• I'm an innovative entrepreneur. Before the past few months, I never would have thought that I could be labeled "innovative" or an "innovator" because it is a term to loosely utilised and when I think of innovation I think of Thomas Edison, and nothing compares to this man that is said to be responsible for a quarter of the world's companies.
• Family is more important then work. I have zero time to spare. Somehow I have become so busy that I am not spending the time I should be with family. They don't live where I live, so that's hard in itself, but given the fact that not only am I willing to travel, they are to. Nothing is more important then your family and you never know when something might happen to one of them, and you are forced to spend their final moments telling them how sorry you are that you didn't make time. My mother has been very ill and had a few operations which I won't go into detail with. She lives in rural Queensland and to get to her, it's hard. I would need to fly into Brisbane and drive 5 hours. But you know what? She is getting old and I only have one mother, and one parent for that matter.
• Kindness is not always appreciated. Due to life experiences and our teachers, some people are born and live their entire lives with a glass half empty. They only see the negative and have not yet learned to see the positive. It's not their fault because they know no different. As an entrepreneur and a person who has a thirst for improvement, I constantly re-evaluate how I look at the world and the people in it. Years' ago, I learned to see the positive in every negative situation. If someone is being negative or not nice, I have learned to understand that perhaps they know no different. Each day, I make sure I do a random act of kindness to a stranger just because I can. I am aware of how good that makes a stranger feel, and therefore I feel happier for being the person that was able to do that for them. As many know, I have donated a lot to The World Incubator and every person who has benefited from that directly is so appreciative. But there are a few people, who search for negatives even though none exists. They make up things, or question things that should not be questioned, just accepted as something positive for the community. This lesson has been a good one to learn and living in the city, where people in my circle are quite self-aware, you don't see this too often.
• People you don't know, can often be your biggest supporters. It's amazing the gifts and cards I have received over the past three months and the complimentary invitations. Each time I receive something, I just sit back and am amazed that it is actually happening to me. That people who don't know me are rooting for the same goals as I am. It brings a huge smile to my face.
• Politics is none of my business. Anything to do with politics is really none of my business and people who play political games or as someone once told me, are "tricky" with the way they communicate or conduct themselves, needs to be as far away from me as possible. I would sooner walk away from any situation, than to engage in politics.
• Life is too short. A final call came through from someone I love last week. He said to me, "Give away your work and anything that causes you pain, and focus only on your personal life. You have done enough in life from a work and give-back to the community perspective, and your personal life cannot always be placed on hold. Please promise me that you will do that. That is what I want for you in life." Who wouldn't cry? I became this little girl that realised that too many people have been taken from my life because heaven wanted them too. Writing this is making me cry - that's how much this conversation affected me. It is true that your personal life, family and true friends are the most important people in the world, and when you are on your death bed, that's what counts most.
• Ring a mentor, and ask the hard questions or get a second opinion. I immediately texted my mentor and the father figure in my life, and said we need to talk. I told him about this conversation and asked him what he thought. How do I stop putting more on my plate, and start saying no to my head and sometimes my heart? He answered it in a very powerful way. He said, "He is right and wise with what he has asked you to do. Keep it in the back of your mind. But I personally think that work will lead you to a better, more fulfilling personal life. You need to do what you do because you are passionate about it and you love going to work each day." Both are right but I needed a reassurance that my path is the right path.
• Saying goodbye was really hard. I had to say goodbye to those in the Incubator last week. As I said my final farewell, even though we will be constantly in contact and they will be attending www.nqecon.com.au as my guests, and some will be speaking, I don't think I will be returning to Charters Towers again. Once again, I drove away crying, and it was sad, but my job has been done. My only reason for returning will be to talk at schools and inspire young people to believe in themselves and follow their dreams. As The World Incubator is now a virtual incubator, there is no reason to travel back to Charters Towers. My immediate family, also no longer live there, so I have done my bit and it's time to use technology to drive outcomes rather then spend a day flying and driving to get to Charters Towers and another day back.
• Life is full of experiences - good and bad. Sometimes I am so excited, I am jumping out of my skin. Other times I think, "why did that just happen?". That's life right? Doesn't make it any easier but it is life.
• Forgive every single person. You never want the burden of holding on to disliking someone or hatred. There isn't a single person in this world that I would look at and think negatively of them. In fact, if there was any anxiety about that person, I would focus solely on the positives that they bring to the world or be understanding that perhaps they can't help their outlook or their behaviour because they have no self-awareness.
• People in a position of influence lie and can be manipulative to further their own causes. There is no place in anyone's life for lying or being manipulative. If you know someone like this, steer away and run in the other direction. You never want any part of this type of behaviour. They are scary people.

We are put on this planet to experience life. I am certainly doing that. I can't express how lucky I am to be looking at the world through my own set of glasses and not someone else's. As I strive to always improve myself and to be kind to others no matter what, I will continue to learn.

A few weeks ago, Charles Shewring said to me that it's time that we look at a virtual incubator model and he was ready to leave Charters Towers and move back home. The decision was then made for me. The Mayor had asked for Wherry House back many times and I asked for it in writing which never eventuated. Then after asking a few times, the offer was made for another venue, which wasn't an option. We were going to dig our heels and keep our two year lease alive unless they found some legal loophole, and keep on having a physical presence in Charters Towers - but with Charles coming to me and giving me a scenario of how it could work moving forward that made sense - I knew the decision had been made for me. Thank you Charles. You have been a honorable man and a rock for not only me but those in the Incubator. You change lives, and your generosity is beyond anything I have seen in a long time. It wasn't easy being in Charters Towers, away from your family and friends, but you did it because you believed in The World Incubator and I am very thankful for that. The help you have given so many people with their business ideas, grant applications, mentorship and alike, every person will never forget. 

Let's move forward and build this virtual incubator for rural areas, where everyone can access support that fulfills our criteria of having the ability to create jobs and keep young people in rural towns.