Do What Makes You Happy

By Zoë Sparks
SHINE Business Women & Spectacular Events Pty Ltd

This is a big thing, if not the most important thing, to create a life that you love. We spend a huge amount of our waking hours in the workplace so it is vital that we enjoy what we do, work in an environment and culture that supports our values and beliefs, and also get on with the people that work with us.

Whether you are an owner, manager, supervisor, employee, or contractor, getting on with your colleagues and focusing on supporting and encouraging each other can go a long way to make your working days enjoyable and a lot of fun. You don’t have to love the people you work with and you don’t have to become best buddies with them, but you do need people around you that are honest, pleasant, friendly, supportive, and who are genuinely nice; people whom you can respect and appreciate, as well as work alongside.

It’s hard to work with people who suck the life out of you, complain endlessly, and don’t put in a hard day’s work themselves. This can have a real impact on you, your mood, health, and wellbeing and also your productivity, spirit, and outlook.

Are you working in a business that you feel passionate about?
Do you feel that you are contributing and making a real difference?
Does your work complement your values and support the things that you believe in?
Do you wake up smiling and raring to go, ready to tackle the day?

It’s important to say a big YES to all of these things. If you are happy, motivated, keen to excel, and are full of ideas to push your business forward, this is fantastic!

Even after over twenty years of owning my own business, I still love what I do. Yes, I know, what’s not to love about travel and events? But I genuinely love to fulfil people’s dreams and plan and organise events and all things travel related. I also thrive on running my own business; I love the challenge that it presents, the opportunities it gives to me, the drive and focus of aiming to do things smarter and not harder, and moving dynamically in today’s ever-changing world. There is nothing more certain in life than the fact that things will always change so it’s important to be able to adapt to this, embrace it, and thrive.

Quite simply, I love what I do. And it clearly shows when I am working with clients and putting together their events or assisting them with their holiday plans. I am passionate about what I do so I’m happy to put in the hours required and also the time to do what I need to do to achieve all that I set out to accomplish.

Do you feel the same? If not, ask yourself: Why not? Think about the things that make your heart sing and make you feel happy, energetic, and ready to take on the world. Make sure you are doing what makes you happy, what you feel passionate about, and what gives you purpose and feelings of self-worth. Make sure you are working on things that satisfy your hopes, goals, and dreams, and success will follow.

Zoë Sparks
SHINE Business Women & Spectacular Events Pty Ltd

Zoë Sparks has owned her award-winning travel, conference and event management company – Spectacular Events Pty Ltd – for the past twenty years. Her new division – SHINE Business Women – was launched in early 2018 and is already making a huge impact in the area of professional and personal development.

Recognised twice as a QLD Telstra ‘Business Woman of the Year’ finalist and also a winner of Sunshine Coast Outstanding Business Woman of the Year, Zoë has a proven track record for success and achievement. Zoë’s experience in small business is not only as a business owner but also as a franchisee, Board and committee member (companies and not-for-profit organisations) and volunteer.

Zoë is passionate about ‘women in business’ and reward and recognition which has led to her authoring three small business books sharing the tips and tricks she has learnt over the years. She also relishes her role as a mother to two teenage sons.