Talk about a work-life balance! Meet the mother who runs a multi-million dollar internet business... from a stunning farm on Kangaroo Island

  • Emily McWaters lives with her husband, Enzo, and daughter, Lucy 
  • She moved to Kangaroo Island earlier this year and still runs her business
  • She offers her tips for managing a business from somewhere so remote 
  • Ms McWaters says she loves working there because it brings 'clarity'

By Sophie Haslett For Daily Mail Australia

Published: | Updated:

It's a decision most can only dream of making, but entrepreneur, Emily McWaters, 34, from South Australia, has proven that it is possible to run a business far away from the traditional office, city-based sphere.

The multi-million dollar businesswoman and mum of one runs SOL Group, Australia's leading online gifting company...from a remote farm on Kangaroo Island.

After holidaying there in May 2012, she and her husband, Enzo, fell in love with the simple island life, and so they packed up and moved there earlier this year, re-locating to the exact farm where they spent their break four years ago.

Island life: Entrepreneur and mum of one, Emily McWaters (pictured), moved to Kangaroo Island earlier this year - she currently runs her multi-million dollar gifting business from its remote location

Island life: Entrepreneur and mum of one, Emily McWaters (pictured), moved to Kangaroo Island earlier this year - she currently runs her multi-million dollar gifting business from its remote location

Office to farm: She swapped her former city office lifestyle (pictured)
Natural environment: It was changed to something more in tune with nature

Office to farm: She swapped her former city office lifestyle (left) for something more natural (right), after holidaying on Kangaroo Island on a farm with her husband, Enzo, in 2012

Holiday vibes: The couple and their 15-month-old daughter now  live on the exact farm where they spent their holiday four years ago

Holiday vibes: The couple and their 15-month-old daughter now  live on the exact farm where they spent their holiday four years ago

HOW TO RUN A REMOTE BUSINESS

* Encourage your team to call, text or email at a whim rather than scheduling meetings all the time so they feel connected to you. 

* Be available on your phone and on top of your emails, always.

* Time management is key, but so is knowing when to take a break. Energy comes in ebbs and flows - don't be too hard on yourself if you don't have a good day.

* Get tech savvy and fast. Ms McWaters recommends Google Sheets, Team Viewer, Skype and Dropbox.

* All you need is a laptop and a power point to work, so get creative. Ms McWaters often works from her big old shed that overlooks their cattle yards and farm, and loves it

* Open communication and planning with your partner about when you need to work is really important, particularly if you have children.

* Find ways to switch off and don't feel guilty that you are having some downtime. Ms McWaters says she did when she first moved, but it's counter-productive. 

* Devise a schedule that suits you - not everyone suits a 9 to 5. Some people in fact work best in the middle of the night or early in the morning.

* Have a dedicated space to work, wherever you are - keep work to work.

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'Being removed from the city, and its busy ways, have given me so much clarity,' Ms McWaters tells Daily Mail Australia.

'I feel much more relaxed now. Kangaroo Island shuts down at 7pm most days, and 4pm on a Sunday. 

'While living in a city is great, it's so manic.

'Living and working on Kangaroo Island brings a steady structure to life.'

But before you go thinking Ms McWaters has taken her foot off the pedal moving to somewhere so remote, she says:

'I still work like crazy, the days just follow a different pattern.

'I communicate with people as though I am in the office, I work when my daughter is in bed, and though sometimes I spend entire days with the family, there are other days where I work for 18 hours straight.'

But, she says, when her daughter, Lucy, was six weeks old, she and her husband changed their focus towards their lifestyle:

'Before she was born I could work for days without coming up for air,' Ms McWaters says.

'But she has given me perspective and balance. I wasn't expecting to feel guilty about working when I became a mother - that was strange actually - but the supermum concept is outdated and not fair to great mums.

'It's difficult being a mother and working full time.'

Kangaroo Island: Ms McWaters moved to the stunning spot after holidaying there in 2012

Kangaroo Island: Ms McWaters moved to the stunning spot after holidaying there in 2012

Clarity comes: According to Ms McWaters, living so remotely has given her a lot of clarity when it comes to her work/life balance - she loves spending time with her daughter, Lucy (pictured)

Clarity comes: According to Ms McWaters, living so remotely has given her a lot of clarity when it comes to her work/life balance - she loves spending time with her daughter, Lucy (pictured)

Different pattern: While she says she still works 'like crazy', she also says that the days go differently - nowadays, she may spend a day working for 18 hours straight, before another off spending time with her family

Different pattern: While she says she still works 'like crazy', she also says that the days go differently - nowadays, she may spend a day working for 18 hours straight, before another off spending time with her family

Moving her super successful business to the remote Kangaroo Island - which has just 4,500 inhabitants - hasn't come without the odd challenge for Emily McWaters and her small family:

 When we drive through the town, everyone waves - everyone has accepted us

'Obviously postage and physical remoteness makes things quite hard,' she laughs. 

'When I need to see samples from China or the UK it can take ages to get here, but other than that it's all about the benefits.

'Everyone has accepted us like family here. When we drive through the town everyone waves. It's funny because no one really knows what I do yet, apart from the odd friend I've made. I think they think we're farmers!

'It's so nice to be part of an amazing community.'

Acceptance: She says that there is an amazing sense of community on Kangaroo Island, and adds that the family have been very accepted - everyone waves at everyone as they drive through the town

Acceptance: She says that there is an amazing sense of community on Kangaroo Island, and adds that the family have been very accepted - everyone waves at everyone as they drive through the town

Challenges and adversity: According to the businesswoman, the main challenges have been to do with the remote nature of Kangaroo Island
Special delivery: She says postage can take a while to get there

Challenges and adversity: According to the businesswoman, the main challenges have been to do with the remote nature of Kangaroo Island - she says postage can take a while

At present, Ms McWaters is pregnant again and soon to have her second child. Little Lucy, meanwhile, goes to the local daycare and Ms McWaters says they haven't given too much thought to schooling for their young child just yet:

'My daughter loves nature, even though she is so young, and my husband is really into fishing and farming,' she says.

'This new life suits us just perfectly.'

Great lifestyle: She says that the lifestyle is brilliant for her - she works in a big old shed that is entirely open on one side and overlooks the cattle yards - it's 'my form of heaven'

Great lifestyle: She says that the lifestyle is brilliant for her - she works in a big old shed that is entirely open on one side and overlooks the cattle yards - it's 'my form of heaven'

When it comes to tips for managing a successful business from a far-flung location, Ms McWaters has a few golden rules:

'Remain present by staying connected and encouraging your team to call, text or email at a whim rather than planning a set meeting or catch-up time,' she says.

'Time management is also key, as is knowing when to take a break.

'Most importantly, remember that all you need is a laptop and a power point - get creative! I often end up working from our big old shed that is entirely open on one side and overlooks the cattle yards and farm.

'With the dogs and chickens around, it's my form of heaven.' 

Emily McWaters is the founder and CEO of The Hamper Emporium, Gifts Australia, and Everything But Flowers.  

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