I’m not an inspirational speaker; I promise I won’t make you walk across hot coals. But, I am super-passionate about being happy and encouraging women to be the best version of themselves.
In the last 18 months, I have re-invented myself and it was the best and most ballsy decision I’ve ever made.
Mid 2014, I was seven months’ pregnant and four and a half years into my SAFM brekky radio gig. From the outside, it appeared to be the dream job. And yes, I got to meet some of the coolest people and work among some of the funniest humans I’ve ever met. But towards the end, I was riddled with anxiety and stress.
I was the worst version of myself. Lauren and I worked together (she was Executive Producer and I was on air) and both of us were broken. The stress and pressure of brekky radio and all the secret closed-door meetings was overwhelming. I started to become paranoid and have panic attacks. Something I’d never experienced before — it was horrible! It’s probably my fault for putting so much of my life and energy into a job. But it goes against my nature not to.
Radio was my world for 12 years and I’m so comfortable behind the mic. I bloody loved that part. But when I was in this “radio bubble”, I thought there was nothing else out there. Man, I was so wrong. After another panic attack, I sat down with my husband and weighed up all the pros and cons of my job. In the end, the biggest pro was money. And that wasn’t enough to make me happy.
After having kids, I think your career goals shift a little. I wanted to be with my family more. I wanted to have breakfast with my sons Monday to Friday — something I never had a chance to do before.
It turns out the radio station was changing the show anyway, so my paranoia about closed-door meetings was justified. (Always trust your sixth sense, girls!) But weirdly, this was the best thing to happen in my career — it pushed me to re-invent myself.
And so, eight weeks after Alfie was born, I sat down with Lauren and we created Adelady. We wanted to chuck away everything we hated about working in media and use everything we loved about it to make the perfect business. No news, no gossip, no mention of Kim Kardashian or Justin Beiber — BECAUSE WHO FREAKING CARES? (Oh shit, I just broke our rule and said their names! Sorry, Lauren!) We wanted Adelady to be full of fun and personality, sharing the best of Adelaide and inspiring women.
We wanted to create a site that was everything we were into. And we did. I knew after two months of the website being live, that this was going to be my new path. I created a job that allowed me to have way more time with my family, which was so important to me.
And it turns out, what makes Lauren and I happy, also makes lots of other Adeladies happy too. We couldn’t be more excited to see how many people love, support and share our brand.
Lauren is now leaving her job to work on Adelady with me, full time. I’m so excited! Our little dream has come true. If you hate what you do, life is too short to be complacent and live with that sick feeling in your gut. Be ballsy and try something new. You can bloody-well do it — and if we can, we’ll help you shine too!
Hayley xx
High fives ladies!
Thanks lovely girl! xxx
Brilliant idea ladies! So great hearing you speak last night at The British. Looking forward to following your progress!!
Thanks so much lovely! ???
Well done lovelies. How great to see a dream come true!
Thanks lovely girl! You too!!! Thinking of you xxx
Very inspirational gals! Our time spent on this beautiful planet is too short… might as well live a life to make you happy!
So true Alicia! X
Well done both of you!! Life is way to short to spend time doing something that is making you stressed or unhappy. I just wish I had your strength to do the same thing! Good luck xxx
Loved reading this – I have also embarked on a similar journey and am now studying to become a midwife. It’s what I’ve always wanted to do so at 40, I thought buggar it and why not?! Keep believing in yourself lovelies – thank you for sharing xx
Thanks Peta! Thanks awesome, well done!!I bloody love hearing those stories! Stuff staying in a job where you are unhappy forever! Yuck! xxx
Yaaaaaass!! Love this! Rock it ladies, what inspiration
Thanks Amy! MWA MWA MWA
I love reading your publications!
You are both so inspirational + positive.
Its great to read about your real life experiences which so many of us can relate to.
Love your rawness + honesty! Xx
Emma, thank you so much. That was something we both wanted Adelady to be – we are two of the most open people you will ever meet (probs too open haha) so I’ll always speak about my weaknesses because hopefully I help someone else who is feeling the same! XX
I used to love listening to you in the mornings.. I was so devastated when you left but I so happy that you followed your dream and Adelady is awesome!
Awwww! Thanks so much! That’s so nice to hear – thank you for supporting our little community x
Such an amazing story of strength & determination! It must be an amazing feeling to do what you love every day
Thanks Kerry! It’s pretty exciting and there is even more excitement to come soon, which we are still blowing our minds over! I truly think, it doesn’t matter what you do – if you hate it, try something new and see what happens. Thanks for taking the time to message x
So true! Well done there are probably a lot of us out there who need to line some pegs up and jump!
Thanks Katie! I hope it does inspire a few people who are unhappy or hating what they are doing! xxx
I am so very lucky to have a job i love. You are so right about following your passion. It also helps to get out of bed on these cold mornings if you are going to a job you enjoy. I hope you continue to love what you do for a long time to come 🙂
Thanks Danielle! Totally helps wit the cold mornings! I worked next to my fire today – HEAVEN! XX
This is truly inspiring Hayley! Thank you for sharing your story and journey with us. After losing my son during childbirth last year and bringing up my 3 year old son with sensory and learning delays I knew I couldn’t go back to my old job. Life really is too bloody short to be unhappy and although not 100% there, I am now following a path that feels more in line with the truth of who I am. Xxx
Oh Naomi, I am so so sorry. I cannot imagine. I don’t event know what to say. Sending so much love and strength to you! xxxx
Congratulations on trusting your instincts!! Isn’t it amazing how much strength, courage and confidence you dig up from deep inside after having children?!
Oh totally! Having children puts a little fire in your belly to do what makes you happy! x
I completely agree with this post! I have hated my job probably since i started working in it 7 years ago and man, it bloody sucks hating the thing you have to do 5 days a week, every week, year in and year out.
I couldn’t find my way out, I wanted to change but didn’t know what to. There were so many options, doggy day care centre, open a cafe, work for a winery, work for headspace, work at a pub!
Then after I came back from a holiday in Europe last year I started my own blog and remembered how much I enjoyed writing and put that together with the passion for where I live. I’m still with my other crap job and making no money from blogging, but it’s creating opportunities I never thought possible and now I finally feel like I’m tracking down the right path!
Well done Lauren! You should send us one of your work and you can be a guest blogger with us one week!
That would be ah-mazing! I’ll have a look at what I have published already, and what I am yet to publish and see what I think your audience might find useful, or inspiring!
I’ll be in touch! xx
Great! Email us [email protected] x
Hayley… you have just won me as a fan 🙂 I have two kids around the same ages as yours. I’ve really been wondering if I should do a course I want to do and you just inspired me to go for it. THANK YOU.
Oh yayyyyy!!!! Jane that’s exactly why i wrote it – hoping it would inspire a few people to go and step out of their comfort zone and try something new or something they have always wanted to do. I had NO IDEA about websites before we started Adelady. I’m still learning but it was the best thing we ever did. Even if you do the course and at the end you think, maybe it’s not going to lead where you had hoped, at least you had a crack and kept your mind busy with non-kid related things. Let me know how you go! xxx
Thank you so much ❤️
Thanks for the post Hayley! It really has inspired me to get into gear and make good things happen for me, not just wait for them to happen. Im a mum of a 4yrold and working 3 different jobs and trying to finish my studying at the moment. I hope to finish real soon so i can be myself again!
Oh well done you! It’s hard trying to do it all with kids, but the study will be over soon and you’ll hopefully have lots more opportunities to do what you love xx
Well done ladies. Couldn’t be happier for you both. Would love to do this exact thing and launch my own business from home so i can be around for my cheeky 4yr monkey. Great job girls ?
Dooooo it!!! They grow up too fast! xxx
Thanks for sharing your story Hayley. You caught me in the middle of yet another teary meltdown over the stress of my job. I desperately want to be doing something different, but i don’t know what that different thing is and I feel so stuck! I do know that one more anxiety attack is one too many, so it’s time to start exploring my options! Thank you xx
Oh DD – thanks for taking the time to message! I’m sorry you are going through that – i reckon if you make the decision in your head that you WILL leave and you WILL actively start looking for different options, you may start to feel that weight off your shoulders. Try to not give your heart and soul into the job you’re doing at the moment if it’s making you feel like crap. Let us know how you go and if we can help in any way! xxx
I totally get it – thanks for sharing Hayley – and Loz! x
Thanks Sarah and no worries – It seemed to have connected with a few people which is great xx
Good for you both!!! Life is too short and it’s more important to get your health back and live once again! Go girls!
Now that you’ll have more time together (!!!) could you please, please, please do some more take offs of Kath & Kim…My friends and I absolutely loved the one you did in the car driving through Unlaay Paaaarrk!! It was hilarious and being an ex-Adelady living in England I sent it to all my other Aussie mates far and wide who really appreciated your humour. It even went as far as Washington DC!
Whilst writing! (The girl is on a role!!) Maybe also do an article about Functional Medicine (Google Dr Mark Hyman – USA GP and Chair of International Federation of Functional Medicine and Dr Rangan Chatterjee who was in “Doctor in the House” on the UK’s ITV channel – both brilliant!!!). It’s such a hot topic right now in the UK….getting to the root cause of cronic diseases by using nutrition first and not drugs. Us ladies suffering from thyroid diseases, autoimmune diseases, adrenal fatigue (which most of us busy ladies suffer) as well as depression, ADHD in children, MS, ME etc etc. I’m sure you guys can make it an entertaining subject in your own unique way!!??
I hope you don’t mind my suggestions..I wish you both all the luck in the world…Love you guys!.
Heather ??
haha thanks so much Heather! Love getting ideas too! We will look into it! Brilliant xx
Love your work girls! Sending you a big ginormous HUG X
Love this post! There is so much power in vulnerability. Love your transparency, congruency, authenticity and your truth!! Stay amazing!!!
Oh thanks so much Holly! What a great message to read today – appreciate it! xx
Hi Hayley & Lauren,
This rings so true. I’ve got young kids & prior to my second child, decided to leave a job I had loved but was completely stressed out from and had grown to hate. The financial stress and feelings of lost identity were enormous once I left, particularly as I chose to be home with kids full time. It is easy to see negatives in life, so it is always wonderful to read such positive, inspiring stories. Keep up the good work!
Cheers.
Thank you so much for sharing, ladies. This post came at the right time for me. I chose to leave my amazing, fulfilling and fun job in marketing when I started my family. I seriously had the best job ever, and had worked in the marketing industry for 10 years. It was so good and met many friends through the industry. Whilst I don’t regret my decision to stay home and raise my children, being a full time stay at home mum has completely drained the life out of me. I feel empty, worthless and like I don’t have a life anymore. Whilst I’m fulfilled as a mother of a 4 and 2 year old, I just feel like a boring “mother”. Nothing more, nothing less. I don’t hear from friends anymore as they’re all working or have gone back to work after having children. I feel so isolated, it tears me apart every single day. I so badly want to start a business venture on my own, but I have no idea what and no idea where to start. I want to reinvent myself like you say, but don’t know how. I’ll definitely keep on thinking about what I want to become. Sorry about the essay, but I needed someone to “talk to”. I pray that one day, an idea for my reinvention will come to me.
Keep up the great work with Adelady. It’s hands down the best website I have ever come across and brightens up my day.
Very inspiring. You have to be true to yourself to be your best self. Life changes we have to adjust.??