LifeTrail

 

In 2016, Didier Monot hiked the Bibbulman Track for the first time, a trail extending 1000km from Kalamunda to Albany. This led to a powerful physical and mental life transformation, which Didier seeks to share with others through LifeTrail.

Didier completed the NEIS program, now superseded by Self-Employment Assistance, in 2018 and launched Didier Walks. Over the past six years, Didier’s business has grown and evolved to become LifeTrail. We spoke with Didier to discuss his small business journey over the years and his secret to success.

Your business has evolved from Didier Walks into Life Trail; how did this change come about?

Didier Walks was affected by COVID-19, and I wasn’t sure how it would work. I relied on schools and families that were unsure how to handle the pandemic.

In the later months of 2021, I put it out there to the universe and allowed myself to be open to a new income stream. I had already taken a few people with disabilities and mental health challenges through NDIS hiking. I created Naturbility, a program specifically to service this part of the community with disabilities and mental illness. I was marketing Naturbility on Facebook NDIS groups I was a member of.

In February 2022, I received a call from an NDIS Support Coordinator. They assist NDIS participants in managing their funding. It was quite a surprise and funny conversation. She told me that a former colleague from my beautiful days at Edge Employment Solutions had dobbed me in but said not to tell me who they were.

The Support Coordinator explained to me that she had someone who needed mentoring in employment and life transition, and she had been told to ask me because I once was “amazing” at it. I told her I was humbled but had not considered returning to this role I once loved; I asked her to give me a few days to think about it. I had put it into the universe to find another income stream, and here was an option. I phoned her back a few days later and said yes. The word got out, and within a month, I had three people I was mentoring, and I loved it again, but this time, working for myself.

The name Didier Walks no longer fits the brand, and I have matured. LifeTrail seemed perfect.

What services does LifeTrail offer?

The two main services are hiking (teen multiday hikes) and mentoring (NDIS), which are then divided and sometimes overlap. Naturbility is the hiking, outdoor arm of my NDIS participants. But I also have teens with disabilities and mental illness attend my all-teen hikes.

What are some of the most important things you have learned from running a business over the years?

• I have learnt so much about myself and business.
• More faith in myself and my strengths and delegating away my barriers.
• Always have a plan, but be fluid. Sometimes, you need to stop paddling and go with the flow when you already understand the river you are on.
• Budgeting my business and personal finances – Moving from a big bank to Thriday for all of my business financial management has been a game changer.
• To be more assertive.
• I love working for myself!

 

It has been wonderful seeing your business grow and evolve over the years, what do you think the key to success has been?

Firstly, and I will always remember, I followed my instincts after my life-changing hike and spoke to someone about my business idea. Then, I allowed myself to trust someone after my divorce; Carmelina’s enthusiasm and belief in my dream changed my life, and I can still tear up about it.

Passion, resilience, determination, flexibility, asking for help, having fun, crying when required, be kind to myself not just my business and customers.

 

What are your plans for LifeTrail going forward?

At this stage, I am content where LifeTrail is; it is mostly just me. I employ someone else when necessary. 90% of new business comes from word of mouth and my reputation, and I want to keep it that way.

“Starting a business is like a long-distance hike which you must do your way, nobody else’s. Be open to walk alone for long periods of time”

Didier shares motivational and inspiring stories during his hikes. Focusing on how passion alone will not get them closer to their destination and how confidence is a necessity.

“We must not feel confident but rather be confident. Feeling confident feels nice, to be confident means being prepared, take on challenge’s and disappointments and beat them. We want to be successful not just feel it. I see this is pretty much like a business.”

You can learn more about LifeTrail through their Website and Facebook.

Find out if you are eligible to apply for Self-Employment Assistance now!

I’m Feeling Inspired