July 29, 2024 • 39 mins
Gorgeous friends!
Holy fuck! Can you believe we’re halfway through 2024?! Before you know it, we’ll all be running around in ridiculously genius Halloween costumes (I’m considering a Bridgerton-inspired look……or, maybe a flamingo. DECISIONS, DECISIONS!!!). You won’t have to wait that long to see a ridiculously genius getup from me. I just released a NEW podcast episode today! YAY! Of course, I HAD to sport a ginormous rainbow squid hat. Me and my delectable strawberry-hat wearing co-host, Madi Beaufort chatted it up about our fabulous 2024 GOALS!!! We dive into some of our favorite stories and projects and I spill the beans about my plans for the rest of this year:
Workplace personality and fun activities
- Leonie's time as a government employee and the birth of a unique newsletter.
- Hugging competitions and why personality is everything in a team.
Caring for a high-needs dog and surviving a tough year.
- Why Leonie swear by Pilates over yoga due to hypermobility.
- Aiming for $1.5 million revenue while balancing family life.
Business goals, personal priorities, and creating an academy for entrepreneurs
- Academy Goodies -- Over 100 workshops and a digital co-working space for entrepreneurs.
Therapy and coaching preferences for personal growth and business expansion.
- Leonie's for kinesiology and intuitive healing for neurodivergent minds.
Travel plans, personal growth, and funny stories.
- Sending a package to Halle Berry
- Leonie's big girl goal to take a holiday more than 30 minutes from home this year.
Wildlife facts and experiences.
- Fascinating facts about hippos.
Watch, listen, or read this fun episode HERE.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Me, I just looked at the video
cameras and how it's set up and I realise like we've got this
(00:22):
Jack Links beef jerky right in the centre.
Sponsor it. Actually looks like we've like
got stuff. No, we've just got shit
everywhere. It doesn't matter.
And I just apologise to all the vegans out there, but I'm
currently having a hyper fixation with beef jerky, so
that's very right with that. Gotta do what you gotta do,
yeah? OK, All right.
So finally we're going to talk about 2024. 202424 good energy
(00:49):
this year I feel it good energy how you feeling?
Year of the Woods Dragon I. Think it is Year of the Dragon?
Oh my goodness, yes, because I'mdoing I'm making a display about
Dragons in the library. Oh my God.
OK well I was wondering why the fuck?
About prosperity. And it's all about like driven
force and like, yeah, travel moving around.
(01:09):
Nice. That's so good.
That's so exciting. Oh, that is so cute.
And I love that you get paid to just like, make these extreme
painting displays. It's the best thing ever.
Yeah, You know, I go in sometimes and they're like, what
can I do? And they're like, I don't have a
job for you. And I'm like, I'll just paint,
then I'll just. Well, make.
Something. And they're like, yeah, yeah,
yeah, please. I'm like, awesome.
It's the latest. Thing that's ever happened to
(01:31):
me, like you gotta do that right?
Like I remember even the government job, like just to
make myself like amuse myself, yes, I was like, you know what I
really want to do? I want to go around like
everybody in this floor and I want to interview them and
profile them in a newsletter. And like the the department even
didn't didn't even have a newsletter at that point.
(01:52):
I just invented it purely for myown you're fabulous selfish
game. So I would just go and like
interview people about their passions and their like their
interests and like everything outside of work because I
couldn't give a fuck. And people were just like,
amazing and weird and funny and great.
And I would take photos and write it all up.
And my boss was like, Oh my God,you're so, you know, you're just
like, so driven. And I was like, I'm just trying
(02:13):
to keep myself amused. You know, look at me.
It's a it's a, well, you're not,you're not this because you're
also like an incredibly hard worker.
But I've been watching a lot of people talk about personality
hires. Yes, I am that.
And I'm that too, right? I'm really just there and people
just love. I always say, right, have a
think about this. If there's a zombie apocalypse,
everyone sort of, you know, theystart dividing out.
(02:34):
They have jobs, people are killing, you know, like, yes, I
am the Joker. Like people just had me like
there's no, I can't run very far.
I'm just the jester and you know, I I would be happy in that
situation. Totally.
Just dress up and just be there and, you know, go Hey, how you
going? Like, you know, let's let's talk
about this. Yeah, give a bit of a laugh.
Give a. Boost Absolutely.
I am like I I've sent those videos to my boss going I was
(02:58):
the personality. No, I wasn't I.
She's like, yes. And we still talk about you 14
years after you. Left, and they're integral.
They're integral, important. But a workspace without a
personality hire? What's it?
Yeah, Everyone hates it. Yeah.
Yeah. And like the retention rates,
like in our team were huge. And that's not just because of
me, but because every. Yeah.
Well, who's just? Saying yeah, but when I left,
(03:22):
everybody didn't wanna. No, I'm good.
But like also I would do things like I get bored and so I Deb,
who was our HR person, I was like, oh, you know what we
should do? We should have a hugging
competition and see many people we can hug in one day in this
office. And she was like, game on bitch.
And so that's what we did. We ran away, ran around the
(03:43):
whole day hugging people. I think I hugged like 300 people
and I won of course because As if that Slack bitch would ever
beat me in. Of course A.
Competition, I mean I got reallysick afterwards because there's
you know, like pre COVID days where we didn't realise that
like hugging a lot of people mayjust you know, give you
infectious disease. But no, it's fine.
I love it. Worth it.
(04:04):
Absolutely worth it. Plus got some sick days off work
and you won. It's a win, win.
Yeah, it's a win, win, win, win,win all around for.
Me win, win. OK.
So 2024, yes. Dragon Dragon.
Dragon. I am.
OK. So last year was a tricky,
trickier year for me. I would write like it was a good
year in lots of ways, but then it was also a tricky year and
(04:24):
that we're going through Angel, our dog, and she was really high
needs. And I remember so many times
like we would go have like our business mastermind or whatever.
And there was some days where I'm like, I can't come in or we
think she's about to die. And then she'd make a fucking
splendid recovery again. She was just this, just
(04:45):
constantly having these things. Very incredible.
It's very, yeah. Yeah, she just loved Chris so
much, and I get that. And she just wouldn't let him
go. And because she just wanted to
just be as like loyal to him as he was to her.
And it was beautiful to witness.And it was also really difficult
because it took so much out of Chris to care for.
(05:07):
It was a long time. It was a long time.
To the point where you were like, this has to be the last
time. Surely she was 19 like fucking
how much she was 19 years old Like dog, do you not realize
and. And she wasn't, she wasn't like
she was blind, wasn't she? And.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. And but like, she still looked.
Yeah, normally. But yeah, just still doing her
(05:31):
thing. And, you know, it was just my
husband really didn't want to think about putting her down
because in his books, he's like,well, we wouldn't do it to a
human like, you know, who's elderly and she's not like you
didn't have. Still got the love?
Yeah, she didn't have cancer or anything like that.
So he's like, why? Why would we like.
(05:51):
And that's the thing, Like I just, I know that he's not the
guy who's going to run away whenI get sick.
You'll just be like, yeah, you know, in every fucking part.
Like he's so deeply loyal. Yeah.
So. But I was really worried about
his health because he was up during the night, so he didn't
have like, sleep for three years.
It was basically like looking after a newborn.
(06:11):
That's hardcore. Yeah.
And it was, it was stressful. And also wondering like when is
this going to happen and not? Being able to go away all the
things. Yeah, yeah, we went away on
holidays, but we always did it within 30 minutes to the house
and bring her with us because she was too high, needs to foist
onto anyone else and also she just wouldn't cope without
Chris. So I get in, I get in.
(06:33):
Yeah. So that was kind of the year of
that. And then she left us in
November. And so now, like, we've kind of
gone through the healing processand I'm just so relieved to see
my husband getting some sleep and coming back into himself.
And so this year, I feels like more of like a integration year.
I would love, if possible, for us to do a holiday more than 30
(06:57):
minutes away from the house. Oh wow.
Dreaming. Hello.
Maybe I don't know what we're going to do.
I mean, it'd be amazing if I could go to New Zealand.
Like we haven't taken the kids overseas yet and or even if we
just go visit like our beloved'sin Canberra or beloved's in.
(07:18):
Yes, the freedom now that you have.
Yeah, yeah. Just to have more of that time
and think about, OK, what's what's next for me as well.
Like definitely like I want to develop more physical strength.
Yes. And it's not really about losing
weight or anything like that. It's it's purely for pain
management purposes. So I have hypermesis gravity.
(07:39):
No, sorry, I had hyperemesis gravity when I was pregnant.
I have hypermobility now and it's possibly ELA's Danlos
syndrome, which is a kind of hypermobility syndrome, but
means my bones dislocate really easily.
And I'm, you know, like everything just falls out of
place and the only thing to prevent it from having more
(08:02):
often is more muscular strength.So Pilates doing that kind of
stuff is? And you're loving, you love
Pilates, hey. No, what I love is talking shit
with my Pilates instructor. Yeah, and then going for tea and
cake afterwards to reward myself.
That's what I love about Pilates.
Yeah, yeah, it's hard, man. Yeah, I started for the first
(08:24):
time this year and I I did not realise how strong women can be.
I thought childbirth was the hardest thing you could do.
And it's not. It's Pilates.
Wow. Yeah, it's like, yeah, it's,
it's just good shit. And also like, you know, for
building strength, like I can't do yoga.
Like I'm basically barred from yoga classes.
Because of the hypermobility. Yeah, it'll just cause too much
(08:46):
dislocations. So Pilates is it for me.
And I can't really do like strength training outside of
that because I'll dislocate stuff.
And like, even now I'm working on a dislocated drawer, which I
did in a really on brand way which I won't be discussing
publicly, but you can absolutelyfucking guess what it was.
(09:07):
Not many options. Is there not many options This
is this is like #50 draw dislocation for me but you like?
1st. Yeah, 49 of those have been from
yawning. So we know this one's not from
yawning. That's correct.
That's correct. Not from yawning.
Worth it though. 100% recommend.So physical strength, that's a
(09:28):
big thing. Really like focusing spending
time on nurturing my marriage because it's been 23 years.
We've just gone through a hard patch with having an older dog
and it's like, so I have I do kinesiology sessions with Kerry
Rowe, who's amazing. You've met, yes, beautiful, just
the most amazing human. And she was like, you know, like
(09:50):
even if you hit like the biggestgoals in the world, like if
you're not feeling like really connected with Chris in the ways
that you'd like to be, it's not going to matter to you.
Because it's such a like a priority for me in the same way
that it is for my kids. Like if I don't have a great
connected relationship with my kids it means fucking nothing.
Yes, Yeah, absolutely. Yeah.
That's why you do it all. Yeah.
So actually having that as a priority is really big for me.
(10:15):
Oh, how beautiful. What about anything else?
Any other personal sort of things this year or business?
Oh. What are we doing?
So exciting. Well, I mean, fun memories with
the kids. I just want like in whatever way
that comes that'll be fun if we have like a little bit of travel
or just like little holidays, staycations, those kinds of
things. I just love that.
(10:36):
I love, I just fucking love school holidays and just
spending time with them. Even if it's just like laying
around playing Mario Kart with them and getting hyper fixated
on that. It's amazing, Beautiful.
Oh no. It's just like having two little
girlfriends, like, you know, just besties in the house with
me all the time. It's so sweet.
Yeah, and business. Business stuff.
So it's pretty. Simple.
(10:56):
So my goal, and this is like a loosely held goal in that I
don't want to beat myself up if I don't get it.
I don't want to tie my worth to it.
Like yes, my inner worth and I also wanna be fluid in terms of
like if it's 100 grand under that or if it's more than that,
great. But this is sort of like a rough
(11:17):
framework for me to go for. Yes, yeah.
So I'd like to hit 1.5 million in revenue with $800,000 profit.
Brilliant. So I think we're, we should be
pretty much on track for that ish.
Yeah. And just to continue have a
really strong like recurring revenue base for my Academy.
So like my brilliant Business Life Academy, basically, if you
(11:39):
haven't heard of it, is it's like all of my courses and
workshops. Oh, it's phenomenal, isn't it?
Yes, Yeah. And like my books, everything.
And I just pile it all in there and I give it a really low
price. So it's $199 a year and you can
access every fucking thing that I offer pretty much.
(12:00):
And so there's like $8000 worth of workshops in there.
And then so we have new ones coming out every single month.
So I have, I present a new workshop every single month.
I just did one on like creating digital art.
And then we have a new template coming out like done for your
e-mail templates and all sorts of stuff.
And then we also have two guest expert workshops a month as
well. So I think by the end of this
(12:22):
year we'll have over 100 workshops in the Academy, which
is amazing. Oh.
My gosh, how awesome. I know it's so fucking fun and I
just love like I just, I like making it a no brainer for
people. Like if people are in a business
like fuck you, of course I'll invest it out.
It's such a doable price and I get so much in it.
It's like so people don't have to like keep buying more and
more. So much isn't it?
(12:42):
It's not even just about like all hyper fix it.
It's it's, it's everything. Yeah.
You could go on there and find something about anything that
you wanted to. Yeah, we've got like.
Money courses, we've got business courses, we've got
sales courses, we've got 40 daysto create and sell your E
course, 40 days to finish your book, How to work less, earn
more. Marketing without social media
(13:02):
because I spent two years off social media and earned over
$2,000,000 in that time. So there's all the different
ways that you can market withoutsocial media, how to hire,
manage a VA, how to deal with trolls and criticism in your
business. Like all the fucking shit thing,
it's in there. And I like to be able to make
more shit. Just put it in there and just
like, love up on my people. So they always creating new
stuff. Hey, like, yeah, I think I want
(13:24):
to ask you. I was like, where do you get it
from me? Like, they just come like, like
you don't get it from anywhere. It just like someone says, oh, I
need this. And you're like, oh, fantastic.
There's a course like, and it's,you know, and, and suddenly it's
there. Like you're so fast at it too,
that it just, it just pops out of your head.
Yeah. And it's brilliant all the time.
There's so much, so much good stuff.
And yeah. And that fearlessness, I just
(13:45):
love it. Yeah, well, it's just like, I
mean, you've been around for 20 years and I read like between
100 and 400 books a year. And like my I, I already know
shit when people ask me questions like, oh, OK, let me
just put this together because there's so much information that
I can tell you about this. Yeah.
So, yeah, it's pretty fun. So we currently have about 98%
(14:07):
recurring revenue. So that means wow, if you if
there's 100 people that have signed up a year later, 98% of
them will keep their membership for the next year.
And then like they just keep on keeping on.
That says everything, doesn't it?
Yeah, and that's what I really love.
And so like, retention rates in my industry are nowhere near
(14:28):
that. Like, you know, it's great if
you've got 20% retention in thatkind of stuff.
I just love being able to serve people and like that's
definitely like because I've runthe Academy before.
I ran it for 9 years before I took a four year hiatus and
basically we had pretty similar retention rates.
People were just like, I will never live without this because
(14:50):
I feel like if I don't have a Wow and.
That's why you have that fan base.
Hey, that like, yeah, oh, it's, it's, it's being part of a not
even, it's, it is being part of something rather than just like
buying something and, you know, using the resources.
It is, yeah, because you offer but you also meet.
You have that, Yeah. So you meet can meet with people
and Co work during the week. Yeah, so we and we have like a
(15:10):
digital Co working space. So that was a different
mastermind. So that wasn't part of the
Academy, but I'm thinking of adding something possible like
like that in the future. That was more like the prototype
of trying that part out. Fantastic.
And then we also have like I have group coaching calls every
month and then we also have likebusiness basics workshops which
(15:31):
run live. And so that's to like do a
certain party business, like if you haven't set up a mailing
list yet or a lead magnet or whatever.
And then people usually stick around after the call and Co
work together which is really fun.
How awesome. Yeah, and then I can send them a
little prize in the mail when they actually complete the
fucking thing. So just some little points of
stuff. It's really fun.
So forward. It's just so simple.
(15:52):
It just seems like, it seems so simple to me, like to create an
Academy like this and just turn up and like deliver everything
for people. And of course people are going
to be fucking stoked with it. Yes, yeah.
Oh, brilliant. Hey.
Is it that time it's? That time for ads.
Ads. I love ads.
(16:15):
La La la, Linda Dawson refuses to not give away free shits, and
so therefore she's giving away free shit.
Hey, if you feel like you're walking around with a dark cloud
over your head. Also, I am wearing an umbrella
on my head. Thank you very much for noticing
that. If you're watching on video, I
appreciate you. Otherwise, you can just imagine
it along with all the other waysthat you imagine me in your fan
(16:38):
fiction. Look, what I'm trying to say is
before we got distracted by fan fiction and Archive of her Own.
And like Bridgeton fan fiction, it gets very erotic.
I'm really into that at the moment.
Look what I'm trying to say is I've got an anxiety releasing
meditation for you. I've really managed to keep on
topic during this. If you go to
leoniedawson.com/anxiety meditation, this short powerful
(17:00):
meditation is going to combine two powerful breathing practices
based on Physiology. The designs like just slow down
your nervous system and quell anxiety.
It's something that I use on myself and my kids all the
freaking time. Leonie dawson.com/whatever the
fuck URL I've already said because I can't remember it now
I've got ADHD, can you tell? Welcome back.
(17:24):
Oh my God, I hope that was the best ad that you've ever heard
in your fucking life. I think it was.
Yeah, yeah. So yeah, I'm, I just, I, I am
still going to like this year I'm doing kinesiology with Kerry
Rowett every two weeks at least.And then during a launch, I
usually do a session with her every week.
(17:45):
And it's just to keep my mindsetgoing.
And I've realized that if I don't have that, I get along OK,
but I don't I can't. It's better for me to expand
when I've got that kind of support.
So for me, like I've tried cognitive behavioural therapy,
(18:05):
like which is the goal standard for neurotypical people, but I
did it. I did a stint of it last year
and found that it made me kind of like hyper fixate on my
problems more. And I was like, oh, this kind of
fucking me up more. And I talked to Zeta about it,
my assistant. And this is the joy of having an
assistant who has a psychology degree.
She was like, oh, I think sweetheart, no, no, no CBD S for
(18:27):
new typical people. For what Neuro divergent people?
There's no gold standard. So and it can exacerbate your
symptoms to go to CBT. So now if it's working for you,
fucking keep going. Like just keep going.
You know, it's about the, the relationship with the person and
how that person works as well. And she's like, so it is 100%
cool for you to do therapy or coaching in a way that works for
(18:50):
you. And what's always worked for me
was doing it on more of a hippiekind of way, like kinesiology or
intuitive healing with Hiraboga that I love.
Like being able to like have somebody go, I don't know,
there's something deeper here, even deeper and even deeper.
And then clearing that out and Ifeel like, oh, well, that's all
taken care of. So it doesn't seem to keep
(19:11):
coming up as much. Oh, that's so good.
And like the biggest soul lessons I've ever learned and
about boundaries and, you know, taking care of myself, all of
the normal therapy stuff is stuff that I've learned from
hero and Kerry anyway. So it works beautifully for me.
Yeah. And I think as well, like I I
(19:32):
also don't work super well with a one to one coach, but a hero
in that realm? Fuck yeah.
Yes, Yeah, it's different. Hey.
And it's gonna be so different for others.
Like I've got other friends who like love coaching and can't
consider doing business without a coach, but not for me.
Yeah, it's so essential, isn't it, having that, that help.
(19:53):
I love that you're doing it every two weeks regardless.
And sometimes I go to like a session and I'm like, I have
nothing to talk about. And then I leave and I'm like,
OK. Yeah, you know, like, yeah,
because there's still always stuff.
There's stuff undercover. Yeah.
Really. Yeah.
And if I went to like a just a traditional therapist, I'm like,
I don't really have much to talkabout.
Yeah. Meanwhile, like, carry your
hero. Be like, oh, really, really,
(20:15):
really bad. Let's.
Look a little bit duller, shall we?
Your. Body says otherwise.
Yeah, that's it. Anything else that you're like
taking from 2023, taking from past years and bringing into
2024, like any particular energy, anything?
Yeah, Last year I really felt like I was going to like I
(20:36):
really wanted to expand the business again.
And I was also insistent that I would be doing in a way without
adding any more staff or anything like that because I was
so scared of getting into a situation that I've been before
with like lots of staff and not enjoying it.
And then I so I was like, I needto work out the secret sauce to
(20:57):
making it happen. I got really rigid and started
developing quite low self-confidence because nothing
I was trying was working. And I was also like, just like
leapfrogging one from one thing to the next.
And finally, Zita, my assistant,was like, hey, intervention
time. You kind of drive me crazy
because you obviously are struggling and I hate seeing you
(21:19):
struggle. But she's very empathetic and
compassionate and she's like, and also like you just don't
seem to be getting any traction.Like, let's talk about therapy,
Let's talk about coaching. What do you need to do in order
to get out of this spiral that you're in where you just, like,
got your head? Suck up your own asshole.
So good to have like a business partner that you work with who
like sort of holds you accountable like that, yeah.
(21:39):
Yeah, and it's the first time she's kind of done it.
So I was like, oh, OK, shit. So.
It must be alright. We're gonna move on, yeah.
And that was when I was like, oh, but CBT didn't really work
with me. And she's like, it's fun.
Go back to Carrie, go back to doing whatever works.
And so Carrie really helped me get out of that cycle and start
healing like the freak outs I had about having a big business
(22:02):
and start trying, having more people.
And it's actually just felt really nice to have more people.
And it also because I was relying so heavily on Zeta
because, you know, it was her plus one person doing our
customer service emails. But if Zita is unwell or Zita
wants to go on holidays or Zita wants to travel, I kind of was
(22:23):
stuck in that I didn't have my little helpmate to do all the
things and things really grind to a halt without her because we
just can't get through the amount of work kind of thing.
And so I feel like that's too much responsibility to lay on
one person. And so having other assistants
(22:44):
underneath her can step up and do her role so she can actually
take holidays stress free. You know, like I always was
like, you always must take holidays.
You always like, I never like, was that kind of bias?
Absolutely. But I'd be like, right, I'm
going to have to hold back business growth while she's away
because we don't have the expansion, yeah, capacity.
So having a bit more expansion capacity is great.
(23:05):
Yeah, fantastic. Yeah.
And also like, I think as as an autistic person, like working
out, like, oh, I'm not going to be doing the managing of the
people. That's not for me.
That's not my skill. That's not what I was born to
do. This life.
No fucking thank you. And Xena's really good at it.
Zita is like. Bless you, Zita.
Yeah, she's got social skills. That's amazing.
(23:26):
And she understands what people are saying when they say things.
And I go, Huh? So you do on a level, but I just
think. Yeah, I find it trickier and.
Yeah, Yeah, yeah. Because I think people are a
little, are more dishonest maybewhen they're working for you,
you know, like or something likethat.
But it's not that you don't. It's just that that dishonesty
is really hard and that. Yeah.
And I'm such a people pleaser aswell that I find it hard to give
(23:49):
feedback. It makes me feel very, very
anxious and like bless you. Like I like at some point, like
I had to give her feedback and it was like, and yeah.
And I was like, I'm going to, I feel like spewing, I'm going to
have a ventilator. I'm just, I'm really upset about
having to like even just like say this thing about this
(24:09):
mistake I found. But I really love you and I
really want to keep working withyou because I previously have
had in the past when I've tried to give constructive feedback to
someone, they're like, fuck you.You don't know how to run a
business. I fucking quit and fuck you to
hell. And I will not give you
documentation. I will damage you as much as I
can on the way out because people can be totally like that.
And it's not just one person. Yeah, no matter how much I've
(24:32):
tried to lovingly frame it like I've had people, which is like
an enormous egos that are so precious, they can't handle any
kind of feedback. And like when I told Zeta, like
I was feeling really anxious about giving her feedback, she
like, I sent the e-mail because I didn't want to, like I was.
So this is years ago, and she's very happy with me to talk about
this. By the way, I haven't cleared it
with her. She immediately texted me and
(24:55):
was like, hey, I just wanted youto know that I've got the e-mail
and I am so sorry you're feelingso anxious.
It's OK. We're totally OK.
And I love getting feedback. And we will work on whatever
needs to be worked on to make this great.
And it was like, holy shit. Like this is incredible to have
somebody who's got that level ofemotional intelligence to go, Oh
my gosh, my boss is really anxious about having to talk to
(25:16):
me about this. Like all hands on deck for her.
Oh, it makes your heart like. I know.
That's it. I know.
So it's just such a relief to bearound.
How good to go out to? 2024 with that beautiful team
and that that yeah, Co partner alittle bit like, you know, like
it is like a partnership. It's totally a partnership.
And so that's so nice because her heart's obviously in it as
(25:37):
well. And.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. And bless her.
Like we like to tease each othera lot.
Like we give each other a lot ofshit.
And I call her Gobbo or Goblin because that's she's
troublemaker, but like at her heart, she's just the most
golden fucking thing under the sun.
(25:58):
She went on a podcast because wedid this podcast with Laurie
Sterling where Laurie interviewed Zia 1st and then she
interviewed me separately talking about the business
together, 2 perspective. It's very interesting.
It's the Growing Pains podcast, highly recommends and Laurie's
fantastic. We've done her CEO accelerator
program together. It was incredible.
(26:20):
But Zena on that call said that like Laurie said to her, oh, you
know, what's your aspirate like your job aspiration.
And she said, oh, well, I'll just work for Leonia until
Leonia retires, and then I'll retire from this industry
because I'll never find a boss like Leonia again.
Oh. My goodness.
I'm never letting her forget that.
(26:46):
Oh the jizz I got. Oh.
There like shivers actually, because that's like, that's
incredible. She'll retire from this
industry. Oh my God, her.
Career at the moment is sort of you do you know what I mean?
And she's. Like wow.
And she's like, no, I'll just stick with you till you you want
to shut the business down. And then after that I'll go do
something else completely. And I was like, oh, that's
fucking noise. That's fucking noise That feels
(27:08):
good. That feels good.
I won't feel good, just fucking good.
So that's noise, that's real noise.
So it's a good way to start the 2024 feeling like I've got a
really solid relationship with my right hand person and that
she's got support as well so that we can just keep on rocking
out and creating things and doing like crazy shit like this.
(27:31):
Because we probably wouldn't have had the capacity to build
in like a video podcast with reels and shit like that just
because we didn't have the time to do it.
And now we do. Look at us on the video please.
Look at us. Going maybe we should do
something for like the thumbnaillike.
Oh, oh, nice, nice. It's going to be a good year.
(27:56):
It's going to be a good year. 2024 Leonie going to kick ass
and take names. So if you have liked this kind
of podcast, if you like the video aspect, if you like me
talking with one of my besties, please let us know and we will
book in more sessions like this.I mean, here's the thing, I
(28:17):
think we've had such a nice time, we'll probably just do it.
I give a fuck what anyone thinksI know.
I actually think we're incredibly funny too.
I know I was just thinking I waslike, well, other people find
the something. I was like who fuck.
This shit I know, I know, so we're so funny are the greatest
things that I've ever I've had like and I think as well we can
like make this space even more cluttered when we walked in So
(28:37):
with a quick company, yes, we'refilming at Havana house, which
is beautiful. Very Byron Bay.
Very Byron Bay. It's just so gorgeous.
She. Just watched us bring in these
boxes. She's like, oh, no one's ever
done this before. Yeah.
And I was like, this is, this islike nothing.
This is nothing. This is.
Bare bitch minimalism like this is I think we can do a lot more
(28:59):
to like make this. You would be really cool if it
just I wish we could build bookcases in here just like and
just fill it with books. Yes.
Yeah. And then?
I've always wanted to live like have a bookshelf that you have
like a little bed inside of. Come close to the mic.
Oh yeah, that you live inside ofa bookshelf.
(29:19):
That you live inside of like youknow.
Like a tiny home situation. It's a little and you're just
surrounded by books. Yes, 100 percent, 100% What's
on? Tell me about you, What's 2024
mean for you? Travel.
This is the year I change everything up, I reckon.
OK, yeah, I'm just the word of the year.
Do you have a word of the year? No, but I want yours.
(29:39):
I want to know what yours is. Bravery bitch get.
I know. So, yeah.
So I've already organized two overseas trips.
Fuck off. OK, so you're going to Nepal?
Right. Yeah, that's in September.
OK Nepal and Varanasi, yes. And then live in India and then
come back and then I'm also doing Vietnam with my two best
friends. I'm so excited the.
Category, not the hierarchy. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
(30:00):
Yes, yes. Because I'm not going to be and
just want to clarify I'm best friend but.
I'm not going to be there with two of the best friends in the
category. That's right.
Again, I don't know if anyone from my work is no one's going
to know which is. But I'm thinking of going over
to America. Yes, but this like time.
I just want to change shit up, right.
I'm just like, it's time to do something different.
(30:21):
I don't know. I felt like last year was a
really hard year. It's bullshit.
Yeah, and I also am so held in my fear and have been like I
started running this year, whichis something I would never would
have done because I wouldn't. I'd be afraid.
Yeah, like I've started Pilates.I've I'm currently week 1 into a
no sugar, no grains, No, which Idon't like doing it all, but
like just like things that I'm actually like yes, let's just
(30:44):
try and be braver and I wanna gowork in a summer camp over in
America. So I'm I'm signing up.
Yeah, and I'm not telling anyone.
So I'm gonna do that, which is gonna be fuck exciting.
Oh my God. No one I know listen to this.
But anyway, by then it'll be it'll be underway.
Yeah. And then I just want to do
something crazy. I just want to what my my sort
of goal for this year was to look like New Year's last that
(31:06):
we just had to New Year's. I'm going to be in a completely
different place and go, holy shit.
I didn't expect myself to be here.
That's that's sort of what I want.
Yeah. Fuck you.
I know. So it's exciting.
I can so see you doing that. Yeah, we'll see.
Hey, it's. Actually I just read a graphic
novel. I'll lend it to you if you want.
It's called Camp Sunshine and it's about this cartoonist and
(31:27):
how he went and volunteered at asummer camp for kids with life
threatening diseases and it was like the most life changing like
3 months of his life. My nipples actually just.
That's how I know it's the rightthing when your when your
nipples do something. That's how I know I'm the.
Right choice. Tell us, when isn't it?
(31:49):
I saw this touch and it's comingthrough my nipples.
Beautiful. Hey, hey.
Oh babes, I can't wait. I can't wait to see all of that
happen for you and. More.
I'm so excited. I'm so different.
You've said this I. Don't.
Yeah, that'd be so cool. Oh, and everyone you need to
like, go visit Maddie at the Humundi Markets.
Yes, come say hi. Oh my God, weirdest.
(32:10):
OK. Do we have much time left?
We actually have gone overtime. As a fuck.
OK. We've got two more minutes, I
don't think. She watched top US keep going.
Surely. OK so weirdest story ever but
like me and Maddie met for like 5 minutes at a coffee shop once
and she had to like race to go like send a print off in the
(32:30):
mail. Do you remember this story?
Oh. Yes.
Oh my God. And I was like, Oh my God, where
are you sending to? And she's like, oh, it must, it
was through my website, but she must have seen me at the markets
or whatever. And I was like, wow, we where
are you sending it to? She goes, I don't know, some
fucking place called Prosserpineand I was like, fuck off.
And she's like what? I was like, Daddy's my hometown.
(32:53):
That is source. Like it's what?
And I was like, oh, cool. And you're immediate.
Like who? And then I was like, who are you
sending to? And you're like, oh, whatever,
As if you'll know her. And I was like, who were you
sending it to? Maddie.
And she told me the name. And I was like, fucking hell,
Maddie. Like I used to work beside her.
Like our family's a long term friend.
(33:14):
Her brother used to work for my dad like.
Not joking about that small town, no her.
Father used to be the counsellorof our town, like the like the
local government representative and like she is basically the
origin store of how me and Chriscame together because she got
the job for Chris at the council.
We all work together at the council, I work beside her and
(33:36):
it's just isn't that crazy shit.Incredible.
You know what? She didn't order the Leonie
print. I know.
What about the bitch? We were like, Oh my God, bitch.
She knows. Like to this day, right?
We're like I. Know because you.
I use my aunt account to like yeah that would be crazy.
That be so crazy. She's like one.
(33:56):
Day, Sandra, if you're listeningto this, we're talking about you
and we love you. Thanks.
For buying a Prince, Sandra, Yeah.
That's right. Thanks for actually bringing me
and my husband together, Sandra.I appreciate you, doll.
I love it. I know.
Well, that's my roommate. Went to work at that school up
in charter towers. Oh yeah, yeah, right.
Like and and you town. Yeah, I know.
Crazy. Small town bags.
(34:17):
Don't We were meant to be meant.To be look at this.
Not that I'm ever moving up there, but you know, we're meant
for you. Yeah, I don't think you sure.
You know what? Like Maddie went OK, guys.
Maddie went on a road trip up north and Maddie loved swimming
in the ocean. And I was like, OK, babes.
And she's like, oh, I can't waitto go swim in the ocean up
(34:37):
there. It'd be so warm.
And I was like, bitch, what? And she's like, swim in ocean,
be so warm, like as if I'm a fucking idiot.
It's. And I'm like, no, you don't do
that. And she's like, what do you
mean? I was like the crocodiles,
bitch. And she's like, they're not that
big of a problem, are they? Holy fucking shit.
(34:58):
You look like a really stressed jellyfish.
I am a stressed jellyfish for any person who's from North
Queensland, NT, top of WA, they're all going you crazy
mold. No, no.
It is a no go zone. You do not.
But now they're out of the reefsas well.
Yeah. Babes like where do you go scuba
diving? Do you know what I mean?
(35:18):
Oh, it's you don't. No, stay safe.
Stay, you know. Crocodiles.
This is a really interesting fact.
OK, I love it. You're going to educate me about
this? I come from fucking cock
country. They could be alligators, but
but you don't come from anywherethat ice is over.
So if you have alligators or I think they have a crocodile, I
can't remember, it's one of the it's one of them.
(35:39):
They're not that different, no different, very different
animals. So there's this zoo in America,
I think it is, or in Russia somewhere cold and ices,
crocodiles basically freeze themselves because they're
dinosaurs. So they put their little snout
up in the water. Yes.
And the ice freezes, the water around them freezes, they've
frozen. And just as long as their
(35:59):
snout's out, they'll just go into like a like a coma state.
I am Googling this. Right, I saw a video fucking me
that also Do you want to know myother favorite fact?
Sorry that this is where. We no, no, no, I suppose feel
like we should just. Do a podcast about good facts.
Yes. I agree like and just
fascinating. You are absolutely right.
I know. This is insane.
(36:21):
Yeah, frozen alligators breathing through the ice and
their little fucking nose through the air.
Yeah, yeah. And they'll just freeze and like
that. So no wonder, No wonder they're
fucking dinosaurs. Like, look at look at what they
they survived the Ice Age, man. They.
Can do anything. They're they're phenomenal.
They're like, who gives a shit? Yeah, just next fact.
That should be you alligators. It's alligators that do it.
(36:43):
Do crocodiles can alligate can? I know crocodiles are pretty
Hardy, they're much bigger. Hey, OK, next fact.
Just. Oh, I thought they weren't that
different. No, I'm just fucking with you.
Carry on. Somebody's family.
Remote community. She's she's pushing her
knowledge of crocodiles. Somebody's so much better.
She's like crocodiles, see? Hippos can't swim.
(37:07):
What do they do? What do they do?
Hippos hop, so hippos actually can't swim and they they hold
their breath underwater. This is a phenomenal fact.
So they can't swim. And what they do instead is they
hop like this on all four legs and they come up and you'll see
them rise to the surface. And because they're so big and
they're slow. So the rise, when you see them
at the top of the, it's because they're hopping and then they go
down. But they technically they most
(37:28):
of the time live in like water that's not too deep or anything,
but they can't breathe underwater.
And but they can be under there for like 7 minutes or something
and then they just hop. So they hop and hippos are
integral. So after the drought or after,
you know, the the Savannah sort of is dry over the summer and
all the water comes back in ready for, you know, everything
(37:52):
to breathe life into it again. The hippo tracks of them jumping
is what the water follows to come in.
So hippos are essential to the African like wildlife system in
their ecosystem. So how water comes like flows
back into the Savannah is the hippos tracks isn't.
That great. Did you know you telling me
(38:13):
hippo facts and it's going straight into my ears through
these headphones and like through this, it's actually like
an ecstatic experience. I'm just like, this is the best
thing that's ever happened to me.
So cool. Hey.
And I was really close to the microphone.
I was like, whoa. No, I was and I was so invested
to and did you know, like hippopotamus is incredibly
(38:33):
dangerous. Yeah, they fucking murder,
murder cows. That's.
What they are and crocodiles they'll they'll kill them
they'll just and they they gang up too, which is good like
they're like really loyal and protective.
So they'll if I saw this video because I watch a lot of hippo
videos for some reason and crocodiles these Louise, do you
know a Jaguar? There's a video in the in the
(38:53):
Amazon rainforest of a Jaguar attacking and having a fight
with a crocodile. Absolutely.
Yes. And it it drags it out of the
water, it death rolls everythingdoesn't matter.
The Jaguar wins. This is the best thing that's
ever happened to me. I'm so glad we ended with the
murder counts and. 2024 sounds exciting. 2024 Bring it on
(39:13):
bitches. This is the greatest thing I've
ever made in my life. Love you, I love you, I'm
obsessed with you. 10 out of 10.Boy boy.
Me, I just looked at the video
cameras and how it's set up and I realise like we've got this
(00:22):
Jack Links beef jerky right in the centre.
Sponsor it. Actually looks like we've like
got stuff. No, we've just got shit
everywhere. It doesn't matter.
And I just apologise to all the vegans out there, but I'm
currently having a hyper fixation with beef jerky, so
that's very right with that. Gotta do what you gotta do,
yeah? OK, All right.
So finally we're going to talk about 2024. 202424 good energy
(00:49):
this year I feel it good energy how you feeling?
Year of the Woods Dragon I. Think it is Year of the Dragon?
Oh my goodness, yes, because I'mdoing I'm making a display about
Dragons in the library. Oh my God.
OK well I was wondering why the fuck?
About prosperity. And it's all about like driven
force and like, yeah, travel moving around.
(01:09):
Nice. That's so good.
That's so exciting. Oh, that is so cute.
And I love that you get paid to just like, make these extreme
painting displays. It's the best thing ever.
Yeah, You know, I go in sometimes and they're like, what
can I do? And they're like, I don't have a
job for you. And I'm like, I'll just paint,
then I'll just. Well, make.
Something. And they're like, yeah, yeah,
yeah, please. I'm like, awesome.
It's the latest. Thing that's ever happened to
(01:31):
me, like you gotta do that right?
Like I remember even the government job, like just to
make myself like amuse myself, yes, I was like, you know what I
really want to do? I want to go around like
everybody in this floor and I want to interview them and
profile them in a newsletter. And like the the department even
didn't didn't even have a newsletter at that point.
(01:52):
I just invented it purely for myown you're fabulous selfish
game. So I would just go and like
interview people about their passions and their like their
interests and like everything outside of work because I
couldn't give a fuck. And people were just like,
amazing and weird and funny and great.
And I would take photos and write it all up.
And my boss was like, Oh my God,you're so, you know, you're just
like, so driven. And I was like, I'm just trying
(02:13):
to keep myself amused. You know, look at me.
It's a it's a, well, you're not,you're not this because you're
also like an incredibly hard worker.
But I've been watching a lot of people talk about personality
hires. Yes, I am that.
And I'm that too, right? I'm really just there and people
just love. I always say, right, have a
think about this. If there's a zombie apocalypse,
everyone sort of, you know, theystart dividing out.
(02:34):
They have jobs, people are killing, you know, like, yes, I
am the Joker. Like people just had me like
there's no, I can't run very far.
I'm just the jester and you know, I I would be happy in that
situation. Totally.
Just dress up and just be there and, you know, go Hey, how you
going? Like, you know, let's let's talk
about this. Yeah, give a bit of a laugh.
Give a. Boost Absolutely.
I am like I I've sent those videos to my boss going I was
(02:58):
the personality. No, I wasn't I.
She's like, yes. And we still talk about you 14
years after you. Left, and they're integral.
They're integral, important. But a workspace without a
personality hire? What's it?
Yeah, Everyone hates it. Yeah.
Yeah. And like the retention rates,
like in our team were huge. And that's not just because of
me, but because every. Yeah.
Well, who's just? Saying yeah, but when I left,
(03:22):
everybody didn't wanna. No, I'm good.
But like also I would do things like I get bored and so I Deb,
who was our HR person, I was like, oh, you know what we
should do? We should have a hugging
competition and see many people we can hug in one day in this
office. And she was like, game on bitch.
And so that's what we did. We ran away, ran around the
(03:43):
whole day hugging people. I think I hugged like 300 people
and I won of course because As if that Slack bitch would ever
beat me in. Of course A.
Competition, I mean I got reallysick afterwards because there's
you know, like pre COVID days where we didn't realise that
like hugging a lot of people mayjust you know, give you
infectious disease. But no, it's fine.
I love it. Worth it.
(04:04):
Absolutely worth it. Plus got some sick days off work
and you won. It's a win, win.
Yeah, it's a win, win, win, win,win all around for.
Me win, win. OK.
So 2024, yes. Dragon Dragon.
Dragon. I am.
OK. So last year was a tricky,
trickier year for me. I would write like it was a good
year in lots of ways, but then it was also a tricky year and
(04:24):
that we're going through Angel, our dog, and she was really high
needs. And I remember so many times
like we would go have like our business mastermind or whatever.
And there was some days where I'm like, I can't come in or we
think she's about to die. And then she'd make a fucking
splendid recovery again. She was just this, just
(04:45):
constantly having these things. Very incredible.
It's very, yeah. Yeah, she just loved Chris so
much, and I get that. And she just wouldn't let him
go. And because she just wanted to
just be as like loyal to him as he was to her.
And it was beautiful to witness.And it was also really difficult
because it took so much out of Chris to care for.
(05:07):
It was a long time. It was a long time.
To the point where you were like, this has to be the last
time. Surely she was 19 like fucking
how much she was 19 years old Like dog, do you not realize
and. And she wasn't, she wasn't like
she was blind, wasn't she? And.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. And but like, she still looked.
Yeah, normally. But yeah, just still doing her
(05:31):
thing. And, you know, it was just my
husband really didn't want to think about putting her down
because in his books, he's like,well, we wouldn't do it to a
human like, you know, who's elderly and she's not like you
didn't have. Still got the love?
Yeah, she didn't have cancer or anything like that.
So he's like, why? Why would we like.
(05:51):
And that's the thing, Like I just, I know that he's not the
guy who's going to run away whenI get sick.
You'll just be like, yeah, you know, in every fucking part.
Like he's so deeply loyal. Yeah.
So. But I was really worried about
his health because he was up during the night, so he didn't
have like, sleep for three years.
It was basically like looking after a newborn.
(06:11):
That's hardcore. Yeah.
And it was, it was stressful. And also wondering like when is
this going to happen and not? Being able to go away all the
things. Yeah, yeah, we went away on
holidays, but we always did it within 30 minutes to the house
and bring her with us because she was too high, needs to foist
onto anyone else and also she just wouldn't cope without
Chris. So I get in, I get in.
(06:33):
Yeah. So that was kind of the year of
that. And then she left us in
November. And so now, like, we've kind of
gone through the healing processand I'm just so relieved to see
my husband getting some sleep and coming back into himself.
And so this year, I feels like more of like a integration year.
I would love, if possible, for us to do a holiday more than 30
(06:57):
minutes away from the house. Oh wow.
Dreaming. Hello.
Maybe I don't know what we're going to do.
I mean, it'd be amazing if I could go to New Zealand.
Like we haven't taken the kids overseas yet and or even if we
just go visit like our beloved'sin Canberra or beloved's in.
(07:18):
Yes, the freedom now that you have.
Yeah, yeah. Just to have more of that time
and think about, OK, what's what's next for me as well.
Like definitely like I want to develop more physical strength.
Yes. And it's not really about losing
weight or anything like that. It's it's purely for pain
management purposes. So I have hypermesis gravity.
(07:39):
No, sorry, I had hyperemesis gravity when I was pregnant.
I have hypermobility now and it's possibly ELA's Danlos
syndrome, which is a kind of hypermobility syndrome, but
means my bones dislocate really easily.
And I'm, you know, like everything just falls out of
place and the only thing to prevent it from having more
(08:02):
often is more muscular strength.So Pilates doing that kind of
stuff is? And you're loving, you love
Pilates, hey. No, what I love is talking shit
with my Pilates instructor. Yeah, and then going for tea and
cake afterwards to reward myself.
That's what I love about Pilates.
Yeah, yeah, it's hard, man. Yeah, I started for the first
(08:24):
time this year and I I did not realise how strong women can be.
I thought childbirth was the hardest thing you could do.
And it's not. It's Pilates.
Wow. Yeah, it's like, yeah, it's,
it's just good shit. And also like, you know, for
building strength, like I can't do yoga.
Like I'm basically barred from yoga classes.
Because of the hypermobility. Yeah, it'll just cause too much
(08:46):
dislocations. So Pilates is it for me.
And I can't really do like strength training outside of
that because I'll dislocate stuff.
And like, even now I'm working on a dislocated drawer, which I
did in a really on brand way which I won't be discussing
publicly, but you can absolutelyfucking guess what it was.
(09:07):
Not many options. Is there not many options This
is this is like #50 draw dislocation for me but you like?
1st. Yeah, 49 of those have been from
yawning. So we know this one's not from
yawning. That's correct.
That's correct. Not from yawning.
Worth it though. 100% recommend.So physical strength, that's a
(09:28):
big thing. Really like focusing spending
time on nurturing my marriage because it's been 23 years.
We've just gone through a hard patch with having an older dog
and it's like, so I have I do kinesiology sessions with Kerry
Rowe, who's amazing. You've met, yes, beautiful, just
the most amazing human. And she was like, you know, like
(09:50):
even if you hit like the biggestgoals in the world, like if
you're not feeling like really connected with Chris in the ways
that you'd like to be, it's not going to matter to you.
Because it's such a like a priority for me in the same way
that it is for my kids. Like if I don't have a great
connected relationship with my kids it means fucking nothing.
Yes, Yeah, absolutely. Yeah.
That's why you do it all. Yeah.
So actually having that as a priority is really big for me.
(10:15):
Oh, how beautiful. What about anything else?
Any other personal sort of things this year or business?
Oh. What are we doing?
So exciting. Well, I mean, fun memories with
the kids. I just want like in whatever way
that comes that'll be fun if we have like a little bit of travel
or just like little holidays, staycations, those kinds of
things. I just love that.
(10:36):
I love, I just fucking love school holidays and just
spending time with them. Even if it's just like laying
around playing Mario Kart with them and getting hyper fixated
on that. It's amazing, Beautiful.
Oh no. It's just like having two little
girlfriends, like, you know, just besties in the house with
me all the time. It's so sweet.
Yeah, and business. Business stuff.
So it's pretty. Simple.
(10:56):
So my goal, and this is like a loosely held goal in that I
don't want to beat myself up if I don't get it.
I don't want to tie my worth to it.
Like yes, my inner worth and I also wanna be fluid in terms of
like if it's 100 grand under that or if it's more than that,
great. But this is sort of like a rough
(11:17):
framework for me to go for. Yes, yeah.
So I'd like to hit 1.5 million in revenue with $800,000 profit.
Brilliant. So I think we're, we should be
pretty much on track for that ish.
Yeah. And just to continue have a
really strong like recurring revenue base for my Academy.
So like my brilliant Business Life Academy, basically, if you
(11:39):
haven't heard of it, is it's like all of my courses and
workshops. Oh, it's phenomenal, isn't it?
Yes, Yeah. And like my books, everything.
And I just pile it all in there and I give it a really low
price. So it's $199 a year and you can
access every fucking thing that I offer pretty much.
(12:00):
And so there's like $8000 worth of workshops in there.
And then so we have new ones coming out every single month.
So I have, I present a new workshop every single month.
I just did one on like creating digital art.
And then we have a new template coming out like done for your
e-mail templates and all sorts of stuff.
And then we also have two guest expert workshops a month as
well. So I think by the end of this
(12:22):
year we'll have over 100 workshops in the Academy, which
is amazing. Oh.
My gosh, how awesome. I know it's so fucking fun and I
just love like I just, I like making it a no brainer for
people. Like if people are in a business
like fuck you, of course I'll invest it out.
It's such a doable price and I get so much in it.
It's like so people don't have to like keep buying more and
more. So much isn't it?
(12:42):
It's not even just about like all hyper fix it.
It's it's, it's everything. Yeah.
You could go on there and find something about anything that
you wanted to. Yeah, we've got like.
Money courses, we've got business courses, we've got
sales courses, we've got 40 daysto create and sell your E
course, 40 days to finish your book, How to work less, earn
more. Marketing without social media
(13:02):
because I spent two years off social media and earned over
$2,000,000 in that time. So there's all the different
ways that you can market withoutsocial media, how to hire,
manage a VA, how to deal with trolls and criticism in your
business. Like all the fucking shit thing,
it's in there. And I like to be able to make
more shit. Just put it in there and just
like, love up on my people. So they always creating new
stuff. Hey, like, yeah, I think I want
(13:24):
to ask you. I was like, where do you get it
from me? Like, they just come like, like
you don't get it from anywhere. It just like someone says, oh, I
need this. And you're like, oh, fantastic.
There's a course like, and it's,you know, and, and suddenly it's
there. Like you're so fast at it too,
that it just, it just pops out of your head.
Yeah. And it's brilliant all the time.
There's so much, so much good stuff.
And yeah. And that fearlessness, I just
(13:45):
love it. Yeah, well, it's just like, I
mean, you've been around for 20 years and I read like between
100 and 400 books a year. And like my I, I already know
shit when people ask me questions like, oh, OK, let me
just put this together because there's so much information that
I can tell you about this. Yeah.
So, yeah, it's pretty fun. So we currently have about 98%
(14:07):
recurring revenue. So that means wow, if you if
there's 100 people that have signed up a year later, 98% of
them will keep their membership for the next year.
And then like they just keep on keeping on.
That says everything, doesn't it?
Yeah, and that's what I really love.
And so like, retention rates in my industry are nowhere near
(14:28):
that. Like, you know, it's great if
you've got 20% retention in thatkind of stuff.
I just love being able to serve people and like that's
definitely like because I've runthe Academy before.
I ran it for 9 years before I took a four year hiatus and
basically we had pretty similar retention rates.
People were just like, I will never live without this because
(14:50):
I feel like if I don't have a Wow and.
That's why you have that fan base.
Hey, that like, yeah, oh, it's, it's, it's being part of a not
even, it's, it is being part of something rather than just like
buying something and, you know, using the resources.
It is, yeah, because you offer but you also meet.
You have that, Yeah. So you meet can meet with people
and Co work during the week. Yeah, so we and we have like a
(15:10):
digital Co working space. So that was a different
mastermind. So that wasn't part of the
Academy, but I'm thinking of adding something possible like
like that in the future. That was more like the prototype
of trying that part out. Fantastic.
And then we also have like I have group coaching calls every
month and then we also have likebusiness basics workshops which
(15:31):
run live. And so that's to like do a
certain party business, like if you haven't set up a mailing
list yet or a lead magnet or whatever.
And then people usually stick around after the call and Co
work together which is really fun.
How awesome. Yeah, and then I can send them a
little prize in the mail when they actually complete the
fucking thing. So just some little points of
stuff. It's really fun.
So forward. It's just so simple.
(15:52):
It just seems like, it seems so simple to me, like to create an
Academy like this and just turn up and like deliver everything
for people. And of course people are going
to be fucking stoked with it. Yes, yeah.
Oh, brilliant. Hey.
Is it that time it's? That time for ads.
Ads. I love ads.
(16:15):
La La la, Linda Dawson refuses to not give away free shits, and
so therefore she's giving away free shit.
Hey, if you feel like you're walking around with a dark cloud
over your head. Also, I am wearing an umbrella
on my head. Thank you very much for noticing
that. If you're watching on video, I
appreciate you. Otherwise, you can just imagine
it along with all the other waysthat you imagine me in your fan
(16:38):
fiction. Look, what I'm trying to say is
before we got distracted by fan fiction and Archive of her Own.
And like Bridgeton fan fiction, it gets very erotic.
I'm really into that at the moment.
Look what I'm trying to say is I've got an anxiety releasing
meditation for you. I've really managed to keep on
topic during this. If you go to
leoniedawson.com/anxiety meditation, this short powerful
(17:00):
meditation is going to combine two powerful breathing practices
based on Physiology. The designs like just slow down
your nervous system and quell anxiety.
It's something that I use on myself and my kids all the
freaking time. Leonie dawson.com/whatever the
fuck URL I've already said because I can't remember it now
I've got ADHD, can you tell? Welcome back.
(17:24):
Oh my God, I hope that was the best ad that you've ever heard
in your fucking life. I think it was.
Yeah, yeah. So yeah, I'm, I just, I, I am
still going to like this year I'm doing kinesiology with Kerry
Rowett every two weeks at least.And then during a launch, I
usually do a session with her every week.
(17:45):
And it's just to keep my mindsetgoing.
And I've realized that if I don't have that, I get along OK,
but I don't I can't. It's better for me to expand
when I've got that kind of support.
So for me, like I've tried cognitive behavioural therapy,
(18:05):
like which is the goal standard for neurotypical people, but I
did it. I did a stint of it last year
and found that it made me kind of like hyper fixate on my
problems more. And I was like, oh, this kind of
fucking me up more. And I talked to Zeta about it,
my assistant. And this is the joy of having an
assistant who has a psychology degree.
She was like, oh, I think sweetheart, no, no, no CBD S for
(18:27):
new typical people. For what Neuro divergent people?
There's no gold standard. So and it can exacerbate your
symptoms to go to CBT. So now if it's working for you,
fucking keep going. Like just keep going.
You know, it's about the, the relationship with the person and
how that person works as well. And she's like, so it is 100%
cool for you to do therapy or coaching in a way that works for
(18:50):
you. And what's always worked for me
was doing it on more of a hippiekind of way, like kinesiology or
intuitive healing with Hiraboga that I love.
Like being able to like have somebody go, I don't know,
there's something deeper here, even deeper and even deeper.
And then clearing that out and Ifeel like, oh, well, that's all
taken care of. So it doesn't seem to keep
(19:11):
coming up as much. Oh, that's so good.
And like the biggest soul lessons I've ever learned and
about boundaries and, you know, taking care of myself, all of
the normal therapy stuff is stuff that I've learned from
hero and Kerry anyway. So it works beautifully for me.
Yeah. And I think as well, like I I
(19:32):
also don't work super well with a one to one coach, but a hero
in that realm? Fuck yeah.
Yes, Yeah, it's different. Hey.
And it's gonna be so different for others.
Like I've got other friends who like love coaching and can't
consider doing business without a coach, but not for me.
Yeah, it's so essential, isn't it, having that, that help.
(19:53):
I love that you're doing it every two weeks regardless.
And sometimes I go to like a session and I'm like, I have
nothing to talk about. And then I leave and I'm like,
OK. Yeah, you know, like, yeah,
because there's still always stuff.
There's stuff undercover. Yeah.
Really. Yeah.
And if I went to like a just a traditional therapist, I'm like,
I don't really have much to talkabout.
Yeah. Meanwhile, like, carry your
hero. Be like, oh, really, really,
(20:15):
really bad. Let's.
Look a little bit duller, shall we?
Your. Body says otherwise.
Yeah, that's it. Anything else that you're like
taking from 2023, taking from past years and bringing into
2024, like any particular energy, anything?
Yeah, Last year I really felt like I was going to like I
(20:36):
really wanted to expand the business again.
And I was also insistent that I would be doing in a way without
adding any more staff or anything like that because I was
so scared of getting into a situation that I've been before
with like lots of staff and not enjoying it.
And then I so I was like, I needto work out the secret sauce to
(20:57):
making it happen. I got really rigid and started
developing quite low self-confidence because nothing
I was trying was working. And I was also like, just like
leapfrogging one from one thing to the next.
And finally, Zita, my assistant,was like, hey, intervention
time. You kind of drive me crazy
because you obviously are struggling and I hate seeing you
(21:19):
struggle. But she's very empathetic and
compassionate and she's like, and also like you just don't
seem to be getting any traction.Like, let's talk about therapy,
Let's talk about coaching. What do you need to do in order
to get out of this spiral that you're in where you just, like,
got your head? Suck up your own asshole.
So good to have like a business partner that you work with who
like sort of holds you accountable like that, yeah.
(21:39):
Yeah, and it's the first time she's kind of done it.
So I was like, oh, OK, shit. So.
It must be alright. We're gonna move on, yeah.
And that was when I was like, oh, but CBT didn't really work
with me. And she's like, it's fun.
Go back to Carrie, go back to doing whatever works.
And so Carrie really helped me get out of that cycle and start
healing like the freak outs I had about having a big business
(22:02):
and start trying, having more people.
And it's actually just felt really nice to have more people.
And it also because I was relying so heavily on Zeta
because, you know, it was her plus one person doing our
customer service emails. But if Zita is unwell or Zita
wants to go on holidays or Zita wants to travel, I kind of was
(22:23):
stuck in that I didn't have my little helpmate to do all the
things and things really grind to a halt without her because we
just can't get through the amount of work kind of thing.
And so I feel like that's too much responsibility to lay on
one person. And so having other assistants
(22:44):
underneath her can step up and do her role so she can actually
take holidays stress free. You know, like I always was
like, you always must take holidays.
You always like, I never like, was that kind of bias?
Absolutely. But I'd be like, right, I'm
going to have to hold back business growth while she's away
because we don't have the expansion, yeah, capacity.
So having a bit more expansion capacity is great.
(23:05):
Yeah, fantastic. Yeah.
And also like, I think as as an autistic person, like working
out, like, oh, I'm not going to be doing the managing of the
people. That's not for me.
That's not my skill. That's not what I was born to
do. This life.
No fucking thank you. And Xena's really good at it.
Zita is like. Bless you, Zita.
Yeah, she's got social skills. That's amazing.
(23:26):
And she understands what people are saying when they say things.
And I go, Huh? So you do on a level, but I just
think. Yeah, I find it trickier and.
Yeah, Yeah, yeah. Because I think people are a
little, are more dishonest maybewhen they're working for you,
you know, like or something likethat.
But it's not that you don't. It's just that that dishonesty
is really hard and that. Yeah.
And I'm such a people pleaser aswell that I find it hard to give
(23:49):
feedback. It makes me feel very, very
anxious and like bless you. Like I like at some point, like
I had to give her feedback and it was like, and yeah.
And I was like, I'm going to, I feel like spewing, I'm going to
have a ventilator. I'm just, I'm really upset about
having to like even just like say this thing about this
(24:09):
mistake I found. But I really love you and I
really want to keep working withyou because I previously have
had in the past when I've tried to give constructive feedback to
someone, they're like, fuck you.You don't know how to run a
business. I fucking quit and fuck you to
hell. And I will not give you
documentation. I will damage you as much as I
can on the way out because people can be totally like that.
And it's not just one person. Yeah, no matter how much I've
(24:32):
tried to lovingly frame it like I've had people, which is like
an enormous egos that are so precious, they can't handle any
kind of feedback. And like when I told Zeta, like
I was feeling really anxious about giving her feedback, she
like, I sent the e-mail because I didn't want to, like I was.
So this is years ago, and she's very happy with me to talk about
this. By the way, I haven't cleared it
with her. She immediately texted me and
(24:55):
was like, hey, I just wanted youto know that I've got the e-mail
and I am so sorry you're feelingso anxious.
It's OK. We're totally OK.
And I love getting feedback. And we will work on whatever
needs to be worked on to make this great.
And it was like, holy shit. Like this is incredible to have
somebody who's got that level ofemotional intelligence to go, Oh
my gosh, my boss is really anxious about having to talk to
(25:16):
me about this. Like all hands on deck for her.
Oh, it makes your heart like. I know.
That's it. I know.
So it's just such a relief to bearound.
How good to go out to? 2024 with that beautiful team
and that that yeah, Co partner alittle bit like, you know, like
it is like a partnership. It's totally a partnership.
And so that's so nice because her heart's obviously in it as
(25:37):
well. And.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. And bless her.
Like we like to tease each othera lot.
Like we give each other a lot ofshit.
And I call her Gobbo or Goblin because that's she's
troublemaker, but like at her heart, she's just the most
golden fucking thing under the sun.
(25:58):
She went on a podcast because wedid this podcast with Laurie
Sterling where Laurie interviewed Zia 1st and then she
interviewed me separately talking about the business
together, 2 perspective. It's very interesting.
It's the Growing Pains podcast, highly recommends and Laurie's
fantastic. We've done her CEO accelerator
program together. It was incredible.
(26:20):
But Zena on that call said that like Laurie said to her, oh, you
know, what's your aspirate like your job aspiration.
And she said, oh, well, I'll just work for Leonia until
Leonia retires, and then I'll retire from this industry
because I'll never find a boss like Leonia again.
Oh. My goodness.
I'm never letting her forget that.
(26:46):
Oh the jizz I got. Oh.
There like shivers actually, because that's like, that's
incredible. She'll retire from this
industry. Oh my God, her.
Career at the moment is sort of you do you know what I mean?
And she's. Like wow.
And she's like, no, I'll just stick with you till you you want
to shut the business down. And then after that I'll go do
something else completely. And I was like, oh, that's
fucking noise. That's fucking noise That feels
(27:08):
good. That feels good.
I won't feel good, just fucking good.
So that's noise, that's real noise.
So it's a good way to start the 2024 feeling like I've got a
really solid relationship with my right hand person and that
she's got support as well so that we can just keep on rocking
out and creating things and doing like crazy shit like this.
(27:31):
Because we probably wouldn't have had the capacity to build
in like a video podcast with reels and shit like that just
because we didn't have the time to do it.
And now we do. Look at us on the video please.
Look at us. Going maybe we should do
something for like the thumbnaillike.
Oh, oh, nice, nice. It's going to be a good year.
(27:56):
It's going to be a good year. 2024 Leonie going to kick ass
and take names. So if you have liked this kind
of podcast, if you like the video aspect, if you like me
talking with one of my besties, please let us know and we will
book in more sessions like this.I mean, here's the thing, I
(28:17):
think we've had such a nice time, we'll probably just do it.
I give a fuck what anyone thinksI know.
I actually think we're incredibly funny too.
I know I was just thinking I waslike, well, other people find
the something. I was like who fuck.
This shit I know, I know, so we're so funny are the greatest
things that I've ever I've had like and I think as well we can
like make this space even more cluttered when we walked in So
(28:37):
with a quick company, yes, we'refilming at Havana house, which
is beautiful. Very Byron Bay.
Very Byron Bay. It's just so gorgeous.
She. Just watched us bring in these
boxes. She's like, oh, no one's ever
done this before. Yeah.
And I was like, this is, this islike nothing.
This is nothing. This is.
Bare bitch minimalism like this is I think we can do a lot more
(28:59):
to like make this. You would be really cool if it
just I wish we could build bookcases in here just like and
just fill it with books. Yes.
Yeah. And then?
I've always wanted to live like have a bookshelf that you have
like a little bed inside of. Come close to the mic.
Oh yeah, that you live inside ofa bookshelf.
(29:19):
That you live inside of like youknow.
Like a tiny home situation. It's a little and you're just
surrounded by books. Yes, 100 percent, 100% What's
on? Tell me about you, What's 2024
mean for you? Travel.
This is the year I change everything up, I reckon.
OK, yeah, I'm just the word of the year.
Do you have a word of the year? No, but I want yours.
(29:39):
I want to know what yours is. Bravery bitch get.
I know. So, yeah.
So I've already organized two overseas trips.
Fuck off. OK, so you're going to Nepal?
Right. Yeah, that's in September.
OK Nepal and Varanasi, yes. And then live in India and then
come back and then I'm also doing Vietnam with my two best
friends. I'm so excited the.
Category, not the hierarchy. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
(30:00):
Yes, yes. Because I'm not going to be and
just want to clarify I'm best friend but.
I'm not going to be there with two of the best friends in the
category. That's right.
Again, I don't know if anyone from my work is no one's going
to know which is. But I'm thinking of going over
to America. Yes, but this like time.
I just want to change shit up, right.
I'm just like, it's time to do something different.
(30:21):
I don't know. I felt like last year was a
really hard year. It's bullshit.
Yeah, and I also am so held in my fear and have been like I
started running this year, whichis something I would never would
have done because I wouldn't. I'd be afraid.
Yeah, like I've started Pilates.I've I'm currently week 1 into a
no sugar, no grains, No, which Idon't like doing it all, but
like just like things that I'm actually like yes, let's just
(30:44):
try and be braver and I wanna gowork in a summer camp over in
America. So I'm I'm signing up.
Yeah, and I'm not telling anyone.
So I'm gonna do that, which is gonna be fuck exciting.
Oh my God. No one I know listen to this.
But anyway, by then it'll be it'll be underway.
Yeah. And then I just want to do
something crazy. I just want to what my my sort
of goal for this year was to look like New Year's last that
(31:06):
we just had to New Year's. I'm going to be in a completely
different place and go, holy shit.
I didn't expect myself to be here.
That's that's sort of what I want.
Yeah. Fuck you.
I know. So it's exciting.
I can so see you doing that. Yeah, we'll see.
Hey, it's. Actually I just read a graphic
novel. I'll lend it to you if you want.
It's called Camp Sunshine and it's about this cartoonist and
(31:27):
how he went and volunteered at asummer camp for kids with life
threatening diseases and it was like the most life changing like
3 months of his life. My nipples actually just.
That's how I know it's the rightthing when your when your
nipples do something. That's how I know I'm the.
Right choice. Tell us, when isn't it?
(31:49):
I saw this touch and it's comingthrough my nipples.
Beautiful. Hey, hey.
Oh babes, I can't wait. I can't wait to see all of that
happen for you and. More.
I'm so excited. I'm so different.
You've said this I. Don't.
Yeah, that'd be so cool. Oh, and everyone you need to
like, go visit Maddie at the Humundi Markets.
Yes, come say hi. Oh my God, weirdest.
(32:10):
OK. Do we have much time left?
We actually have gone overtime. As a fuck.
OK. We've got two more minutes, I
don't think. She watched top US keep going.
Surely. OK so weirdest story ever but
like me and Maddie met for like 5 minutes at a coffee shop once
and she had to like race to go like send a print off in the
(32:30):
mail. Do you remember this story?
Oh. Yes.
Oh my God. And I was like, Oh my God, where
are you sending to? And she's like, oh, it must, it
was through my website, but she must have seen me at the markets
or whatever. And I was like, wow, we where
are you sending it to? She goes, I don't know, some
fucking place called Prosserpineand I was like, fuck off.
And she's like what? I was like, Daddy's my hometown.
(32:53):
That is source. Like it's what?
And I was like, oh, cool. And you're immediate.
Like who? And then I was like, who are you
sending to? And you're like, oh, whatever,
As if you'll know her. And I was like, who were you
sending it to? Maddie.
And she told me the name. And I was like, fucking hell,
Maddie. Like I used to work beside her.
Like our family's a long term friend.
(33:14):
Her brother used to work for my dad like.
Not joking about that small town, no her.
Father used to be the counsellorof our town, like the like the
local government representative and like she is basically the
origin store of how me and Chriscame together because she got
the job for Chris at the council.
We all work together at the council, I work beside her and
(33:36):
it's just isn't that crazy shit.Incredible.
You know what? She didn't order the Leonie
print. I know.
What about the bitch? We were like, Oh my God, bitch.
She knows. Like to this day, right?
We're like I. Know because you.
I use my aunt account to like yeah that would be crazy.
That be so crazy. She's like one.
(33:56):
Day, Sandra, if you're listeningto this, we're talking about you
and we love you. Thanks.
For buying a Prince, Sandra, Yeah.
That's right. Thanks for actually bringing me
and my husband together, Sandra.I appreciate you, doll.
I love it. I know.
Well, that's my roommate. Went to work at that school up
in charter towers. Oh yeah, yeah, right.
Like and and you town. Yeah, I know.
Crazy. Small town bags.
(34:17):
Don't We were meant to be meant.To be look at this.
Not that I'm ever moving up there, but you know, we're meant
for you. Yeah, I don't think you sure.
You know what? Like Maddie went OK, guys.
Maddie went on a road trip up north and Maddie loved swimming
in the ocean. And I was like, OK, babes.
And she's like, oh, I can't waitto go swim in the ocean up
(34:37):
there. It'd be so warm.
And I was like, bitch, what? And she's like, swim in ocean,
be so warm, like as if I'm a fucking idiot.
It's. And I'm like, no, you don't do
that. And she's like, what do you
mean? I was like the crocodiles,
bitch. And she's like, they're not that
big of a problem, are they? Holy fucking shit.
(34:58):
You look like a really stressed jellyfish.
I am a stressed jellyfish for any person who's from North
Queensland, NT, top of WA, they're all going you crazy
mold. No, no.
It is a no go zone. You do not.
But now they're out of the reefsas well.
Yeah. Babes like where do you go scuba
diving? Do you know what I mean?
(35:18):
Oh, it's you don't. No, stay safe.
Stay, you know. Crocodiles.
This is a really interesting fact.
OK, I love it. You're going to educate me about
this? I come from fucking cock
country. They could be alligators, but
but you don't come from anywherethat ice is over.
So if you have alligators or I think they have a crocodile, I
can't remember, it's one of the it's one of them.
(35:39):
They're not that different, no different, very different
animals. So there's this zoo in America,
I think it is, or in Russia somewhere cold and ices,
crocodiles basically freeze themselves because they're
dinosaurs. So they put their little snout
up in the water. Yes.
And the ice freezes, the water around them freezes, they've
frozen. And just as long as their
(35:59):
snout's out, they'll just go into like a like a coma state.
I am Googling this. Right, I saw a video fucking me
that also Do you want to know myother favorite fact?
Sorry that this is where. We no, no, no, I suppose feel
like we should just. Do a podcast about good facts.
Yes. I agree like and just
fascinating. You are absolutely right.
I know. This is insane.
(36:21):
Yeah, frozen alligators breathing through the ice and
their little fucking nose through the air.
Yeah, yeah. And they'll just freeze and like
that. So no wonder, No wonder they're
fucking dinosaurs. Like, look at look at what they
they survived the Ice Age, man. They.
Can do anything. They're they're phenomenal.
They're like, who gives a shit? Yeah, just next fact.
That should be you alligators. It's alligators that do it.
(36:43):
Do crocodiles can alligate can? I know crocodiles are pretty
Hardy, they're much bigger. Hey, OK, next fact.
Just. Oh, I thought they weren't that
different. No, I'm just fucking with you.
Carry on. Somebody's family.
Remote community. She's she's pushing her
knowledge of crocodiles. Somebody's so much better.
She's like crocodiles, see? Hippos can't swim.
(37:07):
What do they do? What do they do?
Hippos hop, so hippos actually can't swim and they they hold
their breath underwater. This is a phenomenal fact.
So they can't swim. And what they do instead is they
hop like this on all four legs and they come up and you'll see
them rise to the surface. And because they're so big and
they're slow. So the rise, when you see them
at the top of the, it's because they're hopping and then they go
down. But they technically they most
(37:28):
of the time live in like water that's not too deep or anything,
but they can't breathe underwater.
And but they can be under there for like 7 minutes or something
and then they just hop. So they hop and hippos are
integral. So after the drought or after,
you know, the the Savannah sort of is dry over the summer and
all the water comes back in ready for, you know, everything
(37:52):
to breathe life into it again. The hippo tracks of them jumping
is what the water follows to come in.
So hippos are essential to the African like wildlife system in
their ecosystem. So how water comes like flows
back into the Savannah is the hippos tracks isn't.
That great. Did you know you telling me
(38:13):
hippo facts and it's going straight into my ears through
these headphones and like through this, it's actually like
an ecstatic experience. I'm just like, this is the best
thing that's ever happened to me.
So cool. Hey.
And I was really close to the microphone.
I was like, whoa. No, I was and I was so invested
to and did you know, like hippopotamus is incredibly
(38:33):
dangerous. Yeah, they fucking murder,
murder cows. That's.
What they are and crocodiles they'll they'll kill them
they'll just and they they gang up too, which is good like
they're like really loyal and protective.
So they'll if I saw this video because I watch a lot of hippo
videos for some reason and crocodiles these Louise, do you
know a Jaguar? There's a video in the in the
(38:53):
Amazon rainforest of a Jaguar attacking and having a fight
with a crocodile. Absolutely.
Yes. And it it drags it out of the
water, it death rolls everythingdoesn't matter.
The Jaguar wins. This is the best thing that's
ever happened to me. I'm so glad we ended with the
murder counts and. 2024 sounds exciting. 2024 Bring it on
(39:13):
bitches. This is the greatest thing I've
ever made in my life. Love you, I love you, I'm
obsessed with you. 10 out of 10.Boy boy.
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