January 10, 2024 • 41 mins
“If you meet somebody for the first time, there are three things that you want them to go away with. You want them to remember your name, your business and what it is that you do.”
In this two part episode, I’ve invited back to The Future-Proof your Business Podcast the brilliant Vicky Labinger, the Fairy Godmother of Networking and the founder of the Get your Network Working Programme.
Vicky is a mum, wife, master to Bucky the black lab and a business owner. Vicky has an Interior Design business which we chatted about on episode 36, called My Claybrick Home. But since that conversation in the spring Vicky has launched her new business under her name: Vicky Labinger.
In part one of this episode, we have a great conversation about the rollercoaster ride of running your own business, the continuous learning and development that’s key to growing and future-proofing your business and the importance of staying ahead of the curve and on top of new technologies.
We chat about how the real value that you can offer your clients comes from your years of experience, the different paths and all the people you meet along the way. As Vicky says, she is exactly where she needs to be. She just wishes she was 10 years younger, maybe 20 because there's so much still to do.
And so if you do nothing else today, go and take Vicky’s quiz and share with us your score and your networking personality type, you’ll find the link below:
Vicky Labinger Resources:
Get your Network Working Programme - https://vickylabinger.com/get-your-network-working/
Take the Networking Personality quiz - https://networkingpersonality.scoreapp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/vickylabingerltd/
https://www.facebook.com/vicky.port.7
https://www.linkedin.com/in/vicky-labinger/
Resources
- Future-Proof your Business Webinar 18th April - sign up for my free interactive workshop
- https://www.iamlucyrennie.com - free downloadable resources, other episodes and more information about how to work with Lucy.
- Buy my book here
- Join me in my membership The Future-Proof Club here -
- The Future-Proof Club
- Episode 26- Are you really listening? https://www.iamlucyrennie.com/podcast/are-you-really-listening
- Episode 43 - Joining the Dots https://www.iamlucyrennie.com/insights/joining-the-dots-the-programme
Come and join me and lots of other small business owners like you in my FREE Facebook group:CWP (Communicate with Purpose) Group | Facebook
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Lucy Rennie (00:00):
Hi, and welcome to this week's episode of the
(00:02):
future TV business podcast andLucy Rennie. And this week, I am
absolutely thrilled to pieces towelcome back the absolutely
brilliant Vicky Labinger.
If you've been listening to thepodcast for a while you'll
recognise Vicky, she was onepisode 36. And we had a
(00:23):
brilliant conversation about allthe other sort of the things
that go on behind the sceneswhen you kind of leave in the
corporate role and when we'regoing into running your own
business and all the things thatcome with that. And but Vic has
come back today. And it'sexciting really to hear about
where she's up to and watch theher plans are. So for those who
don't know, Vicky, Vicky is amum, a wife, a master to Bucky,
(00:47):
the black lab, and she's also abusiness owner. And Vicky has
got an interior design business,which again, we talked about in
episode 36 called My Clayburgh.
Cone. And but since thatconversation in spring, Vicky
has launched her new businessunder her name, Vicky Labinger,
and having come out of acorporate career at age 50. And
even just over the last I don'tknow, time we've been together.
(01:11):
Well, we've been known eachother back, isn't it? We've seen
you your business has evolved.
But particularly over the lastthree years since you started.
And I know it's been a, youknow, a roller coaster ride,
which is tends to happen whenyou are a business owner. And in
her own words, Vicky says she'snow ready to get off the roller
coaster ride and has a clearplan of action for 2024 and
(01:32):
beyond. And so, in today'sepisode, I'm very excited
because we're gonna be reallydiving into this. And I'm gonna
let Vicky share more about it.
But there's a reason why we'realso recording this today so
that we can get this out in thenext few weeks. And let Vicky
really share more about herplans and what she's up to and
how she wants to really help youguys, business owners and people
(01:53):
to connect to network and to usethe power of people Lego that's
me on my soapbox all the powerof people I'm scrolling that one
down.
And I know that Vicky and I cantalk for hours so I'm excited to
see where this is gonna gotoday. Because yeah, it's it's
(02:15):
always a real joy to chat withVicky and and to kind of connect
and we actually met in person aswell didn't mean over the
So yeah, welcome Vicky to thepodcast, again.
summer.
Vicky Labinger (02:30):
I'm good. Thank you, we did meet in the summer.
And it's always it's alwaysthe right word. It's always
really good fun when you meetsomebody that you've been
chatting to that you feel likeyou know, but you've never
actually met. And I guess that'swhat a lot of COVID did for
people we started connectingwith people that perhaps we were
following, or we did a bit ofwork with, but then you really
find out that I am five foot oneand a half or five foot two, as
(02:52):
I tell my husband and you know,we find out what each other is
really about and what's reallylikes it was yeah, it's lovely
to meet you in the summer atthat day event. And that was a I
guess that was a kind of apivotal moment for me on getting
off this roller coaster becauseit was at that point, I was
really doing some kind of deepwork about what I wanted to do
next. So yeah, perfect timing tomeet you
Lucy Rennie (03:14):
know, it was definitely and like you say it's
it was it's surreal, isn't itbecause I think COVID Definitely
brought that where we'veactually been creating
relationships with people andmeeting people and really, you
know, kind of amazing that theyactually deep relationships with
people where you feel likeyou've known them for years,
whereas actually you haven'tactually met them so yeah, and
it's kind of that there's justsomething special about actually
(03:37):
meeting someone in person isn'tit in real life and in 3d and
seeing what I've gotso ya know, that was really cool
just to have a hug as well Ithink
Vicky Labinger (03:52):
so, and meet some lovely ladies in your
community as well because such agreat community of people in
they're all from different walksof life all with different
challenges personally and inbusiness. So just yeah, really
nice to meet everybody and inthat and help where we can
because that's what I'm allabout at the end of the day.
kind of help people get the mostfrom their business.
Lucy Rennie (04:13):
Yeah, definitely.
And we share the love for ournew toys, didn't we? I
Remarkables that are kind ofchanging our lives.
Vicky Labinger (04:20):
Yeah, you just got your son Yeah, get on with
it.
Lucy Rennie (04:22):
Yeah, love it. I love it. Yeah, it's it's amazing
actually how how quickly I'veembraced it and how it's
changed.
Vicky Labinger (04:31):
I was changing tack very slightly I was sat at
a networking event last weekwhere I am an ambassador for the
group which means I go along ona regular basis and and help
people that are new tonetworking get get what they
need from it. And I was sat nextnext to a very
it's got a very thick Irishaccent a builder. And he kept
(04:52):
looking over at me because I wasscribbling my notes on my
remarkable and at the end of themeeting, he said What on earth
is that? And I think by the endof it
need to be on? I need to be oncommission because by the end of
the conversation, he was onlineordering himself.
Lucy Rennie (05:05):
Well, you know what? That's so funny.
Vicky Labinger (05:08):
I forgot you put yours I forgot. Yeah.
Lucy Rennie (05:10):
And it's been it's such a conversation starter. And
I'm sure we'll talk about thatkind of thing. But actually,
it's been brilliant. And yeah, Iagree. I think we need to find
an affiliate link. Don't waitfor it.
Vicky Labinger (05:20):
But knowing they don't even sell them on Amazon,
I think we've pretty much got nohope on that one. You can only
buy them from remarkable. Soyes, if anyone wants a new
gadget for their Christmas list,Lucy and I highly recommend
eight remarkable, which is apaper like Notepad documents.
Lucy Rennie (05:39):
Yeah, it's kind of a perfect mix, isn't it for
those who like scribbling andpaper and having you know,
taking notes, but the fact thatthen it's, it's always with you?
Yeah. And it's digital. So itlinks with everything. So it's
kind of you save time in thesense that you can make your
notes directly and then emailand can't you to the client or
to you can if your writings goodenough.
Vicky Labinger (06:03):
Have you? Have you tried converting it to text?
Lucy Rennie (06:05):
Yes, it says.
Vicky Labinger (06:09):
I mean, I as somebody that is also a
designer, I mean, I've just beenat a client's this morning, and
I was sketching out what I wastrying to describe to her well,
then my sketch wasn't brillianton a particular wall. So it's
great for stuff like that,because I can sit draw, and
straightaway, they can see whatyou're after. So yes,
Lucy Rennie (06:28):
yeah. And there was no, yeah, there's no
notification, you know, if I getdistracted, can you but I found
I play with the fact that it ismy handwriting. So I've made
templates that I then send, andI write a little template as I
go along, which is written anddone. And then I'll kind of
write nicely ish on there andlegible enough for somebody to
(06:50):
read. It's quite quirky, Isuppose having it handwritten.
So yeah, yeah. Anyway.
Vicky Labinger (06:58):
Remarkable. I'd forgotten you for that, though.
When you just literally justsaid it delivered. And yeah,
Lucy Rennie (07:03):
yeah. And Emily's got one as well. You know, he
works.
Vicky Labinger (07:07):
She will. Emily, I think Emily had ordered us by
the time I'd leave the room.
Lucy Rennie (07:14):
So yes, um, it's just really nice to have you
back on the podcast. And in thissort of season two of the
podcast as well, I think it'snice to be kind of delving in
and kind of going into maybedeeper into different topics and
things as well. So having Vickihere today is great. And I want
(07:34):
to really, I'm dead excitedabout this. Because I've seen
Vicki talk about this topic andsort of share, I think that day
even in August, wasn't it? Youwere mapping out, you have post,
it's everywhere galore. And youwere kind of interviewing
people. And you know, I'm surewe'll talk a bit more about
that. But it was it was reallynice to see just how excited you
were and how your eyes were kindof sparkling at the idea of all
(07:58):
this? I think it was
Vicky Labinger (07:59):
no, it's definitely definitely caught me
on a sweet spot, moment ofrealisation of doing something,
something that I hadn't sort ofconsidered doing. But it was, is
a big passion and a big love ofmine. So you've got me on a good
day?
Lucy Rennie (08:13):
Yeah, no, it's good. And I think that's it. So
as I said, in the we mentionedin the in the introduction, so
you kind of, obviously, you hadan amazing corporate career,
which we've talked aboutpreviously, and then you've
pivoted into running your ownbusiness. And then we kind of
were coming to, I know, we'dalready had conversations about
where what that looked like, andyou were already sort of
(08:34):
thinking about, you know,because I think that's you don't
when you especially you and Iwere always thinking about we
always, always. And so tell us abit more than about this new
business, and how it's comeabout? And sort of Yeah, the
story behind it and kind of helpus catch up to where we are
(08:55):
today.
Vicky Labinger (08:57):
Yeah, well, I am, nine months out of a
corporate job. I started myinterior design business. And I
had a realisation that I coulddo more than one thing, which
was a bit of a light bulb forme. But when you've come out of
a regular paying job last Fridayof the month, for every month
for like 30 odd years, I neverreally considered I could do
(09:19):
more than one thing. And I had abit of a lightbulb moment to go.
I don't just have to be aninterior designer, I could do
something else as well. And so Itried some different things. I
tried some do some mentoringwith interior designers. I
wasn't sure if I was going tolike it. So I did some work,
(09:39):
which helped them and helped meto figure out what I wanted to
do. But I was I know I wasreally lucky to be able to have
time and space to test what Iwanted to do and how that really
resonated with people.
And that's really part of mybusiness. That's kind of morphed
so when I set up my claim backhome. As an interior design
(10:01):
business, there was a realbackstory behind that. So if
anyone was to listen to mybackstory, go listen to episode
36. Listen to Lucien all overagain,
Lucy Rennie (10:10):
our show notes, ease so where people can find
it. Yeah.
Vicky Labinger (10:16):
So there's quite a story behind why I called my
business that. But when Istarted to think about a new
form of business, I'd alwaysshied away from not from using
my name, because it's quitedifficult to pronounce you do
really well, because you get itright every time. But not
everybody does. And I thought,now you know what, if I am going
to go out as a businessconsultant networking guru,
(10:40):
people need to know who I am. Soyes, so the new business became
under my name, Vicki lab. Andjust so there is yes, the very
official business out there willpick you up and you're limited,
which feels very weird at theage of 54. But it was really
through testing out some newideas and some new approaches
that I came up with, like aframework for what I wanted that
(11:03):
business to be. And at the time,I didn't really know how I was
going to set that business up oroperate that business. So that's
where I then go to my all mypeeps, peeps, all the people
that I know for help. Yeah. ButI think you're
Lucy Rennie (11:19):
so good at that anyway, aren't you? I think
that's what I've always lovedabout you is, is just not being
afraid to ask questions, or testor try or kind of, you know, get
feedback, or just ask peoplewhat they think or just that
100. You know, it's and that's anice, isn't it? It's, you know,
(11:39):
you know, when
Vicky Labinger (11:40):
you're in a room, this just happened to me a
lot in my corporate career,because I used to work for a
software company. So there was alot of acronyms floating around
and a lot of jargon. And wewould sit in a meeting room, and
something would be said, and Ihad no idea what that meant. It
could have been an acronym. SoI'd always be the one to put my
hand up and say, I'm sorry to bea pain. But would you mind just
(12:02):
telling me what that stands for?
Because I have not heard thatbefore. And then I would
scribble it in my notes so thatI didn't ask the question again.
But so many people around meeither during the meeting or as
we came out went, Oh, I'm soglad you asked. Because I was
too afraid to ask it didn't wantto say so I'm the one that's
always happy to look like anumpty because I feel like if
you don't know something, you'renot going to learn unless you
(12:24):
ask the right question. So Iguess that's always been part of
my DNA really, to if somebodysays to me, you don't understand
it doesn't make you stupid, orthick. It just means that, yeah,
they've perhaps gone off onanother tangent. And I'm often
having this conversation withdesigners. When we talk in our
lovely, lovely language of 3dvisualisations and mood boards
(12:45):
and fabric specifications. Andlike people don't the general
public do not understand when weuse that language. So we need to
be really careful about how wetalk. Yeah,
Lucy Rennie (12:57):
it's great. And I think, you know, there's two
things that well, there's loadsof things we can pick them up,
but just the fact that at schoolshare in the fact that it's okay
to not know, do you know,actually, you can't know
something that you can't know,do you know, that you don't
know? And have been it been?
It's almost like, people don'twant to admit that they don't
know something. And I think it'sactually it's really brave to be
able to put your hand up andsay, Actually, I don't know. And
I think there's a lot ofrespect, actually, that comes
(13:18):
from that. Yeah,
Vicky Labinger (13:20):
I think so.
Yeah. I think a lot of peoplesee it as bravery to be like,
Oh, my God, you were so brave toput your hand up. And I don't
know whether there's somethingjust that's slightly wired
differently with me. And I'mlike, it doesn't feel brave. It
just feels like I need to knowthe information to be able to
make the next next bestdecision. That's right, whether
it's for me or my business, orsomething I'm working on. So
yeah, I'm always I'm always thepain that asks all the
(13:42):
questions.
Lucy Rennie (13:44):
But I think as long as it's kind of its goes with
that sort of thing. You know,it's okay, even like, if
somebody asks you a question, tobe able to say, I don't know the
answer that, but I'll go findout, or I'll go, you know, it's
that, isn't it? It's just beingable to do it. So yeah,
Vicky Labinger (13:57):
that's an interesting one, actually.
Because that used to happen alot. So whether I should put
this on a recording, you know, Iwould be at quite a big clients,
and the client would ask aquestion, and it would be very
much I have no idea the answerto that question. But the answer
was always, you know, that's areally good question. And you're
the first client that's asked methat, I think A, B, or C, but
(14:20):
I'm gonna go and check that foryou. But the thing would be to
always make sure you went backto them. So even though you
didn't know, even though youdidn't know the answer to the
question, as long as you wentback and clarified, it was
always good. So I am a bigbeliever in don't, you know,
there's only so much you can getaway with with if you don't know
(14:40):
the answer, then you go and findthe answer and communicate it as
quickly as you can. Yeah.
Lucy Rennie (14:47):
Yes, and kind of agrees with you, Mike.
Vicky Labinger (14:49):
I can see that I can see you in the background. I
Lucy Rennie (14:53):
just spoke to him.
I don't know what it is. But no,I agree with you. And I think
it's something Yeah, I'm alwayskind of Yeah, I think it's how
you manage it, isn't it? It'slike you say going quickly
responding and go finding theanswer or going coming back. And
you know, it's yeah, it's it'sreally important, but I wish
Yeah, I wish that's somethingthat I think we need to share
more. It's almost like makingmistakes are okay. Isn't it as
(15:16):
long as you Yeah, kind of, youknow, you learn from it and you
move forward and things. Andsometimes things can go wrong,
but it's how you deal with it,which is what you're saying. So
anyway, we've gone off onanother tangent, but go I'm
Vicky Labinger (15:27):
pretty numb for us. I
Lucy Rennie (15:29):
love it. Yeah.
Again, this way we can talk forhours can't be? Yeah, it's good.
But yeah, coming back to. So wewere talking you were talking
about how you've now moved alongto thinking about this new idea.
And using your name as well asyour brand for the second
business, which I did want totouch on? Yeah. What's the
(15:50):
difference? Then? Why is it feeldifferent using your name,
rather than a brand name, likemy clay brick house, what was
different about it?
Vicky Labinger (16:00):
I just I, it's funny, because I used to have a
consultancy business years ago,which was my surnames, port,
Royal consultants. And that feltthat felt fine as in surnames.
Because port was my first Mac,first married name, and royal
was my maiden name. So it waskind of a combination of two.
And interestingly, again, it waskind of an homage to my net, my
(16:23):
surname, which my dad gave me,which is kind of where my labour
camp comes from. So I don't knowif this this whole connotation
with my family and the history,but I didn't I just I added, I
just feels really weird to gofrom Essex having a business
that's her own name. But I wantpeople to know, it's me. And not
be, you know, it'd be somethingthat means I mean, doesn't mean
(16:47):
anything. Like if you saw myclay brick comb, you were like,
well, what, what type ofbusiness is that? I think it's,
you know, good can be the samewith a name. I don't know what
it is. It just feels weird tohave a business in your name. Do
you not feel that with yourname? Yeah, no, 100%? And that's
why I'm asking the question,because I mean, I am a grown up,
(17:08):
I'm, you know, I'm 50 Plus, thatsometimes I don't feel like a
grown up. Maybe that's what itis. Maybe I'm still Vicki that,
you know, we'd get told off inclass because she'd be chit
chatting or not causing troublebecause I was a good kid at
school. But, you know, the onlytime my name was really called
that I was in trouble forsomething. Yeah, it's
Lucy Rennie (17:26):
true. And I think, because you know, me, I'm always
on about the kind of peoplebehind the brand. And so making
it really personal and all thatfit. But there's something about
putting your name to it, which Iknow, I'm sure we talked about
this as well. But that shiftfrom corporate suddenly, it's
about you and I will come on tothis actually, I think in the
discussions we're going to haveabout how actually it's about
(17:49):
the difference between kind ofgoing and promoting somebody
else's business when you workfor a corporate but then
actually because it's yourbusiness and your net. Yeah,
something changes or I foundthat, you know, I can remember
the first networking meeting Iwent to it. Glossop Cricket
Club, it was a women'snetworking meeting. But it was
the first time I was stillbreastfeeding. And I had, you
(18:10):
know, I got in the lift and atSiena got MILCON and sad. Me I
was first I'm not one flip flopsfor six months. And I was kind
of stood in there to tremblingsaying this is who I am and what
I'm doing. And, you know, I'mused to speaking in front of
1000s of people in French andthen this tiny little room.
Yeah, really, you know? And Ithink it is because it was me
and my business and my brand andmy name not, you know somebody
(18:33):
else's think so that's why it'sinteresting, isn't it when that
juxtaposition of actually, yeah,we want to be off and own the
brand and things but actually,it's kind of brings another
dimension to it as well, doesn'tit? Which
Vicky Labinger (18:44):
is yeah, you are I mean, you are There's no
hiding at this point. There's nogoing Oh, it's you know, I'm
just part of another business.
I'm a you know, I'm, I'm just asmall player in another really
big cog of a wheel. Now, it ismy business and it you know,
it's me, I am a solo businessowner owner working with a
couple of you know, outsourceoutsourcing a couple of bits and
(19:04):
pieces, but it is me andtherefore it is my name. And
maybe I haven't maybe he hasn'ttweaked with me yet, but I feel
right about it. It just for me,it's more than this
pronunciation of my surnamethat, you know, I still thank my
husband for blessing eight yearsmarried last this week, and I
still thank him for thatsurname.
Lucy Rennie (19:24):
Yeah, yeah, it's such. I can't speak because I
get called antastic. You know,people have all sorts of things
for me with indigestion and allsorts of things. So I don't
think we're ever happier withit. But anyway, I'm always kind
of hearing more about the storythat and where you've come from.
(19:45):
So you were you this is what gotme going, wasn't it the fact
that you were asking your peoplewhat they thought and what the
feedback was and how you kind ofwent on about it and move
forward with it. So whathappened next then what how did
you kind of take Get to the nextstage. What was the next part of
Vicky Labinger (20:02):
it though I just something different for me,
normally what would happen is Iwould get an idea. And I would
just start to run with it. And Iwould, you know, find myself
down a rabbit hole of activityand work and kind of over
engineering ideas and scribblingon my big whiteboard. But I
actually, for the first time ina long time actually thought,
(20:23):
Well, no, hold on, let's planthis out properly. Let's really
think about what it is that Iwant to do. And I and I knew I
needed help. I knew I didn'twant to Well, like when I set up
my favourite comb, I did exactlythat I decided I was setting up
an interior design business, Idid everything I needed to do
and kind of went off in adirection. And I'd got onto a
(20:44):
bit of a roller coaster. And Idecided that that's not how I
wanted this new business to be.
So I reached out. And I've got abig network, I reached out to as
many people in my network as Icould for help. So I've got a
fantastic accountant called Dan,who bless him, I do ask some
stupid questions. Sometimes,he's very patient, and he will
(21:06):
always give me the right advicethat I need plus a little bit
extra. And then he goes off onone and I don't understand him,
and then I bring him back. Sothat's good. You know, I reached
out to people in my network forreally practical stuff like
website design, writing, copy,creating branding, rather than
sit there and squirrel awaytrying to do all that stuff
(21:26):
myself. I actually utilised anamazing group of people that
I've connected with over thelast couple of years, to
actually help me build mybusiness. And what's interesting
is, those guys feel reallyinvested now in what I've done,
because they're kind of part ofthe journey and the story, which
is really nice. So whenever I dopick up the phone and say, I've
(21:48):
got a really stupid question,can you help me with this?
They're like, yeah, what are weup to next? How's it
progressing? What are you movingforward? But they also know that
I look out for them. So ifthere's things I can help them
with, you know, it's very much atwo way street. So yeah, rather
than just go down a rabbit,Warren, and, you know, pop out
the bottom and think what was Idoing again, I actually used my,
(22:10):
my network to help me figure outhow the business was gonna hang
together. I kind of knew whatwhat I wanted to offer as part
of the services. But it was howI was going to put those
services into practice and thehelp I need you to do that.
Yeah. Always reach out to peopleI sitting in a shed at the
(22:32):
bottom of the garden five days aweek you do. Yeah, you will, I
will always reach out to peoplebecause it can be a lonely place
sometimes. Yeah,
Lucy Rennie (22:42):
you're particularly good at it on you. And what
really you're describing isengagement and all that, you
know, bringing people with you,isn't it and getting them
involved in that reciprocal twoway thing, which is the essence
of business and people. Yeah. Soit's just a so yeah. And, and
love. Yeah. And I've writtenhere, you know, is surrounding
(23:04):
yourself, isn't it with thosewhite people, but then actually,
bit sometimes just actuallybeing? Letting people in I think
is a scary thing for a lot ofpeople and actually sharing
ideas with them, or asking forhelp or admitting you don't
know, something, or all thosethings we've just talked about.
So I think that's really nice.
How did what we've not heard,though, is you? What were the
(23:24):
You said you'd had in your headwhat you wanted to do, how did
that evolve from being aninterior designer? So tell us
more about how you work that bitout? Or what that was? Because
that's a big thing in itself,isn't it in terms of goes back
to that always thinking? You'venot? Yes, that was the big thing
was becoming an interiordesigner, but then actually, you
realise there was more to itthan that. And that's kind of
(23:48):
where this came from, isn't it?
Vicky Labinger (23:50):
Yeah, yeah. So first of all, I've really
started to work specificallywith interior designers. So I
realised I could take what Iknew from the business world,
and help interior designers ontheir own business journey. So I
wasn't helping designers withyou know how to put a great
design together or you know,what the right shade of green
(24:11):
was or where you buy your fabricsamples from, but it was more
around how they set themselvesup as a business. And so
offering some differentservices, whether it was in a
kind of group environment, oryou know, first look or one to
one mentoring a different typesof workshops. So I started in
very much in my field, and I, Iguess there's a level of safety
(24:34):
in that, in that. I knew a lotabout business. And I'd learned
a lot about interior design in avery short space of time, and
I'm married the two together, soit felt pretty safe. It didn't
feel like I was putting my headtoo far above the parapet to be
like, Oh my God, it's quitescary out there. But at the same
(24:55):
time I have and I still have acommunity that I, I work with on
a regular basis to help themwith their their designs, that
I, having had a, you know, abigger conversation, I realised
that there was more to what Iwas doing than just the interior
design work. And I think that'sbeen quite a difficult decision
(25:17):
for me because I started, youknow, I came out of corporate
and I started a business, and Iset my stall out. And it's like,
I've, I've set myself in adirection and off I go, Is it
okay to then change direction?
And I, I fought with that forquite a long time in terms of
No, I said I was going to dothis. And I am a bit like that.
If I say, I'm going to dosomething, I do it. Is it
(25:39):
alright to change. And Icouldn't figure that out on my
own. And I've had to get someoneelse to help me to figure out
that it was actually okay tochange direction and do
something new. Yeah,
Lucy Rennie (25:53):
that's really interesting. Because it's such a
good point that we do, don't we,it's almost kind of you think
once you've set down your mark,and that's where you're going,
it's kind of sticking to it, andyou don't want to be solid,
wrong or anything. Whereasactually interesting, actually,
as, as you were speaking, thenI've actually written down,
listening, and noticing. Andactually, so the fact that for
(26:16):
me, I think that's what it isabout future proofing your
business, you've got to keeplistening and tweaking. And, you
know, and noticing where thewhat people need from you and
what how you can add value,isn't it? And it's almost the
opposite. Now, I think there'ssomething really valuable about
actually being agile, and movingyour business in the right way
or in a different way to meetwhere you know, meet your
(26:38):
clients or the meet the demandwhere it is. So yeah, it's
really interesting how that canshift. Yeah,
Vicky Labinger (26:43):
I don't I'm not sure there's a one size fits all
model. Yeah. No. I mean, I usedto work in fashion retailing,
and it's part of corporate andwe'd always have products in
that, you know, well, one sizegarments. And it would be like,
Well, yeah, it's either going todrown somebody or it's going to
be a little bit tight. It's aone size fits all. That's
certainly not what I'm seeing.
Every kind of proposal I put outto a client now is, is bespoke
(27:07):
to what their needs are, becauseit's about listening. And
actually, one of the things thatI've done more recently with
proposals I'm writing is is myfirst section, going to
reference it's a continent, whata chord, it is my like, what I
heard section, and it's playingback to people what they're
saying. And it's, it's beenreally interesting, because
people have said to me, is thatwhat I said? I said, Well, yeah,
(27:29):
cuz that's what I wrote down.
And they're like, oh, and it'sthe first time people themselves
have verbalising, what it isthey want, and therefore, that's
what I'm hearing, and then I'mplaying it back to them. And
they're going, yeah, that iswhat I want. And so that's been
quite an interesting dynamic,but I've never been very good at
listening. So I'm trying muchharder at it.
Lucy Rennie (27:53):
You know, it's, it's, it's really interesting.
So when I did my coaching,qualification, enjoying COVID,
one of the big aha moments wasthat was actually just being
able to really, really listenand real and notice how, how
crap everybody is listening. Andthat actually, no one really
(28:14):
does listen, you're onlylistening really to speak back
or to share your thing or towait and to kind of, and so to
really, there's a book, in fact,I'll pop it in the links called
time to think by Nancy Klein.
And it's all about creating thatsafe space for people to think
so the fact that if you've gotsomeone listening to you, who
you know, isn't, isn't listeningto speak again, but is actually
(28:38):
just holding that space and justactually giving you space to, to
listen, and to think it'samazing what comes out and how
you can act. It's just, it's,it's incredible. So it changed
my life, actually, that sothat's just coming back to that.
I think that's what you're doingis actually you're giving people
say, a safe space to kind ofshare their ideas and do and
(29:00):
then you're reflecting back,which is it's amazing. So yeah,
so I could I could speak forweeks and weeks and weeks about
the power of listening andwants, you know, and you notice
in groups or conversations ormeetings, just how little people
listen, even at family, youknow, even just like, at home,
with your husband or whatever.
And the fact that you know,
Vicky Labinger (29:20):
you're not did not just want to walk around
with a roller gaffa tape. Safepeople that Be quiet. Yeah,
yeah. But then on
Lucy Rennie (29:29):
the opposite side, when you actually seriously sit
there and sit your mouth up. Andlike even uncomfortably
sometimes just really not replyor dive in. You can see what
it's amazing the impact has onpeople when they actually
realise that you're not going todive in and they can just hold
the thought and think for aminute and then something else
(29:49):
will come. Yeah, you know, it'samazing.
Vicky Labinger (29:52):
I mean, that's that. If I think about it now
that's, I guess what happened tome in a role reversal kind of
way. I just really bizarre tothink about it. Now, when I did
some initial work with Zoe,which was when I kind of figured
out what I want to do now andhow I'm going to take this
forward into 2024, and 2025,she, I have, as much as I've got
(30:17):
an amazing network, I will go tomy network and say, I need help
with A, B, and C. And dependingon what field of business people
are in, they'll go, I can helpyou with a, b, and c, here's the
answers you need. Off you go. Ineeded a space where there
wasn't necess, I wasn'tnecessarily going to go with the
questions. And I certainlydidn't know the answers. And
(30:38):
that was when I spent a day wasevery day that she started
asking me questions. And I wouldgo little rabbit off. But she
was watching and listening towhat I was saying, but also how
I was emotionally when I wastalking about certain subjects.
So at that time, I was, youknow, really fighting about what
(31:00):
I was going to do with myinterior design business and
what to go away, do next. Andshe asked me a very pointed
question about a topic we weretalking about. And I was like,
Oh, my God, you know, when youhave that moment, where you
think, why is it taking somebodyelse to figure out what I need
to do? I should have known thatall along, and you kind of beat
yourself up for five minutesover and then you're like,
(31:20):
because you're so stuck in theweeds all the time. You're not
necessarily figuring it out. Butby her listening to me and
giving me space to kind of blurtout everything I needed to say
helped me then figure out what Ineed what I was going to do next
and what I am doing next. Yeah,
Lucy Rennie (31:40):
yeah, it's powerful stuff, isn't it? Yeah. Yeah.
Yeah, it's really good. So yeah,I'm on a mission. Well, I'll
share the link to the book inthe in the I've written it down,
it's gonna
Vicky Labinger (31:50):
put it on a Christmas list. It's,
Lucy Rennie (31:53):
yeah, we'll do that. And then we'll come back
on in January when you readchapter. Because yeah, we'll
just we'll record a silentYeah, definitely. Yeah, so I'm
just that's one other thing Iwanted to pick up on. Because
I've written here as well, yousaid, you talked about when you
(32:15):
made the shift, and you startedhelping interior designers with
their business, you said it feltsafe to do that, because you
were in your kind of area thatyou knew, and it was business
that you weren't, you've kind ofyou were putting your head above
the parapet, but it wasn't toofar, you carry out what you were
saying. And it's reallyinteresting, because, again, I
think that's something that wedon't give ourselves credit for
(32:39):
when we think about actually theexpertise or experience and
things that you've got enableenabling us to be able to, you
know, support you're like you'redoing supporting your clients
with all the business acumen andknowledge and experience and all
those things. But actually,that's what makes you you, and
what adds the value is the factthat you've got all that
background, and you've got allthat knowledge of business to be
(33:00):
able to apply it to interior, isthat kind of like it's no
brainer, isn't it that you'd beable to yeah, I've never run a
business before. It's, I alwayshad it this way, I had a bit of
a moment of self really where Ikind of went, you know what,
actually, that's probably why Ido work in industry and
manufacturing a lot. And becausewhat makes me a bit different to
maybe other people who come outof marketing school or income
school, because I get what anISO accreditation is or what it
(33:24):
is. Or I understand, you know,stupid things that we just take
for granted. Whereas actually,unless you've been in that
industry, and you know what itis, and you've kind of seen it,
and you So yeah, that's it, Ijust wanted to share that. I
think it's
Vicky Labinger (33:40):
the language that we talk about the
challenges that we have, youknow, even down to when you have
a tricky one, you know, theconversation got caught off in
his head is should I sack myclient, because class can be
tricky. When you're working withpeople in their homes. It can be
(34:01):
tricky. And so there are beingable to have that empathy of,
I've been there, I've got the tshirt. I know what you're
talking about. This is how Ihandled it. This, you know,
because we've all been through,you know, whatever our pricing
structure needs to be adifficult client, you know,
being ghosted by people thatwant to do work, but then don't
get attached. You know, we'veall been through the mail and I
(34:23):
just can put a spin on it forthem. That means I've I've been
there. I've done that. I've gotthe t shirt, and I understand
what you're what you're goingthrough. Let me help you get
through the truth. Yeah,
Lucy Rennie (34:36):
yeah, it's exactly that. And I think sometimes we
don't put in a value on that orwe don't recognise the value in
the fact that we do know thatindustry from the other side or
we do know you know, that yeah,that it is there and that you
can actually yeah, it makes itOh, not necessarily quicker, but
it means that you can you canreally go deeper into a topic
because actually you get it andyou can understand it and
Vicky Labinger (34:57):
yeah, it's really interesting. Actually,
I've just picked up a As part ofmy kind of business consulting
side now under Vicki lab injure,I've just picked up a new client
that she's got a really strongand established business. And I
sort of been honest and said,you know, you're doing a really
good job I can, I can tinkerwith it with you. But that's not
the value I'm going to bring.
But she also wants to launch a ecommerce business, for I won't
(35:21):
say too much, because it's allin the all in the building and
the planning, but she wants tobuild an E commerce business
where she's selling a productand creating a brand, while I
worked in E commerce sales forthe most part a corporate for 15
years. And it's just reallyweird that we've connected and
(35:41):
she wants to build thisbusiness. And when I wrote all a
list of all the things that sheneeded to think about, she was
like, Well, how did you knowthis? And that, because that's
what I've done. It's coming backto my roots. Again, I do think
we come full circle eventually,don't worry. It has nothing to
do with interior design. Butit's you know, it's how to build
a brand, put all your operationstogether, what's your customer
(36:04):
service is going to look like,where you're going to source
your products from that that wasmy background for many years.
Yeah, to be coming full circleon that now just feels really
weird. But that's, I guess,using our experience in the
right way. Yeah.
Lucy Rennie (36:20):
And it almost goes back to talking about our brands
in the beginning, you know, howwe're saying about being owning
it and our own brand. Because Ithink sometimes when we start
something we can have, You'vealmost got a tendency to kind of
go, I'm starting with a cleansheet. So forget what I've done,
because this is new, baby, youknow, it's a whole new thing,
whereas it's not a total. That'srubbish. That's what it what
(36:41):
makes it work is the fact thatyou have got, and we can say
that because the age that weare, but we have got all that
baggage and that, you know,roller coaster ride that we've
been on
Vicky Labinger (36:50):
wrinkles. Yeah, exactly. But that,
Lucy Rennie (36:53):
let us embrace it, rather than being scared about
it. Let's actually I thinkthat's the bit where I'm forever
trying to encourage clients to,to own it and think about it and
then communicate that becausethat's the thing that's going to
make them unique, that's theirLego bricks, that's the thing
that's gonna make them fit withthose people. And you know,
that's the value that you'regoing to add. It's not
necessarily the, the thing thatpeople come to you for that is
(37:16):
actually where they're going tosee the you know, how they're
going to see the results.
Vicky Labinger (37:19):
So yeah, when I remember working with a lady,
before I started my interiordesign business, and I used to
say to I'm so annoyed at myself,I'm sorry, like, Why did I not
do this sooner? Why did I staydoing what I was doing. And I
loved my job, I didn't hate myjob. I wasn't in a position
where I was like, you know, itwas terrible to get out. But I
actually really enjoyed it. Ijust, it wasn't what I wanted to
(37:42):
do for the next sort of part ofmy life. And she just she always
used to say to me, she just socalm down back, she says you're
exactly where you're supposed tobe. You needed to have done all
of those things before, to bewhere you are now. And, and it's
really interesting. I, I hear avoice in my head every once in a
while because I think this ladythat I'm I'm working with around
(38:02):
the E commerce business, youknow, we would have probably
never connected unless I'd goneon the journey that I've gone.
You know, setting up an interiordesign business, joining a
network, creating connections.
Yeah, and all that good stuff.
We've never crossed paths. So Iam exactly where I need to be. I
just wish I was 10 yearsyounger, maybe 20. Because
(38:24):
there's so much still to do. Somuch to do.
Lucy Rennie (38:28):
And on that note, Vicki, I think we're exactly
where we need to be to. I'm withyou on that. I wish I was 10
years younger, too, becausethere's so much that I want to
do. And that's what's excitingwhen I'm chatting with you
because this year we sort ofseem to be bouncing ideas off
each other, don't we and andknow that we're? Yeah, we've
both got heads buzzing withideas. And I know there's
(38:49):
there's so much more for us tochat about today. But I think
actually we need to let ourlisteners maybe get some work
done or get on with their day.
So I'm going to break here andend part one of this wonderful
conversation. And I inviteeveryone to come back and listen
to part two and hear more aboutVicki's new project, which is
all about becoming the fairygodmother of networking. So
(39:12):
please come back and listen andtune in to part two of this
conversation with the brilliantVicky Latvija thank you so much
for listening
Hi, and welcome to this week's episode of the
(00:02):
future TV business podcast andLucy Rennie. And this week, I am
absolutely thrilled to pieces towelcome back the absolutely
brilliant Vicky Labinger.
If you've been listening to thepodcast for a while you'll
recognise Vicky, she was onepisode 36. And we had a
(00:23):
brilliant conversation about allthe other sort of the things
that go on behind the sceneswhen you kind of leave in the
corporate role and when we'regoing into running your own
business and all the things thatcome with that. And but Vic has
come back today. And it'sexciting really to hear about
where she's up to and watch theher plans are. So for those who
don't know, Vicky, Vicky is amum, a wife, a master to Bucky,
(00:47):
the black lab, and she's also abusiness owner. And Vicky has
got an interior design business,which again, we talked about in
episode 36 called My Clayburgh.
Cone. And but since thatconversation in spring, Vicky
has launched her new businessunder her name, Vicky Labinger,
and having come out of acorporate career at age 50. And
even just over the last I don'tknow, time we've been together.
(01:11):
Well, we've been known eachother back, isn't it? We've seen
you your business has evolved.
But particularly over the lastthree years since you started.
And I know it's been a, youknow, a roller coaster ride,
which is tends to happen whenyou are a business owner. And in
her own words, Vicky says she'snow ready to get off the roller
coaster ride and has a clearplan of action for 2024 and
(01:32):
beyond. And so, in today'sepisode, I'm very excited
because we're gonna be reallydiving into this. And I'm gonna
let Vicky share more about it.
But there's a reason why we'realso recording this today so
that we can get this out in thenext few weeks. And let Vicky
really share more about herplans and what she's up to and
how she wants to really help youguys, business owners and people
(01:53):
to connect to network and to usethe power of people Lego that's
me on my soapbox all the powerof people I'm scrolling that one
down.
And I know that Vicky and I cantalk for hours so I'm excited to
see where this is gonna gotoday. Because yeah, it's it's
(02:15):
always a real joy to chat withVicky and and to kind of connect
and we actually met in person aswell didn't mean over the
So yeah, welcome Vicky to thepodcast, again.
summer.
Vicky Labinger (02:30):
I'm good. Thank you, we did meet in the summer.
And it's always it's alwaysthe right word. It's always
really good fun when you meetsomebody that you've been
chatting to that you feel likeyou know, but you've never
actually met. And I guess that'swhat a lot of COVID did for
people we started connectingwith people that perhaps we were
following, or we did a bit ofwork with, but then you really
find out that I am five foot oneand a half or five foot two, as
(02:52):
I tell my husband and you know,we find out what each other is
really about and what's reallylikes it was yeah, it's lovely
to meet you in the summer atthat day event. And that was a I
guess that was a kind of apivotal moment for me on getting
off this roller coaster becauseit was at that point, I was
really doing some kind of deepwork about what I wanted to do
next. So yeah, perfect timing tomeet you
Lucy Rennie (03:14):
know, it was definitely and like you say it's
it was it's surreal, isn't itbecause I think COVID Definitely
brought that where we'veactually been creating
relationships with people andmeeting people and really, you
know, kind of amazing that theyactually deep relationships with
people where you feel likeyou've known them for years,
whereas actually you haven'tactually met them so yeah, and
it's kind of that there's justsomething special about actually
(03:37):
meeting someone in person isn'tit in real life and in 3d and
seeing what I've gotso ya know, that was really cool
just to have a hug as well Ithink
Vicky Labinger (03:52):
so, and meet some lovely ladies in your
community as well because such agreat community of people in
they're all from different walksof life all with different
challenges personally and inbusiness. So just yeah, really
nice to meet everybody and inthat and help where we can
because that's what I'm allabout at the end of the day.
kind of help people get the mostfrom their business.
Lucy Rennie (04:13):
Yeah, definitely.
And we share the love for ournew toys, didn't we? I
Remarkables that are kind ofchanging our lives.
Vicky Labinger (04:20):
Yeah, you just got your son Yeah, get on with
it.
Lucy Rennie (04:22):
Yeah, love it. I love it. Yeah, it's it's amazing
actually how how quickly I'veembraced it and how it's
changed.
Vicky Labinger (04:31):
I was changing tack very slightly I was sat at
a networking event last weekwhere I am an ambassador for the
group which means I go along ona regular basis and and help
people that are new tonetworking get get what they
need from it. And I was sat nextnext to a very
it's got a very thick Irishaccent a builder. And he kept
(04:52):
looking over at me because I wasscribbling my notes on my
remarkable and at the end of themeeting, he said What on earth
is that? And I think by the endof it
need to be on? I need to be oncommission because by the end of
the conversation, he was onlineordering himself.
Lucy Rennie (05:05):
Well, you know what? That's so funny.
Vicky Labinger (05:08):
I forgot you put yours I forgot. Yeah.
Lucy Rennie (05:10):
And it's been it's such a conversation starter. And
I'm sure we'll talk about thatkind of thing. But actually,
it's been brilliant. And yeah, Iagree. I think we need to find
an affiliate link. Don't waitfor it.
Vicky Labinger (05:20):
But knowing they don't even sell them on Amazon,
I think we've pretty much got nohope on that one. You can only
buy them from remarkable. Soyes, if anyone wants a new
gadget for their Christmas list,Lucy and I highly recommend
eight remarkable, which is apaper like Notepad documents.
Lucy Rennie (05:39):
Yeah, it's kind of a perfect mix, isn't it for
those who like scribbling andpaper and having you know,
taking notes, but the fact thatthen it's, it's always with you?
Yeah. And it's digital. So itlinks with everything. So it's
kind of you save time in thesense that you can make your
notes directly and then emailand can't you to the client or
to you can if your writings goodenough.
Vicky Labinger (06:03):
Have you? Have you tried converting it to text?
Lucy Rennie (06:05):
Yes, it says.
Vicky Labinger (06:09):
I mean, I as somebody that is also a
designer, I mean, I've just beenat a client's this morning, and
I was sketching out what I wastrying to describe to her well,
then my sketch wasn't brillianton a particular wall. So it's
great for stuff like that,because I can sit draw, and
straightaway, they can see whatyou're after. So yes,
Lucy Rennie (06:28):
yeah. And there was no, yeah, there's no
notification, you know, if I getdistracted, can you but I found
I play with the fact that it ismy handwriting. So I've made
templates that I then send, andI write a little template as I
go along, which is written anddone. And then I'll kind of
write nicely ish on there andlegible enough for somebody to
(06:50):
read. It's quite quirky, Isuppose having it handwritten.
So yeah, yeah. Anyway.
Vicky Labinger (06:58):
Remarkable. I'd forgotten you for that, though.
When you just literally justsaid it delivered. And yeah,
Lucy Rennie (07:03):
yeah. And Emily's got one as well. You know, he
works.
Vicky Labinger (07:07):
She will. Emily, I think Emily had ordered us by
the time I'd leave the room.
Lucy Rennie (07:14):
So yes, um, it's just really nice to have you
back on the podcast. And in thissort of season two of the
podcast as well, I think it'snice to be kind of delving in
and kind of going into maybedeeper into different topics and
things as well. So having Vickihere today is great. And I want
(07:34):
to really, I'm dead excitedabout this. Because I've seen
Vicki talk about this topic andsort of share, I think that day
even in August, wasn't it? Youwere mapping out, you have post,
it's everywhere galore. And youwere kind of interviewing
people. And you know, I'm surewe'll talk a bit more about
that. But it was it was reallynice to see just how excited you
were and how your eyes were kindof sparkling at the idea of all
(07:58):
this? I think it was
Vicky Labinger (07:59):
no, it's definitely definitely caught me
on a sweet spot, moment ofrealisation of doing something,
something that I hadn't sort ofconsidered doing. But it was, is
a big passion and a big love ofmine. So you've got me on a good
day?
Lucy Rennie (08:13):
Yeah, no, it's good. And I think that's it. So
as I said, in the we mentionedin the in the introduction, so
you kind of, obviously, you hadan amazing corporate career,
which we've talked aboutpreviously, and then you've
pivoted into running your ownbusiness. And then we kind of
were coming to, I know, we'dalready had conversations about
where what that looked like, andyou were already sort of
(08:34):
thinking about, you know,because I think that's you don't
when you especially you and Iwere always thinking about we
always, always. And so tell us abit more than about this new
business, and how it's comeabout? And sort of Yeah, the
story behind it and kind of helpus catch up to where we are
(08:55):
today.
Vicky Labinger (08:57):
Yeah, well, I am, nine months out of a
corporate job. I started myinterior design business. And I
had a realisation that I coulddo more than one thing, which
was a bit of a light bulb forme. But when you've come out of
a regular paying job last Fridayof the month, for every month
for like 30 odd years, I neverreally considered I could do
(09:19):
more than one thing. And I had abit of a lightbulb moment to go.
I don't just have to be aninterior designer, I could do
something else as well. And so Itried some different things. I
tried some do some mentoringwith interior designers. I
wasn't sure if I was going tolike it. So I did some work,
(09:39):
which helped them and helped meto figure out what I wanted to
do. But I was I know I wasreally lucky to be able to have
time and space to test what Iwanted to do and how that really
resonated with people.
And that's really part of mybusiness. That's kind of morphed
so when I set up my claim backhome. As an interior design
(10:01):
business, there was a realbackstory behind that. So if
anyone was to listen to mybackstory, go listen to episode
36. Listen to Lucien all overagain,
Lucy Rennie (10:10):
our show notes, ease so where people can find
it. Yeah.
Vicky Labinger (10:16):
So there's quite a story behind why I called my
business that. But when Istarted to think about a new
form of business, I'd alwaysshied away from not from using
my name, because it's quitedifficult to pronounce you do
really well, because you get itright every time. But not
everybody does. And I thought,now you know what, if I am going
to go out as a businessconsultant networking guru,
(10:40):
people need to know who I am. Soyes, so the new business became
under my name, Vicki lab. Andjust so there is yes, the very
official business out there willpick you up and you're limited,
which feels very weird at theage of 54. But it was really
through testing out some newideas and some new approaches
that I came up with, like aframework for what I wanted that
(11:03):
business to be. And at the time,I didn't really know how I was
going to set that business up oroperate that business. So that's
where I then go to my all mypeeps, peeps, all the people
that I know for help. Yeah. ButI think you're
Lucy Rennie (11:19):
so good at that anyway, aren't you? I think
that's what I've always lovedabout you is, is just not being
afraid to ask questions, or testor try or kind of, you know, get
feedback, or just ask peoplewhat they think or just that
100. You know, it's and that's anice, isn't it? It's, you know,
(11:39):
you know, when
Vicky Labinger (11:40):
you're in a room, this just happened to me a
lot in my corporate career,because I used to work for a
software company. So there was alot of acronyms floating around
and a lot of jargon. And wewould sit in a meeting room, and
something would be said, and Ihad no idea what that meant. It
could have been an acronym. SoI'd always be the one to put my
hand up and say, I'm sorry to bea pain. But would you mind just
(12:02):
telling me what that stands for?
Because I have not heard thatbefore. And then I would
scribble it in my notes so thatI didn't ask the question again.
But so many people around meeither during the meeting or as
we came out went, Oh, I'm soglad you asked. Because I was
too afraid to ask it didn't wantto say so I'm the one that's
always happy to look like anumpty because I feel like if
you don't know something, you'renot going to learn unless you
(12:24):
ask the right question. So Iguess that's always been part of
my DNA really, to if somebodysays to me, you don't understand
it doesn't make you stupid, orthick. It just means that, yeah,
they've perhaps gone off onanother tangent. And I'm often
having this conversation withdesigners. When we talk in our
lovely, lovely language of 3dvisualisations and mood boards
(12:45):
and fabric specifications. Andlike people don't the general
public do not understand when weuse that language. So we need to
be really careful about how wetalk. Yeah,
Lucy Rennie (12:57):
it's great. And I think, you know, there's two
things that well, there's loadsof things we can pick them up,
but just the fact that at schoolshare in the fact that it's okay
to not know, do you know,actually, you can't know
something that you can't know,do you know, that you don't
know? And have been it been?
It's almost like, people don'twant to admit that they don't
know something. And I think it'sactually it's really brave to be
able to put your hand up andsay, Actually, I don't know. And
I think there's a lot ofrespect, actually, that comes
(13:18):
from that. Yeah,
Vicky Labinger (13:20):
I think so.
Yeah. I think a lot of peoplesee it as bravery to be like,
Oh, my God, you were so brave toput your hand up. And I don't
know whether there's somethingjust that's slightly wired
differently with me. And I'mlike, it doesn't feel brave. It
just feels like I need to knowthe information to be able to
make the next next bestdecision. That's right, whether
it's for me or my business, orsomething I'm working on. So
yeah, I'm always I'm always thepain that asks all the
(13:42):
questions.
Lucy Rennie (13:44):
But I think as long as it's kind of its goes with
that sort of thing. You know,it's okay, even like, if
somebody asks you a question, tobe able to say, I don't know the
answer that, but I'll go findout, or I'll go, you know, it's
that, isn't it? It's just beingable to do it. So yeah,
Vicky Labinger (13:57):
that's an interesting one, actually.
Because that used to happen alot. So whether I should put
this on a recording, you know, Iwould be at quite a big clients,
and the client would ask aquestion, and it would be very
much I have no idea the answerto that question. But the answer
was always, you know, that's areally good question. And you're
the first client that's asked methat, I think A, B, or C, but
(14:20):
I'm gonna go and check that foryou. But the thing would be to
always make sure you went backto them. So even though you
didn't know, even though youdidn't know the answer to the
question, as long as you wentback and clarified, it was
always good. So I am a bigbeliever in don't, you know,
there's only so much you can getaway with with if you don't know
(14:40):
the answer, then you go and findthe answer and communicate it as
quickly as you can. Yeah.
Lucy Rennie (14:47):
Yes, and kind of agrees with you, Mike.
Vicky Labinger (14:49):
I can see that I can see you in the background. I
Lucy Rennie (14:53):
just spoke to him.
I don't know what it is. But no,I agree with you. And I think
it's something Yeah, I'm alwayskind of Yeah, I think it's how
you manage it, isn't it? It'slike you say going quickly
responding and go finding theanswer or going coming back. And
you know, it's yeah, it's it'sreally important, but I wish
Yeah, I wish that's somethingthat I think we need to share
more. It's almost like makingmistakes are okay. Isn't it as
(15:16):
long as you Yeah, kind of, youknow, you learn from it and you
move forward and things. Andsometimes things can go wrong,
but it's how you deal with it,which is what you're saying. So
anyway, we've gone off onanother tangent, but go I'm
Vicky Labinger (15:27):
pretty numb for us. I
Lucy Rennie (15:29):
love it. Yeah.
Again, this way we can talk forhours can't be? Yeah, it's good.
But yeah, coming back to. So wewere talking you were talking
about how you've now moved alongto thinking about this new idea.
And using your name as well asyour brand for the second
business, which I did want totouch on? Yeah. What's the
(15:50):
difference? Then? Why is it feeldifferent using your name,
rather than a brand name, likemy clay brick house, what was
different about it?
Vicky Labinger (16:00):
I just I, it's funny, because I used to have a
consultancy business years ago,which was my surnames, port,
Royal consultants. And that feltthat felt fine as in surnames.
Because port was my first Mac,first married name, and royal
was my maiden name. So it waskind of a combination of two.
And interestingly, again, it waskind of an homage to my net, my
(16:23):
surname, which my dad gave me,which is kind of where my labour
camp comes from. So I don't knowif this this whole connotation
with my family and the history,but I didn't I just I added, I
just feels really weird to gofrom Essex having a business
that's her own name. But I wantpeople to know, it's me. And not
be, you know, it'd be somethingthat means I mean, doesn't mean
(16:47):
anything. Like if you saw myclay brick comb, you were like,
well, what, what type ofbusiness is that? I think it's,
you know, good can be the samewith a name. I don't know what
it is. It just feels weird tohave a business in your name. Do
you not feel that with yourname? Yeah, no, 100%? And that's
why I'm asking the question,because I mean, I am a grown up,
(17:08):
I'm, you know, I'm 50 Plus, thatsometimes I don't feel like a
grown up. Maybe that's what itis. Maybe I'm still Vicki that,
you know, we'd get told off inclass because she'd be chit
chatting or not causing troublebecause I was a good kid at
school. But, you know, the onlytime my name was really called
that I was in trouble forsomething. Yeah, it's
Lucy Rennie (17:26):
true. And I think, because you know, me, I'm always
on about the kind of peoplebehind the brand. And so making
it really personal and all thatfit. But there's something about
putting your name to it, which Iknow, I'm sure we talked about
this as well. But that shiftfrom corporate suddenly, it's
about you and I will come on tothis actually, I think in the
discussions we're going to haveabout how actually it's about
(17:49):
the difference between kind ofgoing and promoting somebody
else's business when you workfor a corporate but then
actually because it's yourbusiness and your net. Yeah,
something changes or I foundthat, you know, I can remember
the first networking meeting Iwent to it. Glossop Cricket
Club, it was a women'snetworking meeting. But it was
the first time I was stillbreastfeeding. And I had, you
(18:10):
know, I got in the lift and atSiena got MILCON and sad. Me I
was first I'm not one flip flopsfor six months. And I was kind
of stood in there to tremblingsaying this is who I am and what
I'm doing. And, you know, I'mused to speaking in front of
1000s of people in French andthen this tiny little room.
Yeah, really, you know? And Ithink it is because it was me
and my business and my brand andmy name not, you know somebody
(18:33):
else's think so that's why it'sinteresting, isn't it when that
juxtaposition of actually, yeah,we want to be off and own the
brand and things but actually,it's kind of brings another
dimension to it as well, doesn'tit? Which
Vicky Labinger (18:44):
is yeah, you are I mean, you are There's no
hiding at this point. There's nogoing Oh, it's you know, I'm
just part of another business.
I'm a you know, I'm, I'm just asmall player in another really
big cog of a wheel. Now, it ismy business and it you know,
it's me, I am a solo businessowner owner working with a
couple of you know, outsourceoutsourcing a couple of bits and
(19:04):
pieces, but it is me andtherefore it is my name. And
maybe I haven't maybe he hasn'ttweaked with me yet, but I feel
right about it. It just for me,it's more than this
pronunciation of my surnamethat, you know, I still thank my
husband for blessing eight yearsmarried last this week, and I
still thank him for thatsurname.
Lucy Rennie (19:24):
Yeah, yeah, it's such. I can't speak because I
get called antastic. You know,people have all sorts of things
for me with indigestion and allsorts of things. So I don't
think we're ever happier withit. But anyway, I'm always kind
of hearing more about the storythat and where you've come from.
(19:45):
So you were you this is what gotme going, wasn't it the fact
that you were asking your peoplewhat they thought and what the
feedback was and how you kind ofwent on about it and move
forward with it. So whathappened next then what how did
you kind of take Get to the nextstage. What was the next part of
Vicky Labinger (20:02):
it though I just something different for me,
normally what would happen is Iwould get an idea. And I would
just start to run with it. And Iwould, you know, find myself
down a rabbit hole of activityand work and kind of over
engineering ideas and scribblingon my big whiteboard. But I
actually, for the first time ina long time actually thought,
(20:23):
Well, no, hold on, let's planthis out properly. Let's really
think about what it is that Iwant to do. And I and I knew I
needed help. I knew I didn'twant to Well, like when I set up
my favourite comb, I did exactlythat I decided I was setting up
an interior design business, Idid everything I needed to do
and kind of went off in adirection. And I'd got onto a
(20:44):
bit of a roller coaster. And Idecided that that's not how I
wanted this new business to be.
So I reached out. And I've got abig network, I reached out to as
many people in my network as Icould for help. So I've got a
fantastic accountant called Dan,who bless him, I do ask some
stupid questions. Sometimes,he's very patient, and he will
(21:06):
always give me the right advicethat I need plus a little bit
extra. And then he goes off onone and I don't understand him,
and then I bring him back. Sothat's good. You know, I reached
out to people in my network forreally practical stuff like
website design, writing, copy,creating branding, rather than
sit there and squirrel awaytrying to do all that stuff
(21:26):
myself. I actually utilised anamazing group of people that
I've connected with over thelast couple of years, to
actually help me build mybusiness. And what's interesting
is, those guys feel reallyinvested now in what I've done,
because they're kind of part ofthe journey and the story, which
is really nice. So whenever I dopick up the phone and say, I've
(21:48):
got a really stupid question,can you help me with this?
They're like, yeah, what are weup to next? How's it
progressing? What are you movingforward? But they also know that
I look out for them. So ifthere's things I can help them
with, you know, it's very much atwo way street. So yeah, rather
than just go down a rabbit,Warren, and, you know, pop out
the bottom and think what was Idoing again, I actually used my,
(22:10):
my network to help me figure outhow the business was gonna hang
together. I kind of knew whatwhat I wanted to offer as part
of the services. But it was howI was going to put those
services into practice and thehelp I need you to do that.
Yeah. Always reach out to peopleI sitting in a shed at the
(22:32):
bottom of the garden five days aweek you do. Yeah, you will, I
will always reach out to peoplebecause it can be a lonely place
sometimes. Yeah,
Lucy Rennie (22:42):
you're particularly good at it on you. And what
really you're describing isengagement and all that, you
know, bringing people with you,isn't it and getting them
involved in that reciprocal twoway thing, which is the essence
of business and people. Yeah. Soit's just a so yeah. And, and
love. Yeah. And I've writtenhere, you know, is surrounding
(23:04):
yourself, isn't it with thosewhite people, but then actually,
bit sometimes just actuallybeing? Letting people in I think
is a scary thing for a lot ofpeople and actually sharing
ideas with them, or asking forhelp or admitting you don't
know, something, or all thosethings we've just talked about.
So I think that's really nice.
How did what we've not heard,though, is you? What were the
(23:24):
You said you'd had in your headwhat you wanted to do, how did
that evolve from being aninterior designer? So tell us
more about how you work that bitout? Or what that was? Because
that's a big thing in itself,isn't it in terms of goes back
to that always thinking? You'venot? Yes, that was the big thing
was becoming an interiordesigner, but then actually, you
realise there was more to itthan that. And that's kind of
(23:48):
where this came from, isn't it?
Vicky Labinger (23:50):
Yeah, yeah. So first of all, I've really
started to work specificallywith interior designers. So I
realised I could take what Iknew from the business world,
and help interior designers ontheir own business journey. So I
wasn't helping designers withyou know how to put a great
design together or you know,what the right shade of green
(24:11):
was or where you buy your fabricsamples from, but it was more
around how they set themselvesup as a business. And so
offering some differentservices, whether it was in a
kind of group environment, oryou know, first look or one to
one mentoring a different typesof workshops. So I started in
very much in my field, and I, Iguess there's a level of safety
(24:34):
in that, in that. I knew a lotabout business. And I'd learned
a lot about interior design in avery short space of time, and
I'm married the two together, soit felt pretty safe. It didn't
feel like I was putting my headtoo far above the parapet to be
like, Oh my God, it's quitescary out there. But at the same
(24:55):
time I have and I still have acommunity that I, I work with on
a regular basis to help themwith their their designs, that
I, having had a, you know, abigger conversation, I realised
that there was more to what Iwas doing than just the interior
design work. And I think that'sbeen quite a difficult decision
(25:17):
for me because I started, youknow, I came out of corporate
and I started a business, and Iset my stall out. And it's like,
I've, I've set myself in adirection and off I go, Is it
okay to then change direction?
And I, I fought with that forquite a long time in terms of
No, I said I was going to dothis. And I am a bit like that.
If I say, I'm going to dosomething, I do it. Is it
(25:39):
alright to change. And Icouldn't figure that out on my
own. And I've had to get someoneelse to help me to figure out
that it was actually okay tochange direction and do
something new. Yeah,
Lucy Rennie (25:53):
that's really interesting. Because it's such a
good point that we do, don't we,it's almost kind of you think
once you've set down your mark,and that's where you're going,
it's kind of sticking to it, andyou don't want to be solid,
wrong or anything. Whereasactually interesting, actually,
as, as you were speaking, thenI've actually written down,
listening, and noticing. Andactually, so the fact that for
(26:16):
me, I think that's what it isabout future proofing your
business, you've got to keeplistening and tweaking. And, you
know, and noticing where thewhat people need from you and
what how you can add value,isn't it? And it's almost the
opposite. Now, I think there'ssomething really valuable about
actually being agile, and movingyour business in the right way
or in a different way to meetwhere you know, meet your
(26:38):
clients or the meet the demandwhere it is. So yeah, it's
really interesting how that canshift. Yeah,
Vicky Labinger (26:43):
I don't I'm not sure there's a one size fits all
model. Yeah. No. I mean, I usedto work in fashion retailing,
and it's part of corporate andwe'd always have products in
that, you know, well, one sizegarments. And it would be like,
Well, yeah, it's either going todrown somebody or it's going to
be a little bit tight. It's aone size fits all. That's
certainly not what I'm seeing.
Every kind of proposal I put outto a client now is, is bespoke
(27:07):
to what their needs are, becauseit's about listening. And
actually, one of the things thatI've done more recently with
proposals I'm writing is is myfirst section, going to
reference it's a continent, whata chord, it is my like, what I
heard section, and it's playingback to people what they're
saying. And it's, it's beenreally interesting, because
people have said to me, is thatwhat I said? I said, Well, yeah,
(27:29):
cuz that's what I wrote down.
And they're like, oh, and it'sthe first time people themselves
have verbalising, what it isthey want, and therefore, that's
what I'm hearing, and then I'mplaying it back to them. And
they're going, yeah, that iswhat I want. And so that's been
quite an interesting dynamic,but I've never been very good at
listening. So I'm trying muchharder at it.
Lucy Rennie (27:53):
You know, it's, it's, it's really interesting.
So when I did my coaching,qualification, enjoying COVID,
one of the big aha moments wasthat was actually just being
able to really, really listenand real and notice how, how
crap everybody is listening. Andthat actually, no one really
(28:14):
does listen, you're onlylistening really to speak back
or to share your thing or towait and to kind of, and so to
really, there's a book, in fact,I'll pop it in the links called
time to think by Nancy Klein.
And it's all about creating thatsafe space for people to think
so the fact that if you've gotsomeone listening to you, who
you know, isn't, isn't listeningto speak again, but is actually
(28:38):
just holding that space and justactually giving you space to, to
listen, and to think it'samazing what comes out and how
you can act. It's just, it's,it's incredible. So it changed
my life, actually, that sothat's just coming back to that.
I think that's what you're doingis actually you're giving people
say, a safe space to kind ofshare their ideas and do and
(29:00):
then you're reflecting back,which is it's amazing. So yeah,
so I could I could speak forweeks and weeks and weeks about
the power of listening andwants, you know, and you notice
in groups or conversations ormeetings, just how little people
listen, even at family, youknow, even just like, at home,
with your husband or whatever.
And the fact that you know,
Vicky Labinger (29:20):
you're not did not just want to walk around
with a roller gaffa tape. Safepeople that Be quiet. Yeah,
yeah. But then on
Lucy Rennie (29:29):
the opposite side, when you actually seriously sit
there and sit your mouth up. Andlike even uncomfortably
sometimes just really not replyor dive in. You can see what
it's amazing the impact has onpeople when they actually
realise that you're not going todive in and they can just hold
the thought and think for aminute and then something else
(29:49):
will come. Yeah, you know, it'samazing.
Vicky Labinger (29:52):
I mean, that's that. If I think about it now
that's, I guess what happened tome in a role reversal kind of
way. I just really bizarre tothink about it. Now, when I did
some initial work with Zoe,which was when I kind of figured
out what I want to do now andhow I'm going to take this
forward into 2024, and 2025,she, I have, as much as I've got
(30:17):
an amazing network, I will go tomy network and say, I need help
with A, B, and C. And dependingon what field of business people
are in, they'll go, I can helpyou with a, b, and c, here's the
answers you need. Off you go. Ineeded a space where there
wasn't necess, I wasn'tnecessarily going to go with the
questions. And I certainlydidn't know the answers. And
(30:38):
that was when I spent a day wasevery day that she started
asking me questions. And I wouldgo little rabbit off. But she
was watching and listening towhat I was saying, but also how
I was emotionally when I wastalking about certain subjects.
So at that time, I was, youknow, really fighting about what
(31:00):
I was going to do with myinterior design business and
what to go away, do next. Andshe asked me a very pointed
question about a topic we weretalking about. And I was like,
Oh, my God, you know, when youhave that moment, where you
think, why is it taking somebodyelse to figure out what I need
to do? I should have known thatall along, and you kind of beat
yourself up for five minutesover and then you're like,
(31:20):
because you're so stuck in theweeds all the time. You're not
necessarily figuring it out. Butby her listening to me and
giving me space to kind of blurtout everything I needed to say
helped me then figure out what Ineed what I was going to do next
and what I am doing next. Yeah,
Lucy Rennie (31:40):
yeah, it's powerful stuff, isn't it? Yeah. Yeah.
Yeah, it's really good. So yeah,I'm on a mission. Well, I'll
share the link to the book inthe in the I've written it down,
it's gonna
Vicky Labinger (31:50):
put it on a Christmas list. It's,
Lucy Rennie (31:53):
yeah, we'll do that. And then we'll come back
on in January when you readchapter. Because yeah, we'll
just we'll record a silentYeah, definitely. Yeah, so I'm
just that's one other thing Iwanted to pick up on. Because
I've written here as well, yousaid, you talked about when you
(32:15):
made the shift, and you startedhelping interior designers with
their business, you said it feltsafe to do that, because you
were in your kind of area thatyou knew, and it was business
that you weren't, you've kind ofyou were putting your head above
the parapet, but it wasn't toofar, you carry out what you were
saying. And it's reallyinteresting, because, again, I
think that's something that wedon't give ourselves credit for
(32:39):
when we think about actually theexpertise or experience and
things that you've got enableenabling us to be able to, you
know, support you're like you'redoing supporting your clients
with all the business acumen andknowledge and experience and all
those things. But actually,that's what makes you you, and
what adds the value is the factthat you've got all that
background, and you've got allthat knowledge of business to be
(33:00):
able to apply it to interior, isthat kind of like it's no
brainer, isn't it that you'd beable to yeah, I've never run a
business before. It's, I alwayshad it this way, I had a bit of
a moment of self really where Ikind of went, you know what,
actually, that's probably why Ido work in industry and
manufacturing a lot. And becausewhat makes me a bit different to
maybe other people who come outof marketing school or income
school, because I get what anISO accreditation is or what it
(33:24):
is. Or I understand, you know,stupid things that we just take
for granted. Whereas actually,unless you've been in that
industry, and you know what itis, and you've kind of seen it,
and you So yeah, that's it, Ijust wanted to share that. I
think it's
Vicky Labinger (33:40):
the language that we talk about the
challenges that we have, youknow, even down to when you have
a tricky one, you know, theconversation got caught off in
his head is should I sack myclient, because class can be
tricky. When you're working withpeople in their homes. It can be
(34:01):
tricky. And so there are beingable to have that empathy of,
I've been there, I've got the tshirt. I know what you're
talking about. This is how Ihandled it. This, you know,
because we've all been through,you know, whatever our pricing
structure needs to be adifficult client, you know,
being ghosted by people thatwant to do work, but then don't
get attached. You know, we'veall been through the mail and I
(34:23):
just can put a spin on it forthem. That means I've I've been
there. I've done that. I've gotthe t shirt, and I understand
what you're what you're goingthrough. Let me help you get
through the truth. Yeah,
Lucy Rennie (34:36):
yeah, it's exactly that. And I think sometimes we
don't put in a value on that orwe don't recognise the value in
the fact that we do know thatindustry from the other side or
we do know you know, that yeah,that it is there and that you
can actually yeah, it makes itOh, not necessarily quicker, but
it means that you can you canreally go deeper into a topic
because actually you get it andyou can understand it and
Vicky Labinger (34:57):
yeah, it's really interesting. Actually,
I've just picked up a As part ofmy kind of business consulting
side now under Vicki lab injure,I've just picked up a new client
that she's got a really strongand established business. And I
sort of been honest and said,you know, you're doing a really
good job I can, I can tinkerwith it with you. But that's not
the value I'm going to bring.
But she also wants to launch a ecommerce business, for I won't
(35:21):
say too much, because it's allin the all in the building and
the planning, but she wants tobuild an E commerce business
where she's selling a productand creating a brand, while I
worked in E commerce sales forthe most part a corporate for 15
years. And it's just reallyweird that we've connected and
(35:41):
she wants to build thisbusiness. And when I wrote all a
list of all the things that sheneeded to think about, she was
like, Well, how did you knowthis? And that, because that's
what I've done. It's coming backto my roots. Again, I do think
we come full circle eventually,don't worry. It has nothing to
do with interior design. Butit's you know, it's how to build
a brand, put all your operationstogether, what's your customer
(36:04):
service is going to look like,where you're going to source
your products from that that wasmy background for many years.
Yeah, to be coming full circleon that now just feels really
weird. But that's, I guess,using our experience in the
right way. Yeah.
Lucy Rennie (36:20):
And it almost goes back to talking about our brands
in the beginning, you know, howwe're saying about being owning
it and our own brand. Because Ithink sometimes when we start
something we can have, You'vealmost got a tendency to kind of
go, I'm starting with a cleansheet. So forget what I've done,
because this is new, baby, youknow, it's a whole new thing,
whereas it's not a total. That'srubbish. That's what it what
(36:41):
makes it work is the fact thatyou have got, and we can say
that because the age that weare, but we have got all that
baggage and that, you know,roller coaster ride that we've
been on
Vicky Labinger (36:50):
wrinkles. Yeah, exactly. But that,
Lucy Rennie (36:53):
let us embrace it, rather than being scared about
it. Let's actually I thinkthat's the bit where I'm forever
trying to encourage clients to,to own it and think about it and
then communicate that becausethat's the thing that's going to
make them unique, that's theirLego bricks, that's the thing
that's gonna make them fit withthose people. And you know,
that's the value that you'regoing to add. It's not
necessarily the, the thing thatpeople come to you for that is
(37:16):
actually where they're going tosee the you know, how they're
going to see the results.
Vicky Labinger (37:19):
So yeah, when I remember working with a lady,
before I started my interiordesign business, and I used to
say to I'm so annoyed at myself,I'm sorry, like, Why did I not
do this sooner? Why did I staydoing what I was doing. And I
loved my job, I didn't hate myjob. I wasn't in a position
where I was like, you know, itwas terrible to get out. But I
actually really enjoyed it. Ijust, it wasn't what I wanted to
(37:42):
do for the next sort of part ofmy life. And she just she always
used to say to me, she just socalm down back, she says you're
exactly where you're supposed tobe. You needed to have done all
of those things before, to bewhere you are now. And, and it's
really interesting. I, I hear avoice in my head every once in a
while because I think this ladythat I'm I'm working with around
(38:02):
the E commerce business, youknow, we would have probably
never connected unless I'd goneon the journey that I've gone.
You know, setting up an interiordesign business, joining a
network, creating connections.
Yeah, and all that good stuff.
We've never crossed paths. So Iam exactly where I need to be. I
just wish I was 10 yearsyounger, maybe 20. Because
(38:24):
there's so much still to do. Somuch to do.
Lucy Rennie (38:28):
And on that note, Vicki, I think we're exactly
where we need to be to. I'm withyou on that. I wish I was 10
years younger, too, becausethere's so much that I want to
do. And that's what's excitingwhen I'm chatting with you
because this year we sort ofseem to be bouncing ideas off
each other, don't we and andknow that we're? Yeah, we've
both got heads buzzing withideas. And I know there's
(38:49):
there's so much more for us tochat about today. But I think
actually we need to let ourlisteners maybe get some work
done or get on with their day.
So I'm going to break here andend part one of this wonderful
conversation. And I inviteeveryone to come back and listen
to part two and hear more aboutVicki's new project, which is
all about becoming the fairygodmother of networking. So
(39:12):
please come back and listen andtune in to part two of this
conversation with the brilliantVicky Latvija thank you so much
for listening
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Therapy Gecko
An unlicensed lizard psychologist travels the universe talking to strangers about absolutely nothing. TO CALL THE GECKO: follow me on https://www.twitch.tv/lyleforever to get a notification for when I am taking calls. I am usually live Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays but lately a lot of other times too. I am a gecko.