[00:00:02] Speaker A: Tea with Br.
I'm trying to live my life I.
[00:00:09] Speaker B: Just need space to grow I'm just trying to make it right these people.
[00:00:14] Speaker A: Won'T let me go I'm just trying.
[00:00:16] Speaker B: To live my life I just need space to grow I'm just trying to make it right these people won't let me go Let me grow, let me go, Let me grow, Let me go they should know they should know they should know they should know I'm just trying to live my life I just need space to grow welcome to the Tea with Bri. I'm your host, Bri. Thanks for listening. The Tier 3 podcast is focused on deep, honest and vulnerable conversation. Each week I sit down with a different guest in order to have those conversations. Every week, we'll start my guest's bio and intro into how we know each other, and then we'll go into a deep dive conversation about whatever topic they brought to me that week. This week, I am joined by my guest, Kerry Komaroff. Carrie uses she her pronouns, is a former middle school teacher of 10 years turned entrepreneur and creative business strategist. Carrie was able to resign from teaching by making her side gig powerful enough to become her main gig. Hello.
[00:01:31] Speaker A: Hi. How are you?
[00:01:32] Speaker B: I am so good. I'm so excited to chat with you.
We've been trying to get this on the schedule and we did it. We made it.
[00:01:41] Speaker A: Thank you so much for all the flexibility.
[00:01:43] Speaker B: No, no, thank you. I feel like I started a new job and my life has just been nonstop.
[00:01:48] Speaker A: I can imagine.
[00:01:50] Speaker B: As you may know, the theater never rests, and it's just been one thing after another for four months. And I'm like, I finally feel in the flow of life and good. You can breathe now a little bit. We're in the middle of another show. We just started another show that opened Sunday, so we now run to the 23rd. So it's just like we do between, like, seven and nine shows a week.
[00:02:15] Speaker A: Oh, my goodness.
[00:02:16] Speaker B: Mm, mm, mm. So. And I go to every show to greet donors and people who come. So I'm at every show.
[00:02:26] Speaker A: That's a lot of commitment.
[00:02:27] Speaker B: It's a lot of commitment on top of my other stuff I have to do. And then the weather, as you know, the snow will cause us to cancel shows. So.
[00:02:35] Speaker A: Oh, the chaos of the rescheduling.
[00:02:38] Speaker B: The true, utter chaos. And like, having lived in Texas for eight years, I forget. I forgot that snow would be a thing.
So, yeah, that's. That's my life right now.
[00:02:50] Speaker A: Well, you know, you're learning all Sorts of things about yourself from it and your strength.
[00:02:55] Speaker B: So flexibility, patience, understanding. I took a half day today. I was like, I need to go get a massage. That's what I need to do today.
[00:03:02] Speaker A: Good for you. I support that.
[00:03:04] Speaker B: Thank you so much.
Speaking of flexibility, I know today we're talking about how you were flexible in me, like, a huge shift from teaching to for 10 years, which claps to all teachers the respect I have for teachers.
I just. That's a whole different podcast episode. I could just talk about love I have for teachers for so long. But you left teaching because you were on maternity leave with your second baby, and then you made a shift. So take us through. Tell us what that was like.
[00:03:35] Speaker A: Yeah, so I taught middle school reading in the same middle school actually where I attended.
[00:03:40] Speaker B: So stop it.
[00:03:41] Speaker A: I know, like, all my teacher friends were my former teachers, so it was like a really full circle thing. My. My children will eventually one day attend that middle school, so cannot say enough good things about the people there and the teachers there and just, like, what they do for kids and the fact that I got to come back and be a part of it as an adult and a professional was, like, so, like, heart filling. I loved teaching. I feel like I was one of those people who was, like, born to be a teacher. You either, like, have it or you don't. And I feel like I was, like, one of the lucky ones. So 10 years I taught high energy classroom, always made a point to connect with my students and really get on their level so that whatever I was teaching, they would bother to listen to. Because in middle school, you can't be like, oh, well, you get a timeout. It doesn't work like that. So you really have to get them to buy into who you are. And I feel like I had perfected that craft, but by the time I had my second son, so I have two boys, he is like the epitome of a second child.
[00:04:49] Speaker B: I love that.
[00:04:53] Speaker A: He doesn't follow any type of schedule. I had, no matter what sleeping protocol. My husband and I tried. He didn't sleep. He's almost 18 months now, and I would still say he sleeps through the night maybe five nights a week, which is huge because for almost a year and a half, we hadn't been sleeping. So anyway, when I was on maternity leave with him, I was like, holy crap, this is difficult. And I also had a three and a half year old running around, and I was like, how am I gonna go back to teaching? Like, I can't. I can't drop this little boy off at daycare. Like, he doesn't. He's not even adjusted to me, let alone adjusted to whoever is gonna take care of him. And so I was like, there has to be another way. So I was kind of scrolling through Instagram trying to figure out how to get him to sleep was the real reason I was scrolling. And then I stumbled across my cousin, who was kind of working from home with her sleeping child on her lap, which made me obviously jealous. And it just kind of went from there. And I started my own business. It was never part of my dream to own my own business one day. It's just that, like, kids really change you for the better, but, like, damn, they change you. So here we are.
[00:06:01] Speaker B: Okay. And tell us, like, tell the folks what you do, because I feel like a lot of people are looking for that as they become parents or as they start to, like, think about leaving the career or. I know, and we can circle back to this. Of, like, during the pandemic, I lost my job. That's when I started my consulting business.
So, yeah, just tell it. Take us through what you do and how. How it led you to this.
[00:06:22] Speaker A: Yeah, sure. So I started this whole, like, gig off as a virtual assistant kind of because I was nervous. Like, ugh, all I know what to do is teach. Which is crazy because that's actually a lot. But I felt like I could only be a teacher. So I started as a virtual assistant. I kind of, like, pitch myself as, like, I can, you know, keep track of your emails, organize your Google Drives. I can respond to, like, customer service, type emails, like, all the admin stuff.
And as soon as I landed a couple clients doing that, I realized that, like, I don't really want to just do the stuff that other people don't want to do. And at that point, I think I had also gained a little confidence from at least having those few clients that I can do more. So I started offering more creative services. So now I write newsletters. So basically what I do is I take a look at their business, see what they have going on, see what their goal is and how they want to grow, and then I see what's the missing piece. Like, whether they need to start being guests on podcasts or have newsletters or have blog posts or be more active on social media, and I pitch those ideas to them, and whatever one they kind of like, we not only run with, but I, like, spearhead it. So then I am writing and designing and sending the newsletters.
I'm writing, designing, posting the blogs. Advertising them. So I'm like, creating a new pillar of business based on what they have or don't have and where their audience would be and then helping them build it and kind of like owning that for them.
[00:07:55] Speaker B: We'll be talking then. Because you need help. I need a little help. Yeah. Yeah. It just makes me think of, like, what you first said about, like, quote, like, all you knew was how to teach. And I'm like, I've been having this conversation with friends. Like, all of our skills are transferable. And like, I, like I said, I just started this job, but my biggest thing is, like, to always have your resume up to date because you just never know what can happen in life. And I've been talking to a lot of friends who are just like, you just seem to always find a thing. I'm like, well, your skills are transferable. Like, we just. I think we are just kind of taught our whole life of, like, you find this thing and you stick with it forever. And it wasn't until the pandemic when I had lost, I was working at a tech startup that was helping to register voters, and I got let go and I had only been there for, like, six months, and, like, everything had shifted. And so just like, what can I do? Like, what do I know? Like, I know how to organize, I know how to fundraise. Like, I know all these different things. And I was living in Austin, which has, like, one of the highest nonprofits per capita in the country.
[00:08:57] Speaker A: Oh, okay.
[00:08:58] Speaker B: So there's a lot of small nonprofits organizations who can't afford full time fundraisers or marketing people. So it's kind of like the same thing. It's like, well, I know how to do this. And then, like, I gained my confidence from that too, of, like, well, I also know, like, public speaking and, like, getting people ready. And, like, I started a podcast and it's like, all these different things.
So, yeah, like, it just really got to me when you were saying that of like, I know so many teacher friends who left teaching after the pandemic too, who just like, I'm so burned out, but what do I want to do next? And I'm like, this is so important to be, like, flexible and have options and just know that, like, you can shift and still be fine and figure it out.
[00:09:33] Speaker A: But yeah, and I do think it takes a second to, like, try your skills that you already know you have in a different world. So, like, okay, I was making God knows how many PowerPoint presentations a day for these students to, like, get them to buy into the lesson, obviously, they had to look good, they had to be engaging for kids to want to learn.
And then I think about, like, that's totally what an Instagram post is. That's totally what a Facebook post is. So you just have to, like, think outside of your world, which is so difficult when it's all consuming. Like, a teacher was my identity before, so I couldn't think outside of it. But, yeah, you just have to get creative, I think, and take a step back.
[00:10:15] Speaker B: Yeah. And that's that, too. My friend who's been on before, Jackie, she has two boys and she's a teacher and she just switched schools. But during that time, too, we had been talking because she, like, I don't know if I can go back to teaching because her first. Same thing. Like her first child, significantly easier than her second. Like, her second is a quintessential second child.
And so she, at first, like, I cannot. I do not know what I'm going to do. But she talks about that, too. Like, her maternity leave. And I want to touch base on yours, too. Like, during her maternity leave, she had timed it essentially. Like, she timed it to have her baby, like, right before the summer so that she could have a longer maternity leave, too. And so it gave her time to kind of figure out what she wanted to do. She's still teaching, but it was during that time that she really started questioning, too, because between, like, the cost of childcare and what she was doing and everything else. So I think that's important to touch base, too. Like, you did this during your maternity leave of, like, trying to get a baby to sleep and starting a business. I'm like, you weren't sleeping. How did you. How did you manage this?
[00:11:18] Speaker A: I know.
Yeah. I don't know. I feel like maternity leave is like that. That small bit of time for somebody to make this wild shift of, like, you can have your cake and eat it too. You can try this. And if it fails miserably, guess what? In 12 weeks, whenever your FMLA is done, you're going to go back to whatever your job was. So if you can just, like, scrounge up the tiny bit of energy you have left. Plus, I will say those newborn babies are immobile, so they can't move. If you put them down, they're not going anywhere, which to some extent makes things a little bit easier. I know the sleep is a huge deal, but. Yeah. So if it didn't work, then I have my other job. It's not like I quit teaching and then took this huge risk. So I do think maternity leave, once you kind of get past the exhaustion of it and the learning how to do it type of thing, I think it's the perfect time to try something new.
[00:12:17] Speaker B: Yeah, I just, I'm thinking about all my girlfriends who have, who are raising all boys.
One of my friends has three boys and I'm like, I'm thinking about her right now and I'm like.
[00:12:33] Speaker A: No, they don't do. They don't sit in color, they don't sit peacefully and read. They'll read if I read to them. But like, they are running, tackling, jumping off of things.
And I just have to learn to let them do dangerous things carefully.
[00:12:50] Speaker B: I'm staying with my cousin right now and she has four boys and I'm just always like, what is how.
[00:12:58] Speaker A: We don't know.
[00:12:59] Speaker B: They'll sometimes be sweet and then it's like gone. And I'm like, oh, that was so nice for 20 seconds. Thank you for being kind to me for 20 seconds.
But anyway, yeah, I just think of, of two. Of like you were just saying, of like there is this sort of built in sort of safety net because you are on maternity leave.
But then I think again, like, that I am not a parent. I have so much respect for parents, especially after living with my cousin who is a parent. I'm just like, interesting times.
But that, that too of like the moments where you or I'm sure you were like, this is my, like, you're saying my chance to do this. But then also, like, what that'll set an example for, for your kids too. Like, this is okay to like, choose a different path, to like switch things up. And then also for your other teacher friends of like, there are other options there for you. Because like we said already, like, I think people get so pigeonholed. Like, this is the only thing I've known. I've gone to school for this for so long. So like, take us through. Like, how did you like, find clients? How did that grow? Because I know you said you started as a virtual assistant, but now it's kind of grown from that. Like what is like your day to day look like? Or like what does it look like to like between like your start when you started this to now? How has that shifted? What does that look like?
[00:14:15] Speaker A: Yeah, so when I switch, once I started got my foot in the door as a virtual assistant, I decided like pretty quickly that I could do more and wanted to do more. And so I felt like the title virtual assistant didn't fit me anymore. Because you think assistant. You're like, yeah, I'm here to help. I'm not really here to create.
So I switched. I made up my own title, and now I'm a creative business strategist. And I feel like all three of the words matter because creative, like, I'm gonna be able to implement something new and act on it, not just pitch you the idea and run away from it.
Business, I pretty much focus on small business owners. I don't really know who else would need my services, but, like, you know, I'm always learning something, so who knows, maybe the day will come. And then. Strategist. I love, and I've been told by many that I'm like an ideas person. So if there's a problem, I have like 101 solutions, workarounds, resourceful ways to solve things. So I think I like that challenge, which is weird because most people, like, don't want to do hard things, but I think I enjoy it now. Does it get frustrating if it's something super techy and I cannot figure it out? Yes. But, like, you have to choose your hard. I would choose that hard a million times over. Leaving my kids all day, coming back with zero energy to them. So, yeah, so I switched to them. I have four. I switched to that, like, world of virtual services, and I have four clients. I pretty much do the same type of deal for all of them.
Not the exact same services, but the same. Let's see what you have going and what's missing. So, like, one of my clients is. Has a.
She kind of formulated her own supplement. She's a naturopathic physician, and so she wants to get her product out there. So her goal is to be on as many podcasts as possible.
I actually think maybe that's how you.
[00:16:17] Speaker B: And I. Dr. Gina. Yeah.
[00:16:19] Speaker A: Yeah.
So I just kind of get her scheduled set up on all the podcasts, and then hopefully those audience of each podcast host can learn about her product and so on. So it all just depends what each one needs.
Getting somebody on a podcast is not totally creative, but then there are things you get to do that are creative. Like, okay, let's make a media kit for her, or let's, you know, put together. Once she does a podcast with people, then I turn it into a blog. We post the blog on our website. So it's a whole, like, domino effect of what you can do. But you do need the. The business owner to kind of take the risk in the first place, which she was great. She didn't. It wasn't she's like, yeah, let's go talk about it. I'm ready to go. Not everybody wants to sit and talk on a podcast, so other people take different types of, like, jumps in their business, but, yeah, it's really fun.
Yes. I have four of them. I work about 25 hours a week, not on a typical schedule because my boys are, like, the main priority. So I work a little bit in the morning, a little bit in the afternoon, and then at night is when I tend to finish things up, which is not ideal, but again, better than what I used to have going on.
[00:17:38] Speaker B: And so do they typically find you? Are you out pitching to them? Like, I think that's also a really interesting thing as well. Like, how do you find these people and how do they find you?
[00:17:48] Speaker A: Yeah. So right now, two of my clients are, I guess they fall into the world of, like, personal network slash referrals, because they were not in my personal network, but because people in my network knew what I was doing. They kind of were listening to people in their network and they were like, oh, like, you're talking about these struggles. I bet Carrie could help you with this. Let me connect you. So that's actually two of my clients, which is interesting because in the very beginning, I was nervous to kind of, like, put out on my social medias what I was doing because, like, oh, this could be embarrassing. Like, what if I fail?
So I'm glad that I did, because now that's two of my. My, like, main. Main deal. So that's the number one way. I did do a little bit of cold pitching. I help my clients do cold pitching too, because I do think that there's value in that, but I do think there's value in cold pitching over time. So if you send 10 and don't get a response, I don't think that's enough. Okay, if you send 30 and don't get a response, then let's look at the technique of your cold pitch and what you're putting in it. But I do think that you have to play.
The odds are not good, so you gotta do as much as you can to get your winner.
[00:19:05] Speaker B: I want to go back really quickly to the using your networks and being embarrassed if you fail, because that was such a big thing for me of, like, I had lost my job and I started consulting and my friends. I was really lucky that a lot of my friends or people in my network were like, you're. You're good at what you do. Like, let us help you. And so it took me a While to be like, oh, no, I'm a consultant. And then it was just like this weird. I get, like, this weird, embarrassing thing. Like, but what if I fail? What if it doesn't go right? What if all these different things. So, like, that. That really just got me of, like, your people want to help you, and I think it's like, we're in this time of life too. Like, it is okay to ask for help. I think for so long, it was like, this is your work. You figure this out and you go forward.
And so, yeah, I just wanted to circle back to that because I. That really resonated with me so much of just being like, oh, gosh, no. The vulnerability.
[00:20:02] Speaker A: I know. But you know what else I learned? And, like, this is not something that should be your first choice. But nobody in your personal network, like, once you start the whole thing right, nobody in your personal network is gonna know if you are massively successful or not. So it falls under the realm of, like, fake it till you make it, but you don't even have to be faking it. Like, when I had one client who cares, I still had one client. Like, if they gave me a testimonial, I'd post the testimonial. Like, now I'm suddenly, like, I appear a little bit more, like, of an authoritative figure in the virtual space. So would I consider one client being successful for me and, like, what I need? No, but it's, like, enough. Enough success that I could use it as, like, a springboard to, like, be confident and keep going.
[00:20:54] Speaker B: Yeah, one is better than none, for sure. And I did. I did the same thing of, like, every time I worked with a new client. Like, would you just mind filling out this testimonial? Like, there's no harm in also asking. Asking that of them, especially, like, if it went really well.
[00:21:08] Speaker A: Right?
[00:21:08] Speaker B: Because I'm just like, you have nothing. You have truly nothing to lose. And then there's also this part of, like, the.
The I think about this a lot too, like, in the, like, social media influencer spaces, too, of, like, this label of, like, I can't be this thing, because I haven't reached a certain level of success yet. And I'm like, who. Who says? Like, that's such, like, a weird thing that we have ingrained in our brain now. And I'm still trying to get out of that because, like, I've had this podcast for so long. Like, I. I can, like, proudly say, like, I'm a podcaster. This show has been around for five years, six years. It'll be six years. Thank you.
But, like, my friends, like, you are an influencer. I'm like, no, no. But I think it's because I have friends who have, like, 20 to hundreds of thousands of followers. I'm like, no. Like, that's a different level to me.
Same thing. When I was consulting, I was like, no, no. Like, I have consulting clients. I am a consultant. But then on the other side of, like, I'm like, oh, I'm not creative. My friends, like, you're one of the best writers I know. And I'm like, you guys. No. And so that. That too. Like, I just think sometimes we get in our own way. And I specifically, with me, like, I am one of the, like, biggest. Like, fake it to you. Make it. Have confidence. Like, puff your chest out. You've got this person for, like, business. And, like, all my friends. And then I'm like, but this, like, thing I'm doing. And, like, I was like, stop minimizing the, like, greatness you're doing. And that's, like, still a practice I am in, like, every day of my life.
[00:22:35] Speaker A: Yeah. I think it. It comes along with, like, just being a female. I think, like, I don't know. We always feel like we're taking up too much space. We always have to apologize. My mom. My mom, my husband will be like, why are you saying, sorry? Did you do something wrong? I'm like, actually, no, I didn't. I just felt like it needed to be said. And he's like, well, it didn't. He's like, if you want to appear strong, don't apologize for things. If you didn't do anything wrong, it's like, okay, I'll try to keep that in my mind.
[00:23:03] Speaker B: Yeah, it is hard. But, like, you're saying. It's so ingrained in us. Like, make yourself smaller. Be apologetic. Like, oh, and I. And I get my friends all the time like, oh, sorry. I'm like, you're not sorry. And, like, you can. Like, one of the things is, like, I saw. I read one time of, like, don't say, I'm sorry for being late. You can be like, I appreciate you waiting for me to join. I'm like, that just, like, just. That shift in language is, like, so much more powerful than, like, I'm so sorry I'm late. Like, did. I'm like, you don't have to explain. You can just say thank you for your patience as I joined this meeting. And I'm like, I love that. What a time. That.
But I think, like, specifically As a business owner, like, as a female business owner, like, we are taught so often to just be. Yes, have gratitude. But I think there's a level of, like, being overly thankful. And I'm like, no. Like, we are good at what we do. This is why we are here and are doing this business. And, like, having worked with a lot of men who. When I was consulting, I got so many men who were like, well, what makes you think you're qualified? I was like, you would never ask another man this question. Like, and. And I think we see this all the time, too. Like, on red carpets. When I asked them, like, what are you wearing? Or like, who. When are you gonna have a kid? I'm like, you would never ask this of a dude. Like, so, like, I tell people, like, have that same energy that you would have for who was in business, because you would never ask him that. And then, like, the attitudes, I would get back. I'm like, I'm just setting a boundary like anybody else would, and I'm okay with that.
[00:24:26] Speaker A: Yeah. Oh, my gosh. That. I feel like that could be a whole topic on your podcast in itself.
That could really get things going.
[00:24:34] Speaker B: Oh, the. Oh, the attitudes. I was just like, oh, it was always that. Or, like, it was weird to me when it was other women. Because I don't come from a scarcity mindset of, like, I truly believe there is space for everyone at the top. Like, there is no reason for us to be fighting for anything, especially right now, like, in the space of me fundraising. And, like, there's a lot of conversation right now around, like, federal funding and stuff, and specifically donors depending on where you live, to, like, people are just like, well, we. If they give you 10k, that means they're not going to give me 10k. And I'm like, you know, money is also a concept. Like, more of it is made all the time. Like, there's no scarcity of funds anywhere. I think it has more to do with relationship building. But, like, that was. That was. That's been a big thing, too, with me personally. Of, like, yes. Like, I've had men who were awful, but I kind of expected that. But, like, with women, it was just always. It's always so interesting because I'm just like, I would say I am a girl's girl. Like, I will do anything and help with anything. And, like, I've had other friends who, like, want to start a podcast. Like, can I help you get started? I will literally copy and paste, like, anything that from my stuff. I would teach you like, how I got up here. Like, I just think one, stories are really important, and two, like, I just think all people should have the right to share things and create things. But anyway, that's a tangent for another day, but I'm just thinking of that too. There's like, that space of, like, women business owners and women who do this work of just, like, networking and giving that. Cause I'm like, now that I know you are a creative business strategist, I can be like, oh, my gosh, do you know about Carrie? Do you need help from Carrie?
[00:26:11] Speaker A: Actually, the two of my clients that came from my, like, referral personal network were reckon, like, my friends that were females. Like, I am like, a big, like, empowered women empower women.
[00:26:24] Speaker B: Like, yes.
[00:26:25] Speaker A: In the background of things. So I'm also just love a good quote because I'm a former reading teacher. So, like, I have that corny side of me.
[00:26:32] Speaker B: That's okay. Nope.
[00:26:33] Speaker A: But, yeah, so, like, if they didn't know what I did, or if I was too scared to tell them, or if, you know, they weren't confident enough in themselves to pass it along to me. So there's a lot of working pieces of, like, a lot of confident women to get me to where I am, which. Which is, like, cool to have in my, like, stone step where I got here.
[00:26:53] Speaker B: Yeah. And, like, I think about too, what, like, you're showing other moms, other teachers, other wives of, like, you can set something aside and do this for yourself. Especially as, like, things are shifting and we've seen, like, more people who want to still, like, work from home or be, like, home with their kids. And like, there is so many things out there. I'm also. There's this one podcast listen to. I was like, there's just so many jobs. And I'm like, yes, there's so many, like, different things you can do. And then also, if it doesn't exist, you can do it yourself. Right. Like, there's no. No one telling you no, but you. And I just think that's, like, a really important thing to hold of. Like, like, you said you. These sounded great to you. You figured out how to make it work for you and, like, that. I just want more people to feel that too. Like, if it doesn't exist, you have every right to build it.
[00:27:37] Speaker A: Yeah. I mean, I made up my own title, so there you go.
[00:27:42] Speaker B: Have the confidence people. Just. Just do the thing. There's no. There's no harm in faking.
[00:27:47] Speaker A: There's.
[00:27:48] Speaker B: I have been saying that, like, there's no Rules here the rules don't exist anymore. You could just do whatever you want. The rules don't exist. Make the thing. Throw pasta at the wall. See what sticks. Because you just truly never know.
[00:28:00] Speaker A: I think what I really want to put out there, when I think about, like, the values that I have as, like, a person and a business owner, because business owner values are kind of new to me. I have, like, values as a person, but I feel like whatever, like, choices or, I don't know, like, complications or anything that comes your way. There's always, like, so much thinking, and it weighs you down and, like, creates anxiety. Like, I feel like we're living in a world of, like, a bunch of anxious souls, like, myself being one of them, and it's like, we don't need any more of that. So what I try to do, and I feel like I've told my friends this a couple times, like, the most important decisions in your life, I do feel like you need to make with your heart, because if you try to make it all with your head, I mean, I can just feel the headache and the. Will this be right? The what ifs, the pros and cons, like, the whole thing. And it's like, there's a place for that. Don't get me wrong. Like, you need to do logical things in the world, but I feel like you have to live with what you're doing, and you only get one shot at life. So you have to do what makes you happy. And if it doesn't, what is the point? Teaching absolutely made me happy, but you know what didn't? Coming home and being exhausted for my kids. I wanted to be a mom my entire life. And I'm coming home and I'm being. I just want to lay on the couch. That doesn't make me happy. So, like, I was sad to resign from teaching, don't get me wrong. But my heart was telling me, your kids will literally only be this little for so long. And if the day comes where you want to go back and that's what's gonna make me happy again in the future, then I'll try, like, full transparency. I don't think I'm going to go back, but I'm way too used to, like, living my life in sweatpants and amen. But I just feel like people get really, really stressed. I've seen it with my former students. I see it, like, with my son, even sometimes he's three and a half. And I just. I want people to listen to their heart more because that is at the End of the day, that's, that's what's going to get you to the next day.
[00:30:11] Speaker B: Yeah, I think that that really is what got me to try consulting the first time of like you can always go back. Like that idea really helped me because one, like I said, I didn't have a job when I started this consulting thing. And then it was also, it started, things started to shift and some opportunities started to open back up because the world was opening back up. And so it took me a little while to decide if I wanted to back to full time because I had loved the flexibility of working for myself. But then like with me, like it was so nice. But for me, like as a single person with no kids, I was like, I need health insurance. And you know, and so I went back and started doing full time and now I've, I've and I. And the, the beautiful thing is like there's been times when like I've had a job for a while and I'm like, I don't really like this. I'm just going to go back to consulting. Like you can do that sort of back and forth. But I'm like, like you're saying like taking that first risk of like getting your foot in the door and trying it is so big. And then two, like the head and heart decision that has come up a lot for me because I'm like, I'll go to a job and like this is not what I thought it would be. And they think there's no harm in being like this wasn't a good choice and I can leave. Like I just, I had a job last year for a year that I really liked. But then some things came up and I was just like, I think it's time for me to go. And I didn't have something lined up right away and I was like, I can go back to consulting. And I did a little bit of that until I got my next full time job. So I think it's that too of like the, the head and heart decisions of like this just doesn't feel right anymore. And I want more people to like trust their gut more. Like I think that's, that's the biggest thing as well of, of this may feel right insecure and easy and like the thing you can do and then also like, but just think about what the other side could be of like just taking that risk for like six months and like that' I gave myself a window like okay, for six months if I don't make X or I don't have X amount of clients, then I'll go, like, then I'll start applying and going back. Because like you're saying with teaching, my friends always left. They go, you will always have a job. People are always looking for fundraisers. They go, exactly. I have picked a career. I will always find something.
But that too of the flexibility of this is the risk I'm going to take for this amount of time. Because, like, the way I wish. I. Like, we work from home on Thursdays and Fridays and it's the best day of my life. Like, I just have to look professional from like the shoulders up. Like, I can be in pajamas on those days. And so tell me like, oh, that would be nice to just be in sweats and like have the flexibility of like. Because we can also talk for days about the 40 hour work week and how I think that is ridiculous. Like, yeah, that is a whole nother.
[00:32:52] Speaker A: Everybody knows it's not really 40 hours. No matter what your job is, you're doing something outside the hours. Like whether I was worrying about my students who didn't have such a good situation and spending time thinking about them, or grading I don't know how many essays, which was the bane of my existence. Like, it's not really 40. So if you want to work 40, you should probably work like 30.
[00:33:14] Speaker B: But then like, are you getting your stuff done? Because then there's meetings and there's all these other things that I can't. Like just from teaching, like grading papers, conferences, field trips. Like, there's all these things that come up and happen. And then like you're saying a mom and wife, you then have to go home and do other work, like family work.
Yes.
[00:33:33] Speaker A: It's exhausting just listing all the things.
[00:33:36] Speaker B: And now I'm just like. Because everyone's like, with this show particular, everyone's like, your show's like so good. Like, how much is it? How much time does it take you? I was like, it's probably about five to six hours per episode. And they're like, I'm so sorry. What? And I'm like, yeah, the editing and all between actually the recording, then the editing, the like admin part of like scheduling, people doing the run of show, then doing social and like the email parts of it. Like, it's probably like overall like five, five hours per episode.
[00:34:06] Speaker A: Honestly, you need a virtual assistant.
[00:34:09] Speaker B: The thing is, my, my chaotic trait is like, I'm such a control freak about this show.
[00:34:15] Speaker A: Everybody says that everybody does it. Like, I get it and I can't let it Go.
[00:34:20] Speaker B: I can't.
[00:34:21] Speaker A: But you will find someone. And you and anybody else who's listening, that feels like a control freak. Like, I can't let go.
You. If you don't let go of some of those things, you'll never know some. Maybe somebody can do it better. I'm not saying what you're doing is bad, but I know if somebody can do a better, quicker, I just think that it would free. You're like, no, get this girl off my shoulder.
[00:34:43] Speaker B: No, no, no, no, no. Because it's so fun. Everyone says this to me. Like, bri, you, You. Because I don't edit a lot. Like, I don't take out a lot. But I think I've just gotten so used to doing it now. Like, I had one friend who did it. She did three episodes for me, and she was great. But then she started her own show, so she just didn't have the time. And then I had a person who was in college who's doing it, and they were fantastic. But then they graduated and got a job. So, like, every time I'm like, okay, I'm ready, and then something happens, and you get burned. And then I'm like, fine. This is what I get for trusting people. It's fine.
But, yes, one day I will let it go, because I think of, like, all the people, other people who I know who are podcast people. Like, oh, I just have an editor. I'm like, that must be so nice.
[00:35:24] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:35:25] Speaker B: Can't relate, but love that.
[00:35:26] Speaker A: You know what else? Be nice to you? Giving somebody the shot, like, your trust to just see, like, wow, that Bree believes I can do this. Like, I'm gonna put my best foot forward. So, I mean, and there are no rules. If it doesn't work out, you go back to doing it yourself.
So if you need a virtual assistant, I know many.
[00:35:45] Speaker B: I feel like I need an editor. This is me publicly announcing that if you're a podcast editor. Because now I feel bullied by Carrie.
[00:35:55] Speaker A: Hey, peer pressure is not always a horrible thing. Let's just get that to you.
[00:35:59] Speaker B: Now I feel pressured by Carrie to say, I am looking for an editor. My email's in the show notes. You know where to find me.
[00:36:06] Speaker A: Oh, my God. You're gonna get flooded with emails, and you're gonna need a virtual assistant to go through your email.
[00:36:10] Speaker B: I. Listen, it's just gonna. It's just gonna. What is it called? Avalanche. Snowball. There it is. I was like, what is the thing? When spiral is also a good one. Fine. You heard it here first. Carrie Bullied me, peer pressured me. And now I have to go h. Do the things. No, like, I think then I'll thank you. I know, like, I think about. One of my aunts has a podcast and her daughter edits for her. And I'm like, Ally could probably do this for me. Like, I'm just like, it's a me thing. This is just me. This is this. I own. I'm in therapy. I own when I am the problem.
I can see that I am the issue here. Everybody.
I'll let go one day.
One day I will let go.
[00:36:54] Speaker A: You don't have to let go of all of it. Small pieces. Let go of the editing. Let go. I can let go notes, something.
[00:37:00] Speaker B: I can let go of the editing.
The show notes are easy. Those are. Those are already done. That's a. That's a duplicate template. Send it out, make edits. That's. That I've. That I've done that. I have figured out the editing would be nice, the content easy. Like that's again a template. I figure that out. It is the editing that holds me at. Okay. Okay, I'm ready. I feel like my new business therapist, Carrie has taught me, has talked me. Yeah. Added to your services. Has told. It is time. It is time to find an editor. So again, I am ready and willing and I'm trying to be ahead right now. Like right now I am four or five episodes ahead.
[00:37:42] Speaker A: Good.
[00:37:43] Speaker B: Thank you. I'm really trying. I'm really trying here.
[00:37:47] Speaker A: Now you have like an arsenal of stuff to post so you can take advantage.
[00:37:49] Speaker B: That's what I'm saying. It is everybody. It's pretty much like ready. It is just. I just have to let it go to someone. I might text Ally after this. This might be it. Like, would you consider editing for me any hoodle. I will be sure to link everything in the show notes. Whenever you want to come back and talk about the seven different tangents we could have had, please, anytime. Because I'm sure we could talk for days on end. I'll make sure to link everything in the show notes. But at the end of every episode, I like to ask a final sort of palette cleanser question. It's a two parter, so you get to decide which part. What is the best advice you have ever been given or what's a piece of advice you would give to your younger self?
[00:38:32] Speaker A: The best advice I've ever been given was my husband. We went through a super difficult time trying to have my second son. It was unexplained, secondary infertility and for any infertility warriors out there, the trenches are deep and dark and the sadness is debilitating.
So I'm like, I feel for you. But what he told me in those like days of darkness was tough times don't last, but tough people do.
And it could just bring me to tears thinking about it now because like, look at all the things that should have broken you and like, here you are.
[00:39:11] Speaker B: So that's it for this week's episode of the Tea with Bri. Be sure to follow the podcast on Instagram hea with Bri. Send me an
[email protected] or visit the website the tea with Bri podcast podcast.com you can find me your host Brianna Jenkins on Instagram at Brianna Jenkins. Don't forget to rate, review and follow on Apple Podcast or wherever you get your podcasts. A special thanks to Mama Duke for our theme music and I will catch you next time. Bye.
