Sh*t They Don't Teach In School!

Hello, I'm Katie McManus, business strategist and leadership coach. And I'm so excited today to be here with one of my most esteemed colleagues and best friends, Kelsey Letko, who is a fabulous life coach out of San Diego and just the general California area.

Hi, Kelsey. To chat with you. Thanks for having me.

Thank you. This is kind of a continuation of the conversation we had on your and my Instagram lives last week about the shit that we're just not told in coaching schools. Yeah, and not just coaching schools, but like, law school, copywriting school, event planning, school consulting school. I don't even know those last two things are a thing, but they're just not taught anywhere. And yeah, it's. I mean, it's just impossible to grow a business without these things.

Yeah. I'm so excited to continue this conversation because when you and I started talking about it, it started through the lens of coaching school. But we. And again, this. We loved our program.

We.

It's not about that at all. It's really anyone who has a new skill, a new certification, a new whatever, and. And they want to create a business around that service or that thing, and it's. It's like, cool. We have this thing, we have this design, like, we're ready to go, and we're so good at this new thing. And it's like, now what I remember, I felt the way. Same way after my yoga teacher training. It was like, wow, I'm just gonna go be a yoga teacher now. It's like, well, well, how? Like, how are you gonna make a business around that? So I'm really excited to continue this conversation. We shared some things already with both of us have new things to add to this list. And thanks for having me back to talk about it.

Yeah. No, well, it's so funny, you know, we, you know, when we were talking about this conversation, one of the things that we wanted to be absolutely clear of is we didn't want it to seem like we're hating on our coach training program, because we love the training that the coactive training institute, you know, puts out. And I think what gets confused when you're going through the training is the advice they give is to get you out there and practicing training with anyone who's, like, even remotely willing to be coached.

Right.

They don't care that you have a business. Like, that's not the skill that they're building there. They're building the can you coach people consistently and well. And that takes practice. And a lot of people take that advice that they give and they think, oh, well, this business advice, this is how I start my business. No, it's not how you start a business at all. It's how you practice coaching. Yes. But not how you start a business. Right, right.

Yes. And it's just helpful. I'm excited to share this conversation because you and I have really, really been able to be on a journey together of growing our businesses and learning from each other and failing to collaborate with each other at times. And just like, we've really had a front row seat to each other's growth. And I've been so grateful for you in this process. I could absolutely have done, not done it alone without you, But I'm excited to share these things. Just the things that, like, we wish we knew the things that we, we didn't know and probably would have been helpful had we known them a little bit early on.

Yeah, well, I mean, our relationship is actually a great example of my first one that I wanted to share today, and that is that it is so super critical to have a community around you to have what I call business BFFs. And they're the people who are also doing the brave thing of starting their business and who kind of understand the struggle. And they may be doing something a little different, but like, they're the people that you can message and say, hey, am I crazy or is this a good idea? Or did I handle this wrong or did I handle this right? Can you just give me some feedback in the moment? Because one of the things about being a solopreneur is you're literally just out there alone not getting any feedback from anyone.

Yeah. Yeah. It can be really hard and it can be lonely. And we, I love that we're starting with this first one is like, cultivate those relationships with your business BFFs, because it's so real. And I think what's so beautiful too is like, I'm lucky that my business BFFU is also a coach, but I think just to have people across industries but who are also walking this path of creating their own business around something that they're really passionate about, it's not like an everyday choice. So to be comparing yourself or talking to folks who haven't made that choice or maybe more have a traditional 9 to 5 or anything like that, which is amazing, but it's just different. And it's so, so, so helpful to have those people who are also living that similar lifestyle to just like talk to and collaborate and communicate and bounce things off of and just like, yo, My crazy help. You get those calls from me a lot. So yeah, it's. Well, it's those.

There's a difference with the, the employed people on how much risk is required in your day to day life. There's a difference in requirements for how creative you have to be in like literally in creative. I don't mean just like creating pretty canva stuff. I mean like shit like I have to work today. What do I have to do for work?

Right?

You have to like create your debt, your workday.

Totally.

It's so easy to like get invited to lunch and like take your dog for a walk and then it's 5pm and you're like, oh no, I didn't do anything.

I remember when I first started creating my own schedule, my calendar was blank and I was like, woo, I have nothing to do today. Just because I was like equating it with meetings. Like, no, I don't have any meetings because I'm meeting with myself. But you got a lot to do, girl. So yeah, having that creativity of looking at your day, your life, your week, your year, like, wow, what do I want to do and create with this? Time to bring it back to your point, having those business BFFs to talk to you about that and share that journey together is really, really helpful.

Yeah. And I actually want to pause and talk about the dark underbelly of like our inherent desire for business BFFs is that when we start out, you and I did this together and we very elegantly and tactfully backed away from it because we realized what we were doing. I think is there's this tendency to enter into partnerships with other people because you feel like you're not credible, you know, enough out on your own. Offering the thing and working with another person makes like adds to your credibility. Like it, it doesn't, it confuses people and you're seeking like a creative partnership. It doesn't necessarily have to be the two people involved creating something together. It could be you creating something just in the same space.

Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, we, I think our attempt at creating a program together was so valuable. Like first of all, we had a lot of fun. We had a great time creating that program that never saw the light of day. And I think it was really a clarifying experience to be like, oh yeah, like both of us can do this on our own. And it helped us real. I mean, I'll speak for myself. It helped me really realize like, yeah, I want to go in the life and transformation route. And that's where you kind of split off and went into the business route. So. So it was. I would do it again in a heartbeat because it was a just so fun to work with you. But it also was a super clarifying experience and confidence building to see that we could do it. And now it was like, okay, go do it alone.

Now I know. It's like two little birds in the nest. Like James Magwick. Yes. We are both in the US and we are from here. Thank you for the question. We do love this to be interactive. So any other questions you have about what we're talking about, please, you know, pop them in the chat. I know you had a couple ones that you want to talk about, which. What's the first one for you?

Yes. So. And if there's anyone who also watched our live, these are all different because there's a whole list of things that I did not learn at the be at the beginning. But I think the big one that I wanted to start with is I have my notes here. I'm cheating is. I didn't realize that. How do I want to say it? I didn't realize like the, the full gravity of like the choice to build a business and start a business and grow a business is also a choice to really commit to self growth. Because so much of my business journey and growing my business and figuring out what I want to do and pushing myself in that way has been like all it had to start with me first. And I didn't really realize I was like signing up to be a coach that I was going to have to really walk the walk. And it has to start with you. And it doesn't matter if you're a coach or if you are like any business that you have, it doesn't have to be in the personal growth area at all. But that choice to put yourself out there to really work on your money mindset, like it all has to start with you. And once I really realized that and took ownership over that, it was like, okay, we can, we can do this. But it is, it is a, it's, it's. I didn't know. I just didn't know.

I'm laughing because it's so right. It's funny. Like we, we take on this huge undertaking of I'm going to offer my time for money and my expertise and my services and part of that is putting yourself out there. Well, if you have a fear of being seen or if you don't, you actually I had a very deep seen seated belief that I did not deserve to take up space.

Yeah.

That I wasn't worthy of taking up space. And like, then who the am I to show up on someone's social media feed all the time and take up space there? So you have to reckon with that. Then you're asking for money and there's this like. Like, what am I worth? Like, what's my hour worth?

Right, right. You know, so much worthiness that comes up in this. And. And you're so right. And it's taking up space is a huge one. Being visible is something that I really. Oh, my gosh. Had to work on. Still have to encourage myself a lot. Go, go. You could. You could go do this. And it's a. It's a huge one I work on with my clients too. Like, okay, you want to. Like, this thing is calling to you, and it's going to require you to be seen in order to do that. So it's. Yeah, it's just there's so much wrapped up in it. That is a beautiful journey and I think, kind of understanding that you can't, like, your business and you, I believe, are two separate things, but you are the vessel for your business, so you have to be, like, doing that work yourself in order to really kind of bring it out there in the fullest way. So that was a big one.

Well, I mean, there's this whole belief system that, like, your business only grows to the size of your life, for one, you know, so if you're keeping your life really small, guess I.

That's.

That's fine if that's what you like, but your business is also going to stay small. Right. And also, you can't lead people to where you haven't been yourself.

Yeah.

You know, so if our clients come up against, like, worthiness or, like, fear of asking for money or of taking up space, like, how the hell are we supposed to call them out on that if they're not. If we're not doing the work ourselves? Right, right.

Yeah. And it is interesting. I notice within myself when I do kind of feel like I've moved through something big or reached a new, I don't know, level of self. Understand, Whatever, however you want to say it. Then I start to see clients who are also experiencing that, like, limit that they were bumping up against start to come into my world, and it's like, aha, I see you. We can do this now. So it's. It's very cool. Yeah.

It's so funny how you start working with clients who have similar issues to you. And it's like you get off the phone with them. You're like, ah, I should be working on this too.

Yeah.

We have a couple comments. Gary, I think I'm pronouncing your name correctly is saying, hey, would love to work with you. I think this came through and you were talking Kelsey. So Gary, if you could reach out to whoever you want to speak to, just DM us, please. James Magic. Do you know Randy Roberts? Don't. I don't know Randy Roberts.

Do you know Randy Roberts? I don't know Randy Roberts.

I know the US Is a big place. I think there are probably a lot of Randy Roberts. A few more details, James and David. I'm going to put this up because it's long. I think if you're not sure if you need therapy, start a business, all your issues will immediately become super obvious. Can I just say how correct this is? And if you're a business owner and you're really struggling, chances are you probably need to go to therapy also in addition to either working with a coach or something because. Yes, yes, yes, David. Good job on the nose. Amazing. Anything else on that, Kelsey?

Well, I know you have some good ones to share today too.

Well, I mean, the one that I always talk about is, you know, niching down is so important. I know people are so afraid of doing that early on because there's just this fear that like, oh my God, well, I could help so many people and like, if I niche down, then I'm going to limit the impact I'm going to have on the world. And here's my answer to that, is that for you to get clients, like the number one step you need, the number one thing you need is to be remembered. Right. Because no one can give you their money if they don't remember who you are and what you do. It's really hard to just go out in the world and say, hey, I'm a photographer. I'm a photographer. Cool. A lot of people are photographers. But if you go out and you say, I am the premiere, like doodle labradoodle sheep, a doodle bernadoodle portrait taker. And I got movement shots that will have you like that you can like frame and put up above your, your fireplace and it'll just treasure this animal that is the center of your being. Let me just show you the one that I'm talking about for the rest of your life. Like, oh my God. Like that's memorable.

Yeah.

And maybe, and maybe I have like a ferret that I want a portrait of.

You would reach out to this person.

If I'm impressed by the work that they do with dogs, I'm probably like, hey, I know you only work with dogs, but do you ever do ferrets?

It's so real, though. It is so, so real. And it also, it helps you get really excited about talking about the thing. Like, I knew for me, until I had a group program that was super niche and really specific that I was stoked about, that is when my business really started picking up because I was talking about this thing. And yes, I got group program folk, but I also got people who wanted to work together one on. On a whole bunch of other different topics. But they were like, oh, like this gal's life coach. Cool. Like, she's on. She's on my mind. I know who she is. She's the first one who comes to my mind. Let me reach out to her. So, yeah, it really is. If you can niche down and get really excited about sharing about that thing, get those people and more as well.

Yeah. Also, I mean, the thing that people get really freaked out is like, well, what if I picked the wrong niche when I start out? And let me just tell everyone I know, I tell the story all the time. I started off as a dating coach for men. I lived in San Francisco Bay area. I was single at the time and dating was miserable. Like a bunch of Peter Pans. It's Neverland. No one grows up. Okay. There's no one who's like, down for an actual relationship unless they're like, you know, ethically non monogamous, which I was not interested in. Nothing against it, but, like, not for me anyway. So I was like, I'm going to go out and fix men. Like, that was the thing. So I announced to everyone that I was dating coach for men, and I got pretty much all female clients, right? And then it turned into a leadership coaching thing because they all wanted, like, help on how they were showing up on work at work because they were. They were very bad at setting boundaries. And that was kind of getting in the way of how they could even have a personal life. And then all my coaching friends reach out to me. They're like, how did you start a business so fast? Like, how did that happen?

Yeah.

And it just evolved. And like, no one remembers that I was a dating coach for men. Right. Unless I tell them.

Love that story. Right?

And like, it's, you know, whatever, it's fine. It's. You change your mind. Like, changing your mind is one of the most powerful actions you can take in your life.

Yeah.

And it's not bad, right? We make it bad and it's.

It's. It's great and it's necessary. And the more. I mean, we make decisions based off the information we have at the time. And when you have more information, you can make better decisions and like, cool, Great. I hope that we change our minds and we continue to evolve. So, yeah, I think that is a big fear of, like, cool, what if I commit to this forever? But no, it's just for a season and if it doesn't work, try something else.

Yeah.

I mean, who knows?

In 10 years I could be running a completely different business.

Totally.

You know, and I give myself the freedom to change my mind on that. Yeah, obviously I'm never gonna, like, ditch my clients. I'm not gonna leave them in the dust. I'm gonna see them through, but, you know, I'm not going to commit myself to a whole lifelong of. Of this is it and that is it. And that is it. Right. We do that to ourselves too much.

Yeah.

Yeah.

We don't need to in this. This world.

What's your next one?

Oh, my next one is one I'm very compassionate or I'm very passionate about. And it is around not comparing and not competing, but instead really seeing everyone, including yourself, through the lens of compassion and actively celebrating others. This one was a big one. And I think, especially if you are new in your business, it's so easy to look and see other people who are doing something similar to you and just compare the heck out of yourself and make yourself feel this big for no reason whatsoever other than someone else is rocking it, which is great. So I think a big lesson was, first of all, there are a lot of other people doing what you do. That's fantastic because great people already know about it. So you've done. So other people have done that work of educating people that, like, hey, this thing exists. It also shows there's a demand, which is fantastic. So I really, like, even just. I remember sitting in our program one time and I was like, wow, there's so many people who want to be coaches. Like, am I going to be competing with them? And now, yeah, everyone's a coach. But it's fantastic. Like, the more the merrier. It's a great growing industry. It's fantastic. And I think realizing like a. There's so many people on the planet. What, like, great. The more service providers, the more people bringing light into the world, the better. And also celebration. I think this part really changed my relationship with social media because I Need to be on social media for my business. It's. I really worked on my relationship and my perspective on social media in order to be able to show up like fully there. But I used to see other people who are crushing it and again make myself feel really small. But now instead I'm like, yeah, girl, you are a ton. Again, like, there's so much celebration and it's so beautiful. Energetically to put that out into the world. I also receive so much celebration and my online community, I think you can resonate with this too. You have a beautiful online community is so strong because we're all out there celebrating each other and giving each other clients and it's like, ah, it's just makes it so much more fun. Instead of comparing yourself, shaming yourself and feeling like jealous of other people who are doing well, it probably means they're just a couple steps ahead of you on their path. So, yeah, showing up with compassion and celebration for myself and others has really changed the game for me.

You know, Can I add something to this?

Yes.

Is that we have. We always forget that the algorithms, the social media algorithms, Google algorithms, are always paying attention to what we're talking about online. So if you're a personal trainer and you're always talking about fitness and weight loss and lifting weights and doing cardio, they're going to read that. And anyone who has bought ads because they are also a personal trainer, their shit is going to show up to you because they're buying that information and they're targeting you because you talk about it a lot. I have my seat back, my dog squeezed behind me and I didn't have a whole couch, so. But the same thing happens to coaches, the same thing happens to lawyers. Like we think, oh my God, like I'm just a small fish in a big pond. Cause this is all I'm seeing online, right? When really like we're just getting the ads that other us's in the world are buying and it's just the norm. It's fine. Right?

I asked my friend this once a few years ago. I was like, is your social media world just full of coaches? She was like, no. What? Okay, cool.

Hold on. We have a couple comments. We have Sean. David McIrling. Hi. All is great, Sean. Thank you. A good point about what you are worth bringing to the table. Making a choice between starting out vocationally and then moving across to being professional. Yes, absolutely. Sean. James. Anything is possible, gals. Yes.

James.

Jason. I need to work on my relationship with social media. So does everyone. Jason, welcome to the club. And then, Kelsey, you got a very well put from Mr. Sean over there. I absolutely love that one, though, because it is. It is so easy to play the compare itis game.

Yeah.

And it's not helpful. It's really not.

And I think it's just way more fun. Like, this journey is lonely, and if we're out there comparing ourselves to everyone else, it's just going to make that a thousand times worse.

Absolutely. And there's only one Kelsey. Let go.

Yeah.

There's only one Katie McManus. Like, we have our very distinctive personalities. I swear, you know, you have a cute little dog that wears sweaters and naps all the time.

Like. Yeah, I know.

But, like, it's just replacing that.

Yeah.

You know, and. And the people who aren't Are meant for us are going to end up working with us.

Totally.

And the people who aren't, like, good. I don't want someone who's not meant to work with me working with me. That's gonna feel gross.

Right. And you know what's even more fun is having a consultation call with someone and realizing, like, wow, you are not a fit for me. But I know who you're an amazing fit for and being able to share that love. I know you and I do that together when it's our business, client, first life and transition. And it's just so fun. We're all in this together. We're all doing our best. So I just. I can nerd out on this topic for a long time. But, yeah, I think it's. I love this outfit.

Well, I get more excited about other people getting clients than I do about myself getting clients.

It's so fun. One of my best friends just became a personal trainer, Megan Bosina. If you need her info, let me know. But my favorite thing is to send people to her and hear that they tired hard. It's like, yeah, she's doing that. So much fun.

I think it's. It's always more fun to be the cheerleader than the football player. Also less dangerous.

Like, I don't want to get crushed by all those huge people. Yeah, yeah.

I have. I have one, maybe two more.

Yeah.

And they kind of tie together because when you're working for yourself, you cannot work a 40 hour work week. And you know, some people are gonna be like, yeah, you have to work more. No, that. That. No, you. You actually need to carve out empty time in your work week. You need time where you're just going for a walk or kind of like puttering around your house and you're thinking things through because there's so much creativity that's needed. There's resetting yourself, there's recharging yourself so you can be the best for your clients. There's taking that, that puzzle of like, my website's doing the funny thing and I can't quite work out how to make this gidget work or I need to do this thing for a client. I'm not quite sure how to do it. Like that just takes your mind kind of working in the background as you do kind of mindless other things. If you fill up your workweek with 40 hours worth of work, it's never going to happen.

Yeah.

And this is, you know, oftentimes new business owners, they don't have nearly enough to fill up 40 hours. They kind of make up busy work. So don't do that. Right.

I did that.

I did that for like, I did that too. Yeah. It's something that we all have to go through. But like I'm going to tell you, don't do it to yourself if you're watching. But also when you do get to the point where you have 40 hours of work per week, you need to start outsourcing. That's when you need to start hiring people.

Yeah.

You know, and it's, it's always the stuff that like, okay, you hate doing. It's not making you direct money and it doesn't need to be you doing it. Right, right.

That's a really good one. Yeah. Yeah. I love this one so much. I was like, I came from a tech background, so 40 hours was like light. You know, I'm like, wow, I'm failing if I'm only working 40 hours a week. So then to go swing in the full opposite direction of really being self directed with my time.

Yeah.

It was a big shift in mindset of more hours spent. Just like doing stuff on my computer does not necessarily mean a more productive or like efficient day. And it's always when I actually give myself the time to take the walk to, to take a bath, extra long shower, whatever. I swear I am water conscious, but I do always when the ideas come, it's always when those dots connect and when I realized that actually like reading a book during the day working hours sometimes was the best thing I could do with my time because I'm looking for that inspiration. I'm educating myself on something for a new program or for my clients. And it was like, whoa, this is so cool. Like this is a part of the day. It's Part of the lifestyle of doing all of this. And. Yeah, I think that's just such a. Such a good point.

Oh, my God. Well, could you imagine? Because I come from a sales background and sales and tech, like, the cultures are very like, hit it hard, don't stop. Like, go until like, you surpass your goal. And it's always a crunch. Yeah, right. Could you imagine in the middle of your work day being like, you know, guys, I need to go recharge for like an hour. I'm just gonna go read on a bench outside. I'll be back. You know, just, you guys, you can handle this. I'll be back. Like, you'd be fired. That would be like, you get written up. You know, there would be. There would be repercussions, but imagine what it would do for people in those roles if they had permission to do stuff like that.

So, yeah, you would actually have time to think and feel and breathe and. Yeah, it would do wonders.

Yeah. Well, I just imagine, you know, that next phone call you have from a sales perspective, they'll be like, oh, how are you? And you'd be like, you know, I'm great. I just had an hour break. I read this book. Have you read it? Yeah. It talks about X, Y and Z. Like, is that your thing? No. Okay, cool. Well, it's my thing, but it kind of builds that relationship a little bit. And if they. It is their thing and they're interested in it. Oh, my God. Think about it. The trust that you just built by, you know, exchanging some words on that level, it completely surpasses small talk.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And it shows that you're actually embodying the lifestyle that feels really meaningful to you. So.

Yeah. Also, can you just talk about how the 40 hour work week was literally designed where there's one human at work and one human at home doing all the home things. You know, it was a space split of. Of tasks.

Right.

If I'm working a 40 hour work week, I'm paying for people to do my laundry. I'm paying for people to cook for me. I'm doing this, I'm doing that. Like, I need a whole village to help raise me.

Yeah, yeah. It's really real. I mean, I just worry. I only have me and my dog to worry about, but I can't. Like, I cannot, I cannot. I want to feed myself well. I want to cook, I want to dance and if. And just also maintain like a nice household, you know, all these things. So, yeah, I think changing that expectation of. You have to be chained to your desk for 40 hours a week in order to be successful. Absolutely not. I had the most like non productive, productive day last week. I just needed a new group program starting on Thursday. And I just needed this idea to, you know. And it's just like, you have it, but it hasn't like snapped into place yet. I was like, oh, I'm just waiting. I'm waiting, waiting for this and idea. I was like, okay, you can't distract your way out of this. You can't busy your way out of this. You have to just like nourish your soul until this idea comes. So it was like on Monday. It was a day that one should not just be chilling. I went for a walk and I read and I explored my new neighborhood. And lo and behold, at about 3:15pm the idea came and it was like the best use of my time was to not just distract my way out of the thing. And it was a really good lesson because on paper, looking back at it, I'm like, wow, she did nothing today. But for me and what I needed in my world, it was like so, such a good win.

Oh my God, you're, you're, I mean, you're speaking to the choir, obviously. You know, I'm, I'm the queen. I think of like, say I'm going to do a webinar and just not like planning what I'm going to talk about in the webinar until the day of. And the last webinar I did, I literally didn't know what I was going to talk about until about an hour beforehand. And I was like, you know what, let me just walk to the Italian market, which is a few blocks away from me, and just, you'll find something that inspires you. And I'm walking down and there's like people everywhere. And I walk by the fish market and I go fish.

Like fish. That is the thing. And they're like.

And I was like, oh, I'm sorry, like my webinar. And that's going to be great.

I love that. I love that. It's so real. It's so real. We have to keep living in order to stay inspired.

Right? Right. But you can't do that if you're hustling and doing a 40 hour week.

Right? Yeah, that's a good one.

Do you have another one or is that it?

I mean, I could go on and on. One more.

Give me one more. One more.

One more is not the one that I shared with you earlier. I changed my mind. I want to share A different one. It is something I've been thinking about a lot. But it's this lesson that if you have the idea, if you change your, if you change the story about it to like, oh, wow, how could I do that? Instead of, whoa, that's like a really big idea. I could never. It just, it changes. It literally changes everything. It changes everything to think about. Even if the logistics feel really crazy. Like, I think what we forget is life is really short, but it's also kind of long sometimes. And we can have these ideas, but they don't need to happen tomorrow. We can build to them over time and just by changing that, like the follow up thought to, oh, cool, I wonder how I could do that instead of like, whoa, no way. It just opens up so many possibilities. And that's something that I've really worked on a lot as I get some ideas that it's like, oh, interesting. Like, okay, okay. I wonder how I could do that instead of let it freak me out and terrify me. Like, what we forget is that we grow. And by the time it actually comes time to take action on that idea, chances are you're going to be a totally different person with a much bigger comfort zone and it's probably not going to be so scary anymore. So really, like, I'm obsessed with self talk. I think self talk is such an underutilized and the most powerful tool and if we can just change that self talk to like, I wonder how instead of, no, it's a game changer.

I love it. Yeah. You know, as you're describing this, I'm thinking of all the conversations I've had in the last year about writing books and self publishing versus hybrid publishing versus, you know, having a publisher, you know, reach out to you and want to pay you and give you like a. What is it a forward or something for you to write a book. Yeah. And that's what people, a lot of people want to get to that point. They're like, I want someone to pay me to write the book. You know, and it seems like such a huge thing because, like, it puts so much weight on having a good idea and knowing the right people. Right, right. And being a good enough writer. So that's like, those are three huge things that are really hard to take on. Yeah. You know when you've never written a fucking book before.

Absolutely.

Absolutely right. And one of the pieces of advice I got is, you know, if a publisher looks at you and they think that they can sell 10,000 books in the first year, they'll Actually reach out to you generally and ask you to write a book if you have something to say. And so one of the like, easiest first steps you can make is just like, get out there and get a following, you know, like go out there and become really well known on one social media platform where people see you as credible, they like what you have to say and they're all about it.

Yeah. And you, you're so good at that. You've done such a good job creating a really beautiful online community. It's very, very cool.

Thank you. Yeah, but I mean, I'm nowhere near that.

Like, it takes years like it.

And people, I mean, today, they look at me and they're like, you have almost 10,000 followers on LinkedIn, which is, in the greater scheme of things, isn't that many.

It's like 10,000 incredible humans. Like, these are all humans. I know.

But in comparison, here's the compare game coming out. Like there are people who have 100,000 followers. Right, right. But it also took me almost two years to build from to that from 1500 followers.

Right.

You know, it's like a gradual game.

Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Yeah. It's like it's okay for things to take time and if we do keep taking action. I mean, I love plant analogies. I talk about plant analogies probably way too much. But what we water does grow and if you keep taking little action, one foot instead of the in front of the other, like, things will happen. And it's okay if it takes time. Like, great.

Cool. Well, and I think we take for granted that we also need to learn how to deal with it as it's, as it's growing. Could you imagine if like overnight you had 30,000 followers on Instagram?

No way. I freak out and delete the app.

Yeah. It would be completely overwhelming. But if you get there gradually over the next five years.

Right.

It's not going to be as overwhelming and scary. You're going to have systems in place that you know how to deal with everyone.

Exactly, exactly. Yeah. I think sometimes our businesses know how to push us just enough to, you know, keep meeting us.

It's all new, new stuff. First take to our therapists and our coaches.

Exactly, exactly. It's great. Yeah. Thank goodness for them.

Now, you mentioned that you have a program coming up.

I do.

So what is today? Monday. So it starts on Thursday. Tell us about it.

Oh, I would love to. I am so excited about this program. It is called Unlock and, and it starts on Thursday. It's a six week group coaching program and it is for anyone who just is so ready to do the thing. Like, if you've been holding yourself back from sharing your art, sharing your creativity, taking the next step, you know that you need to take in your business, taking action on an idea. It is just like, you know that idea that keeps you up at night but you haven't done anything about it because it's outside your comfort zone. This is a curated designed, handheld, cheerleader infused journey so that you can, you can really feel super confident just to share your jewels with the world. And there's a couple spots left, so I'm so excited to hold the space for a few more souls, brave souls to join me. Yeah, I'm really looking forward to it.

Amazing. And if anyone's curious about this, can they DM you?

Yes, please. DM me. Yeah. Amazing.

Amazing.

Absolutely. And what's coming up in, in your world? What's the next?

I mean, my, my new, like, foundation offering is byob, you know, build your own business. And it's really for those beginner entrepreneurs who know the business they want to start and they're working really hard at it and they're competent at it, but they have no idea how to actually do it. Yeah. You know, so it's less coaching on it and more like, here's the training you need, here's the problem solving, here's how you handle this situation. There's community built in. It's designed so that you have your business BFFs all right there. And I mean, we go through everything from, here's your marketing plan, here's a social media platform that you need to spend the most time on. Here's what you should be pricing yourself at. Here's how you sell your service without vomiting and scaring people away. It's magical. I'm so excited for it.

I love your program. It's such a, it's such a beautiful offering. So thank you on behalf of the people who will be sharing your jewel, sharing their jewels program. I'm just grateful.

I'm so excited. I'm so excited for like, these businesses that are just gonna blossom and support these incredible humans who are doing really good work in the world. Yeah. Yeah. And of course, if anyone's curious about that, just send me a dm. I'll send you the link to apply. Kelsey, final words of wisdom for people out there today. You weren't expecting that.

I wasn't expecting it. The first thing that comes to my mind is just to pick one thing today to do for yourself that makes you feel so loved and so special and so cherished just by yourself. It can be one little two second thing. Whatever it is, just pick one thing and do today. And that's my last thing I want to say.

I love that. So everyone you heard it from. Kelsey, you have to go do one thing that shows the same self love today on President's Day. You know, I don't know how that ties together thematically but whatever we can.

We can make a stretch. It'll work.

Anyway, Kelsey, thank you so much for being here with me today. This is so much fun as always and thank you to James and Gabriel and Sean and Jason and David and Gary and if I missed anyone else, I apologize. Thank you for your interaction today. I'm Katie McManus, business strategist and leadership coach. This is Kelsey Letko, fabulous life coach. Thank you for joining us and we look forward to seeing you all soon.

Thank you.

Bye.