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The podcast focuses on fiercely empowering women in business, as entrepreneurs and women in male-dominated industries, featuring guests who embody strength, resilience, competence, and a touch of sass as they navigate business and life.
Looking for guests who are willing to bring a wealth of experience and knowledge but also possess the strength, resilience, and sass that align with the tone of my podcast.
I want their stories and insights to provide immense value to my audience, helping me to establish a powerful podcast as a must-listen for women looking to empower themselves in business. The goal is to build competence and discover how brave women can be in business.
Welcome to Superheroes in Heels, the podcast where powerful women rise, lead, and own the room. I'm Kimberley Borgens, your host, fellow trailblazer, and unapologetic advocate for women in the world of business. With over thirty years of experience building success in a male dominant industry, I'm here to empower you to do the same. Each week, you'll hear bold conversations with inspiring guests who embody strength, resilience, a little dash of sass, and a little bit of grace. Together, we'll challenge the status quo, break through barriers, unlock your confidence, and unleash your inner superhero.
Kimberley:You ready? Let's go. Hi. Welcome. Welcome to Superheroes in Heels.
Kimberley:This is Kimberley Borgens. I'm so excited to have you here. You know, Superheroes in Heels is the podcast to fiercely empower women, women entrepreneurs in the powerful journey that shapes us as leaders. I'm your host, Kimberley Borgans. And today, we're diving into a fabulous topic for women in business.
Kimberley:How women in their forties can utilize the invaluable experience and mentorship from women in their fifties. Like, think about it. If you're at a crossroads in your career, leadership, or your personal life, this could be the episode for you. This is the second episode in a three part series that I'm calling wisdom across the generations. You know, how can we learn from the different dinner generations of women who have have forged their way and paved the path for us as well as the women who are coming up with new technology, new skill sets, new ideas, and how can we, you know, bring them all together.
Kimberley:So today, we're talking about, you know, women in their forties often find themselves juggling, the demands of career, growth, family responsibilities, leadership opportunities. They're feeling that pressure to get it right. Right? You know, especially before the next decade arrives. This is a time when you're in your forties that you're filled with ambition and anxiety at the same time as well as hope and hustle.
Kimberley:You know, what what's truly needed here, for the women in their forties for from the next generation or the generation, that's gonna mentor and support and help them, what's really truly needed for the the forties generation is not more cheerleading. They don't need cheerleading. They don't need, sugar coated messages from women. What they really need is real practical wisdom from the women who have walked through the fire and emerged on the other side. So think about that for just a quick moment.
Kimberley:Your job, you're in your forties, is to have a conversation with the women who, know, have prepared a way for you. You wanna learn how to move into that next generation. You know, break out the coffee. Okay? Reserve a seat for lunch with them.
Kimberley:You really wanna know what they have to share so that you can navigate business just a little bit quicker with a little more authority than you ever thought you could. One of the best ways to one up your competition is to learn from the ladies who are ahead of you. They might not be ahead in certain areas, but they are ahead of you in many other ways. And if you will take the time, and listen to the ladies in their fifties, I think you will learn so much in your businesses, for your businesses, for your life, you know, what what how you can navigate through all the responsibilities and and shift some of that hustle into strategy. So I hope that today's episode is really gonna help those of you in your forties see the benefit, and the the essential pieces or the essential truths from women in their fifties to help you grow and navigate as you continue to move forward in your leadership, in your businesses, in your communities.
Kimberley:So let's really dig into, to this episode. So there's six essential truths from women in their fifties that that we really want to convey to the ladies in their forties is, you know, if you think about it this way, by the by the time you're in your forties, you realize that perfect balance is a myth. Okay? And if you haven't learned that one yet, hear it today. Perfect balance is a myth.
Kimberley:Yes. You can have balance in your life and in your business, but there is no perfect balance. You can have balance in the sense of, you know, in this moment, I can have balance with my family. And in this moment, I'm in balance with my business. And in this moment, I'm in balance with my self care.
Kimberley:And sometimes they're all in balance together by luck, and sometimes they're not, but it's not bad. It's just looking at it from a different perspective. But think about it now. It's it's a strategic, you have to be strategic about prioritizing what is most important for you, what matters the most, whether it's your business, your family, your personal growth. In each season of your life, these things need to be prioritized.
Kimberley:Don't assume that you prioritized it now in your forties that it's not gonna shift in your fifties because it will. And women in their fifties can mentor you on setting up reliable systems, learning the art of delegation so that you're not constantly in the I have to do it myself mode. They'll help you establish boundaries, right, and and design your business so it runs smoothly without you having to hover over every little detail. I remember in my forties, it was more like I gotta hover everything, not because of I really needed to, but because it seemed like it was societal expectation. And we don't have to hover over every detail.
Kimberley:You need less hovering and more enjoying your life and family time. You know, think of that for a moment. You're there's only a short time left with your kids. And do you wanna put all your energy into hovering over what other people are doing? No.
Kimberley:You wanna you wanna manage it. You don't wanna be the hover. You wanna spend more time to enjoy your family and your life. And the reality is is that true freedom comes from the systems and the structures that you put in place, not trying to juggle it all. Like, you're carrying all the balls and hoping one doesn't, you know, bounce or one doesn't break because it's made of glass.
Kimberley:So, you know, there are you know, the first essential truth is stop chasing balance and start building systems. So think about for yourself for a quick minute. Do you have systems in place? Are you are you still chasing the balance? Are you building the systems and the structures that you need so that you can endure the next phase of your business life?
Kimberley:The next essential truth is, you know, thinking about your network because your network is your net worth. Effort alone will not open every door. How many of you are saying, like, I keep trying, but I can't get in? I keep on knocking, but I can't get in. Right?
Kimberley:In our forties, relationships really start to become the most valuable assets that we have. The perspective from the fifties from those of us in our fifties is, look. You need to protect your reputation fiercely, Nurture authentic connections with people. Avoid wasting time with transactional networking. Right?
Kimberley:You know that networking. You go out there. You're passing business cards. Right? We've all done it, but it's time to start making the shift.
Kimberley:Seek out relationships built on mutual respect and shared values. Right? That's what really is gonna serve you in the long run, personally and professionally. You know, don't brush off those people that wanna talk to you that are older than you. Give them some of your time so you can see how they can be an asset to you and for you.
Kimberley:Yes. Of course. Bring in the younger generation. Yes. Of course.
Kimberley:Network with your peers, but don't leave out the older generations because you will be missing so much wisdom that you truly need to grow your your business, to grow your net worth, and to continue to grow, you know, your impact on your community. So you just keep in mind that your network is your net worth. It's very important to have the right connections, not just every connection, but the right connections that can introduce you to the people that you need to meet to help you in business and in life. The third, truth is that money is not a dirty word. Okay?
Kimberley:And what I mean by that is you see so much so much where women in their forties undervalue their work, and they undervalue themselves when it comes to sales. You know, I I have, in my first five episodes here, I did an interview with, Julie Thomas with value selling, and she talks about how for men, selling is pretty easy. But for women, it really does take a lot of work for women to get the concept of selling, not because they're incapable, but because there's a lot of, competing commitments, you know, that I wanna do this, but I need to do this and, you know, the family time and, you know, I don't wanna offend and, you know, all these things that start happening. But the truth is as women, we need to come together. You need to listen to the seasoned entrepreneurs in their fifties and and get a different view.
Kimberley:Speak about money unapologetically. Okay? So many women in thirties and forties aren't even willing to ask for a sale, let alone price your things for profit. Right? You wanna do the low low price so that people will buy from you.
Kimberley:The problem is you're not creating a profit, and it's and you're working way too hard. Ask for the sale. Don't be afraid to invest in yourself. You know, I can't attend that workshop or I can't join that membership because if I do that, then I won't have money for over here. That's a scarcity mindset.
Kimberley:Right? You have to invest in yourself. You have to build your knowledge and get around people who can share their wisdom no matter what age they are. Right? And you have to know that financial confidence is not arrogance.
Kimberley:It's smart business. You have to know your numbers. You have to know your profit and loss statement. You have to know how much money is coming in and how much money is going out. Not just what's coming into your bank account, but how much is coming into your business, and then how much is expensed out to run your business.
Kimberley:So many times I'm, like, talking to women, and I'm like, okay. So what are your expenses? Oh, I don't have any expenses. I don't have you know, I don't I don't have any expenses. I'm like, really?
Kimberley:Okay. How about your cell phone? What about your Internet that you're using to to do those Zoom calls? What about the gas or fuel that you're using to go to each meetings? Those are all expenses.
Kimberley:These are all the things that it costs for you to run business. Your web page. Right? The cost of a web page or, landing pages, your, you know, contact management program. All of these are the expenses that are running your business.
Kimberley:Your the cost of your domain. Right? All the little things that it takes to stay in business, these are your expenses. And you need to talk about, am I making the right amount money to cover all of the expenses that I'm really utilizing for my business to be successful? And is there enough leftover to pay me?
Kimberley:Yeah. Hey. Are you making the money that you want to make? Are you at that level of financial freedom that you wanna be at? Are you saving for your retirement and that next level for you?
Kimberley:Right? I know. If somebody had talked to me about my retirement in my twenties, I know what happened. I flipped it off like it didn't matter. Right?
Kimberley:But the truth is is it does matter. And in your thirties, now you're spending all your money and your kids, and and there's no money left over for retirement. Right? Find some money. The best way you can find some money is to make more business, to make sure you're having a profit in business.
Kimberley:Don't just, like, sweep it under a rug and think that you don't have to think about it. And if and if we don't talk about it, then who's gonna talk about it to you? Going for the bling in life, or are we gonna invest in our retirement down the line? Look. Money is what is transferred for you for giving another person some value.
Kimberley:It's not discount your value. You create transactions that create transformations, and those create freedom for your future. Money is not a dirty word. We wanna talk about it. We wanna talk about what are the cost to run a business?
Kimberley:What are the, the things that you need to put in place for your future? You know, not just what you're spending now. The best time is in your forties is to go lean for your future. And what that means is is, you know, don't go out there and just buy your kids all the most expensive things. Right?
Kimberley:Buy them the things that'll get them through and use the excess to create retirement for yourself. Right? The kids will reap rewards later. Right? If something happens to you along the way, you have something to give to you, to give to them.
Kimberley:Look. I know, my mom. I'll just share a quick little story here. My mom pardon me. I'll just share this quick story about my mom.
Kimberley:My mom, she worked hard. She didn't get paid a lot throughout her life. She worked many jobs. Then then she ended up on Social Security. She didn't have any retirement.
Kimberley:Her job didn't afford her that. She she worked low low pay jobs, and there wasn't enough for retirement for her to save up raising four daughters, as a single mom from when I was, like, 13. The truth is there wasn't money. She she thought she was being smart. Sorry.
Kimberley:She thought she was being smart by taking out a life insurance policy. And that way if something happened or when it happened, then there would be a life insurance policy for her kids to get an inheritance. And it it was great thinking, but there was some flaws in that thinking. For example, as she got older in her into her late seventies, some things set set in. She had had a stroke.
Kimberley:Some dementia had set in from that stroke causing it, And she was no longer able to stay at home by herself and and needed to go into a care facility. But guess what? If you have a life insurance policy and you don't have a lot of money for a care facility, you have to cash that life insurance policy in, at least in the state that she was in. She couldn't keep it. So they had to cash the life insurance policy, and it ended up paying for, like, one, maybe two months of her rent at this care facility.
Kimberley:And she did own a house. It's a small house, actually, a modular home. And she owned that. And, of course, the state basically said that, you know, the longer she lives here, then we're taking legal rights over that home because that's what's gonna pay for her being into the facility. And my mom had good intentions by getting that life insurance policy, but the reality was it was gone.
Kimberley:Okay? And, you know, for me personally, I I didn't need my mom's money. I don't need any you know, it would it's nice to have an inheritance. It would be great, but I that wasn't anything I needed. Now I'm not saying that other siblings don't need it.
Kimberley:I've worked thirty years, building my business so that I don't end up in that same kind of space. But, you know, I'm just being real here. But the reality was my mom didn't make it. She was only in care home for about eight months before she passed. And what happened there was that, the state didn't end up taking her home, her small little home that she had paid in full, when she purchased it after selling, the house that, her husband had passed in.
Kimberley:And so, my sister did a lot of work, prepared the home, and actually ended up selling the house. And we all received a small inheritance from that sale of the house. Now my mom never even thought of that. We knew that the house didn't it wasn't a lot because it was a modular home. It was old.
Kimberley:She had bought it used, and it was still used. And she lived in it for over, I think, twenty years. And so, you know, the thing was that she never talked about it. She never, you know, shared what she wanted to do with all these things. She never planned ahead.
Kimberley:And I don't want you or, you know, somebody that you know to end up in the same kind of circumstances. We need to talk about money as women. We need to talk about it. In my my family, it was never talked about. Well, no.
Kimberley:It was talked about. It was said, what do you think? Money doesn't grow on trees? We don't have money for that. No.
Kimberley:We can't afford that. Those are all the things that I heard about money. Nobody ever said, hey. Let me help you open a bank account. Let me help you make sure that you have enough credit established in your business that you can take out a an SBA loan.
Kimberley:Nobody talked about any of those things when I was growing up or even when I was in business as an entrepreneur. It took a long time before I started hearing anything about those kinds of things. So I wanna put out there money is not a dirty word. Right? You wanna create the freedom for your future, then start asking about money advice.
Kimberley:Start getting involved in finding out what can you do with the money that's available to you as an entrepreneur. Think of all of those things for you and and start talking about it. Because you when you start talking about it, you realize that the work that you're providing as an entrepreneur is more valuable than you gave yourself credit for. And you can be asking for more or creating newer products or better products that would really enhance or show your value even better. So that's another little truth from from the ladies in their fifties.
Kimberley:The next one is leadership isn't about proving. It's about guiding. You know, oftentimes you hear, women in their forties come with the need to prove capability and to earn validation. You don't need to earn the validation. What you have to do is do the work.
Kimberley:Women in their fifties, our wisdom is telling you stop auditioning. We don't need you to audition. The people who you're bringing up and you're selling to, they don't need you to audition. Okay? This is not a job interview.
Kimberley:But you wanna lead from a place of conviction, lead from a space of experience, not from a space of being liked or accepted. You know, you're gonna see memes out there, right, that that, women, women in menopause don't care. Like, women past menopause. Like, they just don't care. It's like, whatever.
Kimberley:You wanna mess with me? Let's go. We're ready. Right? Because what really has happened is that we we've we've learned to lead from that place of conviction, that place of experience.
Kimberley:We don't need to be liked. Okay? And if you don't like us, that's okay. We'll move to somebody else. I always say, look.
Kimberley:I'm gonna train you, or I'm gonna train your competition. You decide. So, you know, that's where it is when you're in your fifties. We've reached that point. Like, it just whatever.
Kimberley:Right? True leaders, though, what they do is they guide. They inspire. They empower. They encourage.
Kimberley:They're not there to perform. I'm not here to perform on a podcast for you. I'm here to help guide, to share wisdom, to inspire you, to encourage you, to empower you, to step in to your own superhero strengths so that you can step into what's next for you, so that you can be ready for whatever falls in front of us, this ever changing world. As women in in our fifties, we're leading the way for you to step into that next phase of your life. And quite often, women in their forties are dismissing the women in their fifties just like the women in their thirties are dismissing the women in their forties.
Kimberley:What you wanna do is honor the fact that we've paved that space, that and and listen to, what it is that we can offer you so that you can get ahead of your competition, get ahead of the game. The people who aren't listening, they're the ones who are gonna fall behind because the people who are listening are taking the lead faster than what we ever did in our forties. Don't you ever wonder why someone who has less skills than you is getting ahead of you? It's because they're listening. They're being guided by women who have paved the way, who who have done the work and can show you and guide you to move forward more quickly now.
Kimberley:Now if that's not a truth, I don't know what what is. The fifth truth I wanna put out there is you wanna protect your health like it is your business asset. Look. As entrepreneurs, if you haven't created the space where you have employees, you have a a succession plan that somebody else is gonna take over who can teach, that you're not training people how to be you in essence, then there's nobody to take over when you get sick. Ignoring your health can derail your business faster than a bad quarter.
Kimberley:At least in a bad quarter, you were doing something. But when your health is bad, it makes it really hard for you to continue moving forward. And women in their fifties have seen firsthand the consequences of burnout, stress, neglect, right, mental health issues. Their mentorship is about thinking about treating wellness practices as strategic moves. They're not extras.
Kimberley:They're not like, yeah, when I have time, we've reached the point where good health feels like sustainable success. You gotta ask yourself, are you drinking plenty of water? Are you eating the right foods for you? Look. I'm a perfect example of letting business get ahead of me getting out and working out.
Kimberley:I'll take full responsibility for that. Like, I don't have it altogether. But when I go to the doctor and she tells me the only thing that she can yell at me about is my weight because my blood work is great. I everything else is doing very well, but the only thing is my weight because I sit way too often. Right?
Kimberley:I don't get up and move around enough. Right? I make good actually, I make pretty great food choices. I just don't get up and move. And I know I've heard the comments.
Kimberley:I've seen it. Whatever. Yeah. I could get the the GLP ones and whatever, but that's not my choice at this time. So take my advice and move more.
Kimberley:Okay? Don't don't be like me. I'm giving you this wisdom. Eat better and drink to hydrate not for pleasure. I drink water.
Kimberley:I don't drink alcohol. Pardon me. I hardly ever drink sodas. Right? Occasionally, I'll have some juice, but I drink a lot of water.
Kimberley:I don't drink for pleasure. I drink to hydrate. I eat food to keep me, from having consequences that I don't want. I just have to get up and work out more. So if you could take my lead on this, alright, or don't take my lead on it, Take my regret on it, and, you know, do what you can now to stay healthy, to stay in shape because it is a business asset.
Kimberley:I have been blessed. I have not been sick. I have not you know, there's very few things that knock me down, and a lot of that has to do with my food food choices. But I know that I'm gonna have to make a shift as I move into my next space, and I'm listening to the women ahead of me on that. So I'm just challenging you, you know, to make sure that you're taking care of your health in your business.
Kimberley:And the last truth that I'm gonna share with you is, my business is called be a legacy. And, you know, my my consulting and coaching business is called be a legacy. And the premise of that is don't wait to leave a legacy. Be one now. Be the legacy that you want to leave because it'll automatically happen that you're gonna leave it.
Kimberley:When you're in your forties, you often are really focused on the hustle. And that hustle and busyness, you know, we're wearing busyness like that badge of honor. Oh, I'm so busy. I got all this busy work. I need to do that.
Kimberley:But have you heard the saying that busy is the new stupid? I think somebody in their fifties probably said it to start out. I think that's how it got started. But getting smarter about being busy or that hustle mode, getting smarter quicker by reducing that busyness, and create a shift for yourself. Us ladies in our fifties, we've created a shift.
Kimberley:It's not about building something, right now. It's about building something that will last. So in your forties, you're not thinking about building that something that'll last. You're in the hustle mode. What if you could shift out of that just a little bit?
Kimberley:Stay in hustle and think of the legacy for the future. You know, what is something that you're building, and how is it gonna last? Well, if I go back to the previous truth, your health, if that doesn't last, then you're never gonna get to the legacy part. So make sure that you you are paying attention. Focus your move.
Kimberley:You know, focus from that space of frantic activity to a lasting legacy. Right? Sustainability, succession. What is that succession plan for yourself? What is scaling with sanity?
Kimberley:Okay? How can you scale with sanity? The goal isn't just to succeed, but to create an impact that echoes beyond you. And you might not notice that yet in your forties, but if you listen today and you really hear from my heart, what I'm telling you is that it's not just about succeeding and making the most amount of money and having the fancy car and the expensive jewelry and the, you know, the bling and the the purses and the clothing and, you know, all of those things. They're great, but you wanna build something that's gonna outlive you and create an impact for the community of the people that you're serving.
Kimberley:Yeah. You could have, you know, a 100,000 followers on Instagram or, you know, Facebook or, you know, TikTok, LinkedIn. You can have a lot of followers. But if you're not converting those followers into business, then it's just really about, you know, look at me. Pay attention to me.
Kimberley:And what I hope you hear when you move into your fifties, it's more about what is it that I can make happen so that when I'm long gone, I'm still remembered. It's no longer just look at me. It's look what I brought. Look look what I get to leave behind and be remembered for. None of us know our day.
Kimberley:Okay? None of us know when that day is gonna be. But as a businesswoman, I want you to think about what can you do later. That that's the greatest gift you can give your kids. That's the greatest gift you can give your community.
Kimberley:That's the greatest gift you can give yourself. So if you just think about what are those six truths, well, stop chasing balance and start building the systems that are needed for your business, the the systems, the structures, but not in a way that creates chaos or panic. Right? Your network is your net worth, And money is not a dirty word. Talk about it.
Kimberley:Build your network. Can get it with your community. Ask other people. Hey. How are you saving for retirement?
Kimberley:How are you, you know, planning for your future? Ask the other ladies as entrepreneurs. Open up the discussions. Who knows? You might be the first person who ever asked them that, and they haven't been planning anything.
Kimberley:And what if you got came together as a community and created something for the first time for all of you because you started asking some questions. And we didn't just, you know, talk about money to ourselves and our spouses, but we talked about money to our friends and our colleagues. And leadership is not about proving things. It's about guiding people. How are you guiding people in your business, in your community, in your life?
Kimberley:Protect your health like it's a business asset because it is. It's extremely important for you to protect your health. And then remember, legacy over hustle. As you're moving into that next phase of your your business, think of legacy and help reduce some of that hustle. Look.
Kimberley:In closing, to all the women in your forties that are listening today, I'm gonna challenge you to find mentors in their fifties who are willing to share with you their scars, right, their stories, not just their successes. You wanna know some of their failures, their setbacks as well, and how did they get through them. Seek out those that'll give you real talk. You know, the kind that helps you move you know, build a business that's rooted in wisdom and in courage and in vision. Those are the things that help you create your own superhero story.
Kimberley:Every decade brings new powers and new lessons and new possibilities. So the more that you you step into connecting with those people who have forged the path ahead of you, right, They're helping you build your superhero powers. That's what stepping into your you you know, being that superhero in heels. Is getting new superpowers from those people who have already done it before you, and they show you how to use them. I really do, you know, hope that you'll see that this whole this series is about, you know, the generations.
Kimberley:Right? The the wisdom across the generations. And I hope that you can see that with wisdom across the generations, you can learn and glean from that, add that to your business, get yourself ahead of your competition so that you can build business more sustainably, more financially sound, create the freedoms that you want for yourself and your family, and and get involved more in your community because that's where you're gonna be leading to next. So thank you for tuning in to Superheroes in Heels. I'm Kimberley Borgans, and I say, look.
Kimberley:Stay bold, stay brilliant, and remember, the best stories are still walking in front of you. So step into those heels of the other women, that have forged the way for you. Make sure that you share this podcast, subscribe, reply to this episode. I love to have those responses. I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.
Kimberley:Make sure you go to Kimberleyborgans.com and join me in the Hive Hangout. That's where we're networking and learning how to be super connected and build business together. So I look forward to seeing you in my next episode of this three part series where we're gonna talk about, you know, some more. What can the the fifties and sixties generations learn from the thirties and forties generations? Alright.
Kimberley:Look forward to having you on the next chapter, next episode of this, this little series that I'm doing here with, wisdom across the generations. Thank you for joining me. Have a blessed day.
Outro:Thanks for tuning in to Superheroes in Heels with Kimberley Borgens. If you're walking away feeling a little braver, a little bolder, and a whole lot more powerful, mission accomplished. Be sure to subscribe to the show and leave a review. It helps us to reach more women who are ready to unleash their power and lead with confidence. And if you do leave a review, you might just hear your name in an upcoming episode.
Outro:If today's conversation lit a fire in you, share it with your network and join us inside the hive society at Kimberleyborgens.com, where powerful women gather to break barriers and rise together. Until next time, keep showing up, standing strong, and heels or not, keep embracing your inner superhero.