There’s something magical about a Darwin sunset—especially during the Dry Season. The humidity takes a breather, the breeze off the ocean cools the sand, and the entire sky turns into an ever-changing watercolour of oranges, pinks, and purples.

A few months ago, I found myself walking along Casuarina Beach with my partner. We were leaving footprints along the wet sand as the tide was heading out, occasionally pausing to watch the sun sink behind the Arafura Sea (and of course we were taking a bunch of selfies at the time haha!).

If you know anything about our Dry Season, you know it’s the perfect time for these walks—there’s a warmth in the air that doesn’t smother you, and the sunset lingers just long enough to soak in every last ray.

My partner and I were chatting about the usual stuff—weekend plans, what we were going to make for dinner, whether we had time to check get to Chemist Warehouse on the way home, etc. But then, the conversation took a turn. He started asking me these pointed, meaningful questions about my work:

“What do you really love doing right now?”
“What brings you the most value—and what brings others the most value from you?”

It was the kind of moment that could have ended in a shrug and “we’ll talk later,” but something told me to pause. There, on Casuarina Beach, my partner’s questions sparked a realisation: everything I’m passionate about—everything I feel called to share—keeps circling back to three core areas:

1. Speaking & Presenting with Confidence

2. Social Media & Content Creation

3. Entrepreneurship & Small Business

As the waves kept ticking our toes, I felt the usual hum of doubt and excitement mingle in my chest. I said something like, “You know what? I just want to help people find their voice, share their message, and build something incredible. It sounds simple, but I think it’s what I’m here to do.”

That conversation at sunset is what I think of now as my “aha moment.” And in this week's edition I want to share why I keep coming back to these three pillars and how they’re intertwined for me—and, I believe, for anyone looking to make a real impact in their community or industry.

The First Workshop Nobody Might Attend

Sometimes, clarity about the “why” comes from a flashback to where it all began. For me, that’s a small conference room at the Palms City Resort in 2018. Picture a modest setup with neat rows of chairs, a makeshift projector screen, and me, standing at the front, sweating because I’m not sure if anyone is going to show up.

I’d decided to run a social media marketing workshop—my first official one in Darwin—and I remember glancing at the clock, then peering at the empty seats. I kept thinking, “What if literally no one walks in?” I'd invited people online, paid for some Facebook ads, even told a few business contacts. Still, there’s that knot of anxiety that forms when you’re worried you’re speaking to no audience at all.

Then, at ten minutes to start time, the door opened. One person, then three, then ten. Eventually, the seats all filled up. Fifty people. By the time I was halfway through my presentation, I forgot I’d ever been worried—I was too busy fielding questions about how to run Facebook ads, manage a consistent posting schedule, and keep up with the ever-changing social media algorithms. That workshop taught me two things:

1. There’s a real hunger out there for practical, easy-to-understand guidance on social media and digital marketing.

2. Speaking with confidence goes beyond just having well-researched slides; it’s about sharing experiences and stories in a way that resonates with people who, quite frankly, might be starting from zero.

Seeing the Gaps

My journey to helping others with social media and content creation began long before that workshop, though. I spent over 13 years working in commercial radio, followed by another two years in commercial television ad sales. The patterns I saw were… frustrating, to say the least.

These campaigns—radio spots, TV commercials—often came with hefty price tags. Clients were forking out tens of thousands of dollars, sometimes more, for campaigns that might generate a blip of attention. At the end of the day, they’d ask me, “Why aren’t we seeing results?” And too often, I had no good answer for them—because the truth was, in many cases, the ROI just wasn’t there.

This is where digital marketing and social media felt like the most obvious answer to me. I realised there had to be a better way for people—especially small businesses and entrepreneurs—to connect with their customers without draining their life savings on hit-or-miss commercials. Social media (whether it’s Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or even TikTok now) gives local businesses a chance to speak to their audiences consistently, creatively, and in real time - and a fraction of the cost of TV or radio.

One of my favourite success stories is a real estate buyer’s agent who started with absolutely zero clients. Within a year, by posting regular, high-value content about the property market where she was located—think video chats on the beach, quick tips on negotiating, personal anecdotes about local neighbourhoods—they soared to 37 clients in the next year. Talk about transformation. That’s not to say everyone will see that kind of leap, but it’s a testament to how powerful a well-targeted, consistent online strategy can be.

The Driving Force

The third element—entrepreneurship and small business—is where it all ties together for me. You see, I’ve always been drawn to the energy of people trying to build something new, something that stands out.

Darwin might be smaller than Sydney or Melbourne, but that’s also one of its greatest strengths: you can’t hide behind big-city anonymity. Your reputation, your results, and your connections matter immensely here.

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of mentoring and coaching dozens of entrepreneurs in the Top End through government programs, small business support agencies and now the Darwin Innovation Hub.

It’s never lost on me how much courage it takes to start from scratch, especially in a market as tight-knit as Darwin. I once spoke to a civil engineer who’d developed cutting-edge AI and LiDAR technology—something that could save local councils across the NT millions of dollars a year in infrastructure and resource allocation.

The drive and brilliance were there, but he wasn’t sure how to let people know about his invention. Where do you start? Who do you talk to first? How do you package this in a way that catches the public’s attention?

That’s exactly where speaking, content, and entrepreneurship collide. If you’ve got a world-changing idea, you still need:

1. Confidence to pitch it (and pitch it again and again).

2. A way to reach an audience that can benefit from it—often through social media, your website, or well-placed content in industry publications.

3. An entrepreneurial mindset that helps you adapt to feedback, pivot when necessary, and keep going when it feels like no one’s listening.

When any one of those three is missing, it’s like trying to drive a car with a flat tyre. You might still move forward, but the journey will be bumpy and far less effective.

Why These Topics Merge So Well

I sometimes talk about the synergy between public speaking, digital content creation, and small business thinking as a kind of “unstoppable trifecta.” Here’s why:

• Speaking & Presenting: Whether it’s delivering a pitch to a room of potential investors at the Darwin Innovation Hub or leading a small workshop at the local library, speaking with clarity and confidence can open doors.

• Social Media & Content Creation: In a world that’s more online than ever, social media is the new word-of-mouth. The more value, tips, and real-life stories you share, the more you attract the right customers or collaborators.

• Entrepreneurship & Small Business Know-How: This is the backbone that allows you to stay resilient. Think of it as the practical framework that underlies every brilliant idea—knowing how to set goals, budget, collaborate, and iterate.

These three “big ideas” feed off each other in a perpetual cycle. When you speak well, you can create more compelling digital content. When your content resonates, it boosts your business. And when your business grows, you have more success stories to share—and more confidence when you speak.

Bringing It All Back to Casuarina Beach

Meanwhile back at Casuarina Beach, my partner’s questions—“What do you love doing?” and “What really brings people value?”—were so direct, I couldn’t hide behind buzzwords or clichés. I had to answer honestly. My response was something along the lines of:

“I love helping people find their voice and make an impact—whether that’s by learning to speak boldly, building a real presence online, or starting a venture that changes the local economy.”

It’s funny how it took a quiet moment by the ocean for me to articulate something that had been swirling in my head for ages. But that’s how clarity often works: it hits you when you least expect it—on a beach, in a conversation, at a workshop you’re nervous about hosting.

What’s Next?

If you’ve read this far, chances are something in my story resonates with you. Maybe you’re gearing up for your first speaking event. Maybe you’re ready to stop burning money on traditional ads and start effectively harnessing social media. Maybe you’ve got an incredible business idea and you’re wondering where to start. Whichever it is, I want you to know that if you focus on these three areas—even one at a time—you’ll be miles ahead of the game.

• Start small: Record a practice video for a friend or colleague.

• Get honest feedback: Ask a mentor or someone you trust to look at your social media profiles.

• Don’t be afraid to pivot: Entrepreneurial journeys are rarely a straight line from Point A to Point B.

As the sun finally dipped below the sea on that Dry Season evening at Casuarina Beach, I realised that my life and work revolve around a simple mission: to help people find and use their voice in a meaningful way. Whether that’s on stage, online, or in the boardroom, the right combination of confidence, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit can truly change the game—not just for you, but for those who get to experience what you’ve built.

I hope this little glimpse into my own story encourages you to think about your own “why.” If you’re looking to sharpen your speaking skills, up your social media game, or refine your small business strategy, let me know. I’m all about sharing what I’ve learned—sometimes the hard way—so you can skip the trial-and-error and get straight to the part where you make things happen.

I’ll leave you with one final thought: never underestimate the power of a casual conversation at sunset—it just might set your next big idea on fire.