Kate Toon is an award-winning entrepreneur, author and digital marketing expert. But in 2024, after building a thriving online business, she did something unexpected; she bought a struggling bookshop in her beachside town of Umina Beach.
In this honest and entertaining conversation, Kate shares how burnout, curiosity, and a craving for real-world connection led her to make a bold pivot from online courses and passive income to running a bricks-and-mortar bookshop.
We talk about the risks, the realities, and the rewards of stepping into something completely different.
Kate also opens up about the early days of motherhood and business, how much pressure we put on ourselves to "do it all", and why her book Six Figures in School Hours is really about letting go of guilt and embracing what’s realistic.
Kate's journey from the UK to Australia as a backpacker
Why her book ‘Six Figures in School Hours’ is really a book about working parents having forgiveness, not hustle
The bold (and slightly mad) decision to buy a struggling bookshop
The real numbers behind digital business vs bricks-and-mortar retail
How motherhood reshaped Kate’s relationship with work, identity, and ambition
The importance of doing things that bring joy, even if they don’t “scale”
Why reinvention doesn’t need a 5-year plan; just a willingness to take the next step
Whether you’re a business owner craving a change, a parent trying to balance it all, or just someone who loves a good reinvention story; this episode is full of wisdom, warmth, and plenty of laughs along the way.
For more information on Kate Toon:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/katetoon/
The Umina Beach Book Nook: https://uminabeachbooknook.com.au/
