Page 35 - Tropic Magazine Issue 13

LIFESTYLE • HUMANS OF CAIRNS

Humans of Cairns

In part two of our series highlighting the Humans of Cairns
initiative produced by the team at Young Entrepreneurs
Project, we meet four inspiring locals pursuing their
entrepreneurial dreams.

MORE: humansofcairns.com.au

Lauren Baker

Financial Coach
My earliest memory is of pocket money you can lead a good life if you manage soon, and rely on credit cards, Afterpay,
and my savings account. My career your money well. I especially love to shark loans and pawn brokers.
choice was probably obvious after that – work with young people, and those who This can lead to a lifetime of debt, and
I completed my Bachelor of Accounting classify themselves as struggling. once in a hole, it is hard to get out. In my
and Management before going onto work Small changes can have big results work, I see first-hand those who have
as a company bookkeeper in a range of when it comes to managing money. had good incomes, but as their incomes
industries, from non-profit through to When people’s circumstances change increase, their spending also increases.
large organisations. such as moving out of home, getting You can have all the assets and income in
In my business, I see the ability to married, having kids, losing a job, getting the world, but unless you can convert that
manage your cash flow as the most divorced, etc, a plan needs to be put into into cash and manage it well, you will not
paramount aspects of financial success. place to manage that transition. Often achieve growth.
Even if you are not a high-income earner, people just hope that life will get better

Jaime Gunton
Prize Pig
My very first venture was selling small decided to start working towards it.
paper fans for only 50 cents. My grandma My business journey was like any other…
was my biggest customer, but I’d always there were a tonne of unexpected
try and sell them to anyone I was able to challenges that I’d need to face. There
convince that they needed one. It was a were always the highs and lows, but I
good start. I had this solid plan that had no made it through. Matchy Match Sets was
cost margins since I could just borrow my officially two years old and I’d felt like I
mum’s scissors and staplers. Let’s just say had gained more real work experience
that one didn’t take off, but it did spark my than I could have imagined when I first
imagination of what was possible. started.
My first actual business was a gourmet I always knew that I wanted to start
food gift box that I sold at local markets. a business, but I never knew it would
It was a mission, but somehow I’d go this far. We now have over 13,000
manage to wake myself up at around followers on social media and the whole
5:30am to get to the markets every month journey so far has been one incredible
with her mother and set up shop for the ride. When I was just starting out I
day. I loved it! never expected all the harsh challenges,
With Matchy Match Sets, my goal has setbacks and unexpected turns I’d have
always been to help other young horse to face, but every single one has pushed
lovers such as myself. It started with me further and helped me grow. Each
that one problem I could see other young experience has helped me learn and I
horse riders facing. There were young know I’m going to continue to stretch my
girls just like myself who would dream of comfort zone and improve my business
matching tack sets for their ponies but skills for life. In fact, I even have a new
couldn’t afford them due to the expensive business… Prize Pig!
price tag. I saw the opportunity and

35 • tropicnow.com.au