December 8, 2025 • 45 mins
Come and listen to our Host, Tina Spoletini, as she chats with today's guest, Carrie Doucette, for our “End of Year, Beginning of Me” Podcast Series.
A powerfully themed mini-series helping women close the year with clarity and step into the next one with grounded self-love and vision.
Carrie Doucette, affectionately known as Carrie the Connector, believes in the magic that happens when we lift each other up. A natural storyteller and community builder, she’s known for creating spaces where authenticity and encouragement flourish. Her work celebrates the beauty of real connection — reminding us that confidence grows strongest when we grow together.
We explore how confidence grows through community, storytelling, and clear boundaries as Carrie “the Connector” shares practical ways to trade perfection for presence and competition for collaboration. Real-world tactics make branding human, networking useful, and reinvention doable.
• redefining success as alignment over hustle
• authentic branding rooted in values and fit
• community that blends support with accountability
• collaboration with peers instead of competition
• storytelling as resilience and trust‑building
• simple video and content that feels human
• the four content pillars: promote, entertain, inspire, educate
• using play and joy to boost visibility
• boundaries, routines, and energy management
• empathy, grace, and not burning bridges
• actionable steps for reinvention and non‑negotiables
For more Divas That Care Network Episodes visit www.divasthatcare.com
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_00 (00:00):
It's Divas That Care Radio.
Stories, strategies, and ideasto inspire positive change.
Welcome to Divas That Care, anetwork of women committed to
making our world a better placefor everyone.
This is a global movement forwomen, by women engaged in a
collaborative effort to create abetter world for future
generations.
(00:20):
To find out more about themovement, visit divas that
care.com after the show.
Right now, though, stay tunedfor another jolt of inspiration.
SPEAKER_01 (00:31):
Welcome to Confidence in Bloom, the podcast
that reminds you that confidenceisn't about becoming someone
new, it's about becoming home toyourself.
I'm your host, Tina Spolotini,and this season we're embracing
the theme End of Year, Beginningof Me.
A time to pause, reflect, andlet go of what no longer serves
(00:52):
you.
Together we'll explore realstories and soulful insights to
help you quiet that itty bittyshitty committee, release the
shoulds that weigh you down, andstep into the new year grounded
in self-love, clarity, andconfidence.
Let's begin today'sconversation.
Today I'm talking with Carrie,Carrie the Connector is what we
(01:14):
all know her as, Carrie Dusset.
Carrie, affectionately known asCarrie the Connector, believes
in the magic that happens whenwe lift each other up.
A natural storyteller andcommunity builder, she's known
for creating spaces whereauthenticity and encouragement
flourish.
Her work celebrates the beautyof real connection, reminding us
(01:36):
that confidence grows strongestwhen we grow together.
Welcome, Carrie.
Hello.
I'm super, super excited forthis because I know that you
have a, I'm gonna say a boldpersonality.
And I hope you don't takeoffense to that.
Like, you know, and when I saybold, I mean when you're in a
(01:57):
room, your presence is felt,right?
Like you just have thatpersonality.
Totally.
SPEAKER_02 (02:02):
I can't tell you the number of rooms I go into and
not even in the room fiveminutes.
And someone will come up to meand say, Oh my god, I love your
energy.
Like I get that comment almostevery single time I'm in a room.
Yeah.
So I know so I know it, yeah, mypresence is felt is felt.
(02:23):
It's just I always make anentrance.
SPEAKER_01 (02:26):
Yeah.
And it's and I and it's notlike, you know, okay, some
people don't like that.
Like some people, if they're,you know, especially um people
that are not in the mood forlots of connection, right?
Because that happens, right?
You can be in a room and notreally feel like being in the
room.
But when you walk in, like youwear bold colors, yeah.
And you don't even necessarilyhave to like open your mouth and
(02:48):
start talking.
You just have this, you know,like this high energy, like you
said, this presence that is justso apparent.
And so I've been told I havethat same kind of um energy.
Yeah.
I don't know that it's the sameas yours.
Like, I don't, you know what Imean?
Like, I don't know if we're thesame kind of person.
I don't wear big, bright, boldcolors like you're wearing right
(03:09):
now.
Carrie's wearing like bigfuchsia glasses with a fuchsia
turtleneck.
Like, she looks like the sun,really.
Like you just look so bright andenergy and yeah.
So I want to ask you a fewquestions that we're, you know,
I'm kind of we're ending theyear of 2025 and heading into a
new year.
And at this time of year, lotsof people are talking about like
(03:31):
their year end and how this yearwent and how next year is gonna
go.
Um, I want to know somethingfrom you.
What was one lesson or one shiftthat's kind of helped you
redefine what success andconnection mean to you?
SPEAKER_02 (03:48):
This year has been real a lot of there's always a
lot of lessons.
Um, I think that's somethingI've learned through throughout
time is that you know, you canbe going through the worst
challenging time.
And it's hard to see theopportunity when that lesson is
presenting itself.
Um, but really and truly, um, Ialways try and sit back and kind
(04:09):
of like take things in.
So as much as I am as a talker,I'm really a very good observer
as well.
So I like observe how people arewith other people.
And so a big part of that for methis year is just knowing when
to when to stop.
Um, and so that's been a big,that's been a big thing for me
(04:33):
because I'm go, go, go, go, goall the time.
But I've just realized that Idon't need to do that.
And sometimes I do too much andI don't mean to, but my heart is
always in everything that I do.
So it's really hard for me tonot kind of take over sometimes.
So I've really kind of tried tobake a back seat and go, okay,
is this my this isn't my event?
(04:55):
I don't need to, if someone asksfor an opinion or asks for
something, totally different.
But I shouldn't just be puttinginformation out there unless I'm
asked.
SPEAKER_01 (05:06):
Right.
And that sort of kind of definesthe connector part of your
title, right?
I mean, it's not just about, youknow, here, Mary, I want you to
meet meet Susie.
It's not that's not necessarilythe connection, right?
But it's also having your handsin in the dirt at all times,
right?
Yeah, oh, I kind of like thatthough, I'll be honest.
(05:28):
So I I found I was like thatwhen like in my early 20s.
I wanted to be a part ofeverything.
And then when my kids got olderand started, well, not older,
but when they start like whenthey were a school age and they
started going into activitiesand you know, they were asking
for parent volunteers, I hadthis aha moment that I don't
want to know what's going onbehind the scenes, right?
(05:51):
Like I really don't want to be apart of you know, all the the
gossip and the crap that goes onthe right.
SPEAKER_02 (06:00):
I have no place for gossip drama.
I'm I'm in my late 40s, I haveno room for that in my life.
Yeah, if you're gonna bring thatto me, see yourself out because
I have no time.
SPEAKER_01 (06:12):
Yeah, and and that's kind of like I had to sort of
put a stop to that because Iwanted to be involved, I wanted
to be a part of, you know, doinglike putting an event together
or you know, creating whatever.
But then I had to deal with allthe the school age stuff, right?
From the adults.
And I was like, that's not whatI want.
I want my daughter to enjoywhatever it is that she's doing,
(06:35):
or my son, or who whateveractivity we were working on.
So I had to take a step back andI'm like, that will never happen
for me again, right?
So, and I really like admirepeople that can, you know, like
yourself, get into the thenitty-gritty of the event
planning and putting togetherand be able to block and set a
(06:56):
boundary for I'm not in thegossip, I'm not in the garbage.
SPEAKER_02 (06:59):
I don't want the interested in.
I'm literally, I'm so focusedwhen I'm doing something.
And and so like I literally makeit if I'm helping somebody with
an event, they I can literallytake care of all the details.
Tell me what you want, tell mewhat you want to execute, how
you want the thing to feel, sothat it's still it's your event,
(07:20):
but I'm able to execute it inyour voice and just have it be
seamless.
Yeah, and that's superimportant.
No, there's an issue because Ithere's so many people that do
event planning and have no planB.
And it's like you always gottahave a plan.
Oh, yeah, and like they fallapart second, things don't go to
I'm like, you just roll with thepunches.
(07:41):
It's like my always had myadvice to brides.
I'm like, not everything's gonnago the way you want it to, but
this is one day, and you wantyour marriage to last longer
than that, longer than that, anddon't let the don't sweat the
small stuff, exactly.
SPEAKER_01 (07:54):
And at the end of the day, if you plan something
and it doesn't happen, you'rethe only one who knows it
doesn't happen.
Totally.
Of course, you know, of course,if the groom doesn't show up at
the altar, that's somethingdifferent, right?
You can't plan that either,right?
Like if you're planning thewedding or the party, you you
can't plan everything.
No, so let's talk aboutconfidence a little bit.
Um, what does authentic brandinglook like for women who are
(08:18):
ready to step into a newchapter, either personally or
professionally?
SPEAKER_02 (08:24):
I think just being real with yourself, right?
And I think that's sometimesthat takes a little bit of soul
searching.
Um, but I know for me, a bigpart of that has been finding
the right networking workinggroups, because there's lots of
groups out there, but they'renot for everybody.
So I'm not a BI girl.
And I know that work B I worksreally well for some people, and
(08:46):
I'm not taking anything awayfrom that, but it's just not my,
it's not my jam.
SPEAKER_01 (08:51):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (08:52):
I especially as an as an independent entrepreneur,
it's me.
That's it's me.
So I don't have time to go andhave coffee with six people that
I probably wouldn't have coffeewith if they weren't somebody I
would associate with on aregular basis.
Um, I really do things that arevery heart-aligned.
So like I really need to alignwith clients in order to
(09:12):
actually do business with them.
If we don't align, then I justknow it's not going to be a good
match energetically.
So then why bother?
SPEAKER_01 (09:20):
Yeah.
And I think so.
What I'm feeling from you rightnow is it's it's about
community, right?
B and I, B and I does not giveyou that sense of community that
it gives to others, right?
And and and so I belong to likeofficially belong to three
different communities that arepart of like a networking
(09:41):
community.
But they have what I like aboutthem is they're not just about
networking, they have events,they have masterminds, they have
like social events, they theyput on retreats, like, and you
can be a part of all of it orvery few of it, right?
Like, and that's for me, that ismore beneficial, right?
I've been to a couple B and Imeetings.
(10:02):
I don't even to be honest with,I don't even remember what they
were like.
I went as a like a guest.
Yeah.
Um, you know, I mean, we're nothere to talk about the different
communities we could belong to,but I think it's more about you
know, that finding thatcommunity that is going to
support you and give you theresources that you're gonna need
over your time, whether it's inbusiness or because networking
(10:24):
isn't just about business.
Like, would you agree?
SPEAKER_02 (10:26):
Oh, well, yeah, no, like I honestly, I have so you
may or may or may not know, butI um belong to Weminition.
Um, the nice thing aboutWiminition is there's no
membership fee, you're justpaying for lunch.
You participate in what youwant, but like like like the
saying goes, you get what yougive, right?
So if you're not going to comeall the time, you can't expect
(10:47):
everybody's going to be riggingyour your phone the just because
you came to three meetings.
Like that's right, like youreally need to put more into it.
And so, yeah, many of the womenand I meet outside of of that
meeting space, but theconsistency of being in that
meeting space constantly hasreally opened the doors to my
(11:08):
business blossoming.
And I so appreciate that.
And I love the femaleentrepreneur.
Um, we're all in the samemindset, we're not in
competition with each other,even when we do the same kind of
work, right?
Because it's not about that,it's about that feeling of
connection and feeling ofsupport.
And I really find that with thatgroup, it really does it for me.
(11:28):
However, I love going to thecoffee with the chamber as well.
It's it's a totally differentniche.
There's a lot of people, it's alot more overwhelming than it
was 25 years ago when I startedgoing, because it was like 30
people.
Now it's like 300 or 500.
Oh, it's crazy.
It's crazy.
But my key to going tonetworking events like that is
(11:49):
find a person that you haven'tseen in a while or someone that
you wanted to connect with.
Go and chat with that person andthen find out from them who they
think you need to meet based onwhat your connection is.
So when I go to a networkingmeeting, it's never about me.
It's about okay, what can I dofor this person?
Who can I connect that personwith and who can they connect me
(12:12):
with where it's going to beactually beneficial, not just
talk.
SPEAKER_01 (12:17):
Yeah, yeah, exactly.
And I want to touch a little biton what you said about um, you
know, meeting other women orlike other others in the same
industry as you.
When you're in a networkingmeeting and you're sitting
beside someone who is basicallydoing the same work that you're
doing, you know, like whetherit's like life coaching or, you
(12:38):
know, a connector like yourselfor, you know, any of the other
industries that we, you know, usentrepreneurs are in, sometimes
that person can become your bestfriend.
Oh, right.
She doesn't have to be yourcompetition, even if you're
doing exactly the same kind ofwork, because we all have our
(12:58):
own, you know, systems and ourown ways, right?
Like I know, like rapport is abig deal, right?
Like we need to hold rapportwith a person that we're talking
to.
And sometimes, you know, you andI could be talking to the same
person, and that person willconnect more with you over me,
(13:19):
right?
And so we need to consider thatas well, right?
We need to absolutely you knowtake into consideration we're
not here for everyone.
Totally.
SPEAKER_02 (13:27):
Yeah, it's not it, it's you're not going to be
everybody's cup of tea, andthat's okay.
And that's okay, exactly.
Because there's a ton, andthere's so much, like we're in a
big city, not to mention beingbeing in the field of social
media now, like your reach isfar greater than you possibly
could have, especially if you'reputting in the effort to do
(13:49):
engagement, which is always mypiece of advice for people.
You can have the prettiest,prettiest social media out
there, but if you aren't doingthe engagement and the
networking, it's kind of it'snot doing it any good for you.
SPEAKER_01 (14:01):
Yeah, exactly.
And we're also working, like youknow, we might be competing with
the person sitting beside us,but our our um I I I guess it's
called a network.
The people that we can help andwork with, we like we're in a in
a world now where we can workwith people all over the world.
100%, yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (14:22):
Right.
I had a conversation withsomebody actually out of Milan,
Italy, uh, or yeah, out of Milanum uh last year.
And I thought, like, when wouldI ever have the opportunity?
Um, and then even wearingwearing a different hat.
I worked for Nurse Next Door atone time and in their public
relations, and we actually had atranslator from China there
(14:43):
because they wanted to kind ofhave our nurses, their nurses
kind of trained by our ourorganization.
Oh wow, how cool is that, right?
Like my wildest dreams, did Iever think I'd be having
conversations with people alllike across exactly, yeah,
exactly.
SPEAKER_01 (14:58):
And like I put I posted on Monday, I was at a
networking meeting um that washeld in the States, I think in
Denver, and I met a lady therewho lives in Turkey, yeah,
right, and I was like, wow, andshe actually just called me this
morning, and I was like, okay,this is this is super cool,
right?
Now, of course, for someone likeme, whoever I'm talking with has
(15:19):
to speak English, right?
And so, you know, but I mean,English is all over the world.
Every I mean, not every singleperson talks English, but every
community has English, right?
And so, yeah, and so I mean,that's just the power of you
know, technology number one,absolutely, absolutely and the
world we're living in today,right?
Totally, totally.
(15:40):
I want to talk a little bitabout storytelling.
So, I mean, we all know that youknow, you get to know people
through their stories.
Yes.
How do you think thatstorytelling can help women on
their journeys, especially whenyou know we're transitioning,
reinventing, or just startingfresh in this new year?
SPEAKER_02 (15:59):
Yeah, you know, that authenticity is in vulnerability
is so important.
And I think a lot of people shyaway from well, this is what I
used to do, and I don't reallywant to talk about that.
But your story is about who youare.
Like I got laid off three timesduring this during the pandemic.
So over like five years, I waslaid off or within like well, a
(16:20):
year and a half, I was laid offthree times.
So you know, so it's a matter ofbeing resilient, right?
And it's just like, and mynetwork has been as such, I've
barely had to apply for a job inthe last 20 years.
That's saying something, right?
So it's the power of connectionis huge.
Um, and so during that time, Ireally played into my LinkedIn
(16:45):
and being connected that way andeven just putting out positive
messaging um because it wasreally hard, especially being in
the healthcare field, becauseyou had to know what was going
on, but it sucked your soul,right?
Like all that information.
And then everyone's coming atyou with, well, what do you
think about like, what do youthink about the vaccinations?
(17:05):
I don't whether you want to ordon't want to is completely up
to you.
I am not that person.
You and I could have completelydifferent political views.
I'm never going to try and putmy view on you.
I might tell you why I think,why, why I think, what I think,
but I'm never going to try andinfluence you to think the way
that I think.
SPEAKER_01 (17:24):
Yeah.
Um, I know I remember havingthose conversations, like, you
know, don't ask me what I thinkbecause you may not want to hear
it.
SPEAKER_02 (17:32):
No, right?
Like, and and and at the end ofthe day, I chose to get
vaccinated because I liketraveling and I wasn't going to
have to stay in place.
That just was who I was, right?
SPEAKER_01 (17:42):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (17:43):
Again, those stories are like people want to get to
know you.
And I think a lot of peoplethink, well, like, because I
always tell you need to do avideo, and they're like, oh my
god, oh my god, oh my god.
Like they don't have to beperfect and polished.
This isn't this isn't a um thisisn't TV, you're not doing a
commercial, right?
So I'm just just be who you are.
(18:04):
30 seconds about customer orfunny thing you're using that
is, right?
SPEAKER_01 (18:09):
Yeah, it's funny that you're using that as an
example right here because Idon't do videos.
I don't want to.
And I don't know.
I mean, obviously, if I reallydig deep enough, I can figure
out why I don't want to, but Idon't want to.
And I think, why am I being sostubborn about this?
Like everyone else is doing it,right?
Yeah, and and they know thatthey're not exactly perfect
(18:31):
because none of us are right.
If you and I get on a call, likeon Zoom, I mean, I'm gonna show
up as I am.
Why can't I do that on Facebookand social media?
I don't get it, right?
But yeah, but it is it is whatit is, right?
And I mean, we can talk that.
I mean, I know we can talk aboutyou know how to get yourself on
social media for a lot ofpeople.
Totally, right?
SPEAKER_02 (18:52):
Just it just don't be afraid to be vulnerable.
And people actually appreciatethat authenticity more than
anything else.
More than anything, and it'strue, yeah.
I think that's why I connectwell with people because I am an
open book.
I I am who I am, I don't I don'tmake apologies for it.
This is like this is me, andlike like it, hate it, don't you
(19:12):
know, whatever.
You want to be by be in the roomwith me, great.
And if not, that's okay too.
Yeah, but I'll even find whenI'm going to networking events.
Sometimes the energy is just toomuch for me, and so I'm getting
out of the room like theearliest, or sometimes I'm there
even later because I've justreally connected really well
with yeah, but and I think Ithink we can all relate with
that, right?
SPEAKER_01 (19:32):
Because sometimes we feel that, sometimes it is too
much, and then sometimes it'slike, you know what, I kind of
just want to go home.
I'm done.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I get that.
So you're known for creatingspaces where authenticity and
encouragement flourish.
What are the key ingredientsthat you bring to building
community?
Number one, um, and and alsowhat lifts us all together to I
(19:57):
think just just like finding.
SPEAKER_02 (20:00):
out with somebody's story is um thinking like about
how I can help them connect withothers uh even this morning I
was chatting with uh um one ofthe ladies from Woman issue
who's kind of just started andI'm just like wait wait a second
I'm like I've got a client thecouple people that I think that
I could connect you with rightlike you don't necessarily think
well how could these connect butthey do so it's just you know
(20:21):
making those introductions andso like and I don't get paid to
do those introductions but I dothem very regularly because I
think it's important right andit just because somebody isn't
in your industry doesn't meanyou can't collaborate with them.
No and that's that's part ofsupporting right like supporting
your fellow woman right likewhat is wrong with that well and
(20:41):
it's getting different eyes onyour page right so even though
you might do completelydifferent things I'm sorry it's
called marketing 101 it's likethe more different types of
people you can get looking atyour stuff the better.
That was the whole point ofhashtags back in the day is so
that you could get differentcommunities looking at things.
SPEAKER_01 (21:00):
Now they've kind of gone the way of the dodo bird we
can still use them a little bitbut you certainly don't need 30
hashtags on things right rightyeah so now like we've kind of
talked about how you know womenentrepreneurs um not that we
said they they often feel likecomp like they're competing but
it's kind of a known thing rightwomen often feel that if we're
(21:21):
doing the same business we'recompeting against each other.
How do you turn that um you knowlike you you know you are the
queen of collaboration andconnection and how can you turn
that into like a real businessgrowth for women instead of them
feeling like it's I'm justcompeting with everyone out
(21:42):
there.
SPEAKER_02 (21:43):
So I like I'll often I'll often especially when
somebody's new to newer to theindustry I'll often kind of take
that person on the right wing goout for a coffee with them and
like just find out more aboutwho they are and like maybe who
I could connect with them withbecause again not everyone's
going to be your customer and Ithink knowing you know again
because a lot of people are likeoh you know I I don't I don't
(22:05):
know what my niche is everyone'smy niche.
It's like no everyone's not yourniche.
Who do you want to work with?
And it took me a long time tofigure that out but I do I
connect really well with womenand so that's usually who I
connect with I have a coupleclients that are men as well um
but like they really need totrust what they're doing um and
(22:26):
just know that it's okay that wedo things differently.
And I find it's almost likehaving like masterminds when you
do get to meet up because it'slike what are you doing?
What's working well for you?
What do you find that you knowis working isn't working well
for you.
Oh what could you dodifferently?
Or oh you know what maybe youshould come to this meeting or
that meeting right and which iswhy I do a newsletter because I
(22:48):
think it's not just I want tointroduce people to businesses
they maybe even haven't heard ofum and there's so many people
doing so many cool things outthere that I had known nothing
about.
And so I just think it's alwaysgreat you know always great to
kind of do different things andgive people different
information about things theymay not even know even existed.
SPEAKER_01 (23:11):
Yeah and I love that you know like you said there's
so many people out there thatare doing things that I don't
even know about.
I love meeting those peopleright because then I'm I can my
curiosity grows and then I Istart asking questions and I
know lots of times they look atme like do you really want to
ask me these questions like youknow but sometimes I'm like I I
(23:32):
get curious I'm like what whatexactly does that mean and how
can I put that into my life orhow can I you know bring it into
someone else's life somehow someway absolutely yeah and I find
it interesting to meet withpeople who are not you can be
like minded and not be the same.
SPEAKER_02 (23:50):
And I think some people don't grasp that concept
right um the young lady I wastalking to this morning um is a
very different person than I am.
Uh we energetically we like justseem to connect but we're very
very different people but Ienjoy different perspectives and
it makes you it it it honestlyit gets you to think harder.
(24:11):
And I think that that's a goodthing right because we get
complacent if we stay still andwe like getting uncomfortable is
the best thing you can do foryourself because that's where
growth happens right absolutelyso many people are just just go
on with day to day they go onabout their routine and then and
then they're constantlycomplaining that you know well
(24:31):
everything's the same wellthat's because you don't do
anything different.
SPEAKER_01 (24:35):
Yeah and and and as humans I mean we are creatures
of habit right and so by thetime we realize that we're stuck
in a routine that's not workingit's been a long time.
Right.
And so if you don't expand thatboundary on the outside of your
you know your comfort zoneyou're gonna get deeper and
deeper in that zone.
(24:55):
And then next thing you know andwe see that we see it a lot with
older people like the elderlywhere they sort of push the new
stuff away right I see that withmy mom a lot.
She's like determined that I amnot about to change like I can't
change.
I'm old I'm you know and becauseshe's always said you know we're
creatures of habit she doesn'teven realize herself how the
(25:16):
habits that she lives right nowwere formed at one time and she
hasn't been doing that since shewas a child.
Yeah.
Right.
And so we we have to like we'rein charge of whatever change
happens.
100% right and so if we don'tallow that change and it doesn't
have to be big gigantic steps itcan be baby steps right a little
(25:37):
bit at a time.
SPEAKER_02 (25:37):
I don't know if you've ever read Atomic Habits
but you know he talks aboutstacking and you know it's just
adding one small thing to I'vegot credit but I've got um uh
the uh audible and oh it's areally good read yeah so every
time I so every time I uh wellwhat when I go to bed at night
or I'm sitting here working onsomething I always have a
(25:59):
podcast on so I've listened tothat book probably 50 times
because everybody's talkingabout it right yeah yeah exactly
yeah I guess well and it's andand it is it's like forming new
habits is hard it's it really isand I find myself falling back
into habits and and it's justhaving ADHD let me tell you I
(26:20):
will meet somebody I alwaysremember a face I am horrible
with names but I could probablytell you what you were wearing
the last time I saw so youyou're very visual yes you're
very visual I love that that'ssuper cool that's super cool I
used to remember names quitewell yeah now I'm like they just
go right over my head I don'tknow if that's age or if that's
(26:41):
I got too much you know too muchstuff to organize in my brain is
sometimes what I think.
This is what I tell my husbandall the time because like he
always tells me that I'm notlistening to him.
So I quite literally have beenseeing a hypnotist to work on my
listening.
And I know it sounds silly notat all but but honestly like
just as somebody with ADHD it'sreally hard to focus sometimes.
SPEAKER_01 (27:06):
I believe it's not that I'm not listening but
there's lit the little hamsterin my little brain is constant
is on constantly and there's somany distractions yeah yeah I
get that I get that now I've soyou and I have met through women
womanish and we actually haven'tmet in person but we've been in
the same room I was gonna sayI've seen you across the room
(27:27):
and I don't think we've actuallyyeah had a conversation we've
never actually met but we'vebeen in the same room and I and
I didn't even realize this untilyou and I had our first meet and
greet that you run the photobooths and that and you yeah and
I would think that they're supercool.
Uh what so I mean clearly youuse these as tools to meet
(27:47):
people to get to know them andas a connect them.
Yeah for sure so what tell mewhat you know I I'm gonna call
them playful right becauseeverybody that comes to these
booths I mean they're there forthey they're playing right I
mean they're having fun theywant to enjoy themselves what do
you you um use these experiencesas to teach about your
(28:13):
visibility and confidence whenyou're talking with you know
with your other I guess clientsor whatever you're working with
that just I that play is so inso important right like I was
always a Barbie girl growing upwhich is why I love fashion and
so and Mr.
SPEAKER_02 (28:31):
dress up was like always on TV for oh my gosh I
love Mr.
Dress Up like literally I have atickle trunk right so it's just
if there's a costume party I amin like always in you need a
costume contact me chances are Igot something you can use oh I
love that I loved Mr.
SPEAKER_01 (28:48):
Dress Up I went to see him I was an adult like I
was I I think I was close to 40when I went to see him so too
funny.
SPEAKER_02 (28:54):
Yeah I saw I saw him as a child but always like
always just instilled thatcuriosity right like be able to
have fun and I think that's whatI love about this business is we
constantly get to have fun.
And as you age you don't go outas much so this like this gets
me out on a Friday or a Saturdaynight and I'm it's either you
(29:15):
make money or you spend money onthe weekend.
I'd rather make it and I stillget to have fun right so we were
at the Superlative awards lastweekend and oh my God like just
so much fun.
The pictures were wereincredible um people always have
a great time actually we endedup with five like five five star
reviews uh the next day whichwas like so it was just like it
(29:38):
just it it just fills my heartso much because I love what I do
I absolutely love doing thephoto booth I love bringing
people joy and especially youknow you go to a boring
conference what a fun way likeit just adds something fun even
with a Christmas party we'reusually busier than the dance
(30:00):
floor right so you know soyou're doing something right and
the same thing it's just like ohyou brings like such incredible
energy and it's like well that'swhat it's about right that's
yeah poses to do and so it justyeah it just and it's a it's
confidence boosting.
So we're like wow I look reallygood.
SPEAKER_01 (30:18):
I'm like right and you know guess what we could
take another one right yeah andyou can and you have props right
like you always have those sillyglasses and yeah so I mean like
that's an opportunity for you tolike let go and have fun and at
a party like you're usuallydrinking right you don't have a
glass of wine relax a little bitwell I think that's a big part
(30:39):
about uh about uh about ourbooths too is that you can text
message yourself a link and thenyou can look back at all the
photos that were taken all nightbecause they're a whole lot more
prim and proper at the beginningthan they are at the end.
Oh yes they are I love thatthat's a great idea yeah and I
do lots lots of uh lots of umconferences um I because of my
(31:04):
connection with the seniorcommunity um I don't burn
bridges either that's just notsomething that I do yeah doesn't
matter I would rather walk awaywith grace trust me there's
bridges I've wanted to burn butI haven't because at the end of
the day that's a reflection onyou not on them and so you know
you walk away and you just smileand that's that's also something
I was tell my kids that tooright like you never know when
(31:27):
that person or those people aregonna come back into your life
and you don't know what youmight need from them or they
might need you and you need tobe able you need to have their
trust right on either way younever know right I agree with
you.
SPEAKER_02 (31:41):
No so you know so anyways it's just it's just
about just being being thatperson who can let water run off
their back and go you know whatthis happened what was the
lesson because there's always alesson so take that lesson and
now try and do things betterright yeah yeah I love that so
(32:04):
now often women feeldisconnected from you know like
traditional marketing right yeaha lot of people don't even
really know how to marketthemselves how do how how can us
women promote our work in waysthat um feel aligned human and
hard centered because I meanthat's kind of what we all want
(32:26):
so I always go with the fourpillars so my four my four
pillars are promotion because noone wants to to see ads that are
buy for me buy for me buy for meconstantly right right so that's
one part of it then you want toentertain people so something
funny um something inspirationalright so having a quote or
(32:46):
something something that meanssomething to you so you want you
want to convey that meaning andyou don't want to just convey
the meaning to you what is themeaning to your customer so I
always come through I thinkthat's why my marketing
resonates so well with people isthat I'm able to speak in their
voice to their clients in a waythat resonates with them.
(33:10):
And so I I would love to tellsomebody how to do that but
really just be authentic and Iknow I keep using that word but
really and truly that's whatpeople connect with people are
doing business with you becausethey like you.
They it may not even they maynot even need your product
they're buying your product orpromoting your product because
of you.
(33:30):
You are your brand at the end ofthe day.
And so that's the you knowthat's just so so important.
And that storytelling aspectputting yourself out there and
it's not comfortable I stilldon't like and I do it all the
time hello beautiful peoplelet's carry the connector here
right like it's just that'sthat's how I start everything
and it doesn't have to be thisbig audacious thing it can just
(33:54):
be hey you know what I just gotoff the phone with this client
and I helped them do this.
SPEAKER_01 (33:59):
Yeah something that you think you'd need help with
contact me or if you knowsomebody who needs help with
this contact me right right yeahyeah and I I think you're right
I think it's you know just beyourself right ask your real
question don't don't pussyfootright like just ask ask me what
you really want to know and Iwill do my absolute best to give
(34:21):
you the answer that I haveabsolutely yeah and there's the
education piece people lovebeing educated.
SPEAKER_02 (34:27):
I love learning about like new health products
or oh I didn't know that theblue light glasses were a thing
or is that actually a thingright so it's like and then it I
always like being prompted tomake further investigation.
And I think that's probably asmuch as I like the marketing I
love the research part of it toobecause absolutely because I get
(34:49):
to know things right yeah I knowsometimes that can come across
as a know it all but it's likeno I just like knowing about
different things exactly aboutmore people.
SPEAKER_01 (34:58):
Right.
And and like you said okay nowthe blue light on the glasses
that's been around for yeahquite a while now but things are
always changing.
I remember when the um thepolarized lenses came out I know
that we're talking probably 1520 years ago now but I remember
thinking to myself when theyshowed me the difference I'm
like why haven't I heard of thisbefore yeah right and so you
(35:19):
know that goes with everyproduct that's out there.
When you learn of something newand we know like with our phones
now there's new apps all thetime.
Yep you know share if youlearned something new today
share it with the person thatyou're sitting beside at lunch
or on the bus or wherever youare right yeah you heard about
this new app did you know wecould do this on our phone now
(35:40):
there's nothing wrong with that.
SPEAKER_02 (35:41):
If somebody doesn't want to hear about it they'll
say well yeah thank you forletting me know right yeah but
you know like share share yourknowledge I I'm really I I annoy
the crap out of my husbandbecause he's like I don't think
that person cared about blahblah blah whatever and I'm like
I might have been the onlyperson that engaged that person
in conversation today.
SPEAKER_01 (35:58):
That's right.
Exactly exactly you know it'sfunny that you say that my
daughter was at the gym thismorning and she sent me a
message and she said this olderman um just came up to me and
told me that I was um showingtoo many body parts and and
something else or that hecouldn't get motivated today.
And I said and she was like kindof down on herself she was
(36:18):
wearing sweatpants and a longsleeve t-shirt right and I was
like he's clearly triggered bysomething that you either did or
didn't do right and he neededsomeone to see him and hear him
right often you know that'speople need that.
SPEAKER_02 (36:35):
But what a great way to look at things right and I
think and I think that's whatI'm always thinking about look
at put the shoe on the otherfoot.
And that's really hard for a lotof people to do because I don't
know you watch people drive outthere everybody's very
self-centered these oh my goshyes about me and then me and
then me and then me yeah I'm theonly one that's in a hurry I'm
the only one who has to getanywhere.
(36:56):
Yeah hey you don't know thatthat person just lost the just
got the news that they losttheir mom so they they the their
mind wasn't on that or thatperson just this just happened
to that person like you have noidea what's going on in some who
writes somebody off right awaybecause sometimes someone's just
having a bad day.
SPEAKER_01 (37:16):
Maybe after the third interaction if they're
still a jerk well then maybethey're just a jerk right yeah
yeah exactly three chances yeahyeah totally totally now as
we're moving into 2026 what aresome of the shoulds that you
need to let go of and have letgo of and how did you kind of
open space inside you to allowmore self-trust and
(37:40):
self-creativity I'm reallytrying to just you know figure
out things a little bit clearer.
SPEAKER_02 (37:49):
So being more vulnerable and being curious um
taking bold steps imperfectsteps they don't have to be
perfect steps um and letting goof that perfectionism because
I'm a firstborn child so I likebeing I'm a people pleaser and I
like things to be perfect.
I've really struggled with thatfor years um and then even just
(38:14):
like and then I expect people toact like I act because it's
logical and it makes sense.
But that's not how life worksand so I've really kind of taken
a bold step to let things go alittle and not be so I have to
do this I should do this Ishould do that.
You know what like my mom my momcleans her house every Sunday
(38:35):
and I said to mom nobody's gonnastand up at your funeral and go,
she had such a clean housebecause I can tell you I clean
but my house is not organized.
I always have something going inand out especially with the
photo booth business and Ihonestly sometimes it bothers me
but at the end of the day youknow what I have uh a great
(38:56):
relationship with my husband Ihave a cute little dog who you
might hear snoring beside mesleeping on the bed across from
me and um life's just about likeenjoying it right so like my
husband and I don't have lots ofbad habits we're not really big
drinkers we don't smoke we'renot big partiers so we spend
(39:17):
money on vacations we love goingand exploring things right so
that's what I do to and so I'mreally just trying to
concentrate more on making surethat my home life is my
priority.
Yeah and and the thing is ifyou're if you have a good home
life then your work life can beimproved or just as good right
(39:40):
and vice versa right yeah andthen just having those
boundaries to to be like I'm notworking Sundays or like one of I
talked to a girl yesterday tooand she's like you know what my
phone goes off after fouro'clock the only reason you're
getting hold of me is becauseI'm on my way to get food.
I was like fair I'm like that'sa good habit right yeah Like I
(40:00):
try and work well, my husband'sout of the house and he leaves
at 6:30 in the morning.
So I'm often up working then.
Sometimes I'm up at 4:30 workingbecause I just find my creative
brain works really well betweenabout 4:30 and 6:30, as weird as
that is.
So I do a lot of batch contentat that time.
Um, and then just work on otherthings throughout the day.
It's like, okay, I've got thisevent coming up.
(40:22):
Okay, I've got to have thisstuff ready.
I have two photo booths thisweekend on the same day.
So I've got to be reallyorganized.
Okay, I'm setting up one onFriday, got everything ready for
that.
And then okay, we're gonna usethe same booth.
So how can I make that work,right?
Right.
SPEAKER_01 (40:38):
Yeah, and that yeah, you have you have to be prepared
for that.
Totally.
Totally.
SPEAKER_02 (40:42):
And I have multiple booths in your pants.
I just I really like this boothand what it's doing right now.
So I just it's kind of myupgrade for my clients.
SPEAKER_01 (40:49):
Ah, good for you.
That's awesome.
I love that.
So when your life or yourbusiness is feeling um out of
alignment, what kind ofpractices uh help you sort of
realign with your why?
And we all know that, right?
We all know that.
We have to know that when we getinto business, and how also help
you kind of reconnect with whatis really truly important.
SPEAKER_02 (41:11):
You know what?
I usually put more into mynetworking when I get to that
point because I think you knowwhat?
I'm missing something orsomeone, and this is a great way
to do it.
So that's an awesome answer.
I actually really like that, andputting myself in in different
in different networkingsituations, so not with people I
always network with.
(41:32):
So sometimes like shaking thingsup a little, because again, you
get things get stale sometimes.
So sometimes like sitting withdifferent people, right?
Because even women, you tend tolike, oh, you know who who your
people are, but it's reallyimportant to sit with somebody
new, or I'll find somebody newthere and like, oh, who are you?
What do you do?
Oh, how can I connect you?
(41:53):
Let's have a coffee, let's seewhat we could do together,
right?
Like, and it may not, and it'snot necessarily that we're gonna
do business together, but I justwant to help that person
succeed.
It's just just part of who I am.
I don't know.
I said, my name is Carrie for areason.
I care, right?
Like, I really truly believethat I am in service to others.
That's why I was put on thisearth, and so that's that's me
(42:14):
fulfilling my purpose, is justbeing able to help others.
SPEAKER_01 (42:18):
I love that.
I love that.
Okay, so I'm gonna ask you.
I mean, I think you kind ofanswered it in one way or
another, but if you could offerone message to the women
standing on the edge ofreinvention right now, um, what
would you say as they starttheir own like beginning of me
chapter?
SPEAKER_02 (42:36):
Write down your goals and decide, decide and
decide what your non-negotiablesare and make sure that you stick
to your boundaries.
If that's something I haven'tlearned yet, and I'm still still
do that because I still allowsome people to bend those
boundaries.
I really think that that'sprobably the biggest, biggest
thing that that will give youthe most amount of success.
SPEAKER_01 (42:59):
Yeah.
And that, and with that, I mean,you don't necessarily mean like,
you know, it's an absolute noevery single time someone asks
you for something.
It's more about, you know, thatdoesn't fit into my world right
now.
It's gonna have to be a no.
SPEAKER_02 (43:14):
Absolutely.
Or and I always take no's,they're a no for now, right?
So they're not a no forever.
And so, and I probably got intothat habit having worked in in
the fundraising field becausesometimes it was a no, but it's
just no right now.
Yeah, I can't ask later.
Maybe I can ask in a differentway or a different person, and
and I might get that yes, butdon't look at as you're getting
(43:38):
into things, you just don't makemoney your focus because as soon
as you make money your focus,you will you will always be
running towards it.
Right.
And then you lose not yourfocus, it makes a huge
difference.
So don't worry about the money,it will come.
Just be yourself.
SPEAKER_01 (43:55):
Yeah, I love that.
Thank you so much for joining metoday with conversation.
And I really look forward toactually like talking to you in
a room.
Yes, hopefully that will behappening soon.
I was gonna say, are you comingto a munition on Tuesday?
I am, yeah.
So maybe that'll be the day.
SPEAKER_02 (44:13):
I will be there and I will be uh sporting some
fashions on the runway.
SPEAKER_01 (44:18):
Oh, I love it.
Oh my gosh, I love it.
Well, thank you so much, Carrie.
Absolutely.
Thank you so much for tuning into Confidence and Bloom.
And I hope you enjoyed theconversation with Carrie as much
as I did.
And I hope that you're remindedthat you're not alone on this
journey and that your confidencegrows every time you tell that
itty bitty shitty committee tohush.
(44:41):
If you're ready to take thiseven deeper, I'd love to invite
you to the Bloom Room, anurturing community where women
come together to releaseself-doubt, reconnect with
themselves, and bloom into thetruest versions of who they are
meant to be.
Until next time, remember,confidence isn't something you
find, it's something that bloomsfrom within.
SPEAKER_00 (45:02):
Thanks for listening.
This show was brought to you byDivas That Care.
Connect with us on Facebook, onInstagram, and of course on
divas that care.com, where youcan subscribe to our newsletter
so you don't miss a thing.
It's Divas That Care Radio.
Stories, strategies, and ideasto inspire positive change.
Welcome to Divas That Care, anetwork of women committed to
making our world a better placefor everyone.
This is a global movement forwomen, by women engaged in a
collaborative effort to create abetter world for future
generations.
(00:20):
To find out more about themovement, visit divas that
care.com after the show.
Right now, though, stay tunedfor another jolt of inspiration.
SPEAKER_01 (00:31):
Welcome to Confidence in Bloom, the podcast
that reminds you that confidenceisn't about becoming someone
new, it's about becoming home toyourself.
I'm your host, Tina Spolotini,and this season we're embracing
the theme End of Year, Beginningof Me.
A time to pause, reflect, andlet go of what no longer serves
(00:52):
you.
Together we'll explore realstories and soulful insights to
help you quiet that itty bittyshitty committee, release the
shoulds that weigh you down, andstep into the new year grounded
in self-love, clarity, andconfidence.
Let's begin today'sconversation.
Today I'm talking with Carrie,Carrie the Connector is what we
(01:14):
all know her as, Carrie Dusset.
Carrie, affectionately known asCarrie the Connector, believes
in the magic that happens whenwe lift each other up.
A natural storyteller andcommunity builder, she's known
for creating spaces whereauthenticity and encouragement
flourish.
Her work celebrates the beautyof real connection, reminding us
(01:36):
that confidence grows strongestwhen we grow together.
Welcome, Carrie.
Hello.
I'm super, super excited forthis because I know that you
have a, I'm gonna say a boldpersonality.
And I hope you don't takeoffense to that.
Like, you know, and when I saybold, I mean when you're in a
(01:57):
room, your presence is felt,right?
Like you just have thatpersonality.
Totally.
SPEAKER_02 (02:02):
I can't tell you the number of rooms I go into and
not even in the room fiveminutes.
And someone will come up to meand say, Oh my god, I love your
energy.
Like I get that comment almostevery single time I'm in a room.
Yeah.
So I know so I know it, yeah, mypresence is felt is felt.
(02:23):
It's just I always make anentrance.
SPEAKER_01 (02:26):
Yeah.
And it's and I and it's notlike, you know, okay, some
people don't like that.
Like some people, if they're,you know, especially um people
that are not in the mood forlots of connection, right?
Because that happens, right?
You can be in a room and notreally feel like being in the
room.
But when you walk in, like youwear bold colors, yeah.
And you don't even necessarilyhave to like open your mouth and
(02:48):
start talking.
You just have this, you know,like this high energy, like you
said, this presence that is justso apparent.
And so I've been told I havethat same kind of um energy.
Yeah.
I don't know that it's the sameas yours.
Like, I don't, you know what Imean?
Like, I don't know if we're thesame kind of person.
I don't wear big, bright, boldcolors like you're wearing right
(03:09):
now.
Carrie's wearing like bigfuchsia glasses with a fuchsia
turtleneck.
Like, she looks like the sun,really.
Like you just look so bright andenergy and yeah.
So I want to ask you a fewquestions that we're, you know,
I'm kind of we're ending theyear of 2025 and heading into a
new year.
And at this time of year, lotsof people are talking about like
(03:31):
their year end and how this yearwent and how next year is gonna
go.
Um, I want to know somethingfrom you.
What was one lesson or one shiftthat's kind of helped you
redefine what success andconnection mean to you?
SPEAKER_02 (03:48):
This year has been real a lot of there's always a
lot of lessons.
Um, I think that's somethingI've learned through throughout
time is that you know, you canbe going through the worst
challenging time.
And it's hard to see theopportunity when that lesson is
presenting itself.
Um, but really and truly, um, Ialways try and sit back and kind
(04:09):
of like take things in.
So as much as I am as a talker,I'm really a very good observer
as well.
So I like observe how people arewith other people.
And so a big part of that for methis year is just knowing when
to when to stop.
Um, and so that's been a big,that's been a big thing for me
(04:33):
because I'm go, go, go, go, goall the time.
But I've just realized that Idon't need to do that.
And sometimes I do too much andI don't mean to, but my heart is
always in everything that I do.
So it's really hard for me tonot kind of take over sometimes.
So I've really kind of tried tobake a back seat and go, okay,
is this my this isn't my event?
(04:55):
I don't need to, if someone asksfor an opinion or asks for
something, totally different.
But I shouldn't just be puttinginformation out there unless I'm
asked.
SPEAKER_01 (05:06):
Right.
And that sort of kind of definesthe connector part of your
title, right?
I mean, it's not just about, youknow, here, Mary, I want you to
meet meet Susie.
It's not that's not necessarilythe connection, right?
But it's also having your handsin in the dirt at all times,
right?
Yeah, oh, I kind of like thatthough, I'll be honest.
(05:28):
So I I found I was like thatwhen like in my early 20s.
I wanted to be a part ofeverything.
And then when my kids got olderand started, well, not older,
but when they start like whenthey were a school age and they
started going into activitiesand you know, they were asking
for parent volunteers, I hadthis aha moment that I don't
want to know what's going onbehind the scenes, right?
(05:51):
Like I really don't want to be apart of you know, all the the
gossip and the crap that goes onthe right.
SPEAKER_02 (06:00):
I have no place for gossip drama.
I'm I'm in my late 40s, I haveno room for that in my life.
Yeah, if you're gonna bring thatto me, see yourself out because
I have no time.
SPEAKER_01 (06:12):
Yeah, and and that's kind of like I had to sort of
put a stop to that because Iwanted to be involved, I wanted
to be a part of, you know, doinglike putting an event together
or you know, creating whatever.
But then I had to deal with allthe the school age stuff, right?
From the adults.
And I was like, that's not whatI want.
I want my daughter to enjoywhatever it is that she's doing,
(06:35):
or my son, or who whateveractivity we were working on.
So I had to take a step back andI'm like, that will never happen
for me again, right?
So, and I really like admirepeople that can, you know, like
yourself, get into the thenitty-gritty of the event
planning and putting togetherand be able to block and set a
(06:56):
boundary for I'm not in thegossip, I'm not in the garbage.
SPEAKER_02 (06:59):
I don't want the interested in.
I'm literally, I'm so focusedwhen I'm doing something.
And and so like I literally makeit if I'm helping somebody with
an event, they I can literallytake care of all the details.
Tell me what you want, tell mewhat you want to execute, how
you want the thing to feel, sothat it's still it's your event,
(07:20):
but I'm able to execute it inyour voice and just have it be
seamless.
Yeah, and that's superimportant.
No, there's an issue because Ithere's so many people that do
event planning and have no planB.
And it's like you always gottahave a plan.
Oh, yeah, and like they fallapart second, things don't go to
I'm like, you just roll with thepunches.
(07:41):
It's like my always had myadvice to brides.
I'm like, not everything's gonnago the way you want it to, but
this is one day, and you wantyour marriage to last longer
than that, longer than that, anddon't let the don't sweat the
small stuff, exactly.
SPEAKER_01 (07:54):
And at the end of the day, if you plan something
and it doesn't happen, you'rethe only one who knows it
doesn't happen.
Totally.
Of course, you know, of course,if the groom doesn't show up at
the altar, that's somethingdifferent, right?
You can't plan that either,right?
Like if you're planning thewedding or the party, you you
can't plan everything.
No, so let's talk aboutconfidence a little bit.
Um, what does authentic brandinglook like for women who are
(08:18):
ready to step into a newchapter, either personally or
professionally?
SPEAKER_02 (08:24):
I think just being real with yourself, right?
And I think that's sometimesthat takes a little bit of soul
searching.
Um, but I know for me, a bigpart of that has been finding
the right networking workinggroups, because there's lots of
groups out there, but they'renot for everybody.
So I'm not a BI girl.
And I know that work B I worksreally well for some people, and
(08:46):
I'm not taking anything awayfrom that, but it's just not my,
it's not my jam.
SPEAKER_01 (08:51):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (08:52):
I especially as an as an independent entrepreneur,
it's me.
That's it's me.
So I don't have time to go andhave coffee with six people that
I probably wouldn't have coffeewith if they weren't somebody I
would associate with on aregular basis.
Um, I really do things that arevery heart-aligned.
So like I really need to alignwith clients in order to
(09:12):
actually do business with them.
If we don't align, then I justknow it's not going to be a good
match energetically.
So then why bother?
SPEAKER_01 (09:20):
Yeah.
And I think so.
What I'm feeling from you rightnow is it's it's about
community, right?
B and I, B and I does not giveyou that sense of community that
it gives to others, right?
And and and so I belong to likeofficially belong to three
different communities that arepart of like a networking
(09:41):
community.
But they have what I like aboutthem is they're not just about
networking, they have events,they have masterminds, they have
like social events, they theyput on retreats, like, and you
can be a part of all of it orvery few of it, right?
Like, and that's for me, that ismore beneficial, right?
I've been to a couple B and Imeetings.
(10:02):
I don't even to be honest with,I don't even remember what they
were like.
I went as a like a guest.
Yeah.
Um, you know, I mean, we're nothere to talk about the different
communities we could belong to,but I think it's more about you
know, that finding thatcommunity that is going to
support you and give you theresources that you're gonna need
over your time, whether it's inbusiness or because networking
(10:24):
isn't just about business.
Like, would you agree?
SPEAKER_02 (10:26):
Oh, well, yeah, no, like I honestly, I have so you
may or may or may not know, butI um belong to Weminition.
Um, the nice thing aboutWiminition is there's no
membership fee, you're justpaying for lunch.
You participate in what youwant, but like like like the
saying goes, you get what yougive, right?
So if you're not going to comeall the time, you can't expect
(10:47):
everybody's going to be riggingyour your phone the just because
you came to three meetings.
Like that's right, like youreally need to put more into it.
And so, yeah, many of the womenand I meet outside of of that
meeting space, but theconsistency of being in that
meeting space constantly hasreally opened the doors to my
(11:08):
business blossoming.
And I so appreciate that.
And I love the femaleentrepreneur.
Um, we're all in the samemindset, we're not in
competition with each other,even when we do the same kind of
work, right?
Because it's not about that,it's about that feeling of
connection and feeling ofsupport.
And I really find that with thatgroup, it really does it for me.
(11:28):
However, I love going to thecoffee with the chamber as well.
It's it's a totally differentniche.
There's a lot of people, it's alot more overwhelming than it
was 25 years ago when I startedgoing, because it was like 30
people.
Now it's like 300 or 500.
Oh, it's crazy.
It's crazy.
But my key to going tonetworking events like that is
(11:49):
find a person that you haven'tseen in a while or someone that
you wanted to connect with.
Go and chat with that person andthen find out from them who they
think you need to meet based onwhat your connection is.
So when I go to a networkingmeeting, it's never about me.
It's about okay, what can I dofor this person?
Who can I connect that personwith and who can they connect me
(12:12):
with where it's going to beactually beneficial, not just
talk.
SPEAKER_01 (12:17):
Yeah, yeah, exactly.
And I want to touch a little biton what you said about um, you
know, meeting other women orlike other others in the same
industry as you.
When you're in a networkingmeeting and you're sitting
beside someone who is basicallydoing the same work that you're
doing, you know, like whetherit's like life coaching or, you
(12:38):
know, a connector like yourselfor, you know, any of the other
industries that we, you know, usentrepreneurs are in, sometimes
that person can become your bestfriend.
Oh, right.
She doesn't have to be yourcompetition, even if you're
doing exactly the same kind ofwork, because we all have our
(12:58):
own, you know, systems and ourown ways, right?
Like I know, like rapport is abig deal, right?
Like we need to hold rapportwith a person that we're talking
to.
And sometimes, you know, you andI could be talking to the same
person, and that person willconnect more with you over me,
(13:19):
right?
And so we need to consider thatas well, right?
We need to absolutely you knowtake into consideration we're
not here for everyone.
Totally.
SPEAKER_02 (13:27):
Yeah, it's not it, it's you're not going to be
everybody's cup of tea, andthat's okay.
And that's okay, exactly.
Because there's a ton, andthere's so much, like we're in a
big city, not to mention beingbeing in the field of social
media now, like your reach isfar greater than you possibly
could have, especially if you'reputting in the effort to do
(13:49):
engagement, which is always mypiece of advice for people.
You can have the prettiest,prettiest social media out
there, but if you aren't doingthe engagement and the
networking, it's kind of it'snot doing it any good for you.
SPEAKER_01 (14:01):
Yeah, exactly.
And we're also working, like youknow, we might be competing with
the person sitting beside us,but our our um I I I guess it's
called a network.
The people that we can help andwork with, we like we're in a in
a world now where we can workwith people all over the world.
100%, yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (14:22):
Right.
I had a conversation withsomebody actually out of Milan,
Italy, uh, or yeah, out of Milanum uh last year.
And I thought, like, when wouldI ever have the opportunity?
Um, and then even wearingwearing a different hat.
I worked for Nurse Next Door atone time and in their public
relations, and we actually had atranslator from China there
(14:43):
because they wanted to kind ofhave our nurses, their nurses
kind of trained by our ourorganization.
Oh wow, how cool is that, right?
Like my wildest dreams, did Iever think I'd be having
conversations with people alllike across exactly, yeah,
exactly.
SPEAKER_01 (14:58):
And like I put I posted on Monday, I was at a
networking meeting um that washeld in the States, I think in
Denver, and I met a lady therewho lives in Turkey, yeah,
right, and I was like, wow, andshe actually just called me this
morning, and I was like, okay,this is this is super cool,
right?
Now, of course, for someone likeme, whoever I'm talking with has
(15:19):
to speak English, right?
And so, you know, but I mean,English is all over the world.
Every I mean, not every singleperson talks English, but every
community has English, right?
And so, yeah, and so I mean,that's just the power of you
know, technology number one,absolutely, absolutely and the
world we're living in today,right?
Totally, totally.
(15:40):
I want to talk a little bitabout storytelling.
So, I mean, we all know that youknow, you get to know people
through their stories.
Yes.
How do you think thatstorytelling can help women on
their journeys, especially whenyou know we're transitioning,
reinventing, or just startingfresh in this new year?
SPEAKER_02 (15:59):
Yeah, you know, that authenticity is in vulnerability
is so important.
And I think a lot of people shyaway from well, this is what I
used to do, and I don't reallywant to talk about that.
But your story is about who youare.
Like I got laid off three timesduring this during the pandemic.
So over like five years, I waslaid off or within like well, a
(16:20):
year and a half, I was laid offthree times.
So you know, so it's a matter ofbeing resilient, right?
And it's just like, and mynetwork has been as such, I've
barely had to apply for a job inthe last 20 years.
That's saying something, right?
So it's the power of connectionis huge.
Um, and so during that time, Ireally played into my LinkedIn
(16:45):
and being connected that way andeven just putting out positive
messaging um because it wasreally hard, especially being in
the healthcare field, becauseyou had to know what was going
on, but it sucked your soul,right?
Like all that information.
And then everyone's coming atyou with, well, what do you
think about like, what do youthink about the vaccinations?
(17:05):
I don't whether you want to ordon't want to is completely up
to you.
I am not that person.
You and I could have completelydifferent political views.
I'm never going to try and putmy view on you.
I might tell you why I think,why, why I think, what I think,
but I'm never going to try andinfluence you to think the way
that I think.
SPEAKER_01 (17:24):
Yeah.
Um, I know I remember havingthose conversations, like, you
know, don't ask me what I thinkbecause you may not want to hear
it.
SPEAKER_02 (17:32):
No, right?
Like, and and and at the end ofthe day, I chose to get
vaccinated because I liketraveling and I wasn't going to
have to stay in place.
That just was who I was, right?
SPEAKER_01 (17:42):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (17:43):
Again, those stories are like people want to get to
know you.
And I think a lot of peoplethink, well, like, because I
always tell you need to do avideo, and they're like, oh my
god, oh my god, oh my god.
Like they don't have to beperfect and polished.
This isn't this isn't a um thisisn't TV, you're not doing a
commercial, right?
So I'm just just be who you are.
(18:04):
30 seconds about customer orfunny thing you're using that
is, right?
SPEAKER_01 (18:09):
Yeah, it's funny that you're using that as an
example right here because Idon't do videos.
I don't want to.
And I don't know.
I mean, obviously, if I reallydig deep enough, I can figure
out why I don't want to, but Idon't want to.
And I think, why am I being sostubborn about this?
Like everyone else is doing it,right?
Yeah, and and they know thatthey're not exactly perfect
(18:31):
because none of us are right.
If you and I get on a call, likeon Zoom, I mean, I'm gonna show
up as I am.
Why can't I do that on Facebookand social media?
I don't get it, right?
But yeah, but it is it is whatit is, right?
And I mean, we can talk that.
I mean, I know we can talk aboutyou know how to get yourself on
social media for a lot ofpeople.
Totally, right?
SPEAKER_02 (18:52):
Just it just don't be afraid to be vulnerable.
And people actually appreciatethat authenticity more than
anything else.
More than anything, and it'strue, yeah.
I think that's why I connectwell with people because I am an
open book.
I I am who I am, I don't I don'tmake apologies for it.
This is like this is me, andlike like it, hate it, don't you
(19:12):
know, whatever.
You want to be by be in the roomwith me, great.
And if not, that's okay too.
Yeah, but I'll even find whenI'm going to networking events.
Sometimes the energy is just toomuch for me, and so I'm getting
out of the room like theearliest, or sometimes I'm there
even later because I've justreally connected really well
with yeah, but and I think Ithink we can all relate with
that, right?
SPEAKER_01 (19:32):
Because sometimes we feel that, sometimes it is too
much, and then sometimes it'slike, you know what, I kind of
just want to go home.
I'm done.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I get that.
So you're known for creatingspaces where authenticity and
encouragement flourish.
What are the key ingredientsthat you bring to building
community?
Number one, um, and and alsowhat lifts us all together to I
(19:57):
think just just like finding.
SPEAKER_02 (20:00):
out with somebody's story is um thinking like about
how I can help them connect withothers uh even this morning I
was chatting with uh um one ofthe ladies from Woman issue
who's kind of just started andI'm just like wait wait a second
I'm like I've got a client thecouple people that I think that
I could connect you with rightlike you don't necessarily think
well how could these connect butthey do so it's just you know
(20:21):
making those introductions andso like and I don't get paid to
do those introductions but I dothem very regularly because I
think it's important right andit just because somebody isn't
in your industry doesn't meanyou can't collaborate with them.
No and that's that's part ofsupporting right like supporting
your fellow woman right likewhat is wrong with that well and
(20:41):
it's getting different eyes onyour page right so even though
you might do completelydifferent things I'm sorry it's
called marketing 101 it's likethe more different types of
people you can get looking atyour stuff the better.
That was the whole point ofhashtags back in the day is so
that you could get differentcommunities looking at things.
SPEAKER_01 (21:00):
Now they've kind of gone the way of the dodo bird we
can still use them a little bitbut you certainly don't need 30
hashtags on things right rightyeah so now like we've kind of
talked about how you know womenentrepreneurs um not that we
said they they often feel likecomp like they're competing but
it's kind of a known thing rightwomen often feel that if we're
(21:21):
doing the same business we'recompeting against each other.
How do you turn that um you knowlike you you know you are the
queen of collaboration andconnection and how can you turn
that into like a real businessgrowth for women instead of them
feeling like it's I'm justcompeting with everyone out
(21:42):
there.
SPEAKER_02 (21:43):
So I like I'll often I'll often especially when
somebody's new to newer to theindustry I'll often kind of take
that person on the right wing goout for a coffee with them and
like just find out more aboutwho they are and like maybe who
I could connect with them withbecause again not everyone's
going to be your customer and Ithink knowing you know again
because a lot of people are likeoh you know I I don't I don't
(22:05):
know what my niche is everyone'smy niche.
It's like no everyone's not yourniche.
Who do you want to work with?
And it took me a long time tofigure that out but I do I
connect really well with womenand so that's usually who I
connect with I have a coupleclients that are men as well um
but like they really need totrust what they're doing um and
(22:26):
just know that it's okay that wedo things differently.
And I find it's almost likehaving like masterminds when you
do get to meet up because it'slike what are you doing?
What's working well for you?
What do you find that you knowis working isn't working well
for you.
Oh what could you dodifferently?
Or oh you know what maybe youshould come to this meeting or
that meeting right and which iswhy I do a newsletter because I
(22:48):
think it's not just I want tointroduce people to businesses
they maybe even haven't heard ofum and there's so many people
doing so many cool things outthere that I had known nothing
about.
And so I just think it's alwaysgreat you know always great to
kind of do different things andgive people different
information about things theymay not even know even existed.
SPEAKER_01 (23:11):
Yeah and I love that you know like you said there's
so many people out there thatare doing things that I don't
even know about.
I love meeting those peopleright because then I'm I can my
curiosity grows and then I Istart asking questions and I
know lots of times they look atme like do you really want to
ask me these questions like youknow but sometimes I'm like I I
(23:32):
get curious I'm like what whatexactly does that mean and how
can I put that into my life orhow can I you know bring it into
someone else's life somehow someway absolutely yeah and I find
it interesting to meet withpeople who are not you can be
like minded and not be the same.
SPEAKER_02 (23:50):
And I think some people don't grasp that concept
right um the young lady I wastalking to this morning um is a
very different person than I am.
Uh we energetically we like justseem to connect but we're very
very different people but Ienjoy different perspectives and
it makes you it it it honestlyit gets you to think harder.
(24:11):
And I think that that's a goodthing right because we get
complacent if we stay still andwe like getting uncomfortable is
the best thing you can do foryourself because that's where
growth happens right absolutelyso many people are just just go
on with day to day they go onabout their routine and then and
then they're constantlycomplaining that you know well
(24:31):
everything's the same wellthat's because you don't do
anything different.
SPEAKER_01 (24:35):
Yeah and and and as humans I mean we are creatures
of habit right and so by thetime we realize that we're stuck
in a routine that's not workingit's been a long time.
Right.
And so if you don't expand thatboundary on the outside of your
you know your comfort zoneyou're gonna get deeper and
deeper in that zone.
(24:55):
And then next thing you know andwe see that we see it a lot with
older people like the elderlywhere they sort of push the new
stuff away right I see that withmy mom a lot.
She's like determined that I amnot about to change like I can't
change.
I'm old I'm you know and becauseshe's always said you know we're
creatures of habit she doesn'teven realize herself how the
(25:16):
habits that she lives right nowwere formed at one time and she
hasn't been doing that since shewas a child.
Yeah.
Right.
And so we we have to like we'rein charge of whatever change
happens.
100% right and so if we don'tallow that change and it doesn't
have to be big gigantic steps itcan be baby steps right a little
(25:37):
bit at a time.
SPEAKER_02 (25:37):
I don't know if you've ever read Atomic Habits
but you know he talks aboutstacking and you know it's just
adding one small thing to I'vegot credit but I've got um uh
the uh audible and oh it's areally good read yeah so every
time I so every time I uh wellwhat when I go to bed at night
or I'm sitting here working onsomething I always have a
(25:59):
podcast on so I've listened tothat book probably 50 times
because everybody's talkingabout it right yeah yeah exactly
yeah I guess well and it's andand it is it's like forming new
habits is hard it's it really isand I find myself falling back
into habits and and it's justhaving ADHD let me tell you I
(26:20):
will meet somebody I alwaysremember a face I am horrible
with names but I could probablytell you what you were wearing
the last time I saw so youyou're very visual yes you're
very visual I love that that'ssuper cool that's super cool I
used to remember names quitewell yeah now I'm like they just
go right over my head I don'tknow if that's age or if that's
(26:41):
I got too much you know too muchstuff to organize in my brain is
sometimes what I think.
This is what I tell my husbandall the time because like he
always tells me that I'm notlistening to him.
So I quite literally have beenseeing a hypnotist to work on my
listening.
And I know it sounds silly notat all but but honestly like
just as somebody with ADHD it'sreally hard to focus sometimes.
SPEAKER_01 (27:06):
I believe it's not that I'm not listening but
there's lit the little hamsterin my little brain is constant
is on constantly and there's somany distractions yeah yeah I
get that I get that now I've soyou and I have met through women
womanish and we actually haven'tmet in person but we've been in
the same room I was gonna sayI've seen you across the room
(27:27):
and I don't think we've actuallyyeah had a conversation we've
never actually met but we'vebeen in the same room and I and
I didn't even realize this untilyou and I had our first meet and
greet that you run the photobooths and that and you yeah and
I would think that they're supercool.
Uh what so I mean clearly youuse these as tools to meet
(27:47):
people to get to know them andas a connect them.
Yeah for sure so what tell mewhat you know I I'm gonna call
them playful right becauseeverybody that comes to these
booths I mean they're there forthey they're playing right I
mean they're having fun theywant to enjoy themselves what do
you you um use these experiencesas to teach about your
(28:13):
visibility and confidence whenyou're talking with you know
with your other I guess clientsor whatever you're working with
that just I that play is so inso important right like I was
always a Barbie girl growing upwhich is why I love fashion and
so and Mr.
SPEAKER_02 (28:31):
dress up was like always on TV for oh my gosh I
love Mr.
Dress Up like literally I have atickle trunk right so it's just
if there's a costume party I amin like always in you need a
costume contact me chances are Igot something you can use oh I
love that I loved Mr.
SPEAKER_01 (28:48):
Dress Up I went to see him I was an adult like I
was I I think I was close to 40when I went to see him so too
funny.
SPEAKER_02 (28:54):
Yeah I saw I saw him as a child but always like
always just instilled thatcuriosity right like be able to
have fun and I think that's whatI love about this business is we
constantly get to have fun.
And as you age you don't go outas much so this like this gets
me out on a Friday or a Saturdaynight and I'm it's either you
(29:15):
make money or you spend money onthe weekend.
I'd rather make it and I stillget to have fun right so we were
at the Superlative awards lastweekend and oh my God like just
so much fun.
The pictures were wereincredible um people always have
a great time actually we endedup with five like five five star
reviews uh the next day whichwas like so it was just like it
(29:38):
just it it just fills my heartso much because I love what I do
I absolutely love doing thephoto booth I love bringing
people joy and especially youknow you go to a boring
conference what a fun way likeit just adds something fun even
with a Christmas party we'reusually busier than the dance
(30:00):
floor right so you know soyou're doing something right and
the same thing it's just like ohyou brings like such incredible
energy and it's like well that'swhat it's about right that's
yeah poses to do and so it justyeah it just and it's a it's
confidence boosting.
So we're like wow I look reallygood.
SPEAKER_01 (30:18):
I'm like right and you know guess what we could
take another one right yeah andyou can and you have props right
like you always have those sillyglasses and yeah so I mean like
that's an opportunity for you tolike let go and have fun and at
a party like you're usuallydrinking right you don't have a
glass of wine relax a little bitwell I think that's a big part
(30:39):
about uh about uh about ourbooths too is that you can text
message yourself a link and thenyou can look back at all the
photos that were taken all nightbecause they're a whole lot more
prim and proper at the beginningthan they are at the end.
Oh yes they are I love thatthat's a great idea yeah and I
do lots lots of uh lots of umconferences um I because of my
(31:04):
connection with the seniorcommunity um I don't burn
bridges either that's just notsomething that I do yeah doesn't
matter I would rather walk awaywith grace trust me there's
bridges I've wanted to burn butI haven't because at the end of
the day that's a reflection onyou not on them and so you know
you walk away and you just smileand that's that's also something
I was tell my kids that tooright like you never know when
(31:27):
that person or those people aregonna come back into your life
and you don't know what youmight need from them or they
might need you and you need tobe able you need to have their
trust right on either way younever know right I agree with
you.
SPEAKER_02 (31:41):
No so you know so anyways it's just it's just
about just being being thatperson who can let water run off
their back and go you know whatthis happened what was the
lesson because there's always alesson so take that lesson and
now try and do things betterright yeah yeah I love that so
(32:04):
now often women feeldisconnected from you know like
traditional marketing right yeaha lot of people don't even
really know how to marketthemselves how do how how can us
women promote our work in waysthat um feel aligned human and
hard centered because I meanthat's kind of what we all want
(32:26):
so I always go with the fourpillars so my four my four
pillars are promotion because noone wants to to see ads that are
buy for me buy for me buy for meconstantly right right so that's
one part of it then you want toentertain people so something
funny um something inspirationalright so having a quote or
(32:46):
something something that meanssomething to you so you want you
want to convey that meaning andyou don't want to just convey
the meaning to you what is themeaning to your customer so I
always come through I thinkthat's why my marketing
resonates so well with people isthat I'm able to speak in their
voice to their clients in a waythat resonates with them.
(33:10):
And so I I would love to tellsomebody how to do that but
really just be authentic and Iknow I keep using that word but
really and truly that's whatpeople connect with people are
doing business with you becausethey like you.
They it may not even they maynot even need your product
they're buying your product orpromoting your product because
of you.
(33:30):
You are your brand at the end ofthe day.
And so that's the you knowthat's just so so important.
And that storytelling aspectputting yourself out there and
it's not comfortable I stilldon't like and I do it all the
time hello beautiful peoplelet's carry the connector here
right like it's just that'sthat's how I start everything
and it doesn't have to be thisbig audacious thing it can just
(33:54):
be hey you know what I just gotoff the phone with this client
and I helped them do this.
SPEAKER_01 (33:59):
Yeah something that you think you'd need help with
contact me or if you knowsomebody who needs help with
this contact me right right yeahyeah and I I think you're right
I think it's you know just beyourself right ask your real
question don't don't pussyfootright like just ask ask me what
you really want to know and Iwill do my absolute best to give
(34:21):
you the answer that I haveabsolutely yeah and there's the
education piece people lovebeing educated.
SPEAKER_02 (34:27):
I love learning about like new health products
or oh I didn't know that theblue light glasses were a thing
or is that actually a thingright so it's like and then it I
always like being prompted tomake further investigation.
And I think that's probably asmuch as I like the marketing I
love the research part of it toobecause absolutely because I get
(34:49):
to know things right yeah I knowsometimes that can come across
as a know it all but it's likeno I just like knowing about
different things exactly aboutmore people.
SPEAKER_01 (34:58):
Right.
And and like you said okay nowthe blue light on the glasses
that's been around for yeahquite a while now but things are
always changing.
I remember when the um thepolarized lenses came out I know
that we're talking probably 1520 years ago now but I remember
thinking to myself when theyshowed me the difference I'm
like why haven't I heard of thisbefore yeah right and so you
(35:19):
know that goes with everyproduct that's out there.
When you learn of something newand we know like with our phones
now there's new apps all thetime.
Yep you know share if youlearned something new today
share it with the person thatyou're sitting beside at lunch
or on the bus or wherever youare right yeah you heard about
this new app did you know wecould do this on our phone now
(35:40):
there's nothing wrong with that.
SPEAKER_02 (35:41):
If somebody doesn't want to hear about it they'll
say well yeah thank you forletting me know right yeah but
you know like share share yourknowledge I I'm really I I annoy
the crap out of my husbandbecause he's like I don't think
that person cared about blahblah blah whatever and I'm like
I might have been the onlyperson that engaged that person
in conversation today.
SPEAKER_01 (35:58):
That's right.
Exactly exactly you know it'sfunny that you say that my
daughter was at the gym thismorning and she sent me a
message and she said this olderman um just came up to me and
told me that I was um showingtoo many body parts and and
something else or that hecouldn't get motivated today.
And I said and she was like kindof down on herself she was
(36:18):
wearing sweatpants and a longsleeve t-shirt right and I was
like he's clearly triggered bysomething that you either did or
didn't do right and he neededsomeone to see him and hear him
right often you know that'speople need that.
SPEAKER_02 (36:35):
But what a great way to look at things right and I
think and I think that's whatI'm always thinking about look
at put the shoe on the otherfoot.
And that's really hard for a lotof people to do because I don't
know you watch people drive outthere everybody's very
self-centered these oh my goshyes about me and then me and
then me and then me yeah I'm theonly one that's in a hurry I'm
the only one who has to getanywhere.
(36:56):
Yeah hey you don't know thatthat person just lost the just
got the news that they losttheir mom so they they the their
mind wasn't on that or thatperson just this just happened
to that person like you have noidea what's going on in some who
writes somebody off right awaybecause sometimes someone's just
having a bad day.
SPEAKER_01 (37:16):
Maybe after the third interaction if they're
still a jerk well then maybethey're just a jerk right yeah
yeah exactly three chances yeahyeah totally totally now as
we're moving into 2026 what aresome of the shoulds that you
need to let go of and have letgo of and how did you kind of
open space inside you to allowmore self-trust and
(37:40):
self-creativity I'm reallytrying to just you know figure
out things a little bit clearer.
SPEAKER_02 (37:49):
So being more vulnerable and being curious um
taking bold steps imperfectsteps they don't have to be
perfect steps um and letting goof that perfectionism because
I'm a firstborn child so I likebeing I'm a people pleaser and I
like things to be perfect.
I've really struggled with thatfor years um and then even just
(38:14):
like and then I expect people toact like I act because it's
logical and it makes sense.
But that's not how life worksand so I've really kind of taken
a bold step to let things go alittle and not be so I have to
do this I should do this Ishould do that.
You know what like my mom my momcleans her house every Sunday
(38:35):
and I said to mom nobody's gonnastand up at your funeral and go,
she had such a clean housebecause I can tell you I clean
but my house is not organized.
I always have something going inand out especially with the
photo booth business and Ihonestly sometimes it bothers me
but at the end of the day youknow what I have uh a great
(38:56):
relationship with my husband Ihave a cute little dog who you
might hear snoring beside mesleeping on the bed across from
me and um life's just about likeenjoying it right so like my
husband and I don't have lots ofbad habits we're not really big
drinkers we don't smoke we'renot big partiers so we spend
(39:17):
money on vacations we love goingand exploring things right so
that's what I do to and so I'mreally just trying to
concentrate more on making surethat my home life is my
priority.
Yeah and and the thing is ifyou're if you have a good home
life then your work life can beimproved or just as good right
(39:40):
and vice versa right yeah andthen just having those
boundaries to to be like I'm notworking Sundays or like one of I
talked to a girl yesterday tooand she's like you know what my
phone goes off after fouro'clock the only reason you're
getting hold of me is becauseI'm on my way to get food.
I was like fair I'm like that'sa good habit right yeah Like I
(40:00):
try and work well, my husband'sout of the house and he leaves
at 6:30 in the morning.
So I'm often up working then.
Sometimes I'm up at 4:30 workingbecause I just find my creative
brain works really well betweenabout 4:30 and 6:30, as weird as
that is.
So I do a lot of batch contentat that time.
Um, and then just work on otherthings throughout the day.
It's like, okay, I've got thisevent coming up.
(40:22):
Okay, I've got to have thisstuff ready.
I have two photo booths thisweekend on the same day.
So I've got to be reallyorganized.
Okay, I'm setting up one onFriday, got everything ready for
that.
And then okay, we're gonna usethe same booth.
So how can I make that work,right?
Right.
SPEAKER_01 (40:38):
Yeah, and that yeah, you have you have to be prepared
for that.
Totally.
Totally.
SPEAKER_02 (40:42):
And I have multiple booths in your pants.
I just I really like this boothand what it's doing right now.
So I just it's kind of myupgrade for my clients.
SPEAKER_01 (40:49):
Ah, good for you.
That's awesome.
I love that.
So when your life or yourbusiness is feeling um out of
alignment, what kind ofpractices uh help you sort of
realign with your why?
And we all know that, right?
We all know that.
We have to know that when we getinto business, and how also help
you kind of reconnect with whatis really truly important.
SPEAKER_02 (41:11):
You know what?
I usually put more into mynetworking when I get to that
point because I think you knowwhat?
I'm missing something orsomeone, and this is a great way
to do it.
So that's an awesome answer.
I actually really like that, andputting myself in in different
in different networkingsituations, so not with people I
always network with.
(41:32):
So sometimes like shaking thingsup a little, because again, you
get things get stale sometimes.
So sometimes like sitting withdifferent people, right?
Because even women, you tend tolike, oh, you know who who your
people are, but it's reallyimportant to sit with somebody
new, or I'll find somebody newthere and like, oh, who are you?
What do you do?
Oh, how can I connect you?
(41:53):
Let's have a coffee, let's seewhat we could do together,
right?
Like, and it may not, and it'snot necessarily that we're gonna
do business together, but I justwant to help that person
succeed.
It's just just part of who I am.
I don't know.
I said, my name is Carrie for areason.
I care, right?
Like, I really truly believethat I am in service to others.
That's why I was put on thisearth, and so that's that's me
(42:14):
fulfilling my purpose, is justbeing able to help others.
SPEAKER_01 (42:18):
I love that.
I love that.
Okay, so I'm gonna ask you.
I mean, I think you kind ofanswered it in one way or
another, but if you could offerone message to the women
standing on the edge ofreinvention right now, um, what
would you say as they starttheir own like beginning of me
chapter?
SPEAKER_02 (42:36):
Write down your goals and decide, decide and
decide what your non-negotiablesare and make sure that you stick
to your boundaries.
If that's something I haven'tlearned yet, and I'm still still
do that because I still allowsome people to bend those
boundaries.
I really think that that'sprobably the biggest, biggest
thing that that will give youthe most amount of success.
SPEAKER_01 (42:59):
Yeah.
And that, and with that, I mean,you don't necessarily mean like,
you know, it's an absolute noevery single time someone asks
you for something.
It's more about, you know, thatdoesn't fit into my world right
now.
It's gonna have to be a no.
SPEAKER_02 (43:14):
Absolutely.
Or and I always take no's,they're a no for now, right?
So they're not a no forever.
And so, and I probably got intothat habit having worked in in
the fundraising field becausesometimes it was a no, but it's
just no right now.
Yeah, I can't ask later.
Maybe I can ask in a differentway or a different person, and
and I might get that yes, butdon't look at as you're getting
(43:38):
into things, you just don't makemoney your focus because as soon
as you make money your focus,you will you will always be
running towards it.
Right.
And then you lose not yourfocus, it makes a huge
difference.
So don't worry about the money,it will come.
Just be yourself.
SPEAKER_01 (43:55):
Yeah, I love that.
Thank you so much for joining metoday with conversation.
And I really look forward toactually like talking to you in
a room.
Yes, hopefully that will behappening soon.
I was gonna say, are you comingto a munition on Tuesday?
I am, yeah.
So maybe that'll be the day.
SPEAKER_02 (44:13):
I will be there and I will be uh sporting some
fashions on the runway.
SPEAKER_01 (44:18):
Oh, I love it.
Oh my gosh, I love it.
Well, thank you so much, Carrie.
Absolutely.
Thank you so much for tuning into Confidence and Bloom.
And I hope you enjoyed theconversation with Carrie as much
as I did.
And I hope that you're remindedthat you're not alone on this
journey and that your confidencegrows every time you tell that
itty bitty shitty committee tohush.
(44:41):
If you're ready to take thiseven deeper, I'd love to invite
you to the Bloom Room, anurturing community where women
come together to releaseself-doubt, reconnect with
themselves, and bloom into thetruest versions of who they are
meant to be.
Until next time, remember,confidence isn't something you
find, it's something that bloomsfrom within.
SPEAKER_00 (45:02):
Thanks for listening.
This show was brought to you byDivas That Care.
Connect with us on Facebook, onInstagram, and of course on
divas that care.com, where youcan subscribe to our newsletter
so you don't miss a thing.
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