Zara D'Cotta, Author & Keynote Speaker
1. Tell us what this quote means to you and how it inspires you on a daily basis
Different quotes resonate with me at different times, but this is one I often find myself going back to when I lose perspective. We can become so consumed by situations at work, in our businesses and personal lives, that in the grand scheme of life, don’t really matter. Sometimes I have to give myself a bit of a nudge and remember to grateful that I am here, and re-focus my energy on the bigger picture. Gratitude has been an incredibly powerful tool for helping me overcome the challenges that have come my way.
2. Miss Collective is all about helping women Level Up. Who's helped you Level Up in your
career?
I was incredibly fortunate to have a wonderful manager when I first started out in my communications career (as an intern at CUB), Felicity Watson. We worked together for five years and she played a pivotal role not only in guiding me and supporting me through my early career progression, but also became a great friend. Fifteen years on, she continues be a great mentor and I am eternally grateful, she is a pretty amazing person to have in your corner. She’s been so generous with her time as I’ve built my own business and brand. She’s been my cheer squad, a shoulder to cry on, and so much more. She’ll even take the time to read my keynotes and give me very honest feedback. She’s a very good listener and knows how to ask the right questions, which have helped me make some pretty big decisions in both my business and personal life, always from the angle of not just what’s best for my business, but for me personally. It can be hard to balance what’s right for your business / career with what is right for you, which is something that I’ve found really challenging, as I’ve been through significant health challenges throughout my entrepreneurial journey and it can be really hard to separate the two. I think having someone that can look at your situation through a professional and personal lens is really invaluable.
3. How do you keep the balance between work, life and play?
I think balance is something we are continually striving for and I don’t think there’s a perfect formula. Different things work for me at different times, so it is a constantly evolving process, but something that is non-negotiable for me is creating space between the beginning and end of my work day for exercise or down time – so a walk, swim, or meditation in the morning before I start working, always a break at lunch time, even if it’s only for 20 mins, and I don’t work late – the computer is generally always shut down by 8pm. My health is my number 1 priority, I am no good to my business without it, and when I work late if affects my sleep, and everything else becomes unstuck. I try to make sure I’ve got at least 1 day of the week for relaxation and play.