Tomas Jajesnica built TomEQ Celebrant through the Self-Employment Assistance Program, delivered by Melbourne Innovation Centre in partnership with Business Foundations, gaining the structure, coaching and government-backed support to launch with confidence.
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When Tomas Jajesnica launched TomEQ Celebrant, he wasn't reinventing himself. He was bringing together a lifetime of public speaking with a new purpose: leading ceremonies with calm, warmth and presence. Knowing that was what he wanted to do was the easy part. Building a business around it was another matter. That's where the Self-Employment Assistance Program, delivered by Melbourne Innovation Centre, came in.
TomEQ Celebrant is a Melbourne-based celebrancy service launched by sole trader Tomas Jajesnica, a natural and seasoned public speaker with a jovial, relaxed and upbeat style. Tomas joined Melbourne Innovation Centre's Self-Employment Assistance Program at the same time as launching his business, turning a personal calling into a structured, viable one from day one.
Tomas had spent years as a public speaker, comfortable in the moments where words carry weight. Becoming a celebrant felt like a natural broadening of that repertoire rather than a career change: a chance to bring equanimity and mental balance to the ceremonies he'd lead.
Launching TomEQ Celebrant felt like a natural next step. What came next, turning that vision into a working business, was the part he still had to figure out.
Intuition told Tomas to start. It didn't tell him how.
That gap, between knowing what you want to build and knowing how to build it, is where most new businesses stall. Tomas closed it before it opened, launching TomEQ Celebrant at the same time as joining the Self-Employment Assistance Program, pairing his calling with structure: accountability, a clear framework, and government-backed financial support to steady the first uncertain steps.
Tomas says,
"The idea that a structured program was on offer with financial support from the government was a terrific way to be held accountable, and also to conduct a comprehensive plan of doing business."
Central to Tomas's experience was one-on-one coaching with his Business Coach, Lawrie, who gave him a trusted sounding board, someone who understood business and could help him test and refine his ideas.
Tomas explains,
"Lawrie was fantastic. The ability to soundboard ideas with someone who understands business proved very useful. New insights we uncovered as a result."
That guidance turned into practical results. Setting monthly financial targets gave Tomas clear measures of progress, and meeting them meant learning to vary his effort across different parts of the business. Once he'd secured a few sales, he shifted focus to delivering high-quality service. Broadening his service offering has since generated a steady flow of enquiries and led to several proposals submitted.
Tomas reflects,
"Being immersed in the business opens up many doors. It requires patience and persistence with a great vision and achievable goals. I learned different nuances when pricing services."
For anyone weighing up the program, Tomas doesn't hesitate to say:
"Do it! The structure, group dynamics and one-on-one coaching will serve you immensely. It's a comprehensive way to start a business and to set yourself up for success."
The Self-Employment Assistance Program is funded by the Australian Government and delivered by Melbourne Innovation Centre in partnership with Business Foundations across the Inner Metropolitan Melbourne Employment Region. Register now to turn your business idea into a reality.
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