Luke Millen combines work with leisure

“My job is a dream job. I get the freedom to work my own hours so I can go surfing when I want, and I sell a product that everyone wants a part of.”

Luke Millen works as an advertising sales manager for a national surf magazine, which he also owns. “I was managing surf shops when I got approached to do the job. They knew I had the gift of the gab and thought I’d be good at selling advertising space – so it definitely helped me knowing people in the industry because it’s a really niche area to break into.

“I think it’s important to have a passion for what you do. I work in an industry that I grew up in and love, so I really know and believe in my product. Also, a lot of my clients are mates of mine, which can make it pretty funny sometimes. But it can also make it quite challenging because you do need to keep things professional.”

One of Luke’s biggest challenges is managing the budgets. “It’s a real money driven job. I don’t have a set annual financial plan, but I set myself the goal of always beating my previous year’s advertising budgets so I know that we’re constantly moving forward. That’s a good feeling because it means that I get a bigger commission and we can produce a better magazine.

“There are some awesome perks in this job as well, like when the company I work for sent me to Samoa for four weeks to write a story for the in-flight magazine on Polynesian Airlines. I took my wife with me and we basically had a free holiday surfing and travelling around Samoa. And did I mention that I have the freedom in my job to go surfing most mornings?!”

Surfing and travel aside, Luke’s work gives him a sense of achievement too. “I get real job satisfaction out of seeing a magazine come out that I’ve been a part of creating – especially when it’s something that people get stoked about.”