1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,200 Carol Cox: You probably have a story only you can tell 2 00:00:03,360 --> 00:00:04,920 because you are the messenger. 3 00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:06,920 Your audience is waiting for. 4 00:00:07,160 --> 00:00:09,040 Hear how my client, Wendy Romeu, 5 00:00:09,040 --> 00:00:11,920 decided to share hers on this episode of the 6 00:00:11,920 --> 00:00:13,400 Speaking Your Brand podcast. 7 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:21,320 Hi, and welcome to the Speaking Your Brand 8 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:22,440 podcast. I'm your host, 9 00:00:22,440 --> 00:00:25,720 Carol Cox. Today my guest is Wendy Romeu, 10 00:00:25,760 --> 00:00:29,360 who we have worked together since 2017. 11 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:32,240 I can't believe it's been over nine years. 12 00:00:32,240 --> 00:00:34,280 And this is the first time Wendy has been on 13 00:00:34,280 --> 00:00:37,160 the podcast. So this is a long time coming. 14 00:00:37,360 --> 00:00:40,000 Wendy is the founder and president of a 15 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:41,800 project management firm, 16 00:00:41,800 --> 00:00:43,120 but it does a lot more than project 17 00:00:43,120 --> 00:00:44,880 management, cyber security, 18 00:00:45,120 --> 00:00:46,960 engineering, all kinds of stuff called 19 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:49,680 Alluvionic, which she founded in 2013, 20 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:53,360 and it has grown to having over 100 team 21 00:00:53,360 --> 00:00:56,240 members today. It's based over on this base 22 00:00:56,240 --> 00:00:58,640 in the space coast of Florida, 23 00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:00,050 here in Brevard County, 24 00:01:00,090 --> 00:01:01,450 in the Melbourne area. 25 00:01:01,730 --> 00:01:05,770 And Wendy is such an amazing leader and 26 00:01:05,770 --> 00:01:08,330 manager and CEO of her business. 27 00:01:08,330 --> 00:01:11,770 She has been recognized as an SBA woman owned 28 00:01:11,770 --> 00:01:14,010 Small Business Person of the year for the 29 00:01:14,010 --> 00:01:15,410 South Florida District in the state of 30 00:01:15,410 --> 00:01:18,010 Florida. She's also been acknowledged as a 31 00:01:18,050 --> 00:01:20,730 rising women entrepreneur in Florida. 32 00:01:21,050 --> 00:01:23,450 She's been recognized as a business leader of 33 00:01:23,450 --> 00:01:25,810 the year for herself and the incredible 34 00:01:25,810 --> 00:01:27,970 culture and team that she has built. 35 00:01:28,330 --> 00:01:30,410 And so Wendy and I have worked together one 36 00:01:30,450 --> 00:01:33,050 on one. She also attended a three day 37 00:01:33,210 --> 00:01:35,490 speaking Your brand in-person retreat that we 38 00:01:35,530 --> 00:01:37,810 held back in the beginning of 2024. 39 00:01:37,810 --> 00:01:40,170 So it was great to have her there with us and 40 00:01:40,170 --> 00:01:41,450 the other group of women. 41 00:01:41,650 --> 00:01:44,410 But then something happened just a couple of 42 00:01:44,410 --> 00:01:48,410 weeks after that retreat that obviously 43 00:01:48,490 --> 00:01:50,210 surprised everyone. 44 00:01:50,650 --> 00:01:53,770 And so I want Wendy to come to talk to us a 45 00:01:53,770 --> 00:01:55,290 little bit about what happened, 46 00:01:55,290 --> 00:01:58,510 but the lessons that she learned from it, 47 00:01:58,510 --> 00:02:00,990 but the lessons that also prepared her for 48 00:02:00,990 --> 00:02:03,030 what happened prepared her business for what 49 00:02:03,030 --> 00:02:04,830 happened. So no matter if you're a 50 00:02:04,830 --> 00:02:06,270 solopreneur, it's just you. 51 00:02:06,310 --> 00:02:07,990 Maybe you have some assistance or some 52 00:02:07,990 --> 00:02:10,630 contractors, or if you're growing a team, 53 00:02:10,790 --> 00:02:13,030 we all need to have a resilient business and 54 00:02:13,030 --> 00:02:16,030 really a just a resilient life in general 55 00:02:16,030 --> 00:02:18,430 because we never know what's going to happen. 56 00:02:18,430 --> 00:02:20,390 So Wendy, welcome to the podcast. 57 00:02:20,430 --> 00:02:21,750 Wendy Romeu: Thank you for having me here. 58 00:02:22,270 --> 00:02:24,950 Carol Cox: All right. So let's go ahead and dive in and 59 00:02:24,950 --> 00:02:27,270 tell us a little bit about what happened in 60 00:02:27,310 --> 00:02:30,710 two years ago in March of 2024. 61 00:02:30,870 --> 00:02:32,510 So I'm going to have Wendy kind of just share 62 00:02:32,510 --> 00:02:34,790 the story because Wendy sharing the story is 63 00:02:34,790 --> 00:02:36,870 going to then help to lead us into the rest 64 00:02:36,870 --> 00:02:38,750 of the conversation we're going to have today 65 00:02:38,750 --> 00:02:41,430 about how do you know when it's time to tell 66 00:02:41,430 --> 00:02:43,910 a story about a situation that happened to 67 00:02:43,910 --> 00:02:46,310 you? How do you take that story and 68 00:02:46,310 --> 00:02:49,030 universalize the lessons for your audience 69 00:02:49,030 --> 00:02:51,630 and how to sharing a story like this change 70 00:02:51,630 --> 00:02:53,470 you both personally and professionally. 71 00:02:53,470 --> 00:02:55,190 So we're going to get into that conversation. 72 00:02:55,190 --> 00:02:57,520 But first, Wendy, please tell us a little bit 73 00:02:57,520 --> 00:02:58,320 about what happened. 74 00:02:58,760 --> 00:03:01,480 Wendy Romeu: Absolutely. So early 20, 75 00:03:01,520 --> 00:03:04,360 24, I had done a major reorg to the 76 00:03:04,360 --> 00:03:06,880 organization and basically separated the 77 00:03:06,880 --> 00:03:08,240 organization into three different business 78 00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:10,600 units and hired or promoted five brand new 79 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:13,400 leaders. I was about to have a offsite 80 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:15,920 retreat, but first decided to go on a family 81 00:03:15,920 --> 00:03:18,600 vacation with a five of our six adult 82 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:21,240 children. And while we were in Puerto Rico 83 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:23,960 while we were there, my husband saw some 84 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:27,600 paramotors and he was doing Paramotoring in 85 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:29,360 Brevard County in Florida, where it's flat, 86 00:03:29,680 --> 00:03:32,160 and decided that he would try it in Puerto 87 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:35,800 Rico. Um, he, he rented the equipment. 88 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:39,280 We went out, he went up and things weren't 89 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:40,800 going well. The winds were bad. 90 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:42,920 The equipment wasn't his equipment. 91 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:45,640 Uh, it just wasn't it wasn't a good 92 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:47,360 situation. So when he came down, 93 00:03:47,360 --> 00:03:50,120 unfortunately, he had a pretty bad landing. 94 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:54,600 He, uh, he landed, he bounced off the ground, 95 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:57,010 broke his femur and landed face down into a 96 00:03:57,010 --> 00:04:00,490 ditch where the paramotor broke his back. 97 00:04:01,410 --> 00:04:03,090 The instructor that was there, Abel, 98 00:04:03,090 --> 00:04:06,170 was able to flip him over and so he didn't 99 00:04:06,170 --> 00:04:07,530 drown. So that was great. 100 00:04:07,530 --> 00:04:10,210 And we spent about a week in Puerto Rico, 101 00:04:10,650 --> 00:04:15,970 um, where things just got from worse or from 102 00:04:15,970 --> 00:04:17,050 that bad to worse. 103 00:04:17,050 --> 00:04:19,930 And, uh, ultimately had to take him out of 104 00:04:19,930 --> 00:04:23,050 Puerto Rico on an emergency flight to Miami. 105 00:04:23,570 --> 00:04:27,930 Um, we, he was, uh, we did find out that he 106 00:04:27,930 --> 00:04:30,530 was paralyzed and he is now still paralyzed 107 00:04:30,530 --> 00:04:32,490 from the waist down. He's paraplegic. 108 00:04:32,890 --> 00:04:34,050 Um, in Puerto Rico. 109 00:04:34,090 --> 00:04:35,410 We spent a week there, 110 00:04:35,770 --> 00:04:39,330 uh, had to let my team know and then also 111 00:04:39,330 --> 00:04:41,490 have them basically take over the reins. 112 00:04:41,490 --> 00:04:43,290 Even though I was checking in periodically, 113 00:04:43,290 --> 00:04:45,570 they had to quickly, uh, 114 00:04:45,770 --> 00:04:47,970 rally around each other and rally around this 115 00:04:47,970 --> 00:04:51,810 brand new team to keep iluvien running. 116 00:04:52,050 --> 00:04:54,470 And even today, a lot of our customers don't 117 00:04:54,470 --> 00:04:56,270 know everything that happened. 118 00:04:56,430 --> 00:04:58,830 We went to Miami, found out that Miami was a 119 00:04:58,830 --> 00:05:01,230 spinal cord injury of excellence, 120 00:05:01,390 --> 00:05:02,670 one of 12 in the United States. 121 00:05:02,670 --> 00:05:04,430 So we ended up staying in Miami for seven 122 00:05:04,430 --> 00:05:06,590 months so that he could get, 123 00:05:06,630 --> 00:05:09,030 you know, recover and get the the, 124 00:05:09,310 --> 00:05:11,830 the full medical benefits of being in a place 125 00:05:11,830 --> 00:05:14,390 like that. During that time, 126 00:05:14,430 --> 00:05:16,550 you know, I would check in with the office I 127 00:05:16,550 --> 00:05:20,430 was, we had systems in place already that 128 00:05:21,910 --> 00:05:23,510 allowed the employees to know what they 129 00:05:23,510 --> 00:05:25,430 needed to do when they needed to do it. 130 00:05:25,630 --> 00:05:27,310 Um, and I would say that we, 131 00:05:27,630 --> 00:05:29,750 uh, fortified the organization before we 132 00:05:29,750 --> 00:05:31,310 needed to, to do that. 133 00:05:31,510 --> 00:05:34,670 Um, by focusing on processes that needed to 134 00:05:34,670 --> 00:05:36,630 be improved throughout, throughout the life 135 00:05:36,630 --> 00:05:38,470 of the organization and, 136 00:05:38,750 --> 00:05:40,750 um, continuously making forward progress. 137 00:05:40,990 --> 00:05:42,590 When the accident happened and before the 138 00:05:42,590 --> 00:05:44,630 accident happened, and even after, so because 139 00:05:44,630 --> 00:05:46,590 we had our culture in place, 140 00:05:46,590 --> 00:05:49,550 we were able to continue with the 141 00:05:49,550 --> 00:05:51,390 organization. And that first year, 142 00:05:51,760 --> 00:05:53,360 we actually grew 28%. 143 00:05:53,360 --> 00:05:56,240 So not only did the company survive, 144 00:05:56,280 --> 00:05:57,720 it thrived while I left. 145 00:05:57,720 --> 00:06:00,360 And really the big deal is we had everything 146 00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:03,240 in place. So when something happened, 147 00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:04,720 it could just keep going. 148 00:06:04,760 --> 00:06:06,520 I didn't have time to prepare. 149 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:08,480 You know, I didn't know this was going to 150 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:10,040 happen. Oh, I have a week or two or a month 151 00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:12,000 to prepare so that when I'm gone, 152 00:06:12,040 --> 00:06:13,800 I mean, I was gone in an instant. 153 00:06:14,200 --> 00:06:17,400 So, um, but now we're back and things are 154 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:18,960 better. He's doing great. He's back. 155 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:20,840 He he helps run the technology side of the 156 00:06:20,840 --> 00:06:22,640 company. He's back running that and, 157 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:25,360 and the company is doing very well. 158 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:28,520 Carol Cox: Well, Wendy, thank you for sharing that. 159 00:06:28,520 --> 00:06:30,280 And it is amazing to me that again, 160 00:06:30,320 --> 00:06:33,000 as the CEO and you have this leadership team, 161 00:06:33,040 --> 00:06:34,440 like you mentioned, many of them were just 162 00:06:34,440 --> 00:06:36,680 coming on board initially, 163 00:06:36,680 --> 00:06:38,720 so you hadn't even met some of them yet, 164 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:41,400 much less getting them all plugged in and 165 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:43,120 that they were able to, 166 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:45,520 just like you said, take the reins and then 167 00:06:45,560 --> 00:06:48,480 have the business actually grow in revenue. 168 00:06:48,520 --> 00:06:51,170 That year is really a testament to the 169 00:06:51,170 --> 00:06:53,330 culture and the systems that you had built. 170 00:06:53,330 --> 00:06:55,650 And I know we worked on your talk that you 171 00:06:55,650 --> 00:06:57,370 recently delivered. And one of the things 172 00:06:57,370 --> 00:07:00,570 that really, I think what surprised me and 173 00:07:00,610 --> 00:07:03,450 surprises people in your audience is how you 174 00:07:03,490 --> 00:07:06,890 thought about culture and HR from the very 175 00:07:06,890 --> 00:07:08,250 beginning. So can you share a little bit 176 00:07:08,250 --> 00:07:08,890 about that? 177 00:07:09,210 --> 00:07:11,250 Wendy Romeu: Absolutely. So, you know, 178 00:07:11,570 --> 00:07:14,090 people are surprised that when I only had six 179 00:07:14,330 --> 00:07:17,090 employees, I hired my first full time HR 180 00:07:17,130 --> 00:07:20,890 person because I knew that culture had to be 181 00:07:20,890 --> 00:07:22,490 built from the ground up. 182 00:07:22,490 --> 00:07:25,010 It's very difficult to change culture or fix 183 00:07:25,010 --> 00:07:26,570 culture when you have a lot of people. And 184 00:07:26,570 --> 00:07:28,370 the vision was always to have a lot of people 185 00:07:28,370 --> 00:07:30,250 in in many different states. 186 00:07:30,570 --> 00:07:32,570 We're in 17 different states right now. 187 00:07:33,250 --> 00:07:38,090 And, um, culture has always been part of our 188 00:07:38,090 --> 00:07:40,490 strategy and it's always been a focus every 189 00:07:40,490 --> 00:07:42,770 single year as part of our strategic plans 190 00:07:42,770 --> 00:07:44,970 and in our strategic projects throughout the 191 00:07:44,970 --> 00:07:47,450 year. So by doing that, 192 00:07:47,450 --> 00:07:50,830 I do think that, uh, and it's hard to, 193 00:07:50,870 --> 00:07:52,350 it's not tangible, right? 194 00:07:52,390 --> 00:07:53,990 It's not, it's not necessarily something that 195 00:07:53,990 --> 00:07:56,270 you can see or feel. 196 00:07:56,630 --> 00:07:57,990 It's what you feel, but it's not something 197 00:07:57,990 --> 00:07:59,030 you can see or touch. 198 00:07:59,310 --> 00:08:03,110 And when I left, that could have really 199 00:08:03,350 --> 00:08:05,030 broken the company and people could have been 200 00:08:05,030 --> 00:08:06,190 infighting, who's who's, 201 00:08:06,390 --> 00:08:08,110 who has power, who's doing what. 202 00:08:08,150 --> 00:08:09,830 But because we had the culture in place, 203 00:08:09,870 --> 00:08:12,190 really everybody rallied around everybody. 204 00:08:12,190 --> 00:08:15,270 And it was really amazing to watch from afar. 205 00:08:15,710 --> 00:08:17,350 And even coming back in, 206 00:08:17,390 --> 00:08:19,750 there's still that culture is still there. 207 00:08:19,750 --> 00:08:21,750 And that couldn't have happened when I left. 208 00:08:21,750 --> 00:08:23,750 It had to be built all those years before. 209 00:08:25,310 --> 00:08:26,550 Carol Cox: Right, exactly. 210 00:08:26,550 --> 00:08:28,310 And, and same with the systems that you had 211 00:08:28,310 --> 00:08:30,430 in place in the, the different frameworks 212 00:08:30,430 --> 00:08:32,910 that you use and, and the systems that run 213 00:08:32,910 --> 00:08:34,430 the business, not just the systems, 214 00:08:34,470 --> 00:08:35,950 you know, software systems and things like 215 00:08:35,950 --> 00:08:37,950 that, but how people make decisions. 216 00:08:37,950 --> 00:08:40,830 Because as a CEO, I'm sure that everyone 217 00:08:40,830 --> 00:08:42,670 likes the leader to make the decision because 218 00:08:42,670 --> 00:08:44,310 then they don't have to be responsible for 219 00:08:44,310 --> 00:08:47,400 it. But how did you manage over the years to 220 00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:50,000 remove yourself from having to make. 221 00:08:50,040 --> 00:08:51,320 Having to be the one to. 222 00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:52,680 To make all the decisions. 223 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:56,000 Wendy Romeu: Great question. So we implemented iOS, 224 00:08:56,040 --> 00:08:57,640 which is just a framework. There's a lot of 225 00:08:57,640 --> 00:08:58,920 frameworks out there. That's the one I 226 00:08:58,960 --> 00:09:00,680 resonated with many years ago, 227 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:03,960 and it has an escalation process. 228 00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:07,120 It has decision making framework around it 229 00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:10,360 all. We also made sure that we let people 230 00:09:10,360 --> 00:09:11,800 know they can make decisions based on our 231 00:09:11,800 --> 00:09:14,280 core values, and they can't make a bad 232 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:16,120 decision as long as they made it based on 233 00:09:16,120 --> 00:09:18,320 those core values, I can fix anything as long 234 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:20,440 as it was based on those core values. 235 00:09:20,440 --> 00:09:23,960 So we had all of that in place and really 236 00:09:23,960 --> 00:09:25,600 nothing changed when I left. 237 00:09:26,360 --> 00:09:27,760 The only thing that really changed is 238 00:09:27,760 --> 00:09:31,600 everything filtered through my CFO who had 239 00:09:31,600 --> 00:09:34,000 just hired, you know, half a year before 240 00:09:34,040 --> 00:09:38,200 that. And him and I would talk daily. 241 00:09:38,200 --> 00:09:40,560 And those questions that he couldn't deal 242 00:09:40,560 --> 00:09:44,120 with are needed just to inform me of. 243 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:46,650 He would tell me and we would we would talk 244 00:09:46,650 --> 00:09:47,850 about that. But those were. 245 00:09:48,410 --> 00:09:50,010 And the very beginning, that wasn't even like 246 00:09:50,010 --> 00:09:51,650 a regular scheduled time. It's just whenever 247 00:09:51,650 --> 00:09:52,970 I can reach out to you, I will. 248 00:09:53,210 --> 00:09:55,370 Type of thing. So nothing changed. 249 00:09:55,370 --> 00:09:57,170 Everything just kept running. 250 00:09:57,170 --> 00:10:01,010 And they would keep me informed or wait and 251 00:10:01,010 --> 00:10:02,770 ask me questions when I needed, 252 00:10:03,290 --> 00:10:05,650 when they needed to. But nothing stopped. 253 00:10:05,650 --> 00:10:07,210 Everything just kept going. 254 00:10:07,250 --> 00:10:09,570 Just like. Like I was there. 255 00:10:10,770 --> 00:10:12,490 Carol Cox: And I think that for so many of us who have 256 00:10:12,490 --> 00:10:13,890 businesses and I have a very, very small 257 00:10:13,890 --> 00:10:15,930 business, especially even compared to yours, 258 00:10:15,970 --> 00:10:17,250 Wendy, is that we that, 259 00:10:17,290 --> 00:10:18,730 you know, the CEO or the leader, 260 00:10:18,730 --> 00:10:21,370 we are the bottleneck because either everyone 261 00:10:21,370 --> 00:10:23,330 wants to come to us to get that sense of 262 00:10:23,330 --> 00:10:26,050 approval and validation or to make sure that 263 00:10:26,090 --> 00:10:27,970 whatever decision that they want to make is 264 00:10:28,010 --> 00:10:29,570 the, is the right one, quote unquote, right 265 00:10:29,570 --> 00:10:32,330 one. So we are the bottleneck because of 266 00:10:32,370 --> 00:10:34,530 that, or we are the bottleneck because we 267 00:10:34,530 --> 00:10:35,730 like making the decisions. 268 00:10:35,730 --> 00:10:36,810 We don't want to let go. 269 00:10:36,850 --> 00:10:38,610 We like, you know, being in being, 270 00:10:39,330 --> 00:10:41,010 oh, I'll speak for myself knowing what's 271 00:10:41,010 --> 00:10:42,770 going on, right? Like, what is everyone 272 00:10:42,770 --> 00:10:43,930 doing? Okay, sure. 273 00:10:43,990 --> 00:10:45,110 I can help with this. Okay. 274 00:10:45,150 --> 00:10:46,630 Sure. I can see what's going on with this. I 275 00:10:46,630 --> 00:10:48,190 want to know what's going on on this side. 276 00:10:48,190 --> 00:10:50,350 How? As you were building your company, 277 00:10:50,510 --> 00:10:52,430 how did you manage to let go? 278 00:10:52,470 --> 00:10:54,070 Or was it easy for you to do that? 279 00:10:55,190 --> 00:10:57,150 Wendy Romeu: That is the hardest part for sure. 280 00:10:57,270 --> 00:11:01,630 So building the company to where I wasn't 281 00:11:01,830 --> 00:11:05,070 involved in every single decision was key. 282 00:11:05,070 --> 00:11:06,390 So I first realized I had to hire the right 283 00:11:06,390 --> 00:11:07,670 people. You know, you have to make sure 284 00:11:07,670 --> 00:11:08,910 you're hiring competent people so that you 285 00:11:08,910 --> 00:11:11,270 feel comfortable letting go, delegating, 286 00:11:11,390 --> 00:11:13,510 making sure that people understand what they 287 00:11:13,550 --> 00:11:15,750 are responsible for and what they're allowed 288 00:11:15,750 --> 00:11:17,230 to make decisions on is really, really 289 00:11:17,230 --> 00:11:20,270 important. And working on myself to let go 290 00:11:21,030 --> 00:11:22,510 has been a work in progress, and I'm still 291 00:11:22,510 --> 00:11:24,390 doing that today. And even my leaders 292 00:11:24,390 --> 00:11:26,110 struggle with that as well because they need 293 00:11:26,110 --> 00:11:27,510 to delegate down, you know, 294 00:11:27,710 --> 00:11:29,950 to their people. I would say that's the 295 00:11:29,950 --> 00:11:32,110 hardest part in building a resilient 296 00:11:32,110 --> 00:11:36,350 business, because it takes time to build your 297 00:11:36,350 --> 00:11:39,590 own confidence that they're going to do 298 00:11:39,630 --> 00:11:43,680 what's right. And that you don't just come in 299 00:11:43,680 --> 00:11:45,400 and fix everything. You know, 300 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:47,120 try to try to try to answer everything. 301 00:11:47,120 --> 00:11:49,240 Because if you continue to answer them or 302 00:11:49,560 --> 00:11:51,480 give the answers, they're going to always 303 00:11:51,480 --> 00:11:53,240 come back to you. So sometimes there is a 304 00:11:53,240 --> 00:11:54,680 problem where I do have to dive in, 305 00:11:54,680 --> 00:11:57,120 and I will dive in deep and stay with the 306 00:11:57,120 --> 00:11:59,840 team until it's, it's either resolved or 307 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:02,000 we've decided how to resolve it. But the big 308 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:04,240 important thing is for me to get out. 309 00:12:04,520 --> 00:12:07,560 If I don't get out, you won't get out. 310 00:12:07,560 --> 00:12:08,960 You will stay in there forever because they 311 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:10,760 will continuously ask you the questions 312 00:12:10,760 --> 00:12:12,960 because you're standing there. So get in, 313 00:12:13,000 --> 00:12:14,440 help fix things and get out. 314 00:12:14,440 --> 00:12:16,520 But the key is getting out and that's with 315 00:12:16,520 --> 00:12:18,160 the day to day. That's with when there was a 316 00:12:18,160 --> 00:12:20,560 problem. You have to get in. And if you don't 317 00:12:20,560 --> 00:12:22,120 keep reminding yourself of that, you get 318 00:12:22,120 --> 00:12:24,640 stuck into the well, I can just answer, 319 00:12:24,640 --> 00:12:26,200 it's faster if I just do it. 320 00:12:26,720 --> 00:12:28,400 And you have to train yourself and 321 00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:30,560 continuously remind yourself to get out. 322 00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:32,160 Otherwise it won't. 323 00:12:32,200 --> 00:12:33,560 It won't happen. 324 00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:37,280 Carol Cox: So talk to us a little bit about how how did 325 00:12:37,280 --> 00:12:39,640 you feel when you knew? 326 00:12:40,560 --> 00:12:42,330 Well, I guess, you know, for the first week 327 00:12:42,330 --> 00:12:44,010 when the accident happened, obviously, you're 328 00:12:44,010 --> 00:12:46,130 spending so much time just focused on your 329 00:12:46,130 --> 00:12:47,650 husband and making sure that he's getting the 330 00:12:47,690 --> 00:12:50,090 care that he needed and figuring out what 331 00:12:50,090 --> 00:12:51,650 that care would look like, and then getting 332 00:12:51,650 --> 00:12:53,210 him to Miami. So you're, you're focused so 333 00:12:53,210 --> 00:12:57,570 much on that. Did you did you just assume 334 00:12:57,570 --> 00:12:59,130 that your team had it like they had the 335 00:12:59,130 --> 00:13:01,290 business handled and you didn't have to worry 336 00:13:01,290 --> 00:13:02,850 about it? Was there a part of you where 337 00:13:02,850 --> 00:13:04,090 you're just like, okay, I feel like I should 338 00:13:04,090 --> 00:13:06,570 be checking in more with my team to make sure 339 00:13:06,570 --> 00:13:08,170 that everything's taken care of. Like, how 340 00:13:08,170 --> 00:13:09,370 did you balance that? 341 00:13:09,570 --> 00:13:12,290 Wendy Romeu: That was very difficult in the very 342 00:13:12,290 --> 00:13:15,810 beginning. I didn't have time or the energy 343 00:13:15,810 --> 00:13:18,610 to. I just had to trust that they had it. 344 00:13:18,610 --> 00:13:23,250 I didn't have the ability to to. 345 00:13:23,850 --> 00:13:26,650 I checked in as much as I could and I, 346 00:13:26,690 --> 00:13:29,410 I didn't have the ability to do anymore, 347 00:13:29,410 --> 00:13:31,450 so I had to give myself grace there. 348 00:13:31,890 --> 00:13:34,090 When we got to Miami and especially after he 349 00:13:34,090 --> 00:13:38,850 was out of ICU and, and and out of inpatient 350 00:13:39,430 --> 00:13:41,790 Where I was actually living in the hospital 351 00:13:41,790 --> 00:13:43,870 with him for those four weeks. 352 00:13:44,190 --> 00:13:45,670 And we moved to the apartment, and then he 353 00:13:45,670 --> 00:13:47,430 was an outpatient for all those months. 354 00:13:47,470 --> 00:13:49,150 That's really when that transition happened 355 00:13:49,190 --> 00:13:50,990 of when I started feeling super guilty about 356 00:13:50,990 --> 00:13:52,230 not being there more. 357 00:13:53,070 --> 00:13:55,630 And I was able to engage more during that 358 00:13:55,630 --> 00:13:58,830 time, but I still had to watch my energy and 359 00:13:58,830 --> 00:14:01,510 watch that I wasn't I wasn't doing too much 360 00:14:01,510 --> 00:14:03,830 so that that balance was hard for the entire. 361 00:14:04,110 --> 00:14:07,110 We were in Miami. And even now it's just 362 00:14:07,110 --> 00:14:08,910 something that founders and CEOs do. 363 00:14:08,950 --> 00:14:10,350 We want to be involved, like you said, in 364 00:14:10,350 --> 00:14:12,310 everything. So even now that I'm back, 365 00:14:12,590 --> 00:14:13,990 I have to restrain myself to say, 366 00:14:14,030 --> 00:14:15,430 nope, they've they've got it. 367 00:14:15,670 --> 00:14:18,590 And, uh, it's it's hard even now, 368 00:14:18,590 --> 00:14:20,430 even though they were doing it all for a long 369 00:14:20,430 --> 00:14:23,710 time, I still find myself saying, 370 00:14:23,710 --> 00:14:25,190 they've got it, they've got it. So, 371 00:14:25,710 --> 00:14:28,270 um, that that's a internal, 372 00:14:28,470 --> 00:14:31,230 uh, message that you have to let yourself 373 00:14:31,230 --> 00:14:32,550 know that they do have it. 374 00:14:32,550 --> 00:14:34,710 And if they don't, you've got to let them 375 00:14:34,710 --> 00:14:36,510 fail occasionally, right? 376 00:14:36,550 --> 00:14:38,080 And they're going to learn and usually they 377 00:14:38,080 --> 00:14:39,880 won't do the same thing twice, 378 00:14:39,880 --> 00:14:41,120 the same mistake twice. 379 00:14:41,400 --> 00:14:43,280 So just giving them the, 380 00:14:43,680 --> 00:14:46,280 the leeway to take, you know, 381 00:14:46,320 --> 00:14:47,720 take the reins and to, 382 00:14:48,480 --> 00:14:50,760 to succeed or to fail and to learn, 383 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:53,280 just like we did when we were going up in the 384 00:14:53,280 --> 00:14:57,520 ranks and knowing that it's going to be okay. 385 00:14:58,760 --> 00:14:59,920 Carol Cox: Yeah. Having that trust, 386 00:14:59,960 --> 00:15:01,040 the trust in them. 387 00:15:01,040 --> 00:15:04,200 Yes. So Wendy, I know that I, 388 00:15:04,560 --> 00:15:06,760 we exchanged text messages as this was going 389 00:15:06,760 --> 00:15:08,880 on. You know, I tried to check in with you 390 00:15:08,920 --> 00:15:10,680 periodically, just, you know, to see how you 391 00:15:10,680 --> 00:15:12,400 were doing. And I think it was some point, 392 00:15:12,440 --> 00:15:14,840 maybe about a year after the accident. 393 00:15:14,840 --> 00:15:16,480 And I, you know, I get your company 394 00:15:16,520 --> 00:15:18,240 newsletter and I think you had written a blog 395 00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:20,200 post about what had happened. 396 00:15:20,280 --> 00:15:22,800 Obviously, you've been sharing the story with 397 00:15:22,840 --> 00:15:25,320 your friends and loved ones and people on 398 00:15:25,320 --> 00:15:26,960 your team. So you'd been talking about it 399 00:15:26,960 --> 00:15:29,600 quite a bit then, but then I saw that you had 400 00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:32,320 written the blog post about it and I replied 401 00:15:32,320 --> 00:15:33,760 back to it. I'm like, Hi Wendy, 402 00:15:33,800 --> 00:15:35,800 you think it's ready for you to do a talk, 403 00:15:35,840 --> 00:15:38,650 you know, around this so that you can because 404 00:15:38,690 --> 00:15:41,570 because your team, you know, 405 00:15:42,090 --> 00:15:44,450 was able to basically not even step in like 406 00:15:44,450 --> 00:15:46,130 they were there, right? They were able to, to 407 00:15:46,170 --> 00:15:48,450 take the business, like just continue on 408 00:15:48,450 --> 00:15:49,610 without missing a beat. 409 00:15:49,890 --> 00:15:50,930 Grow the business. 410 00:15:50,930 --> 00:15:53,490 I think that was an incredible testament to 411 00:15:53,650 --> 00:15:55,770 the entire team and to your leadership. So I 412 00:15:55,890 --> 00:15:57,690 felt that there was a story, like a message 413 00:15:57,690 --> 00:15:59,930 in there that more audiences could benefit 414 00:15:59,930 --> 00:16:01,570 from. So I remember I wrote back, 415 00:16:01,610 --> 00:16:03,290 I wrote back to you like, are you ready? 416 00:16:03,330 --> 00:16:05,010 You know, to create a talk around this? And 417 00:16:05,010 --> 00:16:07,570 how did you how did you feel about that? 418 00:16:07,610 --> 00:16:10,490 How did you feel about sharing this? 419 00:16:10,650 --> 00:16:13,770 The story in a more public way and feel like, 420 00:16:13,770 --> 00:16:15,850 okay, now is the time for me to start doing 421 00:16:15,850 --> 00:16:16,290 this? 422 00:16:17,010 --> 00:16:18,690 Wendy Romeu: Well, your email came at the same time that 423 00:16:18,690 --> 00:16:21,090 someone asked me if I wanted to speak. 424 00:16:21,130 --> 00:16:22,970 I'm like, okay, well, it must be a sign. 425 00:16:22,970 --> 00:16:25,970 It's time. Um, I do feel like there's a big 426 00:16:25,970 --> 00:16:29,210 message here because I think people think 427 00:16:29,490 --> 00:16:31,650 that something's going to happen and they're 428 00:16:31,650 --> 00:16:35,660 going to have time to tidy everything up and 429 00:16:37,180 --> 00:16:38,380 what we did. 430 00:16:38,540 --> 00:16:40,340 Couldn't. That couldn't have happened. 431 00:16:40,460 --> 00:16:42,260 I was gone. Like I was here. 432 00:16:42,260 --> 00:16:43,780 We were supposed to have our executive 433 00:16:43,780 --> 00:16:46,100 retreat the week I got back from vacation to, 434 00:16:46,580 --> 00:16:48,380 you know, bring these two teams, the legacy 435 00:16:48,380 --> 00:16:49,940 team and the new team together. 436 00:16:49,940 --> 00:16:51,860 And I was gonna explain the history and the 437 00:16:51,860 --> 00:16:53,740 vision, and it was going to be this amazing, 438 00:16:54,020 --> 00:16:55,740 amazing meeting that we were going to have, 439 00:16:56,020 --> 00:16:57,300 and that didn't happen. 440 00:16:57,460 --> 00:16:59,780 And if I wouldn't have built the culture and 441 00:16:59,780 --> 00:17:02,660 the processes and the systems beforehand, 442 00:17:02,700 --> 00:17:04,500 I think the company would have crumbled. I've 443 00:17:04,500 --> 00:17:07,980 watched CEOs leave and companies crumble, 444 00:17:08,380 --> 00:17:10,420 and the team was just amazing. 445 00:17:10,460 --> 00:17:11,820 They just really, again, 446 00:17:11,820 --> 00:17:13,140 rallied around each other. 447 00:17:13,820 --> 00:17:16,780 And you can't build that overnight or in a 448 00:17:16,780 --> 00:17:19,020 couple of days. And I literally had no time. 449 00:17:19,020 --> 00:17:20,540 And I feel like it's really important that 450 00:17:20,540 --> 00:17:22,580 people understand that it can happen. 451 00:17:23,100 --> 00:17:25,940 You something horrific can happen. 452 00:17:25,940 --> 00:17:27,780 And if you if you care about the people that 453 00:17:27,780 --> 00:17:29,740 you're leading, you've got to put the systems 454 00:17:29,740 --> 00:17:31,340 in place. You have to take care of culture. 455 00:17:31,340 --> 00:17:33,060 You have, you have to make sure that they're 456 00:17:33,160 --> 00:17:35,520 going to be taken care of when you are gone 457 00:17:36,000 --> 00:17:37,400 for a week or a month, 458 00:17:37,440 --> 00:17:40,720 a year. And you know, the CEO's that can't 459 00:17:40,720 --> 00:17:41,840 take vacations. 460 00:17:42,360 --> 00:17:43,960 I truly take a vacation. 461 00:17:44,880 --> 00:17:46,560 Then if something happens to you, your 462 00:17:46,560 --> 00:17:49,080 company is at great risk. 463 00:17:49,200 --> 00:17:50,640 So I feel like this message is important 464 00:17:50,640 --> 00:17:53,360 because there are so many founder CEO's that 465 00:17:53,360 --> 00:17:55,920 are in that position, and they're really 466 00:17:55,920 --> 00:17:57,240 putting their company at risk. They're 467 00:17:57,240 --> 00:17:59,000 putting the employees that they lead at risk 468 00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:00,120 because they're not doing the things that 469 00:18:00,120 --> 00:18:03,800 they need to do to get them out of every 470 00:18:03,800 --> 00:18:05,040 single decision. 471 00:18:05,040 --> 00:18:06,840 And until they do that, the company is not 472 00:18:06,840 --> 00:18:09,360 resilient. And I felt like that it was time 473 00:18:10,760 --> 00:18:12,520 to tell people and let people know that, 474 00:18:12,520 --> 00:18:14,040 because I don't think there's enough stories 475 00:18:14,040 --> 00:18:15,360 out there. We hear it, 476 00:18:15,600 --> 00:18:18,320 but to know someone that went, 477 00:18:18,360 --> 00:18:21,880 went through it and successfully came out the 478 00:18:21,880 --> 00:18:23,680 other side even stronger. Our company is so 479 00:18:23,680 --> 00:18:25,320 much stronger than it even was before the 480 00:18:25,320 --> 00:18:27,040 accident because they rallied together and 481 00:18:27,040 --> 00:18:28,920 there's, there's such a bond there. 482 00:18:29,680 --> 00:18:32,290 I just I just was ready for people to hear 483 00:18:32,290 --> 00:18:33,690 that. And I think that needs to be out in the 484 00:18:33,690 --> 00:18:34,090 world. 485 00:18:35,050 --> 00:18:36,210 Carol Cox: Well, and to your point, 486 00:18:36,210 --> 00:18:38,210 we hear about this in the abstract all the 487 00:18:38,210 --> 00:18:39,410 time. Yes. Yes, always. 488 00:18:39,450 --> 00:18:41,410 You know, make sure that your business can 489 00:18:41,410 --> 00:18:43,210 run if you have to step away or have a 490 00:18:43,210 --> 00:18:45,370 contingency plan or have all your stuff in 491 00:18:45,370 --> 00:18:47,050 one place so people know where to act. Like 492 00:18:47,050 --> 00:18:49,010 we hear these things and it's always like, 493 00:18:49,050 --> 00:18:50,770 sure, sure, I'll do that later, right? Like, 494 00:18:50,810 --> 00:18:52,730 I'll set those systems up and I'll have those 495 00:18:52,730 --> 00:18:54,690 backup plans and I'll do that later because 496 00:18:54,730 --> 00:18:56,890 there's always more urgent or we think 497 00:18:56,930 --> 00:18:59,690 important things to do before doing that. 498 00:18:59,690 --> 00:19:01,890 But like to your point, sometimes we have a 499 00:19:01,890 --> 00:19:03,530 little bit of time to prepare and sometimes 500 00:19:03,530 --> 00:19:05,370 we literally have none. 501 00:19:05,610 --> 00:19:10,410 So did you have any reluctance to share 502 00:19:10,610 --> 00:19:11,810 Ricardo's story? Like, 503 00:19:11,850 --> 00:19:13,130 you know, your experience? 504 00:19:13,410 --> 00:19:14,530 Did you just feel like, 505 00:19:14,570 --> 00:19:17,170 okay, let me just tell them like this 506 00:19:17,210 --> 00:19:18,770 accident happened, tell the audience this 507 00:19:18,810 --> 00:19:20,570 accident happened and I had to wasn't there 508 00:19:20,570 --> 00:19:21,890 for my business. But then, you know, I had to 509 00:19:21,890 --> 00:19:23,450 spend seven months away and all that and just 510 00:19:23,450 --> 00:19:25,250 kind of like, say it in three sentences. 511 00:19:25,250 --> 00:19:29,290 Or did you feel like you wanted to share more 512 00:19:29,290 --> 00:19:30,700 of the details of it. 513 00:19:33,380 --> 00:19:36,060 Wendy Romeu: I felt comfortable sharing the details. 514 00:19:36,060 --> 00:19:38,460 Part of it is, I don't know if people want to 515 00:19:38,460 --> 00:19:40,860 know the details, and that's where we're 516 00:19:40,860 --> 00:19:46,420 working with you was super helpful because I 517 00:19:46,460 --> 00:19:47,980 don't think I would have shared as many 518 00:19:47,980 --> 00:19:49,340 details even, even today, 519 00:19:49,340 --> 00:19:50,700 I didn't share as many details, right? 520 00:19:50,700 --> 00:19:52,220 Because we don't have as much time, 521 00:19:52,220 --> 00:19:54,380 but I don't think I would have shared as many 522 00:19:54,380 --> 00:19:56,980 details of all the things that went through. 523 00:19:56,980 --> 00:19:59,220 But I think it does help when people 524 00:19:59,220 --> 00:20:00,900 understand that this really happened. 525 00:20:00,900 --> 00:20:05,060 And it was horrific and I couldn't get back 526 00:20:05,060 --> 00:20:07,100 to the company. Right. And again, 527 00:20:07,140 --> 00:20:09,020 it puts it into perspective. 528 00:20:09,340 --> 00:20:11,380 And I think without the details, 529 00:20:12,060 --> 00:20:13,620 people don't make that connection. 530 00:20:13,860 --> 00:20:17,500 So I would have thought you would have 531 00:20:17,500 --> 00:20:18,860 absolutely just, you know, 532 00:20:18,900 --> 00:20:19,980 this is what happened. 533 00:20:20,260 --> 00:20:22,460 Make your company more resilient. It'll be 534 00:20:22,500 --> 00:20:22,860 fine. 535 00:20:24,460 --> 00:20:27,340 Carol Cox: Yes. And, and I think that's a and that is 536 00:20:27,340 --> 00:20:29,520 what I call. It's not really even just an 537 00:20:29,560 --> 00:20:32,120 anecdote, but it's more just like a reason 538 00:20:32,120 --> 00:20:34,720 for the message is when you just share a few 539 00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:36,520 sentences about it versus sharing the 540 00:20:36,520 --> 00:20:38,760 details. The details is what makes it a 541 00:20:38,760 --> 00:20:40,920 story. And the reason I think that's so 542 00:20:40,920 --> 00:20:43,680 important is because as the listener, 543 00:20:43,720 --> 00:20:44,920 the person in the audience, 544 00:20:44,920 --> 00:20:47,080 as you're sharing the details of the story. 545 00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:49,280 So, you know, we were in the port of the 546 00:20:49,280 --> 00:20:50,920 hospital in Puerto Rico for a week. 547 00:20:50,920 --> 00:20:52,880 And then the doctor said this like sharing 548 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:54,560 the dialogue. The doctor said this to me, and 549 00:20:54,560 --> 00:20:56,360 I felt this way and that I had that I 550 00:20:56,360 --> 00:20:58,400 realized I had to make this decision and then 551 00:20:58,400 --> 00:21:00,240 this would happen. If I'm like going through 552 00:21:00,240 --> 00:21:02,800 those details and going through what happened 553 00:21:02,800 --> 00:21:06,280 day by day is that I'm sitting there in the 554 00:21:06,280 --> 00:21:09,920 audience thinking, what would I have done if 555 00:21:09,920 --> 00:21:11,640 I were in that situation? 556 00:21:11,680 --> 00:21:13,080 What would my team have done? 557 00:21:13,080 --> 00:21:14,800 What would my business have done? 558 00:21:15,160 --> 00:21:16,800 And as you're sharing the story, you know, it 559 00:21:16,800 --> 00:21:18,120 takes about ten minutes or so, 560 00:21:18,160 --> 00:21:20,440 I think about 10 or 12 minutes in your talk 561 00:21:20,640 --> 00:21:22,080 that when you deliver it, and that's what 562 00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:24,200 obviously I'm feeling for you and empathizing 563 00:21:24,200 --> 00:21:25,720 with you and Ricardo. 564 00:21:25,720 --> 00:21:27,410 But I'm also thinking I'm putting myself in 565 00:21:27,450 --> 00:21:28,650 that situation. 566 00:21:28,650 --> 00:21:31,370 And I think that's where the lesson gets 567 00:21:31,370 --> 00:21:33,530 applied in a way that it doesn't. 568 00:21:33,530 --> 00:21:35,810 When you just say, we had this accident, 569 00:21:35,810 --> 00:21:37,450 I couldn't be a part of my business for seven 570 00:21:37,450 --> 00:21:38,930 months, but now I'm here. 571 00:21:39,210 --> 00:21:41,170 Wendy Romeu: Yes, that's exactly right. 572 00:21:41,530 --> 00:21:44,170 And, and you have to be in a frame of mind to 573 00:21:44,210 --> 00:21:45,810 give that to give that talk, 574 00:21:45,850 --> 00:21:47,530 right? Because it is emotional and you're 575 00:21:47,530 --> 00:21:51,050 almost putting yourself back into that state 576 00:21:51,410 --> 00:21:55,050 and that, uh, just that state of mind and 577 00:21:55,050 --> 00:21:57,370 then where you were with it and then getting 578 00:21:57,370 --> 00:22:00,010 through it. And then I also think about the 579 00:22:00,010 --> 00:22:01,410 audience because now I've just brought them 580 00:22:01,410 --> 00:22:03,290 through this like journey of, 581 00:22:03,730 --> 00:22:05,570 of trauma with me. 582 00:22:05,810 --> 00:22:07,330 And then, oh, by the way, 583 00:22:07,330 --> 00:22:08,530 here are the lessons. 584 00:22:08,890 --> 00:22:14,090 So helping again, you helping me understand 585 00:22:14,090 --> 00:22:15,570 that that was an important step so that the 586 00:22:15,570 --> 00:22:17,330 audience really connects with that was super 587 00:22:17,330 --> 00:22:17,970 helpful. 588 00:22:18,490 --> 00:22:20,810 Carol Cox: Yes. And I think you did a good job of 589 00:22:21,090 --> 00:22:24,330 keeping the, the, the, 590 00:22:24,530 --> 00:22:26,260 like the tenor of the talk, 591 00:22:26,500 --> 00:22:28,780 very positive in the sense of, 592 00:22:28,820 --> 00:22:30,420 you know, this was the outcome. 593 00:22:30,420 --> 00:22:32,780 And you two can, can like you want the 594 00:22:32,780 --> 00:22:34,300 audience to have a resilient business. You 595 00:22:34,300 --> 00:22:35,700 want them to be able to, 596 00:22:35,740 --> 00:22:36,820 to grow their business, 597 00:22:36,820 --> 00:22:39,460 regardless of, of anything ever happens. 598 00:22:39,460 --> 00:22:40,660 And hopefully it doesn't. 599 00:22:40,940 --> 00:22:42,460 But if it were to happen. 600 00:22:42,460 --> 00:22:45,020 So you mentioned about having to prepare to 601 00:22:45,060 --> 00:22:46,980 tell the story because it is obviously a very 602 00:22:46,980 --> 00:22:48,020 emotional story. 603 00:22:48,020 --> 00:22:50,180 And it only happened at this point two years 604 00:22:50,180 --> 00:22:53,180 ago. So what did you do leading up to this 605 00:22:53,220 --> 00:22:55,540 speaking engagement to help you prepare? 606 00:22:56,100 --> 00:22:57,820 Wendy Romeu: Oh, so many things. 607 00:22:57,820 --> 00:23:01,860 So first, uh, well, we had our VIP day, 608 00:23:02,140 --> 00:23:03,660 which was super important. 609 00:23:03,700 --> 00:23:06,860 It helped me strategize how the story would 610 00:23:06,860 --> 00:23:08,900 be structured, where it fit in, 611 00:23:08,900 --> 00:23:10,220 what I should include, 612 00:23:10,220 --> 00:23:12,340 what I should include, and even the structure 613 00:23:12,340 --> 00:23:16,100 of, uh, of the messaging, 614 00:23:16,140 --> 00:23:17,980 you know, the steps, the steps that you're 615 00:23:17,980 --> 00:23:19,140 going to take, you know, 616 00:23:19,180 --> 00:23:20,220 talking about culture, 617 00:23:20,220 --> 00:23:22,380 talking about systems, talking about self, 618 00:23:22,420 --> 00:23:24,400 right? And then how so that was the what we 619 00:23:24,400 --> 00:23:26,120 were doing then how are we going to do it 620 00:23:26,280 --> 00:23:29,240 with the fortify focus and having forward 621 00:23:29,240 --> 00:23:30,600 progress? So just having that structure in 622 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:32,960 place not only helped me tell the story, 623 00:23:32,960 --> 00:23:36,160 but but hopefully structured in a way that 624 00:23:36,160 --> 00:23:38,040 people would remember the story. Right? 625 00:23:38,080 --> 00:23:39,800 So that was super helpful. 626 00:23:39,800 --> 00:23:42,760 And then even, um, you know, 627 00:23:42,800 --> 00:23:44,680 public speaking isn't necessarily my favorite 628 00:23:44,680 --> 00:23:45,720 thing in the world. 629 00:23:45,880 --> 00:23:47,880 So just having the support around getting 630 00:23:47,880 --> 00:23:51,280 over some of those public speaking blocks of, 631 00:23:51,800 --> 00:23:55,240 of why do I get nervous standing in front of 632 00:23:55,240 --> 00:23:57,360 an audience? And so I had the structure, 633 00:23:57,360 --> 00:23:59,240 I was able to get through some of those 634 00:23:59,240 --> 00:24:02,840 nerves. And then, um, before the 635 00:24:02,840 --> 00:24:03,960 presentation, you know, 636 00:24:04,000 --> 00:24:05,200 I was there the night before. 637 00:24:05,200 --> 00:24:06,840 So I went down and looked at the room. 638 00:24:06,880 --> 00:24:10,600 I met people before I was able to talk about 639 00:24:10,600 --> 00:24:12,440 some of the other presentations during my 640 00:24:12,440 --> 00:24:14,440 presentation. So all those things were super 641 00:24:14,440 --> 00:24:17,240 helpful to help build my confidence and, 642 00:24:17,640 --> 00:24:19,080 and deliver the message that I think a lot of 643 00:24:19,080 --> 00:24:20,000 people needed to hear. 644 00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:23,170 Carol Cox: And I know that you did practice it ahead of 645 00:24:23,170 --> 00:24:25,370 time. You sent me some practice videos and 646 00:24:25,370 --> 00:24:27,250 you did it. You did a good and I remember you 647 00:24:27,290 --> 00:24:29,370 were initially practicing from your notes, 648 00:24:29,370 --> 00:24:31,490 and then we put together some slides, 649 00:24:31,530 --> 00:24:33,290 you know, so that you would have some cues, 650 00:24:33,330 --> 00:24:34,450 you know, to go along. 651 00:24:34,570 --> 00:24:37,330 But then I, you videoed it on your phone 652 00:24:37,330 --> 00:24:39,330 because I said, please at least get it on 653 00:24:39,330 --> 00:24:41,010 your phone so I can watch it. 654 00:24:41,010 --> 00:24:42,730 And I watched it and you did a great job. 655 00:24:42,730 --> 00:24:44,490 You knew the entire, the, 656 00:24:44,530 --> 00:24:45,810 all the content, you know, 657 00:24:45,850 --> 00:24:47,330 that came that came with it. 658 00:24:47,370 --> 00:24:48,690 It flowed really well. 659 00:24:49,050 --> 00:24:52,090 And it was it the story was the heart of it. 660 00:24:52,090 --> 00:24:54,250 But really there was there were very, 661 00:24:54,250 --> 00:24:57,570 very tangible, real world takeaways for the 662 00:24:57,570 --> 00:24:59,090 audience. And based on the questions they 663 00:24:59,090 --> 00:25:01,170 asked afterwards that I heard they got the 664 00:25:01,170 --> 00:25:02,170 value from that. 665 00:25:02,850 --> 00:25:05,050 Wendy Romeu: Yeah, absolutely. And I even had a note, 666 00:25:05,090 --> 00:25:07,930 a little one single sheet of paper, 667 00:25:07,930 --> 00:25:09,890 which was great with, you know, 668 00:25:09,930 --> 00:25:11,650 just the bullet points, just in case I need 669 00:25:11,650 --> 00:25:13,770 to get lost. But I forgot to wear my glasses 670 00:25:13,810 --> 00:25:15,170 while I was standing there, so it didn't do 671 00:25:15,170 --> 00:25:16,490 me any good anyway. So, 672 00:25:17,050 --> 00:25:18,770 so, you know, I used the slides, 673 00:25:18,770 --> 00:25:21,740 but I had practiced so many times that I 674 00:25:21,740 --> 00:25:23,420 don't feel like it was memorized. 675 00:25:23,620 --> 00:25:27,380 It was it was just the talking points and how 676 00:25:27,380 --> 00:25:29,500 the flow went. And it just kept me on track. 677 00:25:29,500 --> 00:25:30,980 And yeah, it wasn't. 678 00:25:30,980 --> 00:25:32,460 And even the slides were not. 679 00:25:33,420 --> 00:25:35,860 There weren't a lot of words on the slides. 680 00:25:35,860 --> 00:25:38,060 It was mostly pictures or a word. 681 00:25:38,340 --> 00:25:41,180 So it was, I think, the perfect mix of giving 682 00:25:41,180 --> 00:25:44,500 a visual and yet telling the story and, 683 00:25:44,500 --> 00:25:45,700 and keeping me on track. 684 00:25:45,700 --> 00:25:47,100 So it worked. I think it worked out really 685 00:25:47,100 --> 00:25:47,420 well. 686 00:25:48,140 --> 00:25:50,060 Carol Cox: It did. And here's why I always say like you, 687 00:25:50,100 --> 00:25:51,460 you meaning you, Wendy, 688 00:25:51,460 --> 00:25:53,820 but you listening like you know your content. 689 00:25:54,020 --> 00:25:55,660 It's just that once you figure out, 690 00:25:55,660 --> 00:25:57,460 okay, I'm going to say it in kind of this 691 00:25:57,460 --> 00:25:58,860 order, like this is the, 692 00:25:59,180 --> 00:26:00,700 you know, the, the, um, 693 00:26:00,700 --> 00:26:01,900 the culture, right? 694 00:26:01,940 --> 00:26:03,940 The systems and the self and then the, 695 00:26:03,940 --> 00:26:05,860 the s the fortify the, 696 00:26:06,420 --> 00:26:08,540 uh, no forward progress is at the end. 697 00:26:08,580 --> 00:26:10,020 Focus, focus and then. 698 00:26:10,220 --> 00:26:10,580 Right. 699 00:26:10,820 --> 00:26:11,260 Wendy Romeu: Yes. 700 00:26:11,300 --> 00:26:12,820 Carol Cox: Yeah. So as long as you put them in threes 701 00:26:12,820 --> 00:26:14,580 and you're going to remember it. Yes. 702 00:26:14,660 --> 00:26:15,860 Wendy Romeu: So it was great. 703 00:26:15,900 --> 00:26:16,980 It was fantastic. 704 00:26:17,740 --> 00:26:21,640 Carol Cox: Okay, so then Wendy, How has how has doing 705 00:26:21,640 --> 00:26:23,040 this talk. I know this is only you've only 706 00:26:23,040 --> 00:26:24,720 done this once. Speaking engagement, 707 00:26:24,720 --> 00:26:27,520 and I know that you're going to be asked to 708 00:26:27,560 --> 00:26:30,960 do more talks, more speaking engagements on 709 00:26:30,960 --> 00:26:33,000 this topic going forward. 710 00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:35,680 Do you feel like it has changed anything for 711 00:26:35,680 --> 00:26:38,720 you personally or in your leadership? 712 00:26:41,280 --> 00:26:44,280 Wendy Romeu: Well, personally, I do believe that I need to 713 00:26:45,840 --> 00:26:49,320 I need to speak more and get this message out 714 00:26:49,320 --> 00:26:51,200 because I don't think there's enough, 715 00:26:51,560 --> 00:26:56,320 uh, enough of these kinds of stories out 716 00:26:56,320 --> 00:26:57,800 there with real people that, 717 00:26:57,840 --> 00:27:01,040 you know, that it's not just a slide up 718 00:27:01,040 --> 00:27:02,760 there. This really happened. This is, this 719 00:27:02,760 --> 00:27:05,000 is, this is a horrible thing that happened, 720 00:27:05,000 --> 00:27:06,680 but these are all the amazing things that 721 00:27:06,720 --> 00:27:09,000 that came out of it or that were put in place 722 00:27:09,000 --> 00:27:12,080 before so that we have this amazing life, 723 00:27:12,520 --> 00:27:15,360 um, coming out of that accident that the 724 00:27:15,360 --> 00:27:17,850 company can still support all of my employees 725 00:27:17,850 --> 00:27:19,650 and everything. So for personally, 726 00:27:19,690 --> 00:27:21,210 it's given me the confidence that I need to 727 00:27:21,250 --> 00:27:24,170 and the drive that I need to get the story 728 00:27:24,170 --> 00:27:27,650 out. For my team, it really did give me a 729 00:27:27,650 --> 00:27:30,450 time, you know, to reflect on how amazing 730 00:27:30,450 --> 00:27:34,610 they are. It just really what they did, 731 00:27:34,930 --> 00:27:36,930 you know, their, their leader was, 732 00:27:36,970 --> 00:27:38,930 was plucked out of their company, 733 00:27:38,930 --> 00:27:42,370 literally just taken away and they just 734 00:27:42,370 --> 00:27:45,450 rallied together. And I just get so proud of 735 00:27:45,810 --> 00:27:49,090 them. And I think it's important for people 736 00:27:49,090 --> 00:27:51,690 to stop and reflect on things like that, 737 00:27:51,690 --> 00:27:53,050 but we don't do it. 738 00:27:53,050 --> 00:27:56,290 So this speech actually let me reflect, 739 00:27:56,290 --> 00:27:57,690 and every time I think about it, it just 740 00:27:57,690 --> 00:28:00,330 makes me very proud of of the team and what 741 00:28:00,330 --> 00:28:02,250 they've done and what they continue to do 742 00:28:02,250 --> 00:28:03,890 every single day for our customers, 743 00:28:03,930 --> 00:28:05,170 for each other. It's just, 744 00:28:05,170 --> 00:28:07,330 it's really just inspirational to me. 745 00:28:08,170 --> 00:28:09,210 Carol Cox: Oh, I love hearing that. 746 00:28:09,210 --> 00:28:10,570 It's almost like you like, 747 00:28:10,850 --> 00:28:12,330 took all these things that, you know, like 748 00:28:12,330 --> 00:28:15,290 you know them, but you kind of like literally 749 00:28:15,290 --> 00:28:16,300 put it on paper. 750 00:28:16,340 --> 00:28:19,020 Wendy Romeu: Yes. And I'm telling the world about it. 751 00:28:19,580 --> 00:28:24,020 Carol Cox: Yes. Yes. So for listeners who may feel 752 00:28:24,020 --> 00:28:26,620 reluctant about speaking, 753 00:28:26,780 --> 00:28:27,940 you know, with a, you know, 754 00:28:27,980 --> 00:28:30,260 a personal story that they have or something 755 00:28:30,260 --> 00:28:32,380 where they, you know, maybe the, 756 00:28:32,500 --> 00:28:34,420 the self-talk that they have is, 757 00:28:34,460 --> 00:28:36,460 oh, no one's going to want to hear this or 758 00:28:36,460 --> 00:28:38,900 it's not relevant to anyone or it's not 759 00:28:38,900 --> 00:28:41,300 relevant to, you know, my business or kind of 760 00:28:41,340 --> 00:28:43,140 the business message that I want to share. 761 00:28:43,140 --> 00:28:44,260 What would you tell them? 762 00:28:46,620 --> 00:28:49,140 Wendy Romeu: Yeah, you have a voice and you have a message 763 00:28:49,140 --> 00:28:52,340 and you have a story to tell and people need 764 00:28:52,340 --> 00:28:56,380 to hear it. And just I would, 765 00:28:56,380 --> 00:28:57,620 I would say just go and do it. 766 00:28:57,660 --> 00:28:59,900 It just takes the first time to go and do it. 767 00:28:59,900 --> 00:29:01,260 And then each time you do it, you'll get 768 00:29:01,260 --> 00:29:03,220 better and better and build that confidence. 769 00:29:04,380 --> 00:29:06,220 You need to understand that. 770 00:29:08,460 --> 00:29:10,300 They have a story to tell and they need to go 771 00:29:10,300 --> 00:29:12,700 tell the story. Mhm. 772 00:29:13,460 --> 00:29:14,580 And people want to hear it. 773 00:29:14,680 --> 00:29:17,480 People want want to hear what has happened. 774 00:29:17,480 --> 00:29:20,880 And they they want to know that what the 775 00:29:20,880 --> 00:29:23,080 lessons were that you learned. 776 00:29:23,080 --> 00:29:25,680 And some people, somebody in that audience is 777 00:29:25,680 --> 00:29:28,360 going to take that message and do something. 778 00:29:28,360 --> 00:29:30,200 You are going to change someone's life 779 00:29:30,200 --> 00:29:33,080 because you presented your story. 780 00:29:33,440 --> 00:29:35,280 And it might just be one person, but it was 781 00:29:35,280 --> 00:29:37,640 one person. Likely it's more. 782 00:29:37,640 --> 00:29:40,840 But yes, I mean, it's about changing lives 783 00:29:40,840 --> 00:29:42,800 and we have to we have to tell these stories. 784 00:29:44,000 --> 00:29:46,160 Carol Cox: Yes. As I say, you are the messenger your 785 00:29:46,160 --> 00:29:47,480 audience is waiting for. 786 00:29:48,360 --> 00:29:51,080 And yes, and your audiences are waiting for 787 00:29:51,080 --> 00:29:54,640 you. Wendy. And I know that also out of this, 788 00:29:54,640 --> 00:29:56,720 you are starting a non-profit. 789 00:29:56,720 --> 00:29:58,200 Can you tell us a little bit about that? 790 00:29:58,560 --> 00:30:01,960 Wendy Romeu: Yeah. So that is one of our visions is to 791 00:30:02,000 --> 00:30:05,480 start a non-profit that will help people that 792 00:30:05,480 --> 00:30:07,200 are in the situation like, 793 00:30:07,240 --> 00:30:09,280 like we're in. So people in wheelchairs. 794 00:30:09,440 --> 00:30:10,640 It's about education. 795 00:30:10,640 --> 00:30:15,170 It's about giving them a place to recover. 796 00:30:15,330 --> 00:30:18,530 There's not a physically and mentally. 797 00:30:18,970 --> 00:30:21,570 Also helping people learn the lessons that we 798 00:30:21,570 --> 00:30:22,730 learned the hard way. 799 00:30:22,770 --> 00:30:24,730 There's not a lot of places like Miami. 800 00:30:24,770 --> 00:30:26,490 Again, there's only 12 in the US. 801 00:30:26,850 --> 00:30:28,530 And you know, we live in Brevard County and 802 00:30:28,570 --> 00:30:30,210 there's the resources are not here. 803 00:30:30,210 --> 00:30:33,890 So starting here with with helping Brevard 804 00:30:33,890 --> 00:30:35,290 County build some of the resources that we 805 00:30:35,290 --> 00:30:38,090 know were in Miami will be a big push of it. 806 00:30:38,090 --> 00:30:41,690 And then educating those either new to the 807 00:30:41,690 --> 00:30:44,490 situation about what we learned because, 808 00:30:44,530 --> 00:30:47,050 you know, we got a lot of education because 809 00:30:47,050 --> 00:30:49,370 we were in Miami. And I feel really strongly 810 00:30:49,370 --> 00:30:51,970 that we need to continue pushing that forward 811 00:30:52,890 --> 00:30:54,770 so that people are able to, 812 00:30:55,330 --> 00:30:58,130 uh, really acclimate to the new situation 813 00:30:58,130 --> 00:31:00,370 when there's a parallelization situation that 814 00:31:00,370 --> 00:31:01,650 happens to their family. 815 00:31:01,770 --> 00:31:03,890 We have a lot of tools and techniques that we 816 00:31:03,890 --> 00:31:05,770 use. And of course, Ricardo's an engineer. 817 00:31:06,290 --> 00:31:09,810 Uh, he's already designing new chairs and, 818 00:31:09,810 --> 00:31:12,260 and new ways to make people in our position 819 00:31:13,140 --> 00:31:14,860 just make their lives a little bit easier. 820 00:31:15,380 --> 00:31:17,580 And we want to bring that out to the world. 821 00:31:17,580 --> 00:31:19,460 So this nonprofit has a lot of goodness that 822 00:31:19,460 --> 00:31:21,020 it wants, that I want it to do. 823 00:31:21,700 --> 00:31:23,060 So we're just kind of in the, 824 00:31:23,260 --> 00:31:24,980 the forming stage of, you know, 825 00:31:25,020 --> 00:31:26,740 what's the mission? And then how will it, 826 00:31:26,780 --> 00:31:28,620 how will we roll it out? 827 00:31:28,980 --> 00:31:30,660 And you know, what will we do first? We can't 828 00:31:30,660 --> 00:31:31,700 do it all at once. 829 00:31:31,980 --> 00:31:33,900 So that should be hopefully coming in the 830 00:31:33,900 --> 00:31:35,060 next year or so. 831 00:31:35,820 --> 00:31:37,220 Carol Cox: All right. Great. And I know you have a big 832 00:31:37,220 --> 00:31:38,620 goal for your company. 833 00:31:39,460 --> 00:31:42,380 Wendy Romeu: Yes. So of course, of course. 834 00:31:42,380 --> 00:31:44,060 How can we not? So yes, 835 00:31:44,060 --> 00:31:45,460 our company, you know, 836 00:31:45,900 --> 00:31:48,540 we did grow. We've grown every single year. 837 00:31:48,740 --> 00:31:52,620 Uh, two years ago, it was 28% where our goal 838 00:31:52,620 --> 00:31:55,380 is to be a $1 million or $100 million company 839 00:31:55,380 --> 00:31:58,980 by 2034. And we have a roadmap to get there. 840 00:31:59,020 --> 00:32:02,060 It's not it's not super aggressive. 841 00:32:02,060 --> 00:32:04,780 So we're excited about achieving that 842 00:32:04,780 --> 00:32:05,860 accomplishment. 843 00:32:06,660 --> 00:32:08,180 Carol Cox: That's incredible. Wendy. I can't even 844 00:32:08,180 --> 00:32:10,480 imagine $100 million. 845 00:32:10,480 --> 00:32:13,280 So yeah, that's congratulations on that. 846 00:32:13,320 --> 00:32:14,160 Wendy Romeu: Very early. 847 00:32:14,720 --> 00:32:17,960 Carol Cox: I well, yes, yes. 848 00:32:18,000 --> 00:32:20,280 No, but I but I'm not surprised that and I 849 00:32:20,280 --> 00:32:21,320 know you can do it. 850 00:32:21,360 --> 00:32:23,240 Well, Wendy, thank you so much for coming on 851 00:32:23,240 --> 00:32:26,480 the podcast for sharing your story, 852 00:32:26,480 --> 00:32:28,960 the lessons that you learned with all of us. 853 00:32:28,960 --> 00:32:31,240 And I, you know, I, of course, 854 00:32:31,240 --> 00:32:34,480 I will, uh, keep track of you and what you're 855 00:32:34,480 --> 00:32:36,800 doing and keep encouraging you to get out 856 00:32:36,800 --> 00:32:39,000 there and to talk to more people. 857 00:32:39,600 --> 00:32:41,320 Wendy Romeu: Well, thank you so much for having me. And 858 00:32:41,320 --> 00:32:44,040 I'm confident that you will keep track of me. 859 00:32:44,040 --> 00:32:46,920 Carol Cox: Yes I will. 860 00:32:47,240 --> 00:32:48,520 All right. For those of you listening, make 861 00:32:48,520 --> 00:32:50,600 sure to connect with Wendy on LinkedIn. 862 00:32:50,640 --> 00:32:53,440 I put her the link to her LinkedIn profile in 863 00:32:53,440 --> 00:32:55,080 the show notes as well as her company 864 00:32:55,080 --> 00:32:56,360 website. All right. 865 00:32:56,360 --> 00:32:57,560 Thank you again, Wendy. 866 00:32:57,560 --> 00:32:59,960 And until next time, thanks for listening.