Emma Scott is the Co-Owner and Strategy Director at Tiny Hunter, a strategic brand agency that specialises in helping to grow family businesses.
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1) To kick things off, could you tell us a little about your career background and current role?
I am currently the Strategy Director at branding agency Tiny Hunter in Sydney. I am also co-owner. I began my career as a designer, working in advertising. I worked at Leo Burnett Sydney for many years before realising that my big love is branding.
I love the process of branding because it is so intelligent, so considered and strategic and if you don’t cut corners you always see an uplift. After leaving advertising I freelanced at various branding houses before launching my own small branding agency called The Elk Group. Six years ago I was approached to merge and Tiny Hunter is a product of that merge.
2) What does a typical day in the life look like for you? Can you take us through a recent workday?
My working day is a balance between writing strategy, supporting my team in turning that strategy into brand visualisation and then working on the business. As a business owner you wear many hats. I have to be very conscious in understanding which hat I am wearing at any given time and making sure that I am 100% focused in that role.
3) Does your current role allow for flexible or remote working? If so, how does that fit into your life and routine?
Actually we are big on flexible and remote working at Tiny Hunter. I start at 10am and finish at 6pm so I can avoid the peak hour traffic in getting to work and I work a few days a week from home.
4) Do you have any tips, tricks or shortcuts to help you manage your workload and schedule?
The best tip I can give is around extreme scheduling. If I have a task in front of me and I can do it in less than 5 minutes I do it then and there. If it is going to take longer I schedule it into my calendar.
Another great tip is to make sure you are very clear in the tasks that you should be doing and then delegate everything else. Build a team around you that you can trust, and then delegate, delegate, delegate.
5) What does work-life balance mean to you and how do you work to achieve that goal?
I am a super driven person so I am never going to be one of these people that wants to holiday for a month but I am very conscious of making sure I am not over investing my time in my business at the expense of my family.
I have a very understanding partner that is so supportive of my career so if I have to work on the weekends sometimes it is not a drama. As long as I get my daily exercise in, and quality time with my family then I am happy to work the hours required to do my job.
6) What do you think are some of the best habits you’ve developed over the years to help you strive for success and balance?
I read a book called The Slight Edge by Jim Collins. It changed my life – both my working life and personal life.
It is all about setting your goals and then defining the simple everyday tasks you need to do to hit those goals. And before you know it time has become your ally and you’ve achieved what set out to achieve.
For example, if you want to write a book, rather than waiting until you can take time off work (which may never happen) set yourself the task of writing 10 pages a day. before you know it your book will be written.
7) Are there any books that have helped you improve over the years?
- Slight Edge: Turning Simple Disciplines into Massive Success & Happiness by Jim Collins
- Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of NIKE by Phil Knight
- Radical Candor: How to Get What You Want by Saying What You Mean by Kim Scott
- Steve Jobs: The Exclusive Biography by Walter Isaacson
- Who Says Elephants Can’t Dance by Louis. V. Gerstner
- Good to Great by Jim Collins
8) What is the number one thing you do to make sure you get the most out of your day?
Get enough sleep. 7.5hrs every night.
9) Do you have any last thoughts on work, life or balance that you’d like to share with our readers?
Just keep yourself in check. No business or job is worth putting your personal health or family life in jeopardy.
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