Hi, I'm Annie.
I'm not a life coach. I'm not a business guru. I don't have a podcast or a million followers or a course that will change your life in 30 days.
What I have is 20 years of actually doing this.
I've opened restaurants, launched businesses in two countries, started the bubble tea industry in England, rebranded and ran a property management company in Vancouver. Before I became a mum I built real experience across multiple industries in multiple countries. Then my son arrived — and instead of slowing me down, he became my permanent plus one.
I didn't separate my work life from my mum life. I adjusted everything so he could be part of it. I can whip up a delicious meal in 15 minutes. But if my kid is chopping the vegetables it takes an hour. And we take the hour — every time.
He can make his own scrambled eggs, his own toast, his own soup and salsa. Not because I sat down and taught him. Because he was just always there beside me.
I didn't teach my son skills. I just never excluded him from anything.
Everything I do I've slowed down enough for him to be part of it. Cooking. Fixing. Building. Working. He helped me canvass neighbourhoods with flyers — we were playing mailman. He watched me solve problems and keep going on the hard days. He grew up knowing that work is just part of life — not something that takes you away from it.
I want to be honest about something though. My last business wasn't my passion. I didn't wake up dreaming about it. I chose it deliberately because it could flex around my life. I'd arrive at baby groups an hour early, park the car, and work while my son napped. Emails, schedules, suppliers sorted. Then we'd walk in together — fresh baby, sorted inbox, full presence.
I didn't need to love the business. I needed it to love my life.
That's not settling. That's strategy.
And this is my way — yours will look completely different. Maybe your business lives entirely in school hours and that's exactly right for you. Maybe your child sits beside you like mine did. There's no wrong version — as long as life stays in the lead.
I don't need first class. I need enough to show my son the world.
That's why I built businesses. That's why this blog exists — to write honestly about what that actually looks like, day to day, hard days included.
Not millions. Not mansions. Just enough to live fully, present, and on your own terms.
This is The Life-Led Method.
