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034 - Hit the Damn Button: Taking Bold Action to Create, Innovate, and Inspire
20 Plays12 days ago
What happens when your childhood identity is wrapped in competition, perfection, and performance—and then it all ends? In this powerful episode of Vulnerability Muscle, host Reggie D. Ford sits down with entrepreneur, event architect, and TEDx organizer Amanda Banks to unpack the emotional rollercoaster of life after elite athletics, the spiritual depths of entrepreneurship, and the courage it takes to simply start.
Amanda opens up about the vulnerable transition out of competitive gymnastics, how grief and identity loss shaped her teenage years, and how those experiences became fuel for her mission-driven career today. From building TEDxOldHickory into a national gem to helping athletes and entrepreneurs find their voice and stage, Amanda shares hard-earned lessons on resilience, self-worth, and starting before you feel ready.
Together, Amanda and Reggie reflect on the power of community, the fear of being seen, and the sacred value of integrity in a world obsessed with instant results. Whether you’re thinking about launching a business, sharing your truth, or stepping onto your own metaphorical red dot—this is your sign to hit the damn button.
Contact Information:
Email: amanda@createandinnovatesolutions.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-banks-9945502b/
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Transcript
Introduction and Personal Backgrounds
00:00:00
Speaker
My identity as a child was like what you mentioned is of being a very competitive athlete. When you move out of that sport, you try to you're trying to navigate. All of my friends were my teammates. I didn't have a whole lot of like external stuff that like I was involved in because I was always practicing. That was like, we talk about vulnerability. That was a super vulnerable time in my life.
00:00:22
Speaker
Welcome to Vulnerability Muscle, the inspiring podcast challenging norms and helping you redefine vulnerability as a strength. I'm your host, Reggie D. Ford. Each episode of Vulnerability Muscle dives into a variety of topics such as mental health, social issues, and mindset shifts.
00:00:40
Speaker
We explore the power of vulnerability and fostering meaningful connections. healing, building resilience, and promoting personal growth. Sometimes these conversations are uncomfortable, but good workouts often are.
00:00:55
Speaker
So join us and flex that vulnerability muscle. Welcome to Vulnerability Muscle, the inspiring podcast helping you to redefine vulnerability as a strength, a strength that connects, that heals, that
Exploring Vulnerability and Mental Health
00:01:08
Speaker
grows.
00:01:08
Speaker
And today I have an amazing guest, Amanda Banks. How are you, Amanda? I'm good. Thank you for having me on. I'm excited for this conversation. I feel like it's been many years coming. Yes. So I'm excited about it and so grateful to be here.
00:01:22
Speaker
Well, I am grateful to have you here. Amanda and I go back several years now, probably pre, was it pre-COVID? It was like right before COVID. Yeah. So met Amanda at a coffee shop um overhearing the amazing conversation that she was having with one of our mutual connections and ah decided to introduce myself and It has opened up so many doors and a friendship that I am so thankful for. So I can't wait to tell y'all more about that. But um but before we get started, I'd like to do um something that's called what comes to mind.
00:01:57
Speaker
So it's just three questions and you feel free to answer them however you like. Okay. Okay. Let's go. All right. So what comes to mind when you hear the word vulnerability?
00:02:08
Speaker
I believe it's more than a word. It's more of an emotion. So it's a little bit of a deeper meaning to me. Vulnerability is the ability to speak truth, regardless of how physical, emotional, spiritually painful it is.
00:02:21
Speaker
um And being able to clearly communicate that. love that. Speak truth. Truth and authenticity flows from Amanda. I hope y'all know that. But next question is, what is something you do when you're feeling overwhelmed or stressed to kind of center you and bring you back?
00:02:37
Speaker
I love to sleep. like It's so powerful. I'm a napper. i try to 20 to 30 minutes a day seriously. um I'm one of those people, my husband calls me a Tasmanian devil. Like I'm all over the place all the time. um The minute that I wake up, my feet hit the floor and I am off the ground running.
00:02:55
Speaker
um So napping is like one of those must-haves just in general. So I love to nap. I like that. 20 to 30-minute naps don't work for me, though. I'm like two-hour nap. But I do love napping. And sleeping, like it is sometimes overlooked as something that helps us.
00:03:12
Speaker
ah recharge because it is so vital to our whole system to just have that reset. So love that. Thank you for that. And lastly, what is one of your favorite childhood memories?
00:03:28
Speaker
That's tough. um I would say gymnastics was everything for me. um So I remember selecting leotards was always a lot of fun. It's something just as simple as that,
Amanda's Gymnastics Journey and Transitions
00:03:38
Speaker
right? There was this weird like hanging clothing rack with all of these different leotards and I didn't come from a lot of money and gymnastics is a very expensive sport. So every once in a while we would be able to to grab a new leotard and I just remember like looking through all of them wow and being able to select that leotard and it was like one of those moments of like,
00:03:57
Speaker
amazingness wow that just brought me back so i'm thinking back to like early football days and not knowing how to put my pads in my pants but being so excited about that moment and like the first years of playing and just like folding up the knee pad and like oh that's how it like yeah so i can definitely feel that like that first like i mean new newness of just like picking out things. That's so cool. So you competitive gymnastics, that's a that's a part of your your story.
00:04:27
Speaker
Can you talk about just how you got into that and and what that has done for you in life? Yeah. So I started gymnastics really young. I was probably five or six, started in Indiana. um Naturally, I was just very, very gifted at the sport.
00:04:40
Speaker
And so when we moved to Tennessee, my coach from Indiana moved with our family and trained me. It was a really kind of an odd situation looking back, but he was a great family friend and um I started doing competitive gymnastics very young, thrived in the sport and became a high level 10 at 10 years old.
00:04:57
Speaker
So unlike many other sports, gymnastics is one of those where athletes tend to peak very young um and sustainability and longevity in the sport is very difficult just because of the nature of the sport. So I was one of those that.
00:05:11
Speaker
You know, peaked really young, um got super burnout, transitioned out of the sport very young and went down ah ah naturally like a very dark kind of pathway. Eventually picked myself back up. But that's my gymnastics story is I was super high level competitive gymnast, peaked very young, transitioned out, struggled with the transition, which contributes to a lot of the work that I do now.
00:05:32
Speaker
Um, but it's definitely still a a passion of mine, even though I cannot do it any longer. Yeah. Every once in a while I'll get to the gym and put my feet on the beam i'm like, yes, I still can go to the Olympics. That's not happening.
00:05:44
Speaker
Way too old. Yeah. Oh, man. So I didn't realize that it was that early that you had gotten into it and and been so competitive. And as your coach came down with you, like, what? That's cool. Like, that's so cool.
00:05:57
Speaker
Yeah, he was a family friend. We still I actually talked to him last week. I'm working on a project and he's a subject matter expert in the project. I was like, I need to pick your brain a little bit. But he um yeah, he moved with my family. He lived with my family for a short time, trained me and then eventually went and opened up an incredibly successful gymnastic center in Murfreesboro. Um, so he's also very well known in the sport now. yeah um and has done some really amazing things on the coaching side.
00:06:22
Speaker
Okay, that's cool. Can we give him a shout out? Yeah, so Ken Harris with ETC Gymnastics. and Ken Harris. He was an incredible coach. um You know, he's got a different coaching style. And when he moved to gyms, um I was trained under other coaches as well.
00:06:35
Speaker
But he's an incredible mind, a great coach, strong leader, comes from a faith background as well. And he is he was a good influence in my life. Nice, nice. That's beautiful. i want to like So you don't have to get into too much detail, whatever you're comfortable with, but like that transition out.
Emotional and Psychological Impact of Transition
00:06:50
Speaker
like as ah As a former athlete myself, that was one of the hardest things that I had to do. like The grief that came with being a player, an athlete, and and being recognized as that and having that so tied to my identity for so long and then it being...
00:07:08
Speaker
Not ripped away because I actually like stopped playing on my own accord, but um not having to having that anymore. Like what was that like and how what was the mindset during that period and and how did you get out of that?
00:07:20
Speaker
Yeah. So sports was like ah um an out for me. So I grew up in a really crazy environment and sports was that escape for me, um which is also why I was so good at it is I knew that, you know, if i if I thrived in the sport, that meant more coaching time, more time in the gym, all of these other things. And so at the time, my parents were going through a divorce um and i was done. i was done with the entire situation and um My identity as a child was like what you mentioned is a being a very competitive athlete.
00:07:52
Speaker
But then it was also in like the dynamic of this is part of my everyday life. And now that my everyday life has kind of got a shaken up of things, um i I didn't, I was done.
00:08:04
Speaker
i was done with everything going on. um and to your point, identity is a challenge with athletes. And quite frankly, as ah as a young as a young lady, like all of my friends were my teammates. I didn't have a whole lot of like external stuff that like I was involved in because I was always practicing. So it was a challenging time. And once again, your identity gets tied into that of the sport.
00:08:29
Speaker
When you move out of that sport, you try to you're trying to navigate first off, the change of being athlete, but also like I was a teenager. Yeah, yeah, exactly. Like I was like young teenager, so I was dealing with high school and drama and all of the things. So like family challenges. um And so that was like we talk about vulnerability. That was a super vulnerable time in my life. um And I was judged for a lot of the things that I was doing, rightfully so, but there was a lot of people that didn't understand some of the other things that were going on behind the scenes, and it was a vulnerable time.
00:09:02
Speaker
Yeah, definitely. yeah But you've taken, and know, mindset from that time period. You've taken the work ethic from that time period and you've poured it into so many things. Like you are the the Jill of all skills. Like you are, for real, like you are you are, when I think of connect, like you're connector, you're great at sales, you're great at marketing, you're great at ah planning events, which I hate doing.
00:09:29
Speaker
um You are- need me you five But you're great at so many things. And and i and i like that was ah one of the things when we first met. And i this is me being vulnerable and sharing. like We met, we had lunch one time, and ah we were sharing a little bit about our background. And i think I had just come out with PTSD, ah the book, and and sharing that. But you said, you need me.
00:09:57
Speaker
i And you had like you saw something in my story or in um ways that your experience and background and knowledge and wisdom could help me out. But I wasn't at a place in my life where I was willing to even accept that and be vulnerable enough to say, I need help.
00:10:17
Speaker
And um so I texted you not too long ago. And I was like, you know you're one person who I've only felt genuinely love and care from and i feel like I've given you the stiff arm.
00:10:30
Speaker
I think that's how ah how I phrased it. And it had nothing to do with you. It was all about me and ego and just where I was on my healing journey, but um you you you were open and receptive and you've always been the same person from yesterday that tomorrow. Like I know you're gonna be the same person and ah just to be able to do all you do and impact all the people that you impact, I just wanna give you your flowers and say thank you. Thank you. I i feel the same about you. like um I appreciate the work that you do. i appreciate who you are as a human being. You know, when we first met, um as you mentioned, at a coffee shop, you know, Corey Alexander and his business partner owned that coffee shop. I've known Corey for a long time. Shout out. um and with you, like, I just always appreciated that if we didn't keep the conversation going, every once in a while we would check in with each other. Yeah. And the reality is, is like, I need you as well, right? There's parts of both of our stories that i think is a good reminder to one another.
00:11:26
Speaker
But I think also we are deeply compassionate human beings that care about other people. um and I'm not perfect. I know you're not perfect, but it's one of those things that like, if I make a mistake and somebody approaches me with it, like I'm going to share my perspective or my side of the story. And, um,
00:11:44
Speaker
you're very much the same way. So when I find people that are genuine and you know appreciate things like authenticity and vulnerability and that also put forth the work, like living this is a lifestyle. Like we choose this lifestyle and it's hard work and you live that lifestyle. And I appreciate that.
00:12:02
Speaker
And you're just such a ah kind and generous human being. Well, I appreciate that. Look, I wasn't expecting that. But no, I definitely I appreciate appreciate your words and um just just who you are. And so you you've done so much like and and you are so much just so many people um create and
Entrepreneurial Ventures and TEDx Involvement
00:12:22
Speaker
innovate.
00:12:22
Speaker
Yeah. Create and innovate as a business solutions. Create and innovate solutions. um You started this business amongst other businesses that you started, but ah what was the impetus behind that? and what are you what are you doing and hoping to impact in that way?
00:12:37
Speaker
Yeah. So create and innovate was out of necessity. Um, so I had had a couple of other businesses and, you know, they didn't work out the way that I had hoped that they had worked out. And I was considering going back into corporate.
00:12:50
Speaker
I was like, man, that corporate lifestyle, like is so, so much easier. yeah It's so much easier. um And I was considering going down that pathway. And then the license for TEDx Old hi Hickory happened. So it was one of those things where I had to like create an entity to be able to support that vision.
00:13:09
Speaker
And then um so I supported that vision. And then after the first TEDx Old Hickory, like I really worked on framing up what that company is going to do. ok um I tried going through the process of fiscal sponsorship with it and seeing if like I don't have to start another company.
00:13:23
Speaker
But for whatever reason, God's plan is me to have and run businesses. So that was really the impetus behind it was I had to have an entity as the license holder to start that event. There were a lot of people counting on me um with that first one. And it had to have somewhere to go and yeah create and innovate. It became a project under that business. Wow.
00:13:43
Speaker
I didn't realize that. I didn't realize it was tied to TEDxO Hickory. And so tell tell people about that. So you are the organizer of TEDxO Hickory, um more than organizer, like proprietor, like founder, like you are the brainchild behind a TEDx event here in in Tennessee.
00:13:59
Speaker
And so how did that come to be? And what what is the process of that look like? Yeah. So I was a TEDx speaker. um i have ah a unique perspective on speaking, organizing, hosting, being a license holder.
00:14:12
Speaker
um But my friend, Dr. Dan Young, at the time, he was like, you're just going to do one. And I didn't even know what it was. yeah And I was like, OK, fine, I'll figure this out and I'll go it. Like if somebody is telling me that I need to do it, I'm going to do it. um So I put forth the energy and preparation, became a TEDx speaker. The next year I hosted it. And then the next year I was like, why are we not running this in our own community? And the truth Old Hickory is a small town community. We don't have traditional event space, so to speak, that would like be like a more corporate oriented event space.
00:14:42
Speaker
And I was the crazy one that was like, I'm going to submit for the license to see if I can, if I can get one. yeah um And I got one and I was like, we're going to do this at the highest of quality. What I see is the highest of quality um and learn from some of the best practices of, you know, what Dan and other organizers have done. and ah put this thing in a place where it seemingly does not belong. So that's like the story. um Tactically, there's so many other steps that go alongside it, but that's kind of how it's just a vision and like an idea of like, why are we not running this? And it's like, well, she's not doing it. I'm like, okay, well, I'll do it.
00:15:15
Speaker
Like, no worries. So that's that's it. And you were one of my speakers in 2024 last year. goes by so fast. It does. So I'm like, is it 25, 26? What year is it? Right. But, I mean, it was it's a pretty magical experience. Yeah, it is. It is. And I came to the first one in the audience, and I just – to witness the greatness that it was. And for it to be the first event, like, it was flawless.
00:15:41
Speaker
Like, that I'm sure you saw flaws and felt felt so many things that were not how you wanted them to be, but from an audience perspective, you would have thought you had been doing that for years. so And i I got so inspired. Like, that was the thing about – It was my second TEDx event. I went to TEDx Nashville maybe a year or two before that.
00:16:01
Speaker
And like you're just getting hit with inspiration after inspiration after. ah these These folks have put in work in their lives, but also in this talk. And you are seeing the the the outcome of that.
00:16:14
Speaker
And like you cannot help but be to leave like inspired. So I remember I took some pictures with some friends. And took some pictures of the stage. And I'm like, all right, I'm going to up here. I'm going to up here like one day. i didn't know when it was. And I didn't know if it was actually going to be TEDxOdeHickory, but like I'm going to be on the stage one day.
00:16:32
Speaker
And lo and behold, you know, fast forward a year and I was able to to be on that stage. And and I appreciate you for so much of the support along the way.
00:16:44
Speaker
Like one, listening to your talk, I believe in you. Like those four words can change a person's life. They can. Those four were, and and I listened to it just to to hear your message.
00:16:57
Speaker
what made you write What made you give that talk when you did? You know, i I live with purpose. So like I think, I sit, I meditate, I think, um I see what's coming up. I see what's continuous behaviors or continuous words in my life that are meaningful at that time. And I just made the decision that this is what I'm going to lead with and did that. um To your point, I've done a lot of different types of things. Mm-hmm.
00:17:20
Speaker
you know I think that from the outside looking in, a TEDx style talk can be very simple. It's 18 minutes or less. It is one of the most complicated things to do. so when i when I made that decision, I really didn't know what I was doing. um So I didn't really know the TEDx process super well. I was just learning. I was completely a newbie into that.
00:17:39
Speaker
But for whatever reason, those words have been very pivotal in my life, both spoken to me as well as me, you know, speaking them to other people. And so I said, why not? Like, yeah worst case scenario, this goes really bad. Right.
00:17:50
Speaker
And nobody sees it. It's like, OK, cool. And, you know, that's that's a beautiful thing. And I think the listeners would probably want to better understand from you because it's not easy. no Like people don't realize how difficult, not just doing it, but like doing it really well. And I and i believe you did it really well. I appreciate that. um And I know how much energy and effort and, you know, maybe even a time or two that you wanted to quit. Oh yeah. um Yeah, for sure.
00:18:17
Speaker
um But i'm I'm sure that people listening would be like, what like what is it like to do that? Because you don't just get up there and do it. True, true. And and this is something I learned from you, just like different TEDx's, they have different processes. they have like they're They're owning that license and doing what they want to do with it. And you chose...
00:18:37
Speaker
a route that, like you said, you got best practice best practices and and different things. And so I remember, like I'm i going go all the way back, like I was sitting there and I'm i'm remembering the pictures I took and and kind of this promise I made to myself that I am going to be on that
TEDx Preparation and Authenticity
00:18:52
Speaker
stage.
00:18:52
Speaker
And the call for speakers is out and it's like the last week and I'm just sitting there playing with the application. I was and I called you. And I was like, all right, I'm thinking about this and I'm overthinking about a million other things. But like, this is the route that I'm thinking. and Like any advice you could give, like that would be appreciated.
00:19:12
Speaker
And you help break it down and make it simple for like what the event was looking for, um how I met those qualifications just by who I am.
00:19:23
Speaker
and ah And then encourage me to submit the damn application. Yeah. Like literally, like you're just like submit the damn application. And I submitted it and ah that months, well, like I guess like we found out a couple weeks later, but then it was months until the actual talk.
00:19:45
Speaker
And so that was the time where I felt like me and and probably a lot of other folks were like, oh shit, let me run. Like, I don't know. I don't want to get on that stage. And especially the, like I've spoken on,
00:19:56
Speaker
big stages. I've spoken in front of a lot of people, but that red dot and... There's something about it. It's something different. I don't know what it is, but there's something about the vibe of red circle. It is. It's like... It's... it's I mean, you...
00:20:11
Speaker
Because we've seen TED Talks and TEDx's go viral and so many people watch them. And so, like, you have some of that in the back your mind. Like, so many people are going to see this blemish on my face. And if I stumble over this word, like, so that's playing at it.
00:20:25
Speaker
But also with some of the guidelines, is you know, things that you can say or ways that you can say it and not say it. And that was, at first, very difficult for me. I'm like, I don't write nothing down. I just like to go. and um But I had to. I had to get...
00:20:41
Speaker
with the the the structure of a TEDx, but then still keep in my like keep it too authentic to me. And like the process with TEDx Ohickory was we had multiple check-ins where we were building our talk, checking in about the process of it all, um and also getting coached by Amanda, by Dr. Dan, Dan Young, and so many other folks that were part of the community. And I thought that that was that was reassuring to just know that I wasn't going to, okay, you're accepted, and in this September we're going to talk. like You better be good when you get up here. like it was It was check-ins along the way, multiple.
00:21:21
Speaker
and And that helped like to keep me accountable because I don't think I would have – written the outline. I don't think I would have actually written a whole talk, even though I didn't go through it verbatim when I actually gave my talk. But that process helped me feel confident when I got up on stage to give my talk.
00:21:37
Speaker
And was beautifully done. good. It was so like the energy in my body when I was done was like, yeah, like I did that. And I was proud of myself. So thank you for that opportunity. And thank you for the coaching along the way. And for anybody out there, I'm looking in the camera.
00:21:56
Speaker
Push the damn button. Submit the damn application. Go talk to who you need to talk to. But let this be your sign. Because had I not done that, I get people, and my talk hadn't even gone viral, but I still get people who are like, that's how you're talking. That's the reason why we're booking you. Or that's the reason why we want you to do this and do that. And so like,
00:22:13
Speaker
It has power when you get up there and share your truth. And so I'm encouraging you to press the damn button right now. On anything. On anything. It doesn't have to be TEDx talk. It doesn't have to be TEDx. Just submit the button.
00:22:25
Speaker
We want to optimize all this stuff. Like even this podcast. Like I started with – I might have been on Zoom the first one, like with my camera on my computer, no mic, no nothing. And then ah got a better mic. I got a better camera. right And now we're in a studio. And so like it just has to start.
00:22:43
Speaker
So start it. Then you can think about optimizing it later. But, you ah you've you've mentioned like I've done all of these different types of things and that's a piece that I don't like, I don't, I'm not even worried about anymore. Like I, I'm okay to just start something. yeah Like I talk about putting one foot in front of the other.
00:22:58
Speaker
i may fail. It's okay. Like I have a really good resilient mindset associated to that. Some of that is just how like some of the challenges that I've been through in my life, some of the stories that I could go into millions of hours worth of conversations about that are not appropriate for today's, for today's podcast. But, um,
00:23:16
Speaker
I'm not afraid to start something. yeah And that's a piece I've been around a lot of really, really successful people, whether it's athletes, entrepreneurs, executives, they're not they're not scared to just take that first step. Now, there may be some anxiety associated to it. Like some things are deeply scary, like and terrifying. And to me,
00:23:34
Speaker
entrepreneurship has been like the deepest, most spiritual journey of like self-discovery that I could have ever imagined. um But I'm not afraid to start something. Yeah. Let's talk about some of those things you've started. Cause you're right. It's, it's self-discovery is soul searching. It is, it'll challenge you greater than anything. Like you said earlier, like corporate, it feels, it's like, you know, this is easier. Like I know when I'm checking in, I know when I'm checking out, I know I have you know my my job description and that's it. But entrepreneurship, you're all over the place. So what are some of the things that you've started and and how they have gone and turned out or ah some of the things you're working on now? I mean, TEDx Old Hickory, like that's going well. yeah um That's a good success story going really well. We've seen a lot of success. I've had 28 speakers through that system. Let's go. Seven of them have made editor's pick. Let's go. Five have been released who are getting ready to be like be released. So I'm really proud of that.
00:24:26
Speaker
I would say my business is going really well. um You know, I'm running events, I'm doing education, I'm speaking, I'm helping others speak. So I wouldn't say that I'm like a speaker coach per se, but I am doing a little bit of work where somebody is like, somebody told me I needed to do a TEDx style talk. And like, I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing, but I want to do it well. Will you help me? So i do a fair amount of coaching and I've seen, my clients have seen a lot of success and the events that I'm running are very well done, yeah which is really exciting. So I've been able to take some of the best practices and the work that I've poured into TEDx Old Hickory and be able to leverage that for my business as well, which has been really good.
00:25:02
Speaker
I love that. I love that. And you do work with athletes as well. can you can you talk about that? Like what what what ways in which do you start do you serve athletes? How do you do that Yeah. So right now I'm running events, which is a lot of fun. yeah um I've had a fair share of time working with athletes that are going from sports and going into business and really need a little bit of ah of a pathway or trajectory. I've done some coaching, um but I love running events. And that's the piece is like, I get jazzed up when I see somebody on a stage and they've like, we've curated everything for them. And then they feel so comfortable and confident in whatever they're doing.
00:25:40
Speaker
So that's the piece that I've really been diving into is you know either helping. It doesn't really matter who it is. it's It's really somebody that has a lot of tenacity and grit, which is why athletes are a good um target audience for me. I am one. So I understand some of the challenges.
00:25:56
Speaker
But like there's just a nature of tenacity, grit, resilience, doing the work. um i've I've done some coaching with some folks, quite frankly, that just not they're not willing to do the work. And I can't support...
00:26:08
Speaker
or help drive results for people that aren't willing to do the work themselves. it's, it's I love to approach business with flexibility because i am also as an entrepreneur still learning and growing. And to me, it's more, is this person a person that has these types of characteristics?
00:26:26
Speaker
And two, like, are they cool to work with? Are they are they wanting to to innovate and drive interesting results? So I've done strategic partnerships and coaching and all this stuff, but really it's a deep exploration of like trying to figure out exactly where I can serve the best of my ability.
00:26:44
Speaker
You mentioned exploration. I'm curious what the self-exploration has looked like and what you've learned through your about yourself through entrepreneurship.
Entrepreneurship and Personal Growth
00:26:54
Speaker
That's a really interesting thing. um One of the biggest pieces that I've learned is that I don't have to try to um have others, like I don't have to convince others of my value. Yeah.
00:27:08
Speaker
In a corporate kind of setting, you're constantly having to do performance reviews and justify your actions and have metrics associated to those actions. Like, I don't have to look at you, Reggie, and say, like, I'm going to convince you that I'm a valuable asset to have as part of your team.
00:27:24
Speaker
um That's one of the biggest things that I've had to learn myself as an entrepreneur is, like, the value comes from me. yeah And if there are projects or individuals or other people that don't see that value, then that's on them.
00:27:36
Speaker
Like i I can't control that, nor do I have any desire or intention to control that. So that's the biggest thing that I really, mean, I've had to learn all tactical stuff as yeah well. Like the financials, profit loss, all of that stuff.
00:27:50
Speaker
But deep exploration wise, like I've leaned into spirituality and meditation and mindfulness practices. But then I've also just had to learn like people are people and I am not here to convince them of anything.
00:28:03
Speaker
I love that because I had I'll call him a mentor. Yeah, I had a mentor at one point who told me, like when I was in corporate working, he's like, you know, entrepreneurship is a scary route. And he had been an entrepreneur and he's like, that's when the world shows you your value, right? Like when you go to a job, your boss is putting a salary on you, or whatever it may be like, that is what they're saying your value is at this company.
00:28:30
Speaker
But when you go out into entrepreneurship, the world is saying, because of how you show up what your services are, what you perform, This is what we value you as. And that put a lot of pressure on me, I think, because when I first got into entrepreneurship, it's hard because like you got to understand all those different facets of business, like marketing and operations and finance. And and like you got to understand all those different parts. And if you're not doing those things well, like the business could be great. the operations could be great, but you're not showing nobody knows about it.
00:29:03
Speaker
Or like you haven't planned around like the future and the finances of it all. And so like you have to understand all those things. And it doesn't mean that you suck or your business sucks. But it means that you you just have to, again, like spin all those plates and have them going.
00:29:18
Speaker
And like so for a while in finance, I was like, why am I not getting this and that and that? And like, but yeah like I didn't. I didn't understand all the different areas of entrepreneurship. And then when something clicks, it's like, oh, like the world is abundant.
00:29:37
Speaker
And like there could be a billion other people doing the exact same thing that I'm doing, but I can still win. And it so it changed my mindset around like the world is going to show you your value. And like that it's so much out there. Like you can get so much and be sitting across from somebody who is your quote unquote competitor and like learn from them and grow from that.
00:29:56
Speaker
I'm a huge fan of intentional scalability. So like that's something that in a market, like i recognize I have privilege associated to that, right? Like in my business, I want to scale responsibly. um There's a lot out there, especially with gurus that'll say like, you need to be selling X, Y, z You need to be doing this. You need to be going out and doing books and coaching and all of this stuff.
00:30:16
Speaker
And I went down that rabbit hole a little bit and I was miserable. And I started thinking like for me to intentionally scale this process, like I want to scale responsibly because I have integrity, the work that I do, like regardless of what it is, I want it to be the highest of quality in my expectations of quality.
00:30:35
Speaker
um And so I've really focused on intentional scalability and like being very mindful of like, this is working, this isn't working. Um, Yes, I know I should have a book. Yes, I know I should be speaking more. Yes, I know that I should be doing X, Y, Z activity.
00:30:51
Speaker
But I'm also a mom. Yeah, so right. have a life. Like I have a life. um And so that's the piece is like I've also learned this is like the third nugget is and this was a TEDx thing.
00:31:03
Speaker
you can put forth all the energy and the effort in the world, but you cannot control what happens on that red circle. You can't, like you just have to let it go. yeah um i learned that from Marshall Goldsmith as well. He goes like this and he says, just let it go. Just let it go. let it go. um and that' Like Elsa.
00:31:18
Speaker
Like Elsa. Like that's what I had to learn as well is like, I can't control the outcome, but what I can control is i work my ass off. I'm kind. I'm generous with my time. And I,
00:31:31
Speaker
I'm playing the long game. I have no desire to scale off the backs of somebody else. yeah um And I've made some mistakes. I've had some wins, but ultimately, like, I live with integrity to that. Yeah, yeah. That that is something that that draws me to you, is that integrity.
00:31:49
Speaker
And knowing that you you want to see other people win and you are genuine in that approach. And something you said, like, reminded me of a shift that I made recently. So I think last, like, 2023, I had a really great year um in speaking. Like, it was it was my second
Shifting Goals and Life Philosophy
00:32:08
Speaker
full year speaking. And it was like, whoa, 24 kind of dipped.
00:32:12
Speaker
And i was like, I thought I figured it out. Like, what's going on? And then so going into this year, ah changed the way that I looked at my goals. And instead of having these outcome goals of like this much revenue, this many speaking events, like it was all input driven.
00:32:29
Speaker
Like how many people am I reaching out to a week? How many calls am I making emails and things like that? Things that I can control and be proud of at the end of the week, end of the month, end of the year, And say, if I do all these things, this other stuff will take care of itself. And so, like, yeah, like getting away from now putting and let it go. Let it go. Let it go. Like, I'm like that with relationships. Like, I'm not here to force somebody to see my value. I'm not like i I'm past that. Right. Like, and that's the piece. So, like, I've had to let go because once again, in a corporate setting,
00:33:03
Speaker
you have to justify all of these things. And I come from enterprise sales and strategic partnerships. Like I've sold millions of stuff, like yeah tech. I've sold a lot of things, ah attic insulation. I've sold tacos. I worked at Taco Bell for a little bit.
00:33:15
Speaker
Right. But like, that's the piece that I've had to learn is like, people are not going to outwork my hustle. And yes, I know there's like an anti-hustle culture going on, but like, I love the grind. And that's something I'm really good at, right? Like I'm great at just keeping things moving forward and being intentional about relationships and putting forth the work. And that's all I can control. Like I can't control external factors. Yeah, that's so true.
00:33:40
Speaker
How do you balance it all? your Your mother, your Jill of all skills. you how do you How do you balance it? don't. Like there's harmony um associated to things. And I have boundaries. Like my daughter is priority. yeah I miss a lot of events. I piss a lot of people off because I can't participate in certain things.
00:34:01
Speaker
But the reality is, is like, I'm not willing to not take her to school or I'm not willing to not be able to take her to soccer practice. Like she's 14 now. Like it's, it, it goes by so fast, but there's also things with like my husband, I'm not, I'm not willing to sacrifice that boundary. Like he's a super private person. I respect that in him. So most of the time when I have these conversations, like it's very much about business or professional oriented or my mindset oriented,
00:34:28
Speaker
There's certain boundaries that I just don't cross and I have harmony in all of that. And some days it's good, some days it's not, yeah but I give myself a lot of grace. yeah Like I'm very graceful with myself and like, I'm gonna lose my shit. Like, okay guys, like my bucket's full. Like I'm very mindful of where I'm at in all of that harmonious process and like balance for me When she graduates, cool. Yeah, it's different. We'll figure it out. um But, you know, I've got to weather the crazy.
00:34:57
Speaker
Yeah. That's okay. No, I like that. I like that you said i don't cause because people will try to fit an answer in there, right? And one of the things, like when I used to work at Deloitte, when everybody else was talking about work-life balance, work-life balance, Deloitte started, you know, talking about work-life fit, right?
00:35:16
Speaker
And how do all these things fit together? And I think that speaks to kind of the harmony that you're talking about, where it's going to be uneven. It's not like balance doesn't mean 50-50. It doesn't mean that. But like finding what works, what fits for you in that harmony, I think is is good. And it sounds like it's giving you life the way that your harmony is working right now. And I hope that it continues.
00:35:39
Speaker
I ask myself this question, and this is a this is a question that I recommend everybody. like What is this teaching me? like Throughout the day, there's ah there's ah tons of things going on, and we just don't take the time and ask, like what is this teaching me? Good and bad. like There's the roller coaster ride of entrepreneurship hell, and it's like legit. right like There's highs and lows.
00:36:00
Speaker
Um, sometimes things are off the tracks, like, but I asked myself, what am I learning from this experience? Um, even in relationships. And so I think about it, like she'll graduate in three and a half years. Right. And then, then what I'll have this opportunity to travel globally, which I've turned down opportunities in certain ways, just because I'm not willing to sacrifice what's at home. But then I think like,
00:36:22
Speaker
What are all of these things that I've created some type of weird harmony around? And what is that preparing me for? and to be able to serve on a bigger platform than I currently am. And that's three and a half years for me. Like I know mom is going to have a little bit more freedom in three and a half years. yeah So what can I do in the meantime to live harmoniously, build my business, be an excellent mom to the best of my ability, um, and be a good wife and live in that space?
00:36:49
Speaker
I love that. i want I want to get into a segment and it's just fill in the blank. Okay. The first one, entrepreneurship has taught me blank. Everything. Everything.
00:37:00
Speaker
That's right. Everything. Like it does. teaches you everything. Yeah. No, that's real. That's real. ah I need help with... Everything.
00:37:11
Speaker
an
00:37:14
Speaker
entrepreneur. I hate it off with everything. That's so real. Oh my God. Do you have another one that I can fit everything? Oh my Yeah. Oh, that's too good. That's too good.
00:37:26
Speaker
oh This might work. I don't know. Cause Jill of all skills. um My greatest strength is. s Seeing potential in people. Oh, I like that. I like that. Yeah. And it doesn't matter what it is. Like I can look at an athlete and say that one's got potential. um But I can see and identify potential in people, in opportunities. i can see potential in myself. um I have a world-class skill of being able to see potential. i like that. You see people.
00:37:54
Speaker
What about you? my greatest strength? Yeah.
00:37:59
Speaker
My greatest strength, I would say, is is my compassion and empathy toward other people. um having the life experiences that I've had and being able to weather the storms and then have grace for others by learning their story and then have grace for myself.
00:38:20
Speaker
I think I can project out the compassion and the empathy and and put myself in people's shoes or at least try to understand their situation to,
00:38:30
Speaker
to just love them more and see them for who they are and understand that they are human at the end of it all, no matter if I agree or disagree with them, but I can try to understand from where they're coming from. and And so, yeah, I would say that's probably my greatest.
00:38:48
Speaker
yeah I appreciate that. You're great at that. Thank you for flipping it back on me. um Next question is, if I could tell my younger self anything, it would be blank.
00:38:59
Speaker
It'll be okay. Like those years of like middle and high school, because I get to experience it through the lens of my daughter now. um We moved her from...
00:39:11
Speaker
you know, a small private Christian school into a very large public school, um new soccer team, like there's just so many changes emotionally, physically, um even environmental, oftentimes in those ways. And like,
00:39:26
Speaker
other people will cast judgment on you. That's that's another thing.
Advice and Reflections
00:39:30
Speaker
Even as an adult, I have thought processes associated to judgment, um but I tell my younger self kind of what I tell her on a daily basis at this point is like, it's going to be okay. It will be. I know it doesn't seem that way, but like it's going to be okay.
00:39:45
Speaker
Yes, yes, yes. Last one is, um if I could think of it. um It's a really good question, I promise you. Oh, yeah.
00:39:56
Speaker
It's all good. I feel like I need to brace myself for this. No, it's it's not even that deep. It's not even that deep. It just like slipped my mind. But um when I am seeking inspiration, I turn to God.
00:40:10
Speaker
Yeah, myself, like I have to get quiet and think. I think that there's a big opportunity for a lot of us to just get still. And especially as an entrepreneur, like it does not happen often. um But when I'm seeking inspiration,
00:40:25
Speaker
Oftentimes it's because I need to get still and quiet and I need to just listen. yeah um There's inspiration everywhere. ah it There is. and And you've been inspiring. And I know that you've inspired so many listeners today.
00:40:38
Speaker
um Any last thing that that is on your mind, things that you want to share with the audience just to inspire them? I loved how you like frame this of like, just hit the damn button.
00:40:50
Speaker
Like just hit the damn button. um You know, a lot of the greatest opportunities that I've had access to is because I hit the damn button. um Nobody's going to do this for you. Like if you're an entrepreneur, you learn that very quickly of like, you have to, you have to drive the bus. um And just hit the damn button. Cause like, what's the worst they can say no.
00:41:13
Speaker
So like some of the opportunities I've got a million stories around this and I'll share one that's really powerful, which kind of started all of this, like ideas, innovation, you know, how I've lived my entrepreneur journey for the past several years.
00:41:25
Speaker
um I had a friend that I did a random TV show with and we just, for whatever reason, kept ah kept in contact. And I reached out to him one day and I said, what have you got going on You know, he's a global traveler and, you know, writes for Forbes and all these other amazing publications and has always been an inspiration for me.
00:41:41
Speaker
um And a leader that somebody, there's like somebody that I like want to model behavior around, like somebody that i will learn from. um And I just asked him, I said, what do you got going on? And he said, I'm going to Lisbon. And I was like, thanks for the damn invite. And he said, I have an extra ticket. Wow. um If you can get to Lisbon in a week, you're more than welcome to have that. And I had, i had absolutely no idea what I was doing.
00:42:04
Speaker
I didn't even know the conference. Like, i had i had no idea. So I walked upstairs, and I told my husband, I was like, I need to go to Lisbon. I had never been out of the country before except on a cruise ship. Luckily, I had a passport so that I could go.
00:42:16
Speaker
um but I went upstairs. I said, I've got to go to Lisbon. And he was like, well, tell me about it. And he was like, okay, go. So i ended up getting on a plane pretty much less than a week later.
00:42:27
Speaker
um Flew into Lisbon, went to the world's largest tech conferences, um got to go behind the scenes with Rhett and we interviewed people like Tim Draper and Dave Meltzer and some of these other like globally renowned entrepreneurs, executives.
00:42:44
Speaker
And just having – just asking the question like hit the damn button. Hit the damn button. Hit the damn button. And that has led to so many additional opportunities, conversations, collaborations with him and other people that I met. Yeah.
00:43:01
Speaker
But that's one of the many stories that I think you're the same way. Like, I'm okay to fight for an opportunity, um but I don't need to fight for my value in being in involved in that opportunity. So that's what I would just leave people with. is Hit the damn button. hey Reggie did. This is his show. he hit the damn button. he's, you know, done his TEDx talk and he feels really good about it. And your podcast is growing and it's amazing. And hit the damn button. Just do it. Just do it. love that. oh Amanda, if people want to reach out to you, because I know they will, how can they contact you?
00:43:34
Speaker
LinkedIn is like the easiest place to find me. um So you can email me, Amanda, at createandinnovatesolutions.com. My Instagram and Facebook are both closed. So if you reach out to me and I don't know you, more than likely I will not connect with you.
00:43:48
Speaker
um But LinkedIn and email is ah is a great place to find me. And I'm always happy to grab coffee or start conversations or whatever. You never know where these things will go. You never know. And y'all, thank y'all for listening. Thank you for supporting. Continue to support.
00:44:03
Speaker
Rate, subscribe, leave messages, leave comments, reach out to us. And so we want to hear from you. And I want to hear where you're from. If you're from Lisbon, I might have you on the show. So that would be cool.
00:44:15
Speaker
ah But Amanda, with all the things that you could be doing and all the places you could be, I appreciate you being here with me embracing vulnerability. Same. There's 8.2 billion people on this planet and for whatever reason we're here. Yes.
00:44:28
Speaker
There's a lot of power in that and I'm grateful as well. Thank you. Cheering you on, friend. Thank you for joining us in another episode of Vulnerability Muscle. If you've enjoyed these conversations around vulnerability, please consider leaving a review.
00:44:42
Speaker
Your feedback not only motivates us to continue to do the work that we do, but it allows other people to witness the power of vulnerability. Share your thoughts and on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify Podcasts, or wherever you're listening from.
00:44:58
Speaker
And don't forget to spread the word. You can follow us at vulnerabilitymuscle on Instagram and me personally at Reggie D. Ford across all platforms. Visit vulnerabilitymuscle.com for additional resources and support.
00:45:11
Speaker
And remember, embracing vulnerability is not a sign of weakness. It is the source of your greatest strength. Sometimes it's uncomfortable, but most workouts are.
00:45:22
Speaker
So keep flexing that vulnerability muscle.