Meet our featured beauty with brains Fiona Lang (also known as Fi), a businesswoman based in Hervey Bay, Queensland (Australia). She is the owner of Petite Property Services.
http://www.petitepropertyservices.com.au
Here is an interview with the talented lady who came up with a very unique business idea.
- Tell us more about yourself – what you do, your hobbies, passions etc.
I run a small business, Petite Property Services, which provides Handywomen services working exclusively for women. While I have a background in education, I had to learn how to transfer these skills into different fields over the years. I worked in Child Protection for many years, before working as a Trades Assistant – and absolutely fell in love with it! I was faced with some difficult circumstances recently and again had to ‘think outside the box’, after experiencing significant losses in my life. It was from these losses however that I coined the idea for my current business ‘Petite Property Services’, where I get to combine my love of DIY, Trades Assistant skills, along with my social work experience, to offer maintenance services to women who may not be feeling comfortable with having a male presence in their home.
When I’m not enjoying learning new trade skills or checking out the latest in tools (I don’t shop for clothes – I shop for tools!) I love to get out on the dirt bikes with my two children. I see it as a family activity – for my 8 and 6 year olds, it’s a great opportunity to learn about maintenance, safety and responsibility, whilst enjoying the great outdoors. I must confess I am also a bit of a book worm….I have studied for most of my life as I thoroughly enjoy learning new things – if I’m not at work or on the bike, I will be reading and researching – anything from trade skills to criminology!
- Who or what inspires you?
It is a combination of both who and what. My children and their perspective on life! Back in my teaching days I stumbled across a saying – ‘Every child begins the world again’ – the way in which children see aspects of the world for the first time and verbalise their views on these aspects truly inspires me. We get so caught up in our old ways, to see and hear the world through the eyes of a child is at times just the medicine we need. Where we often catastrophise events, children will see them simply for what they are and will very often come up with pragmatic solutions – we just need to learn to open our ears and hearts to them more.
- If you could change any one thing in this world, what would it be and why?
The way we as women constantly berate ourselves! We need to give ourselves both a break and some credit – not just for being who we are, but for what we each bring to the world, no matter how small or inconsequential we may feel it is. It is OK to not be the perfect version of ourselves that we think we should be, we are under so much pressure these days , how on earth are we ever expected to achieve ‘perfect’? To me the answer is this – we are simply not. Be kind to yourself, be gentle with yourself, and give yourself both permission and time to heal and grow so that you can be the best version of yourself.
- Where do you see yourself ten years from now?
Ten years from now…hopefully alive! Let’s say that’s a given….I will have two teenagers on my hands by then, and they will be where they will be. For me, I’d like to see myself still in our home we are in now, still working the work I am presently doing. Plan B however, if my children ever decide to travel or relocate overseas, I have always had a dream of buying a little Chalet in Italy in the beautiful Valle D’Aosta, a place where I spent numerous mindful escapes whilst living in the UK. It will always hold a special place for me and I can very easily see myself there – even in ten years time!
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