Women Like Me Stories & Business
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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.
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Women Like Me Stories & Business
SHAUNA BROWNE: MOLLY MAID - Building a Business That Empowers Women
"You are strong, you are smart, you are beautiful." These words of affirmation that Shauna Browne whispers to her young granddaughters reflect the empowering leadership philosophy she brings to her thriving Molly Maid franchise.
From the moment Shauna takes us through her journey from helping at her parents' cleaning business to becoming a successful franchise owner herself, we discover what truly sets exceptional leaders apart. Her day begins at 5 AM - not just for physical exercise, but for the mental preparation that allows her to lead effectively. "If I'm not 100%," she explains, "who's going to look after everything?"
What makes this conversation particularly valuable is Shauna's candid insights into building a sustainable business in the challenging service industry. She's created something remarkable - a cleaning company where team members stay for decades in an industry known for high turnover. Her secret? "I hire for the heart," she reveals, seeking people who genuinely love helping others rather than just possessing technical skills.
Business owners will appreciate Shauna's practical wisdom on differentiating a premium service, balancing work with family life, and creating a positive workplace culture. Her daily practice of thanking each team member before they leave work acknowledges their humanity beyond their job function - especially important for the many single mothers on her staff who "go home and their day is just beginning."
For women considering entrepreneurship, Shauna offers both encouragement and realism. Having navigated from paycheck-to-paycheck living to award-winning business owner, she reminds us that success requires persistence and self-belief: "Don't let anyone tell you no." Her advice to find support systems beyond your immediate circle particularly resonates for those whose dreams might not be understood by everyone around them.
Ready for genuine business insights from someone who's built something meaningful while lifting others up? Listen now and discover how cleaning homes became a platform for changing lives.
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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.
Hello everyone and welcome to another episode of Women Like Me, stories and Business. Today I have like a fascinating lady and I was just chatting with her before we came thick and I have used her services for a lot of years and I had no idea who this lady was. So I am so excited to introduce you to Shauna Brown. Now Shauna has taken a trusted brand that serves her community and she leads with strength and integrity. She is the owner and operator of a franchise of Molly Maid. It's a well known cleaning service and, under leadership, it's more than just a business. It's a well-known cleaning service and, under leadership, it's more than just a business. It's a place of empowerment, opportunity and high standards. So thank you, shauna, for being here. I really appreciate it. Is there anything that you would like to add, just so that our audience gets to know you a little bit better?
Speaker 2:Yeah, thank you, julie, I mean, no, I thank you very much for having us and and I think you said it, perfect. But I just think you know, molly, not that we just hire women, but that is who I have on my staff right now and I think giving them the opportunity to, you know, do what they need to do in life and, you know, feel empowered, that's just very important to us.
Speaker 1:Perfect, Absolutely. Start with your story. So what led you to become the owner and operator of the franchise that you have here in the Lower Mainland? Because you go all the way from the Guilford Mall to Chilliwack and you even service some of the Hope area as well.
Speaker 2:right, yeah, absolutely so it all started. My parents purchased a franchise in 1988. I, as a teenager, was home and then went off and ventured on my way doing some different things. After I had my last daughter, my parents asked if I would come run their office for that for them. I did that for almost 10 years and then in that time, really decided that I believed in the brand and you know I wasn't going to go out and start my own cleaning company. I already had a big, strong brand that I could do that. So my husband, I, bought the franchise and in 2012. And it's just been an incredible story since then.
Speaker 1:Oh, that's wonderful. I totally, I totally get that. So I was in real estate for 34 years, and but two of my boys, so I retired in December of 2024. To now do women like me full time, and my boys, though, were able to take over the business, the branding that that we, that we built all those years. So I think it's still work, of course, and building, but it's nice to be able to have that base, that grounding to work on it is, yeah.
Speaker 2:Knowing that you always have the support of your brand, that's definitely huge. And it's just I mean, it's been around since 1979, so it's a well-known brand.
Speaker 1:Yes for sure. So running a service-known brand? Yes for sure. Running a service-based business isn't easy.
Speaker 2:What does your day-to-day look like? My day actually starts about 5 o'clock in the morning and I take an hour for myself. I do a bit of a workout. It really is not so much a physical thing, it's a mental thing. I think it's so important as we grow on in age that we take that time for physical and mental health. So I have that hour to myself where nobody bothers me maybe the cats, but that's about it. Then I start my day at seven because my teams are all calling in and there might be changes for the day. I do have a team in my office that helped me as well. But to say, we have now 16 teams out there, so it's, you know, making sure everybody's set to go, and then the phones start ringing and we go off. Like that. My day usually ends in the office around four o'clock. My husband comes home, we go for a walk after every evening, so you can kind of talk about your day. And yeah, that's kind of our day. Monday to Friday.
Speaker 1:Well, that's, and you're right, it's, it's. It's not necessarily the physical, but the mental. You're, you're, you're fielding phone calls, you're organizing all of those women and, of course, you're going to have people who cancel, people that come on and want something quickly. It's a lot of mental stress to deal with. It is Day by day.
Speaker 2:It is, and I think it's so important that you take that time out for yourself, because you know, if I'm not 100%, who's going to look after everything right? So you really do have to put yourself first. And I think, as women, a lot of times we're putting our children first, our partner first, our job, but it really it needs to be us first, because none of that works if we're not there. A hundred percent.
Speaker 1:You are speaking my truth, oh my goodness, I, I, I am a hundred percent with you, because if if we're depressed, we're tired, we're down, we're grumpy, we're no good to anybody. Yeah, no, for sure we need to take care of ourselves first, and it's not selfish, it's, it's, it's so important. So thank you for saying, thank you for bringing that up and saying that. So what do you think sets your branch or your franchise of Molly made apart from others in the industry? Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 2:So we are what I say a premium service that does go with a premium price. But I try to tell people you know you can go get the person for whatever off of Facebook, but you know we're bonded, we're insured, we're reliable, we're going to show up. There's no guesswork, there's no ghosting. You know, if there was ever any issues, we're going to come back and fix that, because you know we are all human and if we had something not right, we're going to go make sure that we make it right. But really, I think the important things is that our staff are trained. They're going to show up with all the supplies and equipment and make sure the job is done correctly. And a lot of times these private people that you're hiring they might show up. They might not show up. If something happens in your home, you know who's responsible for. So I think knowing that the brand is, you know, reputable and you can count on them is is what sets us apart from the other companies, absolutely, and I loved that you brought up the bonding.
Speaker 1:And if something happens in the home, because so often what what I think a lot of homeowners don't realize is that you could be liable for the people you have in your home. Yeah, yeah, so that's so important because I remember one time I came home and I had, I had, I was using a cleaning service and the ladies were there and they one of them was up on the counter and the two of them were sort of two other ones were there and she was cleaning beautifully. And I just remember thinking ladies even have insurance. I know, right, I remember that because heaven forbid if something happened. Yeah, you know. So it's very important, yeah, very important for people to think about that for sure. So just wondering how do you retain great staff in an industry that has such turnover that that can be really high? Keep your people happy.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'm very. You know, having a positive culture is very important to me. We have staff, a lot of long-term staff. I have one girl that's been here. It'd be 34 years in November. I have a 21, a 20, a few five to eight years in there. So I'd say 60% of our staff are long-term. Now you do have that 40% we are women.
Speaker 2:So I have a lot of people raising their families or going back to school a lot, since we're a stepping stone for people, um, so there is that 40 that does turn around, but I try to make it a positive place. You know, when I hire, I don't just hire for the skill, I hire for the heart. So they gotta love doing this. They gotta and it's not that they love cleaning, but they love helping people, because that's the business that we're in. We're in a business to help people, to provide a service, because people are.
Speaker 2:Either we have people on disability or people with injuries. We have our seniors who want to stay living in their home longer but can't keep up with everything, or just the busy families, or that busy entrepreneur that you know doesn't have, doesn't want to spend their whole weekend cleaning their home. So I really believe that we provide a service. So when I'm looking for teams, I want them to love helping people because I say that's the business that we're in, so that's really what I'm looking for. So I try to. You know, we have some staff events that we have. I do a lot of rewarding different things for our staff, to reward them for their, their work and just knowing that they're appreciated. Every single day when they finish the day, I thank them for their day and I think that's important because they might not get that recognition at home or from somebody else. So I want them to know that I appreciate youful culture really, you know where people are.
Speaker 1:Just you know what I mean.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I appreciate it, it's just assumed, everything is assumed, and I think we forget that again. Like I have a lot of single moms on our team and, sorry, I do call my staff my team, I don't call them my staff, they're my team. So I have a lot of single moms on my team and you know, I do call my staff my team, I don't call them my staff, they're my team. So I have a lot of alums on my team and you know, I know that when they go home their day is just beginning, right. So I want them at least ending their day with me knowing that everything they did was appreciated, and then they can kind of go home with a, you know, their head held high, absolutely.
Speaker 1:And knowing that they. It's so important to know that you're appreciated for what you did throughout the day. Yeah, yeah, and I love service. I love that you speak about service, because that's really it's true. That's exactly what you're doing. Yeah, and people, and you're there because people need you. That's right. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So have you ever faced doubts about your leadership or being a woman leading? I think you said you've got about 38 team members right now. Yes, yes.
Speaker 2:I definitely. When my, when my youngest daughter was was young, or even actually even now. You know there's a lot of times so it's kind of comical. Our office is in our home, so I answer my phones up until I go upstairs at 830. So it's comical. With my husband and our youngest daughter, who's 20, will be sitting down and as soon as I get comfortable the phone rings or my email chimes and I get up and I answer that Because to me if someone's wanting something, they need the answer now. You know they're tomorrow, they're at work's out of their mind or or they've moved on, so I answer all those then. So it is kind of comical that I don't necessarily get all the downtime, but to me it's worth it and so I guess that's. The doubt that I may have is that you know I am putting in more than 40 hours a week, but in saying that I also get days that if I want to go spend a day with my granddaughters I can take that time.
Speaker 1:So it's a balance yes, for sure, and I think that people that, that, um, that go on. Like you know, they have the nine to five jobs and then they think I'm going to go and start my own business and I'm going to be my own boss and I'm going to you're not your own boss because you have all those people out there that are relying on you.
Speaker 1:And technically, they're your bosses. It's like in real estate. You know people who think, oh, I'm going to go and be my own boss. They're not because you're going to, people are going to hire you to do a job for them, to do a service for them, and they're now your boss, exactly. And the nice thing about it is well, I remember Brian Tracy. I don't know if you've ever heard of him, but he's a motivational kind of guy and I saw him once and he said something that stuck with me forever and it really helped me to be successful. And what he said is we do eight hours a day to survive. Every hour we do over and above that is for success.
Speaker 2:I love that, Because that is what I say. You know, some we get together with our franchises and some will say, Shauna, you know why don't you just shut it off at five o'clock? And I said because I want to grow my business, I want to be successful. I'm not content with just, you know, flowing along, I want to do more than that. So you have to put in. What you put in is what you get out absolutely, yeah, absolutely, yeah.
Speaker 1:What's the most rewarding part of owning your business?
Speaker 2:well, I always say I mean my. I have three reasons why I bought the business. One was I was able to run the business around my family. So when I first bought the business, my youngest daughter was, uh, just in elementary school. So it meant taking her to school every day. It meant I could volunteer for the field trips, you know, as she got older, I was, you know, on the graduation committee. I could do all those things. So, working the business around my family, as I said, now I have two granddaughters and I can, you know, spend time with them, what I want. So that was my first reason why I bought the business. The second is because I love helping people. I love knowing that our service, as I said before, we provide a service that helps people. And three, I'm very proud that I have team members, that I provide an income so that these women can do what they need to do. So those are the three reasons why I have the business, why I'm proud to have this franchise.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah. Oh well, those are three fabulous reasons. Absolutely Love it. Love it, okay. So what skills? So I was thinking about this question what skills do you believe that women need if they want to be entrepreneurs? Because you're doing well, you know you're building, you're building and but but somebody sitting on the outskirts looking in, they always see what's happening with us today. They don't see what happened with us in the very beginning, right yeah, what skills do you think women women need If they're thinking about jumping into the entrepreneurial world?
Speaker 2:Yeah. So I think first is believing in yourself. You're always going to come against obstacles or you know your downs, but it's how you come out of that. So when I say something happens in our day that wasn't exactly planned, it's you know, why did it happen, how can we make sure it doesn't happen again and we move on. So I think it's just having the confidence that you can do that. Obviously, I think you also need the patience. Patience is something that I've learned a lot, and then I've also learned I I listen to everything and not react right away. So I listen and think about it and then come up with a solution or come up with how I'm going to respond to that. So, but I and think about it and then come up with a solution or come up with how I'm going to respond to that. So, but I definitely think you have patience, and just the will to believe in yourself is very important.
Speaker 1:Yeah, have you had to deal with many obstacles about being a woman in business, being the leadership of a of a business? Have you had anything there that you've had to deal?
Speaker 2:with. You know, I don't think in Mommy Made I really have, because I mean now we have a lot more men in our franchise but we used to, you know, mainly be a lot of females. So I don't think in that. But as a young mom out there looking for a job, I know I definitely. You know, as soon as I applied for the job and at that time I was a single mom, and it was, oh, you know, as soon as I applied for the job, and at that time I was a single mom, and it was, oh, you're a single mom with kids, like I could see the hesitation in them. And then there was also other jobs that I felt that maybe I got because I don't know personality more than my skills. They, you know, liked what they saw. But I just think you have to take whatever advantage you have and then use that and prove to them that they made the right choice. So I don't think I've seen it really in Mollymade, but my previous to that I definitely have seen that challenge.
Speaker 1:Yeah, absolutely, as you're talking, I'm thinking, yeah for sure it's um. For me it was a very male dominated industry when I started in 1991. And that was really tough, tough, tough, tough to break into. And yeah, just a lot of you know comments and all that kind of stuff, just tough, tough and and it can cause people to leave the business, and so it's really sometimes it's difficult to just keep that gumption up. But it's so important because if you, if that's what you want in the world and that's your dream, then you have to try to block out any negatives that might be coming your direction and just go for it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, okay, I mean, I think when I first took that one job I'm referring to, I took the job as a receptionist and I ended up as a general manager of operations by the time I finished there, and and it's because I I believed in myself and every time they'd give me something, I would, you know, work at it to do one better, and so every time you got the opportunity. But I know, when I was hired, I was hired maybe because they liked the way I looked rather than what they thought I could actually do.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, no, exactly Exactly Sitting on the fence about starting her own business. Because what I found interesting when we went through COVID was so many because I was still in real estate then so many of my clients, especially my mid-life clients, were selling, they were out of developing businesses, businesses that they could do online. Just the whole world kind of shifted, which was which was interesting, and so so what would you say to women that are sitting on the fence and they're not sure about you? Know, they're burnt out, they're tired, they don't want to do that nine to five there, but they're kind of stuck and they want to make that shift but they're scared.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean I think you have to give it a chance. You know you have to. Nothing comes without trying and sometimes that feeling makes you a stronger person. So don't give up if you, if it doesn't work out the first time. But I mean it is rewarding.
Speaker 2:I'm very proud to have my franchise and I'm proud to tell people that I have my franchise and and you know, when we go to convention and we were honored with the top growing franchise, like that's, that's really rewarding to us. And knowing that that I did that, I mean, yes, I have a team and I couldn't do it by my own. So I don't say that I'm your reason. I definitely have a team that helps us. But you know to think of. You know I have people on my team that, as I said, we're single moms and sometimes they're trying to live, check to check, and I said I've been there, I've been to the grocery store where you had to count your items and see if you had enough money in your account. But you just keep going and you don't give up and you know you can really do that. Don't just yeah, just don't give up in yourself and don't let anyone tell you no, do that.
Speaker 1:Don't just, yeah, just don't give up in yourself and don't let anyone tell you no, yes, yes, I, yes, I remember many ladies coming into the business and real estate. You know, everybody sees it, of course, from the outside, just like every other successful business and, and so often their spouses, spouses and and I think not necessarily. You know money gets tight and I understand the stress that people have, for sure, but but they get. You know, the common thing is well, why don't you go get a real job? You know, and and it just really can tear down your, your dreams. It's crushing.
Speaker 1:You know your dreams and I get the whole. You know because I've been there as well. I was a single mom for 24 years, so I understand, I raised three boys on my own and so I get the whole stress over finances and all of that. But if you have a dream, you've got to figure out how to do it. Even if you're doing your dream part-time, building towards that till, you can sort of leave that job that's maybe burning you out and then get into what it is that you really want to do For sure, and I think it's so important also to have support right.
Speaker 2:So lean on your friends and your family or other people in the business. It's okay. You don't have to do it by yourself and there's other people that have experiences or motivation. You know different things that will help you. So I think it's so important that we share. Don't think that if you feel like you're failing in something, it's not a failure to go out and reach out and ask for help or get people's ideas.
Speaker 1:So there's other people out there no, that's and thank you for saying that, because it's so true there are. You know you might not be getting the support you feel you need at home or or from your friends or people, that that we like people to stay in the same level, the same realm as us, and so when one of us starts to deviate a little bit makes everybody uncomfortable. So I love that. You're absolutely right. Find your tribe. There's a tribe outside of your bubble that's there waiting to support you, right, yeah, just I love that. A few questions that are off topic a little bit and I'd love to ask them because I'd like to get to know our people a little bit more.
Speaker 1:So do you mind if I ask you a few questions? Absolutely Not at all. Okay, All right. So my first question is if you could travel anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you go and why would you go there?
Speaker 2:I think it's not so much where I would travel, it would be who I would travel with. So I mean my family. I would love to go for hikes and just spend those times together. You know when you're making those meals together and that conversation. So you know life is busy and sometimes you don't always have time to sit down together or do things together. So recently my family I say the nine of us, my children and their spouses or whatnot and we all went to Disneyland and it was amazing because we were all together and it wasn't so much of course Disneyland was fantastic, but it was the being together for the meals, it was even the walking to the parks, like those conversations that happen. So I don't know that I have a favorite place, but it's just being with my family is my favorite, my favorite place, just being with them.
Speaker 1:I can't count how many uh ladies I have asked that question and you were the first one with this answer and I absolutely love your answer. I love it and you're so right. I, just, as you were talking, I'm visualizing uh, you, you know, wandering around Disneyland with all the kids and everybody, and, and you're right, it's not always where you've gone, but who you've gone with. Thank you, shauna, for that. That was great. I think I know this one because I think you mentioned it. But what's your favorite way to unwind after a busy day?
Speaker 2:Well, going for a walk with my husband. So that's the first thing we do when he gets home. And we always say it's kind of our half an hour where he can kind of vent about his day good or bad, and I can vent about my day good or bad. And then once we get home, um, then it's kind of off the table and you're you've just taken a load off, so that's uh kind of how we unwind every evening oh, perfect, perfect, okay.
Speaker 1:Do you have a favorite motivational quote that keeps you going?
Speaker 2:Oh, you know what I really don't? Yeah, sorry, no, I don't have a favorite one that keeps me going. I mean, we do have a new. You know, molly and me we're providing comfort and joy where people work, live and play, and I love that we have that quote because I think it really says who we are now.
Speaker 1:Can you repeat that again?
Speaker 2:Yeah, Molly Lee, providing comfort and joy where people work, live and play.
Speaker 1:I love that. Oh, I got a shiver. Okay, love that. That's a good one. That's a good one. There's your code, your quote, for sure A favorite book. Is there a book that has inspired you, or one that you sort of remember that?
Speaker 2:I mean, I do read different motivational ones, but, to be honest, I don't have a lot of time to read books. So when I go on holidays is when I read my book and and it's honestly the kind of books that are just putting me in another world to get away from everything.
Speaker 1:So, uh, yeah, but sometimes that's what we need.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, yeah, they just it does. It lets my mind go somewhere else, because otherwise my mind is always thinking.
Speaker 1:Yes, for sure I understand that. The next question I love this question. If you could have dinner with any woman in the world in history, who would it be and why?
Speaker 2:Michelle Obama, I just love that. I think you know she was obviously her partner, was, you know, the president? But I think she held her own and I think she really believed in certain things and she used the kind of the power or you you know the she got to go out there but she got to use that in such a positive manner and she's done so many positive things for so many different groups of people. I would love to sit down and talk with her.
Speaker 1:You would be amazing. She would be amazing to speak to, absolutely. And my last question is if you could whisper one truth into the ear of every woman who's struggling right now, what would you say?
Speaker 2:I say to my granddaughters and they're three and five I said you are strong, you are smart, you are beautiful, and I like them to believe that because I think, if you. I said they're so young and they think it's so funny when I get them to repeat that. But you know, you need to believe in yourself, and so that's what I like to. I always whisper that to them and make them repeat it to me now you're making me teary-eyed.
Speaker 1:That is so beautiful because you're just. They are with positivity and love and positive statements about themselves. Thank you for saying that because you know they're talking to their kids, or they're talking to you know, those bratty teenagers standing in front of 7-eleven yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:Well, I just like you know, I want them to know they're both obviously girls and I want them to know that nothing can get in their way. They can do anything they want.
Speaker 1:So I'm gonna keep enforcing that in them while they're young and I hope that they grow up with that strength as well, wow, johnny, you are just so full of positivity and beauty and I just thank you for coming on and sharing all of this. No, you're very welcome, we have to go, unfortunately, very welcome. Um, I can't, we have to go, unfortunately, how?
Speaker 2:would you like to share with the audience before, before we close? Yeah, I mean, I think it's so um, it's so nice that you have we have things, you know, the pontes that you're doing, because I really think that us, the women, have to stick together and keep encouraging each other, and so I'm very thankful for this opportunity because I just, you know, you might say I'm positive, but it's because of the people around me, so I can feel it off of you as well, and I just think we just need to keep sharing it.
Speaker 1:That's beautiful. Well, thank you so much. So everyone just to let you know that I will have all of Shauna's contact information how you can reach out to her if you need to hire her. That would be fantastic. If you want to reach out for whatever reason, all of her contact information will be in the show details in the video as well as the podcast. So don't be shy people to reach out. Well, shauna, thank you so much for doing this. I greatly appreciate it and it was wonderful, and I wish you so much for doing this. I greatly appreciate it and it was wonderful, and I wish you all the best of success and I hope we run into each other one day soon. Thank you you as well. Take care, okay.
Speaker 2:Bye-bye.