Be It Till You See It

Lesley explores Rebekah's journey from confronting the limitations of traditional publishing to establishing Row House Publishing. Discover how community support played a crucial role in her fundraising efforts, enabling the launch of initiatives like the Little Readers Big Change Initiative, which brings literacy resources to under-resourced schools. This episode highlights the importance of reciprocal relationships within the community, diversity, and the impact of equitable profit-sharing models in fostering a fair publishing environment.

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In this episode you will learn about:

• Rebekah's decision to leave a traditional publishing house due to its lack of diversity.
• The role of community support and the power of small donations in achieving big dreams.
• The strategic decisions behind the equitable profit-sharing model at Row House Publishing designed to disrupt traditional publishing norms.
• The importance of being actively involved in your community and how collective efforts can fuel significant change.
• The significance of not just giving to but also receiving from your community.

Episode References/Links:

• Rebekah Borucki Website
• Row House Publishing
• Row House Publishing Instagram

Guest Bio:

Rebekah “Bex” Borucki (she/they) is a mixed-race neuro-riotous mother-to-five, grandmother-to-one, self-help and children’s author, and the Founder and President of Row House, Wheat Penny Press, and the WPP Little Readers Big Change Initiative, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit delivering literacy programming to K-12 students in underestimated school districts and grants to Black and Brown creatives and booksellers. Borucki is driven by a commitment to make wellness, self-learning, and literacy tools available to all and to help others recover the freedoms stolen from them by white supremacy through activism centering Black liberation and trans rights. Borucki lives with her family in her native state, New Jersey.

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Episode Transcript:

Rebekah Borucki 0:00  

I am a kid and I love writing for the little girl that was me that didn't have access to even hugs most days. So, you know, I'm sticking with this. If I could work in the children's space all the time, I love my authors. I love all of my authors at Hay House, but if I could just like hire another president and be in the children's space, I, 100% would.

Lesley Logan 0:24  

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 1:06  

Hi, Be It babe. Okay, get ready. Get ready. So our guest today is Rebekah Borucki. She is the founder of Row House Publishing. Oh my goodness. Oh my goodness. What an incredible story. What an incredible journey. What an incredible life she is living. And I am so grateful Roxy, for you making this massive connection. I am in awe of what Rebekah is doing and also like her ability to share that and also give you options. So we're going to talk a little bit about activism here, we're going to talk about her being going growing up and then becoming an author, a published author, and then switching from a publishing (inaudible) into owning her own and starting your own and then really taking care of authors. And then also the work she's doing for her children, K through 12 for reading, and I'm just you're gonna be fired up, I'm fired up, there is information on how to support her publishing company, there's also a, I'm going to put some in the show notes and with the charities that like little readers that you can have, you can donate to, because it is called littlereadersbigchange.com. So we'll make sure that all those things are in there. If you're wondering like, a little bit why this matters, I can tell you right now that because my mom made sure that during my year of kindergarten, she read to me 500 books, that my ability to dream, be creative. kind of go outside with the world today and think of something that could possibly happen and then make that happen is because of books. And I took a lot of years off of reading. And then I recently started reading again, and not reading. I've read a lot of books or just mostly workbooks, but like reading some months, some fiction and like just some other stuff. And I'm a ferocious reader. I love it. And I think it is important for children of all ages everywhere to see themselves in books out there. And so Rebekah Borucki is making that happen. She's one of many people and I'm so honored to share her with you today. So take a listen. And if you can support her publishing company or Little Reader Big change in any way, please do and we're going to look at those Be It Action Items. They're brilliant, they're amazing, and they're going to support you. Here is Rebekah Borucki. 

Lesley Logan 3:20  

All right, Be It babe. Welcome to the podcast. I'm so excited for today's guest she has a connection with a dear friend who's also been on the show Roxy Menzies and so we have Rebekah Borucki here today she is a self-published author which is just I think it's interesting we have to even identify between self-published and like published, republish because writing a book, and you're both. Okay, so she's hyphenated. She's a multifaceted author of children's books and I'm so excited to have you here, Rebekah, will you tell us who you are and what you rock at?

Rebekah Borucki 3:49  

Okay, well, I'm Rebekah, who introduced me and got my name, right. That's awesome. Pronouns are she/they. I am the president and founder of Row House Publishing, also, Wheat Penny Press, which preceded Row House, which was the children's publishing house. And then also the Little Readers Big Change Initiative, which is our nonprofit that provides literacy, or literacy resources and books and author visits to K-12 schools in under-resourced districts. And we also support black-owned indie bookstores and black and brown creators. So we do a lot. I do a lot. 

Lesley Logan 4:22  

You do a lot. 

Rebekah Borucki 4:24  

I have five kids, I can't forget them. That's my most important job and one grandbaby. So. 

Lesley Logan 4:29  

Oh my God, you don't look old enough to have a grandbaby and also when you said five kids for a split second, I thought you were joking. Like just saying I do all this and I have five kids, but then it's like, no, no, she's really, it's five kids. Okay. I feel like we have to go back a little bit like was it always a dream of yours to be an author? Was this something you fell into? I also, you know, I think it's amazing what you're doing for readers of schools, like I grew up, my, thank goodness, my mom made sure I read I think it changed my life. You know, so can you tell me how this, where do we begin? 

Rebekah Borucki 5:02  

So, my parents didn't make sure I read at all. I grew up in a lower middle class or not middle class, I'm sorry, lower middle, or working class, working class family, in a very small working class town, lived under the poverty line, my entire pre-adult life, really struggled with food insecurity, all that stuff. So it was really a matter of just survival. But I loved school. And I love to write, I absolutely did not dream of becoming a writer because I didn't think that was even something you could do for a living. And I had a teacher, Glenda Autry. She was my first black teacher in middle school, I'm mixed race. And so she kind of like took all like the black and brown girls under her wing. And there was one report card, she wrote a note home. And I still have the note, and said, Rebekah's writing is beautiful. I can't wait to read one of her books one day. And it was just like that glimmer of, oh, that's something that I can do. And people think I could do that set me not on a path to writing but set me on a path to explore my creativity. Even on the side, I was a teen mom, I had three kids before I was 25. So there were a lot of obstacles in me going my own way. But I'm also completely unemployable. I'm autistic, I hate being outside, I don't do well in front of crowds of people. So I had to kind of make up my own way. And I hustled and created a platform, a wellness platform, I was doing yoga and meditation for a really long time. I was published with Hay House, two books with Hay House. Long story short, they're super racist and exclusive over there. So I had to leave in 2020 and start my own publishing house, knowing nothing about publishing. 

Lesley Logan 6:46  

And so that's what I'm looking in the back of your office Row House Publishing that's you. That's yeah, that's gosh, okay. So, um, wow, I, your teacher, like, I almost had tears in my eyes. But you're really, really like reliving that moment. So beautiful. It's amazing, I think, how like something that probably how could she know like, how impactful that could have been? I mean, maybe she did, but also like, you know, I think of like, maybe some of the teacher's notes I got home and very few of my kept like, that's kind of that's really powerful. I also think it's really difficult for someone to leave something that (in air quotes) "to secure" a publishing house like that. What was, do you mind sharing? Like, was it an easy decision? Did you have to, like, really think about it like, because I just wonder like, some people just like, I had to do it. And other people, I'm like, well, you know, like, especially my life I grew up with, I wasn't impoverished that much as like that as low as your situation was. But we were just above that, right? So we were just enough that we couldn't get any of the extra help. And so, for a long time, people know who was in the podcast, we don't, I don't answer my phone, because I think it's bill collector, like, I'm so conditioned to like, screening the call.

Rebekah Borucki 7:56  

Same. Every time I go to the grocery line, I have my debit card, I'm like, do I have enough in the bank, like I totally do, and it's gonna be scary for the rest of my life. 

Lesley Logan 8:03  

Right. So I mean, like, people don't realize, like, I was a little girl, like at the age of 11, I can't believe the world let you do this. But at age 11, I would take a check and write it for more. That's what my parents taught me to write it for more, because then you'll get the cash and then fingers crossed. It's when there's money in the bank, and no one bounces a check at the grocery store, like, so I do understand that. So I guess like when I hear things like where you stand up for something that's so much you believe in but also is like a livelihood for you. I guess I just wonder what that decision felt like.

Rebekah Borucki 8:36  

I don't know if it's a cultural differences. But the way I was raised, my parents were activists in their own way they were pacifist, they were adamantly anti-war in any circumstance. So I grew up with this sense of it is up to us to stand up and say something. And also, it's up to us to share and redistribute wealth, we had nothing, and we were constantly giving. So that's just, I don't know if it was a cultural thing. It's definitely something that is in black and brown communities, all marginalized communities because there was no other way to survive than to help another. So when I saw that, you know, I'm the brownest person in the room. And I said that to the CEO. And his response is, well, you have to understand, Rebekah, that we cater to an affluent audience. I knew that not only did my people not belong there, but I didn't belong there. And it just became unacceptable for me, who already walked through the world with a lot of light-skinned privilege, you know, skin privilege, like all the things that I navigate white spaces really well, like, it just felt completely gross for me to continue to benefit from this system. And if I thought about it, I don't know if I would have made the decision so quickly. I didn't really think about it. It's kind of like, oh, that's your answer. You know, you're not gonna do anything. And it was in the middle of a meeting actually to discuss why they weren't addressing that five of the 12 disinformation dozen, the 12 people online that were responsible for most of the misinformation and disinformation around COVID. Five of those people were their authors. And it was in a meeting to discuss, like, why you're not saying anything? Or Why aren't you coming out with a stance? And why aren't you talking about the uprisings happening all over the United States and Black Lives Matter and whatever. And their resistance refusal to take accountability or to say that they have the power to do something was just like, I was like, I gotta go. My agent was sitting there like, I don't know what she did. She didn't know that was gonna happen. And she's this like, amazing white lady from New York powerhouse, beautiful literary agent, had no idea really what I was saying, but was there for me. Yeah, I just, I just left and I wasn't planning on starting my own publishing house, my former editor and then good friend, Kristen McGuiness texted me late I think it was a Monday night, and she said, you know, why don't you just start your own Hay House. And I, in my infinite wisdom and spunk said, "Sure. Why not? Let's call it Bay House." That was, that's how it happened. That was (inaudible) 2020. In November we had the name registered, in February, we launched online with a fundraiser and we started, we raised 10,000, or not 10,000. We raised $100,000, in the first 10 days. So people wanted it.

Lesley Logan 11:32  

Yeah. Okay. Can you tell okay, and maybe we can go on to other tangent to this note you want to talk about, but like, I guess, like starting a publishing house, that is not an easy thing to do. You do need money. That's how that's why publisher like publishers have the money (inaudible).

Rebekah Borucki 11:49  

We needed the money. And this was very interesting for me, because I was very familiar with fundraising in terms of mutual aid, where it's just like direct giving to people who need, it paying people's electric bills. That was my whole life. And it was definitely something that I was engaged in as an activist at that time. But you know, so going out and asking for money wasn't a hard thing for me. But the scale, like we needed to raise, we thought we needed to raise $800,000, we ended up blowing past that raising 1.2 million, and these were small money donations, like this was $5, $20, $100. Because that's how we do, right, in this community. And, you know, we hit that mark, I didn't realize I didn't know the historic value of this. Only 150 women to date, right now, 150 black women have raised more than a million dollars from venture capital. So it just doesn't happen at all. Don't raise as much money. And so going in blindly, kind of helped me I didn't know how hard it was going to be. I didn't know the obstacles that were ahead. But 

Rebekah Borucki 12:53  

Which was probably better. (Inaudible)

Rebekah Borucki 12:58  

So one, one of my mentors, a black man, black executive in finance, he said, like, look, this isn't going to be a matter of you going into rooms and then saying, so how much money we're gonna make together. It's going to be people asking you how you're not going to lose my money, because of where you come from, because of who you are what you are. And that was demoralizing. That was hard. But yeah (inaudible).

Lesley Logan 13:27  

That stings. I think like I had, maybe a year ago, I had a woman on who was in tech and financing and she like, was one of the few women who's in the rooms like with where the money is raised. And her whole thing is like, there's not, there's not that many women in general getting money from venture capital. And then she's like, and then you go, and you break it out by color. And it's like, it's just not even close. There's there's not even like a way to go, how do we bridge this? Make it, like, it's not going to be fair.

Rebekah Borucki 13:56  

(Inaudible) Like on the graph, like you can't even see it? And yes, that's a problem. But what I know, as someone, you know, with, that's in the black community, there's a way so it was really just being completely transparent. This is what we need. This is what we plan to do. This is how we're different. This is how we're, it's for us and by us. And so we rally that ground support that there's a ground support from my community, my close community, but it was also 2021 when people really wanted to be good. And so there was a lot of, we capitalize a lot on that that week of 2020. You know, that was unfair, like horrible, horrific, but at least some black folks brown folks were able to kind of get a foothold start their careers and have their voices amplified. 

Lesley Logan 14:49  

So your publishing house is it specifically for black and brown authors. Like what do you guys focus on? Is it for everyone is it for like?

Rebekah Borucki 14:56  

It's for everyone, all genres. We have five imprints now. So it's children's, it's romance, it's YA. So many beautiful, beautiful books, beautiful people. The requirements to get published with us are, one of our imprints, are one you're writing through the lens of social justice. And this can be done through fiction, anything. It's disability justice, it's black and brown civil rights, it's all of that. So you have to be writing through the lens of social justice, you have to either be starting a conversation or expanding on a conversation in a way that has not been heard yet. So that's kind of easy to do when you're going into the margins to find stories because these voices just aren't being honored. They're not being amplified. So we have these incredible books that are New York Times bestsellers, one hit number one on the New York Times children's list, which is impossible, beating up Eric Carle, it's bananas. These are black, brown, queer, disabled authors that were not being looked at by anybody. And it's like, where did they come from? It's like we've been here. (Inaudible)

Lesley Logan 16:08  

Okay. Like, because I've, I have a lot of, have interviewed a lot of people who are authors and I know what it's like. And then I have some friends who publish and the amount of effort they do to be a bestseller. It's insane. So just congratulations, and so much awe and so excited. You've mentioned children's books, and I have, like, I really love, I love that there are more children's books out there today than I felt like when I was a child that are a little bit that show off more things than everybody poops. And you know, like in the Velveteen Rabbit, what made you (inaudible) which is why is it a children's book, it's so sad. My mom is in tears reading it to me. And I'm like, why? Before we got to the sad part.

Rebekah Borucki 16:52  

Can I tell you something now? The Velveteen Rabbit is actually my favorite children's book, I have so many different editions of it. And I have the fairy tattooed on my back. 

Lesley Logan 17:00  

Do you really?

Rebekah Borucki 17:02  

Which is an unfortunate residual thing from my teen years. However, though, I do. I do love that book so much but there are there are better books, there's books that are teaching our kids things to really prepare them for the world and prepare them to be really awesome people. So I'm really excited about the new wave in transliteracy literature.

Lesley Logan 17:24  

There's a really cool area in town where I love to shop, it's all small business owners, there's actually a, I want to say, a 14-year-old who owns a store there, I'll send you her stuff, you'll, you will love her store. And it's all about social activism for children. Like it's freakin cool. So but I buy children's books from all of these places, because they show off different types of people, different types of children, and I give to all my nieces and nephews. And I swear, my family thinks I'm like this, like, why don't you just get them a coloring book? And I'm like, no, I don't know what their school is like, I don't know what they're being exposed to. They need to be exposed to different people. And so I think it's really cool that these books exist in the first place. What made you want to write children's books over like, was that the first book you wrote? I don't, so sorry if I don't know the history of that. 

Rebekah Borucki 18:06  

So no, that's fine. The first book I wrote was a book about accessible meditation called You Have Four Minutes To Change Your Life. I grew up without health care, I was going to a lot of state-run medical facilities. And it was just really hard for me to be able to access especially the mental health care I needed as a kid. So keeping that in mind, and then getting older and doing my yoga training and teaching yoga and teaching meditation in New York City and seeing who was in the room and seeing how much people were being charged. I'm like, first of all, meditation is like, it's free. Like you can do it anywhere. I had been practicing everyday since I was 15 years old. I knew what it had done for me. And I was like, so how do I get this to more people? How do I make this more accessible. And I was working on that on my platform with these little four minute meditation videos, I was getting messages from soldiers who had PTSD saying this is the first time I was able to sit still and close my eyes and feel safe. So that all kind of evolved into wanting to make things accessible for adults wanting to make things accessible for neurodivergent and disabled folks. And then oh, well, kids, and I have kids and I as an autistic person who struggles very much with reading long form books, even though I'm a publisher, I struggle with reading. I love picture books. So my first attempt, I went and took some classes at a local community college, and I wrote this really terrible story that had 2000 words. It was way too many I read it to my kids' second grade class and they were like we like it but they were falling asleep in the middle. I got their feedback, workshopped it with the seven-year-old and came up with Zara's Big Messy Day, which is a book about mental health, about anxiety, about self-regulation, about meditation and breathing and it can kind of just blew up. No publisher wanted it Hay House didn't want it. We shopped it around to five others same response. We don't want it. We don't want it. That was my intro to self-publishing. So it was after I already had two books published that I decided, okay, let me try this myself, super hard, learned a lot. The book hit. And now it's part of the second-grade curriculum of the largest online K-12 school in America. It is definitely the book that built Row House, made a lot of our bills in the beginning and there's three more, there's three more titles after that. I love kids. I am a kid. 

Lesley Logan 20:37  

And I'm glad to hear you (inaudible) I'm just so glad you love them. 

Rebekah Borucki 20:40  

Yeah, I love I love them. I have them. I love kids. I am a kid. And I love writing for the little girl that was me that didn't have access to even hugs most days. So you know, I'm sticking with this. If I can work in the children's space all the time. I love my authors. I love all of my authors at Hay House. But if I could just like hire another president and be in the children's space, I, 100% would (inaudible). 

Lesley Logan 21:06  

Well, you know what? I think we can manifest that I think and we can make it reality. I think like there's it's a little bit more money. And you can because and I say it, I say that not as a joke. I say it with seriousness like I built my businesses and I hated being the CEO. Like I just wanted to be with my members. I just wanted to be in creation mode. And it was it's, it was actually in 2020 when I met this woman, she said, well, you and Brad like, let's just see what you guys, what your strengths are. And his strength is being the entrepreneur, it's being the CEO, it's being the person, he's literally in a meeting right now that he's like are you going to join us and I'm like in zero, no, I don't. Here are my thoughts, okay. And it was the hardest thing we ever did. Because obviously, that year, everything in our business changed like everyone else's lives. But I was able to rewrite a new job description for myself, my own company. And in this time, as we're talking right now, I'm working on a new job description, because I'm able to like even offload even more of those things. So I just say that, and I really want that for you. And I really believe it's possible that there could be a new president and you can be in charge of children's.

Rebekah Borucki 22:18  

It's 100% possible, it's in the plan, I think that that's where I thrive, it's where I need to be. It's where my advocacy feels best. I love going into schools, I do that very often, I'm reading to the kids. And I get to have that opportunity to look at this, you know, most of the schools, it's going to be predominantly black and brown, sometimes predominantly Spanish speaking, we go to Baltimore, North Jersey, Philly, Camden. And when I go into these schools, I know that they haven't seen someone that looks like them, that talks like them, that's from where they from, where they're from. And for me, I'll say this, for so many people that are going into these schools, it's about charity, it's about charity, and it's about feeling good about themselves. They love the kids, they want to help the kids totally, but it's different. It's a different energy. When you look at these kids like your family, like, these are my kids. These are my cousins. They're like my little nieces and nephews, they're from the hood just like me. And I don't need to teach them how to write. I don't need to tell them like the path to success. I just need to say like, this is possible, like my teacher did for me. And now all these kids, like, send me thank you notes or their little stories and tell me they want to be like authors. It's freaking rad. I love it so much.

Lesley Logan 23:31  

That's so cool. That's so cool that so many of them can think that that's a possibility. Like you said in your story.

Rebekah Borucki 23:36  

All it takes, it's all it takes really, for so many kids, it's just to say that it's possible. And I'll say that when we were starting Row House, and people that have become my good friends who were brought in to kind of mentor us or guide us very successful women in publishing. One said, like, look, I don't think that you girls are ambitious, necessarily. I think that what you're trying to do is impossible. Like it can't work. And my co-founder was a white woman from Northern California. Definitely had her own share of hardship in her life, but felt very defeated. After I called her she was like, oh my gosh, what are we gonna do? (Inaudible) Like, I'm a high school dropout. I'm a teen mom, I've hustled all my life. It's fine. It's fine. And it's really about, the people who think is impossible lack the imagination or the experience to understand what can be it's like they haven't seen it, so they don't think it can be done. 

Lesley Logan 24:40  

Yeah. And I think like it's an interesting word, impossible, because I think for some people, like I think there's some parts of my life if someone told me this thing was impossible, I would like figure out a way to show them how it is like that. There was like some parts of that. And then there are some things that if I'd heard that word, it might have taken me a while to pick myself back up off the ground again. So I think it's such an interesting word, it can fire you up, and it can also defeat you. But I feel like I'm also the person like who has the right to tell you something's impossible but you like, that's like kind of, I don't know, maybe I don't know where I learned that. That's an interesting thing. But I think it's so cool that you and your business partner had each other like to kind of do this together because it's not doing anything like it's not easy. You need multiple people to support things, but also that she had you to be like, hey, like, I feel like 

Rebekah Borucki 25:29  

We shook each other. That was (inaudible) here. And, and she really only came in as a co-founder for the beginning stages. She didn't even want to be part of the company. She's like, let me help you and then bounce. So she's no longer, she's still alive but she's no longer with Row House. I love her very much, went on to start her own project, Rise Books, and but yeah, we needed each other and that sisterhood, that community, that's everything that Row House is about, it's called Row House, because I grew up in a brick attached, two-bedroom, one-bathroom house with a big family with people coming in and out, you know, like picking up the street kid, and he's living with us for a while, who ended up being my brother in law, my sister and he had been married for (inaudible) years. So this is like just these are my people. This is where I come from. And I know that people who have not walked in my shoes can't understand my motivation, my drive, and they don't have my ancestors. Like, I'm always thinking about the ancestors. I'm thinking about both my parents who died seven months apart in 2013. And I saw them die with so many dreams unrealized. And you have to at some point, just be like, fuck it, like, if not me, who and also like, if I don't do this, for what, we all end up in the same place. I don't know when my time is coming. I'm just going to be bold.

Lesley Logan 26:44  

So okay, you mentioned at the beginning that you're doing this work to also make sure that there's like, books for children in K through 12 for there's not access? Can you talk to me about how like, is that from the publishing company is at a different organization where you are, like, helping get books in their hands? How long have you been doing that? And how did that start? Because that is why I'm asking this is like, I know a lot of our listeners have these big, bold dreams. And there's a lot of other things like paying their bills and putting food on the table and all that stuff. So that (inaudible) you know, so how did what was the timeline and how is that how did that start, because it's such an incredible dream to come to fruition. And it has an impact to so many. 

Rebekah Borucki 27:25  

So, like I was saying before, no matter what I have, I'm sharing. That's just the, you know, the ethos that I live by, you must share, like, that's what we're supposed to do. And, you know, my parents taught me and believed quite literally, that every human being were siblings on this planet. So we have to be for the stranger as much as we are for the people that live in our house. So when I started fundraising for self-publishing Zara, it was how do I make this happen, but also benefit other people because I have this vehicle to be able to bring in this money. So we had people buying books for classrooms, we took a portion to make sure that people got kids, I think that first campaign, we were able to donate like 1000 books. Now, that was 2018 or '19, 2019. And since then, we've donated over 20,000 books to different organizations and schools. It's just a matter of when we get them, they also go out the door. And we have a nonprofit that allows us to do that more easily. The ease really comes from people wanting the tax write-off, so we're getting big donations, and they can benefit from that too. 

Lesley Logan 28:42  

Oh, hey, you know what? These billionaires get tax write-offs, people take advantage of the tax write-offs and give it to places like your nonprofit, because it's gonna get better impact.

Rebekah Borucki 28:54  

I told my accountant every day, please give me the Jeff Bezo's plan. My people came over here enslaved and as indentured servants from Scotland. I don't (inaudible), I'm good. But it's kind so I'm not for anybody like wanting to save money. However, I will say that the majority of people who ask if there's a way that they can get a tax credit, are coming from millionaires and confirmed billionaires. It's not like the 20 here, the 100 here, some people send thousands of dollars. They're coming from single moms, people that are saying like, this is all I have, and I want you to have it. It's really beautiful to be reminded of who actually drives change, and is actually here, you know, for each other. 

Lesley Logan 29:43  

I mean, it really is like, going back to impossible, like when you look when you think about different problems that are out there. And I also then look at the people who live in the communities that's the communities that really make the biggest impacts and change, you know? Okay, so I want to know what you're excited about right now? Like, what are you, what is your, what are your mission-driven? values like what's going on this year that we can put out into the world and our listeners can support you or can just cheer you on? Like, what can we, how can we make the world a better place because you're in it?

Rebekah Borucki 30:15  

So I want to tell you what we're doing with Row House specifically. Row House, what we do that's very different is that we are an equitable publishing model. So we're going into the margins, and we're lifting up these voices, but also we're paying them. So every Row House author has a $40,000 advance its standard, and then they get 40% net profit share, which is about four times industry average, we pay our authors, we pay our creators, it means that I make less and that is okay, right, I don't need to be making $3 million a year, not that I could pay myself that yet. So we have a lot of systems within the company that disallow for big gaps in wealth distribution, like everyone is making a fair wage, we even pay our interns we started $25 an hour, like that's what we do. So it's important work that we're doing to actually put money into the pockets of people that deserve it. And most recently, and this is what I'm fired up about, but not happy about most recently, because of our politics and our values, we had a major funder pull $500,000 out of the company. So as we speak right now, in this moment, I am emergency fundraising. And I've been in meetings all day. And I will continue for however long it takes to make up that gap. And I'm excited about it. Because what has happened over the past 24 hours that this all came to ahead, I have seen the most incredible amount of support come up from our community. I've seen black women who have never received a dime for reparations show up for me in a way, showcasing us, amplifying, spotlighting us on their platforms, and then also contributing from the pocketbooks. It's just a good reminder of who, who really matters in my life. And it's a reminder that community really works. So that's what's happening. I'm fired up about inequity, but we're taking care of it. 

Lesley Logan 32:16  

Yeah. Thank you for sharing that. I think it's so I think it's important for people listening to know that like, even when you overcome what was considered the impossible, and you're doing all these things, that there's still massive obstacles. And yeah.

Rebekah Borucki 32:31  

It's scary. It's scary that the people in power, and you know, no matter how good you are, how smart you are, how, you know, smart and business savvy, and all those other good things that I, you know, I speak well, I can go into rooms, I can entertain, that there's still so many people in power, you know, holding the strings, and if they'll cut you off at any moment. So it's really super important for me to stress that more black women need to be in charge. Ownership needs to be put into the hands of marginalized people just because they know how to get things done. There's a level of empathy and compassion. There's just not enough leadership. There's not enough female leadership. There's not enough black and brown disabled queer leadership. And when that shifts, everything's gonna shift for everybody. Everybody. 

Lesley Logan 33:29  

Well, I really like (inaudible) seriously, as we're like, recording this podcast, how much we've all had to like, listen to going on. I want that sooner than I would love to happen yesterday, you know, so will you do me a favor? Can you just tell us where our listeners if they wanted to support Row House, how they can do that? Is that a possibility? Is that an ongoing thing? Or is it just right now, because I would love to (inaudible). 

Rebekah Borucki 33:55  

It's an ongoing thing. It's an ongoing, it's easy, it's supportrowhouse.com, supportrowhouse.com Those are our GoFundMe. If you go to rowhousepublishing.com, you can find opportunities to invest for as little as $300. You can buy our books, which is awesome, every day. So there's so many ways to support and I also say that, that sharing is also currency. So tell people about us tell people you know who you're talking to, or what they can do. So just keep spreading the word about our house and our authors. That's just, that's amazing, too. 

Lesley Logan 34:28  

Thank you for bringing up all those different options. Because I do tell people like look, if you don't have any money to do things, like you can also just share you know, like if you for people who listen to podcast, writing a review is currency for podcast hosts, and for a publishing house buying their book that is asking for that book to be existing at the library. If it's not there, like those kinds of things can help because it's, there's always an option if we're supporting if whether wherever your resources are, and I think that's really important. So thank you for sharing that. You're incredible. You're just you're I could I want to, I'm so grateful that we get to highlight you and I also got to learn from you because what you are doing in this world is nothing short of amazing and it's wildly needed. In this moment. 

Rebekah Borucki 35:11  

I've a lot of help from my friends, I have a lot of help. We don't do any (inaudible). 

Lesley Logan 35:16  

And also, like, thank you for sharing that too, because it's not fun alone. It's so like, it's if you're gonna go through this life with ups and downs and obstacles, you've got to have people in it who are willing to like fight those fights with you. So thank you. Okay, we're gonna take a very brief break, and then we're gonna find out how people can find you follow you and we got the support already. We'll do that again. And then your Be It Action Items for our listeners. 

Lesley Logan 35:36  

Okay, Rebekah, any other ways people can find you, follow you, connect with you, support you?

Rebekah Borucki 35:42  

We are @RowHousePub everywhere on social media. It's where we talk about not only our books, we talked about other authors' books, we talk about different missions and different causes that you can become involved in. We are an activist platform, we are an activist business that wears our politics and our values on our sleeve. We all don't agree on all the things but everyone at Row House is there with a huge heart and a spirit of community. So yeah, just find us online, we're there hanging out. 

Lesley Logan 36:10  

Perfect. Okay, last thing, bold, executable, intrinsic targeted steps people can take to be it till they see it. What do you have for us?

Rebekah Borucki 36:18  

Be it till you see it. Well, first of all, I tell all of my authors, but this works with anything, as soon as you have a dream or an idea, start talking about it. Don't wait until it's good. Don't wait until you have like the perfect presentation. But seriously, the moment I thought about writing a children's book, I went online and said, I'm writing a children's book, it's gonna come out on this date. And then that was enlisting accountability partners. So that's something to definitely do. And then I don't know if this is a direct route to be it in theater (inaudible). But be in community, which means on any level, whether it's volunteering to be a Girl Scout leader, which I was, or being involved in your church, be in community with others be in the practice of giving, but also receiving, because that's what makes it community that back and forth, build those relationships, those are the ones that will sustain you mentally, they can sustain you financially if you need it. But always be in community. I think it's great for you know, all levels of health and well being definitely, definitely important. And it puts you in the spirit of feeling like you're doing good, even if you don't feel like you're doing enough, which is wrong. And then I'm always encouraging people to advocate and to be an activist in your own way. I believe. Just like there are as many ways to meditate as there are people on this planet. There's so many ways to be an activist, we have a children's book coming out called Stand Up. And it's about people who are disabled in wheelchairs and how they're activists and people who kneel to stand up in activism. And there are so many ways to do and be good in your community. And just identify that for yourself. Don't compare your activism or advocacy with anybody else. But just do something lovely for somebody else every single day, please. And yourself, someone else and yourself everyday. 

Lesley Logan 38:13  

Beautiful. 

Rebekah Borucki 38:13  

And I hope it was specific enough.

Lesley Logan 38:16  

It's specific, I'm in love. I'm so grateful this happened today. You are wonderful. I'm so grateful. All right, and thank you Roxy for allowing us to have a special moment we are so like, I'm just honored. Y'all, how are you going to use these tips in your life? Let us know. Tag Row House Publishing, tag the Be It Pod, share this podcast with a friend if you got a friend who wants to write a book, and it's going to fall in line with that Row House stuff you got to send them this so they can see that there's a place out there for them you know, I mean, I think it's incredible. So everyone have an amazing day until next time, Be It Till You See It. 

Lesley Logan 38:50  

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. 

Lesley Logan 39:06  

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 @Be It Pod.

Brad Crowell 39:15  

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

Lesley Logan 39:18  

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

Brad Crowell 39:20  

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

Lesley Logan 39:23  

Special thanks to Melissa Solomon for creating our visuals.

Brad Crowell 39:24  

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.

Lesley Logan takes us on a journey of celebration and introspection in this episode where she highlights the role of rest and perseverance in entrepreneurship. Uncover the benefits of trusting your instincts, taking it slow before moving forward, and acknowledging your inner wisdom.

If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to LesleyLogan.co/podcast. If you have any comments or questions about the Be It pod shoot us a message at [email protected].

And as always, if you’re enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at LesleyLogan.co/subscribe.

In this episode you will learn about:

• The significance of breaks to energize your well-being.
• Perseverance to overcome the challenges in starting a business
• Why trust your instincts and take your time before moving on. 
• Recognize and affirm your innate wisdom beyond mere knowledge.

Episode References/Links:

• Mentions, Mary Dellanina, an agency member
• Mentions, Bianca Filoteo, an agency member

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox.

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FREE Ditching Busy Webinar

Resources:

• Watch the Be It Till You See It podcast on YouTube!
• Lesley Logan website
• Be It Till You See It Podcast
• Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan
• Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan on YouTube
• Profitable Pilates

Follow Us on Social Media:

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Episode Transcript:

Lesley Logan 0:00  

It's Fuck Yeah Friday.

Brad Crowell 0:01  

Fuck yeah.

Lesley Logan 0:02  

Get ready for some wins. 

Lesley Logan 0:05  

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 0:46  

Welcome back to the Be It Till You See It podcast. Today is a FYF, it's a Fuck Yeah Friday, it's a day where we celebrate a win of yours, a win of mine and a little affirmation to kick off our weekend and to give ourselves permission to be exactly where we are and who we are and be celebrating the little things because sometimes it's the little things that really take off and it's the little things that put you exactly where you need to be. So I'm so excited for today because we are halfway through March. Holy, holy, frickin molly, right, holy, how did that happen? 

Lesley Logan 1:17  

So okay, let me get to your win first because it's so fun to share yours and this is from agency member Mary Dellanina. And she said FYF I took two weeks off to play in the sunshine of California, not having the money come in for two weeks is difficult, but having the space to journal, go to other Pilates studios, hike by and re-energize my mind and body will benefit me and my students. Had many people signed up for classes while I was away and two new students will be coming next week, happy they're looking at the weeks ahead of them. Students fill the slots up by snowbirds. And I'm so happy the spots filled, resting poolside today and soaking up the vitamin D. I love this Mary. Was just here at the house for a retreat that I had for business owners, we had a small invite-only business retreat here, which is I'll get more into that with my win. But I love it because one of the things we focused on the agency members is being able to take time off for themselves and or for their business and get paid to do it. And so it can be hard to like not see the money come in. But actually it already came in because you got paid for this time off the way that we work with our teachers with their magic calculator. So way to go, Mary.

Lesley Logan 2:25  

One more win. I'm going to share this because I have a few in. This one's from Bianca Filoteo. FYF got an amazing five-star Google review from a client we're working with since September. And celebrating one year of opening my studio, revenue this month was higher than last year. So 2024 is off to a great start. That's right, it is. Congratulations, happy anniversary of your studio. The first two years are the hardest. So way to go. It's so, so hard to open up a space, especially when you don't have the clientele yet. So congrats, Bianca, you deserve that five-star review. 

Lesley Logan 2:55  

Okay, so my win is the business retreat. It is, I had, if you were a part of the FYFs a couple of weeks ago, you knew I had a Pilates retreat, then we actually went for the Pilates retreat, business retreat into the (inaudible). So we actually did two retreats in one week here at the house. So humongous undertaking. The reason I wanted to do it that way, though, is because I didn't want people to fly here twice. And I knew a lot of people would stay for the whole week. And so, so many people would say, nope, spread those apart, you can't do it. But we did it. And we did it via waitlist. And we did it without public promotion. And we did it in a way that served the people who are coming really easy for them to fly at one time instead of two times. And so that is just a humongous win. It's like sometimes the advice out there is to just do things safely. And um, and yes, you should always consider the risks that are there. But you also have to listen to your gut. And so I'm just so happy I listened to my gut. And for a lot of people asking if we're doing another business retreat or another Pilates retreat here at the house? And the answer is I can't tell you right now. And that's also a second win. It is okay to just celebrate what you did do and not move so far so fast to get to the next thing. I'm sitting in the celebration of how incredibly impactful and just amazing it was to have all those women here at the house and learning about their business and diving in and supporting them and taking time off and creating space for them to learn about what their business needs are and to give them that. And they're just incredible. And I can't wait to see what happens with our business. The first time we did the business retreat, we had people open up studios and they doubled their income a year later. And so I'm just so proud of the results that we get. And yes, that may mean that we should have another one already. But the truth is, that's not how it works. There's so much in just sitting still. And that was last week's affirmation, right? 

Lesley Logan 4:51  

So this week's affirmation for you to repeat to yourself is I hold wisdom beyond knowledge. I hold wisdom beyond knowledge. Right? You can know something and you can really know something. So you can take in all the information in the world but what wisdom do you have? I have wisdom beyond knowledge. Thank you so much for listening to the Be It Pod. You are why we do this and I'm so grateful for you and happy FYF. What's your win? Make sure you send it to the Be It Pod, we want to shout it out to you. 

Lesley Logan 5:23  

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.  

Lesley Logan 5:51  

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 6:06  

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

Lesley Logan 6:10  

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

Brad Crowell 6:15  

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

Lesley Logan 6:22  

Special thanks to Melissa Solomon for creating our visuals.

Brad Crowell 6:25  

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.

Unknown Speaker 6:33  

Of

Join Brad and Lesley as they recap Nada Nassardeen's transformative path to founding Rise Up for You. They delve into her philosophy of building unshakeable self-confidence and the significance of navigating through failures. This episode offers a comprehensive breakdown of Nada's approach to personal empowerment, with the hosts sharing essential takeaways and steps for listeners to cultivate their resilience and self-belief.

If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to LesleyLogan.co/podcast. If you have any comments or questions about the Be It pod shoot us a message at [email protected].

And as always, if you’re enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at LesleyLogan.co/subscribe.

In this episode you will learn about:

• The value of quickly adapting and learning from failures.
• How action, not success, is the key to building confidence.
• Importance of living with urgency and making decisive choices.
• Strategies to manage and reverse negative beliefs.

Episode References/Links:

• The value of quickly adapting and learning from failures.
• How action, not success, is the key to building confidence.
• Importance of living with urgency and making decisive choices.
• Strategies to manage and reverse negative beliefs.

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox.

DEALS! Check out all our Preferred Vendors & Special Deals from Clair Sparrow, Sensate, Lyfefuel BeeKeeper’s Naturals, Sauna Space, HigherDose, AG1 and ToeSox

Be in the know with all the workshops at OPC

Be It Till You See It Podcast Survey

Be a part of Lesley’s Pilates Mentorship

FREE Ditching Busy Webinar

Resources:

• Watch the Be It Till You See It podcast on YouTube!
• Lesley Logan website
• Be It Till You See It Podcast
• Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan
• Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan on YouTube
• Profitable Pilates

Follow Us on Social Media:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• LinkedIn

Episode Transcript:

Lesley Logan 0:00  

You guys, confidence doesn't come from like good things happening to you or you being successful in your goals. It actually comes from you taking action. When you know you can bet on yourself you have self-confidence and that people-pleasing, that not-having-boundaries, that not-doing-something-until-you-feel-ready (in air quotes) is actually crippling people from building the life they want. That's what she discovered.

Lesley Logan 0:26  

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 1:06  

Welcome back to the Be It Till You See It interview recap where my co-host in life, Brad, and I are going to dig into the assertive convo I had with Nada Lena Nasserdeen in our last episode. If you haven't yet listened to that interview, feel free to pause this now. Go back and listen to that one and then come back and join us. She is confident as fuck. I love her. You guys, we did go out for coffee. We invited a bunch of strangers it was blind date for business pitches in the best way. Like literally, you just, I just sat there and she and I just watched people looking around for a meetup group. And every person only knew what one person looked like. So hopefully each person showed up in the right order. So that the (inaudible) to be there. It was so fun. We're trying to work it as a monthly meetup. And I'm just so freaking grateful for her. So she's amazing. Before we get into that interview, Today is March 14th. It's Pi Day. Not P-I-E but P-I which is 

Brad Crowell 2:05  

Private investigator. No.

Lesley Logan 2:09  

No. So.

Lesley Logan 2:12  

Any day that combines fun, education and pie is a day worth celebrating. That's what the people say. So Pi is a constant value used in math that represents the ratio of a circumference of a circle to its diameter.

Brad Crowell 2:26  

So which is just about 3.14 and I used to have to know like 15 characters so it was like 3-4-1-4-9-2 I can't fucking remember.

Lesley Logan 2:34  

I do remember being in a test it was in math. And this is stupid. I will never I will never need to know the rest of this number. 

Brad Crowell 2:34  

Yeah, this is the ratio of a circumference of a circle to its diameter. Anyway, today, March 14th, which is 3-14 

Lesley Logan 2:51  

Is Pi Day because that's the first three numbers.

Brad Crowell 2:53  

We covered that.

Lesley Logan 2:54  

It's also Albert Einstein's birthday. 

Brad Crowell 2:57  

That's right.

Lesley Logan 2:58  

The man with a crazy hair. It's nothing short of a mathematician's delight. Because today is Pi Day and his birthday he was destined to be born on this day. 

Brad Crowell 3:10  

He was. 

Lesley Logan 3:12  

So anyways, go Albert and go Pi. Also, upcoming, currently happening is the March Matness Challenge. And by the way, if you're listening to this in April, May, June, July or August, any time in the future, this link still works.

Brad Crowell 3:28  

Or even September.

Lesley Logan 3:29  

Or even next year. OPC.me/challenges is going to take you to a free mat challenge and this mat challenge is designed to help you have consistency in your mat practice. I see you. I see the person who thinks they need to go to a studio to do our reformer workout and then they never get there. Guess what, the mat is where it's at. You can do it anywhere, wherever you are, whenever you want. It's amazing. In the first class, when you sign up is a 10-minute class because you need to build up time in your schedule to do a longer workout.

Brad Crowell 3:57  

The mat is where it's at.

Lesley Logan 3:58  

So OPC.me/challenge As Brad tries to put together some sort of

Lesley Logan 3:59  

The mat is where it's at.

Lesley Logan 4:04  

I feel like it's kind of like what was the cartoon show that was like making the shows like this is how a bill becomes a law. You know what I mean? 

Brad Crowell 4:13  

Our bill becomes a law. The mat is where it's at. 

Lesley Logan 4:16  

(Inaudible) It's a PBS cartoon special. Also, in the Profitable Pilates world for my fitness business instructors, we are going to have an accelerator event we talked about this last week. This is huge news. Finally, a workshop is going to help you accelerate the studio growth that you have in your business. It's going to have so much information that you can actually take action on. Because you know we're all about you being able to take action on shit. So you are going to go to profitablepilates.com/upcoming.

Brad Crowell 4:45  

Profitablepilates.com/upcoming

Lesley Logan 4:48  

Lastly, but not leastly summer camp summer camp is for my Pilates and nerdos you don't have to be a teacher. You don't have to be someone who's an enthusiast every single day, every single day of their life. You could actually just be someone who's Pi-curious (inaudible)

Lesley Logan 4:59  

3.14 curious 

Lesley Logan 5:07  

Yeah, if you're 3.14 curious or Pi-lates-curious, 

Brad Crowell 5:11  

Oh, I think we're starting a new thing I think I think Pilates-curious is now 3.14-curious. 

Lesley Logan 5:16  

Yeah, yeah if you are in on that insight that's so it's like 

Brad Crowell 5:20  

It's (inaudible) inside baseball all day. 

Lesley Logan 5:22  

But like inside inside that's like another level of people who knew it like the Mandalorian is kind of thing inside inside. Um, so OPC.me/workshops. We are going to have the first week of June covered for all of your OPC workshops, workouts, well actually Pilates anything. And we're gonna have all different teachers amazing people showing up and yes, there are replays. But it's way more fun to kind of summer camp live if you can. So mark your calendar, you'll be able to buy ala carte workshops or workouts just go to opc.me/workshops because people on the waitlist are gonna

Brad Crowell 5:52  

Plural. Workshops. OPC.me/workshops.

Lesley Logan 5:55  

And if you're like Lesley, just publicly promote this. Yes, I will. But the people on the waitlist get bonuses.

Brad Crowell 5:59  

Always. That's how we roll. 

Lesley Logan 6:02  

Before we get into Nada's amazing interview Brad do we have an audience question? 

Brad Crowell 6:06  

We sure do. Jessica S said, from Instagram. Oh my God, your skin is so amazing. What is your skincare routine? 

Lesley Logan 6:15  

She did not say it like that.

Brad Crowell 6:17  

I know. But I thought it was awesome that we're complimenting you while asking you a question.

Lesley Logan 6:22  

I know. That's the question. I copied it from Instagram.

Brad Crowell 6:25  

I love your beautiful skin. It's amazing. 

Lesley Logan 6:27  

Yes. Okay, so what happened is, you guys know as you know, I've been going through a lash extension post like post lash extension life. And so I've been sharing people my new beauty routines, like any good Instagram or what 

Brad Crowell 6:45  

She's trying things out, y'all.

Lesley Logan 6:46  

We're trying we're literally trying things out. 

Brad Crowell 6:48  

She's the guinea pig. 

Lesley Logan 6:49  

So first, I was just like taking questions from people like who's the best mascara? We're not doing that anymore because we that's not 

Brad Crowell 6:58  

We found one?

Lesley Logan 6:59  

No, we haven't. But also I'm tired of buying mascaras and being disappointed. 

Brad Crowell 7:03  

Yeah, me too, me too.

Lesley Logan 7:04  

So at any rate, I was like, hey, here's how I put how here's how I'm making myself not like a mole rat. Is this helpful? Do you like this? And Jessica was like, I love this because also what is your skincare? It looks amazing. Right? So what you said. So my skincare skin like skincare, you guys can cure everything. So if you don't know how to do makeup, good skincare is going to like save your life. So I have been using Circadia we have no affiliate link. I haven't even asked them for one. They don't even know who I am. But I love Circadia shout out to Megan Linney who was one of our guests. She carry this line. It's woman-owned. It's really amazing. I love it. Brad even uses it. So it's really, really great. That's my skincare I also I do it every day morning and night. You should actually wash your face in the morning and at night you guys but there's like ways to do it. So that's my skincare routine. I like their Micro-Exfoliant at night because it takes all the makeup off. I like their Amandola cleanse Amandola cleanser in the morning because it's like nice and soft. I also use their I can't remember the oil name one but I use this oil one to get the eye makeup off because now I have to do that.

Brad Crowell 8:18  

There's a Micro-Exfoliating Honey cleanser. 

Lesley Logan 8:20  

Yeah, that one's the one. 

Brad Crowell 8:22  

And then there's a

Lesley Logan 8:23  

Amendola is the one I use but then there's another one that has a little bit oil in it. 

Brad Crowell 8:28  

There's a serum is it blue bottle? 

Lesley Logan 8:30  

No, no but that's fine. Anyways all their stuff's amazing you cannot go wrong. But because I now do eye makeup I have to remove it I hate makeup remover. It's really annoying. So I got this like I got their Circadia cleanser that has a it's like a veil like the name is veil something and it has a little bit oil in it which I could never use because I had the lashes but now that I don't have the lashes I can use it. So then the makeup line that I use as a primer base most everything except for the eye makeup that I'm doing is Westman Atelier, also no affiliate like I've been trying, trust me.

Brad Crowell 9:02  

Well, hold on before just so y'all know, Circadia does not sell direct to the public. They only sell to estheticians we support its decisions just like you by providing world class skincare products and treatments to spas and skincare professionals only. So they're very intentional about that so you have to find it somewhere. 

Lesley Logan 9:19  

Yeah, you'll find it but you will find it it's so good and then Westman Atelier who I am 100% trying to get some sort of collab with because oh my gosh, if you know Gucci Westman, which I feel like (inaudible) I want on the pod, I fucking love her. She's helped me be it till I see it every day with my makeup line. Because you can't even fuck this makeup up. And it's clean, clean beauty, which I'm very, very into. And so another reason my skin looks so good is I use really, really good clean products for the makeup that I'm wearing. And so shout out to them. They have a free concierge service. So don't just go buy random stuff from them. Go to their Instagram bio, you'll see a link that's really long and you can't click on it, you're gonna have to remember it with your own eyes, and then literally type it out and you'll have to also know how to spell Atelier, good fucking luck. But if you can do this, if you can get through this, my team will put the link in the show notes, I'm sure you can click on it. But if you can do this, you can get to a free consulting session, and the coffee group that I went on three of the girls booked consultation services, one of them spent $600, don't do that. You don't have to spend $600, one of them only spent 150, you could also spend only 150. But they'll tell you what your color is, or they'll tell you what to do. And the reason my skin looks so good when you see it on Instagram because I don't use filters is because I use their Clean Beauty. And I highly recommend it. And lastly, you guys, I don't know, I don't know if Sephora is a great place or not a great place, I'm gonna shout them out anyways, you can do you can actually book a beauty service for just one feature, or you can book a beauty lesson. And if you tell them that you want to learn how to do something, they will teach you how to do something. So I went for my second visit. I'm like, how do I do eye makeup. And I just had to say I'm fucking slain. I'm like, I'm like layering the eyeshadows all Clean Beauty for me. I'm layering them people are like, I'm getting thumbs up everywhere on all the channels. So thanks, ladies, thanks for helping a girl out because I'm feeling super confident. I'm a little insecure about the eyeliner, but I'm working on it. Anyways, the girl who helped me she noticed based on the products that I'm currently using that I'm a Clean Beauty person trying to be because let's just be honest, I'm not letting go of my lipsticks yet, they're I spent too much money and they're fully usable. So as I cannot let go of them, but the girl taught me about an app called Yuka, Y-U-K-A, you can use a food version or make a version and you can scan barcodes. And it will tell you what is if it's clean or not. And even if it says it's organic, or whatever you can see like, what parts of it are not. And it will actually tell you like green, yellow, like red whoa, there is some shit in some of our stuff, guys. It's like known carcinogens. So at any rate, I'm not saying throw all your makeup out, I am saying use the Yuka app to help you with that. But if you my skin is not like this is not natural beauty guys. I'm gonna be real honest. Like I love my family. But I can see their pores. All of this is because of really just great products from great people. So go try them out.

Brad Crowell 12:30  

Go try them out. I'm so happy I was able to participate in that question.

Lesley Logan 12:34  

Brad loves my products because he uses them. And sometimes we 

Brad Crowell 12:38  

I do enjoy that honey exfoliant, exfoliant situation. Yeah, that John. I'm gonna use more descriptive words like that great stuff. Yeah. I dig it. 

Lesley Logan 12:51  

That's wonderful, babe. Thank you so much. It was very convincing.

Brad Crowell 12:54  

Just helping out, you know. 

Lesley Logan 12:55  

Super convincing. Well, thanks for your questions. You can ask them anywhere. You can ask any question you want, doesn't have to be about Pilates, it can be makeup, it can be anything you want. We're here to just give you straight up honest advice.

Brad Crowell 13:06  

The map is where it's at. The mat is where it's at.

Lesley Logan 13:10  

When a bill becomes a law. I'm just a bill here on Capitol Hill. People know what I'm talking about. If they grew up in the States, they know. And by the way, we were lied to.

Brad Crowell 13:25  

We're really lied to. 

Lesley Logan 13:27  

Yeah. It's not how it works. 

Brad Crowell 13:29  

It's not. 

Lesley Logan 13:30  

Anyway, so let's talk about Nada.

Brad Crowell 13:32  

Okay, now let's talk about Nada Nasserdeen. Her founding of Rise Up For You was as profound as it was transformative. She is dedicated to empowering individuals and teams through leadership and personal development coaching. With a rich background in executive leadership, she leverages her experiences to inspire confidence and growth in others. And I must say, I really resonated with this conversation. Literally this afternoon, I was on a podcast. And I was talking about belief. And then lo and behold, I was reviewing the pod for tonight. And that I was talking about belief and I was like, totally in line, like absolutely agree. There's a very interesting backstory for Rise Up for those of you who may have not heard of the interview. She was working, you know, like C-level executive situation at a company and decided to leave that and go, she got married and moved out of the country. And unfortunately, very shortly after she moved her now ex-husband filed for divorce. And so I think that was a quite shocking experience. And she was she said she was at the lowest point of her life. She had $100 in her bank account. She literally lost it all. And she was coming back home to California. And she said she was you know, just absolutely a mess and she said she was crying on the plane. And she was confused and embarrassed. And she had a dream about her father, who had passed away and in the dream, he said, everything you need is already inside of you, you just have to rise up for you. And she remembered that, and she took that to heart. And that became the name of her company. So Rise Up For You is, you know, that's where the name came from. So I thought that was that was a, it was inspiring.

Lesley Logan 15:29  

Yeah. It's just so inspiring. So one of the things I loved she said is if you want to move forward, and you want to create a massive change in your life, you have to be unapologetically self-confident to the point that your identity is not defined by the mistakes and the failures that you have.

Brad Crowell 15:43  

Yeah, this, I think that's worth repeating the last part of it, the mistakes and the failures do not define you. 

Lesley Logan 15:51  

They do not define you. This is humongous, because I think we let our self-confidence be rocked by if it doesn't go exactly the way that I said it was gonna go, then I've made I've just like, of a failure, which is like not true at all. (inaudible) 

Brad Crowell 16:06  

I find it really interesting that like, we can

Lesley Logan 16:09  

Can we just talk about like, it's Science Day, right? It's like science and math. Today is Friday. So scientists literally create hypothesis, they try to prove incorrect. They don't they actually want to prove themselves wrong. That's like, that's that to them is the thing. 

Brad Crowell 16:27  

Oh, wait, hold on. The math is where it's at. The math is where it's at.

Lesley Logan 16:34  

Pi, Pi. So anyways, so I find it so interesting. Like, in one world of society, like, if you if you prove yourself if you prove your hypothesis right, you're like, oh, fuck, I hope someone gets this. Like, what? Because you want to make sure it's actually so, so true. And we in everything we do, we're like, oh, if I, if I fuck this up, that I'm a failure. It's like, no science, will be like that's awesome. Like, way to go. 

Brad Crowell 17:01  

Well, not only that, I also think it's, it's interesting that we, I mean, there's a this is like, this is a tough conversation, y'all. But there's a book called Ego is the Enemy. It's a really powerful book. It's a short read, I would recommend every single one of you get this book, but it blew my mind. Because when we think of ego, what do we think? Arrogance. There's like crazy, you know, people who are like, you know, like, like, that guy who can't even help himself. He just, like, get off the stage. The ego has two spectrums, right? So the one is that crazy arrogance, where you're like, I could never be around this person. But the other end of the spectrum is unbelievable self-doubt. When we're second-guessing ourselves, people-pleasing, where we literally define ourselves by how people judge us. Right? This is also ego. In fact, it's just as extreme as the unbelievably arrogant person. Right? And I think that it's because of like, the way that we were raised than we're supposed to be, you know, like, you can't show weakness, you can't have failure, all that kind of stuff, we end up deciding that everyone's just gonna see us as a failure if we fail. This is not reality, right? Because most people are just simply thinking about themselves. But as an entrepreneur, literally, the mantra of being an entrepreneur is fail fast. Fail fast, right? So this idea that failure is going to define you for the rest of your life. And you're not going to be able to, like, I don't know, have success, or people are gonna judge you forever for it or whatever. Like, you know, we fail all the time. All the time. We, sometimes it's embarrassing, and we just move on, you know?

Lesley Logan 18:49  

Yeah, I mean, also, like, the thing that's really interesting is like, we work with people who are coaches who've never hit a goal that they've ever set for themselves in the last several years, because they set goals so high. And we set goals that are so high, and we don't ever meet them, but we actually end up celebrating what we did do because like, we learned so much from that. And so it's not a failure at all, because we actually, like learn so much from that. So I want to talk about something she said that 83% of the thousand people professionals that they assess each year. So their number one challenge is self-confidence. And she said that most individuals struggle with this and it prevents them from taking action. And because they're people-pleasers afraid of putting like letting people down and they have no healthy boundaries in life. You guys, confidence doesn't come from like good things happening to you or you being successful in your goals. It actually comes from you taking action. When you know you can bet on yourself you have self-confidence and that people-pleasing, that not-having-boundaries, that not-doing-something-until-you-feel-ready (in air quotes) is actually crippling people from building the life they want. That's what she discovered. So, I mean, I just, she is, I love that she has the stats to go with things. But I don't know, wait till the Be It Action Items because it's going to help you with that confidence. Anyways, what did you love? 

Lesley Logan 19:01  

So she said, she finds people take life for granted. And they're very entitled when it comes to urgency of living. Right? And I think that, first of all, I agree with her. But I also think that it's sometimes we get in the groove and then we turn around and it's been five years. And we're like, whoa, how did that even happen? Right? What did I even do? And I think, what I used to talk about the pandemic and how that was kind of a wake up call for people, and I thought that was that was, you know, appropriate. But she said, we we have a very entitled mindset around having time. And sometimes

Lesley Logan 20:14  

I actually really, I think it's really important. She said, we have a very entitled, mindset around having time 

Brad Crowell 21:11  

As if we're going to have

Lesley Logan 21:12  

We're guaranteed it.

Brad Crowell 21:13  

An infinite amount of time. Yeah, or that we're guaranteed or we're owed that time. And, you know, she talked about, like, we don't know, we don't even know what's gonna happen three hours from now. You know, and, you know, I just got goosebumps actually thinking about it. 

Lesley Logan 21:26  

I did, too. 

Brad Crowell 21:27  

Yeah. But she said, the last thing you want to do is turn around five years later and be in the same spot. And it's creating that urgency to make decisions and live your life, because your life does not because life does not discriminate. You have no idea what's gonna happen tomorrow.

Lesley Logan 21:47  

Yeah, you really don't. And I think like, for some of you listening, I fear that you'll just make a to-do list a million miles long and that you can't get done. And for some of you, I hope this is like a good kick in the pants. For those of you who are like about to go and do a million things at once. I just want to say can you listen to last week's episode's Be It Action Items and break down things into tiny actions and take action? Because making a to-do list that's a million miles long is just you to doing all of yourself and not helping you actually get out? You'll be in the same place tomorrow. So like, you know, anyways, to do is

Brad Crowell 22:24  

No, I'm gonna leave I'm gonna just leave last week's joke alone. Okay. 

Lesley Logan 22:28  

You are. You're gonna leave in last week's episode because in case this is their first episode, they won't know what that means. 

Brad Crowell 22:33  

They won't. Yeah, they're gonna have to go back and listen. So yeah, anyway, I I thought I appreciated that because, you know, when you when you get comfortable, it's easy to just chill and not keep living.

Lesley Logan 22:52  

Sometimes I'm really looking for comfortable. I just want to say like, but someday I just want it to be comfortable. But yes, well

Brad Crowell 23:00  

I mean, I guess I'm open to retirement, but even in retirement, I would imagine

Lesley Logan 23:04  

I don't want to sit around and watch Netflix all day. 

Brad Crowell 23:07  

That's what that's kind of what I was alluding to, you know, yeah. 

Lesley Logan 23:10  

But I do think that like, I think that those who are who there's a lot of people who are busying themselves but not actually getting themselves into a new place and so I would say like athletes take actions that move your thing forward, not just like maintain the whirlwind. 

Brad Crowell 23:30  

So the way I look at it is maintenance and movement. So maintenance and movement right? The two Ms. I just made the second (inaudible).

Lesley Logan 23:30  

I like it, I'm in.

Brad Crowell 23:39  

But you know, the maintenance is the the hamster wheel of, you know, doing the daily routine of like running the kids to school and doing life and getting the mail and making food and blah-blah, sleep and doing laundry. Right, all that stuff has to get done anyway. Right? But if you never set aside time to intentionally do a project or something that is going to move you forward, then you will never do it. Because it's very easy to get caught in the mess.

Lesley Logan 24:11  

By the way, you'll get the dishes done. You want to when you have no forks, you will get the dishes done. You'll get the laundry done. You want to know when? You have no underwear, like it you get you'd be surprised how many clothes you have in that closet. 

Brad Crowell 24:24  

It's true. 

Lesley Logan 24:24  

Before you run out of underwear. So I'm just saying like make time for the things that get you to change the course that you're on stop feeling like you can you have more time and thinking you have more you don't know how much time you have. It'd be a frickin shame for you to waste it. I'm just saying. 

Brad Crowell 24:42  

Okay, all right. Finally, let's talk about those Be It Action Items what bold, executable, intrinsic or targeted action items can we take away from your convo with Nada Nasserdeen? She says she had her four B's framework, which I really appreciated. But before that, she talked about managing your negative beliefs and I've really resonated with this. So y'all have heard me talk about this before, where I have a fear of money, right? And money mindset, and unhealthy money mindset, fear that we're not going to make enough or we're not going to pay our bills, or somehow we're not going to meet our mortgage payment, whatever. Right? 

Lesley Logan 25:19  

We're working on that he's no longer fearing money, because that mean, money is not 

Brad Crowell 25:24  

Well, let me finish because the reality is the negative belief it, first off, it's a cycle, right? When you start down this rabbit hole, then all of a sudden, like, the fucking sky is falling in, like you're gonna, like, somehow everything's gonna light itself a fire and blow up, right? Like your mind takes you to the worst case of every possible thing. And it just spirals. And you know, when Nada was talking about this, I really resonated with it, because she said, hey, listen, you know, of course, I'm like, positivity, like leadership, you know, how do we grow and shift and change? She's like, none of that means that I don't still have negative thoughts. Right? But she said, what I've become good at is identifying when I'm about to go down the rabbit hole and about to spiral, and stopping myself, right and allowing myself a moment to go, we don't need to go there. It's, you know, like, I already know where that's gonna take me I don't need to do that. Right? And so, that was really interesting, because the past couple of years, this has been something that I've been intentionally working on, because it's really easy to put yourself into high-stress mode. And at the end of the day, you know, it still works out anyway, you know, and instead of putting yourself in a high-stress mode, what if you could head that off at the past and be like, hey, maybe not, you know, what if we focus on something else right now. And so she said, you can shift the behavior so that it serves you, versus sabotaging you. And I, I thought that was amazing.

Lesley Logan 26:59  

Yeah, I really love that. I think that's y'all should save that information for when you're meeting it. So the four B's which who doesn't love four B's? So are the it's a the four B's to reframe, and reverse engineer belief systems so that you can build confidence. So this is the four B's for building confidence. So one is limiting beliefs. What got in your way. Got to figure out what's like what are those limiting beliefs, it's getting in your way. Two, the backstory to that limiting belief. So what is the story that you're telling yourself that built that limiting belief up? So I thought I like I'm like, I can't cook. And then I just heard the backstory of that was like my grandfather saying that I was stupid because I put butter on the outside of a grilled cheese sandwich by the you don't fucking put butter on the outside of the grilled cheese sandwich. What is the behavior that it's causing? It means I never cook anything. And I literally order out all the meals and I had no cookware of any kind when Brad met me. And then four is breaking the limiting beliefs. So if you've been watching my stories, occasionally I start cooking things and we are always shocked and impressed when they come through because I actually can cook really well. But anyways, beliefs, backstory, (inaudible) beliefs, backstory, behavior, breaking the limiting beliefs that is the four B's to confidence. 

Brad Crowell 28:22  

The mat is where it's at. 

Lesley Logan 28:24  

There's so many inside jokes in this episode. Good luck. I hope you've been with us for a long time. I'm Lesley Logan. 

Brad Crowell 28:30  

And I'm Brad Crowell. 

Lesley Logan 28:31  

How are you going to use these tips in your life? We want to know. Tag Nada, tag the Be It Pod. Let us know. Send us your questions. Send us your comments. Send us your fun stories. I mean, if you heard last week, we've got a listener who's comparing our intro and how she knows it to how she well she knows the SVU intro and I'm in. So we love hearing from you. It really does bring us joy to know how much you are using this Be It Pod to take you to your next level in your life. Thank you so much. And until next time, Be It Till You See It. 

Brad Crowell 28:58  

Bye for now. 

Lesley Logan 29:00  

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. 

Lesley Logan 29:27  

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 @Be It Pod.

Brad Crowell 29:42  

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

Lesley Logan 29:47  

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

Brad Crowell 29:51  

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

Lesley Logan 29:59  

Special thanks to Melissa Solomon for creating our visuals.

Brad Crowell 30:02  

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.

In this episode, Nada Nasserdeen shares her transformative journey from a high-powered executive to hitting rock bottom and rising anew with a vision to empower individuals. Explore how her personal experiences led to the birth of Rise Up For You, a platform focused on enhancing leadership, emotional intelligence, and confidence. Discover the importance of reevaluating your beliefs and the impact of self-confidence in achieving success.

If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to LesleyLogan.co/podcast. If you have any comments or questions about the Be It pod shoot us a message at [email protected].

And as always, if you’re enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at LesleyLogan.co/subscribe.

In this episode you will learn about:

• Rise Up for You's empowerment via leadership and human skills training.
• How Nada’s macro confidence turned Rise Up for You's foundation.
• Why early conditioning instills limiting beliefs that shape our actions.
• The "Four B's" method to combat limiting beliefs and boost confidence.
• The transformative power of self-belief and one’s ability to learn and adapt.

Episode References/Links:

• Nada Nasserdeen on IG
• Rise Up For You Instagram
• Nada Nasserdeen Website
• Rise Up For You Website

Guest Bio:

Nada and her company, Rise Up For You works with clients around the world to enhance company leadership, growth, and personal development through transformational coaching, training, on-demand learning, and educational events. Our mission is to elevate you and your team's potential by providing high-quality training and coaching in soft skills- the most needed skills today and in the future. Make our superpower your superpower! Elevate your leadership, emotional intelligence, communication, confidence, success, and more. 

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox.

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Resources:

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Episode Transcript:

Nada Nasserdeen 0:00  

Life does not discriminate. You have no idea what's going to happen tomorrow. And I know for me, this is me, at the end of the day when I put my head on the pillow I don't want any regrets. I want to be like hell yeah, I lived my best life. God forbid, if something happens to me tomorrow, like, I'm proud of what I did and I feel fulfilled, and I don't know if most people can say that. 

Lesley Logan 0:22  

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 1:01  

All right, Be It babe, get ready. This episode is for you. I mean, they're all for you. But this one is really for you. This one is important and not just inspirational but, my goodness, integral into what you need to know about yourself to take action on what you want in this planet and what this world is. Not every day is going to be a great day. And not every day, you're going to feel like the badass that you are. But after this episode, I think you're going to have the tools to communicate with yourself around like what do you want? Why are you thinking this way? Why is that coming up? Why are you talking about stuff like that? So Nada Nasserdeen is our guest today and I knew when I met her she was epic. Now that I've had this time to interview her, I just want to hang out with her as much as I can. Luckily for me, she lives in Las Vegas. But at any rate, here is Nada Nasserdeen. 

Lesley Logan 1:52  

Hi Be It babe. Welcome back. I'm so excited for Nada Nasserdeen to be our guest today. She's a powerhouse. I met her through one of your favorite guests, Michael Unbroken, and we have to celebrate July 4th, which feels like a New Year's because we had fireworks together. And we just instantly connected and I just love her energy and her how she is seeing the world. And so Nada, thank you for being here. Can you tell everyone who you are and what you rock at?

Nada Nasserdeen 2:16  

Yes, thank you so much for having me. It's an absolute honor. So, as you mentioned, my name is Nada Lena Nasserdeen, I'm the CEO and Founder of Rise Up For You and we get the greatest honor to work with organizations and individuals around the world to enhance leadership, culture, really all the human skills that we never really get taught, you know, the confidence, the mindset, how to communicate effectively. Those are really the most important skills that we need, not just in our career, but in our personal life. And we often don't get taught that. So we get to do that cool work again, within companies or one-to-one with individuals around the world. 

Lesley Logan 2:51  

That is so cool and you're correct, like, no one teaches us how to be analytical anymore. There's zero leadership skills taught anymore. And so then you have this amazing idea, you start a great company or you start your own business and you have success. But then you have to hire a team or you're on a team and it's like, okay, how do I get people to work for me? Like, how do you do that? So how did okay, well, how does this get started, though? How did you? Did you fall into this? Is this always been a vision of yours?

Nada Nasserdeen 3:18  

How much time do we have here? It's a long story. So it really, you know, I guess I noticed the gap. In my first career, I was a performer. So I used to tour the world internationally, I would do musical theater, I would sing and dance. And I would realize like, when you go on a tour, you have about 40 people on that tour, 40, you know, singers and dancers. And I realized when we would go on tour, that there were just so many challenges on the road that when we would travel, but it had nothing to do with our technique, right? Like we were amazing singers, amazing dancers like the second we hit the stage, we were flipping rock stars. But when we were driving on the bus, or when we had these off, or when we were rehearsing, there was continuous conflict. And I'm like, okay, there's a lot of like people challenges on the road. That's when I first started to recognize like, there's a lot more to what we do beyond just the technique of singing and dancing. After about seven, eight years, I hung up the microphone, put my tap shoes away, and I actually became an executive for an education corporation. And I saw the exact same thing happening in the corporation. So I'm about 27 turning 28, I have 200 team members under me. These individuals have PhDs, master's degrees, bachelor's like all the certifications and credentials and everything that you need. But nothing was working in the culture because people couldn't communicate. They didn't know how to lead effectively. The culture was toxic individually. People didn't feel fulfilled, lacking confidence, self-doubt, impostor syndrome, and all those things compiled really did not make like a healthy culture or just a healthy and fulfilling life for these individuals. 

Nada Nasserdeen 4:56  

So that's when I really started to ask myself like what is true success? We've been taught for so long, like, chase the degree, get the technique, get the credentials, but no one really ever tells you about the secret sauce or what I like to call the "it" factor that really does make up somebody's success. So again, these were all just like thoughts in my head. And these were things that I was noticing. I went through my own personal journey. And overnight I resigned from the company as an executive after about a four and a half years, I moved out of the country to settle down and get married. And in four weeks, my husband said he wanted a divorce. So I lost everything. So I went from a six-figure executive, to a house on a lake, to $100 in my account, no job, no car, no nothing to luggage. I get back on a plane, from Canada is where I went, back to California crying, bawling so confused and embarrassed about what just happened, lost everything. And my father came to me in my dream, my father had six heart attacks. So by the time I was going through this challenge in life, he had already passed. And he came to me on the airplane when I was crying, in my dream, and he said Nada, everything you need is already inside of you, you just have to rise up for you. Now I know it's hard, but if you could see the book back there, called Rise Up For You, that's the company that I started building. I just came back to California and I said, rise up for you. I don't know what it is. I don't know what it means. I've never built a business before. Like, I don't have an entrepreneurial background. My degree is not in business. But I just started building Rise Up For You. 

Nada Nasserdeen 6:33  

I started asking myself, okay, what am I good at? What do I love to do? What do people think I'm good at, like, I asked about 10 of my friends. And I just started building the company or the brand, I should say, because you know, the first year or two, you're really just building the brand. About three months after I came back from Canada and I started building Rise Up For You, my mother, my second parent, was diagnosed with stage four cancer out of nowhere. So I built the company out of the hospital, I took showers at the 24-Hour Fitness and I would go back to the hospital open up my laptop, what do people need in the world? You know, what is coaching? Who's Tony Robbins, and I really just started to craft. And with my experience that I had prior as an executive and as a performer, and the things that I was seeing happening and what I was going through, I'm like, okay, what does it really mean to build a life that you're proud of and what are the skills that we need? And out of that, out of that pain came the company. 

Lesley Logan 7:30  

Nada, that's so amazing. First of all, I, I love that your father came to you in your dream. And I love that you actually, it's kind of interesting how it all happened with your mom, when you were back in California. So you could actually be there with her and like, you know, like, she could also somewhat be there for you as going through this big transition. But like, I am constantly amazed by these obstacles that we go through. And how frustrating it probably was to be on the road. And how frustrated it was to be an executive with these people who have all these degrees and all these talents, and they're wasting them because there's infighting, there's all this, you know, back fighting and all this stuff. But also all of that led you to being able to see a problem that needed to be solved and can be solved in so many different scales. Like, you can be in a big 200-person company and it can be on the road for a musical tour. Like it's kind of insane how that led you to here. I just I'm amazed and never surprised but it's always blows my mind because we tend to go, what's the thing that's going to make me successful? And it's like, well, what you went through your past that you experienced that you actually have, you actually have some experience in solving and seeing, you know? 

Nada Nasserdeen 8:39  

Definitely. And it's and even from like a speaking perspective, right? You know, like, I speak a lot, you know, obviously, I'm on stage, podcast. And, you know, oftentimes I get told, like, you're awesome on stage. And I'm like, but you know what? I performed for so many years. I had no idea as a performer that 10 years later, I was going to be talking and being on stage and pretty much doing the same thing, just with a different tool. One tool was (inaudible) one tool is you know, empowerment, mindset, and you know, the training and development that we do.

Lesley Logan 9:11  

Yeah. So how many years have you been doing Rise Up now that it's officially been going and like, what are you excited about working with it today? Like what's the big goal for today?

Nada Nasserdeen 9:21  

Yeah, great question. So the brand was about two years, and then the actual business is five. So a total of seven. And the reason why I say that is because the first two years I didn't make a dime. There was no business model. It was just let's, you know, put content out there for free like a blog, you know how it was back in the day, like you had your blog and you would do podcasts and that kind of stuff. And then after about two years, I thought no like if I really want this to go somewhere and do something, I need to, I put need to put you know, my foot in the fire and I just need to do it. And that's when I started like actually building the monetary side of it and then just catapult from there.

Lesley Logan 10:00  

Yeah, thank you for sharing that first two years, I think so many people, watch businesses and brands and personal brands grow online and they go, oh my God, they're just making, they're just skyrocketing. They're doing so much, they're making so much and what people don't realize is like, the first two years, if you're making money like that, good, great. It's also the hardest two years. And it doesn't have to be successful in those first two years for it to be successful later on, like really taking in information and providing value is the most important thing one can do.

Nada Nasserdeen 10:28  

Yeah, especially when you're in the service industry, which, you know, there's a lot of solopreneurs, and coaches and consultants out there, like you're the product, you don't have a product that you could just give to someone, and then they're like, oh, yeah, give me 10, you know, you're the product. And so you really have to build, you got to build some clout, you got to build some credibility, you have to build, you know, some kind of brand around you first, lots of speaking for free, like my first two years, just to get out there so that people can see like, oh, she's good on stage, or, you know, she's got a great message, or even just to collect footage to put up online, like a lot of that the first two years. And then from there, it was like, okay, we can we can do something with this. And honestly, from there, it's been crazy, like we quadrupled during quarter during the COVID. And even last year, the research just came out that about 60% of small businesses fell behind last year, we more than doubled last year in 2020. So it's just been it's I mean, which only doesn't speak to us, it just speaks to the need (inaudible). 

Lesley Logan 11:33  

Well a little bit of both I think like, one, people are finally aware of the need, and then also like you are there, you know, that's what, like preparation meets opportunity. You know, like the people are, what here's what's amazing. Like, we also had, it was one of the hardest years for us one of the best year we've had, we've consistently every single year made more, which I'm so proud of. And, and I don't share that to brag, and I don't think even Nada sharing her success is bragging, I think it's really important, ladies, listen to this, you need to hear how businesses are growing, because you can hear from the people around you, ah it's bad, there's a recession, like there's all these things. No one says anything good about the economy ever. So. But like, the truth is, is that people are realizing if their teams are not happy and satisfied as a human being they can leave because there is such a demand for good people who can do great work, and companies need more and more people to do those things. And so I think it's really cool that you are able to be an asset to these companies actually help them create this opportunity to see their people and work more functionally with their teams. Is that like, am I on the right track? Because that's what like people are seeing for you. Is that what you're going in there for?

Nada Nasserdeen 12:44  

Totally. Yeah, and we have the two divisions. So we have the, you know, the company, the corporation and then we also have the individuals because I mean, it's really sad to say this, but I'm sure you see this too. Most individuals are just not happy and they're on autopilot. And they don't feel fulfilled, they don't have clarity. They're not like present in their life. And most of the time, it's because, again, they've never been taught these tools. Sometimes it's so overwhelming, they don't know how to get out of it, like, okay, I have a job, I pay my bills, I have my kids, every single day, I have to do this, but they don't feel happy, they don't feel fulfilled, and they just don't understand how to make the shift. Or maybe the courage and the confidence hasn't been built for them to make the shift, right? Because there's a disruption that needs to happen if you want to create massive change in your life. So we really tackle both areas, because, you know, companies are made up of people. If people walk into an organization and they're unhappy, and they're unfulfilled, I mean, I don't care what company you work for, it's not gonna work because people bring their challenges and their pain into the workplace. It's fulfilling to do both. It's fulfilling to go into an organization and see the culture shift and the leadership change and for people to have aha moments. And it's also really amazing to sit across from somebody that may be really wanted to build a business, but they're scared. They don't know how to, but they just start it. And then they see the fruits of their labor happen. 

Lesley Logan 14:07  

Yeah, I love that. Because I'm in college, I didn't think I was ever using this degree. And then I realized I had been using it the whole time, but like, my degree was interpersonal and organizational communication. So like one one-on-one, and then how a business communicates. It's really quite funny. And then like, I became a Pilates instructor and I thought oh gosh, why did I get that degree in the first place? But then because I became a fitness business coach and because of the company that I created for Pilates, like it is all interpersonal communication and organizational communication. And when I grew my company to a place where I actually had to hire a team, that was one of the hardest thing so to like, talk about being a human being you take it to the workplace, if you're not used to asking for help, you can hire all the people that you want. You have to ask them to do things and like you have to that is a leadership skill of like how do I ask for help and how do I get the help that I'm wanting and how do I communicate that. We took massive growth and Then, when my husband came on to the team, we worked with a coach to like, figure out, you know how this was going to run. And she was like, oh, you guys are in the wrong roles. And so he took over as running the company. And even then even with that as like, oh, that's amazing. But I had to learn again, like, okay, then what's the leadership I have in this company? Because now someone else is like running my vision. What does that look like? And it really it's like, consistent need you guys, every level, there's a new devil, but you have to like, if you don't fix the things that you're on autopilot on now, you'll have to fix them later. And it'll be a little bit harder when the business is bigger.

Nada Nasserdeen 15:35  

Yeah, and it's also, you know, I come from this perception, and it could just be my experience of, you know, so much loss at a young age, like, by the time I was 31, turning 32, I lost both of my parents and then betrayed myself, you know, and also felt betrayed by someone that I loved. So I think that, you know, what I see today is a lot of individuals that are very entitled, when it comes to life, like, we walk around as if we have 10 lifetimes to live. And we don't like we forget that God forbid, tomorrow can be the last day or even three hours from now, we just don't know. But we have a very entitled mindset around like, oh, I have time I have time, I have time. And I think once an individual breaks that mindset and says, like, no like and creates urgency, they start to take action more because the last thing you want to do, and I see this a lot, is five years from now somebody else can somebody will come back and be like, five years ago, I wanted to help and I never thought it and I thought I could just whatever, figure it out. And now it's five years later, five years has gone by and I'm in the same spot. You know what I mean? So it's creating that urgency, because life does not discriminate. You have no idea what's going to happen tomorrow. And I know for me, this is me at the end of the day when I put my head on the pillow. I don't want any regrets. I want to be like Hell yeah, I lived my past life. God forbid something happened to me tomorrow. Like, I'm proud of what I did. And I feel fulfilled. Yeah. And I don't know if most people can say that.

Lesley Logan 17:06  

I think you're sadly You're right. I, I really thought like maybe that the pandemic would change how people live their lives, because like, my goodness, we had like, an entire full year and depending on where you lived, where you were, like, how do I want out it? Like how do I want to be when this is all over? Like, like a big pause. And so many people got even more negative and more entitled, and more like, and not, and not seeing like the gift that we had of a reset. Like I saw that as like such a reset like this was it sucked. You know, I'm not gonna say that, like it was the most fun refunding thousands of dollars, at the beginning of it, and starting my whole business over from scratch. But like, I really did take it as like, okay, if all of this is leaving, what is it curating space for? And who would I want to be on the other side of this? And I'm not saying like, I live this life, like, I don't I sometimes do live like I have 10 lifetimes. I try to think of it as like maybe two more. But like, I think it is so easy for us to just lean into we have tomorrow, everything's guaranteed and just wake up at five years. And it's the frickin same. And I did not want that. When 2020 happens it' like no, when this is all over, I want to be further along than when I started. And I want to take advantage of this. I wonder like, how do you help people speed up the decision to change their life like that? How do we get people to not waste five years before they finally come to your to get your help?

Nada Nasserdeen 18:28  

Yeah, that's a really good question. The first thing for me, and this is what I see predominantly across all clientele is confidence, it's self-confidence because most people don't take action and move forward because they're afraid, they're afraid of failure, they're afraid of rejection, and maybe they don't know how to do it. And they don't have the self-confidence to like, sit and learn and figure it out. Right? There's, anytime there's the procrastination, or anytime a behavior is occurring, whether it's a lack of action or an action, it's because of the belief system that's been built. So, my team and I, we ask, every year, we assess thousands of professionals, 83% say their number one challenge is self-confidence. Like, think about this, 83% of professionals say their number one challenge is self-confidence. And these are educated professionals that are executives that are running like Fortune 500 companies, you know, and so the challenge is not content. It's not whether or not you have this skill or can learn this skill, like we're in 2024 Think about you can go on Google right now and figure out how to build the business, how to do whatever you want to do.

Lesley Logan 18:28  

You can even ask it to create content for you at this point. Like there's not an obstacle here, guys, except for you.

Nada Nasserdeen 19:43  

Exactly right. And so, like the content and the tools and the resources to build a life that you're proud of is all there for most people except for those that are maybe in a third world country that don't have internet and you know our capabilities. So, the challenge is not what can I grab and get a hold of it's where am I at? What's happening with me, and it always comes from it comes from here. And that's why people procrastinate and struggle with taking action, they have to re-write the beliefs that they've been programmed to have of being afraid of failure, being afraid of rejection, like, if you want to move forward, and you want to create massive change in your life, you have to be unapologetically self-confident, to the point that your identity is not defined by the mistakes and the failures that you have. And most individuals struggle with that. And it prevents them from taking action because they don't want people on social media to see them and be like, oh, look at them today or they're afraid of doing a video because people think they're gonna, you know, make fun of them. They people-please, they're afraid of, you know, putting people down, they don't have healthy boundaries in their life, all of these things cripple people from building the life that they want.

Lesley Logan 20:59  

Yeah, it's, I mean, it's amazing how much lack of self-confidence there is, it's, feels like an epidemic on its own. Because like, I meet so many people who are so amazing, and they just don't have the confidence that they can do the first next step. And as with my friend, Kareen, y'all, she's been on the podcast before. And she's like, confidence is Faith in Action. Like, it's not doesn't mean you have proof that you can do it, it's that you have faith, that if you take the action, it's gonna work itself out. And you know, it's such a simple way of saying that, but so many people have more faith and fear than they do in them taking the next step

Nada Nasserdeen 21:39  

100%. So I break it down into this is, this is the way that I teach, train and speak about confidence. There's two types of confidence that we have, okay, we've been taught our whole life to build what I call micro-level confidence, okay, micro-confidence, meaning that we're taught to build confidence and categories, competencies, or things. So for example, we go to school our whole life, and we're taught to like get good grades in math, in science, like whatever credential, we go to university, some of us will get good grades in that competency, in that subject, right? So we're taught our whole life to build confidence in these things, but those things aren't sustainable. 

Nada Nasserdeen 22:19  

So for example, I'm very confident as a speaker, I'm confident as a singer, but those things change, like, God forbid, I can lose my voice tomorrow, and then I can't speak or sing anymore, right? That's micro-level confidence. And they're constantly shifting. This is what we saw with COVID, we had, there were people that were having major meltdowns that came to work with our team, because they've only ever known themselves as like this high-function leader, this business owner, this six figure role, that's how they identified themselves and all of those things shifted and changed during the COVID. And they were like, who am I? What's my worth? What value do I bring to the world, because their identity was attached to this micro-level of confidence, okay? Then you have the real self-confidence that we want. And that's what I call macro-level confidence. Macro level, confidence is an inner belief in your ability to learn, pivot and grow. Macro-level confidence is a belief that even when you fail, and you fall that your outside circumstances don't define your work and your self-esteem and who you are as an individual. Many individuals do not have this macro-level confidence. But the macro-level, confidence is what gets you to build the micro-level confidence. So think when I you know, I shared my story about building the business, I didn't have any micro, like, I had no idea how to build a business, I was never an entrepreneur, I knew nothing about nothing, like did not build a website, like had no freaking idea. But I had the macro-level confidence to say, okay, the current situation that I am in right now sucks, but I believe in my ability to learn. And I believe that I can like go and figure it out. And everything that I'm going through right now does not make me a crappy person, it does not mean that I'm not good enough, it does not mean that I don't add value to this world. It's just a situation that's occurring. And I'm going to use my pain and skill for growth, that's macro-level confidence. And I was able to take action because I understood that even if I take the wrong action, that doesn't make me a bad person or not enough, or whatever the thoughts are that we have in our mind. And because I had the macro-level confidence, what happened I built more micro, which is building the business and then all these extra micro little things started to get built. And that is most important for people to understand. But if you don't believe and bet on you, you know, how are you going to pivot in the next five to 10 years when artificial intelligence is coming or something else, God forbid, happens in society. You talked about the recession earlier. Right? Or you know, COVID that's all a mindset, right? That's the self-confidence and the monkey chatter and the fear that we feel, but I can tell you now I know people, including myself that they flourished during COVID, they flourished during the recession. I know we did. Because for us, it's like, no, we're taking action. Like, we're not going to get into fear. We're not going to get into worry. We're not going to scarcity mindset. We believe in who we are, we believe in what we're doing. And we're just going to continue to take action and tune out the noise. 

Lesley Logan 25:20  

Yep. No, you're you're 100% right there. I think like, people who make decisions on their business based on fear, and what the media is telling them is happening. There, there, there's no way you can have macro-confidence or micro because you're taking advice from people who do things for clicks and views. And the longer you watch on there, and like having the confidence in yourself, which would, same here, both in COVID and in the last year, it was insane what we were able to do when everyone was saying those things were impossible, or things were bad. And, you know, it really isn't. I don't think you and I are anomalies. It's just very much like believing in ourselves and taking the action that follows through with that. Do you think okay, so obviously, this is what you coach on. But I guess like, for that macro-level confidence, like, where do people need to start? Because, like, we can sit here and say you believe in yourself and people can be nodding in their cars, like I need to believe in myself, but like, where do they how do they actually start building that like belief in them that they can handle things?

Nada Nasserdeen 26:22  

Great question. So I'm going to take it back a little bit, and I'm going to be fully transparent, some people are luckier than others in their path in life that shifted their confidence. And this is what I mean. So there's two schools of thought out there when it comes to confidence. Some, you know, research and scientists and people that are in this space, say that you're either born with confidence or you're not. Right? And then you have the other philosophy that's like, no, it's a skill, you can build it. I believe it's both. Because when you think about babies, for example, when they're born in this world, they are so flipping confident, like, they do what they want. They say what they want, they explore, they touch, like, they don't have fear in their mind. It's not a part of who they are. When they learn to walk, and they fall on their bum 100 times, they don't care if people are looking at them or not like they get back up, they keep trying, it's part of their nature. But some of us are born into cultures, households, parents, society, things that are external, that immediately shift our confidence and how we feel about ourselves, okay? And some of us are born into very, like beautiful, loving circumstances, that give us more confidence. And many of us are born into situations where, you know, we're told that we suck, and we're not good enough. And we can't do that starting at a young age. And then you go to school, and maybe your teacher says the same thing. And then maybe you get bullied. And so then it validates that, and then you get into your first relationship, and they break up with you because you're fat or ugly, and they don't think you're good enough. And then it re-validates that belief system, then you get your first job and your leader's unkind to you. So all of those things impact our confidence. And I would say there's only a lucky few that had like a pretty positive journey that's taught them to love themselves and be confident and be kind, okay, I happen to be one of those people. I'm very lucky. And I always, I always say that because I was built, I was born into a family of two parents that when my parents would drive us to school, when I was five, they would say affirmations like today, you're going to be amazing. And we would have to repeat it. If we came in the house when I was seven. And I was like, I can't do that my dad were like, don't you dare say I can't in front of me, like so we were taught that at a very young age and I consider us to be lucky. If you haven't had that path, then we need to rewire the brain. This is where the neuroscience comes in. And we need to do some strategies to shift the belief system. So I use something called the four B's it's what we call reverse engineering with the company. It's a blueprint that we found in. There's four B's to to reframing and reverse engineering your belief system so that you can actually build confidence. Because if your beliefs aren't working right, then your blessings aren't going to come to fruition. But they're all connected. Yeah. So the first belief is, and there's a lot of these, are start writing down the limiting beliefs that you have. Now, this takes a self-awareness for you to catch it. Right? So for example, if you want to raise your hand at a meeting, because you have something to say, but you walk out of that meeting and you don't raise the hand, write down, limiting belief. Why didn't you raise the hand? What's the belief that came into your mind? Did you not raise the hand because you were afraid that people were gonna think you're stupid or you were afraid they weren't going to accept what you wanted to say? Like, what's the belief? Write it down, the limiting belief. Limiting belief, meaning that it got in your way, right, it sabotages. The second B is what's the backstory to that belief, whatever that belief is, where did it come from? And the backstory is usually the most difficult to identify because it usually stems like, you know, years and years ago. So example I didn't raise my hand because I was afraid that the leader was going to shut me down and think I'm stupid. Okay, well, where did that come from? Why do you think they're gonna shut you down and you're stupid? Well, the first job I ever had, you know what I mean? It's like, you have to trace it back. The third B, which is so important, because this is what people usually are attuned to, is, what's the behavior that it's causing? Because our beliefs are creating behaviors in us that sometimes we don't even know we're behaving in a certain way. And what I mean by that behavior is, for example, somebody gives you a compliment about your clothes and then on autopilot, you're like, oh, no, I look ugly, whatever. Like that's a behavior that you just that (inaudible). It could be that you're overly aggressive with your partner, with your romantic partner, it could be not raising the hand and then meeting all of those things or behaviors. So we have to understand the belief that you have that's limiting you, what's the behavior that it's causing? Because the behavior at the end of the day is what we want to shift, but it's attached to the beliefs, they are all connected. And then the fourth B is now how do we break it? How do we break the limiting beliefs so that we can shift the behavior and that's not one size fits all. It's a little bit different for everyone. Some people. And I know that this was true for me. The second I found out that my limiting belief was attached to like Bobby Joe, let's say, and then Bobby Joe's, like, it made so much impact on me that it then impacted this behavior that was preventing me from getting the money that I wanted. I was like, wait a minute, Bobby Joe, is not that powerful. Bobby Joe from 20 years ago has like, really impacted me to the fact that this belief is impacting my behavior to like, go and ask for, no, I can't accept that. Sometimes. It's that simple for somebody, you know what I mean? And other times, you know, we need to work through it a little bit more and do more digging and more self-awareness and reflecting.

Lesley Logan 31:58  

I think that thank you for bringing up Bobby Joe. Because like, I think a lot of people have a lot of Bobby Joe's holding them back. And like one of the things we coach people in our business, we're like, you know, it's time for you to raise your rates. And some people, they're like, I gotta do it, I'm gonna do it. They just do it. Some people, six months later, we're still talking about doing it. And I'm like, so which client are you not raising your rates because of? Like, there's a person that you're afraid is gonna say something nasty? It's one person. And you are affecting your entire company on this one client that I bet, I bet if they left you you go, ah. And it's a Bobby Joe, because we have these limiting beliefs that we can't do something because of whatever is going on. Oh, it's such an I love those Bs. Also, because you're correct. Our behaviors just reflect what we believe is possible. So if we can actually have awareness, it makes it easier to take steps. And you can do this with each one like each and every single one. And it's true, how far back you have to go. You guys, I was doing some morning pages I talked with on a podcast episode about a year ago. I don't cook around the house. I'm like, I can't cook. I don't cook. And I was doing these morning pages with this artist way group we're doing and it came up that when I was like seven years old, my grandfather said, "What are you stupid?" When I made a grilled cheese sandwich. And I made it correctly, everyone, I made the grilled cheese sandwich correctly. But the way he said it to me, and it shut me down. I never, I don't cook. I don't I didn't cook anything. I didn't even start. And I was like, Whoa, my whole life. I didn't even try to cook. Because I just like the seven-year-old me was like hearing like you're stupid you can't like and that's not like I was actually hearing those words. But like it's a, the behaviors match this limiting belief that was happening that happened so long ago in my life. So, my goodness, Nada, we could talk forever, but I really love that you gave us those four Bs. And I really love that you actually, instill that idea of like macro-confidence, because I think that's a really great takeaway for people to kind of focus on. Obviously, we'll have to have you back. But we're going to take a brief break, find out where people can find you, follow you, work with you and your Be It Action Items. 

Lesley Logan 34:02  

All right, Nada, where do you like to hang out? Where can people connect with you?

Nada Nasserdeen 34:06  

Awesome. Thank you. So definitely, you can check us out at riseupforyou.com We have a ton of free resources. We actually have something that's pretty cool. It's the masterclass that we have. But we create the masterclass for yourself of your need. So we have this cool algorithm, you get in there it's totally free, it asks you a couple questions and then based off of how you respond, it drives you to the masterclass accordingly. So if you come to us and you're like, hey, I'm looking for confidence it'll drive you to a confidence masterclass boot camp, if you're like, hey, like I'm really struggling with my personal brand, it'll drive you to a masterclass on personal brand. So check that out. It's totally free. It's riseupforyou.com but I love to play on Instagram and LinkedIn. That's my zone. That's my space. please connect with me follow me there. I do my own Instagram and LinkedIn messages. So like you're not going to get a bot if you send me a message I'll definitely respond to you. 

Lesley Logan 34:57  

Amazing. Oh my gosh, I also love that I don't think I've ever had anyone on here who is like a, like, create your own adventure tool.

Nada Nasserdeen 35:05  

That's a great way to say it. 

Lesley Logan 35:07  

Yeah, I love create your own adventure, I do create-your-own-adventure birthday parties all the time. Like, I'm like, here's where I'm gonna be you choose what you want to do. So I'm in that all the time. Okay. You've given us so much actually already. But I do want to in case people want to just like get some at the end, bold, executable, intrinsic or targeted steps people can take to Be It Till They See It. What do you have for us? 

Nada Nasserdeen 35:27  

Yeah, the first thing that I'm going to say is this, really fast, is everybody has negative beliefs including myself, and I do this for a living and wrote a book. And every single day I talk about confidence and soft skills, right? Human skills. But it's not about getting rid of all your negative beliefs. That's just not the human condition. It's about working through the belief system and building self-awareness so that you can shift the behavior so that it serves you versus sabotages you. So it's all about managing your belief. It's not that we're going to exterminate every single negative thought that we have. But it's about catching the negativity and being like, oh, no, we're not going to go there. And like driving it and shifting it into something that can serve you. So that's why those four Bs, I'm going to go back to the four Bs because that's really the starting point. And it's not easy, but those four Bs are going to serve you because when you catch the belief, it's not about like, oh, I have a negative thought. It's like, wait a minute, why do I have this belief? Where's it coming from? And is this sabotaging me or serving me? And if it's not serving you, then we need to figure out how to shift it. And that's what that four Bs is there to help you do. But I don't want people walking around thinking that like, oh, I can't have a negative thought I have negative thoughts every day. But I'm really good at sticking up for myself to myself. Like I looked at it being like, Nada, don't you dare talk to yourself like that, like, stop it right now. Get rid of that thought. And it's miraculous what it does. I'm like, yes, stick up for myself to myself, just like I would, if a person down the street came to me and was like Nada, you're not good enough. I'd be like, excuse me who are you talking to? We have to do the same thing to ourselves. 

Lesley Logan 37:02  

Yeah. Oh my God, I do love that because sometimes I'll have a negative thought and like, I'm so conscious of a negative thought, like, why would I bring that negative energy into this space around this idea? And I literally like, what are you doing Lesley, like you, are you, that's not who you are. Take that back. Think of another positive thought before you finish this, like, little thought process in your head. And I think like, oh my God, if someone could hear like, it was a transcript of like the conversation in my head all day, it would be a book long every day. And it would be a little bit of back and forth between myself. (Inaudible) 100%. Oh, my gosh, Nada, you are awesome. It's so incredible what you were able to create. Thank you for sharing your whole story. I just it's so important that people hear that like you don't have to have all the answers to get started. And also how like, just by sticking up for you and really focusing on what you believe in that you can create amazing things no matter what's going on in the world. So you're just incredible inspiration. 

Lesley Logan 37:54  

You all, how are you going to use these Be It Action items in your life? Let us know. Tag Nada, tag the Be It Pod, share this with a friend who you're like, oh, my goodness if their confidence could just be a little bit better or maybe they need something like Rise Up For You, just share it with them because that could be the easiest thing that they do today is just start to think about themselves and what's holding them back. And until next time, Be It Till You See It. 

Lesley Logan 38:16  

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. 

Lesley Logan 38:43  

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 @Be It Pod.

Brad Crowell 38:58  

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

Lesley Logan 39:03  

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

Brad Crowell 39:07  

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

Lesley Logan 39:15  

Special thanks to Melissa Solomon for creating our visuals.

Brad Crowell 39:18  

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.

In this episode, we explore what it means to redefine beauty standards on our own terms. From the empowering health wins shared by our listeners to Lesley's candid recount of her beauty evolution without lash extensions, we uncover the layers of self-acceptance and the milestones in our quests for personal beauty. Discover how shifting perspectives on beauty can lead to profound self-growth and appreciation.

If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to LesleyLogan.co/podcast. If you have any comments or questions about the Be It pod shoot us a message at [email protected].

And as always, if you’re enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at LesleyLogan.co/subscribe.

In this episode you will learn about:

• How small things can have the biggest ripple effect in our lives
• The power of personalized coaching by understanding clients' unique experiences. 
• Self-love through beauty transformation and embracing natural looks. 
• Embrace your inherent value and contribution to the world. 

Episode References/Links:

• Mentions, Jane Kay, an eLevate and OPC member
• eLevate

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox.

Get your free Athletic Greens 1 year supply of Vitamin D3+K2 and 5 free travel packs

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Be It Till You See It Podcast Survey

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FREE Ditching Busy Webinar

Resources:

• Watch the Be It Till You See It podcast on YouTube!
• Lesley Logan website
• Be It Till You See It Podcast
• Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan
• Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan on YouTube
• Profitable Pilates

Follow Us on Social Media:

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• LinkedIn

Episode Transcript:

Lesley Logan 0:00  

It's Fuck Yeah Friday.

Brad Crowell 0:01  

Fuck yeah.

Lesley Logan 0:02  

Get ready for some wins. 

Lesley Logan 0:05  

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 0:46  

Welcome back to the Be It Till You See It podcast. Today is a Fuck Yeah Friday, which means I share a win of yours, share a win of mine, I give you an affirmation and this is all so that we can start to celebrate more things like start to just recognize the things that we're doing and how they're impacting our lives. And some of the smallest things can be the biggest ripple effect like when you ever like toss a pebble into the water, like it just ripples forever and ever and ever, right? Toss a rock it just sinks to the bottom it has a little splash. So it's kind of amazing. Like, what happens if we celebrate the small stuff more often? 

Lesley Logan 1:15  

So your win. This is from Jane Kay, she's an eLevate and OPC member. So she said I had a client today for a second session. She has quite a list of health issues and talks nonstop literally, but she's a lovely lady, definitely a cup-full, cup-half-full type. She really made my day, though. She was doing arm springs for the first time today swapped out with roll back bar springs. I set her up with a softball between her knees and ran through a couple of things about her shoulder placement. And she's pretty round-shouldered and then got her going. Start with up-down and after a few reps she asked me where she should feel it instead of telling her I asked her where she was feeling it and she said she was embarrassed to tell me. I asked her why she said that. And she didn't want me to laugh at her. But she could feel it in her back around the outside of her ribs and up towards her armpits. Wow. I nearly picked her up and gave her a hug. That is the funniest when it's so cute. This is so fun. You know. I love that so much. One of the things I teach people on eLevate is like, don't tell them where they should feel it, ask where they feel it because that's gonna let you know if they're in the right place or not. If we're telling people where to feel things, then if they don't feel it, they're gonna feel like something's wrong with them. When there's something wrong with them (inaudible) the placement, right? So thank you, Jane, for sharing that. 

Lesley Logan 2:28  

All right, here's a win of mine. So, I'm just a little over two months of no lash extensions. Now I do have some lash extensions that I put on for like filming for some YouTube stuff as my lash is growing. But if you are looking at this on the YouTube podcast like you'll see I don't, I have a little, little baby lashes. And it has been the interesting journey because part of (inaudible) is I like love, like the clean (inaudible) no lashes. I haven't loved my eyelash extensions for three years. I'm gonna tell you that right now. I miss the person I had in LA she was amazing. And I have found someone who just makes my lash extension looks natural. They all just looked like fake lashes and it just drove me crazy. So anyways, I'm growing my lashes back out. It's been really hard. Like, definitely it was like, I just don't feel as pretty anymore. I feel like I look tired. So but I'm over two months, and I have been doing the work to get the lashes to grow and changing how I do makeup. And another win is this I've like gotten help with how to do my makeup now. Because and this you're like but how is this a win? Because asking for help to make the change in your life you want to make is a huge win. It's a huge win. And so thank you to people at Sephora. I had someone on January 1st helped make sure that I didn't look like a pink-eyed little mouse as my lashes were the tiniest like I couldn't even put mascara on and they were so small and now they're long enough to put mascara on. And now I'm going back to learn how to do like some eyeliner or some other eyeshadow things because I haven't had to do these things in five years. So that's my win, just allowing myself to not feel as pretty as I used to but also feel as beautiful as I am in this transitional time. And I I hope that translates to other things in your life as well as you can see yourself like maybe you don't like how something is going on in your body and the changes that are happening in your body. But you can still love how beautiful you are within those changes. It's just hard to get used to sometimes, right? That's my win. I love it. I hope it helps you celebrate the beautiful parts of you that maybe you are in transition on. 

Lesley Logan 4:37  

And here is your affirmation for the week. I am valued and helpful. I am valued and helpful. How often do you recognize your value? How often are you understanding that you are so, so helpful? Gone are the days of judging that we're never enough, we're not doing enough because it's just not true. You're amazing exactly who you are now. Until next time, Be It Till You See It. 

Lesley Logan 5:08  

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.  

Lesley Logan 5:35  

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 5:50  

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

Lesley Logan 5:55  

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

Brad Crowell 5:59  

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

Lesley Logan 6:07  

Special thanks to Melissa Solomon for creating our visuals.

Brad Crowell 6:10  

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.

Brad and Lesley unpack the fascinating story of Ashley Black and the FasciaBlaster, a revolutionary tool designed for cellulite reduction and fascia health, inspired by Ashley's own struggle with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. They delve into the scientific research and investment behind the FasciaBlaster, exploring its proven benefits for overall physical wellbeing. Join them as they reveal how this invention is transforming the narrative around body care and in embracing a healthier lifestyle.

If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to LesleyLogan.co/podcast. If you have any comments or questions about the Be It pod shoot us a message at [email protected].

And as always, if you’re enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at LesleyLogan.co/subscribe.

In this episode you will learn about:

• How FasciaBlaster was developed and its groundbreaking impact on connective tissue health.
• Understand the significant investment and scientific research behind the FasciaBlaster's efficacy.
• The holistic benefits of fascia care beyond cellulite reduction, including pain relief.
• Insights into the importance of combining business integrity with scientific validation.

Episode References/Links:

• Use this link to get 40% off our FasciaBlaster® fascia regenerating kit
• Free Mat Challenge
• The Accelerator Workshop 
• Summer Camp
• Ashley Black Website

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox.

DEALS! Check out all our Preferred Vendors & Special Deals from Clair Sparrow, Sensate, Lyfefuel BeeKeeper’s Naturals, Sauna Space, HigherDose, AG1 and ToeSox

Be in the know with all the workshops at OPC

Be It Till You See It Podcast Survey

Be a part of Lesley’s Pilates Mentorship

FREE Ditching Busy Webinar

Resources:

• Watch the Be It Till You See It podcast on YouTube!
• Lesley Logan website
• Be It Till You See It Podcast
• Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan
• Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan on YouTube
• Profitable Pilates

Follow Us on Social Media:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• LinkedIn

Episode Transcript:

Brad Crowell 0:00  

She was said she was literally having Eastern medicine books translated in English so that she could learn more about fascia. And she kept looking around for the fascia expert and the fascia expert and the fascia expert until she finally was like, I think maybe I'm the fascia expert because what the hell no one else is talking about this.

Lesley Logan 0:20  

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 0:58  

Welcome back to the Be It Till You See It interview recap where my co-host in life, Brad, and I are going to talk about the holistic convo I had with Ashley Black in our last episode. If you haven't yet listened to that one, you should freaking go back and listen to that one, holly freaking molly, can we just have a moment? Ashley Black was in the Be It Pod. You guys, this person is a badass businesswoman who is, who like invested so much in something that she believed in. Then she and I had an amazing conversation off the record where she, because we're both, she actually is a Pilates instructor from trained before me and we were talking about different things where she had people wanted her to do magazine articles where she would do something and she's like I don't teach like that, so I'm not going to do it. So I just love her integrity. Love her character. Ashley Black, I love you. I can't wait to see you in Costa Rica, babe. You can teach me to surf even though I don't love seaweed touching my feet. But I'll do it for you.

Brad Crowell 2:02  

Blast your baiting all day long.

Lesley Logan 2:02  

You wanted to say that so bad. If you want to know what that references, you have to go listen to the episode. I'm just saying. Also, can I just say, if you are wanting to blast your bait if you just want to like blast your fascia out, we have an affiliate link and I'm really really, really, really excited to share that because it's not something they do and we have it.

Brad Crowell 2:29  

We do. It's pretty fucking cool.

Lesley Logan 2:31  

But before we get into that, you guys, it is National Sock Monkey Day and that means you need to give your old socks a new lease on life as we mark Sock Monkey Day. And Brad was like,

Brad Crowell 2:43  

I don't even know what a sock monkey is.

Lesley Logan 2:45  

So I don't know how you don't know what a sock monkey is because a sock monkey is kind of like a poor stuffed animal. 

Brad Crowell 2:52  

Oh, I had one of these. 

Lesley Logan 2:53  

Yeah, it's like when you're well I think a lot of stores  

Brad Crowell 2:56  

But I might have a little, the little red pompom on the top. 

Lesley Logan 2:58  

Yeah, so I think a lot of stores will sell them overpriced but the theory is

Brad Crowell 3:03  

Mine was like beans inside or something. 

Lesley Logan 3:05  

You like make your own. If you shout like raise your hand if you're listening to this and you're like oh, I made my own. I also made my own pet rock. I also did not ever get Kraft Mac And Cheese I got the knockoff version with knockoff hotdogs in it it was called protein guys.

Brad Crowell 3:21  

Knockoff hotdogs. You didn't even have hotdogs?

Lesley Logan 3:24  

Well, like the, not the store brand. Not the store brand. I didn't, no one bought me a sock monkey I had to make my own sock monkey.  

Brad Crowell 3:31  

Yeah, I feel like I feel like mine was an heirloom I think that was like my grandfather's or something my great grandfather's and it was like in the family. Like my mom was really protective over 

Lesley Logan 3:42  

You know, I think it's probably one of those boxes that you're supposed to go through while you're home. So I'm not sitting there in that situation. Anyways, also coming up, you guys, currently, in this moment.

Brad Crowell 3:53  

In this moment. 

Lesley Logan 3:54  

In this moment. 

Brad Crowell 3:55  

I love me.

Lesley Logan 3:56  

I feel like that's a Shania Twain song. In this moment. Is that, is it Shania Twain or Celine Dion? Anyways, there's a free mat challenge happening for you. You can go to opc.me/challenge and you can start it today you can start at the moment you hear this. If you're listening this and it's a year from now you can start it because guess what, my team keeps that shit up and it is free. 

Brad Crowell 4:19  

Evergreen.

Lesley Logan 4:20  

It starts when you start it but the best time to start it is today just like planting a tree, the best time last week when it started but also today's a good time.

Brad Crowell 4:29  

The best time, 30 years ago.

Lesley Logan 4:31  

The best time, your grandparents generation they fucked up, blame them. But at any rate, you can you can change the world by going to OPC.me/challenge.

Brad Crowell 4:45  

OPC.me/challenge.

Lesley Logan 4:45  

And enjoy four weeks of accountability and frickin' amazing mat classes. Also, we have an accelerator event Brad, why don't you take this one over? 

Brad Crowell 4:55  

Yeah, we do. I'm really excited to share we're starting a new, a new, we're starting a new offer for Profitable Pilates. We have a workshop called Accelerating Your Studio Growth. And so we're calling it The Accelerator. And in that we're gonna go through the accel formula. But the whole goal of that 

Lesley Logan 5:22  

How do you spell accel in this?

Brad Crowell 5:24  

A-C-C-E-L

Lesley Logan 5:25  

That's right, that's how you know. (Inaudible) Accel.

Brad Crowell 5:33  

It works. It works.

Lesley Logan 5:35  

You know, I love the framework. And just so we all are clear, the sound you're hearing underneath me is a dog with a bone. We're just gonna let it be. 

Brad Crowell 5:35  

Yeah, if you can hear that, that's August. 

Lesley Logan 5:45  

I feel you can because I can feel it to my chair. Lastly, so where do they go for the (inaudible)? 

Brad Crowell 5:50  

Yeah, sorry, I wasn't finished. So the accel formula, basically, what that covers is we're going to really dig into how do you connect with people in your community, bring them into your space, win them over so that they become a long-term client, and then empower them to be your voice in the community. 

Lesley Logan 6:16  

They could be a sneezer. That's what Seth Godin calls them, sneezers. 

Brad Crowell 6:19  

He does, he calls them sneezers I'm gonna call them accelerators because we got a theme going.

Lesley Logan 6:26  

Today, I went on our community babe. And I almost booked myself a pop-up class without even trying. So you guys, these things he's going to teach you in this workshop. 

Brad Crowell 6:36  

You just gotta be out and about meeting people and there are strategies to it. 

Lesley Logan 6:40  

And by the way, I'm an introvert, like, like high functioning, but like through and through. So you can do this, if you're an introvert. It's strategies that do work. 

Brad Crowell 6:49  

Yeah. And you know, what will be, you know, it's going to be some high-level concepts, and then some action items, actionable items that you can immediately take. Because, you know, I mean, obviously, for those of you who are familiar with Agency, this is like just one part of the bigger picture and so we're going to be hosting that. So get yourself on the waitlist for The Accelerator, it is going to be profitablepilates.com/upcoming, profitablepilates.com/upcoming. 

Lesley Logan 7:19  

Okay. And then lastly, real super quick. Brad's going to tell me the link to this because I forgot but we have summer camp coming up and I'm actually working on right now in the lineup of workouts and workshops, there'll be C team and I'm hoping a few good friends are going to be taking over the first weekend of your June and just giving you all the Pilates you ever wanted. 

Brad Crowell 7:42  

Ever wanted. 

Lesley Logan 7:43  

Ever, ever, ever, ever. I personally have raised my hand to do a ladder barrel workout. That's right. So anyways, you heard it here first. So you're gonna go to I think it's opc.me/workshops opc.me/workshops plural, my friends opc.me/workshops. It says get notified for upcoming workshops, get on the waitlist and you see all of my amazing deets on there. So there you go. Okay, before we get into the Ashley Black recap, which I can't wait to dive in and share our thoughts all about this. We have an audience question to respond to. Yes, Brad? 

Brad Crowell 8:24  

Yeah, we sure do. This is from @-3-R-D-T-W-I-R-L-4-9-4 on YouTube. 

Lesley Logan 8:32  

Third Twirl 494, Brad, Third Twirl.

Lesley Logan 8:32  

That's what it is. Third twirl. 

Lesley Logan 8:34  

From YouTube. 

Brad Crowell 8:40  

So, 3-R-D third. Hi, can I ask your opinion on something, please? I'm considering an intense, full comprehensive classical course. What questions should I ask to prepare myself? I've been teaching for 13 years already but my clients are pre postnatal. I'm looking at this at 54. And I wanted a bit of boost of a boost and motivation to build more classes. Thank you. I'm just a bit scared. And I want to make sure I can handle it. 

Lesley Logan 9:08  

Yeah, so I love this question. Because for the part where like, I'm a bit scared and wonder if I could handle it. Part of me was wondering is like she thinking that her age is based on like, can she handle a classical program? Or is she thinking like timewise can she handle a classical program? So here's what I'm gonna say, 3rdTwirl494, I have a book that the first couple of chapters are actually full of questions that you should ask any training program you're considering using. And that goes for anybody who's thinking about being a teacher or is already a teacher, but something I would say to people who are already teachers, if you are wanting to learn a different modality in the teaching, I highly recommend looking for a bridge masters or mentorship. So, bridge master, mentorship, they all equal the same thing. It's just marketing terms. I have a mentorship, that's what I call it, I call it mentorship because I do believe that I, you are hiring me to be a mentor for over nine months and beyond. Oh, it's like infinity and beyond. Nine months and beyond because it's nine months together in a group with me and then you graduate to the alumni group, and you have access to me, for always, but if you're already a teacher, and you want to learn another modality for you, you want to learn classical Pilates. If you join a classical training for new teachers, it's going to feel weird because you have 13 years of experience, but you're learning a new thing. The people around you are like, oh, my God, she's 13 years of experience so they act weird around you. well,

Brad Crowell 10:43  

And not only that, it's the basics, right? So they're like, "And lift your arm over your head," you're like, ah, been there. 

Lesley Logan 10:50  

Yeah. So I recently had a call with someone who was choosing between my mentorship and another program and they chose the other program. And it's a dear friend of mine. So like, they're in great hands. But if you already are teaching, and you're learning in a group where you're learning to teach, it's going to feel somewhat remedial, and overwhelming. Way better to be in a group of already trained teachers because there's a there's different questions that you could ask and you can get different answers that don't go over the heads of the other people in the group. And you can really also dialogue with the other people in your group. So you actually get to have some really great friendships. I know that the master's program, the first master's program I did I had made some really, really great friendships with the people who are already teachers, because we got to go, okay, this is what I learned before this is what I'm going to learn now, here's what I'm going to do. And then when I did the mentorship that I did with with Jay Grimes, I'm still friends with those people they all been teaching for you had to be teaching for more than five years to be in that program. So anyways, I highly recommend that you look for a program that's already for teachers versus a new program because you've been teaching for so long. Lastly, can you handle it? Do you think you can handle it better when you're older? When you have more "time" (in air quotes". No. I mean, like, if you want to learn classical, yes, you should do a bridge or a masters or mentorship. 

Brad Crowell 12:09  

This all makes me think of something that you should definitely check out called eLevate. 

Lesley Logan 12:17  

Oh, yes. 

Brad Crowell 12:18  

Because Lesley actually has a master's program that she's been hosting for the last few years now. We've had dozens of people going through the program, and we are opening enrollment for 2025 already because 2024 has kicked off and it's happening. So if you if it's something you want to check out, you know, just reach out to us or go to Lesleylogan.co/elevate and we can get you. You know, we can secure your spot now. So, yeah, go check it out. Great question. Thank you for asking. If you have a question, and you want us to chit chat about it, or surmise or give you a straight answer. Just ping us anywhere. 

Lesley Logan 13:03  

Clearly, anywhere. We find them.

Brad Crowell 13:06  

Yeah, anywhere. 

Lesley Logan 13:07  

It's like ask us anything. Ask me a question. You can do it here, here here. She actually changed it. You can email her but I clearly grabbed her from everywhere.

Brad Crowell 13:16  

Okay, now let's talk about Ashley Black. Ashley Black, inspired by her personal struggle with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis leveraged her 30 years of experience in fascia research to invent the FasciaBlaster, a groundbreaking tool designed to enhance connective tissue health and regeneration. She has authored the number one bestselling book on fascia, while also pioneering the first documented ultrasound evidence of fascia regeneration in peer-reviewed research.

Lesley Logan 13:47  

Do you know how much it cost to do peer-reviewed research? 

Brad Crowell 13:50  

I looked at this research facility that she mentioned. 

Lesley Logan 13:52  

She spent $2 million.

Brad Crowell 13:54  

2 million bucks y'all. And these guys are like legit, you know.

Lesley Logan 13:58  

And by the way, $2 million doesn't mean you get to be involved in the research. 

Brad Crowell 14:02  

Oh, no, no. 

Lesley Logan 14:02  

You're not involved at all. They just do it.

Brad Crowell 14:04  

She was definitely I mean, she obviously was confident in what she was doing. But you know, they could have come back and been like yeah, none of this is real. 

Lesley Logan 14:12  

Thanks for your $2 million.

Brad Crowell 14:14  

Yeah, thanks for your 2 million bucks, you know, but they did not they came back and said yeah, this is legit so good for her. That's really exciting. Yeah, and you know, now you can blast your bait all you want.

Lesley Logan 14:29  

Dear Lord. And so I really love this okay, so I'm going to be really honest like I, if you know me, you know, like, I am all about, like, beautiful bodies at every size like 1,000% and I have like, I do love the body that I have, like I really do. But I have not really enjoyed, like some cellulite that I have. And I've just been really frustrated and I saw like I saw one of her ads where she's sitting there in a bathing suit with nothing and I was like, wait, hold on a second. Wait a minute. And then I was like, am I am I being superficial? Like, am I being like, am I anti-body positivity? Like, I'm just gonna be really honest, like, these are all the things that I thought about when I looked this up, and one of my dearest friends who's been on the show several times, who's a functional medicine doctor and a western medicine doctor was like, oh, Ashley Black has these amazing tools. And I was like, what do they actually work for? Like they actually work and then my other friend Kareen is on the show. She's like, oh, I have them all. And they I've been using them and I'm like, okay, so am I just had to buy like something that doesn't work. But then I like went down the rabbit hole, fell in love with all of the research she's had and by the way, her tools are just for cellulite. And they're like your fascia is like, as she discussed is like over your whole body. And she has nothing

Brad Crowell 15:45  

It's not just over it's in like it's between your organs (inaudible)

Lesley Logan 15:49  

She had a video where she takes these straws. And the straws obviously are wrapped in paper. And she's like, that's basically your fascia. There's fascia inside all wrapped around all these muscle fibers. And so what she said is, cellulite is a physical presentation of bad fascia. And she actually feels her it's her moral duty to tell people not to accept it, because she likened it to having a rash. If you had a rash, you wouldn't just go love my body and my rash. You would go like, deal with the rash. And she's like, you can absolutely love your body at any size. And you guys, go check her out. This woman loves her body at her size. She's beautiful. She like does amazing thing. She's over 50 and going surfing in Costa Rica, like she's kicking ass. But she says that we can actually love our bodies and work on our fascia and that can actually help with the cellulite, but also bonus benefits. Some of the pain you're having, including why she was doing this in the first place. She had major pain in her hip are because of bad fascia. 

Brad Crowell 16:50  

Yeah and she started investigating the stress in the knee and the ankle, and was basically moving the fascia around, and eventually was able to work through the pain she was having in her hip with it. 

Lesley Logan 17:08  

Yeah. And she so she's really big on advocating for effective fascia treatment, because there's a lot of things on the internet like foam rolling or even like we have, like a like a type of the percussion tools, right? So there's percussion massager. She's like, those are actually not great for fascia but they're great for other things.

Brad Crowell 17:27  

They are great for muscles. 

Lesley Logan 17:28  

They're great for muscles. And so like, if you watch her she's very specific. Like if you do if you go too deep with the tools, that's a deep massage, that's for the muscle. If you do it up here that's for the skin if you do it like this pressure, like so there is a method (inaudible). 

Brad Crowell 17:41  

Her tools, you mean. 

Lesley Logan 17:42  

Yes. And so I think like what I loved was that she wasn't dissing any products, she was basically explaining how that product helps a different thing versus her products help. And I wanted to stress this, it's not just about the cellulite, you guys, her fascia can if your fascia is not healthy, if it gets tight, if it gets bundled, if things happen to it, you will have pain and it criss-crosses your body because fascia is an organ almost like it's like maybe is an organ, maybe the science is saying that but like it is so integral, and we go to the chiropractor a lot and I swear to God, the problem I'm having is because some fascia shit that's on a different part of my body that I am working out with my blasting tools. So I'm like, there's a reason why this is like on the left over here, the right over here, the left over here. So anyways, I'm a little bit obsessed. I love that she addressed that because I I was going I was like kind of having a little bit of like conflict of my own values. And it's like, oh, no, it's okay. And also, by the way, I still love myself and blast.

Brad Crowell 18:45  

Well, I really loved when she was talking about the balance of running a business and maintaining scientific integrity. Because when you run a business, it's really, you know, like, the idea is, what is our marketing message that's gonna get people to buy things, right, and you can just make shit up. Right? 

Lesley Logan 19:05  

Oh people do make so much up. 

Brad Crowell 19:06  

People do they just make it up. Right. And so she is definitely arguing for the marriage of marketing with actual clinical research, you know, like the work that backs up the claims that she's making. And I thought that was awesome. I mean, for me, that's like, integrity, you know? And she talked about really, I think, I think was an interesting conversation. She's like, am I taking crazy pills? Am I the only person that's talking about fascia? Like, what's the deal here? Why is it that like, you know, how is it that (inaudible) western medicine is not even considering this as a as something to look at. They're just pushing fascia out of the way. 

Lesley Logan 19:49  

And this was like 20 years ago when she was first like when she first started. So if you're like (inaudible).

Brad Crowell 19:56  

And she, you know, was learning, she was reading she said she was literally having Eastern medicine books translated in English so that she can learn more about fascia. And she kept looking around for the fascia expert and the fascia expert and the fascia expert until she finally was like, I think maybe I'm the fascia expert because what the hell no one else is talking about this. , 

Lesley Logan 20:18  

You know, what I just to like, like in that I could not believe we could actually have a podcast called Be It Till You See It, it seems so obvious that there'll be a podcast out there already. So like, I think a lot of times we, we, all of you listening, the we, doubt that we could be the first person to think of something as a topic to share with the world. And I thought it really interesting that she just kept going, there's gotta be someone, there's she was like just praying and looking for someone else to be the expert. And then at the time, there wasn't anyone? 

Brad Crowell 20:56  

Yeah, well, I just want to throw out a couple of other things that are like the science behind what she had, you know, studied, or sorry, that she obviously she went down her own path of education. And then she commissioned some scientific studies. And so she's proved her commitment to ensuring safety and scientific validation through methods of funding independent research, with a blind study by the Applied Science Performance Institute, which that's the company I looked up there out of Florida. Fascinating. There's a bunch of like science nerds, they're clearly very expensive. She utilized DEXA scans, ultrasounds and blood markers in the study, or they did and then they focused on collagen inflammation and longevity markers like telomere length. So I don't have a clue what telomere length is but that's what they focused on. 

Lesley Logan 21:49  

I actually, I used to study that stuff. So I do. That's very impressive. And by the way, you guys, somehow Timbaland ended up in the conversation. 

Brad Crowell 22:00  

The producer.

Lesley Logan 22:01  

Just want to say that, that I've always wanted Timbaland to be like part of a conversation and he made it into my podcast.

Brad Crowell 22:15  

So yeah, so do longer telomeres mean longer life, this is what I'm learning about genetics. So shorter telomeres are associated with shorter lives. I don't know that it's the reverse. They didn't say longer are associated with longer, but they are saying shorter is associated with shorter. So anyway, she sought to address any skepticism and criticism from both the scientific community and from the general public regarding your fascia treatment techniques by supporting it with science, so. 

Lesley Logan 22:47  

Yeah. 

Brad Crowell 22:48  

All right. So finally, let's talk about those Be It Action Items. What bold, executable, intrinsic or targeted action items can we take away from your convo with Ashley Black? She actually covered all four, she literally spent time thinking about this and she was very 

Lesley Logan 23:03  

Did you see my face on the video? Like my jaw was like dropping as she went through each one because you guys know, we tell people, they only have to do one if they want, like, you know, because like, we're just like, thank you for being on the podcast. I'm so grateful. And she's like, oh, I actually wrote these down. Hold on, I thought about each one. So we actually got she actually has, like, I love that they that it stands for something. Like it does, thank you for noticing.

Brad Crowell 23:29  

Just like I didn't know BE IT meant something. She said, you know, for bold, stepping into your power. You know those little voices that come in from time to time and tell you who you are. Once you know who you are, be unapologetic, without fear and step into who you are. Just be it. For intrinsic, she said, she recommends the Delete Activity, which I thought was really interesting. I'm curious to learn more about this. But she started by writing everything down that she does in the day. And then she reviewed it and she was like, you know, what, can I get rid of? What can what can I cut? Why am I doing these things? You know, and I? I don't know? Like maybe it's I don't know, maybe? Maybe we can just delete cleaning.

Lesley Logan 24:19  

Well, you can I mean, you can also like we deleted getting up to open the door for dogs by getting a thing that opens the door for the dog. So like you can like some deletes also include a delegation but like right What if you could just delete it? How would that work? And also like

Brad Crowell 24:36  

She mentioned like, well, relationships that are stagnant and that are causing stress. 

Lesley Logan 24:39  

Oh, gosh, get rid of those. But also like Brad Bradbury's Jack says like, because he was somebody was like, oh, I have to clean my desk to like actually get worked on and he's like, no, you don't. Your desk does not have to be clean to actually get worked on. The house does not actually have to be clean. And then Gay Hendricks is to be on the pod soon. Yes, he is. Yeah, he is. He actually says in his book he's like, if you think the house has to be clean before you can write creatively, because you think other people want the house to be clean, don't you think that other people in the house would prefer you to be a happy, healthy, awesome person living in your genius? So. Yeah, the house does probably have to get cleaned at some point. But you're probably gonna clean up more or have a better life with the people who live you live with if you are doing your thing that you love. So delete shit.

Brad Crowell 25:25  

Yeah. So she said, you know, we have something intrinsic to our nature and authenticity, when we're discovering and sharing our authentic self. You know, if it's a gift that we have, and we don't share it, it's a wasted life. But those really, that was some strong language there. And she suggests self-discovery create space to understand yourself, you know, when you're giving yourself space by deleting things. And so yeah, I thought I thought it was interesting. B-E.

Lesley Logan 25:57  

Yeah. So I think you got the B-I but

Brad Crowell 26:01  

B-I. 

Lesley Logan 26:01  

So I got a couple for you for the rest of them. Which is it's not the action, it's the little actions. So she talked about encouraging it to break down goals into manageable steps and take the first three today, or the first one, like take little actions, because we kind of like put things like, oh, I've got to build my course. I've got to create a challenge. I've got to make an email funnel. It's kind of like, holy fuck, that's so many things. Like, do you know how many things how many hearts go in there? You want to actually like break it down into little things. And this reminds me of Jill Flodstrom who was on the pod many, many moons ago and she was like, make everything take two minutes. So every task you put on your list, break it down until two minutes, because you always have two minutes, you have two minutes, when you're waiting for someone, no one is on time for a Zoom call anymore. They're all two minutes late. So you could actually do something for two minutes. So I'm consistently being that person. And then she said, find your North Star, find that thing that truly, truly makes you fulfilled. I really love this because today I had a call with someone and it was really, really great. But it would be a total distraction, it would not like it could veer its way back to the target. But right now it feels like a little offside and I (inaudible) I'm like, I love this when it's at this point in your business that will actually be in alignment with what I'm doing. And I'm so in so whatever that when do you think that she's like, it'll probably be three months and like you call me in three months the offer still stands but right now, as it stands, it would just it's it's a little bit out of left field for me and so I would rather wait the three months if you don't mind. And I would wait three years. Because like the reality is, you guys, we tend to think that everything happens has to happen tomorrow. And what I have discovered is it all happens when it's supposed to which is fucking annoying. But stay on target.

Brad Crowell 28:09  

Yeah, find that Northstar.

Lesley Logan 28:10  

Do you like, do you like that really, really exciting, like supportive, like hoorah coaching like it's all going to happen when it's supposed to. But it really does. And it's really amazing. And you always learn from things. So Ashley Black, I love you. I'm excited for what we're doing together, you guys there will be some projects that Ashley and I are hoping to do together. One of them is you can actually use a link of ours to blast your bait to take that line out of Brad.

Brad Crowell 28:40  

Master Blaster.

Lesley Logan 28:42  

So there's I have a ton of the tools I'm not gonna lie, our bathroom is full of them. I've been caught blasting all around the house. Honestly, whenever I'm Netflix sitting and chilling, that's me, I'm just blasting and it feels really nice to do something for your body like I one of my love languages is touch. And so I do not have the time to go to a massage or as my I would, I would fucking go every week if I could. It's not the money. It's literally the time. So I really love this because it gets me, allows me to do something for myself. It feels really good to do something for myself. And I don't think that as humans we actually touch our bodies enough so do that. And lastly, like I saw, I saw a couple moles I've never seen before probably because I wasn't looking for them. So I'm booking a dermatology appointment so you can also get to know yourself a whole lot more while you're doing this. It's a byproduct.

Brad Crowell 29:36  

I love it. Well check the link in the show notes if you want to see what we're talking about here. And stay tuned because like Lesley said, we do have some more fun things coming up you know with Ashley down the road, and we can't wait we can't wait to announce them for you. 

Lesley Logan 29:51  

And by the way after the show is done recording Terraformer is out on her like outdoor patio Costa Rica. So she really truly is a Pilates person, loves it really the fascia like she, like, honestly and really into fascia, not just for your cellulite but also like what fascia could do for your entire body. It's not just out the outward, it's the inward as well. So yeah, it's she's awesome. I'm Lesle Logan. 

Brad Crowell 30:17  

And I'm Brad Crowell. 

Lesley Logan 30:18  

Thank you so much for listening to us today. How are you going to use these tips in your life? Are you going to?

Brad Crowell 30:24  

You're going to blaster bait?

Lesley Logan 30:25  

Yeah. There you go, Brad. I set you up for that. Let us know. Tag us, tag Ashley Black, in the, in whatever you like to share things at. It really does make my day when I hear, I have to say this, one of our listeners sent me a message today going so do you watch SVU? Law and Order SVU because I watch Law and Order SVU and I know every word to the intro of Law and Order SVU and I now know every word in the intro of the Be It Pod. And I just had to say, oh, first of all, we do watch SVU we are working our way through sort of season one since 2021. And we are because Brad has never seen a lot of episodes we start with SVU because why not go all the way in on the darkness? And I don't know what season we're in. 

Brad Crowell 31:10  

I think we're in 18.

Lesley Logan 31:10  

Season 18. 

Brad Crowell 31:12  

Yeah, I believe so. 

Lesley Logan 31:12  

We do know all the words. We call by our own (inaudible) and order. And I know and she did text me that she's like dun-dun. And I said I said do yourself a favor. Go down the Tiktok rabbit hole online (inaudible) you will lose an hour of your life and you'll never regret it. So anyways, thank you for tagging me and sharing with me how you love this show. What it makes you think of I never thought SVU and I would ever be in the same sentence but Mariska Hargitay, anytime, anytime you want it babe, I'm all in, have an amazing day. 

Brad Crowell 31:47  

Bye for now. 

Lesley Logan 31:49  

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. 

Lesley Logan 32:16  

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 @Be It Pod.

Brad Crowell 32:31  

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

Lesley Logan 32:36  

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

Brad Crowell 32:41  

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

Lesley Logan 32:48  

Special thanks to Melissa Solomon for creating our visuals.

Brad Crowell 32:51  

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.

In conversation with Ashley Black, Lesley uncovers the world of fascia therapy. They discuss how Ashley's personal health challenges led to her creating a groundbreaking tool called FasciaBlaster and her dedication to educating others. Listeners will learn about the importance of fascia in overall health, and gain valuable insights into Ashley's unique perspective on balancing scientific research with entrepreneurship.

If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to LesleyLogan.co/podcast. If you have any comments or questions about the Be It pod shoot us a message at [email protected].

And as always, if you’re enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at LesleyLogan.co/subscribe.

In this episode you will learn about:

• Ashley Black's journey from battling arthritis to becoming fascia health pioneer.
• How Ashley's FasciaBlaster revolutionizes connective tissue treatment.
• The balance of running a business while maintaining scientific integrity.
• Fascia's critical role in overall health and Ashley's approach to effective treatment.
• Ashley's strategic expansion and focus on educating people in fascia therapy.

Episode References/Links:

• Ashley Black Instagram
• Ashley Black Facebook
• Use this link to get 40% off our FasciaBlaster® fascia regenerating kit
• Ashley Black Website
• Ashley Black Blog Posts
• Bill Kazmaier
• BE…: From Passion and Purpose to Product and Prosperity

Guest Bio:

I own an international company specializing in the health of the human connective tissue, fascia with over 30 years experience in fascia therapy. I invented the FasciaBlaster tools for regenerating this system of the body and have sold $170MM. I was the first person to do a TED talk about fascia, the first person to have a #1 Best Selling book about fascia and the first to publish peer reviewed science showing in ultrasound imaging to regenerate the fascia.

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox.

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Resources:

• Watch the Be It Till You See It podcast on YouTube!
• Lesley Logan website
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• Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan
• Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan on YouTube
• Profitable Pilates

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Episode Transcript:

Ashley Black 0:00  

I don't care if I have to, like take an umbrella and, you know hook you in with something that resonates with wherever you are in that moment. You know once that they are in I'm gonna have time you know to kind of let the story unfold.

Lesley Logan 0:19  

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 1:01  

You guys, welcome to the Be It Pod and pinch me. I'm so fricking blessed. I'm so honored, I'm so inspired. This interview is just, as a female business owner, you don't often meet people who are like in the thick of it, who are willing to share the journey and be honest and open. And then also be supportive as fuck. And I say that because our guest today is this person. This is and we have Ashley Black on the Ashley Black experience, and the blasters, fasciablasters, I have several tools and I'm going to buy them all. 

Lesley Logan 1:41  

I wanted to bring her on because her personality, what I saw on videos and what I saw her tools doing that could change your life, not just what the aesthetic part, but also like, I know what fascia can do in the body. And like having tools to take away pains, aches, and imbalances, it literally is what helps you be it till you see it, right? Like if you have any pain in your body, if you've got something that is distracting you from your dream, it's going to hold you back and so wanted to have her on for so many reasons. And then I met her and like honored is an understatement. She's just the fucking coolest. And she's so open and honest. And I think it's really, really important to highlight and high five and share when there are female business owners out there that are not only there to help the people that they made their product for, but they're willing to also support the other women who are in aligned businesses. And so I'm so grateful for this connection, for this episode. We've got some amazing stuff coming up. I'm working on a special thing for you guys, for the Ashley Black products. So we'll make sure somewhere in this episode, we'll add all those links in so you'll have that as well. And then make sure you're following me because I'll have those if you're really, really interested in it, and you don't know where to find it or you didn't understand the ad for it then just DM me and I'll get it to you but you are going to love her. You're gonna love this episode. And by the way, you know, I love the Be It Action as always, but like, it's very rare that someone actually does all four and she did all four and get your pen and paper out. It's gonna be amazing. So here is Ashley Black. 

Lesley Logan 3:25  

All right, Be It babe. I'm gonna fangirl a little bit only just because I just discovered this. I don't know where I've been. I've been under a rock. But today's guest blows my mind. She's incredible. I've watched more videos of her than any person I've ever interviewed before. And so we've Ashley Black of Ashley Black Experience here. Can you tell everyone who you are and why you're so amazing?

Ashley Black 3:47  

Well, thank you for that. I'm gonna fangirl out on you because I don't listen to anyone's podcasts. I'm a very busy woman and I also hate technology. And I love your show. I love what you're doing. So thank you for having me. I think it's a great fit.

Ashley Black 4:03  

The short of it is that my name is Ashley Black and I invented some tools called the Fasciablaster. If you wiki me I'm best known for that. Although obviously there's a huge story behind that you don't just roll out of bed and invent tools and then become an author.

Lesley Logan 4:26  

You don't just like it doesn't like it's not out of a box like this is the box. 

Ashley Black 4:31  

(Inaudible) and you're just instantly a millionaire. 

Lesley Logan 4:33  

Yeah. And the tools they don't take any time at all to create I mean. 

Ashley Black 4:40  

(Inaudible) in 30 years, I'm an incredible overnight success. 

Lesley Logan 4:45  

That like

Lesley Logan 4:46  

Thank you for saying that because I think even when I was looking at your stuff, I was like oh my God, like I like how did she do this so fast? And it's like, hold that. It's been decades. It's not you know, we just make up stories when we see people so yeah. Can we talk a little bit about how it got started? 

Lesley Logan 5:03  

Yeah.

Ashley Black 5:04  

Yeah. So all of this that I do now for a living is based around kind of my entire life, just struggling to be healthy. I was born with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. So you know, when you're born was something you don't know any different. But I have to tell you, I do feel like my soul came into this existence kind of a fighter and like questioning things, you know, because even as a little kid, my parents would tell me, I would just tell them, I'm not doing that.

Ashley Black 5:41  

So, I, you know, this is the 70s. So I was being raised when everybody was doing anti-inflammatories, gold shots, they always wanted to take my blood. So I think that a lot of what I do, and I do consider myself holistic health, I do consider myself woowoo. But I'm also still mainstream, but I think that kind of like, maybe there's a better way, in terms of health comes from being a child, and beginning to question the medical institution, my parents and everybody else at a very young age. So that's how it all really started. I also, you know, most children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis do not become junior Olympic gymnast. And, you know, I was on the dance team in my college and, you know, just became very athletic and became obsessed with fitness kind of in my 20s. I was like one of the first people ever to teach Pilates when no one knew whatever it was and do step aerobics, or things that were like my hobby, right? But it did set the stage for everything that I'm doing now.

Lesley Logan 6:54  

Thank you for for sharing that. Because I, it's interesting. They'll say, like, when you were a child, like there was a lot of things about you that made you who you are today. And like, obviously, like, I can't imagine being a child with juvenile, like that just doesn't, like kids are supposed to be able to run and play and fall off trees. Like, I feel like, it definitely feels like it brought the rebel in you like, you're not going to tell me what my body can and can't do. And I feel like that definitely had to put you on the path because you have always be seeking out like, how can I do this thing that they think I can't do?

Ashley Black 7:25  

Totally. And I mean, it definitely extended into kind of being a teenager and working in health clubs. And I'm from Alabama. So I went to this very unique place at a unique point in time, which was called Kaz Gym, it was Bill Kazmaier, who now is very famous for being a strong man. So even when I was in my early 20s, I was being exposed to people who were leveraging fascia for strength, although we didn't know it. So that teased, it kind of teased things up to where I am now. And you know, if anybody says, what is it that you do, I would just say that I'm a healer. But the way that I am a healer is by a very unique understanding of fascia and having that very unique understanding for a very long time. And then developing products around it. And then, you know, when those get in the market, you can refine the products and all that kind of stuff. So, to flashboard the story really what happened was, so it was just my destiny. I don't know how else to say it, when everybody says, tell me your business plan on like, my business plan would never work for anybody but me. Right?

Ashley Black 8:40  

So when I was 29, I had kind of my second crushing blow health-wise, where I got this bone infection. And, you know, just kind of think mad cow disease meets bone cancer, because it was in my spine, which means it gets into the nervous system. And it almost killed me, I had a true two times cardiac on the table. But the beautiful part of that is that I had a near-death experience. And if you've ever talked to anybody with an ND they come back with this kind of interesting understanding of why they're back. You know, and so for me 100% you know, I don't feel like this is my career. I feel like this is what I was brought back here for which makes it fun and passion. 

Lesley Logan 9:33  

And also I just want like, I laugh when you said like, what's your business plan because I, I resonate with like, I kind of fell into every, every business I have, just like kind of fell into it. I'm like, okay, how do we make this work? But I also think like, having that ND, it kind of the things that would hold a normal, normal person, a person who didn't have ND back, don't because you're like, well, this I'm not going to die from this so you can I don't know, I don't know if that's an actual mindset from you. But like, you kind of don't let the normal obstacles and business or going after your dream stop you. You know, that's how I would imagine. 

Ashley Black 10:09  

The first thing people with NDs and it's funny that you say normal people because I do have a term where I'm like they're a normie. I'm definitely not a normie. But it is a perspective that you learn that first of all, we don't die. So the fear of that is, you know, is removed and yeah, it definitely gives you like, a little bit more of a fierceness. But I think you still have to step into that fierceness. So for me, you know, when I came out of the near-death experience, I had three children under the age of four. Okay. I was a full-on crippled, I, it took almost two years for me to really learn to walk. And I decided to get a divorce. That was a little bit part of the ND for me, too. It's like, my life is different now you did different (inaudible). And you know, so when anyone ever says, well, you know, you blah, blah, blah, this or that. I'm like, look, you can't be in a worse position to start a business than what I was in. But what really started happening for me is I already had all of that knowledge about, you know, from being a personal trainer and fitness instructor. So I knew a lot about anatomy and how the body worked. But no one had ever said anything about fascia. Or, you know, this is kind of really before massage even became a thing. So this was when I was like, 30. So we're still talking 20 years ago. So. 

Lesley Logan 11:49  

I mean, I remember I went to I was in college, I guess I've been like, 2002, 2003 When I was in, like, pre-med class, and we had, there was a body there, like at my college that I could like, look at inside. And I remember them saying like, the fascia, this is something we just like kind of throw of. 

Ashley Black 12:09  

(Inaudible) taking my mind. I discovered it, that's exactly what happened. I went and took a dissection course. And I, you know, I'm a big person that is a big believer that like everything in the universe, and in my yard and in my body was put there, right, it's part of the whole thing. And when I saw that dissection, they were literally like, we're just gonna move this, you know, white tissue away, it's called fascia. And I'm like, move it away. It's the whole damn body. What are you talking about? Like, I don't even I see. You cut it open. And it is this fascia everywhere. So for me, I was trying to heal my hip. So my that is where my fascination is best.

Lesley Logan 13:04  

That's a great word, your fascia-nation.

Ashley Black 13:06  

(Inaudible) and you know, there was nothing this is right when Google and everything was kind of starting to come out. But I remember having papers from Chinese institutions, because they study it more. Translate it. And when I say that, I was obsessed. I was staying up all night reading these papers, I couldn't believe that I was learning this and you go through that whole thing like, there's no way I'm the only person in America that knows this and why doesn't my doctor know? And I went through years of that before I finally said, okay, you know what, you're the fascia person. You go learn, you go do it, you figure it out. And by that time I had fixed myself now, we didn't have the Fasciabuster tools, which are wonderful. But girl, I would grab anything from the kitchen. My (inaudible) hey, pull this, you know, but what I understood was that to restore my hip, I needed to look at my knee, I needed to look at my ankle, I needed to look at my ribs, I needed to look at the other side of my body, you know, and when you start to get a picture of this fascia thing, then you're really off to the races. And for me, I went from never hearing what fascia was to treating myself to being flown all over the country to treat Leonardo DiCaprio and Yankees players. It was that sick, but it was literally like I slipped through the fascia wormhole. And I was doing what no one else could it you know? 

Lesley Logan 14:39  

Yeah, I mean, like, it's, I can I'm like, I'm a visual person. Like, I play people's stories like a movie in my head. And I'm picturing like, you going am I the only person in this country that is studying this? And it's like, because we always think there must be someone else. You know, the way that they 

Ashley Black 14:55  

Oh I went to so many courses (inaudible).

Lesley Logan 14:58  

That's not it. I'm the only person who gets this. (Inaudible)

Ashley Black 15:02  

It's actually weird and sort of lonely place and I feel fortunate that I just like you were saying, fell into your career, I really fell in early on like working with, like really successful people and celebrities and athletes and things like that. And they do have a different mentality. I'll tell them this quick story, then we can move on, but, Someillan, who's an incredible producer, basically has produced everybody and I was working on all the artists down at the Miami hip factory. And he and I just became friends and he was wonderful. And I would always be like, I want to do this and then I want to do this and I want to do this and he said, Ashley, he's like, the minute you stop saying I want to do and you just start doing it you're gonna be a lot happier. And that was like okay, step in, step into your your power. Right?

Lesley Logan 15:57  

Yeah, I'd say that's the be it till you see it. I mean, like that's the thing like that's why I created this the title because I was like, people would ask me how do you do this thing? Like, I was not the first person to ever do some of the things I was doing but the way I was doing my industry and teaching Pilates and I'm like, I'm like, how am I doing it? Oh, I'm just doing, I'm just doing it. I'm doing a lot scared. But no one can see on the outside because you don't want people to know you're scared and you don't think you know what you're doing. But I, you know, you got, you got to do it. I love I love that it was Sembalun.

Ashley Black 16:27  

You know what's funny? I (inaudible) through his voice like, he was like, Ash, what are you doing? What are you talking about? Like, just do it.

Lesley Logan 16:36  

Okay, so, um, I want to, I want to obviously talk about your journey, your career, but I do want to just go back to the fascia for like, obviously, there's the misconception, we just throw it on the floor when we're, you know, opening bodies up. What are some other misconceptions about fascia that people have, like people are thinking about incorrectly that could be affecting their lives negatively? 

Ashley Black 16:58  

Oh, my gosh, I think the first thing is, you know, when someone has commercial success, and I'm talking about myself around this keyword fascia, you're gonna get bandwagoners, you know, and so if you go on Google right now and just type in what is fascia and hit images, you're gonna see people foam rolling, you're gonna see Theraguns, you know, you're gonna see this expert was featured, you know, and she's doing some stretching, you know, when I look at that, and I'm just like, wow, we're so far off of it. And I blame it on the products people. Like, yeah, foam rolling is amazing, but target muscles, and, uh, you know, and Theragun is amazing, but, you know, target for pain relief, or, you know, whatever. So the biggest misconception, you know, even if you go straight to Google, and you type in what is fascia, they start talking about how it's a sheet over a muscle. So then people have just run with that. And I think that's where the foam rolling came thing came from. But fascia is completely different than that. So let's just first talk about that it has different states, you know how water can be steam and water can be ice, but it's still H2O, right? So fascia doesn't float out of our body like steam and it doesn't become quite as hard as ice, but it has that spectrum. So it can go from very thick and fibrous to kind of like a gelatinous more viscous all the way to liquid, right? So imagine if you were looking at me, and I was just one big Jell-O liquid fibrous, one continuous thing, right? Like a Jell-O mold. And just like you have Jell-O and you can put fruit in it now just go stick my brain in that stick my eyes stick my skeleton and whatever. So when we think about the human body, it literally, the fascia, literally surrounds every single one of our trillion and something cells. And I have to tell you, I would even argue that it's inside the cells. I just created this whole scientific theorem last year. But just for the sake of this conversation, it's literally everywhere in the body. It surrounds every single cell. Anytime we're talking about communication, cell, cell, brain cell, neurons don't touch, it's all going through the fascia. Fascia is what feeds our cells. So it is way beyond like the thing that makes us tight that we need to foam roll. 

Lesley Logan 19:42  

You had a video that I was, I was bingeing where you took a bunch of red straws, and they were still in like their paper or plastic like surrounding and the way you were showing how the fascia surrounds and I was like, that is not how I picture that. I've always pictured like on the surface and that's it. And like when you did that was like, oh, that makes I mean, because it's not I'm not someone who's ever studied it deeply. I've studied very, very deeply in my world of Pilates. But like, where a lot of people who study fascia go, oh, I love how this exercise hits this fascia. I'm like, great, wonderful. I'm so grateful, too, but the way I love when I stumble upon something awesome, but like, the way I was like, oh, that makes so much sense because and then you talk about your hip, and then like, what's going on my knee? What's going on with my ribs? That's the thing that people don't understand is when I have clients 

Ashley Black 20:36  

Or what's going on with my digestion because of my hip replacement. Like, I gotta get it out of orthopedics and into literally every field of medicine and also spirituality, because that's where it belongs. 

Lesley Logan 20:52  

Yes, yes. I think like, when I because I would have clients and that you know, everything we like happen on this, right? So I'm like, yeah, what is okay, that yes, you have imbalances? And yes, I can work on that muscularly. But something is going on on a level that is, this workout isn't going to cure. You need and like, I can only like I wish, I wish 15 years ago, I had discovered you I probably could have done a different job there. But I think it's so interesting. How slow we have become to understanding fascia and like

Ashley Black 21:25  

I am (inaudible) so I took one of the original Pilates certifications way back in the day when it was only offered in New York and San Francisco, I went to 12 classes studied under Elizabeth Larkam. She's amazing. Incredible moves like a okay, so it is so crazy, because I was just starting to learn this. And I remember asking her and I said, you know, I've designed this I was using the reformer. And I kind of wanted to like take it to her because she was my idol at the time and be like, Oh, look at all this stuff. And she you know what she told me? She was like, you know, this is my place in the universe. But I'm happy for you. Is that crazy? I didn't have that memory until we just said it.

Lesley Logan 22:08  

So I think part of it is like part of me is like, oh my gosh, Elizabeth Larkam is so amazing. But also another part of me is like, what a gift she gave you. Like she didn't take it for herself and like, let you

Ashley Black 22:20  

(Inaudible) a whole thing and probably fasciablasting would have been part of Polestar if they still exist or Balanced Body or whatever.

Lesley Logan 22:28  

Yeah, I mean, but like what a what a gift that she gave like she and she didn't deny it from you. She just said that I'm really happy for it. That's, that's so cool. I love when I hear women say something nice. (Inaudible) because I know what it's like, especially in that industry, there are some people that are like they feel larger than life like they've been in the industry so long. You're like, what do you think? And like she could have if she had said something negative, it might have been too much for you to handle at that new confidence in what you're doing (inaudible). She also didn't go oh, I'm gonna do this. I'm gonna put this on my thing. She gave you the permission to do it. I think that's cool.

Ashley Black 23:10  

100%. 100%. And it's beautiful. Like I certainly don't think I'm the first or even the best. Like there have been many that have gone before and even Joseph Pilates if he didn't know it, he could feel it. Because so many of Pilates movements and designs you are leveraging lines of tension of fascia, but I think that's where like, it's weird, because I feel like the like fitness people have been the ones to sort of gravitate to the fascia, but then kind of keep it in, in the fitness realm. You know, when I read anyone else's research or even look at what people are posting online, I'm like, yeah, man. yeah, as long as it's about what fascia is, you know, there's some people discovering the quantum nature of it. There's some amazing people, you know, that are out there doing, you know, training programs and things like that. But when it comes to like, how do you treat it? Yeah, like how do you treat it and restore it to its native or best possible state? And that's when it's like, okay, there's everybody else and then there's the direction that I'm going, right, a little right across the (inaudible) a few modalities, you know, but at the end of the day, I if, you know, the fascia people have kind of been the nastiest to me, and I think that a little bit of it is that word blaster like they, you know, as if you're like, using a gun and shooting it up, like Star Wars or something.

Lesley Logan 24:50  

You know what's so funny? My husband is like, I think that blaster is such a great marketing word glad for her because it's like you're basted. He's like, he was just like, way into it, but I do

Ashley Black 25:01  

(Inaudible) I hope he becomes a blaster vader.

Lesley Logan 25:05  

Oh my God, he will listen to this and I'm gonna I can't even watch his face when he hears it. Isn't that weird how like, it's like some of the people in our own world can be the meanest and the cruelest. And they can't see that, like what you're doing, like, maybe don't like that word. But also that word is something that helps people understand. Like, that's a word that regular people can understand.

Ashley Black 25:29  

(Inaudible) incredibly complex. You know, like, I, again, I've had 30 years of studying this. It is very complex, right? So what I tried to do was, you know, I did almost 15 years of clinical work before I decided to bring it mainstream. And I wasn't, I haven't had to create the whole industry in terms of mainstream-ness, right? So that means I've got to let you know, number one, that you have fascia, right, and number two, that you should treat it, and then number three, this is how you treat it. And so there, I just think that there's that that disconnect. I also think, you know, at the end of the day, people can be jealous of success, and whatnot. But at the end of the day, for me, not I am literally like water off a duck's back, I really could not care less, I know what my direction and my purposes, you know, but I really, ultimately would love to have all of the fascia people come across the fence, we certainly have had lots of them. The reality is, is that I am the only person in the history of fascia to ever be able to throw up ultrasounds and say, this is what fascia looked like before my tools and my method and this is what it looked like after and it go from the state that everybody knows is bad, which is thick, dry, tangled, and then the, the unorganized pattern of it almost like a, like a spider that makes a web with some sort of problem, right? To this very soft, hydrated, supple. These are all things we can see on the ultrasound. So if anybody questions, the work at this point, I'm so glad I spent half of my retirement, you know, hiring an amazing research lab to do these studies because it's like game set match. 

Lesley Logan 27:32  

Yeah. That's so cool that you I mean, like, it's really cool that you did that. Because I you know, when my friends told me about you, I looked at stuff and I'm like, okay, I'm in products I've been in, I've been doing business long enough. I know how the ads work. I know all the things. And it was when I saw not, not just before and afterwards, I saw like the actual site like you had, I was like, oh, she spent money to have third parties not financially invested

Ashley Black 28:03  

I love this course of action that we're on right now. Because it's, it's so true. You know, my study was $2 million. And you can certainly question well, she did her own study, but I didn't do my own study. And I can tell you this, I don't see the National Institute of Health or any grant writers being like, let me study your product. Okay. It just doesn't happen. I'm not a pharmaceutical. Yeah, you know, and no one's going to benefit but me. But I went and hired the Applied Science Performance Institute. And they did the study, blinded. All I did was the actual you know, design of the protocols. So I met the participants and I taught them how to do it. And I worked with them on what I wanted to measure. So we did DEXA scans, which is really, really cool because you can see where fat is distributed and muscle. So we did the DEXA scans. And then we did the ultrasounds that we just talked about. And then we did a lot of blood markers and the blood markers were for the best possible things like pcp for collagen. We wanted to look at inflammation obviously being an arthritic that's a big deal for me. So we measured the C reactive protein. We looked at irisin, so irisin is associated with telomere length. So now we're talking about longevity. I wanted to look at all of those things. But I was completely hands-off. The researchers did it. They pulled all of the data and what somebody I don't think ever thinks about is what if I was wrong? You know?

Lesley Logan 29:43  

$2 million, and they're like, doesn't do any of the things you say. (Inaudible) heartbreaking.

Ashley Black 29:49  

I know and to be honest with you I was more than willing to take that risk because I already had it in the marketplace. We didn't need like studies for FDA clearance. And so I knew something was happening, you know, but I did want to make sure that it was safe. And I did want to make sure that when I would say, you know, I have a theory that this happens or whatever I wanted to be able to validate that, you know, so I think that anybody who really truly has a scientific mind, that's what you do, you throw it up to the data and whatever, you know, the data says, you know? I think sometimes when people see my products, you know, the ads sometimes resonate with people and sometimes don't. And I love that you said, you do love to the (inaudible), but then when you saw that science, you were like, yeah, you know, we put it all out there. But at the end of the day, you, if you're going to spend a lot of money on advertising, you need to get a return. And sometimes the information that I would prefer to be talking about like its fascia inside the mitochondria, it's mitochondria matrix, I think it is, isn't the kind of thing that sells the product. So there's always a balance between, you know, having to run your business and still maintain that scientific integrity. 

Lesley Logan 31:10  

You know, just like my daily life right now, because I'm a Pilates instructor who was lucky enough, like I say, I fell into it, like one of my teachers who I studied with for many many years still say what he's still with Joseph Pilates. So like, I mean, as far as like, all the marketing goes, like I'm a second generation teacher, which means nothing to regular people means a lot to teachers. Like, I you know, all these things, and all I want is help people get off the ground, get off the toilet, like feel super strong. I know the Pilates changes are competent, I know that it changes how your stress levels, I know all these things, right? And because I won't do befor- after photos on looks, and because I won't talk about weight loss because by the way, exercise is not what weight loss is, guys, it's just not it's your microbiome, it's probably your fascia. It's a lot of like hormone stuff, but like, because I don't do that we don't sell as fast and I I can't lie to people like you, you want to do your marketing to be honest and true and to be safe. So you did all these things. And it's really hard, because your stuff, what probably makes it sell the most is like the getting rid of cellulite and getting rid of wrinkles and like that's like superficial to why you started it for. 

Ashley Black 32:25  

First of all, none of that is my passion at all. I was not in the beauty industry. I've always been in the fascia industry, you know, but let me say something when one of my clients who was the first, she got one of the first batches of Fasciablasters. I had not seen her in two months. And I knew what she looked like before she walked in and her legs looked incredible. And she was like, Ashley, it's your tool. And then I was like, let me start doing this. But I will tell you, you know, we do a lot of surveying of our customers, and only about 50% come in for beauty. And then it's a mixed bag from pain. And then now there's a big new group of people that are like wanting to release traumas and things like that. But when we, so we surveyed them, we know a lot about that customer journey, by the time that they're in, 90% are not in for beauty anymore. So I don't care if I have to, like take an umbrella and, you know, hook you in with something that resonates with wherever you are in that moment. No, once that they are in. I'm gonna have time, you know, to kind of let the story unfold. 

Lesley Logan 33:45  

That's cool. That's cool. I think that that's, it's honest and true. And also, like, I love that people are having that transformation. Like they're coming in. Some, not even all of them, but some of them are coming in for this Sedex but then they're realizing it could be life changing. You know, what I also love about it, is the amount of time someone has to spend with themselves. I think that's really cool. I don't think enough people spend time with themselves touching themselves. 

Ashley Black 34:09  

People never touch themselves. 

Lesley Logan 34:11  

Touch themselves. I know. I know. I will. I'll just list a lot of fun jokes, guys. I wanted a hobby. And so I wanted to feel like I could be like sexier, I don't feel like a graceful, sexy person. And so I was like, I'm gonna take a pole class because those girls, they're like, they're sexy, right? Like they. So I took this pole class and she just okay, and just like feel yourself I'm like, okay, but like, what do you want me to do with my hair? Like how? Like, (inaudible) because I do spend (inaudible). I know. So I was just like, okay, all right, like people are walking by this like store. I'm doing pole and I'm like, I'm just gonna feel myself in front of everybody.

Ashley Black 34:52  

A little crotch grab.

Lesley Logan 34:55  

Just so funny because it's like, I just think we don't and so I really love is like your tools can really give them like, help them prioritize themselves and being in their body. And it's, I mean, that's why I teach Pilates. And that's why I do it. But like, it's just another way for people to have time with themselves. And we just, we spend so much time like taking stuff in.

Ashley Black 35:19  

The just beauty of, you know, us being a part of this whole incredible world like we have, in this route, we have a physical body, like, how cool is that we get a body, you know. So that's kind of the way I see it. I know, I'm over the top person in a kind of free sort of way. But, you know, if you, I'll tell you a quick story, but it's to just punctuate what we're talking about is that I did a wefunder campaign, I had never, I've never taken outside investment. And so we raised $3 million, we did it with our own audience. And oh, I just got like a chill. When you read the comments of the people who invested, these are not professional investors, there were women that were like, you know, I saw your Facebook ad and then you know, I started blasting for my cellulite. And then you know, that went away. But then I started realizing how good that I felt. And then I started, you know, jumping into your new year, new year program, then they came to a retreat, and they're like, you know, this changed my life. And like, I only have $1,000 in savings, but I want to put it towards this. You know, so that's what it's about, that. That's what it's about. It's about women. Not all, I mean, we have a large portion of men, and we're doing more male marketing, but primarily the business has been women and when they come together, and we have a huge I think we have about 500,000 in a private group, I manage that thing like mama hen, you know, (inaudible) come in there and say anything mean, and support each other. Sometimes these physical things like people getting a nose job or whatever, sometimes it just makes space for something else to come in. 

Lesley Logan 37:12  

Yeah. Yeah, I think like we had Dr. Celeste Holbrook and, and she talked about, like, you know, when people are making changes to their body, it's often because it's like a harm reduction like they believe it's like going to reduce whatever harm they could see. And I also she's like, so I don't want to take that away from people, but also puts them on a journey towards, like, usually discovering a little bit more in themselves. And if they find it, I think it's so cool for them to tell some people in a Facebook group and a mix. (Inaudible) That's bigger than most cities, actually. But like that they could that they believe in your product so much that they still I mean, like, creating a product is one thing everyone like we have our flashcards and people are like, oh my God, that's such a cute idea. I'm like, it's cute. Yeah, to you're in Alaska, that's not nearly an investment you probably will make on your stuff, but like, my first investment and it was $15,000 to make these decks and I was like, do I do I need to have 100 somebody people buy these before I even get my money back. Do I know 105 people? Am I blowing up all of our savings right now? And so to have a group of people who believe in what your products are doing and the researcher doing all this stuff, you're doing so much that they want, they want it to continue on? That's just a testament to like the impact that your products have on their life. That's, that's more than aesthetics. People don't do that just because they got rid of cellulite.

Ashley Black 38:33  

I got a marriage proposal for getting rid of cellulite. (Inaudible) Yeah, I think a lot of it just has to do with like the support and the fact that like if you get this is what I always tell people it's not about because people say love your body the way it is. I want you to love your body the way that it is, but I also like if you had a rash I wouldn't be like love your rash. I would be like let's get rid of that rash. You know, cellulite is a physical presentation of bad fascia. You know, so for me, I feel like it's a moral duty to say hey, no, don't accept that, you know, and sometimes have terrible fascia below the surface and you don't see any cellulite at all. Just depends on whether it goes down into the muscles. So for me, it's about healthy fascia. You know, and if it (inaudible), you know, people should do love to do our heart but and all of that, like I great. It's just a confidence booster and they're, they feel empowered because it was them that made the decision to do it. It was them that took the time and energy to do it. And they feel great about it and they're getting healthy and having benefits way beyond their kind of wildest dreams. It really is a little bit like a wormhole when you actually understand how to restore your fascia and I'm not talking about stretching it from time to time or being a hydrated person or, you know, all the stuff that's floating out there on the internet. I'm literally saying that you need an effective fascial treatment. I don't know how effective other methods are because there is no ultrasounds to show me. You know, if somebody came to me, cupping regenerated tissue, and by the way I sell cups, I like it, it's part of the system. But by themselves, I don't think they can regenerate the tissue. I'm open to be wrong, you know, but what I know 100% Does the entire fascia system is my tool. So of course, I'm gonna recommend my tools. (Inaudible) every single person, man, woman child, or whatever you identify with should absolutely this is like water, vegetables, I always say brush your hair, brush your teeth, brush your fascia.

Lesley Logan 40:54  

I love that. Okay. Gosh, I just want to ask like, you obviously, like are so excited and so pumped for what you do. Are you excited about anything new coming up? Like what's in store for you? Or fasciablasting? Is there anything that's like on, up and coming that you just like, can't wait to like, work on? 

Ashley Black 41:12  

Oh, gosh, yes, there is. So it's so interesting. And you can appreciate this being a business woman. You know, for me, it was all about launching it. And you know, making it this huge success. But sometimes you don't go well okay, then what? You know. And so for me, we just crossed the 170 million mark in terms of our lifetime revenue. And so I had that moment like so is do I sell or do I like raise money and push the gas pedal. So I have chosen to raise money and push the gas pedal because we are launching this incredible kind of an extension of what we're doing. So last year, we launched the Fascia Advancement Academy where we teach people, you should come. 

Lesley Logan 42:02  

I want to. I'm like tell me more.

Ashley Black 42:07  

It's so perfect for you know, people that teach Pilates and some it's an add-on you can do but we teach professionals, anyone that wants to do it professionally. And there's levels in the Fascia Advancement Academy. And then the actual business model would be to partner with businesses, high-end spas, sports clinics, pre and post-operative care, to insert these people who have been to our academy and then set up those retail locations. So don't be surprised when you walk in the Fontainebleau or the Four Seasons, when you see the Ashley Black tower

Lesley Logan 42:46  

There is a Fontainebleau here in Las Vegas, my friend I think you should (inaudible).

Ashley Black 42:51  

I mean, we actually just trained I think it was November like think like 27 therapists and estheticians because it's also facials. I think this is a way to really, really get it to the public. And instead of having to see another ad. You can experience blasting by a professional who's trained that understands it, and you can take the tools home and continue the treatment.

Lesley Logan 43:19  

Oh my God. So I know because I saw somebody like getting blast I was like, Brad, look at this. Do you think you could do this to me?

Ashley Black 43:29  

It's totally my fantasy. In fact, if I went and open that door right now, my therapist is here. So you know people say do you get blasted? I'm like, absolutely (inaudible). Therapists can reach places you can't reach they can, you know, leverage differently. And if you've had somebody who's been through the academy, then they really understand, you know, which tools are for which depths and it's a whole different level of understanding. So I think it's gonna be huge, you know, (inaudible) we get to this point and think it was already huge, but like, let's do it.

Lesley Logan 44:09  

Oh my God. Ashley, this is amazing. I could talk to you for hours but we're I just I'm really excited thank you for educating us on really what fascia is and also like helping us understand like it's totally in our power our superpowers to like take care of our own fascia and we should. We're goint to take a brief break and then find out how people can find you, follow you, get blasted, and your Be It Action Items. 

Lesley Logan 44:32  

All right, Ashley, where do you like to hang out? What social media should they follow? And where can they get your tools?

Ashley Black 44:40  

I mean, the easiest thing to spell is Ashley Black. Exactly (inaudible) can be spelled and then that can get you to the website. And at the website, obviously, there are icons but my Instagram handle is Ashley Black Guru. On Facebook, The Ashley Black Experience. But I do encourage everybody, if you're fascinated with fascia I just took live for blogs that are what is fascia. And as I kept writing, then I was like, oh my gosh, I'm gonna have to have a fit. But it's free information. You just go to my site, hit blogs and jump in there.

Lesley Logan 45:18  

Oh my God, we'll add that to all the links for sure. Because I think, I know, our listeners are gonna nerd out.

Ashley Black 45:24  

We can definitely do some kind of special for your listener. 

Lesley Logan 45:29  

Yes. I'm gonna want to do that. 

Ashley Black 45:31  

We'll talk about that. 

Lesley Logan 45:32  

Yeah, we're gonna talk about that. Oh, my gosh, we're so y'all don't be surprised OPC if we make something happen for the community. So okay, Ashley, you've given us so many things that we could like, obviously take care of ourselves right now. But what bold, executable, intrinsic or targeted steps people can take to be it till they see it? What are some action steps they can take?

Ashley Black 45:54  

Wow, it's so funny, because I didn't realize that Be It stood for anything until I got forms to fill out to be on the podcast. And I was like, oh my gosh, like this is everything I love. So I was just kind of thinking about what those words meant to me. And you know, bold, I think is that Someillan moment, just step in to your power, you have those little voices that come in from time to time and tell you who you are. Right? And once you know that, just unapologetically, without fear, step into that and just be it. You know, it's like the work of Joe Dispenza, where it's like, you know, if you were a millionaire, what would you do different, you would wear a different outfit, you would walk a little different way. Do that now. Do that now. So that's the bold. Intrinsic, I mean, I think at the end of the day, I believe this more than any plant on the planet, because of my near-death experience, like we are special, all of us are special. And we have something intrinsic to our nature and our authenticity. And if it's a gift that we have, and we don't share it, it's a wasted life, right? So I would definitely say, going on that self journey and creating this space to really discover who you are. I wrote a whole book about this actually, it's funny, it's called Be: From Passion and Purpose to Products and Prosperity. (inaudible) I kind of just did it on the side with two of my girlfriends. But, you know, we talk about like, how could you possibly discover who you are, if you're caught up in a bunch of bullshit all the time. And in the book, take people through activities, the first one is called delete. So that's gonna be my tip for your audiences go through literally for three days, write down every single thing that you do. And anything that does (inaudible) review, delete it, and just don't ever do it again. And you'll be surprised like, oh, I just got three extra hours in the day. So that's intrinsic. 

Lesley Logan 48:12  

That's beautiful. Oh my God, that's beautiful. We're gonna put the book in the show notes too, with our readers. And I, I love that it's a similar title.

Ashley Black 48:21  

It's so funny. When I was writing it, I pictured it like, yeah, like, Family Feud. 

Lesley Logan 48:26  

Yes, yes. I also thought you're gonna say like, delete the people in your life (inaudible).

Ashley Black 48:32  

That might be part of what was on that list? Right? Then I still want to go through these because I actually thought of it. Oh, executable. So when we think about the word execute, I think people take it from zero to 100. And they say, okay, you know, let me I use the word absolute (inaudible) it's not executable (inaudible). Zero to 100 in terms of execution, you know, it's like, should I take the $15,000 and go, you know, launch the business? Okay, well, that is execution. But it's also execution to say, you know what, tonight, I'm gonna go through my finances and just kind of see what I have. And it's also actionable to say, okay, do I have credit cards? Can you know, can we do this? It's also actionable and free to take a notepad out and start sketching out. You know, it's also to take the action, you know, to start to pick the colors, and you know, what is resonating with you and all that. So, it's not the action. It's the little actions, right? That's what I would say, whatever your major, major goal is. Just say look at it and go, oh, God, there's 2000 steps. Okay, we'll take the first three today or take (inaudible). Right? Because once you do it, and you can validate this because it happened to you. Once you do it, your confidence comes. (inaudible) 

Lesley Logan 50:00  

Well also, it's like the moment of that, once you take the first step, because it's the hardest, or the first half a step, there is a little bit of push to pull that comes from you fall in your passion, it like pulls you, you know, so you don't have to keep finding the energy to take that next scary first step. They're like, things get put in place. And it's almost kind of a domino effect that makes it feel like it's too fast and too soon, but like, it does feel like there's a magnet (inaudible).

Ashley Black 50:28  

Actually we were talking about that the other day, it's like, when you have a business, you feel like you're pushing a wheelbarrow with, you know, rocks in it up a hill, but there is a tipping point. Then you're down the hill, and nothing's pulling you and your legs are flying. For me, I've done it so many times that I can almost sense when I'm at that, you know, tipping point. But you know, for the younger ladies out there are women who haven't done it yet. You know, it is there. It is, it's the laws of physics, you know, if we keep going, we're going to get to that place. 

Ashley Black 51:04  

And then before I forget it, I think targeted goes back a little bit to what we were just talking about, it's like you have to, life is not linear, but it is entangled. And if what you say and think and take action on is not in alignment with whatever your target is, then you got to ask yourself that question. Like, am I moving backwards? Am I moving sideways? Is it out of here, and I'll give you just a perfect example, in my own life, because even in business, I get squirreled off, you know, somebody will tell me a great idea. And you know, I'll go focus on it, but then it's like, I'm off my target, even if it's the greatest thing in the world, you know, so I think what I would say first of all is find your target, find your Northstar, find the thing that truly, truly, truly makes you feel fulfilled. And then just make sure that everything that you're doing is on target literally, you know, getting wasted, and you get hung over for two days. That's what happens when you're my age. Isn't, doesn't move you in the direction of your target or, you know, having an old friendship that's become really stale and feels heavy when you are talking about but like that is the point where we can trim the fat you know, and make it a little bit easier to get to that target. Zig Ziglar said it's easier to get where you're going with a pack running with you than one wrapped around your neck.

Lesley Logan 52:50  

Yes. Oh my God. Ashley, this is so, you're so amazing. I love all of these. I I cannot wait. Brad's gonna listen to this and we're gonna choose our favorites but I don't know how to choose mine. I love them all. You guys, how are you gonna use these tips in your life? I want to make sure you tag Ashley Black, tag the Be It Pod, share this with a friend, share this with friends who need to hear it because it gets really easy to want people in our lives to grow as well but we hold all the growth to ourselves. So pass it along because maybe they need it for the fascia tips or maybe they need it for the inspiration of like sometimes it takes, it's an overnight success for 30 years.

Ashley Black 53:31  

Right. I'm exhausted from my overnight success.

Lesley Logan 53:35  

I just appreciate you being so honest, because I just it's so easy for people to think it happens overnight and must be nice. And you know what, guys, every single person out there you're looking up to I'm sure there's 20 years of like, or more of just them fighting uphill to make their magic happen and get their thing out into the world. And so thank you Ashley for being that example of what it can look like and for your amazing tools. I'm over here like nuggeting my (inaudible) I'm just like out here like tapping around. So thank you so much. We'll have all these links in the show notes. Make sure you tag with a friend, tag this, send it to a friend. And until next time, Be It Till You See It.

Lesley Logan 54:20  

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. 

Lesley Logan 54:47  

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 @Be It Pod.

Brad Crowell 55:02  

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

Lesley Logan 55:07  

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

Brad Crowell 55:12  

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

Lesley Logan 55:19  

Special thanks to Melissa Solomon for creating our visuals.

Brad Crowell 55:22  

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.

This episode explores heartfelt connections generated from acts of kindness and love. Join Lesley as she celebrates her dream from two years ago come into fruition in ways she could not have imagined in today’s Fuck Yeah Friday!

If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to LesleyLogan.co/podcast. If you have any comments or questions about the Be It pod shoot us a message at [email protected].

And as always, if you’re enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at LesleyLogan.co/subscribe.

In this episode you will learn about:

• How Lisa’s inspired actions led her to spread acts of kindness.
• How Lesley’s persistence made her dream come true.
• Why you should find solace in moments of reflections. 

Episode References/Links:

• Mentions, Lisa Osoteo, an eLevate member
• eLevate
• Upcoming retreats

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox.

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Get your discount for some Toe Sox using the code: LESLEY

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FREE Ditching Busy Webinar

Resources:

• Watch the Be It Till You See It podcast on YouTube!
• Lesley Logan website
• Be It Till You See It Podcast
• Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan
• Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan on YouTube
• Profitable Pilates

Follow Us on Social Media:

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Episode Transcript:

Lesley Logan 0:00  

It's Fuck Yeah Friday.

Brad Crowell 0:01  

Fuck yeah.

Lesley Logan 0:02  

Get ready for some wins.

Lesley Logan 0:05  

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 0:47  

Hello, Be It babe. Happy March 1st. Oh my goodness. Here we are. How fun was it to have a leap year this year? So you are here for the Fuck Yeah Friday episode, which means I'm going to share a win of yours and a win of mine and an affirmation to kick off your weekend with something amazing. So shout out to my mom it's her birthday weekend.

Lesley Logan 1:07  

So this one is from Lisa Osoteo and she said this is a special FYF because it falls on LL's birthday. Okay, pause. You guys, this is for the listeners, I'm obviously behind on sharing people's FYF. This is from January but we're getting all of them out there as they go. So this one is about my birthday. But here back to Lisa. Okay, so this is my win I thought LL's birthday was on January 24th. So I told my students let's do the Amy Cuddy power pose in honor of LL. They stood there with their hands on their hips owning their fierce. And I thought how cool that I'm part of a community who stands in a power pose with me without batting an eye. I told my class I was going to do 41 acts of kindness that day in honor of LL until my friend, Mandi, informed me that LL's birthday is actually Friday, January 26th and that maybe I should consider spreading out these acts over a few days say, over 41. Mandi is so smart. So now Mandi and I invite all of you to join in on 41 acts of kindness, silly, fun, Be It generosity movement, divine tantrum, humor, creativity, joy, and of course, love to celebrate LL. You can do your inspired action in however many days, 41, and share your unique list with LL. So happy birthday, LL, we love you. Well, Lisa, I love you, and Mandi so much. And actually this is coming out right before you arrive at my house for a retreat. And I can see you and Mandi at a retreat in Cambodia. 

Lesley Logan 2:32  

All right, my win. So I had, two years ago, I had this vision of having a bunch of people in my house for a Pilates retreat. And that meant that they had to be eLevate alumni, which means that this dream was like so in the future because, I thought at least a lot in the future, because I needed to have several people to go through eLevate two and invite to the retreat. And so it took us three rounds of eLevate to get to enough people where I felt like okay, I can invite some. And we're having it here at my house and I pull in all of my equipment I can fit in the living room. And my win is just that. I didn't give up on a dream that's two years ago. And I did all the work that got to where we can make this happen. And my team is behind me all every step of the way. And my family too, because they had to help us move all this equipment out of the room. And so, just want to celebrate because sometimes I think we have these dreams and these visions from so many years ago and when they come to fruition we're just like, oh it just took so long instead of going oh my God, I did that. So that's happening starting tomorrow. So I'm really just so stoked about this win that I'm celebrating it for the people who arrived, but it's just, it's just incredible to sit here in that goal, oh my God, this was a goal from years ago. And I had to do so many different things to get this goal to even be a reality. And I'm so grateful I did it because Lisa is one of the people who is going to be there.

Lesley Logan 4:03  

All right, the affirmation that I have for you today is this: Sometimes the work is resting. Sometimes the work is resting. What does that mean? It means sometimes we needed to stop working so hard to make things happen and just rest, just sit still, just let it be. So maybe there's something that you've been trying to make happen, a win you've been trying to make happen and that's impossible. So maybe you sit still and close your eyes and visualize that having already happened. And that rest might be the answer. 

Lesley Logan 4:39  

So thank you so much for listening to the Be It Pod. You are incredibly amazing. You are the reason why we get the guests that we get and we have so much love for you. And until next time, Be It Till You See It.

Lesley Logan 4:51  

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. 

Lesley Logan 5:19  

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 @Be It Pod.

Brad Crowell 5:34  

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

Lesley Logan 5:39  

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

Brad Crowell 5:43  

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

Lesley Logan 5:50  

Special thanks to Melissa Solomon for creating our visuals.

Brad Crowell 5:53  

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.

In today's recap episode, Lesley and Brad uncover Danny Brassell's innovative approaches to cultivating a love for reading. From understanding the unique reading levels of every individual to integrating reading into daily activities, discover how to transform reading from a chore into a cherished habit. Get ready to inspire a new generation of avid readers.

If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to LesleyLogan.co/podcast. If you have any comments or questions about the Be It pod shoot us a message at [email protected].

And as always, if you’re enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at LesleyLogan.co/subscribe.

In this episode you will learn about:

• Why exposure to diverse materials enhances reading skills and fosters a lifelong love for books.
• How making reading fun can dramatically increase reading speed and comprehension.
• Recognize students' unique reading levels and interests for tailored learning experiences.
• A free formula to craft compelling, personalized speeches from Danny Brassell.

Episode References/Links:

• OPC Summer Camp
• March Madness
• Barrels Deck Flashcards
• eLevate Round 4
• Cambodia Early Bird
• Bounce Body Contrology Lesley Affiliate Link
• Chat with us

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox.

DEALS! Check out all our Preferred Vendors & Special Deals from Clair Sparrow, Sensate, Lyfefuel BeeKeeper’s Naturals, Sauna Space, HigherDose, AG1 and ToeSox

Be in the know with all the workshops at OPC

Be It Till You See It Podcast Survey

Be a part of Lesley’s Pilates Mentorship

FREE Ditching Busy Webinar

Resources:

• Watch the Be It Till You See It podcast on YouTube!
• Lesley Logan website
• Be It Till You See It Podcast
• Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan
• Online Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan on YouTube
• Profitable Pilates

Follow Us on Social Media:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• LinkedIn

Episode Transcript:

Brad Crowell 0:00  

Making it fun I thought was interesting. He said, yeah, you know, I eavesdrop on my students. I was like, okay. He's like, yeah, if I hear him talking about cars, I introduce him to a book about cars. You know, if I hear him talking about whatever, sports, I introduce him to a book about sports. He's like, they're, they're only going to read the stuff they're interested in.

Lesley Logan 0:16  

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 0:58  

Welcome back to the Be It Till You See It interview recap where my co-host in life, Brad, and I are going to dig into the enriching convo I had with Danny Brassell in our last episode. If you haven't yet listened to that interview, feel free to pause us now. Go back and listen to that one and then come back and join us. He's so fun. 

Brad Crowell 1:13  

I love this guy.

Lesley Logan 1:13  

He's so fired up. 

Brad Crowell 1:14  

He's amazing. 

Lesley Logan 1:19  

And also I was like, like timing would have it, we're talking about reading and we're talking about reading again in March, guys, because we have an amazing guest who is like, literally getting books into schools where they have lower income and less resources. So like, I'm all about reading right now. And I, you all should be, too. And then we just talked to Nick who's going to teach us how to read. We'll have him on the show. So you guys have been wanting to retain your reading skills and we are here to talk about reading.

Lesley Logan 1:43  

So, today is February 29th and it's a Leap Year Day.

Brad Crowell 1:47  

What?

Lesley Logan 1:48  

What? And you know what's so funny is I feel like I've, in my entire life, I've never remembered a Leap Year Day before and I've 

Brad Crowell 1:53  

Not really paid attention. 

Lesley Logan 1:54  

No, but I'm excited for this one. 

Brad Crowell 1:56  

Oh, good. 

Lesley Logan 1:57  

I don't know why. It's just nice to have a longer month. 

Brad Crowell 2:00  

It's great. 

Lesley Logan 2:01  

I need more time. Thank you, February, for time. 

Brad Crowell 2:03  

More time. 

Lesley Logan 2:04  

More time. 

Brad Crowell 2:04  

Hell yeah. 

Lesley Logan 2:05  

Thank you.

Brad Crowell 2:06  

Here is that extra day in the week. 

Lesley Logan 2:08  

So let's talk about why this happens in case you haven't been in school for a really long time. Or, you know, you were self-leading yourself during school, we use leap years to keep our calendars in sync with the seasons, which I think is bullshit because the seasons are no longer lining up with (inaudible). 

Brad Crowell 2:24  

No, the seasons have changed. 

Lesley Logan 2:25  

The seasons have changed. In case you noticed. Okay, our common calendar is actually 1/4 of a day short of a full orbit. Over time that would throw everything off, so that's why we add an extra day into the shortest month of the year, February, every four years. Keeps us on track. You want to know why I fucking know? 

Brad Crowell 2:44  

Tell me.

Lesley Logan 2:44  

Why is February so fucking short? 

Brad Crowell 2:46  

Yeah. What's up with that voice?

Lesley Logan 2:47  

Who decided why some months are 30 days and some months are 31 days and only one month is 28 days? (Inaudible) Why didn't we make several months only 30 so February could be 30? 

Brad Crowell 2:58  

I mean, then you wouldn't have that really cool song, 30 days in September...

Lesley Logan 3:03  

Do you, did you learn like you do the knuckles? (Inaudible) 

Brad Crowell 3:06  

I learned them all and I've never retained any of it. 

Lesley Logan 3:10  

September? No, that's wrong. How? Would you start on the thumb? Or do you start on the first finger? 

Brad Crowell 3:17  

I don't have an answer. I don't know the, I don't know the answer. I literally look it up every single time. 

Lesley Logan 3:21  

Well, I also have to say I before E except after C. So there's just some things that never stuck. 

Brad Crowell 3:26  

No, that one, I before E except after

Lesley Logan 3:28  

But I have to say it after every time I write the word so it's not sticking. I have to say the mantra. It's not, the word didn't stick. 

Brad Crowell 3:36  

That's fine.

Lesley Logan 3:36  

Okay. So for those who were born today, Brad wrote this. 

Brad Crowell 3:40  

Sucks to be you. Slash.

Lesley Logan 3:42  

But you actually get to pick February 28th or March 1st on your non-birth date years. As if you didn't know, you could pick your own fucking birth date. Happy birthday to you. 

Brad Crowell 3:52  

Well, they don't get one. There's no Feb 29. So, what are you gonna do? 

Brad Crowell 3:53  

I, the same thing people on April 15th do, pick a fucking different day. Tax Day. No one likes April 15th. No one does. They pick.

Brad Crowell 3:57  

So people change their birthday? 

Lesley Logan 3:59  

They just do a different day. 

Brad Crowell 4:02  

Never heard of this. 

Lesley Logan 4:03  

You know, you can do a different day no matter when your birth date was. 

Brad Crowell 4:12  

Yeah, mine is December 33rd. 

Brad Crowell 4:29  

Yeah, go to OPC.me/workshops.

Lesley Logan 4:15  

No, no. You have to pick an actual date of the year. At any rate, here we go. OPC Summer Camp. We are doing that in June. More information to follow but if you are on the waitlist, you'll find all information first and probably get some bulk extra bonuses and goodies and discounts. 

Lesley Logan 4:32  

OPC.me/workshops. OPC March Matness, because March Matness starts tomorrow. 

Brad Crowell 4:38  

Mañana. 

Lesley Logan 4:39  

And so you can get free mat classes with me. 

Brad Crowell 4:42  

It was supposed to start today but we just decided to add an extra day in this year, so. 

Lesley Logan 4:46  

Yeah, we decided. We decided. The world does revolve around the we in this room. So March Matness starts on March 1st, I think, so go to OPC.me/challenge and you will see the first class it's up there. And if you're listening to this randomly on a different day, you can still do that and you can still sign up and you can start the challenge whenever you want to. 

Brad Crowell 5:08  

Yes, you can. 

Lesley Logan 5:09  

That's how we do things around here. 

Brad Crowell 5:10  

Yes, you can. 

Lesley Logan 5:11  

Be it till you see it. So, also

Brad Crowell 5:14  

OPC.me/challenge

Lesley Logan 5:14  

Also an OPC situation we are still working on those Barrels Flashcards, they are still TBD on when their presale is but if you are on the waitlist for that you are going to get to know when those discounts are. And if you're noticing a theme with the waitlist, it's because we reward people on waitlist, so we don't have to promote stuff publicly. 

Brad Crowell 5:33  

Do you know what the waitlist is? Anybody? Anybody? Anybody? OPC.me/flashcardwaitlist. That's right. That's the one. You got this. 

Lesley Logan 5:41  

You have to figure this out, guys. So anyways, you want to go there to get on it if you are wanting to nerd out about the Barrels Deck and get the best price ever because we will not promote it on social media. We don't promote it on any other newsletter list. It's only gonna be on this one. 

Brad Crowell 5:55  

Yeah, the presale is only going to waitlisters.

Lesley Logan 5:57  

Also, we value your time and your inbox. Okay. eLevate round four is really kicked off. Amazing, amazing group, you are missing out 1,000%. So if you want to hear about eLevate five or six or any of those other ones, you want to go to our waitlist for that. You can start, you can go to the site now and you can actually check out what it's all about and get on a call and see if it's right for you that we can make sure you save up your money and you schedule the time to really, just a wonderful program that I absolutely love doing. I had the best time and for those who were like, I don't want to do virtual, you can fly to Vegas for the in-person (inaudible) you can do that. 

Brad Crowell 6:30  

Yeah, come hang out. 

Brad Crowell 6:30  

Changed it up. 

Lesley Logan 6:32  

And lastly, Brad, take us home. 

Lesley Logan 6:30  

You don't have to but you can. So it's super fun. Leslielogan.co/elevate. Yeah, you thought you knew what it was didn't you? Thought you did? But you don't. 

Lesley Logan 6:37  

you knew what it was? Didn't you? Thought you did? But you don't change it up. And lastly, Brad, hey, get home,

Brad Crowell 6:44  

We are going to Cambodia. Actually, we're really proud of this trip that we've created over the years. Obviously, we've talked about this before. But I'm just really fired up that this trip this upcoming year is going to be some new stuff added in. Plus, we're almost sold out. And, we almost sold out because of the waitlist and I'm just really fired up about that we have a great crew, it is going to be a heck of a trip. 

Lesley Logan 7:11  

I know, Brad's talking to all of them on the phone already. (Inaudible) met several of you on the tour. So we're gonna have a blast. 

Brad Crowell 7:19  

Yeah, it's gonna be, it's gonna be amazing. So we're really, really fired up about that. And there are still just a few spots left. So if you're interested in that. 

Lesley Logan 7:28  

Literally just a few, like, no, you can't even count them all in one hand. 

Lesley Logan 7:31  

October

Brad Crowell 7:31  

October 6th to 11th, this year, and you can go to crowsnestretreats.com. 

Lesley Logan 7:38  

Yeah. All right. Before we talk about Danny, what's our audience question? 

Brad Crowell 7:43  

All right, Maria, from Instagram, thank you for this question. She said, Lesley, where do I get a spine corrector like yours? 

Lesley Logan 7:50  

I know, because it's hot. It's so Barbie. So I've, I've had this hot pink on my window chair forever. And it became available. And my person and Contrology was like, hey, you got this hot pink and you can get on that spine card when it comes out. And she like was holding my invites ready to go. So I was one of the first spine correctors to ever get from the Contrology line. 

Brad Crowell 8:18  

Lucky you. 

Lesley Logan 8:19  

Also have a demo center guy. So okay, don't get, don't be jealous. But, what does that mean? It means any of the equipment that you see I have, you can actually get one like it, you can get whatever color you want. And we have discount links. So if you've never purchased from Balanced Body or Contrology, or it's been several years, you can use the link. You can also, if you need to do a special order where you want a different color like a hot pink like mine, then you can talk to my salesperson. So what you need to do is just 

Brad Crowell 8:46  

Chat to us. 

Lesley Logan 8:47  

Yeah, opc.me/chat. If you say I want this piece of equipment, my team can just give you the direct link with a discount on there. But if you are going to want to chat with a salesperson (inaudible) special, then just let my team know like I'm gonna want to do a special order and they'll make sure you have my salesperson's, I'm not shouting her email on here for y'all to like, bombard her. But she's amazing. And she is the only person who can give you my discount link. Technically, if you can't do it on the site. You can't get it but it's me. And I got hooked up. It's me. I don't know why that

Brad Crowell 9:22  

Cause it's pink...

Lesley Logan 9:23  

Yes. Yes. It's a Lizzo song. Yeah. Yeah. It's so fun. If you haven't seen it, go to my Instagram account. I gave it its own real and it's just she's beautiful. And I love her. So you should get one too and then you should get ready for the Barrels Cards because I will teach you how to do all the different things you can on it. 

Brad Crowell 9:45  

All the things. 

Lesley Logan 9:46  

I have warmed up on it for my workouts every single day since it arrived. So I am obsessed.

Brad Crowell 9:51  

I love it. All right, now let's talk about Danny Brassell. Renowned as the “Jim Carrey with a Ph.D.”, prolific speaker and author of 16 books including 'Leadership Begins with Motivation,' Danny shared his insights on the importance of reading, and how he applies these principles to improving communication skills for entrepreneurs and executives. But mostly, y'all, talked about kids. 

Lesley Logan 10:16  

We talked about so many kids. 

Brad Crowell 10:17  

This guy is astounding to me. 

Lesley Logan 10:20  

I know. 

Brad Crowell 10:21  

Yeah. You know, he does 100 speaking engagements a year? 

Lesley Logan 10:24  

I know. 

Brad Crowell 10:24  

That's, that's incredible.

Lesley Logan 10:26  

It's insane. 

Brad Crowell 10:27  

That's two a week. 

Lesley Logan 10:28  

Yeah. And then when we're done, he's like, how can I help you? And I'm like, I mean, I think that how can I help you like you're doing the world like the Lord's work right now.

Brad Crowell 10:37  

He has four major projects and one of them is like, helping kids with 

Lesley Logan 10:42  

We should connect him with Rodney, not Rondney, Rodman. 

Brad Crowell 10:45  

Rodman. 

Lesley Logan 10:46  

I think they live close to each other. 

Brad Crowell 10:47  

Jake. All of them. I mean, yeah, I was just super impressed by him, trying to help change literacy. 

Lesley Logan 10:57  

Oh, yeah. So he said, people who read more, read better. And his job is to really expose his students to all kinds of ways to love reading. He likes to teach kids why to read and he wants kids to want reading and to choose it on their own. And I think that's like, really especially

Brad Crowell 11:13  

That was the thing that I was like, oh, my God, this is the fucking most obvious thing ever. That he's like, yeah, you know, they go to elementary school and they learn how, he's like, but they don't want to do it. So (inaudible) how do you get them to want to do it? I was like, oh, that's duh. He's like, yeah, so I teach kids what to read. I was like, wow. Okay.

Lesley Logan 11:35  

Yeah. And he believes like one of the most important things is we have to learn how to make reading fun for you. And I did this earlier this year. I read the best book. And it was so fun. I read it in three days. 

Brad Crowell 11:46  

Yeah, you slayed that book.

Lesley Logan 11:47  

I know I need to get a library card. Not waiting on that so far. But I slayed that book. Because I like, I made it fun. I like, played some music, I sat in my reading chair, you know all the things. And it really, it really, what I realized is that I read really fast because like I can read really fast because I've read so thank goodness for being a child who read, but like, I love this because I know that the person I am today is because of the books that I read. And I read books because my mom made sure I read books as a kid like she was so we would (inaudible) the library every week. And we could check out however many the max number of books was, and we went every week. Why? Because the library is free guys. Free. (inaudible)

Brad Crowell 12:30  

We did exactly the same, you know, and we had books that we would read as a family, we'd have books that we'd read on our own. And what I thought was really interesting, he said, hey, listen, you know, the I'm sure you all have heard this, the statistics, but you can change your kids' grades from an F to a C, if they read nine minutes a day. And he said, from a C to an A is not like 47 hours a day. No, they they literally they read 20 minutes a day, 20 minutes a day. 

Lesley Logan 13:03  

And he also said you don't have to do it all at once. (inaudible) 

Brad Crowell 13:04  

Those are the kids that are getting grades. Not only you see, you don't have to do it all at once. He said it doesn't matter who's doing the reading. The parent can read out loud and that counts for the kids. I was like, that's cool. So yeah, I mean, making it fun, I thought was interesting. He said, yeah, you know, I used to eavesdrop on my students. I was like, okay, he's like, yeah, if I hear them talking about cars, I introduced them to a book about cars. You know, if I hear them talking about whatever sports, I introduce them to a book about sports. He's like, they're only going to read the stuff they're interested in. So if you can get them into, you know, like, understand what they're interested in. You can give them material. He said, there are 4 million books written a year in the United States. I didn't know that. That's just astounding.

Lesley Logan 13:45  

You know what's so funny? Is that like Brad will say he never reads, okay, he says he'll never read. Okay, so we're sitting in Austin at a random restaurant and he overhears something. And he was like, oh, you read that? So, have you heard of this series? Oh, and then Brad shares some of this whole series I've never even heard him fucking talk about. Then he talks about a different series and a different series. So the truth is, Brad reads a specific genre of book and this guy was like, so excited and this guy's sharing Brad with all these different books in that same genre. And so what it is, is that Brad doesn't just read books outside of that genre, and that's okay. 

Brad Crowell 14:20  

No, I don't actually pick them up and read them. I listen to audio. 

Lesley Logan 14:23  

Well, guess what? Danny said you could do that, too. 

Brad Crowell 14:25  

Yes, he did. Yeah, I got excited about that. That was really helpful. 

Lesley Logan 14:29  

Yeah. So anyways, I'm in. I just think it's really, really great. And if you missed it, if your kid's grades suck, get them to read a book they're interested in and make it fun. You know how my parents made it fun? We can have a gummy worm for every chapter of a book we read. And obviously there's gonna be like two-page chapters that were like, you know, full on like The Baby-Sitters Club, you know, Nancy Drew, Beverly Cleary. So like, but, we can have a gummy worm and so I would just read a whole book and I got 13 because you don't want just one. I had 13. 

Brad Crowell 15:07  

Mom, there 13 chapters in this book, I put a photo at the corner of every single one just to show you so I can prove that I get 13. 

Lesley Logan 15:15  

No, I didn't have to do that. But I, she just trust me. But I also like, because no one wants one gummy worm.

Brad Crowell 15:20  

No one wants that.

Lesley Logan 15:21  

You want, you want all of them. 

Brad Crowell 15:22  

You can't just, not just one.

Lesley Logan 15:25  

What did you love?

Brad Crowell 15:27  

He shared the problem that he saw in most educational systems that we think that every kid is at the same level and he said there actually are different levels of reading and they have different interests. He's, this is a really cool story, because he talked about a high school kid who is like, clearly the football player who is a stereotype. amazing athlete, not a great student, right? Well, maybe he's a great student, but not a great reader. Right? So he's in 12th grade, but he's literally reading at a first grade level. Right? And he said, he said, the problem is that when you are in 12th grade, the first grade level books are like basically picture books with like four words in them. And he said, that's embarrassing as hell for a 12th grader to be carrying on school. So how did he, how do you get around that? He said, all right, we're gonna write a book for first graders. And the guy was like, okay, sure. He's like, but do you know anything about books that first graders would read? And he's like, No, he's like, all right, well, looks like we have to go read some first grade books. In order for us to write a book for first graders. And he's like, do you see what I did there? I was like, yeah, of course. I mean, that's, that's like, that's like, such a great excuse for this senior to be carrying around a bunch of kids' books so that when he's teased about it, because he will be, because kids are dicks, he would be able to say, listen, I'm doing homework for me to write a book.

Lesley Logan 17:01  

I want.

Brad Crowell 17:02  

I'm so inspired. 

Lesley Logan 17:03  

I want to I want to shoot this (inaudible).

Brad Crowell 17:06  

Obviously a dick. 

Lesley Logan 17:07  

Kids are dicks.

Brad Crowell 17:08  

Kids are dicks. 

Lesley Logan 17:09  

When you listen to a podcast and they're kind of like dual income, one kid. It's like a dink or a dank or something like that. And then she's like, yeah, like, we used to be a duldo which is like dual income, like, one dog only or something like that like

Brad Crowell 17:29  

DINK, dual income no kids. 

Lesley Logan 17:32  

No kids. 

Brad Crowell 17:33  

Yeah. Dual income, let's see, I don't know, one kid, DISK, dual income single kid. That's a DISK. SISK, single income single kid.

Lesley Logan 17:46  

Yeah. And then there's like also like dual income like dog only. So that's a DILDO. And I don't know why they came to me when you were just saying that. Anyways, you guys, that's a plug for another podcast (inaudible). 

Brad Crowell 18:05  

I can't even come up with that on Google search without coming up with a bunch of garbage. (Inaudible)

Brad Crowell 18:16  

Oh, here we go. Here it is. Here it is. We're no longer DISKs. We're DILDOs, dual income little dog owners. 

Lesley Logan 18:22  

Little dog owners.

Brad Crowell 18:26  

Oh my gosh. 

Lesley Logan 18:27  

I love it so much (inaudible). Anyways, but I think it's, I also just think like

Brad Crowell 18:33  

We're DILBOs.

Lesley Logan 18:37  

Large dogs only?

Brad Crowell 18:39  

Big dogs. Big dog owners. 

Lesley Logan 18:41  

Yeah. Large dog owners. 

Brad Crowell 18:44  

DILBOs. 

Lesley Logan 18:44  

Yeah, no, you just said large dogs. 

Brad Crowell 18:46  

Oh, we could be large dog owners. 

Lesley Logan 18:48  

It's the same acronym. (Inaudible). If you read more, Brad, I'm just kidding.

Brad Crowell 18:54  

Get that up to an A? 

Lesley Logan 18:55  

Yeah, so anyways, I but I do think that's really cool. I think it is interesting. I remember like, when I was in junior high, we took that reading test and one of my friends was like, a college reading level and I was only a junior, like a junior in high school reading level. I'm in the seventh grade. And I just remember going they're so much more than me like they're higher than me. I didn't as a perfectionist. I wasn't thinking about the kids who like got hit with you're-lower-than-your-grade-level. Like how, how depressing is that? And I wonder if the teachers had a like a way around that other than what we have to do take like the grocery store paper bags to cover our books in?

Brad Crowell 19:37  

Yeah, well, I mean, you know his conclusion at that whole thing was that you know, teachers, good teachers will basically help you progress to the next level. 

Lesley Logan 19:46  

Yeah, pay your teachers more.

Brad Crowell 19:47  

All right. So let's talk about those Be It Action Items. What bold, executable, intrinsic or targeted action items can we take away from your convo with Danny Brassell? Honestly, I thought this was so genius and you were laughing at the end of it because for the first time ever, we got an action item that said, go watch television. 

Lesley Logan 20:09  

I know. We've never had that before.

Brad Crowell 20:12  

I was like, really? And he's like, yeah, you want to know why the highest reading averages are in the country of Finland? Like yeah, I want to know why he said because they watch the most TV. I was like, okay, and he said, and they have closed captioning turned on. So they're reading the entire time they're watching television. I thought that is so fascinating. So go watch television with the captions on, right? And I thought something else like just to throw this in there too. Y'all talked about habit building and tie, tying it to like something that's emotionally, tying it to something emotional that you already enjoy is going to help you and he said yeah, you know, for me, I actually don't get out and do enough movement. I don't walk enough I don't have enough exercise. So I started walk I started I made myself I only gave myself permission to watch my show when I'm on my treadmill. Right? And I thought that's pretty cool. So what if you're on a treadmill while watching your favorite show with the captions on? Way to go.

Lesley Logan 21:21  

And if your dog isn't my own you probably can do that without barking. (Inaudible)

Brad Crowell 21:29  

Yeah, well, aside from the treadmill. What's your biggest takeaway from his Be It Action Items? 

Lesley Logan 21:34  

Okay, this is really cool. So those of you who are (inaudible) wow, he's a hundred speeches a year. Oh my God. He actually shared how to create a formula for your speeches. This, you guys 

Brad Crowell 21:45  

Totally dug this. Totally dug this. 

Lesley Logan 21:48  

Yeah, get a pen and paper out right now because that's step one. And also (inaudible) that's strep one. You don't want strep one

Brad Crowell 21:55  

That's the D in delta one.

Lesley Logan 21:59  

You, so step one, is that but also go get one because this is freaking gold. I think we paid our coaches about $15,000 for this information and he gave it to you all for free. So here it is. He said get a pen and paper. Write down every life story that's ever happened to you. Not the whole story just like the triggers like he said the example the time I locked myself out of the car in front of Costco or the time dad spilled mustard on his tie at that fancy restaurant. Like, if you are unsure how to do this, you guys, another way to do it is like go through your photos the other day, babe, I came across our first Valentine's Day. 

Brad Crowell 22:33  

That's a genius idea going through photos. 

Lesley Logan 22:35  

And like, I went through the photos and I was like, where are we? And I was like, oh my God, we were on this hike that has like all this graffiti, it's like this crazy place. And then I, I actually because of that I wrote an email today that's going out on Valentine's Day. 

Brad Crowell 22:47  

About Nazis?

Lesley Logan 22:52  

No. So I hate to tell them about the Nazi part. It was a Nazi sympathizer campground. 

Brad Crowell 22:58  

Yeah, in the 50's, in the hills of Los Angeles. 

Lesley Logan 23:01  

And it's and by the hills I mean, like the valley the

Brad Crowell 23:05  

Yeah. Like, buried away from civilization. 

Lesley Logan 23:08  

Really, really cool hike and people take spray paint and they spray paint over each other. And it's like, they've like just they graffiti this campground. And because it's like art, and it's really cool to do that. And anyways, that's but beside the point, I came across that I had to write an email for Valentine's. I'm like what the fuck am I gonna write for Valentine's Day? But I remember this. And so I told that entire story about how on that day on our first Valentine's Day, it was a really hike. And then you decided to cook two special recipes. And the first one was amazing. And the second one is

Brad Crowell 23:38  

Yes, stuffed, shrimp-stuffed avocado. I remember this.

Lesley Logan 23:40  

Yes. Yes. You put it back in the cup and microwaves the whole thing. It was like really beautiful. And then he made this shrimp avocado salad. You've seen the theme, but he misread the cayenne pepper amount. And so I shared how we ended up at Whole Foods and prepared food. And then I led that into coming on a retreat. And don't worry, Brad's not cooking we haven't (inaudible). But the point is, is that if you go through your life source and you write them down, just the triggers these little, little captions, like you said, that after an hour, just like an hour, like if you even just like went through your photos, you'd have three to 400 stories with these things. Because like, shit happens to you every day. You guys, the amount of shit we go through every day. Like I just like sometimes, like if someone followed me around, they would never believe what I go through. So then you can associate step two. What's the teaching point? What's the learning lesson from the story? 

Brad Crowell 24:35  

What's the high level theme? Is it loyalty? Is it friendship? Is it kindness? Is it happenstances and whatever it might be? Leadership, responsibility.

Lesley Logan 24:47  

And then you put them in folders in your computer based on the teaching point. And the next time you're asked to speak anywhere you have, oh, do you want to talk about leadership? I'm gonna tell you this, I'm gonna tell you this and you'll have a story to tell. 

Brad Crowell 24:58  

It's genius. 

Lesley Logan 24:59  

It's so genius. 

Brad Crowell 25:00  

It is so genius especially because you know, you and possibly even me are about to embark on this podcast toward journey where we're trying to get booked on these other pods to start sharing more about, Be It Till You See It sharing more about some of the other things that we're working on in our lives. And, you know, the reality is they're always prompting you well, what are you going to talk about? And you're like, I don't know, I'm gonna talk about some things but, it's gonna be good conversation. Just book me. 

Lesley Logan 25:27  

Don't worry. I was homeless three times (inaudible).

Brad Crowell 25:31  

So, you know, having this like, out of your, in your bag of tricks is it's crazy. It's amazing. 

Lesley Logan 25:36  

It's brilliant. It's amazing. And also like for those who think I have nothing to talk about. 

Lesley Logan 25:43  

Yeah. Bullshit. 

Lesley Logan 25:44  

You have so much. (Inaudible)

Brad Crowell 25:46  

Yeah, we call it DILDO. 

Lesley Logan 25:47  

I'm sure Danny doesn't call it bullshit. I've got (inaudible). Anyways, I'm Lesley Logan.

Brad Crowell 25:54  

And I'm Brad Crowell.

Lesley Logan 25:55  

How are you going to use these tips? You got to do it. Danny is amazing. I really want to introduce him to Rodman so we just need to make that happen. 

Brad Crowell 26:02  

Yeah, we're gonna do it.

Lesley Logan 26:03  

And we are so freaking grateful for you. So make sure you share the Pod because especially this one, a lot of parents can hear it and help their kiddos go from a C to F to a C and a C to an A and read more and have a lot of fun. And tag us on the Gram, send your questions in and until next time, Be It Till You See It.

Brad Crowell 26:25  

Bye for now. 

Lesley Logan 26:27  

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. 

Lesley Logan 26:54  

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 @Be It Pod.

Brad Crowell 27:09  

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

Lesley Logan 27:14  

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

Brad Crowell 27:19  

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

Lesley Logan 27:26  

Special thanks to Melissa Solomon for creating our visuals.

Brad Crowell 27:29  

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.

Lesley Logan hosts an enriching conversation with Dr. Danny Brassell, a recognized expert in literacy and education. Danny shares his unique and innovative approaches to fostering a love for reading in children and adults. Listen as Danny offers practical tips and insights, demonstrating his commitment to transforming reading into a lifelong passion.

If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to LesleyLogan.co/podcast. If you have any comments or questions about the Be It pod shoot us a message at [email protected].

And as always, if you’re enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at LesleyLogan.co/subscribe.

In this episode you will learn about:

• Danny’s mission is to bring joy back into education in the workplace.
• Strategies to make reading a fun and habitual activity for all ages.
• The different ways we can teach kids to love reading. 
• The true science behind forming and breaking habits effectively.
• Actionable storytelling strategies for entrepreneurs and speakers.
• How closed captioning can enhance literacy in a simple yet effective way.

Episode References/Links:

• Dr. Danny Brassell Website
• Dr. Danny Brassell Social Handles
• Study on Habit Forming
• Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg PhD
• Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
• James and the Giant Peach
• Free gift from danny.com

Guest Bio:

Dr. Danny Brassell is a highly acclaimed speaker, author, and educator, recognized for his expertise in literacy and motivational teaching strategies. Renowned as the 'Jim Carrey with a Ph.D.,' he has transformed the lives of countless individuals through his engaging and innovative approaches to reading and learning. Dr. Brassell has authored 16 books, including his notable work 'Leadership Begins with Motivation,' and has addressed over 3,500 audiences worldwide, making a profound impact in both the educational and corporate sectors. His commitment to fostering a love for reading has been instrumental in developing successful literacy programs, benefiting students, teachers, and parents alike. Dr. Brassell's unique blend of educational insight and entertaining delivery makes him a sought-after consultant, helping entrepreneurs, executives, and small business owners enhance their communication skills and business impact.

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox.

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Episode Transcript:

Danny Brassell 0:00  

I gravitate towards people that are actually doing things. I'd much rather be around people that failed gloriously than the people that do the worksheets and fill in the fill in between the lines and they just live a safe, dull life. That's not what life's about. Life is meant to take risks.

Lesley Logan 0:18  

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 1:00  

All right, Be It Babe. Welcome back to the Be It Till You See It podcast. I have a great interview for you today. First of all, do you know that the reason why I call it Be It Till You See It is like you're acting as if you are the person you want to be already. And a lot of times we wait till we have the thing to be the thing. So you be the thing. And then you'll actually do the things that that person that your version of that person would have if they were already there, and then you'll have the thing. So be, do, have. Be it till you see it. Anyways, that's my little lesson for you. Because what's about to happen is you'll get a lot of amazing lessons. So my guest today is Danny Brassel. You're in here he's doing four frickin phenomenal things. I don't know how he's doing all four of them, but he's doing them and it's really cool. For my parents listening, there's some great things in here for your kiddos. For my nan and parents. Hi, I see you. I got so much out of this and I don't even have kids. So do not skip to the next one. This is absolutely what you want to listen to and really like, I hope you take any one of the action steps that he gives throughout and then also the one at the end. We've never heard it before. And I bet you you're going to use it starting today. So please let us know if you do make sure you reach out to Danny, reach out to the Be It Pod and let us know what your favorite takeaways are. Here is Danny. 

Lesley Logan 2:26  

All right, Be It babe. I am so excited to chat with our guest today. Danny Brassel. He is here to rock your world for sure. I read his bio, the Jim Carrey, huh? I was like, oh my God, I had to talk to this man. So Danny, will you tell everyone who you are and what you rock at and maybe why they maybe assert Jim Carrey towards you and about what you do?

Danny Brassell 2:48  

Well, first of all, thank you so much for having me, Lesley, we need a lot more of you in the world, you're spreading joy and I appreciate that. We need you. My mission is to bring joy back into education in the workplace. And I do that in four different ways. First of all, I speak about 100 dates a year all around the world, primarily to schools and parent groups, but also to corporations reminding them take your job seriously. But don't take yourself too seriously. Because you ain't all that and neither am I. And if you think you're all that teach kindergarten for a week, they'll set you straight. Secondly, I've got the world's top reading engagement program for parents, which in just over two months shows parents how to get their kids to read more, read better, and most importantly, to love reading. I mean, I find that schools do an adequate job of teaching kids how to read. But the question I always ask people is what good is it teaching a kid how to read if they never want to read? I teach kids why to read because I've never had to tell a kid go watch TV. I've never had to tell a kid go play a video game. And I never want to have to tell a kid go read I want them to choose to do it on their own because they love it. Third, I work with entrepreneurs, small business owners and executives on how to create engaging presentations that get their audience to take the next step whether that's to purchase their product or to donate to their cause or even to invest in their ideas. And then fourth and finally, I'm the North American CEO of a company called CyberSmarties which was founded in 2015, in Ireland by a guy named Diarmuid Hudner, which is a social media platform for kids ages five to 12 and teaches kids how to use social media in a positive way. So the way it works is if you were to type in, Danny, I think you're fat and ugly. It wouldn't let you send the message instead says that's not nice thing to say to Danny. And our studies show that within three days, it frustrates kids so much that they can't send their message that they stopped sending negative messages altogether. And the programs basically completely eliminated cyber bullying in Ireland. Now it's in New Zealand, India, Turkey. I'm in charge of getting it here in North America. So all of these are all mission-oriented though. You know, I think life is too short. And we all have to smile a lot more. And so I listen to your podcast.

Lesley Logan 2:48  

Oh my God. Okay, so many amazing things I love. I love that you shared all of that, because I hope everyone heard like you can be multifaceted, and they don't all have to have the same facet. It's like, I would never have guessed the fourth one at all. And I know that all of the parents listening are like, how do we? Who do we need to call in our Congress? We'll put the Congress phone number in the shownotes, guys, I've got it memorized because it's on a sweatshirt. We have, who do we need to call to get that in because my goodness, even as an adult, I've been bullied online. So like, I can't even imagine what it's like for the kiddos. My first thing I have to ask you is, you know, so many people would have so many great ideas and then they don't know how to take that first next step, you do four incredibly humongous things that are mission-driven, and making massive impact. How did you, I guess the first one would be the hardest one but like, how did you make the steps because I'm sure people told you, Danny, you can't do all those things, you can't speak 100 dates a year and fix bullying and get kids to read like, I feel like that's a lot. So how are you able to make that happen with with all the obstacles that are out there? 

Danny Brassell 6:10  

Well, I have OCD I have I mean, and I, ADHD and every other type of acronym, an abbreviation you want to give. Really, what I want everybody to know is that in order to do anything, you have to screw up a lot. And me when I work with, I was working with an entrepreneur the other day, and we put together what we call his stump speech or how to introduce yourself to new audiences. And I said, you got to practice, you got to go on tomorrow and deliver the speech he's like, but it's gonna stink, I'm like, exactly. And the day after that, I want you to give this speech and it's gonna stink, but it's going to stink a little bit less than the first time you did it. And by the 20th time, you'll start feeling comfortable, and you'll you'll start to get the hang of it. But most of us we fear things because we've never done them. And that's what all of this audience has to embrace is we got to get comfortable being uncomfortable. And there's always going to be it's amazing how many people are experts about things, they have no idea about. They've never traveled the world and yet, they're like, oh, you can't go there it's dangerous, and they've never started a business and oh, you can't do that you'll you're you're gonna do that everybody's an expert, but they haven't done anything. And so I gravitate towards people that are actually doing things I'd much rather be around people that failed gloriously than the people that do the worksheets and fill in the fill in between the lines, they just live a safe, dull life. That's not what life's about life is meant to take risks.

Lesley Logan 7:39  

Oh my gosh, it's like you've heard the intro to this podcast, we always take messy action, do it scare like, it's it is interesting, you know, I feel like people are people been raised to get the A, right? Like you talked about schools, and my mom's a teacher and she's listening. Hi, Mom, you do great work. My trainer is also a teacher for kindergarteners. That well not really does humble you. And so there's obviously they there's amazing people in the educational world. But there's this there at some point, you get to a point where like, we have to get the A's because the grades only matter because then you don't get to the next step. And like your whole life will be ruined if you don't get this. So then we become these perfectionist, because that's the only thing that matters. And it's like we don't take that risk. I feel like little kids take more risks than adults do.

Danny Brassell 8:28  

You're absolutely right. That's why I love being around kids is you know, I'll ask adults, what's two plus two and I get complete silence. I can ask little kids, what's two plus two, and they'll raise their hands to be like four, seven, I got a dog. And I love that, you know, they just play with things. It's really it takes until about third grade, where the kids are just like that adult audience. They're completely quiet. They stay in their seat because school taught them not to take risk. And it breaks my heart all the time. We need to encourage you know, I read biographies of successful people Lesley, all the time and there's one common element most successful people in these biographies have, most of them dropped out of school. And as an educator that appalls me, I'm like, what are we doing wrong? How do we make sure to nurture those passions inside of those kids? And you know, I'm still growing and learning all the time. And that's, that's, again, people listen to, I'm speaking to the wrong people right now. These are the people that want to actually improve themselves. But that's what you do is you constantly challenge yourself to get better, because every day you're not learning you're slowly dying.

Lesley Logan 9:38  

Yeah. Yeah, I am, I agree. And I think well, first of all, every single person listening to this, you know, they're seekers, but that's because there's people around them that can't give that like we're almost being the friend in their ear because the front in their actual ear is telling them you can't do that. You couldn't do three different jobs. You have kids, you have the how do we tell you all your stuff to do and it's like they need us in their ears to remind them that they're capable and it's going to be amazing. And it's going to suck the first 20 times. It's okay. Go listen to this podcast, the first 20 episodes, guys, take a listen. I'm sure it was fine. And I'm grateful for my amazing friends. But you get better over time we're, when this episode comes out, we'll have over 300 episodes out. So like, you just get better. 

Danny Brassell 10:21  

Wow, congratulations, Lesley. That's wonderful.

Lesley Logan 10:23  

I know it's kind of insane that how fast that happens. But you just you get better. And you get you're less nervous when you talk to a stranger. Like, there's just so many things, you just have to get started. So yes, we are speaking, you maybe are speaking to the wrong audience. But I think maybe we're just reminding the people that they can do it and they don't have to be perfect at it. 

Danny Brassell 10:42  

Well, at least we're speaking to an audience of people that are going gonna go out and do something, which is important. 

Lesley Logan 10:46  

Yeah, yeah. No, it's so hard. I mean, like, I've talked about this on that, on the pod before but like, I've talked to, I called my grandpa, I'm like, hey, Grandpa, how you doing? It's like, well, I'm waiting to die. And it's like, awesome. Cool. And then I go, well, I'm gonna go to Cambodia, he's like, you should be really safe. Like, that's very dangerous there. And I'm like, so I've been seven times, we're doing great, like, feel safer than here. Just gonna say it.

Danny Brassell 11:12  

Yeah. You know, that's an important point you just made, Lesley, you need to surround yourself with positives. I mean, I was watching a show on television the other day it was horrible. It was called the news. And it totally depressed me. It showed all these horrible things happening. And one of the things I learned from my life, my wife, I don't even know if she knows who the president of the United States is, she has no time for that. She watches I Love Lucy and Friends and she's a much better person for it. I mean, I used to volunteer for the Special Olympics. If you ever feel down, you need to volunteer for the Special Olympics, those individuals are some of the most extraordinary people, I just think that they have a secret that the rest of us don't realize, which is life is to be lived and to be celebrated every day. 

Lesley Logan 11:59  

Yeah. Yes, I agree to that. I mean, I mean, please also volunteer at your local dog shelter and you'll see that dogs don't judge you. They have no, they don't care if you're perfect and all those things, and it'll uplift your spirits. But that's really funny. Yeah, I know, the the news is the news is designed to make us scared to make us fearful and for us just to sit there for them to put up another ad in front of your face. Also, just so you know, that's what they're, that's why they do the clicky headlines and they repeat themselves all the time. It's so hard because there's FOMO I need to I don't want to miss out and you know this information and it's true, we do have to, there's got to be a balance there which is so hard to do. So I feel for the people who listen, who's like but I have to listen to news, Danny, but also I would like to just watch Friends and then you know, do my thing and stick with my idea. 

Lesley Logan 12:50  

I want to go into something that you talked about helping kids want to read. A lot of our listeners, not children, they want to read even though they're not kiddos, can you, can we dive a little bit into like, what will help because they want to read but it's also like making the time, what should they read? Like, again, they're perfectionist, so then there's the new obstacle of like, well, I want to read but I don't know what to read. How? Do you have any advice for us on that? 

Danny Brassell 13:20  

Absolutely. Well, I was that kid. I grew up hating reading. My father was a librarian. I always hated the library. It always smelled funny to me, the furniture was uncomfortable. There was always some elderly woman telling me to be quiet. There was always a freaky homeless guy hanging out by the shells, thought he was a vampire. I always hated the library. And it wasn't until I started teaching in the inner city in South Central Los Angeles where I saw a lot of my students didn't have a lot of the advantages I had growing up. I mean, I was very blessed Lesley, both of my parents were in the home. We weren't wealthy by any means. But we always had food on the table. And my parents always read in front of us kids, to us kids. And we always had plenty of access to great reading materials. And I basically said shame on me. It's my job to really expose my students to all kinds of ways to love reading. I mean, I was that kid I'll never forget in high school, I was forced to read The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne and no offense to people that love Nathaniel Hawthorne, I mean, I don't want to offend anybody but, basically the story is about Hester Prynne commits adultery, so she's forced to wear an A on her chest. And I raised my hand in class one day and I asked my teacher if I could wear a B on my chest because I was so bored reading that book. I absolutely hated it. And I think that's one of the most important things we have to understand is, you know, it has to be fun, like, make reading fun for you. And the research is very clear on this. It doesn't matter what you read. What matters is how much you read. It doesn't matter if you're reading James Joyce or James and the Giant Peach, people who read more read better. 

Danny Brassell 15:01  

You know, when I got my Ph.D., my wife was looking at me because I had this huge grin on my face. And she's like, why are you so happy and like, because from now on, I pick the books. And I think that's what reading should be. You know, if you want to read, you know, a lot of the people in your audience are entrepreneurs, well, you don't have to read classic literature to be a good entrepreneur, you need to read about other entrepreneurs. What's their journey? You know, I get so many boys interested in reading because I find out what they're interested in. I mean, I use (inaudible) if the kids are talking about NASCAR, get on some NASCAR books, if they're talking about JLo, get a biography on Jennifer Lopez, you know, interest drives reading, and that's something that's going to be sustained all the time. I mean, I, I see things all the time. It's, America's crazy, like we'll say, oh, you know what, you should finish whatever you read. I'm like, well, that's stupid advice. I mean, think of think of reading a book, like eating a piece of food. You try a chapter. Oh, my gosh, that's disgusting. Well, maybe it gets better. Oh, no, it's disgusting. I mean, if you find a book, you don't like put it down. There's over 4 million books written in English last year alone. Some of them are pretty good. Don't waste your time on the lame ones. 

Danny Brassell 16:12  

Here, I'll do something for your audience right now, Lesley, for all those people who have that large book on your bedside table that you started three years ago, I can do this because I'm a Ph.D. I absolve you of that book. Get another one. You know, I like reading. I have one of the top reading clubs online. It's called lazyreaders.com. If you go, it's a free subscription once a month for the rest of your life. I update it with 10 book recommendations, three or four adult level, three or four young adult level, and three or four children's level books all under 250 pages. So you have something to read when you're stuck in a boring meeting or at the doctor's office. You know, when I hear people say, oh, I don't have, I don't have time to read. I'm like, yeah, who has time to read after you watch the game on TV, have a couple of beers, go out shopping? I have a friend that's a time management expert. I always give him a hard time, Lesley, because I say there's no such thing as time management there's only priority management. Harvard did a study, whenever I say research, I would say Harvard did a study. Harvard did a study 100 years ago, they found out that people only had 24 hours in their days. Well, it's how are you using those minutes in your day? So the people that have a hard time getting interested, you know, I'll work with parents and they're trying to figure out how to get their kids into reading. So there's two numbers in my reading program. There's two numbers I have everybody focus on. The first number is 67. So a lot of people say it takes 21 days to change a habit. And to those people I say, show me the research on that it's a completely fabricated number. I know exactly where it comes from. It comes from, what's that?

Lesley Logan 17:44  

It's 100% fake, it doesn't work and we can talk about it. But I studied with BJ Fogg from Stanford. So you know, the West Coast. And you can actually create a habit in a moment, like you can it's all but an emotion. Your emotion derives things but that's...

Danny Brassell 18:00  

You can do a lot, yeah, well, so when they did a clinical study so the the number comes from there was a great book written in 1960 by Dr. Maxwell Maltz called Psycho-Cybernetics. I encourage everybody to read the book. But in the preface of the book, Dr. Maltz, who's a plastic surgeon and he flippantly said he noticed it took most of his patients about 21 days to get used to their new faces. Well, a lot of personal development gurus, a lot of people I respect by the way, started telling people it takes 21 days to change a habit, it's completely fabricated. So. 

Lesley Logan 18:33  

It sounds really good.

Danny Brassell 18:34  

There was a study done by, Harvard did a study in 2009. It was actually University of London, it was a habit formation study and they determined it took anywhere from 18 to 254 days to change a habit and the average was 66 days. Well, I don't like the number 66. So I throw in a bonus day, 67 days to change a habit. And it really depends on the type of habit you're trying to form. So it can be a moment. Like if you want to drink a glass of water before breakfast every day, that might take 18 days to make that into a habit. But if you want to quit smoking, that can take 254 days. And here's why this is important, Lesley, let's say you go on a diet, you follow it religiously for 21 days, but on day 22 you fall off the wagon. Will you blame yourself? Well, research shows it takes three times longer than that to form most habits. So I just think it's very, I have a problem when I hear people throwing out these numbers and everybody, everybody's a little bit different. I was a teacher. I always say different strokes for different folks. Some kids get it in 10 minutes, some kids it takes them till April, but where there's a will there's a way. 

Danny Brassell 19:40  

The other number I want people and this would be good for your audience to know, is, is the number is 20. So researchers were looking at patterns among successful students around the world. And they were looking for what are the characteristics what are the common characteristics they have? They stumble upon something which floored them. It was the number of minutes spent reading outside of school. So they looked at the low kids, the average kids and the high kids. So the first group was the low kids, the kids in the 20th percentile, some of your F students, they average less than a minute a day reading outside of school. Well, that didn't surprise anybody. It's probably why you're at the bottom of your class. But the next number did startle the researchers, the kids in the middle of the class, the 78th percentile, C students, they average 9.6 minutes a day reading outside of school. And so if I'm doing a live training with parents, this is when the room gets really quiet and the first hand raised is in the parents' side that says, wait a sec, are you saying if I can get my kid to read 10 minutes a day, I can take them from an F to a C? That's exactly what I'm saying. There's actually a lot of research to support this. But this next number really floored the researchers, the kids near the top of the class and 90th percentile A minus students. Do they spend three hours a day reading for fun outside of school? No. Do they spend an hour a day outside of school reading for fun? No. The average was just over 20 minutes a day. So my entire program is showing parents how can we find those 20 minutes every single day. And there's two things people have to understand. First of all, the number the minutes don't have to be consecutive. So you can do a minute here, five minutes here, three minutes there. And secondly, being read aloud to is just as good as reading on your own. So I work with a lot of dyslexic students. A lot of people don't realize over half of the Fortune 500 CEOs are dyslexic. Well, dyslexics, they process information really well with their ears. And so now I just say we'll turn on the audiobook, let somebody else read it to you. You don't have to read it. It's just as effective.

Lesley Logan 21:43  

I'm so excited. Because, first of all, I'm like, oh, so if I read 20 minutes a day, the overachiever in me is like, I'm gonna be an A student. I'm not even in school, but I feel like it's just gonna make me a better person. But also, I hope y'all heard that he said, audiobook works as well. And so like, guys, if you're got a 20-minute commute, instead of listening to your news podcast, you can listen to ours. But you then should listen to a book for 20 minutes. That's such a great thing. I love that. Also, there's this interesting thing. One, if you love to read, read BJ Fogg's Tiny Habits book, you will love it. Two, it's also emotions. So if you are trapped, like, first of all, we can all remember back during the pandemic, when we wore a mask everywhere, every single day, then they took us out a mask for like a week. And they're like, oh, hold on, actually, you said to wear the mask, at the grocery store, how many times you have to go back to the grocery store? Everyday, everyday, because you didn't like wearing the mask. So you never created the habit. So if you don't like the thing, it's not going to stick because the emotions around it are not exciting. So that's why the repetition doesn't work because it has to have an emotional pull that you'd actually like to do. And then second on the like breaking a habit or unwrap a, BJ will say unraveling a habit because habits are prompted by different things. If you are a smoker, there's a prompt that happens, if you eat a snack, if you eat candy at your desk, there's a prompt, you have to remove the prompt you have to figure what that is. And you can't have nothing there because it creates a vacuum. So you actually do have to find so that when those do take harder or if you're if your habit is to like emote, like beat yourself up, like if you're someone who just like, judges yourself has bad thoughts when someone says anything critical type of a thing, those habits are actually the hardest to break because you have to be really good at acknowledging like, oh, I'm doing the thing that I don't want to do. So that's why, that's why the numbers...

Danny Brassell 23:40  

Make sure you have him listen to this podcast, he'll be so proud of you. You're a great student, you learned a lot, you know.

Lesley Logan 23:45  

I know, BJ will love it.

Danny Brassell 23:49  

The other thing is Habit Stacking. So for example, like, I was watching too much TV, and I wasn't working out enough. And so now when I go on the bike, I, you know, I'm watching, I'm almost done. I've never watched The Sopranos when it came out. So now I'm on season six, I'm halfway through. But I only want Sopranos when I'm on the bike after I finished the Sopranos, I'll go to my next show. So it's really what you were talking about with the grocery store. It's amazing how primitive our brains really are.

Lesley Logan 24:17  

They really are. But it's that dopamine hit. And also like because you want to watch that show and you have really good boundaries and willpower. It's really so but it's so I just want to say I thank you for going over the reading thing. One, every parent in here is so excited. They just learned something about their kids. So I'm happy to give them that but two, you know, we've gotten questions from the audience before about like just wanting to have time to read. It's like you don't just like put the book in your bag or put like have the audiobook on your phone. And then instead of when you're on line at Starbucks, going on Facebook, you could hit play for a couple of minutes. So my husband. 

Danny Brassell 24:54  

May I share another strategy with you, Lesley? This is for everybody in your audience. I'm not too sharp and I like to look like I'm sharp to people. And so before I go to parties, I'll go to either the bookstore or to the library and to the children's section. And I'll read like 10, 32-page picture biographies of famous people so that, you know, I can, oh, Elon Musk, did you know this about him? Well, I got it from a picture book. But you know, I've raised like, wow, he knows all these amazing things. I don't know why it is, as we get older, they take the pictures out of the books, I'm like, oh, I like picture books they're a lot easier to read. And you don't have to be judged. But I used to tutor athletes that were they had earned scholarships to universities, but they were, you know, academically ineligible. So I had one gentleman, and he had a full-ride scholarship, he was going to be a defensive lineman, who's six foot, nine inches tall, 325 pounds, he had a full ride, but he was the 12th grader reading at a first grade level. And so they gave him to me, and they're like, Danny, can you get him up to his sixth grade in six months? And I said, okay, I'll do it. And so I had to get him reading. But he wants, he wants to read this, but he's reading at a first grade level. Well, first grade level books are about like bunny rabbits and puppy dogs. Well, 12th graders don't want to read books about bunny rabbits and puppy dogs. But that was his reading ability at that point. And so what I said is, okay, what we're gonna do is we're going to write a book for a first grade class. But before we write the book, we got to figure out what do first graders like to read. Do you know? He's like, no, and I'm like, okay, so here, we'll start reading all these. You see what I just did. Now he has permission. So when his buddies see him reading first grade level books, now he has permission, because oh, because I'm writing a book for first grade class, you know, and we were able to get him up to a sixth grade level in six months, but it's just figuring out is, this is what every good teacher of anything, does. They figure out where you are, and then they take you to the next level, you know. The problem in most education systems, is we think every kid is at the same level. And I'm like, no, I mean, kids are entering at different levels, they have different interests. You know, having taught young children, I have no idea how men even evolved because you give me a six-year-old boy and a six year old girl and almost to the tee, I can tell you that girl's about three, three levels above that little boy, I mean, boys are nincompoops. They finally catch up eventually, at least most of them do. Some of them, maybe I shouldn't say most, some of them do. But it's fascinating. I just love looking at, well, what turns this kid on to learning? And you know, same thing with adults too. I'm when I'm working with adults I'm like wow, this is what proves effective with this person. I, to me, that's the fun part.

Lesley Logan 27:41  

Yeah, I know, my mom has a really good time, like coming up with different ways to teach different learning styles, but it makes you go, how can we aren't just letting the girls go in at kindergarten at this age? And why don't we just let the boys come in a year later, like, well, that the product I know, guys, we don't have childcare in this country. Sorry, we'll get it figured out. We'll figure that out. And then we could figure out because it is really funny that we almost hold one age group back and then we expect another, another person to like rise up. It's it's not fair to anyone, no one is actually having a good time. And then the teachers are exhausted. So and then the parents sorry, and then the parents are exhausted. 

Lesley Logan 28:15  

So okay, I have one more topic I wanted to bring up with you because you have so many facets, you mentioned that one of the things you do is help people, like help people take an action like, right, okay. So, we do have a lot of entrepreneurs here who are hoping that people take an action. Also, there's a lot of people here who are hoping that they'll just take an action. So do you have anything for us, like, I'm sure it is a long journey to figuring that out. But like what is like a hot like simple tip to taking action or to getting people to take action?

Danny Brassell 28:47  

(Inaudible) I use, I'll do two-day seminars with entrepreneurs when we're creating a speech and I have a formula for it. And I'm like, once you learn the formula, you can use it for anything. But here's an action strategy for everybody that I tell them to do is tonight, get a libation of choice a pen and paper and I want you to write down every story that's ever happened in your life. And I don't mean the whole story just mean triggers. So like, the time I locked myself out of the car in front of Costco, the time dad spilled mustard on his tie in that fancy restaurant, and in an hour, you'll probably come up with about three to 400 stories like that. So that's the first part of the exercise. The second part is now you have to associate what's the teaching point here? So you're like, oh, well, this is really a story about loyalty. Oh, this is a story about taking responsibility. Oh, this is a leadership story. And then what you do is put them in folders on your computer. So the next time you have you're asked to speak anywhere and you need like oh, a story on love. Well, here's 20 stories on love I have right here at my disposal. Just a really easy and then, you know, I'll work with some people. They say, well, Danny, nothing's ever happened to me. I'm like, well, whatever. Everybody said, a million stories. But even for that Debbie Downer that has to be negative and say nothing's ever happened to them. Here's the next tip. I get that I'm no I'm I broke my rule. I don't give tips. I give tips to waiters not to people. I'm gonna give you a strategy. So the strategy is, if you look at personal development books, one of the most successful personal development books of all time is Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, in which he includes no personal stories. Every story he includes is based on interviews he did with the millionaires that he interviewed, I mean, you can definitely just based on the 300 guests you've had on your podcast, you could easily create a whole big compendium of all these different stories you've gotten and all the different teaching points. And so if you have if you find you're completely boring, well, then you have to be a student of the world. And I mean, this is why I'm watching things all the time that helped me like, oh, I'm addicted to a show on History Channel called The Food That Built America where they tell you, they show you how different foods came about. I'm like, oh, this is amazing. And so I have stories about that. I watch sports all the time. And my wife's like, why do you love sports? And I'm like, because at any given moment, something extraordinary can happen and they happen all the time when you see like that one act of sportsmanship, you're like, wow, that's really neat story or you see somebody that's hurt and they play a part in it. Wow, that's endurance. And so that's why again, it's, and it's the same thing by listening to this podcast is, oh, I'm learning. I'm learning all the time. I'm hearing you know, you, BJ gave you all these great, I'm like, wow, you learned a lot. And he gave you some stories. But people they don't remember, you know, it was actually Stalin, who said a million dead is a statistic, one dead is a tragedy and he's right about that. It's the way you connect with people is through stories. I think one of the I think it was President Reagan was the very first president of the United States that during his State of the Union address before Congress, instead of talking about health care, which nobody understood, he'd say, yeah, hey, Joe, Joe, Joe, Joe Thompson, get up, stand up. And all of a sudden, this guy in the gallery waves, that's Joe Thompson. He's like, Joe works at the GM plant in Louisville, Kentucky, and Joe got injured on the job a couple of months ago, but he didn't have health insurance and its costs and he can't make his rent he can't, and so now, when we think health care, we think Joe, we've put a face to the problem. And now we're starting to understand it a lot better. This is, you know, into my, my biblical people out there, Jesus was like the greatest salesman ever. That's what he always did. Jesus didn't say, you know, four to five of my apostles have to do this. No, he would always give you absolute actual stories. I mean, that's how we remember things is from stories. And so, again, long answer to your short question, but those are a couple of action items for your audience to take right now.

Lesley Logan 32:58  

I love that because it's so true. I write I have to write, you know, at least two newsletters per week. And then I have all the social media content that goes out. And I don't care what people say about no one reads the captions. People read my captions. You want to know how I know, because I put an action step in there at the very end and they have to comment and it's always different. It's like drop your favorite color. Do what's your favorite number, whatever. And people do it all the time. I take up all 2200 characters on Instagram guys, they do but I need stories because no one wants to just hear, like, the facts are great, like the facts about why you should move why you should work out, the fact about habits is all fine. But if you don't tell a story, no one's really interested. And then when they when they read the story and they take an action because they I feel like they attach, that story can relate to them in some way. Or that you know, that's what you're saying. So anyways, I love that. Thank you for that one. 

Lesley Logan 33:49  

Okay. You're amazing. You do so many things on this planet. Like love to have you back. I can't wait for Brad to listen to this because he is just really going to love because he's an a, I'm just gonna share this with y'all. He does this gentleman thing once a quarter and all the guys like read actual, like the biggest thick books. One of our friends has an entire library. He's like reading so many books at a time. And they all bring a book to talk about and Brad, it's like their book is like okay, we're gonna bring a book about America. We're gonna bring a book or whatever the theme is. And Brad's like, so I'm listening to this, like, I don't know, you guys. He's talked about so many times. Oops. Anyways, it's something about time and it's about a god, the author died a long time ago. And some other people are writing the books. There's like 15 in the series, and he's starting them all over, and he listens to them. And he loves to listen to a book because he can listen to it while he's walking the dog. He can listen to it in bed, like right before he goes to bed. And so I just really think he's gonna love that you said we can listen to the books. He doesn't have to read them. 

Danny Brassell 34:43  

Awesome. 

Lesley Logan 34:45  

So, thank you. Okay, we'll take a brief break, find out where people can find you, follow you, work with you, hear more of your stories.

Lesley Logan 34:51  

All right, Danny, where do you hang out? Where can people stalk you in a good way?

Danny Brassell 34:56  

Well as a thank you for you and your audience bearing with me, I wanted to give everybody a couple of freebies. So if you go to freegiftfromdanny.com again, freegiftfromdanny.com, I'm gonna give everybody a complimentary e-copy of my book, Read, Lead & Succeed. This is a book I wrote for a school principal who was trying to keep his faculty and staff positively engaged. So I said, okay, I'll write you a book. So every week I'll give you a concept, I'll give you an inspirational quote, an inspirational story, a book recommendation on a book you should read, but you're probably too lazy because you're an adult. So I also give you a children's picture book recommendation that demonstrates the same concept, you can read that in five minutes. I'm also gonna give everybody access to a five-day reading challenge I did online last summer for about 700 parents around the world, where every day for an hour for five consecutive days, I give you basic, basic strategies. These are the space the basis of my reading program online, where I show you how to get your kids to read more, read better, most importantly, to love reading. Again, you get those at freegiftfromdanny.com. And I just really want to thank you, Lesley, for having me today. You're making a positive difference. Every day everybody has a choice, you know, was what it was either Socrates or read in The Shawshank Redemption who says you can get busy living or you can get busy dying so everybody out there, get busy living and celebrate. Thank you, Lesley, for all that you do.

Lesley Logan 36:25  

Oh my goodness, thank you so much. Hilarious that you quoted Shawshank Redemption. My girlfriend and I in college had one DVD for about three months and it was the Shawshank Redemption watched it every day. (Inaudible) What are you gonna do? Anyways, before I let you go, you've given us so many amazing strategies. But we like to end the episode with a Be It Action Item. So bold, executable, intrinsic or targeted steps people can take to be it till they see it. What do you have for us today?

Danny Brassell 36:56  

Well, you know, I was telling you to get those 20 minutes a day reading every single day, whether you're a kid or an adult and people that they'll often tell me well I have nothing to read at home I'm like oh, but you do. President Bush Senior over 30 years ago signed a very important law in this country. It says every single television set sold in America has to have closed captioning. So here's the quick strategy. Turn on the closed captioning. People say well, wait a sec. If this shows in English, and the subtitles are in English, what does that do? I'm like, well, that's a fair point. But let me make this point. Have you ever watched a show with subtitles and not looked at the subtitles? It's very difficult to do. Your brain is directed towards the text. There's actual research that supports this. If you look at reading scores around the world, the more kids watch TV, the lower their reading scores are in every single country on the planet except for one. The country with the highest reading scores on the planet also watches the most TV on the planet. It's Finland. And people always say well, how can that be? I'm like, well, because Finland makes really bad TV shows. And so what they have to do is they import all these old American sitcoms like Happy Days and Gilligan's Island and Brady Bunch, they subtitle them in Finnish the kids are constantly reading. So this isn't just for kids. This is for adults as well. But you know, turn on the subtitles, you'll be amazed at how it will help progress and advance your reading.

Lesley Logan 38:17  

Oh my gosh, blown away. Never have had that as an action item. Love it also had to do it on a flight recently because I could not hear the show. So I put the subtitles on. And I was like, I am not even watching the show. I'm just reading this. Well, then, you know, I did two hours of reading that day. Wonderful. Danny, thank you so much. This has been so wonderful. Just a joy. I love what you're doing on this planet. You're making amazing things. You'll have to let us know when we can get this, this social media thing for kids to the U.S. and also what other countries my listeners are in those ones. If you have kids and you're there, guess what? There's something for you. So y'all take a look at the links below. Make sure you check out Danny's freebies. They're all in the show notes. And until next time, Be It Till You See It. 

Lesley Logan 39:03  

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. 

Lesley Logan 39:30  

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 @Be It Pod.

Brad Crowell 39:45  

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

Lesley Logan 39:50  

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

Brad Crowell 39:54  

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

Lesley Logan 40:01  

Special thanks to Melissa Solomon for creating our visuals.

Brad Crowell 40:05  

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.