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Mastering the Art of Balance: Katy Murray on Entrepreneurship, Motherhood, and Self-Care
3 Plays9 months ago
Join us in this enlightening episode as Katy Murray, a versatile entrepreneur and dedicated mom, shares her journey through the realms of business and personal life. Discover her secrets to juggling multiple roles, from running a virtual assisting firm to her adventures in photography and human resources. Katy's approach to life, focusing on helping others while maintaining personal well-being, offers valuable insights into managing time, attention, and energy effectively.
Follow or get in touch with Katy:
Katy & Co | Katy Murray (katymurrayphotography.com)
katymurray@katymurrayphotography.com
Instagram: @katyandco.va
And as always, remember:
YOU ARE STRONG.
YOU ARE CAPABLE.
YOU ARE WORTHY.
I love you and I’m ENDLESSLY rooting for you!
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Transcript
Reflecting on Life Lessons
00:00:00
Speaker
But I think that if I could have went back 10 years earlier and realized that and applied that in business, in friendships, in life, I would have realized like, you know, maybe Mandy today, I didn't say the exact right thing, but I can come back tomorrow a fresh and a new and like really reinvest in that and refocus.
00:00:20
Speaker
And again, it's also the same with my to-do list. If I don't get through it today, there's tomorrow. I can't tell you how many times, not so much in my current position, but years before, I would literally be upset and stay at work until my to-do list was done for no reason except for to finish it. And I'm like, you're crazy. And now I tell my team members and other managers that I help, I'll be like, it'll be there tomorrow. And then it goes back to the whole priorities we talked about.
Introduction to the Podcast and Hosts
00:00:49
Speaker
Hey girl, welcome to Finding My Best Self, the podcast where it's totally okay to show up in your leggings and messy bun, because let's be real, that's our uniform here. The only rule is to be unapologetically yourself. And I'm Mandi, and joining me is Pam, the queen of Finding the Silver Linings. We're here to share laughs, tears, and everything in between. Think of us as your new best friends with some stories to tell and wisdom to share.
00:01:12
Speaker
From face palms to victories, we're diving into the journey of self-discovery, wellness, and what it means to truly embrace who you are. So whether you're conquering the world or just trying to find your phone in the black hole, I mean purse, we've got you covered. Because here it's all about encouraging you to lace up those sneakers or don't, we're not judging. And join us as we explore what is truly means to own your confidence and find your best self. So pour yourself a cup of coffee or a glass of wine and let's get into it.
00:01:44
Speaker
Hello, and welcome back to another episode of Finding My Best Self. Today, I have with us, it is myself, Pam, and Mandy, and we have Katie Murray with us today. Katie, did I say that right? Yes, ma'am. Okay, good. I did not ask you how to pronounce your last name, but I have Katie Murray with me today. She is a business owner. She's an entrepreneur. She's a mama. She's a wife.
00:02:09
Speaker
Um, she's received many awards over her career and she just wears a lot of hats. So as, if I would read everything that she put down for me, I was like, man, that's
Katie Murray’s Career Journey
00:02:20
Speaker
a lot Katie. I don't know if I want to fully introduce you because I'd be reading for a few minutes, but Katie wears a lot of hats. Um, so Katie, tell us a little bit more about each of your titles and what exactly you do in all your different roles.
00:02:34
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. And first and foremost, thank you so much for having me on the show, Mandy and Pamela. I appreciate it. And I'm excited to just have this conversation. So I started out as a photographer over a decade ago. And that's where kind of my entrepreneur journey started and where I found that I really love business.
00:02:51
Speaker
And I like photography, but I definitely love business and I've gotten featured in like People magazine and I did enterprises, brand photos and things like that. So it's been a whirlwind and a super great experience. But now I actually am the co-founder of Katie & Co, which is a virtual assisting firm. So that's more so what we focus on in the business realm of things. And like you said, I'm a momma, I have a four year old.
00:03:17
Speaker
I've been married for 12 years to an amazing husband and I also am a full-time employee. So I'm an executive at a private organization. I'm the head of human resources. So I do kind of have a lot of different things going on there, but one thing
00:03:33
Speaker
a way that I describe what I do is kind of like a triangle effect. So I'm a human resource professional. I run Katie & Co. I have my podcast, and I also have our photography business. But the center focus of everything is helping others. So Katie & Co. helps other businesses grow their business. KMP, which is my photography, is all about branding photos and supporting businesses.
00:03:57
Speaker
And then obviously human resources, I help people with their careers.
Balancing Responsibilities and Embracing Grace
00:04:00
Speaker
And so even though it's like, I'm over here, and I'm over here, and I'm over here, and I'm over here, the center focus is people and helping them. So that's kind of how I explain all those things in that long paragraph of a bio that I have.
00:04:15
Speaker
I'm sitting over here like, man, I thought my life was busy and I thought I wore a lot of hats. I'm like, I already know how hard it is for me to juggle everything and I'm listening to you. Oh my God. How do you even function every day? That's all I can think about. I don't. No, I'm just kidding. Depends on the day. Real life. I don't. I just try.
00:04:39
Speaker
And that I think really and truthfully though, at the end of the day, that's what it boils down to, right? Is that you just, we try to do our best and to find the ways to juggle everything. And I'm sure if I ask you this question right now, I'm sure you have a really good schedule in time blocking or something like that.
00:04:57
Speaker
Yep, I absolutely love time management. I've actually been shifting a little bit to do more attention management because I'm finding at the end of a long day, it's hard to stick with my time block systems because I can't control time and you can't really technically manage time.
00:05:12
Speaker
So, sometimes it's like, you know, tonight I can't do it. I can't put into my business or I can't this or I can't that. And as a momma, some days you just can't because like the kids need extra attention or they need something. So, I think the underlying tone is just giving myself grace and space to do what I need to do. But yeah, I do print out a time block schedule every day. I allocate time to do certain things and that's how I mostly stay afloat.
00:05:41
Speaker
I love that. I love that. I have a schedule. I'm time blocking for these things, but if they don't happen in that amount of time or if I'm not able to get them all done, then that's okay.
00:05:52
Speaker
I've never heard of it like that. Yeah, like attention blocking. I'm going to have to use that. Or as people say, if it's not on my calendar, it didn't happen. I feel like that that's literally where most of us are at this point, right? So if it's not on your calendar or we can't put our attention into it because we have to focus on these things. That's awesome.
00:06:12
Speaker
Yeah, it's wild. I actually was at a retreat over the weekend for work for my day job and we were there Friday through Sunday and I was like, well, I'll be able to like have some alone time at night and get some stuff done. But the attention management for me didn't work. I couldn't, I didn't feel creative. So I kept sitting down to like write an episode for my podcast or to do this or to do this. And it's like, it wasn't coming. I messaged my husband and I was like, this is so frustrating because I spent
00:06:38
Speaker
The last like two months being like that weekend is going to be my weekend to get ahead and have time. But then I also didn't feel like reading a book. I didn't feel like doing anything really. And I had to take a quick step back and be like, that's okay. I'll go to bed early. I'll get some rest. So when I get home Sunday, I can be rejuvenated. And yeah, I didn't check any boxes, but I had to listen to my body and it was like, girl, just stop. These meetings are tiring you out. We can't do it.
00:07:04
Speaker
I think for the most part, like if I really dove into it, I'd be like, I'm still a little disappointed, but I got to manage those feelings and it is what it is. And I got a little extra sleep over the weekend. So you got
Managing Stress and Avoiding Burnout
00:07:15
Speaker
to roll with it. And that's something that actually has been a struggle for me throughout the years and I'm getting more and more comfortable with it because I am former military. I'm very structured. I'm very like, this is what you do and you don't try, you just do.
00:07:30
Speaker
I've had to release the reins a little bit and calm down a little bit and give myself that grace and that space to be like, it's not happening today. There's always tomorrow. God, I love that so much. You are speaking to me very loudly right now because that's something that I have been working on too for a while now because it's that type A personality of I am such a scheduled person.
00:07:56
Speaker
you know, we have to be here at this time and be here at this time. But at the same time, I always feel like I am like go, go, go, go, go, go, go. Which is why I ended up having to go, one of the reasons I ended up having to go see a doctor to be able to regulate my, you know, hormones and cortisol levels and adrenal because I was sober. I was staying here all the time, you know, and then all of a sudden I would just crash.
00:08:21
Speaker
And it's that crash and burn that happens when you just feel like you always have to. But when you say like, I wasn't in a creative state, like that hits. Because there are the days when I feel like my brain is just on. And other days, it's just not. And on those days, I'm just like, okay, well, I just can't do it today. Like it's just not there. Like you said, it's just not there. Oh, well, like we'll try again tomorrow. Yep. Right. And it takes a lot to get there. I feel like
00:08:51
Speaker
you do have to give that grace because I'm like you, I'm a type A, like my boss at work all the time. He has two jokes about me. He's like, you're a control freak. And if it's after 4 p.m., I don't ask any hard questions. And I'm like, okay, cool. Like even Saturday, we were in like the dinner portion of one of our meetings and he like asked me a question and my first two answers were totally wrong. And I didn't mean for that. I just, I wasn't, I wasn't firing fast. And he looked at me, he's like, it's 7.30, just nevermind.
00:09:20
Speaker
And I was like, thanks, yeah, because it's not coming. But you get me in the morning or whatever, and you have to learn your body and learn what is what. And I think one of the things that we often neglect, especially as powerhouse women like we are, is you forget that your body's got to recoup. And if you don't give it the time, it will take the time. So for you, Pamela, having to go to the doctor, your body was like, girlfriend, you are not slowing down, so I'm going to make you.
00:09:49
Speaker
I imagine that was the conversation it was going to tell you and you're like, okay, I guess I'm going to slow down now. So trying to find that synergy so that you can still be high achieving, still get things done, but also let your body breathe is so, so impactful.
00:10:07
Speaker
Yeah, for sure. I feel like our bodies naturally do that. Like you said, they just kind of shut off because I mean, even today I came home and I never take a nap, but it's literally like it caught up to me. Took a 30 minute power nap and I felt like a totally different person.
00:10:24
Speaker
but Normally, I wouldn't even give myself that time because I have all these other things to do my list for the day Had me doing other things but I just couldn't go anymore and it's like I just needed I literally laid down and had a dream that's how like asleep I was and I woke up and then I
00:10:43
Speaker
I was just able to jump back into that space because like you said, even if you try and push through it, you're not going to be as strong or as cognizant as you would have been if you didn't just let yourself rest or catch up on whatever you needed to do. So it is knowing your body and just navigating through that.
00:11:01
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. It's, it's a challenge. I think every
Structuring Days for Balance and Productivity
00:11:05
Speaker
day it's like learning it again and again, but so if, uh, I know that you're talking about the being passionate through different things and navigating and changing gears. Is there any specific like routine that you do that kind of helps you switch from one thing to the next? Cause I know that you kind of dabble in everything.
00:11:23
Speaker
Yeah, I honestly take so much from each pillar and use it in each pillar. And at first I didn't realize this like earlier on when I was doing a lot and like working full time and then also trying to manage the business and then having a kid thrown in there eventually was just a lot. And I thought that every single thing had to have its own structure, its own approach, its own routine. And I started to realize like, these are all interchangeable. I can approach each one the same way that works for me.
00:11:53
Speaker
So today is like the worst example because basically I've dipped into all of my hats today. I had a photo shoot this morning. I photograph for a design firm. They do interior design projects and I photograph for them. And then I also went to work and I'm also recording this podcast. So today was just a day of like literally all the hats.
00:12:15
Speaker
But most days when I don't have every single thing in one day, I try to get myself space in the morning to really start off on the right foot. And for me, that's getting some movement in early on, I feel 10 times better, not only like self esteem wise, but also just like I can conquer the day if I get movement early in the morning. And then
00:12:37
Speaker
I always shower. That's just like my reset, my refresh every single morning. And for me, that's like a huge one. So those are kind of things that just kickstart my day. And then throughout the day, which I'm not the best at this, which is why a time block, I have to give myself space to like take breaks because and this might be TMI, but there's days when I'm like, Oh, did I
00:12:58
Speaker
pee today. Like, I gotta keep it because my full time job I'm in person, like 45 hours, 50 hours a week. So it's not remote. So I'm like, there at my desk all day. And so just putting little breaks in for myself to make sure that I'm giving myself space to go get a drink of water or to go and do this or do that is helpful. And then I really try to focus on an end of day kind of close out, which for me, that's like slowing down and washing my face and moisturizing like common things.
00:13:28
Speaker
but I do have to do them very consciously. Cause some days, like when we get off of this, I usually go to bed around like nine o'clock. And so we'll be wrapping up around there. And I would love to just conk out into bed, but forcing myself to have my routine because also that starts the next day better.
00:13:45
Speaker
One additional note to that that I do at the end of my workday is I slate my day for the next day. So that way mentally I'm ready because if it's a day that I know I don't have space to slow down and like do more attention management and I have to push through like tomorrow, my day is very meeting heavy so I can't really shift those. I've already prepared for that tonight to mentally approach that tomorrow. So those are just a couple things that I do throughout the day to kind of help. Yeah, for me,
00:14:15
Speaker
Personally, if I, when I do that at night and take the time to schedule out or time block my day for the next day, I sleep better or I'm able to go to sleep easier or faster because if not, then I constantly have my mind while I'm laying there. Okay. What do I have? I'm doing it in my head as opposed to just putting it down and then being done with it. You know, so then it's going through my head constantly. Okay. This will have to do, wait, am I forgetting something? Am I forgetting something?
00:14:42
Speaker
you know, I start having all those thoughts and then I can't, you know, it's a lot harder to go to sleep that or I'm waking up more often because my body is just anxious as opposed to just putting it down and moving on from it. So that's, that's a really big thing. Okay. 110%. I'm the same way.
00:15:00
Speaker
Type B person here. So are y'all like physically writing it down? Like, cause I know people have nighttime routines. I am still struggling with that. I have a morning routine, but like I hear this a lot. And so y'all are intriguing me in this. So are you physically writing like it down for the next morning or prepping things out for, for the next day? Or are you just like taking it on your phone or mental note or.
00:15:25
Speaker
Or what? For me, I write it down. Like in my day job tomorrow, I think I have four interviews. So I like created the packets and put the resumes and everything before I left it laid out. And then I like put them in my time block schedule because those are non-negotiables. So
00:15:43
Speaker
To bigger picture answer your question, I approach my week the same way I approach each day. So Sunday, I sit down and I look at my entire week and I put in my non-negotiables first. So like for the littles, I might take her to like gymnastics and that's on Thursday. So first I put the core structure in.
00:16:00
Speaker
And I see you Pamela, I'm like curious how you do it. Cause you're like type A with me, but I put all the non-negotiables and then I build out from there. So then if I'm like, well Thursday's a slower like day and it has more freedom to it, that's going to be probably a more creative day for me because like Wednesday I had back to back meetings or whatever the case. So I physically write it out. Now there are times and Pamela, I love that you brought that up.
00:16:26
Speaker
that I'm laying in bed and I didn't do that. And I'm like, oh, dang, don't forget to do this. Oh, don't forget this. Don't forget this. And then I end up texting myself or emailing myself the list, but then it's just digital. Yeah, I do. Well, I lay in bed. I'll do mine on my phone. So I'll look at my calendar on my phone and then I will just do something, whether it's on a notes or something like that. And then the next morning I actually get up and then I'll hand write it down just in case anything comes up because Lord knows my children love to spring things on me at the very last minute.
00:16:56
Speaker
they love to throw wrenches on my day. Like my daughter called me today and she's like, Hey mom, I need to go to Walmart after school today because I really need this. And I'm like, you're really going to have to wait until tomorrow because the day there is no way I'm shifting what has to get done today. I'm sorry.
Life Changes and Personal Growth
00:17:10
Speaker
But so I usually that's my routine. But as far as how you said scheduling and the non-negotiables, we did a podcast and I don't remember which one it was, but we discussed this at some point about how important that is.
00:17:26
Speaker
when you're trying to schedule out the week is to schedule in first, what is priority? And that's really big and really important is to put in those things and everything else works around that. You know, it's that, it's, you know, that God first God, you know, family, you know, self-care and work and all of that in, in that, in that order. And that's why it's really, really important to always make sure that you're prioritizing those things and working
00:17:55
Speaker
everything else around that. That's really big for me or it's becoming because I used to be very much a workhorse and it was work and then everything else. And so I'm learning to not do that because I think that's also a lot of where my burnout came from is that I was taking so much time for work and putting everything else aside. And then I just, you know, here, Liam, one into the other, one into one, one extreme to the other. I'm either go, go, go, or I was completely burned out.
00:18:24
Speaker
That's how I lived for a long time. So I'm trying to stop that and prioritize a lot more. Oh my goodness. I, it's funny Pamela. I don't think I've ever heard someone else say that, but that's how I am. Like I'm all or I'm nothing. Like if I'm in motion, I'm like going 400 miles an hour and just conquering the world. And if I'm not in motion, I'm like dead on the couch cause like I can't function. And so it's like, I will say too, in this current role that I'm in at my day job and then
00:18:51
Speaker
I had cut back on photography and stuff. We just moved, bought a new house and did all these things. So we were starting the process back in the winter. So I closed out my books for a couple months to settle. And when I'd come home on the weekends and have no work to do, I was like,
00:19:08
Speaker
What am I supposed to do with my life? So I end up, like I'd play with my kid and stuff. I'm still a good mom, but I would end up like napping or I'd like sit there and be like, I feel so lost, like almost like depressed, but not really depressed, but just like, what am I doing?
00:19:24
Speaker
And it just like ate me alive. And so now I'm like learning more and more that like, it's okay to have moments of calm. And maybe I read a book during that time. Like I still feel it a little bit, but it's funny cause that resonates with me cause I've never really met someone who's like, yeah, I'm all or nothing the same way. So that's, that's neat. Although I don't, I'm sorry that you deal with that too. Cause it can be very overstimulating on both spectrums, but I do relate to that.
00:19:52
Speaker
Yeah. It's that I get so crazy when I don't have a long to-do list for the day. I don't know what to do with myself and it's like you said, I have very much so experiences. I experienced this really hard last year and last July when I had the same thing happen is that I moved
00:20:15
Speaker
And it was go, go, go, go, go. Cause my work was crazy busy at the time and we were moving and you know, we were redoing the house and stuff like that. And then all of a sudden things just stopped. We were done with the house. We were moved in, settled in. My work kind of started to slow down a little bit. And then it was just, I was like, I don't know what to do. And so I ended up in this like depression, um, which actually was a great thing for me in a sense because it actually sparked
00:20:44
Speaker
um, my thought process of wanting to do something else with my life. And that's where MBS Vidco came from. But at that time it was a really, what's the word that I'm looking for? I don't know. It was it, it was hard for me because I, I'm, you know, like I said, I need to be doing something at all times. Um, so it's that for me again, as well has just been learning to, like, it's okay to slow down and
Family Dynamics and Personal Identity
00:21:10
Speaker
to just have a relaxing day of just,
00:21:14
Speaker
nothing, you know, or just like little things, like it's okay to just, you know, sit down and watch a movie or, you know, to, to go fishing in the boat and just enjoy it and not have to always be doing something physical. And I'm saying work and I, and I do mean work because I do like to work. I truly enjoy like, I like to work. I really do. Um, but I just mean doing something in general, right? So if I'm not working,
00:21:44
Speaker
I'm doing something with the kids or I'm cleaning the house or I'm cooking or I'm going grocery shopping or like I always have, I have to be doing something at all times. And so when things just stop and then there's nothing to do, I'm like, it's bedtime. We go to bed. That's when we go to sleep days over, I'm done. And it's so funny when I first met my in-laws,
00:22:05
Speaker
especially my father-in-law, he tells me whenever I go over there and I'm doing things, you know, even if it's just like a little get together for lunch or whatever, but I usually help out with the birthday parties and stuff. And he's like, slow down, you're speeding. Because I'm always like everywhere I go, like I'm a fast walker as well. Like I don't even know how to walk normal. I have power walk everywhere I go. And he's like, slow down. You know, where they're always like, Pam, sit down. I'm like, no, it's okay. I'm gonna go. I'm like,
00:22:34
Speaker
This is me, this is what I do. I don't know how to sit down and be still. If I'm sitting, I'm working.
00:22:43
Speaker
other than that, I'm like this energizer bunny and then I wonder why all of a sudden I just burn out and I'm like, I can't function. And I'm like, you'll wonder why, fam. I wonder why you can't function because you don't stop, sit down. So I totally get it. We are such kindred spirits because I'm the same way. I'm like the one we go to someone's house and I'm like cutting the cake for them. They're like, you don't have to cut that. I'm like, someone's got to, or like the next thing I'm like,
00:23:09
Speaker
grabbing the dishes and they're like, you don't have to do the dishes. I'm like, I know I don't have to, but I'm just like over there scrubbing their dishes. They're like, we have a dishwasher. I'm like, okay, I'll load the dishwasher then. But I'm always, my in-laws used to always be like, you're such a busy body or like you're addicted to like being busy. And I was like, but I'm not, I actually love the productivity. Like I, maybe I'm addicted to being productive, but like, yeah, I'm always going. And it's funny cause my in-laws too,
00:23:35
Speaker
Like they'll, they'll like sit and just sit, like be together and just sit. And that's a beautiful thing. No shade to it. But I'm like, maybe I should be knitting. Maybe I should like draw. Like what should I be doing while we're sitting here? Like I try on podcasts, not to talk with my hands too much because I don't want to like bang my mic, but even that, like I'm always just like, as you can see, I'm always moving and doing something. So I'm like, just calm yourself. So I love that family because I'm the same.
00:24:04
Speaker
But that's me too. I have a whole nother story about my whole, I know you see me, I'm like, I have a whole nother story about the whole hand movement.
MBS Fitco Launch and Self-Care
00:24:13
Speaker
I'll share it with y'all because it's really funny. When I used to work for the bank years and years and years ago, I'm a hand talker. I'm like that, right? I'll, the motions with the hands
00:24:22
Speaker
And so I was a banker at the time and saw I opened up bank accounts and stuff like that. So I had clients come in and there's other bankers that sat across from me. And so one day one of the bankers, a friend of mine was sitting across and I'm talking to someone who's sitting in front of me and I see him in the background with his hands. And I know for you who are listening in on the podcast, not watching, but he's like doing all these crazy hand motions in the air or whatever, and I can see him and I'm trying not to laugh.
00:24:49
Speaker
And so after the client left, he's like, he's like, what's all this that you do while you're talking to your clients? And I'm like, I'm explaining stuff to them. He's like, put your hands down. I'm like, I can't help it. And so people, I have been told that so many times and so same, like I've done interviews or talked on video that I try to like put my hands under my legs or like sit on them because I'm like, if not, they just start going everywhere. That's literally what I'm doing. I have my leg in my legs.
00:25:20
Speaker
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00:25:45
Speaker
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00:26:05
Speaker
MBS Fitco is more than just activewear. It's a lifestyle. Join our community and be part of our exciting journey from day one to celebrate fitness, self-care, and your hero within. Don't just wear it, live it. All right, now let's dive back into this episode. Okay, so with all that you do, and I know you kind of touched on this a little bit, but because you said you can't really find time and you do a lot of the
00:26:33
Speaker
the schedule blocking and stuff. But I'm just like, what is a typical day look like for you? Because you're just, you have so many different plates. Um, and I'm just still, like I said, I'm just still sitting over here going, I don't know how you do it because there's just so much, like what is a typical day?
00:26:54
Speaker
Good question. So I will say to you to lead with that is that I do have team members who help me. So with the business, um, so we have three people who do stuff that I delegate to. So that's a huge help that is new. We've only had one for the past year or almost two years, and then we just expanded. So that's been helpful. But prior to that, I was doing it all and started to realize like, it's just not attainable anymore. So that's when I had to start outsourcing some things.
00:27:22
Speaker
And I will also say too, I do outsource our house cleaning. So I have a house cleaner come. And one reason with that is like women owned. I love that I can like help her grow her business and then give her referrals and stuff like that. So I do do that. So I like to be completely honest when I start the conversation.
00:27:40
Speaker
But as I mentioned earlier, today's kind of a weird day, but today, we got up, we did the kid thing, got them out the door. My husband actually dropped her at school because I was going into, I wanna say into town, but we're in Virginia. I was going into Baltimore for the photo shoot. And so that took up the majority of the morning that I hopped back over to work, did a lot. And then tonight the focus is obviously this podcast. I ended up staying at work way too late though. And so I rolled straight into this.
00:28:09
Speaker
But on a normal day, I'll get up at like five or 515, do my routine that we talked about a little bit. And then I usually go into work around seven and I work seven to four.
00:28:21
Speaker
That's my goal most days, and I'll stay late sometimes more often than not. But again, I'm in a little bit of a transitional period because we've been in the new house
Balancing Work and Family Commitments
00:28:30
Speaker
for three weeks and my old commute was about an hour 15. And so now my new commute is like 25 minutes or less. So I've gained back quite a bit of time. So I'm still trying to like filter and figure that out.
00:28:43
Speaker
But I focus on work when I'm at work and then I'll come home and I kind of slate the week based on, like we talked about earlier, the non-negotiables. So there's family time. My husband and I try to have a date night or a harmony meeting where we can just be together, ideally without the little because that can be a lot to try to just connect with him while she's around.
00:29:06
Speaker
And then things like this so this would be like a working night for me so then two other nights will be arrest night where we just like watch a movie or read a book.
00:29:15
Speaker
I also like a, it depends on the week, but I'll also go in and block off my schedule. So, you know, before we were recording, I was talking about how we do a lot of guest episodes on my podcast and I batch content. So I'll take like two weeks out of a section of two months and just record guest episodes every evening. And then we get them produced and sent out. And then I'll block the next two months or however long that I don't do any late night recordings.
00:29:45
Speaker
That way I can utilize that time in other areas. So right now I'm not doing my own podcast I mean I am but I'm not recording for it because it's already done So then I get a backfill with guest episodes like this and stuff. So that's kind of how I approach the day. That's a very like 30,000 foot view answer and there's times like Mondays are slower at my day job and
00:30:09
Speaker
I work at a private country club, and so we're closed on Mondays, but I'm an admin staff, so I'm there. So sometimes I can squeeze other appointments and stuff in that realm. And then just delegation and outsource really help you get through the day as well. Yeah.
00:30:24
Speaker
That's awesome stuff. Well, that kind of goes back to the episode we did before too, about blocking off that time for you and your spouse or just family time and being able to kind of structure that around and make that the priority. And I think, I think that's so hard to like, like y'all, whenever y'all were talking just about whenever we feel like we have all these things that we want to do or accomplish.
00:30:50
Speaker
that it's kind of hard sometimes to step back from that and be present in the moment whenever we are even chunking those moments with our family or with our kids. And so hearing you kind of navigate your day and say, okay, I like how you chunk your things that way it's not week to week, necessarily, you can do things and have that already set out for weeks or months from now. So I think that that's helpful too, to kind of restructure and organize and make sure that all those things
00:31:20
Speaker
being taken care of so it doesn't take away from your family.
00:31:23
Speaker
Yeah. And it's so important. And you guys both have spoken to it. Like the bigger picture is slowing down and writing out or figuring out what your priorities are.
Learning from Setbacks and Resilience
00:31:33
Speaker
And like you said, Pam, like God, well, my would be God, wife, mother, then employee, then business owner. And I guess employee and business owner, it kind of depends on the week, but for the most part, those are both work and they kind of work simultaneously, but you have to like,
00:31:52
Speaker
Think about that first. Almost envision your core values or what your mission statement for your brand, even if it's your personal brand, so that then you can build out from there. Because I've been the girl on the hamster reel just running for no reason before.
00:32:09
Speaker
And that's not fulfilling. There's no purpose to that. That's not, as the kids would say, living my best life. That's just spinning my wheels. So really focusing on where you need your time and stuff to go and building outward from there is hugely important.
00:32:27
Speaker
I love that. Well, I mean, over the years, I'm sure that you've had like trials or triumphs that have helped you get to get where you are. Is there anything that has been like a major setback or challenge that you've kind of dealt with over the time that you've been just an entrepreneur?
00:32:44
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. There's so many. It feels like everything. It's fun though because I feel like I try to think about this often to just like reground myself and remind myself how far I can go because of how far I've come. And sometimes I have to slow down and remember like that was a challenge or that was like
00:33:03
Speaker
That was a negative thing, but we turned it into a positive. I mean, specifically, I would say there's been times I've had probably in photography, two pretty bad clients and not necessarily that they were bad individuals, but like we just didn't jive and that was like a huge thing.
00:33:19
Speaker
And I learned that like you can just go forward from it and learn the different dynamics and try to work with the person and get the best that you can for them. That's a big one. And the nice thing is it kind of carries over into all aspects of life because we're going to butt heads with somebody someday or someone's not going to be satisfied with us when we're giving our best once in a while. And so that's been one I'm trying to think of others, but I'd be curious to kind of hear some of your guys's experiences as well with that one.
00:33:48
Speaker
Oh gosh. There's been a whole lifetime. Yeah. A whole lifetime of like trials and just things that like setbacks are what you feel in the moment as a setback. But I love how you said that you often try to take that look back and to just, and just to sit in that of all of the things that happened that at the time you thought were so detrimental
00:34:15
Speaker
or they were a setback or that feeling of one step forward, four steps back kind of thing. But then to look at them now and say, had those things not happened, all of these great things wouldn't have come. Or had those things not happened, I wouldn't have learned this, or I wouldn't have grown because of it.
00:34:40
Speaker
And so I know I'm really big on that of just, I do that very often, especially when those thoughts start to creep in and a negative aspect, right? Is I always try to flip them because, you know, we all have that, that imposter syndrome of, you know, you're not good enough or who do you think you are? And to just take those thoughts when they come and say, no, I can do these things because of that.
00:35:10
Speaker
And to just flip it, it's always about being able to flip something from the negative into the positive because every, every negative has a positive. You just have to choose to see it.
00:35:21
Speaker
I feel like it took forever for me to figure that out though. And it's almost like, I think Pam, you might've asked me this question that, you know, if I could have, or maybe I even mentioned it, if I could tell myself, my past self, what to do, it would literally be that. Like if I could get ahold of some
00:35:41
Speaker
20 year old somewhere and tell her, you know, just to anything that happens in your life, if you can flip that, like you said, it's such a powerful mindset to have in every aspect of your life, because I feel like we're all going to have those things that happen. But if you get stuck in it, because I feel like for years, I was stuck in the why, why not this? Why not that? Why is this happening this way?
00:36:06
Speaker
And it it doesn't help you grow in in in the aspects of the life that you even want to go in You get stuck in this mindset of okay It's just not happening for me or this isn't meant for me and you miss out on those big opportunities in life because you literally just think that it's not happening for you and so I think
00:36:25
Speaker
Unfortunately, it's taken me almost 40 years to figure out that it is such a small thing as a mindset that can literally flip it around and you'd be able to do the big things. Because you're like, okay, well, this is just the next step for this. Or this is just going to help me grow in this area. And it's just something that's so powerful but so small that a lot of people just don't think of.
00:36:52
Speaker
Yeah, it's huge. And I think you have to think of it like, I think a lot of people think, Oh, and that door was closed in my face. And like, now what do I do? But you have to have a what did that protect me from? And what does that lead me to? Because like, I mean, even in the house buying process recently, you know, we put an offer on one house and like a day later, they were like, Nope, we're taking somebody else's. And then now
00:37:14
Speaker
I mean, I can't say that that was like a bad house. I think it was a cute, nice house. But now I'm in like a different house and I wouldn't have known that in that moment. I just felt a little defeated and was like, well, that's a bummer. Now we're still back at the market trying to figure this out. And same with like so many different business endeavors. Like if I have tried like newborn photography and I was fine, I'm usually pretty good at whatever I apply myself to. It takes work, but like I'm there. But like,
00:37:40
Speaker
I don't think I'd be the same person I am today if I was always doing newborn photography or if I said no to some of those challenges that I was faced with in business because they built me to who I am. And that's also made me a kind, caring, loving mother exponentially, comparatively to maybe what I would have been. And I think
00:37:59
Speaker
Just slowing down and the other thing too is like how far we've come and what that looks like I think I'm not actually a runner But I like using running analogies, but like people will get caught up in like you're running a marathon But you have to do those first two first three first four miles to get to the 26 like everything leads us to where we are and
00:38:23
Speaker
I think that's so impactful and hard to remember at times, especially because I used to be a self-identifying pessimist. So I was always like, that's one reason why I feel like I was very successful in my careers was because on a wedding day when I'm photographing your wedding, I'm thinking about the worst case scenarios all the time. And so I'm always prepared with a contingency plan.
00:38:44
Speaker
But now I realize that most of those worst case scenarios don't come true and something better comes up. So just shifting that mindset, like you said, Mandy is so important and as simple as it is, it's really hard to do. Yeah, it is. Rejection is God's protection. And you said that earlier, that's protection is, what is it protecting you from? Rejection is God's protection. And it's you thinking to yourself, God is telling me that y'all was not rejected, that he is protecting me.
Maintaining Motivation and Creativity
00:39:14
Speaker
because there is something that is better that is going to come. And as a mortgage lender myself, that is my full-time job. I have told clients that over and over and over again, it is something that I tell people every time they come to me and they miss out on a house for one reason or another. And they're so defeated. I'm like, there is a reason why this house was not meant for you. It's because the house that is meant for you is just not on the market yet. Or you didn't go see it yet.
00:39:42
Speaker
or whatever the case may be. So I totally, totally understand that. So.
00:39:47
Speaker
how the heck do you stay? Well, I'm going to ask you this and I'm like, how the heck do you stay motivated to do all the things? But then again, we've also discussed already that you're like me, like super type A personality. And I'm like, I don't really need a whole lot of motivation because I just want to go with you. But I also do know that there are the days where I'm just like totally unmotivated, right? Like I have an entire list of things to do for the day and I have like
00:40:15
Speaker
Nothing to give like that was almost me like this morning. I woke up and I was just not feeling it I did not feel good I had like a massive headache and I'm just and I knew I had today Tuesdays are my days that are just always chaos always so I was like man and so it took everything I mean not for me I just I drank my pre-workout and I went got a workout in and I was like, okay, let's go I can do this now
00:40:41
Speaker
That's what it is for me. So what is it? How do you keep yourself motivated on those days when you're just like, yeah, no, I'm not feeling it. That's tricky because I think it depends on the day, but it depends on the energy level too. Because if I'm like not motivated because I'm tired or feeling burned out, it's very different than if I'm just aloof, I guess. Yesterday was kind of my brain fog day and I was like, it was a day I could get so much done, but I was just coming off a long weekend and I knew I was going into like a long week ahead. So I was just like, just get the bare bones done.
00:41:11
Speaker
But I find that similar maybe to working out or at least for me is like, okay, I need to work out. But once I get on my bike or I get on the treadmill and I start running, I'm more of a machine sort of gal, which I know real runners are totally against. So forgive me. But once I get going, that's so helpful for me because again, once I'm in motion, it keeps me in motion a little bit.
00:41:35
Speaker
So that's big for me. Another one and I recently covered it on my own podcast was inspiration leading to motivation, slowing down and giving myself the space to be inspired. So if that means I'm sitting at my desk and I'm like, this is not working today.
00:41:50
Speaker
whether that's my home desk or at work, I'll get up and walk around. And so sometimes, for me, talk therapy is huge to like, come up with brilliant ideas to think of ways to like, restructure or reorganize something. So at work, I'm able to get up and go interact with somebody. If I'm not at work, or it's something like, like, if it was an evening like this, and I'm trying to do content for
00:42:13
Speaker
the podcast or the business, I'll try to jump in some of these DMs and just kind of like feed off them and have conversation that to get the inspiration flowing. So for me, that's kind of my tactic right now is inspiration leading to motivation. Because I think it's my body telling me I'm just like spread a little thin at times when I find myself like you were paying where it's just like, it's gonna be a chaotic day and I don't have the energy for it. I don't have the motivation to get anything done. So that's how I approach it.
00:42:43
Speaker
And then sometimes you just have to slow down and be like, nope, today's not the day. And we're not going to find the motivation. So we're in survival mode. Make sure everyone's fed. And everyone makes it to bed. And we're alive. Right. The only check box today is make it through the day. Check. I did it.
00:43:02
Speaker
So I love two things that you said. So cause you just validated cause I am the person who I preach working out to people all the time. And I'm like, it's not about the physical, right? It is. That is not the number one reason why I work out. Um, cause a lot of people seem to think, Oh, you just like to work out. It's, you know, it's a physical thing. And it's, I'm like, it's not, you don't understand. I have to work out because it is how I function.
00:43:27
Speaker
And so because it's very true and just like I did this morning, like when I tell you I had no energy, I had no energy. I did not want to do today at all. And when I went and did my workout, that is just it to move your body.
00:43:41
Speaker
is everything. It changes your mindset. It changes your energy levels. It changes everything. And a lot of people are like, you know, cause I did it take everything in me to make myself go work out. Yes. Because once again, I didn't have any energy. I didn't want to do anything, but go lay down in my bed. After I dropped my kids off, I seriously contemplated coming home and taking a nap. I really did. And I was like, no, like you can't do that because I have so much to do today.
00:44:10
Speaker
forced myself to go work out, but after that I was good to go. And then I've never heard anyone explain it the way that you did, but that's, I like that, the inspiration to motivation. It's something that I need to do better at during the day of learning when to just be like, okay, I need to step away because I get that, right? You get like these mental blocks or just like these moments of things just aren't
00:44:36
Speaker
and flow anymore. I notice it every day without fail when I leave my laptop and go get my kids. I text Mandy all the time. I'm like, my brain's going. I'm in my car and I'm driving. Just because I stepped away from my laptop, all of a sudden, all of these great ideas and all of these things start coming to me.
00:44:57
Speaker
I'm voice texting her while I'm driving and saving them some notes and stuff. All these voice messages that I'm sending, because I'm like, I have all these things. And it's literally just because I stepped away. And I need to be better about that during the day, in the middle of the day, just to give myself those moments to say, just walk away when I'm trying to work on something or think of something and just give myself that time for my brain to recoup, I guess, or to just be able to just open up space, I guess, for myself.
00:45:27
Speaker
So I love the way that inspiration too. I love that phrase to put it, to say it that way. Yeah. One other thing that I do at my day job that is along those same lines and it sounds cheesy, but I like to draw, like I do hand illustrations. And so I'll like, if I'm overwhelmed or I'm foggy or I'm just like,
00:45:49
Speaker
I don't want to do this right now. I have small little pieces of paper that are probably like, I don't know, I want to say like three by three, and I'll draw a flower and just spend a few minutes because then my hands are still engaged, but my brain gets a break and I still feel like I'm doing something going back to like needing to be in motion, I guess.
00:46:08
Speaker
And that kind of gives my brain space kind of like you're talking about, I think, because I find that I'm super creative in the shower. Like I think everybody or most people have like these crazy shower thoughts. And it's really because we're just completely unplugged in that moment. Like we're not plugged in. We're not engaged.
00:46:23
Speaker
maybe there's children screaming, but otherwise, like, we're, we're able to do that. And same with driving. I'll find a lot of my creativity comes when I'm driving. I'll be like, Oh, that's such a good idea. Oh, I should do this. Or I need to make that. And it's because like, we're not distracted, I think. And so for me, but it's the worst time as well. Cause I'm like, why does this have to happen while I'm driving? And I can't write it all down. So that's why I send voice messages save them. Cause I'm like, Hey, I'm
00:46:51
Speaker
I'm driving. This is going to be like a four minute message, but just hear me out. This is what I have to say. I'm like, okay, what do you got? Well, and then it gets about like, Mandy, like, how do you feel when you get those? Like, does it like inspire you? Yeah. Cause I'm a teacher, so I've got chunks of time all throughout the day. So she's sending them. So whenever I'm on my
00:47:11
Speaker
like in between groups are doing whatever i'm doing and it triggers me to once i do have time cut out on things that we need to look at or different ideas that we're thinking of and so we kind of play off of each other throughout the day in the pieces of time that we have and in that way like when we can sit down and talk.
00:47:31
Speaker
then we can kind of go through everything that was talked about. So and for me it's in the morning. I always am like listening to something, a podcast or something while I'm working out and that's kind of my time too to kind of get all my thoughts together and then go write it down if I need to or I'll leave notes in my phone too of just different things that I need to to talk to her about or just you know in general. So it definitely is just something that you have to have that time where you're not necessarily
00:48:00
Speaker
connected to your phone or your kids or your family and it's just that time for yourself to just get your thoughts all in one place.
Life Advice and Embracing Change
00:48:07
Speaker
Yeah, that's awesome. Well, I know I kind of went and I'd mentioned something about telling my 20 year old self something. Is there anything that you wish you would have known earlier in life or something that if you could tell your younger self that you wish you would have known at this point in your life?
00:48:24
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, there is something very specific to that. And for me, I found out during motherhood, but I think it's applicable in other areas of life too, is that everything is a chapter or everything is a phase. And it sounds silly when I say it like that. But in perspective of my child, the newborn phase, and we talked about a little bit in the sense of like, it was survival mode. Like when my husband got home from work, I'm like, Hey, we're both alive.
00:48:50
Speaker
What more do you want? Take the child. Literally. There was actually a couple of days that I would just like roll into his work and just be like, Hey, we're just going to be with you today because we're not functioning on our own. And this is what it's going to be. And, you know, there were some times right after I had her and she was born in December and then COVID hit that following spring.
00:49:20
Speaker
later. So there were some times that it was just like, how am I going to do this? Like I can't even go to the grocery store. Like I'm a new mom. I'm already like
00:49:29
Speaker
kind of sort of a germaphobe. And then now I can't go out in public because there's like this world pandemic. And so that was like so much. And so what I learned during that phase of my life was that like my biggest fear was also my biggest saving grace. And it was that every day is a new day. So I absolutely love my daughter. She is wonderful. But there were days when I'm like, how am I going to do this? Like if I can't handle you right now at four weeks old,
00:49:56
Speaker
how are we gonna get to 18 years old? Like how are we gonna get there? How are we gonna get there? And I'm such a type A planner and always thinking about the future that that was so overwhelming. And so my biggest saving grace was that tomorrow's a new day. Like if I mess up today, as long as we're both alive, then there's tomorrow. And so I've kind of realized that with business too. Like I said earlier, like some of the challenges are you'll get a client that maybe you don't vibe with perfectly or maybe you didn't meet their expectations.
00:50:24
Speaker
But it's not an end-all. You can either, if it's photography, you can go back and reshoot it. If it's a workout or whatever, you can go back and do it again. It's never an end-all. And I think those lessons have carried through now. My daughter will be five this year. So I've been really thriving with that. And then even in the house buying thing, I put a pause on all of our business for the last couple of months and now we're starting to
00:50:48
Speaker
Vamp back up and then anytime I come to like a busy season and work. It's like this is just a season It's a new day. It doesn't end and that alleviates so many fears that I have like the claustrophobia of like What are we gonna do like?
00:51:03
Speaker
So transparency, we bought this house, but we kept our old house. So right now we have two mortgages and we're getting the old house prepped and ready to go so we can rent it. Cause we wanted to invest in real estate. And I'm so excited about that, but there's moments when I'm like, okay, I have two mortgages this month. And I also have four months of dry books because I closed them. Like, so I'm not even having that extra income. And then I'm like, my husband and I were like running the bills and how much we have to pay by the end of next month or whatever. And I was like,
00:51:29
Speaker
Oh my gosh, we're going to be broke." And he's like, Katie, we're still getting paid. There's still money coming in. It's not an end all, be all. But for me, that's also my saving grace that there is a new day. There is all that. And again, super long winded with that.
00:51:45
Speaker
it helped me so much in motherhood but i think that if i could have went back ten years earlier and realize that and apply that in business in friendships in life i would realize like you know maybe mandy today i didn't say the exact right thing but
00:52:01
Speaker
I can come back tomorrow a fresh and a new and like really reinvest in that and refocus. And again, it's also the same with like my to-do list. Like if I don't get through it today, there's tomorrow. I can't tell you how many times like not so much in my current position, but years before I would literally be upset and stay at work until my to-do list was done for like no reason except to finish it. And I'm like,
00:52:26
Speaker
You're crazy. And now I tell my team members and other managers that I help with, I'll be like, it'll be there tomorrow. And then it goes back to the whole priorities we talked about and all of that. So that would be my biggest thing. And you're a lot more gracious than I am because you're like, oh, I'd tell my younger self that I would like to pick that girl up in a shaker. I'd be like,
00:52:45
Speaker
You just, you hear me, listen, it's going to be okay. And the last thing I'll end on with that one is there's like this meme going around or whatever kids call them. And it's like, sorry, I freaked out. I totally forgot that everything was going to work out, even though it always has. And that's me, like, thankfully now when I start to spiral, I'm like, you've gotten to this point in your life and you've done so many things.
00:53:10
Speaker
you're going to do this. And then that goes back to the marathon. You got to mile four, you can get to mile five and you can get to mile six and you can just keep going. I love that. Everything is going to be okay. And that's what I have to say to myself often. And I say to other people and my children when they come to me and they're freaking out, um, is that it's going to be okay. Everything is going to be okay.
00:53:38
Speaker
And giving yourself grace is a big, is a big thing too. And then in the moments of not being able to get all the things on the to-do list checked off, I know that that's really big for me as well. And then like you said too, just knowing that there is tomorrow. But what I did notice that you said is that it's recognizing it, right? Recognizing that you didn't get it all done or you screwed up and acknowledging it and recognizing it and fixing it.
00:54:04
Speaker
was another thing that you said. If it's something that you did wrong or you feel whatever, whether it's redoing it or needing to apologize to someone or doing whatever you need to do to clear your conscious and to know that you feel better about the mistake. And tomorrow's a new day and I'm going to start over and be better or do better whatever the next day. So I
Continuous Learning and Inspiration
00:54:25
Speaker
love that so much. So you talked a little bit about your podcast. You didn't say the name of it. So you'll have to let the listeners know what your podcast is and
00:54:33
Speaker
if you do have any other favorite podcasts because we're podcast junkies. So we talk about other people's podcasts quite often on here. Um, and then we also like that we talk a lot about books too. So what, and I actually saw them all on your website and took a picture of them, your favorite books. Two of them have already been recommended to me, um, that I have not read yet. So I'm definitely going to be reading those, but let the listeners in on your favorite books and podcasts.
00:54:59
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. Well, I will do a self shameless plug. Ginger biz is my podcast. So G I G E R B I Z. I'm a ginger. I do like it, but in full transparency, I don't really listen to it. In fact, I've listened to like five episodes. I don't usually like cross the same path twice. I'm just like a weirdo. So I don't listen. But the other one I love is Jenna Kutcher's gold digger podcast. That's a huge one. I've been a listener since the beginning. I love that.
00:55:28
Speaker
I listen to like Amy Porterfield's and Jasmine Stars, but if I had to pick a favorite, it'd definitely be Jenna's. And then outside of the entrepreneur spectrum, I really like Crime Junkie and I like a lot of like true crimes. Do you listen to them? Yes, all the time. That was like last year was my biggest because I only was introduced to them last August and I literally listened to every episode. Did you binge them? Because that's what I do.
00:55:55
Speaker
Yep. And there's some days when I have to like, that's a day. Cause you're like, I'm locking your door and thinking someone's going to kill you. So let's just slow down. Well, my husband was deployed whenever I was introduced to them. So it definitely was not a good time to be listening to crime junkies for nine months. So yeah. Yeah, that would be no. Yeah. I wouldn't survive.
00:56:19
Speaker
But that's my other favorite. And then for books, I'm curious which two were recommended to you, but I like a new one that I really like is the unreasonable hospitality. That's a big one. I work in hospitality, so that was huge, but I love that so much of it. And so many entrepreneurs and business owners are reading it now because there's so much tangible things to take from it. Believe It is another one by Jamie Lyma Kern. And then also How Are You Really by Jenna Kutcher is one of them.
00:56:48
Speaker
And then I like, have you read them at all yet? No, I'm, well, I'm reading worthy right now. Jamie's new one that just came out. So, but yeah, so believe it was that that one's been recommended. And the how are you really has been recommended as well. I actually think I might've heard that on Rachel Hollis's podcast, maybe. Oh, I loved girl wash your face. That was a good one too. Yeah. Yeah.
00:57:14
Speaker
Those are good. In fact, that one I remember I was reading on an airplane and I had like this epiphany about imposter syndrome when I was reading it. So that's a really good one too. I love books too. Another one is Deep Work by Cal Newton. That's a really good one. And that is, have you read that one, Pam?
00:57:33
Speaker
No, but I saw it on your list. Okay. Mandy, not to seclude you, but I feel like the type A personality with Cal new in is the way that he does the deep work, just like the struck a chord with me. And so that's kind of sort of like time blocking, but a different style. So that was a good one. But yeah, those would be my favorite, but I could go on and on because I love, I love books.
00:57:58
Speaker
Yeah. Well, I need book recommendations right now because I've just started the 75 hard, Mandy's doing 75 soft. So I don't know if you're familiar with that, but also I'll have to be doing at minimum 10 pages of reading per day. So as soon as I'm done with Worthy, I'm reading the 75 hard middle toughness book. And then I'll probably, I'm definitely going to move on to one of those for sure. Because those have been on, two of those anyway, have been on my list for a while. So I'm curious to get some more books in.
00:58:28
Speaker
Cause I've been doing, go ahead. If you want, like, I would say for, I would suggest reading believe it next just because how are you really, she's got like, it's more interactive. Whereas like, I would say believe it's more inspirational. So it'd be kind of a lot to, that's just my opinion though. Like Jenna wants you to engage and like there's activities and like assignments almost to some degree. Whereas believe it's like, you're just like,
00:58:55
Speaker
Dude, if she could do this from her living room and she can get through that and like hear all the, you know, challenges that she faces, it just keeps you moving. So that would be my recommendation. Okay, good deal. I'll definitely take that. Well, we always ask like if there is a piece of life advice that you would want to share with our listeners and just kind of leave us with something inspirational that's helped you along the way.
00:59:19
Speaker
Yeah, I think we honestly covered most of them, but I would love to reiterate just giving yourself grace. I think that that's such a pivotal thing to do because it applies to everything we talked about, right? You have to give yourself grace to get to the next day. You have to give yourself grace when you need to slow down. You have to give yourself grace when you need to slow, like speed up. And going back to the open and closed doors and just having a positive mindset is so, so powerful.
00:59:47
Speaker
And I would almost say like get out of your own head and try to do it as early as possible because it used to literally be in my about me section on my website that I was a pessimist. And then I realized like, but I don't have to be one. I can choose to change that. And so giving myself grace while I'm working through those transitions
01:00:08
Speaker
And also, you know, we talked a little bit about challenges that you face. I would say switching your mindset to not see it as a failure, but to see it as a pivot. I've pivoted away from so many things now that I'm a mother, now that I fell in love with my job and I want to do that and I'm not looking to change that.
01:00:27
Speaker
But that doesn't mean that I'm failing on any other fronts. One thing that I didn't mention was I was medically separated from the military. And at the time, that was a huge failure for me. I thought I wanted to retire in here.
01:00:43
Speaker
Given my all to them and this is where I'm at and then I realized like I probably won't have my daughter now like cuz that was before her and stuff and so just the common theme in it is just changing that mindset and changing it for the better because It's not a failure. It's brought us to where we are today. It's pivotal and that's okay. I
01:01:03
Speaker
So just give yourself grace on any and every platform. And I think that that's a good starting point. That's probably my biggest thing. And don't beat yourself up. Again, just give yourself grace.
Closing Thoughts on Self-Love and Gratitude
01:01:14
Speaker
I love all of that so much. Katie, this has been such a great, great interview. I think that we are going to have a lot of listeners have something to take away from this because you covered a few things. I know that there are
01:01:27
Speaker
A lot of people like us that are just busybodies or just moms out there who just have busy schedules in general. I know Mandy's schedule's crazy because her kids have several things, multiple days of the week, so she's always on the run. As soon as she gets off, it's just go, go, go. I know that there's a lot of people out there who have those busy lifestyles or a lot of people out there who struggle with mindset and just trying to see stuff from a positive
01:01:56
Speaker
standpoint. So I think this is going to be great for a lot of our listeners. So thank you again so much for coming and chatting with us today. We appreciate you more than you know. And if you're listening and this podcast episode resonated with you, or if you have a friend that you know that needs to hear it, share it. And this is a free podcast. We don't do any monetization or charge for it.
01:02:24
Speaker
All that we ask is if you're listening and you liked this episode today, please leave us a review and share the episode. That's all we ask to help us to be able to help more women. That's what we're here to do is to help people. I know that Katie's really big on that too. That is what she likes to do as well. We just love to lift people up.
01:02:44
Speaker
So with that being said, Katie, tell me what does the woman beyond the cape mean to you? I think it means that the heart behind it, like take away all the frills, take away everything and just the heart and the passion and the love and break it down without makeup, without, you know, all the identities. And it's just love. I think that's kind of what it means to me. To love yourself as you are.
01:03:14
Speaker
Yeah. I really love that. No one has ever said that before. And more women need to feel that because I feel like we're always trying to be perceived or be viewed a certain way, but we always forget who that is. You know, uncovered, I guess is the word that came to mind.
01:03:31
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. You both said it very well. Just love yourself and love that woman and uncover it. Let it be real, raw, and authentic without all the other things that weigh us down. Yeah. Absolutely. I love that. Well, that wraps up our episode today. Thank you all so much for tuning in. And as always, you are strong, you are capable, and you are worthy. We love you, and we're endlessly rooting for you. We'll chat soon.
01:04:02
Speaker
Well, that's a wrap on today's episode of Finding My Best Self. It's been real, it's been fun. We hope you found a piece of your story in ours and feel a little more inspired to chase after your best self. And don't forget to share this episode with someone who needs a little boost today or a good laugh and make sure to subscribe to our podcast so you never miss an episode. Nothing says owning your confidence like a new outfit from MBS Fitco. Check out the show notes for the link to shop our luxury athleisure. Go ahead girl, treat yourself.
01:04:32
Speaker
And if you've got a story to share or a topic you're dying for us to cover, drop us a line. Our email is in the show notes. Just reach out and let's keep the conversation going. So until next time, keep owning your confidence, embracing the chaos. And remember, the best version of you is just an episode away. And again, we love you and we're endlessly rooting for you.