With retail running through her veins, third generation retailer Tracey Mathers has been continuing the family tradition for over 25 years. As the granddaughter of the founder of Mathers Shoes it was inevitable, she would become a leading retailer in her field. Having had up to six stores she has learnt to deal with all areas of running a successful business.

With 35 years experience in both the retail and the corporate world Tracey has a wealth of knowledge in all different aspects that she passes on now through her work as a professional advisor, speaker and mentor, having sold her retail stores in July 2016.

What made you want to become a Mentor?  

I love seeing people succeed, seeing them step into their power, gaining clear clarity on what they want and helping them find the confidence to not allow anything to step in the way of that goal. I really think mentoring has been in my blood for many, many years. Having lead  teams of up to 60 people, it was one of the most challenging but enjoyable parts of my career. We all have something we are great at, something unique about us, helping people to find that and let it shine is a very rewarding daily job.

How has business changed over the past ten to fifteen years – do we need different skill sets today?

Absolutely we do, the World moves at such a fast pace today and we do need to keep up. The biggest change has been Social Media, Internet and how accessible everything is. However, where I see businesses making massive mistakes, is that they are so busy changing and keeping up with the latest and greatest that they have lost some of the key fundamental business tools and values that we should never lose. Things like great communication, clear vision, the ability to build great and loyal teams, making people feel valued, follow through in doing what you say you are going to do, respect. The younger generation often look at me and I can hear them saying “get into the next century” but honestly if business does not learn to get this back, they will be dealing with massive problems that their brilliant technology will not be able to fix.

Share with us three of your qualities or tips for success

This is hard as I have so many to share, but here are three favourites:

·         Consistency – keep your eye on the prize, know what you need to get there and keep doing the work to make it happen

·         Kindness – You know what it takes nothing to be kind, people appreciate it, and it is great for repeat business and also for people talking about you for all the right reasons. Think of it like Karma, you get back what you give out

·         Connection – There are so many great people in this world, and they are also smart. If you use and abuse your connections it will one day bite you. So, if you are in business be smart, when connecting, if people say NO, continue to build that relationship with them because you know what, one day it might be a big yes. And when you think you are finished with someone, think again, be smart, never ever lose connections, you may not need them now, but someone in your circle may, and you will be the greatest person for making that connection

Who inspires you and why?

Your magazine is not big enough for me to answer this, so let me just say people in general, I learn every single day by opening my eyes and my heart to the world. There are inspiring stories everywhere that teach us valuable life lessons. Survival, reinvention, success, hardship, they are all out there you just need to take the time to ask people questions about themselves and you find real gold in their answers. Secretly though if I ever got to meet Oprah Winfrey………Oh my Lord

So what’s next on the cards for Tracey Mathers

Getting around to writing my book and I have created a group mentoring program called the TM Vault. It is all about sharing life lessons through a weekly topic, where we have great discussions around how we can conquer these and become the best version of us. I love it and my vision for it is to change as many lives as I can, to help woman become clearer, have more confidence all while connecting with like minded women. This is my passion project.

If your life was a book what would it be called?

How to deal when shit happens

What’s one thing you do for you everyday?

Plan my day, if I don’t know what I am up to, I don’t achieve

What quote or Mantra do you live by?

Shit happens, learn to deal with it.