The Moxie Movement

We Bought a Business With No Money: Our 18-Year Startup Journey on The Rock

How an impulse decision, a whole lot of ignorance + arrogance, and two very determined humans built a business… and a marriage.
Episode Summary
In this raw, hilarious, and deeply honest episode, Jonny joins me on the mic as we take you behind the scenes of our 18-year adventure of buying, building, and growing The Rock  our very first business we bought together back in 2007.
And no, we didn’t buy it with a trust fund (I wish). We bought it with loose change, blind optimism, and zero clue how big of a ride we were strapping into.
From kicking each other under the table when one of us (me) accidentally said “We’ll buy it!” to survive GFC, volunteer crew realities, handwritten booking sheets, porridge-based cuisine, and running cruises on caffeine and not nearly enough sleep… we’re pulling back the curtain on all of it.
This episode is a love letter to big leaps, messy action, partnership under pressure, and what really happens when you go “all in” on a business you believe in long before you have the systems, strategy, or sleep to back it up.
 
In This Episode:
🔥 Our Impulse Buy That Changed Everything
The true story behind the night we first heard The Rock might be for sale… and how my mouth said “We’ll buy it” before my brain consulted our bank account.
🔥 What The Rock Actually Is (and why people lose their minds over it)
An overnight adventure cruise through Northland that feels like getting plugged straight into the heart of real New Zealand phosphorescence, fishing, kayaking, island hopping, stargazing, sunrise magic.
🔥 Why Ignorance + Arrogance Were Our Superpowers
We didn’t know the economy was tanking.We didn’t know compliance would explode.We didn’t know most of the crew were volunteers. (Yep. That one hurt.)
We just knew we were all in and honestly, that was enough to get us off the ground.
🔥 The Hardest Parts We Never Saw Coming
A tax bill that nearly flattened us.
Endless compliance layers (hi Maritime NZ + liquor licence + food control plan + DOC + Qualmark…).
Living on the boat, eating leftover sausages and porridge, and running purely on grit.
🔥 The Strengths We Discovered in Each Other
Jonny = calm AF under pressure, natural connector, the steady anchor our magpie-energy business needed.
Me = fast learner, fast decision-maker, systems brain, the visionary pushing us forward.
Together = unstoppable (even when completely unqualified).
🔥 What We Would Tell Our 2007 Selves
“Enjoy the ride, it's going to shape everything.” (Jonny)
“Who, not how. And pay yourself. For the love of god, pay yourself.” (Me)
🔥 The Big Lesson
Taking a big risk together isn’t just survivable, it can be fun, expansive, identity-shifting, marriage-deepening magic when you’re both all in.
Why This Matters for YOU
Whether you're sitting in business overwhelm, wondering if you’ve made the wrong choice, feeling like your vision is too big or your bank account too small, hear this:
Every successful woman I’ve ever coached has had a moment where she made a decision she “had no business making”… and it changed everything.
Your version of The Rock is calling.Your leap doesn’t have to look like ours but it does have to be yours.
Links & Resources
👉 Follow The Moxie Movement on Instagram
👉 Join us on Facebook
👉 Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode full of real talk, strategies, and stories that sound like your life.
👉 Have a question you’d love answered on the podcast? Drop it into our DMs on Instagram or Facebook your question might be featured on an upcoming episode.

When Your Brain Hits the Brakes: How to Lead Your Business Through a Low-Capacity Season

This is your permission slip to slow the hell down without losing your power.
If your brain has recently slammed on the brakes while your business is still trying to race ahead at full noise… you are not broken. You’re not failing. You’re not “less than.” You’re a woman navigating a physiological season that most business advice completely ignores.
In Episode 84, we dismantle the guilt, the shame, and the “just push harder” conditioning that so many of us carry, especially in seasons like perimenopause, pregnancy, early motherhood, or just… life being a lot.
 
This isn’t laziness.It’s biology.It’s capacity shifting.And you get to lead differently here.
What We Get Into:✔ The truth about low-capacity seasons (and why you can’t out-hustle hormones)✔ Why your capacity ≠ your capability✔ How to protect your confidence when your brain feels like mashed potatoes✔ The four energy states every woman entrepreneur cycles through✔ How to schedule your work, leadership, and life around your physiology✔ Why rest is not a luxury  it’s a leadership skill✔ The simple mindset shift that stops your business from entering survival mode✔ How lowering expectations (yes, really!) can actually boost performance across your whole business
If you’re brilliant but running on fumes…If you’re second-guessing your output…If you’re grieving the version of yourself who used to “do more”…This episode will soothe your nervous system and sharpen your leadership all at once.
Key TakeawayYou cannot outwork biology, but you can lead yourself and your business with intention in first gear, fifth gear, and everything in between.Slowing down isn't a weakness.It’s wisdom hard-earned through years of juggling business, motherhood, partnership, home life, and everything else you've carried.
Your Moxie Challenge This Week
🌿 Block rest on your calendar like it's your most important meeting🧠 Identify your high-energy window and protect it fiercely✨ Write down 3 things you’re exceptional at, even on your lowest days💛 Ask your kids (or partner) what they appreciate about you and actually let it land
And if your brain has hit the brakes lately?You’re still in the driver’s seat.You’re still leading.You’re still extraordinary.If this episode hit home… share it with a business girlfriend who’s brilliant but exhausted. She needs this reminder too.
And don’t forget:👉 Subscribe to The Moxie Movement Podcast so you never miss an episode👉 Follow us on Instagram & Facebook for daily inspiration, behind-the-scenes, and to submit your questions for upcoming episodes👉 Tag me when you’re listening  I love hearing what hits home for you
Until next time…Get sleep.Take the break.Drink the tea in the garden.And stay Moxie. 💛

Breaking Barriers, Balancing Life, and Leading with Heart with Ihipera Peters of Kaupare Law

Sarah Greener sits down with Ihipera Peters, owner of Kaupare Law a Māori-led law firm blazing trails in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Ihipera is not just a lawyer. She’s a mother of four, a wife, a cultural advocate, and a living example of what it means to run a profitable and present business without losing yourself along the way.
 
Together, Sarah and Ihipera get into the messy, beautiful reality of building a purpose-driven business while juggling family, identity, and leadership. From breaking perfectionism to redefining success, this conversation is full of truths you need to hear, big laughs, and actionable insights for any woman building her dream life on her own terms.
 
💬 What You’ll Hear in This Episode:
 
✔ Redefining Success: How Ihipera stepped away from traditional measures of “success” to build a business grounded in purpose, culture, and community.
✔ Progress Over Perfection: The mindset shift that turned a “recovering perfectionist” into a confident business owner leading with ease and authenticity.
✔ Breaking Patriarchal Norms: The courage it takes for women, especially Māori women to lead businesses in spaces still shaped by outdated systems.
✔ Team, Trust & Tau (Balance): How Kaupare Law embeds Māori values, language and wellbeing( hauora) into its structure and how it’s paying off.
✔ Motherhood Meets Leadership: How Ihipera dropped the guilt and found joy in taking time for herself, proving you can be a present mum and a profitable business owner.
✔ Ripple Effects: From her daughter’s confidence in Te Reo Māori to her team’s wellbeing programs, Ihipera’s story shows how one woman’s alignment can change an entire community.
 
💡 Key Takeaways:
“Make your why bigger than your why bother.”
Success doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s version; it's about alignment, not achievement.
The path to balance isn’t about doing less; it’s about doing what matters.
It takes a sisterhood to grow a business and surround yourself with women who get it.
💥 Quote Worth Repeating:
“You can run a profitable business, be a present mama, and still make an impact. It takes a village to raise a child and a sisterhood to grow a business.” – Ihipera Peters
 
👑 Connect & Continue the Conversation
If today’s episode spoke to you (and we know it did!), make sure to:
🔸 Subscribe to The Moxie Movement Podcast  we’ve got more real, raw, and radically honest conversations coming your way.
🔸 Follow us on ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠Facebook⁠⁠ ⁠where you can drop your questions for upcoming episodes and join our thriving community of business-savvy mums redefining success.
🔸 Tag us in your stories with your biggest takeaway we love seeing your Moxie moments!
 
🎧 Listen now to hear how Ihipera is changing the face of law one ripple, one wahine, and one courageous decision at a time.
 
#TheMoxieMovementPodcast #WomenInBusiness #WorkLifeBalance #MāoriBusiness #FemaleEntrepreneur #Mompreneur #LeadershipWithHeart
 

Your Business Isn’t Your Baby: How to Let Go and Lead Like a Boss

You wouldn’t spoon-feed your teenager, right? So why are you still spoon-feeding your business?
In this episode, I’m calling out one of the biggest mindset traps holding brilliant women back, treating your business like a baby that can’t survive without you. 👶💼
If you’re constantly checking in, fixing everyone’s mistakes, and believing that no one else can do it right you’re not leading a business; you’re parenting a codependent toddler. And that, my friend, is exhausting.
Let’s flip the script. Because your business doesn’t need a mother… It needs a leader.
💡 In this episode, you’ll discover:
✔ Why micromanaging, hovering, and “rescuing” your team keeps you stuck in the weeds. ✔ The crucial difference between parenting and leading  and how that shift transforms your team and your freedom. ✔ How to let go without letting it all fall apart (hint: structure = trust). ✔ The simple post-it strategy to identify what only YOU can do  and what you can finally delegate. ✔ The real reason “control freak tendencies” are about fear, not standards  and how to release them for good.
It’s time to stop doing $40/hour tasks when you’re a $1000/hour woman.
You didn’t build your business to be its babysitter. You built it to be free, impactful, and present  at work and at home.
So this week, I challenge you to let go of just one thing. No swooping in. No rescuing. No re-doing it yourself. Delegate it, coach through it, and let your team rise.
Because the moment you stop mothering your business… it grows up  and so do you. 🌱
💬 Let’s keep the conversation going:
👉 Subscribe to The Moxie Movement Podcast so you never miss an episode of real talk for women building businesses that work for their lives.
👉 Come hang out with me on Instagram and Facebook  share your thoughts or drop your questions for upcoming podcast episodes.
👉 Ready to stop over-functioning and start leading? Book your free Moxie Breakthrough Session and let’s get you working one day less a week in the next 40 days.
 
You are not your business’s mother. You are its leader.
Now, go lead like the badass woman you were born to be. 💪

Crisis-Proof Your Business: How to Keep It Running Without You

What happens if life sideswipes you tomorrow?Would your business keep running… or would it grind to a halt?
In this episode of The Moxie Movement Podcast, we’re looking at something most business mamas avoid: if your business only works when you’re at 100% capacity, you don’t have a business, you have a ticking time bomb.
I share: ✔ A raw client story that shows exactly why building systems isn’t a “nice to have” it’s survival. ✔ The emotional and logistical load women carry when life throws a curveball (partner injuries, sick kids, or just the reality of your cycle). ✔ How to run the “Can It Run Without Me?” test to spot the cracks in your business. ✔ My 3-step framework for crisis-proofing so your business bends (instead of breaks) when the unexpected happens.
You’ll walk away knowing how to: ✨ Protect your time, your peace, and your people. ✨ Build systems that support you when you can’t be “on.” ✨ Redefine leadership not as constant survival, but as designing a business that thrives without burning you out.
Crisis-proofing isn’t paranoia, it's leadership. It’s making sure your business, works even when you can’t.
Resources & Next Steps
💡 Ready to stop being the bottleneck? DM me on Instagram @sarahgreenercoach and let’s talk about building a business that runs without you.
🎧 Loved this episode? Make sure you subscribe to The Moxie Movement Podcast so you never miss a dose of real talk, systems that save your sanity, and stories that remind you you’re not alone.
📲 Let’s keep the conversation going! Follow me on Instagram and Facebook – and send me your questions for upcoming episodes.
 
👉 Your challenge this week: Pick ONE system in your business (onboarding, invoicing, delivery, whatever feels leaky) and start documenting it today. That’s how crisis-proofing begins.

If It’s Not Documented, It’s Not Delegated: How to Finally Free Up Your Time

Hey there, beautiful business mamas 👋 Welcome back to another episode of The Moxie Movement Podcast, your real-talk space where we’re rewriting what success looks like for women balancing business, family, and everything in between.In today’s episode, I’m looking at one the biggest reasons delegation doesn’t work in so many businesses: lack of documentation. Yep, you heard me if it’s not documented, it’s not delegated.What You’ll Learn in This Episode:✔ Why delegation without documentation is just dumping tasks and how that sets your team (and you!) up for failure. ✔ The two types of expectations your team must have in writing if you want them to thrive (and stop asking you the same damn questions). ✔ The difference between dusty SOPs that nobody reads and living systems that actually get used where the work happens. ✔ How to build your Success Map™ a one-page, game-changing framework that makes delegation lighter, faster, and more effective. ✔ Why your team wants clear systems (spoiler: it makes them feel empowered instead of micromanaged).This episode is packed with practical insights you can put to work today. Whether you’re leading a team of one or thirty, documentation is the leverage point that makes everything else flow.Because you’re not bad at delegating, you're just missing the systems to support it. And when you fix that, delegation becomes easy, your team starts stepping up, and you finally get the freedom you’ve been craving.Resources & Next Steps✨ Want my Systems Roadmap training? DM me over on Instagram @sarahgreenercoach and I’ll get it straight to you.✨ Don’t miss a single episode! Hit follow/subscribe wherever you’re listening so you get fresh, real-talk strategies every week.✨ Got a question you’d love me to cover on the podcast? Come hang with me on Instagram or Facebook and drop it in my DMs. I’d love to hear from you!If your business feels like you’re still doing all the things, this episode is your reminder: systems do the heavy lifting, not you. Let’s ditch the chaos, delegate with clarity, and build businesses that serve our lives, not the other way around.Stay moxie,Sarah 💜

Why Your Schedule Is Sabotaging Your Sales (and Your Sanity)

Ever feel like your sales are stalling and you can’t quite put your finger on why? Let me tell you a little trick to fix it: your calendar doesn’t lie.
I’m talking the unsexy truth about how your schedule and your sales are linked.  The way you spend your time tells the real story of your results. If sales are slipping, chances are your schedule is the culprit.
We’ll dig into: ✔ Why glamorising the “good times” in business can blind you to the truth. ✔ How letting the noise of the economy dictate your actions kills momentum. ✔ The Revenue-First Calendar Principle and how it saves you from last-minute, grabby “commission breath.” ✔ Why sacred time blocks for sales and strategy are your ultimate profit protectors. ✔ Real stories from clients who doubled profit and finally paid themselves six figures… even in “tough” markets.
This isn’t about working harder it’s about making sure money-making tasks actually make it onto your calendar (before the bank account screams for attention).If you’ve ever found yourself cleaning the house before following up on sales calls 🙋‍♀️… this one’s for you.
✨ Resources & Next Steps
Want help building your own Revenue-First Calendar? Inside the Done By 3 Club and the Moxie Business Advantage, we use my proven Power Hour framework to make sure you’re putting profit first every single week.
DM me your questions over on Instagram or Facebook your question might be featured on an upcoming episode!
Loved this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe to The Moxie Movement Podcast so you never miss the raw, real, and proven strategies that help you earn more while working less.
Your calendar tells the truth. Let’s make sure it’s telling the story of a profitable, present business, not one that leaves you scrambling.Stay Moxie,Sarah

Stop Hating Your Business: 3 Ways to Reset Without Burning It Down

Ever felt like the business you lovingly built has morphed into a monster that’s eating up your time, your energy, and your joy? You’re not alone, mama.
I’m opening up about one of the hardest seasons in my business journey: the time I built a business so big, so demanding, and so misaligned with my life that I ended up hating it. I’ll share how ignoring my intuition led me into burnout, boredom, and nearly half a million dollars in legal battles… and more importantly, how I clawed my way back to creating businesses that serve my life, not the other way around.
This conversation is raw, real, and packed with lessons you can take straight into your own business. If you’ve ever:
 ✔ Wondered if you should burn it all down and start again… ✔ ️ Felt trapped by a business model that doesn’t fit your life… ✔ Or just wished you could build a business that feels like a sanctuary instead of a monster…
…then this episode is for you.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
Why the environment matters and how even small changes can create massive shifts in clarity and energy.
The three ways out when you hate your business (burn it down, sell it, or reshape it).
The “dumb tax” I paid so you don’t have to and the simple decision filters I use now to avoid repeating history.
How boredom and burnout sneak into your business (and how to spot them before they wreck your joy).
The exact framework I now use (and teach inside Moxie Business Advantage + Done by 3 Club) to rebuild a business that is both profitable and present.
Why This Matters:
You don’t hate your business; you hate the way you’ve been forced to run it. And the good news? You don’t need to burn it down to fix it. You already have the pieces you need to remould, reimagine, and rebuild a business that fuels your bank account and your soul.
✨ It’s time to move from monster to sanctuary.
Keep the Conversation Going:
👉 Subscribe to The Moxie Movement Podcast so you never miss an episode.👉 Follow me on Instagram and Facebook – where you can share your biggest takeaways or even drop me a question for an upcoming episode.
Mama, your business should give you freedom, not steal it. Let’s build the sanctuary you deserve.
Until next time.Stay Moxie. 

Blending Cultures, Money Mindset, and Vision with Jonny

What happens when two people from completely different worlds come together to build a business and a life?
In this episode, Jonny and I get real about what it looks like to blend not just cultures (hello, Kiwi farm girl meets English city boy 🌍) but also wildly different money stories, risk tolerances, and visions for the future.
We unpack: ✔ How our upbringings shaped the way we each see money, risk, and security. ✔ The messy (and sometimes clashing) moments of running businesses together while raising a family. ✔ Why understanding each other’s money mindsets and natural energies has been crucial for our marriage and our business success. ✔ The turning points COVID, health scares, parenting that forced us to get radically clear on our shared vision. ✔ How designing “our life,” instead of me living Jonny’s or him living mine, changed everything.
If you’ve ever felt the tension of trying to merge different money habits, cultural backgrounds, or even just different personalities inside your relationship or business partnership, this conversation is going to feel like a deep exhale. You’ll walk away with a fresh perspective on how communication, shared vision, and a little bit of moxie can turn potential conflict into unstoppable momentum.
Building a sustainable, thriving business isn’t just about strategy it’s about aligning your values, your stories, and your vision with the people you love most.
 
Let’s Keep the Conversation Going
Loved this episode? Don’t forget to:
 👉 Subscribe to The Moxie Movement Podcast so you never miss an episode. 👉 Follow us on Instagram and Facebook that's where you can submit your burning questions for future episodes. 👉 Share this episode with another powerhouse woman in business who’s navigating life, love, and leadership she needs to hear this.
Because together, we’re rewriting what success looks like without the burnout, without the guilt, and definitely without the “second shift.”

How Stacey Went From Being On 24/7 In Her Business to Done by 3 And Paid 6 figures (Without Burning It Down)

What happens when your phone never stops ringing, you’re working 24/7, and you secretly wonder if burning the whole business down would be easier?
That was Stacey M’s reality.
Stacey, founder of Great Southern Stay in Albany, Western Australia, shares her journey from chaos to content, from “answering calls straight out of surgery” to finally paying herself a proper salary and building a business that works with her life, not against it.
Together, we dive into:
 ✔️ What it’s really like to manage 40+ holiday properties AND a family ✔️ The moment Stacey wanted to walk away from it all, business, marriage, everything ✔️ How she realised “bigger isn’t better” and let go of the magical 50-property target ✔️ The systems, boundaries, and “after-hours” team that gave her her sanity back ✔️ Why saying no (without guilt) changed her life at home and at work ✔️ The massive win of paying herself a six-figure salary after years of paying herself nothing
This is not a glossy Instagram version of success. This is the messy, real, and transformational story of a woman who built a business, nearly lost herself, and then rebuilt on her own terms.
If you’ve ever cried in your car after eight phone calls, felt guilty for wanting time away from your family, or thought you had to choose between being a good mum and a profitable business owner, Stacey’s story will hit home. (Wanna watch her journey over on Instagram join her and her team here.) 
✨ Your next steps:
 👉 Love this episode? Hit subscribe so you don’t miss the real talk and strategies. 👉 Come hang with me on Instagram and Facebook share your “aha!” moments or DM me “76” and I’ll send you the direct link. 👉 Got a burning question? DM me and it might feature in a future episode.
Because you don’t need to burn it all down. You can take what you already have and build a business that pays you properly and gives you the freedom to be present at home too.
Stay Moxie,Sarah