*We aim to aspire to inspire as we chat to others, picking their brains, exploring their gifts and practices.
All posts are raw & unedited because f**k none of us are perfect & it is time to celebrate that - I'm here for the honest & real, you?
Who are you?
My name is Mon, short for Monique. I’m about to turn 27 and I am… ughh… I always have trouble answering this question haha. I’m a part model, cook and content creator and full time I’m the Marketing Coordinator for Hara The Label. I also freelance in Copywriting and am in the process of starting my own brand!
A song or movie to represent your life.
Ooo this is a good question. I feel like my taste in music is SO broad, it would be very hard to narrow it down. But if i had to choose, it would be ‘right down the line - Gerry Rafferty”. Firstly, it reminds me of my boyfriend who is the one person i’ve shared the strongest love with and also because it’s such a fun yet passionate song (very me).
How do you share your gift with others?
I think cooking is one of my biggest gifts and I love nothing more than cooking for big groups of people I love. It also makes me so happy to share my knowledge with others… when I’m in the kitchen and someone asks me a question or wants to better understand a certain process, I get so excited to share my knowledge with them. The same goes when someone is eating the food i’ve prepared and wants me to explain how and why.
What environmental or conscious traits do you practice?
When I lived in Byron Bay I found myself living in a way that was extremely conscious and aware, however highly judgemental of people who weren't living the same. It closed my mind off to the people who don't have access (either physically or financially) to things like eco-products, organic food, slow/small batch fashion brands etc and I began to judge anyone who supported supermarkets like coles, or bought their clothes from kmart etc. I think now, by allowing myself to also be human and not put so much pressure on myself to be this eco-friendly saint, has helped me to let go of judgment for others’ decisions and lifestyle choices.
What do you think we are about to see a lot of in your industry?
I feel like we’re already seeing it, but female owned, led and ran businesses. Cannot wait for women to take over hehe.
What was your journey to making your passion your everyday?
Ouft… huge question. I honestly had to FULLY lean into my fear which was - if I'm not employed by someone, I won't have any security/anything to fall back on if my goals and dreams don't succeed. Also, I just had to stop talking about shit and actually doing it. I wasn't holding myself accountable at all, I was all talk. And once that shifted for me in my head, it was just full steam ahead. I really had to let go of thinking everything had to run smoothly or go to plan…
let me tell you, when you decide to go and chase whatever it is you want, you’ll run into a million hurdles but when you get to that finish line, and realise all those hurdles were for you, not for someone else's business or brand, you’re the true winner.
When has been a time in your life you felt defeated? How did you overcome this?
Last year during lock down on R U OK day, I was made redundant from my job. I had been working with this brand for years and they had become like family to me. I remember being so incredibly shocked, hurt and confused. The rejection was almost unbearable, given that I had never been fired or let-go before. Overcoming this was equal to a break up, honestly. I took each day as it came, sat with my feelings and always reminded myself ‘this isn't happening to me, it’s happening for me’. That gave me room to find the silver lining.
What do you wish you could have told your teenage self?
Stop trying to prove yourself. Those that will understand you will understand you, and those that don’t shouldn't be taken personally. Proving yourself is a waste of energy.
What has a challenge been when establishing your work / business?
I feel like this is quite universal, but not a lot of people talk about how real it is… knowing the value of your work. The first time someone asks you for your ‘rate’, is honestly one of the biggest/first hurdles any creative or business owner has to overcome.
How would you describe your day-to-day work life?
Every day is different and for me, that my favourite thing about my work life. When i am tired or stressed i’ll listen to my body and sleep in. When i’m up I try to start my day with movement, as it gets my energy levels really working which sets me up for a turbo work day haha. A few hours of work in the morning, then after lunch Im usually pretty uninspired to be on the laptop so I'll usually get creative and shoot some content.
What sets your soul on fire?
I recently had this feeling, it was such an intense wash of emotion that just passed through my entire soul. I was driving my scooter between two rice paddys here in Bali. I had just finished a session with a spiritual healer here in Ubud and I was with my two girlfriends. I was crying and smiling at the same time. Feeling truly free from a 9-5 job, financial stress, toxic relationships and nature deprivation… I have all of those things in abundance now and to share that with the women around me who are so supportive and loving is what sets my soul on fire.