It’s true that many people keep an inspiration close to their hearts, but don’t take the steps necessary to follow through to a conclusion.

Why don’t people take those steps?

• Life gets in the way
• Other people say it can’t be done
• It’s too difficult to raise the capital
• Fear of failure
• Dislike of change
• The dream would take too many weeks, months or years to accomplish.
• People like me don’t do things like that
• I’m not smart enough
• The vision is too big, and therefore too frightening to think about
• The vision is too small, and therefore not worth it

Any of these things can be reasons for not following a passion.

But remember, every single one of the above reasons grows wobbly legs when looking at what others have achieved, even against seemingly impossible odds.

Getting help when needed

Some people have vision, but not a grasp on the practicalities of realising the vision– and become discouraged.

Some people are great at details and tasks, but have trouble gaining a view of the big picture.

If this is you, you can:

• ask yourself what you need to do to take things to the next step
• gain advice on taking things further
• partner with those people who have the abilities to propel your vision further
• do nothing, but repeat often “I’d really like to do that!”

All of these are valid choices, but of course the last one is unlikely to be satisfying in any way!

Cate Bolt and Project 18.

Many Australian business women who use Twitter will be familiar with Cate Bolt, a business owner and mother of a large family who is currently engaged in promoting and raising funds for a vision close to her heart. We published an article on Cate and her vision, project 18, in August.

This month, Cate was interviewed at Cherry Magazine. Cate continues to take matters on with both hands, forging new paths and inspiring a team of volunteers and professionals who can help bring Project 18 to fulfilment.

It’s this kind of passion that gets things done.

Sometime (probably often) passion comes to ‘push’.

It’s not easy to keep pushing yourself when things seem hopeless or when obstacles loom too large– or when you’re just plain exhausted!

That’s when surrounding yourself with like-minded people and supporters can help you through.

If you’re not following your heart, what are you following?

Image credit: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1014014

This year, Catherine Bolt walked away from a successful bridal & retail business to begin a quest of building an Indonesian orphanage and wildlife sanctuary.

Today, Catherine’s websites, Elements at Eumundi and her personal website fund and organise the Indonesian project.

Catherine (Cate) lives on a mountain in Eumundi, Queensland with husband Rick and nine children. She picked the name Eumundi out on a travel map, long before she ever visited there.  But she knew it was perfect for her family as soon as she visited there during 2008.  in January of 2009, Cate’s family moved from Victoria to Eumundi. They soon set about creating an organic, sustainable-living lifestyle.

Self-described as a writer, conservationist, photographer, humanitarian and mother of nine– Cate doesn’t do things by halves.  Past professions have included  journalist and magazine editor, small business owner,  night club bouncer, security guard and prison officer–  some of them at the same time!

Cate also built up a very successful bridal and specialist retail business, both bricks-and-mortar and online. During this time, she organised some of the largest weddings around Australia.

A seed planted

In 2009, a former employee, Damo, travelled to Cambodia and Vietnam, visiting orphanages and under-privileged communities there.  A seed was planted in Cate’s heart and mind.  

After supporting a friend through losing a child to coronary heart disease, Cate felt herself becoming increasingly frustrated with some of the ‘bridezillas’ she came across in her wedding business. Trivial concerns paled in comparison to those who were out there hurting.   Cate made the decision to have her friend and former employee, Carol, take over the business, and the Indonesian project was born.

Indonesia today has spiralling rates of HIV/AIDS, women and children are trafficked, tens of millions lack access to sanitation and clean water, street children are exploited and left to fend for themselves.

 3 million children work– and many work in dangerous jobs. And Indonesians are still recovering from the 2004 tsunami, as well as the  earthquakes and smaller tsunamis following in the years after 2004. (Source: At a glance: Indonesia  unicef.org)

Plans for a village, outreach programme and wildlife refuge

Together, Cate and husband Rick,plan to have a solar-powered village of 18 houses built on the island of Sumatra, each housing eight children and a house mother. The project will include an outreach programme, with a school and daily meal for local children.  There are 500,000 children living in crowded orphanges in Indonesia, most having parents who cannot afford to feed them.

A wildlife refuge is also planned, to aid in conserving at-risk wildlife such as the Sumatran tiger and orangutan.

Currently, Cate’s sustainable-living business has 50% of its profits funding the Indonesian project. Cate is also flat-out gathering material from anyone who’ll send some her way, and making goods to sell at market. 100% of the profits from these goods is funding the project. She’s also looking for lawyers and anyone who can help with legalities and practicalities of setting up the charity. Everyone can help Cate’s project in some way.

Visions of the future

You might call such huge projects a crazy dream. Certainly, Cate has had her share of detractors. It’s a funny thing about irrational vision—in the end it can achieve what rational thought cannot. Irrational vision is disruptive—it forces us to look at something that is outside of the way things are ‘normally done’.

Irrational thought can also be applied to business. Neuroscientists and the business world are discovering the power of irrational thinking processes. An idea that is irrational to one person may be extremely rational to the next person, and in a generation or so, that same idea may appear logical to most people. This article from the Harvard Business School quotes Yaron Kaufman: “Managers must be rational when it comes to planning, financing, operating and measuring business performance…. Irrational thinking is needed when you think about the question, ‘What’s next?‘ ”

‘What’s next?’ is a projection into the unknown.  It’s entrepreneurial.  Social entrepreneurs all over the world apply business-thinking that is outside the square, with forward-vision. Social entrepreneurs aim to provide solutions that aid the underprivileged of this world.

With new solutions, there’s a chance of either failure or gain. But if no one ever takes an excursion into the future, we’ll all stay stuck in the present.

 And we desperately need visions that improve our world and make it a better and fairer place for all.

Cate Bolt manages an online store that stocks wonderful lines of sustainable living products.

Cate explains why The Elements at Eumundi and other initiatives are funding The Indonesian orphanage project.

Find out how you can help this project here.

Cate, what was the idea that first got the ball rolling?
The Elements originally started out as something completely different which changed direction. The Elements was originally going to be a 5 star luxury eco-tourism resort and we insisted that everything that went into it had to be sustainable, organic or in some way more environmentally sensible than its competitors. The products we used were to be available in the resort shop and the online store. In the research process we became so passionate about the earth, conservation and humanity that we decided there were bigger things we should be paying attention to, so we kept the shop as a means of residual income for our new charity.

What got you excited enough about the idea to put it into motion?
I’m just an excited person. Once I get an idea in my head-– it happens. Once I started researching and learning about products I really thought it would be irresponsible to NOT go ahead and do it.

Where did the name for your business spring from?
The Elements At Eumundi – sounds corny but it came from a higher place. We were actually living in Victoria when we started the business; we knew Queensland was where we wanted to be. Something told me Eumundi was “the place” so I basically had decided that was it before I even went there. Luckily when I got there it felt like home and I fell in love immediately!

“The Elements” represents everything I stand for; I’m “at one with the earth”.

How is The Elements at Eumundi original?
I think the main difference is that we run the business now to support the charity. So 50% of the profits go directly to the charity, and the other 50% goes to supporting our family while we run the charity. I think shoppers like to know that what they are buying not only benefits them and the earth, but the profits are going to the greater good as well.

What was the most difficult part in getting your business off the ground?
Honestly, we didn’t have any difficulties. I had run a successful online/bricks and mortar retail business for 10 years, so it was fairly plain sailing.

Having a large family means time-management is always an issue. And I guess having to go back to square one with suppliers– not having the leverage of being a recognised successful business with bargaining power.

Has any part of your business gone down a different path than you first anticipated?
Very much – see question 1!

What do you enjoy most about running your business?
Working from home and being flexible about when we work. Knowing that what we sell is beneficial to our customers & to the earth and that the money we make is going to a worthwhile cause.

Do you belong to any networks that have helped you grow your business?
No, nothing worth mentioning.

What are your future goals for insert business name?
We would like to extend our product range to include my husband’s passion– which is alternate energy. We’re also in the process of extending the alternate therapies section, to include my passion– which is crystal healing. We will be focusing heavily on getting our head lice treatments into Queensland schools for the rest of this school year. We have an awesome product after years of frustration, so we’re taking it to the people!

What advice would you give another woman wanting to start a business of her own?
Don’t lose sight of the big picture. Make sure you’re clear in your head what your objectives are when you’re starting a business. Write them down and maybe have them somewhere you can see them every day. It’s ok if they change, but if they are still the same and you’re losing direction, then have the strength to stop yourself.

No amount of money will ever buy the happiness of your children. Make sure you maintain business/family balance and hang out with your kids. It’s always nice to include them in the business, even if it’s in some minor role like arranging your packing supplies.

If you can work side by side it will give them an appreciation for what you do, why you do it and what the rewards are.