My life’s back on track
Real estate leader opens up on dark times
GEELONG real estate agent Michelle Winckle has opened up about the darkest days of her career when she was overwhelmed by extreme anxiety during a turbulent time in her business.
In a bid to raise awareness of mental health issues, the Hayeswinckle director revealed to a group of Geelong business women last week how deeply stressed she had become over some business management challenges a few years ago.
“I was in a really bad place,” Ms Winckle said. “I could not see how I could get out. I was in so deep and I thought I was going to lose everything. It was awful.”
Filled with anxiety, she was making rash decisions which extended, rather than solved, the issues.
At her most dire moments, she contemplated self-harm.
“I was going to make a permanent decision over a temporary problem,” she said.
A guest speaker at a Business In Heels forum titled ‘Learn From Our Mistakes’, Ms Winckle told how she slowly found her way down a better path.
It started with a visit to a health retreat, painfully leaving behind her business lifeline — the mobile phone.
“It gave me a chance to get my breath back and I realised that I had to just slow it down,” she said.
Ms Winckle said the solutions to issues triggered by a major staffing issue were slowly put in place and were now well in the past at the agency that has grown to five offices with more than 30 staff in eight years.
Regular morning gym sessions now provide a healthy platform to her day and a peaceful respite for the busy mother of four.
“I realise I need to have downtime … and that time between 5am and 7am is so magic because no one ever rings,” she said. “It helps with my mental space.”
Other lessons revolved around having a more balanced approach to managing both the business and her team.
“When people work for us now, I still let them in, but I am also very aware that they are there for a time and a purpose,” she said.
Ms Winckle said improved processes now helped to keep her in touch with all areas of the business.
“I make sure I am spending my time wisely, checking the right things, but not assuming everyone is doing what I think they are doing,” she said.
Canny Group director Amanda Wilkens also took part in the discussion, facilitated by Business In Heels chief executive Lisa Sweeney at The KO Creative Studio on Tuesday night.