Hi Emily - I am a South Island Kiwi girl living in Australia for approx 28 years. What a great idea with you gift shop. We have a Kiwi shop here for the tomato sauce and pixie caramels lol. Have a fantastic week! Kaz
Jun 14, 2010
Love hanging out with like-minded fun-loving entrepreneurial women from all around the world =)
Born Entrepreneur
My first career was the hospitality industry. Starting as a waitress I worked my way up to management of a 5 star hotel. I loved the industry, the people but my desire to be self-employed grew strongly each of the 12 years I was in that industry.
In 1995 I became the founder of my own Weight Loss Company in Australia, called Weigh Less Naturally. It was all about No Deprivation and No Starvation. After losing over 70 pounds on my own personalised weight loss program, which I created and my passion for cooking, I opened doors on my first weight loss meeting in October of 1995. I learnt to take high-fat foods/recipes and convert them to delicious satisfying low-fat alternatives. I taught the cooking of these recipes in weekly meetings and assisted thousands to lose weight and create better health physically and mentally over an 11 year period. I authored and published two cookbooks. One in 2002, called Weigh Less Naturally, No Deprivation ~ No Starvation by Karen Hobbs (my married name at the time) and in 2005 my second book, Weigh Less Naturally, The 28 Day Plan. I sold over 130,000 copies of these books. I am excited to be releasing a series of eBooks very soon so keep an eye out for the website to go live: http://www.weighlessnaturally.info
In 2006 I closed the door on Weigh Less Naturally after some serious health issues, and major back surgery. And in March 2007 I decided to join the Home Based Business arena in the Personal Development Industry. I loved the leverage a networking company offered which allowed me time freedom and a lucrative income. I become a top income earner with the company within a short period of time, was passionate about what I did and I got to enjoy a tremendous amount of travel. Due to some structural changes in that particular company I decided to leave in early December 2009. In March 2010 I became a master founder member of a new Awareness and Personal Development company. Avant. Although I totally enjoyed assisting in the set up and opening of the company I decided to leave the network marketing industry for good in May 2011.
I know continue to author books, travel the world and have various investments.