A former international broadcaster, Simone Heng is a human connection specialist who inspires people to connect in a world thirsty for connection.
We love entrepreneurs and small business owners at Honeycombers, which is why we’ve created Launchpad, a comprehensive digital networking platform (with IRL benefits, too) that encourages connection, business support and community. It’s a privilege and pleasure to learn from so many talented and inspiring folks, so we’ve decided to share the love by interviewing some of the lovely Launchpad members. Looking for inspiration? Check out how Simone Heng, a human connection specialist and author of “Secret Pandemic: The Search for Connection in a Lonely World”, gets it done like a boss.
How I get it done: Simone Heng
What is your backstory and why did you decide to launch your business?
I set out to become a speaker because I was working in a very disconnected workplace. I saw how people that were disconnected couldn’t create content that resonated and landed with their audience. I realised this could be an issue facing larger international organisations. At the same time, I was witnessing how my mother’s degenerative disease prevented her from connecting not just with loved ones, but also with herself. She couldn’t recall memories of my father dying and was forgetting the days and times of the week.
Everywhere I looked, this message of human connection needed to be shared. So in July 2019, just before the pandemic, I set up my business. I had to pivot during the pandemic to offer a whole array of coaching services for presentation skills and set up my membership Courageous Speaking in May 2020. Now, as travel comes back, it’s wonderful to be doing the work I initially set up the business for: speaking on global stages for organisations on this topic. My book is currently a bestseller.
On a typical morning
I get up around 7am to take my dogs for a walk and pick up a smoothie. I get back around 9am and if the day isn’t too crazy I do a workout. At 10am, I post my daily LinkedIn content. I shower and sit down for the day with my high-performance journal and map the whole day. There’s normally a call for a briefing with a client or with my team from 11am to midday. I eat lunch at 12 sharp daily. I get my meals delivered from a meal subscription program.
On dealing with self-doubt and criticism
When I first started the business, I was very insecure about it all and didn’t know if it would work. I soon learned that the way to overcome this was just to “do”. When we get things done, even small steps towards our vision, it creates momentum which leads to more momentum. So I think the answer for me, and how I deal with it, is just to constantly take small steps and not get overwhelmed by the larger vision.
In terms of criticism from others, I have a rule that I only take on advice about my life from people who I believe are rocking it and have experience in similar fields. For the rest, I smile and nod and am always polite, but I try not to take it on or it generally derails me.
On keeping stress levels low
I think travel recently has really helped. In the absence of this during the pandemic, the answer for me was to take a walk and ground in nature. Recently, during the book launch, I was really overwhelmed and during these moments I talk to my counsellor.
On staying motivated and energised
I take on projects that light me up and excite me. Not all of these are big money makers but they keep the work interesting for me and that, as a creative, I find very helpful to stay motivated in the work I do on human connection.
On the advice you’d give your younger self
Leave your full-time job. You were never meant to be an employee, you were born to be an entrepreneur.
On winding down in the evening
I try to stop work at 6pm and this enables me to get better rest and sleep. I generally read or sink into some truly vacuous Netflix shows and it reminds me that life doesn’t have to be so serious.
Get in touch with Simone Heng online.
Launchpad is a comprehensive digital networking platform (with IRL benefits, too) that encourages connection, business support and community. It is designed to make the entrepreneurial journey not only easier, and more successful, but also a whole lot more fun. We offer almost daily activities for members to connect, along with weekly masterclasses, member networking roulette, small-business mentoring and media profiles on Honeycombers. Check it out and join us!
