Name: Jamie Meyer

Title: Entrepreneur. Success & Social Development Designer.

Organisation: Jamie Meyer Enterprises. Nine Carat. Tourist to Traveler.

Jamie is a Traveller and Entrepreneur from Australia. She was running a Company at 23 and founded her own at 27. She solves problems that consist of layers. Follows patterns. Creates correlations between ideas, and designs solutions for Companies and Communities. At five she dreamed of being Prime Minister of the World, but instead studied Design and built a business career. Now she is an Entrepreneur, Designer, Redeveloper and aunt of 4 wonderful little people, with three companies under her arms, she is on a mission to build an international enterprise that provides different choices to Society.

Thank you to the 2,000 leaders who’ve generously done the 7 Questions on Leadership!

I hope Jamie's answers will encourage you in your leadership journey. Enjoy!

Cheers,

Jonno White

1. What have you found most challenging as a leader?

As a leader, one of the most significant challenges I've encountered was defining the kind of leader I aspired to be and then consistently embodying those principles in my everyday life. That foundation has become the compass I use to guide me through various challenges. It helps me understand my desired approach to different situations, keeps me aligned with what serves the partners involved best and paints a vivid picture of what success can be achieved.

Having a clear sense of my leadership identity makes it easier to rise to the occasion when faced with adversity. I've come to appreciate that leading by example is more powerful than most forms of communication. To me, leadership is about 'walking the walk,' a philosophy I strive to live by.

Demonstrating consistency in my actions, investing in my levels of communication, and ensuring that my decisions align with what I value, is about setting the tone for my team and those I work alongside. Empowering them to embrace what they value, creating a culture where we collectively uphold principles we believe in. Ultimately, my leadership journey continues to evolve, but my commitment to being the kind of leader I've envisioned remains unwavering, serving as my guiding star through the challenges and triumphs.

2. How did you become a leader? Can you please briefly tell the story?

Becoming a leader wasn't a deliberate plan for me; it was a role that found me while I was engrossed in building and nurturing my first company. At the time, I wasn't fully aware of the uniqueness of our endeavors and the transformative impact they were having. I was merely applying my skills to address overlooked opportunities, driven by a desire to effect positive change.

As I continued to innovate within my initial company, I began to recognize the broader applications of the work we were doing. The experience of creating opportunities and driving change in one sector inspired me to explore how those principles could be applied across various industries. It was through this process of self-discovery and a commitment to creating meaningful impact that I gradually transitioned into a leadership role.

3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?

Every day in my life as a leader is a unique journey, marked by its own set of challenges and opportunities. With the management of three companies and a lifestyle that involves frequent location changes, routine predictability is something I have learned to live without. For someone who used to need rigid structure, I have found luxury in becoming more fluid. Instead of a structured routine, I commit to a set of priorities that help me navigate the complexities of my day.

One constant in my daily routine is the allocation of time to myself upon waking. This personal time, even if it means rising at an unconventional hour like 3 am to secure it before meetings, provides a crucial foundation for my day. Following this, I always make space for a 20-minute morning workout and stretch, either before or after my first appointment. Meetings, which are an integral part of my day, take precedence, and I ensure I have at least 10 minutes after each meeting to decompress and review its content. This practice helps maintain clarity and focus. Client work and internal projects are structured around these meetings, allowing for dedicated, quality time to address critical tasks. For instance, if a task demands three hours of focused attention, I avoid scheduling it with only a 30-minute gap between meetings to preserve the quality of my work.

Sustaining my energy and focus throughout the day is essential, and I achieve this by consuming small meals or snacks at regular intervals. When my schedule allows for some spare moments, I often use them to explore and soak in the surroundings, whether through a walk or sightseeing.

In addition to the responsibilities of my companies, I am in continuous development for several future ventures. I allocate time for these projects after my company hours are fulfilled. And giving myself an hour of nothing before bed.

I am usually in bed around 21:00, to fall asleep before 22:00, this allows me to maintain a well-rested and focused mindset for the following day.

While my daily schedule is far from conventional, my commitment to priorities and self-discipline remain the cornerstones that keep me grounded and effective in my roles.

4. What's a recent leadership lesson you've learned for the first time or been reminded of?

I am continually reminded of the need for unwavering strength in making the choices that others depend on you to make. Leadership often necessitates making decisions that may not necessarily win you a popularity contest. It's the recognition that succumbing to the path of least resistance doesn't align with the kind of leadership one aspires to embody.

True leadership requires the resolve to confront challenging choices and address the difficult issues that others might shy away from. It's about making the tough decisions with a clear understanding that these actions are in the best interest of those you are guiding through your leadership. In essence, leaders are entrusted with the responsibility to tackle the hard and sometimes uncomfortable aspects of decision-making, always to serve the greater good.

5. What's one book that has had a profound impact on your leadership so far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted your leadership?

One book that has had a profound impact on my leadership journey was an unexpected find while browsing a thrift store—' From Sight to Insight: The Writing Process' by Jeff Rackham and Olivia Bertagnolli. At first glance, it may seem like a mere guide to the writing process, but within its pages, I unearthed a wealth of knowledge that extended well beyond writing techniques.

This book led me to a deeper understanding of how language is a powerful tool for conveying and shaping opinions and beliefs. It made me realize that to truly embody the principles I value, my communication style needed to evolve. I learned the importance of asking thought-provoking questions and presenting a spectrum of facts and perspectives. This revelation transformed the way I approach leadership, as it underscored the significance of open-mindedness, effective communication, and the ability to challenge my perspectives to foster growth within my leadership style and what was offered to others by it.

6. If you could only give one piece of advice to a young leader, what would you say to them?

It would be this: Leadership isn't merely about being followed; it's about embracing the responsibility that comes with it. This responsibility exists whether you are in your neighborhood, or on a national, or international stage. What truly defines leadership is the commitment to your values and principles and the unwavering dedication to living by them, even when it challenges the status quo or makes you the outlier.

Leadership, in essence, is less about commanding from the front and more about the choices you make in the small, often unnoticed moments when the path forward for others appears challenging or unclear. It's about the willingness to step up and set an example, demonstrating integrity, empathy, and courage, even when it may not be the popular choice.

Ultimately, leadership is a continuous journey of personal growth, self-awareness, and the profound impact you can have in everyday actions. It's about making a positive difference, no matter the scale, and it starts with understanding your values and living by them consistently.

7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as a leader, so far?

Long before I assumed the leadership role I hold today, I served as the General Manager of a Wholesale and Distribution Company. I made it a point to regularly visit with our Customers, ensuring that I remained at the frontline of our business and closely attuned to their evolving needs. I've always had a genuine affinity for people, and these interactions allowed me to build stronger relationships within those organizations.

One particular story that has stayed with me is an interaction I had with an Office Administrator during one of my visits. She shared her aspiration to commit to a new exercise regime but how she kept finding excuses to delay. I remember her citing the rain as an impediment to her outdoor activities. In response, I shared that I frequently went for walks in the rain without hesitation, as the warm climate in our region made it an enjoyable experience for me.

Around five years later I received a message from that same woman. She shared with me how our conversation had stayed with her, inspiring her to venture out for walks even when it was raining. She associated my example with the motivation to take action. This experience profoundly humbled me and reinforced the notion that leadership can be found in the smallest of moments. What struck me as a simple conversation at the time left a lasting impact. And served as a powerful reminder that what might appear insignificant to one person can be genuinely transformative for another. This realization has shaped my understanding of the influence we possess, no matter how grand or minor our actions may seem. Everything we do in our daily lives has the potential to matter deeply to someone, and it underscores the profound impact of the example we set as leaders.