Famously, Richard Branson (Founder of the Virgin Group) said ‘if somebody offers you an amazing opportunity, but you are not sure you can do it, say yes – then learn how to do it later’.
This is exactly the approach that led to Chloe McLeod, General Manager of Verde Nutrition Co, consolidating herself as one of the foremost experts in nutrition and dietetics in South Australia.
Chloe recently sat down with Tim Lavis on the ThirtyNiners Podcast to discuss how working as the head of nutrition at an NRL Team, and going on to run multiple businesses, was only possible by saying yes to waking up at 5:30am for an unpaid job many years earlier.
“I think having a mentality of saying yes is really important to help to get invaluable experience, because there’s a number of different things that I’ve been able to do and none of those things would have happened if I hadn’t said yes.
“My first job in the NRL was unpaid, I had to be there at 5:30am in the morning doing skin folds, while I was working my other job until about 7:00pm so those were huge days. Some people would say what’s the benefit going to be for this — but sometimes, you’ve got to start somewhere”.
The benefit for Chloe has been monumental, as her eagerness to learn by always saying yes, has led to her establishing and selling two nutrition-based businesses with the most recent being Verde Nutrition Co (where she still sits as General Manager), a business she established and sold within 2 years.
“I started Verde in January 2022, so it was two years as of January 2024. It’s been a lot quicker than I sort of planned, but I think sometimes you’ve got to take opportunities as they come, right?”
And just because the timing might not be perfect in what you have envisaged, it doesn’t mean that it’s not the right thing – sometimes you just have to go for it”.
This mentality of ‘just going for it’ and ‘saying yes’ was the catalyst for Chloe continuing to learn and grow by joining a group like the ThirtyNiners.
“I have absolutely loved joining the ThirtyNiners group and as I said to you before the podcast, I have to highlight the intelligence in the room, it’s just phenomenal”.
One of the things you often hear people say, is make sure you’re not the smartest person in the room, I’m never the smartest person in the room, so it’s awesome being able to speak to these incredible individuals, learn from them and most importantly get to know them on personal level”.
To hear Chloe’s full conversation with Tim Lavis on the power of just saying yes in business, search for the ThirtyNiners Podcast wherever you hear your podcasts.
