This week I went on a very chilled and inspiring date at The Cupping Room with the gorgeous Anthea Murray of Nut & Co.
Anthea is one of those women who doesn’t hold back – when she has an idea she actions it!
And whilst actioning all her ideas, bringing her organic almond milk business to life she still manages to be a super supportive, generous and caring friend.
I am what used to be called a ‘Trailing Spouse’, but I prefer ‘Supportive Partner!’
So whilst it was my husband’s job that brought us to Hong Kong, I choose to view this as an equally amazing opportunity for me too.
Growing up my time was split between the Southern Highlands of NSW and Sydney…and as a result I’m passionate about food, the outdoors, good music, the ocean – typical Sydney girl really!
My business, Nut and Co, was started very simply – a gap in the Hong Kong market that could be filled, driven by a need I had to find fantastic, wholesome Almond Milk!
‘Clarity’ such a powerful word to me. It means presence. It means hyper-coloured vision, with sharpy sharp focus.
It means being able to take a nourishing, deep, soul filling breath of air, knowing your world has pivoted perfectly to this moment.
Moving to Hong Kong certainly has its challenges. It can be very hard to find work here, as the expectation of so many ‘trailing wives’ is that they’ll be a ‘Tai-Tai’, and go to lunch, get your nails done, and spend your husband’s money!
That couldn’t be the further from the truth for so many of the amazing women I have met here in Hong Kong, but was certainly a hard challenge to overcome in the first few months.
Having the business to focus on, and having it so well received, the amazing support of the expat community, really propelled me along.
It can be a challenge, especially when you hit a hurdle, and especially when you are the only person in your business, and it all revolves around you – you can’t have a bad day!
But then I think of what initially inspired me to do this, the people around me that inspired me, and then I focus on my end game. What do I want my life to be? What do I want my life to look like? How will this fit with that? How will this benefit that?
If my actions aren’t working to meet or fulfil my dreams and goals then it is a waste of both my purpose & my passion! Where thoughts go energy flows, and I want to make it all count.
My husband. The most extraordinary man in the world. My life would not look like this if it weren’t for his example and support.
The amazing women I have met since moving to Hong Kong. So many incredible stories, and the support and kindness we offer each other has been an extraordinary & humbling example for me to try to live up to.
And lastly, my future self.
I imagine my life in 5 years, 10 years, 20 years. What will it look like? Will I be proud of myself? Will I be proud of the actions I took? Will I be able to look my children in the eye and know they deserved to be proud of me? That I am a good role model? That my actions reflect the change I want to see in the world, and to inspire them to do the same. Am I the partner my husband deserves? Am I giving myself the truest life, and not some facsimile?
Growth! We have had a wonderful (if slightly protracted) launch phase.
Next is to start hiring a little bit of help, and invest in more automated machinery so we can start filling orders on a larger scale.
The people I meet. The sometimes infuriating opportunity to immerse oneself in another culture. The amazing hikes we go on with our dogs!
Do it. Don’t be put off if you don’t have all the answers – I certainly didn’t!
I came up with the best plan I could, talked to the best people I could find, and jumped in. There are plenty of moments where you will think it has already failed, and there will be times where you feel you are not going anywhere.
But keep talking – ask for help, bounce ideas. Even if you do feel you have all the answers, better ideas, methodology, structure etc could be one coffee date away!
“I am.”
The shortest complete sentence in the English language! And it says everything to me, because I am whatever I choose to be.
I say this to myself in the shower each morning, imagining my day, and what piece of the greater puzzle of that week, month, year etc this day, and the actions of it, may become.
Professional Bio
Anthea Murray is the Founder and Owner of Hong Kong’s first organic almond milk company, Nut & Co. Transitioning from the trading desk of UBS to behind the almond milk cold-press, Anthea saw a gap in the market when she arrived in her new home and decided to create organic almond milk for Hong Kong’s growing ‘healthster’ community. Nut & Co is rapidly gaining a cult following with a growing number of stockists and positive write-ups in the media including Green Queen.
You can find out more about Nut & Co and purchase their AH-MAZING almond milk and yummy granola from their website.
Connect with Nut & Co on their social media including Facebook, Twitter and instagram.
