Some stories are meant to be shared. Jess Armstrong’s is one of them. A cancer diagnosis could have been the moment she lost herself—but instead, it became the catalyst for something bigger. Now, as the founder of FUCA Organic and a mum of two, she’s on a mission to help women prioritise themselves without the guilt.
In this 10 Questions interview, Jess shares the pivotal moments that reshaped her outlook on health, balance, and business. From overcoming mum guilt to finding the daily rituals that keep her grounded, she proves that taking care of yourself isn’t selfish—it’s essential.
Here’s what she had to say.
You've faced some major life challenges, from battling cancer to building FUCA Organic. How was the journey to now, and how did that shape who you are now?
Life can be so unpredictable, but as women we like to plan next week and the next five years if we can! So something like a cancer diagnosis can completely throw you off course. I heard this quote the other day which stuck with me “If you don’t change you get stuck in time.” This stuck with me because I didn’t want to get into that negative spiral of “Why me?”, “This is so unfair” and let cancer ruin my diagnosis ruin my life. I have definitely taken the opposite approach of trying to learn from my hardships and appreciate what’s right here in front of me and not wasting our precious time.
As a busy business owner and a mother, we all know the juggle is real. How has your experience with motherhood evolved for you over time, and what’s something you now do differently as a result of being both a mum and an entrepreneur?
I used to get a huge amount of Mum guilt for taking time out for myself and putting the kids in day care. Overtime I have realised that being a Mum is being the glue of the family and if you’re not working then everything falls apart. Kids are so much more resilient than what we give them credit for and watching their mum be happy, healthy and have a career they are passionate about is so much more valuable than what we think. Working for myself has been refreshing because it is taken away a lot of external pressures. Don’t get me wrong. I still put a lot of internal pressure on myself but having the freedom to choose my hours has been so beneficial for my entire family.
FUCA Organic’s mission is to support women, but what about you—when you’re feeling overwhelmed and need a moment of peace, how do you reset? Is there a ritual you’ve discovered that works wonders for you?
I’ve recently went to a health retreat outside of the Gold Coast and every morning at sunrise we did the practice of Qigong. It’s something that I have brought home and continued to do most mornings, and the mornings I don’t do it I definitely realise the difference in my behaviour. It is a form of moving meditation that really allows me to set my intentions for the day and calm down my very busy mind. If I have spare time I am known to choose more Yang or high intensity activities like running or cardio classes. I really need to balance that out with yoga and meditation to not overload my nervous system.
You’re an advocate for supporting women through tough times. With International Women’s Day this past week, who or what inspires you most in your journey, and who are the women that you look to for guidance or strength?
My own mother is the most giving and caring person that I know. She supports everyone in her family equally and get pure joy out of doing so. I’ve also met with so many other female founders and the energy and passion I get from them is intoxicating. As women we have this unique bond where we are so willing to help one another succeed which has been so empowering.
When you first started FUCA, what was the one thing that surprised you most about running a business, and has there been a funny or unexpected lesson along the way that you never saw coming?
Just google it! I have been so surprised by how much free information is out there for start-ups like building websites to doing your own graphic design. And of course if you don’t ask then you’ll never know.
You’ve shared your journey of health struggles and triumphs, but for the women who feel like they can’t take time for themselves, what would you say to them to help them realise they deserve to prioritise their well-being too?
If you can’t make time to be healthy, then make more time to be ill. Going through cancer treatment has made me realise that we are nothing without our health. Exercising and allowing our mind to have downtime away from children and family demands is not a privilege it’s a basic need to ensure we don’t get burn out.
What advice would you give to a woman who’s just starting her entrepreneurial journey? Any unexpected advice that you wish you’d received when you were in her shoes?
I like to use visualisation to really put that self belief into practice. Imagine yourself one year from now or five years from now. What does the business look like? What do you want to achieve? How will it change your life?
On the topic of FUCA’s natural, holistic approach, what’s something about self-care or health that you’ve learned through this journey that might surprise your community?
Above all else, sleep is the most important thing you can give your body.
Lastly, running a business, raising a family, and helping women feel better is no small feat. But in the chaos, what’s one surprising thing you’ve learned about yourself along the way?
I have learnt to slow down, but saying no to things that I don’t want to do and don’t benefit me. And saying yes to things that I never thought I would be into, like meditation and Qigong.
DO you have a favourite quote or saying that you would like to share?
Progress over perfection.
Please follow @fuca.organic and get yourself some beautiful skincare at www.fucaorganic.com - Your purchase gives back to The Breast Cancer Network Australia.
