and tell people about it”.
I know Pilates can make a positive difference to the amount of joy people feel in their lives and here’s why.
When we feel pain or aches in our body, we generally do less, eg, we have a sore back so we resign ourselves to the couch and not much else. But doing less often makes this worse. Science has proven that movement improves pain because of the effects of exercise, such as reduced systemic inflammation ,endorphin release, improved mental health and a greater expectation of recovery.
Pilates helps to access these benefits because it is a whole body exercise regime. It focuses on the strength AND the stretch, while practicing the control of the mind to muscle connection. Take the sore back example. PIiates will help reduce the pain not just because you work on your abs, but because it helps to improve alignment and posture, mobility in the hips and legs and will teach you about necessary things like improving your intraabdominal pressure, which will help improve stability around your centre.
When we decrease the pain we experience in our day to day lives, it increases those feel good hormones, we feel confident to get up and get out and do more things, even new things, like play ninja warrior with the kids or participating in a couch to 5km challenge, we’re more inclined to get back to those ‘old things’ we used to love doing, but had put into the ‘I’m too old for that basket’, like, sitting on the floor to do puzzles, dancing and playing sport for fun. When we participate in these moments in our life, we have more joyful experiences, and more joyful moments makes us feel happier and more content and better able to deal with the challenges life throws our way (hello COVID).
I’m so proud and so passionate about what I do. I know Pilates is just a small piece of the wellbeing puzzle, but right now as we have just come out of another lengthy lockdown, one thing is keeping me going strong: my work and the impact it can have on others.
That’s why I’m beyond excited to bring to life our Pilates, Parades and Prosecco event. Not only do I get to teach Pilates to more people and get them to experience the strength and confidence in their own bodies, but I get to do it in the flesh, with real humans, and golly have I missed that. Melbournians have had so much taken away recently: friends, family, income, networks, the community, things to look forward to, it feels bereft and lonely at times. But having this event on the horizon gives me hope. Hope of a brighter day, hope of smiles and laughs and conversations and unity. We really are all in this together, so let’s take this opportunity to celebrate together!
My co-hosts Alex and Gemma, along with Georgie Orbach (the local wine producer we are using at the event) have a few things they wanted to add and some interesting information about their business….
Happy reading...
Alex:
The beginning of Alex Tempany Jewelry was centered on the premise of bravery – and that lively bravely, leads to a bolder and more fulfilling life. life.
2.5 years ago – I had a safe, enviable job, consulted in AFL on the side, and a great passion of creating jewelry which was accidentally building into a little business. It was a leadership gathering with a veryyyyy diverse bunch of people that changed my views and enabled me to dig deep and take action to lead the life I really wanted. When I asked Richard Branson how ‘normal people deal with fear’ he told me that ‘fear was just an obstacle to be overcome’. It was survivors of domestic violence who taught me that past trauma and tragedy can be used as fuel to drive passion, resilience and bravery. So I came away from that trip deciding that building a business to help others live out their bravery, was what I was meant to be doing.
Over the past 2.5 years I’ve grown close to a new community - my customers, suppliers of anything from diamonds, to tissue paper, to the postie (Con is a legend FYI) – and it’s this that’s kept me going in the often lonely world of small business. And especially during Covid, where everyone is digging so deep to find their bravery and just keep going, it’s all the more special. Bringing this community together, in person (!!!!!) is a dream come true, taking form in Pilates, Parades and Prosecco! (I must add, Pilates and Prosecco have strongly aided my sanity during lockdown also!).
Kirsti, Gemma and I can’t wait to see you all there – to have a stretch, a cheers, and an ooooh-ah to celebrate, both everything, and nothing in particular!
Gemma:
My passion for fashion (how cliche!) has kept me sane during lockdown for two reasons. Firstly, when you have a passion, it's still hard work if it's your day job but if you enjoy it, it's not as 'worky'! I love looking at clothes, playing with clothes, putting outfits together and creating content around that. I like that during lockdown when people are dreaming of the next time they go out, they can be inspired by my posts, plan and look forward to when they can go out again. Or even better, can do some retail therapy online to buy something they can wear in lockdown to brighten their monotonous days! The simple things!
Secondly, fashion has kept me sane because it has kept me so busy! Distractions in lockdown are good! If I'm not packing orders, creating content, doing admin work, I'm also part time teaching, looking after my children and running the household. Being busy for me, keeps me sane. Enter the other life dilemma...balance! That's the tricky one! And with no 'me' time in lockdown, that can be harder to maintain mental health and get things done without interruptions!
I believe fashion plays a big part in coming together as a community. If you're going out to be together with friends, it's the first thing you think of- what should I wear? Dressing up can change your mood along with the mood boost you feel after being together with your friends. Our event Pilates, Parades & Prosecco is something I would go to (if I wasn't one of the hosts!) as it combines all of the things we have so missed in lockdowns. Community; coming together and meeting new friends, spending time with old friends. Exercising together- what a high! Experiencing a fashion parade with the latest Spring fashions with friends and on the day discount! Plus an online boutique in the flesh where you get to feel and try the clothes but for an affordable online price! I just love that I can offer this to our community. Helping people choose their outfits to make them feel confident inside and out gives me great pleasure! Another thing that brings me great pleasure- PROSECCO with friends!
Georgie:
In 2008 Josef (dad) phoned Georgie, who was working in viticulture in the Clare Valley at the time and asked if she would like to run his wine business? It didn’t take long for me to answer and said Absolutely! I asked “when do you want me to start”? He said “Yesterday”! LOL
So I returned home and started in Sales/Deliveries and got familiar with this beautiful city again, Melbourne. After 6 years of living and working in the Clare Valley I was excited to be returning home and being with my family again.
After spending 10 years selling and growing the business from the kitchen table up we decided to launch another brand. As we were doing a lot of export we had the opportunity to grow our business in the domestic market and decided to launch another brand. Josef said “let’s call it Georgie Orbach” I was like what do you mean? He said we will name it after you.. I was blown away.
So in 2014 we launched Georgie Orbach with 5 varieties, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
In 2018 we changed the look of the label which was completely different to my first print run. Still keeping with the colour theme we added a couple of extra varieties and grew my brand to 8. The new wines we added were Sparkles, Pinot Gris and Rose. This was a very exciting time for the business. But there is always room for more. The following year we added Pinot Noir which was very well received at the price point of $15 per bottle.
Just when you think surely you have ALL varieties covered.. Someone asks do you have a Moscato in your range? The penny dropped and I was like hmm do we have room for it? Of course I said.. So in 2021 we added Moscato taking my range to a total of 10 wines. AMAZING
I’m very happy with where my brand is in the market and how it fits in nicely with our other brand Side Gate.
My wines are for drinking now, although I have cellared every wine and vintage we have done and I’m impressed with how they hold up even after being in the cellar for 5+ years...
With each new vintage I change the song that I have chosen that goes well with each variety. That’s right instead of matching Food & Wine, I match it with Music. When I started I did only 80’s music and since then I have done 80’s, 90’s and 2000’s. It’s a bit of fun and that’s the best way I describe my Wines!
We are so excited to have Georgie’s wines represented at the Pilates, Parades and Prosecco (PPP) event. Her passion for wine will be enjoyed by the whole PPP community on November 28.