Again, you can always come wipe a butt at my house.
I mean, like if you're aching for it, I got it for you.
Oh my god, I do love babies.
I'm like, oh my god, I could have definitely had more babies.
But my husband was like, no.
He gave me a deadline, actually.
He was like, if you're not pregnant by Christmas,
there's no third child.
And I was like, OK.
He's got a third child.
Get upstairs, brother.
Let's do this.
Yeah.
Hey, hey, and welcome to the 40s Formula,
your go-to place for insightful discussions on navigating the 40s
and thriving in this transformative decade.
We're your hosts, Jasmine and Amanda, two women that are passionate about
exploring the challenges and adventures that come with turning 40 and what lies ahead.
Chris Edwards is a serial entrepreneur, having started her first business in 2008
at 28 years of age, the lifestyle media platform HoneyCommerce,
including parenting platform HoneyKids Asia, which is now the go-to lifestyle resource for locals,
expats, and tourists across Singapore, Hong Kong, and Bali, with over one million unique
readers across Southeast Asia every month.
Chris started coaching entrepreneurs and from this experience saw the need for a community
of conscious entrepreneurs.
So in 2022, she created Launchpad, designed to help small businesses thrive through community,
peer mentoring, and coaching.
Launchpad today has over 450 members from six countries,
meaning that Chris now runs four companies across four countries.
She also hosts a podcast called Good Business, where she interviews impact-led founders.
And she splits her time between Asia and Byron Bay, Australia,
where she lives with her husband and three gorgeous but wild kids.
So if you ask me what I want to be when I grow up, my short answer is today's guest, Chris Edwards.
Chris is a multi-hyphenate entrepreneur, founder, and podcast host, and mom of three kids,
who still finds time to be passionate about making authentic,
personal, and professional connections.
Welcome, Chris.
Oh, thank you, Amanda.
What a beautiful intro.
And right back at you.
I have so much admiration.
So yeah.
Well, we are so, so happy to have you here.
As you know, we've been waiting a long time for this wonderful guest.
We have.
And Jasmine, I know your personal story, right?
We are part of your networking group, Launchpad, the kindest community on the internet.
But our listeners that might not know as much about you,
can you tell us a little bit about your humble beginnings as a mompreneur
and how that got you to where you are today?
Yeah, sure.
Oh, where to start.
Okay.
So I moved to Singapore when I was 27, and I ended up in a job I hated.
And yeah, I actually just had some friends who approached me and said,
do you want to kind of join us in this startup?
We're building, we call it media platforms or websites.
And I was like, well, look, I'm really, really hating this role.
So I will go and do it.
And it was kind of very high risk.
And it was at a time when, you know, I think smartphones had only just come out.
Facebook had only just been launched in the US.
It was really early internet days.
Are you okay giving us the year?
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, did I not give you the year?
That was 2007.
Wow.
Okay.
Yeah.
So it was very early on.
Anyway, so I joined them and we collectively came up with the idea
of Honeycomers, but in the first year, I fell pregnant and my three business partners
all left the business for different reasons.
So one went and did Chinese medicine, went off to study.
One went to go and become a management consultant.
And another friend of mine who I roped into the business,
we were just not working well together.
So she left as well.
So I was there with this new business that was quite unfounded and a new baby.
And I just loved what I was doing because I was writing the content and very early on also
selling small, small ads to people that have now actually become friends.
My very early advertisers, they really took a leap of faith.
And yeah, so but what Honeycomers is I really love.
It was really, it aligns so well with who I am in that I just, I love sharing,
I suppose, the insider tips and the good news and the, you know,
oh, I'm just constantly that's who I am, you know?
So it was so aligned and I really enjoyed the creative element.
And so I just kept at it, but it was a very, very slow burn for the first.
Yeah, I think five or six years of the growth rate was literally.
I remember seeing that graph at the event, you know, just a straight line for a long time.
Really straight line, but it was growing.
It was growing and I had lots of positive feedback from people and even advertisers
coming on board just saying, I love it.
And look, I suppose it's, you know, similar to what you guys are doing at the 40s formula.
You kind of love it so much yourself.
And you know, you don't really worry too much about the maths to start with.
You just know that it's a gut feeling that it feels good.
I enjoy doing it and I'm getting positive feedback.
So yeah, I just kept at it.
And yeah, I suppose, you know, the real joy or trick, I don't know whether tricks
the right word, but was that I took a bet on the internet early on and I remember it being a bet.
I remember it being a gamble.
I remember having a walks around Botanical Gardens with a girlfriend.
We're pushing our babies and strollers and I'm like, are you sure people are going to
use websites instead of using magazines?
Like that was the bet.
Wow.
Think of how incredible that question sounds today.
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, like I'm not sure this is a thing.
And she's like, no, no, I think it's a solid bet.
Keep going.
Wow.
Good girlfriend.
Yeah, I still, I still credit.
I still remind her about that.
We're still very good mates.
And I, yeah.
So she needs stock tips for Amanda.
You're going to love this.
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Wait, what?
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Okay.
That is exactly what I need for the days when I'm running between clients and recordings and kids.
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And I think, you know, for many of us that are in this entrepreneurial space, right, there's this concept that like, oh, when you hit it big, everything else in your life will just follow suit, right?
Once my business has taken off, everything just smooths out.
Was it like that for you?
Oh my God.
Well, no, I know.
And I think most entrepreneurs will know it's just such a roller coaster, you know?
And I think so we're coming up to 16 years of having honeycomers, but I think as you get more seasoned, you recognize the roller coaster and you're like, okay, you know, that was shit or that was great, but it's going to flip.
I forgot to ask, can we, am I allowed to swear on your words?
100%.
Oh my God.
Yes.
Yeah. So I think you get better at realizing that and my husband is always like, oh, we're on a high, look out, it's coming down, you know?
So he probably finds the roller coaster more annoying than me.
Your husband is my dad.
I know where it's like, oh, but what's on the other side?
Thanks, dad.
Yeah, totally.
But, oh, sorry.
I was going to say, so with honeycomers, obviously it's been 16 years, what has been the hardest sort of periods that you've been through and how did you see yourself come out of those?
Yeah, good question.
So I think there's been a couple of really challenging times.
I think the first one was, I think most businesses get to a stage where, you know, the numbers were okay, but just my experience was really a bit of a roadblock.
And then on top of that, you know, I have three kids.
And so in my first, yes, what was it, seven years of running the business, I had three babies, right?
So it's just like, it was a lot, and I ended up hiring a general manager and stepping out of the business for, and really stepping out for three or four years, which was delightful.
But the business was at a stage where we could afford a general manager.
Mind you, it was a big risk.
Like, I actually just looked it up the other day.
His salary was $180,000.
Like, it was not a small amount of money.
And I remember thinking, I'm not sure if this is the right decision or if we can afford this.
But if they're good, then the business should be able to continue to grow.
And often you have to take those little leaps of faith.
One thing that I now do is I try and take myself almost like I visualise myself stepping out of the company and being an investor.
So trying to give myself some distance from the decision and saying, look, if I was an investor, would I invest $100,000 in this business right now?
And you would look at the data and you would go, actually, yeah, I would.
But I think sometimes when it's our decisions and it's about us personally and all the fear and limiting beliefs and all the things that hold you back, you kind of need to put that to a side and just take a step.
But yes, so that was one of the big challenges I had.
And then the other big one was COVID.
And like, COVID was wild.
What changed on the HoneyCommerce side?
Right. Because, you know, when I'm thinking about it, it's like, wow, this is a business that's COVID proof because it's all online and it can still provide value even if the content, even if there's not new restaurant openings, let's say, or whatever.
How did you guys pivot?
What were the challenges?
Yeah, so basically, our revenues just stopped because even if you people had booked a contract with us, they were like, oh, sorry, we can't run it because we can't be open.
So the restaurants, hotels, travel, everyone was like, well, no one can come to my shop.
Or so actually, I don't need you to promote me this month.
In fact, I might not need you to promote me for six months.
So can I just put all basically all advertising contracts went on hold.
So our payroll at that time was about 150,000 a month.
And our revenues dropped 60% from one month to the next.
So yeah, our revenues were below the payroll number.
For how many months?
Oh, that's a good question.
Probably there was one there was one month where it hit 60,000 in bookings.
But I'd say about five or six months, we weren't covering the payroll.
But, you know, on top of that, I was homeschooling my three kids.
Oh, God.
And they're in kindergarten, year three and year six, like kindergarten, every 10 minutes.
It's like, I'm done.
What's next?
Oh, yeah, I know that.
I had kids at that age at that point as well.
Amanda, I'm going to be honest with you.
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Oh, man.
On top of that, my husband was working, but it wasn't going super well.
And so we made the decision the very month that it all fell off a cliff.
We made the decision that he would stop working and I would be the sole breadwinner.
So I was just like, oh, my God, it's just a lot.
It's just so much.
That's a lot of stress.
How did you how did you handle that decision?
Like, you know, whether it was mentally or physically, did you do anything to help you deal with that?
Yeah, I did, actually.
I did because actually what had happened was I got into a really negative mindset and I'd not really experienced that before my life.
But I just it was like I would have one bad thought about what could go wrong and then I would have another bad thought and another bad thought.
I was like kind of like, but what if that shitty thing happened and what if that shitty thing?
And so it was just like this spiral of negativity where all I could see was doom.
And yeah, I reached out to a girlfriend and said, I really need some business coaching support here.
Yeah.
And I thought I'd hire a business coach.
But actually, what she recommended I do is go and do a EFT tapping session.
Interesting.
Yeah, I don't know if you guys have tried EFT.
I've not tried, but tell us more.
Yeah, so EFT is emotional frequency technique and it is tapping on parts of your body that are aligned with the Chinese meridian lines.
And it's really an energy healing mindset technique, but done with the right coach.
For me, it was phenomenal.
I did one session and I was like, OK.
I mean, I took the weekend off and had a really beautiful weekend in nature, but I came back on Monday morning and went, I've got this.
It was incredible.
But yeah, I need details of you.
Well, actually, she has presented at Launchpad.
So she's got a master class in the recordings.
Yeah, in the files.
I'll send it to you.
But not to be totally ignorant.
Is this an ongoing technique that you would use like breathwork and meditation or is this a treatment that you go through like Reiki or something like that?
Yeah, I think it's more of a treatment.
Well, it was a treatment for me.
I don't use it ongoing.
But I think you can use it ongoing.
So I think it's a lot like Reiki.
That's so cool.
Again, you're the first person I know that's gone through it.
It just it just comes up as a topic that, you know, it's like, oh, have you tried?
You have to.
But that's really cool.
Yeah, I'm 100% into all the woo woo.
Oh, love it.
Love it.
You know, we recently had Danny on our podcast.
I know.
I listened to Danny in sixth grade.
She's the best.
The queen of the woo woo.
But again, de-wooing it.
Yes, exactly.
Which is awesome.
All right.
So again, so you get through kind of this like really stressful period where family is demanding,
business is changing, husband is leaving job.
What did you find on the other side?
Like, when did it all settle?
Yeah, that's a good question.
So I think like in hindsight, I'm I'm really happy to have had that experience because,
you know, Launchpad was a covid baby.
So the first thing I did was I was like, OK, I'm going to I'm going to keep honeycomers as it is.
But to protect our family from the next pandemic, I'm going to diversify our revenues.
And so I created a course called Make It Media.
And I yeah, I just put it out.
I mean, I had honeycomers.
I was thinking, what can I do to leverage honeycomers?
And I put this course out and I had 10 people sign up and I taught 10 people how to create a
media business. And I really enjoyed that process because it actually made me look really
deeply into my own business and actually clean up my own house.
You know, yes.
So that was great.
And then I thought I don't want to run this again, even though I built it all.
But from that idea came the idea of Launchpad.
And so I really believe that, yeah, I suppose with the challenges that you get in life,
that if you can, I suppose, rise to the challenge, not to sound too coy, but
yeah, there's just opportunity in being challenged and trying new things.
So yeah, and Launchpad is such a joy.
Like I really I didn't expect Launchpad to give me so much.
Like I really was creating it as a business, but also as a way to help other entrepreneurs.
But it's just I just it's such a joy in terms of the connection and the knowledge and the
I suppose it really forces you to go out and, you know, yeah, form new connections.
And I'm a needy extrovert.
So I'm like, oh my God, this is amazing.
Yeah, you are the extrovert extrovert, by the way.
And I love it.
But you know, you formed this connection.
Yeah.
Honestly, this is how we met.
Yes, we did not know each other until we were together in Launchpad.
Yeah.
So this is, you know, this is, yeah.
This is this is this is not a sponsored post.
This is absolute truth.
That's how we met each other.
So thank you for that.
And again, that just shows kind of the authenticity of your commitment to connections.
Right.
Hey, Amanda, you know how much I love clean home cooked food.
There's just something about knowing exactly what goes into your meal.
Right.
Yeah.
But let's also be real.
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Oh, I love that so much.
So even when I cannot cook at home, I don't have to compromise on eating clean.
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Now let's get back to the chat.
Oh, that's amazing.
It's funny that you say that because thinking about connections in my own life,
when is a time I felt the most disconnected?
And it was absolutely having newborns in the pandemic.
It's like I had my connection to my baby and to my husband.
And again, to my lovely helper as well.
And it's like, and we were this little unit against the world.
And it was so hard during that time to think about pivoting my business
and to think about what was next, because at that time when we went into lockdown,
I was still personal training in a gym, meaning me and a human being standing together.
Well, obviously, pandemic shut it down.
Had to pivot online coaching.
Let's do it.
So how would you advise moms that are kind of in this isolated time of the newborn period,
specifically that whether it's just with their first kid or maybe back in the newborn stage
with a toddler at home and thinking about what's next for them in the workforce?
How do you kind of advise us to get through that period of isolation?
Yeah, so I think the first thing is to address the isolation.
So it's actually, if you think about it with a newborn, it's actually a really great time.
Really great time to meet other moms because you're going through so much.
And like some of my dearest, dearest friends are the moms that I went through having babies with.
And they still, you know, they don't live where I live, but we still almost talk daily, you know,
like that. So the time to connect is when you're going through hardship or through challenges
and you find people who are in the same boat.
So, you know, moving to Byron Bay, that's what I've done the last seven years.
That's taken a time to try and find your people.
It's very eclectic there.
And I have found just, you know, doing things like signing up and taking action.
It could be a pottery course, could be a newborn course.
It could be a parenting course or a play group.
But just getting out there and then being authentic and real and vulnerable and just
like, you know, knowing that you're not going to be everyone's cup of tea,
but you know, you got to kiss a few frogs.
But I just think just being vulnerable and authentic, people love that, you know?
So I think it's I think you need to flip the switch.
It's not a hard time to make connections.
It's actually a really easy time because people are also lonely and isolated in the same boat.
And there's so much you need to learn and so much you can help each other with.
So, yeah, but then in terms of getting into the workforce, look, I think I think it's
obviously harder for women full stop and harder for moms.
And I think recognizing that is a big piece.
But then I think also, you know, you do lose confidence when you've been out of the workforce.
So I think you need to do a lot of work on your mindset
and really just like recognize your limiting beliefs and working on that.
And then and really listening to your heart and your intuition.
But I think it's yeah, I talk a lot about self agency, but building this muscle of having an
empowered state where you control your own future and you need to address things like limiting
beliefs and you need to listen to your intuition and these these small little things you can do
that really help that process.
But it is super hard.
And I also think, you know, that's one of the beautiful things about being in your 40s, right?
Is, you know, when you're in your 30s or when you're like coming out of, I suppose, a younger
state, you have a lot more overthinking or limiting beliefs or, you know, you definitely
give a lot less fucks as you get older.
Oh, none, zero fucks given over here. That's our theme.
That's why I think this podcast is really magical, right?
Because you really do step into your power.
And and yeah, and I think women need to realize that what you do realize once you get to your 40s
that, oh my God, I wish I just didn't worry so much or I just overthink it or I just
listen to myself and trust my gut.
So that would be my advice.
Yeah, that is.
And I love that you use the word confidence, too, because I think, again, thinking about
that immediate postpartum period, right, especially the older you are.
Hello, old mom's shout out.
Shout out.
You know, you kind of are losing confidence in all sorts of ways, right?
You're feeling unconfident as a parent because it's new.
Your body has changed significantly and again, harder the older you get.
And then, you know, you're professionally falling further behind or you perceive that you are.
And so reclaiming a sense of confidence is something that definitely can help by being
around other moms.
You know, it's like it's like you realize like, hey, we're all still pretty good.
Yeah.
And at Honeycomers, I employ a lot of moms part time because I recognize that actually
just having maturity and also, you know, they are the best at time management because they've
got to get it done.
Yeah, they got to leave, you know, but I just think there's so much wealth of value.
And I really say to all business owners in Singapore and Australia, like you need to
think about tapping into moms that want to work part time, especially if you're a startup
because you don't necessarily have to pay a full salary.
So that works.
But this, I also find that people that get that opportunity because they're not that
many around that they are, they love you for it and they will go the extra mile.
So a shout out to anyone who's running a business and employ a part time mom.
They are the best.
Yeah.
Cheap stars.
Stars available on the cheap.
Yeah.
But it's true.
Great value, but also just having maturity in your company too is really helpful.
How do you manage everything?
Because obviously now you're running two successful businesses.
You are a mom of three.
You're living in Byron Bay.
So you're not even in Singapore and your businesses are here.
And actually, you know, they're in all over Asia.
How do you find the time for all of it?
Good question.
I mean, my husband doesn't work.
So when he stopped working, he stopped completely.
So he is captain of the family.
Amazing.
Yeah.
I mean, I still do a little bit of admin.
I've got to say that I just like things done my way, but, you know, just driving the kids
around to all the school things or sporting things is pretty hectic.
So I definitely have that.
I have a wife, right?
So that is one really massive way I can do it.
And then the other thing is my team, you know, is excellent.
And I'm very, I'm very much like, I don't need to be involved in everything.
So I'm really happy when people, you know, make decisions and get stuff done.
I'm also a big believer that done is better than perfect.
So I definitely am not a perfectionist.
And so that helps.
But yeah, I'm really trying to not work very much at the minute because my kids really need me.
You know, so they're 15, just 10, 15, 13 and 10.
And they've never needed me more than what they need me right now.
You know, I've just had one diagnosed with autism.
I've got one that's very anxious and I've got another guy who is just changing schools
again after six months.
But I just, while I'm up here, actually, I just got a note from the school saying,
he's just been really naughty in class.
I can't help but just laugh a little bit because he was reading a book in his music lesson
and he was told to stop reading.
And he didn't.
And he got called out.
And then he got argumentative with the teacher, which is none of it's good.
But then he's she wrote Nisima.
He started to make a duck symbol with his hands.
She was addressing him, which was not okay.
Not okay.
But I'm a little bit like, oh, it's a little bit funny.
Also amazing.
Also, again, he's getting in trouble for reading.
So, you know, I get it.
It's reading music class, but it's just kind of funny.
I mean, think about, you know, when I grew up in a public high school, a kid got arrested
for beating another kid with a bag of locks.
So, for example, reading a music class is just kind of cute.
It's kind of okay.
But also I taught him that symbol thing and I did that to him.
So not my finest parenting moment, but I'm a little bit like ice skunk.
And, you know, the school system is very rigid.
I hope he never listens to this.
It's not okay to be rude to your teacher.
But yeah, so anyway, the kids are a lot at the minute, which I'm loving.
I'm loving just being really there for them.
So I'm really trying hard not to work too much.
Yeah, I know that's brilliant.
And what about for yourself?
How are you looking after yourself?
I have lots of hobbies.
So I really enjoy tennis and I've just taken up pottery massively this year.
So I just bought a kiln.
Wow.
Is it like the ghost?
Are you doing like the ghost vibe?
Yes, very much.
Get over here, Patrick.
No, so mine is all hand building, so not on the wheel.
But I am really loving it.
So it's very therapeutic and it's very creative.
And yeah, it's just something really away from a screen.
And it's quite, I suppose, yeah, I think it's just an artistic expression, which I'm really enjoying.
But then also, I've met these wonderful crew who we do pottery with and they're my people.
And I'm like, okay.
You got pottery people, pottery pad coming soon.
Yeah, finish that connection, right?
Because also I spend so much time at home on my screen talking to people in Asia.
So it's really nice to have something that's the real life connection.
Yeah.
Are you living that Byron Bay mom life, you know, that influencer life?
Is that accurate?
No, no, but there is a set of influences there that I think that was it an Atlantic article or something.
But yeah, it's pretty, there are, it is pretty wild that there are very influential people.
I mean, like Chris Hemsworth's kids are right.
There you go.
Is he there?
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I need to make it.
Okay, we can't make this a Chris Hemsworth thing, but I have to get in here.
Is he just like so hunkalicious?
Is it beyond words?
Is it beyond visual comprehension?
He's my fave.
I think so.
Yeah, no, he is attractive.
He's huge.
He's very tall.
I mean, he stands out.
But yeah, it's good to look handy around the.
Thor, you're welcome in the 40s formula anytime.
Anytime.
You can accompany Chris next time if you'd like to.
I think so.
I love that.
And I think, you know, to switch gears just a little bit, right?
So we've been doing so much talk about motherhood and career and all that stuff, but we have not kind of addressed the elephant in the room about being in our 40s, which is when the hormone shit goes down.
Okay. And just when you first get those inklings of perimenopause and how that can wreak havoc on even your best laid plans, right?
It's you know, I can I have not hit it yet.
And Jasmine's the better one to speak to about this, but I can only liken it to pregnancy hormones where it's like your brain just turns a different way.
Yeah, I don't remember pregnancy being as hard on my brain.
So I find brain fog is just the the biggest symptom I have with perimenopause.
And I actually I have got a friend who was like, Chris, you are so deep in Perry.
And I'm like, no, I don't think I am.
And I think there's a bit of denial because no one wants to be recognized that you're getting older and that, you know, things are slowing down.
But I had two car accidents and it was both in car parking lots where it was all my fault.
You know, you're getting super slow when you just bang into.
Yeah. And literally it was so close in timing that when I had the car, when I did the first scrape, the car was pretty badly damaged.
But I had to wait like four or five weeks to get it into the shop.
So I had the second scrape at the same time.
So, well, the good news is he got repaired at the same time. I'm like, it's the left and the right side that needs totally redoing.
At least it wasn't you got it repaired and then you did the second one.
Oh, yes, no, true. But that's when I was like, OK, my brain is not working and I need to address this.
And yeah. And what did you do?
I started taking HRT, but it's not like a full solve because I just I it's one, I don't always remember to take my HRT, but also to I don't feel like I've got it quite right.
You know, so like titrated, correct?
Like, yeah, it takes a while.
I don't think I've got it right.
But, you know, I've got friends that are 10 years older and they are in the throes of menopause. And it's slightly terrifying.
You know, I've got this one girlfriend who's just really struggling with rage and, you know, it's really intense.
And she's also it's brought up a lot of childhood trauma.
And at the same time, she's now being diagnosed for ADHD and autism, like all of it's coming.
And it's all because of the hormones. Right. That was the trigger.
She was completely happy and, you know, cruising along and it just has hit her like a brick.
So I don't know if that's in front for me or whether, you know, I don't know.
I don't know what the journey is, but I just think it's great to talk about it.
And I think it's great that my younger friends are like, Chris, I think you're in Barry.
And I'm like, oh, God, OK, I suppose I should go and like investigate what I can do.
But yeah, the brain fog is ridiculously annoying.
Well, we learned from we had Dr. Tash Miranda here on our very first season that there are 70 documented symptoms, symptoms of perimenopause.
That's documented. That means that we know that those are real things.
And I'm sure there's more, you know, and obviously the way that they interplay with each other.
So I think it's a good message. Like, if you think something's up, don't wait to get into a car accident twice.
Maybe just go have some blood work done. So, you know, and I think it's also like accepting that we are all going to get older.
And it's it's not a terrible thing. You know, like it's just a new chapter.
I feel like that's part of the I suppose the denial piece that I had was like, oh, I think also my teens, also young.
I really went to the doctor once and the doctor's like, how old are you? And I'm like, 35. Oh, no, 45.
I was like, what was this when you were 36 and you'd forgotten? No, I'm like, oh, shit, I actually I actually thought I was 35.
Well, and it's like those things, you know, when you hear, oh, yeah, you know, like the 90s, it's only 20 years ago.
And then actually it was like 30 years ago.
That's a heartbreak. Yeah, I was watching Ocean's 12 this past weekend.
That movie is from 2004, guys. Oh, my God.
And that's the sequel to Ocean's 11, which I also remember coming out.
Anyway, I mean, things. Yeah. Time has passed. Let's put it that way.
Now, OK, you've acknowledged that you're in Perry. Welcome.
I can't join the club. But what else other than taking HRT?
Right. Are you doing any lifestyle changes that that you found positive?
I mean, obviously, taking up pottery and stuff is mental changes, which is great.
Have you done anything like, you know, any look, workout regimens, any dietary changes?
Yeah. I look I have definitely reduced the amount of alcohol and I stopped drinking for about six months.
And that was great. That was really good. That really helps your brain function. Yeah, sure.
And I think it's really hard on your body to drink.
And I don't know whether it's Perry or whether it's just this age or what it is.
But, you know, I mean, I cannot do the bend like I used to.
It's like a four day hangover now. So reducing alcohol.
I mean, I had a big lifestyle change leaving Singapore and moving to Byron where it's a lot more outdoors.
And I suppose, yeah, I suppose it's just more nature and fresh air.
Seasons. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Seasons is great. Seasons is really good.
Although Byron is so for people who don't know, it's just south of Brisbane and I do find the winter too cold.
I'm always on a plane up to Asia for a couple of weeks for winter.
And everyone in Byron is like, this is ridiculous.
And they all complain about the humidity. And I'm like, oh, God, nothing.
Anybody talking about humidity to me. Just, you know, like, look, I mean, this is the only hairstyle I can wear in Asia.
I see these people. So yeah. Anyway.
I used to have dead straight silky hair until I came here and I was like, what's happening?
Yeah, but this is straightened.
With effort. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, yeah, I think there's definitely been, I like to think of it as seasons of your life.
Right. But yeah, I mean, definitely slowed down a little bit.
And I think that's partly hormonal and age, but also just the parenting journey, you know, just wanting to.
I think I've also lost a lot of drive and ambition.
You know, I think I used to be a lot more like when I started Honeycomers on the back end, I think I had 10 countries set up to take over Asia.
And how many do you have now? Three. Three. Yeah. So it's Honeycomers, Singapore, Hong Kong and Bali.
And Bali. Yeah. Very cool. Yes. Yeah. I feel like Bali's the up and coming. Oh, yeah. Bali is such a great little business.
Yeah. It's really good. It's fantastic. Is Honey Kids in Bali? No, Honey Kids is only in Singapore.
That's also a nice business. Honey Kids. Yeah. By the way, that also exists.
And it's so funny when you say that, you know, you're feeling that your kids need you now more than ever.
Right. Because here we are three different parenting stages. Right. So you've got 15, 13, 10. Yeah.
You've got nine and a couple of sixes. Right. And I've got littles. Right.
So four, three, about to be three and six months old. And for me, it's like I can't visualize being where you are.
I can't visualize the point where the support isn't butt wiping and tears drying.
You know, more mental and kind of stage development stuff.
Can you give me give me an idea of how you were able to kind of transition out of full hands on moming into kind of the business world more or less full time and then back into moming?
I mean, is that just something that happened organically? Or did you did you design that? Yeah.
I had a theory or have a theory that when they're little, it doesn't really matter who gives them the bowl of milk or who wipes their barn.
And so I was very heads down bum up working when they were little for a large part of it.
But I really believe that particularly when they get to a I don't know whether it's 10, 11 that they are well, I suppose I find them a lot more interesting because they really are trying to work out the world
and work out who they are and what they believe in and what their values are. And I feel like that's a real privilege to be able to help shape these people to become people that I suppose have similar values and and care deeply and and you know,
know how to form deep relationships. And yeah, so I feel like I'm I'm really enjoying this stage of parenting.
And I think whilst I find this stage of parenting challenging, it's it's really rewarding.
But in a in a very, I suppose, deep way as opposed to, yeah, he's walking.
You know, he's always come wipe a butt in my house. I mean, like if you're a short, I got it.
I do love babies. I'm like, oh, yeah, I could have definitely had more babies. But my husband was like, no, he gave me a deadline.
Actually, he was like, if you're not pregnant by Christmas, there's no third child.
I was like, OK, upstairs, brother. Yeah. But yeah, no, I feel like this stage of. Yeah, especially with neurodiversity. You know, that's that's been a whole education for myself.
And I think it's a really great time to be a neurodivergent person because there's just so much more acceptance and acknowledgement and and yeah, this yeah, support.
And and I think that there's a lot more neurodivergence being recognized or diagnosed now because we know so much more.
But I think having these experiences just almost deepens your ability to be a good human yourself.
You know, so yeah, it's some wild. What's really interesting with that is so I'm reading a book at the minute.
It's called Unique and it's all about autistic people.
And it's written by a girl who was the relationship coach on the show.
Brain fog moment. Love on the Spectrum. Yes. Yeah. So Jodie Rogers is her name.
But she basically has written this great book that shares with you her experience, really life coaching people who are autistic.
And like it's such a great book for me because I can understand with all of this information that actually, you know, my child's not being difficult or being rude.
It's just they don't have they haven't learned how to have reciprocal conversations.
Right. For example. And I was like, offered it to my mom.
He's a big reader. And she's like, oh, no, I I can't read it.
And it's a generational thing. Yes. Yes. She's like, it'll either make me sad or I can't.
I don't have the capacity to to to really. I actually I should ask her.
I don't really know what it is. But, you know, when my dad found out that my child was autistic, he came to me a day later and went.
So it doesn't mean she's intellectually disabled. But, you know, like that's what the way they would have assumed.
Yeah. Yeah. But and that's what an autism diagnosis used to be in the 80s.
You only were diagnosed autistic if you were intellectually.
If you had the learning disability. Exactly. Thank you. But, yes. So it's all changed. It's always changing.
But, yes. So I suppose the thing with that is I just hope that as we grow and go from the 40s to 50s there in their 70s,
that we can continue to kind of have this open mind and be like accepting of of change and new things,
because that's that was the like confronting thing. Now it's like, wow.
Well, one of the questions I was going to ask you was what's the most surprising thing that you've learned in your 40s?
And I feel like this is kind of speaking to that. Yeah. Yeah. A later diagnosis autistic child is surprising.
That's a surprise. Yeah. Yeah. And being able to understand that yourself. Yeah. Yeah.
That was a big surprise. I think I think the biggest thing I've learned in the last time, 46, really, I think, is probably more from.
Well, it's that. But also that my experience in the pandemic really taught me about mindset and the power of the mind.
And I'm really hungry for any knowledge around neuroplasticity.
And really, I really find it intriguing how much the mind can control health and confidence and everything.
Oh, yeah. Strength, performance. Yeah. Everything. It's all about the mind.
So, yeah, that's what I'm really loving learning about.
And I feel like partly my experience with Covid, but then also, you know, with my family's, you know, what?
Yeah. Teaching my kids all the challenges we have is not anything but the mind.
So, yeah, that's that's the thing. And like you said, neuroplasticity, you can reshape the mind, you know, by doing certain things.
So that's the I think the great thing about the brain and the mind, right? Yeah. It never ends.
Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So speaking of the journey ending, we do need to end our conversation today, although we again, we could talk to you for hours and, you know,
maybe we can carry on later tonight. Yeah. I was just going to say, listeners, guess what?
We actually get to spend more time with Chris tonight.
But the final question that we ask everyone in the program is in your words, in your experience, what's the 40s formula?
What's the trick to kind of living better, living like Chris?
Well, the short answer is to give less fucks.
And and the longer answer is really, I think.
Well, I've been I've been talking a lot about self agency.
So and I've I have been asked to do a few speaking appointments and I have been doing a lot of reflection on what has really enabled me to create the life I love.
You know, jump on a plane and go into events and come home and, you know, be with my kids and not work crazy hours and all the things that I love.
And it really has come down to this ability to believe that I have the power to create my own destiny.
And so it's mindset. But, you know, in a better way than just saying mindset, it's really about the belief that we are in control and that we can build self agency.
So we can strengthen that that muscle of agency through surrounding yourself with good people and educating yourself.
I love listening to podcasts as a way, a form of education, knowing what your limiting beliefs are and addressing them, tapping into your intuition.
And then the last one is just taking action. I'm a big advocate for action.
You got to act in action, focus people here as well. I think all coaches kind of have to be.
Yes. So thank you so much for sharing that with us, Chris. And again, for sharing so many elements of your personal journey.
We appreciate your candid spirit and just having you on the show as always.
Thank you. We wish we had more like you. So thank you so much for being here today. Thank you so much for having me.
Absolute pleasure. Thank you.
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This is Paul, our editor.
He's a 25 year old unmarried Singaporean guy listening to the ramblings of 12 older women on everything from menopause to weightlifting to sex.
So, Paul, what's your thoughts on today's conversation?
Hey, guys, what's up? Paul here.
Chris, thanks for sharing the honey coma story and I think it's a pretty cool story because you shared the risk that you took.
And now, kind of looking back, it's almost hilarious because pretty much everything, if not most things like internet banking, shopping, transactions, even news, it's on the internet nowadays, one way or another.
So, sort of like from a risk perspective, yay!
I also love how open and candid you were in sharing your perspective about business struggles and personal struggles, specifically with your family and going through the whole Covid pandemic, of course.
So, thanks for sharing and I hope to see you around as well. See ya!
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Did your whole family move?
My parents retired, so they moved to the desert. And then my brother definitely did not move and he stayed in Chicago. And then I moved for college.
Chicagoans have a stronger accent.
I like Chicagoans. Does it come back?
So Richie's accent, you know the cousin, that is my cousins. If you had my cousins on this podcast, you'd hear that accent.
So if you go to Chicago or you hang out with your cousin, your brother, do you pick up that accent?
Slightly, but not as bad. When I joined my sorority in college in LA, I used to get ripped. Just merciless.
You could listen in on a conversation and then you'd pick it up. But like your mom, it's your mom. It's never your mom. It's your mom. And I can hear it.
It sounds a bit like Midlands-y. If I'm hearing it, it sounds like someone from the Midlands in England.
Someone from Canada also has a similar thing, but it's a little more harsh.