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Welcome to Founders and Fortitude, the podcast where passion meets perseverance. Hosted by Audrie Dollins — a marketing strategist, retired professional photographer, visionary entrepreneur, and founder of AD Media Group, a renowned influencer and brand marketing firm — this podcast uncovers the stories behind extraordinary lives and thriving businesses.
Through authentic conversations and impactful storytelling, each episode explores the entrepreneurial journey, sharing the highs, lows, and actionable strategies for success. Gain expert advice, business insights, and inspiration from trailblazers who have turned aspirations into reality.
Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or taking the first step, Founders and Fortitude offers the tools, motivation, and community you need to build, grow, and thrive in today’s dynamic business landscape.
Tune in weekly to discover the grit, grace, and fortitude it takes to succeed and leave a lasting impact.
Welcome to Founders and Fortitude Conversations with Audrie Dollins, a podcast where we uncover the raw realities of being a founder, celebrating the brilliance of the teams, individuals, and families working tirelessly behind the scenes and explore the fortitude, the unwavering determination it takes to navigate the
Audrie Dollins:twists, turns, and triumphs of entrepreneurship and life itself. Each week, we will
Audrie Dollins:share candid conversations, actionable insights, and inspiring stories to empower you on your journey. Whether you are building a brand, scaling a business, an online creator and influencer,
Audrie Dollins:or pursuing your passion with relentless drive, let's dive into
Audrie Dollins:the grit, grace, and growth it takes to
Audrie Dollins:thrive. Let's get into it.
Audrie Dollins:Welcome to Founders in Fortitude. I'm your host, Audrie Dollins, founder, CEO and entrepreneur. I'm so excited to welcome my guests, Steph and KJ. I want you both to tell us a little bit or a lot about yourselves, and let's get into it. Lead us off.
KJ:All the Thanks. I'm KJ Lentbauer. I am a powerhouse publicist who has been helping founders and experts become the name people can't stop talking about for almost three decades. I'm also a best selling author with my third book on the way soon.
Audrie Dollins:Excited about the third book on the way. Exciting. I love it. Steph, tell us about, you know, the
Steph:little things YouTube. Of course. Steph Wibrary, founder of Joy Creative Shop. Gosh. I I I need, like, the I need the PR pitch dialed in, but I I would say, like, serial entrepreneur, lover of all things business, and paper goods, obviously, and really love helping others kinda figure out what it is that they love to do and then work that into how they make it their
Audrie Dollins:job in their life. And that's why, you know, people may be wondering, like, why are we three sitting together at the same time? And that is where you come in. Because when I think of you, I think of the connector. And I think we've talked about that.
Audrie Dollins:And when KJ and I met, we I think may we all have busy schedules. Right? And you had mentioned, like, I just see some similarities. And when we meet, I feel like we are kind of we are cut from the same cloth. Mhmm.
Audrie Dollins:The way she speaks to things, her strength, I just see, you know, which, I mean, I wish I'd see you're gorgeous. But, like, I when we talked about it, I was like, oh my gosh. Yes. Like, I'm sitting there over coffee just being like, yes. And you saw that and has spoke, and at the same time, the industry that we're in.
Audrie Dollins:Absolutely. We and I kinda wanna talk about that and how what we do, what you do, and how it kind of is circling around each other, and then what you do as well. And just the overall of, like, when we were younger, which you said three decades, and I'm like, but we're 20.
KJ:Yeah. I'm not 20. Like, that's so funny.
Audrie Dollins:We're young. Every time I say
KJ:it, I'm like, oh god. But I started at 17. Right? Like, I my first job was promoting. I worked for a radio station as an intern, which meant I was kind of the janitor cleaning up, and then they would let me do overnights.
KJ:If someone was sick, I could record overnights. Right? And it was so much fun to do. So I'm like, everyone be sick. I wanna do this.
KJ:But my main my first job was promoting the frat parties and being a promoter that way, and it was my first totem into publicity. And it was great until it got me banned from sorority rush. You know?
Audrie Dollins:It was good, though. It was good too. It wasn't. And then, you know, we talked about this too, Steph, where how did you get started? Why did yeah.
Audrie Dollins:Tell me you got started. Well, what I brought you
Steph:today is actually how I got started. So in college, you know, I just saw a great post about the whole Justin Bieber and Coachella. Yes. And it was like when everyone zigs zag. I was like, Oh wait, what does that mean?
Steph:But I tell, my story is like I zig zagged through college. Like I, it was no straight path. I started somewhere, went somewhere else, came back to the first school, and all throughout that picked up little pieces.
Audrie Dollins:So let's lead into that. We were talking a little bit about collaborations and partnerships and the way of marketing and partnering with people and you know you were touching on some key points what is influence and in PR? Let's talk about that, like how it all kinds it's different than it used to be. And how influencing and social media has impacted your business, the PR world and the circumference of social media and influencers and books and that whole world, let's talk about that a little bit. You know, maybe that's a broad question, but how has it impacted PR and what that looks like?
Audrie Dollins:Oh my gosh.
KJ:I feel like sitting between you two, I'm the least qualified to answer this. But in the PR world, it started so even though we're very young, started before the Internet. Right? So, like, we didn't have social media. We didn't have influencers.
KJ:You were maybe sending some sort of thing through the regular USPS, and that was a PR package. That was influence to send them a thing, but there wasn't anywhere for them to post things. It was just so they had it and could literally phone a friend
Steph:about it. Right? Or wear it. Yeah.
Audrie Dollins:Or wear it and
KJ:be seen places and that sort of thing. Like if you were a celebrity, then maybe it was like it'd make it to Us Weekly and that was the big thing. And then with the dawn of social media, even the beginning, influencers weren't a thing. Right? So like you'd send things, you'd hope people would post about it, it was all about the box and
Audrie Dollins:the kit and the thing.
KJ:And you, like, you truly saw the unboxings. Like, there were when YouTube first started, it was the big thing. Like, kids would get toys and be playing
Audrie Dollins:with Yes. Them or like all sorts
KJ:of those sorts of things. And then when influencers came, and you can speak to this better than I could, it almost isn't even about the unboxing anymore. It's about the creative ways that they decide to position and use things where you don't even really know. Like, is this gifted? Is this PR?
KJ:Is this a partnership? Or are they really using it every single day? That sort of thing. And so I feel like I've seen the whole gamut of things, and I wonder if it will come back. I've seen the everyone wanted to be a speaker route, and everyone was gonna have a book, and then everyone wanted to have an app, and now we're back to everyone wants to be a speaker, and everyone wants to have a book, and
Audrie Dollins:it just really sets table.
KJ:Yeah. Sort of thing. And I don't I mean, I feel like it'll all just keep cycling back around, but I don't see influencers going anywhere. I don't see social media going anywhere. And I think there are people who do really great partnership well and who treat like if they're celebrities or they're clients and they have amazing things.
KJ:And there are companies Steph is fantastic at her collaborations and her partnerships. And she's always got a really cool one that's incredibly different than the one before it. And I just think those things are amazing. So I don't see it going away, but it always evolves in some fashion. Yeah.
Audrie Dollins:I agree. And I think that you do such a great job, Steph, where the need for it, and I think that audience and growth of your you know, what is your outlook of that? Because I can tell you what I think my opinion is. But why would a business such as yourself I mean, and I know that we've talked about your recent ones, but why are those important like business wise? Not just that what great she does, but why would a business want to do that and why do you continue doing it?
Audrie Dollins:Like analytically wise, the impact wise.
Steph:That's a good question and it's funny because two years ago we did it a lot. Last year, we pulled back because it was it's really hard to quantify at times. Is it worth it? Mhmm. You know?
Steph:And if you're looking at just data points and revenue and numbers, but there's a gut feel feeling that comes into play of, and this is straight PR, but like, we will grow a little bit when we talk about ourselves on our organic social. We will grow a lot when someone else talks about us. So how do we get that to happen more often? And obviously paid media is one way, you know, that comes at a very high dollar cost. But honestly, what influencers have brought to the table, and everyone is an influencer.
Steph:Yes. In some way. Mean, if we leave here, I'm like, okay, I loved your dress. Send me the link to where you got it from. You are influencing me in that way.
Steph:So I think it's a natural thing, but the content creator and the bigger influencer piece, for us, it gives us their shared audience. It gives us their perspective. If they have anything to do with creating the product, it gives us their design eye. And then this year, we brought in a lot of brand partnerships to where we're working business to business. And yes, it's strategic of like, well, we would love their customers to know about us, and we want our customers to know about them.
Steph:So we're sharing audiences and social and creating a moment on all of that. But I do believe there is I believe it's strategic. It's not just for fun, although it is very fun to work with others. But it gets you in doors you may not
Audrie Dollins:or
Steph:shopping carts that you may not have been in before.
Audrie Dollins:Well, and I love that you approached, like, business to business, and I think that's why we're speaking too is because there's enough for everyone. I truly feel and if you get on the tollway and you look around at all the people in the world. And we do not have to dim another side to shine ours and when like you said business to business or a influencer and the capacity of that partnership of collaboration looks different and then it's kind of like what do you pull like you said it's maybe not just analytically driven it's what do you pull from that did that get us you know views here this there like you said oh our Etsy increased here and this is over here doing this. There's many different things to that and with PR now like you were saying just how it all has changed and it's kind of all kind of like what is what now because it's all kind of melting together in a sense of online and social media it's yeah and it's a lot too as I think I want to talk about that too how do you delegate, what you delegate, what did you learn to do, I think we've talked about this too but you have to we talk about prioritizing because family how do we put family first when we know emails and we wake up and we think this is going to happen this day and we have this schedule, but we also are, you know, we're parents.
Audrie Dollins:You're married to two beautiful dogs. Right? Yep. Two or three? Two.
Audrie Dollins:Do you want a third? No. Just kidding. I would cry my eyes out. But, we and even we wake up and we think our schedule is this this happens.
Audrie Dollins:Things have to continue to run. How do you manage that? Do you delegate? What is the grit of your each day? Is it always just perfect?
Audrie Dollins:Because I look at perfection when I'm looking at this gal right I think
KJ:I have the easiest lift of everyone in this room because I don't have kids, it's me and my husband and two dogs who are incredibly spoiled but have an army that can support them. Like the dog groomer comes to us, their doggy daycare will come pick them up if need be. We're spoiling that
Audrie Dollins:next But don't we put those things into play? I mean I read when I was, I don't know if I read a lot, have your worth, your time for someone to clean your house.
KJ:We just lost a water bottle.
Audrie Dollins:It's fine. We're gonna be fine. Just water. Because I used to think, oh, they're so privileged to get their house cleaned. Right?
Audrie Dollins:But it's priorities. It's buying back your time. It's dog walker. It's not privilege, it's priority. Yeah, well
KJ:I like to call myself lazy and selfish and I don't truly believe I'm either of those things, but if I can find I can do a lot of things. I can do anything I put my mind to. I can do 17 things at once. There's a lot of things I don't wanna do. Mhmm.
KJ:And I put that in my lazy pile. Or I like to say to my husband, I'm too pretty for this. Like, I am it's pretty privilege that I am not doing this today. But I if I'm gonna work really hard, if I'm gonna travel, if I'm gonna spend so much time, the first thing I did for myself when I got my first big girl paycheck, someone else is going to clean my house. Because I like a clean house, but I'm not good at that.
KJ:I'm gonna outsource it to someone who excels in that area. I will stimulate the economy that way. And it's it's I I can do things. I can build websites. I I at least make myself do something one time to see how long it takes me, to see if I really can do it, to see how bad I am at doing it.
KJ:Yeah. And then usually, I will farm it out to other people unless it's something I truly enjoy. And that's how I balance myself. But I don't have humans that have ever depended on me to live. Right?
KJ:Like, I'm not keeping anyone alive besides myself and trying not to burn the house down if my husband's there. Right? I am married to someone who works just as hard, if not harder than I do. And, like, I I think when we got married when he asked me to marry him, I think one of the first things was, you know, just so you know where you rank in life. And he's a wonderful human being, wonderful green flag golden retriever of a man.
KJ:It was I think it was his career and his job. Then I think it was his obsession with Warren Buffett. And then I think it was his dog he had for fourteen years. And then I think I came in fourth or fifth. I might have been further down.
KJ:We joke about it, but if you see someone working as hard as you, driving as hard as you, and you guys wanna achieve the same things together, you wanna work that hard. Yes. We don't have kids we have to stop and raise and teach and take care or feed or bathe or any of those things.
Audrie Dollins:So it's not a shock to you, like, if you come home and he's not there or No. Or you're not there. Yeah. This is what you both Yeah. You're no one's changing anyone here.
Audrie Dollins:No. No. Yes. I mean,
KJ:that later on in life. Right? So, I had the first marriage and it didn't work out because we were not on the same page work wise. We did not have the same goals, we did not want the same things. And then I spent a good six or seven years by myself where I got to be the independent girl and I
Audrie Dollins:was Well I was gonna say, but that experience brought you to the strength of what to say the second time. Like, okay, this is what I'm passionate about, this is where, you know, building that confidence
KJ:in your Here's what I need, here's what I don't need, here's what I'll put up with, here's what, like, I can take care of myself, I don't need you. I have a person that compliments my life beautifully, Mhmm. He is not my whole life, and he's okay with not being my whole life. Like, I'm not serving every single day to make sure that KB makes it through his day. Like, do I wanna help him?
KJ:Do I
Audrie Dollins:love him?
KJ:He's in his own lunch today. You know? Yeah.
Steph:He's gonna be he'll be fine.
Audrie Dollins:He's gonna be Yeah. He's gonna be fine. What's your take
Steph:on that? Well, again, it's like polar opposites, which is why we're friends because it's so refreshing to hear all sides.
Audrie Dollins:I love hearing this. You're in different stages of kids.
Steph:And Yes. So you're, like, you're what I aspire to be. But you're so cute.
Audrie Dollins:I mean I never felt such a real text because I accidentally wound up in a family neighborhood text. The worst. And I was like should I respond to yes, let's let her play with the dog? Because I didn't know what it was. I'm like, well, don't wanna be like, you added me to this because I loved It was so real.
Audrie Dollins:It was so cute. Like, just let her play. I forgot what the text was, and it was, like, with your neighbor. And you're, can someone so play with your dog? Yeah.
Audrie Dollins:She's she's more than welcome. I'm, that is real life motherhood and business right there. It is. She added me to the group neighborhood text.
Steph:Just to get you, just throwing back a few years. No, I mean, is, one, there's no balance, that's And a the whole idea of, at least for me, and this is a therapy term, but, like, I have very low standards. Although I have really high standards in a way, but my standards are like, when I wake up in the morning, I know what my day could look like. There's a decent chance it won't end up that way, and I have to just adjust and move on. Yes.
Steph:And not just blow it up because one thing didn't go, you know? And I tried years before. I'm not I'm very much creative, not very in the box, like, with discipline and time management and time blocking. And so I tried to set up a calendar that was like, okay. I do this here and this then, and then I do this.
Steph:And then I was like, well, what if okay. Well, this didn't go like that. All these blocks, like, where do I move them? And there was nowhere to really move them to. So again, it's like once we leave, these are coming off, my Birkin socks are putting it back on, and it's like, you just gotta ebb and flow through your day.
Audrie Dollins:But see, I strive to be more like that because as we're talking about this, I know that everybody in this office is like, she's got
KJ:us time blocks,
Audrie Dollins:we know the time, she's got her time blocks, which we do provide a very timeline agency ran items, but I very much like, I love your calmness and your grace where I don't have that. I'm like Well, I feel that way inside,
Steph:like you do, and I just have got it's just the stage of life I'm in. Have three kids, you know, 10, 14, 16. Oh, wow. So very much still needed in all areas. And that is my priority right now because I know in two years, one's gone.
Steph:In four years, two are gone. Like that's very short time. So I kind of know like one, I'm excited about planting some seeds now for some future things that when I do have a little bit more time to wake up and not be hair on fire and you know, like there's three people that eat meat all at the same time. Like, there'll just be one at home. Yes.
Steph:And, like, that will change so much. So I feel like I've grown Joy Creative Shop in the margin of motherhood, of life. Mhmm. But I've still like, I've worked harder than most everyone you know because yes I was driven and determined and if I didn't make it to work during nap time when they were little I was like well I gotta stay up late tonight to get it done.
Audrie Dollins:It does I mean, that's in my I already know today. I know today will be a long day. Yeah. Just from where we were, there were some live things that happened over the weekend. Yeah.
Audrie Dollins:You shift your priorities, and those dates kind of just flow where they can. What do you feel that your children have learned from the steps that you've taken? Do you like they've seen or noticed anything? I mean,
Steph:they think I'm a stay at home mom, which is amazing. That is amazing. You know what I mean? Because, like and I'll go be like, hey. Could you pick up that thing that's ready during school?
Steph:And, of course, like, I don't because I didn't prioritize it or get there. And so after school, like, did you get it? I'm like, no. I I forgot. We'll go now.
Steph:They're like, well, what were
KJ:you doing? And I'm like Just running an empire.
Audrie Dollins:Did you see that? I think it was the CEO of Pepsi, or I forget who it is, and I'm gonna get this wrong. But she had a young dog daughter. Oh, she was like I forget. She was, like, huge, a huge company.
Audrie Dollins:Mhmm. And she's like, I I learned to master delegation. Mhmm. And I was supposed to make homemade something type of cookie. It wasn't like a chocolate chip cookie or maybe it was, but it had to be homemade.
Audrie Dollins:And she said her daughter spun around to her and said, you better not buy a store bought mom because all the moms bring Yeah. Homemade cookies. And she said, I promise they will be the best homemade cookies you ever had. And she walked into her office and she said, who makes the best homemade chocolate chip cookies? And she delegated.
Audrie Dollins:And so that's where kind of going full circle where we kind of delegate the importance of a team. Sure, yes. And I think you have that in place. Yes. I think that's where I was going to allude to where do you have a team in place?
Audrie Dollins:That moment when you took that step so we
Steph:invested to invested invest in a a team. Right now, some part time, some full time, so it's blended. None, all are virtual, some are here, but we don't meet in person. So like when I see your office, I'm like, there's a little bit of jealousy and FOMO so good. Of like having all my people in the same place.
Steph:But again, I would be the bottleneck there. Okay. Because I like live in my car. I'm never one place long enough for that to be a reality. So maybe one day.
Steph:But I remember the first hire, it was about eight years ago, and she actually just stepped back in January to to raise her babies. I was somewhere. She I just brought her on during the holiday season, and I get an email from her or a text that was like, hey. Just letting you know this is done. And I was like, wait a minute.
Steph:Someone was working, and I was at a baseball game? Yes. Okay. Again, that little bit of an addictive feeling of like, oh, I really like that. And then it was like reality sit in.
Steph:It was like, I really need that. Like, need help. As my family's grown, as my life's evolved, as my business has grown, we
Audrie Dollins:I
Steph:have needed more people. And could I have had a team of two or three and kept my business to be a certain size and that worked perfectly for my life? Totally. And would I have been just as proud of that? For sure.
Steph:But I brought on a partner five years ago, and he had kind of planted the seed of more of like, well, this could be a bigger deal. Like, if you want that, but no stress if you don't. And I was like
Audrie Dollins:Well, you done planted the seed. I'm like, no. That's water. Let's go. Yep.
Audrie Dollins:I was
Steph:like, no. So but yeah. I mean, I actually feel like a terrible delegator. So our team knows they just handle what's on their plate without me having to, they can usually get a feel if it's not what they need from me isn't being delivered yet. They're like, should we pivot?
Steph:And I'm like, good choice. Because I permission ask with no offense taken.
Audrie Dollins:Correct. They're reading the room. They're like And we have to stop there. Take the Please. How babies do it.
Audrie Dollins:It may not be how we would do it, but we
KJ:have to
Audrie Dollins:get that. We have to get
KJ:it done. Yeah.
Audrie Dollins:And I think that's scary. Yeah. I know, I know what this is. I'm a control freak.
KJ:I'm a control freak in that I like things a certain way, my clients like things a certain way, I have raised them to like things a certain way, but I've played the gamut of it. I've had the team people thinking I wanted to build a big agency, spin it off, and sell it. And then I decided, maybe I don't want to do PR anymore. Want to do the side business and ball on and that and gotten rid of the team. At this point, it's now in the I'm in the phase, it's time to ask for help.
KJ:It's time to hire for help. But I wanna be smart about how I do it because as lovely as it would be, the idea of having an office and having the people and having it all in one spot, I know realistically I'm never gonna be there to be in that spot. Right. And I also have the very, you know, we're working through it in therapy, but the control back. I also have the mindset of the scarcity mindset.
KJ:Like, okay, then that's more pressure on me to make more money, to pay for the people, to pay for the things, to do whatever. Like, I not very more online. Well, and
Audrie Dollins:that was my first thought too until I did it, and then I saw the revenue come. Right. Now there is still pressure of that. We can't I mean, I kinda give it the common sense. If we lose a client, do the math.
Audrie Dollins:You know, I don't need to have a team meeting to tell you that. But I think it's the strength of the people, and I'm going to name them. Actually, Marissa and Holly are very good about kind of I wouldn't don't wanna say it in a disrespectful way, but they're good about putting me in my not putting me in my place, but talking to me as if, like, well, I can read Marissa's face. Holly will speak, but then Marissa will speak. But, like, they'll say like, and I'll say it and then I'll backtrack and go, you know what Marissa, you were right, let's have that team member do that, not this team member.
Audrie Dollins:Because we'll look at the moving parts of who's gonna do this task per timeline, because we run 20 plus marketing aspects, 20 plus different business plans and structures. So we have to put people at different things and who's got this and who's great at that. And so she'll say oh I think so and so needs to do that. I'm like oh well I think so and so needs to do that. And she'll kind of get quiet and I'm like and you do it because you're over it.
Audrie Dollins:Yeah. I'm gonna sit back and I kind of learned that and then I'll crash out and snot on Holly's arm and cry, and she'll be like, okay. We need to breathe, and then we need to go. Yeah. You know?
Audrie Dollins:And so that you put the strength because I'll be like, don't feel like Greg dances. Audrey still had cries. Okay? Sorry. I think Greg cries too.
Audrie Dollins:He does. He just does it in a different way. Greg gets
KJ:a sports car and a way, way younger girlfriend.
Audrie Dollins:Yes. He's trying to
KJ:it over. Greg has his own crush
Audrie Dollins:on it. Yes. But I think it's important of that team because they don't allow you to bottleneck, and then the revenue does actually naturally flow when you don't think it will. And I also believe, and I say this all the time, when we lose something that we thought we lost, whether that be a client, a partnership, or a friendship, or anything, God always replaces it with something bigger. And it's crazy.
Audrie Dollins:And He has shown it. I, you know, not to put tequila Greg and his younger girlfriend and Jesus and God all the same sentence, but it's like, He is blessed beyond measure when I, every person that comes on our team that we support in our goal with the company. So, I think that's what I would say to anybody that's looking to build a team. It doesn't have to be our team, it doesn't have to be whatever. It could be someone that is remote that specifically works for you.
Audrie Dollins:God's got them too, and every the doors just open. I've watched it firsthand to anybody that's trying to grow and invest. But you will be a bottleneck until you learn not to. Oh, yeah. Am.
Audrie Dollins:And you learn to trust. Yep. Yeah.
KJ:I I know I am.
Steph:I know I'm a model. And I feel like too, once you once you get that personal feeling of, I
Audrie Dollins:feel
Steph:supported, someone's on board with what I'm building and wants to help, even if it's for paid, it's paid help. Like, that's the best kind of help. Yes. You know? And they believe in what we're doing too.
Steph:But also, like, you can't actually think about if I sat down every morning when I woke up and was like, I have seven people that I take care of. They're likely I would be I never get out of bed. No. You know? So it's like, I just trust and that it's all working out.
Audrie Dollins:Now it's Because it's their responsibility too and I try to say this and they're gonna hear this at this very moment because we are recording by them, but what you walk in to achieve is what you receive. I can't get you further if you're not willing to go further. And that's the message that they have and the drive they have to have for themselves. That's not all on you. And I think that is a key thing in messaging to anybody that's listening or an employee or a founder or anything.
Audrie Dollins:If you're having a conversation, if you want to achieve and you want to, you know, if you want to receive, you have to be willing to achieve. And I think, you know, that's very important. But it is a scary step.
KJ:Is scary. It is. It is. And I I think about it. For me, it's a it's always a step back of what do I think looks nice that someone else has?
KJ:Why do I think
Audrie Dollins:that I want that?
KJ:And then it's the revisit of what do I really want from me? Like, what do I want life for me to be like in five years? What do I what do I really wanna be known for? What do I really wanna do? What do I wanna achieve?
KJ:Because I have a million squirrely ideas, and I probably send, like, 50 of them to Steph a week. And her response is usually, maybe you should sit on that because there's just so many. And I think it it's really just where do I wanna go? Because it wouldn't be fair to bring someone in and change my mind six months from now. You know?
KJ:And so so baby steps. Baby steps into building a team,
Audrie Dollins:but it's definitely happening this year.
KJ:Yes. I think
Steph:it's What tasks you don't wanna do? Right.
Audrie Dollins:I think it's Yeah. Baby
Steph:What's what are your weakest at that someone should be better at than you that could elevate? Could they send, you know,
Audrie Dollins:and I know this is your game, you know, but like, is it pitch emails? Is it organizing your emails? Is it, you know, anything like that, the conversations that they have? Is it social media? Is it, you know, making you be accountable to record those videos that you need to record because you speak so well?
Audrie Dollins:And if they cut hey, you know what? This is what I think. I'm gonna give you advice. Okay. Thanks.
Audrie Dollins:Hire somebody to come over two hours a week. It could be a high school person. It could be a college person. Two hours a week to just record you.
KJ:I was just good thing you
Audrie Dollins:brought record you.
KJ:I was gonna ask you about that later.
Audrie Dollins:Yeah. Right. Just to record you. Just to get the content ready, text overlay. Yep.
Audrie Dollins:Have them have a no. Have them. I'm teasing. But, like, have them, this person Record it in minute. Two hours a week.
Audrie Dollins:Yep. Put it in a little bundle for you. Because for every three to five people that you hire, only one is gonna make it through. You will learn from the others, and they will build you to be a better leader, and that's okay. It's okay that your first person that you hire does not work out.
Audrie Dollins:Be thankful for them because they taught you something Yeah. Of what you wanna do to the next. It life is not over. It's a lesson. And so teen is hard, but teen is great.
Audrie Dollins:Because it does take you. Yeah.
Steph:And it actually can be more fun.
Audrie Dollins:It is. We're gonna have a fiesta next week with the teen. It's so much fun.
Steph:It's it's it's work still. You know? And, like, I I respect that they have their their life outside of work. Okay.
Audrie Dollins:I wanna lead back into we're popping back in because we had to reposition the, batteries and all the good things. But and then I wanna hear a little bit more about the book, and then I wanna share with our audience three tangible things that they can implement in their business. But we were talking about bags earlier. Yep. So my vision and so when we when we think of which I think success is living and breathing.
Audrie Dollins:I think priorities are living and breathing. They alter. They move each, you know, step up the ladder, changes, and all of that in each season of our business. I built my company for the, quote, unquote, idea of freedom in our lives and the things that we wanted to do and provide. And each one of us have different backgrounds of upbringing.
Audrie Dollins:One could be my mom inspired me because she was an amazing mother. Other could be what I didn't get that type of childhood, so I wanna be the the parent that maybe I didn't receive. Or all of the our lives kinda build us up to who we are. I personally chose I want to be there for my kids when they have kids. I wanna be able to have a company where I can fly and support them if they need me to pick up groceries or I wanna be there for them.
Audrie Dollins:But then my entrepreneurial business money sides are I want a condo in Florida, and I want an Airbnb there. I want a condo in North Carolina. I liked Colorado, but we're going to Utah now. You know? So that is my What drives you?
Audrie Dollins:That's what drives me. Those are my bags. Those are my luxury items that I want, that if my team wants to take a vacation in to Utah and they want the okay. Great. Y'all get the condo for the week.
Audrie Dollins:Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's my goal. If my family wants to go to the condo, great.
Audrie Dollins:So that's my vision and goal. Yeah. What what's something like that that you want? For you.
Steph:I do tell. I wanna
KJ:I have I your listeners are never going to like me. I have a tiered system of my rewards. I am like a toddler with money that's unsupervised or like an an animal. Like, I am a dog like, am
Audrie Dollins:a So basically, I need to go shopping? You or not go shopping?
KJ:I'm very rewards based. Like, very treat based. Like, almost like your dog will do things for treats or like a bone, like, solo caging. It's amazing. So I at at the very basis of everything, I designed my life from when I was very young in college.
KJ:I told myself no matter what I decided to do with my life, I got to say who I work with and when I work with. Like, there's that scene
Steph:in Pretty Woman, right, where she's
KJ:like, I say who,
Audrie Dollins:I say them.
KJ:Success for me is not a monetary number. I don't have I don't even have a goal for the number I wanna hit every year in my business. I don't even have a true dream bag or a dream car or dream cruise or any of those I don't have a dream vacation or any of that. For me, success is I get to choose what I do every
Steph:day, who I get to do
KJ:it with every day, and what I'm actually gonna do. And when I don't wanna do any of those things or with those people, I get to be up. The second big thing for me, especially when I was trying to decide, you know, do I wanna get married again? Do I wanna be with another person? Am I good by myself?
KJ:It was. I wanna make my own money. I wanna be in control of my own destiny. If I wanna go buy something, it would be nice if I'd ask someone before I do it, but I'm gonna go do whatever I want to. Yes.
KJ:Like, I just surprised my husband by remodeling our front a lot. Didn't even tell him. The people just showed up, I'm like, so how
Audrie Dollins:how is his response to that?
KJ:He's like, hey. What are we doing?
Audrie Dollins:Because he's great with that. Because, I mean, I I mean, that's you know what I'm saying? Like Mhmm. That is such a I love that, but I always wonder, like, how is he he's great with it.
KJ:I think it depends on what it is. Right? Like, it was a big decision that impacted him. Like a dog? Well, I mean, I surprised him with a dog, and now he loves the dog.
Audrie Dollins:Okay. It could've gone it could've gone south. It could've gone south. Right?
KJ:I wouldn't bring in the third dog home without Yes. Right.
Audrie Dollins:But I did. But but
KJ:but and look at this cuteness. I think with the yard, it was bothering him forever. It was bothering me forever. I wanna make my own money, and I married a really funny person.
Steph:He brings me joy.
KJ:And I like to joke, like, my money is my money, and your money is my money, but, like, I wanna be able to
Audrie Dollins:do things without asking permission. I still feel nonnegotiable. Yeah. And so you created the strength in the life that you were Right. That you would be the best you for them to do.
KJ:Yeah. Growing up, I saw so many women who were trapped in horrible situations or horrible jobs they hated because of money. They felt trapped because money. They couldn't get out. Or in the movies, you see so many women who are in awful relationships.
KJ:They can't get out. They need money. And I never wanted to be one of those people. Was never gonna be financially dependent on anyone, man, woman, company, anything. I wanted to take care of myself.
KJ:So that was my second rule. And the third thing is I like nice things, and sometimes those are very expensive handbags. And I I don't have to have the latest. I'm not a fashionista. But if I want the red Chanel, it's coming home to me.
KJ:Like, it just really is. It just really is. It's meant to be with me, and I'm gonna work really hard for it.
Audrie Dollins:So I had an interview with a friend of mine. Her name is Bonnie, and it's Shop with Bonnie, she and is a stylist and all the big things. And we did a it was like during COVID we were doing coffee and conversations and we would go live and we talked with each other and I had a sign that said, don't buy the bag, fund the dream. And she was like, oh no, no, no, no. She was like, he would probably chunk that.
Audrie Dollins:Like, no, we buy the bag and we conquer, like we get the dream too. Like don't say say that. Brand. And that is. Yeah.
Audrie Dollins:Yeah. Because someone once told me, but you're you're the owner. You should buy the bag. And I'm like, I'm the owner. I don't buy the bag.
Steph:It doesn't always sometimes I do.
Audrie Dollins:But sometimes I don't. I've never done it. I've never bought an expensive bag. Yeah. I bought a piece of land.
Audrie Dollins:I mean Again, it's not easy to sell.
Steph:Yeah. I'm
Audrie Dollins:scared, but I want it. I'm not gonna lie. I I want it. I mean, my Fendi sunglasses were a gift. I want it.
KJ:And I would never see, and I would never spend expensive money on sunglasses because I would lose them or, like I've never lost do anything. Yeah.
Audrie Dollins:It's just it's everyone has their cousin ring. Yeah. Put yours. Put yours down.
Steph:I say I'm not a bag and a shoe girl. Like, I'm really we were talking about this yesterday with Ali Best who they have, like, all her staffs. Yes. And Allison's so cute, and they are so styled so well every day. And I was like, that's just not my jam.
Steph:But I I love to travel. Yes. So I think that's where I would, you know, like, that's what I aspire for. Our season of life is crazy. So like we do get out, but not as often as when we were younger.
Steph:I love art, like abstract art. Art is what I would, I have, there's a painting in my kitchen. This is a good story y'all will relate to that I would always, at the end of a year, and I wouldn't say a good year. I just said any year. Would at the end of the year, would buy a piece of art.
Steph:And it was like, well, I'm gonna build my collection this way of, like, every year. And so I had it in my head that once we've surpassed a million in revenue annually, like, for that year, I was gonna go buy, like, whatever piece of art I found and wanted. And it it's Katie Craig. She's a local artist, and it hangs in my kitchen. And it's often that I think about what that piece
KJ:of art represents. And
Steph:like it to some, they're like, why would you buy art? Buy the crazy bag for $2 or, you know, whatever that, that's just not something that's important to me. Yes. And I like, like, I'm a Clair B fan through and through, and I'm like, I can get a new bag for about $400 and love it till it And like, that's the brand I love. And so, I think it's, it's whatever drives you.
Steph:And in this stage of life, freedom is what, freedom, I say that yet, I work 20 fourseven. Freedom of time, meaning unless there's a meeting or a call on the calendar, it is mine to decide what I do with it. And being able to pick up my kids at 03:20 every day is like, I can feel
Audrie Dollins:you know, that's what is already most valuable to me.
Steph:Mhmm. I also I didn't know this younger, but I see it. If I if I reflect back, I was always this way. I do not like being told what to do. True.
Steph:And for being a very chill person, like, my husband is hyper aware of that. And so when when needed to be asked, he's, like, reframing it in a way that seems very serving to me. Yes. But, like, I just don't like being told what to do. Yes.
Steph:But in in any sense.
Audrie Dollins:I think that was written on
Steph:a report card problem authority. Uh-huh. Yeah. Yeah.
Audrie Dollins:I think my my accounting teacher was like, you have a lot of friends, like, shocked. Yeah. Of, like and you're good. And I'm like, I just I don't think what you're saying makes sense, ma'am. Yeah.
Audrie Dollins:You know? Like, it doesn't mean I don't like you. I'm not a good person. But the accounting and algebra is just And you I think you have to
Steph:be able to balance that, and when you're younger, it usually comes back as like getting in trouble or being defiant, and I wasn't those things growing up, but I, in college, quickly figured out that I just wanna do what I wanna do and I don't. And that came from changing schools three times. And my parents allowed it. They gave me permission to do that. And had they not, I would've stayed at the same school.
Steph:I would never have gotten that zig zag path to what got me to where I ended. And so I just like and if someone gives me a no, I kind of think it's the that's when the fun starts. Yeah. Yeah. I'm like, oh, okay.
Steph:You have no idea Well, what you
Audrie Dollins:and this is why I'm grateful for my team because I am a bit spicy. And I think Marissa did this to me the other day. Dial it down. I'm so grateful for that because it comes from passion and all of those things. And some people may, like you said, it's articulated as maybe attitude or you get in trouble, etcetera, but it's not.
Audrie Dollins:It comes from passion and confidence and, you know, all of that. And she gave me one of those, like and that is a good team member you know that's not afraid to be like you need to need to bring it down and they're strong enough to tell you that because they know the vision of that. Do you see it in your kids? Do you see certain things in your own children as, Oh, for sure. Their pets?
Audrie Dollins:Yes.
Steph:And we were talking about, like, do they see the life I've built and all of that and the craziness of it, and they definitely do. And I think they believe I stay at home and, like, do my stuff all day. And, like, they know I work, but it's it doesn't impact them yet. So and that's been my goal. But at the same time, like, my daughter started an Etsy shop at 10.
Steph:And, like Exactly. It's not a ton of money, but, I mean, there's probably, like, $10 that's flown through into her her savings account. My son started something with his cousin at 11 or 12, and he's now posting on social. Mhmm. Understanding, DM ing someone and what that looks like.
Steph:He created AI images for social, like these are life skills that through the lens of a business and maybe money motivates them, maybe it doesn't, but it's giving them tools that like they get, they're getting a great, very, very paid, expensive education in private school, but there's things missing that are needed to succeed in life. I know those tools. So that's what I'm like, besides loving them and I think, you know, being a good mom, I'm giving them some life skills that they will hopefully use later on. And our youngest is 10, and we have this little business idea that by the fall we'll be up and running. So I'm like, that is my gift to them.
Steph:I hope I can pay for their kids' schools and take them off on vacations when they're older. And like, those are my goals too, but I really want them to be successful in their own right. And if I can nurture that in a way that's not like stressful when they're 18 or 22 of like get a job or or build something now because you have to. They're just tinkering. You know, like planting the seed of like, oh, they have a three d printer.
Steph:I was like, you could sell some of those things. Yes. They're like, oh, I could? Like, yeah. How would I do that?
Steph:You know, so I'm like, those are the things that I feel most proud. Hopefully at the end of the day, they'll have, you know, a little bit of skill set. Our oldest will probably need the structure of working for someone, you know, but then she'll have her own ideas and her own we'll definitely have the money conversation. You need to do this solo, and then it'll be a benefit, you know, of someone to partner with and all those things. But, it's a ride for sure.
Steph:But I feel grateful to be building a business in front of them and then able to take some of those skills. They are my personal coaching clients, if you will.
KJ:Yes, for sure.
Audrie Dollins:No, I love that, and it's, you know, I do think there's days that as as moms, like, we feel like we have that mom feel. Mhmm. But I think at the end of the day, I'm like, girl, I'm sorry. I'm not gonna make your game today. Oh, you shouldn't worry about it.
Audrie Dollins:We're about to get beat, mom. You you like, you have a good day. And so although I'm over here crumpled up and worried, she's like She's fine. Please, mom. Don't come.
Audrie Dollins:Yeah. Like and I was like, okay. But you're because she's a junior now. And I'm like, but senior year, I don't care. I'm gonna be at every day.
Audrie Dollins:But I know for a fact that even if I don't don't make a game in her senior year, she's gonna be just fine, and she will be fine not drinking out of her special water bottle I made. She can drink right out of that Gatorade bucket with all the rest of them. You know what And I I think that's watching and experiencing what we are is to kind of, like you said, coaching with Matt. Okay, finish up. Where are finishing up with our little conversation?
Audrie Dollins:Where are you going? What's next for you both? You're you're on your book tour now. Are you finishing it? Book tour
KJ:is done.
Audrie Dollins:Okay. Yep.
KJ:No. Pitch worthy's out. The workbook that accompanies it is out. The book is done. The promotional I need to get the workbook.
KJ:Yes.
Audrie Dollins:Because I think you gave me a sneak peek. Yes. But then I never followed through with getting it. I need to get it. That's where the magic happens.
Audrie Dollins:They care, you're like,
KJ:Getting into it. Felt like, I think we had this conversation maybe a month ago, two months ago, and said I put everything I had on those books, I'm never writing another book again. I'm tired. It was so much fun. The book tour was so great.
KJ:Thank you for that idea because it was her idea. It was so it was a great experience for me to put myself out there to do it to meet people. Loved every part about it. I'm like, I'm never writing another book again. And then I think, like, two days later, I'm like, hey, I have an idea for a book.
KJ:She's like No, you've got to. She's like, you've got to. I was like, but maybe wait. And then I was like, nope. It's here.
KJ:It's done. Yeah. So the third book is coming. I don't know when. Busy with my PR clients.
KJ:Hearsay continues to run. I think we have about 20 in different capacities of how we serve people and what we're showing up and doing. And then they're just having great, great successes. I get to work with amazing people from anyone from I did something for an astronaut last week to, like, authors to celebrities to So cool. Normal people doing Etsy shop sort of things.
KJ:And so it's just kind of a choose your own adventure sort of thing, and I I love that for it.
Audrie Dollins:And where can we get your book and your workbook and watch you for the another the
KJ:next book? Pitchworthy is the name of the book and the workbook, and they're both on Amazon or anywhere books are sold. To find me, it's hearsaypr.com, hearsayppr.com, and then I'm diving back into Instagram and having a lot of fun, like not worrying about it or like worrying if I
Audrie Dollins:have to dance or keep up with whatever Greg's doing. Battle Greg, what Greg's not doing. What Greg's not doing.
KJ:I like to post my contrarian thoughts and then disappear for a few hours and see what the comments are. So that's KJ Glenbauer. That's true.
Audrie Dollins:Yes, and you're doing great on it. Thanks. Are. Yeah, mean, I own an agency as
KJ:well and
Audrie Dollins:I'm barely like on, I'm like okay guys we're gonna do it this week you know because we're so focused on everybody else and I'm like I'm kind of doing that too, like we're gonna do a little bit of fashion, I love fashion, I love being resource and talking about us not getting our nails done and what to use when we try. Tell us, you have Ali and Best partnership going on right now. What's coming up? What should we look forward to? I know Mother's Day is gonna be
Steph:Yeah, spring gifting is in full for that's kind of like our second Christmas holiday buying season, so it's a huge couple months for us. And then we've got some funds collapse this summer, which we don't usually do. Summer's kind of our slower season. We try to kind of chill throughout, but this year we decided to kind of Go ahead. Blow it up a little.
Steph:Ah, we have two brain partnerships that are amazing, brains I'm really proud
KJ:to work
Steph:with. And then obviously, we're it's like all hands on deck for holiday. That's you know, we've we've got the whole collection kinda built out, and then it'll come to life over the summer and ready for q four. So I don't know. I feel like we just launched a subscription.
Steph:I was literally gonna say that.
Audrie Dollins:I love subscription. I'm so proud
Steph:of that and happy about it. And it's bringing me back to, I have taken ownership of it. Rather than creating something big at scale, we're creating something small that I'm literally packed in my kitchen. I like bringing it back to how we started. Yes.
Steph:Because there's something to testing something out to where I don't need 5,000 units of something. I wanted to see if like 20 people buy it. Yes. And that's okay. That's good enough for now.
Steph:And then if they do, and there's excitement around it, okay, how do we grow it and build it? So we have a Happy Mail subscription, and it literally shows up in your mailbox once a month, and it's a letter from us, from our team, or from me, and it's got a card, a note card, that's got a pre stamped envelope to kind of pay it forward. So we wanna connect with you, and then we want you to connect with someone else.
Audrie Dollins:And I think it's such, and it is definitely a representation of who you are because it's so thoughtful, and I always think, I want to do stuff for people, and then I get so busy. Same. And even with our clients, like, I love to mail them a birthday card. It doesn't have to have anything in it. I just want us to write in it.
Audrie Dollins:I mean, obviously, we all Sign it. Let's not lie. We all look for it to drop before we read. Right? We look for whatever the gift is gonna drop out of it.
Audrie Dollins:But I think it's so thoughtful in notes and those things. And I I when I saw that come across my email because I subscribed. Yeah. I'm a subscriber. Yeah.
Steph:I loved it. I love that egress. It's going back to as everything's getting so tech savvy and AI focused of like, there's nothing better than something fun showing up in your mailbox. Not your Amazon box or not on your porch, but, like, in the mailbox. And it's just for you.
Steph:And I tested it out with an artist that has a she's in Spain, and I love her art. And she, every month, sends me a little print of one of her pieces and some stickers that coincide and a letter about the art and what inspired her. And the joy I felt receiving hers, I was like, well, this makes so much sense for us to do. Yeah. And so it's it's my little baby project right now, and we've got, like, 25 subscribers.
Steph:Oh, that's first week. I mean,
Audrie Dollins:that is. That is. That is. I could
Steph:be disappointed if it's not a thousand, but I'm like and funny story. Know.
Audrie Dollins:But hit that point, though. So you said and it's people are Mhmm. Connecting the dots. You sold over 1,000,000 in one year. We know that's happened.
Audrie Dollins:Yes. I'm pretty sure you've done it several times. Yes. And you so this is nailing it to what I tell my clients all the time how I look at social media. You said you have a multi million dollar company, correct?
Audrie Dollins:Yes. We can shout out how amazing that is. That is beautiful. It's amazing. You got 25 subscribers in one week.
Audrie Dollins:That is a win.
Steph:For sure.
Audrie Dollins:Is You got one. Right, even if you got one, that is a win. It doesn't have to be 25,000, 2,500. Is, 25 is not small to me. That is a big deal.
Steph:It's 25 people that our notes gonna show up in their mailbox
Audrie Dollins:every single month. And you're a multi million dollar company. And how valuable that that you value that. Yeah. And I think that's what stands out to me with who you both are and why I wanted you both here and how special that is.
Audrie Dollins:And yes, all of this is running, but you're still special. And I think that's where companies like yours and ours and everyone succeed because you are valued. You don't have to be 25,000,000.
Steph:You can just be 25. Yeah. You have to remember that.
Audrie Dollins:And in a world where it's like, I need 25,000 likes to feel value. That's not real. No. That's not real. You don't have to run a company.
Audrie Dollins:I I barely get any. And I'm telling you right now, I don't sleep. I am busy. I have a fantastic company. Like all companies, we want more.
Audrie Dollins:We wanna how do we treat you know, do better, etcetera. That just hit home for And I think it's so important that anybody's listening that you run a multi million dollar company. You got 25 in the first week, and that is success. Yeah. That is success.
Steph:Yes, for sure. And then there's the flip side of like, will we settle for that number? No.
Audrie Dollins:No, of course not. But we take pride
Steph:in that 25 people wanted what we put out into the world to start with. Yes. Yes. And I met one yesterday, which I'm like, this was such a God thing. This woman was at the Alley and Best.
Steph:We didn't have a lot of people come. We didn't expect to. We were just kind of gonna hang out for the day, have our products, and whoever could come, like, they were meant to be there. And this woman walked in, she's like, I just wanna introduce myself. I bought your products forever.
Steph:I was like, oh, that's so kind. I was like, thank you for, like, coming. Do you live nearby? No. Like, drove so far.
Steph:She's like, I subscribed to your Happy Mail. I literally I was like, you might be an angel that I needed to meet that day. Yes. I was like, no, you did not. And she's like, yes,
Audrie Dollins:I did.
Steph:She's like, when will they mail out? And was like, well, I'm just like, I just packed them last I was like, so hopefully this week. And then we're gonna hope to ship the May 1 early. So if people buy them for Mother's Day, that they arrive on time and she's like you know what got me? And I was like I will I mean this is gold.
Steph:What tell me what made you decide to invest it's $15 so it's not nothing but it's not a huge investment. She's like that you include a stamp on the envelope. It did too. It's so funny. And I was like, are you kidding?
Steph:She's like, no. Because I want to write that note. Yeah. And then I just, like, find the reason or excuse that we didn't have stamps at home or I just didn't get to the mail. She's like, I'll just, like, write it, put the address on it, stick it in my mailbox.
Steph:And I'm like, when I tell you, have goosebumps. I'm like, that makes my heart so happy. So do we want to scale something like that? Of course. Is it enough for me right now that even one, the person I met yesterday, is bought into the idea of what this is created for?
Steph:Was like, then, you know, my job is done. I will soon need to delegate it to others to make it grow. But like, it was so, it was just so cool to see. And it doesn't have to be big because this could be the biggest thing we ever do, but it has to start. Yes.
Steph:And 25 is more than enough. You know, if we're at 50 by month three, that's amazing. You know, like that's so cool. So we have no expectation around it. And, again, it goes back to the no standards piece.
Steph:Like, I have very high standards, but in some areas, I have none because I just want it to get out into the world. It didn't have to be perfect. Yes. We didn't have all the org charts and the spread sheets built out, I knew it would be profitable if we did it. That was enough for now.
Steph:And then we'll kind of figure it out later. Yes. So, anyways, Joy Shop is where you can find all the things.
Audrie Dollins:Yeah. Love it. And then is it Joy Creative Shop on Instagram too? We're online, that's where we are. I love it.
Audrie Dollins:And then as we close out, what are and it can be a range of things, and if you don't know, it's okay. We will put this in the links and the videos and all of the things, all of the, I can't even think of the podcast show notes. We'll put it in show notes, but advice that you would give someone that's starting out, which I feel like it's just go for it, you know, to start. And then what are some tangible things that you would recommend, definitely your book, that you would recommend that somebody could implement in their own business right now? What is like a product or a process or a book or which you gave me some good books, and I have yet You to buy told me a book.
Steph:I read a ton. I think it's either find a mentor or buy some books. Like, think you could do either. If you have someone you can talk to that's done what you hope to do, go get in front of them if you can or have conversations. But if not, there's so many podcasts and books out there.
Steph:Yes. Like, you know, we're not in a place to to have paid PR, but her book has allowed me to have the skills that I can until we can grow to where that is a paid part of our marketing pie, I have tools from a book I read from an expert that wrote it that then I can go implement myself until until I can delegate it. Yes. Does that make sense? Yes.
Steph:But I would say I I would say read, listen. I mean, I just keep fill my head with information. Yeah. At the same time, you've gotta act on it. Yes.
Steph:I can absorb, but I need
Audrie Dollins:to execute. I think that's a lot of hookups with I wanna say women is we have to be okay with not
Steph:being perfect and doing it. For sure.
Audrie Dollins:Like, just do it. The thing. And put in the work. Don't talk about it. I mean, talk about it.
Audrie Dollins:Yeah. Have a direction Yeah.
Steph:With doing it. Don't forget. Yeah. And I think part of
KJ:it I think my biggest takeaway and my wish advice someone had given me a long, long time ago starting out is, what do you really wanna do? What do you really wanna be known for? Because if you are truly honest with yourself about what you really wanna do, what you really wanna be known for, you're a happier person. You're better to be around. You're a better partner.
KJ:You're a better mom. You're a better whatever it is. But you're also showing up better for your clients. When you're when you're not resentful because you're doing something you don't wanna do, when you're stuck doing tasks you're not good at or don't feel good, if you know what you wanna be known for and you chase that and everything is a yes to get to that goal and everything that doesn't make you to that goal, yes, you could do it. Yes.
KJ:It's fun. Maybe it'd nice. Maybe people expect it from you, but it's a no for you. It doesn't meet your goal. If you push that to the side, you are it's
Steph:just a more well rounded
KJ:person, happier, and in everything. I think you
Steph:go farther. You achieve them.
KJ:So what do you wanna be known for? That is the piece of advice
Audrie Dollins:I give to everyone. I do love that. Yeah. Well, thank you both so much for I taking the time to be appreciate you so much. You're Thank you just such an inspiration.
Audrie Dollins:Thank you. I'm like, I'm like, moved from this episode.
Audrie Dollins:Thank you for tuning in to another episode of Founders and Fortitude Conversations with Audrie Dollins. For details and links from our incredible guests, be sure to check out our show notes. You might even find exclusive discounts and special items we share that aren't even mentioned during the show. If you enjoyed today's episode, please take a moment to leave a five star review. It truly helps us grow and continue sharing valuable insights with you.
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