Ready. Set. STYLE

Ready, set, style! This is the Elevate Polk Podcast, and I'm your host Chrissanne Long, and with me today is my co-pilot Nate the Great Kendrick. Hey guys, that's not ever gonna get old for me, by the way, so you better get used to it.

I'm taking it hard and I'm going with it. I'm running with it.

We're here now.

Awesome, awesome.

And well, we have an amazing guest with us today, so this is gonna be our first Season 2 guest, and welcome to the show, Maria.

Thank you. Excited.

Excited to have you. We're trying to figure out how we're going to look at each other and talk into microphones. So if it's a little awkward at the beginning, we'll get into the flow here in a minute. All right. So we are excited to have you. You are the CEO owner of Stylishly You.

Yes.

Correct.

Yes.

All right. And you are living currently in Auburndale. Is that right? Okay. So tell us, you know, just give us kind of the rundown on your business, your entrepreneurship journey, and just weave, weave the story the way you want to tell it.

Okay. So when I first started, you know, entrepreneurship journey, I didn't really have anybody to mimic after, you know. So it was scary because I came from a family full of educators and, you know, probation officers, and they've been doing it for 20, 30 years and that's it. You know, I went to college twice.

Twice.

Yeah, watch this. So the first time I went, I had like 6 credits left. And this is a funny story because I sat in class and I was doing really well. I was managing like 6 classes easy, A's and B's easy. And I remember sitting in class and the lady said we had a thesis coming up. And I looked at my friend, I'm like, I'm not coming back. And she was like, what? I said, this is the last day you'll see me. And then she was just like, Maria, like you have like You got 6 classes left. Like, what are you doing? Like, I'm like, I just can't. And that was the last day I went.

Wow.

Right? Fast forward years later, I was like, let me try this college thing again, you know? And I went, you know, I enrolled and same thing. I sat in there and I was like, this is not for me. Right? So I said, maybe just find a good corporate job. You know, I got into HR. Absolutely love HR. Loved it. I love looking at the recruiting side. I loved benefits. I was doing benefits. Loved it. Love them, you know, the people love what I learned. And I loved the systems, I just loved it. And then the wall started caving in eventually, and people started asking me to style them for different things, 'cause you know we had galas and different things we get invited to. And my boss was like, "Hey, can you style me for this and that?" And I style her, and she was like, "You're hired, you're good." And something hit me that day like, I am hired, why am I doing this for real? So that's when I started. Putting the pieces together, you know, to start my own business. You know, I got my EIN. I really didn't know what I was doing, but you know, I got my EIN. I started doing some research, like what type of stylist did I want to be, like, you know. And then eventually I told my boss, you know, hey, the walls are caving in, I gotta go. And she was like, I felt like you had to go. My co-workers— I call them my co-family because I love them so much. Um, but yeah, that's my co-family. And, um, they were like, you're really leaving? Like, you love this. And I'm like, purpose is calling me, I have to do something different. And, uh, so I left there. Um, I found Lakeland. Let me tell you what's funny, I never really paid attention to anything in Lakeland until I started my business because it's so much stuff for entrepreneurs. So I got into like the free entrepreneur, um, class that they have in Lakeland, and that's when I found out about Co-Starters. Got into Co-Starters and it changed my life. I felt like after I did the, you know, entrepreneur class and I did Co-Starters, I felt like, you know what, you might be able to be an entrepreneur for real. Like, this might be for you. and then I started doing Stylishly You and it's just been amazing.

So give us the years all of this is happening. So you got your job, the corporate job.

Yes.

When and how long were you there?

So I got it, uh, I'm gonna say 2016 cuz I was there 3 years. Okay.

So 2016 to 2019 sometime.

Mm-hmm.

And so you took the leap. Mm-hmm. And decided I'm gonna do this full time.

Yes.

The, the we, Craig and I, when we, what we call it, 'cause he had a job as a, his career had been an estimator and project manager in commercial construction. And so the day that, so I started the business and he was kind of like working in the background and nobody really even knew that he was a part of the business, but this was like his exit strategy that he was building. And then we call it the day he crashed the car and walked away. Like, I'm done. I'm done with this. I'm out the door. So you crashed the car and walked away.

December 21st.

December 21st, 2019.

Yes. Wow.

How did that feel to step away from that?

You know, I was, I was nervous because I literally had a plan and a prayer. That was it. Like, I didn't have this, you know, I didn't have a lot of income. And, you know, my husband, he works, but I didn't have this big, like, I don't know, when people, you know, a lot of people when they talk about entrepreneurship, it's like they left with a big, a lot of money and a lot of strategy and a lot of help, you know what I'm saying? But your average person don't They don't start like that.

You're so right. Yes.

You know, and I wanted to— and I let people follow me on that journey. Like, when I, when I quit my job and I resigned, you know, I let people know, hey, I resigned. And people are like, what? Like, I wanted people to know, like, this is not an easy journey, but you can do it, you know. December 21st, I'll never forget it. And I remember sitting there crying. I cried twice because, um, my co-family threw me a party, and then later that day was a surprise party from the people in the plant. And they— I love them. Like, the guys in the plant, they were like I love them, you know. And I was like, am I doing the right thing? And then as soon as I said that, something in me was like, you're doing the right thing. Come on, let's go, it's time to go. And that was it, that was it for me.

So you said you had a plan and a prayer.

That's it.

You did this thing, and then January 2020— I'm sorry, March 2020, um, COVID. So talk me through this.

Oh yeah, so, you know, I had just, you know, um, I had established, you know, my business, I think like 2018, because when I started, I I wanted to do a clothing line. I got pivoted, right? I wanted to do a clothing line. I saw like it was really expensive and things like that. So I said, you know what, that's the plan that God gave me. I'm gonna put on the back burner for now. I don't have a— I don't have a problem with put something on the back burner and see what works. I'm just like that, you know. So then, you know, in 2019, when I really started doing like, okay, I'm gonna do styling and things like that, um, December hit and I said I want to do— I don't— I realized I didn't like styling people for events. Okay, that was not my thing. Okay, like a lot of stylists love that. Like you can call them for big events and, you know, to buy the dresses and things like that. I was like, I don't want to do that. What I want to do, I want something more feasible because I wanted to be the stylist for the everyday woman. I know that, you know. So January, I was like, grand idea, I'm gonna do closet organizing because who doesn't need their closet organized, right? And then I started, you know, promoting it on social media, things like that. I had clients lined up and then boom, COVID-19 hit. And they were like 6 feet apart, and I was devastated.

Most closets aren't even 6 feet, right?

Yeah, right.

Hello.

I was devastated, and I'm like, what in the world? Because I didn't have a plan after that. What in the world am I gonna do? So January came, I couldn't figure nothing out. No income for me. Like, my husband was working, yeah, but like, for me, right, nothing.

So what were the thoughts creeping in your head there, girl?

Well, I told my husband Babe, if I don't have something hit in a few months, I'm going to go back to corporate, period. He was like, no, you're not. He said, you always figure it out. So he's just figured it out. I remember him telling me that. So January came, no income. February came, no income. I mean, March, April, finally found a coach. I was praying and I said, God, I'm not going to— I can't do this. And I said, I need help, right? And kid you not, y'all, you have to believe it. I prayed that, 2 days later, a style coach DMs me randomly.

What?

I promise, this is no lie, guys. I just, I want you to know that this is true.

That is amazing.

She says, hey, I see what you're doing. You know, you're doing an amazing job. I'm a style coach. I help, you know, guide your business and help you, you know, with packaging and things like that. And I'm like, this is what I need. So I talked to her for like 3 hours. She gave me so much, like, information. I'm like, if I pay her and work with her, I know she's gonna make sure I'm good, you know. I knew it, right? So I paid her and she helped me construct packages that I loved. And I remember us doing the exercise about my ideal client, and, um, it was blank. So when I— we were talking about it, she was like, why, why is it blank? Like, I was like, because this lady that I'm working with, I don't want to work with her. Ah, right. And she was like, well, what do you like to do? I said, girl, I can mix and match some outfits. I can get into somebody's closet and create a capsule wardrobe that they will you absolutely love and it won't be boring. She was like, why don't you call yourself a capsule wardrobe expert? Like, if that's what you can do. I was like, it doesn't exist. Like, you just made it up. Yeah. She was like, well, it is this now.

Yeah.

And she said, put it out there and we'll go back to the drawing board if it doesn't work, right? I was very nervous. I was, but I did it. And that was it for me. Like, people started being like, capsule, what is that? Like, who is that? Like, you know, and gosh, that was the best decision I could have made, investing in a coach and pivoting when I felt like I didn't know what to do. Right.

Right. Right.

I think that's so important. Having someone that's a key advisor, someone that is really behind you is huge. And a lot of times when you're starting off, it's kind of tough to humble yourself and say that you need help. So that's huge that you said that.

Yes. I needed help and I was not embarrassed or ashamed.

Well, and it's interesting, like the humble part, like it's easy to be humble at the beginning, right?

Yeah.

Because you know that you don't know. Yeah. It's the when you get into it a little bit, like further down the road, you still need help, but you start to have this attitude like, "I got this figured out." Or it's even harder than that. It's like, "I can't tell anybody that I don't have it figured out." Yes. So if you ask for help, then you're admitting something isn't right, and that's not the case. It's not. I mean, we all need help, and we all need to just swallow that pill and just understand that that's a part of the process.

It's so true.

Don't forget that as you get further down this road.

Yeah. It's true. It's so funny you said that because people always say, Maria, you always talking about a coach. They tell me that all the time. I'm like, it's a part of your business where you're not going to know what you're doing, literally like, oh my gosh, I'm stuck here.

Right.

You're going to need somebody to help you.

Yes.

It's OK to get somebody to help you.

Right. I mean, OK, so I'm going to just drop a football reference because we just watched the Super Bowl this week, right? So Brady has a coach. And he's the best quarterback. He's the GOAT. And he still has to have somebody kind of helping him call the plays. Yes. And a trainer. He probably has somebody helping him with all of those extra things. Everybody, we all have in every other world of life.

Yes.

You know, somebody has a coach and yet in entrepreneurship, sometimes we think, no, no, I got this. I got this. And it might sometimes come down to cost, you know, but how much money are you spending or wasting trying to figure it out on your own? Sometimes when there's someone who can actually guide you through the path.

Oh yeah.

And it's worth it. Like you were saying, it's absolutely worth it. And I've been there too, where, where, What to Chrissanne's point, it's like, I'm new, I'm just starting off. I don't really have the funds to pay for it, but can I afford to not pay for it?

Yes.

Yeah.

Because the biggest asset is our time. And a lot of times we have so much wasted time trying to figure it out ourselves.

So true.

Then we have a coach that's in our corner that it may have taken us 3 months to figure it out. The coach comes, takes us a week.

Yes.

Right.

And they just show us exactly what they're doing.

Don't do this. Don't do that. Do this.

Yep.

Double down on that.

Mm-hmm.

So that's awesome.

Yes.

Well, and, and I think too, um, when you are clear on what you want and your purpose, so you said you had, you had a plan and a purpose.

Yes.

And now you're, you're like, okay, I know what I want. I know what I don't want. Like you said, I know I don't wanna work with this client.

Yes.

So now I need to find more of the clients that I do want to work with. Yes. And then that clarity starts to help you, you know, move on down the road a little bit.

Yes.

So, all right. So you've got this coach. Mm-hmm. You've, you've laid out your customer avatar or your ideal client. Mm-hmm. You, you're starting to, you know, pick things up.

Yes.

Things are starting, income's coming.

Yes.

Okay. And wait, and I also wanna reference, and I wanna do a shout out. What's your husband's name?

Richard.

Richard. Yes. So something else that you said that was extremely important was when you were like freaking out mode. Yeah. And COVID was hitting and you're like, mm, I might need to be going back to that corporate job.

Yeah.

And he's saying, no, no, you'll figure it out.

Yes.

Mm-hmm.

So having that support system too is ridiculously important.

Absolutely.

You can't do it without that.

It's true. And he helps out a lot because, uh, I meet a lot of entrepreneurs and their biggest thing is support, or their spouse just does not understand. And I don't have that testimony, right? I don't. Like, when I left, my husband was like, okay, whatever we need to do to make this happen is going to happen. He said, because I know what this is going to be. He always tells me that. I know this is going to be—

having someone believing in you like that is huge.

Yes.

Now let's Let's talk about the converse, cuz you, Nate, have that experience at home. You've got somebody who believes in you, supports you, is, is behind you. I have the same, Maria, you have the same. So what advice would you give to someone, like you said, the people who don't have that support from, from within, you know, like that your core family is wondering what the heck, you have 3 heads, what you're gonna be an entrepreneur?

Yeah.

What are you doing?

Yeah.

What would you say to somebody like that?

It's funny you ask that because I know somebody like that and she's older. And she is making six figures at her job. So her family's like, what in the world are you doing?

Right?

Why would you leave a $200,000 a year job to do whatever you say you're gonna do? And I tell her all the time, you cannot explain your purpose to people. People won't understand that, right? Right. You have to be your biggest advocate, and you have to get who I call online besties. They're real. Those friends, those girlfriends, you know, um, or networking, like those ones you can call up and say, girl, I'm having a rough mental day today, you know, I really don't have anybody in my space to talk to, right? Like, can we talk? And they will talk to you, they'll encourage you, you know. So find you some online besties, find you somebody in a networking, um, environment that you can call on and really just be your biggest advocate and know that whatever you're doing, it's purpose-driven. You can't really explain it to people, you know what I'm saying?

You can explain it to people who are also purpose-driven. Um, your purpose might not resonate with them, but they'll understand that that's your purpose and they'll encourage that and lift it up, lift you up in it.

Yes.

It was funny, as you're talking, I'm thinking about how much time I spend talking about business stuff with my husband, like with Craig. How much time do you use Richard kind of as a sounding board for your ideas, or do you more go toward the bestie side and talk through it with someone else? Oh, well, a little bit of both.

Let me tell you a funny story. So my husband, we were talking one day and he was like, I know that, and I don't know if he was saying it because he was upset or what. He said, I know that when you come to me, you pretty much have your mindset on what you're gonna do. And, um, that, that comes from me. I'm very prayerful, one, but I also, I look up to, like, I have mentors, you know what I'm saying? So I'm looking at things, I'm looking at trends, I'm prayerful. And 9 times out of 10, when I'm putting something out, it's not I don't really need somebody to just come back and tell me. I've thought it out. I've, you know, and I'm not scared of anything. So if it doesn't go exactly how I need it to go, I know it's just gonna be redirected to something better. You know what I'm saying? Like, that's my mindset. So no, like, not Susana tell me. I'm telling Richard, "Babe, I'm gonna do this next." Like, you know?

He's nodding his head and saying, "Okay, have fun." Yes.

And then, like, I have friends that I bounce things off of. It off of because I'm a creative and my mind goes 1,000 miles a minute. Mm-hmm. And I'm like, okay girl, so I wanna do this. And then I have a friend, she's very creative too, but she's, um, she's a Virgo, so she's very, uh, systematic, right? So I'll say, I'm thinking about doing this and that. She's like, give me a, give me a minute. I took notes when you were talking to me last time. I never knew she was doing this. And she said, remember that package deal that you wanted to do? You probably should implement it now. I'm like, I forgot about that. That's great. I'm gonna do, I love her. I said, I'mma do it now. Yeah.

So, so to, to that point, as an entrepreneur and as a business owner, because you have so much control of your business, you can decide what you can do and not do.

Yes.

When you have a whole bunch of ideas that you want to potentially implement, how do you say, okay, this is the lowest hanging fruit. This is what I want to go for first. What's your process of doing that?

What I do, I think, with that process is I see I guess I kinda see what people are wanting from me. You see what I'm saying? Like, people, if we pay attention, people will tell you what they want.

Mm-hmm.

Absolutely. Absolutely.

I think where we get misdirected and misguided is when we're looking around to see what everybody else is doing.

Ooh, that is so good.

I do not follow the trends. Mm-hmm. You know what I'm saying? I am not your average stylist. When people look at me and I tell them what I do and what I don't wanna do, like, I'm in a mentorship group now with a bunch of stylists. And when I tell them I don't want recurring clients, I want these women to come to me when they finish with me, they're like, I work with Maria for 30 days and I know exactly what I wanna look like. And they're like, you don't want reoccurring? What are you talking about you don't want recurring clients? Like, you know what I'm saying? I'm like, uh, I don't think I wanna, you know, focus on like business branding. I wanna focus on personal branding. 'Cause I know when you look good, when you walking outta your house, it exudes and the confidence exudes in everything else. You know what I'm saying? They're looking at me like, what is she talking about? You know what I'm saying? So I kind of go off of what people want from me. I am, I know, I don't just tell people this, but I know I'm your woman entrepreneur, that woman who just knows she needs to look good when she got the door, stylist. I'm not the one that's going to look for the next, you know, cast that needs a celebrity stylist. I don't want that stuff. That's not what I want. I want these women who are going day to day, they want to look good for their husbands, and they want to look good for their children, but they also have businesses and brands that they need to look good for too, you know? I don't follow trends. I just go, I see what these women need and I give them what they need. Right. Yeah.

So it's funny when you were saying the recurring income and the idea of, you know, uh, uh, your sustainability and your growth, a lot of coaches, a lot of entrepreneurial guidance and suggestions would be go for the recurring income. And so one of the things I've learned is, you know, I say this all the time, start where you are.

Mm-hmm.

And so being fully present and fully on purpose is all about this moment right here. And so in this moment right here, this, what I say is the most important next step, the MINS, M-I-N-S. And today that is your answer. But one of the things I always remind myself is that's today.

Yes.

So keep your mind open to what 6 months, a year, 5 years from now, because right now this is the practice of growth, right? You're getting, you're getting your groove on. You're figuring things out. And then someday the answer will come where the recurring income is going to be the next most important next step.

Yes.

But right now you're all into this, the sponge, kind of the sponge mindset. And you're like, and I can also see it too. Like if you get into a relationship and it's only 30 days and it's maybe it's not the best relationship, right? It's not working exactly the way you want. And you're in this like, I've got to do this for a year. And that starts to drain you, you know, like I gotta be with this person for another year. I don't really enjoy the 30 days that I'm spending with them. They're not even taking my advice. They're fighting me. They're not doing everything the way that I want. So the contract kind of locks you in and saps some of your energy at the same time.

Yes. And that's exactly what it is.

Yeah.

I think that's where my mindset is, you know, it's cause I, you know, I do one-on-one clients and I think that's where it is. It's kind of like, I don't really want to, cause I'm, I'm very big on self sustaining yourself, right? Making sure that you know how you want to show up, you know?

Yeah.

And, um, I think that's my biggest thing with these clients. I want to make sure that you know how you want to show up. I don't want you to depend on me for showing up, you know what I'm saying? So yeah, that makes sense.

I love that.

Oh yeah, that is strong right there. To ourselves. Yeah. And I tell my clients, girl, now you know how you want to show up. You know when you walk into the room, you want everybody to see you, you know what I'm saying? Or you know when you go into this meeting, you want to kind of lay low, you know what to wear for that, right? I want to make sure that they know that.

Yeah.

Yeah, you know, I love it.

Can I just say that I, I really appreciate your self-awareness about yourself, and really it determines your trajectory because a lot of entrepreneurs that are starting off and really getting in, diving into their business, they're really not clear on their goals and what they want and who they want to work with and who they don't want to work with, and that's where they can get lost. But you have a very clear goal of who you want to work with, who you don't want to work with, what you want to do, what you don't want to do. So that's awesome.

Yeah, thank you.

Huge.

For sure. I agree. Um, so I want to, I want to sidetrack a little bit. Um, I want to talk about when we met.

Okay.

Yeah, so it's really cool that you're on my podcast. Okay. And when we met, I didn't have a podcast. Okay. So we met at Podfest. Yes, 2019. It was what, November?

Uh, yeah, because it was right before COVID right? Yeah.

Yeah. Well, no, it was January.

Was It was right before, literally, like the world shut down, like few weeks later.

Correct.

Yes.

'Cause I remember we were at this convention in Orlando. We were actually volunteering. So we were helping and it was the best way to kind of be accessing the content and be a part of it and just be, you know, taking tickets or doing whatever.

Oh yeah.

And so there's this beautiful Black woman walking up to me with this gorgeous smile and I'm like, I need to know this girl that she, you know, 'cause she was part of the group of volunteers that were volunteering from Lakeland. Yeah. So I'm like, like, you're from Lakeland? I gotta know you. And so the next thing, and she's like, well, what's your podcast? And I'm like, well, I don't really have one yet, but I have an idea. We're getting started, we're getting things moving. And but no, that's— that timeline is completely false. We did have the podcast. Rob and I had started the podcast, but I was like, I don't know what I'm doing. I don't know exactly how this whole thing is going to go. I was kind of— I have shared on previous shows where I was, I was kind of the reluctant podcaster. Rob kind of pulled me in and said, we're gonna do this. And I'm like, okay, I'll just show up.

Okay.

And now I'm, you know, now the podcast booth's in my office. I gotta figure out how to do this stuff.

Yes.

But anyway, when we met, it's like, okay. And what did I say to you?

I don't know, I can't remember.

It was something about you need to be known in Polk.

You did. And you know what's funny? What I do remember, I remember looking at your face saying, I gotta remember her face just in case she show up to my church. Because remember I asked you, I said, who do you go to Grace City?

Uh-huh.

Remember?

Yep.

So I said, let me remember her face so if she shows up at my church, I can embrace her and And you know, I love that.

I love that. I love your spirit. I love your soul. I love everything about you. You just, you just exude this positive energy that, you know, if, if you need friends, I, I want to be your friend.

Okay.

I do.

And, and can I speak to the kind of go back to your story about where you talked about, you said, I'm gonna go do things. And so you enrolled yourself in a class and you got a part of Co-Starters and Catapult, which positioned you.

Yes, it did.

To be at Podfest.

Oh yeah.

To meet Chrissanne Long.

Yes.

And now you're having this moment right now.

Oh yes. Yes. Isn't that amazing?

That's the, it's about the first step.

Yes.

It's about taking that initial step, even though you admitted, hey, I didn't have, I did not, family members that had entre— that were, had entrepreneurial background or nothing.

Yeah.

But I was ready to do that.

Yes.

Right?

Yeah.

I, I have the goosebumps right now cuz this, that, that you bringing that whole full circle.

Yeah.

Nate is seriously what I think everybody on this in our audience needs to think about. Yes. If you're, if you're on the fence, you're not ready to take the leap and become an entrepreneur, you don't think maybe Polk County is the place to start a business, second-guess yourself. Because for real, you've got to do it. You got to take that step. But you also can find the people, but you have to take that first step.

Yeah.

And stepping out on faith, you know, leap in the net will appear. It truly will. There is no doubt about it in my mind. And if, if you leap and the net doesn't appear, trust me, you haven't hit the ground yet.

It's true.

You still have time.

Yeah. Oh yeah. Yeah. So that is how we met. And I remember saying that, like, if I see face at Grace City, I'm gonna hug her and say, "Hey, how are you doing?" You know what I'm saying?

I love it.

Yes. And then, you know, church stopped and everything stopped. So I haven't been, but I am planning on visiting Grace City because I know the energy there and a lot of so many great people that go to that church. So, but I'm gonna shout out, I actually go to Highland Park Church of the Nazarene. And I have, you know, just a faith moment. I grew up Catholic and it was hard for me. Religion was hard for me, you know, because it was so kind of boxed. And Craig started to go to Highland Park and then I was reluctant. I'm like, okay, go. He was going with his parents. And then I showed up once and eventually I was just doing it for him. And then eventually I was doing it for myself. And I think sometimes too, when you have to do the hard things in entrepreneurship, the hard things are the things that you kind of want to be reluctant to do, or they're the last things to do. Like for me, it's the books. I mean, it's the money stuff. It's the things that I'm not strong in. And so when I'm not strong in something, I wanna avoid it. I want, you know, but there's a couple of solutions here. So I wanna talk about the hard stuff for you. Oh yeah. And what's, what's not working or what's not exactly the way you want it to be, because we could talk about this like, like, hey, everything's rainbows and unicorns and entrepreneurship. Yeah. But if we don't talk about the hard stuff, we're kind of lying to ourselves.

Yes.

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So for me, it's getting into the community. Mm-hmm. It really is, because when I started my business, I started in a year, or when I started, you know, promoting it in a year where online was it. Right? And I kept telling my husband, babe, how are people gonna know me? Like, I— like, that's my thing now. Like, babe, I need somebody from Winter Haven, Lakeland, somebody to call me and tell me they need me for that, you know what I'm saying? Like, I have, you know, the online thing. I don't say— I'm not gonna say I have it on lock, but I'm pretty good there, you know what I'm saying? But I don't want to be there. I'm just being real, okay? Like, online is not my— if I could shut down all my online accounts, I would.

You want to be in person? Yes.

Okay. I do not like like social media.

So doing the hard stuff right now for you is the social media. Oh my gosh, what's, what's hard about it?

Just, I'm not gonna say I'm not social, okay? If you know me to know me, I could— I'm a homebody. I could be in my house, you know. I don't really like just being out like that. Um, and networking, to be honest, it's very scary to me. Very scary to me.

It's a lot of— that's, that's what a lot of people say, so you're not alone there.

Yes. So, um, social media to me, it's so much noise. It's a lot.

Yeah.

And it drains me. Mm-hmm. You know what I'm saying? And then there's regular posts, then there's video posts, and then, you know what I'm saying? Mm-hmm. And everybody's saying, you know, you need to have a combination of all. But I'm telling people, if I could just press record and let somebody see me talk, that's where I live. That's where I thrive. You know, I can't be sitting here like this making a post, a long post for people to read. Like, right. I'm just— it's just a lot. You know what I'm saying? I told myself this morning to be honest, because I'm so frustrated with social media, I said, Maria, just go live for the next 30 days. Yeah, because I think that'll be pressure off of me, you know what I'm saying? So that's what I said I was going to do.

What's so funny though is live is harder for more people than, than the other ones, you know? Isn't that weird?

Yes. So when people— when I say that, people are shocked, like, what? Like, but I can't, you know? So that's tough. The online presence stuff is very tough for me. Getting up, planning it is just a lot, um, and I really want to be in my community. Like, I really want to do that. Like, I'm— I'm gonna be honest, I'm nervous to be in the community. I'm— because I'm just getting to a place where I feel like what I have, people really want, or people need, for that matter of fact, you know what I'm saying? And so I think that's the tough part, like, because my feet are planted.

Yep.

You know, and I know I need to be like, girl, just do what you need to do.

So do you know any people who do something similar to what you do in Polk County?

I do. Um, but you can shout them out, you know, it's okay. I I don't remember their names. Okay. But I met one, I actually had lunch with her, and I hate, if she listens to this, she knows who she is.

You know who you are. Yeah. Well, is it Nirka Riscón?

Yes, Nirka, yes.

Nirka, she's Puerto Rican.

She wears a bob?

I don't know, I haven't seen her in a while.

Is she Caucasian?

Yes.

Yes!

But she has an accent, like it's a very strong Puerto Rican accent.

Okay, no, that's not her.

Okay, so there's Nirka, and then there's also Chrissanne Long, and Gracia. Brown hair. She has, um, she has a bob. She has beautiful, beautiful hair.

Beautiful hair, thick hair. That's her. Okay. Yes, I met with her, I think, at Black and Brew. Okay. And is that where the library is?

The Black and Brew at the library?

Yeah. Beautiful woman. Um, when I met her, she was so inspiring to me. When I met her, she was just planning her trip to Paris.

Yes.

Um, with a group of women. And I was like, oh my gosh, this is like It was like ideal for me. I'm like, oh my gosh. So she is who I met, and she was very inspiring to me. And then I emailed the one you were talking about, the Puerto Rican, right? And she's the one who hooked me up with Christina. Because what I do is not really what—

What Nneka does. What either of them do, really. It's different.

It is. So she was like, I think she's more in the direction of— And I was so grateful for that, because she could have been like, oh, I'm not your match. Sorry. Figure it out.

Oh, I see. And that is exactly why I brought that up.

Okay.

Because when you're in the community, as you're referencing, you're talking about, I want to be in the community. You need a network, you need support. You need those people that you know, that you can reach out to. And so we talked in our last episode about being willing to do something for someone, right? Like the giver, the give and take kind of, well, the give kind of philosophy. And what you'll find, I believe, in Polk County, probably more than any other entrepreneurial network, that people are exactly what you just said, girl. She could have just said, nope, sorry, it's not a good fit, and then not connected you to anybody.

Let me tell you something about Polk, specifically Lakeland. Lakeland.

Okay.

Okay. I have never in my life met so many people who are like, I can't do that, but so-and-so does, and I'm gonna give you the information. I ain't never— I told if people ask me where I'm from, I'll tell them I'm from Lakeland. Like, people from out of town, I'm like, I'm from Lakeland because I want to be here. Yeah, like, we're looking for a house in Lakeland, like, you know what I'm saying? Because I was telling my husband, I've never met so many people so willing to lead you in the direction you need to go in so you could be successful.

That is huge. That's what I— that's, that's the story we're trying— that's the vibe we're trying to tell on this podcast.

Lakeland is it, and I think it exists outside of Lakeland. I believe it.

And it also, it's probably still in its infancy or in the grassroots, you know. I don't— so it's almost like the Horse Whisperer, you know, like I think you, if you start to whisper it and you start to bring it up out of the ground and into the air.

Yes, I love that.

That ethos will start to exist and that whole entire vibe starts to transform beyond just one city. And it's just, it's It's, it's, it, there's a concept called network effect.

Yeah.

And if you understand how networks work, there's these pockets of people that are connected to other pockets of people.

Yeah.

Right. So if you're connected to this pocket, you're probably connected to the pocket across town.

Yes.

Or across the, you know, county or even across the state or wherever.

Yes.

And it's kind of like the 1 or 2 to 3 degrees of separation.

Yes.

So if this person's connected to that network and that person's connected to that network, how many people do you have to call to get to the person that you're trying to, to reach?

Yeah.

And so the more, um, The more saturated the networks become, the more powerful they are.

Yes.

I, I appreciate you saying that cuz I think about it in context to friendships all the time. Mm-hmm. And I think everybody does. Yeah. So you'll meet someone and you're like, oh man, you know that person, you know that. It's like, oh wow.

Yeah.

It's a full circle moment. Or everybody's connected. And like you said, and so if you think about it in terms of entrepreneurship, yeah. A lot of people that you're trying to get in contact with, they're one or two or maybe three people away.

Yes.

And all you have to do is is reach out. So again, that step of reaching out, talking to them, and then getting referred and not feeling nervous or afraid because I know when I was starting off and reaching outside of my network, there's that fear of, I'm calling somebody on the phone.

It's true.

And I don't know what to say.

Yes.

I'm nervous.

Yes.

You know, what do I say?

Yes.

I wasn't really prepared in college to say the perfect thing, but there's not really a perfect thing to say. You just have to be yourself.

It's true.

Be real.

It's true. Yeah.

Love it.

Mm-hmm.

So any, any more thoughts on, on the challenging parts of entrepreneurship? Well, other than the, the community, the, the, for you, social media is a bear.

Yeah.

It's one of those things you're gonna have to do.

Yes.

Right. It's not gonna go away.

Yes.

Eventually, maybe you'll be able to hire somebody to do some of those, the things that you loathe. Mm-hmm. Um, but what else? What, what other, what other barriers or hiccups or, or obstacles have you come across?

And this is just a personal thing for me. I'm not saying that people think this of me, but this is personal. So I remember working in corporate America, and I remember having a big job handed to me. Now, when I worked in corporate America, the corporate people there, they were usually either Caucasian women or Caucasian men, but the one who were in leadership, they were men, right? They gave me this big job, right? I'm the benefits specialist. That's what I do, okay? The job was benefits, okay? Okay, let's just lay that out, okay? They gave me the job, and I remember a guy And I'll never forget him to this day because he gave me such a hard time. I said, you know, they're giving me this job and I need you to hand over your rights, you know, so I can go in there and make sure I can do your medical, this and that, blah, blah, blah. He said, why they give it to you? Oh yeah, just like that. And I already knew then, like, okay, he feel like I'm not qualified for the job. Okay. So I said, well, one, I'm the benefits specialist. Let's, you know, go there. You know, my inner self was like, boy, you know why they give it to me. Like I said, well, I'm the benefits specialist. Nobody else is qualified to do this job, and, and I've been doing this for a few years now, so, you know, I know what I'm doing, and I've already been trained. It's not like they were trying to train me, right? I was already trained to do it. And the lady who gave it to me said, you're the best fit. I've searched around, and she was doing this, I think, for 20 years before me.

Okay.

She said, you're the best fit for this, right? And he was like, why won't they give it to the new girl that's coming in? She was a white woman. So I said Well, she doesn't know anything about benefits. So, you know, and I'm really trying to keep this smile, but I wanted to cry. I remember going home and I cried about it. So I remember telling my boss, he doesn't want me to do it. I knew why he didn't want me to do it.

Mm-hmm.

So I remember telling my boss, I was like, everybody's signing it but him. And I said, she's like, well, you're gonna have to get his signature. She just like, I don't know what you need to do. You need to get his signature. So I remember going home, I was crying. I was telling my husband, I said, in And at that time, I don't know if I had shaved my head then or not, but I'm like this black girl with no hair. You know what I'm saying? Like, he like, "What, girl? You can't," you know? So I remember going home. I remember praying. And I remember the Bible verse that I always try to say to myself, "With loving kindness have I drawn them." That's the verse that I say to myself all the time, especially when I wanna be mean. 'Cause I could be a mean girl. Everybody has it in us to be, you know? So I remember going home, praying about it, and I remember the next day, I had to go at it again and get his signature. So I went and I said, I have everybody's signature except for one person, and I really need for you to sign in so I can get started on my job. And he looked at me, he pushed it to me, and he said, if you make him go sign it, then I'll sign it. Okay. So I was like, okay. I'm thinking, Lord, please let this man— because the man who's gonna sign was the president of the company. So I said, Lord, please let this man sign this. And it was glass doors. I mean, it was glass doors, and you could see if he signed it or not, right? So I'm going in his office. I say, hey, how are you doing? I really need you to sign this so I can get started on my job, you know, da da da. And I handed I'm like, "No problem." So he signed it. I looked back, 'cause I'm like, "I'm gonna come in here and get your signature," right? So he signed it. He was like, he mumbled the whole time. He just pushed it to me. I didn't care how he gave it to me. I needed to do my job, right? And I remember sitting, and at that time I was thinking about going into entrepreneurship, right? And I was sitting like, "Is everybody gonna judge me 'cause I'm a bald-headed Black girl?" Like, I was thinking that. Like, "Will people think I'm qualified because of the way I look?" You know what I'm saying? And I remember, you know, leaving my job and thinking that. But when I came, you know, to catapult co-starters and things like that, I didn't get none of that, right? You know, and it really helped me, um, to kind of get in, you know, get in wet with entrepreneurship. Because I said, people, everybody's not judging me like that, right? You know what I'm saying? But that's something I still keep in me. Like, when I meet certain people, especially men who look like him, I'm like, oh my gosh, what is this man thinking about me, right? You know what I'm saying? Like, and then I have some things that I want to do styling-wise and Corporate America, and when I present it, I know who I'm going to be seeing, right? You know what I'm saying? So I'm like, oh gosh, I hope they don't look at me and think, oh, it's a little Black girl, she thinks she's qualified. That's how I think, you know what I'm saying? So that's tough for me.

Yeah, I'm so glad you said that. Yeah. And you know, I admire you, I admire your strength. And Nate, I feel the same way about you. And I'm, I'm, you know, white girl in the room here, right? I'm actually half Cuban, but you know, you wouldn't know that in the winter because I'm not as dark as I normally am. But you know, I, I feel this compelling need to continue to have hard conversations and bring out the truth. Right. And so in some pockets, Polk County, we are doing really great things. And then there are other pockets that we have a lot of work to do. Right. And it's like, how do we make these pockets of, of what's really working get bigger so that eventually all of Polk County is working better at, at being inclusive, at really recognizing and understanding our biases and our own our own beliefs that haven't been tested. You know, if we're living in an echo chamber and we only are surrounded by people like us, yeah, we're never challenging our understanding of what we believe to be true, right? And I just, I want us to be able to have these conversations on this podcast, and I want people, bold and beautiful people, to come in and just share their honest truth, you know? And what, what I love is that you're finding entrepreneurship is more welcoming. That's probably not always going to be the case. You may run into the person who's just going to like discard you because of the color of your skin. And I hope that that doesn't happen, but it might. But the beautiful part about entrepreneurship is that you have to recognize that you're not for everybody and that there are enough people that you are for that you're going to build your business around. And that's what the network starts to help you find.

I was going to say that the market's the market. The market doesn't care what you look like. You can look like an alien.

It's true. You know? Right. If they want what you have, they're going to buy it.

They're going to buy it.

You know what's funny about that? Um, God is so funny how he does things, because that is something that's internal in me. Like, oh my God, people, you know, they don't think, you know, take me seriously because I'm a black woman with a shaved head, you know. And, um, 90% of my clients are Caucasian women. Caucasian women making a lot of money too, you know, realtors and coaches and things like that. And I go to sleep every day like, it doesn't matter. Like, these women are gonna see me for who I am and what I can do, right? They're not gonna look at my skin, right? Like you said, like, some people may— whatever, they're not for me, you know? If there's that group of women and those, those, those people that going to gather around me and say, you know what, you know, you know what you're doing, so I'm going to, you know, swing your way, you know? Right.

Yeah, that, that's really the part of this dialogue that I was so, so hopeful we would get into, right? And here's the other part: in the corporate world, you would have been up against those difficult difficult clients more frequently.

Yes.

And you would have had to fight through them.

Especially the higher I went. Yes.

So now you're, you, you flexed your muscle into this entrepreneurship space and you're seeing and, and growing. And it's just, what a great testimony you're giving to this early stage. You're such, such early stage right now still, you know, and you're weathering the storm brilliantly and beautifully. And I just think, wow, you know what, you are also going to inspire other beautiful Black women to step into entrepreneurship and hold that card, you know, play that role. Don't back down from that because that's going to be extremely important. And I want us to have this conversation more frequently than just this one time.

Yes.

And what I appreciate is that you're not changing yourself to please anybody.

Yeah.

Because that can sometimes be the case. It's like, oh, okay, I have to dress the part, look the part, talk the part in order to climb that invisible ladder that's out there.

You know, it's funny that you said that because when I worked in corporate America, I was pressured. I felt like I had to. Like, when I made a decision to cut my hair, it was more— it wasn't just because I hate hair 'cause I hate hair. That's just a real thing for me. I hate it. Like, when I see it on people, other people, I'm like, "Oh, it's beautiful." But when I run my hands through my kinky hair— 'cause I had kinky, very kinky, tight curls, and it was very difficult to deal with it. Um, with the busy life that I had, I would have to wear weaves. Weaves and extensions, and that wasn't me. I didn't really like wearing weaves and extensions like that. I wear it on occasion just if I want to switch up my look, but not because I wanted to maintain a positive image for you, you know what I'm saying? So, um, working in corporate America, it really does— it kind of forces you to— let me lay low, let me— I shouldn't go too kinky today because they're gonna think my afro look unprofessional, stuff like that. I was over it. I was over it. And that's when I— when I shaved my head, I that it was for me. Yeah, like, you know what, I'm sick of this. I'm gonna shave my head and y'all think I'm whatever y'all think anyway, you know what I'm saying? So let me— I shaved my head, I felt liberated, and I feel like I stepped into something that I wasn't really ready for, to be honest, because now people are like, oh my God, you shaved your head? Like, I have a buzz, like, in the back and the sides, you know what I'm saying?

Like, you know what I'm saying?

So yeah, corporate America, they will have you feeling like— and I said, I'm not living like that. And like you said, you're not for everybody, and I know that. And I think because I love myself so much, I just don't compromise. I just don't.

So good.

The importance of loving—

oh my gosh, yes, yes—

is one huge key element in entrepreneurship that I feel like is missed.

Yes.

Yeah, I agree, I agree. I, I— and it's, you know, um, Nate and I— and sorry, I'm gonna bring up a sore spot for you— but Nate and I have been having really good conversations on Clubhouse. Oh, and she's an Android user, so she's not able to get on there. Android. Oh wow, I didn't realize it's not Android yet. You know, there's still—

when it does, you will be there and we will be talking a lot.

That is your platform for sure, for sure. But so she started, she's like, all right, Clubhouse, I can't get on because I have an Android, I'm starting Style House. I did. And so she's got Style House.

I sure did.

So talk about what you're doing with Style House.

Okay, so Style House is, um, me interviewing women all over the world who are stylish, who are confident and how they use it in their business or their brand or their profession. And on Style House, it's just interview style, and they really get to just tell people about what they do, how they do it. And I ask them like very specific questions about style and confidence because I get a lot of, I don't need any style to help me, you know, with what I do. Or— and I'm not saying be dressed up all day because I'm not. I have a pair of tight, you know, you know, pull-on pants and a blazer and a t-shirt, you know what I'm saying? But I feel like some sort of being styled authentically stylish, you know what I'm saying? Um, it helps with your confidence. It helps when you show up, you know, when you leave a room, your presence, you know, when you come in and out. So that's just what I did it for. It's funny because I did it out of frustration. I said I made the post out of frustration with no intent to make a style house. And to my coach came on there, she was like, girl, just go live and make this your thing. I'm like, maybe I should. And it's going well because I have women DMing me like, hey, how can I be on Style House? Or are you looking for— um, and it's just working out.

I love it, I love it, I love it. The Clubhouse conversations that we're having too bring out some of that vulnerable talk. That conversation about self-love is a great topic for us to kind of COVID and get. And I don't know if it makes sense at this point in time, but you might want to buy a little mini iPod or iPad so that you can get in this conversation.

I was thinking about that.

I agree with Chrissanne because, and we don't get paid to promote Clubhouse or anything, but it's such a fascinating tool and resource to leverage your voice. Yeah, like never before, and build an audience around that that's willing to listen to what you have to say and potentially become a customer. Yes, or a client.

Exactly.

Yeah, I had, I had a reason why I was frustrated, because a lot of women were asking me to be a host or co-host with them. I'm like, I can't. Or somebody tagged me in something and was like, Maria, I know you're on Clubhouse. I'm like, I'm not.

You will be. You will be before the end of the month. I think we should start working on, let's find you a low-cost iPad.

I'm gonna get one.

That you can be on there. Cuz that's how I'm, I'm an Android user.

Okay.

And I ended up having, I have a mini iPad for the office for work stuff.

Okay.

And I'm like, all right, I'm dusting that thing off and I'm getting some use out of it. And that's how I'm doing it.

There's a few people that I know of like Grant.

Grant.

Yeah.

I'm pretty sure Grant's doing the same thing.

Okay.

That are just like, hey man, I gotta get on this because they see the platform And at first it was, I don't really know what's going on. What's the value? But, and thankfully to Chrissanne, she helped me and opened my eyes to see the value. And I'm like, wow, this platform is here to stay.

Okay.

There's something intimate about voice. Yes. It's a voice-only conversation. You don't have to worry about, like sometimes when I'm on a Zoom and I'm really starting to think, I will absolutely have to close my eyes and just make sure that I focus. And I know that that's goofy.

No, it's not.

People are looking at me like, what is she doing? I'm like, I'm just trying to make sure that I say all of the things that are in my head and not get distracted by by your face or your reaction or whatever. And so when I'm talking on Clubhouse, there isn't any of that. You're just straight up talking and having a conversation and there isn't any other part of the human that is as authentic as their voice.

And what's fascinating is you actually find yourself not distracted and you're listening even to the point where sometimes people are talking and they'll get a phone call. They're like, oh, sorry, I had a phone call. And they keep going. Keep going. Because they feel the value of sharing being vulnerable.

Yeah.

And being open.

Yeah.

So, of course.

So we talked a little bit about being a Black entrepreneur.

Yeah.

Okay. In Polk County.

Yes.

To this point, you might not have had any challenges based on the color of your skin as you've been growing, because it's kind of been during the COVID pandemic and getting out and about in the network.

Yes.

One thing that you can help me with, white girl in the room, is when I'm having events and I'm creating a network opportunity for what I want everyone to feel welcome. Okay. And I know that they do because they tell me that they do after they've come. The challenge that I have is that when they come in, it might be one or two Black entrepreneurs coming into a networking event. So what advice would you give people who are running events or hosting events to make them feel more inclusive? Because ultimately I know that I need more people like them in the room so that they feel like this is a place for them. And that's what I've, that's the feedback that I've been given. If I walk in and I'm, I'm the only Black person in the room, I don't feel like this is a place for me. It's true. Has been the feedback. Back.

Yeah.

So how do we, how do we flip that? How do we start to change how we, cuz you're gonna be bold and you're gonna go in there and you're gonna do the thing cuz you're purpose-driven. Yes. Right. It doesn't matter that there's white people, black people, or purple people in there. Yes. But you are somebody now who can help encourage other black entrepreneurs. Yes. Or other people of color to come into places. But how do we make you feel more comfortable?

I got two things.

Okay.

One is like in the messaging or the, the graphics. Graphics, okay, to just include us. You know, there's graphics with Black women or Black men in it, you know, a lot of times we don't see that. So, and we want to feel included, you know what I'm saying? Like, so that's one, like, graphics, um, include more Black people in there, or Spanish people, or, you know, um, Arabic people, people with darker skin, you know what I'm saying? Um, and then we'll like, oh shoot, that might be for me, you know what I'm saying? And two is, um, ABBWA, you know what I'm talking about? The American Business— they're in Lakeland.

ABBWA.

Yeah.

Okay.

Um, they just had a— and this is the reason, only reason why, kid you not, it's funny you asked me that— I said, oh my God, I might belong here. Because I'm not looking at all the graphics, pretty much it was all Caucasian women. I think I saw one and then that was it. And all the speakers were Caucasian. They had a black man, and I went to my husband, I said, oh, they have a black man come in. I was like, I can't miss this, I want to, I want to be a part of it, you know what Included, right? Then, you know, so including people in, you know, who are experts in their industry, who are Hispanic or Black, right? Or Arabic. And then we feel like, oh snap, okay, this might be for us.

Good. That's great stuff.

Yeah.

Yeah. I, I love that. Thank you.

Mm-hmm.

What, what made you, when you were first starting on your entrepreneurship journey, what made you say, hey, I'm gonna look to co-starters and I'm gonna go into that?

I was desperate not to fail.

Got it.

Yeah. Got it. I was like, I'm not gonna start this off wrong. 'Cause I believe you can start things off on the wrong foot.

Ooh, that's so true.

And I didn't wanna start my entrepreneurial journey off wrong.

So this isn't a commercial for Co-Starters or for Catapult, but there are organizations, and Nate, you and I are kind of working on kind of creating maybe a directly focused on inclusion section of CoStarters throughout Polk County that we're going to be providing. So I'm, I am a facilitator. I'm a trained facilitator for CoStarters. Nate's going to be trained this month.

Correct. Yep.

Next week, next week. And then, and then we're going to take that show on the road and start to do a virtual first. And like you said, in the messaging, but it's also going into the community and the areas of the, of the, I want to go into the neighborhoods that make people feel like they're comfortable. They're in their home. I don't want to bring them to my turf. I want to go to their turf. And start doing those kinds of things. And so Ashley Troutman and Kia Troutman are some phenomenal human beings. I absolutely adore them. And they will invite me to things. And so, so I want to be invited to things that might not necessarily feel like they're for me.

Right.

And that's an uncomfortable switch. I've done that a few times. And I know when I go into a place that is maybe more predominantly people of color, Yes. What I want to see is people welcoming me, knowing that it's uncomfortable, knowing that I'm not necessarily the right fit for this room.

Yes.

Um, and so that's really what we do for our Bridge Local events is that when we see people, whether they're people of color or not, just new people in general.

Yes.

Um, is we, we look at them and we go, new person in the room.

Mm-hmm.

Let's go embrace them. Yes. Let's go welcome them.

Yes.

Let's go make sure they feel comfortable. Yes. And warm, uh, and a warm reception here.

Yes.

Um, so I think it's a reverse thing as well. If someone If someone's intentionally trying to do something in a space that's not their natural environment, everyone can welcome them. Everyone can see that that's probably an awkward moment. And if you want them to go away, ignore them. Because if I'm walking into a room and you're not wanting me there, so you just kind of turn your back on me or look away, I'll be like, okay, I'm out. I get it. This isn't for me. So that's the thing that I want to try and encourage encourage all of our events to be more like that.

Mm-hmm.

And I also need people like you and, and Nate and Tarika Coney and some of my favorite Black entrepreneurs.

Yes.

To then say, this is a place for us. Chrissanne Long is trying, the, the organization is trying. Yeah. So let's help kind of bring that saturation point up to a higher level.

Of course. Yes.

So that's my request. Mm-hmm. I'm turning it back at you guys.

We got you, girl.

So is there anything that you want people listening to just take away? How can they connect with you? How can they follow up with you? You're on Instagram, you're on Facebook.

I am.

What's the— what's that hashtag, or how do they search for you?

Um, be stylishly you. I say that all the time. That's my thing. And that's my website, right?

Be stylishly you.com. Uh-huh.

And of course, stylishly you on Instagram and Facebook. And, um, yeah, that's how they can find me.

Okay. Well, I was creeping on your Instagram link in your bio and we were talking about that over the weekend.

Yes.

Um, so anyone listening that is not necessarily leveraging Instagram yet, cuz you and I had had that conversation. Yes. You're like, I feel like I'm weak in the Instagram game. Yeah. Um, but I think you, you're doing a good job in the idea of lead generation. Like, you know that you've gotta do something there.

Mm-hmm.

So your link in your bio will take you to a place for a consultation. To set up a call and do all of those things that are available. And so that's a stronger game than a lot of people have. So you're one-upping a lot of people. Because I don't think I had my link in bio until recently, really because of Clubhouse. Because when you're on Clubhouse, there's no direct messaging, there's no way to connect. You go to somebody's Instagram and you DM them, or you go to their Twitter and you DM them. But that's how you communicate off of Clubhouse. So that's why I'm like, I'm strengthening my Instagram game, but I'm for, for listeners, I'm kind of doing a special offer right now for anybody who does not have a tool for their link in bio software or lead gen kind of landing page tool that you can get it from me for free. So we're going to put the information in the show notes. Um, but I just want you guys all to know that Maria is an inspiration. Follow her on Instagram, follow her on Facebook. She loves Facebook more.

I do.

But if you're an Instagrammer, she is on there.

I am.

So you can, and watch out for her Facebook Lives.

Yes, Style House. Yes, I love it, I love it. Well, in closing, um, I just want to say thank you for being a part of the show. Nate, do you have anything you want to wrap up with before we—

Yeah, just thanks for coming and being open, being vulnerable, telling your story, and really talking about not just persevering in corporate America but persevering during COVID and just continuing maneuver in your business.

Of course. So thank you for having me.

This— we could—

I could—

I just looked at the time. I'm like, oh, I think we better start wrapping up, but I could do this for another hour because it's so great. It was like such a great conversation.

We started going, it just went up to another level.

Yeah.

Oh wow. Yeah. This has been fun, fun, fun. Well, thanks for listening everyone. And remember, we have a new episode each week, so be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. And remember to leave us a review. We promise to to read every one. You can always find all of our episodes at elevatepulp.com. And if there's something you want to hear about or an entrepreneur you want us to feature on an upcoming episode, reach out to us on Facebook at Elevate Pulp. And we out.

I love it.

Peace.

Awesome.