Think it through. Then make it happen.

Have you ever had an idea for a business or project that you've always wanted to pursue, but weren't quite sure where to begin?

I've had a few of those myself.

I'm sharing two of my own projects, House of Vamp and KISS & Co., to demonstrate how I've approached turning an idea into something more tangible. Two very different concepts, one born from a lifelong passion and the other from my professional experience.

From Roxy Design to House of Vamp

As a pre-teen growing up in 1980s Australia, with stylish European parents, I dreamed of becoming a fashion designer. I had a sketchbook full of (badly) drawn designs and even invented my own label, Roxy Design, named after Roxy from Jem and the Holograms, with her white hair, dark makeup and fabulous glam-punk attitude.

In later years, Vivienne Westwood was my idol. I loved the rebelliousness of punk, albeit with my own more sophisticated interpretation. When I moved to London, I even dyed my hair a Vivienne red, imagining a future in London's fashion scene. I ended up in banking instead — yes, even with red hair! Years later, in 2019, I finally met Vivienne Westwood, while wearing one of her creations!

My love of fashion has never disappeared.

In 2021, I began developing House of Vamp, a concept inspired by my love of extraordinary shoes, starting with interchangeable shoe accessories and ambitions for a much broader fashion house.

The name itself was part of the creative journey. Wanting to be responsible for "revamping" people's wardrobes, I explored the different meanings of vamp: the upper front of a shoe, the idea of revamping something, a glamorous, magnetic woman and even a musical phrase that invites improvisation. All of them connected to the world I wanted to create.

I researched the market, explored the opportunities, developed the business concept, brand identity, positioning and product ideas, and investigated potential routes to production.

I've built the world of House of Vamp. The next challenge is bringing it to life commercially, with the right specialist expertise, infrastructure and manufacturing. It's a passion project that continues to evolve.

From Chief of Staff to Chief of Stuff

KISS & Co. came from a very different place.

After years working alongside CEOs and senior executives, I wanted to formalise my experience into something more than a CV. To turn the breadth of what I knew and loved doing into a service that other people could benefit from.

And once again, the name mattered. KISS grew from my long-standing Keep It Simple, Sarah reminder, while Chief of Stuff became a playful way of describing the enormous variety of things — or "Stuff" — I could help people with.

The challenge wasn't inventing something entirely new. It was defining the proposition, understanding who it was for, developing the business model, positioning, brand and messaging, and making sure all the elements worked together.

I built the foundations, established the business and launched the website. But I kept questioning and refining the details, even after launch, until I felt confident that the proposition could stand on its own.

It's ready for the next stage, knowing that client feedback and commercial opportunities may well shape its future direction.

The thinking before the doing

I've often heard the advice: Just start. It doesn't need to be perfect.

There's wisdom in that. But throughout my career, from major corporate projects and new business ventures to developing my own ideas, I've seen how taking the time to think things through can save considerable time, money, energy and frustration later.

For me, it's about getting curious, asking questions, researching, challenging assumptions and joining the dots. A business or project plan isn't just about documenting what needs to happen. It's about bringing clarity to your own thinking and creating a shared understanding with the people you need to bring along.

There's an expression I sometimes use: "Good enough for government work." For me, it isn't about accepting poor quality. It's about recognising when something is fit for purpose, without chasing perfection.

Do the thinking. Get the foundations right. Then get on with making it happen.