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CHAPTER 1

The CEO mums' story: Who are we?

It all began, as many fabulous tales of female entrepreneurship do, over a cuppa between girlfriends. Kari and Steph had worked together for seven years, and one day they were catching up, huddled around a platter of fruit and snacks with Steph's big sister Danni.

"I've started this new business, and I'd love you to be involved," Danni told the girls. "I think you'd really love it, and there's so much opportunity to be part of something huge – and to make a lot of money."

Kari was immediately up for the challenge. Which was a good thing, because Danni had a huge vision that included breaking new boundaries, working with like-minded women around Australia, achieving million-dollar-plus turnover, and travelling the globe.

"From the very minute I started working in this business, after googling every single thing I could find about it, I could see my future," Danni shares. "I actually got that sick feeling in my stomach; the one that says, 'This is actually achievable.' I know I can go places with this and I know it can be a huge success. I didn't know how I would do it, but I just knew in my bones that I was destined for bigger, better things."

Danni's enthusiasm was infectious, as Kari immediately jumped on board. "I thought, if you're doing it, I'm doing it too!" Kari laughs. "My parents are both school teachers and I come from a humble background, but for some reason, I've always known I was going to live an amazing life. I always knew I could achieve anything I wanted to. So when Danni told me what she was going to do, I was one hundred per cent in."

The rest, as they say, is history.

Or to put it more accurately, the story is only just beginning!

My Story – Kari Burke

"I wanted something outside of my family to fulfill my passion and drive; to give me a sense of purpose outside of motherhood.

This made me feel conflicted, somehow – and guilty."

I'm a wife, runner, cross fitter, traveller, shopper, former retail manager, buyer and design coordinator in the fashion industry, mother of four beautiful children and as of September 2012, I'm an entrepreneurial CEO Mum and owner of a multi-million dollar global online business. It's a lot to juggle, let's not sugar coat it! And here's the funny thing: I didn't always "dream" of becoming an entrepreneur. In fact if I'm completely honest, until six years ago, I didn't even really know what an entrepreneur was!

So let me take you back to the beginning, to show you how I got to this point – hopefully after reading this, you'll start to see that ANYONE can absolutely have anything and everything they ever wanted for their life.

I was born in Geelong, Victoria in 1979. Both of my parents were school teachers, I have an older sister and we grew up in a beautiful little country town on the Bellerine Peninsula. My childhood was really amazing; I have always been very close with my parents and they have always taught me that I can do anything I set my mind to.

Like ninety-nine per cent of the population, I grew up thinking that to "do well" you had to study very, very hard and then get a very, very good job, so you can then work very, very hard in order to earn a very, very good living.

Growing up I always did well in primary school, and had dreams of being a criminal lawyer when I "grew up". Until I got to high school, that is – where I discovered boys and having fun and got distracted, so really didn't perform to my full potential.

In my final year of high school I had the opportunity to go to the USA to do a school year abroad, which was an incredible experience and kick-started my love of travel. While it was an absolutely incredible experience, unfortunately it meant that I never officially completed high school in Australia.

After returning home as a seventeen-year-old girl, I really didn't know what I wanted to do, so I got a job at a local surf store and began what would become a ten-year career in the retail industry. Eventually, I moved on to corporate buying and design offices.

It was an amazing time in my life, where I was meeting awesome people (including my best friend Steph, and her sister and my now business partner, Danni). I was travelling a lot and really just having a lot of a fun, with no commitments or priorities other than myself. I initially had big aspirations of taking it all the way to the top, with my eye on the prize of becoming an international fashion buyer. Life was good. ...

And then it somehow got even better!

In May 2005, on a chance night out at a local bar, my life changed forever. That was the night I met my soul mate and the man of dreams – my husband, Jay Burke. It was pretty much love at first sight, and we had a whirlwind romance that saw us welcome our first child less than twelve months after meeting (I told you it was a whirlwind!).

Our first child, Willow, was the first of five little ones we would welcome to our family: Sadie, Alfie and Minnie came next, and baby number five arrives 2019! Having children was definitely the BEST thing that had ever happened to me, but realistically, it brought any of my career aspirations to a screeching halt. I took my role of "mum" very seriously and wanted to be fully present with my kids, so I put my career on the backburner.

Jay, who already had an entrepreneurial spirit, was a self-employed financial advisor and already had his own growing business, which allowed me the freedom to be a full time "stay at home mum". It's a luxury I know many others cannot afford, and one I was incredibly grateful for.

Over the years, we got married and our family grew. We went on many travelling adventures together, ran in half marathons (and one full marathon!), and we spent time renovating our beautiful 1950s home. Life was pretty amazing, but as I'm sure many mums will relate to, after seven years of being at home full time, I was starting to feel a little ... restless.

I wanted something outside of my family to fulfill my passion and drive; to give me a sense of purpose outside of motherhood.

This made me feel conflicted, somehow – and guilty. I didn't tell anyone how I was feeling, for fear of being judged by others (some of whom I know would have given anything to be in my position as a stay at home mum).

I know this is something that many mums battle with every day: wanting to be there for their family and raise their children, but also wanting to fulfill their career and personal aspirations. And along the way, we don't want to constantly feel guilty about having to choose one or the other at any given time.

Searching for The Holy Grail

After having the freedom of being at home for seven years, one thing I knew for sure was that I did not want to work for someone else and have someone else in control of my time, income and life. It seemed selfish and unrealistic, but I wanted it all!

I wanted to be present and available for my family whenever they needed me. I wanted to earn an amazing income, I wanted to travel, meet new people, and learn and grow as a person while I was doing it.

I didn't even know if this "holy grail" I was searching for actually existed, but I knew what I was aiming for!

As you can appreciate, after being out of the work force for seven years, with no degree or particular skill set and no experience running my own business, I was really at a loss as to what my next step was or what my options were.

Then, as if the universe were answering my requests, my best friend Steph and her sister Danni offered me an opportunity. It was one that completely changed and enriched my life in so many ways – the opportunity to become a CEO mum.

They introduced me to the most incredible industry in the world: network marketing. It's something I had no experience in or real knowledge of beforehand, and it's an industry that is historically very misunderstood and incredibly underrated. Thankfully that perception is rapidly changing, and it is now one of the fastest-growing industries globally.

Starting my own marketing business and becoming an entrepreneur, essentially building something up from nothing, has taught me so much about myself.

It has given me the chance to learn and grow through personal development; allowed me to travel the world; helped me build a network of amazing friends all over the globe; and it's taught me so much about what drives and motivates others.

Just as importantly, it has allowed me the opportunity to empower thousands of other people, in particular mothers, and to show them that they can absolutely have it all and more, by becoming an entrepreneur. I have built a multi-million dollar, global business that now generates more income for my family in one month than I used to earn working full-time in an entire year!

We have been able to have the fourth baby my husband and I always wanted to have, and our kids are enrolled in an incredible private international school. I am there every day for school drop offs, pick ups, days off, school holidays, birthday parties, sports games, concerts, you name it – I don't feel like I miss out on a thing.

As a family, we travel overseas at least twice a year and we're planning to build our dream "forever home", one that is big enough for our growing family.

On the flip side, I also get to go on amazing business trips, retreats and conferences, and I have stepped out of my comfort zone in a big way through public speaking, coaching, training and becoming a leader – all of which has served to help me stretch, grow, achieve goals beyond my wildest dreams, and show my kids that anything is possible.

And what I have realised and learnt about myself along the way is that I am actually a much more engaged and happy mama now, because I have found balance between being a mother and being ME.

This book is about so much more than network marketing; it is about inspiring and empowering other CEO mums in any industry.

Whether you are already established, just getting started or simply considering becoming a "mumpreneur", we want to share with you that with some energy, effort, enthusiasm and the willingness to learn, you one hundred per cent can take your life back into your own hands – and create whatever lifestyle it is you can dream up!

My story – Danielle Stephens

"Before taking control of my life, health and finances, I ran two other successful businesses. Actually, I will rephrase that; those two other businesses ran me!"

If someone were to introduce me, I am sure they would start with my biggest achievement and proudest title: I am a mother to two of the most divine creatures to walk this earth, my daughter Gracie and my son Finn. I am also a wife to a man that always has my back, loves me and is my partner for life.

First and foremost, I consider myself a wife and mother. Alongside these two titles, I carry another one: I am also a CEO of my own business and my own life.

If you'd asked me when I was in high school if I would end up here, I would have laughed in your face!

Back then, deep down, I knew I could be successful – but I had very little confidence and no idea about which direction I wanted to go in life.

I was the ultimate optimist. When you were younger, did you ever have that feeling deep down in your gut that you knew you could achieve great things? That instinct that you know you are going to excel is one field, or be known for something amazing? I had that feeling. I didn't know what, how, why or when. I just knew that something wonderful would happen eventually!

Which is all quite funny, really, because those that know me best wouldn't describe me as the most confident person in the world. I certainly wasn't a confident teenager as I graduated from high school into the real world!

I have struggled with my self-confidence and belief in myself all of my life, and though I have big goals and grand ideas, I am a huge procrastinator. Not exactly the qualities of a superstar CEO!

And yet, here I find myself, having just turned forty, living my dream life.

I run my own business, work my own hours, make my own money and set my own lifestyle.

Before I tell you openly how I overcame a lot of the obstacles that stood in my way, I am going to give you a brief rundown on my life before becoming a CEO mum.

Before taking control of my life, health and finances, I ran two other successful businesses. Actually, I will rephrase that; those two other businesses ran me!

I have always been entrepreneurial. I have worked for other companies before, but at the age of twenty-four I had a clear vision of the business I wanted to create, and with no experience whatsoever, I left my secure job, took out a small loan and started my very first enterprise.

I had two crucial ingredients: the willingness to work hard and the support of my fiancé, now husband (at the time, we were just about to get married and build our first home together). For the next five years I worked twelve hour days, six days a week, with very little pay – sometimes none at all – to build up a successful business from nothing.

I am a big goal setter and I usually run to a five-year plan with everything I do – with the exception of my marriage. Hopefully that's a life-long goal! So, at the five-year mark and at the very peak of the business's success, I sold it with plans to go and buy an already established business.

This time, it would be different, because this time I was going to run it with my husband. We were a team and we would tackle it head-on, together.

Little did I know at the time, but the day we took over this business, I was a few weeks pregnant with our first child, our gorgeous little Gracie girl. To say this business consumed us was an understatement: we lived on premises, we worked there all day every day, we ate there, and it truly became our life.

I will never forget coming home from hospital with my first baby. My beautiful newborn was bundled up and sleeping contentedly in her bassinet. She had only been earthside for a matter of days, but while she slept, I was back to work, paying staff wages, updating invoices, going through bills and keeping the business on track.

We thought we were prepared for the lifestyle that revolved around running a demanding business – as that was what we thought running your own business entailed. Stress, time, exhaustion, fatigue ... that was all part and parcel of running a successful enterprise, right?

So we thought. But, life teaches you different lessons. After two babies, having a staff member steal $50,000 from us, and not looking after our health (or our stress levels – or our marriage), our five-year plan was out the window.

We made the huge decision to sell this business, even though we had built it up to be quite financially successful. It wasn't the lifestyle we decided we wanted to have, so we enacted our exit strategy and hit the re-set button. Our next move was to buy a house in a beautiful seaside town. Our kids were starting school and kindergarten, my husband moved back to the building trade working for himself, and I really had to decide what I wanted to do.

Should I work for myself again, with all of the flexibility and responsibility that entailed? Or would it be easier to get a job and get paid by the hour by someone else?

There were still so many things I wanted to achieve and that I knew I was capable of doing, but somewhere along the way, my identity got a bit lost – along with the passions I had in life! I don't know where or how it happened, as these things usually happen slowly, but I somehow became consumed by motherhood. I was so consumed by the daily needs of running a household, that I forgot what my passions were in life.

I also found that the life that we were now leading was really dragging by, month by month. We didn't seem to be getting ahead financially. I love my kids and my husband and I loved my life, but I wanted more. Plus, I knew I was capable of more!

I wanted to be more in control of our finances and our decisions – from the simple ones (whether we could eat out for dinner) to the bigger considerations (where were going to send our kids to school), without worrying about how much it would cost.

I knew the only way to be more in control of this was to actually do something about my situation and take control. I had to stop waiting and hoping that there would be more money leftover at the end of the month, with doing anything differently to get that outcome.

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Excerpted from "Confessions of a CEO Mum"
by .
Copyright © 2019 Danielle Stephens and Kari Burke.
Excerpted by permission of Balboa Press.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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