Who are you and what business did you start?
Leigh Hearl is a fiercely determined and energetic woman, mother and wife living on the Gold Coast, Australia with her husband. Over the years she has created several successful businesses. Now, she is following her purpose with Meg Heart.
What’s your backstory and how did you come up with the idea?
Leigh had a painful secret. Hiding it nearly destroyed her. Consumed by shame, self-doubt and despair, it was only when she broke her silence that her broken heart began to heal. She realized how many people lock their painful secrets deep down inside, soldiering on in silence and never able to move on from traumatic experiences. The simple act of sharing her story set her free, so she decided to help others, founding Meg Heart.
Meg Heart is a pseudonym. She is a voice for those who are silenced.
The team at Meg Heart believe in the power of real stories to change the world. They support authors, story-tellers and anyone who wants to break their silence.
Powerful stories about real events wake us up and ignite a conversation. They spur us on to create a better society. They might reveal our worst, but they inspire us to reach for our best. Silence imprisons. Truth sets us free.
The team create a safe space for people to break their silence and share their secrets so they can heal. Leigh also believes real stories change the world, starting the conversations we must have. How can we help a mother confronting her daughter’s suicide attempt; a husband struggling with depression; a young girl speaking up about sexual abuse during her childhood; a refugee revealing the emotional toll of seeking a new life?
Describe the process of launching the business.
It began with our purpose; to help people find their voice to heal and share their stories to heal others. From there we set about planning and writing our first project, Carbon Under Pressure.
Carbon Under Pressure is a real story about Rose, that Leigh believed the world needed to hear.
Rose’s story is shocking, riveting and unforgettable, and what happened to her could happen to anyone.
‘Rose’ cannot speak out under her real name due to laws that forbid the public disclosure of certain information in her story. She faced three choices: stay silent; tell a lesser story; or share the raw and real events from her life in a new way.
With all our upcoming stories we work through a writing, publishing and marketing process that is streamlined but can be easily adapted to suit each project.
Since launch, what has worked to attract and retain customers?
Even though we are still in the infancy stages, our ability to deliver real and raw content that not only touches people’s hearts but also educates, empowers and provides hope, sets us apart. Now has never been a more pertinent time, with the challenges we are all facing in today’s world.
How are you doing today and what does the future look like?
We are growing each week and continuing to reach more and more people.
We are excited about our future and the positive impact our projects will have on the world!
Through starting the business, have you learned anything particularly helpful or advantageous?
Trust your gut and stay aligned with your purpose.
Trust your intuition
With every decision you make in business, it’s imperative that you listen to your gut. The moment you don’t, that’s when bad decisions can be made. I’ve learnt this the hard way.
Trusting your intuition is the ultimate act of trusting yourself. If you can’t trust yourself in business then who can you trust?
Aligned with your purpose
Steering the ship can be difficult at times, especially when the seas are high and the wind is blowing in every direction. Whenever you look to change course, check to see if it is aligned with your purpose. For if it’s not, it won’t get you to where you want to dock.
What platform/tools do you use for your business?
Mailerlite, Eventbrite, Jotform, Siteground are just to name a few
What have been the most influential books, podcasts, or other resources?
The Gifts of Imperfection, Brene Brown
Words, Actions, Dehumanization and Accountability, Unlocking Us with Brene Brown
Advice for other entrepreneurs who want to get started or are just starting out?
Follow your passion and stay aligned with your purpose; when you do this, working on your business will bring you so much joy and satisfaction!
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