An interview with Erin Huckle
It’s a bit of a reality check about what you really want out of your life. It’s worth taking the time to sit down and go, ‘What do I want my life to look like?’ Why do you want what you want? And do you really want it?
Kate Toon | Stay Tooned
Buy the book
So this week on the podcast, I wanted to do something a little bit different.
Some of you have been coming to my book launches around Australia, but obviously, some of you can’t get to them.
We are having a virtual launch coming up, check my Facebook page, but I thought I would get someone to interview me and ask me some questions about the book, why I wrote it the process and just some top tips.
So I chose Erin Huckle from Chuckle Communications, who is my PR and profile-building human to do a little interview with me.
I hope you enjoy it
Tune in to learn:
- Why I wanted to write a book
- The importance of building your village
- Why being in business for yourself works for parents
- My advice for newbie business owners
- My process of writing Six Figures in School Hours
- The challenges around interviewing experts
- The importance of having your big ‘why’
Listen to the podcast
Share the love
If you like what you’re hearing on Six Figures in School Hours, support the show by taking a few seconds to leave a rating and/or comment on iTunes or Spotify. Thanks.
Share the meme
About Erin Huckle
Erin Huckle from Chuckle Communications is in the business of raising the profiles of her clients through proactive PR, amazing award entries and compelling written content.
After 20 years in the PR and comms, Erin is now an award-winning award writer, who loves helping clients claim their place in the spotlight. She works from home in Wollongong and wrangles three busy boys in her spare time.
Connect with Erin Huckle
Useful Resources
Buy the book
Transcript
Kate Toon
So this week on the podcast, I wanted to do something a little bit different. Some of you have been coming to my book launches around Australia, but obviously some of you can’t get to them. We are having a virtual launch coming up, check my Facebook page, but I thought I would get someone to interview me and ask me some questions about the book, why I wrote it the process and just some top tips. So I chose Erin Huckle from Chuckle Communications, who is my PR and profile building human to do a little interview with me? And yeah, that’s what you’re going to listen to today. So I hope you enjoy it.
So, here we go. The weird I’ve said hello Erin Huckle, indicate to me I’m gonna tell everyone who you are. You’re such an important part of my business but people might not realize that you are hurt Erin Huckle from chuckle communications. And you are in the business of raising the profiles of your clients through Preact proactive PR get my teeth in amazing award entries and compelling written content. After 20 years in PR writing and communications. Erin is now an award winning writer who loves helping clients claim their place in the spotlight. Oh, I like that. With a career spanning roles in the UK and Australia. Erin now works from her cozy home office in Wollongong, while juggling the chaos of being mum to three busy boys five, six, and nine. And I wonder if we’re going to manage to get through this podcast without one of them bursting through the door? Probably not. But it doesn’t matter, because it’s very pertinent to the podcast. So yeah, a lot of people have been asking me as I’m sharing all these great kind of PR things that are happening. Oh my god, your PR person who’s on fire? And I’m like, Yes. And I don’t want to tell you who it is because she’s mine. But I will. So Erin is the secret weapon behind, you know, a lot of the things that I’ve achieved in the last couple of years in terms of winning awards and getting featured here, there and everywhere. So thank you very much, Erin.
Erin Huckle
Thank you for being my favorite client.
Kate Toon
I was you said that now I’m gonna tell all your other clients that now. Erin is also hosting the book launch in Sydney, she’s doing a q&a with me. And you know, a few people have sort of been asking about why I wrote the book and what it’s all about. And you know, not everyone can come along to VidCon. So I thought it might be good to have a podcast I’ve never been interviewed on my own podcast. So this is a weird experience. And you can see I can’t stop talking. But I’m going to have to because I’m going to hand the metaphorical microphone to you, Erin, and you can take it away.
Erin Huckle
Exactly. I feel like the power is going to my head a tune on her own pocket. Amazing. Well, thank you for having me here. And thank you for that lovely intro. So let’s get started. First up, could you tell me what inspired you to write the book and why now?
Kate Toon
Gosh, I mean, I’d be wondering to write a book since I wrote my last one, which is in 2017. It’s a long time at the my heart. All I really want to do is write books. Everything that I’m doing now is just a long, drawn out procrastinate half until I can sit in my cozy home office and just write novels. But right now I have money to make and a business to run. So I wanted to write a book that was useful. To be honest, it’s not directly related to what I do. And when I sent it to one of the publishers, they were like, why you’re not writing about SEO or copy and I’d like to talk. But it obviously brings in a lot of what I’ve done over the years. So why now? Because I finally got around to it. And you know why? There’s no big. It’s funny, I talk about why in the book. There’s no big why. The way I’ve described it is it’s a bit like you know, when middle aged men have a midlife crisis and they buy a Harley Davidson. I feel like this is my Harley Davidson. It’s almost cost as much as Harley Davidson. It’s my pleasure project. That’s why really so I know that’s not a great business reason, but it’s a good personal reason, I guess,
Erin Huckle
is a great reason. I think things that aren’t all about making money and maybe they cost a bit of money but it’s much safer than a Harley Davidson. Cola. Take me back to Kate Toon 15 years ago, obviously, where were you what was happening?
Kate Toon
It is funny, I’ve got a little picture on my desktop, which I can I’m going to share I’m going to share off this podcast now you’ve asked me that question and it’s me pregnant you can go and find it on the six figures in school allows Instagram it’s me pregnant I was working at an advertising agency kind of working towards being kind of maybe general manager that was kind of the next step not enjoying it not enjoying life and and I’ve been told that I couldn’t get pregnant so when we did get pregnant was a massive surprise and a big thrill. I obviously really well not obviously, but I really wanted to be a mum. And so that was when I took the leap and I was five months pregnant when I started my own business, whatever it was, and yeah, had no clue at all what I was doing. So interesting times
Erin Huckle
in times and I mean, you must have made some mistakes back in those early days. You know?
Kate Toon
I mean, I just had I don’t know if I made mistakes. I just it was a blur that first year. I don’t even remember Erin what I did. I’m amazed that I managed to do anything you know with a tiny baby. No money. I’m amazed I did anything to be honest. Because you know what? It’s like sleep deprived. slightly delirious all the time, like the world feels a bit soft and odd. Because you’re so sleep deprived. So yeah, I made mistakes and I think Even in those first two or three years, I made a lot of mistakes. I was very reactive, very emotional, I still am a bit, you know, wasn’t very good with money got in big tax debt with a tax off. There’s just all stuff that you do. But obviously, it was all a wonderful learning experience.
Erin Huckle
Everything is, you know, where did you turn for advice and ideas? Was it really just, I’m gonna make this up as I go along? And obviously, you didn’t exist? So?
Kate Toon
No, it really was because he was thinking back then, you know, it’s like 1894, or something I can’t remember. But Facebook was in its infancy. There were no Facebook groups. Instagram didn’t really exist. There were no memberships or courses, or, I mean, I’m sure the local council probably ran something about starting a small business, but there wasn’t a community like there is now. And so in those areas, yes, I was very much alone. And so everybody is a competitor, which is not a great way to be. And then about two or three years in, I set up a Google Groups. It doesn’t exist anymore. That’s how old I am Google group and I invited 20 copywriters, who I’d met on Twitter to join one of which was Belinda, who I did a podcast with and Glen Murray, who’s quite a well known copywriter, as well, Rebecca, who runs the freelance jungle and lots of others, Nikki, Anna, and Dave became my people and supported me a lot, not necessarily from parenting point of view. But though, honestly, some of the advice I got that I still use today on pass off as my own. Of course, it was, they were great. And they saved me in those early years.
Erin Huckle
Yeah, there’s a great section in the book about building your village. And I love that idea. Because you hear it a lot about being a parent, you know, find your village, even if it’s not a real village, if it’s a virtual village, but I love the idea of that doing that in business as well. Why do you think that’s so important?
Kate Toon
Well, like I don’t think I was particularly good at building a parental Village, I’m being much better about building a business village. You know, I’m not hugely great at friendships, because I’m relatively inconsistent and kind of introverted, although that may not come across like that, you know, I like to be at home. And I like my own company. So that doesn’t bode well for mum group. So I did have like, I made one amazing mum friend from my mom group, but then we moved, you know, and that was, that was hard. So to be honest, I’ve kind of done the parenting thing more alone. But the business thing, I’ve always tried to build a village and the people in that village have changed over the years, some people come in some of their for a lifetime, a reason a season. But yeah, I’m better at the business thing. Because, you know, we can’t be good at everything. And sometimes you just desperately want to say, this has happened to me, what would you do? And they go this and you’re like, yes, it was what you’re going to do anyway. But at least someone else has made you feel good about it. It’s incredibly lonely. Being a parent, and is incredibly lonely. Having your own business. We talk about your cozy office in Wollongong. But you know, we’re spending 80% of our day on our own, or with a tiny human who can’t communicate with us properly. pretty lonely, I think.
Erin Huckle
Absolutely. Or an older human
Kate Toon
can’t communicate.
Erin Huckle
Or meeting humans who are demanding of you and really great conversation, but yes, yeah. Like the Kate toon communities what of what saved me when I started my business, because otherwise it would have been really lonely. And I don’t think I would have lasted this long. Yeah, it’s tough. Definitely. So but why do you think, you know, being in business for yourself works for parents, you know, there must be some silver lining silver linings, see leanings
Kate Toon
and linings? And look, I think, on the surface, it looks as if being having your own business means you can be really flexible with your time, you know, and that’s, I think, why why when I started as I wanted time, flexibility, oh, I’ll be able to drop him off and pick him up. And, you know, I’ll be able to work a few hours in the day and then spend time with him. We do realize once you start your own business that yes, you get to choose whichever 80 hours a week, you want to want to work so that time flexibility is true, but is only as true as your own strength to keep it true. Because everything will chip away at that time, everything will pull you this way and that and you’ll feel constantly guilty unless you’re very clear that that’s your priority. So I think that’s one reason. Another reason is financial flexibility. I mean, as a waged person, you can only ever earn what you’re given. And you know, each year you kind of suck up to try and get more money. But as a solo business person, you can dial that right up or dial it down as long as you’re willing to understand the compromise that that takes. Again, people aren’t Yes, you can earn six figures you can earn seven figures, but are you willing to do what is required to do that? And then I think the final thing is autonomy. You know, we’re not working for the man. You know, we can take a sick day without having to, you know, pull someone out we can leave work early because we want to go and do this or we can work all night. You know, it’s up to us, which is both wonderful and terrifying at the same time.
Erin Huckle
Like parenting really? Exactly. The kind of thing you can’t really explain to anyone until they’re in the thick of it and actually understanding what flexibility means and, and those pressures. I mean, what is one thing that you could tell yourself back when you were starting out? What is the one thing you would tell, you know, newbie business Kate toon back in 1894?
Kate Toon
I think, I don’t know, because I wouldn’t, I honestly wouldn’t do anything differently, all the mistakes and whatever have been a learning experience. I wish I hadn’t made quite as many and being such a buffoon at times. But I think it would have been to have a lot more faith in myself that I am smart, and I am capable. And I am kind and my sense of humor will get me through. You know, I love it. I’ve a lot of insecurities. I compare myself to people almost relentlessly. I’m bored of it now. Do you know what I mean? So I think it would have been have a bit more faith in myself and that feeling that you are enough? And also, I mean, the biggest advice and a bit cheesy, because I literally have got it on a bangle. That’s how much I believe in it is that the world will wait, why was I in such a hurry? Why did I log myself to achieve all these things? When it didn’t matter? No one cares. No one was watching me. Yes, you can enter a ward and get a brief pat on the bottom for being good at this or good at that. But no one cares. The line is, you know, the only people who remember you working so hard will be your kids. And now that that’s an awful line, you know, and I would go back and say to myself, just be a bit more patient, the world will wait. You know, you have to tick everything off on your to do list this week, or even this year, or even this decade, which I know sounds momentous, but it’s true.
Erin Huckle
And that is great advice. And yeah, I remember having a chat with you once and being interrupted by one of my kids who really wanted me to play Lego with him. And you said, oh, gosh, I wish my son still wanted to play Lego with me. Yes, I miss that. Okay, they really want me right now. And I should just, you know, make the most of it while I can. Because one day they’ll be
Kate Toon
granted, there’ll be no more Lego I had that moment. It was always like on the kitchen table. And it used to drive me wild. And then I did have that moment of self awareness. When I went one day, there won’t be. And I think I’m not saying all of us should give up our businesses. Because you know, having your own business is really great for your own self development, your own, you know, your, your sense of self worth and achievement and the dopamine and the serotonin that that gives you it’s also so important. But family is such a short lived period of time, you don’t get that until they start to get older, my son will, you know, be off to college or somewhere. And when he’s 18, I’ve got four years left. And it seems so long when I was going through it. And now it’s like I’m scrambling to get the last shreds of this before it goes. Of course, we’ll always be a family. If I’ve done it right, we will always be a family, he will always want to come back to me. But you know, it starts and ends. And I think you don’t think of that when you start your family. You’re like, oh my god, this is interminable. And now I’m seeing the end of it. And it’s actually it’s terrifying. My business will still be here. doesn’t go anywhere. But yeah, it’s an interesting one. It’s quite an emotional one as well, I think.
Erin Huckle
Absolutely. I mean, it’s just his current Helgason.
Kate Toon
Although sometimes they feel like they can sometimes I’m businesses, my absolute solace. I talked to Leanne about this, you know, in our team and as I always say man’s got 47 Children, she’s actually got six, but it’s a lot. And we both say that, you know, sometimes coming into the office and working through an Excel spreadsheet is, is everything. Because you can control that, you know, there may be jam all over the kitchen and the dishwashers not done and the dogs been sick. But you come and you do your Excel spreadsheet and the world makes sense again, so they can give you a hug in a weird way.
Erin Huckle
I love what you say in the book about you know, and you’ve said it on a few interviews as well that you know when you talk to your kids about why you work for yourself and why you have a business. It isn’t just about saying oh because I need to make money to buy things you know it’s a it’s something bigger than that. It’s about your like you say your self worth and your identity and contributing in a different way. It’s not just about the money in the bank account at the end of the day.
Kate Toon
Yeah, and I think that’s a very important message to say because often that’s what you will say Oh I do this money to buy for things that you know to pay for your dinner and pay for the house which kind of makes the kid feel a bit guilty and also kind of makes your business the enemy and you really don’t want to do that you want the business to be part of your family if it can be so you know saying because I enjoy it because it makes me feel happy because it makes me feel smart because I love the people I get to connect with and it brings in money and one day you’ll enjoy this and also I think as well. If you do work from home pointing out other people like see this, this doctor will she do This is her job. This is what she does to make, but she doesn’t get to do it at home with our family. She does it in a little office. See that police woman? Well, that’s her job. She’s walking down the street doing that. See that? Gardener. He’s doing this. They’re all we’re all doing the same thing. It’s just different outfits, different roles. That, you know, ideally, your job should give you pleasure, not just money.
Erin Huckle
Yeah, absolutely. And I think that’s a really important thing to model to kids as well. You know, in ideal world, they’ll find something they love to do, and it’ll make them some money. But it’s not just about that. Yeah, totally. Speaking of your son, he actually works for you now. He’s part of Team tune. does.
Kate Toon
It sounds good on paper? Yeah, I mean, I started in young, it, many of people in the communities will have got envelopes written in his handwriting, which got progressively better. He used to come to the post office with me, he’s made many a recipe for SEO success, parcel up and eaten half the cookies as he’s doing it. And now then he really wanted to get involved in video. And you know, kids these days, it almost sounds like an old lady kids these days. They’re dead good with technology. So his ability to master Camtasia, which is a tool I use was way beyond mine, he was able to do things I’d never even thought you could do that he’d seen on videos and YouTube. You know, mom, at the end, you need to say subscribe, and like, so good. Now he does my social media scheduling for me. And like, it’s we’re not we went through a great phase. And now we’re going through a bit of a not so great phase, where he’s a little bit reluctant. He’s doing it late at night. Cat, who’s a digital marketer is having to chase him and correct him. So like, it’s not always perfect. But also I have to give him the freedom to be imperfect, because it’s still getting done. Is it being done as perfectly as I would like it to be done? No. But it’s getting done. He’s enjoying it. He’s learning about money. He’s learning about diplomacy and communication. And yeah, so it’s a win. Whatever happens. It’s a win, I think.
Erin Huckle
Yeah, I agree. And I love in the book, how you talk about in sourcing, not just your business bits and bobs to your family, but other things around the house as well, because, you know, five minutes here and there all adds up. And no, my son doesn’t stack the dishwasher the way I want to stack the dishwasher, but that’s okay, it’s still getting done.
Kate Toon
So it’s getting done. And I mean, I am really hospital corners, sometimes really anal. And I do think that sometimes that’s because I’m anxious and I want to feel in control, which isn’t parents, we often feel like that. And so being able to go, you know what, it’s fine. My son’s dad will make me dinner and he’ll do bread with pasture and broad beans. Can you think of anything more revolting, but my son loves it? And that’s their little meal? And is it nutritionally balanced? No, but do they love it? Yes. And that’s okay. He’s fed, he’s happy. Shut up. She’s not I mean, like, just let it go. It’s not every night of the week, for God’s sake, you can have toasties and cereal for dinner at least two nights of the week. Don’t feel guilty about it. Brilliant. Kids love it.
Erin Huckle
Yeah. And into like, you were saying, with business, no one’s looking over your shoulder as a parent judging every meal, you feed your kids.
Kate Toon
Yeah. And unless you choose to do that, and some of us would predict, you know, put ourselves in an arena where we say, this is what I’m doing. And then all these people pile in and say, Well, I wouldn’t do that. You know, we do just don’t make the post in the first place. Why do you need strangers on the internet to validate you? Or make you feel crap? And sometimes, you know, I put something out the other week about how my son, the day have gone to crap, and I’d let my son order pizza. And you know, I felt terrible about it, because it’s really bad dinner and blah, blah. And someone else said, but your kid right now thinks you’re a legend. And it’s like that what matters in the great scheme of things. It has to be balanced. You know, sometimes it’s pizza. Sometimes it’s broccoli, and it doesn’t really matter at the end of the day.
Erin Huckle
Yeah, it’s very true. My kids have recently learnt to make their own scrambled eggs in the microwave.
Kate Toon
Oh,
Erin Huckle
great. Getting to make dinner.
Kate Toon
encourage that. Erin,
Erin Huckle
I’m taking it. Absolutely. Yeah. I want to talk a little bit about the actual process of writing the book because I was really lucky to sort of be lucky. Lucky is that the word process ever happening almost in real time. Literally was breakneck speed between you know, having the idea you know, getting the proposal across the line with the publisher and then actually writing the book you know, it was a blur. I don’t actually know how you did it, but but took us through, you know, how did you get through that so quickly, you know, how are you so productive and yeah, give us some some tips from the master.
Kate Toon
Well, I think you know, when I came up with the idea when I come up with an idea I’m very excited about it, but it’s short lived. I know myself, I get bored quite quickly. I love the creation stage, but I don’t love the implementation stage. I’m terrible for it, which is why I have Leanne who goes, Okay give it to me and finishes things. So I knew that I would run out of steam. If I didn’t do this quickly. I just know myself how I got to the pitch stage, I worked with a lady called Caroline Malloy. It was not fun for her. I was not a good client. Because I’m not used to being told what to do very important to know if you are coachable when you hire a coach. So I was a struggle street on that. But we got through it, she helped me produce a great pitch. As I already kind of fluffed my publisher, I really wanted this particular publisher. And, you know, I’m lucky enough that a few of my friends knew her. And I think they were dropping my name a little bit. So when it came, it wasn’t a huge surprise. And thank God, she liked it. And I after that, I didn’t really care about any of the other publishers. And then she said, Oh, yeah, so usually it’s about years lead time. And I was like, wow, I will never get this done. If you give me I will not do it. Because I had another book that I didn’t write be more shark because I just didn’t have the emphasis. And I said, I’d really love to have it to take to Amsterdam with me in May. And she went us not going to happen. She said, like the earliest we could do would be like June, she said, but that would be crazy. And I was like, Okay, let’s do that. And I plan to write it over Christmas. And I’d hired a member of staff to kind of take over things. Unfortunately, she got a better job, or not a better job, but a more well paid job that I couldn’t match. So it was a bit it was a nightmare. But I’d committed to that deadline. And I knew I really don’t mind letting people down. So I basically just woke up every morning and write 3000 words with a good words. Were they in the right order? No. But I then use the kind of, it’s the Barbara Cartland method. Erin, I think I may have made this up. I can remember as a child, you know who Barbara Cartland is. Yeah, she’s a romance novelist. She had fabulous hair. And she wrote those kinds of ones where it’s like Jack ripped off. Bianca shirt, you know, love it. That’s my, yeah, that’s my dream. Anyway, she used to write on a typewriter. Imagine how hard that is. And each draft she did on a different color paper. So she did the first draft. So that was pink. And that was just rough and whatever. Then she’d do the next draft. And that was yellow. And that was improved, and green and blue and whatever. And that’s the approach I took. So I wrote something pretty shit. Sent it to my mom and dad, they cleared the typos out made comments about what does this even mean? Who are what? I did another draft? And I think you are my second reader, won’t you? So you would come back and Erin’s very kind and very diplomatic. So she would come back and say, Oh, I wouldn’t say this, or this is good, but she was gentle. Then I sent it to another reader Bronwyn, who is much more like what you’re talking about. She’s brilliant, really called a spade a spade. And then I corrected it. And then I sent it to Lauren, who was kind of like, oh, this is I think this is really interesting. Have you thought about this. And each time it just layered up and got better and better. And then I got it proof read by Christina. Then I got it proof read by Bill says. And then I sent it off to the publishers and they didn’t make lots of changes really? Will. It’s just a fantastic detail editor. And he went through and picked up fax picked up repetition cuz I send time send, I tend to say the same thing again. And again. He’s like, you’ve already used this example already. But yeah, it was iterative. So get it out, get it, get it to someone else. And then you’re not writing you’re editing. And to some degree editing is easier than writing. Would I do it that way? Again? No, never. But it worked.
Erin Huckle
No. And like they say you can’t edit a blank page. So I love that. Just getting it all out and absolutely a thing of glory to witness.
Kate Toon
And it’s been marinating for years. I mean, it’s not like I’m writing a biological handbook on rats that I know nothing about. I’m writing my lived experience, you know, next time for the next book, which I am working on. Now. I am going to plan it much more detail, do a lot more research before and structure the whole chapter before I sit and write it. So I think that one will be easier in a way that it will be spread out over more time. Yeah, yeah. I just had a question I was gonna ask you, out of your head, see how hard is to interview people Erin
Erin Huckle
was, it was about you just said, you know, most of the book was in your head and it was from lived experience. But you have to interview some amazing experts and get on board. You know, were there things that you learned that really surprised you? I know you talked about different styles of parenting was the One A
Kate Toon
that was the chapter that was most worried about because I don’t know anything about parenting. And I freely admit that in the book and I got a child family psychologist and family counselor to to help me with that, who’s who’s amazing and now of course, I name has gone out my head completely and she’s gonna think I’m terrible, but I will find it before the end of the podcast. But yeah, so I got experts in on that. I got an expert in to talk about HR and experts talking about I’m counting. And I also spoke to some, you know, the famous people like Carrie Kwan, who runs Mums & Co and Dale Beaumont and Sam Jockle from Parents TV. But also I didn’t just want it to because you know, often you get a book and it’ll be like, here’s how the head of Lush made millions of dollars and you’re like a bloody head of Lush. No disrespect head of Lush. I don’t know who the head of lashes. But you know what I mean? It’s someone who’s like just Beyonce level. And it’s like, I don’t, I can’t, I can’t mentally process Beyonce level, can you give me someone who’s in the same level as me who’s winning in some aspects, or someone who’s maybe a few steps ahead of me. So I also talked, I did post regularly in the group of a digital marketing collective, and I got loads of great snippets from real people. And I think they add a lot to the book. You’re mentioned in the book. You know, I just think it’s, it’s all very well and good, me going blah, blah, blah. But when someone else comes in and goes, Yeah, me too, blah, blah, blah. It’s like, okay, great. It’s not just some, you know, smug business owner telling you what to do. It’s a lot of small business owners. I’m joking. But you know what I mean?
Erin Huckle
I love that aspect. Because, you know, the Kate toon wisdom is fantastic. But having those snippets from other people is really helpful as well. And, you know, parenting and business, you know, no two experiences a parenting are the same, no, two experiences of business are the same. But there are these commonalities. And yeah, I love reading the different experiences and contributions people made. And seeing those conversations happening in real time in the group was really fun as that
Kate Toon
I mean, that was another I feel like everyone’s involved, and it’s a village, the village produced the book, but equally as well, I acknowledge my privilege. I’m a middle aged white woman, you know, I don’t know why, you know, wealthy country who was university educated, I have one child, and I have had a pretty good partner during the period of this. I am in a 1% group, do you know what I mean? So for me to sit here and pontificate would be revolting. So I really wanted people who had, you know, blended families, multiple children, different backgrounds, neurodiversity, chronic illness, all of that to be in there. So it had some those different perspectives, because it’s all very well and good, me saying plan your day like this, this, this, you’ve got ADHD, that is pretty much impossible for you. And so don’t that bit of the book is not going to work. But this bit might. And so I, I wanted to just acknowledge that, and I think it’s really important that we do that, you know, these days is much more accepted, to kind of show that diversity of opinion and background and all that. And I really wanted the book to be representative of more than just me. You know what I mean?
Erin Huckle
Yeah, I actually listened to your interview with Claire Wood yesterday when I was out. Well, yeah. And I love to hear you about talking about having things like a cleaner and just being really open and honest about the help that we have, when we have it and the privilege that we have, and also the choices that we make, because I have friends earning more money than me who don’t have cleaners and insist on cleaning their own house. But for me, it’s you know, I’d rather have those three hours to spend with my family. And it’s not. Well,
Kate Toon
the thing is, I would rather give up many things before my cleaner. And I’m talking about a lot do you not I mean that down to like food level, because it’s not just the clean house, it’s the mental load, and it is those choices. But it also we’re all products of our environment. As I say in the book, you know, my mom and dad, pretty much working class, having staff in any form, having someone come into your home and do stuff is an anathema. just wrong. And so I had to get over that, you know, to have a cleaner seems very law to me still. And I still feel a bit uncomfortable saying it because it sounds as you said, privileged and middle class, but it’s a choice I make I don’t go out, I have no social. That’s my choice. I clean house, no friends that you make your choice.
Erin Huckle
I mean, I have the same hang ups about having a cleaner and I’ve had to work really hard. last three years that I’ve had one to just get over myself. And yeah,
Kate Toon
my cleaner has a cleaner. She’s like, shut up. You know, I mean, like, it’s what you choose to spend your money on is what you choose to spend your money on.
Erin Huckle
Yeah, and I think you do a great job in the book of not preaching, but giving people lots of different ideas and lots of analysis that they can take and options and yeah, it’s not a one size fits all. If you follow caterings formula you will make it’s you know, really practical, but flexible as well,
Kate Toon
because I hope so, I mean, my obviously my biggest fear was any kind of putting your head above the parapet is that someone somewhere won’t like something I’ve said and will take up and that’s, you know, these days, that’s very prevalent. We’re all very worried about putting our foot wrong. So who knows someone might be utterly appalled at some of my suggestions. But you can’t please everyone I guess at the end of the day.
Erin Huckle
No, and you can’t speak for everyone either. But, you know, I think it’s, as you say, and as we’ve identified there really isn’t a Look out there like this, you know, written for small business owners and founders who are parents in business. And there are 1000s, hundreds of 1000s of us out there doing it alone in our little caves or cozy home offices feeling like we’ve got no idea and looking for some kind of Northstar. So yeah, I think it’ll be really well received and already. It’s very exciting. So I guess we’ll finish off with just asking one final question Was it really about if you could tell everyone to take one piece of advice from the book, other than the World Will Wait, which I really love, and I can’t wait to wear my bangle with pride.
Kate Toon
I think it’s a bit of a reality check about what you really want out of your life, you know, you can achieve anything, you can achieve six figures, we break that down in the book, you know, you can have a successful business, you can be an amazing parent, but it’s all about your choices. And and maybe some of those choices are in conflict with each other. So it’s really worth taking the time to sit down and go, What do I want my life to look at ignoring Instagram, ignoring other people? And what what do I want my life to look like one of my biggest learnings throughout the book and my business has been I don’t have a big why or don’t have a mission. I don’t feel I want to change the world. And sometimes that makes me feel a little bit lesser. But my why is I want to have a nice day. I want to earn a little bit of money, but not not masses. I want to work with some nice people. And I want to finish the day and be able to spend time with my son. And that is it. And it may not sound glamorous or whatever. But it’s my why. And it works for me. And it’s no one else’s business. So that would be my biggest takeaway to really think about. Why do you want what you want? And do you really want it?
Erin Huckle
Yeah, love that.
Kate Toon
Okay, there we go. Well, I’ll take the microphone back. Now hand it over. Here we go. She’s passing it through the screen. Thank you, Erin, for interviewing me. And yeah, it’s been great to chat to you.
Erin Huckle
Thanks so much, Kate. It’s been fun.
Kate Toon
So that’s the end of this week’s episode. I hope you enjoyed the interview with me it was quite interesting to swap over and be the interviewee rather than the interviewer. If you’d like to learn more about the book, you can find it at www six figures in school hours.com. If you’d like to leave a review for this podcast, I’d be very grateful we’ve run out of testimonials to read out. So if you have a minute to take the time to write a little one, that’d be fabulous. And also feel free to go and join my group on Facebook. It’s called The Misfit entrepreneurs. We talk about themes from the book, but also business and other general advice. So thanks for listening. And until next time, happy juggling and remember, the world will wait.
