Sharon Williams is a public speaker, CEO, entrepreneur, media commentator, international marketer, editorial contributor and has been named in the recent list of Top 10 Women Entrepreneurs. A working mum of three, Sharon’s global knowledge and experience with entrepreneurs is unrivalled as she has been reinventing brands for ambitious people over the past 25 years.
We recently chatted to Sharon about her journey starting Taurus and how they were one of the few agencies that survived the pandemic impacts, operating on full staff, normal hours and no job cuts.
How did you come to start your business? Was there a particular spark or a significant turning point?
When I fell pregnant with my first child, it became clear that my employer at that time was implying I would be leaving full time employment. So, I made a choice to leave and start my own business. I was eager to build a life and do it my way. I was staggered that in 1995, in Australia, a woman with my global experience was deemed useful or valuable. I registered Taurus Marketing the day my first daughter Charlotte was born. Last year, Charlotte and Taurus Marketing celebrated their 25th birthday.
When you initially started your business, what hurdles did you face?
My then husband travelled a lot, so I was juggling my first baby with no family around. I found the Australian culture, initially, very different from my UK born global background. Australia seemed myopic, sexist, the boys were round the BBQ and the girls were in the kitchen back in 1994. I felt Australians were behind in the dialogue that I had been experiencing in London and Hong Kong in global awareness, pace, deadlines and urgency to get things done. I am now so Australian I can’t even imagine back to what that was like, but I do remember it as an experience in my first 6 months of living here.
What is a piece of advice you wish you had been told before starting your entrepreneurial journey?
That you may never actually get there, because the goal posts may move and be even bigger than you expected, so you should chill and relax more with the journey. Not be so hard on yourself.
What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
Tenacity, patience, drive.
How do you personally measure success?
The happiness, wellbeing and growth of my children, clients, team and myself.
Outsource the skill or learn the skill?
Oh no outsource, outsource. By that action you will learn. But we cannot be good at everything.
Who are the people around you that allow you to thrive and give support?
My Taurus team and our clients. I wake up every day in awe of my team, and many of our clients.
What keeps you going in difficult times?
Love of life – a genuine Joie de vivre. How lucky are we to be gifted every day. Many who have lived before us never had that gift.
How do you make the most of your day? Any tips?
Try and exercise in the morning first – I am a beach baby so beach in the early am sets me up, gives me perspective, feeds my soul. I work late the night before so I am usually ‘’work done’’ when I wake up, ready for the new day. I genuinely can’t understand people who turn up with ‘’too much to do’’. I would have done it the night before and be ready for whatever the gift of a new day can bring.
