Stephanie McCurdy is a successful global business owner of Forever Living products. Stephanie has an Honours degree in Sport Science, Health & Nutrition and started her business 2.5 years ago, while on maternity leave helping others with their gut health. Stephanie changed her career from a successful Human Resources profession in the gold mining industry to pursuing her passion for helping others with their health.
What did you do before you started your own business?
Before I started working under the umbrella of Forever Living, I worked in Human Resources as an Advisor for a couple of large goldmines in the goldfields of Kalgoorlie, WA.
My qualifications are in Sport Science, Health & Nutrition and when I graduated with an Honours Degree from the University of Surrey in London, unfortunately there were no jobs available. I fell into HR as my friend was working for a recruitment company in London at the time and I started to work there too, to earn some extra money. It turns out I was quite good at this job and I continued on this path and later into in Employee Relations for the next 10+ years!
Why did you start your own business?
I was on maternity leave with my oldest daughter Alanna 3 years ago and we were on holidays at home in Ireland introducing her to the family before I went back to work. I wasn’t looking forward to going back and had negotiated a job share but I still had a ball in the pit of my stomach thinking about it. Because I worked in the goldmines, I started work at 6am and sometimes didn’t get home till 6pm, and with no family in Kalgoorlie, I didn’t want to bring up my children this way. I wanted to be a stay at home mom for my daughter but also wanted to earn an income and help people and I couldn’t see how I could combine the two for a great work/life balance.
I was already using the Aloe Vera products myself since before I was pregnant, so when a friend mentioned there was a business behind it, I was so passionate about gut health already, I knew it was perfect for me to jump in straight away.
When I returned to work a couple weeks after our trip home, I was offered redundancy, so I knew Forever was the right path for me and was a blessing in disguise which ticked all the boxes and finally helped me come full circle and help others with their health.
How has it impacted you?
To say my life was a rollercoaster ride the first few months is an understatement. Shortly after starting my business, we moved to Perth to our dream home by the ocean and my husband started FIFO work. I’m very fortunate, my business allows me to spend everyday with Alanna and I have since had a second daughter Morgan who just turned 1. We can enjoy these special years of the girls growing up and I get to pick and choose my hours so I can enjoy more family time when Shaun is on his week at home.
I have also met the most incredible people and made new lifelong friends helping others with their health and helping them build a business from home like myself. My personal growth is phenomenal and my Forever business has given me that push to move outside my comfort zone and truly follow my dreams.
What challenges have you faced?
I think every business owner has their ups and downs, however I feel my biggest challenge is rising above doubt and being a good leader as well as helping others to believe in themselves. Also prioritising time for my business and juggling the kids and a busy household with no family in Perth has its challenges! However, I think if you have a positive attitude, belief in your business and a solid work ethic, you can move mountains J
What are your achievements?
Within 3 months of starting the business around my baby Alanna, I was earning a fulltime income and was on the top 10 Forever business owners in Australia.
I am very lucky that I get asked to share my passion for the business and products to present, coach and train other teams at company events and in October 2016 I was invited to Ireland to the annual Managers Summit for an all inclusive trip for an elite group of Managers there and am taking my family to Dallas in April 2018 for the company global rally.
I am also very proud to be one of eight chosen to be on the Australian Leadership Committee 2017 and 2018 and am also currently in the top 5 in Australia. I am already successfully growing my global team and business around the world including NZ, UK, Ireland and the USA and actively expanding all the time helping others.
What advice can you give?
The advice I tell others is to treat your business like a job, manage your time and be consistent everyday. Be passionate about your product or service and promote them publicly everyday. Work on your personal growth, keep reading, watching videos and listen to audio and be committed to be a lifelong learner and learn as much as you can about the business. Attend everything you can with likeminded people – events, meetings and conventions. Listen and learn from your peers and keep positive.
I also really recommend using a dreamboard to visualise all your goals. I’m a true believer that the mind believes what it sees and the power of the mind is underestimated.
There is no shortcut, if you put in the time and hours and have a solid work ethic, you will build an amazing business.
What are your goals for the future?
My goals are to help more people with their gut and overall health and to help others achieve their life dreams. Our family goal is also to be in a position financially to have my husband Shaun leave his FIFO role in the mines, be at home every night with myself and the girls, and join me in the business. And to be financially free 🙂
