Episode 15

Unmasking Entrepreneurship

Published on: 27th November, 2023

Join host Erika Audrey in Episode 15 of Clover Club as she sits down with the insightful Rachel Baba of Seed Factory. In this candid conversation, they dive into the tough topics—cancer, the essence of life, and the often overlooked realities of small business ownership. Navigating the COVID era, EIDL loans, ADA compliance, and the daily grind of learning on the fly, come explore what it takes to do your best every day. Tune in for an honest and enlightening discussion that goes far beyond the surface of entrepreneurship.

Shop Seed Factory here

Shop Hawkins & Clover here

Reach out to pod@hawkinsandclover.com if you'd also be interested in forming a small business group, where we come together to discuss challenges and foster mutual growth.

Transcript
Speaker:

Welcome to Clover club.

2

:

Uh, this is your host, Erica I'm

just, I'm so excited for my guest today.

3

:

I, as soon as I started this podcast, she

was on my list of people where I was like,

4

:

oh, I got to get her in the chair up here.

5

:

, my guest is Rachel Babba.

6

:

She owns a seed factory and she

is also a friend and a client and

7

:

just overall awesome human being.

8

:

And , we're going to get into

all sorts of topics today.

9

:

So I hope you guys enjoy this

episode and let's welcome, Rachel.

10

:

Hi, Rachel.

11

:

Excited to be here.

12

:

Thank you for having me.

13

:

Okay, thank you so much for coming.

14

:

Do you like my taco bell table?

15

:

I do.

16

:

I do.

17

:

Do you know the story behind it?

18

:

That you stole it out of a taco bell.

19

:

I wished that was the story.

20

:

That's way cooler than the story.

21

:

Man.

22

:

I, time traveled to 1989, went into

a taco bell and hijacked this table.

23

:

And then I time traveled back.

24

:

To 20, 23 to put it in my podcast.

25

:

That's the story.

26

:

And I'm sticking to it, sticking with it.

27

:

I love that.

28

:

I'm already so energized.

29

:

so Rachel.

30

:

I was thinking about this

on the way over here.

31

:

We've known each other.

32

:

I think for at least 15 years, I think so.

33

:

Yeah.

34

:

So yeah, we met, we met

in my early twenties, so.

35

:

A little while ago.

36

:

, and we became close while a mutual friend

was going through a cancer journey.

37

:

And, uh, If you haven't had

that experience, that brings

38

:

you close to a lot of people.

39

:

, The person who's sick almost

becomes like this anchor and

40

:

everybody in the peripheral.

41

:

, Why what's the best way to describe it?

42

:

I feel like there's just like a

lot of like love and support and

43

:

community that is sort of blossoms

in a time of sadness and hardship.

44

:

And I feel like my friendship with you

a really growing through that is one of.

45

:

You know, a good thing to

come from something awful.

46

:

Sure, sure.

47

:

I think everybody.

48

:

Yeah, everybody comes in

to help everybody kind of.

49

:

Sets in.

50

:

And Trump wants to protect and

wants to be around this person.

51

:

Absolutely.

52

:

I think you're, you're a doer,

you're an action oriented person.

53

:

And so am I, and so I

think it was really easy.

54

:

, for me to connect with people like

you during that process, because it's

55

:

like, We don't want to sit around

and think about things and be sad.

56

:

It's like, what type of action

steps can we put behind, uh,

57

:

you know, this experience?

58

:

And it's just kind of crazy.

59

:

. So we had Rebecca Cummings on who is

a state and trust in Will's attorney.

60

:

And we talked a lot about what

happens when we die legally.

61

:

And why you need a will and what happens

if you don't have a will and just kind of.

62

:

Exposing a lot about the topic of

death that I think a lot of people,

63

:

if they're not forced to contemplate

it, I don't think about because

64

:

it can be really uncomfortable.

65

:

And I think for me, yeah.

66

:

Throughout my life.

67

:

Having had friends, especially

cancer, I think is, is.

68

:

Different than a suicide or old

age, or, you know what I mean?

69

:

There's just.

70

:

Because you get a heads up, Erica, we

did meet when a mutual friend was sick

71

:

and everyone came in close and wanted

to protect them and, . A lot of intense.

72

:

Relationships kind of formed around that.

73

:

The first people that I have shared

certain things with or people that I

74

:

got to know during that experience.

75

:

Yeah.

76

:

So my brother has been diagnosed

with a stage four glioblastoma,

77

:

which is an aggressive brain cancer.

78

:

My brother is 53.

79

:

And had a child with

his wife late in life.

80

:

So they have a six-year-old daughter

and they live overseas in Switzerland.

81

:

So that's a lot of layers to try

to get to that person and, and do

82

:

the same thing, protect, you know,

Setting around them and protect them.

83

:

And, I'm going to even

reference another podcast.

84

:

But it was, um, I found it profoundly

helpful in the first moments of diagnosis.

85

:

When you're, I'm trying to

take care of my parents.

86

:

I'm trying to.

87

:

Take care of my brother.

88

:

I'm trying to get over there.

89

:

I'm trying to make sure that my

business that I can step away.

90

:

Yeah.

91

:

And I'm not sure how I found it,

but it was Anderson Cooper, CNN.

92

:

And it was called all there is.

93

:

And I say it was because

it was very short.

94

:

It was maybe a seven or

eight episode podcast.

95

:

Okay.

96

:

And the entire thing is about grief.

97

:

Oh, wow.

98

:

And, , I found it so powerful

and ironically, I listened to

99

:

it in the car, driving home.

100

:

Yeah.

101

:

Not, not a terribly spiritual

place, but it was private.

102

:

And I could have my own kind of

reaction and it was never a reaction

103

:

that I needed to pull off the road, but

some were really tender and poignant.

104

:

And a lot of what he talked

about was anticipatory grief.

105

:

, and I were highly recommended to everyone.

106

:

Yeah.

107

:

I will immediately download that.

108

:

Yeah.

109

:

It was well done , And.

110

:

I think when you get a

diagnosis like cancer or, or.

111

:

Another, , Kind of.

112

:

Relationship, you know, you're,

you're entering into this.

113

:

And in some cases you are

told, this will be the thing.

114

:

Yeah.

115

:

And it takes you a while to wrap

your mind around the fact that.

116

:

Like at first, you, you kind of react

like this is the thing that's that.

117

:

And then you.

118

:

You.

119

:

Just start to work your way into it.

120

:

You have to, and then you realize, oh,

we're still here where we're doing this.

121

:

With cancer.

122

:

We're living with cancer.

123

:

And I think that.

124

:

Was sort of, that was a pretty profound.

125

:

Description.

126

:

To me.

127

:

,

I think, , this episode is going to air in November, Thanksgiving.

128

:

Yeah.

129

:

Nothing makes me more thankful for

the little daily present moments.

130

:

Then having experienced.

131

:

Loss and especially, I don't, again,

there's something specific about

132

:

cancer because you have not necessarily

always a lot of time of a heads up.

133

:

It really depends on the type.

134

:

Right.

135

:

But I'm, I'm thankful for those

experiences because they really

136

:

permanently there's science behind this.

137

:

It permanently changes your neurochemistry

to, to go through that, like beginning,

138

:

middle end, that whole process.

139

:

, and so I I'm, I'm thankful

that I have witnessed this.

140

:

I'm thankful that I know people like you

who are comfortable sharing their stories,

141

:

because I know there are people listening

who haven't experienced this yet, but.

142

:

You will.

143

:

I mean, lucky you, but.

144

:

You're going to get

bad news at some point.

145

:

, I just this weekend, , I have

one of my favorite clients.

146

:

She's, she's gotta be in her mid fifties.

147

:

She came in and, , She's been diagnosed

with stage four liver cancer and I a.

148

:

Learn this information in a

professional setting and it was.

149

:

It was very difficult to get

that news because I love her.

150

:

She's amazing.

151

:

And, you know, it's so interesting to

think that eight weeks ago I saw her

152

:

and she's just bubbly and full of life.

153

:

And we're talking about shopping and I

showed her this necklace I really liked.

154

:

And she got it too.

155

:

And a.

156

:

The fact that that can be growing

inside of you and that you can not find

157

:

out until there's a number four after

it is just in comprehensible to me.

158

:

And it's easy for your

mind to go straight to a.

159

:

The impending worst phone call, but

you're so correct that the time that you

160

:

have in between, it's so important to a.

161

:

And just squeeze every drop out of it.

162

:

Absolutely.

163

:

And just like we've seen before.

164

:

So, so in my brother's case,

he's doing really, really well.

165

:

So it's it's you ha you go through

these little mini shifts as you

166

:

move through this, where oh.

167

:

Everything's okay today.

168

:

And.

169

:

And you just keep moving through

these it's like, time becomes

170

:

less of a broad, long thing.

171

:

Yeah.

172

:

And more of a short.

173

:

You know, incremental thing.

174

:

Yeah.

175

:

And, and I think.

176

:

, I'm not sure how I feel about

that whole live everyday.

177

:

Like it's your last, I

almost feel like that's.

178

:

A very difficult thing

for the human mind to do.

179

:

It's a lot of pressure.

180

:

Yeah.

181

:

And what does that mean?

182

:

Yeah.

183

:

Does it need to be

something so magnificent?

184

:

As, , I'm you know, the proverbial

climbing Mount Everest, or is it.

185

:

Just that simple clarity

about what matters.

186

:

What doesn't what I have

control over what I don't.

187

:

Yeah.

188

:

What I can do, what I can't.

189

:

Yeah.

190

:

It's really a life lesson when

you, or, or someone very close

191

:

to you has a diagnosis like that.

192

:

Because it.

193

:

It does shift.

194

:

There's a lot of sort of

tectonic shifts that happen.

195

:

, And then you still get up.

196

:

You still move forward.

197

:

You go through treatment.

198

:

You know, you do what you can.

199

:

And you're still, you're still in it.

200

:

You're still, it's like a

backpack that you can't take

201

:

off, but people don't see it.

202

:

, and it's.

203

:

Interesting earlier this year in February,

my grandfather passed away and he was

204

:

98 years old, lived an amazing life.

205

:

I mean, it's.

206

:

He, he had a good, , and my family,

you know, we got together and we went

207

:

to lunch that day and we went to a

restaurant that we've been eating at

208

:

since I was a baby and a bassinet.

209

:

And we just had lunch as a family.

210

:

And, , all of us had

just experienced this.

211

:

It came as a surprise.

212

:

So we have this surprising, you

know, Permanent change to our

213

:

lives, but from the outside,

we're just a family having lunch.

214

:

And I think when you experience things

like that, to me, it makes me so much

215

:

more compassionate because you never

know when you see somebody, you know,

216

:

Turn without a signal or, , taking

too long in line at the grocery

217

:

store, these irritating little things.

218

:

I really try.

219

:

And I don't, I'm not always

successful at it, but I try really

220

:

hard to be like, I don't know what

type of day this person is having.

221

:

Yeah.

222

:

But I like to kind of carry that

with me of giving people, grace,

223

:

and just like, what if this

person just had got horrible news?

224

:

What if this person's

experiencing something that.

225

:

Why would, I know, you know what I mean?

226

:

, and I think it's easy to, uh, have a

little bit of like a saltier lens maybe.

227

:

When you haven't been forced

to deal with stuff like this.

228

:

And you and I, in particular, I

mean, we have a lot of mutual friends

229

:

who have also experienced this.

230

:

, it's kind of interesting, actually it, my

mom said to me once she was like, I can't

231

:

believe how many people, you know, who

have passed away, not just from cancer.

232

:

, and I'm not even 40 yet

and it's fucking tough.

233

:

Yeah.

234

:

It's fucking tough.

235

:

, I don't know if this is

an insensitive pivot, but.

236

:

Being a solo, small business

owner is also tough.

237

:

And there are also things

that you deal with in that.

238

:

And I think that there are kind

of some takeaways and carry overs.

239

:

, that helps support me as a

business owner that I've learned

240

:

through observing people's lives.

241

:

You know, Maybe coming

to an early conclusion.

242

:

, do you feel that way?

243

:

Like, do you feel like having

gone through this with our mutual

244

:

friend and now with your brother?

245

:

, does it change the way you look

at or approach your business?

246

:

I think it,

247

:

,

Yes.

248

:

Yes.

249

:

Um, Uh, I think.

250

:

Trying to think of the

right way to phrase it.

251

:

There's a, there's a lot more that I.

252

:

Let go of you have.

253

:

There's a lot more that I'm

like, it doesn't matter.

254

:

It does.

255

:

But it doesn't.

256

:

Yeah.

257

:

And that's not, you know,

we're not doing it any better.

258

:

We're just trying to do

it the best we can, right?

259

:

Absolutely.

260

:

I think for me over the past year is just

a lot of letting go of little things.

261

:

Um, and I would describe myself

as a fairly controlling person.

262

:

Yeah.

263

:

And I think, , I think that's

one of the reasons why I.

264

:

Went into business for myself

was that then I could kind

265

:

of exercise those things.

266

:

Those urges.

267

:

And, um, and really work at making

something the best that I could make it.

268

:

Yes.

269

:

, and it also has a lot

of time behind it now.

270

:

Right?

271

:

So the store is 20 years old and

there's a lot of things that we can.

272

:

Kind of let, let.

273

:

Not be on autopilot, but just,

they're just, it's smooth.

274

:

Yeah, right?

275

:

Yeah.

276

:

And I think, , you know,

if it's purple, not green.

277

:

It's okay.

278

:

What.

279

:

Whatever it is.

280

:

I can't, I can't even think of

a, good example at the moment.

281

:

I just feel that there's a lot of

things that, , and, and to your point,

282

:

even being salty with someone in

line or in traffic or whatever, Yeah.

283

:

There's there's.

284

:

Those are two very different examples.

285

:

One carries with it, a.

286

:

Threat the other.

287

:

Not so much.

288

:

But even in those areas, I've

just found it's all good.

289

:

Yeah, it's \ It's not worth

sweating, not worth it.

290

:

Yeah.

291

:

It's just literally not worth it.

292

:

Yeah.

293

:

I shared a story a couple of

episodes ago about a lady that

294

:

I saw littering and traffic, and

I said something to her and now.

295

:

I wouldn't say a damn thing.

296

:

I'd just be like litter away.

297

:

Like I'm not getting shot over this.

298

:

I'm not going to , get a feathers ruffled.

299

:

, I just, I don't know why, man.

300

:

I think, I think the other thing

is, is there something that I can

301

:

share or something that I can do,

that's going to change that right.

302

:

Can I, I mean, it sounds like it's not in

a position where I can even kind of swoop

303

:

behind and pick it up or take care of it.

304

:

Yeah.

305

:

So it's almost like what

is, is my reaction to this?

306

:

Going to create any benefit.

307

:

Just amplify what's already happening.

308

:

Yes.

309

:

And I that'd be an amplifier.

310

:

Yeah.

311

:

That whole thing.

312

:

Maybe that's the, what I'm

really trying to get to.

313

:

That's the thing that's become.

314

:

So achingly clear.

315

:

Yeah, absolutely.

316

:

Yeah, absolutely.

317

:

Agree with that.

318

:

, It's.

319

:

I mean, you've been in business.

320

:

For an impressive amount of time and

you wouldn't have that track record,

321

:

if you weren't good at what you do.

322

:

Right.

323

:

, but it's interesting even 20

years and to think of evolving

324

:

mindsets and approaches and.

325

:

Uh, I think that's something.

326

:

, I think he even wrote this

down in my notes that.

327

:

You can't be a successful solo business

owner, if you aren't flexible and

328

:

open-minded and willing to adapt because

there's no room for rigidity in this.

329

:

Yeah.

330

:

, that's the that's the great irony,

I think, is so many of us think.

331

:

No, I really want it to be

specific to, to what I want.

332

:

And I want to control these components

or, or, you know, , the environment.

333

:

Yup.

334

:

And I think, going into business

for yourself as one of the.

335

:

Least opportune places

to control everything.

336

:

Kind of design everything.

337

:

The grand scheme, but I think.

338

:

You're constantly pivoting.

339

:

And, and sometimes when I think

back on that time span of having

340

:

a children's store that long.

341

:

It's been several different

businesses within that time span.

342

:

And in the, you know, when we opened, I

had a cash register and a carbon notepad.

343

:

And that's how we rang people up.

344

:

Good Lord.

345

:

Um, And.

346

:

Not.

347

:

It's so 1986, my husband would say.

348

:

, did you open in 1986?

349

:

I was like, wait a minute.

350

:

I was born then.

351

:

That was the year that I

graduated high school, Erica.

352

:

Sitting at this very taco bell.

353

:

Booth in Chamblee, Georgia.

354

:

Um, no, 2002.

355

:

Okay.

356

:

, But I think there was no internet.

357

:

I mean, yes, but.

358

:

But not in there.

359

:

At prestigious universities.

360

:

Crazy big corporations.

361

:

Nobody on the scale of retail

that I was in was, was using

362

:

a POS system at that time.

363

:

Right.

364

:

Nobody was doing business by

email at that time, again, not

365

:

at that, not at that scale.

366

:

Yeah.

367

:

Just like a true classic

brick and mortar store.

368

:

Got it.

369

:

And then I think, all of the women that

I've had the opportunity to work with in

370

:

the store have all kind of planted there.

371

:

You know, imprint and their

fingerprints on the store.

372

:

And I can remember one woman

saying , we gotta be on Facebook

373

:

and we've got to have a blog.

374

:

And I was like, if you'll

help me, we'll do it.

375

:

Yeah.

376

:

And then there were other

times where we were leaner on.

377

:

Crew and someone would say, let's do

Pinterest and I'd be like, absolutely not.

378

:

Yeah.

379

:

Because if anything changes

right now, that'll be all me.

380

:

And I can't commit to that.

381

:

So that whole sort of that.

382

:

You know?

383

:

Yes.

384

:

, and now it's, it's almost the

opposite and I think we're even

385

:

in a moment where it's like, We're.

386

:

Re-inventing again.

387

:

Yes.

388

:

, and trying to.

389

:

I feel like we've exhausted.

390

:

Everything we need to do on social media.

391

:

Yes.

392

:

Now, what do we do?

393

:

So.

394

:

It's a podcast.

395

:

Right.

396

:

It's the new Pinterest.

397

:

Um, and, and.

398

:

And yeah, a lot of times I've

thought about the number of women

399

:

that I also, you and, and Amy at an

aviary or, or Kristen at Rose Finch.

400

:

Not that I'm just going to the spas, but.

401

:

Annie it star and just these other

women in business that I talk with.

402

:

And I think man, somebody should

really set up like some sort of

403

:

council or some sort of, can we make

that happen because that's a very

404

:

flattering list of women to be in with.

405

:

Um, for sure.

406

:

And I know other people that

I would add to that list.

407

:

I think, well, there's, , I like, I

went into a, I went into a young woman.

408

:

I went into her business.

409

:

It's fairly new.

410

:

We don't know each other well,

but recognize each other.

411

:

Okay.

412

:

Waived.

413

:

I was excited to be there and try.

414

:

And she came out and just sort

of was like, what do I do?

415

:

And, and, and told me a couple of stories

and we didn't really have time to get into

416

:

it, but I was just like, boy, I would've

loved to have given her, , Some thoughts.

417

:

, And maybe it would help, you know, Sure.

418

:

But I feel like you haven't heard that.

419

:

The number of things that have happened

in 20 years where my learning curve

420

:

was straight up and down, dude.

421

:

There's no handbook for this.

422

:

And there literally are,

but there's no handbook.

423

:

That's gonna teach you everything

you need to know because each

424

:

business has its own unique set

of circumstances and challenges.

425

:

And, and expectations.

426

:

Absolutely.

427

:

And at the end of the

day, it all falls to us.

428

:

And I find myself, especially since

I've pivoted into more of a retail

429

:

based business, , uh, Struggling

with striking the balance of handing

430

:

over power and responsibility to

my employees and trusting them to

431

:

do the job I've hired them to do.

432

:

But also knowing, like you

said, if something happens

433

:

to them, fuck that's on me.

434

:

, do I have time for this?

435

:

I think that there's this, glorification

or romantic, this is what it is.

436

:

It's a romanticized concept

of what it's like to be.

437

:

A female brick and

mortar retail shop owner.

438

:

Sure.

439

:

Um, I just rewatched, if

you seen practical magic.

440

:

Uh, ages and ages ago.

441

:

So I realized this.

442

:

, they played it at the Plaza the

other night for Halloween, and I

443

:

went with a girlfriend to see it.

444

:

And Sandra Bullock's character opens

this little potion shop and just like

445

:

adorable little new England town.

446

:

And I think that literally

planted the seed in me as a kid

447

:

of just like that looks so cool.

448

:

Like I want to go to a cute little shop

where I can control the aesthetics of it,

449

:

and I can just make people happy all day.

450

:

And I think from the outside,

everybody would be like, yeah, you are.

451

:

But what they don't show in that movie

is like the taxes, the business life.

452

:

Sure.

453

:

All of this crazy shit that you only find

out you did it wrong when you get an angry

454

:

phone call or a letter from somebody.

455

:

Yeah.

456

:

It's really tough.

457

:

And like, I, the learning curve

couldn't be more vertical.

458

:

Yeah.

459

:

It's tough.

460

:

And I think the other thing

that's interesting is I

461

:

think we also have this idea.

462

:

Well, there's a lot of.

463

:

Um, We're about to crack

the can on this one.

464

:

There's a lot of things that I

think are happening that are really

465

:

interesting in business right now.

466

:

Like people would look at us and say,

oh, those are two small business owners.

467

:

Yes.

468

:

And we are.

469

:

But it's interesting that the

small is typically a finance

470

:

or a financial qualifier.

471

:

Yeah.

472

:

but I do think that we collectively

are now approaching businesses

473

:

with a set of expectations.

474

:

That are neither big nor small.

475

:

We kind of are approaching

all businesses with the same.

476

:

Expectations, absolutely reuse the word.

477

:

And I think those expectations are going

to be different for different people.

478

:

But I think they're very rarely about.

479

:

Um, this is the scale of this business.

480

:

So, what can I expect?

481

:

You know?

482

:

Yes.

483

:

And is that even, I don't even

know that that's the responsibility

484

:

of a patron to go in and.

485

:

Yeah, I know exactly what

you're meaning gets it.

486

:

Whether it's a national brand that goes

into, , a development that a business

487

:

like yours or mine would be in.

488

:

Or a local business, the expectations

are kind of the same and we don't

489

:

have the same resources, but we don't

have a budget for paying people to

490

:

put together amazing viral tech talks.

491

:

Right.

492

:

And all of the stuff that.

493

:

You know, I, uh, There's a constant

navigation of which horse do you jump on?

494

:

Which horse do you let leave?

495

:

Cause we can't do it.

496

:

All right.

497

:

, but optically, we need to look like we do.

498

:

Um, Yeah, I think, , and back

to that piece about just our,

499

:

like, if, if you walked into.

500

:

Seed factory.

501

:

Or if you walked in to target.

502

:

Two vastly different retailers.

503

:

Fastly, what would your expectations be?

504

:

Like you're, you're looking for a shirt.

505

:

You're going to get a gift.

506

:

Go.

507

:

I honestly, my expectation will be higher

from you and it's almost unfair, right?

508

:

Like you don't have the ability.

509

:

I mean, like the Royal, you have

like a small retailer, right.

510

:

But you don't have the staffing of

that, but I would, I expect more

511

:

of a personal connection when I'm

shopping with a local business.

512

:

I expect, , Not necessarily the same.

513

:

Color options or size options.

514

:

I expect like a more curated.

515

:

Uh, specialized, uh, Group of offerings.

516

:

But I think my expectations for

my experience as a customer are

517

:

actually higher in a local business.

518

:

Cause I'm like, there's still a human

being who has their finger on this, as

519

:

opposed to a big corporation where this

is all just kind of on autopilot, right?

520

:

It's interesting.

521

:

I think, I feel similarly.

522

:

And I don't know if that's just because of

the space that we occupy during the day.

523

:

Yeah.

524

:

If I, my expectation, I don't need

them to have a stellar tick talk.

525

:

Right.

526

:

, I'm not looking to them for those things.

527

:

I need them to be.

528

:

Accessible.

529

:

Someone if I have a question

or if someone can help me.

530

:

Absolutely.

531

:

And just kind absolutely.

532

:

Nice smiling face where you

feel like you're welcome.

533

:

And, , like you, yeah, just

feeling welcome in a space.

534

:

Yeah.

535

:

And often I will want to look

for what I want to look for.

536

:

Yeah.

537

:

But I may seek someone out to break down.

538

:

Where would I find

children's white t-shirts or.

539

:

No, that kind of thing.

540

:

Yes.

541

:

Or, Hey, I've narrowed it down to these

two, which do you find to be the most.

542

:

Popular.

543

:

Crowd friendly or whatever.

544

:

Yeah.

545

:

, but I think there's also benefits too.

546

:

I mean, your store is hyper

curated and the best way.

547

:

I mean, if you haven't shopped at

seed factory, please check Rachel

548

:

shop out because it is gorgeous.

549

:

I mean it's so.

550

:

Uh, a big chain retailer cannot

accomplish what you have done.

551

:

, and it's easier to say no

to things when you're small.

552

:

So people come in and they're like,

oh, you don't have enough men's stuff.

553

:

And I'm like, I know I have some like

men can a hundred percent shop here at

554

:

men are more than welcome to shop here.

555

:

But they're not my hero customer

or like my customer archetype.

556

:

And as a small business, I can

say , no, this is my curation list.

557

:

Here's the reason why that's that?

558

:

But big companies, I feel like

are under a really big microscope

559

:

on, , well, the main, the main

reason for us would be budgetary,

560

:

you know, Absolutely cost of goods.

561

:

Can't be that high.

562

:

, Especially because there's not.

563

:

but enough, like a thousand

square foot retail space, you

564

:

only have so much storage room.

565

:

You only have so much floor space.

566

:

There's only so much you can do.

567

:

Yeah.

568

:

, and there's only so much you can purchase.

569

:

Absolutely.

570

:

Yeah.

571

:

Absolutely.

572

:

You have to make those choices.

573

:

Yeah.

574

:

Yeah.

575

:

Yeah.

576

:

, I did an episode with the

two dudes that opened up this

577

:

retail shop right behind me.

578

:

And, uh, , we were talking about like,

God, the upfront cost of the inventory

579

:

alone and the amount of money just

sitting on shelves at all the time.

580

:

I mean, thousands of thousands, sometimes

hundreds of thousands of dollars.

581

:

Yeah.

582

:

, It's got to come from somewhere

and that's shifted since COVID.

583

:

And before COVID most of your most vendors

would offer some sort of payment terms.

584

:

I can buy this line in.

585

:

And then give it 30 days to begin to

generate some revenue before I have to.

586

:

Absolutely pay for it.

587

:

Right.

588

:

And, I remember that fall

of:

589

:

it's Cod now that's right.

590

:

And it was, get the money up front.

591

:

I don't want to have.

592

:

Are you kidding me?

593

:

Yeah.

594

:

, that's a big, that's a massive change

to the way our businesses operate.

595

:

Yeah.

596

:

So on that note, going back to

:

597

:

really interesting things happening.

598

:

I don't remember the specifics

and you may not want to.

599

:

Discuss this, but, um, let's

see, there was a small business

600

:

administration offered.

601

:

Ah, let's get into this relief loans.

602

:

It was called the COVID

idle loan emergency.

603

:

Economic disaster.

604

:

Thank you.

605

:

, And that I remember being

sent out, um, in early April.

606

:

Yep.

607

:

Before PPP was even mentioned.

608

:

Yup.

609

:

That was the first wave.

610

:

Yep.

611

:

So, , I talked to my accountant.

612

:

I talked to my family, I talked

to other business owners and

613

:

I ended up taking one out.

614

:

I didn't take the full

amount they were offering.

615

:

I scaled it back.

616

:

Yeah.

617

:

, But I took that.

618

:

And essentially that was that.

619

:

took care of that spring

season that we were closed.

620

:

Um, how long were you close to her?

621

:

Two and a half months.

622

:

Yeah.

623

:

Yeah.

624

:

, And it's amazing.

625

:

The, that sounds so.

626

:

Little, you know, But it's

using the income in the pond.

627

:

Yeah.

628

:

, And we have, , I mean, we have a brick

and mortar store one, and then we have an

629

:

online store, but the things that we sell

in both of those are completely different.

630

:

Isn't that interesting.

631

:

And it was never one where I was buying.

632

:

So much inventory for the web

store it's always been shared.

633

:

So it's easy to have those

things represented in the store.

634

:

Right.

635

:

But for the most part, we

sold them more readily online.

636

:

It was a lot of our, , Waldorf

and Montessori wooden toys.

637

:

Open-ended wooden toys.

638

:

Love those.

639

:

, but in the store we primarily sell

children's clothing and books.

640

:

Yeah.

641

:

, And so what was interesting is as soon

as the door closed on March 14th,, we had

642

:

this shift and then people were contacting

us and they wanted the wooden toys.

643

:

And so we began to sell that.

644

:

We just don't have as much inventory.

645

:

, and.

646

:

Now we can't get our hands on anything.

647

:

Right.

648

:

Cause.

649

:

Everywhere else has shut down too.

650

:

And so now I'm like, but

what about all these clothes?

651

:

Totally.

652

:

Like now we have two.

653

:

How about a onesy?

654

:

, you like to raps?

655

:

So got you.

656

:

Um, and so that was really

interesting because we had to

657

:

sort of adapt to, to survive.

658

:

Absolutely.

659

:

And then, because the PPP was really.

660

:

, Proportionate to your regular payroll.

661

:

You know, the, the.

662

:

Previous year , not calendar year,

but the previous 12 months of payroll.

663

:

Right.

664

:

So our PP P wasn't that.

665

:

Outstanding.

666

:

It certainly wasn't going

to pay for that inventory.

667

:

Nope.

668

:

, so nice little bandaid on things.

669

:

Yeah, but yeah.

670

:

So now here we are.

671

:

Repayment began on that COVID idle loan.

672

:

Yup.

673

:

And it was the sort of

thing that it was either.

674

:

. I tell everybody they have to go

home today and they don't have a job.

675

:

And we just sort of drown.

676

:

Or I take out this relief loan

and, Maybe we can continue.

677

:

Right.

678

:

And I can affect.

679

:

I remember talking to my accountant and

he was like, what's a 30 year repayment.

680

:

And I was like, that sounds great.

681

:

Cause you know what, it's not today.

682

:

Exactly.

683

:

But I didn't really have any time or

clarity to think about, am I going to be.

684

:

Doing this when I'm 80, right.

685

:

So., the, the year rolls through and

in may of:

686

:

And I paid on that for a year and a half.

687

:

I've never had any direct

contact with the SBA.

688

:

I got a letter in the early

days just saying heads up.

689

:

This is starting and I

set up the auto-draft.

690

:

That was kind of the end of it.

691

:

And then, , at the end of 2022 or working

on corporate taxes and my accountant says.

692

:

Do you realize that that $10,000

that you've paid back towards that

693

:

loan has gone entirely to interest?

694

:

And I was like, well, that's not.

695

:

That's not how I understood that.

696

:

I understood that it was going to be

a 3% interest rate, but if they're

697

:

doing that, that suddenly taps it up

to a 6% interest rate, that's very

698

:

different than what's written on paper.

699

:

So.

700

:

I reached out to someone at the SBA

and I didn't, I couldn't get anyone.

701

:

At this point, they're trying

to shutter that program.

702

:

As quickly as they can.

703

:

Yeah.

704

:

And now it's impossible to get anyone.

705

:

They literally closed the office.

706

:

Right.

707

:

Literally shuttered that office.

708

:

So, um, Yeah.

709

:

So I stopped paying, , because I

thought, well, now I just can't

710

:

get anyone to return my calls

to discuss the terms of this.

711

:

And then I was like, I think.

712

:

I think I have just an

ethical dilemma with.

713

:

An emergency relief loan.

714

:

And I, I know they're

not limited to COVID.

715

:

These would be given in times of.

716

:

Hurricane in a coastal town.

717

:

Or, or tornado or, you know,

other other event that could be

718

:

devastating and people would have

to close for a long period of time.

719

:

Right.

720

:

What the hell is that?

721

:

Why are they charging interest on a relief

loan that they're giving to a business?

722

:

So that you can stay open.

723

:

You've asked me to close I've closed.

724

:

And now, , We opened

with a boot on my neck.

725

:

Your.

726

:

And you're, you're

earning money off of this.

727

:

Yeah, it's fucked.

728

:

So I have some.

729

:

I have some issues with it, for sure.

730

:

And I literally like I've contacted

Senator offs, offs office.

731

:

We went in and sat with them.

732

:

They were very responsive.

733

:

It was not only myself, but a couple other

business owners that happened to be women.

734

:

Yeah.

735

:

At some point, my accountant contacted me.

736

:

And said, if you go back in, if y'all

have another meeting, can I join?

737

:

He said, all of my businesses are

reaching out to me and I have no council.

738

:

I can't get anyone at the SBA.

739

:

Yeah.

740

:

So not to, not to disparage the SBA, but.

741

:

You just can't, it's just, um, It's empty.

742

:

Yeah, there's nothing.

743

:

You can't get anything.

744

:

So you can't discuss it.

745

:

You can't.

746

:

Ask for an audit like they

did in the case of the PPP.

747

:

Right.

748

:

You know, come in and look at exactly

how we use these funds to see if

749

:

there's some other compromise.

750

:

Talk to us office office about doing.

751

:

Community service as a

means of paying it off.

752

:

I was like, help me, help me get to them.

753

:

And discuss any other option.

754

:

But this, . Financial burden has,

has just been, we've just been

755

:

dragging it along since, COVID.

756

:

Yeah.

757

:

And.

758

:

I don't know what to do with it.

759

:

Well, and I don't think you're

supposed to know what to do with it.

760

:

Right?

761

:

It's like you, as a small business

owner made a choice that was the best

762

:

choice for you to make at that time.

763

:

Along with thousands and thousands and

thousands of other small business owners.

764

:

And it makes me wonder if you can't

even get someone on the phone,

765

:

who's monitoring the repayment of

these loans in the first place.

766

:

Oh, I don't think anyone is.

767

:

What, what happened if you

just straight up stopped?

768

:

Um, I have.

769

:

And she's here to tell about it.

770

:

And my cell phone number is no.

771

:

I have, and I've reached out and

I've reached out to the senator's

772

:

team and been told repeatedly that

they've reached out on our behalf.

773

:

And we should be expecting the

call, but that's been going on

774

:

for seven or eight months now.

775

:

Dude.

776

:

So, , you just get silence

for a little while.

777

:

There were like, , I

want to say two months.

778

:

in the spring, we got some robo calls.

779

:

, Those have stopped and it, and I asked

the team at, , Senator Ossoff's office.

780

:

I was like, I would be curious to know

how many of these loans were given

781

:

out and how many have already closed?

782

:

How many businesses have already closed?

783

:

Um, and they didn't, I mean, they,

that wasn't their specific tasks, so

784

:

they didn't have an answer for that.

785

:

But it is a curious question.

786

:

Yeah.

787

:

Yeah.

788

:

The true cost of all of that.

789

:

Yeah.

790

:

Yeah.

791

:

Rachel, you're happily married, but

there is a term if you're single

792

:

called matching energy and when you're

dating somebody, it's like, you want

793

:

somebody who matches your energy.

794

:

, and so I think this is a good

opportunity to practice that with.

795

:

The SBA.

796

:

And like, if your energy is leaving me on

red, I'm going to do the exact same thing.

797

:

Yeah.

798

:

Yeah.

799

:

Yeah.

800

:

It's just not worth it.

801

:

Yeah.

802

:

It's wild, but it's, and the whole

reason that I initially contacted them.

803

:

Was because even a year and a

half in of repayments, , I was

804

:

like, I need a breather on this.

805

:

So I reached out to them to sort of.

806

:

See if there was some financial

hardship that you could press

807

:

pause for a moment, right.

808

:

And like I said, I just never,

I never got anything back.

809

:

So.

810

:

oNce I realized it was a little,

what was written on paper was

811

:

different than what was being

practiced with the interest rate.

812

:

I was like, just pause.

813

:

Just everybody.

814

:

Pause.

815

:

Until, Till we know what's going on.

816

:

Yeah.

817

:

Yeah, absolutely.

818

:

It's so stressful and

there's so many moments.

819

:

My business has been open for

half the time that yours has.

820

:

But I think of all of these little

moments where I was dealing with some

821

:

sort of big, scary entity, whether

it's my landlord or the government

822

:

or whatever, and just overwhelmed

and trying to do the right thing.

823

:

But there's really not a lot of clear

guidance and it feels intentional.

824

:

It feels.

825

:

I'll go as far as to say a bit predatory,

because so much money is made off of

826

:

interest off of fines off of us, not

knowing what to do, and it's not.

827

:

, it's a crime of nothing, but

it's, what am I trying to say?

828

:

It's not negligence.

829

:

It's literal ignorance.

830

:

You know, it's like, we don't

know, but we don't know.

831

:

I think the assumption is that if you're

a business, then you've got council.

832

:

I have an accountant, but I don't,

I don't keep a lawyer on hand.

833

:

That's not a business.

834

:

Vulnerability to admit that,

but I can remember the year

835

:

that, gosh, when was this?

836

:

This was pretty early on

because when I first opened

837

:

the sales tax rate was broader.

838

:

I want to say it was

7%, something like that.

839

:

And then they ended up layering

in the city of Atlanta.

840

:

To Fulton county.

841

:

And so you have the two sort

of multiple jurisdictions.

842

:

And I can remember.

843

:

Doing some cleanup at the end of the year,

just financial stuff and realizing that

844

:

the sales tax payable that I had entered

was different than what I had been paying.

845

:

I don't know.

846

:

And it was, it was, I assume

you weren't paying more.

847

:

I was not.

848

:

Um, And it, was one of those things

where, the department of revenue

849

:

had really done no outreach To let

businesses know that now there's this.

850

:

New layer of sales tax.

851

:

It's coming in on top of the old layer.

852

:

And so I was responsible

for a year's worth of.

853

:

A percent and a quarter of sales

tax, and it just so happened that.

854

:

That was a moment in time when, when

the business could pay off the penalty,

855

:

you know, And I remember calling

the department of revenue and just

856

:

saying, if I pay everything at once,

can I avoid penalties and interest?

857

:

, if I clean it off right now, And they did.

858

:

Good.

859

:

But it was just like, how do I know

if this is going to happen again?

860

:

Uh, and some version of that.

861

:

Well, yeah.

862

:

And it's not the first time

something like that's happened and

863

:

it's not the first time that, uh,,

government agency essentially has

864

:

said you have to come to our website

periodically and just stay informed.

865

:

Okay.

866

:

That's easy enough.

867

:

Are there websites.

868

:

True.

869

:

Um, hold.

870

:

Eight point font.

871

:

Doesn't do it for ya.

872

:

I think in the grand scheme of all

the things that you want to design and

873

:

you want to control in your business.

874

:

There are so many things that you're,

, I didn't, I didn't open a children's

875

:

store because I was a business major.

876

:

I.

877

:

Because you love compliance.

878

:

A stickler for compliance.

879

:

It's totally, I am a creative and

that's what I wanted to do with it.

880

:

So naive, whatever.

881

:

, There are some learning curves

in there that are expensive.

882

:

And like you said, there.

883

:

Absolute vertical inclines.

884

:

And they also layer in to the number

of things that a business owner.

885

:

Smaller large, but the large

ones typically we'll have a team,

886

:

you know, in place to do so.

887

:

Yeah.

888

:

So now every January I'm scrolling

that website just to make sure.

889

:

You know, , and there's a

lot of things like that.

890

:

They didn't always have the city

of Atlanta business license.

891

:

You had your state registration.

892

:

But then at some point they

started the actual city license.

893

:

And that was another

one of those instances.

894

:

Yeah.

895

:

, and , so it's difficult because you do

have to be., Nimble your own agent, your

896

:

own advocate in a lot of these areas.

897

:

, and one of the newest ones is, and we got

ahead of this, but is the ADA compliance?

898

:

For your website, Erica have to do it.

899

:

, and you may have already.

900

:

I don't.

901

:

I think the majority of people listen to

this are like, what are you talking about?

902

:

So, uh, so what are you talking about?

903

:

If I am M visually or hearing impaired,

and I go to shop on your website, then

904

:

their software or tools that I could

use that would make your website.

905

:

, Accessible to me, it might, it might be a

reader that's reading off the descriptions

906

:

of the imagery and the products.

907

:

It might be, and then walks

me through a transaction.

908

:

Should I choose to go there?

909

:

Sure it may be, , a children's

sweater that I have a photograph of

910

:

and all that all text is describing.

911

:

The blue and the style and the fabric and

the content, so that someone who can't see

912

:

the picture can understand the product.

913

:

Sure.

914

:

And, I think the.

915

:

The, again, the learning curve there is

that when you open a brick and mortar,

916

:

you have, , inspections along the way.

917

:

Yeah.

918

:

Uh, team building out your space.

919

:

When you finish, you'll have a

certificate of occupancy, right.

920

:

And that just sort of.

921

:

Stamps that, , everything's been

done to make this a safe and

922

:

accessible space, physical space.

923

:

Right.

924

:

And so you develop a website,

but the interesting thing is that

925

:

is, a little bit of a wild west.

926

:

In that, , someone had mentioned it to

me and was like, Hey, heads up for this.

927

:

So, , I start looking around, I

even talked to, or web developer.

928

:

And there's just not a lot of

guidance or information about it.

929

:

And, , one day I called

the, , department of justice.

930

:

'cause I was looking@theada.gov website.

931

:

And.

932

:

They were the sort of

governing body of this.

933

:

Yeah.

934

:

And, um, and I'm looking for just, just,

I need a bullet point outline of what I

935

:

need to do to make our website accessible.

936

:

And they don't have one.

937

:

They do, but it's like, It

just speaks in abstracts.

938

:

Of course.

939

:

, your font needs to be.

940

:

A certain percentage, variable, unknown.

941

:

Of the overall size to be

used with particular reader.

942

:

But I'm assuming there's multiple readers

or devices out there to assist someone.

943

:

So It didn't read like a list that you

could just go and tackle and check off.

944

:

Do you think that's intentional?

945

:

Aye.

946

:

I don't necessarily, I

think it's negligent.

947

:

And I think it's one of those

things that we tend to do to

948

:

ourselves where it's like, Let's

fix this or let's respond to this.

949

:

And then deal with the

problems that occur later.

950

:

We'll fix those as they

become clear to us.

951

:

And, , I didn't get much help

from the DOJ from calling them.

952

:

And trying to get, you

know, , a clear list.

953

:

Yeah.

954

:

And then in the end,

955

:

I ended up purchasing a

widget to put on our website.

956

:

And I'm not even a hundred percent

sure that that's a foolproof solution.

957

:

But in speaking with a few different

lawyers, , it's my understanding

958

:

that these ADA compliance suits.

959

:

, Someone could see you at any time.

960

:

They could say that they've had problems

historically, using your website.

961

:

, It's often done in a

federal circuit court.

962

:

So

963

:

it's kind of out of the question for,,

owner-operated business to say, yeah, I've

964

:

got the resources to sit on this for a

couple of years while we wait for it to.

965

:

You know, come to trial, right.

966

:

, that's one that I feel like, Everybody

should be made aware of, but.

967

:

I don't know.

968

:

That's the type of thing that

I would just presume that the

969

:

professional that I'm paying to build

my website would be knowledgeable

970

:

about and, build in accordance.

971

:

Like it wouldn't even occur to me

to, check on that, which I think

972

:

is exactly what they're preying on.

973

:

Well, and I think.

974

:

I mean these lawsuit

people like for sure, DOJ.

975

:

DOJ, even when you go to someone who's

building a site and asking them about

976

:

it, like our, new site is through our.

977

:

POS platform, right?

978

:

So it's not an individual, but, we did

that just to kind of mesh everything

979

:

together, even when you contact them.

980

:

And this is a huge corporation.

981

:

Right.

982

:

They'll say that's not on us.

983

:

That's on you.

984

:

What?

985

:

Yeah, that's actually insane.

986

:

So, and they're doing kind

of a template website, right?

987

:

So, I'm sharing this with you.

988

:

In the hopes that.

989

:

Anybody who's listing.

990

:

That might be like, oh, I need to get,

uh, we, we did a widget called accessibly.

991

:

Okay.

992

:

And what it does is it just presents a,

, little icon on the homepage on every page.

993

:

And when you click on that icon,

it'll open a menu that can help

994

:

you choose the specifics, , that

can help you navigate a website.

995

:

If you are sight or hearing impaired.

996

:

I wonder if that widget is installed.

997

:

If there's with, you could say with

reasonable effort, I have done my

998

:

best to provide an experience for my.

999

:

Impaired website, user, right.

:

00:44:54,443 --> 00:44:56,933

How much extra Otis can come on me.

:

00:44:58,343 --> 00:45:00,023

Um, I think the S.

:

00:45:00,053 --> 00:45:01,793

The circuit court.

:

00:45:01,853 --> 00:45:03,323

I would answer that one.

:

00:45:03,323 --> 00:45:04,073

I don't know.

:

00:45:04,523 --> 00:45:07,013

Um, but to me, that's this.

:

00:45:07,673 --> 00:45:11,993

This is like, where I say we're in

this moment of re-invention again.

:

00:45:12,023 --> 00:45:12,323

Yeah.

:

00:45:12,423 --> 00:45:13,563

, or seed is.

:

00:45:14,403 --> 00:45:15,603

I think that's part of it.

:

00:45:16,443 --> 00:45:16,893

, I'm.

:

00:45:17,793 --> 00:45:20,673

Dealing and trading and things

that I don't wholly understand

:

00:45:20,673 --> 00:45:22,353

that aren't my background.

:

00:45:23,013 --> 00:45:25,383

, Website, design and accessibility.

:

00:45:25,833 --> 00:45:29,673

So again, the learning curve is

straight up and down as you try to,

:

00:45:29,763 --> 00:45:35,723

to make your business as, accessible

and user-friendly to all people.

:

00:45:35,773 --> 00:45:38,593

, and hope that you hope that

you've stuck the landing and that

:

00:45:38,593 --> 00:45:39,853

everything's working correctly.

:

00:45:40,003 --> 00:45:40,273

Right.

:

00:45:40,333 --> 00:45:40,723

Yeah.

:

00:45:41,053 --> 00:45:41,353

Yeah.

:

00:45:41,383 --> 00:45:46,183

It's and I think once you tackle something

like that, the next something like

:

00:45:46,183 --> 00:45:50,193

that comes there may be a little in

between, but I feel like I'm constantly

:

00:45:50,193 --> 00:45:51,903

learning about something I'm doing wrong.

:

00:45:52,323 --> 00:45:53,103

Accidentally.

:

00:45:53,643 --> 00:45:54,033

Yes.

:

00:45:54,183 --> 00:45:56,133

Yeah, I feel.

:

00:45:56,463 --> 00:45:58,113

I think from the outside,

looking in, people would look

:

00:45:58,143 --> 00:46:00,213

at both of our businesses and

be like, they're doing great.

:

00:46:00,243 --> 00:46:03,513

Like, these are two, you know,

women who are doing the damn thing.

:

00:46:03,873 --> 00:46:06,873

Uh, and we literally are, but

there's so much stuff like this.

:

00:46:06,873 --> 00:46:09,813

Like I think it's really nice that

you're open to talking about this

:

00:46:09,813 --> 00:46:12,063

on a platform like this, because.

:

00:46:12,663 --> 00:46:13,863

This is the type of thing.

:

00:46:14,013 --> 00:46:17,343

That people like you and I talk about

behind the scenes, , and on social

:

00:46:17,343 --> 00:46:19,953

media, we're like, oh my God, look

at this cute new thing that we just

:

00:46:19,953 --> 00:46:24,993

got in, but it's, you don't know how

stressful and how many nights you're up.

:

00:46:24,993 --> 00:46:27,783

Just like, how do I solve this problem?

:

00:46:28,213 --> 00:46:32,143

, and I'm, I consider myself a

problem solver, but I'm not a

:

00:46:32,143 --> 00:46:36,103

millionaire and well, and you

don't always have all of the.

:

00:46:36,613 --> 00:46:39,733

There are multiple people

in some of these problems.

:

00:46:39,793 --> 00:46:40,723

Absolutely.

:

00:46:40,753 --> 00:46:44,113

Or the solutions I should say

for some of these problems.

:

00:46:44,443 --> 00:46:48,233

So it's not always, , like

sometimes you need to ask for

:

00:46:48,233 --> 00:46:50,093

help or counsel or whatever.

:

00:46:50,363 --> 00:46:52,013

So it's not always.

:

00:46:52,613 --> 00:46:54,053

, Just your.

:

00:46:54,053 --> 00:46:55,973

Singular problem to solve.

:

00:46:56,633 --> 00:46:57,293

Absolutely.

:

00:46:57,343 --> 00:47:01,243

I'd be curious how many

businesses in and around Atlanta.

:

00:47:01,783 --> 00:47:04,423

And maybe it's maybe it's female owned.

:

00:47:04,513 --> 00:47:04,843

Yeah.

:

00:47:05,173 --> 00:47:08,113

Would be interested in

some sort of group or.

:

00:47:08,113 --> 00:47:10,033

I'm not quite sure what it is.

:

00:47:10,483 --> 00:47:11,263

I just.

:

00:47:11,953 --> 00:47:12,673

Let us know.

:

00:47:12,883 --> 00:47:16,123

Yeah, I'd be curious if I

feel like that's a thing.

:

00:47:16,783 --> 00:47:21,737

Um, and it's even one of the things that

we proposed to, , I say we just, because

:

00:47:21,737 --> 00:47:25,587

there were other people there, but I don't

feel like it's, People have different

:

00:47:25,587 --> 00:47:27,417

degrees of how comfortable they are.

:

00:47:27,670 --> 00:47:29,380

Kind of peeling the

onion on their business.

:

00:47:29,380 --> 00:47:29,860

So I don't.

:

00:47:30,490 --> 00:47:32,290

That's not mine to say that's there.

:

00:47:32,290 --> 00:47:36,290

So, , but I'll, I'll just say

we, , but that was one of the things

:

00:47:36,290 --> 00:47:39,830

that we mentioned was just that

there's not a lot of guidance for,

:

00:47:39,890 --> 00:47:41,360

Owning a business, you know?

:

00:47:42,350 --> 00:47:43,460

Uh, and.

:

00:47:44,120 --> 00:47:46,700

Do you mean specifically a

brick and mortar business?

:

00:47:46,790 --> 00:47:47,990

I know.

:

00:47:47,990 --> 00:47:48,860

Not necessarily.

:

00:47:48,890 --> 00:47:49,340

Okay.

:

00:47:49,370 --> 00:47:54,170

Because I think now that, , I mean, all

this stuff that I learned about the.

:

00:47:54,680 --> 00:47:55,280

The.

:

00:47:55,280 --> 00:47:56,900

ADA compliance online.

:

00:47:57,020 --> 00:47:58,520

Yeah, that was complete.

:

00:47:59,120 --> 00:48:01,280

Digital it's totally digital.

:

00:48:01,700 --> 00:48:05,600

Um, And it was completely

new territory for me.

:

00:48:05,660 --> 00:48:05,720

Yeah.

:

00:48:05,930 --> 00:48:09,850

So I, it's one of those things

where I feel like I, I plugged

:

00:48:09,850 --> 00:48:14,890

some things in and I've tried to

start, , getting ahead of this.

:

00:48:15,760 --> 00:48:17,830

, but I don't, it's not my.

:

00:48:17,830 --> 00:48:18,730

What's the right word.

:

00:48:19,090 --> 00:48:20,500

It's just, it's not my.

:

00:48:20,633 --> 00:48:21,113

Field.

:

00:48:21,113 --> 00:48:25,193

So I, I feel unsure of where

I am on that learning curve.

:

00:48:25,703 --> 00:48:26,003

Yeah.

:

00:48:26,183 --> 00:48:26,603

Yeah.

:

00:48:26,723 --> 00:48:29,873

And I think every day, all you

can do is the best that you can.

:

00:48:30,023 --> 00:48:33,593

And some days that's more than others,

but I think that there are a lot

:

00:48:33,593 --> 00:48:36,353

of people who would be interested

in some sort of group like that.

:

00:48:36,353 --> 00:48:40,643

And I did a women's mastermind group

for the first half of this year.

:

00:48:40,913 --> 00:48:42,323

And are you familiar with

the mastermind group?

:

00:48:42,563 --> 00:48:42,863

No.

:

00:48:42,953 --> 00:48:46,403

So the way that it's structured

is, , there's a host facilitator.

:

00:48:46,703 --> 00:48:48,743

And then each person

you meet once a month.

:

00:48:49,103 --> 00:48:51,473

And you bring in some

sort of business issue.

:

00:48:51,503 --> 00:48:54,113

And so you have, I can't remember

the minutes, but let's say you've got

:

00:48:54,113 --> 00:48:55,643

three minutes to state your issue.

:

00:48:55,643 --> 00:48:59,643

And then there's eight minutes to kind

of go around the group and . People

:

00:48:59,643 --> 00:49:02,403

aren't supposed to tell you what to

do, but they ask clarifying questions

:

00:49:02,433 --> 00:49:06,433

and they help you come up with, , some

clarity and action steps, and then

:

00:49:06,463 --> 00:49:09,913

you implement them and you, and you

choose an accountability partner.

:

00:49:09,943 --> 00:49:11,833

Somebody takes notes for

you and send some to you.

:

00:49:12,223 --> 00:49:14,893

, and of course you can communicate

through that month in between

:

00:49:14,893 --> 00:49:18,763

meetings, but I found it, I think

that wasn't the group for me because

:

00:49:18,763 --> 00:49:20,353

our business types were so varied.

:

00:49:20,573 --> 00:49:25,823

, but if I could find a group of women

that had more overlap in the type

:

00:49:25,823 --> 00:49:27,143

of businesses that we had, I think.

:

00:49:27,233 --> 00:49:28,373

It would be invaluable.

:

00:49:28,373 --> 00:49:30,143

And I can think of off the top of my head.

:

00:49:30,803 --> 00:49:33,023

A solid number of people that

would be interested in that.

:

00:49:33,083 --> 00:49:33,443

Yeah.

:

00:49:33,653 --> 00:49:38,603

So if anybody listening feels the

same and maybe even we could do, and

:

00:49:38,603 --> 00:49:41,113

I know this is a thing, , I've got a

friend whose husband's in a group like

:

00:49:41,113 --> 00:49:43,333

this, but basically you sign an NDA.

:

00:49:43,363 --> 00:49:44,803

So whatever's discussed in that group.

:

00:49:44,833 --> 00:49:45,973

Doesn't leave the group.

:

00:49:46,573 --> 00:49:49,243

Inviting people to be

more comfortable sharing.

:

00:49:49,633 --> 00:49:50,983

Maybe more detailed.

:

00:49:51,403 --> 00:49:51,973

Issues.

:

00:49:52,033 --> 00:49:54,733

And the numbers and stuff like that, where

it's like, I don't want this out there.

:

00:49:54,733 --> 00:49:57,403

This is extremely personal,

but like, I need help.

:

00:49:57,703 --> 00:49:58,873

And I'm doing this on my own.

:

00:49:59,023 --> 00:49:59,203

Right.

:

00:49:59,203 --> 00:50:00,253

We might be onto something here.

:

00:50:00,253 --> 00:50:00,523

Yeah.

:

00:50:00,793 --> 00:50:01,153

Yeah.

:

00:50:01,273 --> 00:50:01,783

I like it.

:

00:50:01,843 --> 00:50:02,203

Yeah.

:

00:50:02,323 --> 00:50:02,863

I do too.

:

00:50:03,463 --> 00:50:03,733

Hmm.

:

00:50:03,733 --> 00:50:05,233

It's all about just navigating.

:

00:50:06,013 --> 00:50:06,433

It is.

:

00:50:06,613 --> 00:50:07,243

Yeah.

:

00:50:07,483 --> 00:50:08,413

And, and.

:

00:50:08,413 --> 00:50:12,043

Navigating learning, stripping away, ego.

:

00:50:12,673 --> 00:50:13,453

Oh, my gosh.

:

00:50:13,573 --> 00:50:16,783

It's a very humbling

experience, truly, truly.

:

00:50:17,443 --> 00:50:18,463

Oh, I agree with that.

:

00:50:18,923 --> 00:50:22,853

Something that's interesting

that you just said was, , The

:

00:50:22,853 --> 00:50:26,783

idea of being in these groups and

signing a non-disclosure so that.

:

00:50:27,443 --> 00:50:28,553

You can feel.

:

00:50:29,543 --> 00:50:30,293

Safe.

:

00:50:30,653 --> 00:50:34,253

Talking about the finances of

your business or the struggles.

:

00:50:34,763 --> 00:50:37,343

Could be the financial struggles

of a bit of a business.

:

00:50:37,883 --> 00:50:41,213

, And something that this is a bit

of a jump, but something that I

:

00:50:41,213 --> 00:50:45,293

found interesting is, Last year,

my brother was diagnosed with,

:

00:50:45,323 --> 00:50:46,973

very aggressive brain cancer.

:

00:50:47,503 --> 00:50:48,313

A year ago.

:

00:50:48,733 --> 00:50:50,433

And, , I can't believe it's been a year.

:

00:50:50,523 --> 00:50:50,913

Yeah.

:

00:50:51,603 --> 00:50:56,313

And at first you sort

of, everything falls out.

:

00:50:57,003 --> 00:50:59,813

You, , my father struggles with dementia.

:

00:51:00,353 --> 00:51:04,253

And, , advanced dementia

and couldn't remember.

:

00:51:04,883 --> 00:51:06,713

My mother fell apart.

:

00:51:07,203 --> 00:51:08,073

Hi.

:

00:51:09,873 --> 00:51:13,053

I immediately wanted to go travel

because my brother and his young

:

00:51:13,053 --> 00:51:14,523

family live in Switzerland.

:

00:51:15,273 --> 00:51:17,643

, But I had to make sure that the

business was covered, which I

:

00:51:17,643 --> 00:51:19,353

know I can do for a short time.

:

00:51:19,353 --> 00:51:21,273

I can, I like a small team.

:

00:51:21,933 --> 00:51:22,953

And I know I can.

:

00:51:23,553 --> 00:51:26,283

Kind of put that on them

for a short amount of time.

:

00:51:26,343 --> 00:51:26,673

Right?

:

00:51:26,883 --> 00:51:28,893

It was the end of October last year.

:

00:51:29,443 --> 00:51:33,013

And I think coming back from

that, my brother's doing quite

:

00:51:33,013 --> 00:51:34,693

well within his diagnosis.

:

00:51:34,693 --> 00:51:37,393

So now we kind of have our

footing again, right now.

:

00:51:37,393 --> 00:51:41,333

We're, we're all living in

navigating , with this cancer

:

00:51:41,333 --> 00:51:43,653

and, I remember somebody.

:

00:51:44,433 --> 00:51:46,653

Asking me something about the business.

:

00:51:46,743 --> 00:51:54,273

And I, I just had this very clear

moment where it was like my self-worth.

:

00:51:55,143 --> 00:51:58,143

Isn't necessarily tied to.

:

00:51:58,983 --> 00:52:01,653

The finances of my shop.

:

00:52:01,713 --> 00:52:02,073

Yup.

:

00:52:02,133 --> 00:52:02,583

Good.

:

00:52:02,943 --> 00:52:03,573

And.

:

00:52:03,573 --> 00:52:05,793

My shop is its own entity.

:

00:52:05,833 --> 00:52:10,663

And of course the goal is for it to

always be healthy, but there were moments.

:

00:52:10,713 --> 00:52:14,703

in some ways 20, 23 has been

harder than the past couple years.

:

00:52:14,793 --> 00:52:15,573

So interesting.

:

00:52:15,993 --> 00:52:20,013

Coming out of COVID and all the

volatility that we had there.

:

00:52:20,433 --> 00:52:25,203

I feel like in some ways, 20, 23

wants to be kind of normal again.

:

00:52:25,263 --> 00:52:26,703

Yeah, whatever that means.

:

00:52:26,823 --> 00:52:27,123

Right.

:

00:52:27,533 --> 00:52:30,593

, and yet it's been very

difficult to predict.

:

00:52:31,073 --> 00:52:35,873

And very difficult to forecast and

they're very difficult to inventory

:

00:52:35,873 --> 00:52:36,893

and very different, you know?

:

00:52:37,403 --> 00:52:38,933

And landscape's completely changed.

:

00:52:38,933 --> 00:52:39,323

Yeah.

:

00:52:39,323 --> 00:52:42,793

And you just saying something

about the NDA, just kind of

:

00:52:42,823 --> 00:52:44,143

made me think of that somehow.

:

00:52:44,143 --> 00:52:45,433

I feel like we need to.

:

00:52:46,073 --> 00:52:50,293

Put a little, bit of grace or

a little gap in between that.

:

00:52:50,343 --> 00:52:55,421

My value as an individual

and the well, the.

:

00:52:55,421 --> 00:52:57,161

Um, the course.

:

00:52:57,971 --> 00:52:59,261

Hmm.

:

00:52:59,981 --> 00:53:01,361

Like the status of your business?

:

00:53:01,391 --> 00:53:01,931

Yes.

:

00:53:02,021 --> 00:53:02,441

Yeah.

:

00:53:02,651 --> 00:53:07,571

It's really easy for those two things

to get really deeply intertwined.

:

00:53:07,781 --> 00:53:08,141

Yeah.

:

00:53:08,201 --> 00:53:10,841

I mean, I definitely, especially,

I mean, this is all you have,

:

00:53:10,901 --> 00:53:12,281

like, I dunno kids, I'm single.

:

00:53:12,581 --> 00:53:12,971

I'm.

:

00:53:13,601 --> 00:53:16,511

I am my business for all

intents and purposes.

:

00:53:16,541 --> 00:53:17,111

And.

:

00:53:17,741 --> 00:53:20,591

When one aspect of that.

:

00:53:20,755 --> 00:53:23,065

Is put at risk or there's something

that happens in your personal

:

00:53:23,065 --> 00:53:24,475

life that makes you question.

:

00:53:24,865 --> 00:53:25,855

The future of it.

:

00:53:25,885 --> 00:53:28,405

It startles your foundation.

:

00:53:28,435 --> 00:53:28,705

Yeah.

:

00:53:28,915 --> 00:53:33,065

And, , I think that I would

imagine every business owner.

:

00:53:33,395 --> 00:53:37,055

Large or small, you wouldn't be

in it if your identity wasn't

:

00:53:37,055 --> 00:53:38,765

also so tightly wound to it.

:

00:53:39,075 --> 00:53:42,735

But being able to separate the two and

know that if something happens here, I

:

00:53:42,735 --> 00:53:44,775

am still a whole and worthy human being.

:

00:53:44,835 --> 00:53:45,075

Yeah.

:

00:53:45,075 --> 00:53:46,695

Very important lesson to learn.

:

00:53:47,685 --> 00:53:48,945

I hate that something.

:

00:53:48,945 --> 00:53:54,285

So news is upsetting as you've gotten

about your brother is what's, you know,

:

00:53:54,645 --> 00:53:57,495

invited you to re reassess that, but.

:

00:53:58,005 --> 00:53:59,805

It's fucking life.

:

00:54:00,075 --> 00:54:00,465

Yeah.

:

00:54:00,555 --> 00:54:04,875

And it's, you know, it's just

one of those sort of big shifts.

:

00:54:05,415 --> 00:54:05,685

Yeah.

:

00:54:05,685 --> 00:54:06,615

So you'd shift.

:

00:54:06,711 --> 00:54:09,261

These are, these are two tough

topics really that we focus on

:

00:54:09,291 --> 00:54:10,431

with this conversation, Rachel.

:

00:54:10,711 --> 00:54:13,901

, but I would like to think that anybody

listening to this episode has found

:

00:54:13,901 --> 00:54:19,691

aspects of it that are relatable and

maybe not something that they have felt

:

00:54:19,841 --> 00:54:24,611

comfortable talking to people about,

or maybe have the support or network

:

00:54:24,611 --> 00:54:26,861

to explore these types of things.

:

00:54:26,911 --> 00:54:28,681

My natural inclination.

:

00:54:28,711 --> 00:54:33,181

I'm a very private person, which probably

sounds odd as now I have a podcast,

:

00:54:33,181 --> 00:54:35,131

but I've also struggled with how.

:

00:54:35,701 --> 00:54:37,711

How much to share and how

much to put out there.

:

00:54:37,711 --> 00:54:41,731

But I think that it only works if

you're just super vulnerable and honest.

:

00:54:41,761 --> 00:54:44,611

, but I think when I, I mean, if I

got news, like you got, it would

:

00:54:44,611 --> 00:54:47,791

cripple me because my natural

inclination would be to just shut down.

:

00:54:48,161 --> 00:54:50,981

, and you don't get to do that when you

have employees counting on a paycheck

:

00:54:50,981 --> 00:54:53,111

and you've got business hours and

you've got appointments and you've

:

00:54:53,141 --> 00:54:55,061

got people expecting things from you.

:

00:54:55,511 --> 00:54:56,981

And so there's this.

:

00:54:57,671 --> 00:54:58,451

It's interesting.

:

00:54:58,451 --> 00:55:00,461

It is so deeply intertwined.

:

00:55:00,491 --> 00:55:00,611

Yeah.

:

00:55:00,641 --> 00:55:03,311

But then also, You have

to keep those two things.

:

00:55:03,311 --> 00:55:04,211

So separate also.

:

00:55:04,241 --> 00:55:04,421

Yeah.

:

00:55:04,451 --> 00:55:04,481

It's.

:

00:55:06,011 --> 00:55:06,641

, The.

:

00:55:07,241 --> 00:55:08,171

It is interesting.

:

00:55:08,171 --> 00:55:12,731

And I know there's, there's a

hundred, one ways to run a business.

:

00:55:13,061 --> 00:55:14,501

Just like anything else, right.

:

00:55:14,831 --> 00:55:17,831

But I can remember the

first year that I was open.

:

00:55:18,341 --> 00:55:19,901

And it was:

:

00:55:19,901 --> 00:55:20,831

I think it was.

:

00:55:21,941 --> 00:55:22,931

I think it was.

:

00:55:23,981 --> 00:55:24,761

New year's Eve.

:

00:55:24,881 --> 00:55:25,211

Okay.

:

00:55:25,451 --> 00:55:27,251

And it was quiet.

:

00:55:27,281 --> 00:55:28,451

Nothing was happening.

:

00:55:28,931 --> 00:55:32,051

We were just the little store

next door to start provisions.

:

00:55:32,111 --> 00:55:32,501

Yeah.

:

00:55:32,621 --> 00:55:34,811

And I closed the door at five and I left.

:

00:55:35,291 --> 00:55:36,881

But I hadn't made that known.

:

00:55:36,911 --> 00:55:40,001

Of course there was no social

media or anything at the time, but

:

00:55:40,001 --> 00:55:41,411

I didn't put a sign on the door.

:

00:55:41,411 --> 00:55:43,541

And Annie, my neighbor.

:

00:55:43,601 --> 00:55:47,691

That star was, I mean, she'd been

doing this for a long time and,

:

00:55:47,781 --> 00:55:50,481

and is definitely a mentor of mine.

:

00:55:50,811 --> 00:55:54,801

And I remember her telling me

after that, She said, if I drove

:

00:55:54,891 --> 00:55:59,871

across town to go to a business,

that's advertised as 10 to six.

:

00:56:00,201 --> 00:56:02,931

And I got there at five

and they were closed.

:

00:56:02,931 --> 00:56:04,221

With no communication.

:

00:56:04,251 --> 00:56:06,291

She said I would likely, never go back.

:

00:56:07,341 --> 00:56:09,681

And I was like, that's true.

:

00:56:09,921 --> 00:56:14,151

Especially in Atlanta

traffic and the fact that.

:

00:56:14,691 --> 00:56:15,051

The.

:

00:56:15,051 --> 00:56:18,271

I could find an alternative

or, you know, , that was.

:

00:56:18,931 --> 00:56:22,771

So early on that it's always been

like, just be clear about it.

:

00:56:22,771 --> 00:56:24,121

Be consistent about it.

:

00:56:24,181 --> 00:56:25,171

Don't mess with it.

:

00:56:25,171 --> 00:56:25,501

Yup.

:

00:56:25,781 --> 00:56:29,521

And your sense of, , It's not obligation.

:

00:56:29,521 --> 00:56:33,151

That's not the right word that

has some negative connotations.

:

00:56:33,481 --> 00:56:36,091

It's it's, it's what you've committed to.

:

00:56:36,211 --> 00:56:36,961

It's your commitment.

:

00:56:37,351 --> 00:56:37,561

Yeah.

:

00:56:37,591 --> 00:56:41,491

And so your sense of

how do I balance that?

:

00:56:42,031 --> 00:56:43,951

With how do I be a person?

:

00:56:44,011 --> 00:56:44,311

Yeah.

:

00:56:44,971 --> 00:56:47,041

Is is sometimes in S.

:

00:56:47,341 --> 00:56:48,991

You know, contrast to one another.

:

00:56:49,051 --> 00:56:49,141

Yeah.

:

00:56:49,411 --> 00:56:51,901

, and I'm not saying that they're of equal.

:

00:56:51,901 --> 00:56:52,651

Measure.

:

00:56:52,981 --> 00:56:53,821

In this life.

:

00:56:54,391 --> 00:56:57,591

But, , sometimes that

sense of responsibility or

:

00:56:57,591 --> 00:56:58,851

that sense of commitment.

:

00:56:59,391 --> 00:57:01,001

, is difficult to carry.

:

00:57:01,121 --> 00:57:01,451

Yeah.

:

00:57:01,541 --> 00:57:02,951

I completely agree with you.

:

00:57:03,041 --> 00:57:03,251

Yeah.

:

00:57:03,551 --> 00:57:06,131

And it kind of goes back to a.

:

00:57:06,131 --> 00:57:10,031

Compassion and gratitude, but there's

a difference between a business

:

00:57:10,031 --> 00:57:13,001

closing an hour early because the

owner wanted to get a pedicure.

:

00:57:13,301 --> 00:57:16,901

And because the owner is going to

tend to a family emergency, right.

:

00:57:17,201 --> 00:57:20,111

And sometimes there isn't time

to edit your Google listing.

:

00:57:20,501 --> 00:57:20,831

It did.

:

00:57:21,251 --> 00:57:21,941

Over an hour.

:

00:57:21,941 --> 00:57:22,511

You know what I mean?

:

00:57:22,511 --> 00:57:26,351

So it's like as a business owner,

It's just constantly navigating.

:

00:57:26,351 --> 00:57:29,561

What is the best choice

for everyone involved here?

:

00:57:29,861 --> 00:57:31,601

And sometimes you will let people down.

:

00:57:31,631 --> 00:57:34,331

I'm sure that I have done that,

but it's never intentional.

:

00:57:34,331 --> 00:57:35,741

I certainly never the goal.

:

00:57:35,921 --> 00:57:38,891

I think you just have to do the

best you can, and your people

:

00:57:38,891 --> 00:57:40,211

will understand that about you.

:

00:57:40,831 --> 00:57:42,241

I really am curious.

:

00:57:42,241 --> 00:57:45,451

And in some ways I feel like my next act.

:

00:57:45,871 --> 00:57:48,121

Is some sort of.

:

00:57:48,121 --> 00:57:49,111

Mentorship.

:

00:57:49,171 --> 00:57:50,641

I'm not sure that that's right.

:

00:57:50,941 --> 00:57:55,111

Um, something, but that sounds so.

:

00:57:55,111 --> 00:57:55,651

I don't know.

:

00:57:56,281 --> 00:57:59,881

I think that what you've learned

as a retailer over the course

:

00:57:59,881 --> 00:58:01,381

of 20 years is invaluable.

:

00:58:01,411 --> 00:58:04,561

And I think that you have so

much wisdom to share with people.

:

00:58:05,011 --> 00:58:08,431

I mean, if you were to book,

I'd be lined up to read it.

:

00:58:08,651 --> 00:58:12,661

Somehow, I feel like there's a way to

help , young business owners or new.

:

00:58:12,871 --> 00:58:13,921

New in business center.

:

00:58:14,011 --> 00:58:14,341

Yeah.

:

00:58:14,521 --> 00:58:15,001

Yeah.

:

00:58:15,111 --> 00:58:17,841

I think there are things that could

be shared that would be helpful.

:

00:58:17,901 --> 00:58:18,261

And.

:

00:58:18,351 --> 00:58:21,411

And, you know, They

could benefit from them.

:

00:58:21,621 --> 00:58:22,161

Oh, yeah.

:

00:58:22,911 --> 00:58:24,501

Sometimes, I feel like that's.

:

00:58:24,525 --> 00:58:25,365

The next act.

:

00:58:25,905 --> 00:58:27,315

Isn't it interesting to you?

:

00:58:27,375 --> 00:58:31,435

How, uh, You start your business and

you probably have a pretty good flush

:

00:58:31,435 --> 00:58:32,815

out idea of what you want it to be.

:

00:58:32,815 --> 00:58:33,685

What do you want it to look like?

:

00:58:33,685 --> 00:58:34,795

What do you want it to feel like?

:

00:58:35,185 --> 00:58:37,225

Why you're doing it and.

:

00:58:37,285 --> 00:58:40,195

Uh, how there are so many opportunities.

:

00:58:40,525 --> 00:58:46,045

Over the course of time that you're open,

where you're invited to rethink things.

:

00:58:46,435 --> 00:58:48,025

And it's just constantly growing.

:

00:58:48,025 --> 00:58:49,075

I mean, if you had told me.

:

00:58:49,585 --> 00:58:53,785

If you had told me 10 years ago that I'd

be sitting here on a podcast chatting

:

00:58:53,785 --> 00:58:55,105

with you, I'd be like, no, I wouldn't.

:

00:58:56,005 --> 00:58:57,625

But here I am and I, and I love it.

:

00:58:57,625 --> 00:58:57,925

And it's.

:

00:58:58,135 --> 00:58:59,935

It's been a great creative outlet.

:

00:59:00,325 --> 00:59:03,715

, but I don't think the person who

opened this business a had any right.

:

00:59:03,715 --> 00:59:04,525

Having a podcast.

:

00:59:04,795 --> 00:59:08,095

But be like, I just wasn't

it wasn't the time, you know?

:

00:59:08,125 --> 00:59:11,065

But I think that happens

in, I mean, a businesses.

:

00:59:11,455 --> 00:59:12,355

its own thing.

:

00:59:12,415 --> 00:59:13,525

It's its own entity, the entity.

:

00:59:14,035 --> 00:59:14,815

It is.

:

00:59:14,995 --> 00:59:17,365

And so you kind of grow up with it.

:

00:59:17,455 --> 00:59:20,335

Um, And it's certainly changes.

:

00:59:20,335 --> 00:59:23,965

And even the perfect design that

you go in thinking, this is it.

:

00:59:24,475 --> 00:59:28,255

, I didn't get that until

six or seven years in.

:

00:59:28,255 --> 00:59:28,435

Yeah.

:

00:59:28,465 --> 00:59:31,375

But that's, we did everything

as we could afford it.

:

00:59:31,465 --> 00:59:32,425

So we totally get it.

:

00:59:32,455 --> 00:59:37,755

It was the, you know, homemade burlap

curtains and, pieces of, , seagrass,

:

00:59:37,785 --> 00:59:42,075

carpeting, glue down the patchwork

to make a, you know, It was all

:

00:59:42,075 --> 00:59:44,345

kind of, cobbled together in a way.

:

00:59:44,855 --> 00:59:48,765

And then little by little, it'd be

like, Nuts to these carbon pads.

:

00:59:48,795 --> 00:59:50,145

We're writing everything down.

:

00:59:50,475 --> 00:59:54,155

We're going to, you know, now we

can afford a POS system or what

:

00:59:54,155 --> 00:59:55,595

only a credit card terminal.

:

00:59:55,595 --> 00:59:56,525

Exactly.

:

00:59:57,125 --> 01:00:01,635

Um, When you had to call Amex and

get a authorization code from.

:

01:00:02,025 --> 01:00:02,895

Yeah.

:

01:00:02,995 --> 01:00:04,165

, wasn't that long ago.

:

01:00:05,195 --> 01:00:07,505

But that's how rapidly

things have changed.

:

01:00:07,535 --> 01:00:08,045

Yeah.

:

01:00:08,105 --> 01:00:11,885

Since even:

you know, absolutely.

:

01:00:11,935 --> 01:00:15,295

And then you, you, you see what

works better for your customers.

:

01:00:15,295 --> 01:00:16,615

What's easier for them.

:

01:00:17,095 --> 01:00:19,825

And you'll change the space

and then you really want.

:

01:00:20,275 --> 01:00:25,765

To it becomes less and less about what

you thought it might be and more and

:

01:00:25,765 --> 01:00:27,865

more about how do I make it work better.

:

01:00:27,955 --> 01:00:28,465

Yes.

:

01:00:28,495 --> 01:00:29,485

Yeah, absolutely.

:

01:00:29,515 --> 01:00:29,725

Yeah.

:

01:00:29,845 --> 01:00:33,325

And it turns into like a class

project almost, or like a

:

01:00:33,325 --> 01:00:34,705

collective thing, because sure.

:

01:00:34,915 --> 01:00:36,965

You get the same feedback

from , multiple customers.

:

01:00:36,965 --> 01:00:39,035

And you're like, Hey, even if that's

not something that I would have

:

01:00:39,035 --> 01:00:42,215

done of my own accord, If multiple

people are telling me they want it.

:

01:00:42,515 --> 01:00:42,815

Here.

:

01:00:43,805 --> 01:00:44,945

Absolutely.

:

01:00:44,975 --> 01:00:45,215

Yeah.

:

01:00:45,665 --> 01:00:46,505

, so I hope.

:

01:00:46,835 --> 01:00:48,635

If you've made it this

far on this episode.

:

01:00:48,905 --> 01:00:51,755

We thank you so much for

listening to our chat.

:

01:00:52,005 --> 01:00:55,995

, but I think whether or not you work for

a big corporation or you're self-employed

:

01:00:55,995 --> 01:00:59,835

or wherever your employment sets, I

think that there's elements of this

:

01:00:59,835 --> 01:01:01,635

that can be applied to your career.

:

01:01:01,965 --> 01:01:04,755

And, , I think all of us

just need to remember that.

:

01:01:05,385 --> 01:01:06,885

Every day, you just have to do your best.

:

01:01:07,185 --> 01:01:10,755

And if on one day, that looks

differently than the next it's.

:

01:01:10,755 --> 01:01:11,505

Okay.

:

01:01:11,535 --> 01:01:14,235

And in the month of

November with Thanksgiving,

:

01:01:14,265 --> 01:01:15,795

I just it's really friend of mine.

:

01:01:16,185 --> 01:01:20,615

For me this month so much to

be thankful for and gracious.

:

01:01:20,825 --> 01:01:23,195

Towards, and you're definitely

one of those people for me.

:

01:01:23,615 --> 01:01:24,965

So, thank you, Erica.

:

01:01:25,235 --> 01:01:25,685

I love you.

:

01:01:25,895 --> 01:01:26,615

I love you.

:

01:01:26,985 --> 01:01:29,715

Well, thank you so much for

listening to today's episode.

:

01:01:29,715 --> 01:01:31,545

We hope you got a lot out of it.

:

01:01:31,935 --> 01:01:36,765

If you don't mind, give us a follow

at Clover club pod on Instagram

:

01:01:37,005 --> 01:01:41,415

and as always clever club listeners

get 10% off@hawkinsonclover.com

:

01:01:41,415 --> 01:01:43,695

with code Clover club, all caps.

:

01:01:43,935 --> 01:01:46,545

And today we have an extra

special code for you.

:

01:01:46,885 --> 01:01:51,775

You can shop at seed factory,

atlanta.com and get 10% off your

:

01:01:51,775 --> 01:01:54,985

purchase with code Clover, all caps.

:

01:01:55,285 --> 01:01:59,065

So ladies and gents go treat

yourselves and we will look

:

01:01:59,065 --> 01:02:00,655

forward to seeing you next week.

:

01:02:00,765 --> 01:02:01,425

. Yay.

:

01:02:01,935 --> 01:02:02,385

Yeah.

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode
Clover Club Email Opt In

Clover Club Email Opt In

Thank you, you have been subscribed.

Listen for free

Show artwork for Clover Club

About the Podcast

Clover Club
Curious conversations and stories intended to make you laugh and learn.
As a shop owner and hair stylist with an impressive number of stamps on her passport, Erika Audrey has heard or experienced it all. And she's ready to share. These real life conversations and stories will make you laugh, cry, and gasp- sometimes in the same episode! Join Erika Audrey straight from Atlanta gift shop Hawkins & Clover. Welcome to Clover Club.

Thank you-
Theme Song: Nick Pantano of Sound Space https://www.soundspaceatl.com
Branding: Shari Margolin https://sharimargolindesignco.com

Contact-
pod@hawkinsandclover.com

About your host

Profile picture for Erika Audrey

Erika Audrey

Erika Audrey, a luminous presence hailing from the vibrant city of Atlanta, Georgia, is not your ordinary hairstylist and boutique owner. With a zest for life that's as contagious as her laughter, Erika is poised to take the podcasting world by storm as she embarks on her latest venture.

Launching her debut podcast is a natural extension of Erika's multifaceted personality. With an uncanny ability to seamlessly weave humor into her conversations, Erika's laughter-inducing anecdotes and razor-sharp wit are bound to captivate listeners. Her intelligence shines through as she tackles a diverse range of topics, proving that beneath the laughter lies substance and insight.