Sarah Rhoads went from photographing celebrities to reinventing her life at 40 as the founder of Commbi Shoes, a modular, podiatrist-backed footwear brand rooted in beauty, function, and sustainability. In this inspiring conversation, Lesley Logan talks with Sarah about entrepreneurial grit, radical reinvention, and building purpose-driven products with your family by your side. 

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In this episode you will learn about:

• Why Sarah left a successful career at 40 to start Commbi Shoes.
• How to find courage and push past fear when reinventing your career.
• The power of building a brand rooted in function, beauty, and sustainability.
• What it’s really like behind the scenes when building a business with your spouse. 
• Sarah’s approach to entrepreneurial challenges and problem solving.
• Why it’s important to protect your autonomy to prevent burnout. 

Episode References/Links:

• Commbi Website - https://www.commbi.co (Use code: BEIT10 for 10% off!)
• Commbi Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/commbi_official
• Sarah Rhoads' Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sarahrhoads
• Ep. 547 with Dr. Jennifer Perez - https://beitpod.com/gaithappens

Guest Bio:

Sarah Rhoads is the fearless founder of Commbi, a groundbreaking footwear brand born from courage, curiosity, and a refusal to settle for “good enough.” Once a sought-after fashion photographer for major global brands, Sarah boldly reinvented her career to design the shoes she—and countless women—had always dreamed of wearing. With zero experience in footwear manufacturing, she turned fear into fuel, spending years creating a patented, interchangeable design that delivers both comfort and elegance. A wife, mother of three, and unstoppable innovator, Sarah’s journey is proof that anyone can chase a wild idea, break past self-doubt, and create something extraordinary that changes lives one step at a time.

 

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Episode Transcript:

Sarah Rhoads 0:00  

The biggest thing that was the hardest for me is getting over my self-limiting beliefs in the beginning, like that was step one for me, when I started to sort of say, no, like, this feels insane that I want to do this, but like I want to do this, and my curiosity is pulling me, and when my curiosity really is piqued, and I feel scared and terrified. I usually know that that is the thing I need to go after.

Lesley Logan 0:30  

Welcome to the Be It Till You See It podcast where we talk about taking messy action, knowing that perfect is boring. I'm Lesley Logan, Pilates instructor and fitness business coach. I've trained thousands of people around the world and the number one thing I see stopping people from achieving anything is self-doubt. My friends, action brings clarity and it's the antidote to fear. Each week, my guest will bring bold, executable, intrinsic and targeted steps that you can use to put yourself first and Be It Till You See It. It's a practice, not a perfect. Let's get started.

Lesley Logan 1:13  

Hello. Hi, Be It babe. Welcome welcome to the podcast. Oh, my God, this is so fun, because you're about to hear two women who've never met but totally love each other already. Just connect and share stories. And our guest today is Sarah Rhoads of Commbi shoes. And like one of the things I love about this podcast is I get to meet some really insanely amazing people and also, like, hopefully start wonderful relationships. At any rate, I really was excited to share her story with you, because I do think it's what you need right now. You need to hear a story about someone who's not a shoe manufacturer making the most amazing shoes. You need to hear about a woman who had a very, very successful career pivot to doing something she's never done before. And you need to hear that, you know, you can do all these things while being a wife and a mother and be authentic to yourself and do the things that let you up. So I'm super excited for this episode, so I'm gonna let you get right into it. Thank you, Sarah Rhoads for being here, and here she is. 

Lesley Logan 2:08  

Okay, Be It babe. I'm gonna tell you right now that like today's guest and I aren't best friends yet, but I hope in the future, we are because I already love her so much. I've been following her for a while. I will say, probably our first guest that I, like, got me by an ad so but, but our audience knows that I'm someone who's like, I'm gonna click on that ad. I love being cookied. I love when ads follow me around and remind me of the things that I want to have. And so today's guest is the founder of Commbi shoes, and it's Sarah Rhoads. Oh my gosh, hello, welcome to the Be It pod. Can you tell everyone like who you are and what you rock at, just in case they haven't, they didn't find you through Instagram like me.

Sarah Rhoads 2:49  

Well, first off, I'm so happy to be here, Lesley, and thanks so much for having me. You just have such a great energy. And I love other women that are doing great stuff. So I am a photographer turned entrepreneur. And as Lesley said, I own Commbi, which is a shoe company. I'm a founder of it that basically I created the dream shoes that I myself couldn't find, and I went and created them. I've never made shoes before. This is all just like if you told me 10 years ago, this is what I'd be doing now, I would have surprised myself. So I did a complete life pivot in, I'm 40 this year, and I basically went from a really successful career as a lifestyle fashion photographer shooting for Fortune 100 brands to doing Commbi, which is now I make shoes.

Lesley Logan 3:41  

I am obsessed. And like, I really like, I feel like, you know, like I got stalked by your gorgeous shoes. And I just was like, it was winter time, and I was like, I don't need those yet. I was on tour, and I was like, we'll just like it. We'll just like it. And then it was like, the seventh one. I was like, okay, I'll just buy them now, so they're at home when I get home and I DM-ed you about a question about because, okay, you guys, we're gonna get into her shoes in a second. I'm gonna get to our journey. But I just want to say, the shoes, why I was obsessed with them, is like, oh, I could just take the insole out and change it so I have, because I'm someone who needs to have a lot of shoes. Like my mother, she probably, I was, probably not a nice compliment, but she was like, you're like, like the woman from the Philippines who has a million shoes. And I was like, yeah, I do. I love shoes. I have no blank T-shirts, guys. I only have shoes and sweatshirts. But I, so I was upset. And you yourself, DM-ed me back. And I was like, another founder who reads her own DMs, I'm already so now I'm like, well, now I'm following and I'm gonna stalk you a little bit.

Sarah Rhoads 4:41  

 I'm all about the, I like, love interacting with people, (inaudible) building is like, what I'm all about. And I created these shoes as much for myself as I did for others and to help people. And I was like, so I really like to, like, talk like, I still, Chris, Chris handles all, my husband and co-founder, Chris handles all of the customer service emails. I handle all of the DMs, all the socials so, yeah, we're like, in it.

Lesley Logan 5:12  

Yeah, no, I feel you. Like, I we have an amazing customer service team too, but like, I do read all my DMs. People are like, oh, it's you. And I'm like, yeah, like, how will I know what to create, if I don't talk to you. Before we go into why your shoes are so amazing, even more though, you are a successful lifestyle photographer, like, there was no need to change anything except for that, you wanted amazing shoes for yourself. How? How do you, like, I know lots of our listeners are like, but how do you make a pivot like that because it's not like, you're like, oh, I'm going to be a photographer, and then I'm going to, like, you know, make a camera, something that you're familiar with. You're like, no, I'm going to make a shoe. And as someone who also makes products, like, you don't know, thank goodness you don't know what you don't know when you get into it, because otherwise you wouldn't. But like, how did you make that pivot?

Sarah Rhoads 5:56  

So, I think, you know, to start a little bit back, my husband and I met when we were 18 in college, and we have been working on creative endeavors together, like since we met. And so, you know, in some kind of entrepreneurial fashion, you know, basically what started as creative services through photography. I mean, we've shot Taylor Swift for Keds, like all these brands, and really, I think alignment is a really important thing to me, and I'm very I always feel like I'm very attuned to when I feel like I'm not on the right path. And there started to become a point I have three kids that are eight, six and three, and there started to become a point where I was just feeling not as creatively invigorated by these things I was working on in advertising. I will always be a storyteller, because it's just who I am. I love photography. However, it started to just feel like this isn't as fulfilling to me and my purpose and my calling at this stage in my life as I need it to be. So there was that, coupled with I was a dancer and I had foot issues, and being on set, I would be shooting people for 12 hours a day on my feet. I'm not a tennis shoe girlie. I do not wear heels. I have, like, sort of some foot issues. So I had tried every shoe in the game. I had tried Danskos, Birkenstocks, the Vince mules, like, if it was, like, stylish and, you know, Net-a-Porter, like, styles that I like, they had zero support. If it was like, you know, orthoticy, biotic, all this kind of stuff. It was grandma looking and so, like, I had resorted to putting insoles into my mules and my clogs and my slides on set, and my husband was like, this looks so bad, Sarah, because, like my little like insole would be flopping around. It's awful, because I wear, like, open back shoes. We live in California. That's like, my lifestyle. And so basically, we set out, like, this was, like three years ago now, to sort of say, well, let's get a 3D printer. My husband taught himself AutoCAD, and we started inventing, essentially, like, how could we take a like, allow people the opportunity to completely like, first off, create a supportive shoe. So we worked with podiatrists to create a shoe that's number one, fits the need that I needed, which was supportive, and then design it in styles that I myself wear, but then allow people to modulate it like based on the season or their preference. So for example, I hated how my Uggs, the shearling would go flat after a season, and I'd have to throw away this beautiful mule that I was like, this feels so wasteful to me. What if I could just, like, switch out that element and then keep the whole shoe like, it feels more sustainable. It feels more like practical, I'm a practical lady, and so that is how we came to basically file for our patent after we've did several thousands of iterations on like, how could we make this work where you can modulate just the footbed and allow people to be creative, allow people to be in the driver's seat of what they want, provide something that's more sustainable in a way. And so thus became like, well, okay, I guess we're inventing a new way to do shoes and.

Lesley Logan 9:22  

You, I mean, like, literally, like, that's why I don't have any of the shoe. Like, I had bought the shearling Birkenstock. So I was like, oh, those are so cute. It's like, four years ago I needed some house slippers in the summer, you know, we, our house is tile, everyone. So if you, if you walk around tile with bare feet, you just get ugly feet. So I was like, oh, I'll have these, like, shearling. No, within a summer, it's like, rub down and it's ugly. And now I have this shoe that is perfectly fine. It has not been worn enough. And then also, did you okay? Get this. So, I interviewed one of the founders of Gait Happens, G-A-I-T Gait Happens on this podcast. It hasn't released yet, but you gotta check it out. And I said, oh, my husband wears, like, Birkenstocks. This is the only shoe he wears. And she goes, I give it a b minus.

Sarah Rhoads 9:23  

Same. And that, I hate, I don't, I'm not here to diss. 

Lesley Logan 10:11  

Right. We're not, you're not dissing. I'll bring up their name.

Sarah Rhoads 10:14  

Yes, but I am sure to say for not, not for everybody. Like, I thought, work is like, hard. It's like, I didn't like that it took such a break-in period. So I was like, why don't I create a supportive shoe that has a memory foam that doesn't have the break-in period of a Birkenstock? Like, why not try something different? So, yeah. 

Lesley Logan 10:32  

Okay, so, I'm sure people caught on so, you're 40. You have three kids under 10. You're my you're like, a superhero. How like, and you and your family made this transition together? Like, there are so many questions I have there, which is, like, to switch financially, your whole thing over, and then to be present for children. But also, like, not burn yourself out. Can you tell us the process you went through?

Sarah Rhoads 11:02  

Yeah, okay, so and I'm still going through it, to be totally honest with you, I feel like a pivot, the biggest thing that was the hardest for me is getting over my self-limiting beliefs in the beginning, like that was step one for me, when I started to sort of say no, like, this feels insane that I want to do this, but like, I want to do this, and my curiosity is pulling me. And when my curiosity really is peaked and I feel scared and terrified, I usually know that that is the thing I need to go after. That's sort of my recipe for, like, I know that's on my path of alignment, and I kept feeling that. And so I really had to do a lot of work to break down my self-limiting beliefs, number one, to even step into this space of like I can do this, you know, and so much so I had, you know, this, this on my home screen of my iPhone, I had like, a thing that said, what if you have what it takes. You know, it's still on there, actually, what if you have what it takes? Because I had so many moments of like, this is insane, no one's going to understand you, Sarah, like, why would you do, like people are going to be like, what are you doing? Like, and all those self-doubt, things, that (inaudible) imposter syndrome we all deal with when we pivot, or we're even thinking about pivoting. And I just started to, like reframe that for myself, to be like, no, I am deeply curious about what are the edges of my ability. Like, what am I capable of? And like to find that out, I have to go to the edge of my fear and look over the the edge of it. And entrepreneurship, so much in this journey for me has so much been, as much as it's been an external one, it's more of an internal one for myself, of like, can I do this, and do I have what it takes? And I, I do, like, I think all people can do all things genuinely. And, you know, it started there, and then, you know, of course, my husband and I, as co-founders, had to really come together of like, okay, can we utilize our previous skill set, which we've done our 10,000 hours plus on mastering, is there a way to parlay that also to be a strength in this new world? And there is, like we just shot our Commbi campaign for all of the new material, like we utilize our skill sets that we have used in our previous We Are The Rhoads studio all the time, like all of our network of models and you know, all of that is used in this new business, which is so cool. And I think like trusting that and knowing, like, hey, I didn't know how to really make a product that I learned got on a plane, and you can learn anything if you're curious enough and willing to be, like, moldable, I think anything is possible. And so that's kind of, we launched August last year, and we've had.

Lesley Logan 14:06  

I had no idea. I had no idea. I had no idea. That's insane. Okay, so it's not even a year old yet.

Sarah Rhoads 14:13  

No, we're going on our first year and, like, I mean, we've been working on this behind the scenes for like, three years, so it feels a lot older to us, but it's also, you know, we're a new company, a new business, and every day is learning. And as an entrepreneur, as you know, every day is learning. And for me, the meaning of life is to learn, to grow and to expand. And so for me, this is checking all those boxes every single day. When I wake up, I learn new things everyday. So you know what I mean?

Lesley Logan 14:43  

I do. Everyday I'm like, okay, like, well, and also, what happens is, like, you still you, unless you take time to reflect, you don't realize, like, the things you learned a year ago, you're actually now an expert at, and you're slaying but there's just a new, new thing. You did it now, and with everything that goes on all the time. You're kind of like, okay, okay, so how do I, how do I take what I believe in and exist in this area because this area has changed now, but I want to exist like this here. And so you are, you, it's a, it, you know what? It's a lot if they say, like, if you want to learn about yourself, become an entrepreneur, because you really learn about yourself.

Sarah Rhoads 15:19  

It's true. It's true. And I'm, like, deeply curious about, like, okay, what are the depths of my ability and, like, my capacity, I, you know? And, yeah, you learn it. You're scared every day. You know that, that's for me what I'm like, retraining my brain right now, the work I'm doing, is to learn that this is what it is. This is normal. Problem solving problems is, is that is what it is to be a founder. That is what it is to be an entrepreneur. You grow out of a system, you expand into something else, like, oh, we're having to expand warehouses right now because we grew out of this. It's like, at first, I was like, oh, oh no. Is something wrong? It's like, no, that is, that is, that is what it is. It's figuring things out and you know, like, that's what entrepreneurship is, is creative problem-solving a lot of it, so.

Lesley Logan 16:11  

Yeah, well, congrats on outgrowing your first warehouse, or maybe it's your second already. But I, I want to highlight let you like, like, what we know as Commbi, like, what we've seen is almost a year old, but that you guys have been working behind the scenes for three years. And I think that that's the thing that like, no matter how many times I hear it, I have to share it because, because we are like, oh my God, look at the successful brand here. Look at what they're doing. And it's like, you didn't see the three to four years of sweat, tears, wonder, fear, lots of money invested. Like, you you actually are seeing the like, there is no such thing as an overnight success. Like, we know this, you and I live like you still live in L.A. but I lived in like, we know that no one is an overnight movie star, that was like a decade of auditions and like little roles in the background and all these different things. And then they filmed this thing two years ago, and they've just been waiting for us to all see it. So, you know, I think it's like we have to be reminded of that, because if you have an idea that you are going for and you're feeling frustrated because it's been a year, it's been three to four years before the rest of us, like, before, and then also, like, do you just heard me say it like, took like, seven times for me to go, yeah, I think, you know, like, the world is like, taking its time to site, making decisions on what it wants to do with your product. And so it's not personal. It's just like, that's how long things take.

Sarah Rhoads 17:35  

Yeah, and I would say, like, I would encourage anybody who's like, in that phase of, like, building behind the scenes, I feel like that's, it's truly one of the hardest phases, because no one can see what you're doing, and you have to have this, like, self-determined belief in yourself and what you're doing. And that takes, it's really hard to do that work, but like, stick with it. Like, stick it out, because I feel like really good things are always on the other side of that, like that curiosity and that sort of determination, but it's really hard to do that, that type that space, that's the building phase, where no one can see what you're doing, and you're just like, I'm creating this thing. I hope people will like it. I hope people will like be (inaudible), like it will help their life and and then when you get to launch and you see like it does, and you hear from customers being like, oh my gosh, I love this. I love your shoes. They're like, exactly what I want. Like, it's like, oh, I didn't just create the shoes for me. I created them for, you know, other people too. 

Lesley Logan 18:43  

Yeah, well, I mean, like, just to give you a compliment to your face, since, like, because you need it. Another one, I'm sure, as a business, I'm always, like, give me all the compliments on my things. You like, I am almost a size 10 foot, and so, like, slides were never awesome because my heels would somehow hit the ground. No one wants their you know what I mean? And then, like, and then I have a wide toe box, but a narrow heel, and it's just always been an issue. So I was a tennis shoe girly, because, like, that's it. That's the only shoes that would stay on my feet and keep and so, but I am like, oh, these shoes. I feel like, I feel luxurious in I feel like they're, you know, these are not just like, like when I put my Birkenstocks on, yes, I still, I have some pairs. Like, I'm like, I'm like, okay, this is a laid back, this is.

Sarah Rhoads 19:28  

I'm like a granola girly. (inaudible) to offer something that was like, right? 

Lesley Logan 19:35  

But I don't want to be a granola girly every day. Like, I want to be a girl. Like, that's, I am a girly girl. But people like, I love like, I just did a photo shoot that I haven't put some of the pictures up yet, but like, it's, I'm obsessed. We're rebranding the podcast, and I got this green emerald green, like Wizard of Oz green fur coat.

Sarah Rhoads 19:59  

That is like your color, girl. 

Lesley Logan 20:01  

It's so good. It's so good. And I'm like, and like, I'm like, this, and then I put it, we did a whole fashion shoot at the Plaza Hotel because they have all the light bulbs on I'm just like, obsessed, oh, it was amazing. I'll have to show you when we're done. It's fucking phenomenal. Anyways, but like, I was like, I want a casual shoe that makes me feel girly. So like, congratulations, you nailed it, and I can't wait to see what comes out. Also, since you live in L.A., do you know Ripley? Because the two of you should be best friends if you're not, Ripley Rader, do you know her? Okay, your shoes, here's my vision. Not and no one asked, I think you, I think you and Ripley should do a collab together. Your shoes with her clothes, insane. And you're both photographers. You guys. 

Sarah Rhoads 20:41  

Ripley is her brand? 

Lesley Logan 20:42  

Ripley Radar. Yeah, the perfect pant also, yes. 

Sarah Rhoads 20:45  

You gotta introduce us. 

Lesley Logan 20:46  

I'm gonna introduce you guys, because in my perfect world, like, you got, like, her lines with your shoes, like, fabulous. And then, because you're both photographers and you're both in L.A. like, this should this is just a magical match. I'm just gonna make it happen. I met her through the podcast. They approached me, and I was like, is this the woman whose pants keep following me around my Instagram? Yeah, I want to interview her, and now I have a bunch of her clothes, and I wear them with your shoes, and I love it. 

Lesley Logan 21:13  

So, okay, I want to go, like, the things, what are the things you do when you're like, feeling it? Because I think, I think that the thing that makes more, that makes an entrepreneur move faster, because we all are going to fill obstacles. We are problem-solving everyday, but like, the quicker you get to, like, overcoming the fear of failure and noticing your ish, like, the quicker you can move through it. Like, how do you move through that fear or the obstacles, like, what are the tools you use? Do you have a mantra? Do you have music like, what do you do? 

Sarah Rhoads 21:45  

Man, I feel like there's a couple things I, it's not like a formal mantra, but something I say every single day is, everything is working out for my better good, like, a greater good, everything is working out for us, like Chris and I this morning, literally, like he made me a coffee, and despite, like, there's a lot going on in the world right now, tariffs impact our business. Like we could sit there and, like, sort of focus on that, but we just said to each other, like, everything's working out for us. Like everything is working out for us. And I really it's not sort of BS, like, I really genuinely believe that when you look at my life, when I look at like the now that I have some wisdom of life, I'm like, oh, like everything is genuinely working out for us. And I also believe that everything leads to everything, as silly as that sounds, I have this, this other female founder that I love, and I'll always like, Sheena of Kosas. She's a badass, and she has been kind enough like I shot her very first campaign when she had one lipstick, like, years and years ago. And she's helped me on my journey as a founder of a product, and she is the one who told me she's like, everything leads to everything. And just trusting that has been a really powerful mantra for me, just in terms of, like, knowing that even if there's a setback, guess what, everything leads to everything, like or this relationship, it might feel like just a dead end call, guess what? Like, those things down the road lead to other things they really do. And so, like, I feel like part of being an entrepreneur is being someone who has an appetite for adventure. Because, like, the way that I sort of akin it to is like you're in the woods with a machete, like a hatchet going through the woods. There's no trail, there's no trail heads, there are no maps. And you're going through the woods with a machete trying to forge a path up this mountain, and you see these, like beautiful people, or rivers along the way that are like, oh, good water. And then there's like, a little light over there, and that little light ends up being a person that's like, you know what? Like a Sheena, or these, like someone that's like, hey, you should meet Ripley. Like, who knows what that leads to, whatever it is. And they're like, you know what, hey, there you should you should go over that way and talk to this person. You start going on that path with your machete, and then before you know it, you have a manufacturing partner that's fantastic. And you are, you have a great like, product that you're like, working on making better. And anyway, I just, I feel like that for me, keeping that mentality of being an adventurer has been, like, really paramount to trusting the process, even when you have setbacks, even when you're in the woods with your machete and you don't see the way forward. Just like, you know what? I have to trust that it's all part of the plan. 

Lesley Logan 24:46  

Yeah, it is so true. It's so true. Like, as you were saying, like I was just like thinking, like, all the different things that happened, so, before we hit record, I live in Las Vegas, right? We were talking about it. The reason we own a home. Is because the world shut down, not because, like, we, like planned and put it out. Oh, we have a life plan together. We're gonna do this. You guys, Brad and I would have lived in that 500 square foot apartment forever. We would have bought a vacation home and still live in that apartment, if we could have kept traveling. Because you don't realize how small it is when you're not there. So like, but we, we're here in this beautiful, like, the house of my dreams, because even when things happen outside your control, like, everything is working out for you if you believe it, if you're not believing that, like you, you don't see the opportunities and you don't see the connections and the introductions as as a light of like, oh, look over here. You're seeing it as, like, another thing that is, like, keeping you, or just another busy thing you don't you, you know. Like, I really do think that, like, when you believe that things will work out you are actually, you'll actually see the opportunities as evidence of that.

Sarah Rhoads 25:56  

Absolutely, and I feel like that's exactly what you're pointing to. It's like, I feel like in our busy culture of like, everything's about efficiency and like, oh, our task list, I never want to turn people into tasks like, ever. And so for me, it's like, if we can keep the spirit of like, this is all about, like, life is about how we can grow from each other and how we can learn from each other. Like, I just try to keep that spirit about every interaction, knowing I can learn something from everybody and and, yeah, I I love what you're saying. Like, not turning things, all these things into to do lists, turning them into opportunities in your mind. You know, I think it's really powerful, so it's helped me, but, yeah. 

Lesley Logan 26:42  

Thank you for sharing that. I, okay. You're a mom, you're a wife, you're a business owner, you're you. You are so many things. How do you prioritize you in all of this? Because it can be so easy. Like, like, we love our people. We don't want to be to-do lists like, almost like, like, I work with a lot of Pilates instructors, and they, like, love their clients so much that they don't take care of the things that continue to make them light up anymore, and it bends on the burnout road, right? So, like, how do you make sure that you're still you in all of this?

Sarah Rhoads 27:13  

Yeah, that's a really good question. Like, burnout is a very real, you know, thing, as you know, we're always like, right, flying real close to the sun there on burnout. If I'm being honest, when you're building a business, building a company, it's especially through, like, the holiday season, like Chris and I were like, okay, we gotta, like, we gotta step back a little bit from this. It's all like, just it, you know. And I feel like, for me, how do I stay me my, I protect my autonomy pretty fiercely. Like, I just feel like, it's just who I am. I love to read. So I like, am in this amazing book club that I like, make time for. Like, it's something totally extracurricular. But these women inspire me. They're incredible. I love hearing other people's perspectives. I am all about nature and hiking, like, I go out and I be in nature, like three days a week. Like, those are the things that for me, keep me from burnout. Is like doing a few things every week that I love, you know, that are outside of like, what makes me money? You know? What can I be doing to better my business? It's being in touch with the things that make Sarah, me, feel alive, and then knowing like, that'll make me a better mom, a better founder, a better creative, all those things that I need to be, you know. So, yeah. 

Lesley Logan 27:13  

Thank you for sharing that. I think I love that you're in a book club that you make time for. Like, I think it's so like, I we have a lot of people like, how do you make friends as an adult? I'm like, you have to just go do things and hope and, like, if you don't like it, go do something else. Like, it's okay and, you know, it is hard, like, it's hard to there's always a reason. I mean, you like, I just wanted you to all replay that. Remember, she is a founder of a new company. She works with her husband, and she has three kids under 10, and she has, she has things she does for herself every week. Like, I love that so much. I really, I really, really do. Okay. What are you most excited about right now?

Sarah Rhoads 29:08  

I am so excited about my new line that is coming out in three weeks. Oh my gosh. I'm gonna give you like, a little sneak peek. 

Lesley Logan 29:15  

Stop right now. I need them already. Stop right now. I need them already.

Sarah Rhoads 29:18  

So, like, I, again, part of like, listening to customers and like is, it's part of us handling customer service is like, I want to know, like, what do people want to see more?

Lesley Logan 29:28  

Bright colors. I want hot pink. I want that red. 

Sarah Rhoads 29:31  

Yeah, but I'm listening so people wanted real Nappa leathers. My first was vegan. Now I've got, I'll still offer vegan option for those ladies who want that or men who want that. But I also have some amazing, like, supple, like, it's like, lamb skin leathers that are just so chic and look so good.

Lesley Logan 29:55  

You guys, if you're not already watching the Be It Pod on YouTube, you need to now and also by the time this is out, they're out. So go get them.

Sarah Rhoads 30:01  

And then I have some just cool styles that are all adjustable. So I have, like, back straps and like some things that, like people wanted for walking around Europe, things like that, like, there's back straps adjustable sort of plays. I'm just so excited about this line. I also improved the product immensely. I took, got on a plane to Asia when I started to hear a couple things, like, I had enough time with my own product to be like, I want to take the weight out of the shoes a little bit. And so I worked with my engineering team. People told me, you can't do it, you can't do it. Blah, blah, blah, for these reasons. I sat there and I, like, didn't book a return flight until this was solved. And basically, we came up with a unique compound for our shoes that allows the interchangeability to all work. And it just just like super I'm just super excited about this line. I feel really proud of it. It's designed with really nice textiles, and I have a really good supplier I'm really excited about. So anyway, all of it, the designs are pretty fire, and I'm excited, but that's what I'm excited about. 

Lesley Logan 31:04  

I am so I like, she held up a red. I was like, because I just, I love an accent. I love.

Sarah Rhoads 31:09  

(inaudible) I'm about to pre-release these, because I've had so many people asking.

Lesley Logan 31:14  

Okay, well, I'm gonna get that link before. Brad is going, Brad is rolling his eyes while he's listening to this. I'm sure. When he listens later, he's asleep right now, but he'll, he'll listen to this on a replay moving for prep. And I know, I know the exact points where he's just going, oh my God, my wife. (inaudible) We will do it yes, and then we'll do the couple photo for you. We'll do whatever you want. 

Sarah Rhoads 31:42  

Oh my God. I love it. We'll make it happen. 

Lesley Logan 31:42  

And then when we come to L.A., we're gonna have to come see you because, like, of course, we'll have to have dinner, because it's, it's not all the time that you meet couples who work together and and are cool and they work together well, there's.

Sarah Rhoads 31:55  

Lesley, I have so many questions for you about that. So, yes, a dinner is in our future. 

Lesley Logan 32:00  

Yes, oh, I mean, we've been working together. So he, he flirted with me by building me a website. You guys, we were dating, and he was, like, your new website. And I, like, you know, as a Pilates instructor, and I thought I was one of the first Pilates instructors, like, who have their own website. Like I got out of Pilates training, and I had a website ready to go. And, like, no people have been teaching 10 years to have website. So I thought I was a slain and then I met him. I'd been teaching for like, seven years. He's like, so you have to have an like, this is old. You need a new website. And I'm like, why it's working just fine. So he built me a new one. And then, and then, as I was building my companies, which, you know, bad thing, guys don't build the same three things at the same time, because if they work out, you have three, and it's a lot. So anyways, he started, like, working with me, doing things behind the scenes. And finally, I was just like, can you just like, can you just work with me all the time? And so he's been full time since 2019 which has been really, really cool and really fun, and also allowed me to, like, not be the CEO of my company, because I'm not as I don't know about you, I don't I'm not a CEO. 

Sarah Rhoads 33:01  

I'm a co-CEO. But Chris does ops, tech, all of things that like, are the behind the scenes. I'm community building, creative, getting, (inaudible) you're dynamic. We can like, have a whole podcast about working as a team with your significant.

Lesley Logan 33:18  

I know, we'll have to have you back, and we'll have to, like, do a co well, the four of us can talk. 

Sarah Rhoads 33:22  

With all of us? 

Lesley Logan 33:23  

Yes, because it's like, you have to, well, it's also just recognizing your strengths. Like, this is what I'm really good at. I'm really good at the community. I'm really good at the vision. I'm really good at like, seeing the big picture and like, how, like, it's gonna relate down the thing. And a meeting on how this system is gonna work is like, I wanna know, but I don't want to be in the. 

Sarah Rhoads 33:42  

100% girl, we're the same. This is (inaudible) people. I'm like, thank God for them, because truly, it's not my wheelhouse, you know. 

Lesley Logan 33:54  

Yeah. Oh, we, so we make Pilates flashcards. And on our winter tour, we went, we were like, near the place at the warehouse that prints our flashcards and and fulfills everything it's (inaudible) house. And So Brad, like, we're gonna go see how this is made. And I was like, I don't, I don't really, actually, I'm not lit up by this. Like, you know, like, I, he's. 

Sarah Rhoads 33:54  

Find your strength (inaudible). 

Lesley Logan 34:15  

Yeah. Oh, and he is like, looking at everything. He's like, look at this. And it goes in here first, and they go this first. And I was just like, this is, oh, I don't know how someone envisioned this actually, like the guy who envisioned the systems that print flashcards and boxes the whole thing. I was like, that person's amazing.

Sarah Rhoads 34:35  

Thank God for that guy. 

Lesley Logan 34:36  

Yeah, yeah. Thank goodness, because I don't have to be the person who does it. Anyways. Okay, I could talk to you forever, but we're gonna take a brief break and then find out how people can find you, follow you and get your amazing shoes. 

Lesley Logan 34:47  

All right, Sarah, where do you hang out? What socials are we sharing? Where can they pre-order these amazing shoes, or just order them because they'll be out by now?

Sarah Rhoads 34:55  

Oh, I love it. Okay, so Commbi C-O-M-M-B-I dot co and then you can get on our mailing list. That'll be how you find out new, hot pre-releases coming at you. And then our Instagram handle is @Commbi_official. So yeah, that's that's us.

Lesley Logan 35:15  

Wonderful. You've given so many great tips, but I can't get enough of you. So bold, executable, intrinsic or targeted steps our listeners can take to be it till they see it, what do you have for us? 

Sarah Rhoads 35:25  

I think, knowing deep in your soul that everything's working out for you, and knowing that anyone can do anything, and trusting yourself and believing in yourself, that's that's the biggest thing that I would say.

Lesley Logan 35:40  

I love those. I think you've said a few things that'll be on Post-Its in my office for a little bit, and I'll just think of you. Oh my gosh, Sarah, thank you for being you. Thank you for creating Commbi shoes, like and also for being I think people listening, we all need like inspirations, like people we can look at and go, okay, she did it and so I can, like, you know, we just need these reminders. So thank you for doing that. And it's really cool that your kids get to see you and your husband create something amazing as well together. So just a hats off to you, and I'll be, I'll be ordering more shoes. So just know I'm stalking you.

Sarah Rhoads 36:19  

I gotta hook you up and your listeners up with a little discount code so we can talk about that. 

Lesley Logan 36:24  

Yeah, we'll do that, you guys. It'll be, we'll make sure we send it out with this episode. Thank you. Thank you for being you. 

Lesley Logan 36:24  

All right, loves. How are you going to use these tips in your life? We want to know. Tag Commbi official. Tag the Be It Pod, share this episode with a friend who needs to hear it, and until next time, Be It Till You See It. 

Lesley Logan 36:39  

That's all I got for this episode of the Be It Till You See It Podcast. One thing that would help both myself and future listeners is for you to rate the show and leave a review and follow or subscribe for free wherever you listen to your podcast. Also, make sure to introduce yourself over at the Be It Pod on Instagram. I would love to know more about you. Share this episode with whoever you think needs to hear it. Help us and others Be It Till You See It. Have an awesome day. Be It Till You See It is a production of The Bloom Podcast Network. If you want to leave us a message or a question that we might read on another episode, you can text us at +1-310-905-5534 or send a DM on Instagram @BeItPod.

Brad Crowell 37:22  

It's written, filmed, and recorded by your host, Lesley Logan, and me, Brad Crowell.

Lesley Logan 37:27  

It is transcribed, produced and edited by the epic team at Disenyo.co.

Brad Crowell 37:31  

Our theme music is by Ali at Apex Production Music and our branding by designer and artist, Gianfranco Cioffi.

Lesley Logan 37:38  

Special thanks to Melissa Solomon for creating our visuals.

Brad Crowell 37:41  

Also to Angelina Herico for adding all of our content to our website. And finally to Meridith Root for keeping us all on point and on time.

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