In today's society it's been normalized to hate your job, because everyone else does too. A lot of people stay in the same place because they believe a better option may never come their way—and so the vicious cycle continues. Everyone deserves to create a life they enjoy, but it seems so little are even willing to try. But if you let yourself be bound by fear, you'll never know what's on the other side of risk.

Life isn't meant to be lived alone, and it's important to have a core group of people that we can depend on. It doesn't always feel good, but it's vital to have an unbiased voice of honesty in our lives. We need those around who will tell us when we're wrong. Nurture those relationships, and surround yourself with people that you value & trust who will be there in the end.

Community is so important, and nothing brings small cities together more than when we are helping others. Doing good has the tendency to inspire others to continue on with that goodness. Join us for part 2 of our hilarious chat with Lori Graves.

Chasing your dreams in a small town isn’t easy and doing something that’s never been done before can seem impossible. Join us + special guest, Lori Graves, the comedy queen of our town! Despite ever stepping foot in a comedy club, she signed up for her first seven-minute set and the rest is history! Her story is a great reminder that if you have a dream you can do it afraid

iTunes Title:

How Giving Back Comes Back to You in Unexpected Ways

Description:

What motivates Meredith & Jen when it comes to giving back to the community? Hear the specifics around why they got started, which community initiatives they invest their time and money into, and why they believe that giving back always leads to getting back in unexpected ways.

Hear the behind-the-scenes story of special guest and mom of three, Janet Barrows, who signed up as a direct sales skincare consultant on a whim (and to get cheap products!) but which ended up more than tripling her take-home teaching pay and led to her stepping away from her 12-year teaching job.

There’s one question you can ask yourself to make sure the small issues in life don’t become the big issues. We all get caught up in the day-to-day minutiae of our lives and worries and it can be easy to forget the bigger picture and what’s truly important. Whether it’s how you interact in your business, with your friends and family, or when you’re in the midst of what feels like a crisis—here’s how to take a step back, gain perspective and bring gratitude.

After working at E.M Smith Jewelers for 23 years, business owner and mom of two, Melissa Huggins, was ready for a new adventure. Plus, with her eldest transitioning to college, it seemed the right time for Melissa to have a new adventure too—purchasing Ivy’s Home & Garden, a staple in the community with a great tradition.

People talk a lot about the importance of saying no, but what if you’re job is actually to say yes to amazing opportunities which would otherwise get lost in the mix? Here’s the difference between saying yes to everything and overcommitting versus saying yes to opportunities that build long-term relationships.

No one will admit out loud they think their family is perfect, but in too many subtle ways, we’re all reaching for this picture of perfection (sometimes without realizing it). We’re asking WHY in today’s podcast, and laying it all out on how to stay safe from the trap of perfection in parenting.