Wollongong businessman Steven Dixon impressed the June Illawarra Women In Business (IWIB) networking lunch with his story of never giving up.
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IWIB director Glenda Papac introduced Mr Dixon by outlining how far he had come since 2006 when he had less than $500 in the bank.
Mr Dixon shared his journey and the seven success principles that helped him shape and transform his business into one that now employs 40 staff in four countries.
He spoke of how he saved his Wollongong clothing business by starting a garment factory in Fiji when he was almost down to his last dollar.
"On the 10th of January 2006 I was sitting at a bus stop in Nadi and I was looking for the sign that said rock bottom, because that was where I was," he said.
"I had been to Fiji four times in six months to set up a relationship with someone to manufacture our custom-made school uniforms and sport uniforms.
"A lot of people had promised me a lot and delivered nothing. It was about 11.30 in the morning ... and I thought 'This is it, you are done'. I could feel the tears in my eyes starting to well up and as I raised my hands to cover my eyes.
"I saw the top of a tattoo I got a few years earlier which said 'Never give up'. The reason I got the tattoo was because I know how hard it is in business."
Mr Dixon had just 24 hours in Fiji to set up a manufacturing relationship before returning to Wollongong and his customers the next day.
He decided to take the advice and keep trying.
"I got in the first cab I could find because I made the decision that I was going to start my own factory. I thought 'This is my life, I am going to play it my way'." He made that decision about noon and by 1pm had found someone who could supply him with fabric.
At 2pm he bought some old sewing machines and started searching for staff.
He asked a woman to be his factory manager and when he said he needed two more machinists she found some friends.
An hour later Mr Dixon bought seven rolls of fabric - all he could afford - and by 4pm he found premises to rent.
At 5pm he registered Dixon Clothing Fiji and at 6pm he went back to his hotel room.
He had a surge of energy, renewed enthusiasm and determination to take the momentum and move forward without having to rely on anyone else.
Mr Dixon said that experience showed that a normal bloke who chose to follow his dream with passion, persistence and desire to succeed could not easily be beaten.
Today the Dixon Clothing Group has four divisions. Mr Dixon recently founded another company called Breakthrough4Business which coaches individuals and companies and hosts events with guest speakers flown in from around Australia.
The underlying principle Mr Dixon promotes is that people can be whatever they want if they are prepared to make sacrifices and follow their dream.