Michael Swift is a Lismore boy who wanted to be a helicopter pilot, and now serves some of Lismore's best fresh seafood in his Lismore CBD shop and the new store in Goonellabah. Maive McKenzie sat down with Michael to fill in the gaps.

I grew up in Lismore, went to school here, and spent a lot of time involved in sports and fishing. I have a sister who works as the manager at the shop, and my dad lives here too and works at the shop as well. Now, I live in Woombah, but I still feel connected to this region, having my business and family here. 

As a child, I was interested in fishing, football, tennis, squash, and golf—I played just about everything. I also spent a lot of time swimming and jumping off rocks at the falls. At this time, I wanted to be a helicopter pilot, but reality eventually caught up with me, and I progressed on to other paths.

I began my career as a building apprentice in town, spending two years working at Lismore Base Hospital. After that, I transitioned into working as an estimator, which I did for quite a few years.

Eventually, I decided to make a change and moved to Iluka, where I earned my skipper’s ticket and started working on a 45-foot fishing trawler. Fishing has always been something I love, so it was an enjoyable and rewarding experience.  

Using my skipper qualifications, I later moved on to work in the Whitsundays on a sailboat. I took passengers out on two-night snorkel trips, exploring the area’s beautiful waters. The winter season was the best time to be there, and so I did that for about six months.

After coming back home, I built a couple of houses before buying a trawler in 2009. From there, I started selling fish and prawns, which turned into a steady business.

About 15 years ago, I began working in the markets, starting in Kyogle and then expanding to Lismore. For over a decade, I ran a stall at the Thursday and Sunday markets, selling fresh seafood and building a solid customer base. It became a regular part of my routine and a reliable way to keep the business going.

I eventually opened a shop just three months before the flood hit. The shop was completely submerged, with about five meters of water going through it. It would take us around six months to rebuild, but we managed to reopen within three weeks with the basics all handled. I was just happy to be back and serving the community again.

We were hit by a second flood not long after, this time with about a meter of water. It set us back again, taking a few more weeks to recover. We lost a lot more equipment, stock, and other items, which made it another tough challenge to push through. Despite that, we’ve kept moving forward and are now preparing to open another shop in Goonellabah while continuing to run this one. The goal is to have the new shop ready by Christmas, and we’re optimistic about how things will go.

The business itself has been good fun. It’s great having a team you can rely on, and I’ve focused on creating a positive environment with music and strong relationships with our clientele. I make sure to keep things lighthearted and enjoyable for both staff and customers.

The drive between Woombah and Lismore gives me time to reflect, unwind, and take a bit of time for myself. The whole experience of being in Lismore has been a joy, and the support we’ve received from the community along the way has been incredible. 

One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced was going through the flood. The impact it had on the business was massive, and it took a lot of effort to recover. Aside from that, the weather is always a major issue—it affects so many aspects of the business and is a contributing factor to everything we do. 

Keeping the supply chain running smoothly is another ongoing challenge, particularly when it comes to ensuring we have good, fresh products available for our customers, and I take this very seriously. Maintaining strong working relationships with suppliers and others in the business is also crucial. It helps keep everything on track and ensures that we can manage through difficult times. 

These days, I mostly play golf and go rowing every morning in a single scull with the Iluka Rowing Club. It’s a great way to stay fit and clear my mind. I still fish occasionally, and I enjoy spending time at the beach, swimming and relaxing. It’s a nice balance to my routine and helps me unwind after work.

The biggest lessons I’ve learned are to treat people how you want to be treated, including your staff, and to always show respect. It’s important to build a culture of mutual respect, and that applies to everyone. I’ve also learned that you’re not going to be friends with everyone, and that’s just part of life. Not everyone will get along, and that’s something you have to accept. The key is maintaining professionalism and focusing on what’s best for the business and the people around you, even when you don’t see eye to eye.

Lifestyle plays an important role too. Keeping your head screwed on, getting up early, and starting the day on a positive note really helps set the tone for the rest of the day. Staying focused and keeping a positive attitude helps you stay on track and keeps things moving smoothly. It’s about creating habits that support a productive and balanced life, both personally and professionally.

The most rewarding factor for me is knowing that people enjoy my product and that I can provide something good and enjoyable for them. It’s always great to see customers satisfied with what we offer. Negative feedback is my biggest fear when it comes to that—it’s one of the biggest challenges I face. I take pride in the quality of what I provide, and the last thing I want is for someone to be disappointed.

Looking back at my career path, what I’m most proud of is achieving autonomy. Being self-employed has given me the freedom to manage my own business and integrate work into my life in a way that I truly enjoy. It’s a great feeling to go to work because I want to, not because I have to, and being able to shape my career on my terms has been incredibly rewarding.

My plan for the future is to focus on running the new shop we just opened and making sure it’s successful. I’m dedicated to getting it up and running smoothly and turning it into a success story. From there, I’ll look at other options and see where things go.