Women Like Me Stories & Business
🎧 Introducing "Women Like Me Stories & Business" - The Inspiring Business and Story Podcast by Julie Fairhurst! 🎙️
Are you ready to embark on a captivating journey of business success and personal growth? Look no further, because Julie Fairhurst is here to enlighten and empower you through her incredible podcast.
Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a curious mind, or simply seeking motivation and inspiration, this podcast is a treasure trove of wisdom and guidance. Gain practical tips, innovative strategies, and actionable advice that you can apply to your own life and business endeavors.
Julie Fairhurst's passion for storytelling, combined with her extensive experience in the business world, makes "Women Like Me Stories & Business" a must-listen podcast for anyone craving insight, motivation, and a newfound sense of purpose.
So, grab your headphones, tune in, and prepare to be captivated by the stories of success, resilience, and growth that await you.
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Women Like Me Stories & Business
DANA FRANKLIN - BRINGING COMMUNITIES TOGETHER
This lively exploration of community publishing reveals how individual stories foster deeper connections between neighbours and businesses. Dana Franklin shares her journey in building Mountain Neighbours magazine, highlighting stories' pivotal role in community building and relationships.
- Dana's journey through different countries and cultures
- The inception and growth of Mountain Neighbours magazine
- Importance of capturing local stories and personal narratives
- Role of community engagement in driving business success
- How local businesses can benefit from authentic advertising
If you are interested in starting a magazine for your community or advertising opportunities, you can reach Dana here:
Email: dfranklin@bestversionmedia.com
Phone: (604) 866-0242
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Who is Julie Fairhurst?
Julie Fairhurst – Speaker, Author, and Founder of Women Like Me
Julie Fairhurst is a champion for women’s empowerment and the founder of the Women Like Me Book Program. Since 2019, she has published 30 books and 300+ true-life stories—at no cost to the writers—giving women a platform to heal, inspire, and reclaim their power. Dedicated to breaking generational trauma one story at a time, Julie’s mission is to uplift women emotionally and financially, helping them create better lives for themselves and their families.
Well, hello everyone, and thank you so much for being here for another episode of Women Like Me, stories and Business, and today we're going to be talking some interesting stuff. We're going to be talking stories and we're going to be talking business, because our guest today is Dana Franklin, and she puts out a magazine and so she does publishing, which is what we do, so it's so exciting. So thank you so much for being here. Dana, do you want to just tell us a little bit about yourself? I'm curious one thing. I'm curious because you wrote to me and you said that you lived in four countries, so maybe you can tell us a little bit about yourself and what were you doing living in four different countries?
Speaker 2:Okay, I'll do that. And, Julie, thank you very much for inviting me. It was sort of a fun surprise in my inbox to see that invitation. So it's really quite an honor privilege to be here. So, thank you, welcome. So it's really quite an honor privilege to be here. So, thank you, you're welcome. And yeah, my husband and I we've lived in four different countries and it really had to do with sort of the vision and purpose of our lives and we were working with a Christian nonprofit that took us from the United States which is actually where we're from, but we did work there in Los Angeles and to Hungary and then to the Czech Republic. It was still Czechoslovakia when we went. Oh, wow, but it was post-communism. Yeah, but still, you know, we went through a named well, I guess, a country division, yes, velvet Divorce, they called it. And then, yeah, for the last I think it's already going to be 14 years here in Canada.
Speaker 1:Wow, Now were you and your husband both from the United States.
Speaker 2:Yes, both of us, we actually went to the same junior. Yes, both of us, we actually went to the same junior high, secondary and university oh that is so sweet.
Speaker 2:Oh, and so what made you put your roots in Canada? That is a really good question, because we did come up to work with a non-profit, and here it's called Power to Change. We're not with Power to Change any longer. However, that's what brought us, you know, two days up the five freeway from Southern California to here, and we weren't sure are we going to stay here forever or not? And I have to tell you, julie, we had never purchased a house, because we always wanted to be available to go where we needed to go and consequently, we did move a lot and we were just like where are we going to stay? We're going to stay.
Speaker 2:But three of our four kids came up here with us and it was clear that they loved it here. One of them's even married to a Canadian. We have a little grandson up here and we thought, you know what? This is where we want to hang our hat and we bought a house. So that was the big Franklin statement of staying here. We are putting our roots down here. It's just a lovely place to live. It's a different culture. It really is, but wonderful people here, a wonderful lifestyle, it's nature around us, you know, and three of our four kids nearby.
Speaker 1:And you're based out of Abbotsford, british Columbia correct.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, abbotsford, british Columbia.
Speaker 1:Beautiful place, Abbotsford. Well, I'm glad that you came and decided to hang your hat there, so that's awesome. That's a really that's a very interesting story we may have to talk about later, later.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Okay, so, um. So I was wondering about your career path because you are the publisher for Mountain Neighborhoods and I think you work with Best Media, Best Version Media.
Speaker 2:Yes, Best Version Media.
Speaker 1:And so can you explain what that is Like? Are they the ones that produce the magazine, or how does that all work?
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's a good question because it's really interesting. I am in business for myself, but I'm not alone. It's wonderful. So Best Version Media partners with me and loads of other people across Canada and all of North America and they got going in 2007 with just six magazines that year and they just had a new idea how to refresh print media when everyone was running from it like it was on fire, and they decided, hey, let's do magazines that are about the neighborhood in which it's being distributed, and so, yeah, so it's been growing crazily and now there are almost 4,000 magazines across North America and there are several in British Columbia, and so, anyhow, yes, so I get to have my own business, and yet they give me so much support.
Speaker 2:I don't have to build people. There's a finance department. I don't have to find a designer. I don't have to put those things in the mail. They do that part for me and it's all Canadian made. But I work boots on the ground with my content coordinator who finds the families that we feature every month, and I have a local photographer who takes their pictures and we just tell stories about the community and it's all good news. We get enough bad news, don't we? We sure do.
Speaker 1:Absolutely, I love that, I love that. So you say mountain neighborhoods. So what does that mean? Would you go into neighboring communities or is there just one community that you focus on?
Speaker 2:Yeah, good question. Yeah, mountain Neighbors goes out to the folks in East Abbotsford who live in these mountain areas Eagle Mountain, glen Mountain and Lower Sumas Mountain and they're delivered every single month by Canada Post. So it's basically the distribution area is made up of Canada Post routes. But we have additional magazines. We have more room in Abbotsford for additional magazines. For example, we find about 3,000 or 4,000, between 2,500 and 3,500 homes is a sweet spot. We get the highest reader engagement. You know, one study found like 89.4% open rate, which is terrific. If you make them too big and you do one for the whole city, the open rate goes down, down, down because it's not about your neighbor. And so we have one. You know, for those folks who are familiar with Abbotsford, we have a publication in Mission. We have, you know, several in Vancouver and Room for More.
Speaker 1:Interesting. That's very interesting, so so I wanted to find out, like how did you become the publisher of Mountain Neighbors?
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's interesting because I didn't have a background in this at all. And so after we moved to Abbotsford, we became empty nesters. Our last child peeled off and went off to UBC, the University of British Columbia, and I had been doing some writing for a friend, for her media company, and I just stumbled across this advertisement, I think on LinkedIn, saying that they're looking for someone to do community writing, and I thought, oh, I'm new to my community, I might learn about it that way. So I made the application and they chose me. So I actually started as the writer. We call it a content coordinator because the goal is not to write all the content, the goal is to get content from the neighbors. So it becomes sort of like a Facebook page in print. Everybody could contribute, and so that's how I got started with it.
Speaker 2:And then what I didn't realize, cause I didn't really understand how it worked yeah, mountain neighbors did not have a publisher at that time. Another lady had started it and I think she was just really good at starting things you know how some people are super good at starting things and she went off to start something else and then the publication. As I was the content coordinator, I'm like huh it just you know, I don't know, I didn't know what to expect. But a fellow who moved, he and his family moved into Eagle Mountain and he contacted me and said, hey, we want to be in the publication. I said great. So I connected him with somebody at Best Version Media and he came in as a sponsor. So that's how people get it for free the local businesses who would like to do business with homeowners in affluent areas. They sponsor the publication.
Speaker 2:And anyhow, I asked Best Version Media. I said so, do I get something for doing that? Yes, I said well, no, but you would if you were the publisher. Yeah, and so they talked to me about that and I said no, I've never done anything like that. And then my husband's like no, let's think about it Talked some more, really prayed about it. So I go, lord, is this what you want me to do? And had some good conversations with our Canadian president, trent Steinke, and decided, yeah, I'm going to do it. I always wanted to have a business and I always had a heart for a burden, for businesses being represented. Well, but I'm the person who, if we're going down the highway and you're like, whoa, look at that billboard, cannot even read it, did they?
Speaker 1:imagine, to look at it before they put it up. Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2:Like that.
Speaker 1:Yes, now I know a lot more than that. Well, that is so is so interesting, and I mean I do publishing, of course, with the book, so so I am in it's. It's not necessarily always easy, so can you tell me then, how do so if somebody's in one of your neighborhoods and they want to send you some content like do? They just go to your website fill it out, or how do you reach out to people?
Speaker 2:If somebody wants to submit content to us, they can, either if they have an actual they're hard copy magazines. If they have a magazine, they just see my name and email address and phone number. They could just contact me, or Becky Becky is our content coordinator or they can go to the Best Version Media website and there's a submit content button. So we have people do it a variety of ways. I'm always on the lookout for people when I find people don't think they're interesting, but they are, so I'm always on the lookout for these little interesting nuggets yes, yeah, I, it's so true because in what I do, so many women think, well, my story's not that interesting, or you know.
Speaker 1:But once you sit down, you start chatting with them, it's like fantastic story. We've all got fantastic stories, yeah. So what kind of things are your neighbors, are the neighbors talking about? So you've got your feet, so I can see. With, with the three magazines you have behind you, you're featuring a family. So those families reach out to you and say, hey, I'd like to be featured, or do you sort of go and find them?
Speaker 2:both. It's word of mouth, but there's always an invitation as well. Yeah, so either way, yeah, and a lot of times someone who is featured, they might refer us, say, hey, call my neighbor so-and-so so, so that. So we just tell their story. Where did they move from? What did they like to do? You know what about their kids? Pets, yeah, interest sports, hobbies, where do they like to go on vacation?
Speaker 2:But there's always sort of a nugget, a theme for each family, and it's always fun to figure that out, and I've had people read their story, aside from saying, oh, we're more interesting than I thought. I've heard that. And then I've also had people say this was so good, it was just such a good experience. It actually helps me understand my life better.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes, absolutely. That's I just, I love it and so. So, as you said, local businesses will advertise and that's how you get the, the magazine gets printed and shipped out shipped out?
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, so we try to. We have a package for businesses. It's actually a very multi-stem solution in that they have a print presence in the magazine which people love. A lot of people don't even throw them away. They keep them or they give them away. So print is very enduring and has a good long lifespan and has a high trustworthiness rating. However, we also know that we just it takes so long. We're so inundated. It takes so long for people to recognize something. So then we also recommend doing Facebook, instagram ads, sponsored ads, and then also Google display ads, yeah, and they're geo-targeted they can be just to that distribution area or.
Speaker 2:But now people love our digital so much they're like, can't we do more? So now we can pop it out to 24 kilometers and they get just they're, they're keyed for impressions. So people get so many impressions. So we're actually advertising to people who they might not even know they need you yet. Yes, we're, we're advertising to tomorrow's customers, if you will, which is 95% of a business's market. Typically, only 5% typically needs them.
Speaker 2:Now, now we're, we're just like, hey, hey, getting top of mind aware. It's called branding. It means helping folks to know you, like you trust you, building the reputation of the business which, I have to be honest, it's a slow start. Yeah, it takes time. It's like a relationship. You know how long did it take you to become best friends with your best friend Right, and have trust a long time. So we're helping that process of trust and it does take time, but once it takes off for a business, the trajectory is really good. It just keeps going and going and then now we can help people, you know, to get that type of mind awareness, and then we also help them with their online presence where to help people to be able to find them. You know like when you search for something we usually call one of the top three that pop up Absolutely. We're trying, we have some ways to help with that type of SEO for businesses also, which is a game changer, especially for small local businesses.
Speaker 1:Of course. Well, I had no idea that you guys did all of that. So that's a full time business? I'm sure it is, and so do you help people with that online presence, or is there a certain section of the company that does that? Or is that you're helping those businesses who are, who are actually advertising in your local mountain neighborhood?
Speaker 2:Yeah, well, the way it works is that I'm the boots on the ground publisher person and I help connect people to the right person. For example, if it's a print ad, I give everything to the designer who does a print ad and then I upload everything for the digital ads and for the online presence. They actually have an onboarding with our digital department, our digital. I'm not the digital girl, I mean. To me the internet is still just a mystery, you know. But I but I understand the concepts and I can help.
Speaker 2:Today, one of, oh, this beautiful, beautiful. I think you want to interview her too. I heard her story today. A ballet school, zesta Ballet in Abbotsford. I was talking to Miss Elizabeth and she had because she's been in our publication a long time and has thankfully had kind words to say she's seen success over time and so she's just been doing print, you know, on her digital ads, and so we just changed it up a little bit and added that online presence piece and so, yeah, but I told her you know, elizabeth, I'm not the digital person. You're going to have a Zoom, I'll be on the Zoom call, but a Zoom call just sort of like what we're doing, zoom here, where they will set it up for you.
Speaker 2:And they're available you know to help our sponsors whenever they need help.
Speaker 1:Well, I was snooping around on the websites and it looks like it's not just neighborhoods that people do. They do all sorts of different what's the word? Genres for their? For the magazine? It seemed like there was a few people that were doing things a little bit differently, which I thought was interesting.
Speaker 2:What kind of things did you find?
Speaker 1:Well, I thought it was like a motivational stuff. There was a couple of people that on the website, maybe I, maybe I read it wrong.
Speaker 1:I don't know, I don't know yeah, yeah, so down in the US, uh-huh, yeah, so it was a little. I just, when I was snooping around, I saw it and I thought, oh, that's interesting that, uh. And then I thought to myself oh well, who, well, who do they? You know, if they're doing something that's not necessarily a neighborhood, then how are they? Who do they find? Because people don't purchase from a subscription right.
Speaker 2:Correct. Yeah, so I'm curious to. I would love to see what you're talking about, because it is typically. There's a distribution area, yeah, and it just goes out to that area and it's always about the neighbors. Now we can have a variety of content, yeah, and anything that the neighbors want to submit they're welcome to. It could be anything from a recipe. It could be a motivational article, yes, as as long as it's, you know, family friendly and not political and happy.
Speaker 1:So if somebody wanted to put out a magazine within the company but they didn't want the print one, they just wanted to do digital, does your company, do they do that as well? Or it's kind of goes hand in hand.
Speaker 2:Best version. Media tried doing the magazine digital, having a digital version at one point, as a complete flop. Oh was it? Yeah, nobody liked it. So, no, we don't do digital interesting locations, we just do the print and the hard copy. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, perfect so you do so.
Speaker 1:Do you do much in the way of storytelling? I guess you do do storytelling in the magazine because of course you're telling the story of the families.
Speaker 2:Yeah right, we tell the story of the family and then we'll tell the story of the business. We like to run a business profile for our businesses and we like to help people to get to know the business owner and to get to know you know what's unique about that business? How does that business help?
Speaker 1:So how are people finding you? So if somebody has a business and are you on the boots on the ground, girl knocking on doors, or how are the businesses finding you? Girl knocking on doors or?
Speaker 2:how are the businesses finding you? That's yeah. Well, we do go a little bit under the radar because we are geo-targeted. Right, I really do have to take initiative and referrals are like gold to me, yes, and I'm active in the chamber, I'm an active in some you know a variety of local events and such where I just, aside from just being great things to be involved with, they're a great way for me to meet people. So, yeah, lots of meet and greet meetings.
Speaker 1:I bet, I bet yeah. So who who? So who would you say? Well, I guess anybody could be in the, anybody could be, any business could be in the magazine, I guess, as long but they must be in your geo area.
Speaker 2:Oh, they don't have to be in the geographic area.
Speaker 1:They just have to want to do business with those types of folks.
Speaker 2:Oh, I see, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, okay, so it can be anywhere. I mean, I guess hypothetically it could be a business in Calgary that wants to do business with people in East Abbotsford. I didn't have anything like that. I didn't read.
Speaker 1:Okay, I got that. That's super interesting. So can you share a little bit of one of your one of one of your families, a little bit of a story, uh, just to give us a little bit of a feel as to you know what did it, who it is that you're and how that works.
Speaker 2:Um, one story last year that was particularly heartwarming was that there were two, you know, adult daughters, you know, like my age, and they were sisters and their father was. They wanted to honor their parents. They had just lost their mother the year before and their father was entering into dementia and he was still living at home at that point and he was so sweet that. So really they told the whole. They they just wanted a story to honor their parents and so we told the story and and, oh, the response in the community was amazing because people, oh, that that's Arnie. Oh, look at him.
Speaker 2:Oh, yeah, he always rearranges our garbage bins for us. Oh, we had a picture. He was fixated on making sure garbage was getting distributed properly and loved watching the garbage trucks. And we had a picture of him on a garbage truck getting a ride from the fellow who was so kind to give him a ride, this fellow who was in his late 80s. But it was just a really touching story. Oh yeah, because they reached out to us, because they wanted us, they trusted their precious family story to us. Yes, and I'm like whoa, we got to do a good job. So that was a very special story.
Speaker 1:otherwise, gosh so, so they can. So it doesn't have to be about, you know, their nine to five life. It could be about the legacy of their family or anything that they want to, oh yeah we like to take the lead.
Speaker 2:Actually, you know these pictures behind me. Yeah, do you see the one with the? It looks like snowflakes and the girls have knots on their heads. Yes, well, yeah, that one. One of the girls in that picture lives in our distribution area and another one used to live and was actually featured, and the other one isn't. But they are all involved, so they didn't. So the girl who lives in the distribution area she didn't want us to do a story about her family. She said I'm very active and have helped found a group called Care for Women in Abbotsford. Can we do a story about the nonprofit Care for Women? I said of course we can, so that's why we have that for women. I said of course we can, so that's why we have that group on the cover, so we can do stories about a nonprofit on the cover also beautiful.
Speaker 1:Oh so they were. You know, my brain just goes, you know expands because really the opportunities, um, because I can see maybe some families a little bit shy or something, and but to know that you can talk about your parents, you can talk about a, a non-profit, something that's close to your heart, um, or you can talk about your family and and what you do and and all of I mean it's just there's so many opportunities.
Speaker 2:Right right.
Speaker 1:There are stories.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and then people also like to share pictures of their pets, so we'll have pictures of pets. A lady on Eagle Mountain a couple months ago. Well, she was fostering a dog, a big dog, a golden retriever, turns out the dog was pregnant and then proceeded to have 12 puppies. Oh my goodness. So that's been a thing. You know. The whole community has been rallying around her to donate dog food and this and that and everything, and we got to tell that story.
Speaker 1:So that was fun also so one while I'm listening to you talk, it just really makes me feel that the community starts to come together through these magazines.
Speaker 2:That's our goal bringing people together as adults. And so what's really fun, julie, is I'll get emails and sometimes phone calls from readers. And a fellow wrote me and he said said well, I finally met my neighbor because they were on the cover of your magazine.
Speaker 1:I was always too shy to ever introduce myself, but because they were on the cover, I walked up and said hello, that's wonderful because I I totally get that, because my husband and I we moved to Chilliwackwack going on a little over five years ago now and we bought in one area and then we sold and bought in another area, but both of those areas. I don't know what it is. It's just people drive home and they go in their garages and it's really tough to meet your neighbors and to get that connection. I guess one thing to wave hello but know that and to get that connection like it's one thing to wave hello but but you're not really getting that connection. So I can see how that fellow reads the man you know now he knows a little bit about those neighbors and it gives him a bit of courage to go up and introduce himself right, right.
Speaker 2:So gave him a reason, an excuse to do something he'd been wanting to do. And then when we bring people together in the neighborhood, it because it's bigger than what I thought.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so. No, it's great, so okay. So what advice would you give to an entrepreneur who's looking to start a community focused publication in today's media environment?
Speaker 2:join me. I'm actually the market leader for the Fraser Valley. Oh yeah, from, anyway, langley out to Chilliwack and up to mission Maple Ridge, pitt Meadows, and I'm actively looking for other people who want to take advantage of this opportunity. So, yeah, best version media has only, I mean, I guess it just depends how you want to do it. If you'd like to, you know, be in business for yourself, but not be alone, we're a great option. I'd say you really do have to look at, look and see, hey, do I have. Look at, look and see, hey, do I have.
Speaker 2:It's harder than it sounds, right, I don't have people beating down the doors to be like, yes, I want to spend a lot of money and be your sponsor. You know, yes, for sure, there's so much education involved and initiation. So I'd say, in order for it to be paid for, you have to be committed to raising up the sponsors, because you know the writing and the pictures is sort of it's a really important part and it's fun, yes, and then there's the sale. I mean, I don't even like calling it sales, but it is sales. It is sales for sure. Helping people. I really call it a discernment process, helping people to discern is this the path they want to take for their business. So you have to remember that that half of it, um, you know the, the both, and it's not just the, the writing and the pictures. Someone's got to pay for that thing, but it's a great opportunity for businesses to get inside of homes.
Speaker 1:Yes, so my background is sales, so I was in sales for 34 years and what I found over the last 10 years while I was because I retired a year ago and yes, and so what I found is that Google I'll just use Google because Google's big Google is going to start telling us who to call.
Speaker 1:So we, as a business owner, if we don't have another way to put ourselves out there, then people are just going to say, hey, google, a who's a realtor I can call. Who's a mortgage broker, I can call. Who's a house painter, I can call, and they're going to give you their people. They're not necessarily going to, you know, going to go down the list and go oh Julie, she'd be great at selling your house. Or oh, bob, would be fabulous at painting. So to, I think it's brilliant. It's brilliant and and I think the people, the businesses, really need to get on board because this is their niche, their niche market. Am I making sense? You know?
Speaker 2:yes, you are, and we're just talking about julie. That is what our product is called online presence. Yes, when people do google something, who is google gonna tell them? Right, we can help in that seo process to be one of the ones that pops up to the top. Yes, game changer.
Speaker 1:But the name, seeing the name, seeing the name is so important.
Speaker 2:So it's my business.
Speaker 1:I would send out I'm not even exaggerating 10,000 or more flyers a month and I fold them in a certain way and all I cared about was that you saw my name, my pretty face, with how to reach me and what I do. And if they threw it in the garbage bin, I didn't care, because it's seeing my name, seeing my name, my name. So in your magazines, if you get sponsors, who are, who are, who, who decide to be consistent, like that's fabulous Because those people they're going to go oh yeah, we wanted a lawn care person or we needed somebody to do this and they're going to remember those people in the magazine.
Speaker 2:That's the goal. That's exactly it what you're talking about. So when they do do the Google search, or you know, and they'll recognize something in that list, yes, yes, for example, yeah, but yeah, no. So for us, the key is frequency and consistency over time with the same audience. Yes, because it takes seven to ten times now, truly, if someone's seeing your brand before someone notices it. Yes, and then to get them to remember it takes even longer, and to maybe even give you a call is up to around 21 times.
Speaker 1:Yes, yeah, well, and I suppose if they I mean I'm assuming the businesses know where the distribution is, then they should be sending additional mailings there, because it's all about their names, their names, their names.
Speaker 2:That would make a lot of sense, but that is why we do the digital ads in the interviews too. I'm digressing, I'm going back into my I feel like we have a lot we could chat about.
Speaker 1:We could, yes, yes. So I would like to finish with my five fun questions.
Speaker 2:Oh no.
Speaker 1:Are you ready to play? Okay, they're fun, they're fun. Okay, you ready to play? Okay, they're fun, they're fun, okay. So this is just to get for people who are watching on youtube or listening on the podcast, just to get to know who you are a little bit better. So can you please tell us what's your favorite book that inspires you in business or in your life?
Speaker 2:Well, my favorite favorite book that I actually sit down Monday through Friday. I get up at six o'clock in the morning, go down and make my coffee and I sit and I actually study my Bible. That's no, that's that is. That is the. That's my lifeline. I'm actually a study leader of a thing called Precepts, bible Study and but yeah, that is what informs you know the word of God. Yeah, number one. And then, but I do love books.
Speaker 2:Yes, yeah, I can never say what is my favorite favorite book, but last year I I love audiobooks, I listen to all of the books in and I love youth literature. Um, the chronicles of Narnia, and as I was listening to them I'm like, oh my goodness, it's written for children and every major topic in life is addressed in those books. Wow, and they even had and it was it was sweet timing because I was listening to them one one when somebody actually in one of the books died and my dad was dying at that time and I got to see a picture of how CS Lewis imagined it was like to enter that afterlife and it was very comforting to me. So, yeah, anything by CS Lewis. But I love other books. Les Miserables is one of my very favorite books and I read the original translation into English. I think it took me a couple years, wow wow.
Speaker 2:Well, you see your brain, it's all come, they're all coming to you now yeah oh yeah, and I like business books, you know yes but anyhow but yeah, no, yeah.
Speaker 1:The word of God, that's well there's a lot of um motivation, a lot, of, a lot of good wisdom in in the bible.
Speaker 2:So yeah, yeah there is yeah, very helpful.
Speaker 1:You meant business, yes, yes, Okay.
Speaker 2:So if you could have dinner with any woman in history, who would it be, and why?
Speaker 1:This is really hard, several lives.
Speaker 2:Oh, oh dear. We can come back to that.
Speaker 2:You know it would be very interesting. I know that there's amazing women and I'm just completely blanking. However, I had a great aunt and I know she would go to. She was a pac pacifist. This little tiny lady who was dressed all in black all the time traveled the world. She has a uh part of a library in the University of Michigan named after her, oh my goodness. Anyhow, elizabeth I mean not Elizabeth, rebecca, shelley she would have meetings with Indira Gandhi who and I thought it was, I don't I'm like maybe that would be fun because you know, indira knew my, my great aunt Rebecca well, absolutely a lot from her the stories that lady would would have to tell.
Speaker 1:Yes, oh my goodness, that's a good one that's a good.
Speaker 2:I have blanked on probably every other woman in the universe. That's okay. I think she's good.
Speaker 1:I think I'd like to have lunch with your or dinner with your aunt.
Speaker 2:What is your favorite way to unwind after a busy day? Come home, change. If it's late enough, I'll go straight the jammies, ah yeah, if it's still too early, then I'll put sweatpants on. Yeah, and just unwind. Yeah, okay, this is sort of silly. I, I, I make dinner, usually each night for me and rick and I like to watch some mindless um, you know, prime or or apple tv or whatever series while I'm making dinner. I like to do that to unwind it's perfect, perfect.
Speaker 1:It just takes your mind off of things and you can just, you don't have to think, you're not like focused, yeah I just move my phone around wherever I'm going, okay. Do you have a favorite motivational quote that keeps you going?
Speaker 2:Well, one thing that keeps me going is to remember what really motivates me. So it's for me personally. You know I want to build community, influence others and be a light in the community. Oh, that's beautiful, and that's very specific to me. And something else, though, is just that I'm really learning is persistence and grit, and to not fear failure. Begin again. We can begin again every single day. I mean, I wish I was consistent with everything I do and I'm getting better, but I'm not. I still have a ways to go, and so I can begin again. Forgive myself and begin again.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. That's beautiful, that is. That's a good lesson for all of us, because shame and guilt and feeling bad about ourselves does not helpful. Yeah, you wake up, you go to bed, you wake up, it's a new day. Put on a smiley face and hopefully it's different. It's a different day, okay. My last question if you could travel anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you go?
Speaker 2:And why would you go there Tomorrow? Tomorrow I go to Orange County, california, because I have a little grandson there named Waylon. Oh, I think I'm going to cry. I just miss him so much. So my big son, christopher it's his son, and yeah, that little guy, he just needs his Grammy and pop. Oh, and how old is he? He's eight. Oh, so we love to go down there and take him on adventures, yes, you know, down to San Diego, to Legoland or SeaWorld or different places. But anyway, other than that I do love to travel the world. But that is when you said tomorrow I'm like I want to see Wayland, that's beautiful.
Speaker 1:Oh, I loved all of your answers. I think that I love the one about your aunt and I love that you would go see your grandson. That's beautiful. That says a lot for sure. Well, I have enjoyed our conversation and I have got so much knowledge because I had no idea. I thought I kind of knew what you did, even when I was snooping around and spying on you over the net, but I really didn't fully understand it. I think it's a beautiful thing that you're doing and and um, yeah, I think it's great. I think I think if businesses do what do, it do it right. It could, it could be a goldmine for them.
Speaker 2:Yes, yeah. Yeah, you have to trust the system, realize results aren't immediate and invest. Business owner. If I could tell business owners one thing don't just work in your business, work on your business, yes, yeah. Lead your business, yes. Invest in your business, yeah, and get other people to do the stuff that you shouldn't be doing every day that's I was gonna say to you what's?
Speaker 1:what advice can you would you like to uh to to give out? There? That's perfect and it's. And it's so true because because when we're, if we're not used to being in business, uh, and running our own businesses, uh, it's a total different ball game than going to a job and making your hourly wage or salary and, and you know, having you know you're all this is what you do and this is what we're paying you for. But when you're in your business for yourself I remember for me in in the beginning, uh, I went in, I got my desk. There was nothing there. I sat down and I'm like, oh, I don't know, what do I do? What am I gonna do now? And then I started to come up with ideas and, okay, I'm gonna to try this, I'm going to try this, and and then you get that system.
Speaker 1:So I think systems are so important yes, they are, and you're talking to the most non-systematic human alive and I appreciate systems so much more now I mean yeah, yeah when you well, if you come up with a system and something that works for you, then you just keep doing it and you keep refining it and you don't have to reinvent the wheel all the time. I have seen so many people come into business on their own and then fail and off they go, which is such a shame because it's we put our hearts, our soul, our bank accounts, our, our personal time, everything in there and then to just you know, to, to, to leave. But it's, it's. But if they understood that it's about systems and just getting a system in place and following it.
Speaker 1:So people who are, who are advertising in your magazines okay, what else can I do? Oh, I could. I know where those magazines are going. Every month I should be sending something out there. I should have a you know something going on for those neighborhoods and so that they remember me and I'm in the forefront of their minds. So it's, yeah, systems are so important.
Speaker 2:I'm glad I should have you come along and talk with my sponsors. I think you'd have great ideas.
Speaker 1:Well, it's just, I learned the hard way and when I figured it out I just did, and you know you adjust as you go 34 years, and when I first started, pay phones were 25 cents and I had a pager and so I would get called Joe Smith and I would look for the nearest phone booth, always had a handful of quarters in my purse. Get out, go in. You're on the phone making notes and, um, very different from the way it is now. Very different, um, yeah, it went.
Speaker 1:When texting started coming in, I had so many young clients and they, they. I just couldn't get them to talk to me because they would just prefer to text. So I'd phone them ring, ring, ring, ring, phone them back, ring, ring, ring, ring. Then I'd go hey, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, and I'd get an answer back within seconds. So it's all about adjusting. We have to learn to adjust and go with the flow and figure it out. Anyway, that's enough from me. And go with the flow and figure it out Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. Yeah, anyway, that's enough from me. Is there anything final that you would like to say to everybody?
Speaker 2:Well, each person listening has a special talent and special gifts and I would encourage each person to find out what they are. And if you're I mean not I was going to say if you're living a humdrum life and not enjoying it figure out what you're good at and try to do something where you can utilize what you're good at. It doesn't mean every day of our life is going to be the best day ever, but it can be better. So you are special, you have unique giftings and, yeah, try and play around with them.
Speaker 1:See what you're good at. You need to realize that's beautiful. Thank you for thank you, thank you, because I'm sure there are people who needed to hear that. I appreciate you doing that. Thank you, thank you. Oh, you're welcome. Okay, everybody, so that is the end of our episode no-transcript, to sort of play with a bit publishing, writing, promoting, selling, all of those kinds of things. She can help you with that. So there will be contact information in there for her and if there's any other reason that folks want to reach out to you. So thank you so much for doing this. I appreciate it. I had a great time, I loved our conversation. So thank you so much and we will see you around town.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think we should have lunch together. We should have lunch. Thank you so, so much. I really appreciate it, julie, and thank you for all you're doing for so many women. Well, you're very welcome.
Speaker 1:Thank you for that. Okay, take care everybody. See you next time.