{"id":37680,"date":"2023-10-20T14:51:40","date_gmt":"2023-10-20T14:51:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/startupsmart.test\/2023\/10\/20\/how-this-aussie-entrepreneur-gave-up-a-government-career-to-create-three-successful-startups-startupsmart-3\/"},"modified":"2023-10-20T14:51:40","modified_gmt":"2023-10-20T14:51:40","slug":"how-this-aussie-entrepreneur-gave-up-a-government-career-to-create-three-successful-startups-startupsmart-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.startupsmart.com.au\/uncategorized\/how-this-aussie-entrepreneur-gave-up-a-government-career-to-create-three-successful-startups-startupsmart-3\/","title":{"rendered":"How this Aussie entrepreneur gave up a government career to create three successful startups – StartupSmart"},"content":{"rendered":"
When Andrea Martins gave up her head-office, government career to follow her husband abroad, little did she know she would spend nearly 10 years living overseas (Indonesia, Mexico and Malaysia). Even less did she expect to pay-it-forward by creating the largest online site serving expatriate women worldwide, sell that site for six figures<\/a>, then come back to Australia and start all over again.<\/p>\n Nor could she have imagined, as a high achiever, that she would have trouble getting noticed by employers in Australia, which would lead her to create Story Resumes<\/a> \u2013 a business to help job seekers get noticed with infographics and illustrated r\u00e9sum\u00e9s.<\/p>\n Or that when she had trouble with home services contractors letting her down, that she would co-found GreenSocks<\/a> \u2013 an Uber for lawn mowing startup \u2013 which would be accepted into the inaugural River City Labs Accelerator Program<\/a> in Brisbane.<\/p>\n I could never pinpoint my dream career because I always felt that I hadn\u2019t discovered it yet. Everyone around me seemed to have a \u201cstable\u201d career. I thought it would be more exciting to dream about a career that was more daring and a little unstable.<\/p>\n Melanie Perkins \u2013Canva co-founder and uber-talented, Australian businesswoman who snared Guy Kawasaki as her chief evangelist<\/p>\n Steve Baxter \u2013 Shark Tank investor and incredibly generous Aussie philanthropist who created River City Labs in Brisbane<\/p>\n Melody Biringer \u2013 An American friend who continually reinvents herself and had the courage to write her book \u201cCraving Success\u201d about her business failures<\/p>\n Probably my parents, who assumed I\u2019d take the \u201cstable\u201d job option.<\/p>\n I think the answer lies in the camaraderie and friendships I\u2019ve enjoyed with other inspiring women.<\/p>\n Try not to beat yourself up when your highwire-balancing act doesn\u2019t work out exactly how you planned.<\/p>\n Go for a swim, drive past the ocean and then come back and work at my desk \u2013 but on creative tasks, not day-to-day administrative tasks.<\/p>\n I am fortunate to have met a lot of people who have informally mentored me, without having one specific mentor. Even just recently as part of the River City Labs Accelerator Program, we were treated to so many amazing mentors – Aaron Birkby, Mick Liubinskas, Mathew Myers, Annie Parker – that I couldn\u2019t possibly choose just one!<\/p>\n Positivity, a determination to problem-solve and an intrinsic love of exercise. I find that fresh air and exercise always calms a troubled mind.<\/p>\n That when it comes to housework and dishes, we could all twitch our noses like Samantha from Bewitched!<\/p>\n My brain and patience levels are stretched the most when I\u2019m dealing with the government red tape and accounting requirements involved in running a business.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t be afraid to start, fail, learn, get better, and then do it again \u2013 and again!<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
Growing up, what kind of career did you want to pursue?<\/h3>\n
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Who inspires you?<\/h3>\n
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Who (apart from you) is most surprised by your achievements?<\/h3>\n
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How have women helped shape your success to date?<\/h3>\n
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What’s the key to successfully balancing work and life?<\/h3>\n
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If you had an afternoon to yourself, how would you spend it?<\/h3>\n
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Who do you regard as your mentor?<\/h3>\n
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What personal attributes have you used to overcome adversity in your life?<\/h3>\n
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If you could make one change to women’s lives, what would it be and why?<\/h3>\n
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What is the hardest part of your work?<\/h3>\n
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What advice would you give to someone aspiring to success in your field?<\/h3>\n