What You Don’t Change, You Choose (w/Guest Cher)

The leap looks loud, but the real shift starts quietly—one routine at a time. Cher joins us to share how she took a lash side hustle from her living room to a thriving downtown studio and, in the process, rebuilt her health, mindset, and confidence. We get into the unfiltered reality of growing a local service business: the early hustle of $10 fills, how to earn trust in a small town, and why moving out of the house can transform both client care and home life. If you’ve wondered whether boundaries kill momentum, Cher’s story offers the opposite—structure fuels deeper presence.

We also open the door on what happens in that studio. A lash bed can become a sanctuary, and Cher treats it that way. She talks about listening without judgment, following up with care, and holding stories that never leave the room. That emotional work demands recovery, which led her to reclaim her physical health. Starting with simple walks, she built consistency into gym sessions and a 75-day challenge, discovering that discipline beats motivation and movement is medicine. The payoff isn’t just visible; it’s mental clarity, stronger parenting, and steadier days.

For anyone standing at the edge of change, we map out a practical framework: plan enough to be honest about money, then commit. Set client expectations early. Use routine and self-talk—“I am strong, I am capable”—to carry you through heavy mornings. And when doubt gets loud, return to neutral thinking: do the work, be consistent, expect great things without spiraling into stories. You’ll hear why “what you don’t change, you choose” might be the most catalytic line you adopt this year.

If this conversation gives you the nudge you needed, share it with a friend who’s on the brink. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us the next indicated step you’re taking today.

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Transcript

Welcome, Setup, And Housekeeping

SPEAKER_09 0:08

So uh welcome to Deep Dive with Dr. D. Glad you're here. I have a great special amazing guest today. You got three descriptors. That was good. I'm gonna adjust that camera because it's cutting you off. Can you just turn it a little bit this way so it'll get you yeah, right there. Yeah, perfect. I'd rather get them get more of you than me. Perfect. Uh and uh so my shameless plug for my book, Grit Over Shame. It's available wherever you buy books online, and then locally in Ellensburg at Pearl Street Books, Gerald's, Gerald's.com, and then of course Amazon ebook, audiobook. And this one is yours, signed, and a little note in there. What did I say? Cheryl. Cheryl. Cheryl, I've never called you Cheryl. You have it. Ever. I have loved getting to know you and your life journey. Super proud of you.

SPEAKER_00 1:00

Thank you. Enjoy the read. Yeah, yeah. I cannot wait. Thank you. Excellent.

SPEAKER_09 1:05

And um, yeah, so there I always do that. And if you uh subs hit that subscribe button for YouTube, uh, and then this podcast is available wherever you listen to podcasts. Of course, Apple and Spotify and a bunch of others that I've never heard of, but they're all it's all it's all out there.

SPEAKER_07 1:23

That's awesome.

SPEAKER_09 1:24

Yeah, so this week it's you. Um last week it was uh was it Monica last week?

SPEAKER_01 1:32

I think so.

SPEAKER_09 1:33

Yep. I think you're I think you're right. That feels like a long time ago. Yeah. And then uh next week it's Jay, Jay McDonald, my really good friend Jay. You know Jay?

SPEAKER_00 1:44

Um he's awesome. Yep.

SPEAKER_09 1:47

But today it's you.

SPEAKER_00 1:48

It's me.

SPEAKER_09 1:48

Here I am, and we have our questions here. Uh I uh so this is just random information. So when I have guests like uh Monday or Tuesday, I sense share the questions I come up with. And I come up with these questions. I use chat GPT to help me come up with questions. I say what I know about the person, and uh, you know, not real personal stuff, and then it gives me some good questions. So there's four questions that are geared really toward you and getting to know you, and then the other two questions, the last two that kind of close us up are a message of hope for you to send to the world, and then a question that someone's always I wanted to ask me, which I always get a little nervous. Did you come up with one?

SPEAKER_01 2:28

I did. Okay. I did.

SPEAKER_09 2:30

Good, all right. And uh so yeah, this is our little guide. And usually these go about 50 minutes-ish. Sure. If I had to do an average, they're usually between 45 and an I think the longest has been an hour and five minutes. So we just navigated. I don't have a timer or anything. We just got on you you guys can't see it out there, but on the laptop is Daisy's little head. We miss a little Daisy.

SPEAKER_00 2:53

Eyeballing.

Meet Cher: Roots And Ellensburg Move

SPEAKER_09 2:54

Yeah. Oh, and special guest today. I uh well, here, let me try this. There you can kind of see his bed. There's Onyx the cat, is with us today. He's sleeping in his bed. He's right there. He's like, winter sucks. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 3:10

Winter sucks.

SPEAKER_09 3:11

Yeah. Okay.

SPEAKER_00 3:12

Okay.

SPEAKER_09 3:13

So here we go.

SPEAKER_00 3:14

Here we are.

SPEAKER_09 3:14

The one question that's not on the sheet that I ask, I told her yesterday, that I asked guests the day of is for you to introduce yourself to the world. Whoever listens to this, like people download this if they run across this, if they don't know you at all, who are you?

SPEAKER_01 3:31

Who am I? Okay. Well, most know me as Cher. Um, I'm uh I've been in Olnsburg, gosh, 11 years now, so I consider it my residence. Oh. Um, I am a business owner here in the town for going on 10 years. Yeah. Which is huge. Um, I'm a mom and just yeah, that's who I am.

SPEAKER_09 3:54

So uh just a I say just 11 years. So you've been in Ellensburg 11 years.

SPEAKER_01 3:58

Yeah, 2015.

SPEAKER_09 3:59

I don't know why. I just assumed it had been longer. What brought you to Ellensburg?

SPEAKER_01 4:03

Um, so my grandparents were here.

SPEAKER_09 4:05

Oh.

SPEAKER_01 4:05

So I have come over to Ellensburg since I was very little. Um, loved the town, always loved the town, always wanted to move here.

SPEAKER_05 4:14

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 4:15

Um, and then, you know, 11 years ago, my at the time, um, my ex-husband and I, we moved here.

SPEAKER_02 4:23

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 4:23

And so I ended up staying, and I don't regret it at all.

SPEAKER_09 4:28

And personal question, but ex-husband, is this Travis?

SPEAKER_01 4:31

No. Um my different different. Yep, before Travis, he was my daughter's dad.

SPEAKER_09 4:36

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 4:37

Um, but yeah, so I was married in my early 20s and navigated some relationship stuff. Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 4:45

We've had some alley talks about that. I was thinking about how you and I have gotten to know each other and this is when you lived across the alley.

SPEAKER_07 4:51

Yeah, lots.

SPEAKER_09 4:52

Um, and that's where we met.

SPEAKER_07 4:53

Yes.

SPEAKER_09 4:54

Is we were, I remember the day we were putting up the fence.

SPEAKER_07 4:58

Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 4:58

If I'm correct. And I see, I look over across the alley, and I see this lady and I see this small child. And I'm like, oh, we're opening a preschool. Maybe I should go say hi. And you you were like, what are you guys doing?

SPEAKER_01 5:11

Yeah, I was like, Oh, I need to get on this.

SPEAKER_09 5:14

And uh, that's when we met.

SPEAKER_01 5:15

Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 5:16

And you were one of the first. Okay, Onyx is wanting out. You want to go ahead and open that door and let Onyx out. Of course. Onyx the cat's like, I don't want to be part of this podcast, so he wants out. Honey, the cat's coming down. Okay. And um, that's where we met. Yes. And you uh our original picture. So those that don't know, my wife and I live in a preschool. We're upstairs right now. Downstairs is pretty much the preschool space. And we met you right before the preschool opened.

SPEAKER_01 5:49

Yes.

SPEAKER_09 5:49

And those early pictures, Lila's in them.

SPEAKER_01 5:52

Yeah. I mean, she was just a little nugget. I mean, three years old.

SPEAKER_05 5:56

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 5:57

I mean, because she started with you guys at three and a half.

SPEAKER_05 6:00

Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_01 6:01

Um, which is actually earlier than most.

SPEAKER_05 6:04

Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_01 6:05

Um actually just after three.

SPEAKER_05 6:08

Yeah.

Starting A Lash Business And Early Hustle

SPEAKER_01 6:08

Which is wild. Um But yeah, I the thought had crossed my mind when I saw you guys building the fence. I was like, what are they doing? Like and at the time it was when my gear started turning for her, like, what's the next step, you know? And um, I was very thankful.

SPEAKER_05 6:30

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 6:30

Come to find out that it was going to be a preschool right across the alley, and how convenient.

SPEAKER_09 6:35

Yeah. That was cool.

SPEAKER_01 6:36

Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 6:37

Okay. So uh Ellensburg 11 years. Yes. Uh tell the people about you are a local business owner, and it's one of the things that I've really admired about you. Um, it was in your home. You had a home-based business. It's now downtown. So tell the world about what you do.

SPEAKER_01 6:52

Oh man. Okay. So I am a lash artist. So I, you know, worked in my home for five years. I was actually talked into doing lashes. I didn't want to do lashes or anything in the aesthetician world.

SPEAKER_09 7:08

Oh, wow.

SPEAKER_01 7:09

Which is really funny.

SPEAKER_09 7:10

What were you wanting to do?

SPEAKER_01 7:12

Well, I was actually a home care aide.

SPEAKER_09 7:14

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 7:15

And so I really like taking care of people, obviously. But um, I was doing that and working at a winery, and I was kind of talked into like, hey, you should come do lashes.

SPEAKER_09 7:27

At the winery?

SPEAKER_01 7:29

The owner of the winery, yes, came in, you know, she I worked for her and she was just like, you should do it. And I was like, I don't know. Like, it's very tedious work, it's very demanding work. Um and I was like, okay, like, let's just try it out.

SPEAKER_02 7:45

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 7:45

And so I was working, doing my home um home care aid. I was working the winery in the evenings, and I was doing lashes kind of all in between that. And I to build my clientele, I worked basically seven weeks for free. Like I was just offering full sets, like just to get people in, get people on my books. I was offering ten dollar fills, like just to get people.

SPEAKER_09 8:13

Was this here?

SPEAKER_01 8:15

Um, over at the time it was the hair seller, which is um, I think it's the May salon now, if you're familiar with Earl's work. Yes. So um I was doing all three. And so I was working, you know, eight to ten every day. Um and it took off, which I was very surprised about. Um and I eventually had to quit the winery. I eventually had to quit being home carried. I had to make the choice, you know. I all my eggs in the basket. Um and it has worked out for me. You know, I'm very grateful. Um and then I switched to a different salon, and then I got pregnant and found the house and so I started working from home.

SPEAKER_02 9:06

Cool.

SPEAKER_01 9:07

Um, again, a very it just worked out situation because I was a single mom raising a child, running a business, and to be able to do it from home was a blessing. And I will forever be grateful of everybody that helped me along the way to get there, my mom included, um, my landlord who offered me that spot. Um and I worked from home for five years. And I've always wanted to have a spot downtown. I mean, who doesn't? You want to be in the the hustle and bustle of downtown. Downtown. I mean, it's such a great feeling. And so, you know, my life kind of took a 180, you know, a year and a half ago, and it was okay, I'm gonna do it. And I did, I found a great spot. Um, I'm in the Davidson building downtown, which is like one of the coolest buildings in Ellensburg. It's a pretty cool spot. It's a great spot, and I am so happy to have that spot. I've been there gosh, this spring will be two years. Wow, which is just like it did. It has completely flown by. Um, so I refuse to give up that spot. It's just I feel it's you know, it's where I belong. It's a beautiful building. Um the access is a lot uh easier. Um and I just yeah.

SPEAKER_09 10:41

And you can live wherever you want.

SPEAKER_01 10:42

I can live wherever I want.

SPEAKER_09 10:43

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 10:43

Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 10:44

Cool.

SPEAKER_01 10:45

Yeah, absolutely. That's super cool. Yes.

SPEAKER_09 10:47

Uh, so some of this I think we'll get into when we ask our questions. So Ellensburg, 11 years. You have a daughter named Lila.

SPEAKER_00 10:54

Yeah, she's six. She's seven, she's gonna be eight this month.

SPEAKER_09 10:57

Oh my god.

SPEAKER_00 10:58

Yeah, she's gonna be eight.

SPEAKER_09 10:59

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 11:00

Eight this month. All right, yeah.

SPEAKER_09 11:01

Um, used to be our neighbor, lived in the alley, you worked, your business was out of your home. Um, and I remember that transition from you wanted to find a spot downtown, and that's worked out really well for you. Yes. And I kind of think of you, you're kind of in an industry like someone, a barista, barista or hairdresser. You probably know a lot of people in this town. Yes. You are a little bit of a therapist, I bet.

SPEAKER_01 11:28

Uh, all day long. You know, I have uh I have a rotation of about 50 clients right now.

SPEAKER_02 11:33

Wow.

SPEAKER_01 11:34

And I know everybody's story, I enjoy everybody's story. And you know, yeah, it's I am a therapist day in and day out.

SPEAKER_09 11:44

I'm sure. Very, very cool. Well, thank you for sharing that. Um for people to get to know you a little bit. And you're from Edmonds. Yes. Yes, I got it because your mom and dad still live in the Edmonds, yep. And your brother.

SPEAKER_01 11:57

My brother and my sister-in-law are they also now in Edmonds, which is great. So they're just down the street from my parents from the house. So I'm very happy for them.

SPEAKER_09 12:05

Any desire to move back home?

SPEAKER_01 12:08

Um, you know, it crosses my mind.

SPEAKER_09 12:10

Knowing your mom's listening.

SPEAKER_01 12:11

Yeah. Um, it crosses my mind here and there, but I don't think that I just don't think I could.

SPEAKER_05 12:19

Yeah.

From Home Studio To Downtown Studio

SPEAKER_01 12:19

And not because, you know, I don't miss my family, but I the lifestyle is so different. Yeah. Um, you know, I do go visit and when I'm there, um my anxiety is a lot higher. There are a lot of people, the traffic, you know, here it's like you can get to town in two minutes. Yep. So it's just like the people here are nice and very welcoming. And it's not that they're not over there.

SPEAKER_09 12:43

You're fine.

SPEAKER_01 12:43

I love going home and visiting, but for me right now, yeah.

SPEAKER_09 12:47

Was it your plan to stay in Ellensburg when you moved here 11 years ago? You were in a whole different kind of world, different relationship, pre-child. Is that was it like check it out, or in your mind, what were you thinking?

SPEAKER_01 13:00

Um, I could have easily moved home.

SPEAKER_09 13:02

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 13:02

Um, you know, when things kind of fell through with my marriage at the time I mean my grandpa passed away, I I could have moved home. Why didn't you? I thought about it. Um, because I just feel like my heart and my soul are in Ellensburg. Okay. And I I just I love this town and I have. And the thought of leaving Ellensburg actually makes me sick to my stomach.

SPEAKER_09 13:24

I hear I always ask that because everyone that I've interviewed that, you know, we're all from somewhere. And if you're not a native of Ellensburg, which, you know, born and raised here, um, everyone I hear, myself included, you know, I always like to hear people's journey to Ellensburg. And I hear a lot of times it wasn't my plan to stay here as long as I have been, but yet here I am, and I'm glad for it.

SPEAKER_07 13:48

Yes.

SPEAKER_09 13:48

Right? Like being from Tacoma, I'm always be a Tacoma boy. It's on my, you know, it's and I love going home to visit, but man, there's something about once you get over the past, the sky parts, the sun comes out, and you're like, oh, it's just uh and I like that you talk about the quality of living.

SPEAKER_03 14:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 14:06

Uh Katrina and I, with our lives and our work that we do, um I just had a conversation with someone about this. You know, could we move to Seattle or Tacoma and and make more money? Maybe, but what would that money go to?

SPEAKER_05 14:20

Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 14:20

And for me, time is valuable. And I think for you, that's probably something too. Like you could probably go to the west side and make a bunch more money.

SPEAKER_01 14:29

Triple.

SPEAKER_09 14:30

But what's the cost?

SPEAKER_01 14:31

I mean, yeah, living and commuting and all the things. Yeah, it it's outrageous. Yeah. Yeah. I would agree. I would agree.

SPEAKER_09 14:39

Cool. Okay. You ready to dive into a question?

SPEAKER_01 14:42

Let's do it.

SPEAKER_09 14:43

Okay. Okay, so the mustache thing, if you're seeing that, how it happened is it was really random. Tyler, that's right. He had shaved his beard and was just had a mustache.

SPEAKER_00 14:54

Okay.

SPEAKER_09 14:55

And Jay and him and I, Jay shaved. He had a beard and everything, and it shaved completely. So then Tyler's like, Dad, you should just grow a mustache. And I'm like, Yeah, Jay, yeah, blah, blah. So we're like, you know how guys are. Yeah, well, just do grow mustache. So I start growing it. Well then. And Katrina's like, okay, now she's really excited about it. But then Tyler, I see him.

SPEAKER_05 15:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 15:17

He's grown his beard back. And I'm like, dude, his girlfriend wants the beard back.

SPEAKER_07 15:23

Of course.

SPEAKER_09 15:24

And then Katrina wants the mustache. So, you know, you girls, you have an effect on us.

SPEAKER_01 15:29

I mean, the stash is stashing.

SPEAKER_09 15:31

It is.

SPEAKER_01 15:32

I like it.

SPEAKER_09 15:32

Can't come in thick. I'm thinking of my friend Nevada, her husband Cliff. He's a local Ellensburg police officer. He's I'm, I don't know why, but um, he's got a great stash. Yeah. So I'm wanting to at least get to his status.

SPEAKER_03 15:44

Okay.

Community, Clients, And Being A Safe Space

SPEAKER_09 15:45

And then I love the look. And then come spring, it'll go away. That's what happens. Back to Cher and away from the stench. All right. Good morning, good morning, good morning. Okay. We've known you since the very beginning of the advent of Sunflower Preschool in 2021. Um, first as a preschool parent and neighbor. Cher lived right across the alley. And then we all became friends. In fact, you and Katrina and I think uh Cherie and George uh were our first preschool parents. Um I'm sure there were a couple more that kind of also became friends, and that's been the added bonus of the preschool that we didn't really think would happen. Maybe Katrina did, but that's how she is. Looking back, now this is for you. Looking back, what stands out to you going back to that 2021 when we all first met? Lila's just coming to preschool. What stands out to you about how your life has changed since that time period in 2021?

SPEAKER_01 16:52

Man. Um you know it's funny because I've been thinking about that question probably the most, because my life has completely 360, right? I mean a full circle. Um the deep nitty-gritty, heartbreaking, just literally circle, um, but in the best way. I feel for one, like I've grown, right? Obviously, as people do, but um so much has remained the same. Like, you know, I'm still a mom, I'm still running the same business. But for me personally, I feel like I've grown. And I don't know how different things are, other than like just what to change in my life, you know, day to day.

SPEAKER_09 17:58

I'm gonna tell you what's different.

SPEAKER_00 17:59

Okay. Enlighten me.

SPEAKER_09 18:01

Yeah, I'm gonna tell you what's different because you and I have had a lot of talks along the way. You know, I call them our alley talks, and I know um you've you've navigated struggling through a relationship that you really wanted to work. Yes, and it just wasn't working, and that's not really a hit on either of you. Um, but I remember as you were navigating that and the struggle you had the back and forth, and um, you've grown tremendously in that area, and one realizing that you know this just isn't working. And I remember like you know, it's that thing of is she gonna go back? Is she gonna go back? And there was a point for me, like, I think she's good. Yeah, I think you're moving on. Um becoming okay with you, yes, and who you are, and okay being single. Yeah, that's been huge.

SPEAKER_01 18:50

It's been huge. Um, yes, the the back and forth, the uncertainty, the confusion, the I mean, so many times the back and forth. And um it just it came down to what is more important at the end of the day. And I was never choosing myself. And so to finally literally just have this moment, I mean, and it just hit me like as hard as a freight train. Like I have got to stand up on my own two feet. And um, making that choice was the best thing that I have ever done. Um, but it took a lot for me to get there. Like, as you know, it takes what it takes, doesn't it? It takes what it takes. Um, I don't give up easy on things. I'm very stubborn.

SPEAKER_09 19:46

Oh weird.

SPEAKER_01 19:49

Um yes, I I want what I want, and I will work very hard at keeping that. Um so being able to just let it be is actually one of the hardest things, I think, for anybody.

SPEAKER_05 20:08

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 20:09

And um I'm thankful to be where I am now.

Growth Through Relationship Breakthroughs

SPEAKER_09 20:15

And then I think it's been in the last year, your you know, we follow each other on social media, we talk and your your um your physical health. Yeah. You've really focused on that. And I think that's been a a huge, huge positive area of your life that's helped you a lot.

SPEAKER_01 20:34

Yes.

SPEAKER_09 20:35

Probably I'm sure physically, right? But also mental health.

SPEAKER_01 20:38

Oh, it's it's more mentally for me. Um physically, yes. I mean, you get to the point where a year ago, you know, and I just recently posted this before and after photo. Um, I was very broken. I was very disappointed where I was at in life. And you get to the point where you either make a change or you're choosing to stay where you're at.

SPEAKER_05 21:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 21:06

And I was so broken inside. And the disappointment every day that I felt with what was going on in my life versus what I was feeling physically, looking in the mirror, all of that, um, you reach a point where you're like, I am done. I can't live like this anymore because I am not even kidding. I even told my sister-in-law, if I do not change something, I will I will end up in a mental institute. I was so in another world broken. Um and making the change, and it just started with walking, right? Over the summer, I was post I was walking, I was walking, I was walking doing miles a day. And I got to going to the gym, but getting there because it's not easy going to the gym because everybody's you think everybody's looking at you. It's intimidating, like, oh, they're lifting more weight. It's it's just this mind game. And you get there and you're like, oh, it's not like that at all. Nobody cares. And so then when you learn this is just for me, this hour is just for me, you start to shift. And it took, I would say uh a solid 60 days in the fall, where I did that 75 day challenge. By day 60, it was just like this is what I'm doing. This is easy, this is doable, this is a lifestyle. And then if I avoided it, it was like I gotta go to the gym.

SPEAKER_05 22:39

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 22:39

Mentally, you can you missed it. And so of course, physically the the results are great, but mentally, um, it's my time. And to clear your head and to do all the things, and it's just been great. I really enjoy it. Um, is it for everybody? No. But I highly recommend it.

SPEAKER_02 22:58

Sure.

SPEAKER_01 22:59

Even if it's just walking.

SPEAKER_02 23:00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 23:00

I'm a big believer, like just move your body.

SPEAKER_02 23:02

Move your feet.

SPEAKER_01 23:03

Move your feet, you know, stretch. It doesn't matter. So, you know, it's awesome. It's just been it's been great. Yeah. Yeah.

Fitness, Mental Health, And Discipline

SPEAKER_09 23:12

Very good. Yeah. Well, thank you for sharing that. Yeah. Um, I I just want you to know that that it's I'm not the only one. I'm certain that it's it's noticeable, you know, certainly the physical change, but what you were just talking about with your mental health.

SPEAKER_03 23:28

Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 23:28

Like you seem lighter. Much lighter. Yeah. Right? Yeah. So good for you.

SPEAKER_00 23:33

Thank you.

SPEAKER_09 23:33

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 23:34

Thank you.

SPEAKER_09 23:34

So let's do another question. Okay. All right. You are a local business owner who's taken real risk and seen real success. What helped you trust yourself enough to take those chances, especially when there's been no guarantees?

SPEAKER_01 23:50

Yeah. Um that's a great question. I when I started my business, I put all my eggs in the basket. Um, so it is very hard to start any business. Um, so lashes, it just I guess I think I was very, very fortunate because it just took off. I think when I started, lashes became this thing and it was newer and people loved it. Um but they're really it's a huge risk, but there's no there is still no guarantee for doing it 10 years. There's still like right now I'm in kind of a slow season. And you're constantly like, what is plan B?

SPEAKER_09 24:45

Ah, what's your backup plan? Do you have a backup plan?

SPEAKER_01 24:48

Nope, not at all.

SPEAKER_09 24:49

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 24:49

I have ideas.

SPEAKER_09 24:51

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 24:53

But I still put all my eggs in my basket because I want to be successful. I have thrown around other ideas to bring into the studio of what I could do if things start to slow down. Um, but you have to really follow what's happening in the beauty industry. Like, what is hip? What is like what's the thing to do? So I just feel like I have been very fortunate.

SPEAKER_09 25:21

So I'm gonna challenge you on a something, a couple things. One, um, I don't I don't think that you've been I think yeah, I get what you're saying with you being really fortunate, but I think you're really good at what you do.

unknown 25:33

Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 25:33

Because I think it takes a lot of skill.

SPEAKER_03 25:35

Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 25:35

And my educated guess is if maybe if you had that skill, but you didn't you didn't talk to your clients, you didn't get to know them, that you might not be as successful as you are.

SPEAKER_03 25:45

I would agree.

SPEAKER_09 25:46

So own that.

SPEAKER_03 25:47

Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 25:47

And it just made me think when you were talking about like this is it, this is what you do. I from time to time I watch Shark Tank. You ever watch Shark Tank? And um, some of the sharks will not take on someone if they're not all in.

SPEAKER_05 26:04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 26:04

I've seen them do it where, like me, like I work at the university, uh, and well, Katrina's all in on the preschool, that's all hers. But let's say we wanted to expand the preschool and franchise and all that. And they say, Well, are you guys all in? Are you is this your full-time job? No, I'm doing this over here. They've said no because that forces you to be all in, right?

SPEAKER_07 26:27

Yes.

SPEAKER_09 26:27

Like our we have backup. The university, if the school goes down, it kind of sucks and we have to. But does that make sense?

SPEAKER_07 26:33

Yes.

SPEAKER_09 26:34

So I think there's something to that because I I'm a backup plan guy. Like I think it's important to have a backup plan. And I think you do have skills.

SPEAKER_00 26:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 26:42

Like if it went to shit, what could you do?

SPEAKER_00 26:44

Bake.

SPEAKER_09 26:45

There you oh, oh my god, that's right. Jesus. Right. So you kind of do have things you could do, but I think the fact that this is it for you forces you to navigate. This is it.

SPEAKER_01 26:55

Yeah. Um, and I do appreciate you saying that. I I love my clients and I love my sessions with them, and I know that they feel the same. And I have people that have been coming to me for nine years since I was pregnant. Like, I have a very big following of very loyal clients, and I'm forever grateful for them.

unknown 27:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 27:14

They refer me, they keep coming back. Even if they take breaks, they still come back. I have people reach out. I mean, it's been two years, and they'll be like, Hey, you still doing lashes? I want to do a set for this year.

SPEAKER_09 27:25

You have a client that lives out of town that came to see you.

SPEAKER_01 27:28

I have a gal, she comes from Vancouver. I love her. Vancouver, Washington. That is four hours each direction.

SPEAKER_05 27:35

Wow.

Routines, Self-Talk, And Single Parenting

SPEAKER_01 27:35

I have a gal right now, she's taking a break, but she's in Seattle. Like she was one of my OG girls. Like, I love what I do, and I do believe that I am good at what I do. I see other people's work too. That they are it's beautiful. I I am such a girls' girl, and I want to lift you up. I want to support you. Um, you know, one of my good friends who's also my client, I we had lunch one day. I told her, I was like, you should go to beauty school, do lashes. She did. She's doing lashes at another salon.

SPEAKER_05 28:07

Wow.

SPEAKER_01 28:08

I want people to succeed, and I want people to feel good about themselves. If they come in and their session is heavy, I'm there for them. I'm the type of, you know, um lash artist. Like I will text people the next day, hey, just thinking about you, like, how is this going? How is that going? People come in with their heaviest baggage.

SPEAKER_09 28:37

It's interesting you say that because I'm thinking of, you know, they're laying, they're laying, they're vulnerable. Yes. They're laying on their and and you're you're messing with their eyes. So there has to be trust there. So there's that trust there, and then you're you, right? And so you offer a space that is pretty powerful.

SPEAKER_01 28:53

It's so safe.

SPEAKER_09 28:54

That I I bet you, and to my friends who are therapists out there that you do great work, but right, probably you you get people to open up in ways that people don't even open up with their therapists about.

SPEAKER_01 29:05

Oh, yeah. I mean, I it's hard to say.

SPEAKER_09 29:08

And you don't you're not even bound by HIPAA, you know, or no, but you have that trust.

SPEAKER_01 29:13

I do, I do with so many people. In the 10 years that I have been doing lashes, I have lashed over a thousand women.

unknown 29:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 29:22

And I still think about certain clients and how heavy their stories have been, and how grateful I have been to be a part of a breakdown, a healing, whatever that they're, you know, whatever they're doing. The good, the bad, the good, the bad healthy, the questionable, the let me talk you off the cliff. Like I am that girl for them. And um, and I know my clients, I know my clients know that. And my my space is a very safe space, it's a sacred space, nothing ever leaves that room. Um, but that also comes with the price. I take all that home. And so at the end of the day, I'm maxed out, but I would not change it for the world.

SPEAKER_02 30:09

That's super cool.

SPEAKER_01 30:10

Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 30:10

Super cool.

SPEAKER_01 30:11

Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 30:14

Oh, good. Let's so uh and and I don't want to be dismissive. I mean, that's really powerful stuff. Yeah. But you've taken that risk that that it's actually caused me to think, like, yeah, you know, I'm always backup planning, you need to, but you've put all your eggs in that basket, and wow, look at you go.

SPEAKER_01 30:31

Well, and how can you have a backup plan when that is your life?

SPEAKER_09 30:34

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 30:35

That's super cool.

SPEAKER_01 30:36

And it's not just the lashes, it's also those therapy sessions. Like, again, I love taking care of people. I love listening. I love, like, I want to know your story. And so for me, like, lashes is just the bonus.

SPEAKER_09 30:54

You should just start randomly billing insurance companies for counseling sessions. Just see, you know.

SPEAKER_01 31:01

I have looked into it. Like, should I become a therapist and then also offer lashes? Oh, wow. Yeah, it's it's a thing. It could be a thing.

SPEAKER_09 31:09

It could be. Well, and it's I think of Alicia, you know, who does Katrina's hair and does her nails. Um, Bailey at the barber chop, her and she has two other people that work. Kristen works in there. Uh, they hear, you know, uh Sarah, who's the longest serving breast in this town, she hears it all. We have a whole bunch of therapists in this town who are not technically therapists, but they they hear a lot, and you you help a lot.

SPEAKER_07 31:34

Yes.

Taking The Leap: Risk, Planning, And Payoffs

SPEAKER_09 31:35

Like Katrina loves not, you know, Katrina loves, oh, you're my buddy, and she loves going to you. And she had never done lashes before. And I know her, and that's kind of a self-care thing for women that's very can be very different, and you know, she's always brushing it, making sure it's clean, and um, yeah. So anyway, super cool. Yeah, okay. Along the way, you've made significant changes to your physical health. What we've talked about a little bit, but you can expand on it some if you want. What motivated that shift and what did the process teach you about discipline and self-respect?

SPEAKER_01 32:12

Oh, yeah. Um, so you know what started it was just for one heartbreak. Heartbreak and disappointment um got me to where I am now. Um, I already forgot the question. Oh, there we go.

SPEAKER_09 32:31

What precipitated your change to really focus on your physical health?

SPEAKER_01 32:35

Yes. So definitely heartbreak, definitely disappointment. Um got me to the point of this is what I need to do for myself. You know, you look in the mirror, you don't like what you see. Um, my hair was falling out. I mean, literally, my hair was falling out clumps. That's how chaotic my life was. Um so shifting to I have got to be better not only for myself, but for my child. I need to be healthy not only for myself, but for my child. You know, I'm a single mom, I carry a huge load, and I cannot be mentally messed up doing all of that. Physical um endorphins are huge. Nobody's mad about a 20-minute walk. Yeah, no, you can't get mad. There it doesn't happen. When you move your body, you are instantly like, wow, I feel a lot better. So the discipline, it is not motivation, it is discipline. There are countless days. I did not want to get off of my couch. There are countless days where I would talk myself out of like, I don't have the time, I don't really feel like it, you know, I have a headache, this or that. You have got to push yourself. And it is the hardest choice. But when you start doing it, it becomes a routine. I still days I'm like, this really sucks, you know, and I don't want to go to the gym. But the discipline is necessary, I feel like, um, to get where you want to be. And I'm thankful for that. You know.

SPEAKER_09 34:25

Um what have you seen? Have you seen changes with Lila based on what you've done for yourself?

SPEAKER_01 34:32

Um, with her, I don't know if I've seen many changes with her. I think it makes me a better mom. It makes me engage more with her. I'm not tired as often. Um at the end of the day, you know, you just want to sit on the couch, you don't want to do anything. And so forcing yourself when you haven't worked out and you've had a long day to do that is really, really hard. You hit the gym in the morning or you work out in the morning, or sometime in the day, and you get through your day and you get home, you have more energy. It's just for me anyway.

SPEAKER_09 35:05

So more present, maybe?

SPEAKER_01 35:07

More present. I'm also teaching her that physical health is really important. I enjoy when she wants to like, oh mom, let's stretch together, or can I get my weights? She's got like two-pound weights, you know, and she throws them around like crazy girl. But I'm teaching her something very, very important. And then maybe hopefully one day she'll want to hike. She's still terrified of bugs. But you know, it's showing her that mom does X, Y, and Z. I like to go to the gym, I like to walk, I like to hike. So these are the things that I'm gonna do to take care of myself and hopefully show her that those are okay choices too.

SPEAKER_09 35:46

The modeling of that behavior. Yeah, that's super cool. Yeah, good.

SPEAKER_01 35:50

Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 35:51

Okay. This is your last question, and then we'll go to the last two questions.

SPEAKER_03 35:56

Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 35:57

Balancing business ownership, health, and family isn't easy. Single mom, right? Uh, what habits or mindsets help you stay grounded when things get busy or uncertainty enters the picture?

SPEAKER_01 36:11

Uh, my number one would be routine. Being consistent day-to-day. Um discipline also falls into there. But routine, even when it feels heavy or something throws off kilter, like just stick to the routine. A lot of people don't do that. Um, it helps me tremendously. I know it helps you, like we talk about that. Just stick to the course.

SPEAKER_09 36:41

The next indicated day.

SPEAKER_01 36:42

Yeah. And when a day is hard, just do the first thing. Yeah. You don't have to think about what's gonna happen at six o'clock. What's gonna happen in the next five minutes? Yeah. Some days are really hard. Some days you can't even think about the next hour. There are days where my morning, being a mom, getting up, taking care of her, packing my lunch, packing her lunch, packing after school lunch, because I pick her up, I bring her back to work, she hangs out with me while I work. The steps that you have to take all day long, and you have to think so far ahead. Sometimes you just have to think, I'm just gonna do this.

Parking, Boundaries, And Client Culture

SPEAKER_09 37:24

I had a day this last week where there's some mornings I wake up and I'm in my head and and uh I was gonna cancel my day.

SPEAKER_05 37:32

Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 37:33

You know, I was like, I'm fucking canceling the day. I'm just thinking of what I gotta do, and okay, I can get rid of that. But my routine that I'm it's just so ingrained that it just happens. Like next thing you know, I'm out of bed.

SPEAKER_03 37:45

Yep.

SPEAKER_09 37:46

Next thing you know, I'm on the morning walk.

SPEAKER_03 37:47

Yep.

SPEAKER_09 37:48

Next thing you know, I'm going, oh, okay, I can do today. And that's what you're talking about. Yes. Right? When there's uncertainty or when you're in your head, just do the next indicated thing. Build habits into your life that you almost do automatically, right?

SPEAKER_01 38:01

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_09 38:02

That your body's next thing you know, you're at the gym.

SPEAKER_01 38:05

You just do it.

SPEAKER_09 38:06

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 38:07

And to have that moment of like, I don't want to do this, but I'm going to do this. And to be able to get over that hump and just do it is huge. Um oh gosh, what I was gonna say. You just made me think of something about the routine. Oh, self-talk. When you wake up and you're like, I've had days like this where I'm like, I gotta cancel my clients. I can't mentally and physically be there for them.

SPEAKER_09 38:34

What do you do?

SPEAKER_01 38:37

I am strong. I am capable. I can do this, I can do hard things repeatedly in my head. That is what I will say.

SPEAKER_05 38:48

For you.

SPEAKER_01 38:49

And there are days where I'll be laying in bed and I'm like, just get out of the fucking bed. Right. Like get up. And you do, and it's like you make your coffee, you take a good shower, you add one thing in your morning that's just gonna make you feel better, whether you go get a coffee or whatever it is, you text your best friend, like whatever. And then it the positivity goes so far. And we lack that because the world is heavy, life is hard. But just to be positive, even if it's just for yourself for 30 seconds, remind yourself every day you are capable. I think that that is like top tier.

SPEAKER_09 39:32

And I know this isn't maybe workable for everyone if you're thinking about improving your life, but um, we're fellow dog owners.

SPEAKER_06 39:40

Yes.

SPEAKER_09 39:41

And having active dogs is like some days it's like, oh, but they help, right?

SPEAKER_01 39:48

They do. They do help. It forces you to get out of bed. To get out of bed, you know, they depend on you.

SPEAKER_09 39:55

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 39:55

You know, even if you don't have kids, animals, they are there, and they're gonna love you no matter what. No matter what. And um, you know, Mac, I have a German short hair, he's the laziest son of a gun.

SPEAKER_05 40:09

I have ever experienced.

SPEAKER_01 40:12

But he still needs exercise. So we play ball. So I incorporate that into my morning. You know, we're out the door by 7:50, we're out throwing the ball till 8 15, then we're to school. Like he gets time because he also goes to work with me all day and he lays around all day. But he gets me up even at work. It's like he's got to go potty.

SPEAKER_02 40:33

He needs to go fly.

SPEAKER_01 40:34

He gets me moving. Highly recommend a dog, right? I mean, who doesn't?

SPEAKER_09 40:38

If you can.

SPEAKER_01 40:39

If you can.

SPEAKER_09 40:39

Responsible, but yes, yes.

SPEAKER_01 40:41

But it's yeah, being a pet owner is huge. It's a whole other level.

Choosing Change Over Complaints

SPEAKER_09 40:48

Not being dismissive of a single mom, a child, uh human, but uh just made me think that you have a dog and a dog that likes to go and get exercise and having with Johnny, you know, yeah, he wants to go out.

SPEAKER_01 41:01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 41:01

And it's like, okay, yep, get up.

SPEAKER_01 41:03

I always remind myself, you know, when I take Mac out or we go for walks, that's his social media scrolling.

SPEAKER_09 41:09

Yeah. Yeah. Johnny heard me. He hear me hop down out of the bed.

SPEAKER_01 41:14

That's what uh that's that's their excitement.

SPEAKER_09 41:17

That's funny. That's so true.

SPEAKER_01 41:18

I have an influencer I follow. She always reminds me when she takes her dog for a walk. And you know, we get frustrated if they stop and sniff because you want to walk fast. It's like, no, that's their moment.

SPEAKER_09 41:27

Scrolling on Insta. They're like, oh wow. I'll stop here. Yeah. But watch that for you. I never thought of that.

SPEAKER_07 41:33

Yep.

SPEAKER_09 41:34

That's really good. All right. This has been good. Yeah. Okay. Here's your opportunity to you've done this a lot throughout this talk, but here's your opportunity to give a message of hope. I'll read the question. What's a message of hope or encouragement would you give to someone who's listening, who's standing at the edge of risk and wondering if they should leap? You've done that a few times in your life.

SPEAKER_05 42:00

Yep.

SPEAKER_09 42:00

But I think of when you made the decision to move your business from your home, which there's comfort in that, you were used to that to moving downtown and you moved yourself.

SPEAKER_01 42:12

Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 42:13

Like that was a lot of risk for you.

SPEAKER_01 42:15

A lot.

SPEAKER_09 42:16

How did you do that? What's your message of hope to someone who's at that point in some way in their life? And and you knew you needed to take that risk.

SPEAKER_01 42:24

I had to.

SPEAKER_09 42:25

But you were scared.

SPEAKER_01 42:26

Oh, absolutely.

SPEAKER_09 42:28

What's your message of hope to get them to go jump off the cliff? Um, my first and it's not literally jump off the cliff, but you know, take the risk.

SPEAKER_01 42:37

Um my first mental like moment is just do it. But then I slow myself down. It's like, if it is, you know, you have to think realistically, you know, are you financially sound? That I think is number one. If it's gonna really cause some distress, it probably needs some more thinking over. But I am such a jump person, I am such a give it a go. I mean, it just goes to show like when I was doing the scones for Joel. Do you remember that?

SPEAKER_02 43:10

I do.

SPEAKER_01 43:10

Like, yeah, just do it. If you try, just try. Like no harm, no foul. It's okay to fail. It's okay to be successful.

SPEAKER_05 43:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 43:22

Like all of that is okay. And I just feel like, especially if you want to start a business or try something new for a change, like, do it. Because we only get one life.

SPEAKER_09 43:36

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 43:36

We only get one chance.

SPEAKER_09 43:37

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 43:38

So why not?

SPEAKER_09 43:40

I'm hearing a couple things. I'm hearing the importance of planning.

SPEAKER_01 43:43

Yes.

SPEAKER_09 43:44

You need to have some kind of plan. Yeah. Right? I think a lot of times people are, oh, I'm just gonna do this and they don't think it through.

SPEAKER_01 43:49

Right.

SPEAKER_09 43:50

That can be problematic. So have some type of plan, but at the end of the day, try.

SPEAKER_01 43:56

Try it.

SPEAKER_09 43:56

What do you got to lose?

SPEAKER_01 43:57

Literally. And I think that depending on the jump, um, it could change your whole world.

SPEAKER_09 44:06

So, what has been the the like, oh, I didn't even realize this would be the case with moving out of your home and moving downtown, a couple like hugely positive things, and a couple things like you were like, oh, this kind of sucks.

SPEAKER_01 44:20

Kinda?

SPEAKER_09 44:21

Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 44:23

Uh you know, taking the leap to move downtown was the absolute best thing I could do for my business. I never had a complaint, people coming to my home, but work never leaves.

SPEAKER_09 44:38

Yeah. Which is so now you have that true separation.

SPEAKER_01 44:41

I have true separation.

SPEAKER_09 44:42

We talk about that with Katrina when she's gonna be able to do that.

SPEAKER_01 44:44

Yes. Like my work is at work, yeah, and I go home and that's home.

SPEAKER_09 44:48

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 44:48

And did I love working from home? Yes. I could get laundry done between clients. I could break my leaves between clients.

SPEAKER_09 44:54

Yeah.

Mentors, Neutral Thinking, And Gratitude

SPEAKER_01 44:55

But the reality is It was always there. It was always there. So when I'm at work, I am 150% at work.

SPEAKER_05 45:03

There. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 45:04

And when I go home, I am 140% there with my kid.

SPEAKER_09 45:10

Um so positive, huge positive.

SPEAKER_01 45:13

Huge positive.

SPEAKER_09 45:14

So if the EDA's listening, they'll be happy to hear, you know. Get a get a spot downtown. Do it.

SPEAKER_01 45:19

Like, oh my gosh. It's just so much fun being downtown.

SPEAKER_09 45:22

And it's pretty reasonable your rent down there. You don't have to say, but it's it's reasonable.

SPEAKER_01 45:26

Yeah. I actually was so I have two rooms. My studio is two large. It's huge. And when he told me the price, I was like, Yeah, there's no way.

SPEAKER_09 45:35

Yeah, it's a joke.

SPEAKER_01 45:36

Yeah, there's no way you want something.

SPEAKER_09 45:38

Yeah, get it, jerk. Right. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 45:40

And uh I literally was like, let's sign a five year. And he was like, okay, like I'm in it, I'm here, I'm making it work. Um, and I have the ability too to do something different there if that time ever comes.

SPEAKER_09 45:54

Um but yeah, so So another one is the cost was less than you thought it would be.

SPEAKER_01 46:01

Yeah. Now it makes my living now a little like, you know, I don't love living in an apartment.

SPEAKER_02 46:07

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 46:08

But it's it's where I'm at right now. Yeah. And I'm okay with that. And it's a safe space, and that to me is important.

SPEAKER_09 46:14

Yeah. Um So what's one of the the pitfalls that you just didn't realize would be the case? If there is one.

SPEAKER_01 46:24

I don't think there is one.

SPEAKER_09 46:25

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 46:26

I just I have not once thought to myself, God, I still wish I worked at home.

SPEAKER_09 46:31

Well, we hear about uh on social media usually parking.

SPEAKER_01 46:35

Okay, yeah, parking can be there are. Is it horrible? No.

SPEAKER_09 46:40

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 46:41

I mean, when you want to complain about walking a block.

SPEAKER_09 46:44

Ah, I think about that too. You know, it really like So you have to park on Ruby and walk freaking pine. Oh my god. Right?

SPEAKER_01 46:53

It's just yeah. But if you're running behind, that can be that can cause tri I don't I have a 10-minute rule. That's pretty gracious for an hour appointment.

SPEAKER_05 47:03

That's true, yeah. Wow.

SPEAKER_01 47:05

You could walk how many blocks in 10 minutes, you know what I mean? So to me, it's a time management thing. But all my clients respect my time. I have never had a client that i is super, super late. I just haven't. I've again been very grateful.

SPEAKER_09 47:21

That's pretty flexible of you.

SPEAKER_01 47:23

It is so because I also understand, and I also am very upfront when I do get new people. I have a 10-minute rule. Please make time for parking. It can be busy, but really it's not that bad.

SPEAKER_09 47:34

And people are generally generally pretty respectful. Like I think of the pickup and drop off. All of our preschool parents are respectful of that.

SPEAKER_02 47:43

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_09 47:44

Super cool. Yeah, super cool. So that's a good message of hope. So just uh reader's digest version is is uh plan and then go. Like try.

SPEAKER_06 47:54

Do it, just do it.

SPEAKER_09 47:55

Try. What do you got to lose? Like I say to people who are thinking about changing their relationship with drugs and alcohol, I'm like, just give it a try. Like 30 days or 60 days, just see.

SPEAKER_06 48:07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 48:07

Change in your physical health, just go for a walk. Start with a walk, start doing something in a positive direction.

SPEAKER_01 48:14

Different. Because again, like I have a really good friend of mine. She reminds me all the time. What you are not changing, you are choosing.

SPEAKER_09 48:22

Yeah. Uh yes.

SPEAKER_01 48:23

If you're miserable at your job, change it.

SPEAKER_09 48:25

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 48:25

Do something to change it. If you are mad that you've gained 20 pounds, do something.

SPEAKER_09 48:31

Change it.

SPEAKER_01 48:32

Yeah. Like there comes a time where you have to hold yourself accountable for the change. There was this other really good quote I saw the other day. I don't know who um who said it, but it said um some people were not put on this earth to evolve, but they are there to remind us what happens if you don't. And that to me was like, oh my God.

SPEAKER_09 49:03

I, you know, I work at Central and I've been there for 13 years, and and I and I'm and this isn't a judgment, but there are people who just stay in the same position.

SPEAKER_05 49:13

Yes.

SPEAKER_09 49:13

And they do the same job for their entire career. And I'm okay with that. But if you're sitting there and you're bitching about it, I don't really want to hear it because you're choosing that. Make a change.

SPEAKER_05 49:23

Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 49:24

Right? Do something different.

SPEAKER_05 49:25

Yep.

SPEAKER_09 49:26

That's what I struggle with. And I saw passage, but it's like, you know, I'll listen to you talk about your problems, right? But I want to talk about solutions. What are you doing to change it? If you're just doing this, bitching all the time, I I get that. And like, no, I'm good.

SPEAKER_01 49:41

Yeah, I get it. That's how I am. And I think that I've come across a lot of people in my life that have been like that, and it is draining.

SPEAKER_09 49:49

And I've been like that. Yes. I've been in those space. I've been like guilty of it. I used to, oh, I don't get that cool job, and I don't have the cool the great girl. Well, I wasn't doing anything to move toward that.

SPEAKER_01 50:01

Yes. And I think that that is like such a huge life lesson.

SPEAKER_05 50:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 50:06

It it's honestly life-changing. Once you finally are like, okay, I'm just gonna tweak that, or I'm gonna do that, or I'm gonna try this is just see if the outcome is different.

SPEAKER_09 50:15

This podcast was my son saying, Dad, you should do a podcast, and I'm all we're always I'm always a little resistant, especially if it's your son. And then I'm like, all right, I'll just give it a try. And here I am a year later, yeah, doing a podcast. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 50:28

And why not?

SPEAKER_09 50:29

Why, yeah, why not? Okay, what's next? Yeah. Katrina with this preschool. Like you've you were at the beginning.

SPEAKER_01 50:38

Very beginning.

SPEAKER_09 50:38

She's almost full.

SPEAKER_01 50:39

I love that.

SPEAKER_09 50:40

And it's because she said, I I want to give it a try.

SPEAKER_01 50:44

And she's had the what are we gonna do?

SPEAKER_09 50:48

Oh I remember that, where it was like we started during the Rona, during the pandemic.

SPEAKER_01 50:54

Yes, and I remember when she was coming and getting lashes frequently, like her worry, and I would always remind her, it's gonna get better. Yeah. Because when you run a business, again, nothing is guaranteed. No, but it's gonna get better. If you believe in it and you want it, it will get better.

SPEAKER_09 51:11

And she's you know, I always so good. Say, like you, she's she's puts in the effort all day long.

SPEAKER_01 51:18

All day long, even on her day off.

SPEAKER_09 51:21

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 51:21

Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 51:22

Yeah. Okay. Here it is. What's a question you've always wanted to ask me?

SPEAKER_01 51:27

Okay.

SPEAKER_09 51:28

Oh boy. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 51:30

I kind of wanted to ask you something fun.

SPEAKER_02 51:32

Oh, cool.

SPEAKER_01 51:32

Because I feel like we know each other pretty well.

SPEAKER_02 51:35

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 51:37

I'm curious. As someone that mentors quite a few people. Who is your biggest mentor that is not a family friend, Katrina? Like someone you love on social media that you follow, that when you see their stuff, you're like, yes, that is it.

SPEAKER_09 51:59

Um damn it. I wish I could think of my phones are tied up. There's a guy that I he just came across my page um that he posts stuff. It's a it's a di I'm not religious at all. Um, I I guess I'm gonna I can't think of his name. Um so I think of Bob Moad. Okay. He's passed. He's he was a motivational speaker, and then his son, Trevor Moad, which I have two of his books. Here's one of his books. This guy right here. He passed. Okay. He passed really young. Um that's one of his books. Uh his dad changed my life.

SPEAKER_01 52:41

Okay.

SPEAKER_09 52:41

Mid-90s. I was in a program at Pierce College for people in early recovery. It was about job search and career readiness and all that. And we used to watch his VCR tapes every day. But it was all about a lot of what we've been talking about that my mantra in life comes from really from him. You have it within you to do amazing things no matter your circumstances.

SPEAKER_07 53:03

Yes.

SPEAKER_09 53:03

And it was powerful, yeah. Right? So him and then his son was actually Russell Wilson's mental health conditioning coach.

SPEAKER_00 53:12

No way.

SPEAKER_09 53:13

So if you go back, oh, we're oh, this is perfect. I'm glad you asked this because we're going to the NFC championships again, right? So he was his mental health during this period previous when we went to the Super Bowl.

SPEAKER_03 53:24

Okay.

SPEAKER_09 53:25

And he he's all about getting to neutral. That's keep touching this book. That's the title of this book, getting to neutral. Like, I have a quote that I created do the work, be consistent, expect great things, right? Like each day, like what we've been talking about, do the next indicated thing. And what he, if you watch any of Russell Wilson's press conferences after game losses, they would press him on what went wrong. And he was like, you know what? We're we're gonna practice. We're gonna we're gonna play hard. He wouldn't focus on the negative, right? Like you just focus it on enough to make the changes, but then get to neutral and move forward.

SPEAKER_05 54:06

Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 54:06

So I think of Bob Moad, Trevor Moad, um, and really sad story. Like Bob died, he was he was old, but I don't remember what, but Trevor was young. He died of cancer, was a really like 43 years old. Oh, but they were a family that you know were always about positivity. You know, Tyler, my son, if he's listening, toxic positivity, you know, he kind of jokes, but I'm not the most positive guy in the world, but I'm about let's do the work, right? Let's do the next indicated thing. So I get excited, as you can see, when I think of Bob Moad, the Moads.

SPEAKER_05 54:43

Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 54:44

And look them up. If you're just old school Bob Moad, just Google him and you'll see some of his old YouTube videos that have been taken from VCR tapes. But Trevor Moad, look up his stuff. Okay, like really, really powerful stuff. I'm happy to loan you this book. I would love to.

SPEAKER_05 55:01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 55:02

Um take it. Now he's passed. It's like, but he has two books. I can't think of the first name of the first book.

SPEAKER_01 55:09

Okay.

SPEAKER_09 55:09

Anyway, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 55:10

Okay. There you go. That's awesome. I just I appreciate you in my life being that person for me. I always tell people when they're like, oh, do you know David Douglas? I'm like, yeah, he's like my mentor, kind of like a brother, kind of like a dad, kind of like just this guy that appeared out of thin air.

SPEAKER_05 55:29

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 55:30

Like I just really appreciate the friendship that you brought into my life. Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 55:34

So I had to know what well, I love you, Katrina loves you, we love you.

SPEAKER_01 55:40

Yeah.

SPEAKER_09 55:40

Um, and you know, the universe puts people in our paths, and you know, we were nap we were taking our own risk. Like this preschool thing was like, oh god, for Katrina, she left a 12-year career, the steady paycheck, and it was, you know, she doesn't have a backup plan. I guess her backup plan she would teach for a school district, but she, like you, is all in with this preschool, and and you have been huge, like you're one of her close friends. Same.

SPEAKER_00 56:08

I'd yeah, feel the same. Yeah. Both of you.

SPEAKER_09 56:11

Okay, this is the part where I go like this, and we give a hug. This is great. Thank you. This was perfect. Thank you. And cut.

unknown 56:21

We hit.