Awakenings - Lena Matheas

Every month the Spotlight is put on a select Australian woman who has either excelled in her career, and/or has established a successful or potentially successful business. Highlighted in Spotlight are business profiles, answers to useful career questions as are some quirky personal points.

Spotlight is designed to give us all inspiration and confirm that anyone can make his or her business dream or that promotion a reality...

This month read on to find out all about Lena Matheas, Owner of gift store, Awakenings.
AWAKENINGS

Awakenings Card & Bookshop in Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn, Victoria has an extensive and unique range of greeting cards, books and stationary. The extensive range of specialty greeting cards available includes local and imported designs and caters for all occasions. Proprietor Lena Matheas believes in providing a relaxing community atmosphere, with a focus on specialised and friendly customer service, while a relaxing and peaceful atmosphere provides somewhere for everyone to linger and browse.

Following 11 years in teaching, Lena took over Awakenings with the philosophy of developing a shop that had material for self-awareness, growth, motivation and to foster a positive environment that is part of Awakenings.

In the 7½ years since Lena first started trading, Awakenings has become a well-known part of the surrounding community. It has been interesting and challenging for Lena to keep up with current trends by adapting and reworking the elements of the store in order for Awakenings to be different from other card shops. There are many "little treasures" that are not found everywhere else - each item in the store has been chosen with careful thought, and reflects Lena's own love of such topics as reiki, yoga, spirituality and self awareness. There is also a specially chosen selection of music available for relaxation and meditation.


Profile

Awakenings is at 730 Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn. Drop in to see what makes Awakenings such a special place to shop. Trading Times are: Mon-Fri 10.00am - 6.00pm, Sat 10.00am - 5.00pm.

Company:
Awakenings

State:
Melbourne, Victoria

Q. Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Dandenong, Victoria

Q. What was your first job?
Selling Dairy Frost ice cream at a Kiosk

Q. What did you want to be when you were growing up?
It was a toss-up between a teacher and a hairdresser.

Q. How did you get to where you are now?
I enjoy working in/with the community and fate put me in the right place at the right time.

Q. What are you really proud of: A) personally? B) professionally?
A) Being able to share Reiki with my mum while she was terminally ill and knowing it helped to ease her fear & pain.
B) Transferring my teaching skills and experience into business, when no one would employ me and being able to survive for 7 ½ years.

Q. Do you have a claim to fame you'd like to tell us about?
Dabble in writing prose and poetry.

Q. What do you class as your biggest career achievement?
Creating a business which encompasses all my loves; art, literature, spiritual study, relaxing music and sharing this with the public, so that they leave with a touch of inspiration/motivation.

Q. How many hours a week do you work?
Between 60-70 hours

Q. Do you have any immediate plans for the future of the business that you can share with us?
Continuing to enhance the variety of self-awareness, inspirational and motivational type products to the general public, with the intention of sharing more positive ways and means of facing our sometimes very stressful days.

Q. Where would you like to be in ten years time?
Evolving in business with more of a focus on the spiritual side and exploring my writing and art.

Q. What advice would you give to somebody embarking on their first business or aspiring to achieve extraordinary career goals?
Do your homework, believe in your dreams, listen to your intuition and work with people that will support you in a positive way and go for it , to the best of your ability with the right intentions in mind.

Q. What is the best piece of advice anybody has given you?
Be yourself, keep healthy, balanced and energised, so that you can share that exchange of positive energy with those around you.


Femail's Fast Facts

Q. Who living or dead would you most like to invite to dinner and why?
Dalai Lama- to discuss his views further and to understand further some of the finer points of his philosophy.

Q. Can you name a movie that actually inspired you?
The Wizard of Oz - look for the special qualities you have within.

Q. Do you recall your favourite toy as a child?
My much loved, worn out Teddy bear.

Q. What are you reading at the moment?
Everday Enlightenment by Dan Millman ; The E-Myth Revisited by M E Gerber
The River Of Gold by Lyndsey J Mears.

Q. Is there a talent/attribute you wish you had?
I wish I could sing.

Q. Which song transports you to another place when you hear it and why?
Moondance - Van Morrison because the words and melody are happy and romantic, it always brings a smile to my face.

Q. Your favourite place in the world, and why?
Florence, Italy because of the golden glow around the city and its timeless beauty.

Q. What is your idea of the perfect Day?
Being with good friends on a sunny day, by the sea and enjoying good food, good fun, laughter and pearls of wisdom.

Q. an you tell us 5 things required for a happy healthy & enjoyable life (important to you)
Keeping a positive mental attituide through meditation and affirmations; fun & laughter; good diet; stimulating conversation and exercise.

Many thanks from the Femail.com.au team!

Awakenings is at 730 Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn. Drop in to see what makes Awakenings such a special place to shop. Trading Times are: Mon-Fri 10.00am - 6.00pm, Sat 10.00am - 5.00pm.