From July 2020 - March 2022, I worked really, really hard on achieving a big goal and having a huge impact on the world. By March 2022, when we’d achieved that goal, I was tired. I was burnt out. I wanted to set my next goals and really inspire myself.

So I started looking for bootcamps, retreats and vision quests I could join.

I didn’t find one that fit all my criteria and really resonated with me. So I decided to design my own.

I started designing. After I started designing, I sat down to do my course.

It was really hard to sit down and do my own vision quest or life purpose course by myself in my own time. I decided I needed community - to gather some friends together over a weekend and sit and do my life purpose course with them.

I told some friends about it. They said it sounded great! In fact, most people I told thought it sounded great - and the friends they told also thought it sounded great. It was great, great, great, all around. :)

A friend of mine was going to Europe for a month so she said, “let’s do it when I get back”. So I waited for her to get back. When she got back, I asked my other friend when she was free in July. “Before 13 July” - she was going away to Europe after that. So on 1 July, we decided we would hold the event on 8-9 July.

It was super fun.  Just 5 people.  People could share as much or as little as they wanted.  Chatham House rules.  We curated a series of questions and a variety of activities.  And over 23 hours, with vulnerability, comparison and curiosity, we each reflected on our pasts and explored our paths going forwards.

I think one of the biggest things I got from the event, was community and connection. Being seen, feeling heard.

I’m reminded of the quote, “the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes “Awww!” ― Jack Kerouac, On the Road

I’m reminded of the most authentic and compassionate people I’ve met in my life. Just random people I met at various conferences who’s willingness to be unabashedly themselves made them the most charming people. To reveal yourself to others and be accepted as you are and to accept them in return for who they are. Those are the kinds of people and relationships I’m hungry for in my life. That’s the kind of person I want to be.

I decided that the “Life Purpose” name ideal of the retreat was too lofty a goal, and decided instead people coming away with action items for the next year and a general life direction for the next 5 years would be achievable. So that’s what we did.

I highly recommend everyone organise a “Life Purpose” event with their friends to bring connection and community to your lives. Everyone wants to be seen and loved, just as they are.

Now the 5 of us are going back into the world and into our lives with just a bit more clarity, more confidence and more purpose.  I had a lot of fun, feel closer to my 4 other friends, and I look forward to holding one of these again in a year!

Officeworks got in touch to film this short content editorial piece.

They filmed a Robogals workshop in Melbourne, our Jevaroo robot in action and an interview with me.

The aesthetics of this 2-minute piece turned out really nicely!

They also did a Q&A with me about my motivations and journey from my childhood in Cairns and how I progressed from there!  You can access the Q&A here.

Thank you Economic Alliance Snohomish County for giving me a standing ovation!

I was invited an hour north of Seattle to Snohomish County by Economic Alliance Snohomish County, to their Economic Forecast & Annual Meeting, an event which provides the business community with a forecast for the economy to plan their strategy and outlook.  It was their first in-person annual meeting since May 2019!

I enjoyed listening to the economist talk abut trends and statistics in the world and their impact on the region and the region’s industries.

I then followed that by speaking about entrepreneurship, starting something from nothing, and that change can come from anywhere. The audience really enjoyed my message and gave me a standing ovation! I’m glad I connected with the audience on such a deep level.

After my speech, the organizers offered to show me Snohomish County.

I was taken to the famous Skagit Tulip Fields. It was jaw-droppingly beautiful. I think the experience of keeping my houseplants alive during the pandemic has made me appreciate flowers a whole lot more.

It brought me so much joy to wander amongst the stunning rows of tulips of so many vibrant colours.

We then drove to a field filled with red tulips my host wanted to show me - she had seen them there 3 days prior over the weekend.

After a few minutes of driving and her saying, “we should have passed them by now.” She realized that we were in the right place.

We were in red tulip zone. But the farmers had already culled the once impeccable red tulips.

Everything is ephemeral. Nothing is permanent. Enjoy the beauty in your life while it is there.

She then took me to the famous Deception Pass Bridge. Because it was a weekday, this popular tourist attraction was deserted, and we had full reign!

It was so beautiful. I loved seeing the gentle waters converge into an angry tornado of rapids, against a stunning Seattle backdrop of mountains and cliffs.

Next, we hiked up a trail on Rosario Beach and took in breathtaking views of a gorgeous sunset, docile waves and charming beach houses. How lucky I am - what a life!

Jevaroo’s neck is my favorite part of the robot.

Jevaroo’s neck has a movement range of 25cm, allowing Jevaroo to reach for objects up to 170cm high while outstretched at full extension, and all the way down on the floor at no extension.  It is able to do that due to the innovative double linear actuator design, which creates a levered effect.

When both linear actuators move at the same height and the same speed, the limb is able to travel up and down uniformly in order to hold for example, a container of liquid steadily at the same height without spillage.  In fact, even when the linear actuators move in uniform in the same direction at different heights, the robot limb is able to maintain its end-effector position - Jevaroo would still be able to maintain its end-effector position as it moves around. 

To change the angle of the limb, one linear actuator may be stationary, while the other is in motion, changing the tilt angle for the entire limb.  To increase the speed of change for the end effector to get into its new position, both linear actuators may move in opposition directions. 

The linear actuators are capable of great speeds and great forces, while being bottom-heavy, with the motors of the linear actuator at the base of the robot, increasing stability.  The levered design is an inspired choice, increasing motion capability, increasing the robot’s upward force and adding stability against loads on the robot arm.

A robot friend suggested we go and get our nails painted by a robot!  So we went and did that!  The first time I saw a nail painting robot was at CES 2018.  A tiny 3D printer printing designs onto fingernails. 

The woman at the booth wouldn’t let me try because I didn’t work at a makeup or a fashion company.  When she asked where I was from, I said Australia, and she didn’t seem to like that!  :)

CES 2018 where I first encountered a nail polish robot, but wasn't allowed to try the experience.

Fast forward a few years, and we can now get our nails painted at the local Target!  So I paid the $5 intro fee via the app, chose my nail polish colour and waited for 3 people before me to go.  When it was my turn, the assistant swapped out the nail polish colours, I sat down and I inserted my hand into the machine.  As my hand entered the machine, a strap gently tightened around my hand to hold it in place.  You're meant to relax your hand and fingers as much as you can, so you move it the least amount possible.  You place one finger at a time. 

At the Target

Press a button to tell the machine you’re ready and it takes 250 photos of your finger nail, to figure out the xyz-positions of where to put the nail polish resin.  It then prints out a series of dots on a blot paper to get rid of air holes in the nail polish bottle, and then applies nail polish to your fingernail - like a 3D printer applies filament!  It was really cool!  But if you moved just a little bit between the time the photos were taken and the application, then the nail polish would be a little off.  The robot starts with the fingernail’s outline and works its way to the centre, by drawing the largest perimeter in the unpolished area each time, like a snail.  The machine only applies one layer of nail polish quite thickly, making it super quick!  You then take your entire hand out, readjust, and repeat the same process for the next fingernail!

My fingernail getting painted.  You can see the extruder over my nail,
laying down the resin.  You can see the yellow blot paper in the background. 

You can do all 10 fingers in 10 minutes if you’re very relaxed and don’t move your fingers!  I wasn't happy with the results for two of my fingers, so the assistant used nail polish remover and the robot went again.

After the robot had finished with both hands, the assistant then finished up by applying drops of lacquer drying drops to each finger to smooth out any ridges and inconsistencies and to accelerate the drying process.

Right now, it’s $8 for a follow-up session within 3 weeks, or $10 usually.

I really liked the range of colours to choose from, having the assistant there was reassuring and elevated the user-experience, and it was a super fun social activity to do with a girlfriend!  I didn't manage to get an after shot of my nails because I was waving them around to dry!  But here's my friend's after robot-nail shot.