Books & Literature

5 Things Lorna Jane Taught Me at the Business Chicks Breakfast

World-renowned, Aussie activewear designer Lorna Jane was the special guest speaker at the Business Chicks breakfast. And she taught us a thing or two while she was there.

World-renowned, Aussie activewear designer Lorna Jane was the special guest speaker at the Business Chicks breakfast yesterday morning at the Adelaide Convention Centre. It was also conveniently timed with the launch of her new book Inspired due out next week. The room was filled with over a thousand eager women (and quite a few courageous men) from all walks of life, who wanted the rare opportunity of peeking inside her inspiring mind, in the hopes of gaining insight into some of her wisdom on all things business, life and health.

To help spread her message, here are my 5 take-aways from the breakfast…

 

  1.  You Can’t Eat An Elephant…Without Cutlery

How many times have you said “I’m never drinking again!” or “I’m going to run a marathon next weekend” only to accidentally find yourself with an oversized novelty glass of wine in your hand (ahem…or 3).  And as for the marathon, well the closest you got to a run was trying to beat the parking inspector back to your car.

The truth is when we set such massive goals for ourselves, like trying to eat an entire elephant in one sitting, we end up avoiding it all together because our brain is in a complete sense of overwhelm.   Your brain rebels saying “U-uh, I’m not going to do that, I don’t think so”.

Lorna’s approach is far simpler.  Forethought and baby steps.  Make a small commitment adhering to the ‘Move, Nourish and Believe’ model every single night.

Here’s how it goes…

Move.  Make one small commitment to being active, such as going for a 15 minute walk.

Nourish.  Make one nutritional improvement to nourish the body such as eating more greens, or having one less coffee that day.

Believe.  Commit to a small lifestyle or mindset improvement. For example smile more or take a moment to breathe or meditate.

With the one-step-at-a-time approach, you will slowly build healthier habits and they will be far more sustainable.  And before you know it, with the right planning (and the right cutlery) the elephant is gone.

  1. The Herd Do Not All Wear Pink Stockings 

I admit, when I arrived at breakfast I was expecting a herd wearing bright neon stockings with motivational slogans emblazoned across their chests.  This certainly wasn’t the case.  In fact, everyone had their own unique style.

In true Lorna Jane style,  she is quick to tell the audience a powerful and simple message – we are all born as individuals.  You needn’t follow the pack.  You need to find what is true for you and follow that path.  If you feel like wearing pink stockings, great do it.  If you don’t, then do what feels right for you. And that message doesn’t simply relate to your wardrobe, it stands for your path in life too.

Create your own path.  Find your place in the world and make it work for you.  It’s ok to have your own voice, to stand out.  Just be who you are.  Be authentic to you.

  1. Know Your Active Intention 

While the rest of us wake up first thing in the morning and throw the alarm clock at the wall, followed closely by a quick check on our Instagram popularity, Lorna wakes up in the morning and the first thing she does is ask herself one question “How will I make a difference today?”

This question forms the foundation for every action she performs that day.  It drives her business actions, her lifestyle choices, her workout, her conversations, even what she eats.  With every action and decision she makes, she meditates again on this active intention which ensures she has real purpose in every single aspect of her day.

By knowing her active intention, she makes the right choices for her life that align with achieving that.  She doesn’t drink, she eats well and she exercises everyday because she knows that her intentions for that day are to make a difference in women’s lives.  This intention is far greater than having a glass of champagne, it’s far greater than watching 3 hours of MasterChef.  It’s far greater than her.

Know your active intention and live it with conviction.

  1.  Your business needs a deeper why

For anyone who has started their own business, you will know there are many times when you have to stay up working until 3am, 5 consecutive nights in a row.  And there will be times when there is no money in the bank and you are forced to eat nothing but fritz and sauce for a week.

It those times, when you are struggling and tired and feeling desperate and alone, you need to lean on your deeper ‘why’.  You need to understand why you are doing what you do everyday.  Why your business is important to you.  Why your product or service is needed and why it makes a difference in this world.

By understanding your why, you will make the business an extension of you and all that you are. A desire for money won’t get you through those hard times, but a deeper passion and purpose will.

  1.  Live An Inspired Life

And finally, when asked how to live an inspired life, her advice is to look inside your own life. Pin point those elements within your life that inspire you.  What keeps you going? What makes you happy?  And then, emulate those elements. Every single day repeat the things that inspire you, and let them grow.   That is how you live an inspired life.

Well I know I’m inspired.  But I’m not sure the elephants have the same sentiments.

*No elephants were harmed in the creation of this article.

More News

To Top