December 28, 2023 • 31 mins
The season finale of our cherished podcast weaves together the rich threads that have colored our lives: from unforgettable hot air balloon rides and wedding vows to the heartache of loss and the triumphs of personal achievements. With laughter as our companion, we recount the ups and downs of the year and explore how endings and beginnings shape our success. Join Kristelle and Jace for Season One's final episode of Stories, Success & Stuff!
A Siarza Production
Hosted by Kristelle Siarza Moon & Jace Downey
Executive Producer: Kristelle Siarza Moon
Producer: Jace Downey
Video/Editing: Justin Otsuka
Watch episodes at siarza.com/siarza-podcast
Follow us on FB, IG, TT, YT and TW @siarzatheagency
Follow Kristelle @kristellesiarza
www.misskristelle.com
Follow Jace @jacedowneyofficial
www.jacedowney.com
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Jace (00:00):
My mom asked me the other day since you've kind of planned
to stay in Albuquerque now fora bit, have you thought about
buying a house?
To which I just burst intolaughter because I kid you not.
Recently I bought two throwblankets at one time and felt
very proud of myself, like thatwas this huge luxury.
I was like I couldn't decidebetween two throw blankets at
Ross, so I bought both of themand I was like boom, fancy
(00:22):
adulthood.
And my mom's like are youthinking of buying a house?
I'm like bitch, I barely thinkabout buying stuff for my house.
Kristelle (00:27):
Like Welcome to another episode, episode 27,.
Story success and stuff.
The last of the season actually.
We had a phenomenal run so farand the best is yet to come.
We've got it's a lot ofpressure.
Jace (00:46):
I was thinking of really just letting it ride from here
on out.
Kristelle (00:49):
Yeah, no we're going to have an exciting starting
next year, but this is thebeginning of an episode about
the beginning and the end.
It's also the end of the season.
Beginning season.
Jace (01:01):
Yeah, yeah, it's the end of the beginning.
Kristelle (01:03):
This now constitutes the beginning of the end episode
I feel like we're in theTestament of revelations and
it's just like the end.
Jace (01:11):
Yeah, it's actually just revelation.
Revelation yeah, there's justone.
Kristelle (01:15):
Oh, really, yeah, oh, I spoke of revelation you know
every decision in Catholicschool.
Jace (01:20):
Shit, that's OK.
That's OK, but they no matter.
Kristelle (01:26):
No, no well 20, 23 was a really phenomenal year for
many of us in the agency Alsotrials, tribulations, tough
times as well.
How would you?
You know, instagram always hasthose like nice little grids,
like my top nine, yeah, orthere's always like recap reels.
(01:46):
I started to make mine and thenmy phone damn broke because of
the memory the lack of memory onmy phone.
So let me ask you this If youwere going to create a recap
reel for 2023, what would be init?
Jace (01:58):
Oh, this is great because I actually in my self mastery
intensive that I've been guidingfor our final assignments.
We've been doing kind of end ofyear reflection and 2024
visioning and planning andthings like that.
So it's been so fun to lookback at 2023.
And I'd say highlights for mewere my birthday this year
(02:21):
Totally epic, with friendscoming out and staying with me
and doing all of these reallyfun activities and just being
like super celebrated.
That's on the highlight, asweird as this sounds, because
caregiving was absolutely one ofthe hardest things I've ever
done in my life.
It was also one of the greatestgifts to take care of someone
(02:42):
every moment by hand, to justgive fully of the heart.
It was really exhausting and Ilost my patients, plenty and all
that, but it was such a specialtime to kind of pay a debt in a
way, like Charlie added so muchto my life, and then here at
the end I got to make sure thatabsolutely everything he needed
was cared for by my hand, and sothat, weirdly, was a highlight
(03:06):
and, though it's sad that he'sgone like being able to send him
out of his old body and backinto whatever playfulness exists
in the other world or in thenothingness.
Even the vet when he waspassing she was like rest in
peace, charlie, and I said hellno, play in peace, brother.
Like get the hell out of here.
You've done nothing but resting.
Like go play, be wild.
(03:27):
So that was a highlight.
I did a lot of festivals with myfamily this year, which was
really fun.
My big sister and I becameFesti's besties and we went to
all kinds of different musicfests and things throughout the
year.
That was really fun and bondingyeah gosh time with people that
I love, I think, top the charts.
We started this podcast, whichwas really fun.
(03:50):
Got to do great retreats andspeaking gigs this year as well.
That were really cool.
It was a really.
This was a big year.
This was a really cool year.
That's great, yeah what aboutyou?
Kristelle (04:00):
What's on your no?
I appreciate how you just wasvery real with it, right, like
2023.
And I think one of the thingsit was a really phenomenal year,
one of the things I will saythat I'm gonna I'm gonna work on
now before I get to my recap.
2024 was what I plan on reallymanaging the tempo a little bit
(04:22):
better, meaning there were timeswhere I was it was the highest
of the highs for 2023.
And then it was the lowest ofthe lows in 2023.
Like I couldn't just be okay,and so that's my goal for 2024
is just to kind of maintainpositively right.
We had strategic planningrecently and I said stability is
(04:46):
really what we wanna.
Improving stability orenhancing stability is what.
Evolving stability was theactual theme.
That's what I'm hoping to dofor the agency in 2024.
Like if I was gonna say that'smy owner secret.
Setting a good goal or settinga good theme like that is a good
theme to kind of kick off thenew year, but yeah.
Jace (05:05):
That was my.
2023 was around stability Veryvery big.
Kristelle (05:09):
You were a very big part of the inspiration for the
strat, for strategic planningfor 2024.
Jace (05:14):
I will say for our last for that episode where we were
talking about stability, one ofthe pieces of feedback I got is
that it kind of touched my soula little bit and I was like
that's all we need to hear.
I was like, oh shit, you neverknow.
You know, we put this stuff outthere and is it helpful to
people like it?
I don't know.
And someone was like, wow, thatwas a great topic to reflect on
.
It kind of touched my soul alittle bit, yeah, and I was like
(05:34):
, yeah, yeah, I meant to sendthat to you, I forgot, but boom.
Kristelle (05:38):
I realized that my mom listens.
Oh, see my mom doesn't anymore.
Jace (05:42):
I don't think, but a lot of other people do that are
loved ones in my life.
Kristelle (05:45):
I love my mom to death.
But she was like I don't get itand you should wear makeup.
That's what my mom said.
Ok, it's fine.
Hey, she listens, that's allthat matters.
Maybe she should just listenand not watch.
Jace (05:59):
Yeah, I guess so.
Kristelle (06:00):
That's fine.
Anyways, so my 2023 week cap.
I was going through my videosyesterday trying to put an
Instagram reel, which didn'twork.
January was we were at.
I was at the White House.
Jace (06:09):
Yes.
Kristelle (06:10):
Cool, freaking experience.
You got invited to the WhiteHouse.
Yeah, I would do that again 10times out of 10.
February was a lot ofballooning, a lot of love and
that was a really great monthjust of love in general.
Jace (06:23):
Yeah, I was to say friends and lovers balloon rally, which
I got to participate in and goup in a balloon Exactly March
was a fun one too, because thatwas when a little bit of travel
for work related.
Kristelle (06:35):
But there was spring break, which is nice because I
always try to spend some qualitytime with my kid around spring
break.
April was the bacheloretteparty.
The summer was just planningthe wedding, which was awesome.
And then August and Septemberwas the wedding itself, which
was really an incredibleexperience.
I would marry that man 10 timesout of 10 again, all the time,
(06:56):
and I was telling you earlier,amy, no, it's like it's
definitely death to his part.
I'm really excited for thedementia years because those are
going to be fun, those aregoing to be great.
It's just going to be like 50first dates, it's going to be
great.
And then so, yeah, so we've hada really epic year.
And then, financially, thecompany set its million dollar
mark.
Jace (07:17):
It was good and hit it.
Kristelle (07:19):
It set it and hit it and it was incredible to hit
that mark and thanks to thisincredible team, it was a very
hard goal to hit, but I'mgrateful for the team just being
incredible at the work thatthey've done.
Another thing that was reallygreat throughout the year, too,
a couple of different milestoneswas the fact that we hit number
(07:40):
two as an agency on the list.
I talk about how financially,operationally and visually, I'd
like to make sure that CRS isnumber one, the number one
agency in New Mexico.
We're number two, like we'renumber two.
We're right there.
Yeah, that's crazy.
Jace (07:54):
Yeah, and we're significantly smaller than the
number one spot.
Yeah.
Kristelle (08:00):
It's been a blessing for sure.
We did a lot of awards thisyear.
Jace (08:03):
We just got announced for Family Friendly Business 2024.
Kristelle (08:09):
A gold award there.
Another great idea, anothergreat thing that we had was we
won Best of Show.
We've had a little bit of aBest of Show drought, oh yeah.
So it's been since 2019 sincewe won the Best of Show and so,
thanks to Marissa's yeah, we'reback.
The boys are back in town, butyeah, so we got that award,
(08:31):
which was great 2020.
Excellent award of excellenceis kind of like what it is,
right, yeah, and Marissa did areally phenomenal job with that
campaign, leading the team withBernalillo County, so that was
really fun to see.
Trying to think of other reallyamazing awards, donyelle got
her 40 and her 40.
Epic year for her.
Jace (08:50):
Totally.
Kristelle (08:50):
And that's also it.
While we say it's an agency'ssuccess, it's really her Like.
We're very excited for her.
Jace (08:56):
Absolutely.
Kristelle (08:57):
The fact that it happens to make us look good.
I mean, you know, it justhappens that she has a really
cute outfit and she has a reallycute headshot with us.
That's even better.
Jace (09:05):
True story.
Kristelle (09:07):
So yeah, we just had just some really great
milestones.
I got my APR, I forgot aboutthat, yeah, so what did I do in
May?
Yeah, I got my APR, that'sright.
So it was a really, really bigyear.
It was a big year, yeah,definitely tough on the
depression side.
Depression and anxiety, youknow, just kind of hit me out of
nowhere.
Jace (09:24):
I knew that it had been a tough year because my Spotify
recap what is it called?
Oh no, this is a reek, yeah,okay.
So that came back with, like,my top artist, who is an artist
I only listen to when I'm reallystruggling, and I was like, oh,
apparently this was a toughyear because that artist and
well, okay, my actual number oneartist was Abba.
But Abba is a catch all for me.
(09:45):
If I'm really happy, abba, I'mstruggling also Abba.
So that's not.
That doesn't tell you whetheror not I had a good or bad year,
because Abba works foreverything.
But my second artist wassomeone who I listened to.
I'm really having a hard time.
And so I texted my friend whointroduced me to her and I'm
like, oh, apparently this is apretty tough year because I was
(10:05):
listening to her a lot this year.
So a lot of huge, wonderful,amazing things and then a lot of
you know I need a little, Ineed a little help.
This year too for the, for thewhole, the soul and the heart.
Kristelle (10:16):
What so someone makes already sisters do that and a
lot of women in in my line ofwork do a lot of like goal
setting and goal planning andvisioning board in the beginning
of the year, trying to map out2024 like new bod, new me, you
know, new life, new me and gofor a dad bod this year, I think
.
Jace (10:35):
Yeah, no, I definitely a female equivalent of a dad bod.
Kristelle (10:38):
It is.
I was going to say girl dinner,but no, that's not right.
Jace (10:41):
I think girl dinner helps you get there, I guess.
Kristelle (10:45):
I don't care what I look like.
Like, I don't really care if Idon't wear makeup on the show.
Jace (10:50):
So do you hear that mom?
Leave her alone.
Let her be who she wants to beBeautiful inside and out.
Kristelle (10:55):
Yes, do you do you do that?
Like some of my already sistersdo that, some of it.
I'm like man, it's cool.
Jace (10:59):
Yeah, no, I actually.
We talked traditions our lastepisode and I do have some end
of year traditions that I'vemaintained and they, they shift
both consistently for me.
At the end of the year, I startreflecting on the past year.
I look at areas of grief, maybethings that didn't work out,
that I wanted to have happen, orlosses that I felt, things that
(11:22):
maybe I worked for but didn'tcome to fruition, just stuff to
to keep an eye out for what'sunderneath the goals and before
setting new ones, right.
So we talk about the why.
A lot right.
So I'm I investigate some ofthat.
I also look at myaccomplishments, which was
really fun to do this yearbecause I had a lot, especially
in the professional realm.
I had some big things come upthis year which was really cool,
(11:42):
and I always set an intentionfor the year.
I don't do resolutions that Idon't really do goals per se,
but I'll set like a theme forthe year and it's usually one
big ticket item for me to workthrough.
So this year was stability, youknow, gaining that outer
stability and security that Ihave not experienced before and
(12:05):
becoming okay with it and comingto terms with it, and all of
that.
We talked about that in episode25.
And around October I'll startlooking at how I have I met my
intention for the year.
That way I can play catch up ifI haven't, and I also start
thinking about what I want as myintention for next year, which
usually comes out of set, youknow, looking at my areas of
grief which show me like, oh,here's some things maybe I
(12:28):
wanted to happen but didn't, andI can bring them into 2024, as
well as my accomplishments, andthen what I want to bring in to
my life with the new year.
And then I'll set one intentionto really focus on throughout
the year.
Kristelle (12:40):
That's like a playbook that you just wrote.
Jace (12:43):
It's a really, really fun activity.
Kristelle (12:46):
Yeah.
Jace (12:47):
It's a little daunting because it can be a lot, but
it's time goes so fast and weforget things.
And I don't know about you, butthe older I get, the faster
time seems to move 100%.
Yeah, and so it's like to pausedown and actually look at it all
of it.
That's something we didn't getto, that I wanted to on episode
25.
And we're like talking aboutthe stability and how do you
stick with it and think of thefuture, and the depression comes
(13:08):
in and all those things, andlike actually looking at the
successes along the way isreally helpful, and this
practice helps me do that.
And then I go, oh, I actuallycan do some shit.
It was rock.
Next year, I'm way more capablethan I gave myself credit for
perhaps.
Yeah, and I bring that in withme to the new year.
What about you?
Kristelle (13:26):
I set a timeframe for myself to really like the next
two years obviously grow thecompany to the goal that we have
as an organization, but Ireally want to just enjoy life
as a wife and as a mom.
So my son's a sophomore by nextyear.
(13:46):
He's going to be a junior andthen he's going to be gone off
to college, right, or what hethinks is a gap year or a
deferment, kind of waiting itout, trying to see what he wants
to do, etc.
Which I'm all for, right, yeah,but really just kind of.
He just wants to kind of do hisown thing, which I think is a
great idea and a greatopportunity for him.
(14:07):
So I kind of want to just enjoythat part of my life, because I
don't know how long I'll haveit right, yeah, I talk about my
custody situation, about how Ididn't get to raise Jonathan.
That was a painful time, butone of the things I really love
is as much of a pain in the assit can be for some parents, like
the teenagers are actuallyreally fun, really difficult,
(14:30):
but really fun, oh yeah.
Jace (14:31):
Like I said, no one ever.
Kristelle (14:32):
Yeah, I know right, but he's been.
He's been an incredible kid andso I want him to be an
incredible adult.
So that's why I'm kind offocusing on that.
But at the same time, like Iguess my career and the next
steps with my family and my sonare just really what I want to
focus on, because I want to beso where I what I realized at
(14:53):
the end after we got married, Itried too hard to be a wife and
I started like really sayinglike oh, I have to do this, I
have to do that, I have to dothis, I have to do that, and I'm
going wait, I don't have to tryso hard.
Jace (15:06):
Yeah, who decided this?
Kristelle (15:07):
Yeah, I think it was just the stigma or that
expectation.
And you know, I also have totell myself, like what, what do
I think is good and what do Ithink is not good, and and for
myself.
So I think that's where I'm,you know, and that's why it's
helpful to have episodes likethis, because I kind of think it
through.
I'm like, no, no, no, Idefinitely want to be more
focused as a wife and morepresent as a mom.
(15:29):
More present, I think, is thebest way, the phrase that I
really want to focus on but atthe same time, I want this
company to be even moresuccessful than it already is.
Jace (15:38):
Yeah.
Kristelle (15:39):
Well stabilizing it.
Jace (15:40):
You've created a team that is quite capable, and so some
of that can be delegated, whichallows you to be more present
and get to have the fruits ofyour labor over the last nine
years.
Kristelle (15:51):
Sure, but it's also now time for the others that
have been here for quite sometime to enjoy their fruits of
their labor too.
Jace (15:58):
It's true, it's tough, it's ongoing.
Yeah, I think my 2024 isprobably going to be something
around finances.
That's kind of what keepscoming up as I'm doing my
reflections and I had a momentthat's like made all of this
very clear to me.
This is like TMI maybe in myfinancial situation.
But my mom asked me the otherday honey, since you know, since
you've kind of planned to stayin Albuquerque now for a bit,
(16:20):
have you thought about buying ahouse?
To which I just burst intolaughter because I kid you not.
Recently I bought two throwblankets at one time and felt
very proud of myself, like thatwas this huge luxury.
I was like I couldn't decidebetween two throw blankets at
Ross, so I bought both of themand I was like boom, fancy
adulthood.
And my mom's like are youthinking of buying a house?
(16:41):
I'm like bitch, I barely thinkabout buying stuff for my house,
like I think you understand meto be in a very different
financial situation than I amcurrently.
So I'm still playing catch upfrom running my business and
supplementing my income throughmy own, like all you know the
things that go into early yearsof a business and coming back
into the working world only in2022.
And so I'm like buy a house.
(17:03):
Yeah, I just bought two throwblankets at Ross and was excited
about it.
Girl.
They're so fluffy and I justgot a gift delivered another
float throw blanket.
There we go.
I now have three new throwblankets.
I don't want to, I don't wantto make anybody feel bad, but
it's pretty fancy at my housenow that's really bad, every
floor is going to have a newthrow blanket.
Kristelle (17:24):
Yes, I know I it's okay.
From business owner, formerbusiness owner to business owner
now.
I'm just going to say this veryout loud I know everybody wants
more money.
Jace (17:36):
I want more money.
Kristelle (17:36):
Hey, come on and optics.
I may seem like this badassentrepreneur.
I'm fucking broke, Just likeeverybody else Times.
Jace (17:45):
That's the name of the game right now.
Kristelle (17:47):
It's really financially difficult and I hear
people that are like I'm goingto look for another job to make
more money.
Not saying you, but I'm justsaying in general.
Jace (17:54):
I was like you almost fired me in episode 25.
So did I?
Did I really you were talkingabout?
Like I can't wait to see youleave the, leave our door.
I was like oh, she's likeyou're like low key, firing me
on air.
Kristelle (18:05):
Oh my going.
Oh, is this my exit?
Is this my swan song?
No, Everybody is going to beasking for more money because
during, you know, 2020, 2021, itwas just like money here, money
here, money here, money hereand everybody enjoyed it, and I
get it, and I understand thechallenges that everybody
enjoyed out of it all, but atthe end of the day, I'm just
saying, you know, the economy isnot going to be able to
(18:25):
maintain what it's currently atright now.
Like CR is that is really justkeeping everybody afloat, not in
a bad way.
Like I'm not airing our dirtylaundry.
Like there's no additionalreason for us to hire more
people.
Right, Keep the team that wehave.
You know, be loyal to the teamthat we, we have currently
inherited.
Like we've had maybe one personleave and that's it in the last
(18:47):
12 months.
Like that's great.
I would rather reward them thanto have somebody come in and be
like I want more money for abetter job and a better
opportunity.
I'm like I'm sorry, you evensaid it best.
You're like.
You know, Chris, a lot of thepeople here in this team is
actually making sacrifices too.
I'm one of them.
We all are.
Jace (19:04):
Well, I think something that people who have not been,
you know, open with their eyesat the financial level.
So somebody who's run a businessor whatever people who've only
worked as employees, don'trecognize because there's like
everybody's bills have gone up,it's expensive, and it's
stupidly expensive to live inAlbuquerque, and I'm like y'all
Albuquerque is supposed to bethe place people come when they
can't afford to live anywhereelse, and I'm like I don't,
you're going to have to get alot cooler.
(19:25):
I love Albuquerque, it's myhometown, but still it's crazy
expensive everywhere right now,including here, and so
everybody's bills have gone up.
That's the truth.
But then when we expand thatout further, that's true for
every business as well, and thatmeans that there's less money
to go towards expenses as abusiness, like hiring a
(19:45):
marketing agency, and socutbacks happen everywhere, and
so it's like it's this hugeeffect that happens all over the
place.
That is one of the reasons Istopped running a business that
trying to hold that harmonybetween all of the things, so
that, yeah, so that you'reemploying enough people and
you're doing it well, so thatway you can do all of the work
(20:05):
and have that be at a certainquality, yet at the same time,
it's that balancing act of theclients can drop in and out at
any minute.
Like it's hella stressful.
Yeah, I was like when you talkedto me about, you asked me like
are you sure you want to workfor someone else?
Kristelle (20:21):
And I was like I asked you that in your interview
.
You sure did.
Jace (20:23):
And I in my head, I was like girl you don't even know
Like I am so ready to not havethat responsibility.
Kristelle (20:29):
And then, when you said that, I said I envy the
position that you're in.
Like in my head, I envy thatright.
And I think and Ed even said itbest right, he goes.
Yes, it was great that weachieved a million dollars, but
what I feel like it's thatThanos moment.
At what cost did it bring toyou?
Or like, what was the lineJustin here, my fellow nerd when
(20:50):
Thanos said what did you haveto sacrifice in order to get
here?
You know what I'm trying to say.
What did it cost you?
What did it cost you?
It cost me everything.
That's what Thanos said at theend of Endgame, right?
Jace (21:03):
So are you saying you're a supervillain.
Kristelle (21:05):
I'm saying that I'm purple, just kidding.
Jace (21:07):
Oh.
Kristelle (21:09):
What I'm saying is he illustrated how that percentage
of net profit, while we endedat 19 last year, we're only
ending at 9%, and for thenumbers, people, and that's the
NOI right.
And so you're like, well, thatsucks, but you only got 9%, and
agencies are typically in the15% to 20% out range.
Jace (21:30):
Right, but you also made a huge commitment to raise wages
this year.
Kristelle (21:35):
Yeah, because I too was just like why the fuck is my
butter?
Remember when eggs were $6 adozen?
Jace (21:42):
What the shit?
I bypassed your raised eggs, sothey're way more than that.
Kristelle (21:45):
Yeah exactly.
Jace (21:46):
It's like a Trader Joe's.
Yeah, exactly.
Maintain, I don't know whattheir egg source is.
They're part of some egg cartel, but you can get pasture eggs
for $5.
Kristelle (21:53):
It doesn't really mean OK.
So you're talking about eggsand then Justin's eating a damn
uncrustable and I'm like I'mhungry here.
Jace (21:59):
Right.
Kristelle (22:00):
This is not fair and shit's expensive, but no.
Jace (22:04):
I get that.
I was like, if it helps, I cantell you what goes on for
factory farmed eggs and that'llkill your appetite real quick.
Am I right?
Vegan?
Yeah, this dude has some shitfigured out.
Kristelle (22:17):
But going back to the beginning of the end, right?
So I appreciate how my fellowbusiness owners are out here
talking about how great of ayear that they are having more
power to you, but there's alsothose business owners that are
like this was a very toughfinancial year and I don't know
if I'm going to make it in 2024.
I hear you, I see you, I feelyou.
(22:37):
It is what it is.
This is the nature of theeconomy that we're in.
Jace (22:42):
It's true, and I will throw it because I'm kind of the
weirdo in the room whensomebody talks about oh, my
business failed or I gotdivorced or I just got fired.
I'm always like hooray, and Ifeel really excited for people
when that happens.
I love endings Because Ibelieve everything's a win-win.
(23:02):
I think that I believe in abenevolent universe that's
aligned with our best andhighest good at all times, even
if it doesn't feel like it andit's a mystery, but I really do
believe that that, given enoughtime, all things align for our
best and highest good.
And so when someone has theuniverse do something for them,
perhaps, which they could not dothemselves, it opens them up
for a new beginning that is morealigned with who they are today
(23:24):
.
And so, even though they'resuper hard and they're scary and
I'm all for grieving and goingthrough the process I love when
people come to endings, and mymom taught us something all the
time growing up.
She would always say, when wewould be in a tough moment, like
I can't wait to see what goodwill come from this, she
(23:44):
encouraged us to affirm that, tojust affirm the good, and I
can't wait to get excited aboutit.
I can't wait to see what goodwill come from this and to hold
that mentality, not Pollyannastyle of pretending it's not
tough.
You got to do all the feels,pollyanna.
But to also oh yeah, back in theday, youngsters, look it up.
Oh god, I just said youngsters.
I think we've hit an ending forme and it's called my youth.
(24:05):
That's done now.
Sorry, halby.
Yeah, just to get excited aboutendings, recognizing there's a
new beginning at the turn of allof them.
Kristelle (24:14):
Yeah, yeah.
Well, I remember when my sonnot to talk about his private he
was going through a tough time.
It was a breakup.
Oh well, then he's 15.
He was 15 when it happened.
Those are some of the worstheartbreaks.
Those are early ones, the earlyones, because that really sets
the tone of confidence for youor for yourself.
And so when he was in a shittystate of mind, I was just
(24:41):
telling him onward and upward,bud, or look at what exciting
opportunities you might have.
And I told him I've hadmultiple heartbreaks, multiple
heartbreaks before my husband,and those heartbreaks always
become a new beginning.
In fact I was using the Xs asmile markers in my life, Like US
(25:02):
presidents.
You just remember history by USpresidents.
I remember what had happened byex-boyfriends.
Jace (25:07):
I always joke that my life's a whole lot like the
Bible.
There's a man's name at the topof every chapter.
Kristelle (25:13):
Such a good one.
Can we put that in the trailer,damn.
Anyways, it's totally true andI'll never forget.
I think I told this story onceabout how a gal, professionally,
did I tell you that?
Jace (25:26):
story on the podcast, I know, you've only said four
words of it.
Oh, ok, a gal professionally Agal professionally.
Kristelle (25:31):
She got a divorce Because when I saw her and I met
up with her in one of theprofessional Albuquerque events,
she changed her last name andher last name was a very
distinct last name.
And then it changed and I said,oh, I'm sorry, I thought you
were.
It was like a if I say it, Iremember who it is.
And so I said and she goes, no,I actually got a divorce and
the first thing that came out ofmy mouth was congratulations.
Jace (25:53):
Yes.
Kristelle (25:54):
Yeah, I love it, we did.
Jace (25:55):
We talked about this on the failure episode, episode
number two.
Kristelle (25:57):
Episode number two.
Jace (25:58):
Throwback Friday I felt like such an asshole.
Kristelle (26:02):
And I even told another friend of mine who just
recently got divorced.
I said I know it's really fresh, but just know that in my head
I'm saying congratulations toyou Because I know this is a new
beginning and it's all going tobe onward and upward from here,
and that's the beauty of theend of one chapter is the
beginning of a next.
Jace (26:19):
I had the best analogy for this placed in front of me last
week or a couple weeks ago,when I was really struggling
with grief and I was talking tosomeone who recently went
through losing a pup and I waslike what'd you do?
Like how do you get through it?
I know it, I know I'll getthrough it, I know that, I know
that grief is not a straightline and it's a process and it
(26:40):
comes up at very inconvenienttimes and all the things.
But I was like what advice doyou have?
How did you get through it?
Because I just can't imagine mylife without Charlie.
I've never had an adult lifewithout Charlie, so I can't
visibly see it, and that makesthings really hard for me.
So I said, how did you do it?
And I was talking about that andhow?
Like I just I can't visualizethe next chapter.
And he was like it's like SuperMario Brothers, where and I'm
(27:06):
like, okay, please continue, howis my sadness like Super Mario
Brothers?
But he was talking about howyou go through the level and
you're in the water and youthink that's life because you're
surrounded by it, and then youcomplete the level and all of a
sudden you're in a totally newworld that doesn't look anything
like water anymore, but you'restill you and you still bring
(27:27):
all your coins and everythingthat you gained in your lives
and whatnot from the last one,and then you move on in a world
that looks completely differentand yet you're still the same,
and I'm like that's weird andyet wildly comforting.
It was a game changer for me,and so now when I'm like
struggling.
Kristelle (27:45):
Was that intentionally a pun?
It's a game changer for you.
Jace (27:48):
Damn it, it's happening involuntarily now, so I'm gonna
still take credit for it, but no, I did not catch that.
It's pretty good, though.
Yeah, it's pretty good, though,but when now I'm struggling, he
just tells me, he just saysyou're not in the water level
anymore, and it like is reallycomforting.
And so now I think aboutbeginnings and endings.
It's like it's just a moving on, it's just a new level.
(28:10):
Yeah, nothing has actuallyended.
Kristelle (28:14):
While we wrap up season one so beautifully, with
the many lives that have comeacross that we've talked about
in this podcast.
Really quickly, 30 seconds,give me what you are grateful
for for 2023 and what you'rehopeful for 2024.
Jace (28:32):
I am most grateful for the people in my life.
Kristelle (28:35):
They have brought me through you took my week and
both be grateful for people.
Jace (28:40):
More than ever.
They brought me through thetough times.
They lifted me up in my high,my great times.
They, like my people, were theexample of my success this year.
Yeah, of all the work I've putinto being a person that has
these types of relationships andsupporting them myself, right.
So that's definitely the bigone.
And what was the other one I'mlooking for for 2024.
(29:00):
Yes, thriving, my foundation isset.
My stability is set.
I am a capable, adult humanperson, upward and onward.
Like you said, I see 2024 as areal, like upward growth year
for me.
That's exciting.
Kristelle (29:13):
2023 was same thing People, the people around me,
the company, the staff, the, myfamily, all of my family.
You know the wedding was reallythat precursor of, of or that,
that it painted the picture ofthe people we love so so dearly
friends, family, colleagues, itwas just a.
(29:35):
It was a beautiful mix ofpeople.
So the people I'm very gratefulfor in 2023, 2024, fucking
crushing it.
I'm so excited to see what isentail, like some of the clients
that we currently have havejust been really just doing so
good in their business,considering all the challenges
(29:57):
of last year and financial youknow, financial changes in our
economy and then the new onesthat we just recently brought on
.
It's just we were I was talkingto them on the way over here.
I'm going.
This is going to be a reallyfun project, right.
So 2024, I think it's justgoing to be a year just crushing
it, and you know we can alwayscrush it with just maintaining
this, that excitement ofstability.
(30:19):
Those words are not often usedinterchangeably, but I am.
I'm very excited for thestability this company is going
to have and I'm excited for thenew challenges that we're going
to face.
Jace (30:29):
So 2024 is going to be a great year, so stability is far
sexier than people think it is.
Kristelle (30:36):
Last words from Jace for 2023.
Thank you all so much for aphenomenal season.
Season one has been such a joy.
Thank you for seeing the good,the bad, the ugly of producing a
podcast together, but, mostimportantly, thank you.
Thank you for listening.
You're the reason why we areconstantly producing these
really phenomenal shows.
My thanks to Jace, my thanks toJustin and, most importantly,
(30:59):
thanks to the entire team at CRSfor letting us do this for
story, success and stuff.
We are looking for guests,we're looking for commentary.
We're looking for moreinvolvement from you, the
listener, for season two.
So if you want to subscribe,don't forget to visit CRScom,
don't forget to also like us,share us on your favorite social
media channel and, mostimportantly, thank you for being
(31:21):
a great listener of stories,success and stuff.
Season one.
Have a good one.
My mom asked me the other day since you've kind of planned
to stay in Albuquerque now fora bit, have you thought about
buying a house?
To which I just burst intolaughter because I kid you not.
Recently I bought two throwblankets at one time and felt
very proud of myself, like thatwas this huge luxury.
I was like I couldn't decidebetween two throw blankets at
Ross, so I bought both of themand I was like boom, fancy
(00:22):
adulthood.
And my mom's like are youthinking of buying a house?
I'm like bitch, I barely thinkabout buying stuff for my house.
Kristelle (00:27):
Like Welcome to another episode, episode 27,.
Story success and stuff.
The last of the season actually.
We had a phenomenal run so farand the best is yet to come.
We've got it's a lot ofpressure.
Jace (00:46):
I was thinking of really just letting it ride from here
on out.
Kristelle (00:49):
Yeah, no we're going to have an exciting starting
next year, but this is thebeginning of an episode about
the beginning and the end.
It's also the end of the season.
Beginning season.
Jace (01:01):
Yeah, yeah, it's the end of the beginning.
Kristelle (01:03):
This now constitutes the beginning of the end episode
I feel like we're in theTestament of revelations and
it's just like the end.
Jace (01:11):
Yeah, it's actually just revelation.
Revelation yeah, there's justone.
Kristelle (01:15):
Oh, really, yeah, oh, I spoke of revelation you know
every decision in Catholicschool.
Jace (01:20):
Shit, that's OK.
That's OK, but they no matter.
Kristelle (01:26):
No, no well 20, 23 was a really phenomenal year for
many of us in the agency Alsotrials, tribulations, tough
times as well.
How would you?
You know, instagram always hasthose like nice little grids,
like my top nine, yeah, orthere's always like recap reels.
(01:46):
I started to make mine and thenmy phone damn broke because of
the memory the lack of memory onmy phone.
So let me ask you this If youwere going to create a recap
reel for 2023, what would be init?
Jace (01:58):
Oh, this is great because I actually in my self mastery
intensive that I've been guidingfor our final assignments.
We've been doing kind of end ofyear reflection and 2024
visioning and planning andthings like that.
So it's been so fun to lookback at 2023.
And I'd say highlights for mewere my birthday this year
(02:21):
Totally epic, with friendscoming out and staying with me
and doing all of these reallyfun activities and just being
like super celebrated.
That's on the highlight, asweird as this sounds, because
caregiving was absolutely one ofthe hardest things I've ever
done in my life.
It was also one of the greatestgifts to take care of someone
(02:42):
every moment by hand, to justgive fully of the heart.
It was really exhausting and Ilost my patients, plenty and all
that, but it was such a specialtime to kind of pay a debt in a
way, like Charlie added so muchto my life, and then here at
the end I got to make sure thatabsolutely everything he needed
was cared for by my hand, and sothat, weirdly, was a highlight
(03:06):
and, though it's sad that he'sgone like being able to send him
out of his old body and backinto whatever playfulness exists
in the other world or in thenothingness.
Even the vet when he waspassing she was like rest in
peace, charlie, and I said hellno, play in peace, brother.
Like get the hell out of here.
You've done nothing but resting.
Like go play, be wild.
(03:27):
So that was a highlight.
I did a lot of festivals with myfamily this year, which was
really fun.
My big sister and I becameFesti's besties and we went to
all kinds of different musicfests and things throughout the
year.
That was really fun and bondingyeah gosh time with people that
I love, I think, top the charts.
We started this podcast, whichwas really fun.
(03:50):
Got to do great retreats andspeaking gigs this year as well.
That were really cool.
It was a really.
This was a big year.
This was a really cool year.
That's great, yeah what aboutyou?
Kristelle (04:00):
What's on your no?
I appreciate how you just wasvery real with it, right, like
2023.
And I think one of the thingsit was a really phenomenal year,
one of the things I will saythat I'm gonna I'm gonna work on
now before I get to my recap.
2024 was what I plan on reallymanaging the tempo a little bit
(04:22):
better, meaning there were timeswhere I was it was the highest
of the highs for 2023.
And then it was the lowest ofthe lows in 2023.
Like I couldn't just be okay,and so that's my goal for 2024
is just to kind of maintainpositively right.
We had strategic planningrecently and I said stability is
(04:46):
really what we wanna.
Improving stability orenhancing stability is what.
Evolving stability was theactual theme.
That's what I'm hoping to dofor the agency in 2024.
Like if I was gonna say that'smy owner secret.
Setting a good goal or settinga good theme like that is a good
theme to kind of kick off thenew year, but yeah.
Jace (05:05):
That was my.
2023 was around stability Veryvery big.
Kristelle (05:09):
You were a very big part of the inspiration for the
strat, for strategic planningfor 2024.
Jace (05:14):
I will say for our last for that episode where we were
talking about stability, one ofthe pieces of feedback I got is
that it kind of touched my soula little bit and I was like
that's all we need to hear.
I was like, oh shit, you neverknow.
You know, we put this stuff outthere and is it helpful to
people like it?
I don't know.
And someone was like, wow, thatwas a great topic to reflect on
.
It kind of touched my soul alittle bit, yeah, and I was like
(05:34):
, yeah, yeah, I meant to sendthat to you, I forgot, but boom.
Kristelle (05:38):
I realized that my mom listens.
Oh, see my mom doesn't anymore.
Jace (05:42):
I don't think, but a lot of other people do that are
loved ones in my life.
Kristelle (05:45):
I love my mom to death.
But she was like I don't get itand you should wear makeup.
That's what my mom said.
Ok, it's fine.
Hey, she listens, that's allthat matters.
Maybe she should just listenand not watch.
Jace (05:59):
Yeah, I guess so.
Kristelle (06:00):
That's fine.
Anyways, so my 2023 week cap.
I was going through my videosyesterday trying to put an
Instagram reel, which didn'twork.
January was we were at.
I was at the White House.
Jace (06:09):
Yes.
Kristelle (06:10):
Cool, freaking experience.
You got invited to the WhiteHouse.
Yeah, I would do that again 10times out of 10.
February was a lot ofballooning, a lot of love and
that was a really great monthjust of love in general.
Jace (06:23):
Yeah, I was to say friends and lovers balloon rally, which
I got to participate in and goup in a balloon Exactly March
was a fun one too, because thatwas when a little bit of travel
for work related.
Kristelle (06:35):
But there was spring break, which is nice because I
always try to spend some qualitytime with my kid around spring
break.
April was the bacheloretteparty.
The summer was just planningthe wedding, which was awesome.
And then August and Septemberwas the wedding itself, which
was really an incredibleexperience.
I would marry that man 10 timesout of 10 again, all the time,
(06:56):
and I was telling you earlier,amy, no, it's like it's
definitely death to his part.
I'm really excited for thedementia years because those are
going to be fun, those aregoing to be great.
It's just going to be like 50first dates, it's going to be
great.
And then so, yeah, so we've hada really epic year.
And then, financially, thecompany set its million dollar
mark.
Jace (07:17):
It was good and hit it.
Kristelle (07:19):
It set it and hit it and it was incredible to hit
that mark and thanks to thisincredible team, it was a very
hard goal to hit, but I'mgrateful for the team just being
incredible at the work thatthey've done.
Another thing that was reallygreat throughout the year, too,
a couple of different milestoneswas the fact that we hit number
(07:40):
two as an agency on the list.
I talk about how financially,operationally and visually, I'd
like to make sure that CRS isnumber one, the number one
agency in New Mexico.
We're number two, like we'renumber two.
We're right there.
Yeah, that's crazy.
Jace (07:54):
Yeah, and we're significantly smaller than the
number one spot.
Yeah.
Kristelle (08:00):
It's been a blessing for sure.
We did a lot of awards thisyear.
Jace (08:03):
We just got announced for Family Friendly Business 2024.
Kristelle (08:09):
A gold award there.
Another great idea, anothergreat thing that we had was we
won Best of Show.
We've had a little bit of aBest of Show drought, oh yeah.
So it's been since 2019 sincewe won the Best of Show and so,
thanks to Marissa's yeah, we'reback.
The boys are back in town, butyeah, so we got that award,
(08:31):
which was great 2020.
Excellent award of excellenceis kind of like what it is,
right, yeah, and Marissa did areally phenomenal job with that
campaign, leading the team withBernalillo County, so that was
really fun to see.
Trying to think of other reallyamazing awards, donyelle got
her 40 and her 40.
Epic year for her.
Jace (08:50):
Totally.
Kristelle (08:50):
And that's also it.
While we say it's an agency'ssuccess, it's really her Like.
We're very excited for her.
Jace (08:56):
Absolutely.
Kristelle (08:57):
The fact that it happens to make us look good.
I mean, you know, it justhappens that she has a really
cute outfit and she has a reallycute headshot with us.
That's even better.
Jace (09:05):
True story.
Kristelle (09:07):
So yeah, we just had just some really great
milestones.
I got my APR, I forgot aboutthat, yeah, so what did I do in
May?
Yeah, I got my APR, that'sright.
So it was a really, really bigyear.
It was a big year, yeah,definitely tough on the
depression side.
Depression and anxiety, youknow, just kind of hit me out of
nowhere.
Jace (09:24):
I knew that it had been a tough year because my Spotify
recap what is it called?
Oh no, this is a reek, yeah,okay.
So that came back with, like,my top artist, who is an artist
I only listen to when I'm reallystruggling, and I was like, oh,
apparently this was a toughyear because that artist and
well, okay, my actual number oneartist was Abba.
But Abba is a catch all for me.
(09:45):
If I'm really happy, abba, I'mstruggling also Abba.
So that's not.
That doesn't tell you whetheror not I had a good or bad year,
because Abba works foreverything.
But my second artist wassomeone who I listened to.
I'm really having a hard time.
And so I texted my friend whointroduced me to her and I'm
like, oh, apparently this is apretty tough year because I was
(10:05):
listening to her a lot this year.
So a lot of huge, wonderful,amazing things and then a lot of
you know I need a little, Ineed a little help.
This year too for the, for thewhole, the soul and the heart.
Kristelle (10:16):
What so someone makes already sisters do that and a
lot of women in in my line ofwork do a lot of like goal
setting and goal planning andvisioning board in the beginning
of the year, trying to map out2024 like new bod, new me, you
know, new life, new me and gofor a dad bod this year, I think
.
Jace (10:35):
Yeah, no, I definitely a female equivalent of a dad bod.
Kristelle (10:38):
It is.
I was going to say girl dinner,but no, that's not right.
Jace (10:41):
I think girl dinner helps you get there, I guess.
Kristelle (10:45):
I don't care what I look like.
Like, I don't really care if Idon't wear makeup on the show.
Jace (10:50):
So do you hear that mom?
Leave her alone.
Let her be who she wants to beBeautiful inside and out.
Kristelle (10:55):
Yes, do you do you do that?
Like some of my already sistersdo that, some of it.
I'm like man, it's cool.
Jace (10:59):
Yeah, no, I actually.
We talked traditions our lastepisode and I do have some end
of year traditions that I'vemaintained and they, they shift
both consistently for me.
At the end of the year, I startreflecting on the past year.
I look at areas of grief, maybethings that didn't work out,
that I wanted to have happen, orlosses that I felt, things that
(11:22):
maybe I worked for but didn'tcome to fruition, just stuff to
to keep an eye out for what'sunderneath the goals and before
setting new ones, right.
So we talk about the why.
A lot right.
So I'm I investigate some ofthat.
I also look at myaccomplishments, which was
really fun to do this yearbecause I had a lot, especially
in the professional realm.
I had some big things come upthis year which was really cool,
(11:42):
and I always set an intentionfor the year.
I don't do resolutions that Idon't really do goals per se,
but I'll set like a theme forthe year and it's usually one
big ticket item for me to workthrough.
So this year was stability, youknow, gaining that outer
stability and security that Ihave not experienced before and
(12:05):
becoming okay with it and comingto terms with it, and all of
that.
We talked about that in episode25.
And around October I'll startlooking at how I have I met my
intention for the year.
That way I can play catch up ifI haven't, and I also start
thinking about what I want as myintention for next year, which
usually comes out of set, youknow, looking at my areas of
grief which show me like, oh,here's some things maybe I
(12:28):
wanted to happen but didn't, andI can bring them into 2024, as
well as my accomplishments, andthen what I want to bring in to
my life with the new year.
And then I'll set one intentionto really focus on throughout
the year.
Kristelle (12:40):
That's like a playbook that you just wrote.
Jace (12:43):
It's a really, really fun activity.
Kristelle (12:46):
Yeah.
Jace (12:47):
It's a little daunting because it can be a lot, but
it's time goes so fast and weforget things.
And I don't know about you, butthe older I get, the faster
time seems to move 100%.
Yeah, and so it's like to pausedown and actually look at it all
of it.
That's something we didn't getto, that I wanted to on episode
25.
And we're like talking aboutthe stability and how do you
stick with it and think of thefuture, and the depression comes
(13:08):
in and all those things, andlike actually looking at the
successes along the way isreally helpful, and this
practice helps me do that.
And then I go, oh, I actuallycan do some shit.
It was rock.
Next year, I'm way more capablethan I gave myself credit for
perhaps.
Yeah, and I bring that in withme to the new year.
What about you?
Kristelle (13:26):
I set a timeframe for myself to really like the next
two years obviously grow thecompany to the goal that we have
as an organization, but Ireally want to just enjoy life
as a wife and as a mom.
So my son's a sophomore by nextyear.
(13:46):
He's going to be a junior andthen he's going to be gone off
to college, right, or what hethinks is a gap year or a
deferment, kind of waiting itout, trying to see what he wants
to do, etc.
Which I'm all for, right, yeah,but really just kind of.
He just wants to kind of do hisown thing, which I think is a
great idea and a greatopportunity for him.
(14:07):
So I kind of want to just enjoythat part of my life, because I
don't know how long I'll haveit right, yeah, I talk about my
custody situation, about how Ididn't get to raise Jonathan.
That was a painful time, butone of the things I really love
is as much of a pain in the assit can be for some parents, like
the teenagers are actuallyreally fun, really difficult,
(14:30):
but really fun, oh yeah.
Jace (14:31):
Like I said, no one ever.
Kristelle (14:32):
Yeah, I know right, but he's been.
He's been an incredible kid andso I want him to be an
incredible adult.
So that's why I'm kind offocusing on that.
But at the same time, like Iguess my career and the next
steps with my family and my sonare just really what I want to
focus on, because I want to beso where I what I realized at
(14:53):
the end after we got married, Itried too hard to be a wife and
I started like really sayinglike oh, I have to do this, I
have to do that, I have to dothis, I have to do that, and I'm
going wait, I don't have to tryso hard.
Jace (15:06):
Yeah, who decided this?
Kristelle (15:07):
Yeah, I think it was just the stigma or that
expectation.
And you know, I also have totell myself, like what, what do
I think is good and what do Ithink is not good, and and for
myself.
So I think that's where I'm,you know, and that's why it's
helpful to have episodes likethis, because I kind of think it
through.
I'm like, no, no, no, Idefinitely want to be more
focused as a wife and morepresent as a mom.
(15:29):
More present, I think, is thebest way, the phrase that I
really want to focus on but atthe same time, I want this
company to be even moresuccessful than it already is.
Jace (15:38):
Yeah.
Kristelle (15:39):
Well stabilizing it.
Jace (15:40):
You've created a team that is quite capable, and so some
of that can be delegated, whichallows you to be more present
and get to have the fruits ofyour labor over the last nine
years.
Kristelle (15:51):
Sure, but it's also now time for the others that
have been here for quite sometime to enjoy their fruits of
their labor too.
Jace (15:58):
It's true, it's tough, it's ongoing.
Yeah, I think my 2024 isprobably going to be something
around finances.
That's kind of what keepscoming up as I'm doing my
reflections and I had a momentthat's like made all of this
very clear to me.
This is like TMI maybe in myfinancial situation.
But my mom asked me the otherday honey, since you know, since
you've kind of planned to stayin Albuquerque now for a bit,
(16:20):
have you thought about buying ahouse?
To which I just burst intolaughter because I kid you not.
Recently I bought two throwblankets at one time and felt
very proud of myself, like thatwas this huge luxury.
I was like I couldn't decidebetween two throw blankets at
Ross, so I bought both of themand I was like boom, fancy
adulthood.
And my mom's like are youthinking of buying a house?
(16:41):
I'm like bitch, I barely thinkabout buying stuff for my house,
like I think you understand meto be in a very different
financial situation than I amcurrently.
So I'm still playing catch upfrom running my business and
supplementing my income throughmy own, like all you know the
things that go into early yearsof a business and coming back
into the working world only in2022.
And so I'm like buy a house.
(17:03):
Yeah, I just bought two throwblankets at Ross and was excited
about it.
Girl.
They're so fluffy and I justgot a gift delivered another
float throw blanket.
There we go.
I now have three new throwblankets.
I don't want to, I don't wantto make anybody feel bad, but
it's pretty fancy at my housenow that's really bad, every
floor is going to have a newthrow blanket.
Kristelle (17:24):
Yes, I know I it's okay.
From business owner, formerbusiness owner to business owner
now.
I'm just going to say this veryout loud I know everybody wants
more money.
Jace (17:36):
I want more money.
Kristelle (17:36):
Hey, come on and optics.
I may seem like this badassentrepreneur.
I'm fucking broke, Just likeeverybody else Times.
Jace (17:45):
That's the name of the game right now.
Kristelle (17:47):
It's really financially difficult and I hear
people that are like I'm goingto look for another job to make
more money.
Not saying you, but I'm justsaying in general.
Jace (17:54):
I was like you almost fired me in episode 25.
So did I?
Did I really you were talkingabout?
Like I can't wait to see youleave the, leave our door.
I was like oh, she's likeyou're like low key, firing me
on air.
Kristelle (18:05):
Oh my going.
Oh, is this my exit?
Is this my swan song?
No, Everybody is going to beasking for more money because
during, you know, 2020, 2021, itwas just like money here, money
here, money here, money hereand everybody enjoyed it, and I
get it, and I understand thechallenges that everybody
enjoyed out of it all, but atthe end of the day, I'm just
saying, you know, the economy isnot going to be able to
(18:25):
maintain what it's currently atright now.
Like CR is that is really justkeeping everybody afloat, not in
a bad way.
Like I'm not airing our dirtylaundry.
Like there's no additionalreason for us to hire more
people.
Right, Keep the team that wehave.
You know, be loyal to the teamthat we, we have currently
inherited.
Like we've had maybe one personleave and that's it in the last
(18:47):
12 months.
Like that's great.
I would rather reward them thanto have somebody come in and be
like I want more money for abetter job and a better
opportunity.
I'm like I'm sorry, you evensaid it best.
You're like.
You know, Chris, a lot of thepeople here in this team is
actually making sacrifices too.
I'm one of them.
We all are.
Jace (19:04):
Well, I think something that people who have not been,
you know, open with their eyesat the financial level.
So somebody who's run a businessor whatever people who've only
worked as employees, don'trecognize because there's like
everybody's bills have gone up,it's expensive, and it's
stupidly expensive to live inAlbuquerque, and I'm like y'all
Albuquerque is supposed to bethe place people come when they
can't afford to live anywhereelse, and I'm like I don't,
you're going to have to get alot cooler.
(19:25):
I love Albuquerque, it's myhometown, but still it's crazy
expensive everywhere right now,including here, and so
everybody's bills have gone up.
That's the truth.
But then when we expand thatout further, that's true for
every business as well, and thatmeans that there's less money
to go towards expenses as abusiness, like hiring a
(19:45):
marketing agency, and socutbacks happen everywhere, and
so it's like it's this hugeeffect that happens all over the
place.
That is one of the reasons Istopped running a business that
trying to hold that harmonybetween all of the things, so
that, yeah, so that you'reemploying enough people and
you're doing it well, so thatway you can do all of the work
(20:05):
and have that be at a certainquality, yet at the same time,
it's that balancing act of theclients can drop in and out at
any minute.
Like it's hella stressful.
Yeah, I was like when you talkedto me about, you asked me like
are you sure you want to workfor someone else?
Kristelle (20:21):
And I was like I asked you that in your interview
.
You sure did.
Jace (20:23):
And I in my head, I was like girl you don't even know
Like I am so ready to not havethat responsibility.
Kristelle (20:29):
And then, when you said that, I said I envy the
position that you're in.
Like in my head, I envy thatright.
And I think and Ed even said itbest right, he goes.
Yes, it was great that weachieved a million dollars, but
what I feel like it's thatThanos moment.
At what cost did it bring toyou?
Or like, what was the lineJustin here, my fellow nerd when
(20:50):
Thanos said what did you haveto sacrifice in order to get
here?
You know what I'm trying to say.
What did it cost you?
What did it cost you?
It cost me everything.
That's what Thanos said at theend of Endgame, right?
Jace (21:03):
So are you saying you're a supervillain.
Kristelle (21:05):
I'm saying that I'm purple, just kidding.
Jace (21:07):
Oh.
Kristelle (21:09):
What I'm saying is he illustrated how that percentage
of net profit, while we endedat 19 last year, we're only
ending at 9%, and for thenumbers, people, and that's the
NOI right.
And so you're like, well, thatsucks, but you only got 9%, and
agencies are typically in the15% to 20% out range.
Jace (21:30):
Right, but you also made a huge commitment to raise wages
this year.
Kristelle (21:35):
Yeah, because I too was just like why the fuck is my
butter?
Remember when eggs were $6 adozen?
Jace (21:42):
What the shit?
I bypassed your raised eggs, sothey're way more than that.
Kristelle (21:45):
Yeah exactly.
Jace (21:46):
It's like a Trader Joe's.
Yeah, exactly.
Maintain, I don't know whattheir egg source is.
They're part of some egg cartel, but you can get pasture eggs
for $5.
Kristelle (21:53):
It doesn't really mean OK.
So you're talking about eggsand then Justin's eating a damn
uncrustable and I'm like I'mhungry here.
Jace (21:59):
Right.
Kristelle (22:00):
This is not fair and shit's expensive, but no.
Jace (22:04):
I get that.
I was like, if it helps, I cantell you what goes on for
factory farmed eggs and that'llkill your appetite real quick.
Am I right?
Vegan?
Yeah, this dude has some shitfigured out.
Kristelle (22:17):
But going back to the beginning of the end, right?
So I appreciate how my fellowbusiness owners are out here
talking about how great of ayear that they are having more
power to you, but there's alsothose business owners that are
like this was a very toughfinancial year and I don't know
if I'm going to make it in 2024.
I hear you, I see you, I feelyou.
(22:37):
It is what it is.
This is the nature of theeconomy that we're in.
Jace (22:42):
It's true, and I will throw it because I'm kind of the
weirdo in the room whensomebody talks about oh, my
business failed or I gotdivorced or I just got fired.
I'm always like hooray, and Ifeel really excited for people
when that happens.
I love endings Because Ibelieve everything's a win-win.
(23:02):
I think that I believe in abenevolent universe that's
aligned with our best andhighest good at all times, even
if it doesn't feel like it andit's a mystery, but I really do
believe that that, given enoughtime, all things align for our
best and highest good.
And so when someone has theuniverse do something for them,
perhaps, which they could not dothemselves, it opens them up
for a new beginning that is morealigned with who they are today
(23:24):
.
And so, even though they'resuper hard and they're scary and
I'm all for grieving and goingthrough the process I love when
people come to endings, and mymom taught us something all the
time growing up.
She would always say, when wewould be in a tough moment, like
I can't wait to see what goodwill come from this, she
(23:44):
encouraged us to affirm that, tojust affirm the good, and I
can't wait to get excited aboutit.
I can't wait to see what goodwill come from this and to hold
that mentality, not Pollyannastyle of pretending it's not
tough.
You got to do all the feels,pollyanna.
But to also oh yeah, back in theday, youngsters, look it up.
Oh god, I just said youngsters.
I think we've hit an ending forme and it's called my youth.
(24:05):
That's done now.
Sorry, halby.
Yeah, just to get excited aboutendings, recognizing there's a
new beginning at the turn of allof them.
Kristelle (24:14):
Yeah, yeah.
Well, I remember when my sonnot to talk about his private he
was going through a tough time.
It was a breakup.
Oh well, then he's 15.
He was 15 when it happened.
Those are some of the worstheartbreaks.
Those are early ones, the earlyones, because that really sets
the tone of confidence for youor for yourself.
And so when he was in a shittystate of mind, I was just
(24:41):
telling him onward and upward,bud, or look at what exciting
opportunities you might have.
And I told him I've hadmultiple heartbreaks, multiple
heartbreaks before my husband,and those heartbreaks always
become a new beginning.
In fact I was using the Xs asmile markers in my life, Like US
(25:02):
presidents.
You just remember history by USpresidents.
I remember what had happened byex-boyfriends.
Jace (25:07):
I always joke that my life's a whole lot like the
Bible.
There's a man's name at the topof every chapter.
Kristelle (25:13):
Such a good one.
Can we put that in the trailer,damn.
Anyways, it's totally true andI'll never forget.
I think I told this story onceabout how a gal, professionally,
did I tell you that?
Jace (25:26):
story on the podcast, I know, you've only said four
words of it.
Oh, ok, a gal professionally Agal professionally.
Kristelle (25:31):
She got a divorce Because when I saw her and I met
up with her in one of theprofessional Albuquerque events,
she changed her last name andher last name was a very
distinct last name.
And then it changed and I said,oh, I'm sorry, I thought you
were.
It was like a if I say it, Iremember who it is.
And so I said and she goes, no,I actually got a divorce and
the first thing that came out ofmy mouth was congratulations.
Jace (25:53):
Yes.
Kristelle (25:54):
Yeah, I love it, we did.
Jace (25:55):
We talked about this on the failure episode, episode
number two.
Kristelle (25:57):
Episode number two.
Jace (25:58):
Throwback Friday I felt like such an asshole.
Kristelle (26:02):
And I even told another friend of mine who just
recently got divorced.
I said I know it's really fresh, but just know that in my head
I'm saying congratulations toyou Because I know this is a new
beginning and it's all going tobe onward and upward from here,
and that's the beauty of theend of one chapter is the
beginning of a next.
Jace (26:19):
I had the best analogy for this placed in front of me last
week or a couple weeks ago,when I was really struggling
with grief and I was talking tosomeone who recently went
through losing a pup and I waslike what'd you do?
Like how do you get through it?
I know it, I know I'll getthrough it, I know that, I know
that grief is not a straightline and it's a process and it
(26:40):
comes up at very inconvenienttimes and all the things.
But I was like what advice doyou have?
How did you get through it?
Because I just can't imagine mylife without Charlie.
I've never had an adult lifewithout Charlie, so I can't
visibly see it, and that makesthings really hard for me.
So I said, how did you do it?
And I was talking about that andhow?
Like I just I can't visualizethe next chapter.
And he was like it's like SuperMario Brothers, where and I'm
(27:06):
like, okay, please continue, howis my sadness like Super Mario
Brothers?
But he was talking about howyou go through the level and
you're in the water and youthink that's life because you're
surrounded by it, and then youcomplete the level and all of a
sudden you're in a totally newworld that doesn't look anything
like water anymore, but you'restill you and you still bring
(27:27):
all your coins and everythingthat you gained in your lives
and whatnot from the last one,and then you move on in a world
that looks completely differentand yet you're still the same,
and I'm like that's weird andyet wildly comforting.
It was a game changer for me,and so now when I'm like
struggling.
Kristelle (27:45):
Was that intentionally a pun?
It's a game changer for you.
Jace (27:48):
Damn it, it's happening involuntarily now, so I'm gonna
still take credit for it, but no, I did not catch that.
It's pretty good, though.
Yeah, it's pretty good, though,but when now I'm struggling, he
just tells me, he just saysyou're not in the water level
anymore, and it like is reallycomforting.
And so now I think aboutbeginnings and endings.
It's like it's just a moving on, it's just a new level.
(28:10):
Yeah, nothing has actuallyended.
Kristelle (28:14):
While we wrap up season one so beautifully, with
the many lives that have comeacross that we've talked about
in this podcast.
Really quickly, 30 seconds,give me what you are grateful
for for 2023 and what you'rehopeful for 2024.
Jace (28:32):
I am most grateful for the people in my life.
Kristelle (28:35):
They have brought me through you took my week and
both be grateful for people.
Jace (28:40):
More than ever.
They brought me through thetough times.
They lifted me up in my high,my great times.
They, like my people, were theexample of my success this year.
Yeah, of all the work I've putinto being a person that has
these types of relationships andsupporting them myself, right.
So that's definitely the bigone.
And what was the other one I'mlooking for for 2024.
(29:00):
Yes, thriving, my foundation isset.
My stability is set.
I am a capable, adult humanperson, upward and onward.
Like you said, I see 2024 as areal, like upward growth year
for me.
That's exciting.
Kristelle (29:13):
2023 was same thing People, the people around me,
the company, the staff, the, myfamily, all of my family.
You know the wedding was reallythat precursor of, of or that,
that it painted the picture ofthe people we love so so dearly
friends, family, colleagues, itwas just a.
(29:35):
It was a beautiful mix ofpeople.
So the people I'm very gratefulfor in 2023, 2024, fucking
crushing it.
I'm so excited to see what isentail, like some of the clients
that we currently have havejust been really just doing so
good in their business,considering all the challenges
(29:57):
of last year and financial youknow, financial changes in our
economy and then the new onesthat we just recently brought on
.
It's just we were I was talkingto them on the way over here.
I'm going.
This is going to be a reallyfun project, right.
So 2024, I think it's justgoing to be a year just crushing
it, and you know we can alwayscrush it with just maintaining
this, that excitement ofstability.
(30:19):
Those words are not often usedinterchangeably, but I am.
I'm very excited for thestability this company is going
to have and I'm excited for thenew challenges that we're going
to face.
Jace (30:29):
So 2024 is going to be a great year, so stability is far
sexier than people think it is.
Kristelle (30:36):
Last words from Jace for 2023.
Thank you all so much for aphenomenal season.
Season one has been such a joy.
Thank you for seeing the good,the bad, the ugly of producing a
podcast together, but, mostimportantly, thank you.
Thank you for listening.
You're the reason why we areconstantly producing these
really phenomenal shows.
My thanks to Jace, my thanks toJustin and, most importantly,
(30:59):
thanks to the entire team at CRSfor letting us do this for
story, success and stuff.
We are looking for guests,we're looking for commentary.
We're looking for moreinvolvement from you, the
listener, for season two.
So if you want to subscribe,don't forget to visit CRScom,
don't forget to also like us,share us on your favorite social
media channel and, mostimportantly, thank you for being
(31:21):
a great listener of stories,success and stuff.
Season one.
Have a good one.
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