Wednesday, 21 May 2025
Leighton Smith – Podcast (NewstalkZB, NZ)

I welcome you to tune in next week to podcast number 300 on Wednesday 28 May 2025, where my guest will be a local woman who helps change lives in more ways than one, starting with her own.

By way of background to my guest next week; I made a plan to go into Ponsonby and have a luncheon catch up at SPQR last week. For those that don’t know where I am talking about, it is an Auckland institution, situated on Ponsonby Rd, in Auckland.

It is Italian in theme of food and décor. On a sunny day it is nice to sit in either in the alfresco area at the front of the restaurant or outside at the front, with a view over to the city and the Sky Tower.

Now last week on Friday, it was such a day. The background music, the hum of the other patrons chatting, when I noticed a face which I hadn’t seen in a while. Instantly I was taken back to 2007 when I was sitting in exactly the same spot on a similar day with the very person I was looking at!

Gilli McKenzie and I met back in 2007, via a mutual friend from Florence. At the time Gilli had, a traditional business and looking to expand. At the luncheon she shared her vision. It sounded perfect given she wanted a dual hemisphere lifestyle.

Since that time, the world has gone through the GFC and then the hysteria of the last 4 yrs. Traditional businesses suffered in both experiences. Fast forward to last week.

I actually don’t remember the lunch, but I do remember that Gilli and I chatted until the dinner patrons arrived and I said she had to come and share her experiences with you all on a podcast.

A rollercoaster ride it has been; GFC, a 6yr illness and unable to work, winding up that company, starting another, the last hysteria, losing all financial footing, thinking couldn’t get any lower but yes, another hit.

Instead of giving up she focused on rebuilding herself, with the help of MKE, and she now has no traditional business, leads a strong team in a global venture, has a residual income stream flowing to her 24/7, living life on her own terms and resuming a dual hemisphere lifestyle.

You, my faithful listeners, know I like facts. Mrs Producer and I look forward to hosting Gilli next week on our podcast where you will all be privy to the golden egg of all information, including about MKE, which you can also use to turn your life around. See you then!