Celebrating 10 Years… The Short Real Story…
2024 marks 10 years in business for Streamline For Success.
Wowser! Where did the time go?!?!
There are a LOT of people to thank, as anyone in business knows, it takes a community of people for a small business to stick around for a decade.
Check out our commemorative video to mark this occasion for us.
Before I get into the thank you’s, it seems a fitting time to reflect on the last 10 years and how it all started.
How It Started
The story begins a few years before leaving the corporate world.
I spent 10 years working in Human Resources, specialising in designing and implementing processes, improving systems and reporting. I loved the work, but I struggled with the speed in which I could influence change, and the challenges of working for large corporations.
In the years before leaving, I started looking for something else.
I registered my business and had been doing a few bits and pieces on the side.
But one specific business event changed everything.
It was my first introduction to Keap.
This was the first time I’d seen the power of a marketing automation system and was blown away with what was possible for small businesses. I signed up right away and became a user first in 2012.
After struggling to find local Keap support in Australia, I made it my mission to learn the software myself and eventually become an expert. In 2014, I sat a 6-hour exam to become a Infusionsoft Certified Partner (now Keap Certified Partner).
On the 1st April, 2014 I started doing Keap work under the brand Streamline For Success.
I finally said goodbye to the corporate world, and this was my new full-time gig -helping Keap users streamline their processes to get more out of the software to help them grow their businesses 🙂
So that’s been it so far… the main focus for the last 10 years.
A LOT has happened over this time.
We’ve worked with over 168 clients, with 93% based in Australia.
I’ve lived in 3 cities, got engaged, survived a pandemic, had a kid…. In fact, A lot of adulting happened in this last decade as well!
Marking this milestone, it’s important to acknowledge those that have been part of the journey, but also share the highlights and tough times of the last decade.
Who To Thank…
There are a lot of people to thank. Firstly, my family and friends. You have been here well before and will be there always. It means the world to have your support, even though none of you know exactly what I do lol.
There are six specific groups of people that I also want to acknowledge.
Clients
We’ve got no business without our clients of course. I am incredibly grateful for those who have chosen to partner with us. Whether it was for a one-off gig, or those we have had the fortunate pleasure of working with for years. Many of whom I call my friends too. In fact, some I have travelled or met internationally at events (I’m talking about you Sacha, Leanne and Nige of course!). Others we’ve been able to form strong bonds, that feel like you’re part of our extended family (Lisa and Guy). There are too many to mention more, but I am honoured to serve you all. I hope you all know how we always try to do our best and really love helping our clients succeed. It’s one of the greatest joys of what I do, seeing the real impact the work we do has on our clients’ businesses and lives. Whether it’s helping a client double their business, save 20 hours every week automating manual tasks, helping a startup move to six figures fast and beyond, to a business having their first Christmas off EVER due to being booked out. This is why we do what we do. Even just seeing that moment in a client’s eyes that the penny drops and the get the power of automation. Priceless.
To all our clients, THANK YOU for your business and your support. We don’t exist without you. I am eternally grateful.
Keap
Our business would also not be here without one of the first companies that created a marketing automation solution for small business – Keap. There is a lot to be grateful for, for Keap existing. It has allowed me to leave the corporate world, work from home and create a living from their software. I have a lot of people to thank over the years at Keap. 10 years is a lot of time working with many Keapers. Firstly Greg Jenkins & Mychal Edelman. They were the first people to train me at Infusionsoft University when Keap hosted an event in Australia. I will always remember being at dinner and talking to them both about the values of the company. It’s not a normal conversation and I was impressed and immediately aligned with what Keap stood for. Since then both Greg and Mychal have continued to provide support, continue to teach me and I’m grateful to call them my friends. Thank you both, I hope you all know how much the Keap community appreciate all that you do.
Keap hosted a partner training in Australia back in 2014. If this hadn’t of happened within the country, I doubt I would have ever become a partner. At the time it was a multiple day training with a 6-hour exam. I’m grateful for the team coming out, so I could become certified and officially become a partner with Keap.
A technology company such as Keap that’s been around since 2001, would only still be here with strong leadership. Clate Mask, CEO has continued to inspire and navigate an ever-changing technological landscape. Whenever I have heard Clate speak over the years, I am left feeling like he gets me, small businesses throughout the world and I’m inspired by what’s possible. Thank you Clate for your vision and always being open to bringing partners along on the journey.
The Keapers – there are a LOT of Keap employees that I have worked with over the years – mainly individuals from the Partner and Product teams. Thank you for your support, for listening and advocating the needs of us partners and customers. Shout out to Jeremiah Sarkett – you brought together the Australian partners like no other with your big heart, passion and lobbying for us and our customers in Australia. Thank you for your efforts and your friendship. Other notable Keapers that I’ve been fortunate to work with – Scott Martineau, Matt Vosburgh, Kim Mortensen, Kara Pierce, Jared Kimball, Tyson Brown, Lennard Fuller, Corey Snyder, Matt Egan, Jeremy Vijsma, Danny Diede, Mike Hilton, Jerry Winiarski and everyone internally (Sorry I know I’ve forgotten some people!).
Thank you for all that you do.
Partners/Suppliers & Business Friends
We have partnered with a number of suppliers and fellow partners over the years that support us in our business, as well as our clients. Leading the charge is Mark Penney. Thank you for your eagerness to help, sharing your wisdom, jokes and above all your friendship. Sonya Keenen – Thank you for always taking an interest in my world when we catch up, and giving me the opportunity to speak, not once but twice at your digital marketing events in Australia.
Other key partners and suppliers we have worked with other the years include Crystelle Topstan, Peter Lee, Andy Hunne, Sonya Keenan, Carl Taylor, Mihir Dhandha, Anton Menkveld, Nathan Paris, Bryce Christiansen, Kyle Leavitt and Paul Bright. You have all stepped up and helped us out with support and/or solutions. Thank you for your partnership. Special thank you to Melissa Chalk (appreciate your willingness to be dragged along to all these business events over the years with me lol), John Bellamy, Michael Carter, Greg Hamlyn, Luke Brown, Julian Barton, Pascal Martin, Tania Allen, Kathryn Skopal & Bronwyn Coulthart for your friendship, many words of wisdom and being a helpful ear over the years too.
Mentors
Learning is one of my top values and I’m grateful for the many mentors along the way that have contribute to my growth and development. There are a lot, however, I want to acknowledge Ryan Deiss, Michelle Masters, Liz & Matt Raad, Jeff Slayter, Kane Minkus, Ben Harvey, Stu McLaren, Amy Porterfield, Robert Kiyosaki, Mike Michalowicz, Richard Linder and Marcus Lemonis. You’ve all contributed more than you know into the direction, structure and growth of myself and Streamline For Success during the past decade.
Team
Thank you to all of those on our team who have contributed over the years. It’s important to pay tribute and gratitude to Novelyn who has been with us from before the beginning.
We’ve been through a lot during that time. She’s regularly stepped up and made sacrifices and worked long and late hours when there has been something urgent. Your loyalty, commitment and willingness to help is appreciated, and I hope you know how much.
My Partner
It’s not easy being with me. Leigh has been by my side for half of this journey so far. I’m grateful for the understanding and patience he’s had with me. Life of a business owner is often chaotic, demanding and taxing on relationships. I appreciate all the sacrifices you have made for me and your support to allow me to do what I do.
How It’s Been Going – The Tough Times
Running a business isn’t easy. As anyone who has chosen this path knows. It would be wrong for me to not acknowledge some of the tough times that have happened during this milestone. Clients not paying, working on holidays, not having enough holidays, bullying, quieter months, under quoting and having to wear additional costs for projects and all the other negative yuck stuff. I try to stay positive, but there are a few things that I’ve particularly struggled with along the way that are worth sharing.
Parenting…
The pregnancy, birth and parenting of our daughter brought about new challenges being a business owner. This has redefined time and balance as all parents know, and of course I wouldn’t change a thing! Morning sickness for 4.5 months was rough, plus not being able to have the time off that I was planning when she was first born. Our daughter having health issues early on and trying to breastfeed and juggle work – was very hard. I recall waking up at 5am to breastfeed just so that I could get another feed before a client meeting at 11 am, only one time to have the client request to an hour earlier… Those were some crazy times and I’m grateful for our wonderful clients for their understanding and flexibility around my limited work schedule when I first returned.
Little miss has changed our world and I’m forever grateful for the flexibility I have in this business that I can move things around for our family.
The Imbalance is REAL…
Even before the birth of our daughter, the balance between work and life for me hasn’t and still isn’t right. You start a business to be able to control your destiny and have the freedom you’ve always dreamed of. The harsh reality is, I work more than what I did being an employee. Business can and is all consuming (for me anyway). I care, some would argue too much about what we do and our clients. But ultimately, I love the game of business, and I seriously love what I get the pleasure of doing every day. So, it’s very hard to switch off. I have come to embrace it, but if I’m honest, some days are harder than others. (Currently reading Clate Mask’s new book – Conquer The Chaos Second Edition for others that also struggle, you may also find this helpful).
The Clients I Should Have Said No To …
Over the last few years, I have been very fortunate to work with businesses who appreciate the work we do. Unfortunately, this hasn’t always been the case. Particularly early on when we said yes to clients that we should have said no too as they weren’t a good fit. One in particular comes to mind. Whilst holidaying with family that had been organised for a while, a client had failed to plan, and I had to work most of my holiday to urgently get an event automation live for a client. The client didn’t say thank you, or acknowledge the impact the urgent request had on me or my family. It was probably one of my lowest points of this business (and let’s hope that’s it!). I no longer work with them or anyone like them thankfully 🙂 It was a valuable lesson to get.
How It’s Been – The Highlights
There have been many highlights throughout this last 10 years. Too many to list here. However, here’s some of the highlights.
The Travel, Events & Connections
I’ve worked from home throughout the last decade. I love the short commute and the ability to put my washing on the line throughout my work day as I need 🙂 Despite my introvert nature, I do need to connect with others in real life. Therefore, live in person events have been critical for me. Being able to find and connect with like-minded people, whether it be clients, partners, suppliers and others, have been the savior for me to still have human contact. I have been very fortunate to have established some life-long friends from attending business events. Whether that’s local, around South East Queensland, interstate or in the US. The two most memorable events would have to be my first IKON in Phoenix Arizona in 2015, Traffic & Conversion Summit in San Diego in 2019. Attending business events has also allowed me the opportunity to travel to new locations, but also visit and experience new places that I never would have without this business.
Since the pandemic, I have only attended a couple of events so far, as it’s fair to say that my heart was conflicted. Full of the happy event vibes from learning and connecting with others, but also sad that I missed it for so long. I am very relieved and happy that live events are coming back 🙂
Thank you for all my traveling companions and event junkies who I’ve shared a chat with over the years. Also, thank you to all those who have put on an event that I have attended. They are a MASSIVE effort, particularly in a post covid world, so thank you.
Mentors
Being able to see and hear one my all-time business crushes live at IKON has definitely been a highlight. Marcus Lemonis presented in Phoenix in 2017 at one of Keap’s annual user conferences. I have watched him for years with the show, The Profit, and have learned and applied a lot from him over the years. This would not have been possible without Keap and my business.
Award
In 2018, I was awarded the International Service Partner of the Year by Keap. This was a tremendous honour as it was the only one award to partners out of the US for the year and I had no idea that I was going to receive it. It was a bittersweet moment for me if I’m honest. It was the first year that I didn’t travel to the US for PartnerCon since I had become a Keap Partner, as my grandfather’s funeral was happening at the same time. I didn’t receive the award in person then, but I’m incredibly grateful for Jeremiah Sarkett for backing and picking up the award for me. I eventually picked it up at T&C in San Diego the following year. I’m very grateful for this honour.
What’s Next…
As I reflect on the last 10 years, there is so much to be grateful for. If I’m honest, I’m probably not where I thought I would be with the business and I’m not making as big of an impact that I know I want or can make. Despite this realisation, I’m grateful for the decade that’s happened and I’m excited by the next phase of the journey. The possibilities are endless and I’m even more driven to help businesses to save time, focus on what they do best to grow, scale and make a bigger impact themselves.
Thank you for helping me celebrate this milestone and being part of this journey.
