Navigating Crossroads with Sally Watson
Ep.34 - The Accidental Entrepreneur with Ilona Teremi
What if some of the best opportunities in business are the ones you never planned for? Ilona Teremi describes herself as an accidental entrepreneur. After 26 years as a commercial lawyer, becoming a business owner wasn't part of some carefully mapped-out plan. It started with a conversation, an unexpected opportunity and a willingness to say yes. That decision became one of many sliding-door moments that would eventually lead Ilona and her husband Michael to become the franchise owners of BNI Gold Coast to Tweed. In this episode of Creators Conversations, Ilona shares the journey behind the business, from starting her own law firm and discovering BNI while looking for clients, to moving to the Gold Coast, buying another business and eventually stepping into the organisation she now leads. But this conversation is about much more than networking. We talk about being open to the opportunities you don't see coming, having the confidence to take a leap of faith, and surrounding yourself with people who sometimes see possibilities for you before you can see them for yourself. Ilona also shares a philosophy that has served her throughout her career: If you don't ask, the answer is always no. We explore the importance of asking for help, knowing your strengths, leaning on the expertise of others and allowing people to support you along the way. And we talk about something I want to normalise for women in business, celebrating ourselves. Ilona shares why she believes more business owners should put themselves forward for awards, not simply for the recognition, but because the process forces us to stop, look back and acknowledge just how much we've actually achieved. In this episode, we chat about: How Ilona became an "accidental entrepreneur" after 26 years as a commercial lawyer The sliding-door moments that shaped her career and business journey Why being open to opportunity has played such a big role in her success Having the confidence to say yes and take a leap of faith Why "if you don't ask, the answer is always no" The power of having the right people around you in business Asking for help and leaning into the expertise of others Why Ilona believes business owners should put themselves forward for recognition and awards Taking the time to acknowledge how far you've come The challenge of looking after your energy when you're someone who loves to work hard Gratitude, personal growth and making sure you evolve alongside your business The power of community, connection and referrals in growing a sustainable business Ilona's story is a beautiful reminder that we don't always need to know exactly where we're going. Sometimes we just need to stay curious, surround ourselves with good people and be open to the opportunities we didn't see coming. Connect with Illona Teremi Website: https://bnigoldcoast.com.au/en-AU/index LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilonateremi/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ilona.teremi.9 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ilonateremi/
