Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens and Hunter Valley | INTOUCH MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 21' ISSUE

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Denise

DUFFIELD-THOMAS KNOWING WHAT IT TAKES TO SUCCEED INTERVIEW BY MICHELLE MEEHAN

FROM TEENAGE ‘SERMONS’ INSPIRED BY OPRAH TO ONLINE DATING TIPS FOR MEN, DENISE DUFFIELD-THOMAS HAS SPENT HER LIFE GIVING ADVICE. THESE DAYS, THOUGH, THE GUIDANCE IS A LITTLE MORE ON THE SERIOUS SIDE AS SHE SPENDS HER TIME MENTORING THE NEW WAVE OF ONLINE ENTREPRENEURS WHO WANT TO MAKE MONEY AND CHANGE THE WORLD. The Newcastle entrepreneur is a renowned mindset mentor, bestselling author and self-made millionaire who helps women across the globe charge premium prices, release their fear of money and create first-class lives. Her most recent book, Chillpreneur: The New Rules for Creating Success, Freedom and Abundance on Your Terms 10 | www.intouchmagazine.com.au

(Hay House), challenges the old, boring assumptions of what it takes to succeed in business, so you can create financial independence with ease and grace. Hi Denise, thanks for taking the time to chat with intouch Magazine. You’ve built an amazing business out of your money mindset coaching – has helping others/giving advice always been a part of your personality? As a kid, I was always a “little Miss Fix-it” for my friends, or we’d start clubs to make extra money. I was always good at starting things – like convincing my friends to collect horse poo to sell – but often wouldn’t get around to the actual selling. When I was a teenager, I’d watch Oprah after school and then give mini Oprah sermons to my friends. I was always getting into trouble for talking in class! During my twenties, I really struggled to find my “thing”, and I had no idea about the world of coaching, so I often went from job to job, getting bored after six months.

One of my very first forays into advice was my first, selfpublished book, Internet Dating Tips for Men; it was back in 2003 when both internet dating and e-books were seen as new (and a bit weird!). I’ve just always been a person who tried something and then immediately wanted everyone to know about it! I’m fortunate that I was born into a time where technology means I can reach many more people and give advice without having to be as famous as Oprah! You studied a Bachelor of Commerce in Australia and later finished your degree in the UK – what career did you envisage yourself doing at the time? When I started my Bachelor of Commerce at Macquarie University, I only had a vague idea of what I wanted to do – and actually, I found university really lonely and hard. I didn’t know anyone. I failed ECON 101 (three times!) and felt lost and alone. I did really well in my marketing exams, and my lecturer said he gave me marks based on creativity, but it was clear I hadn’t attended the lectures or read the books. The best part of my uni experience was living right in Sydney, on Abercrombie St in Chippendale. Very different from growing up on the Central Coast. Luckily, I joined an international student organisation, AIESEC, focused on leadership, which helped me decide I wanted to go into business. I moved to London to work for AIESEC (where I met my husband Mark) and finished my degree at the London Metropolitan University. What was the moment that changed you in terms of the career path you were on and where you have ended up? For a girl who grew up in the Del Mar council estate on the Central Coast, it felt so fancy living and working in


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