Samantha (Sam) Muller lives on a 120 acre beef property at Barkers Vale near Kyogle on the Far North Coast of NSW. She and her husband Ross chose to swap the fast Gold Coast city life for a smaller country town hoping it would provide more time for family and community activities. Sam plays an active part in her community, chairing committees and helping to drive sustainable economic and social growth for the town. She runs her own farm-based business consultancy which provides support, advice and training on business planning and marketing. Sam has also found time to build a permaculture garden and she breeds and sells chickens for a hobby.

What gave you the motivation/inspiration to follow your dream?

I have learned never to doubt belief in myself, and I maintain the mantra: ‘If you believe, you can achieve’. I was told these words of wisdom at a critical stage of my personal development and have never forgotten them. My husband is also a big support and has always shown great faith in me, never questioning why or how I am going to do things. It was my idea to move from the Gold Coast to the country and he has embraced the idea and gone with it.

At what point did you realise that your dream was actually possible and what was it that made you think you could really do it?

My dream to move from the city to the country developed over a few years of working ourselves into the ground. While living on the Gold Coast we ran a seven-day-a-week business. We worked all the time and saw little of our two children Madison and Mackenzie, and they didn’t see much of us. They were always with my parents, and we really began to suffer as a family under the strain. I remember waking up one day and simply decided this madness had to stop. We put the business on the market the next day, sold it within a week, and moved to Kyogle two months later. We chose Kyogle by drawing a circle on the map to ‘scope’ rural areas within a one and a half hours’ drive of the Coast. We wanted to keep ties with family and friends, and Kyogle was perfect in so many ways. It all just fell into place because I believed it would happen and more importantly made it happen.

When you were a child, what did you want to ‘be’ when you grew up?

I wanted to be a teacher. I studied teaching but soon realised I wasn’t the type of person who could stay in one job for too long. Over the years I’ve worked in marketing, retail, event management and the wedding industry. I find my teacher experience is not wasted and I use these skills most days. If I lived my life over I wouldn’t change a thing.

How did your childhood influence you in later life?

I am one of four kids. My mum stayed at home to look after us, and so didn’t pursue her own career outside raising the family. My parents were hardworking middle-class people who owned lots of businesses including a fruit and vegetable wholesale delivery enterprise, a takeaway shop, importing computer safety devices, retail shops, and an electrical contractor business to name a few. I also learnt a lot about how to run a business because my siblings and I were always involved in some way – packing, cleaning, sorting and eating! My parents always encouraged me to try everything – and I did. Mum showed me the value of nurturing the family, and Dad taught me the value of having a good work ethic. Through their everyday life I learned how hard work, a good idea and belief in oneself are critical ingredients to making a business successful. The cycle has now gone full circle, as I involve my kids in our home and work activities.

Who are your role models?

Jack Hurley, a local successful businessman and well-known identity from Kyogle, has left a lasting impression on me. He had such a passion for people and taught me what it means to fight for things you believe in and to not just focus on things that provide a personal benefit. He did much to help the community and I miss his influence and wisdom now he is no longer alive.

Oprah Winfrey is a high-profile woman who provides inspiration to many. For me, it is not so much what she says but what she does by communicating, motivating and encouraging women all over the world.

Young Entrepreneurs is another important and amazing group. I just love being around young people who remind me to ignite my passion and never let go of the dream.

What does success mean to you?

Success means having the freedom to travel, to spend time with my family and to have time to be still. It isn’t about money, it is about living the moment.

What has been one of the biggest barriers you have had to face, what happened, and how did you overcome it?

Having enough time remains one of my biggest challenges. I find I am constantly juggling being the best mother I can be while trying to put 150 per cent into my career and contributing to my community. I am heavily involved in volunteering with Kyogle community projects and there never seems to be enough time to do all the things I need and want to do.

I am currently the Chair of the Kyogle Community Economic Development Committee, which is a group of amazing people who focus on supporting the town’s growth through a range of activities. Currently we are organising a massive event to showcase Kyogle to south-east Queensland people, with farm tours and entertainment over three days. It is very time consuming, but will be worth the effort. I am also the Chair of Kyogle Community Technology Centre and was a mentor for a Women in Business project, teaching women how to run and grow a business.

My consultancy takes me all over the Northern Rivers and into south-east Queensland too, so I am on the road for a big part of the week now. I am currently setting up technological ‘aids’, such as webcam, to minimise the need to travel. I have contracted a ‘virtual office assistant’ who is another farm woman living 80 km away. I can speak into the voice recorder whilst driving and instead of having to do tasks when I get home, I now email her an MP3 voice file and it gets done! Technology is helping me to work smarter.

Having a very supportive husband has certainly helped me to cope with these many demands. He is the primary carer – doing the lunches, washing, grocery shopping and maintaining the farm. He always laughs about the fact that I am the one who loves chooks and breeds them, but because I am away so much he ends up looking after them!

No matter what, I try to at least start my day with a visit to my ‘girls’ – the gorgeous chooks I breed. It is really grounding because it reminds me why we came out here in the first place. On weekends I spend hours with the kids in the permaculture garden we have made together, and we plant things, pick food, and eat straight from the garden too. It is a really lovely, special time that is quite sacred in our family.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years time? What is your vision for the future?

Ten years is a long time for me, as I don’t do any one thing for very long! I will certainly still be living in the country as I can’t see myself ever going back to the city. My kids will be older and ready to leave school. The orchard we planted the first few months we moved here should be bearing fruit. It includes native and local fruits such as the ice-cream bean, sapotes, star fruit, apples, oranges, bananas, grapes and blueberries. The orchard symbolises our commitment to staying in one place and putting in effort every week even though it will be years before we get anything back. It is very grounding. Hopefully, in 10 years I will also be wiser, as each day brings so many lessons, especially about living on the land.

What would you like to say to other women who may be just starting out on a ‘Daring to Dream’ journey?

Just do it, surround yourself with other great women and people who inspire you. There are so many people who will tell you the reasons not to do something … but listen to your heart and go for it!