MWH Spotlight with Rachelle Mortensen of The Happy Me Shop.

Describe yourself in 3 words 

Hardworking, Resilient, Creative.

How do you juggle being a Mum and having a biz?

The notion of juggling is overrated!

I don’t think it’s possible to juggle all I need to do particularly with a business, a family, and my own goals and expectations. Some days I have it together and feel organised and on track, other days are just a juggling mess and I’m not sure what I should do or focus on. Being kind to myself is important and recognising what I have achieved or spent my time on really helps. And for the days I am a “juggling mess” I try and stop and take a deep breathe. When this happens, I remind myself it’s just one day.  I believe I will get the important things done eventually.

Finding an outlet for the frustration really helps me cope too. e.g gardening, movies, sitting alone in my house with nobody there! Nobody has it all together, right? That is just life and reality, and anything outside of that I think is an illusion.

Tell us about your biz and WHY you do what you do

I started a counselling business about 11 years ago. I quit my job at a non-profit agency and started with one client and now have a team of three counsellors (including me). Over this time I’ve seen the desperate struggle for families and educators to find the resources they need to really help them. Given my expertise, I would naturally find amazing products to use in hour-long therapy sessions. Clients and teachers would ask where they could get them and want to share this excitement with others. It seemed like such a natural progression to launch an online shop.

So my passion expanded to ensure that anyone in Australia has access to these products via The Happy Me Shop. My niche expertise is all about helping others to bring more calm and happy in their lives. I focus on products that support skill-building, resilience, problem solving, confidence, depression, anxiety, social skills, sensory issues, fine and gross motor skills.

If you could go back in time and offer advice to your former entrepreneur-self what would you say?

The journey is long and hard but your learning will be amazing!

What does success mean to you?

Being able to give others tools for calm and happiness. I am absolutely already there! 

What has been your hardest lesson learned?

I think the hardest lesson is to keep going when you feel you have no energy. Take breaks when needed, recharge, review and adapt how you need to proceed.

Finish this sentence – If I wasn’t my own boss right now I’d be…

… lost. I certainly don’t know what the future holds but I am exactly where I need to be right now.

What are you most proud of to date?

For following my heart and listening to my gut. I think it’s so easy to get pulled or pushed into what others are doing or think you should do –  or certainly societies expectations of woman.

Fun facts about you:

Facebook or Instagram? Facebook

Favourite TV show? Grey’s Anatomy  (I honestly do not watch TV)

Coffee or tea? Herbal Tea but loooveee the smell of coffee

Channing Tatum or Ryan Gosling? Who?? I’ll have to google …

A random fact about yourself….

I’ve lived in three states in Australia and two countries!

Meet Rachelle! 

Rachelle Mortensen is a Clinical Social Worker. She has her own counselling practice and an online shop selling unique and helpful products.  She has worked in mental health for over 15 years and specialises in working with families and educators. Rachelle thrives on providing customers with tools to bring more calm and happy into their lives, in a fun and creative way that works for them.

Website: The Happy Me Shop

Instagram: @thehappymeshop

Facebook: @thehappymeshop