Lavina Good: Top team the key to success | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua

Building a successful career is hard enough, but balancing that with bringing up a family can be even more difficult - just ask Sky Sports commentator Lavina Good.

A little nervous about interviewing golfer Tiger Woods, Good inadvertently ended the conversation with "Thanks Tigger" during her daughter's Winnie the Pooh phase.

But the Rugby League 40/20 co-host said the key to success and balance was a lesson taught to her by swimmer Michael Phelps and by her husband, Westend New World owner/operator Brendon Good - surround yourself with a great team.

"I was covering the Olympics when Michael Phelps won his eighth gold medal and all the journalists wanted to talk to him."

With the one question she was allowed, Good asked the swimmer what advice he had to offer young swimmers aspiring to his success.

"As well as talking about having to put in the hard work, he said you have to surround yourself with really good people."

She said the comment reminded her of her husband and the hard yards he put into creating a positive culture and capable management team at his store.

"He surrounds himself with people he trusts to run his business."

That took hard work and long hours when the couple bought the business about six years ago, but Good said they were now reaping the benefit.

Her job often takes her away from home for weeks at a time and Brendon is now able to take time off work to look after their three children, because he has the team in place to run the store.

She said the pair shared household chores and, while she gets glammed up for the cameras at weekends, during the week she was first and foremost a mum.

The self-confessed league addict spoke to the Rotorua Chamber of Commerce Women in Business group at the Distinction Hotel yesterday, saying that despite the time she spends with her children she feels the same inherent guilt all mothers do when she goes to work.

"I am proud of what I do and really love it, but as a mother I always feel I am not home enough and should be doing more."

Having a partner who recognises the importance of her career to her has helped tremendously.

"Brendon realises how passionate I am about my job and has never said to me 'Do you have to do it?' or 'Do you have to go away for two weeks?'. He supports me."

Their children are less understanding and will play the "Do you have to go Mummy?" card, but Good said it was getting easier as they got older and she could explain to them how her working enabled them to afford special treats or holidays.

Although she loves her work, she said television journalism was difficult because of the emphasis on aesthetics and it had taken her years to convince producers to give her a shot at presenting in the male-dominated league world.

"About 50 per cent of how I am judged is down to aesthetics - what I have worn or how my hair and make-up look."

She recalls occasions when the stylist has been off or the make-up person has been inexperienced, but her questions and delivery have been spot on, and she has been sledged for her performance.

Other times she knows she has made mistakes or asked a silly question, but people have commended her on her report because she looked good.

That said, Good said television journalism was "the most invigorating and exciting industry".

"When you get the call in your earpiece that you are going live in five seconds and everything that has been going through your head comes together and you have to deliver to a whole country watching - I love it and I live for it."