Women Empowerment & Business: Unpacking Hayley Foster's Mission
Today, we're diving into the inspiring journey of Hayley Foster, a true powerhouse in the entrepreneurial world. Her story is a testament to the idea that if you're going to work hard, it might as well be for yourself, right? From co-founding Verge Marketing into a multimillion-dollar success to launching Foster Inc., dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs, Hayley's drive is infectious. We’ll unpack her mission to inspire, educate, and foster connections, not just for business growth but also for personal wellness through her latest venture, Foster Longevity. So, grab your favorite drink and settle in, because this chat is all about embracing the grind while keeping it real and fun!
Hayley Foster joins us for a deep dive into her entrepreneurial journey, and let me tell you, it's a whirlwind. She kicks things off by sharing her roots in business, which sprouted from an early competitive spirit—who knew paper routes could be the breeding ground for a future business mogul? Fast forward to 2002, and she co-founds Verge Marketing, a multi-million dollar enterprise, driven by a passion for creativity in an otherwise bland promotional market. But she's not just about the numbers; her heart beats for empowerment, especially when it comes to women in business. In 2015, she launches Foster Inc., a platform designed to uplift women entrepreneurs, offering everything from advisory groups to masterminds. It’s all about creating connections that inspire and educate, and let’s not forget her new venture in biohacking and wellness with her husband, Brian. Together, they’re fostering longevity—who says you can’t mix ambition with health? This conversation is as much about the hustle as it is about finding balance, and Hayley's advice is gold: trust your gut and don’t sweat the naysayers.
We get into the nitty-gritty of what it really means to transition from corporate life to entrepreneurship. Hayley opens up about the fears that come with leaving the security of a steady paycheck behind. It’s not just about the grind; it's about the mental gymnastics of planning for that leap. She reflects on how she found her footing by surrounding herself with supportive voices and crafting a solid plan. And oh, does she emphasize the importance of time blocking to reclaim her schedule! It’s a game-changer, folks. This isn’t just a chat about business; it's a heartfelt discussion on motherhood, community, and the relentless pursuit of personal freedom. Hayley's story is a reminder that entrepreneurship isn’t a sprint—it’s a marathon, and sometimes, it’s about taking a step back to appreciate the journey as much as the destination.
Takeaways:
- Hayley Foster's entrepreneurial journey began in 2002 when she co-founded Verge Marketing, which grew into a multimillion-dollar venture, showcasing her relentless drive and creativity in business.
- Foster Inc. was launched by Hayley to empower women entrepreneurs, filling a gap in support for those returning to the workforce after taking time off.
- The importance of surrounding yourself with supportive people and mentors is emphasized as crucial for navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship and finding success.
- Hayley 's philosophy on business stresses the need for a solid plan, with a focus on hard work, dedication, and the willingness to embrace discomfort for growth.
- A significant lesson discussed is the necessity of charging what you’re worth, particularly for women who often undervalue their services in the business landscape.
- Hayley highlights the freedom entrepreneurship provides, allowing her to prioritize family time, self-care, and personal wellness while running her businesses.
Companies mentioned in this episode:
- Verge Marketing
- Foster Inc.
- Navy SEAL Foundation
- Entrepreneur Magazine
- Alex Hormozi
- Tony Robbins
- Chris Sacca
- Gabrielle Lyon
- Andrew Huberman
Transcript
Foreign.
Speaker B:Hey everybody.
Speaker B:Parnell Woodard from the Pivot Point.
Speaker B:Super excited today.
Speaker B:A really, really special guest with us today and somebody that I'm proud to to call an old friend.
Speaker B:Not old in age, but old from a number of years back.
Speaker B:Today we have Haley Foster with us.
Speaker B:And Hayley's got an incredible story for you guys.
Speaker B:I think you're going to be really excited to hear about it.
Speaker B:She is a powerhouse entrepreneur, mentor, community builder.
Speaker B: alism and her own business in: Speaker B:Really building that from the ground up into a multimillion dollar business with over $5 million in revenue and recognition from Entrepreneur magazine, ending 5,000 for three years in a row.
Speaker B:Quickly established herself as a leader in the business growth and innovation side of things.
Speaker B:But she wasn't done at that point either.
Speaker B: In: Speaker B:A platform dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs through peer advisory groups, masterminds, one on one consulting, and high impact networking.
Speaker B:Really helping women launch either their first venture or scale to new heights.
Speaker B:Her mission is very clear.
Speaker B:To inspire, educate and foster connections that drove success.
Speaker B: And then again in: Speaker B:Fostering longevity.
Speaker B:Their passion for biohacking, wellness and optimal living turned into an online community.
Speaker B:Coaching programs, events and retreats designed to help people take control of their health and live longer lives.
Speaker B:Beyond business, Haley is deeply connected to her family and community.
Speaker B:She lives in New York with her husband and three teenagers, which I'm sure keeps you very busy and a passion for fitness, cold plunges and giving back.
Speaker B:Together, she and Brian serve as co ambassadors for the Navy SEAL foundation, raising money to support those who have served.
Speaker B:So today we'll dive into Haley's journey.
Speaker B:What drives her, the lessons she's learned, and how she's helping others build businesses, embrace wellness and live their most optimal life.
Speaker B:So, Haley, thanks so much for joining us.
Speaker A:Thank you so much for having me.
Speaker A:I'm so excited to be here.
Speaker A:It's been a while since I've done this and I truly love doing it.
Speaker A:I don't know why I don't do this more often, but thank you.
Speaker A:Maybe you sparked the fire again.
Speaker B:Glad to have you.
Speaker B:So let's talk a little bit about kind of getting out of the corporate world, which was really kind of where our paths crossed years and years ago.
Speaker B:And what drove you to start your own business?
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker B:Was there a moment or a series of events that kind of made you stop and think?
Speaker B:You know, entrepreneurship maybe was Right.
Speaker B:For you.
Speaker A:Aside from the Internet bubble bursting?
Speaker B:Well, that too.
Speaker A:I would say that I always had.
Speaker A:I usually tell people I was born an entrepreneur.
Speaker A:I've always had that entrepreneurial drive in me from the time I was little.
Speaker A:I was like, competing with my brother on a paper route when I was like 10 years old.
Speaker A:And so I always had that drive.
Speaker A:I always had that stamina to work harder than the people around me and to, you know, just.
Speaker A:I was always the first one in and the last one out, if you remember, even at our days when we worked together.
Speaker A:And I think I just got to a point in my career where I was like, if I'm going to work this hard, why am I working for somebody else?
Speaker A:And I felt like it was my time, I was ready to do it.
Speaker A:Somebody had given me an opportunity to work for him, and I said no.
Speaker A:And then I went to go work with his wife.
Speaker A:And that's how Verge started back in the day.
Speaker A:And so that was really my drive.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:Some people reach a point where they ask themselves, when am I going to stop being somebody else's passive income?
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker B:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker B:But everybody's got to kind of get there on their own.
Speaker B:So, you know, when you started, when you started Verge, was there a particular problem that you guys aimed to solve or really a passion you wanted to pursue that you couldn't do in the corporate setting?
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:So Stephanie, my business partner, always felt she came from the PR world, and she always felt like there was a lack of creativity in the promotional market, marketing space.
Speaker A:You know, we had lived through those years of the Internet boom where everybody was handing out tchotchkes and things, and she felt like she was always trying to find the creative piece to go into the PR materials and ended up trying to source her own or create her own.
Speaker A:And so that was sort of our.
Speaker A:That was our pitch.
Speaker A:We were above and beyond the creative ones in the promotional marketing space.
Speaker A:And eventually we morphed that business into design and manufacturing for high end brands that were looking for products that were kind of outside their core competencies.
Speaker A:And so we ended up solving that problem for some of the bigger brands and then getting into the.
Speaker A:The department store marketplace doing gift with purchase and purchase with purchase items.
Speaker B:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker B:What about with that with Foster Inc.
Speaker B:Especially on the women entrepreneurial side of things, was there a need or did you see just a gap or a place there to help women kind of learn about business ownership or getting into business for themselves?
Speaker A:Yeah, so I was running networking groups locally.
Speaker A:There was a small group of us on the train that were commuting together all the time to the city.
Speaker A:And we felt like, you know, the moms get to hang out with the moms that are home all day.
Speaker A:And then there's, you know, the working moms who we get on the train.
Speaker A:We have 36 minutes on our commute to the city, and then that's really it.
Speaker A:And so we started a networking group in town.
Speaker A:And so many people would come to me and ask me for advice on, you know, I know you're an entrepreneur and you're, you know, over 10 years into your business.
Speaker A:Like, how do you do it?
Speaker A:How are you managing it all?
Speaker A:How are you juggling?
Speaker A:How are you growing?
Speaker A:And they were asking me for help, and I was doing it on the side as sort of like, come over, we'll have some wine, we'll talk business stuff.
Speaker A:And it just started at my dining room table.
Speaker A:And then fast forward two years, my business with Stephanie had gotten to a point where I was ready to move on, and I really didn't know what I wanted to do.
Speaker A:I went to a business coach, and he's like, you're a consultant.
Speaker A:Go write a business plan.
Speaker A:You know what to do.
Speaker A:So I did.
Speaker A:I wrote a business plan.
Speaker A:I went back to those women that were asking me for help, and I was like, listen, I'm going to start a business that's going to help women like you to get to the next level.
Speaker A:And so there was a big need, I think, for women.
Speaker A:I was over 40 at the time, and there was this big need for women that were coming, like, after having babies and had taken a couple of years off of work and were coming back into the workforce.
Speaker A:But they didn't want to go back to doing what they were doing.
Speaker A:They wanted to do something that they felt more passion for and something a lot of my clients were built to serve.
Speaker A:And so, you know, they were, you know, in the fitness world or nutrition or home organizers gifting, like, they.
Speaker A:They wanted to give something of themselves from a more creative standpoint.
Speaker A:And so I was helping them figure out what their business plan looked like, what their finance models look like, their marketing strategy, since that was the background I came from, built a couple of websites.
Speaker B:When you started that transition, right, what was the hardest part about leaving the structure and security of the corporate world?
Speaker B:I mean, how did you tackle some of those?
Speaker B:Because there's fears too, in doing that, right?
Speaker B:It's not just the tactical operation, day to day stuff.
Speaker B:You can make yourself busy, but there's also that Fear that jump.
Speaker A:Oh, yeah.
Speaker A:And it's real.
Speaker A:The fear is real.
Speaker A:I think the biggest fear is the security.
Speaker A:Like, you know, the what ifs.
Speaker A:But I say I'm not a what if person.
Speaker A:And so it wasn't about what if.
Speaker A:It's like, when.
Speaker A:Right?
Speaker A:Like, when.
Speaker A:When will I get there and how am I going to do it?
Speaker A:You know, like looking at the.
Speaker A:You know, the future and saying, okay, if this is where I want to be, what do I have to do today to get there?
Speaker A:And I think a lot of people jump into entrepreneurship without a plan.
Speaker A:And you know, you know as well as anyone, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.
Speaker A:So it's make a plan and know that every day is going to be a grind.
Speaker A:Like, it's not for the faint of heart.
Speaker A:It's not for the weak soul.
Speaker A:Like, it is a grind, and you've got to be ready for it.
Speaker A:There's no secret sauce.
Speaker A:There's no magic, you know, formula.
Speaker A:Like, work your ass off and you'll.
Speaker A:And you'll get there.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:You know, it's funny, when you look back on starting your first company, and when I look back on starting my first company, people ask me about that and how easy or how hard it was.
Speaker B:And one of the things that I realized I did that I didn't really consciously even do was I was just.
Speaker B:I was not focused on all of the chatter and the noise and the fear and people saying, oh, be careful and don't do this.
Speaker B:I was focused on accomplishing things and getting it done, and I was just singly, singularly focused on that.
Speaker B:I refused to fail.
Speaker B:I was just.
Speaker B:Failure.
Speaker B:Wasn't.
Speaker B:Wasn't even an option.
Speaker B:I just was so focused on what I wanted to accomplish.
Speaker B:And I think that kind of focus serves people really well when you're starting something up from scratch.
Speaker B:Because if you let all that noise in, you let friends or family or the people that.
Speaker B:And they mean well, but a lot of times they don't want to leave that comfort zone of corporate America and that cushy job and all of that kind of stuff.
Speaker B:And taking that first step can be a real challenge, you know, so.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:And I think you have to surround yourself with the people that are for you.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:You know, there's always going to be the naysayers like, you're crazy.
Speaker A:What are you doing?
Speaker A:Why are you leaving your law career to go make gifting items?
Speaker A:You know, but it's.
Speaker A:Some of those people move on to be incredibly successful, making more than they would if they were a lawyer.
Speaker A:But, you know, for me, it was like, helping women find their passion is what was really important to me, and helping them turn that passion into a profitable business.
Speaker A:But 100%, you have to block out the distractions.
Speaker A:And I think it was Dean Graziosi or Tony Robbins that I heard say, like, if I point to the giant rock over there on the side, and I say, like, there's your obstacle.
Speaker A:Don't head that way.
Speaker A:You're just going to head that way.
Speaker A:Because now you've got the obstacle over there.
Speaker A:But if you focus on the direction you want to go in, you'll be so much better off, and you'll be so much more focused on that direction.
Speaker A:You won't even see the obstacles.
Speaker B:Yeah, yeah, true.
Speaker B:Alex Hormuzi has a saying.
Speaker B:He said.
Speaker B:He said, don't surround yourself with people who are where you are now.
Speaker B:Surround yourself with people who are where you want to go.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker B:Because if you surround yourself around people that just are.
Speaker B:That's where you're going to stay.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker B:You're not going anywhere from there.
Speaker B:So when you started getting it, when you started Verge or even fostering, did you face any resistance from family, friends, colleagues?
Speaker A:No, actually, I was dating my.
Speaker A:He was my boyfriend at the time, my current husband.
Speaker A:And I remember him, he's a Navy seal, as you mentioned in the intro.
Speaker A:And he was like, burn the ships, baby.
Speaker A:Yep.
Speaker A:As a.
Speaker A:As a Navy man would say, he's like, burn the ships.
Speaker A:Let's go all in.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:You have to.
Speaker A:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker A:And, yeah, sometimes I did.
Speaker A:I went all in.
Speaker A:It was no looking back.
Speaker A:This.
Speaker A:This is what I'm doing, and I'm gonna do it.
Speaker B:Yeah, you gotta commit.
Speaker B:You gotta commit.
Speaker B:Were there any specific resources, mentors that really helped you navigate some of those early challenges when you were getting out of the gate?
Speaker A:I had a business coach, which I think is, you know, as a coach now, which I think is just so incredibly helpful.
Speaker A:And they.
Speaker A:He really pointed me in the right direction, and he.
Speaker A:He was such a great advocate and gave me really good books to read and people to follow on my own journey.
Speaker A:And so he.
Speaker A:He was great.
Speaker A:And I would say, you know, just surrounding yourself, like we just said, with people that are smarter than you and that have been where you have been, they've walked the walk that you want to be walking.
Speaker A:Those are the people to surround yourself with and don't be afraid of them.
Speaker A:You know, that's the other thing.
Speaker A:And I think that's, like, a really big point.
Speaker A:Like, I.
Speaker A:You know, in this longevity thing that my husband and I are doing right now, there's experts in the field of health and wellness that we follow, and they're just regular people.
Speaker A:Like, just because they have a million followers doesn't mean they're, like, celebrity.
Speaker A:They are celebrity status to me, but they're just real people, and they're excited about the people that are coming up behind them.
Speaker A:Not that I'm a doctor or an expert in the longevity or wellness space, but approaching them without fear, I would say, has been something that is.
Speaker A:Really was a struggle for me for years, and now I'm kind of like, eff it.
Speaker A:Like, I'm just gonna.
Speaker B:What, are they gonna say, hi?
Speaker A:And be like, hey, can I talk to you for 10 minutes?
Speaker A:Not even.
Speaker A:Like, I want 90 seconds of your time.
Speaker A:So, yeah, just not being afraid of the people that are ahead of you and reaching out to them.
Speaker B:Yeah, that's.
Speaker B:That's good.
Speaker B:Good counsel.
Speaker B:I was gonna say don't be afraid to reach out and ask for help.
Speaker B:There's no.
Speaker B:There's no dumb question.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker B:So none.
Speaker B:What.
Speaker B:What aspects of running a business turned out to be easier or harder than maybe you expected when you got out, when you were starting?
Speaker A:That's a great question.
Speaker A:I don't know if there's anything that has been easier than I expected.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker A:It's not easy.
Speaker A:You know, being an entrepreneur, as I said before, it's a.
Speaker A:It's a tough job.
Speaker A:You know, I did it for a number of personal reasons.
Speaker A:I wanted to be around my kids more.
Speaker A:And I think any pivot I've taken in my business has been based on the core value of being around more.
Speaker A:For my family.
Speaker A:No one ever got to the top and was like, God, I wish I spent more time working.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker A:It's like, I did this for freedom.
Speaker A:And so.
Speaker A:I know I'm not answering your question.
Speaker B:You are.
Speaker A:Actually.
Speaker A:I would say that the hardest part is.
Speaker A:Or something harder than I thought it would be, is pulling myself away from the computer and pulling myself away from work, because I love it.
Speaker A:It's my other child.
Speaker A:But, you know, you have to.
Speaker A:If you're gonna do the balance, you have to make sure that you're not dropping the most fragile balls.
Speaker A:That.
Speaker A:Or juggling.
Speaker A:I call it juggling.
Speaker A:Juggling all the balls.
Speaker A:And you have to make sure that you're not gonna drop the most fragile one, and that's the people you love.
Speaker B:You mentioned the freedom that comes with it.
Speaker B:And a lot of times people, you know, when they talk about entrepreneurialism.
Speaker B:They talk about it from the standpoint of incredible freedom to do what you want right, and how you want to do it.
Speaker B:But they also talk about it being a little restrictive because now instead of having one boss, you might have a whole bunch of bosses, more your clients, effectively.
Speaker B:But it is a very different world and it's a very different lifestyle and that freedom to do what you want.
Speaker B:Can you ever imagine going back to working for somebody else?
Speaker A:I just got a stomach ache, actually.
Speaker A:I got the pain in my belly, like, oh, no, I cannot.
Speaker A:I would rather like, you know, work 24 hours a day than have to go back and work for somebody else.
Speaker A:I don't.
Speaker A:It's just not my personality.
Speaker A:And I've like known that since I was a little kid.
Speaker A:I just, it never made me happy being in the advertising world, climbing the corporate ladder.
Speaker A:Like, it just was not for me.
Speaker A:I was not a.
Speaker A:I mean, I was a good employee.
Speaker A:I would say I wasn't like a good subordinate.
Speaker A:Like, I just, I wanted, you know, I wanted to know more, I wanted to do more, I wanted to be more.
Speaker A:And I just, I couldn't settle for like the assistant account executive to the account executive to the account executive.
Speaker B:But you also want to do things your own way too.
Speaker B:You want, you, you have beliefs around how things should be done and that can be very restrictive in a corporate environment, you know.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker B:So, yeah, we talked a little bit about managing time for family and work.
Speaker B:How do you do that now?
Speaker B:How do you manage the demands of a business while maintaining time for yourself and your family.
Speaker A:Structure?
Speaker A:Some people look at structured people as like, wow, you're so structured.
Speaker A:It's like, yeah, I am.
Speaker A:Which gives me more freedom.
Speaker A:So I am a time blocker.
Speaker A:I just had this conversation this morning.
Speaker A:I block time in my calendar every day for the things that are my non negotiables.
Speaker A:Working out is a non negotiable.
Speaker A:Having lunch with my husband is a non negotiable.
Speaker A:So we both have 12 o'clock scheduled on our calendars.
Speaker A:Whether he comes home or not, it's there.
Speaker A:And I know I'm always free and no one can steal that time from me.
Speaker A:And that's the thing about time blocking, is that no one can steal your time if you're not giving it to them.
Speaker A:So no matter how important or how busy something is for a client of mine, I think this is the other thing.
Speaker A:I have two teens that are going off to college in the fall and I'm like a wreck about it.
Speaker A:You Know like that's it.
Speaker A:Like they're out of the house, they're gone.
Speaker A:Like nothing is going to take.
Speaker A:If they're like, can you do this with me?
Speaker A:I'm like, yes, absolutely.
Speaker A:I will drop everything for my teenagers to be there and, and, and do whatever it is that they need me to do with them because those days are gone.
Speaker A:I remember I used to be like, I have to drive everywhere and I would complain about having to do the back and forth to school all the time.
Speaker A:And now they drive themselves and I don't get that time with them anymore.
Speaker A:And you don't realize it when you're in it, that you're going to miss it when you don't have it anymore.
Speaker A:And so blocking time and staying structured is really what gives me freedom to really do what I want to do.
Speaker B:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker B:Outside of the time blocking, are there boundaries that you've put in place as well?
Speaker B:Like weekends are there times where the phone goes off and, and it's just, that's the mandatory.
Speaker B:It's because you need to disconnect to spend time with family.
Speaker A:So the mandatory in my house is the dinner table.
Speaker A:It's a one hour phone free zone and no one is allowed to have their phones.
Speaker A:You get penalized if you do have your phone at the dinner table.
Speaker A:You're like, you have to do all the dishes and dry them and put them away.
Speaker A:That's the punishment.
Speaker A:So if you break the rule, you pay the price.
Speaker A:But those are, those are phone free times.
Speaker A:I would say weekends.
Speaker A:I've stopped working weekends unless it's for something that I want to do or my kids aren't with me or you know, they're not home.
Speaker A:And then I can jump on and get some stuff done again, knowing I keep lists and knowing what those things are that I can do if I have 30 minutes or what the things are I could do if I have an hour, you know, and so thinking about my time from increments of how long do I need to get some of this stuff done that needs to get done.
Speaker A:But I would say, yeah, I shut it down.
Speaker A:I shut it down.
Speaker B:It's important.
Speaker B:It really is.
Speaker B:It really is.
Speaker B:And like I said, sometimes it's harder to pull yourself away from the computer because you're so engaged and engrossed in what you're doing.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:And you know, the other thing is like we use our computers for everything now.
Speaker A:So my kids used to be like, you're always on your computer.
Speaker A:And I'm like, yeah, I'm ordering Your shoes and I'm booking your doctor appointments.
Speaker A:Like, I'm not working.
Speaker A:I promise I'm doing all the mom things.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:When it comes to, you know, being feeling rewarded from having your own business, obviously there's time rewards, freedom rewards, financial rewards.
Speaker B:But is there, Was there a moment or a milestone either at Verge or at Foster Inc.
Speaker B:Or even now with, with Foster Longevity?
Speaker B:Was that a moment or a milestone that made you think, this is why I do what I do?
Speaker B:Was there a person, something that really, really, really kind of profoundly affected you?
Speaker A:I love that you asked that question.
Speaker A:Because I had this moment where I had been feeling like, when am I going to get there?
Speaker A:Like, when am I going to feel that feeling of like, of accomplishment?
Speaker A:And I remember being away, it was the middle of the week.
Speaker A:I went to go visit my best friend, who's also an entrepreneur who lives out in Colorado.
Speaker A:And I was there for three days during the week.
Speaker A:We were hiking, we were cold, plunging in the reservoir.
Speaker A:We were doing all the things and I was, you know, doing some journaling.
Speaker A:And I realized on the last day of that trip, this is it.
Speaker A:This is why I do what I do.
Speaker A:Because I could go away in the middle of the week.
Speaker A:I've got people that are covering for me.
Speaker A:And I only had like one person that was helping me at the time, but she was doing all the things that I didn't need to do, like some of the day to day management work.
Speaker A:And I remember realizing, like, I've arrived.
Speaker A:This is why I do what I do.
Speaker A:I can go visit my best friend, go hiking, take a vacation in the middle of the week.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:The time freedom, the financial freedom, that was like such a big moment for me.
Speaker A:And it wasn't like, you know, I made a million dollars.
Speaker A:It wasn't about that.
Speaker A:It was about, I'm still serving people, I'm doing the thing I love, and at the same time, I can be free to enjoy myself.
Speaker B:Yeah, it's a special feeling.
Speaker B:Yeah, it's kind of a neat feeling when you have that.
Speaker A:And it was, you know what it was?
Speaker A:It was perspective.
Speaker A:Right?
Speaker A:Because we get so caught up in the day to day of like, I'm doing it, I'm doing it.
Speaker A:Like, this is, you know, when am I gonna get there?
Speaker A:You know, and, and this was sort of like I was, I.
Speaker A:It gave me the time to sit back and be like, okay, yeah, I'm good.
Speaker B:That's awesome.
Speaker B:That's awesome.
Speaker B:If you could go back, you know, in terms of things you would do differently is There a decision or an approach maybe you wish you'd handle differently early on.
Speaker A:I wish I had probably hired more people for support.
Speaker A:I'm such a, like, I'll just do it myself kind of person.
Speaker A:I think it's an entrepreneurial thing.
Speaker A:It's like, if I'm gonna, you know, if I want it done right, I'm gonna do it myself.
Speaker A:The last two years have been probably the best years in my business.
Speaker A:And it was because I finally let go of doing a lot of the things that I had been doing for so long.
Speaker A:And I'll be the first to tell anyone that I'm coaching that's starting a business.
Speaker A:Like hire for your weaknesses, you know, when we don't get in touch.
Speaker A:And I know, like, I hate the financial side of things.
Speaker A:I was always.
Speaker A:And I get it.
Speaker A:Like, I'm good at it, but I don't like to do it.
Speaker A:So when you don't like doing something or you're not good at doing something, you need to hire for those positions because they'll take you a hell of a lot longer than it's going to take somebody else.
Speaker A:So the first two hires I've made in both of my businesses was a bookkeeper and it was the best decision I ever made.
Speaker A:So I would say, but hiring support staff and understanding that paying somebody to do things that you don't want to do is going to allow you and open up so much more time for you to do the things that move the money needle.
Speaker A:And I'm like, I'm a good coach and I'm my worst.
Speaker A:I'm like my.
Speaker A:I'm my worst client.
Speaker B:Good counsel.
Speaker B:So if you were looking back to your, you know, your 25 year ago self, is there any advice you'd give yourself about going into business for yourself other than the commentary about hiring good people around you?
Speaker A:The advice I would probably give myself is don't give a.
Speaker A:I don't know if you want me to use the F bomb on this podcast, but I gotcha.
Speaker A:Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker A:Just don't.
Speaker A:Don't care about what other people think.
Speaker A:Like, trust your gut, trust your heart, and lead with your heart.
Speaker A:Just if you feel it in you that this is what is so important to you and is going to really drive you.
Speaker A:Don't care what anyone else thinks.
Speaker B:If you were sitting down with somebody and they were considering going into business for themselves, are there any practical steps you'd recommend for somebody that wanted to learn more about what was involved?
Speaker A:I would say, again, be a lifelong learner.
Speaker A:You know, there's really smart people out there like Alex Hormozi, Tony Robbins.
Speaker A:You know, there's people that are willing to give you so much of their knowledge to help you.
Speaker A:But don't compare your chapter one to their chapter 100, because there's 99 steps in between.
Speaker A:And you got to go through the process.
Speaker A:You can't go from one to a hundred.
Speaker A:It is a marathon.
Speaker A:It is not a sprint.
Speaker A:And I think I was always like, why am I not there yet?
Speaker A:Why am I not making the money I want to be making?
Speaker A:You know, and the other thing I would say, and this is more for women than it is for men who are listening, is charge higher than you think you should be charging.
Speaker A:Because as women, we always undervalue our time and our pricing.
Speaker A:We're, you know, we're always less than what we should be.
Speaker A:And so if you think, you know, this is a good price for what you want to be making, or this is, know, the good salary for you, double it.
Speaker A:Someone will pay it.
Speaker A:And I think that is something that I didn't listen to early enough.
Speaker A:And I started off inexpensive.
Speaker A:And I look left, I look right.
Speaker A:I'm like, why are people making so much money doing similar things to what I'm doing?
Speaker A:And I realized that I was just undervaluing what I had to offer.
Speaker B:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker B:Very good counsel.
Speaker B:In addition to that, any counsel or any advice you'd give them for how they.
Speaker B:How to prepare emotionally and financially for the challenges that lie ahead in starting a business.
Speaker A:Mindset, I would say mindset is everything.
Speaker A:Again, it's, you know, it's not for the person that is the negative.
Speaker A:Nelly, you cannot win in business.
Speaker A:Well, you can't win in business anyway.
Speaker A:You know, we could talk about Simon Sinek, and it's an infinite game.
Speaker A:There's no winning.
Speaker A:Like, it's just you continue to evolve.
Speaker A:But, you know, I've worked with so many clients that have felt like, I don't know, like, or they.
Speaker A:Or they lead with fear.
Speaker A:You can't grow a garden in a place of lack.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker A:If the soil is lacking, nothing's going to grow.
Speaker A:So if you are constantly in that fear mode of I need to do this or I need to do that, but you're telling yourself all the negative stories.
Speaker A:It's not gonna work.
Speaker A:Right.
Speaker A:You've gotta be in the right mindset.
Speaker A:And so take a course in how to shift your mindset and flip your limiting beliefs and learn how to.
Speaker A:And I have them all over my office and my desk And I wear them.
Speaker A:You know, surround yourself with affirmations that are positive because that is what is going to help you manifest and visualize what it is you want, and that's what's going to help you get there.
Speaker A:So I would say mindset is everything.
Speaker A:And not just in business, in life also, I'm doing a manifestation challenge right now, helping people to shift that mindset to the positive and to visualize and manifest what they want in their life.
Speaker A:You can't do it from a place of negativity.
Speaker B:Yeah, very true.
Speaker B:I have a colleague of mine who says, get comfortable being uncomfortable.
Speaker B:Yep.
Speaker B:And I think that's really wise.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker B:And somebody else said, you know, when you're uncomfortable, you're on the edge of that comfort zone.
Speaker B:That's when you learn.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker B:That's where the growth occurs, is when you're out there on that edge.
Speaker A:So that's where the magic happens, as.
Speaker B:I would say, outside your comfort zone.
Speaker B:So some rapid fire kind of wrap up questions.
Speaker B:If you could have dinner with any entrepreneur, past or present, who would it be and why?
Speaker A:Chris Sacca.
Speaker B:Why?
Speaker A: ence once and it was probably: Speaker A:And he threw a tip out there on a stock and my husband and I bought it and it's, you know, blown up for us.
Speaker A:I would love just like, he first.
Speaker A:He was so funny and he was so raw and I would just, I would love an hour at a dinner table with him.
Speaker B:Cool.
Speaker B:Cool.
Speaker B:One business tool or app you couldn't live without?
Speaker A:The notes app on my phone.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker A:I can't live without it.
Speaker A:It literally, it's on my phone, it's on my computer.
Speaker A:And I literally everything I know or need to write down is in there.
Speaker A:And I'm in it all day long taking notes for clients.
Speaker A:It's just, it's my favorite go to and easiest go to app that I have.
Speaker B:Cool.
Speaker B:The most unconventional piece of business advice you've ever received.
Speaker B:That actually worked.
Speaker A:Hmm.
Speaker A:I'm gonna go back to saying that there is no one that is too famous that you cannot approach cool.
Speaker A:So just know that they're people too cool.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker A:And it worked.
Speaker A:It worked.
Speaker A:I'm a huge fan of Gabrielle Lyon and Andrew Huberman.
Speaker A:They're really big in the wellness space.
Speaker A:And I literally walked up to both of them recently and I was like, I love you.
Speaker A:You're amazing.
Speaker A:You changed my life.
Speaker A:Thank you.
Speaker A:And had, like great conversations with them.
Speaker B:That's so cool.
Speaker B:Yeah, that's awesome.
Speaker B:If you had to describe your business in a movie title, what would it be?
Speaker A:Hmm.
Speaker A:Limitless.
Speaker B:Ooh, I like that.
Speaker A:Good call.
Speaker B:Good call on that one.
Speaker B:And last but not least, one guilty pleasure that helps you unwind after a long day of running your business.
Speaker A:I wouldn't call it a guilty pleasure, but we just bought a sauna, an infrared sauna.
Speaker A:It's in our basement.
Speaker A:And so after a long day, we are sitting in the sauna, putting on some calm music, and then jumping in a really cold shower.
Speaker A:So nice.
Speaker A:I stopped drinking alcohol two years ago, and so alcohol is no longer a guilty pleasure.
Speaker A:Thankfully for my.
Speaker A:You know, for my longevity.
Speaker A:But, yeah.
Speaker A:So sauna.
Speaker A:I love myself a good sauna session.
Speaker B:Cool.
Speaker B:We'll have to trade notes on that.
Speaker B:I've been thinking about getting one.
Speaker B:So awesome.
Speaker B:Thank you so much for being with us today, folks.
Speaker B:The one and only Hallie Foster.
Speaker B:Really appreciate you taking the time.
Speaker B:Parnell Woodard from the pivot point.
Speaker B:We'll see you.
Speaker B:I see you guys all next time.
