I love this photo that Jo Dissanayake from Pass The Post sent of her gorgeous family!  How happy do children Erykah 7, Xavier 3 look (and mum and dad too!).  They live in Keperra, Queensland, Australia and Jo has run her business for 3 years now.  Jo’s 37 and  originally from the UK.  There she studied a BA(Hons) Travel & Tourism from University of Luton UK, and finds the customer service, business and finance components of this useful for running her business.  She offers a range of unique mail forwarding services, handy for businesses or travellers.  You can find out more on her website (link above) or follow the Pass The Post Facebook Page.

How did you start the business?

I bought the it off a mum at school!

Life BC?  (Before Children?)

Carefree, travelled, corporate job with the Railway in the UK

Life AC? (After Children?)

Its like another life – me not at all like this now

How many hours a week do you work?

15hrs a week

One of your own favourite products?

Scan Mail

Unexpected thing about becoming a parent?

Having to put everyone elses needs in the family before my own

Unexpected things about starting a business?

The time involved after hours

Greatest wish for your children?  And your business?

To grow and prosper and become something that I am proud of

A recent proud moment?

My daughters Grade 2 report she has struggled with retained neonatal reflexes and has come on leaps and bounds since we were referred to yourbodyworks.com.au at Gordon Park (Brisbane, Australia)

Biggest recent challenge?

Getting the house ready for sale

Advice to others starting out in business?

If it feels right go for it but do your homework

A favourite resource?

Act with Love by Russ Harris

Describe your office?

The dungeon it is under the house!

Typical day?

Drop kids at school, collect and sort the mail, check email, sort the diary then prepare mail for posting and scan mail, Do the accounts, take payments, post mail and then collect kids to do the after school activities, in the middle somewhere shop for the food for dinner, prepare dinner

What do you love about having your own business?

The flexibility of beingthere for the kids if I need to be at school for sports day, assembly

A myth about being in business?

It is not an easy ride

How do you manage childminding?

I have a 7 yr old in school 5 days a week and a 3 yr old in daycare 5 days a week

Family Work Balance Tips?

Organisation is key

Thanks to Jo for sharing her story, it’s great to be adding to our Professional Parents People page so you can learn from other’s experiences of how they balance family and work. Would you like to share your story?  Contact us

If you are a working or entrepreneurial parent, why not come and join us on the Professional Parents Facebook page, we’d love to meet you!

Renee Veldman-Tentori, founder, Professional Parents