We all have those people who leave a mark—not just on our careers, but on how we think, lead, and grow. For me, that person was a truly remarkable boss who somehow managed to be part mentor, part motivator, and part philosopher-king. He’s since retired, but the lessons he left behind still echo in my head, often in his voice (with a side of dramatic flair).

He had a larger-than-life presence, the kind that filled a room before he even opened his mouth. His brain was bursting with knowledge and experience, but it was the way he shared it that stuck with people. Every management meeting came with a story—always captivating, often hilarious, and usually wrapped up with a golden nugget of wisdom.

Some of his greatest hits?

“Better your mother cry than mine.”
“Don’t step on the big football field if you’re not prepared to get tackled.”
“Why have a dog and bark yourself?”
“Systematic, methodical, and attention to detail.” - that's my favourite!

Quirky? Absolutely. Memorable? You bet. But underneath it all was this deep belief that leadership isn’t about barking orders—it’s about building people up. He taught me that the best leaders are always learning, always growing, and always curious.

That mindset stayed with me. Over the years, I found myself chasing knowledge with the same enthusiasm some people reserve for Netflix marathons. I signed up for a Bachelor of Business degree, then followed it up with a Graduate Certificate, and eventually a Dual Diploma. All while working full-time, raising a family, and supporting a husband on shift work. It was chaos—but the best kind.

I even nerded out and did a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) test, which sent me down a rabbit hole of discovering my personality traits, strengths, and whether I lean more left-brain or right-brain (spoiler alert: it depends on the day). Some subjects pushed me so far out of my comfort zone I thought I'd need a passport—but that’s exactly where the growth happened. MBTI gave me the language to understand that.

Fast forward to today, and I’ve found my rhythm in the world of horticulture—where there’s always more to learn. Whether it’s flicking through the latest industry newsletter, tuning into a podcast while pruning, or signing up for another workshop, I’ve got this constant hunger to stay ahead of the curve. Trends, pests, plant health, climate impacts—it’s all fair game.

And then came 2020, the year everything changed. In the middle of lockdowns and uncertainty, I decided to dive into a Content Marketing course. Honestly, I expected to tick a few boxes and move on—but instead, it flipped my whole perspective on how we tell stories in business. I became obsessed with capturing moments around the farm, crafting social content, and figuring out how to translate the heart of what we do into posts, photos, and blog articles.

Now, as the (unofficially-titled-but-very-enthusiastic) website administrator for Yanalla Farms, I get to mix creativity with strategy. I write blog posts like this one, share the behind-the-scenes of our farm life, and help bring our story to life online—one post, one pic, and one fruit pun at a time.

But here’s the best part: I get to share it. The resources I stumble across, the lightbulb moments, the helpful tools and tricks—they’re way too good to keep to myself. There’s something special about learning with others. Swapping ideas, bouncing around thoughts, laughing at the fails, and celebrating the wins. That back-and-forth is where the real magic happens.

So, whether you’re here for the fruit, the farming, the quotes, or just a bit of inspiration—I’m glad you’ve stopped by. And if you’ve got a story to share or a tip to pass on, I’m all ears (and probably holding a coffee).

Because learning doesn’t stop when the textbooks close—it keeps going in conversations, curiosity, and the courage to keep showing up.