After getting married, Nicole Murray made a decision to become involved in her husband’s family business, Murray’s Fish and Jerk Hut. But she did not abandon a successful career in the financial industry that started at Scotiabank. Instead, for the past 10 years as managing director of the family’s restaurant operation, Murray has been balancing her roles as a business owner and a life insurance advisor at Sagicor.

The restaurant was established in 1998 by both Murray’s father-in-law and mother-in-law, pioneers of freshwater fish farming in Jamaica, who opened the eatery to dispel negative preconceptions of the tilapia fish reared on such farms. Courtney, Murray’s husband, took over the reins of the restaurant after returning from college, expanding the operation by selling fish to hotels and businesses. He played a crucial role in transforming the business into a prominent destination and distinctive brand in Clarendon.

“We have a lot of dining space,” Murray said. “We have a bar area which is, of course, an Appleton bar. We’re in partnership with Appleton and dining in that area is for about 50 persons. And then we have extended dining outdoors so you have the fresh air on the outside and you have ample space.”

The manager also described the restaurant as a magnetic destination for families who like to park and eat their meals in their cars.

With her husband as the CEO, Murray’s role as managing director centres on customer service and the structure of the organisation.

“My focus is ensuring that we have systems in place so that we can have an active flow as it relates to our day to day business activities,” she said.

It is a job for which she professes great passion and yet, at the same time, she has a whole other career to which she is equally devoted.

Murray has remained active in the financial industry as a life insurance and financial advisor at Sagicor, a role she took up after leaving Scotiabank to dedicate time to the family business. The position at Sagicor, however, offered her the flexibility of working from home allowing her to both run the restaurant and maintain her previous career path which she asserts is in her DNA.

But is balancing her time enough to maintain the energy and drive required to pursue two careers? What becomes apparent as Murray continues to talk about her dual role is that the key lies not just in balancing time but in balancing passions.

“I take pride in what I do and the reason why I take pride in what I do is that if you love what you do, you never work a day in your life,” professed the advisor, who for eight consecutive years qualified for the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), which recognises top-performing life insurance and financial services professionals internationally. “I love the fact that I am giving advice to individuals that in the long run is going to help them to become financially better off. I’m helping them to build their financial portfolios. I am helping them to ensure that their estates, their financial well-being, are somewhat in a better place.”

It is a customer-centric approach that provides the avenue for balancing her passions. It allows her to envision her work, not as two separate jobs, but as what she sees as serving one set of customers, be they the restaurant’s clients or her life insurance clients. Whether she is talking about one group or the other there is a unified theme of serving people.

“Each of us deserve the same level of service,” Murray insisted. “I believe that customer service is the epitome of quality and excellence and a positive customer service experience is crucial to the success of any business. Whatever business I do, wherever I go, I must leave a mark and a legacy. I want to make the best of marketing to ensure that customers come back. And they are the same people who buy into your business, who come to support your business. [Those] who come to buy insurance from me are the same people who are going to promote my [restaurant] business, are the same people who are going to say ‘hey, Murray’s is the place to go’ or ‘you want insurance then don’t talk to anybody but Nicky’.”

“A customer is someone who is loyal to your company,” she continued. “And they are the ones who are going to promote your business to different types of markets.”

But the loyalty runs in the other direction as well, which is evident in the dedication Murray has to her clients and the way she speaks about the profound impact of insurance on their lives, recounting how she convinced a taxi operator, initially sceptical due to financial constraints, to invest in life insurance. The man later passed away, leaving an $8-million life insurance benefit for his family, initially unbeknownst to his wife, providing a strong financial foundation.

The life insurance professional emphasises the emotional connection to her job, expressing joy in being instrumental in such life-changing plans.

And the same deep affinity extends to her work with Murray’s Fish and Jerk Hut when she relates with pride how the company grew its client base by expanding into catering in 2011 and partnering with Wright Image Entertainment to cater to Dream Weekend. The company also extends its catering services to other parties and events, an arm of the business that has accommodated thousands of people over the past 10 years, contributing significantly to the growth and recognition of the restaurant.

They also host their own event, ‘Chillin’ on the Farm’, a successful collaboration with Wright Image, held three times a year. Additionally, Murray’s hosts the annual “Chillin’ Brunch” in December. The venue is open to renting for various occasions.

The business woman’s passion for service does not end with the customers of the restaurant, nor does it stop at her insurance clients. Service, most importantly, extends to family, and Murray underscores the importance of contributing to family.

The wife and mother of seven children is also a daughter.

“I have a mom and I want to be able to contribute to her well-being and take care of her,” she expressed. “I want to treat my husband at times. I want to treat him to a gift. I want to make investments together. I want to treat my kids, once I do well. I do embrace family and it’s very important we pray together. So the family that prays together, stays together. It’s very important to watch a movie together, to sit at the table and eat together.”

Murray highlights the significant role of her husband as a positive force and innovator, contributing to the success of the restaurant.

“He is an innovator, he is meticulous, he is a mentor,” she attested. “He is what you call the epitome of positivity. So he drives me when I am negative. My husband is one of my biggest inspirations. He’s my go-to person.”

Together they communicate their values related to understanding clients’ needs and improving service standards to their staff while helping the employees with their own self-development on the job.

It is this passion that Murray has for those around her, from her husband and family, to her life insurance clients, restaurant customers and staff, that provide an intersection for her two careers to meet and work smoothly together.

“If we try to do the things that we’re passionate about, then we will be so much better at it and we learn to love and appreciate what it is that we do,” she affirmed.