Tell us a little bit about your business?
OHUDDLE is an online matchmaker for NZ entrepreneurs to find affordable & quality professional services. We vet and interview lawyers, accountants, web designers and graphic designers and then find the best-suited professionals for entrepreneurs when they visit the site. We have a 48-hour turnaround and it’s free to use.
What made you decide to start it?
OHUDDLE was created to solve my own problem. I have a wholehearted appreciation for how tough things are when you’re starting out in business, when so much is uncertain. You have no money, even less time and you’re trying to do everything yourself. When you finally decide that you need professional expertise, it’s difficult to know where to turn. Google and personal recommendations are the two most common ways we’ve found that people search for professionals - neither of which are efficient or effective. If we can help provide a little direction for those early days and create some confidence (even a small amount) in the process, I’m happy. That’s what gets me up in the morning.
What challenges have you faced?
Believe it or not, my biggest challenge is more personal than business (though there are more than enough of those to go around)!
I moved to Auckland early last year. I had a crazy idea and was on a mission to figure out how to make it work (I’d like to note that OHUDDLE today is very different from the idea I began with). I’ve always been a bit of a thrill seeker and was excited by the idea of experiencing a completely new country and culture. But building a new network of friends and business contacts has challenged me in ways I never imagined. You take for granted that at 31 it’s slightly more complicated than showing up on a playground, playing jump rope and asking the girl (or boy) who sits next to you in class to be your friend. In retrospect, I was blessed with just enough naivety about what I had decided to do that it hadn't occurred to me it would be such a big leap.
What have you learnt in the process?
You don’t need to have it all figured out. And anyone who acts like they do is probably full of it. Pushing boundaries and learning means that you will inherently spend a lot of your time in a space where you feel like you know very little. This is good. It’s usually a sign that you’re making progress. Get comfortable being uncomfortable. Be kind to yourself.
What has been the most rewarding?
It’s easy to be so focused on moving forward that you forget to look back at how far you’ve come. I love the time I get to spend talking to other startups, particularly those who are at an earlier stage in their journey. I’m still VERY early days, but there are more and more moments now where I find I have valuable tidbits from my own learning to help another founder. It’s absolutely the most rewarding part of my day.
What is your long-term vision for your company?
The vision for OHUDDLE is to be NZ’s most effective online support for early stage businesses - the go-to for startups in NZ (and then globally)!
What advice would you give to others hoping to enter the startup space?
Don't doubt yourself. Particularly early on, it’s easy to be pulled in a dozen directions as you seek ‘expert’ advice and mentorship. My advice is to trust yourself. The more time you spend thinking about the vision and values you hold for yourself and your company, the easier it will be to recognise when something doesn’t quite fit.
What you value and stand for is such an important part of the lens through which you approach life. Don’t be afraid to be who you are and own it. I spent a long time being an expert chameleon - and was very good at it. I hit a turning point in my journey when I realised that every expert had a completely different view of me and my business. Each new piece of advice was often in conflict with another and, more importantly, with the direction I needed to go with OHUDDLE. One of the most important skills you will learn is the ability to eagerly seek mentorship - without letting it push you of course.
How do you find balance in your busy life?
I’m lucky enough to not have the same craving for TV that most people do, which can be a huge waste of time. I also don’t have kids, so I probably have it easier than most. Regular gym time, surfing and yoga keep me sane, so they’ve become my non-negotiables.
I’ve also become unapologetically selfish with my time. This is important. I tend to only spend time around those with whom I have a real connection - people I love, who are positive and with whom I can laugh like crazy.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
My elementary school teacher in Year 8 gave me a book with the words “Never stop asking questions” written on the cover. I’m fairly certain that my never-ending stream of questions tried her patience at times, but I believe that there are few things as valuable in life as fervent curiosity.
Who keeps you grounded?
My parents. They’re back in Canada and are very far removed from the business side of me. To them, I’m still the little ball of chaos that can never seem to find her keys and would lose her head if it weren’t attached. My step-dad bakes an amazing cherry cheesecake and my mom would win an Olympic medal for organising if that were a thing. For them, things are simple - it’s all about love and family. I love that.
What do you do to relax?
'Relaxing' isn’t soothing for me in the same way most people think about it. My brain loves to be active (I’m a hopeless meditator), so I try not to fight it. Activities I use to de-stress - journaling, running and my guilty pleasure - Les Mills Bodyjam.
What is your top life hack?
Audiobooks and podcasts. I’m the world’s slowest reader, so audio is the easiest way for me to consume new information and learn new things. The best part: it keeps you entertained when you’re cooking or driving. Tim Ferriss and The Startup Podcast are two of my faves.
If you could invite three people to dinner who would they be?
Josh Waitzkin, the young chess prodigy about whom the movie Searching for Bobby Fischer was based. His views on elite training and the practice of mindfulness are profound. A few hours with him would be life changing.
Richard Branson, founder of Virgin & Lisa Messenger, founder of The Collective Hub.
I’m absolutely in love with people who have built successful empires, yet remain wholeheartedly down-to-earth. I have an undeniable admiration for those who are brutally honest about the struggles of their own journey. Learning about the details of how they’ve overcome these challenges energises me like nothing else.
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