TRANSCRIPT

00:00:00:10 - 00:00:28:15

You're listening to a day one FM show.

I just want to let, your listeners knowthat it's not just about taken up to do lists. It's about, reducing theoverwhelm and giving you more control back in your own life. All of my clientsare different, with different needs, different priorities. So everything I dois completely personalized.

00:00:28:17 - 00:00:39:00

Layla

And it's my business is built on trust,discretion and genuine care. Which is what I believe sets it apart fromsomething like, Tesco for example.

00:00:39:02 - 00:01:09:08

Lucy

Welcome to today's episode of Mumbition,the podcast where we're exploring inspiring stories of working mums who arebuilding businesses, whether they're just getting started or still consideringthe late. Today I'm excited to have Layla Roberts. She's the founder and chieforganizational officer of Sydney Concierge. Layla is a passionate organiser andlifestyle manager, and she helps many busy professionals, especially workingmums, simplify their lives and reclaim their time.

00:01:09:10 - 00:01:30:02

Lucy

Since founding Sydney Concierge in 2015,Layla's mission has been clear to provide tailored, meticulous service thatfrees up time for what really matters. Which sounds pretty awesome. Her workhas transformed the lives of many clients, allowing them to regain control andenjoy the moments that matter. The most.

00:01:30:04 - 00:01:31:19

Lucy

Layla. Welcome to Mumbition.

00:01:32:00 - 00:01:37:19

Layla

Thank you. Lucy. That was a greatintroduction. I'm not sure I could beat that, to be honest.

00:01:37:21 - 00:01:39:07

Lucy

Well, I'd love you to try.

00:01:39:07 - 00:02:07:09

Layla

I summed it up so well. But yes, I am. Asyou mentioned, I'm the founder and chief organizational officer at SydneyConcierge. Which I started 15, just over 15 years ago. I love running mybusiness because I help support busy professionals. In particular, working mumstick off their to do list so they can focus on what matters the most to them,whether it be their family, their career, their business.

00:02:07:11 - 00:02:12:16

Layla

Some self-care perhaps would be nice.Occasionally.

00:02:12:18 - 00:02:13:01

Lucy

Yeah.

00:02:13:05 - 00:02:37:19

Layla

Yeah, yeah, because I know that my I knowthat we can do anything, especially as women. But I know we also can't doeverything. It's literally impossible. So what drives me is knowing that I'mmaking a difference to these women's lives and helping them, to ease the mentalload. And I'm a huge. I'm also a huge believer that life is for living, notjust for surviving.

00:02:37:21 - 00:02:43:02

Layla

So I love that Sydney Concierge is helpingwomen to enable that. To do that.

00:02:43:04 - 00:03:04:06

Lucy

Absolutely. Actually, we were having aconversation earlier today with the Mums & Co team about how so often forwomen we get short and and I don't mean that in a negative sense. It happens tome too. But because we're so used to being reactive and we've got no space likethat, long term planning or visioning or even dreaming, for us it wasimpossible.

00:03:04:06 - 00:03:11:11

Lucy

So a seven year old is like, hello, you canbuy yourself literally a few hours a week to get. Yeah.

I was going to ask you who your businesshelps and how, but I think you really summed that up. Why did you first start?So you mentioned you started 15 years ago. What was the impetus for thebusiness?

00:03:26:12 - 00:03:48:02

Layla

I've never been one of those people thatalways wanted to start a business. That wasn't me at all. So just about 15.5years ago, I was working, as a concierge in a call centre. And it sounds reallycorny when I say it out loud, but I just knew by day two that this is what Iwas born to do.

00:03:48:04 - 00:03:59:14

Layla

I kind of fell into the job by accident,but straight away, I knew this was for me. And then. So that was February 25th,2010.

Yeah. 2010. So funny thing is, since such along time ago. And then by May 2010, I had decided to start my own businessdoing the same thing. I've always loved organising anything and everything forfamily and friends. So finding out that I can actually get paid to do what Ilove, what I'm good at was just, was just eye opening.

00:04:22:17 - 00:04:40:06

Lucy

So good. And because not everybody has thatskill, right. Like, we all have things we're good at and things that we're not.And to be able to have that skill and be able to gift that to someone elseparticularly and I'm a woman, must feel really great actually, to be able toprovide that too.

00:04:40:08 - 00:05:03:11

Layla

Yeah, I was talking about this with myhusband earlier. I feel like I feel like my clients fall into two main groups.There's the group. Which organisation is not there? One of their skills. AndI'd probably be the first to admit that. And they've got lots of other amazingskills, which I definitely don't have. And then there's the other group ofwomen, which is probably about 5050.

00:05:03:11 - 00:05:25:14

Layla

That would be amazing organizers if theydidn't have so many other million things to do. Yeah. And obviously they mostof them have a job or a business that most of them have got kids, husbands,extended family, elderly parents. So if they had the time, if they weren'tworking, then they probably could do it themselves, to be honest.

00:05:25:16 - 00:05:32:19

Layla

But, I just literally cannot until they canclaim themselves. The next best thing. Really?

00:05:32:21 - 00:05:53:13

Lucy

Yeah, 100%. And just take us back, to thebeginning of your business journey, I guess, because I'm keen to understandthis series is particularly designed for people who are thinking about abusiness themselves, and indeed, getting a service like yours would allow themsome time to think about this stuff. But if you can remember right back towhere you started, is there anything that you wish?

00:05:53:13 - 00:06:04:18

Lucy

You know, the million dollar question. Isthere anything you wish you understood about getting to this point in abusiness journey and creating the business that you've known back then?

00:06:04:20 - 00:06:34:18

Layla

Oh, that's a great question. There's beenso many, so many things over the 15 years. Gosh, some of the main ones, wouldbe always listen to what your customers need and what they want. What is thewhat is what is happening in the world, for example, during Covid I have to doa massive pivot.

00:06:34:20 - 00:07:06:09

Layla

So I went from doing what I'm doing againnow, personal concierge, taking off people's to do list to basically, providingcare packages to people in hotel quarantine. And that got so big that itextended to everyone in lockdown. Employers wanted to thank their employees. Sothat basically thankfully took over the business during Covid. But if I hadn'tdone that pivot early on, then, you know, I'm not sure what would havehappened, to be honest.

00:07:06:09 - 00:07:17:17

Layla

So, so listening to what's what's needed atthe time is, circumstances changes. If there's hopefully no other globalpandemics.

00:07:17:19 - 00:07:20:23

Lucy

That's over now, in our lifetime. Yes.

00:07:21:01 - 00:07:49:12

Layla

What I was determination. I think, youknow, it's easy to be passionate about something for 1 or 2 years, but youreally have to. You really have to love what you do and be determined tosucceed, I think, and just never give up. That's my philosophy, is never giveup. I love a challenge. Whether it's a client can't find accommodation in theHunt Valley or the challenges of running a business.

00:07:49:14 - 00:08:13:00

Layla

And in a global economic crisis. I justlove a challenge. So just. Yeah, it's easier said than done, but never give up,basically. And. Yeah, just, try and find lots of other people who are goingthrough probably similar issues to yourself and try and find those people and,realize you're not alone and brainstorm ideas with other small business owners.

00:08:13:01 - 00:08:44:11

Lucy

I think when I, when I'm hearing in thosebeautiful examples in finances is also open mindedness, because it sounds likeyou can you can pivot, you can actually do that. You have the mindset thatallows you to go, okay, this isn't working, or I'm getting this feedback. It'sjust we need to change. I suppose people call that a growth mindset, but Ithink that flexibility and the ability to do that, I think is really, reallyimportant in a small business context because I think we can get very stuck inthis is my vision and this is what we're going to have.

00:08:44:11 - 00:09:01:12

Lucy

And you do need that, as you say, you stillneed that determination. But I suppose the how it looks and the what you butlike as you've said and needed to be quite flexible when when needed to be ableto bend and stretch.

00:09:01:14 - 00:09:23:18

Layla

Yeah, exactly. I mean, 15 years ago, did Iever think I'd be sending care packages to people all over Australia?Definitely not. Was never. I never thought I'd be a business owner 20 yearsago. I never thought I'd be sending care packages. I didn't want to get intoretail and e-commerce, and suddenly it suddenly I was doing a service businessand e-commerce.

00:09:23:18 - 00:09:35:16

Layla

So that was interesting. Yeah. But yeah,just listening to what's needed at the time and trying to help best people,best in the best way that you can.

00:09:35:18 - 00:09:54:01

Lucy

Yeah, it strikes me as a vertical. Youknow, I has become such a massive topic. I feel particularly this year. I mean,maybe it was there last year too, but I probably wasn't listening as much as Ishould be. Definitely. This year has, and I feel like a business like yours isvery safe from that kind of impact.

00:09:54:01 - 00:10:06:21

Lucy

But at the same time, I can imagine that itwould be helpful to have you adopted anything in the AI space yet in order to,you know, run your systems over film.

00:10:06:23 - 00:10:26:14

Layla

I mean, I use AI pretty much every singleday to some extent. Yeah. Whether it's generating blog ideas, website copy,social media captions, emails to suppliers, I mean, some of these things,obviously, I was doing it all myself before.

So it's just basically to save myself timebecause my business is all about time. And I realize it's not just my client'stime that's important. If I've got more time, then I can help more people. Soso I but I also I do use GPT a lot, but I find obviously I edit to what itturns out.

Yeah. And sometimes the end result isnothing like what it turned out. But it just gets me started. It helps breakthat writer's block and generate ideas. Really?

00:10:58:12 - 00:11:15:21

Lucy

Yeah. I love that blog. Blog article ideasis a great idea. A great suggestion for that. And I think what you're touchingon there too is kind of I feel like it stops procrastination because you cankind of start something or feel like you've started something by asking forhelp, you know? So it's that I feel like.

00:11:15:21 - 00:11:27:03

Layla

Sometimes you just don't. You like, whatshould I talk about today? What should I yeah. So I post on my socials today. Ifeel like I've done everything after 15 years, which is what's what's left.

00:11:27:05 - 00:11:30:05

Lucy

What's left that I haven't written about.But yeah, I.

00:11:30:07 - 00:11:35:15

Layla

Will always have some ideas. And then, Ijust expand on that. I guess.

00:11:35:17 - 00:11:47:01

Lucy

Love it. Now, you mentioned, you know, acouple of iterations in the business since you started, but who is it that youconfide in, when you have to weigh things off and make decision?

00:11:47:03 - 00:12:12:11

Layla

I'm extremely lucky. I've got a verysupportive husband. So I often bounce ideas off him and unfortunately for him,I sometimes vent to him as well. And he's a great he's a great listener,luckily. But I have also realized that sometimes only other small businessowners get it. Really get it? Yeah. Depending on what I'm going through at thetime.

00:12:12:12 - 00:12:36:02

Layla

And I've got a friend who's a smallbusiness owner. So we meet up in person or online, brainstorm ideas, discusshow we can help each other, talk about whether we met our goals for the lastquarter, that kind of thing. And I'm also in some, some amazing businessmemberships which have provided me with priceless advice over the years.

00:12:36:02 - 00:12:38:11

Layla

And I yeah, I don't know what I would dowithout them.

00:12:38:13 - 00:12:45:21

Lucy

Yeah, that community of people that reallyknow where you're at and then also not related to them, but definitely, yeah,someone.

00:12:45:23 - 00:12:49:15

Layla

Yeah. Someone. Yeah. Sometimes someone canbe too close. Maybe. Yes.

00:12:49:17 - 00:13:09:11

Lucy

Yes. Yeah. Absolutely. Agree. You'reobviously also a mum yourself. Yes. What have you found most helpful when itcomes to managing your own work life and home life? Do you have any systems orprocesses that really help you that you'd be happy to share?

00:13:09:12 - 00:13:31:04

Layla

Yeah, I was having a good think about thisearlier. There's probably two main things. I think. One is the amazing husbandthat I've mentioned. Not only is a great listener, but he also does way morethan 50% of the housework. Way more than 50% of school pick up some drop offs.And it's quite embarrassing to be honest.

00:13:31:06 - 00:13:32:14

Lucy

Right. Yeah.

00:13:32:16 - 00:13:55:14

Layla

But it gives me that. It gives me thatextra time to focus on my business. And I think it's so important that parentsdo share that load, the physical and the mental load. And but I realize I feel,sadly, that I'm in the minority and a lot of mums don't get their support fromtheir partners. Which is where I can come in, of course.

00:13:55:16 - 00:14:17:14

Layla

But I'm lucky that I do have that support.And then the other main thing, that helps me organise my business in my life, Ifeel like, I don't know, I'm just I've got an in an organised nature. I guessit's just it feels like it's innate within me. I've just done it. Or maybe I'vejust been doing it for so long, I don't know any different.

00:14:17:16 - 00:14:36:23

Layla

And to help me do that, I use a lot ofdifferent productivity tools. I used to use Trello a lot, but now I'm more intonotion. I used to use Microsoft, but now I'm more into Google Sheets and GoogleDocs. Yeah. And then I have a physical hard copy diary as well as my outlookcalendar.

00:14:36:23 - 00:14:53:20

Layla

So I document everything. I usespreadsheets for everything, whether it's business or personal. And I love agood to do list for my clients, but also my own life. Yeah, there's nothingmore satisfactory satisfactory than ticking those things off.

00:14:53:20 - 00:15:10:13

Lucy

I totally do. You know what I love? BecauseI'm only Strider as well, and I use the notes app in my phone, honestly, morethan anything. And I've just worked out and used to like this strikethrough,and it's so satisfying to use. Yeah, yeah, I've only just.

00:15:10:13 - 00:15:13:09

Layla

Started using the notes app on my phoneactually.

00:15:13:09 - 00:15:14:12

Lucy

Yeah.

00:15:14:14 - 00:15:21:13

Layla

Probably about a month or so ago, becauseI'm using so many different apps. But actually, now that I've discovered thatI'd probably use it the most too.

00:15:21:15 - 00:15:42:12

Lucy

Yeah, it's funny, you can over complicatethings, I find, but, I mean, I guess. Yeah. And what I've also found about AIis that you can get it. The other day. I'm chucked in like a meal plan. Likerandom meal plan. And then it sent me the formatted version for my notes. Sowhen I went to the supermarket, I could just cheque out my grocery list.

00:15:42:14 - 00:15:56:03

Lucy

So. Yeah. And I know you can use that withevery other, but I mean, like, probably because I always have my phone, youknow, like, you always have your phone. Like you're not going to forget that.Like, I can forget a shopping list every single time I write it out. But oh,yeah.

00:15:56:06 - 00:16:00:08

Layla

We did wash. We have a shared shoppinglist, I think. Are you going to go.

00:16:00:14 - 00:16:01:17

Lucy

And.

00:16:01:19 - 00:16:23:09

Layla

Google renamed it recently? Yeah, I thinkit's called Google Key. Yeah. And we have it and it's a shared list. And so ifmy husband goes to the supermarket, I'll be adding to the list while he's goneand vice versa. Or if I go, yeah, we have, we have a shared calendars as well,which really helps.

00:16:23:09 - 00:16:32:10

Layla

So we know who's doing what when, anyshared commitments or who's doing school pick up that kind of thing.

00:16:32:12 - 00:16:33:07

Lucy

Yeah.

00:16:33:09 - 00:16:39:15

Layla

So nothing too nothing too complicated.Just technology and apps that can really make a difference.

00:16:39:15 - 00:16:59:17

Lucy

Yeah. And I guess it's just the systems,right? It doesn't really matter at the end of the day, what you use. I thinkit's just having that system in place then. Yeah. But I, we say queen of that,queen of the system, the this is the perfect segue way to this question that soyou're obviously in the business of helping other people manage home and work.

00:16:59:19 - 00:17:14:00

Lucy

What has your business taught you andprobably what the other women. And obviously there would be some men in therethat have shared with you. Like, what has your experience of this businesstaught you or influenced for your own life and how you're running?

00:17:14:00 - 00:17:43:19

Layla

It was great question. I wish, I reallywish someone had told me, at the beginning, that just because you can dosomething doesn't mean you should. Yeah. And, delegating to someone else is nota weakness. It's work is all about working smarter, not harder. It's aboutbeing clever with your time rather than working longer hours.

00:17:43:21 - 00:17:50:12

Layla

And I'm I'm a big believer that peopleshould do what they love where possible and then outsource pretty mucheverything else.

00:17:50:14 - 00:18:06:02

Lucy

I'm also interested just because I'm nosyand curious, but I'm sure that the the clients that you have shared a lot withyou in terms of when they're booking you because it's a, you know, it's helpingthem with their life. It sounds really straightforward, but our lives are notnecessarily straight.

00:18:06:04 - 00:18:09:21

Layla

Forward, by the way.

00:18:09:23 - 00:18:17:17

Lucy

I'm just curious, you know, I'm sure thatmost of your clients would then say, you know, wish I'd done this earlier or Iwish I hadn't left it.

00:18:17:18 - 00:18:37:15

Layla

Yeah, I love the people. Yeah, definitely.Onion. Unfortunately, not always, but I feel like a lot of the time they leaveit until they're burnt out and they leave it until contacting me is more of anemergency.

00:18:37:17 - 00:18:41:10

Lucy

You know, for emergency assistance.

00:18:41:12 - 00:19:02:03

Layla

And sometimes they'll say, oh, I've beenfollowing you on socials for six months, or I've been getting your emails forover a year and I've been meaning to contact you, but I was just too busy toeven contact you. Yeah. Or I was too busy to go through my to do list with you.And now it's got to that point where I just have to do it.

00:19:02:03 - 00:19:23:06

Layla

Otherwise I'm going to go crazy. Yeah, I'mnot sleeping at night, or I just want to have some time with my kids on theweekend. Yeah. So often. Sadly, it does get to that point. So it's, it isbetter to, to contact me earlier. So it's, it's not so drastic, I guess.

00:19:23:06 - 00:19:40:09

Lucy

Yeah. It's kind of like, you know, how manytimes you notice something before you get help for it? I mean, that can applyit to our health, to everything. Yeah, yeah. Like that rule of thumb. Like, ifyou've thought about it maybe more than five times, it's absolutely time tooutsource. Time to get some help.

00:19:40:11 - 00:19:45:18

Layla

Oh, that's a that's a good rule of thumb.

00:19:45:20 - 00:20:12:17

Lucy

Yeah. But besides thinking of my own self,like, I can tell myself something ten times, so if you have that, you'veprobably probably got a better chance of success in that area. I love yourbusiness idea. Like, like I need to. Everyone I know needs you. I'm notsurprised that you'd be absolutely flat out, but the story I wanted you to tellbecause I absolutely loved it, is when we had a chat before.

00:20:12:17 - 00:20:19:18

Lucy

It was a while ago now, a bit about theChristmas Trees two member telling me about that. I think that's fascinating.And, you know.

00:20:19:20 - 00:20:23:18

Layla

I do a lot of Christmas trees, but wasthere a specific story I can't remember.

00:20:23:18 - 00:20:39:23

Lucy

I think even the fact that you do it isinteresting, right? Because I just remember you saying how flat out you wereone particular year. Or maybe it's every year, but I think just if you wouldn'tmind sharing that service and, you know, maybe a little bit of insight into howpopularity.

00:20:40:01 - 00:21:10:06

Layla

Yeah, definitely. So you started the exactyear, but roughly before my son was born. He's now seven. So maybe like tenyears ago. And I was working with a luxury holiday rental company and theywould rent the properties from this company. If they needed anythingorganising, I would help them. The busiest time of year was obviously SydneySummers, which is Christmas time.

00:21:10:09 - 00:21:30:22

Layla

So more and more often people would want aChristmas tree. They'd, you know, they'd be staying usually for a few weeks, tovisit family or friends, and they still want it to look Christmas, even ifthey're from the northern hemisphere, which I can after, living in Australia.What is it, 20 years? I think that's, 20, 19 years, 20 next year.

00:21:30:22 - 00:21:53:08

Layla

I still can't get used to a warm Christmas.But anyway, that's a, that's a that's another matter. So it started with that.And then I had my son after doing that for a few years, just, just probably afew different people each year. And then when he was a couple of years old, Ithought, I'm going to start doing the Christmas trees again.

00:21:53:10 - 00:22:27:17

Layla

And it's just grown, and grown each year.Last year was my busiest by far. I did double double trees from the yearbefore. I'm getting residential Airbnbs, hotel ballrooms for Christmas partieswith 500 people. Corporate offices is a big one. Yeah. I supply all the treesand decorations and then even decorating for the decorations. Yeah, that's themost that's the most common because.

I always love Christmas. Christmas is I'vegot seven main services, but Christmas Concierge is my favourite I loveChristmas.

00:22:36:22 - 00:22:40:20

Lucy

And that would stop fairly early in theyear I imagine for you, like you'd get.

00:22:40:20 - 00:22:47:16

Layla

Yeah. Usually people start inquiring aroundAugust. Oh my goodness, that's next. Now.

00:22:47:18 - 00:22:54:05

Lucy

But soon when the phones level up and thephone. Yeah, yeah, it's so cool. I just loved that idea.

00:22:54:07 - 00:23:20:19

Layla

And I did a few retail shops as well lastyear as well. One in the Cuvee One in Westfield in the middle of the city. Sosome luxury luxury brands all the way down to a family home. There was one ladyand she was, her house was being renovated, so they'd moved into a rentalproperty and she's like, all my stuff's in storage.

00:23:20:21 - 00:23:24:23

Layla

You know, a lot of people don't have theroom for the storage, so.

00:23:25:01 - 00:23:28:06

Lucy

So cool, I loved it. Thank you for sharingthat. I think you're right.

00:23:28:08 - 00:23:32:07

Layla

Thanks. Thanks for asking. I'm always happyto serve.

00:23:32:09 - 00:23:37:06

Lucy

And if you get in soon, you'll be right inthe thick of the the customer inquiries for that. Yes.

00:23:37:06 - 00:23:40:07

Layla

You will always have your pick of thetrees, if you can see that.

00:23:40:08 - 00:23:45:19

Lucy

But I think, is there anything else I'veforgotten to ask you later or that you would love to share with us?

00:23:45:21 - 00:24:12:02

Layla

I just want to let, your listeners knowthat it's not just about taking off to do lists. It's about, reducing theoverwhelm and giving you more control back in your own life. All of my clientsare different, with different needs, different priorities. So everything I dois completely personalized. And it's my business is built on trust, discretionand genuine care.

00:24:12:04 - 00:24:42:06

Layla

Which is what I believe sets it apart fromsomething like at Tesco, for example. And also have a special offer for yourlisteners. So if they go on to my website, Sydney Concierge, that's CEO andCEO, GE lots of people do spell that wrong. So Sydney Concierge, they'll cometo you and if you click buy more Time and then to the code Mums & Co 15 youwill get 15% discount of all services.

00:24:42:08 - 00:24:55:10

Layla

Digital downloads. And if you don't needany help at the moment, but you know someone who does need a helping hand,please spread the word and follow me on socials for more organisation hacks.

00:24:55:12 - 00:24:59:17

Lucy

Love it. Absolutely love it. And TGIFoutfits.

00:24:59:19 - 00:25:12:22

Layla

Of course. Definitely. Yes, that's a greatpresent. Yes, it is actually, because I feel like some people are really hardto buy for. They literally have everything and it's not the only thing theydon't have is time.

00:25:13:00 - 00:25:22:01

Lucy

Yeah, but okay, I'm going to keep that inmind for Christmas. Leila, thank you so much for joining us on Mondays. Andtoday, the light to hear more about the work you do.

00:25:22:03 - 00:25:23:06

Layla

Thank you. Lucy.

00:25:23:08 - 00:25:27:10

Lucy

Thank you so much for sharing that code. Ihope everyone snaps something up.

00:25:27:12 - 00:25:33:20

Layla

Yes. Thank you so much for having me.

‍