The Dish Pig Diaries

I have worn a lot of hats in my life. Supermarket checkout chick. Ballet teacher. Management accountant. Crafty café owner. And for the last 12 years, I have run a successful bookkeeping practice that’s more spreadsheet than spatula. I’m confident in my business skill set. I know my numbers, my niche, and my knack for helping others build scalable, saleable businesses and practices.

But this week, I got a call that shook me up.

My son owns a thriving café in Newstead, Brisbane. He’s got a great team, but thanks to the perfect storm of vacations and sickness, he was short-staffed. We got a late-night emergency call asking us to help him out the next day. Cue the butterflies—my stomach turned into a springtime meadow.

I love supporting my kids, but I was scared. Scared to let him down. Scared to mess up his baby. Scared I’d drop a tray of smashed avo and become the family meme.

But we pitched in.

My lovely hubby took front of house. I was the kitchen hand and dish pig. My son did everything else—cooking, coordinating, and charming customers like a true hospitality ninja.

And you know what? It was fun.

We worked well as a team. I didn’t drop anything and I didn’t break anything. That’s a better record than most days in the office, to be honest.

It reminded me that stepping out of your comfort zone doesn’t have to mean leaping off a cliff. Sometimes it’s just saying yes to something that makes your stomach flutter. Sometimes it’s washing dishes in a café you didn’t plan to work in. Sometimes it’s letting go of the fear of failure and leaning into the joy of showing up.

So, I was thinking about some small ways all of us could step out of our comfort zone in business. If you’re feeling stuck or safe, here are a few gentle nudges to shake things up:

• Say yes to something you’d normally say no to. A podcast interview, a guest blog, a networking event (even if you hate small talk).
• Swap roles for a day. Let your team lead a meeting. Try a task you usually delegate.
• Launch something imperfect. A new service, a downloadable guide, a cheeky reel. Done is better than perfect.
• Ask for feedback. From a client, a peer, or someone who’ll be honest but kind.
• Collaborate with someone unexpected. A florist, a café owner, a fellow bookkeeper with a different vibe.

Stepping out doesn’t mean stepping away from who you are. It means expanding the edges of your confidence and seeing what’s possible when you do.

And if all else fails—grab a dish cloth and get scrubbing. You might surprise yourself.

Stay chill and hit the beach!