MOUNT Eliza resident Jodi Richardson has lived with anxiety all her life but faced the constant hurdle of nobody else really understanding what she was going through.
The businesswoman, author and speaker says it took 20 years for her anxiety to be diagnosed and to access help, which has since put her on the path of helping others in a similar situation.
Richardson, who has just been announced as a finalist in the AusMumpreneur Awards, said she is now dedicated to ensuring that others understand anxiety and get the help they need early.
“When I was young it was quite difficult to get help, because anxiety can look like so many other things,” she said.
“So now that I have been through that, I am helping to educate people and show people how to get help.
“Anxiety is a challenge for people of all ages and access to professional support is not easy to find for everyone, but even those who can find and afford professional help often have to wait a long time for an appointment, and between appointments.”
Richardson said she is delighted to be named as a finalist and is proud of her achievements, particularly co-authoring the best-selling Anxious Kids: How children can turn their anxiety into resilience’ and joining the Positive Schools Conference speaker line-up for 2022.
Now, armed with the strategies to manage her anxiety, the Richardson says there are many benefits to balancing business and parenthood.
“I get the best of both worlds; I’m grateful to do work I love and have plenty of time outside of school hours to enjoy being with my family,” she said.
It can be challenging to be a successful businesswoman while raising a family and Richardson offers this advice for others thinking about starting their own enterprise: “Start small, create something meaningful that will impact the lives of a few and build from there. When you’re with your family, give them the gift of your full attention.”
Tune in to the podcast Well, hello anxiety’ via drjodirichardson.com/podcast/ or the podcasting app.
Winners of the AusMumpreneur Awards will be announced in September.
The AusMumpreneur Awards presented by The Women’s Business School “celebrate and recognise” Australian mothers in business achieving outstanding success in areas such as business excellence, product development, customer service and digital innovation. The awards are designed to recognise the growing number of women who successfully balance motherhood and business in a way that suits their life and family.
