Lisa Messenger – author, entrepreneur, challenger

Lisa Messenger is the vibrant, game-changing CEO and creative director of The Messenger Group, as well as founder and editor-in-chief of The Collective magazine – an entrepreneurial lifestyle magazine distributed into over 37 countries with a mandate to disrupt, challenge and inspire.

In addition, she has worked globally in events, sponsorship, marketing, PR and publishing. The Messenger Group has custom published more than 400 books for companies and individuals. Lisa has been a regular commentator on business, entrepreneurialism and property and has sat on a number of boards including the Australian Businesswomen’s Network and Publishers Australia.

Lisa has authored and co-authored over a dozen books and become an authority in the start-up scene, charting her rollercoaster ride to success in best-selling book Daring & Disruptive; unleashing the entrepreneur and its sequel Life & Love, which reached #1 on Booktopia.

With fans including Sir Richard Branson, New York Times Best-selling author Bradley Trevor Grieve, and a social media following of over 100,000, Lisa’s vision is to build a community of likeminded people who want to change the world. She’s trekked across India raising money for charity, ridden camels in the Sahara for fun and has laughed her way through communal showers in the Costa Rican jungle in the name of personal development. Her passion is to challenge individuals and corporations to change the way they think, take them out of their comfort zone and prove that there is more than one way to do anything. She encourages entrepreneurial spirit, creativity and innovation and lives life to the absolute max. Most mornings she wakes up and pinches herself as to how incredible her life is, but Lisa is also acutely aware and honest about the bumps and tumbles along the way. In between being a serial entrepreneur and avid traveler, she spends most of her time in Sydney at the Collective Hub offices

Her new book Money and Mindfulness is in stores October 1st.

Growing up, what kind of career did you want to pursue?

Funnily enough I wanted to do something with horses – that at the time was my lifelong dream

Who inspires you?

Our community – every single day with their courage to pursue their goals. Also Oprah, Jamie Oliver, Martha Stewart, Richard Branson, Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, Nelson Mandela, Marianne Williamson – I draw inspiration from so many great leaders.

Who is most surprised by your achievements?

Probably anyone who knew me back at school – I was a rebel who most probably thought would never amount to anything

How have women helped shape your success to date?

I have had such an incredible community of beautiful, thoughtful, kind and strong women help me to be the best version of myself. I’m a massive believer in the power of collaboration and helping to lift each other higher. It’s a joy every single day and something I do not take for granted and am thankful for continuously.

What qualities do you most admire in a female colleague?

Dignity and grace and the ability to be both strong and vulnerable.

What’s the key to successfully balancing work and life?

I don’t believe in balance. Instead I prefer the word “blend”. When you love what you do as much as I do, it all just rolls together. What I do is not work and what I do is not life – its all one big mash up of passionate goodness.

If you had an afternoon to yourself, how would you spend it?

Building our community, coming up with more ideas for collaborations, reading, writing, listening to an inspiring podcast, running, jumping in the ocean, journaling, meditating, catching up for a meal with great friends

Who do you regard as your mentor?

I have so many. I have those closer to home that sit on my advisory board and are a great sounding panel. Then I have mentors from afar that I learn from inadvertently by reading their books, listening to their podcasts etc. And our community seriously – these are the people being brave enough to take risks and start new businesses every single day. They are the people I do what I do for.

What personal attributes have you used to overcome adversity in your life?

Self belief, compassion, vulnerability, authenticity, loyalty, passion, tenacity. And trust me – I’ve had my fair does of adversity and the bigger you get the faster and thicker it comes. I always say, it’s not what life throws at us, it’s how you deal with it that counts. And every day I consciously choose to deal with everything with dignity and grace.

If you could make one change to women’s lives, what would it be and why?

Let them know that anything is possible. It’s extraordinarily important that women believe in themselves and I try to demonstrate this by living my life out loud every single day through the good and the hard times.

What is the hardest part of your job?

Cashflow!

What advice would you give to someone aspiring to success in your field?

Know your “why”. Keep hustling every single day. Fail fast. And never give up.

This article was originally published on Women’s Agenda.