Pru Chapman is the founder of Owners Collective, an online platform that provides the tools, education and inspiration to help people create sustainable and profitable businesses.
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1) To kick things off, could you tell us a little about your career background and current role?
Sure thing. I kicked off my career in psychology, where following my thesis I stepped into research and then clinical practice. At the ripe old age of 25 I decided that psychology wasn’t the right career path for me, and booked a one way ticket out of Australia.
Over the next few years I threw myself whole-heartedy into more jobs that I can count, and discovered my feet in business development. Within it I found the unique combination of practical know-how, working closely with founders, and the excitement of building a global community.
Owners Collective was born, and to date we’ve educated over 15,000 early-stage entrepreneurs from around the world.
These days I bounce between mentoring, leading my team, and throwing down with some incredible conscious brands such as Patagonia, Koala, Who Gives a Crap, TOM Organic, Bank Australia on my podcast One Wild Ride. Overarchingly my mission is to bring more consciousness to business.
2) What does a day in the life look like for you? Can you take us through a recent workday?
I get up around 5am to work on things I’m passionate about, which usually involves throwing some of my learnings and insights into a podcast. That takes a few hours, and then around 7am I ‘step into’ the world.
My key priority is the members in our programs so I check in with our Facebook groups and offer advice and support where needed. From there I usually dive into mentoring calls and program development, followed by team meetings with either our internal or external team.
I always stop for lunch, and collect my thoughts, before picking up on some marketing in the afternoon. I shoot to knock off by 3pm each day, and head straight out for a long walk or spacious surf session.
3) Does your current role allow for flexible or remote working? If so, how does that fit into your life and routine?
Owners Collective is almost completely online, which I set up very intentionally. I realised about seven years ago that I was being run ragged taking in-person meetings all day long, and so I began developing online courses with a focus on creating a conscious business community.
I relish in freedom and flexibility that the online model delivers this beautifully. We still do some in-person events to deepen the connection of our community, and we’ve been so lucky to host one here in Byron just last week.
4) What does work-life balance mean to you and how do you work to achieve that goal?
Balance is different for everyone. I love working and creating and connecting with our members, so I certainly spend a lot of time in that space.
The lines are very blurred, and working within my purpose I’m 100% happy with that. So long as I call the shots when I start and finish the day, as well as taking the extended breaks when I need to, I feel completely balanced.
5) In the past 12 months, have you started or stopped any routines or habits to change your life?
With the past 12 months being so turbulent I’ve doubled down on my meditation practice. I sit down twice a day for 20 minutes at a time, and it provides the centering and grounding that I need to navigate myself, my business, and our community through these uncertain times. I also walk a lot and am completely spoiled with our wild beach tracks here in Lennox Head.
6) Do you have any favourite books, podcasts or newsletters that you’d like to recommend?
I host two podcasts, so is it ok to say that they’re my favourite? Haha. I interview thought-leading sustainable businesses on my One Wild Ride podcast, and then throw down on all the practicalities of running a business on my Owners Collective podcast.
I also love the Tim Ferris podcast both for his guests and his phenomenal interviewing skills, and my favourite business book of all time is Let My People Go Surfing by Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard. Unyoked are also worthy of mention here for the calming injection of wilderness that they drop into my inbox each fortnight.
7) Are there any products, gadgets or apps that you can’t live without?
Just my laptop. Working from anywhere really is the dream.
8) If you could read an interview about work-life balance by anyone, who would that be?
Yvon Chounaird of Patagonia. He’s such a wise elder in the good business space that I’d pick up anything he was throwing down.
9) Do you have any last thoughts on work, life or balance that you’d like to share with our readers?
That life is completely rigged in your favour. Even when it really doesn’t seem like it, there is always the opportunity for growth and evolution every step of the journey.
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