Be It Till You See It

Happy New year from the BE IT pod team! As you make your goals for the year - join Brad and LL in chatting about the impact of coaching, finding gaps in your industry, and the various forms of self care (which may just include taking a break). 

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:

• Coaching for life endeavors 
• Listening to the gaps in your industry 
• Entrepreneurial resilience
• Redefine self care for you 
• Staying curious 

Episode References/Links:

• Agency Mini

OPC Flashcards:

• OPC Flashcards are on Amazon
• OPC Flashcards are on our site

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.

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

Social Media

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Tik Tok
• LinkedIn

Episode Transcript:

Lesley Logan 0:01  

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 guests 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.

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 layered convo I had with Megan Linney, (Brad: Oh, yeah) 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. Y'all, it was a good one. By the way, Happy New Year!

Brad Crowell 1:01  

Happy New Year.

Lesley Logan 1:03  

What? I'm so... I'm, you know, it's really funny to be thinking about the new year and be recording this in the old year. But I feel like it's gonna be a great frickin' year. So, I'm stoked about it. (Lesley laughs)

Brad Crowell 1:16  

Yeah, it's definitely feeling more prepared (Lesley: Yeah) this, but you know, at the end of this year, then I don't, I don't remember ...

Lesley Logan 1:27  

We never we're organize within the year. (Lesley laughs)

Brad Crowell 1:28  

Yeah. I don't, I always remember things being like, absolute crazy town at our, you know, running around, trying to get things done before we go on our trip or we, whatever it's gonna be. In this year definitely has a different vibe.

Lesley Logan 1:43  

You know, when people like running to the airport in home alone, and they're like running, it's like, (Lesley sings) that's how it felt every frickin' December and we stopped flying and it still didn't make it (Lesley laughs) get less. So

Brad Crowell 1:58  

No, I think 2020, we still had a bunch of travel at the beginning of the year. And you know, it sets you (Lesley: Yeah) down a different path. And this year was I think, since I was, you know, 18, I think this might be the first solid year of sitting in one place and being on on the goal. I mean, we (Lesley: Yeah) did, we did do a little bit of travel, but not like, not like international trips and prepping for workshops.

Lesley Logan 2:26  

I mean, we did do (Brad: huge trips) two international trips. However, they were ...

Brad Crowell 2:29  

No, (Lesley: Yeah) no, it wasn't, it wasn't like we had to plan a retreat and host 20 people (Lesley: No) and like something that will take you like planning those things takes me off of my focus for weeks at a time.

Lesley Logan 2:41  

Yeah, ... the the but you don't see behind the doors, behind the scenes of putting a retreat together is like it is, it is not even just the amount of time it is to be on the retreat is, some of it. Couple of things are years on the making. And (Brad: Sure) things are months in the making. And then there's like a lot of hurry up and wait. (Brad: Yeah) And it's true, like ...

 In 2021, yes, we did do a couple trips, but we were invited as guests. (Lesley: Yeah) Or we're just showing up to participate. (Lesley: Yeah) It wasn't like we were running the show.

I gotta be honest, I feel very spoiled. (Lesley laughs) (Brad: Right. Yeah) So, you know, we are definitely, well, time will tell but I think we're gonna have a balance of things. And I think I'm excited for us to announce and explore what we're doing more in the, in the travel arena. (Brad: Yeah) But ...

Oh man, I cannot wait to go back to Cambodia (Lesley: We're ...) and host another retreat, they're ... (Lesley: We're really close, y'all on that. We ...) itching, itching to go.

We definitely just have one little thing we have to figure out so we can actually put something in the books. And so but that is not the amount that I was excited about. (Brad: No) (Brad laugsh) So let me just say, (Brad: Happy New Year) January is a big month. It's my birthday month. (Brad: Oh yeah) Aahh, you can tell me "Happy birthday", every frickin' day, it will not bother me. I do love my birthday. It is so fun. But also this month, we have our sixth Agency Mini so we do it the end of January. And you can sign up for that at profitablepilates.com/mini. It is our seven day coaching program for fitness and professionals. That means Pilates instructors you and your yoga friends and trainers too. And also we are finally going to be able to release our scheduling tool.

Brad Crowell 4:20  

This is like, I'm very excited about this.

Lesley Logan 4:22  

Brad is so excited about this. And so it is ...

Brad Crowell 4:24  

Y'all, y'all, we've been working behind the scenes with another company. (Lesley: Yeah) A software company (Lesley: Mm-hmm) who are working with us to make a custom build (Lesley: Yeah) of their app. (Lesley: Yeah) And we get to you know doctored it up with a whole bunch of coaching stuff, fitness (Lesley: Yeah) business coaching stuff, which obviously that's what we do. (Lesley: Mm-hmm) And ...

Lesley Logan 4:46  

And like legal stuff, it's gonna be frickin' awesome. I can't wait for it to be out there for you to see and get your hands on but ...

Brad Crowell 4:53  

But if you if you're running a business of any kind, you could be literally walking a dog or you could be you know, running a Pilates studio with a full team and 50 clients. This is a tool, this is a scheduling software, invoicing software, client management software that you can use, where we are also able to provide coaching and then some legal contract templates for you as well. (Lesley: Yeah) So very exciting. (Lesley: Yes ...) Coming up in just a few weeks.

Lesley Logan 5:19  

Yeah, you can get on the waitlist for that at (Brad: Oh) profitablepilates.com/scheduling. (Brad: Yeah, scheduling) (Lesley laughs) The notes are not in front of me. So that was that, but I'm really excited about that.

It's a profitablepilates.com/scheduling.

Yeah. Okay, so we had an audience question. Um, this came from last week's episode, we actually announced that the Mini-doors were open.

Brad Crowell 5:44  

Right. Yeah, the question was from a new teacher, and said, "Hey, I'm brand new. Is it too early for me to be jumping into Mini or into Agency?"

Lesley Logan 5:55  

Yeah. Well, I think it's, I mean, as long as you've done your training, or you're finishing up, we definitely have a lot of people who have joined us who are still in their training. It's never too early to have really awesome coaching and direction on growing your business. Because let me just tell you, why would you want to like (Lesley laughs) wander around throwing things on the wall, when you could actually have someone going? Is that what you want to do? I know that sounds really good. But remember, when you said you want to do this, just so (Brad: Yeah) you know, those two things don't actually stay in the same room. But that's also okay. And we don't tell, like as coaches, we will never tell you that's wrong or not going to work. But we definitely are going to be honest with you. And so I would, that's why I wrote my book was so that people would actually hear the coaching advice, before they went out and did stuff, before they went six months up the wrong road and doing what everyone else is doing. Because they thought that's what they should be doing, or (Brad: Yeah) charging rates based on the going rate in the neighborhood. No, I, it's never too early, as long as you are already in your training, that's a great start. If you're about to start your training, you know, it might feel a lot more overwhelming because you're in the middle of a training and you're doing coaching advice. I'm going to say like finishing up a training is, it's you have the light end of the tunnel is a great time to start or if you just finished, that's really great. And we absolutely can coach you, plus you're gonna see so much inspiration of like what could be I mean, we have people that we coach who've been doing this for 20 years, and (Brad: Yeah) what they're able to do now in their business because of our coaching is, is an, is absolutely inspirational, it shows you possibility. So, I would love to see you in there.

It's the next layer of their business.

Layer. We're just layering it in here. (Brad laughs) Oh, my gosh.

Brad Crowell 7:39  

So, I couldn't agree with you more, there's it's never too soon to get coaching. In fact, I would, I would say not only should you go get coaching, but forever, for the rest of your career, you should have some kind of a coach or mentor, (Lesley: Yeah) or some kind of a person that you are willing to share the, you know your path with and, and kick the ideas around, you know, whether that, whether the and you know the the successes and the failures, and to reflect on them, there is so much value in taking a look at what we're specifically doing right now and what we're planning to do, and then getting another opinion on it. Whether that solidifies your own, or you actually get some great advice from them. It helps you form that opinion, even more (Lesley: Yeah) and more solidly, like help you execute it better. It's there's so much value in it.

Lesley Logan 8:36  

Well, and like just so you all know, like Brad and I have had coaches for years we've, (Brad: Yeah) since 2017, I started doing working with coaches on different things. And in 2020 to combined, we had three coaches, we just leveled up with another coach, I'm really friggin' excited about. And what's so great about that is because we are investing in our coaching, we and our coaches, none of the coaches we've hired have no coach, they all have their own coaches who are like the next level up, you're getting, you're you're getting a lot. It's not just like the old stuff that we pulled out of a hat from five years ago. It's new stuff, it's what's working now in other company, we know (Brad: Sure) things that behind the scenes stuff. And so, (Brad: Yeah) you know, if you're wanting people to invest in you and your fitness business, you have to be investing in your fitness business.

Brad Crowell 9:25  

I think the only time that I didn't have coaching was when I was an employee only. (Lesley: Right, because ...) When I was not running, you know, or trying to run a project or run a business that that you know ...

Lesley Logan 9:39  

Right and that makes total sense because you like you're in in theory, you're getting paid to do someone else's goal. So if they they should be coaching you. (Lesley laughs)

Right. But you know coaching can also take the shape of counseling or (Lesley: Yeah) therapy.

Yeah, yes, (Brad: you know, so) yes, yes. All those things as we know. (Brad: Yeah) Therapy is like laundry, do it often. (Brad laughs)

Brad Crowell 10:02  

You just got to keep doing it. (Lesley: gotta keep doing it) (Brad and Lesley laughs) Oh, sorry (Lesley: Okay) that's not what I meant. (Lesley laughs) It is, it is but... Okay, okay. Now let's talk about Megan Linney. Through finding the gaps in the beauty and wellness industry, Megan Linney is a licensed Esthetician, Massage Therapist and Spa Executive who created The Layer Lounge. She spends her days making friends and creating a community of people comfortable to trust her with their self care. And she's pulling from years of working in the the spa world. And she made a whole career out of that, she was running high end spas, she was opening spas, she was managing spas all around the (Lesley: Yeah) country. And and she realized at the end of her last employed experience that, "This is probably the last time that I'm going to work for someone else. It's time for me to go do my own thing." (Lesley: Yeah) And then I loved that the conversation kind of took this turn of like, "I had done my own thing before, I just kind forgot about, you know (Lesley laughs) the life of being entrepreneur."

Lesley Logan 11:12  

Because it, because the audience is mostly women, and I'm sure a few great men. I even think those two great men have women in their lives. It is amazing how many women forget about the pain of pregnancy. And I would never have equated entrepreneurship to (Lesley laughs) that in anyway. But I loved how she brought that up. And she's like, "It's like women, they forget pain. And it's a special thing and then they just have they have six kids because they forgot." (Brad: Yeah) But it freakin' sucks. (Lesley laughs) And I think it's true. Like, as someone we've, I've been working for myself, since 2009. But like, especially in 2016, when I fully went for myself. You know, as we make changes, I, it's like you forget, you only it's almost like I only remember the good stuff of a launch. I don't always remember all the bad things that happened. Like, we obviously, we make changes and we try not to make those mistakes again. (Brad: Yeah) But like, we never go up, we have to launch again. Here we go. (Brad: Done) (Lesley laughs) Because we, we like, block out the amount of hours and weeks and days of prep to it. 

Brad Crowell 12:14  

Oh, well, I do laugh about how intense Mini is for us, like the amount of effort that we're putting in. (Lesley: Yeah) But I never remember that. I'm like, "Oh, cool. We get to do this again." (Lesley: I know) And then it comes up and I'm like, "Oh, right. Like I gotta spend like six hours a day in a Facebook group." Right, right. (Lesley: Yeah) Okay, okay. Here we go. Here we go.

Lesley Logan 12:32  

Yeah, yeah. So anyways, um, okay, so out of the things that I that she taught... that she brought up that I loved was listening to the concerns and gaps in your industry to create something new. So we talked a little about this with, with even Taylor Smith, it's like, what are the questions you keep asking? Like, that's probably our next thing. But you know, what Megan did? What we've done in our, in all of our companies is like, what, where is the whole? Like, where are people falling through, because there's these amazing opportunities out there. There's amazing products, there's amazing spas out there. But there are people who don't have access to that. And she, or that the the way that they exist is not exactly going to solve the problem of the needs of the people. And so that's even how we created OPC it's like, there's a ton of people out there who would like the convenience of an on demand platform, but they really love some things, but in person, and how can we do that? And so I just think that if you are out there trying to figure out something new, it's, it's the...

Brad Crowell 13:35  

Well, look, I think, also take a step back and look at your industry as if you weren't in your industry. (Lesley: Yeah) right? Because what she said is, in a spa world, you walk into a spa, someone steps out of the room, and then you get naked. And then you lay on a table and that's not normal. (Lesley: Right) But in a spa world, that's what they do. So like, you don't think anything about it. And she said, "What if they didn't have to do that? Would that allow some other people to access this? And feel more comfortable about participating in it?" Right? So it's funny, we we go, we just like get in the world of this. And we just, you know, like, this is just the way it is in our thing. (Lesley: Well...) And she's like, "Well, what if it doesn't have to be?" So that's another way to look at, you know, the gap.

Lesley Logan 14:27  

And also, like, I think a lot of people think I have to create something that's never been done before. But the reality is, is actually where all the money is, and like we have a lot of friends who are entrepreneurs to get to see this. Creating something unique within a market that already exist is going to be 10, like it's act there's a reason why there's a million frickin' beers out there. So, Lori Harder, (Brad: Right) Lori and Chris harder were coaches of ours years ago, and I got to be in the same room as she was coming up with this idea, this drink that you want to make, and she is making a beverage as a sparkling Rosé and then there's also a non alcoholic one, because she's like, "I want to hang out with my girlfriends. And sometimes I don't want something heavy, and I don't want something high calorie." And she's like, "I feel like there's no drink beverage out there that is making it easy for women who want to have some fun with their girlfriends, but don't want to wake up the next day regretting that fun, or for the women who don't drink, but they want to feel like they're having the same beverage, they can be at the same environment, the same things." And so,

Brad Crowell 15:26  

Yeah, (Lesley: so) so she's not reinventing the wheel of (Lesley: No) making a drink? (Lesley: No) But she's making a variation or a differentiator on that drink. (Lesley: Yeah) By identifying like, "Well, when I'm doing this thing, this is my struggle. This is my, this is where I'm missing. You know, I wish there was X."

Lesley Logan 15:44  

Yeah. So, I think that like it is it... you might be going around going, "I have to create something so different." No. Like Brad said, like, take a look outside and like ask questions that someone who doesn't understand what ask and then what are the questions you keep getting asked or one of the frustrations you keep hearing, and then create that. And it's really cool. I got to be honest, it's scary. When we were making our thing, I definitely was worried like who's gonna buy this? And of course, I got the questions about people wanting "the thing" that we weren't offering and I had to be okay with being like, "I'm not offering the thing that you want. And that's okay." Right. (Brad: Right) And for Megan, like, if you do want the three hour spa experience with the champagne and the robes and the whole thing, those places do exist. And you can you can go there. (Brad Yeah) You're also very welcome at The Layer Lounge. Okay. (Brad: Yeah) What did you love that she said?

So I kind of already hinted at it, but entrepreneurial resilience. She, she was like, wow, I didn't remember, you know, (Thank you Gaia, I love you, too.) I didn't remember all of the, you know, the trials and the long hours and all the things, you know, of running your own business, like she had experienced before until she was back in it. And then she was like, "Oh, right. Yeah, I don't really get to take weekends off." (Lesley: I don't get to get paid) You know, until (Lesley laughs) I don't even get to get paid until it's like actually moving forward, you know, when you can replace yourself in that kind of thing. And I, I think that one of the one of having having now started, you know, dozens of companies over the past, you know, almost 20 years, the, one of the hardest thing to deal with, as an entrepreneur is when you missed the mark. (Lesley: Yeah) And, you know, whatever that might be, whether you didn't open the doors on the same, in the day that you had planned, you know, or whether you had created a product that didn't, didn't sell, or, you know, or whatever, you made a mistake, I mean, any any of those kinds of things. When you are in a, an employment scenario, presumably you have someone holding you accountable to this kind of stuff. And like, you know, there's some kind of ramification and whatever that might be for, that will keep you accountable. When you're an entrepreneur, it's you, (Lesley: Yeah) right, or maybe you have a partner, you know, but you know, to when you are going through this kind of, like, hopefully you have a manager or a boss, if you're an employee who will sit down and have a tough conversation with you, and then show you where you went wrong, or what you could be doing better or whatever, and encouraging you and helping you then go and do this again, and get you through to become better at what it is you're doing. When you're an entrepreneur, you don't necessarily have that unless you get coaching, by the way. (Lesley: Yeah) You know, but you don't necessarily have that all the time. And it's, it's hard to go, like, "Wow, that sucked. How can we do it better? Or how can we move forward?" And, and, and whatever the thing might be to make it better? (Lesley: Yeah) It's hard to have that objective perspective and that (Lesley: Well, that's where the resilience comes in) is that entrepreneurial resilience, (Lesley: And I ...) exactly.

I think you, I think we have gotten better at going, "Okay, that didn't go to plan." And not taking it personally, which is like another thing, but I ...

Brad Crowell 19:21  

Yeah, that's a huge part of it.

Lesley Logan 19:23  

... especially (Brad: huge part of it) when it's especially because for us, like all of these businesses have my frickin' face on them. (Lesley laughs) And it's like, it's hard not to take it personally. And people are like, "No, I don't want that." It's like, "Oh, (Brad: oh, sure.) Oh, sure but it's not me." It's you don't want that business and that's okay. But like you have to whatever you're doing, even if it's a personal brand or a product brand, it is important that you have that entrepreneurial resilience and that you you can't take it personally because it's not personal. It's not personal. It could be that they don't trust themselves to do the thing that you're offering. And so it's not personal at all, they're just saying, "That's not going to work for me." And that's because they they know themselves enough to know, "I don't follow through with those kinds of things." And that's okay. (Lesley laughs)

Brad Crowell 20:10  

This circles back to Megan, with the gap in the industry that she's filling where it's, it's a spa experience that you can come in on your lunch break. And, you know, and enjoy. And that might not be for everyone. (Lesley: Right) Right? So, but that's her innovative idea. And she has created a really fun space to be in. And the experience that you get is a spa experience for your face. But maybe not the experience of like, you know, like Lesley mentioned the champagne and like, you know, all that kind of stuff. And if someone rejects that saying, "No, I want that big thing." Like Megan's not going to take that personally, because she knows who she's for, (Lesely: Yeah) you know, and so she can say, "Okay, it's fine. This is not for you and that's okay." (Lesley: Yeah) Right. And that's, you know, but but you're totally right, taking it personally, you know, beating yourself up to, you know, that, that resilience, moving moving the ball forward, without, you know, hanging yourself out the dry.

Lesley Logan 21:14  

I think it's a rep scheme, you know, like it like, it would be, I think it'd be very, very rare human that in the beginning of your business, then you have any debt you didn't take personally, like, it's gonna be hard like, or at least on a bad day. So it's okay, if you've taken some things personally, I want you to know that where what happens is, the more you put yourself out there, the more you market your business, the more you do that. The more you realize, Brad has a course on this called 200 No's, like, the more you realize it's a numbers game. Like Megan (Brad: Totally) said, "It's a numbers game." And so, really, like, you're gonna get rejected way more often than people are gonna say "yes" to you. And for most businesses, that's actually okay. If every single when I was teaching Pilates in my studio if every single person I ever came across said "yes" to me. I probably (Lesley laughs) would've gone crazy. And I probably had a lot of clients I didn't like so it's actually okay, that I only had the 15 clients for years that loved me. (Brad: Yeah) Loved me. And also because they love me, they weren't luke warm. They told everybody about me, and not everybody that they told wanted to come, but the ones that did were freaking awesome. (Brad: Yeah) So anyways,

Yeah, that's super true.

All right, well, good luck on that resilience. Keep trying. (Lesley laughs)

Brad Crowell 22:29  

Alright, finally, let's talk about the BE IT action items. What bold, executable, intrinsic or targeted action items can we take away from your convo with Megan Linney? So she said something very, I was gonna say, layered, but it's not layered. It's just profound. She said, "Self care is the cure." (Lesley: Yeah) And she's she, you know, obviously, she believes it so much that she's worked in the self care industry for a long time, and open her own business in that world. But self care doesn't always I...100% think that self care can include a spa or you know, a haircut, or your nails or a facial or whatever. But it's also like that self care is, you know, taking a break, (Lesley: Mm-hmm) you know, getting up from your computer, walking around the block, you know, getting some vitamin D from the sun. And, and it's when I think that there's this weird misconception, (Thank you Gaia for participating.) there's this weird misconception that, you know, going out and, you know, treating yourself (Lesley: Yeah) is somehow frivolous or (Lesley: Yeah) you know, like, oh, that's money that you could have save.

Lesley Logan 23:51  

It has to be a reward of some kind, like ...

Right. Or has to be or we associated with like, you know, you scored a goal in your game now we're gonna go you know, I don't know, get (Lesley: Yeah) go to the park, something ...

But like, it's like, as an adult, it's like, oh, okay, well, you went to the gym every day. You said you were now you can go to the spa. No, like you can you get to self care should absolutely be like drinking water, and sleep, and all the things that we do for ourselves, brushing your teeth. That's what and if we think about how, like, they have shown that stress is like the cause of 99% of illnesses. Well, then the opposite of that is self care, you know?

Brad Crowell 24:27  

Yeah, yeah. And I, I, I didn't actually know that.

Lesley Logan 24:32  

Oh, yeah. It's a whole thing. (Brad: 99%). Yeah, they there's a whole thing that's like 99% of all illnesses and diseases are caused by stress, because stress raises your cortisol levels, which I mean, I've seen the infomercials that also increases belly fat. (Lesley laughs) But it's it keeps you from. So here's how it happens. So stress causes your stomach to not do digestion, which causes bloating and increased and discomfort when you don't go through di... digestive cycle, you are also starting to affect your sleep cycle. And if you're not sleeping, then you also then don't digest and it becomes this vicious cycle. So if you're not digesting, then you're not absorbing nutrients. If you're not absorbing nutrients, you don't have the things that you need to walk around on this earth with the a bit like the same abilities as anybody else does. And when you're not having that nutrition, you're constantly not getting those things, then of course, other things can happen and it just becomes this like vicious spiral. Ah downward spiral. So yeah ...

Brad Crowell 25:32  

Yeah. Okay, well ... (Lesley laughs)

Lesley Logan 25:35  

Anyways, we can dive into that another. I'll have a doctor on, well, I've already had one, we've had Dr. Bender, but (Brad: Yeah) we'll be back to talk about stress. (Lesley laughs)

Brad Crowell 25:42  

Yeah, yeah. So you know what, with self care, Megan really believes that it is the cure of all the things you know, and and I know, that's something that I personally am not very good at (Lesley: Yeah) is self care. You know, like, like I was talking about before, "I'll sleep when I'm dead." (Lesley: Yeah) That's terrible mentality.

Lesley Logan 26:05  

I don't think, I don't think most, I don't know maybe this is a Western thing. But I don't think most people are actually really good at self care. Because we have been told, like, push harder, no pain, no gain, keep going. Like, you'll sleep when you're dead.

Brad Crowell 26:16  

The harder you work, the better you'll be, you know.

Lesley Logan 26:18  

There was this whole, like, reward or like, what is it like getting bonus points for like, "I only slept four hours last (Brad: Yeah) night or whatever." And like, the reality is, is that ...

"I'm so busy. Oh, me too." Like, that's like a badge of honor somehow.

Yes, exa... and I, what I can say is, I'm healthier today, because of all the self care that I do. And most of the issues that I was having with my that caused my stomach issues back in 2013 was how much I was overworking because I couldn't actually afford the move I made to LA and so I had to like double down and I was not taking care of myself anymore. Like I had before then and so anyways, I do agree be it till you see it - "Self care, self care is the cure" was such a great I mean re li... Y'all re listen to that will ... of that because it was like chills, and like such a great reminder. You might need to like replay it for yourself when you're like debating whether or not you should do this other thing or take care of yourself first.

Yeah, well, yes, agreed, 100%. What did what was your BE IT action item, taken away from the convo with Megan?

Well, she also mentioned "Stay curious" and I think that can be really hard if you like to know the answers to things (Lesley laughs) you know, like ah, but that curiosity she mentioned because I was like, I was like, "Oh yeah, curiosity killed the cats like and satisfaction brought it back" and I was like, "I've never heard that before." And I just, I think it's just really you know, we've had other guests mention some version of curiosity in their BE IT action items. And it seems to be this like overarching theme. And I do think that it's not easy to be curious because again, we're used to we're told to find an answer that's what we're like trained to do in school. But if you can, if you can play a curiosity game if you could, if you could do like some things that I think for curiosity sake and you're like, "Wouldn't it be cool if or stupid idea time?" Or you know, like, just like having fun, you know, children like find joy and wonder and the weirdest thing is like, try that if curiosity is difficult for you, but I really did love it and I had I'm so grateful now. I know, I now know that satisfaction brought it back. (Lesley laughs)

Brad Crowell 28:39  

Yeah, that was I also didn't, I didn't I'd never heard that before either. (Lesley: Yeah) And, and I think that's great. And you know, that satisfaction brought it back makes me think about my obsession with Wikipedia. (Brad laughs) Because whatever I'm like, "I don't know that word or I don't know that thing. Or what is this thing?" I just like ... ... and I get the satisfaction of getting a response. 

Lesley Logan 29:03  

Oh my gosh, okay, can we just take a moment for curiosity? I'll only have a moment. But, so Brad and I listen to these podcasts and on it's from a whole media and on several different podcasts are bringing up Machine Gun Kelly and Megan ... (Brad laughs) What's her name? (Brad: Fox) Fox. And you know, like, I, I'm some, I don't know how but I like somehow, through osmosis, I keep up on some popular trends ...

And I've seen Transformers so I know who Megan Fox (Lesley: Yeah) is, but I don't have a clue who Machine Gun Kelly is.

And also like, when I listening to the podcast, we don't listen together. I wasn't thinking, "Oh, Brad's not going to understand this. Maybe I should tell him who these people are." Right? So anyways, I'm sitting in the office, I'm working and Brad goes, "Okay, I had to frickin' look up who Machine Gun Kelly and Megan Fox is." And he literally starts reading out loud the story of how they got together. Who Megan Fox was married to before. Her love life, what we now know of it, and then he goes, "Okay, I'm satisfied." (Lesley laughs) So curiosity does not have to be in business. (Brad laughs) It doesn't have to be physically like health related, it can 100% ... (Brad: I closed the loop.) Yeah, it can just be about closing the loop. (Brad: Yeah) So if you hear something on a podcast and it makes you curious, go look it up. You know, like, the worst case scenario is you last five minutes to Machine Gun Kelly and Megan Fox's love life. (Brad laughs) But that like now, it's kind of like, what was that tiger show? Tiger King? (Brad: Oh, yeah) it's like, we now know who Carol is? Right? So we get the things (Brad: Oh, yeah) sometimes just have to go, "What is people talking about?" Anyways, I friggin' love Megan. I'm so grateful that we know her. I'm grateful that she took time out of her busy life to do this podcast and, and I really enjoyed the whole conversation. I hope y'all did too.

Brad Crowell 30:52  

Yeah. Awesome.

Lesley Logan 30:53  

I'm Lesley Logan.

Brad Crowell 30:54  

And, I'm Brad Crowell.

Lesley Logan 30:55  

Thank you so much for joining us today. We are so grateful you're here. Happy New Year. May this be just so much fun for you. I'm in a very curious year, a layered year. How are you going to use these tips in your life? Let us know by sending us a DM to the pod on Instagram and tag @thelayerlounge. Tag @be_it_pod and we'll catch you on the next episode.

Brad Crowell 31:14  

Looking forward to it. Bye.

Lesley Logan 31:18  

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 podcasts. Also, make sure to introduce yourself over at the @be_it_pod on Instagram. I would love to know more about you. Share this episode with whoever you think needs to hear it. Help us and others BE IT TILL YOU SEE IT. Have an awesome day!

'Be It Till You See It' is a production of 'As The Crows Fly Media'.

Brad Crowell 31:51  

It's written produced, filmed and recorded by your host Lesley Logan and me, Brad Crowell. Our Associate Producer is Amanda Frattarelli.

Lesley Logan 32:02  

Kevin Perez at Disenyo handles all of our audio editing.

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

Special thanks to our designer Jaira Mandal for creating all of our visuals (which you can't see because this is a podcast) and our digital producer, Jay Pedroso for editing all video each week so you can.

Brad Crowell 32:27  

And to Angelina Herico for transcribing each of our episodes, so you can find them on our website. And, finally to Meridith Crowell for keeping us all on point and on time.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai

Are you looking for a way to make a mark in your current industry? Do you feel like all your thoughts have already been done? In this episode, Megan Linney and Lesley Logan discuss how to find your industry disruptor, the importance of community building, and where curiosity can take you. 

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 evolution of starting your next thing
• Entrepreneur reliance 
• Valuing and forming relationships with people around you to form you “team”. 
• Not getting stuck on “no”. 
• Industry disruptors 
• The chip on your shoulder, used as a why
• Listening to the concerns and gaps in your industry to create something new

Episode References/Links:

• Instagram
• The Layer Lounge Website
• Visit at 1104 S 3rd St, Las Vegas, NV 89104

Guest Bio:

Through finding the gaps in the beauty and wellness industry, Megan Linney a licensed Esthetician, Massage Therapist, and Spa Executive, created the The Luxury Lounge. She spends her days making friends and creating a community of people comfortable to trust her with their self-care. 

OPC Flashcards:

• OPC Flashcards are on Amazon
• OPC Flashcards are on our site

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.

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

Social Media

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Tik Tok
• LinkedIn

Episode Transcript:

From the road, LL and Brad discuss the power in the narrative we create for ourselves and the importance of making “the thing” time-bound.

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:

• Creating a business doing what you love
• The stories we tell ourselves
• Saying your story out loud 
• Making your “thing” time-bound 
• Using accountability to initiate 

Episode References/Links:

• Agency Mini
• OPC Blog

OPC Flashcards:

• OPC Flashcards are on Amazon
• OPC Flashcards are on our site

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.

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

Social Media

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Tik Tok
• LinkedIn

Episode Transcript:

Lesley Logan 0:01  

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 guests 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.

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 innovative convo I had with Taylor Smith in the 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. (do do do) Oh, right. Okay, so y'all, Happy Merry Christmas. We're past the Christmas holiday. I'm, if you're listening to this, it means you survived. So, good job. We are also really excited because this means we opened the Agency Mini number six doors. (woo woo woo)

Brad Crowell 1:21  

Yeah, we have.

Lesley Logan 1:22  

So we are doing our sixth Agency Mini, end of January. It's January 23, through the 29th. It is our seven day coaching program for fitness business professionals. All you Pilates instructors know and love it. And we're really excited, the space is limited. And it is the early bird time when this comes out ...

Brad Crowell 1:42  

Yeah. That means that there's a hookup.

Lesley Logan 1:44  

It's the hookup. And you know you are welcome to wait. (Lesley laughs) But we hope you don't (Brad: You can) you can, you can, if you, if you'd like living on the edge and seeing if something sells out or paying more you might as well but you can go to profitablepilates.com/mini.

Brad Crowell 2:00  

profitablepilates.com/mini

Lesley Logan 2:03  

M I N I. And snag your spot. Tell a friend who's a fitness professional about it. It's really super fun. We only offer it twice a year and ...

Brad Crowell 2:10  

And it's going to be a snippet into our ongoing coaching program for fitness business professionals. (Lesley: Yeah) And it's it's gonna be a whirlwind. It's gonna be very revealing for you in your business to see you know what you could do with your business. And you're going to love it. It's going to be really amazing. (Lesley: Yeah) So come join us.

Lesley Logan 2:33  

Yeah, and we're on our way to Miami. (Brad: Yeah, we are.) We're going going back. Oh, that's back to Cali sorry. That's a wrong song. (Brad laughs) But anyways, we're going to Miami and I'm so excited to see our friends and to teach on a rooftop. So, if you are in Florida (Brad: Yeah. The middle of ...) (Lesley and Brad laughs) That's the song. Come join us at Philaton. We're gonna be on their rooftop for a sunset class.

Brad Crowell 2:58  

Yeah, on the 30th. (Lesley: Yeah) Yeah. So if you're trying to figure that out, go to onlinepilatesclasses.com/tour. (Lesley: Yep, yep, yep) Yeah, come join us and it's gonna be great.

Lesley Logan 3:10  

I'm so excited. I'm friggin' loving this trip. I mean, we... in full disclosure, y'all, we are recording this pre trip so we have no idea how cold we're gonna be, hot we're gonna be comfortable ...

Brad Crowell 3:19  

No, I know. I know. (Lesley laughs) I literally done all the forecasts (Lesley: Okay) of every day that we're gonna stay in the van.

Lesley Logan 3:25  

And well, because we have an audience question from Erika Quest.

Brad Crowell 3:28  

Well, the coldest that it's going to be is going to be 22 degrees.

Lesley Logan 3:31  

Which is way warmer (Brad: Yeah) than our last year's trip. (Lesley laughs)

Brad Crowell 3:35  

That actually should be tonight. (Lesley: Oh, okay) Meaning, we're gonna be in Durango, Colorado.

Lesley Logan 3:42  

So, if you're listening to this in real time where you're going to go back in time we've already (Brad: Yeah) done this. (Lesley laughs) (Brad: Yeah)

Brad Crowell 3:48  

So you can ask us how that went. (Brad: Yeah) And then the the when we get, by the time we get down to Miami it's gonna be you know, higher than the 30's is gonna be fun. (Lesley: Yeah) Also, we'll have a house down there.

Lesley Logan 3:59  

Yeah, well, Erika Quest wanted to know. (Brad: Oh, good ole E-Q) (Brad laughs) Yeah, she wants to know ....

Brad Crowell 4:07  

Is the van insulated?

Lesley Logan 4:09  

Like, does she have to worry because do you know I don't think I told you this. When we were staying the night in Vail last year which is our first night in the van and y'all we literally drove it off the lot, filled it up with all of our stuff and then took off for the East Coast and we went on like December 4th, it was like so early in December. It was eight degrees in Vail and (Brad: Yes, it was) we were actually pretty solid until August. Stood up from underneath the covers turned around and then just basically took all the covers off of us and we both like it's so fucking cold! (Lesley laughs)

Brad Crowell 4:38  

Yeah, it was it was definitely cold weather camping where you only were willing to get your, your oval of the top of your face out from some like you know, hoodies and blankets and things. Plus we had tons of blankets and three mobile space heaters I like to call them. Aka, the dogs and then August messed the whole thing up at four in the morning by standing up in the middle of the night and stretching, spinning around in a circle. (Lesley: Yeah) And laying back down (Lesley: Yeah) well, while proceeding to pull (Lesley: all of our covers off) all the blankets off ...

Lesley Logan 5:11  

And once they were off, it was too cold. But anyways, back to my story, Erika Quest woke up in the middle of night thinking we were cold. She had a dream that we were really cold. (Brad: When?) On that same night, (Brad: No way, that's weird) Yeah, she texted me. And she texted me it was the that morning. And she's like, "I woke up to a nightmare. I, did, are you guys warm enough? I had a dream that you were really cold." And I said, "Well, that's so crazy, because we were fine. We were totally fine and tell August stood up." So anyways, Erika Quest, Brad did insulate the van.

Brad Crowell 5:47  

The van is insulated, it is ready to go. Well, if you want to read along to our journey, our progress on the van, you can do that on the onlinepilatesclasses.com/blog. And you can actually see pictures and read about what we're working on there. So that's going to be a long, but very fun project. And we hope you join us for the journey.

Lesley Logan 6:10  

Yeah, hopefully it's not as long as it sounds, but hopefully ... (Lesley laughs)

Brad Crowell 6:14  

I mean, we're definitely a year could be longer than that. We'll see. Yeah. (Lesley laughs) Okay. All right. Let's talk about Taylor Smith. (Lesley: Yeah, Taylor) Okay, so Tay... Taylor is a, she is a teacher-turned CEO, and is currently running a handmade sticker shop, Studio, Shop Studio Sisters on Etsy and is teaching others how to create a six figure salary doing specifically what they love.

Lesley Logan 6:49  

Isn't it so cool? I thought it was so cool. She and her sister make, made enough on Etsy to quit their in air quotes "real jobs," and do what they love. And then because they figured it out, they're teaching other people to do it. And I of course, I'm obsessed with that, because that's what we do. But um, I just, I just love I don't know, I just think it's so great. There's like, no stop if you want to do something. And and you do want to make it your living like literally you can make sticker making a living. And I did go on to Etsy for stickers. And it's not like she has no competition, y'all. There is so much competition on the sticker front. It's crazy. So, I'm super excited about them, what their doing. 

Brad Crowell 7:28  

They definitely was a little shocking that that is the what they make is only stickers and they're all handmade. And they basically, that's what they do now. (Lesley: I know) Is stickers. So that that was like, I listening to her share, like how the timing of it all was also really incredible. If you didn't listen to this, go back and (Lesley: Yeah) figure out like, when did they start? The beginning of COVID. And within four months, within three months, she said she knew she should be quitting her job. (Lesley: Yeah) And focusing on stickers full time.

Lesley Logan 8:09  

Yeah. Which is really cool. And also, like, very interesting. I didn't realize when we were scheduling this, but our next week's guest also started her company, right around the same time as the beginning of COVID. And so it's like, you can think of, of that being like the worst time but if you can, if you have something unique and different, and you have belief and, and perseverance. (Lesley laughs) It's kind of amazing what you can do. So, okay, um, one of the things I thought she loved was, well, there's so many things we talked about, and I was really excited about but I really enjoyed her bringing up the story we tell ourselves that others will think about us. And I think that this is really interesting, because if anyone has ever taken the story that they're telling in their head about what others will say and just say it out loud. I think it really does diminish its power. Because there are some I mean, we all tell ourselves different stories. You know, like I even I remember even when we moved here, I was like, "Oh my God, what are people going to think? We, we went from this tiny house to a really big hou... We went from a tiny, tiny, tiny apartment to this big (Brad: Yeah, 500 square feet.) Yeah, to to this massive space?" And, "Are people going to, like judge us? Were they going to think about us?" And what in the world, people were so excited about it, but in my head, I just was like, "Oh my God, people are gonna think that like, we ran out (Lesley laughs) this money, which we didn't do." But like, I don't know ...

Brad Crowell 9:31  

Wait, what? I'm sorry. What?

Lesley Logan 9:33  

I know. I just thought like, "Oh my gosh, I don't want, I don't want to feel like I'm, I didn't I thought it would come off as bragging." Like, "This is my new house." When really it was like, literally literally the same bills. (Lesley laughs) We just moved. But like I just in my head, I had this weird story I was telling myself what others would think about our move. And it was so dumb because as soon as I said out loud as you can hear it's like such a ridiculous story but we tell the stories to ourselves, and we believe that because thoughts become facts. And so it's just really important. I think, I'm grateful that she brought this up. And I hope if you're listening this whatever story, you're telling yourself, I challenge you to say it out loud and actually, like, listen to the story. (Lesley laughs) Because you'll probably laugh about it. Like, it's kind of it's really hysterical. Like, what I was telling myself, year and a half ago. (Lesley laughs)

Brad Crowell 10:01  

Yeah, I think I think that when we, we begin to believe the stories that we're telling ourselves, and that's the crux of the issue is where we actually that that confidence, you know, when you see someone walk in a room, and they're, and you and you're like, "Wow, that person, they've got it together, they know what they're doing." You know, that's a, that's the way they see themselves. (Lesley: Mm-hmm) You know, that's the story they're telling themselves. (Lesley: Yeah) And so if you have a story, that you're telling yourself, that you're not worth it or not worthy, or no one should follow you, or listen to you, or whatever it might be. You know, when when you're out there interacting with people, you're actually you're, you might not be verbally sharing that story. But you may be mentally sharing that story, your body language, the way, the way you phrase sentences, the, you know, the way your face is emoting things, you're telling a story as well. (Lesley: Yeah) You know, so it's really important that we have a positive conversation with ourselves. (Lesley: Yeah) So that when we're interacting with others, they're sensing that too. Now, I know that you can also like, you know, that's, that's something where it could be fake it till you make it, right, where it gets weird. And there's all sorts of fascinating stories about people, you know, like ...

Lesley Logan 11:50  

Well, but that's for like, that's where is Be It Till You See It because like ... (Brad: I was gonna say) after saying it like, I just remember. So this is my brainwave, everyone, like, as soon as we're talking about this, I remember when I was in retail, this one guy, he would come in, and he was having, his personal life was a hot mess. But you would never know it because he'd walk in. As soon as he crossed the threshold of the store, his eyes would light up, his heart would lift. And he's like, "Oh, I tell myself it's showtime," and I, (Brad: Oh, yeah) he doesn't walk, he struts (Lesley laughs) all the way up. And he would have the (Brad: He chasse's) best sales, 100%. And, and so in that moment, I learned something, when I became a sales, and I started managing that store that was like something that I told myself. And then (Brad: Yeah) when I became a Pilates instructor, oh my God, my first time I had to teach a lot of people was when my mentor literally called me up. She's like, "I'm locked out of my apartment. I've got my dog. I can't make it to the gym. (Brad laughs) Can you teach my class?" And I was like, "Yeah, yeah, I can go teach your class." (Brad laughs) And she has been teaching for like, 20 years at this point, right? And so I go to, I've been teaching like, six months. And I've never taught more than, like, seven people at once. And, and so I go to teach this group class for her. And of course, everyone is like, disappointed because it's not her and I'm like, "she's locked out." But in that moment, I didn't fake it till I make it. I didn't know I was being till I see, cuz I didn't know that phrase existed. But I did say, "Okay, if I knew how to teach 30 people at one time. What would that look like? How would that feel? What would that be like?" And I just frickin' did that. And that, within seven minutes, someone smiled. And like, I was like, "Okay, we're good." (Lesley laughs) So, but honestly, it was the story I told myself. I told myself, I could do it. I told myself that I had these feelings and things. And if I had told myself a story, like, "Oh, my God, everyone's gonna think I'm a fraud. Everyone's gonna think I don't know what's going on. Everyone's gonna wonder what like, you know, like, like, "why the hell is she even a teacher?" No one's gonna come take sessions with we. I would have sucked. (Brad: Yeah) I can tell you that right now. (Brad: Yeah) So anyways.

Brad Crowell 13:56  

I mean, I actually totally relate to the, totally relate to the moment of your, you know, fellow fellow employee hitting the floor, because when I worked in restaurants, that was exactly the way that I was trained by one of my closest friends growing up. He said, "Whenever you pass through this doorway, you know, which was the kitchen into the restaurant floor. There is a smile on your face. (Lesley: Yeah) There's no other option." And I was like, "Oh, yeah." And then then I learned that when I was, you know, 17. And so I took that with me for the rest of my time working in restaurants.

Lesley Logan 14:33  

And it really does change. Like if you are having a bad day, and you're going into work, and you just keep going, "I'm having a bad day. I'm having a bad day." You are going to just have the frickin' worst day but if you go, "Okay, today has the opportunity for awesomeness." (Brad: Yeah) (Lesley laughs)

Brad Crowell 14:46  

And what a, what a, you know, what a position to be dropped in where you're like, "I'm teaching the class (Lesley: I'm teaching this...) today." Okay. Yeah. Good for you. (Brad laughs)

Lesley Logan 14:56  

Yeah. So anyways, just the thing, the fact is, I really did love that she brought up about the stories we tell ourselves or other people think, truly tell yourself a different story. That's the coolest thing about stories, you could just tell a new one. I mean, like, it's, you know, that's what stories are for. So what did you love?

Brad Crowell 15:12  

Okay, so she said that the importance of holding yourself, she talked about, sorry, the importance of holding yourself or having someone hold you accountable to your time off. (Lesley: Oh, do do do) (Lesley laughs) And I know, the reason that this was a thing for her was because she's in business with her sister. (Lesley: Mm-hmm) So presumably, she's around her sister often. And the two of them kind of trade off, checking out, you know, like, because because she also said that they work on different time schedules. (Lesley: Yeah) Because her sister is a super early riser, like up at four or five in the morning, and then working on design. And that made me laugh, because (Lesley: Yeah) I know someone like that. (Lesley laughs) So do you all. (Lesley: That's me) That's Lesley. Yeah. So you know, and then obviously, she works hard all day. And then I'm also, I'm on a totally different time zone, or time schedule. Where I get up later, and I stay up later. And so what we've identified is that the best time for us to be having the brainstorm sessions or whatever, is actually the middle of the day. And that's when both of our brains are firing at full capacity. But it's very easy for, you know, her to ask me questions about, you know, things the second that I wake up and me to ask her questions about things after she's checked off for the night. And so we have to be, you know, respectful of each other's time and boundaries. (Lesley: Yeah) With taking the evening off, or, you know, (Lesley: Yeah) sitting down and having breakfast, kind of a thing.

Lesley Logan 16:02  

Yeah, when, and it's not easy, but if you, it also is a work in progress, always. Because sometimes I get great ideas at like, 7pm. And then it's like, "Well, now I've just opened up the door to work." (Lesley laughs) But, um, but you know, having that person to be like, "Hey, let's just enjoy the walk." Or "Hey, can you put that in your ideas parking lot?" And, and also the, also the understanding that you can say it back like, "Hey, I'm actually off work right now. I love this idea. Can you (Brad: Yeah) just put it on another? (Brad: Yeah) Can you just set aside time to work on it?" So ...

Brad Crowell 17:23  

Yeah, and unless it's a time sensitive thing, you know, that's always a thing that can be like, "Oh, yeah, of course 100%. Yeah, I'll throw that down. And we can discuss it tomorrow." You know, so yeah. (Lesley: Yeah) And that's, so that, I love that because I thought, well, first off, I live that, but also to I, I saw my parents do this. They've worked together and they still work together. Like, they've been married for 40 years. My mom started working when I was 12 years old. So you know, 14 years in to their relationship. So it's been, you know, basically 25 years of them working together or a little more. And, you know, when they, when dinner was ready, when it was dinnertime. It was, they were, I don't think I ever heard him talk about work, you know. So that was also something that (Lesley: That's amazing) was a good example. (Lesley: That's amazing) Yeah, it was a very rare occasion. Like, I mean, you know, most of my life, I guess I knew what my dad did. I just knew that he was an accountant, (Lesley laughs) but I never actually heard any of the specifics of it, you know, (Lesley: Yeah) during the day, even though they worked together. (Lesley: Yeah) So ...

Lesley Logan 18:35  

That's cool. I like that. Well, (Brad: Yeah. All right.) here we go, something for us to keep working on. Okay.

Brad Crowell 18:40  

Let's talk about the BE IT action items from your conversation with Taylor Smith. What bold, executable, intrinsic or targeted action items can we take away from your interview with her? I'm just going to jump in. The one, one thing she said towards the end was to make "the thing", right, because she started a sticker company and that's, you know, like, to me that seems like that, "Okay, that's, that's surprising." I would, I don't think that would have been my thing, by by any means. But make "the thing", whatever yours is, time bound. (Lesley: Mm-hmm) Okay, and this this is so important for whether you're starting a company or you want to read a book. I mean, it doesn't matter what "the thing" is. If you don't associate a deadline with it, (Lesley: Yeah) it will always be just something that you want to do instead of something that you're going to do.

Lesley Logan 19:43  

Well, I think we and I've talked about this before it's it's okay to move the time-boundness you put on it. (Brad: Yeah, I think that's true) If you have an honest conversation, "Why am I moving this time?" Like we wanted to have the profitablepilates.com website up. Think it was in frickin' March. It didn't get done until the summer. But it wasn't because we weren't working on it. It's just because as we were working on it, "the time", we're like, "Oh, this is a bigger project than we actually anticipated. We're going to need X amount of more days to do it." So ...

Brad Crowell 20:14  

We also decided to add functions and make it (Lesley: Yeah) fancy and do all sorts of stuff, right? So ...

Lesley Logan 20:19  

So as long as you're actually taking action on it, if you need to move "the time", it's fine. But having the time bound piece part actually makes you take some action. And if you don't take action, you won't have clarity. So ...

Brad Crowell 20:33  

Yeah, I think it's also like, like, I went back to, when we started learning Khmer (Lesley: Yeah) you know, we had a weekly class with our teacher, (Lesley: I miss that so much) I miss it too, actually a lot. We had a weekly class with our teacher and that time bound, you know, class seems very obvious, but, you know, it forced us to study, it forced us to go do it, it forced us to be in it, to (Lesley: Yeah) practice it, to think about it, right. And that's something we signed ourselves up for, obviously, but you know, I, there's a, there, it changes the game, when you have a deadline associated with it.

Lesley Logan 21:14  

Well, and it's an actually, that's, I think, you can really start to figure out like, if one of the things you are as a procrastinator, a perfectionist, (Brad and Lesley laughs) by by setting aside some time slots, having things scheduled, it really does help you take that action and at least see if you like something, it's also okay to do the thing during the times that you said and go, "I don't really like this." Great, now you know, (Brad: Yeah) now it's no longer taking up space in your brain.

Brad Crowell 21:41  

Yeah, I love it. Well, what about you?

Lesley Logan 21:43  

My biggest takeaway, so I really like this one because it's really comes natural to me. But this is, is not always about me. So let me explain this. (Brad laughs) So she said, "Be the initiator in your life." And I don't think that comes easy for a lot of people. And I, and I also think depending on where you are, mentally, that could be really hard. But I do still love this and what I am hoping to say is, if you can't be the initiator in your life on something, you actually do truly want to do, like you've done, you know it like this isn't like a should do. This isn't like something you think you got to do, because everyone else is doing it. This is like, you want to do this, but you're struggling with the initiation because enter perfectionist have some form of it here. Or maybe if some mental health going on, that makes you a little harder, right? You, my challenge to you is to add on, or find someone to help you take that first next step. So that could be a coach. Right? Like, especially if you are financially invested in something, (Lesley laughs) you'll be surprised how much initiation you'll take. Or it could be having an accountability partner, could be some just talent being it till you see it literally because then people are gonna be like, "Hey, how's that thing going?" And so I there's different ways to be the initiator in your life and, or get initiation to be on there for you to help you take some action. And so if it doesn't come naturally to you, one of my top five strengths is activator. So it becomes ver... I get really frustrated, if I can't just take action, like couldn't drive me more crazy, but but if that isn't you. Let's brainstorm some ideas of ways that you can be the initiator in your life because the other, the alternative is you just waiting.

Brad Crowell 22:20  

Yeah. I mean, well, it's kind of like what we were talking about with the deadlines. And you know, also "the thing", the importance of having someone hold you accountable to we said time off, but just hold you accountable in general. (Lesley: Yeah) You know, and, and I think but you know, I think also the, the, when you want something you'll you'll you will be willing to make change to make that thing happen. (Lesley: Yeah) You know, and so it, it really does depend on how, how much you want (Lesley: Yeah) the thing.

Lesley Logan 23:34  

Yeah. And I think that's also interesting to figure out. Like, if you're not actually like, if you're like nodding along with this, and then you're still not initiating something. You may want to do a deep dive on, if you want that thing or not. (Brad: Yeah) Yeah. I'm Lesley Logan.

Brad Crowell 24:25  

And, I'm Brad Crowell.

Lesley Logan 24:26  

Thank you so much for joining us today. We are so freakin' grateful for you. What a year it's been. How are you going to use these tips in your life? Let us know by sending us a DM to the pod on Instagram and we'll catch you on the next episode.

Brad Crowell 24:37  

Bye for now.

Lesley Logan 24:40  

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 podcasts. Also, make sure to introduce yourself over at the @be_it_pod on Instagram. I would love to know more about you. Share this episode with whoever you think needs to hear it. Help us and others BE IT TILL YOU SEE IT. Have an awesome day!

'Be It Till You See It' is a production of 'As The Crows Fly Media'.

Brad Crowell 25:13  

It's written, produced, filmed and recorded by your host, Lesley Logan and me, Brad Crowell. Our Associate Producer, is Amanda Frattarelli.

Lesley Logan 25:24  

Kevin Perez at Disenyo handles all of our audio editing.

Brad Crowell 25:28  

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

Lesley Logan 25:37  

Special thanks to our designer Jaira Mandal for creating all of our visuals (which you can't see because this is a podcast) and our digital producer, Jay Pedroso for editing all video each week so you can.

Brad Crowell 25:49  

And to Angelina Herico for transcribing each of our episodes, so you can find them on our website. And, finally to Meridith Crowell for keeping us all on point and on time.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai

What does it take to overcome the narrative that you tell yourself and begin to choose living a life you love? Taylor Smith and Lesley Logan talk about building a business from a simple idea and the mindset one must hold to trusting in your 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:

• Establishing daily habits the set the precedent for the day
• How your mindset controls the narrative 
• The importance of holding yourself or having someone hold you accountable to your time off.
• The “everything else can wait”. 
• The story we tell ourselves about what others will think about us. 
• Are we letting our “identity” hold us from taking action. 

Episode References/Links:

• Facebook
• IG shopstudiosisters
• Shop Studio Sisters Website
• Shop Studio Sisters Podcast

Guest Bio:

A teacher-turned-CEO, running a handmade sticker shop on the Etsy and teaching others how to create a six-figure salary doing what they love. Taylor Smith is an award- winning entrepreneur and travel enthusiastic bringing her passion for financial freedom to others through masterclasses, public speaking, and the podcast ShopStudioSisters. 

OPC Flashcards:

• OPC Flashcards are on Amazon
• OPC Flashcards are on our site

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.

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

Social Media

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Tik Tok
• LinkedIn

Episode Transcript:

Lesley Logan 0:01  

Hey, you, how are you? I'm really excited for our guest today. This is new for me, actually, most of, pretty sure almost all of the interviews I've done to this point. So whatever order this comes in, we'll we'll see, but to this point have been people I know. People who've been introduced to me, people I've had conversations with, people I know there Be It story and I brought them on. And, I share this because this is where the podcast is, at this point, we have people pitching themselves to be on this podcast to share their Be It story. And, I can't even like, like this is being it till you see it right here. Like this episode, I have been wanting an interview like this where it's a person, I don't know, I don't know, whether and I look like when they come on the screen. I don't know how they're gonna sound. It's like, just being it till you see it. And the story she and her sister have to share with you is really inspiring. And I'm so grateful. And I and I want you to know that you should not wait for an invitation to share your story. Should not wait for an invitation to do the thing that you want to do. Sometimes, you've already given given that invitation. And it might not be in the sign of like a paperless post message saying, "You're invited." But it may actually be in questions people are asking you repeatedly. And because they see you as an expert in something, or it could be in a vote of encouragement, "Oh, yeah, you're really great at this, you should do it." Those are little invitations. And so put yourself out there more often than you think you should. You're not bragging, you're not being annoying. Unless someone says, "no." (Lesley laughs) And even when they say "no," it could just mean not right now. And so I hope you enjoy this this episode, she and her sister are working on some great things. And it's really truly inspiring. Like, you don't even have to wait very long for your thing to take off. When it's the right thing for people and you're solving a problem. But also, I hope it inspires you to take that leap, face the fear, and put yourself out there without waiting for the formal invite that I think a lot of us are waiting for. And the truth is maybe it already happened and we just, we just didn't listen because we're a little bit scared to be it till we see it. So here is the interview with Taylor Smith of Shop Sisters, Shop Studio Sisters on Etsy and Instagram and I hope you enjoy this. If you snag a sticker you must take a picture and tag me on the gram with them because I want to see what you got. I'm not gonna lie I'm already perusing because I am an elder millennial who loves Lisa Frank. So here's Taylor Smith after this brief message.

Lesley Logan 2:54  

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 guests 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 3:37  

All right, Be It listeners. This is a first and I'm I'm really excited. So forgive me if I nerd out. But I hope I ask all the questions that are coming into your mind as we talk to Taylor Smith (aaahhh.) Taylor is a teacher turned CEO and she runs one of the top 1% of Etsy shops. And I have to say like I was reading all of her stuff. This woman has been being it till you see it as she, she created this amazing company from, it sounds like, from scratch. So Taylor, can you please tell the Be It listeners who you are, what you rock at, and what you're doing right now.

Taylor Smith 4:12  

Okay, first of all, Lesley, thank you so much for having me on the podcast. I'm super excited to be here. So, my name is Taylor. I run a Etsy shop with my sister Katie. It's called Studio Sisters because obviously, we're sisters. (Lesley laughs) We produce our own stickers. So my sister is the artist and designer and then we do everything in house. So we design, print, cut, and ship all of our products ourselves. And we ship worldwide. All over the United States and globally. It's an amazing like thing to get to wake up every day and ship handmade products that are you know our own designs to people all over the world. Who are using them, putting them on their water bottles, using them as mantras and putting them you know, maybe on their desk or their computer where they can see them or the creating art with them. It's it's so freaking cool. And ...

Lesley Logan 5:12  

Wait, this is incredible. So wait, you you guys make stickers and you the two of you do this as your job for a living. Like this is what you're doing.

Taylor Smith 5:22  

Yeah, I know (Lesley: That so cool) it sounds crazy. (Lesley laughs) So my sister always jokes that like when she was a kid, she wanted to be Lisa Frank when she grew up. I don't know if you remember Lisa Frank?

Lesley Logan 5:32  

Honey, elder millennial, of course, but I'm (Taylor: Yeah) too poor to get Lisa Frank, anything my parents would never buy it. They would always buy the cheap, you know, 9 7 29 cent folder as opposed to the dollar 99 folder. And I just like was so jealous of all the Lisa Frank girls in my class. And that's probably why everything I do is color. I'm like Lisa Frank and her life. So, I love your sister already. (Lesley laughs)

Taylor Smith 5:55  

Yeah, yeah. So she's like, "I just wanted to be her when I grew up. And now I am I design stickers for a living." So every day we get up, we fill the orders, we ship stickers out. We because we produce ourselves and we don't use like a drop shipper or a third party. There's a lot of like, handmade production that goes on. And I think that's a really fascinating process. Like the whole time you're, you're running printers and Daikon machines, you're like, "Wow, I'm like actually making this thing. And it's going like to people who are going to love it." That that is the coolest part of the process. But also for me, this Etsy shop literally changed my life. So, I'll share a little bit (Lesley: Yeah) about that.

Lesley Logan 6:37  

I want it, I want that's exactly what they need to hear. Because like, first of all, it's amazing to say you're in the top 1%. But I think where people get hung up is like, "How did you go from where you were to like success now?" But like what was the thing because like, you, you don't just like you're not just a wake up one day. Now you're the number one shop, right? Like you have to like there's there's a whole lot of messy middle in there. So can you tell us the story?

Taylor Smith 7:01  

Yeah, I love talking about that messy middle. (Taylor laughs) Okay, so I have two degrees in Cultural Anthropology, I wanted to teach, that's all I ever wanted. I had no plan B. That's all I ever wanted was to teach social studies, to teach humanities. And so I left grad school and took a job at a community college, which was my dream. Like I had gone to community college, I wanted to give back and teach at a community college and I got the job and I loved it. But I was like making no money (Lesley: Right) (Leslet and Taylor laughs) at it.

Lesley Logan 7:34  

Yeah, that's not a shock. If you live anywhere else in the world, maybe this is a shock to you. But teachers in the States make no money. (Lesley laughs)

Taylor Smith 7:42  

Exactly. So then I did that for several years, just trying to like somehow thinking that if I just kept at it, it would, it would somehow work. And I would somehow be making more money at some point. And I'm not really sure why I was thinking that was going to work out. (Lesley and Taylor laughs)

Lesley Logan 8:05  

We tell ourselves a lot of things to get through. And I think sometimes those stories can be really helpful. And sometimes those things can be you know, holding us back. So you're like, it sounds like you had an idea at some point to not do that anymore.

Taylor Smith 8:19  

Yeah. So then I tried, like teaching for a corporation. I thought maybe teaching public education was the problem, right? If I went to work for a corporation, I get paid a lot more as an instructor. So I did that, I work for actually, it's kind of crazy. I accepted two teaching contracts at the same time. (Lesley laughs) So ... (Lesley: Go bigggo home, Taylor) Yeah. Yeah. And they were both online. So that was like, wild. I ended one job at 11pm on a Friday night, and I started my next teaching shift at 5am on Saturday.

Lesley Logan 8:53  

Okay. (Taylor: and ...) This is crazy. (Taylor: I know) That's wild. Like this, (Taylor: Yeah) like I say, go bigger go home as a joke, because I'm sure like, at some point, you're like, "This is a big problem." Like, you can't like this is not sustainable.

Taylor Smith 9:05  

Correct. So, like I had, okay, so I'm making a little bit more money. This is okay, like, I'm paying my bills. But like, this is crazy and I hate it. I absolutely hate it. Right? I love that teaching, but I hated the schedule. And I hated working by myself. And it was like really alone and I was working weird hours. So I was like, there has to be like, I've got to do something else. And this is all kind of like coming together in my brain when the pandemic hits.

Lesley Logan 9:39  

Oh, so wait, you ... Sorry. Spoiler alert. I got to skip ahead. You started this business in the pandemic?

Taylor Smith 9:45  

Yeah, (Lesley laughs) so the business happened in 18 months.

Lesley Logan 9:50  

Stop. Okay, so, the pande... so when the pandemic hits you quit teaching or like how did you and your sister (I'm sorry, I skipped so far ahead. I got so excited.) And how did you and your sister go, "You know, let's work together." We we have it sounds like you had very few extra hours in your days when you weren't sleeping and versus teaching. So like, what like did did because the pandemic, did your jobs shut down? Like what was what was the impetus?

Taylor Smith 10:16  

Okay, so I became very worried that I was gonna lose my job, because, um, what happened is I had actually, at that time, I think I had just stopped one of my contracts, I was just working for one company, and then the pandemic hits. And then we start getting emails that like people are getting laid off. Because people are homeschooling their kids, or a lot of our clients actually were companies paying for their employees to take classes from us. And so that when that happened, a (Lesley: Oh, yeah) lot of those contracts got dropped. And so ...

Lesley Logan 10:49  

Yeah. Everyone peeled back all their budgets as quickly...

Taylor Smith 10:52  

Everybody peeled back. (Lesley: Yeah) And that happened in my company, too. And the education company I worked for. So, I was like, "Holy crap, I'm, I'm might be about to lose my job. I need to start something." And so I like hit up my sister. I'm like, "Hey, I think we should start an Etsy shop. And I think we should just play with this and see what happens." And we have both previously had small Etsy shops in the past, we, she's a freelance artist, she works for herself. But this was the first time that we actually like worked together on something, we had always kind of done our own thing. So I drug her kind of into this, like kicking and screaming. (Lesley laughs)

Lesley Logan 11:29  

But she gets to be Lisa Frank now.

Taylor Smith 11:31  

Yeah, and you know, that's what big sisters do to their little sisters. 100%. I don't know if you have a sister. (Lesley: Oh, you big sister?) Yeah, I am.

Lesley Logan 11:39  

I have a little sister. And she is gonna hate it if she hears me say that. I have a younger sister. (Lesley and Taylor laughs) (Taylor: Yeah) And it's true, like, there's just something I mean, I think when you're older, it gets a little bit less. You know, whatever it is when you're growing up, but like, we were not, we were pretty close in age only two years apart. So it was easy for yeah, anyways, she is amazing. And she actually does some work for us, which is super cool. We did not have to drag her kicking and screaming. I will say but (Lesley and Taylor laughs) (Taylor: Well that's good) yeah, so wait. So you, so you the new ... you started this in like March, April, May of 2020? When did y'all start?

Taylor Smith 12:18  

March 31, 2020.

Lesley Logan 12:22  

Oh my God. This is crazy. (Taylor: Yeah) Okay, okay, okay. I'm so excited. So how do you start this business, though? Because I don't know, is it just like, you just go on Etsy and you're like, become a business like, what do you have to do to like, get on Etsy, and you don't take on all the like, click, buy, clicks, but like, did you, did you to know you'd have a viable product? How did you test that your, what you're about to sell was gonna be worth it?

Taylor Smith 12:45  

Yeah, so that's an awesome question. So, Etsy really easy to get started. Pretty much just like if you've signed up for a Facebook account, you can figure out how to sign up for an Etsy account. It's really not that hard. And Etsy, unlike other platforms like Shopify or running your own business that have monthly subscriptions, Etsy don't pay a monthly fee for it cost you 20 cents to list and test a product. That's it, and you don't pay anything else to sell. So listeners out there, if you want to test something out, Etsy is a great place to test and validate. (Lesley: This is insane ... 20 cents. That's insane) 20 cents. Yes. (Lesley: Okay.) (Lesley laughs) Yeah.Yeah. And then you pay a commission on the sale, but you don't pay anything else until it actually sells. So we tested a few different products in the in the very beginning. And then also, Katie had, my sister had produced some stickers on her own already, she kind of validated it on social media, a little bit. So we said, "Hey, let's let's take that." And we had initially sold a few other things like masks, we had sold some other handmade products and like craft kits for adults, like journal or DIY kits using stickers and different, like art prints and things like that. But stickers were very quickly where we found that niche. And this was the thing that was selling so, yeah, so so we began to niche down and here's the part where it sort of like all changed is like we just decided, hey, if the stickers are selling, we love doing this. We're like this product makes us excited. But we're also seeing it's validated by customers buying it. So let's just become known as the "sticker girl," let's niche down and just do this one thing.

Lesley Logan 14:22  

I love it. I mean, that's what it is. Right? Like, they say in everything that you do. Like it's just so important to focus on like one thing because then you can break through like, I'm sure I don't know, maybe you haven't spread your wings yet on things but like. Once you're known for one thing, then you can actually talk about many things. Like Oprah was known as like this one thing as a day time host and now she's like, got magazines and weightwatchers and all I mean all the things, right? She got to be one thing first, so you guys tested some stuff and then you're like, "We're the sticker girls. We're rocking it."

Taylor Smith 14:52  

Yeah, exactly. Yep. And I 100% agree with you. Like if there's one, I get asked this all the time. Like, how do I stand up to my competition? How do I make my business blow up? Right? How do I, how do I start making money not just like $1 here and there, $10 here on Etsy. Like, how do I actually make this something that is profitable, that is part of my financial freedom story and that is like, you have to choose a thing and become known for that thing (Lesley: You have to) you have to choose your niche.

Lesley Logan 15:22  

You have to. Okay, so here's like inquiring minds want to know. So how so like, because I do not believe that if you build people will come. So your your, you know, you put your stickers on there, you're like, "we're sticker people." And like, "Etsy is amazing." Like, "I am like, I need something cool. I'm just gonna go look on Etsy." But how how, like, how soon between like, "Okay, we're the sticker girls." To like, "Hey, we work for ourselves as the shop sisters." Like, what was like the did it just like overnight, people just buying stickers because of the pandemic? Or like, was there like a, you know, is there a lead up? Is there a little growing period?

Taylor Smith 16:03  

Okay, so I think the most normal thing for business to expect is that there's a lead up, there's a growing period, you just are going to be in a position where you see slow, steady growth month over month, it's gonna get bigger and bigger. That's not what happened in our case, from pandemic, like, just hit fast forward on everything. (Lesley: Right) On April 5, I think was around Easter weekend. And one day, we had like, 300 orders in one day. (Lesley: Shut up. That's insane.) Yeah, after, in like a week, it was insane. We were not prepared, we got super overwhelmed. And we were like, "We have to develop a strategy. There's got to be a system." And we did and we learned from it, which is amazing. But I think that the most normal thing you should expect with any kind of like, entrepreneur journey is more of a slow, slow, steady, intentional pace. And hopefully you don't get overwhelmed by it.

Lesley Logan 16:51  

Yeah, cuz it's true (Taylor: Um ...) like, that's the other side is like, "whoo, all these orders," but then you got to do all the work for it. So (Taylor: Yeah) this space in between, what was, what ... did you like check your... did y'all like check your email all day long looking for like dings? Like, did you keep the sound on see here chi ching? Does Etsy do chi ching? Like, you know, how, like, how did you all spend your time to like, getting ready for being this shop owner before you were like, you know, busy being a shop owner.

Taylor Smith 17:21  

Ahh oh gosh. Okay, so many things. So first of all, I think that one, I tried to start, like manifesting this, like, for my future, even though it was already happening, right? I was, we were already getting orders. I was deep down thinking like, "What is this just stops tomorrow?" Right? (Lesley: Right) Like, "This is great. I'm glad I made $3,000 this week, but like, what if next week it's zero. And that's it. That's the end of it." So ...

Lesley Logan 17:53  

Right. It's like a one hit wonder we all know those ...

Taylor Smith 17:55  

Correct. I was deeply terrified that I was a one hit wonder on Etsy. (Taylor laughs)

Lesley Logan 18:01  

... like I think we all just we're like, "Oh my God. April 5th, you like sold out overnight. You're overwhelmed. It's like, yeah, but then what happened on April 7?" (Lesley laughs)

Taylor Smith 18:10  

Correct. Correct. Yes. So establishing those daily habits. Right? So this is applicable for someone, even if you have zero clients and your service based business or zero clients in your product based business, like figure out what you do every day as a successful business owner. So every morning at eight o'clock, I go through all the customer DMs, I log on to Etsy and I answer all the customer messages. It doesn't matter if there's zero that day. And I already knew that because there weren't any notifications on my phone. I still do it anyway. (Lesley: Got it) And that habit like sets the precedent every single day that this is what I do, because this is a normal part of my life as a full time handmade business owner.

Lesley Logan 18:50  

I love this so much. You're not like, (Taylor: Yeah) "Let me wait until I'll just, I'll do, I'll wait until there's customer messages." And you're like, "Nope. Every day as a successful business owner, I check these messages, I check this email, I check these orders. I do these things" because you are, you, it's manifesting. It's also being it until you see it. It's like, acting as if you have these things because I think so often it's like, "Well, when I have (Taylor: Correct) then I will do this." You know, I even caught myself the other day going, "Ah, when all this is done, then I'll go back to my morning journaling." And I was like, "Whoa, (Taylor: Yeah) whoa," like my brain was like cognitive dissonance. We don't like this. That's not how I believe and I was like, "You're right." I'm going to just have to make the time to get back to my morning journaling. So, I have been doing it again all week long. And I have to say, days are better than ever because that's just what it is. But also, I am the person who that makes the time to do what she says she's going to do to fill her cup first. So, I love that you did that. You're like, "I'm checking these orders." How did that feel? And like, did ... did it feel like it was manifesting or did it feel scary? Like because I think that can feel weird, right, to just check things knowing that it's not there.

Taylor Smith 18:52  

Yeah, so I think you can look at that one way and say like, "Oh, there weren't any customer messages. My business is a failure. No one likes what I make, no one likes what I sell." That's one option. Totally, you can go that route with your mindset or what I tend to look at it as, "Hey, look, there weren't any messages today. Awesome. Look, I did such a good job. Like my product description must be so clear that no one had any questions today. Like good job, Taylor."

Lesley Logan 20:26  

I'm like, obsessed. I'm obsessed. Like, that is so ... that is so true. Because it's I mean, like, y'all, when we're recording this, I just finished a launch. And when you do a launch, I'm sure like, even when Taylor will say this, like, if there are like reasons for people to buy day one that disappear for day 2, 3, 4, basically what that means is you get a lot on day one. And then you get the last minute people on day five, but like (Taylor: Yeah) 2, 3, 4, it's like crickets, and it's so easy to go, "Oh my God, that's it. We're not going to get any more like, it's just wasn't that great." Or to go, "Nope, everyone is so excited. They're gonna buy it on the last day, because they can wait to the last day. So I'm just gonna wait for them but everything is out there and it's so clear. And we're just gonna, we're just going to trust them and be there." And they always come but it's, we can tell ourselves such interesting stories. So because you work with your sister, do you guys catch each other on any stories you tell each other? Like, is it good to have a partner in crime?

Taylor Smith 21:24  

Oh, I think so. Um, she's awesome at reminding me like, "Slow down. We don't need to do everything at once." And (Lesley: Yeah) (Lesley laughs) which is something I struggle with. And I really I have to practice daily and I'm like, I have to set a stop time for myself, doesn't matter. Everything else can wait until the next day after 3pm or 4pm. Whatever I set for that day. And she ...

Lesley Logan 21:48  

That's amazing. So what time do you start your day?

Taylor Smith 21:51  

So, I usually start at seven. I'm an early morning person, we both are. So usually I started at seven, she likes to start at 5am. Not my jam. (Taylor laughs) She's drinking her tea and designing art at 5am. I start at seven I usually stop at three or four unless it's just like we're going to the holiday season. We know we're gonna have to work more during the holidays. But usually I work seven to three most days. And sometimes I'm like, so excited. And so in it and she's like, "Hey, we're done for the day. Like I'm done. You need to be done too." So that's one of the benefits. I would say working with my sister is like, she's not afraid to call me out and tell me like, "No."

Lesley Logan 22:31  

Yeah, I work with my husband. And I will say like, we call each other out because I am the early person. But I early on that I like to get up early for myself. And I run and I work out and I have my coffee and like now that the weather is amazing. I sit outside, it's a little cold. But I have my blanket and it's like awesome, all the things. And then I'll start work around like 8:30, 9 o'clock. And but I like to end early like, like several days a week I like to end at four. And then, and then the only reason on two, the other two days I end all the later because I'm studying breath work right now. So I'm just I'm taking class. But technically, I'm done working. That's just like my education. And my husband will want to come in and talk to me, of course, because he starts his workday at 10. So he's still going and I'm like, "I'm (Taylor: Yeah) done. You can (Taylor: Yup) put that in Slack to me. Thank you so much. I love you." But then other times I'll have this amazing idea while we're out and he's like, "Hey, can you put that down in the ideas parking lot? We're off today." And it's like, ah, cuz, you know, when you work for yourself, you can't it's hard to turn the brain off. But having someone (Taylor: Right) to be like, "Hey, you remember you put your ideas here when you're thinking about them and you're off?" (Lesley laughs) Like, "Oh, yeah."

Taylor Smith 23:39  

Exactly, (Lesley: Yeah) 100%. Yeah. (Taylor laughs)

Lesley Logan 23:43  

So okay, so that "everything else can wait" is really difficult. Especially I think for people who I mean, you did grow so fast and the pandemic and it is easy for I think when you work for yourself to think like, "Oh my God, this could all end tomorrow." (Lesley laughs) (Taylor: Yeah) So how, like, what, like, what are some mantras or what stickers have you made to like, keep yourself from worrying that tomorrow it's gonna be gone.

Taylor Smith 24:10  

Okay, so I think that what happened for me besides like, a business that changed my life, and I quit my job in four months, and like, I worked for myself ever since ... 

Lesley Logan 24:21  

Oh my God, you quit your job in four months? (Taylor: Yeah ...) your company was making enough money for you to quit your job? And I'm assuming your sister to just work on the business too? (Taylor: Correct. Yes) Insane, insane.

Taylor Smith 24:32  

But it was terrifying because like I would, I actually knew I could quit at three months. And it took me a month to quit because I was so scared.

Lesley Logan 24:41  

Oh. Can you, can we talk about that? Can we talk about (Tyalor: Yeah) that fear because I actually think so many people listening to this, know they should be quitting. They already know. (Taylor: Mm hmm.) And like what was going through your head and what did you tell yourself to because ... in one month that's actually a really short period of time. I know people who wait years. (Lesley laughs)

Taylor Smith 25:00  

Yeah. Yeah, and I know there are a lot of teachers out there. I have a lot of teacher friends, every day, every day I talk to them, I text them. I'm like, "Hey, do you quit your job today? Hey, did you quit your job today?" Because, like, yeah, so like, they're not valued by their employer for what they should be, like valuing for themselves, but they're stuck in it. And I totally get that because I've been stuck, right? It it took me a month to quit my job. So let me talk about that what I was afraid of. So, I was afraid of being a one hit wonder, with my business terrified that it was like, "This is just gonna be six weeks of pandemic cash." And then that's it like, "We're done, we'll never have another sale again." I was also really afraid of like, "What would my identity be if I wasn't a teacher anymore? Because I didn't plan for anything else." And I was terrified of like, "What if I wasted my degrees? I wasted all this time in my 20s trying to be a successful teacher. Who am I if I don't have that academic, like, trophy of working in education anymore?"

Lesley Logan 26:04  

Thank you for sharing these thoughts because I think identity is a really big thing that holds us from being it till we see it. We are worried how people will see us, we're worried that you know, we've wasted time, which, you know, like, the only time wasted is really the time you spent, like not doing the thing that you're being (Taylor: Yeah) called to do. It's not the experience because like, everything I did working in retail, none of that was with my degree. I don't (Taylor: Yeah) know why I thought I was doing that. And so when I was like leaving that to be a Pilates teacher and I'm like, "Oh, my God. Like, what are people gonna think, I managed this high end jewelry store. I work at this incredibly, like, sought after space company." Like people, when you say, "Oh, I manage a store in Fred Segal." They're like, "Oh, my God," like, instant, like, you're up here. And now I'm a Pilates instructor. I thought what are people gonna say, with that? And really, again, what you said is the stories are in our head because as soon as I told them, "I'm a Pilates instructor." Like, "That's so cool. Tell me about it." (Taylor: Yeah) Like people are very curious beings. And they don't, unless you're like, I'm like, I don't actually think so. Actually, I'm catching myself, y'all because I gotta say like, I'm a high school dropout, like, you know, whatever. My, one of my best friends who has been on the podcast, she's a college dropout. And she kills it in the business world. And so and when she shares it, people like go, "Really?" Like, I think we make people we put stories out there that make people make us think that people are gonna judge us on something that they're gonna find very fascinating, and intriguing and interesting, and almost, like, slightly jealous and inspired by. So thank you for sharing that identity part because I do think that that is something we have to explore. And we really should explore with ourselves more often because we can ask yourself, "Why do I think that?" We have a guest episode I just interviewed. So I don't know, the time this is out was never his will be. But he talks about identity. And he actually goes and I don't know if you did this, he actually like steps outside of himself. And he's like, "Okay, Thor. So why is that a problem?" Like as if he's interviewing himself as a therapist. So how did you, what was the thought that made you go, "It's going to be okay. I'm going to be this Etsy sticker girl, and it's going to work out."

Taylor Smith 28:16  

Okay, so, um, I was very, like, caught up in this, right? Am I teacher? Am I not? Like, what if I only can do this business, like, halfway, and then I'm like, a failed teacher, or anything caught up in that. And I sort of stopped myself and I was like, "Okay, what are all the things that you want? Like, what is your dream life?" And so I made a list that was being able to get off of work early, go for a run, take as long as I want to cook dinner in my kitchen at night with music on and a glass of wine and not have to worry about, you know, doing more work after work. But also the freedom to travel and then also like the financial aspect, like I was sick of having a teacher salary where I was like, "Okay, I can go get coffee two times this week that's what fits in my budget." And so I sort of divided up what aligned did didn't align and then I said to myself, "Okay, so if you didn't have fear, like, if if fear just didn't exist, like, let's just take it off the table. If there is no fear, what choice would you make?" And obviously, like dream lights, self employed, world traveler sounded way better than minimum wage teacher, you know, working for someone else, and ...

Lesley Logan 29:41  

Two jobs at the time online by (Taylor: Exactly) yourself at home and only able to go out for coffee two times. Yeah ... (Taylor: Exactly) And also, you know, everyone just says, you know, unless you really screw up the quitting, you pretty much can always go back. Like (Taylor: Yeah) you pretty much can if I wanted to, I don't want to trust me. But if the pandemic had really screwed me up, I could have knocked on one of any of the luxury shops in in, you know, on the strip and be like, "Hey, do you need a manager? Assistant manager? Need a salesperson?" Like, I know how to do this." (Lesley laughs)

Taylor Smith 30:18  

Right? I always thought, well, I could definitely call back up like my employer was begging me like, "Can you just take a six month sabbatical instead of quitting?" Like, like, they were begging me to stay. And I knew I could always go back to teach, I could, you know, always get another job. And now my mindset has shifted from I could get another job to, if something happened with my business, I am not worried about it. Because as a business owner, I can come up with 1000 other ideas, (Lesley: Yeah) to sell something on the internet (Lesley: Yeah) and find another way.

Lesley Logan 30:52  

Yeah, you're 100% correct. And I think like, a lot of people fear, "Well, what if it doesn't work?" And it's like, the truth is like (a) what if it does? And (b) if you're a creator, you are a creator. And I do actually believe that we all have the creator ability in us. And we just don't give ourselves credit for it. Because maybe someone didn't tell us we're an artist, or maybe someone didn't tell us that we're creative. But really, like, we all have that in us, and it's really tenacity, stamina, and the belief in yourself and here, maybe not everyone is gonna wants to work for themselves like that is very scary. So if you're listening to this, and you're like, "Ladies, this is awesome. But I don't actually want the fear of working for myself, I need stability. I need this." That makes so much sense. You can still ask yourself those same identity questions and make sure that you're in a space that like actually is serving you because you can still work for there's so many different amazing places to work that value you in different ways. Not always monetarily, but they can value in your time and your creativity and, and and your enthusiasm. So Taylor, where do you like to hang out on the socials? If people are like, "Holy crap, I want to know more about this Etsy thing." What can they do?

Taylor Smith 32:09  

Okay, so you can find us on Instagram, and Facebook, @shopstudiosisters, also our website shopstudiosisters.com. We have a Studio Sisters podcast, you can find that on our website (Lesley: So cool) or Spotify, wherever you listen. On the podcast, we love to talk about Etsy, of course, we share a lot of actionable Etsy tips. We also just talk about what it's like to be like working full time creative, and sort of everything about that kind of part of our lives. It's a lot of fun. If people are interested in Etsy, and they're like, "Hey, I just want to make $500 a month in a side hustle. I just want to sell this cool thing that everyone is always telling me I should sell that I just make for fun or I don't know, I want to learn more." We do teach an Etsy coaching program. It's called Dream, Create, Sell and it's our step by step guide. It's the exact strategy we've used to make more than six figures in sales and Etsy in the past 18 months. And so we took everything we did, we built it into a strategy that you can follow step by step. And so we have students in our program that are having like absolutely incredible results with it. And it's super exciting. So all of that you can find us on Instagram @shopstudiosisters.

Lesley Logan 33:20  

Oh my God, I can't wait. I need stickers for my walls. I'm just... I'm so excited. And also just like, I love that you and your sister like, "Hey, people are asking us questions on this. Here's what we're gonna do next." Y'all, sometimes your next thing is the question just keep getting asked. And (Taylor: Yeah) I am making an assumption there. But I don't think you just were like, "Hey, you know what, we should just teach people how to do this." I'm sure people were asking you questions and you're like, "Alright, we should make some money on this because this is taking a lot of our time too." I'm so grateful (Taylor: Yeah) for this conversation. Okay, before we go, though, we ask every guest what bold, executable, intrinsic, targeted steps can our listeners take to be it till they see it?

Taylor Smith 34:00  

Okay, so I would say that. I think if I were to just pick one thing, be the initiator in your life. Maybe that's you want to make new friends. Maybe that's you want to start a business or just you feel stuck and you want to just try something new, you've never done, whether that's a yoga class or signing up for a marathon or taking up a new hobby, like, you need to be the initiator. So pick a day on your planner with nothing on it and pencil in that thing that you want to do. That could be inviting someone you barely know for a cup of coffee. Or maybe it's signing up for an online course that literally you know nothing about other than it sounds like a good thing to try. And just see where it leads. That is my best tip, pick something, be the initiator but make it time bound, right? Don't say, "I'm going to become a quilter and I'm going to quilt and make you know 300 quilts." Like just say, "I'm going to do this one thing on this one day."

Lesley Logan 34:58  

Oh my God. Okay. That is so cool, "Be the initiator." If you have made that sticker you and your sister should and ... (Taylor and Lesley laughs) (Taylor: Yeah. We should) Be initiator you want to see like well just (Lesley laughs) in the world. I think that is genius I really do love that and I I couldn't agree with that more. I, Taylor this has been awesome thank you for making the time to be in our listeners ears this week and for sharing so generously, your journey and your story. I think it is inspiring AF and I can't wait listeners. Please, y'all, tell us how this inspired you. So screenshot this, tag shop Sisters Studio, stop Studio Sisters, hold on. (Taylor: @shopstudiosisters) @shopstudiosisters. See the messy action right there no one's perfect. Tag @shopstudiosisters and @be_it_pod with your takeaways with what you're going to do if you're going to be the initiator today. And let us know how this affected you. Until next time, Be It Till You See It.

Lesley Logan 35:56

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 podcasts. 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 36:25

'Be It Till You See It' is a production of 'As The Crows Fly Media'.

Brad Crowell 36:29  

It's written produced, filmed and recorded by your host Lesley Logan and me, Brad Crowell. Our Associate Producer is Amanda Frattarelli.

Lesley Logan 36:40  

Kevin Perez at Disenyo handles all of our audio editing.

Brad Crowell 36:45

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

Lesley Logan 36:53

Special thanks to our designer Jaira Mandal for creating all of our visuals (which you can't see because this is a podcast) and our digital producer, Jay Pedroso for editing all video each week so you can.

Brad Crowell 37:05  

And to Angelina Herico for transcribing each of our episodes so you can find them on our website. And, finally to Meridith Crowell for keeping us all on point and on time.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai

Have you started thinking about goal setting for 2022? With Lesley’s glittery snow globe, Brad and LL chat about New Year’s goals, the misconception about giving, and how to grow into a mindset of authenticity. 

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:

• A mindset for goal making in 2022
• Finding charities you are passionate about
• The misconception about giving 
• Being unapologetically authentic

Episode References/Links:

• New Scheduling tool

OPC Flashcards:

• OPC Flashcards are on Amazon
• OPC Flashcards are on our site

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.

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

Social Media

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Tik Tok
• LinkedIn

Episode Transcript:

Lesley Logan 0:01  

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 guests 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.

(Brad laughs) Welcome back to the Be It Till You See It interview recap where my co hosts in life, Brad and I are going to dig into the uplifting convo I had with Marcia Agius in our last episode. If you haven't yet listened to that interview, feel free to pause this now and go back and listen to that one. And then come back and join us. If you're watching on the YouTube, I have a new so... snow globe and it's big red lips with gold glitter everyone and I've been starting every podcasts. (Lesley laughs)

Brad Crowell 1:14  

I thought it was gonna, I thought it was just like a thi... Like, you said it when we were recording before and I was like, "Haha, okay." She said, she said, "This is going to be on every episode moving forward." I was like, "Right, whatever." Well, it continues to come back.

Lesley Logan 1:30  

Yes. Yes, it does. And it's really fun and I shake it. So it's got the gold glitter all over my red lips. Anyways. Okay, so (Brad laughs)

Brad Crowell 1:38  

All right, before we get started.

Lesley Logan 1:40  

We are still on the road. (Brad: Yeah) So we are actually recording this before we hit the road. And so what I can tell you is at this moment in time, we are probably hanging out with Brad's fabulous family and doing some sort of Pollyanna situation and getting ready to get back out on the road again for a couple pop ups. So if you want to see us in real life, and you live in the States to go to onlinepilatesclasses.com/tour. And then you can see where we are in and get tickets, where we are. What else do we have quick announcements, my love?

Brad Crowell 2:10  

Two the things and then we have a just something special we wanted to say. But the scheduling tool for Profitable Pilates, if you run a fitness business, or you know Pilates or any other kind of fitness business, we are partnering with a software company that's making a Profitable Pilates scheduling tool. For us, it's so exciting.

Lesley Logan 2:35  

I wanted to do this for years.

Brad Crowell 2:37  

Years. We... I mean, everyone asks us, "What is the best one, all the things?" Well, I'll tell you, ours is the best one. (Lesley: Yeah) Okay. And here's why because (Lesley: I'm coaching on it.) Yeah, you're coaching on it. But also every thing that we couldn't do with other scheduling tools we changed three times before we found one that was actually more simple than all the rest and has nothing to do with other things that we needed to do. And so that was like a weird, like, "Okay, this will do for us." (Lesley laughs) Well, we were like, "This isn't, this isn't good enough." (Lesley: Yeah) There's a better way (Lesley: Yeah) and we found that better way. And that's what's coming to you. (Lesley: Yeah) So if you want to get on the list, go to profitablepilates.com/scheduling. (Lesley: Yeah) And you will see a waitlist there. We will be telling you more about it in January.

Lesley Logan 3:20  

And also happening in January is Agency Mini number six is our mini coaching program. We... (Brad: Agency Mini number six.) I know, actually Agency turns four in January. (Brad: Yeah) Yeah, we I mean, we've been, I've been doing coaching for fitness instructor since 2013, actually technically 2009. But I started the company in 2013. And so Agency Mini is we definitely limit how many people can be in it. So you want to go on the waitlist because you also get the best deals and you get early action to sign up. You'll go to profitablepilates.com/mini - it's M I N I.

Brad Crowell 3:53  

Yeah. And our special thing we wanted to say is "Happy holidays." (Lesley: Happy holiday.) I know it's two days till Christmas at this point. You know, there's Hanukkah happening. There's ...

Lesley Logan 4:06  

No, Hanukkah happened a couple weeks ago. (Brad: Yeah, happened.) (Lesley laughs)

Brad Crowell 4:10  

You know, there's all the things. (Lesley: Yeah) And basically, we just wanted to say, we're excited that you (Lesley: Yeah) get to spend time with your friends and families. Hopefully you do that. And you know, that's what we're looking forward to do over the next few days, (Lesley: Yeah) as well.

Lesley Logan 4:24  

Well, yeah. So, Happy Holidays. Okay. After that, what is our audience question this week?

Brad Crowell 4:30  

Yeah. So this one fit right along with last week. We just kind of chopped it in two. (Lesley: Yeah) "When and how do you plan your goals for 2022?"

Lesley Logan 4:39  

Yeah, we don't do resolutions. We do do goals. (Brad: Yeah) And we don't try to do all of them in January, because that's not how things work. (Brad: Yeah, that doesn't really work.) So, I'm really big on figuring out when you want something done by and then working backwards. That's that's how I do goals. So if there's something that I want to have done by the end of 2022, actually look at, when in 2022, things are going to have to happen so that it all leads up to being done. (Lesley laughs) So that's how I mean, that's how I do it. So I mean, do you do it differently than that?

Brad Crowell 5:15  

Yeah, I do. (Lesley laughs) I definitely do. Let's, which I find ironic, because I'm usually the process guy, right? (Lesley: I know. I hate process.) And so you just map that out for me, which I thought was really funny. But that's not really how I think about goals. Like, I know that goals are, like business goals, or whatever. But I was thinking more personal goals, like, you know, do I want to speak another language? (Lesley: Oh, yeah.) Do I want to change my morning routine? You know, the, you know, like ...

Lesley Logan 5:42  

I mean, I said those whenever they come up. I don't make that like, end of the year thing.

Brad Crowell 5:49  

Yeah, but I mean, okay, cool. So like, you know, but but for us moving was a goal. (Lesley: Yeah) And, you know, actually didn't know it was gonna happen as soon as it did. But that was something that was on our list. So

Lesley Logan 6:01  

I mean, I worked backwards from that. I think we're moving by June 1st. And I was like, that means you got to be doing this by this date. (Brad laughs) And this by this day. (Brad: Right) You might have not been on that process. 

Brad Crowell 6:07  

I think that's also why I wasn't quite ... (Lesley laughs) you know like, like, had a fire lit under me, because I don't, that's not how I think about. (Lesley: I know) I'm like, "This is something that I want to do at some point (Lesley: Yeah) in the near future," which is actually not how you're supposed to set goals. (Lesley: No, no) You're supposed to put a date with it.

Lesley Logan 6:22  

Can you hear the rebel and the four tendencies in him? (Brad laughs)

Brad Crowell 6:25  

It might be nice if maybe we could possibly, (Lesley: Yeah) you know, do this thing.

Lesley Logan 6:30  

I'm like, "When do you want to do it buy. (Brad laughs) Okay, that means we have to do this and this and this." Like, I am on this stuff. (Brad: Yeah) So anyways, I mean, we definitely at the beginning of the year do write things down of what we are intentionally trying to do. But again, it's not a resolution. So I'm, I feel like you're allowed to make new goals whenever they come to you. And you just have to have a buy win date, and then work backwards. Or you can work forwards if you prefer process that way. But I find backwards is easier because it's like a maze. So, I would always go to the finish point on a maze. And then I would work backwards all the way and (Brad: You would?) get start. Yes, I did. And my dad would go, "That's cheating." And I said, "I think it's brilliant." I've (Brad laughs) finished every maze. And, I remember being in a corn maze with my friends and getting so frustrated because, like we kept getting lost. And I was like, "If we could have just been dropped off at the finish point. I could have found us our way out." (Brad laughs) So anyways, um, that's... yeah,

Brad Crowell 7:29  

I never knew about you. (Lesley: Learn something new) Yeah.

Lesley Logan 7:31  

I know. Married six years. Look at that.

Brad Crowell 7:33  

That's amazing.

Lesley Logan 7:34  

Okay, so let's get into it.

Brad Crowell 7:37  

There's also one of the things I didn't know, (Lesley: Oh) that that you talked about in the interview with with Marcia. So, I will, I will tell you. (Lesley: Oh, okay.) Yeah, yeah. (Lesley laughs) Oh, actually, one last thing. This is the first year we're not going to do our rare tradition that we actually hold to. Every year on January 1st, we usually just tear our entire apartment apart. (Lesley: Yeah) Look at every single thing that we own. And then get rid of a lot of it if we can (Lesley: Yeah) stuff that we never use, never touch. But (a) we don't live in a 500 square foot apartment anymore, where we can literally see everything.

Lesley Logan 8:12  

Yeah, no, we gotta definitely go room by room at this point. So we have to schedule that definitely.

Brad Crowell 8:17  

Yeah. And ... (Lesley: And we're gonna be with Sue and Steven.) Yeah, we're gonna be down in Miami. We're doing New Year's in Miami.

Lesley Logan 8:24  

Ah, I'm so excited, I have the best outfit for it. (Brad laughs) I really do.

Brad Crowell 8:28  

Yeah. So, okay. Now let's talk about Marcia Agius. (Lesley: Yeah) With a spirit of giving and a passion for the people, Marcia Agius, is a community leader fighting to uplift and highlight the strengths women have within. From a hockey mom to the creator of ins... @_inspirealways on Instagram with an underscore before. Marcia is trailblazing a new mindset of giving and a community of posi... positivity. (Lesley: Yeah) And joy, to be honest.

Lesley Logan 8:57  

I know. She's so sweet. And she's like, seriously, so giving. She like, turn... she suggested me for some magazine that Laila Ali was on the first cover of I mean, it was I know. (Brad: Wow) I know. Yeah. So, I should have had that in my things. It's like "Ask Us Beauty," I think is what it's called. So anyways, that ...

Brad Crowell 9:19  

Well, she she was just so fun to listen to, because she's very excited about (Lesley: Yeah) what she's doing.

Lesley Logan 9:25  

Yeah, she's she's so passionate what she's doing. She's also like, like, she's just being it till she sees that she's like, "I don't even know what I'm gonna see. Well, I'm just being the thing," (Lesley laughs) and she's like, going for it. I love it so much. So, but one of the, she talked about many things that are really amazing. One of the things that I loved that she talked about is, "Finding charities you're passionate about." And the reason I love this is I think it can get really overwhelming when you're someone who's a giving person or caring person. There's all the stuff going on the world like especially right now like literally every time you turn around there is a group of people that you need support, there is the world's on fire, the world's hot. There's all these things that are happening. There's, if you're in the States, there's like laws that you're like, "What in the frickin' world?" And so it's just ... and then I've talked to our friends in Australia and they've got their own stuff. So it can feel overwhelming. And you're like, "Where do I give my time? Where do I get my money to?" And, I think it's really freeing to be okay with just going and looking up charities that you're actually passionate about, and, and supporting in the way that you can. She talked about the different ways you can support is not always money. And I found that to just be like, that's something that you can do right now. And you can feel really good about yourself.

Brad Crowell 10:40  

Yeah. And, I think it's also something that we've been working on with (Lesley: Yeah) OPC. And with Profitable Pilates, (Lesley Yeah) which, you know, like, what, what should those? What charities should those businesses support? (Lesley: Yeah) And what is important to us? (Lesley: Yeah) And, you know, when we, when we first started, there was, we were getting to know, the homeless population near where we lived in Los Angeles. And so it was important for us to feed them. (Lesley: Yeah) And so we were looking at charities about that (Lesley: Yeah) Then, you know, we've shifted, having moved here to Vegas with Profitable Pilates. We've been supporting a business that's helping women in need, who end up in the, basically the sex industry here, (Lesley: Mm-hmm) or anywhere, really, (Lesley: Yeah, anywhere) but, but but there's the organizations based here.

Lesley Logan 11:37  

They're here, and they're in Portland, and they're working on becoming across the US. And it's like, what... the reason why I picked it for Profitable Pilates is that every single of those woman, women is like a business owner in her own way. And if they and a lot of times they are pimped out and they don't even know it, but they have a hard time getting out of it. And I know, if you feel like you can't take, maybe you have an idea for something but you can't get there because you're stuck where you are like I love this charity helps these women get out when they want to. And there's there's no judgment around it. And it's really ...

Brad Crowell 12:09  

And they do it by, they do it by building relationships.

Lesley Logan 12:13  

Yes, yes. Yes. It's so it's just something that I'm I'm, I think it's really cool. So, I that's what we did with Profitable Pilates. We're actually still trying to figure out where I'm running out of dates, we got to figure out the charity for OPC that we're choosing. But the reason why we're still working on that is because we're trying really hard to find one that is in more international climate change, focused charity, because our OPC members are all over the world. And that is something we can share in together. And I think they'd be really excited about. So (Brad: Yeah) anyways, I just say that because again, I think you can feel like, "Oh my God, I have to give all these people need something." And it's like, if we all were to focus on the ones we're passionate about, then we can actually probably make some change in those areas.

Brad Crowell 12:57  

The... Well, you mentioned it before, I was gonna say that the truth of giving money being the way we give back it's a, it's an, it's a challenging misconception, I think, because that's what we, "Oh, I have to give money." But that's not an option for everyone. Right? And that's also not the only way to give back. I know that, you know, (Lesley: Yeah) time, is something I grew up in the church. And so we gave a lot of time, and a lot of community service to different, whatever was going on in our local town, whatever needed help. But, you know, yes, there was monetary contributions, too. But the acts of service was really pushed and giving your time. So, if money isn't an option, then you know, giving "time" can be really helpful or helping someone out, you know, lend... lending (Lesley: Yeah) something to them, whatever. (Lesley: Yeah) That's also, you know, an act of charity and giving. 

Lesley Logan 13:59  

I know. And like doing that locally, because you can really make big change if you're doing things that are more local. So, she actually brought that up. I think you really, you mentioned you really loved that she talked about the different ways of giving. So so I really, I really thought it was very helpful.

Brad Crowell 14:16  

Yeah. Okay, 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 Marcia Agius? 

Lesley Logan 14:28  

Why don't you go first?

Brad Crowell 14:29  

Okay, so she said three really powerful ones at the end. And, I picked the middle one or no, I pick the last one she said, "Be unapologetically authentic."

Lesley Logan 14:40  

Yeah, that's big ...

Brad Crowell 14:42  

Yeah, I also ... (Lesley: Bold. It's so bold.) It's very bold. It's also like really hard. (Lesley: Yeah) You know, and I ...

Lesley Logan 14:49  

We're all part of society and we're all wondering who's going or people gonna like me. If I'm unapolo... apologetically authentic. What if no one likes me?

Brad Crowell 14:57  

Yeah, but I think that what does that even mean? (Lesley: I don't know) Right. So what is.. what does unapologetically authentic mean?

Lesley Logan 15:03  

Oh, what it does mean? Oh, it just means that you don't apologize for being your freakin' self.

Brad Crowell 15:08  

Yeah, but I think that's so challenging. I think ...

Lesley Logan 15:10  

If you don't ... you don't like, like, like, smooth out your edges, you know? Because like, we all have some rough edges.

Brad Crowell 15:18  

But I think even that is challenging because that means you have to know yourself.

Lesley Logan 15:24  

Oh. (Brad: You know, and ... ) Yeah and also that part, I find less challenging. I find more challenging the unapologetically aunthentic. (Lesley laughs) I have no problem, I have problem being authentic. But sometimes I'm like, "Oh, maybe I should apologize because that maybe that was too direct." (Lesley laughs)

Brad Crowell 15:39  

Well, the the thing that I grew up in this world of expectations, here's how you act at this place. This is what you do here. Here's the you know, this these lot of expectations. And, you know, you were, we were talking about this. Actually, I think you were talking about this with Marcia. But basically, you know, how do you like, it comes across as bragging when you're proud of yourself? (Lesley: Yeah) Right? And so that that's a, I think that's a pretty obvious example, that where we like push ourselves down and be like, "Oh, you know, I know I did good, but I can't like, you know, I can't, I can't shout it from the rooftops," kind of thing, because that wouldn't be right (Lesley: Yeah) to do. And that's, you know, that's kind of the world that I come from. And so it was really hard for me to celebrate wins (Lesley: Yeah) about myself because, you know, even though I knew like, "I should be so happy." You are happy for like two seconds, and then you just like, "Look, okay, that's enough," (Lesley: Yeah) you know. And I, so I think being a, you know, unapologeti... unapologetically authentic is really something (Lesley: Bold) you can grow into.

Lesley Logan 16:54  

Yeah, it was that thank you for saying that. You read my mind because I was like, what if you just like found kind of like the Rob Mack's idea of like, an unapologetically authentic island where you can like feel really, you can do that. And then like, do that there and when that island feels bigger and more secure, and, and everything it can kind of like, maybe you move it over to this little section of your life and move it over here. Like it's ... not I can go from zero to, you know, 100 in one day, like, that's gonna be a lot of changes. Maybe if you especially if you haven't been been yourself. (Lesley laughs)

Brad Crowell 17:27  

Yeah, and also, don't beat yourself up, you know.

Lesley Logan 17:29  

Oh, my God, please don't at (Brad: Yeah) all cuz that's not, that's not okay. No one that, you would never let a friend do that. So don't let yourself do that.

Brad Crowell 17:38  

Yeah. Okay. So, what about you?

Lesley Logan 17:40  

Step so far out of your comfort zone, you forget how to get back. I mean, come on. (Brad laughs) So you think ...

Brad Crowell 17:45  

That was the first thing she said. And I was like, "Did you write that?" Like, how ... impressed ... (Lesley: She lives that. That's how she lives.) It's so impressive.

Lesley Logan 17:53  

She, she she did that for her Inspire Always. I mean, she just like steps so far out. She's like, "Okay, I'm gonna do it." And, and now she's like, "I don't even know how I wasn't doing this before." So, I really liked that because I think Amy Ledin talks about this a lot with like, if you are, if you you know, because she works with women who are changing their bodies, and she makes them throw their clothes away.

Brad Crowell 18:16  

Right, (Lesley: So they can't) right. There's no going back.

Lesley Logan 18:18  

There's no going back to that. And I think like this is also ...

Brad Crowell 18:22  

And that is, that there's a lot of reticence that ... I mean, that would freak me out. And that's that's a ...

Lesley Logan 18:28  

Well, I mean like let's talk about like when you are going to leave your job. You were trying to do it part time for them (Brad: oh, man.) and like you were I'm gonna work five hours a week for them and it's like ...

Brad Crowell 18:36  

That was a huge step out of any kind of comfort zone.

Lesley Logan 18:40  

And you and then and then they said, "No, you can't." And you were like, "Oh and I was like just don't work for them." And then like, you like, so I think sometimes some people are like, "Okay, I'm gonna do a little bit over here and I do little over here." And it's like ... (Brad: Yeah, you keep your feet in both, you know.) You're you at some point, yeah gotta just get over and like, "Burn the boats" is what Tony Robbins says. Boutta' burn the boats, so ... 

Brad Crowell 19:02  

Yeah, um, I I think I wouldn't have done that. Had my old company not changed their decision on on me working (Lesley: on the last day.) Yeah, me working part time after I was done because I I think that there was so much hesitation and so much fear from losing all that security or what I deemed security even though it was also really stressful. (Lesley: Yeah) You know, I wouldn't have made that decision on my own but then when the, when the rug was pulled out from under me, it kind of left me with no choice. And that was like really scary. (Brad laughs)

Lesley Logan 19:43  

Yeah, but look at you now. (Brad: Yeah, yeah.) So um, yeah, I just I love that. I think that is like, that should be on a frickin' office wall. That should be on a journal, that should be.

Brad Crowell 19:54  

Step so far out of your comfort zone, you forget how to get back. (Lesley: Yeah) Amazing.

Lesley Logan 19:59  

Amazing. I've chills. All right. I'm Lesley Logan.

Brad Crowell 20:02  

And I'm Brad Crowell.

Lesley Logan 20:03  

Thank you so much for joining us today and every week, really. And this entire first year, it's been so wonderful. We are so grateful for you. How are you going to use these tips in your life? DM us, tag the pod, tag Marcia, and let us know. And then also send it to a friend who needs a little uplifting a little inspiration. We, that's how this podcast grows. And we couldn't be like we couldn't thank you enough if you did that. So please do and we'll catch you in the next episode.

Brad Crowell 20:28  

Bye for now.

Lesley Logan 20:32  

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 podcasts. Also, make sure to introduce yourself over at the @be_it_pod on Instagram. I would love to know more about you. Share this episode with whoever you think needs to hear it. Help us and others Be It Till You See It. Have an awesome day!

'Be It Till You See It' is a production of 'As The Crows Fly Media'.

Brad Crowell 21:05  

It's written produced, filmed and recorded by your host Lesley Logan and me, Brad Crowell. Our Associate Producer is Amanda Frattarelli.

Lesley Logan 21:16  

Kevin Perez at Disenyo handles all of our audio editing.

Brad Crowell 21:20  

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

Lesley Logan 21:28  

Special thanks to our designer Jaira Mandal for creating all of our visuals (which you can't see because this is a podcast) and our digital producer, Jay Perdoso for editing all video each week so you can.

Brad Crowell 21:41  

And to Angelina Herico for transcribing each of our episodes so you can find them on our website. And, finally to Meridith Crowell for keeping us all on point and on time.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai

Built from a passion for giving and a time in need of positivity, Marcia Agius and Lesley Logan chat about the impact of kindness, Marcia’s community _inspirealways, and how to just take a messy action to achieve your dream. 

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:

• Where connection and community can lead 
• Prioritizing yourself to begin 
• Let your core values guide you to begin
• Giving money isn’t the only way to give back
• Treasure, Time, Talent 
• Finding charities your passionate about
• A mindset shift from “why is this happening” to “how can we make this better?”

Episode References/Links:

• IG @_inspirealways
• Inspirealways.ca
• Make a wish foundation

Guest Bio:

With a spirit of giving and a passion for the people, Marcia Agius, is a community leader fighting to uplift and highlight the strengths women have within. From a hockey mom to the creator of @_inspirealways Marica is trailblazing a new mindset of giving and a community of positivity. 

OPC Flashcards:

• OPC Flashcards are on Amazon
• OPC Flashcards are on our site

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.

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

Social Media

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Tik Tok
• LinkedIn

Episode Transcript:

Lesley Logan 0:00  

Hey you, welcome back to the Be It Till You See It podcast. I'm so happy you're here. I'm just having the biggest blast, talking to guests for you. And also, gosh, I just really really love the takeaways that you're sharing and, and your heartfelt messages about how a different episode guests or something we said really resonated with you. What I think you're gonna love and hear in this podcast with Marcia Agius is, you know, things like there's divine appointments. Erika Quest, one of our guests talked about that before as well. So, I was introduced, I was like nominated by Amy for Marcia's thing. And then she reached out to me and then she heard about me through Jenny Barneveld-Pe, who was a guest of ours. And so I just kept coming up in her circle and her life. Right? And she had been wanting to get strong and do Pilates and there's a lot that we align with, we love celebrating. And we are really huge believers in community, connection and prioritizing yourself. And so we do it in different ways. I do it with OPC and she does it with her Inspire Always community and spreading kindness and, and I wanted to bring her on because she isn't necessarily yet, someone that you may have heard of on many other podcasts. But she last year started this mission to Shine a Light on Women. And she didn't have an idea of what it was going to be yet and she took this messy action. And I wanted to have that, I wanted to hear that from someone, I wanted to hear someone who's in it, who just started something and and is organically growing it because I think it's really easy to get hung up but we have to have, we have to know the big... we have to know the end goal before we can get started at something. And I think you're gonna hear so much possibility and not knowing the end goal and just doing what you know and what's possible and, and learning every day. And I really, I couldn't stop smiling. If you watch this on YouTube, I can't stop smiling. She is so passionate about the people in her community and what she does and so enjoy, enjoy this podcast, enjoy hearing someone who is in the messy middle, messy beginning, rocking it out and really in it for the community and I can't wait to hear what your takeaways are. Oh my gosh, wait till you get to the BE IT action items. Literally number one (whoo I'm gonna have to fight Brad on that one) if we did the takeaways because it is epic. It's so good. So take a listen to Marcia Agius after this quick message.

Lesley Logan 2:33  

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 3:19  

All right. Welcome to the Be It Till You See It podcast. I have Marcia as my guest today. And I didn't even ask you how to say your last name. So you'll (Lesley and Marcia laughs) say that and the thing this is really taking messy action. Okay, y'all. So y'all remember Amy Ledin she was on our podcast is episode three, and I think three ... five. I think she was five and she told Marcia about me and that's how we met. And you were you, we're going to talk about how we met in a little bit, but we are an Instagram friendship that is just blossomed and we're actually seeing each others face for the first time. I feel like and I'm really excited you called me to tell me about your project. I'm like this is amazing. I have to have this on my podcast. And so Marcia will you please introduce yourself. Tell everyone who you are, what you're rocking right now and where you're from?

Marcia Agius 4:11  

Lesley honestly, I am so thrilled to meet you actually face to face even though we've talked before. My name is Marcia Agius. I'm from just North of Toronto in Canada. And I recently started an Instagram page called Inspire Always. And this is where actually I met you and featured you and featured Amy and this part... this Instagram account came about just through by chance of I turned 50 last year and decided to get into the best shape of my life and joined an amazing group of women. Ah, Team Strong Girls were actually (Lesley: Okay) funny enough. I ... that's Jenny of course. And I heard you on her podcast as well. So all things coming full circle. I've always wanted to do Pilates and I love strength training. So, I felt like I couldn't do both. But honestly, you just popped into my life. And so, in so many levels, everything seems to be organically working out perfectly. So ...

Lesley Logan 5:11  

That's right. You ... Jenny is gonna be Jenny's episode. By the time people hear this her episode been out already. But yeah ... she ... hers, I met her through Amy. It's really funny how the universe works, it makes it really small. But I it's kind of like when the universe is like, "Oh, you want to do something like let's here's a little drop of someone, oh, and then wait, then the person's over here. It's kind of... it's making sure we're we're getting to know each other." (Lesley laughs)

Marcia Agius 5:35  

It it really is a bit crazy. And it's all in alignment, because you came at the right time to where I've always wanted to do Pilates. But I'm working right now on a major workout program. And I'm actually doing another photoshoot with Jenny. So yeah, it's exciting. And I'm squeezing in your #100withme challenge and I think it's amazing. I just love it. I purchased your cards, and I'm giving myself that grace that you've given me that, that you that you don't have to be perfect. I do a card every day. It's not a lot, starting out. But yeah, I love it.

Lesley Logan 6:08  

Oh my God, that is... y'all that that makes me so happy because I when I made those, I was like, "I really hope people use them." I (Lesley laughs) we're gonna go into your - I think it's probably very similar. Like, I was like, "Okay, we have to order a thousand. Do I even know a hundred people who will buy these things?" Like, probably, let's talk about, it's probably similar to when you started this Instagram, most people will start an Instagram account about themselves, which that's me. (Lesley laughs) Um, but you're like, "I'm going to start an Instagram account that that shines a light on inspiring women." And so when did that come from your 50th birthday as well, like, what made you go, "Let me do this right now."

Marcia Agius 6:47  

So, I'm a mom of three children. I stayed at home with my three kids blessed enough to be able to stay at home with them. And I just kind of thought I was just the mom until I'll never say that again because that is such a, that is such a bad way of thinking. But I just kind of thought that that's what I did. And so when I... was about to turn 50, I thought, "You know what, it's, it's time to give to myself." And so I joined Team Strong Girls, I took a photo shoot and and got into the best shape of my life. And for the first time I took care of myself. And I gave to myself and I realized that's when I had so much more to give to others. And so the one of the messages that Jenny always talks about is to Aspire to Inspire. And so she basically said to, you know, "Get out there and, and inspire people." And that was so uncomfortable for me to share those images of my ... my photos, because again I was taught by my mom like to be very kind, but to be humble. And so (Lesley: Yeah) in my mind that was kind of like I was showing off. (Lesley: Yeah) But really, truly, I didn't realize that I had kind of inspired people. And that made me want to, to delve into it more. And basically, I thought, I love this feeling of celebrating. And I just thought 2020 was a shit show. But everything you read in the news was bad. (Lesley: Yeah) I decided I wanted a place where we could do this. For me, it was about community, it was about, you know, connection. And like, I got to talk to you, I talk to every person that comes on the page. It's about connection and, and celebration, I think we all need to be celebrated. (Lesley: Yeah) And so that's how Inspire Always started.

Lesley Logan 8:30  

I mean, okay, I swear, y'all, this was not planned. I have no idea what my guests are gonna say. But if people who listen, they know that I'm 100% about, you must celebrate yourself, you must that way you can ... you must prioritize yourself so you can give to others. And you just said it earlier, you said, "When I prioritize myself, then I could help others more like I could do more for others." And I think that is so true because the energy and we have there's a confidence that comes to it and, and, you know, and, and it's free... I understand that I think a lot of people, especially women were raised, like, "Be humble." And like, "Don't show off too much." Like don't, you know, don't you don't want your life to like be too bright for somebody else. But really, really when your light is bright and shining, you actually help others like you attract (Marcia: Absolutely) others to that and then they are like, "Oh my God, I want that too." Like we it's it really is different. And so, y'all if you haven't checked out this Instagram page, literally is it every day that you post a different woman you shine a light on someone else?

Marcia Agius 9:32  

It's literally when I started this project, I can a passion project. I thought, "You know what I know so many amazing women. I'm going to feature them, I'm going to feature them once a week and that would be fine." And so again, my my kids, my grown kids basically said to me, "Mom, you know when you're starting something new maybe should do every day for the first little while." So, I thought "Okay, first couple weeks ..." Since I've started I featured someone every day Monday to Friday, and so the community is growing, people nominate other people. It literally brings me such joy. I'm so excited to celebrate this person. They're excited to be celebrated. And just ripple... it's a ripple effect, because then they nominate other people and they're excited. And (Lesley: It is ... ) honestly, my heart is so full. (Marcia laughs)

Lesley Logan 10:15  

It really is so cool. So and I'm someone who like doesn't consume a lot of stuff. I don't scroll very much, but because I follow your account, I think on all my accounts. Your... I, each woman comes up and I read it. And I'm like, "I love the quote. I love, I love hearing what they say," Yeah, anytime it comes up, I'm like, "Oh, my God." And I, in fact, there was one woman, like, "This woman is amazing." And I reached out to her, and I'm like, "You're really awesome. I want you on my podcast." (Lesley laughs)

Marcia Agius 10:43  

Oh, my gosh. See, and ... I didn't even realize when I started this. This ... I'm connecting other people. So it really is about the connection and the community. And, and, and I love that that actually just made my day. (Lesley: Yeah) I love that.

Lesley Logan 10:56  

Yeah, no, I mean, well, and that's just it, like, everything that I do, including there's this one project that I'm putting together. And it's all about elevating connection, and confidence and community. And when with OPC, it's all about giving yourself 100% celebrating that so you can connect more with others to be part of this community and our community supports everybody. You've seen it as you're in that group. And but I want to go back to, so you wanted to start this thing, you're like, "We need good news in the world. I want to, we need something to inspire. I'm gonna do it every day." Was it difficult to start something that you didn't know what the end result is? Because I think a lot of people have a hard time starting something where they know, where they want to go. But they don't they're like, they're unsure how to take the next first step. You kind of were like, "I don't know, this is gonna be but I'm going to take a step." Like how, how did you get your brain to go, "Yeah, let me do this thing." (Lesley laughs)

Marcia Agius 11:47  

Honestly, I think that everything for me is just starting something new to be, to be out on social media was totally new to me. And it was a learning game. So I thought, "Okay, I'm gonna do it." And you're right, I really had no end goal. It's actually evolving, organically again, funny enough to something more. So my core values is giving. And the ... I've actually started with this Inspire Always community, giving back. And so my message always is, "In this world, there's so much judgment, we need more kindness." And so I literally went out and bought "Spread Kindness T-shirts," and raised money for a woman that started charity on my page. So it's just a full circle. Like, it's actually been crazy. And we're raising another wish, through these T-shirts with a "Spread Kindness T-shirt" for another girl that was actually featured on my page. So ...

Lesley Logan 12:44  

That okay, that's really cool. So not that you need more ideas, but I'm an ideas machine. And there is a woman we had on the podcast, Renee Dick, and she started off with like, just making a T-shirt a month. And like how to community and like be paid to have the community you got the T-shirt. And so because then everyone's like wearing like the, you know, "Girlboss T-shirt," or like, you know, "Community Over Competition" or whatever the T-shirt is of the month, and they pay, they get the shirt, and then they are in this community. And I don't know that I would say dive in, think about that because it could be maybe it's not a monthly thing. But maybe there's like a seasonal shirt that people can buy that contributes to a charity, and then they're all part of the community because they bought it or something like that. Like, I think there's something there for you. And being able to give back and inspire others and be inspired by the people that come through your, your that people nominate, you know, it's kind of cool.

Marcia Agius 13:44  

It is kind of cool. I actually been thinking about more about what I want to do it. It's something similar. It's again, to create a community of not just buying things, but to doing things I think giving back is is there threefold. There's, you know, there's treasure, there's time, (Lesley: Yeah) there's talent. And so I think it's not always easy and people are busy. And so because I'm blessed enough to have that time, I think I'm able to say "Hey, this is something that you can do. Come join me." And so it's a feel good ...

Lesley Logan 14:16  

I think that's amazing. Can you go over that again? So you call it treasure, time ... What was the, what were the three things when it comes to the community?

Marcia Agius 14:25  

Treasure, time and talents ... So it's not just, it's just not ... when when you say you're giving, people can't always give money and they can't. (Lesley: Right) But people inherently are good that they're inherently good. They want to do good things. And so because I'm good at that, and I can claim that now because before I would have said but I'm good at giving. I can I can ... I can help people with that. And so just like with Team Strong Girls, I wanted to be part of that team and (Lesley: Yeah) I didn't know how. I'm not a, I'm not a personal trainer, I'm not a fitness coach. But I came to Jenny I had a relationship with Make a Wish. And I said to Jenny, "Hey, Jenny, what do you think about doing a give back." And so she loved it. And she's always wanting to do that. She just hasn't had the time. And so we paired up and we raised money for Make a Wish. And we're, we're the number one team on a trailblaze wish in Canada. So we raised $35,000 with Team Strong Girls, and I ... (Lesley: That's amazing) So yeah,

Lesley Logan 15:23  

So just so y'all know, in case you haven't heard the podcast with Jenny yet, um, she is the President of Strong Fitness Magazine. And she also has this thing, this group called Team Strong Girls, and they help women get into their, the best shape that they want. And then they do a photo shoot afterwards, which is like all about just like, put, like, showing you off. And like, I think a lot of women don't have, don't take a lot of pictures of themselves unless like a selfie, or like, they're with a group of friends. And this is like, by yourself, showing off how awesome you are, how hard you've worked it is. To me, it's not like a before and after thing. It's more of like, this is like your true essence coming out and shining bright with this confidence and it's really fun. And so I really love that she does that. It's it's a pretty cool thing. And so you've done that. And so you put together you're like, "Hey, how do we add this?" that is a really cool thing that you can do, because I think you're correct. Like, a lot of people think giving, they have to have money to give, and you can actually ... you can be giving back by giving time. Or you can be the keynote speaker for free at an event that they sell tickets to to raise money for charity. So I think it's really, we it's, it's more fun to actually get really creative. It's like, "What can I do for this charity over here or this community over here?" It doesn't have to be money can be but it also can be your time or your talent. I think that's really cool. So you guys were the... you guys were the number one for trailblazers in Canada. That's insane. (Marcia: Yeah) That is a talent you have. (Lesley and Marcia laughs)

Marcia Agius 16:53  

And so it was a strength because like I said to my husband I were talking about it was great. And I basically was able to bring my two worlds together, my my world of I love giving, and Team Strong Girls and we made something happen. And (Lesley: Yeah) so ...

Lesley Logan 17:08  

So how can, so let's just talk about that because this is a talent of yours. If someone's listening to this, and they are wanting to maybe there's a charity on their heart, and they're wanting to do something, what like, what are your tips for them getting a group of people together to help raise money? Like, what are some things they need to consider to make that happen? Because $35,000 is not a little bit of money, it's a lot of money. (Marcia: Yeah) (Lesley laughs) What are some things people should consider when they're trying to give back to a charity that they like?

Marcia Agius 17:35  

Well, first of all, usually, when you find a charity, it will be close to your heart. And, and there'll be strings to that heart thing. So again, depending on what the event is, and what you ... you want to do use, actually just have to rally people around that, that, that charity, and also around doing it together. (Lesley: Yeah) Yeah.

Lesley Logan 17:59  

Yeah, that's, that's the like, you have to get people to the rally part, I think is where a lot of people get hung up, I think they're afraid to ask, they don't want to be imposed. And (Marcia: Yes) so you know, that's that it can be the trickier part. How... like, how do we get women over like feeling like they're imposing by asking people to support something that they care about?

Marcia Agius 18:24  

So here's the thing that I've learned on I'm very much um not going to ask for myself. But usually, when it's a charity, "I'm okay to ask because it's not for me." And so a lot of times people have lots of charities to give to, and it's so hard to give to just one, so people get to choose. And so basically, some people, it will resonate with them, and they will want to do it and some people won't and that's okay. And so I think the whole point is you try to do the best that you can do. (Lesley: Yeah) And so like I said, in terms of giving to my message is always to spread kindness. And so that doesn't have to necessarily mean again money, like it could be, you know, so my whole point of it was that if I can take all the followers as my followers grow, and it's getting bigger every day, (Lesley: I know) and every single person, I know every single person could this is my message to say, "Every single person can do something kind to someone else." It doesn't have to be money, it could be holding the door. That's like right now I have 16... 1600 followers. If 1600 followers could do one nice thing, (Lesley: Yeah) one nice thing. It doesn't matter, then it's a ripple effect. 

Lesley Logan 19:36  

That's 13... 3200 people that got something nice. Yeah, I have to say. So I'm at the time of recording this yesterday in real time. I missed a flight (which I've never missed a flight in my entire life.) Like ever have I missed a flight. I always I mean, there was one time if you've ever flown through Heathrow, I was dropped off at a different terminal. Had to take a bus to another terminal. At 15 minutes from when that bus got there for boarding to close, and I had to go through security and I had to run. There's like a sign that's like 20 minutes walking to get to the gate that I was supposed to be at. And I was like, "I am making this flight. I'm not missing a 12 hour flight to the States." Right? And I'm not spending the night at Heathrow. So I've never missed a flight. I missed a flight. The person was awful to me treated me like I was an idiot. It just like it's not like, "Yeah, I missed the flight. No, you can't call the plane back. But you can at least like look me in the eye and go, I'm so sorry, this happened to you. Here's your next steps, not hard. This is not hard." Just like so of course, I feel like an idiot already. I ran around this airport trying to find the gate and I go to the bathroom. I'm on the phone, my husband, I'm crying and we the call drops. And I'm just standing there trying to like wash my hands. And this little girl goes, "Are you okay?" And I said, I said, "I'm going to be okay. I just missed a flight. Thank you so much for asking me." Like, "Do you want a hug?" And I was like ... I know. I know. It's like, actually, I would love a hug right now. (Lesley laughs) I actually would really love a hug right now. And she gave me a real hug. It took her less than one minute of her life to look me in the eye, see me, asked me if I was okay, and hug me. And I thought, "Wow, I need to make sure I do that for someone else, today." Like I need to spread that for it and it's just like that. So I love what you're doing because it's like just spread kindness. It doesn't have to be money. It can be something as simple as seeing someone's having a problem. And like just acknowledging she... she can't solve the problem. She cannot get me on a plane. She's a little girl but like that still, like first of all, her mom is amazing. Second of all, like she really touched my soul. And so I do think that we sometimes feel hopeless and helpless but it can... it doesn't have to be money. It doesn't even have to be time. It can just be like as simple as like seeing someone's having an issue and like supporting them during that moment really quickly. So I really love this mission you're on. (Marcia: Absolutely.) And I love that it was organic. So we were at this time, we have no idea, what's next, where what are you working on right now with it?

Marcia Agius 22:00  

Honestly, I... like I said, I have another project. There's two of the strong girls, their teachers at a school and they have a group of young women that, it's so cute. They're called the Riveters just like Rosie the Riveter. (Lesley: I love it) And they're like... I so do I, I think it's amazing. And they are again changing the way young people are thinking they're doing things. And they are on a spread kindness mission is this month, and they're using the T-shirts to raise the money for that girl again, in their school that's on my page. So ... (Lesley: That's so cool.) Yeah, that's that's the thing right now. But honestly, I think my mission is to set it up so that people can be part of the community Inspire Always. And they can do things to give. And again, like I said, it doesn't have to be money. It can be, again, through time, through through talent, through spreading kindness, (Lesley: Yeah) and just making the world a better place. I tell my husband, and my children all the time, "If I can make this world a little bit of a brighter place and the I'm doing a great job."

Lesley Logan 23:04  

Yeah. So you know, I mean, like, I think there's a there's a lot of people listening to this, who would be like, how do you have time you have three children, you are prioritizing your health, because you're working out, and then you start this project. And it's not easy, you're making a phone call to every single person before you have them on the page. You know, that takes a lot of time. How do you, how, how could we tell other women who are busy who have children like to start something new? Like what was something you had to change in your day to make time for this? Or was it was it simple bcause you were inspired by it, so you made the time? Like what was the what was the ability to make this happen?

Marcia Agius 23:40  

So, um definitely the inspiration gives me that ability. But the truth is my children are a little older now. So I actually do have time. And so um, yeah, I do have the time and I again, I'm blessed enough. And I'm grateful every day and that's the thing. I truly am grateful for everything I have. And I just want to because I'm in the overflow of abundance. I have so much, I just feel like I have so much more to give.

Lesley Logan 24:09  

Yeah. So the... so I think like a lot of a lot of people want to give more like wanting like not even like money, they want to give a time or they want to give an energy. But they get hung up on where to start. And you talked about with what you're passionate about, like rally around Sunday night pulls on your heartstrings. We... like, was that something that was easy for you because it always has been? Or is that something kind of came out of like once you started working out and prioritizing yourself, you started to like, Do you know what I mean? Like is it something that's always been there? Or do you think that people when they start to take care of themselves will have more of an opportunity to see it and others like I think I'm sure I hope like my questions making sense. (Lesley laughs)

Marcia Agius 24:52  

Well, I think for me, my giving started at a very young age. I think my parents taught me, they modeled giving to me as like giving without receiving anything. So I think that was always within me. In 2010, my husband got diagnosed with cancer and he is totally fine now but my daughter at the time was making bracelets. So we said, "Let's make some bracelets" and, and she was going to sell them to family friends, and we were going to raise money to the hospital here in Sunnybrook in Toronto, Canada. And so we started doing that but as a hockey mom, I thought, "Oh, we could do this bigger." And so we had we done like, gal... galas, right, for five years. We raised over $100,000 for Sunnybrook. And so I think that was the start of it like it, it meant something to us. So that's why we did, so that was the one project then I got involved with Make a Wish and again, it's pulled up my heartstrings. So I started doing that. So these projects kind of came to me, and I just kind of found a way to make it happen.

Lesley Logan 26:02  

Yeah (Marcia: if that makes sense.) It does and what it's I think, like, I think what I hear from this is like, something happened that nobody wants cancer to touch their family, right? But instead of it the focus being on like "Why is this happening? It's like, how do we, how do we ... (Marcia: Make it better) make it better." And I think (Marcia: Yeah) that that is actually something that many women can start with, because there's a lot like maybe they have a kid that's getting sick, or their kid is struggling in school, or they're somebody lost a job. And it's like, how do you take what's happening, what feels like it's happening to you, and twist it and turn it and make it better because it's you're not the only one that it's happening to and if you could take what happened in your family and use it to give back to other families that are going through it, sounds really cool. So I think a lot of people could within their own lives, look around and go, "Why, like, what is really bothering me? Why is this upsetting? Like, what and like, how do I use this so that other people can benefit from it too." And that's such a cool thing. That you... that's that's a talent that you have. But I think that a lot of people listen to this can absolutely emulate in a way. So that's cool. (Marcia: Thank you so much) Yeah, so okay, so you ... and show off, you... Shine a Light on a Woman, Monday through Friday on this Instagram page, and it's grown to this amazing community. It's 1600 followers, by the way, you all just so you know, it is really hard to grow follower account in the last three years, like basically, starting in 2020. They said like less than 3% of Instagram accounts are growing. And you have... Yeah (Marcia: Really?) Yeah. Oh, no, it's huge. So if your listening and like "my account doesn't grow." You're not alone. It's not growing. But yours is ... 1600 organic followers, that you're inspiring to spread kindness, too. That is huge, is not easy to do. (Lesley laughs) So I am wondering, what your... what is it that you're wanting to with the spread kindness and this group? What are you hoping to take into with 2022, coming up? Are you going to keep going five days a week? Are you going to keep doing the calls? Like what are you how are you wanting to continue to grow this? And what what kind of women are you looking to shine a light on? Is there a specific thing that you are wanting to have in there?

Marcia Agius 28:19  

And that's the thing, I think that there's no specific. This is just coming from the pure joy of doing it. And so here's the thing, I have amazing rockstar women on my page, I have women that are that don't even feel like they deserve to be on a page. It takes me months for them to convince them to be on the page. But here's the thing, I think that we all need to be celebrated no matter what we do. I think that everyone has a story. (Lesley: Yeah) And I think that's the beauty of it all. I think that we all have such diverse and different stories and we're all so different. But (Lesley: Yeah) we're all the same. We want the same thing that we want that connection, that community, that celebration, and so yeah, I don't have a specific woman. I just thought when I see someone like you that "Oh, I think you'd be great." This is new to me that I reached out two months ago, "I'd love to highlight you." But most of times just organically that people that are on the page nominate other amazing women so and that's how it's really (Lesley: Yeah) just growing.

Lesley Logan 29:18  

Yeah, that's really cool. (Marcia: Yeah) I actually, I think it is and I I think a lot of people ask me like, you have to ask people and you have to get them to like they have to think about being on the page like so many people like, "Yes, I'd love to be a spotlight." But it is true so many women are they think that they have to be something who knows what the the bar is to me... to be shine like a light shine on them. But the story they learned so much from so many, like it's from learning from others. It's just really important for how we grow, like you. I have to say, even though you're like, "I'm just giving a try. I'm trying this and I'm going through this." Like it is inspiring to me because and I hope it's inspiring to the person listening right now, because the reality is, is like, sometimes we think it has to be so perfect. Like, we have to know all the things, all the different stuff. And you don't have to know anything, you just have to know, "This is what I want her to work on right now. This is why I'm passionate about. This what I'm excited about. Oh, look it, we can spread kindness, let's get shirts." Like, there's something about that, that's very freeing, and 100% what this podcast is about, and what I'm all about with everything that I do. And so, I, I love it. I love your passion for it. I love that there's not a lot of rules around it. And I think that it can literally let any women listens to this go, "You know, I don't actually need to know anything, but that I really like this. And I want to help these people out." And that's cool. That's enough. (Marcia laughs) Yeah.

Marcia Agius 30:43  

Cool. Thank you for that that actually just just made me feel so amazing, because I really do not have a real plan. And so I'm just going with the flow. I'm I'm having a good time and I genuinely love it. Like every morning, I ... my heart is bursting for that woman. And so I think it's great.

Lesley Logan 31:02  

Yeah, I 100% great. I um, okay, what we're gonna do right now, because I was like, "Okay, what's the Instagram? How do we like learn about this woman? How do we spread kindness?" Alright, what what is this Instagram account again? And how can people be part of your mission on this planet?

Marcia Agius 31:20  

So, Instagram account is @_inspirealways. I actually have just started at what I'm getting a web page developed. (Lesley:Ooh) So it'll be... Yeah. inspirealways.ca.

Lesley Logan 31:35  

Perfect, great, we'll put those in the show notes. And everyone, please give them a follow. Check out all these amazing women. Also, like if somebody resonates with you, I highly recommend you comment on their posts, because these women are not neces... This is not like, you know, Chelsea Handler stuff, like I love her. She inspires me sometimes too but like this is like, this is like a woman in Canada and a woman in Florida and then my friend, Joanna in LA, like, just amazing people that you ... (Marcia: Monica is coming up.) Oh, Monica ... She's amazing. But like, these are amazing women who I promise if you comment on their post, and you tag them, they're gonna see that and they're gonna be celebrated. And they're gonna make them smile. And, and you might make a new friend out of it, which is really cool. Okay, so I asked every guest this because I think every person, every woman has a different way of viewing this. But what are your tips for prioritizing yourself so something bold or executable, intrinsic or targeted steps that people could do, either right now, or they could work their way up to that helps them be until they see it.

Marcia Agius 32:42  

I think for me, there's there's three things that I've learned through my journey is "Step outside your comfort zone," like the steps so like my quote is "Steps so far out your comfort zone, you forget how to get back." And so I do everything, I do everything. Now, if it excites me a little bit, and I'm afraid I'm going to do it. And so I'm taking on all these new projects. And then the second one would be I'm learning every day, and I'm learning new things, at the same time unlearning all the old things that I've learned that no longer serve me. And then the third thing is, and this is the most important, I think, is that I'm learning to be unapo... unapologetically authentic. I am me. And one of the my favorite strengths that one of the women on my page had was "My strength is no one, is me." (Lesley: Yeah) And I thought that was really powerful. Because it's true, we all think that we're less sometimes or we're not enough or look at that person, they're doing this, but we are all doing something. And we are all something and so we should all be again celebrated.

Lesley Logan 33:56  

Ah, those are so great. I could dive i nto a whole nother episode with each one of those are so beautiful. And I have to say I love the unlearning. I think that that (Marcia: Yes) is that's tough. That's that's the tough thing (Marcia: It is tough.) Yeah. And ... go ahead.

Marcia Agius 34:15  

No, I think that the biggest compliment that I've... well, not biggest but one of the biggest compliments that I've gotten from my daughter for being her mom was that she said, "Mom, I love how you're always learning." She says, "You're not just, you're the mom and you know it all, you're learning" and so honestly, I think I've learned more in the last year than I have at any other time.

Lesley Logan 34:41  

Yeah, yeah. And and then that is amazing. You need to make that a short step so far outside your comfort zone. You can't get back like ... that's amazing. That's so ... Oh, these are so great. I can't wait to dive in with the... to these with Brad. You are so inspiring. Thank you so much for being on here and also like, I know, the... I know when we talked offline like this is like, "Oh my God, I'm doing this," but it's like, I just really, really love what you're doing. And I wanted every listener that we have to hear that you don't need to have all of the dots, dot I's dotted T's crossed, don't have to know what it's going to be, you just have to know what you want to do. And just take that messy action to do it. And it's grown so fast and so authentically, and it's allowing you to do what you're so passionate about and explore that. And so thanks for coming on and sharing that because it's giving permission to so many people to just just do that just take on with what they're passionate about. And I just want to say thank you so much for taking time to be here.

Marcia Agius 35:45  

I just wanna say thank you for everything that you do. I love all your messages. I think you are amazing. And I am so grateful to have met you.

Lesley Logan 35:53  

Ah, same. Everyone thank you so much for listening to another episode of the Be It Till You See It podcast. You would be like so kind and it's also like, talk about spreading kindness. Here's the deal, when you share this episode in a text message, on your stories, on Facebook. It actually helps this podcast get into the ears of other women so you couldn't like that's like the best currency you could ever do for this podcast. But also, if there's a woman in your life that you're like, she needs to hear this the best way for her here is for you to send that link and tell her why she should listen to this podcast. And it helps us grow. So please do that and make sure when you share it that you tag _Inspirealways use the underscore the beginning and the @be_it_pod so that we can celebrate you back and also hear what your takeaways are. It really does bring us so much joy, I promise you it'll bring Marcia and myself like a big smile to our face and know that this brought us so much light. And love until next time, Be It Till You See It.

Lesley Logan 36:50  

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 podcasts. 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 37:18

'Be It Till You See It' is a production of 'As The Crows Fly Media'.

Brad Crowell 37:23  

It's written produced, filmed and recorded by your host Lesley Logan and me, Brad Crowell. Our Associate Producer is Amanda Frattarelli.

Lesley Logan 37:34  

Kevin Perez at Disenyo handles all of our audio editing.

Brad Crowell 37:38

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

Lesley Logan 37:47

Special thanks to our designer Jaira Mandal for creating all of our visuals (which you can't see because this is a podcast) and our digital producer, Jay Pedroso for editing all video each week so you can.

Brad Crowell 37:59  

And to Angelina Herico for transcribing each of our episodes so you can find them on our website. And, finally to Meridith Crowell for keeping us all on point and on time.

What is a brand without a business? How can you read a book without ever opening the front page? Today LL and Brad discuss their celebrations from 2021, various aspects of branding, and how success has to be defined by you. 

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 celebrations of 2021
• Reframing your mindset to accomplish a Ta-Da
• Branding even without a business 
• The emotional side of branding
• What success means for you

Episode References/Links:

• Tour Infornmation
• NEW scheduling program
• Mini's

Guest Bio:

From a former Disney movie marketing executive to a brand and messaging strategist for entrepreneurs - Hilary Hartling helps entrepreneurs infuse meaning into their brands. She is an incredible thought leader, business women, new mom of Ruby, and the master of using Ta-Da lists for success. 

OPC Flashcards:

• OPC Flashcards are on Amazon
• OPC Flashcards are on our site

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.

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

Social Media

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Tik Tok
• LinkedIn

Episode Transcript:

Lesley Logan 0:01  

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.

(Brad laughs) 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 deliberate convo I had with Hilary Hartling in our last episode. If you haven't yet listened to that episode, that interview, go back, listen to it. It's friggin' cool and you'll see why we said it's deliberate. And you can pause and then come back to this one when you're ready or listen to this one decide if you want to listen to a deliberate conversation it's up to you.

Brad Crowell 1:11  

I, I kind of want to explain, why deliberate? (Lesley: Yeah. Go ahead.) I ... because she was very deliberate in planning where she was going to end up, while a student in college. And I thought, I thought it was pretty amazing that as a college student, she was like, "I'm going to work in the movies." And so she plastered her college dorm with all these movie posters. So she was consistently, she was deliberately keeping that in front of her (Lesley: Yeah) during her time at school. I think it's so impressive because, you know, the only thing that I knew is that I just wanted to be awesome. You know, at music, I didn't actually know what that meant. So the fact that she even understood what she wanted to go do. I just thought it was incredibly deliberate of her. (Brad and Lesley laughs)

Lesley Logan 2:04  

Well, I think people might think that that's an interesting word choice. And I think that it's okay to be deliberate. It's also okay to have just been like, "I just want to leave." Like, I deliberately went off to a very expensive of college because I wanted to get the fuck out of town.

Brad Crowell 2:19  

A very what college? (Lesley: It was a very expensive college) Expensive college. Okay, okay.

Lesley Logan 2:23  

Yeah. I was, I just want to get out. I was like, "They'll accept me. I'm out of here." And that was the only deliberate choice I made in my teenage years. (Lesley laughs)

Brad Crowell 2:31  

Good.

Lesley Logan 2:31  

So anyways, okay.

Brad Crowell 2:33  

All right, before we get started.

Lesley Logan 2:34  

Um, we are on the road right now. So we are, we'll be honest, all these episodes for the next few weeks are pre-recorded before on the road. So, I'm going to manifest that we're having a great freakin' time getting ready for our tour.

Brad Crowell 2:48  

Oh, I know we are. We just had amazing dinner last night. (Lesley: Yeah ...) In fact, I slept so well. And I was really, really warm. (Lesley: Yeah) (Brad laughs)

Lesley Logan 2:54  

I think we're still on the road, actually. So, I don't know if your warm or not. (Brad laughs) But we are going to have, we have our tour going on. So you can check out the tour dates at onlinepilatesclasses.com/tour. We'll be in the Philly area on the 19th. And then we've got Atlanta, Miami, Dallas, that kind of stuff. So join us if you can.

Brad Crowell 3:12  

Yeah, it's gonna be so much fun. We've been really looking forward to seeing you. So if you are at all close to us on those dates, where we are going to be hosting a class, come hang out. (Lesley: Come) You know, it's just going to be awesome. (Lesley: Yeah) Looking forward to it.

Lesley Logan 3:27  

Yeah. And then we have some exciting waitlist. We want you to get on these are for (Brad: Yes) our business listeners, our fitness business peeps, we are actually going to be releasing a scheduling tool. (Brad: Whaat?) Whaat? I know Brad, where do they go to get on the list to hear about it when it's actually ready in the new year?

Brad Crowell 3:45  

Yeah, I don't have any idea. But ah (Lesley laughs) we gonna tell you right now. Just go to profitablepilates.com/scheduling. (Brad laughs) I will make that link go to wherever it needs to go so that you can be on the waitlist. (Lesley: Yeah) I'm pretty sure Meridith gave you a tool, of a link ...

Lesley Logan 4:03  

She gives me a link it's really long and it doesn't have a short little situation you just gave. So, I like that one.

Brad Crowell 4:09  

Okay, so let's call it, let's call it, you know what? Yeah, I think that's the best way. So (Lesley: Yeah. Let's call it that) profitablepilates.com/scheduling. (Lesley: Yup) Go there. It will redirect you to the waitlist. This is something that we are going to be formally introducing in January.

Lesley Logan 4:29  

Yeah. Yeah. And so we'll bring it. Well, we're excited about it. We'll tell you more later. And lastly, one more waitlist that we want you to load up yourself up on because it is a space is limited situation. We only do it twice a year Agency Mini. You'll go to profitablepilates.com/mini. (Brad: Yup) That's M, I, N, and I - and you'll get on that waitlist. We will open up the doors, probably right at the end of the year slash early beginning of the year. (Brad: Yeah. Yeah) And you do... you want to be on the waitlist because you hear about the special price before anyone else does. (Brad: Yeah) Okay. All right. Now back to the show. (Brad: Yeah) What our, what's our question from the, for the week?

Brad Crowell 5:05  

We had an audience question, which I thought which made me actually think, I think period. I liked the question is, "What are you celebrating from 2021?"

Lesley Logan 5:19  

Yeah. And we actually, you know, you said, "What are we celebrating?" And it's like, well, we just did this amazing reflections with Kareen Walsh. (Brad: We did) They are retrospective. And if you don't, y'all Kareen was on the show. She's in the teens, I want to say, and you can go back and listen to her inspiring self. She's got just amazing tools. But one of the things that I wrote down, um that I was celebrating from this year when we did the retrospective was that I have seamingly learned really well how to offload things off my plate. And I'm only, I'm really, I'm really only doing the things I love to do in my business. (Lesley laughs) And I'm celebrating this podcast, because I've been wanting to do this for a really long time. And this was a whole year in the making thing, because it took us to the beginning of the year to get it launched. And now we're doing it all the time.

Brad Crowell 6:05  

After talking about it for multiple years. (Lesley: Yeah) But Kareen's episode was 27. (Lesley: Thank you) So, if you're (Lesley: Oh) interested, go back to episode 27 ... (Lesley: Not the teens at all. Definitely the twenties) (Lesley laughs) She, I mean, she's a rock star. She is incredibly higher level thinking, like bigger picture, thinking, type of person. (Lesley: Yeah) So love her, love her. But yeah, so ...

Lesley Logan 6:27  

And then, I'm still celebrating. (Brad: Oh, please.) Okay. So, (Lesley laughs) I'm also celebrating that we got the decks out. And they were going and we have like the flashcards, the mat and reformer and we've sold over 1000 all over the world, which is insane to me. And then I'm also celebrating that I have lots of friends in Vegas. So, I can like call a friends and I have their cell phone numbers. And I, we go out and (Brad: Yeah) that is really fun because we moved here during a pandemic. And you know, we didn't really leave our house for the first 11 months. And ... (Lesley laughs)

Brad Crowell 7:02  

Yeah. Literally, like the friends that we had for the first year we were here, were our immediate neighbors. (Lesley: Yeah) Because we saw them taking out the trash. And we're like, "Hi, who are you?" (Brad laughs)

Lesley Logan 7:12  

Yeah, so I've only had like we've only had like six months to make friends. And I really feel like as an adult, that's not easy to do. So I'm, I mean, if it sounds cheesy or childish, like, let me just say "friends are important." And lastly, I'm also celebrating that I use our back... I use every room in this house. I always use all of them. (Brad: She does) But I, specifically love that I get to use our amazing backyard is beautiful. Okay, (Brad: Yeah) you're turn... I mean, there, I can keep going because my retrospective list was long, but I'll stop there.

Brad Crowell 7:39  

Well, I set a goal for myself at the beginning of this year. And that was to take my weekends back. I didn't do that. (Lesley laughs) But what I did do and what I, why I'm celebrating is because many years ago, I worked at another company that had a large team, it was like 80 plus people on the team. And I thought it was really amazing that there were experts at different things all throughout the company. And I saw the value in that. And I thought, "Someday I'm going to lead my own team, and it's going to allow me to delegate up the appropriate tasks to the appropriate people." And so what has been incredible is in the past, you know, year and a half since we started, you know, since, you know, we stopped traveling, actually, and started building out our team. It's been amazing to see that we've been able to bring in people who are experts at what they do in different tasks. And now we have that that team you know, supporting this, I mean, this podcast, eight people work on this podcast.

Lesley Logan 9:05  

Is it still eight or is it nine now?

Brad Crowell 9:08  

Nine, it's nine (Lesley: nine) we (Lesley: Yeah) just added our associate producer, Amanda. So, nine people touch every single episode now on this pod, which is amazing, you (Lesley: Yeah) know, but because we, because of the way we work things out, they can stay in their wheelhouse and do the things that they do best. And it's been a lot of fun for me to see that actually come to fruition. (Lesley: Yeah) Also, I think on a personal note, I had effectively stopped reading books for you know, ever until maybe a year ago. Two years ago I started reading, I guess that's not true. The books things started in the (Lesley: You started doing that with Eddie) last three or four years. (Lesley: Yeah, but you've read more lately) I've been reading intentionally. I've been reading a lot of books. I don't actually open a book, I listened to them on audio. But, you know, I've been in in the past two years, I've read more books than I've read in the past 10.

Lesley Logan 10:12  

I'm just gonna say, that's quotable, "I don't actually open a book."

Brad Crowell 10:15  

I don't actually open a book.

Lesley Logan 10:15  

I just put the book to my forehead. And it was like ...

Brad Crowell 10:17  

I put it under my pillow. (Lesley laughs) And then like, "It's incredible how that works?" (Brad laughs)

Lesley Logan 10:21  

Yeah. Well, I think it's you have been intentionally reading and like reading books that are like are supporting the person you want to be. And that's really, really awesome. And that has that takes intentional, that has to be deliberate.

Brad Crowell 10:34  

And there's one more thing (Lesley: Okay) that I wanted to celebrate. And that is that I have been getting coaching. (Lesley: Oh, yeah) Just for me, just Brad, Brad coaching only. And it has been incredibly beneficial for my mindset on how I view myself, how I view our team, how I what my expectations are, how my communication, you know, should be with everyone. And that has been, I felt like I've been growing which is weird to say, you know, but I actually feel more confident, I feel like a better leader. And, I'm excited about being in a position where I'm being coached by someone who has, you know, been around this a lot more than me. So, yeah, that's what we're celebrating for 2021.

Lesley Logan 11:26  

Okay, (Brad: Yeah) well, what a great year. Okay, well, shall we go into the deliberate conversation?

Brad Crowell 11:33  

I think we shall.

Lesley Logan 11:34  

Okay, let's do it.

Brad Crowell 11:35  

Yeah. Okay. Let's talk about Hilary Hartling. From a former Disney movie marketing executive to a brand and messaging strategist for entrepreneurs - Hilary Hartling helps entrepreneurs infuse meaning into their brands. She is an incredible thought leader, business woman, new mom of Ruby, and master of using Ta-Da lists for success.

Lesley Logan 11:35  

So that's perfect timing because (Brad laughs) that's one of the things I love that she said. She takes her To-Dos and turns them into Ta-Das. And because she work to Disney, all I think is like fairy godmother, like, (Brad: ting) "ti-ting." (Brad: Yeah, yeah) Like, every time, right? So um, why I love this is I think we all like load up our To-Do lists, and we focus on what didn't get done. And really like, the way the brain works is, you know, it (Dog barks) likes things that feel really good. When you focus on what you actually did get done. And you celebrate that, it actually makes you want to show up to your To-Do list more. So, I think it's really fun to go Ta-Da and I've been really working on that and like, enjoying what I got done. Alright, so I just, I find her, I find that like a very sweet little way to change something. And sometimes reframing it makes things more possible.

Brad Crowell 12:51  

I also think it just shows off how talented she is because it's so obvious, but I didn't think of it.

Lesley Logan 12:58  

I know. (Brad laughs) I know. I know. That's like she definitely is like a marketing expert. I, that's not my role. But anyways, what did you love that (Brad laughs) she said?

Brad Crowell 13:08  

Well, you know, I thought that right out of the gate she opened up with, "you are a brand, even without a business." (Lesley: Yeah) And that's so, I think that's really powerful to think about that because you're a brand as a mom, (Lesley: Yeah) you're brand as a dad, you're a brand as a you know, a little league soccer coach, you know. (Lesley: Yeah) There's so many, the way that we're perceived that is branding, (Lesley: Mm-hmm) right? And that's a weird thing to think about. But you know, the car that you drive, the watch that you wear, or not, the (Lesley: Yeah) way, the way you carry your keys, you know, are they clipped to your belt loop? Or are they like in your pocket? Like, like, there's so many things that like, that set you up for a the, to be perceived by others? And, you know, like that could be, you know, when if you're out dating, that's branding like. (Brad laughs)

Lesley Logan 14:09  

Yeah. Well, exactly. And also like, um, and it I think, for a lot of people who maybe have an idea, that's something that they want to create, or do, but they're like, "Oh, I'm not a business person and I don't know this. And then like, what are people gonna say?" It's like, if you just take all the best parts of you, (Brad: Yeah) your value system, especially, and your reason for doing that thing, and you just put that in place of with a business title over it, "Boom. That's it." Like that's how companies get a brand and then you just actually, the consistency of the action you take, that supports those things is what makes people go, "Oh, it's branded."

Brad Crowell 14:45  

And she said something that I thought was also incredible. She said, "the, the way that you leave people feeling (Lesley: Mm-hmm) that's your branding." (Lesley: Yeah) And and that was something that I, that the emotional side of it is never something I really thought about. I always thought of branding as like, "My colors and my logo." And that's pretty much it. 

Lesley Logan 15:10  

Yeah. That's what everyone thinks, but it's not that at all. It is the way you leave people feeling. 

Brad Crowell 15:14  

But that's why also why you don't even have to have a business to have a brand. (Lesley: Yeah) You know, because if you are like think think about the, think about the neighborhood mom who picks up all the kids from school and drops them off and makes sure that they're safe, right? That's her brand. She clearly is passionate about that. And, you know, or, you know, or think about the angry neighbor who yells at the, you know, the kid who throws a ball at his yard, you know, that's also branding. It's not cool branding, but it's still branding, right? So the way you leave people feeling and I thought that was really amazing that (Lesley: Yeah) you know, to take to take away this like preconception that we have (Lesley: Yeah) that you have to have a business, to have a brand.

Lesley Logan 15:16  

You have to go get your logo. Go (Brad: Right) get it.

Brad Crowell 15:36  

Yeah, (Lesley: Yeah) nothing to do with it.

Lesley Logan 15:56  

Yeah, so those I agree ...

Brad Crowell 16:04  

I guess not nothing. Minimal to do with it. It's still important, of course, in the long run, but like because you want people to see that and then associate that emotion with that visual. (Lesley: Yeah) Right? Or those colors ...

Lesley Logan 16:16  

But that takes time. That takes multiple times of you leaving that person with that feeling (Brad: Yeah) with that thing. So you can that's, you know, (Brad: Yeah) yeah. Okay, that's good. I love it.

Brad Crowell 16:26  

So, listeners feel happy, okay. You better feel happy. (Lesley: feel happy) Feel happy right now? (Lesley: Oh, my God. I don't know. Is that how we leave people feeling?) (Brad and Lesley laughs) No, that's not that. (Lesley: I don't think so.) I was being, (Lesley: I hope, I hope ...) I was being "sardonic," sar... All of all of the dark, negative, (Lesley: Ah) hilarious joke. (Lesley: I never heard that word) Yeah, it was commanding them to feel happy that doesn't work. Okay. But anyway, it was fake branding. (Lesley: Yeah, fake branding) Y'all, next moving on.

Lesley Logan 16:50  

Moving on. (Brad laughs) Here we go.

Brad Crowell 16:54  

All right. Finally, let's talk about the BE IT action items. What bold, executable, intrinsic or targeted action items can we take away from your convo with Hillary Hartling? I, I'm going to jump in first. She said that we should redefine success. (Lesley: Yeah) And I thought another thing that made me actually think back through me and how I've defined success. She said she's changed her success definition so that it effectively includes what makes her feel good. (Lesley: Yeah) And I started laughing about that, because I've, I've told this story on the pod before, but I decided I was no longer going to work with assholes. (Lesley: Yeah) Right? And that if you haven't heard that story, I don't remember when I told it. But ...

Lesley Logan 17:45  

I don't know but I feel like you haven't worked with assholes. And so you should feel really successful right now.

Brad Crowell 17:49  

Right? So that's exactly what I was saying is, it makes... makes you feel good. You know, Hilary (Lesley: You should put ...) worked in a super high stress environment. And now she doesn't want to feel stressed out. She wants to feel good.

Lesley Logan 18:01  

You should have put that in your celebration. "Celebrations for 2021. No longer working with assholes."

Brad Crowell 18:07  

Yeah, (Lesley: Yeah) Yeah. That's a huge, (Lesley: Yeah) win to celebrate. (Lesley: Big win. Yeah) Yeah. (Lesley: Yeah) I love that, actually.

Lesley Logan 18:15  

Yeah. Put it on your, put it on your you know, put it on your thing. Um, I ...

Brad Crowell 18:19  

Put in my wins board.

Lesley Logan 18:20  

Yeah. Put it on your wins board. Put it in the channel for the group, "Hey, everyone congratulations, if you're working here, you are not an asshole." (Brad and Lesley laughs) Well, I agree. I think we've had, I think it's we've heard before to redefine success. To what it means for you. (Brad: Yeah) But like, you really do. Like it is like not just a Hallmark card. It's like such an important thing because it will eat you alive. And I think it actually goes into my BE IT action items ...

Brad Crowell 18:48  

Oh, before you jump into that, though, I think that if you don't define success, (Lesley: Someone will define it for you.) It will be defined for you. And most often, it will be the Keeping Up with the Joneses idea. (Lesley: Yeah) What is a success? Oh, well, it's what my neighbor has." (Lesley: Yeah) You know, it's not what I'm not satisfied because it becomes you know, it's funny competition. This, this, it puts us in a position not to feel good. (Lesley: Yeah) Right? And so I think it's very important if you have not yet defined success. Start thinking about this, start like make it an actual put that on your list of things you should do. (Lesley: That's your BE IT action item.) That's the BE IT action item.

Lesley Logan 19:31  

Yeah, what a great thing to (Brad: Define find success for you.) percolate on. Okay, now I'm going to (Brad: Do it. Take it) really does go (Brad: Yeah) into my thing, because thanks for talking about looking at your neighbor's lawn. (Brad: Oh) Stop comparing your journey. (Brad laughs) Um, you all here's the thing about social media, like it is, we all know that it's the best of everything, right? It's the cream of the crop of people's posts. And yet somehow we still compare ourselves even though we know that they are intentionally not putting up the stuff that makes it look like they're having a bad day. (Brad: Yeah) I am guilty as charged. I'm not gonna put up there that I'm having a bad day. Why? That's ...

Brad Crowell 20:07  

... okay. Every once in a while you do. (Lesley: I mean once in awhile). But it's not, ya know. 

Lesley Logan 20:10  

I'm honest. But I also have, also gotten over whatever that bad news is because I actually don't, I don't do it for attention or for help. I do it to be like, "Hey, look, I have a bad day too." But here's the deal. You have to understand that like, if you started, like, I started teaching Pilates in 2008. If I like, I remember the point of being jealous of my mentor, because she started when she was like, 19. And I was like, "Oh, my God, she's, she's further along than me. And I want to be with her. I want to ..." I like I like, had jealousy over how long she'd been teaching and somehow wanted to try to be where she was in that exact moment, which is like 20 years ahead of me, and not possible, (Brad: Clearly impossible) clearly impossible. But thankfully, I snapped out of that BS because you, you can't, you can't compare other people's positions and journeys, even if you're doing the exact same thing. Or even if you wanted the exact same thing, even if you start the exact same time, everyone has a different filter for which, like different tools, sets, and strengths. So blinders on, be inspired but go back to your definition of success. And keep going.

Brad Crowell 21:16  

Yeah. (Lesley: Yeah) Yeah. I mean, I... you made me think about me in college, studying music, and wishing that I was, you know, a rock star. And I totally felt fear and jealousy about some of my classmates who were only like two years older than me. Sorry, they had, I was late getting to my college. I was, I had gone to other colleges before. So I didn't get to my college til I was 22, 21, sorry. And so all my classmates were younger. And there were people who had graduated, who were effectively my age, or maybe one year older. And there was this one band that was getting huge notoriety. And they were younger than me. And I thought, "Did I already miss the boat?" (Lesley: Oh, yeah) You know, like, "Am I too late?" Like, "Can I be, by the time I finish here, I'm going to be 24." You know, then I'm going to have to start my career effectively, is the way that I was viewing it. Like maybe it's gonna take me, you know, a couple more years, is it you know, "Am I gonna be able to do it at 25 to 30?" And, you know, but really, I was comparing myself in a (Lesley: Yeah) way that's ridiculous. You know, of course, you know, you can be older than 22 and being you know, like, (Lesley: Oh, my gosh) getting a variety. 

Lesley Logan 22:36  

I mean, people are like, getting famous at 75. Like, there's (Brad: Yeah) just like ... and also fame doesn't mean success by the way, it just like maybe that's ... that's what you're wanting.

Brad Crowell 22:45  

I didn't want the fame. I wanted my band to be listened to which (Lesley: Yeah) comes like it's part and parcel to fame, but I didn't feel like I wanted to be famous. I (Lesley: Yeah) wanted, I wanted like, I actually want the money without the notoriety. (Brad laughs) (Lesley: Oh, yeah.) You (Lesley: Yeah) know, that's what that would be the perfect storm.

Lesley Logan 23:01  

I know. That's my, my big thing is I want people to be like, "Who is this girl? She like walks into places." And be like, "I know." (Brad and Lesley laughs) I just like want them to like, "What? Who is she?"

Brad Crowell 23:11  

Who is she? She's famous in Poland. (Lesley and Brad laughs)

Lesley Logan 23:16  

Well, I'm Lesley Logan.

Brad Crowell 23:18  

And I'm Brad Crowell.

Lesley Logan 23:19  

Thank you so much for joining us today. We are so freakin' grateful for you. Thank you for being part of the first like year of the pod because I can't believe we only have one more week left until 2021 for the Be It pod. You are amazing. DM us and tell us how you're gonna use these tips in your life. (Brad: Yeah) And do us a huge freakin' favor like please, please feel free to actually share this show over the holidays when you're seeing family members when (Brad: Yeah) you listen to it. Because that really is how the show gets out there. So it's totally fine to be like, "This, this is the show, go listen to it." And then we'll catch you in the next episode.

Brad Crowell 23:52  

Looking forward to it.

Lesley Logan 23:54  

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 podcasts. Also, make sure to introduce yourself over at the @be_it_pod on Instagram. I would love to know more about you. Share this episode with whoever you think needs to hear it. Help us and others BE IT TILL YOU SEE IT. Have an awesome day!

'Be It Till You See It' is a production of 'As The Crows Fly Media'.

Brad Crowell 24:27  

It's written produced, filmed, and recorded by your host, Lesley Logan and me, Brad Crowell. Our Associate Producer is Amanda Frattarelli.

Lesley Logan 24:38  

Kevin Perez at Disenyo handles all of our audio editing.

Brad Crowell 24:43  

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

Lesley Logan 24:51  

Special thanks to our designer Jaira Mandal for creating all of our visuals (which you can't see because this is a podcast) and our digital producer, Jay Pedroso for editing all video each week so you can.

Brad Crowell 25:03  

And to Angelina Herico for transcribing each of our episodes, so you can find them on our website. And, finally to Meridith Crowell for keeping us all on point and on time.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai

What happens when you get clear on your vision? In today’s episode Hilary Hartling and Lesley Logan swap stories about building their careers in LA and share wisdom about confidence and to how to figure out what you really want in life.  

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:

• You are a brand, even without a business
• Confidence with competence and trusting yourself
• Clarity on your vision to create action
• How to know when to say yes or no
• Defining courage 
• Following your excitement for confidence
• Ta-da lists 

Episode References/Links:

• IG @hilaryhartling
• Website
• Malcom Gladwell’s Book Blink
• Gavin Becker’s book: The Gift of Fear

Guest Bio:

From a former Disney movie marketing executive to a brand and messaging strategist for entrepreneurs - Hilary Hartling helps entrepreneurs infuse meaning into their brands. She is an incredible thought leader, business women, new mom of Ruby, and the master of using Ta-Da lists for success. 

OPC Flashcards:

• OPC Flashcards are on Amazon
• OPC Flashcards are on our site

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.

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

Social Media

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Tik Tok
• LinkedIn

Episode Transcript:

Lesley Logan 0:00  

Hey you, welcome back to the Be It Till You See It podcast. I'm so glad that you're here. I know that there's a lot of podcasts you can press play on right now. There's also like a billion things you could be streaming right now and I, and I just I'm so glad that you pressed play on this so I can drop some gems. And actually, so our guesses we can drop so many gems. Oh my gosh, I have Hilary Hartling here and y'all, I met her through one of our other podcast guests who's my photographer, Monica Linda of Girl Squad. I'm sure you remember her and her amazing story about how she got started and how she was like, being it till she saw it, until she had this great business she has. And so, I asked her for some guests for my agency group, I said, "Hey, you knows some amazing thought leaders and business women and I would love to showcase them to my group. And she introduced me to Hilary, and I didn't even know her when we didn't never even talked to her before. She spoke to our group, actually and she's brilliant. Brilliant. And also, just so engaging. And so anyways, had her in the group and I was like, "This woman has to be on my podcast, this woman has to be my best friend, this woman. (Lesley laughs) This woman needs to be like in my I just want to be in her orbit." Right? So um, so anyways, this, there's so many so many juicy gems in this podcast, I promise you just hit save already, so that you can come back and listen to this episode whenever you want. And I really ... when you see that she is a branding specialist, branding expert, branding strategist. You might think this isn't for you if that's not what you're interested in. I promise you women. Ladies, keep listening because there's just so many life gems in here on like, how to understand what you want on this world. You know, so so I know it's easy to go, "Oh, this is one of her business ones." No, this is like life one. (Lesley laughs) And you are going to want to repeat press play again on this one. I swear it's just we went to different ... too many amazing places and it all will make sense in the end. I know it. I just I could have kept going but we like to keep these in an amount of time for commute, a dog walk, you know, a run on the on the beach, or whatever it is you're doing. So, take a listen, please do us a humungous favor, screenshot, tag Hilary Hartling, tag @be_it_pod with the gem that you're taking away from the podcast because I know it will warm her heart to see that. It will totally warm mine. And it's also how this podcast gets out there to other people. So here you go.

Lesley Logan 2:39  

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, Pilate's 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 guests 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 3:23  

Oh my gosh, Be It listeners. I mean this woman Hilary Hartling is going to become your new best friend. She is freaking awesome. I'm looking for different reasons that we can talk every week because I just love her, her glowing smile and her like outlook on how life is done. So, I can't wait for you to hear her story. Hilary Hartling thank you for being on the Be It Till You See It podcast. Tell us who you are, what you're excited about right now?

Hilary Hartling 3:49  

Oh my gosh, well, first of all, thank you for having me. It's so fun to be here because like after we met, I feel like we've become instant best friends. So, it's just like two friends having a conversation, which is exactly the kind of podcasts I like to listen to. So, this is awesome. First of all, I am a former Disney movie marketing executive. I was there for 15 years working with global powerhouse entertainment brands. But now for the last five years, an entrepreneur myself starting my own business and helping other entrepreneurs, build brands that resonate. So, I'm a brand and messaging strategist for entrepreneurs and really helping them infuse meaning into their brand. Define what it stands for, power it with story, and really strengthen it with value, so they have something clear that they can go out into the world with feeling confident about it. And attract the right people so they create a dream business for themselves.

Lesley Logan 4:40  

Okay, love this. And I I mean, the fact that you worked at Disney, I do wonder if like you just like every office is lined with like Disney characters and princess costumes. (Lesley laughs)

Hilary Hartling 4:52  

It's not, it's not foreign to see that at Disney (Lesley laughs) In fact, it's what's funny is I should have kept more. But when you're there for so long, you don't think like at one point that I was friends with everybody. So like the movers on the studio lot, my BFF. They would bring me old art prints from animation of like a Tarzan painted print that I would have my office for a while, but then I was like, "Okay, I'm over that for right now." But I should have kept that.

Lesley Logan 5:18  

Right because that's like, you could be auctioning that stuff (Lesley laughs) (Hilary: I mean or put it in the baby's room or something. Right?) (Hilary laughs) Oh right. Put it in Ruby's room. Yeah, oh my God. Okay. So, I think for people who are listening this, they might be like, "Okay, branding, I you know, I'm not starting my business yet, or I don't I don't know, if I'm ready for branding. " I think it's easy to for people to either a get so wrapped up on branding themselves that they don't build the business or not build the business because they're not branded yet. Like, can we talk a little bit about like those scenarios? (Hilary: Yeah) Like, how does a brand like how would someone like take the next step without like, (Hilary: Yeah) perfectly being branded in a box?

Hilary Hartling 5:55  

Well, here's the thing, too, you are a brand, even when you don't have a business, right? Because your brand is the experience that you leave behind, right? It's how it's what people expect of you. It's how you're known. It's your reputation. And it's, you know, so thinking about it intentionally is what you want to start to do, whether you're in a career, like at corporate Disney, or whether you're starting your own business. It's really coming at it with intention to say, "Who am I?" I mean, it's a brand is having a strategy for your business. (Lesley: Yeah) So if you don't have a strategy for your business now, here's the thing. Some people might not understand that because they don't understand what brand strategy is. They think of a brand, and they think of a logo. They think of a brand. They think of their colors on Instagram. (Lesley: Yeah, yeah) Right? (Lesley: Yeah) And like, how do you navigate Canva to make it look like a brand? And that's a small, itty bitty part of it. But really, it's about what experience do you want to have your audience have? And then what are the, what's your secret sauce? Like, what's your unique brilliance that you bring to the table that nobody else does? And that's the beginning of your brand.

Lesley Logan 7:03  

I I love what you said, it's, it's like, how you how people feel, or how you leave people feeling as you said. Right? (Hilary: Yeah) That is, I think that's actually something it's easy to think about, like, you know, it's easy to think maybe you can't think of what you're gonna make yet or create yet, but you can think like how do I want people to feel. So, I'm about to create something, a product for people who want to take their teaching to the next level. And and I was getting, like, my team was asking me all these questions and stuff and I was like, "Hold on, I just really need to figure out how I want them to end," like when they leave it, I need to know what they who they are afterwards and then I can work backwards and they're like, like just you know, one moment. (Lesley laughs) One moment ...

Hilary Hartling 7:44  

Yeah. It really just starts like if you actually started with your brand and you just started with the vision for where you're headed. Right? Vision for where you're headed so you can then back out of that and say like, "What do I do need to do on a daily basis (that equals your mission). Daily basis to get me closer to that vision?"

Lesley Logan 8:00  

Oh my gosh, I think that is the best like that it couldn't be more be it till you see it than that right there. (Lesley laughs) What is your vision? Right? And then the mission is how you act each day to that. That is, (Hilary: Yeah) ah, that is ...

Hilary Hartling 8:13  

And I've done this in so many ways, in so many fashions throughout my life. The Be It Till till You See It is literally without that being my exact mantra that's how I live my ... it's how you manifest it. Right? (Lesley: Yeah) Like, I was in a job right after my undergraduate, so Bachelor's in Business. And I went worked at ad agency in Seattle. And I could not have been more bored. I was doing print media insertion orders for Boeing and Silicon Graphics International (Lesley laughs) and so I was like placing ads and like Aviation Week and Space Technology Magazine like (Lesley: Whoa) something I would never read it was like, it's so nice to have a job but I was so bored. I'm like, I'm not inspired. This is not exciting. So, what I did was I took a step back and I said, "Well, who am I? Who do I want to be? And what do I love?" Because you can market. I was in marketing advertising. You can market or advertise anything. You can brand anything. (Lesley: Yeah.) "What do you want to work on?" So I just made a list, even if it didn't make sense and movies was always the top of my list. So movies became my vision. I knew nothing about the movie business. I didn't even understand that like Touchstone Pictures belonged under the Walt Disney Studios banner, right? Like there's all these things about the movie business. But I went and got my graduate degree because the program had specific ties back to Hollywood. And I was going to do my internship there. But so what I did that entire year, I was in Boston at Emerson College, I papered my entire apartment wall in movie studio posters. (Lesley: Oh my God) Ones that inspired me. I decided I want to work for one of the major seven motion picture studios marketing department, I was that clear. I told everybody about it. Everybody knew what I wanted to do. Whenever we got to choose a project to do in school, I was always like, "I'm marketing this movie in China. I'm going to figure out how to do that." Right? I always use it as an example. The one book I read was "Work in Progress by Michael Eisner," who at that time was the CEO of Disney, I didn't even have a desire to work specifically at Disney. It was just one of the major motion picture studios. But I kept that vision, so clear, so defined. I got an internship at DreamWorks. And then two months after that a job at Disney and then I made that job my own for 15 years.

Lesley Logan 10:29  

This okay. My friend who's listening while walking your dogs, I hope you just heard, like literally the roadmap of being it till you see it without even that that's the thing. You we have to have that clarity, we will have to go get really granular in what that looks like. Because that becomes really tangible than you know what classes to take, or what books to read or (Hilary: Yeah) what to look up. Like, I have people who are like, "Oh, I want to be on X, Y and Z platform." I'm like, "Okay, are you a member of their thing? Do you watch their classes? Do you follow their instructors?" (Hilary: Yeah) And me like ...

Hilary Hartling 11:01  

Who to network with? Who to seek out? And like, find a group or some... like something like in, it this is an anything you do but especially in Hollywood. It's who you know, (Lesley: Oh yeah) to not knowing anyone going to that that market. I'm like, "How am I gonna do...? So internship was the best way to get your foot in the door. And then the whole time I was there, I was super intentional. The work I did as an intern, like as a graduate intern was not super challenging for me, (Lesley laughs) however. What I learned was how to navigate a studio, who were all the important departments, what kinds of departments I might want to work for in marketing, at a studio, right? I learned and then I made connections, and I networked and then all these people at Disney had lunch there every other day. Like, that's how you do it. It's the people that will bring you in.

Lesley Logan 11:46  

Yeah, you're ... you're 100% correct. I think so many times we get caught up on like, what we don't know, like, "I don't know enough. I don't know, I don't know how to do that. I don't know enough." But it really is who you know, like, (Hilary: It is) because the pe... (Hilary: You can learn anything) you can learn anything. I mean, I always tell people, if you can hire her personality, you can teach skill. Like, if you think someone is amazing, and they totally fit your vibe. You can teach them anything you need them to know. (Hilary: Yeah) But you can't ...

Hilary Hartling 12:09  

Yeah, my first job at the ad agency in Seattle, they literally told me on my first day, I was up against this other woman who had way more experience with me, but they liked me better.

Lesley Logan 12:19  

Oh, yeah. I think I've told us, either told this to you or I told on another podcast. Oh my God, Brad gets me every time because he's like, "Lesley, you talked about in podcast," and I was like, "I know," but this all happened out of order. (Hilary: Yeah) So forgive me. Um, but I, I was a commercial actor for a very short period of time in my life. And I got I booked my first audition. And it's not because I was talented at all. It's just that they liked working with me. (Hilary: Okay) They, they were talking about when I walked in, I overheard them talking about a restaurant who has the best gluten free pancakes. And I said, "I know it's lunchtime, but someone has to order the gluten free pancakes. I promise you with this on it and this on it, you're gonna love it." And they are like, "Okay, thanks." And then they're like, "Okay, do you want ...?" Like, they asked me to have my audition. I had to be a chef. I can't cook anything. And I was just like, I was just like talking and acting like I was like, I don't even know what I was doing. I was just doing stuff with my hands, and talking and making fun because I was like, "I don't know what the hell I'm doing." So anyways, (Hilary: Yeah) I got a callback, I did the callback, I actually learned how to chop something for that callback. (Hilary laughs) And I booked it. And again, they said, "Welcome to your first commercial." And I said, I said, "Thanks so much." And I was like, "I'm really excited to work with you. I've no idea what I'm doing. I think it's gonna be a lot of fun." That's why they hired me because I was a lot of fun, you know, and I did fine.

Hilary Hartling 13:37  

And I think it comes with the confidence, right? (Lesley: Yeah) it's it's trusting yourself that no matter what situation you're put in, you can figure it out. And that if you just bring your whole self, that's good enough.

Lesley Logan 13:48  

Yeah, can we talk about that for a second? Because that is what a lot of I know a lot of listeners, they asked me about my confidence all the time. And as you just heard in this story "I don't know what I'm doing," but I do trust that I know that I can have fun, I can talk with anyone like those are things. How does one trust that? I think maybe it's a lack of self awareness, I'm sure. Or maybe it's just that people aren't giving themselves credit. But do you what I mean, (Hilary: Yeah) how so (Hilary: Yeah) many women don't have that confidence in themselves to like, figure it out?

Hilary Hartling 14:15  

It's true, I think, I think it comes to I don't know what it is with a female's growing up in our society. But um, number one, we are all tend to be some version of a people pleaser, right? We don't want people to be mad at us, angry at us, awkward with us. Like, we just want things to be smooth. But also like, there's this like gray area of like, "Oh, I'm bragging about myself. I think I'm so good at something" versus like self deprecating. And that being almost like the norm for that's what we should do. I don't know what that is but I feel like confidence comes with competence, too. (Lesley: Yeah) Like, when you feel like you know how to do something. And for you, it can be like, here's the thing, you know, how to network and talk to people. And that's what you actually needed for that job. (Lesley: Yeah) You didn't actually need to know how to be a chef, because you're going to learn that for the commercial. (Lesley: Yeah.) Right? And so you just needed those other skills. So it's like almost defining, like, for each situation, like, "What's necessary for you to feel confident in this this situation?"

Lesley Logan 15:21  

Yes, yes. That's so that that is that is very something tangible, and something people can think about, like, you know, and, and we had Rob Mack, I think he was episode three, y'all. So he talks about having confidence hill, like a valleys and confidence islands and like, the knowing that like, what are your confidence valleys? Likke the things that don't make you feel confident, because if you spend a ton of time in those valleys, of course, you're not gonna feel confident. But if you know your islands, then before you go into something, you're going to feel less confident. And like spend a little time on the island and take (Hilary: Yeah) that with you.

Hilary Hartling 15:52  

Well, I'll tell you this, too, like. So most of my younger years, I was a dancer, it was actually my scholarship for my undergrad, I was on a dance scholarship. So, I was on the dance team (Lesley: Cool) and practice makes perfect. So no matter what it is dancing, business, speaking, if you practice it enough, you're gonna feel confident when you do the thing. So when I would go out and perform, I realized when we switched, like team captains or whatever, she didn't have us practice as much as the last one. And I remember getting into a performance like, "Oh, do I remember the next thing I'm supposed to do?" Because in the with all the practice, it was just ingrained, (Lesley: Yeah) it just came naturally. And I think that's true with everything is like people don't put give themselves enough runway to practice the thing that they want to do.

Lesley Logan 16:39  

Yeah. Well, that that comes with a couple things like needing instant gratification, or like thinking it has to happen sooner, that's probably the same thing. But like, you know, I do, I do understand that because when I started my business, I'm like, "Okay, I want to, I want to launch something, I want to have these big launches, I want to have this stuff." But it's like, really, like, you just gotta at least get people to know what you do first. And like (Hilary: Yeah) giving yourself that runway. And I think people do have that lack of confidence or that nervousness, (Hilary: Yeah) because they haven't enough time doing the thing before they put it out there. Of course, it's not gonna feel good.

Hilary Hartling 17:14  

I agree. Yeah, and I think part of it is, and I would say this with your branding, too. It's like finding your superpowers, like, what are those things that you are so good at, that you do feel confident at? And how do you infuse that into the thing that you want to do? Right? So like, one of my I guess superpowers is knowing my audience, but not just knowing them. But like, whatever room I'm in, understanding what's happening in that room so that I can, so I'm not just rehearse with like, "I'm going to give you this marketing spiel for what I'm doing to support your movie, such and such director." I'm going to listen to everyone who's talking in the room, see what the filmmakers are really zoned in on and concerned about. And then I'm going to adjust how I talk about the thing I know that like the back of my hand, but I'm gonna alter how I fit so that it hits home with them. (Lesley: Yeah) Does that makes sense. Right?

Lesley Logan 18:10  

100%. I ended up at a styling party, like a stylist party, it was really hilarious. (Lesley and Hilary laughs) Just a day in the life of LA, you know, you end up at a party at the top of the hill, and there's all these fancy outfits. And, um, and so obviously everyone there's a stylist, I am not. But, you know, I was listening to conversations and then of course, I was able to somehow insert what I do into a conversation with stylists. And it was, you know, it was really funny. I was like, "Oh, look at me. I can still do this." (Lesley laughs) (Hilary: Yeah) Yeah. I think that I think that's really key. So okay, we can talk about so many different things but I want to go back to, you left Disney to create your own thing. And I feel like that's not an easy decision to make. So how did you leap into doing your own thing, you know?

Hilary Hartling 19:01  

Yeah, well, this is an interesting story, too. So, a couple years before leaving Disney, I sort of kind of reached the ceiling of where I could go in my current position. So, I was a VP of Integrated Marketing and Synergy. I had my own department, my own team. It's what I had had in my vision to create for myself when I was there. And then I think once I reached it, I knew I couldn't go further in the position I was in. And then when I looked around, I was like, "Do I want any other kind of position? Do I want to move somewhere else?" And because I had created my own dream job, because I put things together my own way, and just had the audacity to say, "This is my job." And people said, "Great." (Lesley laughs) It was good crazy. Um, I automatically when you don't, when you know, you can't grow in that way, you start to feel stuck. (Lesley: Yeah) Right? And so it just felt like, "Oh, it's just another movie, or I'm having to remarket myself to all the upper echelon senior executives who keep coming and going, and I have to train them about what I do and the value that I bring." And that just became just not fun anymore. So while I loved working on movies, I was like, "I feel like I've been there done that. It might be time for the next thing." And the interesting thing is, I spent so long on that vision and on that one dream, I forgot to dream about what was next. (Lesley: Right) So you get to have a bigger dream, you get to have multiple dreams, you don't get just one dream. (Lesley: Right) Right? And so the joke at Disney is, "If you decide it's time to go, if you've been there for a while, stick around, you'll get caught in an organizational restructure or voluntary separation package, and you'll get a really great package." That's what I did. (Lesley laughs) I waited. And what's funny is it was on January 1, 2015. And I decided on January 1, because I'm writing my New Year's goals and stuff. I said, "You know what, regardless of like, I've waited too long. I don't want to feel stuck anymore. Let me just see, I'm gonna, I'm gonna leave Disney and figure out what's next." So, I start Googling I don't... something about mid career transition or change. And the first thing that popped up was a questionnaire. And the first question on that questionnaire was, "What would you do if you were 10 times bolder?" And I instantly knew the answer. I said, "I would leave Disney, I would not have another job, I would take a whole year off, I would start writing, I would travel, I would get reinspired. I would figure out what that next dream was." Right? And so two weeks later, on January 15, I got called into a meeting at 9am. And at 9:22, I had gotten laid off in an organizational restructure, and they paid me my whole salary for an entire year. So I got my year off. I ...

Lesley Logan 21:46  

Oh, my God. I have chills, I have goosebumps, I have so many, this is amazing. 

Hilary Hartling 21:53  

When you get clear on your vision, even if it's a vision to say, "I need to figure out my vision." It happens. So I had that year off. My dad was like, "Oh my God, get another job. You're gonna have double the salary." I'm like, "You don't understand. I need a year." (Hilary laughs) (Lesley: Yeah) I took the year and I got reinspired. And I figured it out. And, you know, starting my own business was not the top of my list. I needed to like decompress after that many years at such a high octane position. (Lesley: Yeah) I was like, "Oh, there's a whole world out here, I didn't realize. Oh, there's so many people who don't care about movies, what" (Lesley laughs) Right? Yeah. So those are their people never go to the movies. It's hilarious. So ...

Lesley Logan 22:36  

This is so cool. That is really, that is really cool. I mean, that's when you just know everything happens for you. But also (Hilary: Yeah) like, I mean, would you have been excited about that package? You know, or seen it as a gift? If you hadn't taken that done that question where you're like, "I would do this, I would do this." You're like, "Oh, look at this gift. Thanks." (Lesley laughs)

Hilary Hartling 22:57  

And I'm sure you know, the universe is always working in your favor. So as soon as you start to get clear, they're there to support you.

Lesley Logan 23:02  

Yeah, yeah, I think that's I think so true. I think a lot of times people like, "Oh, no, it's not." And it's like, "Well, it doesn't know what to give you." It's like you're, you're in limbo and ...

Hilary Hartling 23:11  

If you're confused. They're confused.

Lesley Logan 23:13  

Yeah. Yes and everything including ... (Hilary: Branding, too.) Yeah. So branding, business, clients, your life.

Hilary Hartling 23:20  

Yeah. If you don't narrow your your message and understand what it is be able to articulate what you do and how it helps and the value you bring. The confusion will lessen the power of your message. And then you're basically you're kind of spinning your wheels. Right? You're doing ... you're expending a lot more energy than you need to to get the thing done that you want to do, because you haven't taken the time to really focus and get clarity on where you're headed with your business. So it's the same in life. It's the same in business.

Lesley Logan 23:49  

Yeah, that is so true. So what are you super excited about right now? Like what are what now you because you've had your business for five years now?

Hilary Hartling 23:57  

Yeah. So I'm so I all those entire five years, I was also working to manifest Ruby, who is my adopted daughter, she's two months old right now. (Lesley: Oh my God) Um, she she's just was a surprise thrown on me at the end of July ... she's amazing. So, I think honestly, one of the things I'm most excited about right now is design... redesigning and being the architect of my work in my life, to create the lifestyle I want, doing the work I love. So it's not that that wasn't the priority before, but it's even more so now to really say like, "What do I prioritize? What's most important? How can I impart the biggest value in the work smarter, not harder kind of scenario?"

Lesley Logan 24:43  

Right. So that you can spend time with her.

Hilary Hartling 24:45  

So, I can spend time because she's my biggest why now. Like, you need to know your why. And she's the biggest why.

Lesley Logan 24:49  

Well, also like, just going back to what we were talking about with women and not like make sure we're humble, make sure people pleasers and all this stuff like, wouldn't it be so cool if she was raised in a house where she just saw a bold mom who didn't worry about like, hurting someone or not that you're gonna be mean, but like, (Hilary: Yeah, no) "Maybe I'll say no to something" instead, so you can do what you what your why is.

Hilary Hartling 25:13  

Yeah. I'm there, I'm very good. I think even more so since leaving Disney, I'm very good at figuring out the things that lift my energy and the things that drain my energy, and even whether it's people, projects, opportunities, I say "no" to a lot. And in fact, even on my own discovery calls, my sales calls for one on one clients, I will say to them, at some point in the conversation. I only say "yes" to people who I'm inspired by. So not everybody gets on my calendar, just because we have a sales call doesn't automatically mean that it's a "yes" for me. So that makes them work a little harder to say, "Why they want to work with me as well?" But it's true. Like I do my best work when I'm inspired. And if we go back to what we said in the very beginning, that your brand is this feeling - How do you want people to feel? Why do you think I worked in the movies for so many years? I'm inspired by evoking emotion and that's what brands do. (Lesley: Yeah) The best brands evoke an emotion and make you feel something and inspire you or motivate you to do something that you never tried before. 

Lesley Logan 26:13  

Oh, okay. I've ... like there's so many things. You've said something about being really clear on what you'll say "yes" to and what you'll say "no" to. And like what brings like what your energy things are. (Hilary: Yeah) And I do agree like probably while you're at Disney, that's a little harder, because when you're in that high octane environment, you you're, it's almost like barometer is off. And so you're, you're not really sure at that level. But when you ... how did you how did you recalibrate your barometer? And like, what, what are some ways that people can understand like, what they should say "no," or "yes." Do you have advice on that? Like, how did you come up with that?

Hilary Hartling 26:45  

Yeah, I mean, I mean, that's part of kind of really knowing your boundaries, your definition of success for you, and what excites you, right? And so like, even I will say, at Disney, um, it wasn't like, I loved my time at Disney. And there were certain moments in my career at Disney that were like, highlights, where I'm just like, "How did I get here? This is amazing. I'm so grateful to be in this room." And I would create situations that reinspired me, or like, if this filmmaker came and inspired me, I would make sure that now I'm gonna like, know that director better because the approach he has for talking about his film is exactly how I want to market this movie, or how I would want to brand something. Like I pulled from all of these thoughts and experiences and the amazing people that I got to meet like, I worked with the best storytellers in the entire world. While I was at Disney. It's people from Marvel, to Pixar, to Disney, to Steve Jobs. Like, you name it, like it was insane and amazing. And still high pressure and high octane but I loved it. But knowing when to say "yes", and when to say "no," first of all, you ... it does come back to feeling because you have to see how does that feel in your body? When you think about doing that thing? (Lesley: Yeah) Right? If you're dreading something, "that's a no, that's a no." (Lesley laughs) Right? Now, there's a different difference between I'm a little bit scared to do something, but it's challenging, and it's good for you. (Lesley: Yeah) Like, this is like a full body, "No." (Lesley: Right) Right? So you have to kind of get back in tune with your own body and your own internal wisdom to understand that. But also, if you've kind of defined like, "This is who I am. This is where I want to go." Like if you ask people, "What do you want?" Not a lot of people know how to answer that. (Lesley: Yeah, that's true.) Like its a big no.

Lesley Logan 28:35  

That's really true. You know, and I think, a couple years ago, I it wasn't like I was unsure of what I wanted, but it was just like it for whatever reason it didn't feel I felt like I put on a coat that wasn't tailored for me like it (Hilary: Yeah) fit and I could wear it. But I didn't feel red carpet ready. (Hilary: Yeah) And when the pandemic happened, and we did a whole relook on our goals, and I was working with my coach, I said, "I'm only doing it. I'm only doing what I want to the end of the year." (Hilary: Yeah) That's it. That's as far as I can go. And so then we did that and six weeks later, we moved and we had this whole thing cuz when you know what you want, boom, it's just like that, like nine days, (Hilary: Shows up) here's the house, it shows up. (Hilary: Yeah) So then we decided, "Okay, let's do a big dream. What do we want?" And we have a guest coming up, Hazel Ortega. She does these like big, like miracle, like miracle goals were like, you know, they have to be so big. Like, (Hilary: I love it.) you know, like not, there's no logical way that that's gonna happen for you today. But she's that's how she dreams. (Hilary: Perfect) And she's living her life that she wanted. So, I was like, "Let's go on a walk. Let's do this." And now I like literally think about I'm like, "Oh, that's actually that's exactly a yes." Because that is this person did it like because I know my my big thing, (Hilary: Yeah) and then we've like, "What do you want?" Like, "Oh, this is what I want?" I'm not gonna share it here because y'all, it'll come up soon. But ... (Hilary: Yeah, it's okay. Yeah) it's that it's, but it's like you have to know and oftentimes, you're right. They don't know and so then you feel a little lost. And I also think you have to listen to your body. I think so many people are looking for a logical reason to say "yes" or "no." But like "Malcom Gladwell's Blink," and then the book "The Gift of Fear," it's all about like, your gut, like, like your actual body knows, before your brain ...

Hilary Hartling 30:21  

... and it's, it's less in your head, it's more in your heart, because your head will take you on all the different ... your head will be trying to figure out the answer and giving you all of the scenarios, right? And it's your heart that's gonna give you what you really want. (Lesley: Yeah) Yeah ... And like, I think, to live your life in like, boldly, you have to have courage to do it, right. And I love the word courage, because the core root of that word is the cor, which means heart in Latin. And so courage just means speaking your heart's truth. Right? And so if you think about, like, "What do you have the courage to do?" And not a lot of people speak their truth. Like, what it does that really mean? Right? It means being your most authentic self. (Lesley: Yeah) Saying what you want, regardless of what other people might think of what you want.

Lesley Logan 31:08  

Yeah, that's (Hilary: Yeah) beautiful. And also, like, I think people think that courage is like doing things without fear. But it's actually like not, that's not at all like, your people are courageous, and they're doing the (Hilary: Yeah) thing that makes them scared anyway.

Hilary Hartling 30:21  

It's like, it's actually identifying the fear and facing it. Right? It's walking through the fear, and you have to go through it. (Lesley: Yeah) Because all the good stuffs on the other side. (Hilary laughs)

Lesley Logan 31:32  

It's all on the other side, it is all on the other side. And for whatever reason, we're like, "No, I'm just gonna sit here in this fear pool and wait around." (Lesley laughs)

Hilary Hartling 31:41  

You do. Did you know why? The fear pool is, is a feeling we're used to. (Lesley: Yeah) We're not actually used to getting everything we want. When you start doing littler things. It's as easy to manifest big as it is to manifest small, but people need to do the small things to see that it's possible. 

Lesley Logan 31:55  

Yeah. How, okay, really quick. So, how did you get used to getting what you wanted? Was that weird for you or were you born that way?

Hilary Hartling 32:03  

I was born that way. I think I have a very strong mom, I have a very supportive dad, I had a fabulous, you know, childhood. Not to say that you have to have those things to have, you know, (Lesley: Yeah) to get to have that quality. But I feel like I was always confident in my abilities, and just what I was capable of. And I knew that even if I didn't know how to do something, I could learn it. And if I was, I learned that if I was one of my sayings, that I say to all my clients, "Is follow your excitement." Right? Your excitement is the universe, nudging you in the right direction. And when you follow your excitement, that's literally your heart's calling. That's what you're meant to do. And so if you can start to trust yourself, that actually breeds confidence.

Lesley Logan 32:51  

Yeah, that's 100% true. And I do agree, like you don't have to have been raised that way to have (Hilary: Yeah) those feelings. (Hilary: No) I think it is, it's a choice of like, "How do you want to live your life?" Like, "Do you want to live it believing that you can have the things you want? Or would you prefer to live in the place that you don't."

Hilary Hartling 33:11  

And often they don't, remember their wins, right? So like, look back at the proof you have in your lifetime of things going the right way. We tend to think of the things that went wrong. But what went right? What did you go after and what happened? What what things showed up and you're like, "Oh my gosh, this is amazing." Like those are your wins. And that's actually your evidence to say that what you desire, what you want to manifest is possible because you got I mean, even if like you have a husband, you manifested that husband.

Lesley Logan 33:41  

Oh, when I 100% did and anyone who wants to know, like happy to tell you, but I ...(Lesley laughs) I was like intentional about that and I was like, "No, I want this in a partner, I want this." And if I don't have those things, I'm not settling. And I think it I think it's just like, it's all the wind part is like, I ha... in my coaching group, I have a wins channel. And it is so hard for people to post in there. They feel like (Hilary: Yeah) they don't wait until the this thing and so I some people and I'm like, "It's your homework. Every Friday, you must have a fuck yeah, Friday, and you have to list everything that happened this week. That was great. I don't care how small it was." And it's crazy how the more they do it, the more fun they have doing it. And in OPC and in our Pilates group, you know, on and off because people are like, "Oh, I can't do this exercise. I can't ..." Like, "What did you do? I want to hear what you did. I want to hear what you did. And I want you to celebrate that because I want you to celebrate that you showed up," because our brain really does pay attention to what makes us feel good and what doesn't make us feel good. So, I think you're 100% correct. Like just focusing on what our wins are. Maybe having a little wins journal, you just like type in win (Hilary: Yeah) wins. Maybe ...

Hilary Hartling 34:48  

You know what I do, I actually take my to-do list and turn it into a ta-da list.

Lesley Logan 34:55  

Stop. (Hilary: Yeah) Hold on. Ta-da list? Aaah! Are you going to make journals for this? Like you should make it ta-da list. (Hilary laughs)

Hilary Hartling 35:02  

I should. I posted it on social media before. And I think I do it on my Facebook group sometimes. But but yeah, it's it's like such an easy thing, right? It's like, "Okay, what were your to-do today? and now how do you celebrate that as a ta-da?"

Lesley Logan 35:15  

Oh, my gosh, Hilary, (Hilary laughs) I really do want like I want my ...

Hilary Hartling 35:20  

I'm a branding person. So, you know? (Hilary and Lesley laughs)

Lesley Logan 35:22  

I do. I do. I want I want the ... I want the thing that's sounds like my kitchen refrigerator, that's like "ta-da!" (Lesley laughs)

Hilary Hartling 35:30  

Right. It's a good checkbox to be like, "Yeah, ta-da." Right?

Lesley Logan 35:35  

Yeah. Yeah, no, for sure. I was doing my I started writing my ... my ta-da's, daily to-dos ... and my team is like, "We have Monday, like just put it in there." And I'm like, "No, I like to, I like to write it." (Hilary: Yeah) And yeah, when I hit "Done," it does this little like, glitter thing. It goes "peww". (Hilary: Yeah) And you know it's so fun. But I just I like I like to do the check mark. I'm an elder millennial, like, I like to write it down. So, I couldn't read my own writing. So, I was like, "We're gonna call that a done anyways. Win!" (Lesley laughs)

Hilary Hartling 36:02  

That's awesome. When you do and you're like, "I don't know what this is but I feel like I did that." (Lesley: I did it.) (Hilary and Lesley laughs) That's so good.

Lesley Logan 36:09  

Oh my God. Okay, Hillary. So where can we in the best way, stalk you? Where are you at? Where do you hang out?

Hilary Hartling 36:15  

I hang out most on Instagram. So it's at @hilaryhartling. It's Hilary with one L and then it's H a r t l i n g. So you can find me there. And then that's also my website, if you want to just check out all the things that I do and offer and that's just totally hilaryhartling.com

Lesley Logan 36:29  

Amazing. Okay. You gave us so many awesome little things, little nuggets gems in in our conversation already. But to me BE IT is, bold, executable or intrinsic, targetable steps like ways we can prioritize ourselves. So, what would you tell someone listening to this? It can be one thing or whatever has many things did you want (Hilary: Yeah) to to be bolder.

Hilary Hartling 36:54  

Yeah, I actually think to live boldly it you need, I think there's five steps. Okay, the first one is trusting yourself. And I think I mentioned that before. So trust yourself, find a way to regularly get steel so that you can actually listen to and hear your inner voice because it's there. And that's when you start trusting it more when you know how to access it. I think number two I mentioned this before too, is follow your excitement, right? That's how you know you're going in the right direction. So do that. And then number three, stop comparing because your journey is going to be different from anyone else's. And you're going to get farther faster by staying present with your own goals, your own desires, and getting that clarity and vision that you have for your life. Four, I would say redefine what success means to you, right? So this needs to make sense for you. But then to create goals, from that point of view, right? They don't have to make sense to anyone else but you but redefine what success means to you. For me, success means feeling good. That's literally what success means. And then I would say the fifth thing, to BE IT you have to be you. Right? You're always the secret sauce to your personal brand. And when you show up as your like full body, totally authentic self. The right people are going to be drawn into your universe like you are the light that they've been searching for. Five steps.

Lesley Logan 38:16  

Those brilliant, brilliant, really Hilary, you are amazing. Everyone you can see how you can follow Hilary in the show notes below. This is definitely a podcast that I would put save on and relisten to because this is gold, it's amazing. I'm just so glad we met and I will come up with a new excuse for us to talk next week. (Hilary: I can't wait) (Lesley and Hilary laughs) I I just adore you. I'm so excited for you and for Ruby like just that she gets to grow up with a mom like you. Oh my God. (Hilary: Thank you) She's gonna be unstoppable, like unstoppable.

Hilary Hartling 38:49  

She is. She, that's the word (Lesley and Hilary laughs) Thanks for having me, Lesley.

Lesley Logan 38:55  

Oh, a pleasure and we'll have to do it again. Thank you everyone for listening. Until next time, Be It Till You See It.

Lesley Logan 39:01 

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 podcasts. 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 'As The Crows Fly Media'.

Brad Crowell 39:34  

It's written produced, filmed and recorded by your host Lesley Logan and me, Brad Crowell. Our Associate Producer is Amanda Frattarelli.

Lesley Logan 39:45  

Kevin Perez at Disenyo handles all of our audio editing.

Brad Crowell 39:50

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

Lesley Logan 39:58

Special thanks to our designer Jaira Mandal for creating all of our visuals (which you can't see because this is a podcast) and our digital producer, Jay Pedroso for editing all video each week so you can.

Brad Crowell 40:10  

And to Angelina Herico for transcribing each of our episodes so you can find them on our website. And, finally to Meridith Crowell for keeping us all on point and on time.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai

How was the female body discussed growing up? What is seed cycling? Can you utilize hormones to your benefit? Brad and Lesley break apart these questions and unpack how through listening to your body - you can make your period a superpower. 

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 to deal with the end of year overwhelm
• The stigma of talking about periods in the home 
• The importance of tracking and utilizing the phases of your cycle
• Seed cycling
• The stigma of the female body and cycles with men 
• Using your cycle as a superpower
• Listening to your body, the patterns are data
• Getting good at asking for help

Episode References/Links:

• LESLEY'S HOLIDAY PILATES POP UP TOUR

Guest Bio:

Jenn Pike is a functional diagnostic nutritionist and medical exercise specialist with over 20 years of experience. She helps females recognize the impact that hormones have on every aspect of their body and then helps empower them to become educated in how to utilize their hormones to their benefit. Founder of The Hormone Project, Synched, and The Simplicity Project, Jenn helps females decode what their body is telling them. 

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.

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

Social Media

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Tik Tok
• LinkedIn

Episode Transcript:

Lesley Logan 0:01  

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.

(Brad laughs) 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 enlightening convo I had with Jenn Pike 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 or figure out the... well as you go. Maybe you want to do both. Maybe you want to do this first. I don't know.

Pick and choose (Lesley: Pick and choose) you know. (Lesley: Maybe one week you do ...) We have more than 50 episodes to listen to now.

I know. It's so many. It's so fun. And people have relistened to certain ones and I frickin' love it. (Brad: Yeah) All right. So we are literally as you're listening to this, hopefully if it's before the 12th we are packing up the ... (Brad: Yeah. We're preppin.) RBG the Rosebud Globetrotter, (Brad: Oh yeah) which Brad has committed to blogging about (Brad: I have) over on onlinepilatesclasses.com We are packing it up because we are hitting the road for the fourth year in a row, (Brad: fourth year) yeah, to go to Philly. And then we added in Florida this time.

Brad Crowell 1:42  

We gonna all the way down to Miami (Lesley: because we're crazy) (Brad laughs)

Lesley Logan 1:45  

But we love our friends. And (Brad: It will be great) I know so um ...

Brad Crowell 1:49  

I think that we may be closer to 6000 miles on this trip than any of the others.

Lesley Logan 1:54  

Yeah, cuz I don't think the others we hit 6000 ...

Brad Crowell 1:57  

And we're... it's like 55 and then 58 (Lesley: Yeah) you know, and this (Lesley: Well ...) one I think the last year is one was the shortest because we just powered through.

Lesley Logan 2:03  

We powered through and we moved to Vegas. We started four ... (Brad: Oh, that is true) four hours early. (Brad: We definitely ...) We cut off eight hours, (Brad: Yeah, that's true) at least. I think what I don't know. I don't know. I think the first year (Brad: Yeah) it was like a lot. Anyway, their traffic sucks. Anyways, so because of creative spaces and creative thinking and possibility, we (Brad: Yeah) are bringing back the winter tour. So we are doing a happy hour for peeps who love us and listen to this and our members in Denver, (Brad: Yep) quickie little hot toddy. And somewhere in Denver. I think in the Low Highland area. If you don't know that, then you're probably not from Denver. So no worries. Then we're gonna head over to Pennsylvania to do, I think we're in Lehigh Valley for this class. But we say Philly area. (Lesley laughs)

Brad Crowell 2:51  

Yeah, so just the... we're gonna be in Denver on the 13th of December. (Lesley: Okay) Right.

Lesley Logan 2:56  

Oh, yes. Say the dates, then the 19th of December, we have a mat class, inside of a FastPitch, practice thing that I really ... (Brad: It's gonna be a massive venue) is a (Brad: huge) massive venue. And the reason for that is we're still in this weird world so we can spread the heck out (Brad: Oh, yeah) and enjoy an amazing space. I'm so grateful to the FastPitch place for and Alex and his team for giving us this opportunity to use a space like that in the winter time of Philly so we can be together and spread out. Then we're going to head on the 28th to Atlanta area. (Brad: Yes) It's actually Duluth where our friend Joel Crosby of Vitality Method Pilates is hosting us to do semi privates, my fast workshop. (Brad: It's basically all day we're gonna be ...) We're at a studio all frickin' day. (Brad: Yeah) I'm teaching two semi privates. I know one and a half are sold out but rock on, go to the go to the link in the show notes to see what's left. The fast workshop, we have some spots in person and we have a few spots online because (Brad: Virtual) cuz Joel is insane. He's got this humongous screen. So it feels like you're there. I haven't taught this workshop in person since I don't know. I don't even know.

Brad Crowell 4:07  

Maui? (Lesley: Yeah) Yeah. (Lesley: I think so) 2019 I think 20...

Lesley Logan 4:11  

Then... Yeah, then we're hitting a rooftop in Miami on December 30th.

Yeah, that's gonna be fun. (Lesley: I know) It's me a party, actually.

I taught on that spot before it is beautiful. It's going to be at sunset and so again, we could be outdoors. It's lovely. It's Miami, so it's not freezing cold. Don't worry about it. And a great way to end the year and then we're gonna end in Dallas.

Yeah, on January 4.

Thank you Alicia.

Brad Crowell 4:34  

We are gonna be in Frisco.

Lesley Logan 4:35  

Yeah. Which is like near this like, practice field for the Dallas cowboys. If you love them, you know it if you don't, so sorry. It's really cool. Anyways, we're going to be in Frisco, and we have an equipment class there. So super, super fun. If you want to tour with us.

Brad Crowell 4:51  

Yeah, just go to onlinepilatesclasses.com/tour.

Lesley Logan 4:55  

Oh, that's a great link. Wonderful. (Lesley laughs)

Brad Crowell 4:57  

Yeah, come join us, hang out.

Lesley Logan 4:59  

I'm so excited to hit the road, I really really am. Even though I do realize that I'm gonna be driving all the way across the country to Florida and then back, but it's going to be an adventure. Alright. Babe, do we have an audience question?

Brad Crowell 5:11  

We definitely did. And this one is very poignant, because it's the end of the year. And the question was, "How do you deal with end of the year overwhelm?"

Lesley Logan 5:24  

Well, how do you deal with it?

Brad Crowell 5:25  

I like to bury my head in the sand, pretend that nothing's (Lesley laughs) happening and ignore everything. Nobody can call me. No, I'm lying. You know, it's it's definitely I feel like there's a double obligation. It's not just work stuff, but it's also social. The overwhelm happens with like, all the holiday dinners, and the friends need to see each other and things and, and I love every second of that, but suddenly, it's like, a lot. It's just a lot of stuff, right. And so I think we are intentional about when we're willing to, you know, leave the house and go out. Also, what projects we are expecting to finish. And I think that we have to give ourselves the space and grace to understand that the holidays are going to take at very least one week is of your month is officially gone, right? (Lesley: Yeah) But it could even be longer than that for you know, depends on where you're traveling from or to and all the things. So you know, the end of the year, work really hard until you know, the week before Christmas, and then and then take time off. So,

Lesley Logan 6:36  

Well, I am I actually think that this particular episode we're recapping is really helpful because it talks about she... Jenn Pike talks about paying attention to patterns in your body and in your life. And something that I think we've gotten really good at at this point is that we know how much stuff we have to wrap up so that we can enjoy the end of the year. We don't always get that done. I do recall last year having to cram a few things in during the vacation time. But we have gotten better. In fact, this year, (Brad: Yeah) I will be filmed through February, we will have this podcast, y'all. Next week, we will be recording or actually while you are listening to this will be recording many of the recaps. So that that's done. So what I would say, (Brad: Definitely trying to plan ahead) whatever is overwhelming you now I would actually make time for yourself this at the end of this year to plan in advance throughout next year. So if you don't want to be cramming things in December, then how can you take what you're having to cram in and spread it out over the other 11 months? Because that's the thing, if you actually spread it out over 11 months, it's like "this much." It's you can't see me on the podcast, but I'm holding up my two fingers like "this much." (Brad: Yeah) And, and so what what I last year, I was actually a little bit more overwhelmed, because I didn't want to be overwhelmed anymore. So, I actually had a film extra and a time of overwhelm so that I can get to a point where I will be filmed ahead and everything that we do. And so I definitely am actually excited about this trip more so because I'm pretty much ready. But I wasn't always that way. And so if you are in overwhelm right now, I've been there and it freakin' sucks. And I would ask yourself, "Does it actually have to be done by the 31st?"

Brad Crowell 8:21  

Yeah, I think for people who are experiencing overwhelm right now, whether it's because of your family obligations, or it's because of your work obligations? I think if you're not the boss that makes things complicated, of course, if you are the boss, are these deadlines, arbitrary? Did you make them? Do they really have to be done by whatever date? You know, what can you prioritize instead, to make sure that does have to be done on time, something maybe could be bumped to the next year? When it comes to the family. You know, maybe limit your time with your family on purpose, right? I know that one thing that contributes to overwhelm, especially for people who are introverts is not having time alone. Right? So plan ahead, make sure you have time to recharge. (Lesley: Yeah) That's a super important one.

Lesley Logan 9:09  

Well, I mean, like when we go to your family, we are in their house. And we it's the our bedroom is next to their bedroom. And there's a lot of family gatherings and we want to make sure you see your family because we're only there for a week. And that's it for the whole year. And something I do is I go to bed early. (Brad: Right) I ... I'm like, "Okay, good night everyone." I leave you up with your family and then I wake up early and I walk the dogs by myself. (Brad: Right) I don't want people to walk with me that is my private time. And I really am intentional about that. So I would just take note of the overwhelm you're having right now and really ask like you have to be really honest like 30,000 foot view it's not your personal life. What of this actually has to be done right now? And do you actually throw that party? I know you think, "Oh my God if I know it was party people are gonna knows." People don't notice as much as you think unless the parties in your honor and then yeah, probaly show up. But maybe ... (Brad: Happy birthday) Yeah. (Lesley laughs)

Brad Crowell 10:03  

Wait, where's the birthday girl? (Brad laughs)

Lesley Logan 10:06  

Wouldn't that be so fun to throw the most amazing party and not be at it? (Brad laughs) I wonder if it's possible? Anyways, I feel you. And what I would say is make an intention this year to set yourself up so you're not in overwhelm next year. (Brad: Yeah) That is not exactly the the answer you're looking for. But I promise you, I'm sitting here for the first time. I think Brad since he's know me. And I'm not like, freaking out about how much I have to get done, because I already put it into schedule. And I'm like, "Oh, it's all doable. (Brad: Yeah) I can do this." (Brad: Yeah.) So anyways, great question, send them into the @be_it_pod on Instagram.

Brad Crowell 10:46  

Okay, now let's talk about Jenn Pike. Jenn Pike is a functional diagnostic nutritionist, and medical exercise specialist with over 20 years of experience. She helps females recognize the impact that hormones have on every aspect of their body, and then helps empower them to become educated, and how to use their hormones to their benefit. That's an interesting thought there. (Lesley: No, I love it) She is the founder of The Hormone Project, Synched, and The Simplicity Project, and Jen helps females decode what their body is telling them. So that this pretty fascinating. I'm not gonna lie, I ... the first time we heard Jenn talking about this. She did a webinar for Agency for our coaching (Lesley: Yeah) group. And I, I felt like I was out in left field because I really had no idea what she was talking about and it made me curious. So, I went and started reading about different cycles, I didn't even know they're sorry, it's different phases of the cycle, I didn't even know that was a thing. And, and then how that makes, you know, a woman feel or, you know, not feel or frustrated, or, you know, whatever. There's just so many different things that are involved with it, that it's like, far above and beyond anything, I actually really understood about it.

Lesley Logan 12:08  

I know. And that's crazy, because you have a sister and a mother. And ...

Brad Crowell 12:11  

And when I say it, I mean, you know, hormone, hormonal cycles. (Lesley: Yeah. But I mean, like ...) We're talking about periods here, people.

Lesley Logan 12:17  

We are. (Lesley and Brad laughs) So something that I find fascinating is how much we don't talk about periods in households and how it is. And we talked about this before, but it's like soon as it's like, "Oh, I got my period today." Like if it's a bad thing, and it's like actually a superpower that women have, it's like really freaking cool. And you had a mom and a sister. Like, this should be things that like we're very much talked about your household, not ... (Brad: 100% not talked about in my household) And something that I love that is changing is that like, there are women out there who like Jenn who are changing this, like one of our members, Yuki Claire, she has only sons. And all of her sons are fully aware of pelvic floor health, pregnancy, periods, the humans that hormones, because she's like, whether or not they marry a woman doesn't matter. They're going to be around women in their life. (Brad: Right) And it's important that we all know this, because I think it has a negative connotation, when actually it really is as positive, amazing, credible thing. And I have really tried to change my mindset around "Oh my God, my periods here." It's like, "Oh, okay. Look at... this is where I am today, like, (Brad: Yeah) this is really cool." And something I liked that we brought up, or she brought up with seed cycling. And, you know, I ...

Brad Crowell 13:30  

Before you jump into seed cycling, which I know ... has was so impactful for you, I just wanted to say, your perspective on your own cycle has changed the way that you live in the past six months or so since whatever eight months, whatever it was that she was on our webinar, because I noticed that you don't get frustrated with yourself (Lesley: Yeah) the way that you did before. (Lesley: I know) And also to ... this is a bit strange, because when I met you, you didn't actually ever have a period. (Lesley: That's true.) You never actually had the cycle and that was because of health reasons. (Lesley: Yeah) And that obviously wasn't a good thing. But you never had to deal with it, because it never happened. So for the... I don't know, five years of us being together, it wasn't something you had to deal with. And then like, "Surprise, you were getting healthy." And suddenly (Lesley: Yeah) that came back and you were like, "What the hell?"

Lesley Logan 14:27  

Yeah, my got my hormones under control. And it came back and I remember being so upset about it. (Brad: Yeah) Even though, it's a positive thing. It's a positive thing ...

Brad Crowell 14:35  

But that's what I'm saying. You were, you know, like, suddenly your body was operating the way that it should. And then, you know, you were having to deal with this every month again. And that was actually a perspective, "Oh, man. I have to deal with this." (Lesley: Yeah) Right? And it was frustrating you and you know, it would actually really, it was, it was impactful to me. I just want to say that as well because when you were frustrated about it, it wasn't like you were frustrated for like the afternoon. It was like you're frustrated for like five days, (Lesley: Yeah) you know. And so now ever since you, you've been, you know, learning about this too with Jenn stuff, I've noticed that you're different (Lesley: Yeah) about it.

Lesley Logan 15:13  

I am. And I also will say (Lesley laughs) I've definitely had the team on a bit of an edge, right? Like, "Everyone, I'm going to be changing when everything of mine is due based on my cycle." So, I'm only me filming on one part of my cycle, and I'm not gonna be filming up on my cycle. And I'm only to do these things. And I remember, even your sister was like, "So you're, the dates of things are gonna change every few months?" And I was like, "Yes." (Brad laughs) And feel free to watch this. And if you need to change your due dates, let's talk about that because all these ladies should be on the team, all these ladies on the team should be really like working along with their cycle. And I have to say in the few months that we've been doing my filming on the actual correct time of my cycle, (Brad: Yeah) it's been easy. (Brad: Yeah) And unfortunately, due to I need to film before we go on this road trip, I have to film (Brad: through) film through this time. And I am resentful ... (Lesley laughs)

Brad Crowell 16:11  

You can ... you can tell the difference. (Lesley: Yeah) ... because I mean, I noticed you've been jumping on filming. And with... with a way more positive attitude, (Lesley laughs) you know.

Lesley Logan 16:19  

Well, I always loved I love what we create. But for whatever reason, the week that we arbitrarily chose for me to film was literally the week of the cycle that I should be by myself. (Brad: Right) And like, ruminating, and journaling and all these things. And I know that sounds so "whoo." And it also might even sound privileged because I get to like, decide when I do things. But Jenn does talk about, at least in our webinar, she talked about how, you know, life happens, but she only has so many set work hours of her day. So no matter what part of her cycle is, if she has to show up. (Brad: Right) She can ... (Brad: if not for the whole day.) It's not an eight hour day (Brad: Yeah) of teaching classes, I mean, in them. So anyways, y'all, if you haven't listened this, frickin' just go back and listen to this. Um, she is amazing. She has some great resources, but ...

Brad Crowell 17:09  

She's also incredibly knowledgeable. (Lesley: So knowledgeable.) Yeah.

Lesley Logan 17:13  

So um, we're actually having her inside of OPC. So if you're like, (Brad: Oh) in love with her, you should be an OPC member if you're not one already, because she's gonna come in January.

Brad Crowell 17:21  

And do a webinar for OPC members. (Lesley: Yeah. Yeah, yeah) So cool.

Lesley Logan 17:25  

I know. I know. And I'm like, I was like, "I love you. I want you. I want to sprinkle your ish everywhere." (Brad laughs)

Brad Crowell 17:31  

Okay, well, what was one thing that you loved, I cut you off you were talking about?

Lesley Logan 17:35  

I know. So seed cycling everyone. So it was a little tricky for me when I seed cycling and traveling because bringing seeds ...

Brad Crowell 17:40  

Okay, (Lesley: from different countries) first off, just like, "What the hell is seed cycling?"

Lesley Logan 17:44  

Okay, so seed cycling, for my ladies who actually have a menstrual cycle, you will eat two types of seeds during one part of your cycle and two types of seeds, your other part of your cycles, so day one of your period. And through day 14, you do pumpkin seed and flax seed. And I highly recommend this on top of a smoothie. But you just mix it into something you have or just have a handful of pumpkin seeds as a snack and then toss some flax seeds on a salad or something like that. Then the other part of your cycle is sesame seeds and sunflower seeds. Also fun on a salad. You can also have those like sunflower butters and there's like you know sesame oil and things like that. But if you're consistent with that, you will notice that your hormones are actually more balanced out throughout the whole part of your cycle because it's just these foods are actually telling your body like, "Hey, remember, remember to like create this hormone right now." And it's ac... it's all healthy. It's all organic. It's really easy to ...

Brad Crowell 18:40  

 It's literally seeds. We got bags of seeds.

Lesley Logan 18:43  

We have bags of seed. So I did this for a really long time. And I'm not even kidding you like, ladies, this is like, okay, this might be tmi, boobs get sore during parts of your cycling. And I'm like, "Please don't frickin' hug me" and I'm sure during COVID it's like, "Oh, thank God no one's touching me now." But let me just (Brad laughs) tell you when I did seed cycling, I never had that problem ever again. I still don't and ... I don't even seed cycling anymore but I just got my body on a regimen that's actually part of how we got my period back was seed cycling. So because I can't be on hormones. Um, so anyways, I highly recommend it. It was tricky for me and traveling because I would go, "Oh my God, I'm going through customs with all these loose seeds." (Brad and Lesley laughs) In zip-lock baggies but um ...

Brad Crowell 19:19  

Yeah, it did... that did look funny.

Lesley Logan 19:21  

We did not take him through New Zealand and Australia. I just bought seeds when I got there. But at any rate, if you are someone who's trying to be a little bit more organic, a little bit healthy, unsure of how to track your cycle, you can do seed cycling. Also my ladies who've gone through menopause, you can seed cycle with the moon. And I would just Google that because I actually don't remember how it works with the moon but you can do that and also your husband's ... (Brad: I was just gonna say this. Yeah) So husbands, men or just men in a household of women. You can seed cycle the reverse of the moon cycle, because men who live with women for a long time their testosterone levels go down (Brad: Yeah) because estrogen is like powerful and real, I have we haven't gotten that already from this episode. And so you can do that to keep your testosterone levels a little bit more regulated.

Brad Crowell 20:08  

Yeah. So and that's, that's pretty fascinating. In fact, that was ...

Lesley Logan 20:13  

It's that so cool the earth can do? Like, I think it's so we look for all these like things that people have created but like the friggin' earth has already been like, "Here you go, (Brad: here's your seeds) here's your here's your hormones, cycled for you."

Brad Crowell 20:25  

Well, I was gonna say that the thing that I loved about it, what this was a good lead up to it, is the stigma of the female body and cycles involving men. (Lesley: Yeah) Right? And you kind of already hinted at this with, you know, one of our, one of our coaching clients ... she has a house full of boys and obviously husband, and she ... So basically, she's like, the female in the household, (Lesley: Yeah) right? And I didn't grow up that way, I do have a sister, I do have a mom, and my- I have a brother and a dad. But we never talked about this, the only thing I ever learned about this was in school. And of course, that's funny and awkward and weird and silly and like, you know, like, (Lesley: Yeah) you know, immature? (Lesley: Yeah) And so, there was never any point where I actually understood, the only thing that I ever understood was that, you know, that it was... the process of going through the period is the woman's body, flushing out the unused, you know, parts for potentially having a baby, right? That's the only thing I ever really knew. And I knew I have it once a month. And that was the only thing I really ever knew. But I never understood how it affected a woman's mood, like, feeling, sensitivity, like, like, you know, skin, like I ... (Lesley: Yeah) like, you know, how it completely changes the way you approach things, your enthusiasm for, you know, anything, you know, I never actually understood this other than, like, the common, you know, stereotype of like, "Oh, it must be that time a month," because, you know, they're upset all the time, or whatever. And I don't think that's fair (Lesley: Right) because that's not actually ... you know, like, of course, there's some, a little bit of that there. But that's not like, it's not necessarily a given. Right? And it also, you know, it could be depression, (Lesley: Yeah) maybe it's not anger, maybe it's depression, or, you know, or, like stepping away and feeling like you want time alone, like it could change all these things. And I just never, I never was never aware of any of this.

Lesley Logan 22:43  

It's also like, I this is gonna, this is really interesting, but I am in a breathwork certification. And there's some interesting things that that people are doing with, with this cycle and like studying it all and everything and and the truth is, it's the only bloodshed that actually grosses people out. Which makes no sense to me. (Brad: Oh, that is ...) Because it's a natural thing that happens. It's ... (Brad: That's an interesting point) It naturally happens, women do not have control over when it happens. I mean, unless you do birth control, and then you can mix it around. But I highly recommend you try not to do that because it's not ideal. But it also like it grosses people out when like girls have to grab a tampon, and for whatever reason, they put in the most noise making frickin' plastic. (Brad laughs) So embarrassing. And then like, but then people make fun of them or whatever. If they see period blood on pants like, "Ew, gross," it's like, but that's the only one that's natural. But we have no problem seeing blood in movies where people are shot or horror films, things like that. Like that doesn't gross people out but it horrifies people to see period blood on a girl. And that is weird to me. And so anyways ... (Brad: I think that's just simply immature) Well, 100% but that's what's trained in people. So ... (Brad: Yeah, it is, it's a stigma.) One of the reasons I brought her on, I think I talked about this podcast is that like, most of you are women who listen to this and if you are a male, then you have women in your lives. And I want you to know about this. But one of the things that holds women back from being it till they see it is not understanding how their body works. (Brad: Right) And not using the superpowers that we have. And Dr. Bender actually was one of our OPC speakers. And she actually talked about how olympic, olympic athlete females are channeling how they train based on their cycle. And it's actually showing really crazy amazing improvements in their time and their races that men can't tap into because men have a 24 hour cycle, not a 28 day cycle or 27 to 29 day cycle. So anyways, this is in.. .incredible information to my female listeners that can literally help you be it till you see it, way faster than anything else. So anyways, um, should we talk about the BE IT action items?

Brad Crowell 24:54  

No. I wanted to talk a little more about the specifics (Lesley: Oh) of that because when you said superpowers, that's a weird way to say it. Okay. So like, how is it possible that like, you're going through cycle as a superpower. And it made me just pull up the transcript that we have of last episode because one, I just there's one example here, but Jenn talks about going through. So first off the your, your hormonal cycle has phases, right? And she specifically refers to the follicular phase. And she... she describes it by saying, this is where your body, your hormones, and estrogen and testosterone are starting to climb, your uterine lining is starting to thicken again, and typically where we actually feel more connected to our body. So during the follicular phase, we do well with the estrogen surge, we feel more clear, more focus, more energized, we feel happier, we are gung-ho, we want to create new projects, you know, and, you know, so there's this window, when suddenly you're like, really fired up to go be creative and have the energy and the excitement to go do this. So that's when you, Lesley are filming classes now. Right? (Lesley: Yeah) So that's how this can be a superpower because when you're ramping up before the the peak, and then you know, when things shift, and you come back down again, you know, that's when you're taking advantage of your natural rhythm, you know, of your body to do the more exertion of filming four classes in a day, which is like kind of hardcore. So yeah, so anyway, I that's I just wanted to explain how can it be a superpower? It can be a superpower in that way.

Lesley Logan 25:05  

Yeah. 100... Thank you.

Brad Crowell 26:37  

Yeah, you're welcome.

Lesley Logan 26:39  

Yeah. Okay.

Brad Crowell 26:41  

Awesome. Yeah. So let's talk about the BE IT action items. What bold, executable, intrinsic and targeted action items can we take away from your convo with Jenn Pike? So for me, I think she kind of threw this in at the very end, basically saying, you know, your body, listen to your body, your body knows, you know, it tells you things. And I thought this was so funny, because I think it was the BE IT action item but last week, or the last episode, your body actually signals to you, we're talking about my runny nose, right? (Lesley laughs)

Lesley Logan 27:13  

I've been watching for your nose throughout ...

Brad Crowell 27:16  

No, no. It only happens at like three in the morning when I'm like staring at a computer and I should totally not be awake anymore at that point. So,

Lesley Logan 27:22  

I'm not awake for that. I can't help you there.

Brad Crowell 27:24  

Yeah, yeah but you know, she's talking about listening to your body. And, and I, I think that the reason I'm bringing it up again, even though it was already a point from last week is looking at it through this lens of your cycle. Right? There is a, there are, you know, your body and you know, when you're feeling good, and when you're not feeling good. Now there's 1000 variables, how much sleep? How much stress? How much work? How much food? What are you eating? All, you know, are you drinking alcohol? There's like so many different things that can change the way that you feel, of course, but you know, are you able to be sensitive to how your body is feeling during these different phases of your cycle? And, you know, I think that take a look at, evaluate yourself, think about this over the next couple of months and understand like, "Hmm, wow, you know, I really do feel like I'm on fire, you know, you know, this time of the month, and I really feel like I should just be curling up and reading a book with a (Lesley: Yeah) cup of tea on this time of the month."

Lesley Logan 28:27  

Yeah, I mean, even if you just take out your notes on your phone and just wake like you just write down, I woke up feeling like this. And I went to bed feeling like this. And like, just track that and then go, "Oh, wow, look what it is?" But I mean, I use apps ...

Brad Crowell 28:39  

I was gonna say, why don't you tell them about that?

Lesley Logan 28:40  

So Jenn Pike actually told ... told us about the wild AI app, which she is not an affiliate for. And I'm not an affiliate for it, but I frickin' love it. I, it's actually for people who work out and want to track their cycle. And that's why I chose it over other ones. I'm not, I'm not, it's not like a tracker ... I mean, most of the apps tell you when you're like about to have like, it's like good time to have a baby. And I'm like, "I really just wanna know when it's like a good time to not have a baby." (Lesley laughs) So, but I like this one because it actually says like, on these days, train harder. On these days, don't train as hard. And what I noticed is that the moment I started paying attention to that, I was able to give myself a lot of permission of like, it literally says not to train so hard. So it's okay if you just feel like going for a walk because I'm like, "I just feel like going for a walk. I don't want to go for a run." It's like yeah, because your body just freakin' wants to go for a walk and the and your cycle says I just want to go for a walk right now. And so what's really cool is that if you don't have, if you don't have a doctor that you can call all the time, which I don't. There are some amazing apps and this one is built by females which is im-freakin' important and, and doctors in women's health and so that's the app I use and since I've been using it, my shit shows up on exact day, all the friggin' time. And I'm not surprised. And I have an app that says, "This is what you should be eating right now." Like, "This is a protein you should be eating right now. This is the carbs should be eating right now." And it's when you pay attention to that stuff, even if you especially if you want to have babies someday, this information is important. And if you're beyond having babies, it's still important because it is really part of what makes us feel like ourselves and have that and you not guess so anyways, I love your, I love your BE IT action ... you chose ...

Brad Crowell 30:30  

Yeah, I just realized that I stole yours. Actually, I read them backwards. So that one's yours and ... (Brad laughs)

Lesley Logan 30:35  

Okay, but it's okay, cuz I'm gonna say, "Listen to your body, the patterns are data." (Brad: Right) So, use an app. If you're ... (Brad: Yeah) I hate math, I really, I literally changed my major. So I didn't have to do statistics. So clearly, I'm not exactly interested in data. (Brad and Lesley laughs) But um,

Brad Crowell 30:51  

No, you are though that's what you were just talking about what the apps like it tells you, (Lesley: Yeah) when you should eat and what you should eat and when and why?

Lesley Logan 30:57  

Yeah. But I don't have to analyze it. (Brad: Yeah, yeah) It just tells me. (Brad: Yeah) So ... 

Brad Crowell 31:00  

It really they help you compile the information.

Lesley Logan 31:02  

I also think ... whether you're male or female, like your body really is telling you something. My mom just Marco Polo me. She's having TMJ. Right? She's got this thing. And and she's like, "Maybe it says, maybe it says, maybe it says." It's like, but there are patterns, (Brad: Yeah) if you write it down, like when I was having digestive health issues. That was the interesting thing about it, it was like, the pattern was a little odd. And we actually thought it was a parasite for a little bit. But when I actually like looked at, when I actually wrote it down and got really, really like into the data of listening to my body, we were able to figure out, "Oh, this is why you're not sleeping. This why I have the period. This is why you are too skinny." (Brad: Yeah) And, and so and all of that was just really affecting my life and probably shortening the years that I have on this planet which I am getting back because I have a mission to complete. So anyways, please don't bury or explain away or shove what your body is telling you into a corner until later. It is ... unless you are a brain surgeon. Like literally, your most stuff can wait til tomorrow, get some sleep, write things down, have (Brad: Yeah) a little journal, have a note on your phone, maybe you dictate it. But take some time to get either support with an app or a person to help you figure out the patterns that you're seeing.

Brad Crowell 32:20  

And also to the the other action item we were pulling out the BE IT action item was to ask for help when your body seems out of whack. (Lesley: Yeah) And, you know, I know that that's can be a challenge for many people is asking for help. But I think this makes me recall the conversation with Jennifer, Jennifer van Barneveld-Pe.

Lesley Logan 32:46  

Oh, another Torontoronian...

Brad Crowell 32:49  

Which is where (Lesley: and they are friends, actually.) I think you heard Jenn Pike on her pod. (Lesley: Yeah, yeah) And basically, Jennifer, we... the question was, "How do you run a company now when you have kids?" And she said, "Oh, I got really good at asking for help." (Lesley: Yeah) And, you know, Jenn Pike said the same thing, "Hey, when I'm, you know, I already know ahead of time when I'm not going to be feeling great," because she's very, you know, she tracks everything very intentionally. So she's like, "Look, during this time, you know, is when I know, I need to be asking for more help." And, and, and I think that, it, I think that having this conversation with a partner is going to demystify it, it's going to change it. And it's going to allow for, you know, your partner to understand like, "Okay, cool, yeah, I can step it up, you know, during this time, and that's actually gonna benefit me, too." (Brad laughs)

Lesley Logan 33:40  

Yeah. And I think that, you know, since we've had her on, because, I mean, we recorded this podcast a while back, we had her on in, I think it was like June or July and set the Agency webinar. And I literally was like, "Okay, I'm, this is the app I'm using, I'm changing this now." And I I know everyone on the team was a little nervous when I was like, "I'm gonna change all of my due dates and everything based on my cycle." But everyone's getting their stuff (Brad: Oh, yeah) on time, (Brad: And we're ahead of time.) with enthusiasm. (Brad: Yeah, yeah) (Lesley laughs) And they and I have also been really honest with them. I said, "I'm really nervous about getting these things done by this date," because of when I'm going to how I'm going to feel and everyone has been able to go, "Okay, what has to get done? (Brad: Yeah.) How do we make this happen? How can we support?" And I'm like, "I don't even feel guilty about that." And I and I think in the past before actually appreciating all of this, I think I might have but y'all asking for help is also actually really freaking cool. It is not a sign of weakness is a sign of strength and power and you cannot be it till you see it, on your own. (Brad: That's true) It makes me think of um, you know, My Cousin Vinnie ... (Brad gasps) the movie. (Brad: Yes) At the very end when he gets really mad at Marisa Tomei, whatever her character's name is, because she helped him with a case she like did something to help with the case. And he's like, "I want to do this first case on my own." She goes, "Oh my God, imagine winning all of your cases." And at the end, you have to say, "Thank you." (Brad and Lesley laughs) Oh my God, what a fucking problem. What a nightmare? And I just think I wish I understood that when I was a child, because that's when my mom loved that movie. But I wish I'd understood that because I think I would have been like, it's actually not a nightmare to ask people for help ... and say thank you. It's usually really freaking cool to not do this alone. And you don't have to do your cycle alone. And you don't have to be it till you see it alone. So, (Brad: That's true) All right. I'm Lesley Logan.

And I'm Brad Crowell.

Thank you so much for joining... joining us today. We're so grateful you're here. (Brad: Yes) How are you going to use these tips in your life? Let us know by sending a DM to the pod on Instagram. Make sure you tag Jenn Pike. She's got two Ns and myself and let us know and we'll catch you on the next episode.

Brad Crowell 35:50  

Bye for now.

Lesley Logan 35:54  

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 podcasts. 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 YOUS SEE IT. Have an awesome day!

'Be It Till You See It' is a production of 'As The Crows Fly Media'.

Brad Crowell 36:27  

It's written produced, filmed and recorded by your host Lesley Logan and me, Brad Crowell. Our Associate Producer is Amanda Frattarelli.

Lesley Logan 36:38  

Kevin Perez at Disenyo handles all of our audio editing.

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

Special thanks to our designer Jaira Mandal for creating all of our visuals (which you can't see because this is a podcast) and our digital producer, Jay Pedroso for editing all video each week so you can.

Brad Crowell 37:03  

And to Angelina Herico for transcribing each of our episodes so you can find them on our website. And, finally to Meridith Crowell for keeping us all on point and on time.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai

From brilliant questions comes freeing answers. Uncover the truths the Jenn Pike holds about the female body from her years of asking “but why”? Lesley Logan and Jenn Pike discuss all things female - from cycles, mood shifts, hormone balance, to overcoming stigmas.

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 Jenn’s curiosity led her to her career
• Medical ranges & full panel testing 
• Cycles vs. Periods
• Seed Cycling
• The affect hormones have on your mental health 
• Jenn’s B.E.I.T action items for transformation 
• How to break the stigma with the female cycle

Episode References/Links:

• The Hormone Project
• Synced
• The Simplicity Project Podcast
• IG @Jennpike

Guest Bio:

Jenn Pike is a functional diagnostic nutritionist and medical exercise specialist with over 20 years of experience. She helps females recognize the impact that hormones have on every aspect of their body and then helps empower them to become educated in how to utilize their hormones to their benefit. Founder of The Hormone Project, Synched, and The Simplicity Project, Jenn helps females decode what their body is telling them. 

OPC Flashcards:

• OPC Flashcards are on Amazon
• OPC Flashcards are on our site

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.

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

Social Media

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Tik Tok
• LinkedIn

Episode Transcript:

Lesley Logan 0:00  

Hello, welcome back to the Be It Till You See It podcast today I have Jenn Pike for you.  Oh, this this interview is juicy, juicy, juicy. I mean it is such good stuff you are going to want to relisten to it, you want to take notes. Ladies, this one is for you and if you've got men in your life umm, I definitely umm agree with her what she's at the end. We want to have more men aware and educated at this because it destigmatizes, umm periods and cycles and hormones in women and basically I'm giving away what the interview is about. But Jenn Pike is a functional nutritionist and medical exercise specialist. She is a wealth of knowledge. She has been doing this for over 20 years and umm basically y'all, there I know that sometimes you are like "I'm gonna take on this day. I'm so excited. I love where my goals are going. I love for this ... I love what I'm wanting." You love it, I know you do and then you feel like you can't do it. And you think it's in your head or you think you need to take another course or you think you need to learn more about this, you got to read this book and the truth is it might actually be and probably is, whats going on with your hormones. What's going on in your cycle. What's going on in your body. And so she comes in and she is going to educate you and your empower you and we I her tips for how you can Be It Till You See It at the end. (Lesley: gasps) I mean, I'm not kidding. They're like they're word worthy, really. If we were doing that, which we are not, we're not, we're not. Anyways, I can't wait for you to listen to this entire conversation. Check out how you can follow Jenn and all the programs she I mean, all the programs she's got going on that will literally help you, Be It Till You See It. But also become aware and educated on what your body needs, what's optimal for you. And that's why I wanted to have her on. And so check out this interview, here it comes right after this message.

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 guests 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.

All right, welcome back to Be It Till You See It. I am so freakin' stoked about today's interview. Y'all. Okay, let me just, I'm just gonna be really, really uhhh. I'm gonna tell you what I did. I heard Jenn Pike on my friend, umm Coach Jenny's podcast, her strong, umm find her strong, and I literally finished the interview and was DM-ing her like, "I want you on my podcast," I it was a total like, not even, "Hi, you're so awesome." I was like, "Hi, you're amazing. And here's what I want to do. I love all the things you said so much. And I want to get that out to all of the people who listen, my Pilates clients, to my coaching clients" and so luckily, she didn't go, "Wow, Lesley, you're weird." She said, she said, she said, "Oh, that'd be great. I can do these things. I'm just really busy right now." And I was like, "That's fine." So we're finally having this conversation. Jenn Pike, thank you for being here. Will you take a minute to tell everyone, who you are, where you're from, and what you're up to?

Jenn Pike 3:36  

Well, thank you first of all for reaching out and having me on here. So my name is Jenn Pike. I'm a functional diagnostic nutritionist and medical exercise specialist and the founder of The Hormone Project. So I really help women understand what they you know, in my opinion, should have known about their bodies from as young as you know, being a young girl before going into puberty. And I meet women exactly where they are now on this journey of their health in their body and help them to understand, the signs and the symptoms, and the stories that their bodies are telling them. How to decode, what it is that's going on. And really empower them to know how to take care of their health. How to take care of their body. How to be an advocate for themselves and to do it in a way where you know it's feeding back into their own vitality and vibrancy and to be so connected to the body that they have.

Lesley Logan 4:24  

I mean. When I heard you say that what we teaching them what they should have already known. It is so crazy what we are not told about our (Jenn: I know) bodies. And also umm, what what because we trust our doctors and you know and what they say and so we're like, "Okay, yeah, we'll do this," and then you find out later on like, actually you're not that that that that wasn't the right the best thing for you, at least, maybe it was but there wasn't other information given to you about how that's gonna affect your, affect your body. (Jenn: Yeah) So can you can you share like a little bit like, what what made you want to do this? Like, did I don't know that you grow up going, "Well, one day, I'm going to like teach women about their bodies." Like, what was it that got you really interested in this?

Jenn Pike 5:07  

So mine kind of was like that a little bit. When I look back, like I've always been very much involved in fitness and athletics. My dad took me into my first gym experience with him when I was six, not to work out, but but seeing him move and do that. And my mom would go out, you know, to Jazzercise class with the ladies in the neighborhood. And so I just always grew up with that being like a very normal thing. My older sister is 12 years older, and she was always doing like, you know workout videos, like Cher's workout video, or whoever it was, (Lesley laughs) all of that. And so, I just was very curious. And I always loved moving my body, and, you know, I was active. And then when I got into high school, you know, I was, I was always just very aware, very curious as to what was happening in my own body. Conversations I was having a friends, things were being taught in gym class, I was also modeling at that time for a lengthy period of time. And you know, in that industry, everything was about do whatever you've got to do to just be thin. It was a period of time where like, you know, Kate Moss was the body that everyone was going, and that's not my body and my frame. And I, there was some struggle there. And I just kept thinking to myself, like it, "It shouldn't be this way, you know, what is it that's going on?" Umm I started to realize how little information there was for those of us that had our periods. And we're going through that, and birth control, and all of those things. And so I just kept asking more questions, I was always the person going, "But why?" And I would just dig deeper and ask and start to do my own research. And then I went, I lived abroad, modeling, working for a while, came back went to school. And that's where I started off in human anatomy, biomechanics and physiology. And that again, to it was just like, the human body is so insanely brilliant. And oftentimes, it's us that's getting in the way of feeling our best. And it's because we haven't been properly educated so we're not empowered to know, right from wrong for us, or, you know what to ask the doctor or when the doctor says, you know, "You're totally fine." And you're sitting there and are like, "I'm not fine, like I something, I'm telling you, this isn't me something is out of balance or out of whack." And you, you know, get recommended to take something or whatever it might be. So many women that I work with, anyways, they're still leaving those offices, they may have been told what to do, but they don't know why. (Lesley: Right) And they, they don't know how they can shift their lifestyle or, or any of that. So, you know, it started there for me, I was working in a very strong athletic background, I was working with all athletes, majority of men, when I started, then I was working Personal Training, a lot of women and a lot of moms, I didn't have kids at the time then. But I still could see that we were missing something. That no matter what type of exercise and you know, meal plan that I was creating for them, something was missing. (Lesley: Yeah) I couldn't quite pinpoint their mood instability, their sleep issues, their inflammation, and I was like, "I need to dig deeper," and went back to school. At that time, you know, 20 years ago, became a holistic nutritionist that opened it up more. Fast forward a few years later, became a mother for the first time. And then I was like, "Oh, whoa, (Lesley: whoa) this is different." (Lesley: Yeah. Yeah.) This is different. And then, you know, I've just continued to stay a student and then went back and became a, you know, a functional medicine, diagnostic nutritionist, and I run a lot of different testing. And it's been an evolution over decades.

Lesley Logan 8:31  

I love it because so you're a total questioner and learner, like, you can tell like, (Jenn: Yeah) you're like, "I am curious about this. I'm gonna go," and and I think a lot of people are afraid to ask the questions. (Jenn: Yeah) Like, because people are afraid of being wrong. And it's like, well, actually, you don't even know if you'll be wrong, you might be asking the question that other people are having, and no one's talking about. And um ...

Jenn Pike 8:51  

Almost always, and I would say, "No, you bring that up." And it's such a good one is that I'm constantly encouraging women in our programs, like, "Please be the brave one to ask the question, because I am telling you, if you are thinking it, so many others are," and it's when we start to to voice it that other women are like, "Wait a second. I'm not the only one." (Lesley: Yeah) Like, "I feel that too tell me more."

Lesley Logan 8:53  

I so I suffered from stomach issues for over 10 years and going to doctors after doctors and I had a doctor literally make me feel like I was the crazy one. And I'm like, "But I have pictures." Like, "This is what I look like in the morning and this is what I look like in the evening." And they sent me to an infectious disease doctor in the hospital and they're like, "Do you know why you're here?" And I'm like, "No," I think that he doesn't know what to do with me. So he sent me here, but now I'm a little bit panicked. Like, "This is the ebola clinic." ... (Lesley laughs) This is the ... (Jenn: You're in a hazmat suit, What is going on!) Yeah, what is going on with my stomach? I'm just have a lot of bloating and I refuse to take medication for that because that's not, I don't want to cover the symptom. Like I didn't (Jenn: Right) have this my whole life. Right? So but I, it was weird for me to talk about it in the beginning because kind of embarrassing, like no one (Jenn: Yeah) wants to hear talk about all that. But when I started to what I found out is so many women were having those same problems. And I was like, I became this like, advocate of figuring out what it was and finding someone who could solve my problems. And that person saved my life. And then I found a holistic Doctor who, who I work with, whenever there's like a flare up. But I do think it's like, a lot of people are afraid to ask the question, because they think that they should just know it, or this is what everyone does, or we just have, this is how life is. And you said, you went to the school 20 years ago, I feel like that was and maybe I'm wrong. But it feels like that was a pretty early time to get involved in holistic nutrition.

Jenn Pike 10:47  

Yeah, it was I mean, back then. So and I, I'm 41. So I was 20 when I decided, like, I started early, I finished high school early, I did my traveling, I started, you know, college before I was even, you know, legal to have a drink, which I know you're in the US. But here in Canada, typically you're like 18-19 when you go. And so it when I did that everybody around me who was looking at nutrition health, they were going to be a dietician, or they were going to do like kinesiology or that. And I was like, "Hmm, it's not that." And I had had an experience with hearing somebody talk about a naturopathic doctor and I was like, "What's that?" And so went and you know how to first consult and I was like, "Oh, this, this is fascinating." You are spending an hour or more with me asking me all about like, my, my health history, my cycle, you're looking into my eyes, you're looking at my tongue, you're like feeling my pulse, you're looking at, you're testing my hair, you're, it was so much deeper than what I had ever experienced. And nothing was being rushed and like shuffle out. (Lesley: Right) And so that I came away and was like this, "This is this is my thing. This is what I want to empower women with. This is the missing link." We don't know enough. (Lesley: Yeah) How could we possibly make the best choices for ourselves when we don't even understand what it is that we're choosing? And then the doctor environment. There's a wonderful doctor, there's wonderful everything, and then there's not wonderful every ...

Lesley Logan 12:09  

Right. I agree, I think if anyone's listening, so is actually a doctor. Like, there's a lot of wonderfulness in you and there's a lot of great reasons to have one.

Jenn Pike 12:17  

Absolutely. Absolutely. That being said, I think a lot of the struggle for women, specifically, because women are dismissed more than men (Lesley: Yeah) across the board, is that when you go in with an issue, and they don't know how to help and support you, oftentimes, you're either told you're fine. Or why don't we put you on the pill? Or how about an antidepressant or you are referred out of their office to someone else who also doesn't really understand why you're there, because what's going on with you is actually quite simple things that we could be shifting if you had the right support and mechanisms to know what that is. And when it comes to women and hormones or their thyroid or their gut health. So much of it, it peels back to what is going on, on that internal level of support, nutrition, lifestyle, sleep, stress, all of that, and they just don't have the time and the appointments to help somebody go through that.

Lesley Logan 13:09  

Yeah, I feel like their hands get a little tied with all the different things and I (Jenn: Yeah) and they're, you know, they're expected to know so much about so many things, but you can't go deep on any of that. So it's a little tricky (Jenn: Exactly) about your, like, (Jenn: They're general practitioners.) Yeah. And so, um, you know, I want to chat about because I think it's easy for people to go, "Well, my doctor said, my levels are fine." (Jenn: Yeah) And if you're listening to this, and you're ever like, "I don't feel fine." Like you're not crazy, like you don't feel fine and it's okay. And I say to speak and that's one of the reasons why I was listening to Jenn on another interview, like I have to talk to her because I want to bring her to you all because my doctor said everything in my blood was fine. They said we were in a panel and you're fine. And the guy that I worked with, who was amazing. He was the person who was making the food for NASA astronauts (Jenn: Oh wow!) because you know, they're gonna be in space for however long, they have to take all (Jenn: Yeah) of their food with them and they can't (Jenn: Right) eat the same things because everyone needs different things to run at their optimum level. (Jenn: capacity, yeah) Right so um, so he left that and then he's been working with athletes and I got them through a friend and and he goes, "first of all this is", he gave me a packet like 276 pages, like 276 tests is what it was was like 30 pages and he's like, "This is a full panel." And he said, in this full panel he's like, "You are in range and air quotes," (if you can't see what I'm doing) he's like, "But you're one point in" and here's what what they do when they when they're they didn't know what the range was so they had to guess and so it's like the Olympics they took a bunch of people and they took off the top two and a half percent and the bottom two and a half percent and (Jenn: Yup) they got this is range, that's normal, but like you yourself might need to be higher to run at a in something to run at the best level. And so I was telling Jenn, um before the recording. Y'all I was at red lights, crying. I don't know why. And I was like, "I think I'm depressed. I have everything I want, I have an amazing husband, I live in the coolest place. Like I get to travel to teach." I like everything on my vision board, check, check, check. And I was so sad and I didn't know why. And he's like, you have your B12 is one point in a range, your vitamin D is one point in a range, you've no testosterone like, this is happening... these metals and he's like, "Yeah, you're depressed," like you're you (Jenn: Yeah) can't not be. And so one of the things I wanted to ask you about is like, what are some of those levels that if people are maybe lacking confidence, or lacking will, or just having those energy moments, like, what is it that they should be looking at? Or can they ask their doctors about? Like, how can we arm them? Because I feel like you can't, it's hard to have confidence or go after something if like, your hormones and your body are literally saying "no."

Jenn Pike 15:46  

Yeah. So I mean, you bring up a really great point in that those ranges, the lab ranges and your individual ranges are not necessarily going to be the same. And the lab ranges of like, what is fine versus what's optimal. We're trying to help keep you in a place of optimal not just okay, no one wants to feel just okay. And so you need it. I wish there was like the most simplified way to answer this. (Lesleya laughs) But the reality is, is you need to know what to ask for when you're going in. So you don't want basic blood work, you really want to full panel, you want to ask for your hormones to be tested, you want to ask for your thyroid to be tested, you want to ask for like, "What do you have that you can test me on? I would like to have that tested." And then the other side of it is the testing is great but who is going to walk you through the results? Who's going to actually turn the page around, or share on the screen with you and say, okay, "Lesley, these are your results. This is what's going on, this is what this actually means, this is what this could lead to." And so, the hard answer for people to hear is you probably aren't going to get all of those answers in that appointment and in that doctor's appointment, you're going to have to invest outside of that (Lesley: Yeah) you're going to have to pay for that care. That's the hardest thing for people to understand and I get that. But that is where it starts is you knowing what to ask for. And then working with somebody who like this is what they do. They can look at those numbers. And in a moment in the blink of an eye say, "Look, this is what's going on here. These levels, this is why you're feeling that way." And as soon as you work with somebody who can help you understand that, you feel better right out of the gates because you're like, "It is not in my head. I am not making this up. I am not like crazy. This isn't me being dramatic." But and we know we know when something is internally off. It's everyone else around us. That tells us, "No, no, you're fine."

Lesley Logan 17:38  

Yeah. Yeah. And so, um, because there's no easy answer to that. What is something? Who would they be googling to find in their area? Like, depending on where they live? Like, is there like a name for that? Is it somebody like you? Is that ...

Jenn Pike 17:54  

Well, yeah, so they could be looking for an FDN, which is a functional diagnostic nutritionist, a functional medical doctor, it depends where you are. Some of them might refer to themselves as an integrative practitioner or a holistic doctor. Here's what I always say to people. The first thing I'd recommend that you do is reach out to your circle and your community and say, "I'm struggling with perimenopause. I'm struggling with PMS," to "have any of you gone to a naturopath or functional practitioner?" Like someone who's going to spend the time and do the testing and take you through it. Can you please like throw some names up here? Because as women, like we refer people to things all the time, (Lesley: Yeah) buy this shirt, drink this thing, you know, do your hair with this. So we need to start to do that about our health as well. (Lesley: Yeah) So that is the first thing that I would recommend, is reach out to the community. If you're like, "I don't have those kind of people Jenn, like my friends don't give two hoots about their health. Like I don't have anybody who's in the same, you know, vicinity as me," then that's when I would Google and those keywords integrative, holistic, functional, those types of things.

Lesley Logan 19:00  

Yeah, thank you for that because I think that that is where it's, like, easy to get confused, like, "What am I looking for?" (Jenn: Yes) So you know, as women, we do have a cycle and I grew up like my, like, I grew up my mom's cycle was very intense. And I grew up with, "Oh my God, I never want that intense." Like, you could just tell like, it's coming. (Lesley laughs) (Jenn: Yeah, yeah. Hi) And, and so, um, you know, I'm just wondering, like, um when it comes to our hormones, and obviously, like, you know, I grew up and I don't know if it's like that in Canada, but like, for us, it's like, almost like, "Oh, my periods here." Oh, like it's like this horrible thing. And so then when I had these health problems, I didn't have a period I was like, "Well, this is convenient," which is like, (Jenn: Right) the worst thing in the world because that's actually mean something is wrong, but I was just like, "Well, I don't have to worry about it." (Lesley laughs)

Jenn Pike 19:47  

Yeah. There's a bonus. (Lesley: Yeah) Yeah. So think that is just ubiquitous around the world for women. We you know, I work with women globally in many different countries, many different cultural backgrounds, many different philosophies ways they've grown up. Very rarely do I converse with a woman who's like, when I was growing up, it was such a joyous time in the house and it was I was really taught it. For most women it's like, it was shameful. It was gross. It was hidden. It was horrible. I, you know, dreaded every time that it was coming. And I lost days out of every month of my life because of it. That's most women story.

Lesley Logan 20:23  

Yeah. And that's, that's the thing that like, first of all, no one told me that in the video in the fifth grade. (Lesley laughs) (Jenn: Right. Right) That was not said ...

Jenn Pike 20:30  

This is where the problem all started. This is where it all started.

Lesley Logan 20:33  

Yeah. In fifth grade, when they separated us and we watched this video, and it was like, then the boys were giggling and making fun and the girl and it's like, "What is what is happening to me?" (Jenn: Yup) So you know, is there, like, can we chat a little bit like, I feel like at certain times of the month, you know, like, you can like take on the world. And there are certain times of the month that you feel like you can't. Is there like a prime like is there some way we should expect to feel as far as like confidence or energy or being able to take things on?

Jenn Pike 21:03  

Yeah. So we go through four different phases in our cycle. So our cycle and our period are not the same thing. Your cycle is from day one of your bleed all the way through until you have your next bleed, that's a full cycle. Most women it's going to range anywhere from 23 to 35 days. And in that cycle, you have four different phases. So you have the phase that you bleed in, which is your actual period, when you come out of your period, you actually have what's referred to as the first phase, which is the follicular phase. And this is where your body, your hormones, and estrogen and testosterone are starting to climb, your uterine lining is starting to thicken again, this is typically where we actually feel more connected to our body. We do well with the estrogen surge, we feel clear, more focused, energized, happier, we're like gung ho we want to create new projects are super, you know, on point leading into ovulation, ovulation comes it tends to be much more of ah, you know, I want to put myself out there confidence can peak a little higher sex drive, typically. And the way I'm painting this picture, this isn't going to be for every woman, I'm just going to kind of give one example. And then I'll apex it on the other side. Once ovulation happens, you've now had this dip in estrogen and testosterone and your luteinizing hormones increase, as long as you've ovulated, your progesterone also increases. And that actually is a much more calming hormone, it helps us to integrate, it brings us into a place that is much more reflective in that luteal phase, which are the couple of weeks coming into your period. It's a time to really look at like what is working and what is not. It's time to finish projects, it's a time when you can feel really connected to your body. And then this is one of the times where you're also know if things are out of balance. If that like 7 to 10 day period of time before you bleed, again, your moods all over the place, your emotional, your sleep is off, your gut is off, you're spotting, your breasts are tender, like you're just like, "Oh my God, here we go again, my skin's breaking out," all the things are happening. That's a really strong indication that something is out of balance in your system. And it could be that you didn't ovulate that you have lower progesterone, you have too much estrogen. It could be that all the hormones are sitting flat. It could be that testosterone and DHA is too high. So this is why testing and testing at the appropriate time of the month is such a valuable tool for women. Because it when you see it and someone's explaining it to you, you're like, "Oh my gosh, I feel like you just described me to a T."

Lesley Logan 23:35  

Yeah, no, I'm like, I'm like sitting here and I'm like taking it all in. And I like that whole part where it's like that 7 to 10 days before. You just said like, "This is what you're going to feel like," but this is also you could feel a look where things are out of whack. And I think we're taught, or at least I felt like I felt like that's just the normal thing. Like things are out of whack. And (Jenn: Yeah) what it sounds like is it and I did experience this. I did seed cycling for a long time (Jenn: Yeah) because I felt like my swings were too big. And I was like, "Y'all my boobs are a little bigger because of COVID and age, but they were very small back then." And I was like, "They are too small to be this tender. Like this is not fun for me." (Jenn: Yeah. Yeah) And so I heard about seed cycling and I did it consistently for three years. Not only did I literally make myself like clockwork, with my cycle, I stopped breaking out, I don't have tenderness and I've weaned off of that and it hasn't been an issue. But I did notice that difference in that time before. It was almost like my period was a surprise each time because I was like, "Oh, I didn't even know it's coming) ... so good. (Jenn: Yeah) That's so fascinating. Okay, (Jenn: Yeah) so thank you for walking us through that. I think that that it it's helpful to know like, just when you have the information, like you said, you just can expect things a little different and you can know more about what how you should be feeling as opposed to like, "Why do I feel like this versus yesterday I felt better."

Jenn Pike 24:57  

Yeah. And it's also it's like it's how we shouldn't and how you could, because all of these things are going to be in flux in a woman's body all the time. Not just based on, you know, like, the rhythm doesn't set itself. Your hormones are chemicals and their chemical messengers that are gathering information and fuel from your life all the time. So the stress that you're feeling, the environment that you're living in, the amount of sleep that you get, the calendar that you live through, the job that you love, or that you don't enjoy the nutrients that are coming into your body, the inflammation, you're managing, like, all of those things that age that you are at, and then our genetics, and there's so much that's involved in it. But again, we're not we're not taught that's when it happens to us, we isolate ourselves quietly on an island of pain and struggle, and think that that we're broken, and something is really wrong with us when in fact, we are not designed as women to be the same all the time. And so there's nothing wrong with you, you just need to understand when something might be kind of flowing outside of what feels normal and healthy for you. And that's when you can get some help.

Lesley Logan 26:10  

Oh, this is amazing, amazing information. I'm really excited about it. Because I think that, you know, we, it's so easy for us to be to think that something outward is um a problem. But we don't, we don't actually take it on, like I said that we could take care of, we don't see how it affects our body, or like this job is stressing me out. But we don't go, it's also affecting my sleep, which is affecting my digestion or it's affecting my cycle. And so we don't see how these things that bother us are actually being internalized. And so it sounds like our cycle is going to really be the thing that tells us the most, what is in in what is working for us and what is not working for us. Um, so I want to go back to you a little bit though. What are you excited about right now? And and how are you because I saw all the different projects that you do and the people that you help? How do you decide what you're doing next? Is that your curiosity that's taking you there? Or do I do have this like master plan out there? What's going on?

Jenn Pike 27:10  

Oh, I'd love to tell you that I'm that you know, organized that I have this master plan. I'm very much, I'm a I'm a feeler and I'm very intuitive in terms of like, this is just what is feeling like the calling right now. It's been, I mean, the Hormone Project is my baby. That is the thing I focus the most energy on. Our team has been expanding a lot because we have so many more women that are coming to us for help. And we're quite specialized in the approach that we take and how we do this. You know, so I'm still so excited about teaching this, I never get bored of it at all, I get more excited, the more women that start to understand this. I also teach an online studio, Synced, which is I base movements for the women I work with all around their cycle. So if they have a period still, then all their movement in terms of how heavy there lifting, modality that they're using, all the methodology is, is teaching them how to do it based on their own rhythms and cycles and how they feel. And for women that I work with who are menopausal or postmenopausal is teaching them how they can choose to if they want to tap into the lunar cycle, the moon, and just how like we're so interwoven into all of this as women and I give the example when people get confused about it to say, "Okay, think about the difference of your energy and your environment on a sunny beautiful day (Lesley: Yeah) versus like dark, cold, rainy, gloomy day", you literally are the same person who went to bed at night, but the only thing that changed was your environment. And it changes the way that you show up and how you feel. And it's like if you hang out with people who are like sunshine, and you just like, Oh my gosh, like I feel so good when I'm with them," or you hang out with people that are like a dark cloud. (Lesley: Yeah.) And you know, suck the energy from you. So we are responding and ebbing and flowing like that all the time. And, you know, honestly, for me, at the end of the day, I just want to teach women more. I really want to empower them with the education so that they don't feel lost.

Lesley Logan 29:13  

This, it's so cool. I can see like, I can first like and see it in your eyes and you light up about it. But also like it's a it's similar like when I I teach Pilates. And (Jenn: Yeah) I just love more people doing Pilates is the greatest full body exercise, you can make it as intense or as light as you need it to be and you can do it anywhere. You don't need to even invest in equipment, right? So it's my thing and so the more people who do it, it's like, I can't get bored because it's like I can see the benefits in a different human body and like what it did for them and and one of our members recently, because the way I teach it is always like you know, ask yourself what else is possible for right now, if you can't take your legs over your head today? (Jenn: Yeah) For whatever reason, like what else can you do? And like how that actually asking yourself that is like training your mind to do that when you're outside of the mat, right? And she said, "So thanks for always teaching us to stand up for ourselves and take priority in our time. And, and do this because I had to do a difficult thing today. And I did it because of this class." And I was like, (Jenn: Oh, it's awesome) it's amazing, right? So I totally agree. Like, it's hard to, it's, it's like, it's like, you know, the more that if your company, your business expands and the more lives are affecting, it's almost like, you're like, "How can we do more? How can we get to more people?" How? Because it's, it will, it will change a woman's life when they actually can feel like they're not crazy. When they have knowledge and information, and then what kind of changes they make in their day? How that affects if they've got kids, like how that affects the kids in their life, you know, if my mom wasn't told, like, "Hey, that's just how your cycle is," like, what what would have been different in the household (Jenn: Right) you know?

Jenn Pike 30:49  

Yeah, exactly. And this is it, it's you know, the all of these moments and everything you're talking about. These are like, they're the catalysts. They're like the pebble that creates the ripple. And it just continues to move forward. And so it's like you said, you know, you could look at something like Pilates and movement and be like, "Oh, it's just exercise?" No, no, that is like, it's a tool. And it's what you choose to do with the tool, and the ripple that you can create from that. (Lesley: Yeah) It's just the stimulus. So I love it. I'm here for all of it.

Lesley Logan 31:19  

Okay, Jenn. So how can people follow you what's the best place for them to go to get more information if they want to educate themselves more.

Jenn Pike 31:27  

So there's a couple of different ways that they can access some awesome free info, they can listen to the podcast, "The Simplicity Sessions," we've got, you know, 100, and almost 70 episodes that are on there. Also ...

Lesley Logan 31:37  

Congratulations, that is a lot. That's amazing. (Jenn: Thanks! ...) (Lesley and Jenn laughs)

Jenn Pike 31:42  

And I have a YouTube channel as well, they can just check out Jenn Pike, and then Instagram, lots of info every single day, my name is spelt with two Ns. So @jennpike, and then my website triple www.jennpike.com. And if they're interested in there, you know, they want to work with our team or run functional testing. We offer complimentary discovery calls, just to hop on with one of our team advisors, like, What is going on? Are we even the best fit for you? If not, who could we refer you out to? And you know, I find a lot of women, they literally are just looking for someone to hold the space and listen to them.

Lesley Logan 32:17  

Yeah. 100% like, it's so true. And, um it's it, I can't wait, I hope that in like, less than 10 years, I get to turn around and go, "Wow, it's like totally normal to talk about these things." (Jenn: Ah, me too) There's, there's information out there, I just hope because it's I just I so believe in the potential of people. And I believe that every single person is on this planet to affect people's lives around them. And if you don't feel good, and you also think it's all in your head, because no one everyone says you're fine. It holds you back from like, fully find your potential. So I'm just so grateful that you came and shared so much like so many nuggets of information. But I always ask this question, because I find that that inspiration is amazing. But transformation is what I want for people. And so if they, what are your steps to like just one or two. If you want to go for three, that's fine, but like steps to Be It Till You See It. Like, what would be some action steps they can take right now?

Jenn Pike 33:17  

The first thing that I'd recommend for women to focus on is please try and keep your blood sugar stable. Don't go these massive periods of time without eating. If you're getting nauseous, dizzy, lightheaded, you feel everything that's not pin down, you need to check in with your blood sugar. Stable blood sugar is going to help to lead to support it adrenals, thyroid, body composition in great sleep. The other thing that I would say to you is listen to your body's language. She's communicating with you all the time. If you're bloated and gassy. If you're not pooping. If you are having those symptoms, listen to what she's trying to tell you ask for help. Your you know your bowel movements every day, their data, your period every month, that is data. So your body holds a lot of wisdom, tune into what she has to say and start to lead from there.

Lesley Logan 34:03  

Oh my gosh, I think you're gonna win on the most unique action steps anyone (Lesley and Jenn laughs) has given. But I really love these so much. I mean, I can't say it enough and when Brad and I recap, which it'll be very interesting to hear all of Brad's insight (Lesley laughs) on today's episode. But it's like, as someone who has done that there is when you have that information, it's like you feel a little more unstoppable and you definitely feel seen and understood and you and you can go from there. So thank you for, frankie for that. Thank you for being here. Everyone please (Jenn: Yeah, you're welcome) please do us a huge favor, screenshot this podcast, share it to your Instagram tag @jennpike, tag myself. She's two Ns, we have the link in the show notes below. Tag the @be_it_pod so that other people in your life can hear about this. Maybe you live somewhere where you don't feel comfortable telling your friends all about your cycle. But if you share this podcast, we can talk about ... to them for you.

Jenn Pike 34:55  

I want to hear about your cycle.

Lesley Logan 34:57  

Yes, and she definitely does. (Lesley laughs)

Jenn Pike 34:59  

I just want to say something quick on that before you go when you're talking about, you know, doing the recap with your husband. So I have two kids, a girl and a boy, my son knows just as much about the female body and cycles as my daughter. And that's on purpose because part of the stigmatism and the shame and embarrassment ends when we stop excluding men and boys from the conversation as well. You know, it's like, (Lesley: Yeah) there's going to come a time in a boy's life where he's gonna, you know, you're either going to be around a woman or your girlfriend or whatever it is, and you need to be able to understand what she's going through. And as I always say, to my son, like, "Bud, you wouldn't even be here if it weren't for our bodies doing this. So you should be darn grateful."

Lesley Logan 35:36  

... so one of one of one of our listeners, she has three boys and four, she is very big on education that she's like, "I don't care who you are married to? (Jenn: Yup) What their gender is, but you're going to be around women, and this is something you should know. (Jenn: Exactly!) And it's really important." And it's, you know, I'm my husband I really opened and the other day, I need to do this, this test and I was like, "Can you sign me up for this test?" Right? And he's like, "I had to answer some really personal questions I'm like, I'm sure you knew the answers to them. It's not like I hide it from you." (Jenn and Lesley laughs) (Jenn: Yeah) So um, but it's true. It's not like that's on him. It's on how he was raised. I wasn't raised with it as an open thing. And so, (Jenn: Yeah) you know, we'll change every we'll change the stigmatism by opening up and so maybe have your significant other listen to this episode, too. (Jenn: Yeah) Well, thank you again. I can't wait to chat with you more. And for all that you do. It's just really incredible and amazing. And until next time everyone, Be It Till You See It.

Jenn Pike 36:32  

Thank you.

Lesley Logan 36:35  

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 podcasts. Also, make sure to introduce yourself over at the @be_it_pod on Instagram. I would love to know more about you. Share this episode with whoever you think needs to hear it. Help us and others BE IT TILL YOU SEE IT. Have an awesome day!

'Be It Till You See It' is a production of 'As The Crows Fly Media'.

Brad Crowell 37:07  

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

Lesley Logan 37:15  

Kevin and Bel at Disenyo handle all of our audio editing and some social media content.

Brad Crowell 37:21  

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

Lesley Logan 37:29  

Special thanks to our designer Jaira Mandal for creating all of our visuals (which you can't see because this is a podcast) and our digital producer, Jay Pedroso for editing all the video each week so you can.

Brad Crowell 37:41  

And the Meridith Crowell for keeping us all on point and on time.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai