That sense of satisfaction, the sense that you’ve helped make someone’s day - that is what Nearby is all about.

When I first started the Facebook group Odd Jobb, I never expected it to become a ‘thing’. I was running three businesses from home, caring for two children and trying to keep on top of my housework. Weeding the garden was last on my list of priorities. I could have gone and employed a gardener but I didn’t want someone regular, I just wanted someone to come in while I had a lot on my plate and help me out.

So I posted an advertisement on Facebook and, as cliché as it sounds- the rest is history. Odd Jobb quickly grew into a 3000-strong community.

The feedback was phenomenal. Hearing stories like ‘I was able to use the money to feed my kids that night’, or ‘being in a clean house just gave me the boost I needed to get out of bed for the day,’ really gave me an insight into what I wanted this business to be. To me, Nearby had to be more than just exchanging money for services. As one member put it, ‘it’s like you’re bringing communities back to what they used to be’.

That really spoke to me. When I applied for Lightning Lab (a prestigious business accelerator programme specifically for women), I knew that this was something that our community needed. This was something that was so much more than just a Facebook group.

To say it wasn’t easy is an understatement. I had to leave my husband, daughters and business in Whangarei to spend four months in Wellington. But I have a belief that when you reach a state of financial independence, or find yourself in place of authority- you have an opportunity to serve others, not have others serve you.

This was my chance to serve others. Nearby was a platform I could create to help our community become a better place. Sacrificing my time was the least I could do.