Beyond the Signboard with Amy Bennett
Welcome to Beyond the Signboard; where you get the opportunity to learn all there is to know about your real estate journey from professionals who are passionate about property.
Beyond the Signboard with Amy Bennett
Navigating Career Shifts and Property Investments with Demi Patterson
Have you ever considered what it takes to not only change careers but to also inspire and empower a whole community? Demi Patterson, the trailblazing founder of Confident Happy Women, joins us to share her remarkable transformation from leading a fashion business in Athens to igniting a revolution in beauty education in Australia. Through her mentorship and the pursuit of lifelong learning, Demi has become a pivotal figure in guiding young women to achieve their dreams.
Strap in for a heartfelt conversation that weaves through the intricate tapestry of personal growth, the power of solid relationships, and the strategy behind real estate investment. Demi opens up about her international speaking adventures and her best-selling book that offers invaluable advice on choosing life partners and honing communication skills. With a special nod to the emotional rollercoaster of selling a beloved home and the savvy it takes to dive into property development in Crete, this episode is bursting with insights for anyone looking to grow their personal and professional life.
We wrap up with stories that celebrate the joy of life's unexpected turns, whether they be in career paths, properties, or relationships. Demi's journey is a testament to the beauty of embracing change and the wisdom of starting small in real estate to ultimately build lasting success. So, join us as we raise our glasses to the unforeseeable future, and don't forget to share your thoughts for our next episodes – your engagement makes every adventure we share that much more special.
Welcome to Beyond the Signboard, where you get the opportunity to learn all there is to know about your real estate journey from professionals who are passionate about property. I'm Amy Bennett, your host, and I look forward to providing you with education, inspiration and a behind-the-scenes look at the world of real estate. Well, let's start with a dance, demi, because why not? That music's probably got everyone bopping along. I am so delighted to have a very special guest who has flown a long way to be here, the beautiful Demi Patterson Welcome.
Speaker 2:Thank you so much for having me. Honestly, it's worth the 26-hour flight, the lost baggage yeah, the lost baggage to be here. It's seriously an honour and a privilege to be on your podcast.
Speaker 1:Oh, I am so excited for us to share a conversation before we get started and we have a beautiful friendship which has developed over a number of years. But for a little bit of background, demi is an incredible motivational keynote speaker with her business Confident Happy Women. She inspires every day, in fact. You know we just spoke recently about how many people enjoy your social media snippets and inspiration and you do certainly, even just with those posts, inspire so many people and they look for it. In addition to that, demi is she was a former founder of Demi International, which we will hear a lot about an incredible trailblazer in every industry. She's ever been a formidable, powerful woman and a recent author of the One Meeting and Choosing your Ideal Partner, which I'm so excited. But look, so many other things in between those careers. But, yeah, incredibly honoured to have you here.
Speaker 2:Oh, thanks so much. That's an introduction and a half, so I'm going to steal that so.
Speaker 1:I can use it. You can Thanks so much, oh, my pleasure, and look, I let. We can sort of chat back to how we really got to know each other. And it was with another hat actually, which was with your cooking school. Oh, really, really, yeah. So when I was at the Chamber of Commerce, I certainly had always, you know, known to me international when I was here growing up on the Sunshine Coast, but when you had your cooking school, so you are a phenomenal chef, the best seafood chowder on the planet.
Speaker 1:Oh great, but so many things to you, which is why I'm so excited and honoured for you to be a guest. So let's have a little trip down memory lane, all right, let's hear your journey, because there is, you know, some really incredible key. You know lessons and learnings for the listeners, sure, sure.
Speaker 2:Well, look to think that I've mostly always worked with women. You know my entire life from when I was very young, because my mum was in fashion and in Athens we had our own boutique, we had our own textiles factory and at such a young age I was left in charge of seeing what the women were doing, making sure they were working. Was left in charge of seeing what the women were doing, making sure they were working, and instead of making sure they were working, I found that I was just making sure that they were happy. Amazing, as much as a little child can do, yeah, incredible. And I saw from that young age what a joy, what joy that gave me. And then fast forward to me having Demi International.
Speaker 1:So that was you arriving in Australia.
Speaker 2:No, no, no, no. I arrived in Australia when I was only seven years old.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I know, that was a big shift, wasn't it for you.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it really was, because when I came to Australia I didn't know the language.
Speaker 1:Just so incredible to even fathom what that was like Starting school one, when you don't know the language.
Speaker 2:Two, when you look so different to all the other. You know blue-eyed, white-skinned, freckly children to me. And it didn't help that my mum made me feta and salami sandwiches. You know, instead of peanut butter, all I wanted was a peanut butter sandwich from the tuck shop.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I, literally I always think of that same old boy, you know where? He's got, yeah, beautiful food for lunch. That's just so different, isn't it? Yeah, yeah, Vegemite sandwich, yeah.
Speaker 2:So I actually got into cosmetics in my very, very early 20s because I already had the skin therapy qualification and in my cosmetic journey as you know using your word is I learnt that I was a really good trainer and a really good educator. So then I went and got my qualification as a trainer and assessor and, you know, kept my studies up to this day.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you're really passionate, aren't you, about continual learning.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and you know, now I can literally go into any workplace and do their assessing of all their policies and procedures. So, yeah, I love it. I just love learning and because I love learning, I love teaching. And what a better way to influence young women but to open your own college.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it was just amazing.
Speaker 2:The audacity.
Speaker 1:Right, tell us about it, because it was. You know you were a pioneer, you know with what you did.
Speaker 2:So chat through. For those that don't know the story, look, there weren't as many really good, say, beauty colleges in Brisbane.
Speaker 1:What were?
Speaker 2:people studying through TAFE, or yeah. So what happened is a lot of them were doing courses from modelling academies. Sure, so what I did was I wrote a course, went to a modelling academy and said I want to teach this course. They said that's a phenomenal idea. Let's have your paperwork and you know we'll teach it. I said, no, I want to teach this course. I wrote this course, I own it and, by the way, I still own it. Yes, and you know, I think I can do it through your modelling academy. And that's how it started. Okay, so then, when I moved to the Sunshine Coast, I did the same thing. I approached a modelling agency and I taught at a modelling agency here on the Sunshine Coast, in Maroochydore and up in Noosa.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:So that's how I started. So that's how I started, and I could see that there was some like what they call beauty schools. Yes, but from having treatments at salons, I thought I don't know what these people are learning, yes, but it's not good, you know, and I just thought I'm going to open my own college. Yes, now think about this for a moment. I had been a single parent. My kids had, you know, grown up because I had them so young too. They'd grown up, started their own lives, but I just took the equity that I had in my house.
Speaker 2:Yeah, To me equity is the word right, yeah. So I took the equity of my house, took out a massive loan and opened my own college.
Speaker 1:Just so unheard of, isn't it? I mean honestly.
Speaker 2:And someone said to me what do you think you're doing? There are six other beauty schools here. How do you think you can compete with them? And I'm like, well, I've seen what the other six beauty schools are doing and I want to do it my way.
Speaker 1:And it allowed your clients students. They would receive, I guess, a more vast qualification, did they as well?
Speaker 2:Yeah. Look first of all, all the other beauty schools offered a course that went for a year. But some people didn't want to do a course that went for a year. Some people wanted to open a Brazilian waxing salon, which was a big thing in the late 90s, especially early 2000s.
Speaker 1:Especially in a beach-going area like the Sunshine Coast.
Speaker 2:So why would they want to do a whole year's qualification? Yep.
Speaker 1:So you could specialise could they Ah.
Speaker 2:Amazing so what I did was I started writing courses that were specialised in every area and teaching them separately. However, my vision was I'm not one that imitates what other people do. I never look up their website to see what they do. I have my own path and my own set of ethics that I live by, so I never set out to be different. I just set out to do what I felt was right by my students and by what will end up becoming is their clients.
Speaker 1:So you were encouraging them to, I guess, have the fundamentals not just of providing a great service, but also for business as well.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. Yeah, amazing. That was a big thing, because whether your student wanted to have their own day spa or whether they wanted to become a make-up artist, you see salons opening one minute and closing the next, like most businesses, of course, absolutely. So. I wanted them to have the longevity, so of course I was teaching them business, because I used to teach business. I used to teach the diploma of business, the advanced diploma of business, the diploma of management, so all that you know was coupled in with Demi International. But the biggest thing, you know was I wanted to be the example and the mentor that these women really needed.
Speaker 2:So, we wouldn't compromise on quality of training. I wasn't going to compromise on quality of skincare that we use what the students used to practice with.
Speaker 1:And I have had a number of visits with students there. It's definitely a must do to be treated and and just to help them feel comfortable with the process. I've always loved, you know, going there. I had a friend that was studying beauty therapy and had a number of facials and massages.
Speaker 2:It's such a treat. I really miss that aspect of it.
Speaker 2:Having a massage every week was just the bomb. So there were six when I started. Eleven years later, when I started, I was doing over 70 hours a week, you know, to build my business. Incredible, because it's hard work, yes. And then, by the time I sold, 11 years later, I wanted to leave a legacy and I was the last man standing. There were no other beauty schools because the people that wanted to undercut me in price had gone broke. The people that had thought that it was just easy money and they would give substandard training ended up being shut down by the government because they didn't pass their accreditation. Last man standing.
Speaker 1:Yeah, last woman standing. Yeah, last woman standing.
Speaker 2:Exactly, that's even better yeah absolutely, and of course, now I think there's six of them, yeah, you know. So I set out to leave a legacy Incredible.
Speaker 1:And.
Speaker 2:I've done that. So yeah, I'm so happy.
Speaker 1:You've honestly, as I said, you've literally blazed through so many industries, which is amazing. Chat us through what life is like now, with your keynote speaking, and then we'll get to the book, because I have a special spot in my heart for the book. Oh, I'm glad. Yeah, let's chat about your role and how you can inspire women in your current role.
Speaker 2:Okay, can inspire inspire women in your current role. Okay, with my current role, I guess it's no surprise that I mostly speak to women and with women, because that's been my whole career, you know, is built building women up. So where, while I was living here full-time, I had one-on-one clients yes, and they were actually referred to me by a psychologist and where I'm not a psychologist or a psychiatrist, what I am is a confidence builder, a success strategist. So where I was a success strategist in business, I've taken those success strategies because success is success right and what's more important than being successful in your own personal life and in your relationships? So I took that and I got known as the person that can take someone that feels broken and build their self-esteem and build the respect that they have in themselves and, honestly, I just feel so privileged to be able to do that.
Speaker 1:It's incredible yeah.
Speaker 2:So that's what I was doing here before I moved. Yeah, one of the big reasons for the move other than the fact that we live in an amazing location in Crete was most of my professional keynote speaking assignments have been overseas. So they're in the US, they're in the UK, they're in Europe and it's a very quick plane trip for me.
Speaker 1:I know Did you say to me that you were recently in Spain?
Speaker 2:Yes, it's only a few hours on the plane.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's not 26 hours to come on a podcast, exactly.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so you know, you have a cup of coffee and a biscuit and you're there. Yeah, it's amazing so yeah, look, it's really nice to be appreciated and to be constantly asked, and the more of these speaking engagements I do, the more involved I am in women's issues.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And because I always will be a champion of women, I get really involved. So I get in the reeds with you know, showing the world that they can't treat women the way some people decide that it's okay to treat women.
Speaker 1:Yeah, absolutely. It takes such courage and strength and you know it's not. A similar thread that weaves its way through a number of these conversations is obviously, you know, pushing through glass ceilings. You know, I know that there would be a myriad of stories that you could share about. You know things that you've achieved, but I think what you've been able to do is now moving away from a one-on-one interaction with your client. It's now expanded with your keynote and now with relationship advice with the one I was absolutely honoured to emcee your book launch last year.
Speaker 2:You did such an amazing job. Honestly, I just felt so happy that I had somebody that I can put in charge of one of the most special things in my life, and you did such an amazing job, so I can't thank you enough.
Speaker 1:Oh, my pleasure. It was a little bit nerve wracking, but always say yes to helping friends, which is most important. The book is absolutely going gangbusters. I know you've recorded it as an audio book as well. I literally had my pink highlighter out taking notes with regards to all of the advice that you recommended. Chat to us a little bit about the book before we get into how we kind of got to work together and your journey with me. Yeah, okay.
Speaker 2:You know, over decades I have been asked the same questions from young women and older women in relation to relationships and you know I've had some not so fantastic relationships in the past myself. And as you get older you certainly realise that there are some fundamental things that you can do to have an amazing relationship, and that's why the book isn't just called the One.
Speaker 2:It's how to Meet and Choose, and the choosing is super important your ideal partner. And just about every chapter in the book, including how to get that ring, is from questions that people have directly asked me. So when I decided to write the book, it was really to. I can't be face-to to face with every person now, that's right, but the book is a way to get these actual practical skills and knowledge and confidence in people's ability to choose the right person by giving them the book, and so it's an international thing, like I've just won an international award them the book, and so it's an international thing, like I've just won an international award for the book.
Speaker 1:Oh, I have no doubt. Like I said, it was an absolute game changer and everyone that has read it has said the same. What I love I guess you know probably my key take out is that it's really about how you are responsible yourself. So you know, so often there's a blame game isn't there in relationships, but really what you're doing is, again, it's an empowerment of self. But also, I guess you know a little peek behind, you know probably, some private sessions you've had and questions that are repeatedly asked and kind of similar to what we do with the podcast, which is about dispelling the myths of real estate and, I guess, giving a bit of an insight. The book's the same in that premise.
Speaker 2:Yeah, 100%. It is because it's okay to read all these things like you do on social media, okay, but the doing is really hard and I think we are living in a time where we have so much bombardment of information. But do you know what? We're not getting Practical skills and practical things that we can do and say so, when he says this to me or when he behaves in this manner, what do I do? Yeah, that's right. Yeah, manner what do I do? Yeah, that's right. See, yeah, so the book actually gives you practical things. When she says this, you respond with you know?
Speaker 1:not react, you respond with this?
Speaker 2:Yeah, absolutely. Have you thought about Mm-hmm? Yeah, and key words In all the conferences I go to worldwide, when the attendees have an opportunity to ask me questions. They're the questions that I get asked is what wording should I use to get my point across, to get her to listen to me, to get him to listen to me? And that's what was missing. I think that's what was missing.
Speaker 1:I think that's a big thing that you've recently said as well. It's about being heard, isn't it? That ultimately, you know that's probably the biggest aha moment is just that you know people in a relationship, and that's not just you know a marriage, that's all sorts of relationships, business interactions as well, isn't it?
Speaker 2:That's why I said what applies to a successful business also applies to a successful relationship, and it's like people haven't made the connection before, you know, because again, we're so keen to be heard that we're not actually listening. So so true, because everyone wants to talk, but while they're supposed to be listening, sometimes they're just thinking about what they're going to say as soon as there's a gap.
Speaker 1:It's a good life lesson, isn't it? I know that's certainly something I think with age and time you kind of realise that or you know, not jumping in or thinking ahead. And I always, you know, find it funny with the podcast because, like, this isn't pre-rehearsed. You know, we're certainly we've had a bit of a conversation about the flow, but really it is just a conversation amongst two friends and so you kind of just, you know, let it go as it is and, yeah, always enjoyable, but, yes, I'm very guilty of that, probably more so in the hosting duty of thinking, oh, what's?
Speaker 2:next. I think that's forgiven.
Speaker 1:Good, Well, let's have a chat about, I guess, a real estate related connection to us, and really this is about allowing the listeners just to kind of, I guess, journey through the process in engaging an agent and what that experience is like, Because I did have the honour and the utmost appreciation for you entrusting me with my very first sale in real estate and we've then journeyed on to have an additional transaction together. So for me, when I thought about who I would invite to share, I guess, their journey engaging me as an agent, certainly it wasn't to you know, big note myself or for any accolade, but more so just to kind of, you know, explain our journey together and what that looked like.
Speaker 2:From our first interaction all those years ago, I actually started following you on socials and I got to actually see your personality and your work ethic Okay, just through socials. And I was so blown away because, unlike a lot of what we see on socials, is this facade of what things really? Are you always show your true self and sometimes you always sort of say look, what's the norm.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. I'm tired today.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and it's just your personality and how dynamic you are. So when I saw that you were going to enter into the real estate realm, I do like to be the first. I like it, I spot the trend, and that's when I contacted you and I said, look, I want you to sell my house. Now, my house isn't just some investment, it's the house that I had purchased by myself when I owned Demi International, and it was like my first mortgage as a single person, absolutely, and I had that and I just loved it, you know. So it was like I'm giving you my baby. Now you really need to take care of it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2:But you know, there was never, ever, and I don't think I've even told you this, but there was never even a question that I would get somebody else, because I have acquaintances that are real estate agents.
Speaker 1:And to take a risk as well too. I didn't see it as a risk.
Speaker 2:I honestly didn't see it as a risk. I knew that you would work hard and that you would get me a good result Guess what I never, ever thought you would work as hard or get such a phenomenal result.
Speaker 1:We had such a journey with that property. I was just thinking but it was so quick. We don't muck around, Wham bam, thank you, ma'am, but you know, but it was all measured, wasn't it?
Speaker 1:So you were phenomenal. You took on recommendations, the property had been leased and so, obviously, that care and maintenance that you yourself would have as a homeowner had done. So we had a really amazing. I remember door knocking the neighbours, giving them a coffee card and saying, hey, tomorrow and the next couple of days it's going to be a bit noisy. We had the pressure washer. I remember he was in the pool. We had lights changed, painting Trees cut down. Yeah, it was literally, and I guess you know that's my sort of project management. You know hat on.
Speaker 1:But the trust in that process and I think that was. You know I started this career and you know, obviously, I've been in real estate for five years prior. But I started this journey as a sales agent, having learnt from everyone else but also knowing I didn't want to cut corners that there would never be a time where you as a client wouldn't miss the opportunity to get a premium price and if that meant that I had to courageously say hey, you know what. I think the property needs X, y and Z. You know we had some styling. I remember we moved plants, didn't we? We had birds of paradise in the backseat of the car. But what we created was a beautiful sanctuary. So, in the absence of somebody living in the property, we had a wellness yoga room.
Speaker 2:Do you remember? I do, yeah, I do. In fact, I was looking through those photos just recently because you know when I had purchased that house all those years ago, never did I think that I would get the price that you know you were able to get for us ever Did I think that? Yeah, we wouldn know you were able to get for us. Ever Did I think that?
Speaker 1:Yeah, we wouldn't have ever been able to predict what has happened and transpired within our industry and also here on the coast.
Speaker 2:But you know, like when I'm giving couples advice or single women advice as far as their finances go, I always say why do you think real estate is called real? Because it's the only thing that's real. Bricks and mortar, that's what's real.
Speaker 1:I always remember you saying that to me it sticks? It sure does, and you know it has certainly helped with your journey. You know to now where you are and we'll chat through that.
Speaker 2:Look, will you know the love of my life. He was trying to teach and educate our granddaughter the other day. She's going to be 18 soon and we're talking to her about saving for a deposit for a house. Yeah, absolutely. So we sat her down and started explaining to her what equity is.
Speaker 1:Because it's not taught. Is it in schools? I mean life skills, things like that? No, without parents, grandparents that care. I mean there's a super saver scheme that is so undersubscribed, that's available, especially for, you know, teenagers first home buyers, where available, especially for, you know, teenagers first home buyers, where you know they get so much support. But it's just that lack of education or people being pointed in the right direction as well.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and really she was blown away, and we've had this conversation with 20 and 30 something year olds. Sure, she was blown away that we could take the equity from one place without having $1 as deposit, because there was equity, we could buy our next place.
Speaker 1:It's a great story to share.
Speaker 2:And then the next place.
Speaker 1:Exactly, absolutely. But you're exactly right. I mean, even you know it sounds ridiculous, doesn't it that you know I have now been in the industry for seven years. I didn't probably think about that myself until we were in a situation two years ago where we did that, and you know it's about surrounding yourself with people that are smarter than you, that have expertise, that are professionals, and you know what it doesn't I mean. Certainly you know. If you know, my mum, I know tried forever. I mean she gave me the Barefoot Investor as a Christmas present after about 10 years of talking about it, and I think that you know it does stick and it's when the time's right. But gosh, you know, don't you think? I mean you did, but I wish I could go back 10 years ago and, go God, I wish I had have got into property or whatever that looks like in life, or ask the questions about money.
Speaker 2:You know I have to credit my mum for the fact that you know she wasn't exactly around a lot, but when she was she always said make sure that you get your own home.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Make sure you get your own home. If you do nothing else, get your own home. And I'm so glad she did because you know, back when I used to rent, when I was you know what, 18, 19, the landlord could just come in anytime they want. I know, yeah, they could just knock on the door and just demand to come in, and you know that happened to me a few times when I was on my own and I was so scared Of course, but there were so many other things and I made sure that I could, and I really fought hard to get my first home when I was 21.
Speaker 2:That was my goal.
Speaker 1:Like.
Speaker 2:I've always been a big, you know, goal-orientated person and I was determined when I was 21 I would have my own home and I did. But it was a fight.
Speaker 1:Well, look, I have no doubt about that. But knowing you as a person and the tenacity and courage that you have, but also you know it's such a common theme that we have over. You know when I have guests on, you know success isn't easy. You know like it is insanely hard work and I think you know we've always had that mutual respect and recognize that in each other and I think if that's in your DNA, you know, you understand that. You know when you scratch beneath the surface we talk about it all the time you know the life that people have on social media versus. You know what the reality is and I guess that's where you know that being able to kind of be warts and all, and I think it's very much so that's personally and professionally for me. So you know that's why you know the whole idea of the podcast was around.
Speaker 1:That is just showing that it's not just putting a signboard up. As you know, I mean we've now celebrated two sold stickers on signboards. You know, was it a piece of cake? Was it putting a sticker up? Absolutely not. But you know there's also that respect for the client. But it would have been the same with you getting your first mortgage. You know. To get to those you know, big results takes leaps of faith, hard work, determination, sleepless nights.
Speaker 2:And, as far as that goes, what I, you know, I want to share with people that haven't done it is it's not easy. No one is saying that it's easy you know and you have to fight. And sometimes you have to fight hard, Like when we found what we ended up calling Beach Shack on Oceanic, on Oceanic Drive even though we could certainly facilitate the mortgage because I work for myself. The bank wanted a pay slip. Yeah, I work for myself, I don't have a pay slip. That's right, there's all those challenges.
Speaker 2:I don't know an entrepreneur that has a pay slip, yeah, and so they kept saying no, yeah. You know how many no's we got 11.
Speaker 1:I love that you know the number of no's. Oh so help someone that says no to you. But guess what?
Speaker 2:Yeah, when I was training my sales people and my management people, my saying was every no brings me closer to a yes. I love it Absolutely.
Speaker 2:Every no brings me closer to a yes and Will talk about tenacious. He was like well, what else do you need? Yes, well, what else do you need? Oh, no, but you don't have this. But what else do you need? What else can I get? And every day he was on the computer. Everything that the banks asked for. He was there, he was getting bang, bang and in the end I really think they just got sick of us Give them the money, All right, just give them the money you know, and I'm so glad because that property will set us up for our future.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's amazing. And you were able to forecast and make decisions based, you know, on property decisions for the future and what that looks like. So we had our first transaction together, which was wonderful more than a transaction, you know. Obviously that was a gift to be able to represent you in the sale of such a beautiful space. I know one thing, thinking back to that as well it was the birth of the virtual styling, the printed virtual styling on the easel. Yes, so that that's like genius it was. So it's genius it was. It was so funny.
Speaker 1:Um, before we had your sunset sneak peek, I know my husband and a team member's partner were ferociously trying to put together the easel. And for those that are listening, essentially when we have a vacant property, we engage a local business, box Brownie, to virtually style a home, and so people could visualize what a home looks like with furniture. Obviously, with a vacant space, people like you and I can probably envisage how we would have furniture. But then what we do is we take that a step further, because feedback always from the market was it's really disappointing to see that online and then see an empty shell. So we had that printed and we had it positioned in the living room so just to really give that utilisation. But that was wonderful to be able to. Yeah, you really trusted those ideas. We had a sunset sneak peek, I remember. We interviewed all of the team that came through with their feedback and, like you said, I mean that was, you know, a very, I guess, a swift process in getting you, you know, a special result that allowed you to move forward.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, and so I didn't trust you once, we trusted you twice, yeah.
Speaker 1:And with your home and I mean obviously Santorini was equally had played a really big part in your journey. But then, you know, life changed for you, didn't it? Plans changed? Yeah, absolutely. And you know life changed for you, didn't it.
Speaker 2:Plans changed? Yeah, absolutely. We decided that we wanted to spend at least half the year in Crete. One for the lifestyle, the Mediterranean lifestyle, the weather.
Speaker 1:You don't need to sell it to anyone, girlfriend. The weather and you don't need to sell it to anyone girlfriend.
Speaker 2:And the fact that it was easier for me to go to my keynote speaking events you know and all my networking events.
Speaker 2:So when we went over and found a place that just blew our mind, it was a case of Will looked at me almost like we're going to have to get a bigger boat Because I said, oh honey, can we afford this? And what? He didn't tell me on that particular day because he just said, oh, we'll work it out. I love that. I love a man that says we'll work it out. Such a team Don't say no to women. They don't like it. And so then when we could sit down and talk, he said look, I know we've just spent a fortune doing up Grand Parade. Yeah, but if we want that, we're going to have to give up that.
Speaker 1:I said, okay, and literally like literally, you had just waited how many months for that incredible oven.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I waited six months for the oven that I chose for Grand Parade, to come from the UK.
Speaker 1:Yeah, because we were kind of. It was kind of post-COVID and yeah, I mean, look that home still people speak about it.
Speaker 2:Look, I designed the front gate, so there isn't a front gate like it. Yes, I designed the kitchen with Italian tiles. Yeah, I just love that home.
Speaker 1:We'll talk about the neon sign we were just talking about that recently that you could see from space. You can see it from space, I'm sure Mine too. I've got pink on it mine. Yeah, you can see it from space. I'm sure Mine too. I've got a pink one at my house. Such an iconic and beautiful build and allowed you the opportunity. I remember when you called me, it was a shock, wasn't it, because it wasn't anything that any of us forecasted, but what an amazing opportunity. It was winter, we had the fireplace on. Oh, I just remember the sunset sneak peek at that property. I felt like all of Kiwana.
Speaker 2:Island was there Like it was. It was a party without you in it. Yeah, I was so proud of it because I've always had a penchant for interior design and I think I'm pretty good at it.
Speaker 2:I agree. So, yeah, it was. It was hard to let that house go as well, because I really do get attached, but I had just finished the design and we'd just finished it, you know. But it was really weighing up what part of our life's journey we were at and what we wanted to achieve next, and it wasn't like we were leaving nothing behind, of course. Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 1:And I think also, too, it's a moment in time, isn't it? I mean, you know, coming up to, is it nearly 10 years ago that Will came into your life? Yeah, and you know again. You think you look back and think you know what that life was and what it is now. And life is so precious, isn't it to enjoy? And you know what that life was and what it is now, and life is so precious, isn't it to enjoy? And you know your trajectory, changes in life, and I think you're one to really adapt and flow. You know very universe-led, aren't you Absolutely.
Speaker 2:Talk about. I met my ideal partner when I was put on the wrong island in Fiji.
Speaker 1:It's so funny. Who does that happen to? And tell us about that, because I love that story, were you happy about that.
Speaker 2:Being on the wrong island. No, I couldn't imagine.
Speaker 2:As I say, in my book because I have a chapter called my Hallmark Movie, which I know they'll make a movie out of how we met and how the whole thing came about. But no, I had trusted a real estate agent to book me on one island, paid for it and I said look, I want to be in a five-star resort drinking cocktails all day long and have a spa attached that I can have massages and I painted the picture. She booked me the ideal location. Then she went on holidays. Just before I was due to go, she gave my booking over to another lady. The other lady rushed through it. She'd got me mixed up with somebody else, oh dear.
Speaker 2:That basically booked something just up a little bit from backpackers.
Speaker 1:Just up.
Speaker 2:I don't know if there is so well the fact that the shower was a bucket that you pull with a cord sort of gives it away. You're painting a picture, yes, so yeah, for anyone that has read that or they, actually there's a magazine here in Australia called that's Life magazine. They print like millions of copies. Yeah, They've done a two-page spread on us on that story. Yeah, I just think that's amazing.
Speaker 1:Well meant to be, isn't it? Yeah, and look. A blessing in disguise.
Speaker 2:Sometimes your future lies on the path that you take to avoid it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, look, it's incredible, isn't it? And we just sort of shared a story off air as well before about so often what we think is the right move or the right direction is actually, you know, it's not and it's trusting in that process and you know, allowing. You know that's a lot of what we do in real estate every day is making sure that the process is correct, but also, yeah, just trusting and ensuring that everything's you know done correctly gets you to wear. But there's hiccups in life, isn't there? There's wrong trips booked, or you know we're just saying to you luggage missing, and you know you've had a few weeks without beautiful clothes and things like that, but you know you're here safe and that's what you kind of focus on, doesn't?
Speaker 2:it, and it was a really good opportunity for me to buy more clothes and shoes.
Speaker 1:Hey, I like that. It's beautiful. You did visit the Clarence Counter, am I right?
Speaker 2:Of course, your favourite, of course.
Speaker 1:Yeah, oh look, I just am so grateful that you're back here and I just love all the different hats that you wear.
Speaker 2:If you weren't doing, you know those various roles. What would be your sort of ideal dream career? You know, I do feel like I'm living my dream career now. If I wasn't doing that, I think I would still be in the teaching space, mentoring space, because nothing gives me more fulfillment than showing others they can be so much more than they ever dreamt of, they can have so much more happiness than they ever thought was possible. And I'm not just a speaker. I have lived it. I have lived the really bad times and I know how to rise. And that's what women can do is they can rise. So if I wasn't working just with women every day, I would probably be doing what I used to do. And with better business development is success strategy in moving people's business from go to wow.
Speaker 1:I love that. That's awesome. And property anything exciting on the horizon. And property anything exciting on the horizon. The property in Crete's going well.
Speaker 2:It's doing fantastic. We've just finished putting in a pool. Amazing. Now, crete being an island, nothing happens overnight. Tell us about the pool places. So it's been, especially because we have a 14th century ruin on our property and just imagine what that ruin has seen, because that's where people used to go and hide from enemy attack during the war and it's on our property.
Speaker 2:So of course we have to get archaeological permission to do anything. But also, just as in Australia, in Crete it's hard to get workers, of course. So it's been an 18-month process from start to finish.
Speaker 1:And that's also shipping material in as well.
Speaker 2:I'm not sure about the material. For instance, we are so used to. If anyone has any tradie friends or has seen tradies, they put things up very quickly. They use a nail gun bang bang, bang, bang, it's up. No, not over there. Okay, old school, old school, all right. Yeah, wow, because to get any sort of concrete out for the pool, it's fence palings with a nail and hammer. Yeah, wow. Oh my God, it's been like worse than watching paint dry watching it yeah wow, I kept saying to Will, I can't watch.
Speaker 1:It is just going back in time, but it's like, yeah, this is how we do, are they happy?
Speaker 2:They're fantastic, they're so happy. Look in Crete, because the Cretans and the Greeks have been there for centuries. Most of the families have their own businesses, but because so many people have seeked refuge in Crete and other parts of Greece, a lot of Albanians are in Crete. Okay, so the Albanians do a lot of the manual labour because and they may have amazing qualifications- but of course that's in their country, Correct, you know? And all of them have been so polite, so friendly.
Speaker 1:And you know me, I take them out food yeah.
Speaker 2:If I feed you, will you go quicker.
Speaker 1:Yeah, can you move? To a nail gun yeah yeah, so advice, obviously you know, being a real estate-based podcast, any advice or inspiration that you could give to our listeners about their own property journey?
Speaker 2:I think don't put it off. I think there's too much procrastination happening in people's lives and a lot of people that come to see me as a one-on-one thing it's because we're so worried about making a bad decision Correct and what happens is we become so like we dig our heels in and we're almost terrified of making a bad decision, so we don't make a decision at all and just stay with what we know.
Speaker 2:Now is the right time. Now is the right time for you to look for a property that you can afford. And also something I try to bring across to young ones is don't try and overextend yourself to get a property, your forever property. You're 30 years old. Start small. You don't need a forever property. Yeah, in a few years' time you will have made such a good amount of money or such good equity that word again in this home that you'll be able to get your next best home. And your next best home. You know Such great advice, absolutely.
Speaker 2:How about you just look at the big picture instead of just looking at? I want it all now. You know, Like when I was younger, if we could just get into our first home, we didn't care if we sat on milk crates yes, we didn't. Of course, because we saved for our furniture.
Speaker 1:Absolutely.
Speaker 2:You know, even and that has stood me in great stead, because you know, even when Will asked to marry me, I said sure, you're not going to get away with it cheaply. And when I choose a ring, I can tell you you're going to need to pay cash. So, because if you can't afford to pay cash, you can't afford it, I love it. So I always say just save for what you want. Yes, you know, I mean I was lucky because he actually had a better job than I thought when I chose him.
Speaker 1:You'd waited to find each other as well. Absolutely.
Speaker 2:So you weren't 16. Absolutely yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, look, it's amazing. I am often asked about investment with property. Obviously, you know land appreciates and homes depreciate, but definitely I agree, I think the time is yesterday and I think also, like I said, it's extending your professional network, getting advice. There are so many government grants and incentives and things like that but certainly also now there's some new abilities to be able to purchase with family and lots of great opportunities. So I always say like it's great to be able to.
Speaker 1:I mean, I went to my first home buyer seminar gosh, it would have been maybe 15 years ago with no intention or thought that I would ever own a property. It was well before my real estate career. But I wanted knowledge and I wanted to know okay, well, what would I need to do? Because it's not something that you just wake up overnight and go okay, well, I'm going to save for a house or I'm going to start that process For some people potentially, but I would say for the you know vast majority of people and that ability to be able to move from, like you said, that you know renting to, you know purchasing a property, so let's move away from real estate, let's have a little bit more time to get to know you.
Speaker 1:Demi, I would love you to share your dream holiday destination.
Speaker 2:You know, because I'm fortunate enough to live in two most beautiful parts of the world, here on the Sunshine Coast and in the. Mediterranean. I think I would love to go to Tahiti, oh nice.
Speaker 1:What's the appeal there?
Speaker 2:Oh look the Polynesian people are amazing. The waters are crystal clear, which is just what I love, and because we both will a nice scuba dive, he's obviously a scuba diving instructor. He teaches instructors.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:You know, in his spare time, yeah, so diving would be phenomenal there, yeah.
Speaker 1:So, yeah, I like it. We'll put it on phenomenal there, yeah, so yeah, I like it. We'll put it on the list. I'm kind of guessing what you're going to answer with this, but what has been the best day of your life so far?
Speaker 2:Okay, because I'm not a baby. I've been lucky enough to have quite a few best days of my life. So let's go the last decade. Yes, in the last decade I met my ideal partner and it's honestly like Chose your ideal partner. It's like I ordered him from the catalogue.
Speaker 1:Yeah, amazing.
Speaker 2:He's a beautiful man. Yeah, so meeting and choosing him, although he chose me first to be honest and I'm just like no, You've got to read the book.
Speaker 1:No, you've got to read the book.
Speaker 2:He says I've got three rejections, and so that was one and two the day where I had all but given up to find a property in Crete, yes, in the location that I wanted.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And as the gate opened up, it was like Oprah herself went.
Speaker 1:I love it. It was just, it was everything you visited, everything. Say that.
Speaker 2:Olive trees, including the olive trees, including the most amazing view of the Mediterranean right straight ahead. My head veered to the left and there were still snow-capped mountains. On the left, behind us, is an amazing gorge that used to be, that used to have mills in it to meal the wheat, and I just started bawling and we all thought, oh no, Call that eight.
Speaker 1:That's number 12. Yeah, it's amazing, but how beautiful to be able to still feel that moment as well and for it to be, you know, so important to you. And I know you know, aside from that decade, just so many other amazing memories. Your life is very full of incredible achievements. I have no doubt that the award or trophy cabinet would be overflowing, and you know that's testament to your, you know, recent award with your book. It's, you know, the first of many ahead and I hope is there any more books on the horizon.
Speaker 2:Oh look, I actually joke with people and I stole this line from Monica in Friends, where she says when people ask me what's my next book, going to be called which isn't true. Yes, but it's funny because she says marriage it's not for everybody.
Speaker 2:And yeah, that's funny, but I think my next book would be not, yet I think my next book would really be about okay. So we've got past the meeting and choosing our ideal partner. Now, how are we going to make a long-term relationship not be good but be phenomenal? Awesome, Because it really is a partnership, yeah, absolutely. And what really needs to take place? What sort of dynamic are you going to create to ensure that you literally have couple goals you know? So that's what my next book's going to be about.
Speaker 1:Awesome, we look forward to it. I'm sure it's not far away. What about your favourite meal and drink? What do you like to enjoy?
Speaker 2:Okay, now, being 100% honest, because I am a cook and I like to cook. In fact, that's my love language. I know that is yeah. If I cook for people, it really means I care a lot about them. My favourite meal is one that I don't have to cook. Yeah, I love it Because when you are a good cook, you don't tend to be invited to people's houses for a meal very often.
Speaker 1:I just cooked for you last week and I was terrified.
Speaker 2:It was so beautiful, it was so good, I was so terrified, you know, and I think I don't care if they give me burnt toast. If I don't have to cook it and I can enjoy these folks' company. That's all I want. I like it, and when it comes to drinks, I really love making cocktails.
Speaker 1:Yes, so have you not recorded some? Yes, I have.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I've recorded a few cocktail making videos because I like making cocktails that are a spin on a classic or completely different. That's awesome, you know, uh, but I honestly can't go buy a really good espresso martini.
Speaker 1:Nice.
Speaker 2:And I like the little variations that, you know, different ones are experimenting with so it's not just a classic.
Speaker 1:And are they enjoying? Do you have an espresso martini as like a cocktail, as a big thing over in Crete?
Speaker 2:They are in cocktail bars, because there's cocktail bars that just you know. Like you sit in these amazing lounges right on the beach and people are just bringing you cocktails.
Speaker 1:Look, there's a reason you're living there right, yeah, it's the best. So what about the Mediterranean food? Is it delicious over there Of?
Speaker 2:course, of course, yeah, and it's not only delicious, but it's really healthy, so fresh as well. Yeah, it's just it's not. It's not fatty, delicious, but it's really healthy, so fresh as well. Yeah, it's just it's not fatty Like people think.
Speaker 2:People that haven't been there think that you know food has tonnes of olive oil and that in it, actual Greeks and Cretans don't drown their food with olive oil. You know, they know that it's a flavour enhancer. So everything is fresh and because everything is pretty much, most things are organic. Like you, taste a tomato and you can see why a tomato is a fruit. Yes, because it's phenomenal, so flavoursome. And potatoes? I didn't know potatoes was supposed to have a different flavour to what they have.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's amazing, isn't it?
Speaker 1:So yeah, the produce is just remarkable. It's so gorgeous. I think you know my mum lives in Tassie and the soil is so nutrient-rich there as well. Yeah, so I always get her to sneak some Dutch creams, potatoes in the suitcase and all of her veggies Amazing. Well, let's wrap this up for a conversation. We could honestly talk for hours. I'm so glad we hit record, because otherwise we would have started hours before Demi. Let's finish our catch up today with your favourite quote or saying Okay, this is something I live by.
Speaker 2:It's not fancy, but I feel it gets people out of being overwhelmed. What I say sometimes, when I was in business on a daily basis, is keep the most important thing, the most important thing Wow. And I'll give you an example of why that works In your relationship. In a marriage or a relationship, it's easy to lose focus and sometimes be so absorbed in something else that our priority is shift.
Speaker 2:Keep the most important thing the most important thing and that helps you with your decision making In business. When we become overwhelmed because we have so much to do, so much to achieve, we look at our diary and we think, oh, what am I going to do? Our diary and we think, oh, what am I going to do? Keep the most important thing, the most important thing. So what do I need to do now that will make the rest of my day go smoother? What is actually the most important thing? Don't do something superfluous. The easy things. If there's something, yeah, and something I've taught my children and have taught my my students is do. If you have something that's going to be difficult, a difficult conversation, for example, do it first thing in the morning.
Speaker 2:Great, don't leave it, it's going to mess up your whole day. You're not going to be able to concentrate, whereas you you get the ugly stuff done first thing in the morning and then you've got the rest of your day to make sure that you give a hundred percent focus on everything you do and chances are.
Speaker 1:You know that that difficult conversation's not often as difficult as you think, is it? No, not at all.
Speaker 2:Not at all, especially because you're getting people when they're fresh too, that's true, that's true. You know you're not having these conversations. When you're tired, they're tired. That's right, you know you don't know what's happened in their day.
Speaker 1:So keep the most important thing the most important thing, the most important thing I liked your little mama. What was that? Can we get that again? That little I usually I don't know.
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh, it was so cute.
Speaker 1:I felt like you were talking directly into my soul, as I know that every listener would, because I'm sure that inability or I guess the juggle of priorities is ever present in everybody's life. But I think you know, ultimately, like you said, it's just going back to what's most important. You have been an absolute inspiration in my life in my marriage.
Speaker 1:Thank you for your book. I am so grateful that you flew all the way from Crete. We timed that well. We did. I am forever grateful for your trust in the process of selling two of your homes. I will forever be grateful for that. It is never lost on me what trust you gave me in that process. You know it was a really beautiful experience to go through. Like I said not, you know, not all sold stickers and everything like that, but my ability to be able to help you and achieve your vision of where you are now, you know, will stay with me forever.
Speaker 2:But we could not have done it without you. You know how people say oh, I couldn't do it without them, but you kind of could You'd be a great real estate agent. We couldn't you know, and as far as our real estate journey is concerned, we're not finished with you yet, Amy Bennett.
Speaker 1:We are excited. On that note, we will wrap up and watch this space for more exciting things to come Thanks for having me. My pleasure, darling. Thank you for listening to this episode of Beyond the Signboard. We trust you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed making it for you. If there are any topics you want covered in the future, make sure you reach out and let us know. Also, feedback and suggestions are appreciated almost as much as likes, like shares and downloads.