She Had to Ask Permission to Leave 15 Minutes Early. So She Built Her Own Business.

What's up guys? Welcome to PeliBiz Podcast. I'm your host, Kelly Alhooie. Today I have a very special guest. Polly, go ahead and why don't you introduce yourself and let everyone know who you are?

Thanks, Kelly. Yes, my name is Polly. I have been a pelvic floor physical therapist for almost 17 years. I started out like a lot of us do, having some interests. I got really lucky and had a women's health rotation before I even graduated. And I was lucky enough to hit the ground running seeing pelvic floor patients within like a week or two of starting my very first job. And it's a piece that I feel like is neglected. Of course, I think that's why we're all here, is we've seen the neglect for women on that front. But also, it just became very much a heart mission for me. And so I had several jobs in different places where I did a lot of the orthopedic combined with the pelvic floor. And when I started having kids, that's when things really kind of changed where I felt like I was working so hard for somebody else. And I, I mean, I remember I had to ask for permission to leave 15 minutes early, and I was part-time paid hourly, to leave 15 minutes early. And the entire company, the entire corporation had to have a meeting to give me permission to leave 15 minutes early to take my daughter to tumbling, which I thought was Beyond silly, and I thought, here here we are. And there was a bunch of other things that kind of came into play, and I thought, you know what? I'm busting my tail for somebody else's dream when I could be busting my tail for my dream, but also to be able to be a mama to my kids because ultimately I knew that I wanted to homeschool them. So I started my business Beyond the V Physical Therapy four months after my. son was born. He's my youngest. I think that was about 5 months ago or 5 years ago, coming on to 6. Right. And, that's kind of what started me having my own practice. I had toyed around a couple years prior with some online things. I had actually run a beta group when I was pregnant with my first child. I remember running to the restroom, letting everything go, and then coming back and typing up that next plan to set out to the beta group to try some online things. So, I have some online programs, but and I'd love to do both for lots of different reasons. But that that's kind of become where I'm at. And a couple years ago, I got divorced. I guess the divorce has been final for a year, and sometimes surrounding a divorce, things are great. And unfortunately, there was some betrayal. There not some. There was a lot of betrayal trauma, and I just wasn't in a place mentally. I really was. Coasting, and somehow my business survived. I have no idea. I didn't get back to people. I didn't mark. I never really marketed until recently, but I was just kind of not doing well, and I can't even remember how I came into contact with Kelly. But I remember there was one morning, I think divorce papers had been filed, and I had no idea what life was going to look like, and I missed Kelly's teletherapy because I thought, oh, Utah's so big. I know Idaho is just up the way, and I have lots of family. Up there, and I think that was my first introduction to her because there was—I just remember there was a light being turned on, and I got super emotional, and I thought, okay, I could do the teletherapy thing but still be home with my kids and not have to pay a fortune for my nanny. And—and anyways, things just had kind of progressed, and I think it was you and I had touched base last last year.

Last year, I think.

And then I also remember. Oh, I'm—I'm so sorry to interrupt. What did you say?

Go ahead. No, we said last year, and you're like, I don't know. And I was like, okay, we're gonna give this like 4 months. I think, remember, it was like a 4-month time period, you know? And we're like, okay, because you had some things that you had to get, you know, taken care of. Yes. Yeah.

Um, and I'm pretty sure, you can correct me if I'm wrong, I think January 1st, I think that's when we had the call.

Yes, yes.

January, sure, everybody was up late, and January 1st, early in the morning, I think we had that phone call. And I think I think that's where I felt like things were different. And I, and I could tell in your heart and in your— I feel like you can't listen to you for more than 2 minutes and not feel like, okay, your heart is there. Like, my life and my dreams matter. And so anyways, so that's, I guess that's kind of, that's kind of how we got here.

Okay. So let's, let's take things back a little bit. Okay. So you've had this. So what was the thing that made you say, you know, Besides like them being like, look, you, you, we have to have this whole meeting about trying to take your kid to freaking tumbling class.

Yeah.

Like that was probably the final straw, but like, what was there something deep inside of you that was just like freaking just jump? Or like, what was like the big motivation? Or as you got the business started, like what has kept you going for the 5 years now? Like what is it internally that has kept moving you forward?

I, I think a lot of it at my previous job, I just felt like I had to get permission to take good care of patients. Not that they didn't have good hearts, but I was like, no, no, no, like, I got it. I like— I'm taking good— I'm taking good care of them.

Yeah.

And I, and I think that has been a constant theme that when people come to see me, they'll say things like, oh, this is different, or it feels like I'm having coffee with you even though we're Working on things, you know, and we just met a couple minutes ago where it just— not that it's not that professional piece, but I think where I get to— that my heart really gets to take care of them. Yeah. Because I don't think it's just— and I'm sure most pelvic floor PTs know this— it's not just a part of their body. Right. This piece permeates so many areas of life. And so I wouldn't say that it's the other kind of therapy because, hello, that's not our scope of practice. But there's a, there's a different piece where your heart gets to show up differently. And I think I'm a mama by nature, and I just like want to take care of people and nurture people. And I feel like I get to do that so much more fully. And I realized quickly too, my burnout was way less, way less. And I didn't, I didn't, I worked way less than what I did before. And made more money. So that— not that it's about the money thing necessarily, but at that time—

Good point. It's a good point. You're, you're making more money, your burnout's less, you actually get to take care of the patient because it's just a completely different model and we're not just in the box. And that's what I'm sensing, you know, from you is like you were tired of being in the box. You knew it could be done better. I, I think that's also why you had success when you weren't marketing. Is because people could feel your heart. I mean, when people— when you actually care about people, your business will grow because you actually are caring. Like, it's really not that hard, you know? Um, but when you're not caring, that's when, you know, you're a fraud and people can sense that, right? And so it's just caring and hearing them out and then wanting to be heard because it's a completely different model. Because in the other model, it's about the notes and getting reimbursed, right? And so I really think that cash-based therapy is way more about the patient, and they're able to be heard, seen, and get better results, you know?

Yeah.

Okay. So now you started the business. We, you know, you were not marketing. You had some, you had some trials and tribulations come up. Yes. And, you know, personal things. How did you keep showing up for yourself and in not only for your kids and yourself, but then also too for the business? Like, was there anything that you did, any self-care hacks or any just like behind the scenes like pep talks or like what made you keep showing up and not just say, capisce, I'm done, which most people would say, I can't do this.

Yes, um, I think, I think there's 2 things. When everything came to a head, I was thankfully with my family, and I remember it just— I remember it coming out, and I said, I will do whatever is best for my kids, whether I like it or not. And that was the mantra that I lived and died by, because I look back and I, um, I call that version of myself Post-it Polly. During that time, because when betrayal happens, it messes with your executive function. And so I literally clutched a Post-it that I had written the 3 things if I did nothing else for the day. If I lost that Post-it, it was over. And so that, that was like kind of like where I was mentally at the time. And I just reminded myself, if it's for the kids, which thankfully I could at least see enough, okay, I have to, I have to keep working. And I can say I never— I'm not saying this is the healthiest thing I've done. I never missed a day of work. Wow. Because of any of that.

Wow.

I was always my best. But I think, I think that mantra, like, if it's for my kids, whether I like it or not, I'm gonna do it. And years and years ago, before I was even graduated, I was in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at the Women's Hospital doing my women's health rotation. And I was actually convinced that I was seeing post-mastectomy patients. I did not actually want to see the pelvic floor. And then I realized, oh, all the OTs see the post-mastectomy for all the lymphedema work, and it was up to us PTs to do all the pelvic floor. And I thought, excuse me, I— this is inappropriate. I don't want to be here. And I remember going home and thinking, I have 3 more months of this. Like, I'm almost done with school. And I knew that if I changed, I'd have to wait a whole year, and it'd be— it'd be a whole thing. And I remember I'm a, I'm a religious, spiritual gal, and I remember praying that night. Um, I'm a lot more open about this part of my life lately, and I remember praying and being like, get me out of here. There's no way I can do this. I cannot. And I had heard enough stories. Like, there was a grandma who wanted to go watch her son graduate from Tulane, and she couldn't because she was going through like 5 pads a day. Mm-hmm. They're, they're in here, and we are— that's— anyways, it was like about an hour drive or so, and I'm like, that's crazy. Like, You just gotta get your pelvic floor strong and you're good to go. And there's a lady who was willing. She just wanted to know, well, can I have pain-free intimacy? Or like, should I just tell my husband to go somewhere else? Which— and so I remember sitting there and I heard Clara say, it's not about you, it's about them.

Hmm.

So that, that phrase, shoot, like 17 years ago almost, that has also kind of been part of my guiding light too, that Yes, I knew that I felt like I was in the depths of despair at that point in time, but I have my kids. And then I had that day in prayer that I heard it's not, it's not about me, it's about them. That's, that's what has kept me going, I suppose. And as far as self-care hacks, that's a, that's a, I don't know. I—

I'm a loaded question.

I did actually start taking jumping lessons a while ago.

Okay.

And so that's that. I can say that that fills my cup in so many ways.

Like trampoline jumping lessons?

Oh no, like a horse. Like you're on a horse.

Oh, like jumping. Okay. Oh my God, that's amazing. As long as you don't fall off of it, that's amazing.

Right.

Wow. I have to go back to that part on it's not about you, it's about them. And I really, that resonates with me so much because it's truly like, I feel like we all have a mission and we all have a purpose. And some of us figure it out sooner than, you know, other people, and some of us maybe never figure it out. But I believe everyone has a purpose. And, and I believe that so many people think that cash-based therapy is like salesy, or they feel salesy or whatever else. And I think sales really comes down to it's not about you. And most of us make it about us. We make it about, well, I feel like we're taking their money. And it's like, no, you're— we're not taking their money. Mm-hmm. We're solving a massive problem, just like that lady. She was limiting her life, not going to see the graduation because she was peeing her pants and felt so embarrassed or felt like she couldn't do it or it was impossible, right? We are able to give her her life back so that she can go and do whatever she freaking wants. How are we taking money from people? We're not. We're changing their freaking life.

Yes.

So I love that. Like, I love just like having like a— that's amazing. Like having a little sticky note of that, of just like, guys, remember that when you have Sales calls, or when you're trying to get people to come into your practice, like it's not about you; it's about freaking getting the patient help. And if they get off the freaking phone call and they don't come to you, we know they're going to go to the hospital down the road. That's not going to solve their problem. And then they think that their problem is never going to get freaking solved. Right?

Right.

So it's like it's our responsibility to do that and like make sure that happens. So yeah, that. That resonates with me so much because I am very passionate about that because I've seen it over and over and over again where people go somewhere else and I'm like, I told you, and then they come back and I'm like, should have just started here, you know?

Right.

So yeah, it's very frustrating, but sales, it's not about you, it's about them. That's the number one thing. Yes. Okay. So, um, let's talk about over the last year. Why not? Let's go there.

Okay.

So Over the last year, you know, again, we've had family stuff come up. I mean, there's kind of like a pattern here, right? Family stuff that's come up. And it's like, okay, you then had to make— you joined Poly Biz, you had to make hard decisions on trying to get outside your comfort zone and trying to get outside the box. So like recently, you know, you raised your prices. Mm-hmm. And you're like, I don't know if I could do that because again, a lot of us have false beliefs. So like, what's the thing that made you say, you know what, I'm gonna raise my price? Because like, did you feel more deserving? Did you feel like I was— you're getting better results? Like, what was it that you were like, okay, I think I can do this now?

Um, well, I, I don't, I don't know if there's one thing. I think the, I think the moment I was doing laundry one morning before work and I was listening to one of the calls or like trying to like catch up on some of them because like you said, I My mom got diagnosed with cancer. I had to send two of our dogs to dog heaven, and my kids could be doing better in some in some places. So I they're okay. Just divorce is hard for littles. But

of

course, you said something which one thing my little girl has said, and I think I said this to you on like on a call that we had. She always keeps asking Mama, when are you gonna only work one day a week? I just only want you to work one day a week, and that. That's piercing to me because I, I want to be there for them. And so that's kind of like been ringing in my ears. Like I, I wanted to have somebody hired by the fall, by the fall time, and we're not there yet. But, um, and then you said something like your prices have to be, I can't remember what you said. They, I don't know if I'm like giving away too much from like what's inside the program. You said something like they have to be over $200, otherwise you cannot hire somebody and have it work.

Yeah.

To hear that and say, well, wait a minute. My girl wants me to be home. And actually, at one of the jumping lessons, I kind of hurt my hand. Like, I didn't time it. And so I— anyways, I hit— I hurt part of it just because of the way it was. And I was still able to work. Like, I don't know, I'm a country girl at heart. Like, I can, I can still work just despite the pain, good or bad. But—

You can power through. Yeah.

Yes. And I just realized, man, I, I don't want to have to be worried that my— the thing that fills me up besides being with my kids could hurt me. Maybe. Let's Pray that it doesn't.

Yeah.

So just to kind of sit there and like, because like I remember I paused it, I stopped my folding and I thought, okay, I have to raise prices today. Otherwise, if I, if Kelly's saying I can't get

right where you want to be

there for my kid, then I need to get again going back to whatever's best for my kids, whether I want to do it or not, I'll do it. And I, I literally think I I don't know, I probably finished folding and then maybe later that day I went in and to Jane and changed prices and then that was it.

Wow. Again, it goes back to a very deep and strong why, and I think that's massive for founders to have, is having such a deep why and then remembering that of like, no, I am doing it for this. So that when you do have to make that decision and be like, okay, I'm gonna level myself up, then, um, it's a little bit easier to do. I didn't say easier, it's just like It's there and it's calling you to do it, right? Because you do have that deep why. And you know, ultimately we want to you know get time with the kids and be able to live our best life, right? And so ultimately we want to be able to hire. And so that brings on our next thing is where do you see like the future going? Like what what what are you looking forward to? You know, moving in towards the end of. You know, this year? Like, what is, what is the path? Like, what are you excited about for the business?

I think, um, I don't know if I've ever been this mentally healthy. I wasn't in a lovely marriage before, and I think my brain is so much healthier. I, I hate when my kids are gone, but unfortunately they're, they're gone. And so I do have more time to, to work. And so I think I'm excited to see Like where, where I can go, because I've seen so many gals in the group and I really have had a late start in comparison of the things I've done compared to when I started to where I'm at. But just to see, okay, well, how much momentum can I have? Could I actually have somebody hired by the end of the year? I would really like to put a clinic in Idaho because I know that area is very underserved as well. Just I have lots of friends and family up there, and I hear the things that they say, and I'm like, oh gosh, we could do better for you. I know I could help up there. And I went to undergrad up there, and I just— my heart, there's a piece of my heart up in Idaho. Yeah.

So

that's where I would— that's the hope. And that's— I mean, momentum matters, work matters. And I think another thing I've learned along the way since You know, you're talking about founders is, and I learned this in one of my feelings appointments, as we call them at our house.

Okay. I like it.

The quicker you can feel negative emotion and be okay with it, the further you will go in life. And I feel like I've gotten very good at feeling negative emotion and taking action anyways.

So meaning like, okay, I don't feel right about this. But instead of harping on it and like, this, this is sometimes what I do. I just like keep replaying it over and over and over. But like, instead of doing that, you're saying like, process it, feel it, and then say, okay, enough of it. I'm not gonna let that impact me anymore. I need to move on. That?

Yes. And whether that's— and I mean that like personally, right? Like when you're tired and your kids are up all night and you only got a couple hours of sleep.

Yeah.

Okay. So I'm tired.

Right.

Thank you. But we have to do this anyway. Or when Kelly suggests you to do something and you feel like you're gonna throw up.

Right. Right.

That's happened a few times for me personally. Not that it's like totally outside the, the realm of, of— I'm not saying you're like out of this world on anything, but there's time I'm like, oh, I would never do that. I would never.

I know.

But, but also just sitting and being like, okay, well, I feel uncomfortable. Okay, thank you so much, body and brain, but we're going to take action anyways. Like, I think, like, fear comes up and scared and—

So many things.

Imposter syndrome, all, like, all those negative things.

Yep.

You're going to feel them. I'm sure, like, you could probably write a whole book about it, I would imagine. So, I don't know. I guess there's kind of a— not to be— I just told you how I love to be nurturing. Maybe I'm not so nurturing to myself, but like, okay, so what? But we have to take action anyways.

Yeah, it's it's like basically saying I think Alex Hormozi and Layla Hormozi say this a lot. It's like screw your feelings, just do it anyways.

Yeah.

And and I think that's like kind of so true, even though yes, you should feel and process it. I I do agree with that because otherwise you will have some holding on and some resentment, and that will that can build up. But yes, like just taking action even if you don't feel like it. Like Julia and I, my my COO, talk about this all the time. Like we were just in Vegas talking about. And we were talking about like vibe coding and just like all this like tech and nerdy stuff. And, you know, and, and basically we're like, oh, I don't really like that. Do you like that? And she's like, no, I don't really like that. But she's like, but we have to do things we don't like every single day. So here we freaking go. And I'm like, yep, you're right. Like, here we freaking go. And that's really how it is as a business owner. And until the point that you can hire or, you know, get to that level, but you just kind of have to like do the hard thing. Because when you do the hard thing, Then you start to realize that, oh my gosh, I can do that hard thing, and it gives you confidence, you know? And you're like, damn, I can do anything now.

Yes.

Okay, so like walk me through, like, so what's the plan? So we're gonna hire, okay, we're gonna hire by the end of the year, great. And then from there, what's the plan? Are we pulling ourselves out, or like what is the plan?

Yes, I would I would like to. Um, I, I think there's part of me, I feel like some of my identity is probably caught up in working for all, for all of this. And so I think, I think I would feel really comfortable with going in for like half a day because—

I want to talk about that. Can we pause right there? Because that's good. That's so good. The identity piece, so many people can relate to this. So many practitioners, because in school, I really want to make this a point that they just taught us how to use these hands and a little bit of our brain, but mainly our hands. Okay, that is what they taught us in school. So all of us feel amazing and super confident when we're in there treating the patient because barely anyone in the nation has our skills. So we feel like we're freaking rock stars right now. Comparatively, I mean, I pulled out, so I can tell you how it feels. It sucks. Like, you feel like you don't know what earth you're on. I, I remember my first time when I pulled out of my clinic, I was sitting at my house being like, what do I do? I'm not valuable anymore. My self-worth went completely down because I wasn't doing the thing that I was born to do, or that I felt like I was born to do.

Yeah.

Because I didn't know at the time Even I had mentors back then, but they you know they just I don't think were aware of this. Like I didn't know what my value was. No one then re-taught me my value. I had to figure it out. And so when you're sitting at home twiddling your thumbs because it can happen, there's moments like that and you're making a lot of money. It's like I'm not worthy. I don't deserve this. Oh wait, my team's working. Oh wait, but I'm not. Oh, but wait, like, I, I should go in there and then mess it all up. And sometimes I would go in there and put my hands in the pot, and guess what I would do? Mess it all up. Because if things weren't messy, then I wasn't like doing my job, or like I, I felt like I had to do something, right? And it's like, Kelly, actually you're messing it up. Just take your hands out of the pot and things run a lot better, you know?

Yeah.

And so you start to have— you do have an identity shift. Of where is your value. And the reason why most of us don't want to face it is because we don't know business skills, and we don't know that we're valuable being the leader. No one's ever taught us leadership. No one's ever taught us that our brain and our vision and growing the team is the thing that actually makes us valuable. They only taught us that our hands are the most valuable. And that right there, when I learned that, oh my gosh, me being able to be a leader was the most valuable thing in growing a culture. I'm like, culture? I don't know. That sounds stupid. Like, what is that? Right? And I really realized that that was the major skills that I needed was leadership and culture to be able to grow a successful business. And it was way more than my freaking hands because now we can impact so many more people than the 20 to 30 people that I could see, you know, overall and kill myself doing. Like, it just— that didn't work, you know?

Yes. Yes. Dad recently said— so he's like 70, and he— so he, he lives in Idaho, he flies to Washington, he works one day or one week, flies home for a week, and he's like, man, I'm making so much money, more money than I've ever made in my life just working 2 weeks a month. And I'm like, okay, but quit, and you could come to more of the grandkids' stuff because there's grandkids doing all sorts of things, and he misses out a lot. And he's— and he said to me over the— which I think this year was like the first year that I think he's believed in this business. I don't think he's ever believed, which is—

wow. Wow.

Well, right, like the doctor. Well, who's answering your phones? You don't have a big enough space. Like, why are people gonna pay cash anyhow? So And I said, Dad, you should retire. You have enough. Like, you're, you're good. And he's like, but I don't know who I am. And that was something that like, I've kind of been marinating on. Like, well, maybe is that one of the reasons? Because I don't wanna get, like, I want to be so ready to be like out because I trust what I've created or helped like hire, like building the culture piece.

No, it's huge. It's hiring is one of the biggest and best skills that you can have because that will either make or break your company. It really will. Um, and yeah, it's, it's a process. And this is why I always say, especially in the hiring process, you need coaching because that is a beast. But once you're able to conquer it, um, it's the most freeing thing. That's why we do what we do, you know. And ultimately, you can go and start a second, you know, business in a different state. Great. Um, you could sell, you could hire a therapist to be a partner. Like, there's so many different, uh, avenues, but You own it and you get to decide that. Like, that's the beauty. Like, that's the best part about it, right? And so I try to get people to understand that the faster they move out of the solopreneur phase and the more that they move into higher-level business skills, those are the things that are actually going to make you more valuable and make all of this worth it and give you— for you specifically, give you your time back. Mm-hmm. With your kids, because I know when we talked that was the number one thing, and I remember those conversations, and it's just like that—that's—that's how you do it, right? Like that is truly how you do it—is by hiring and being able to you know pull yourself out, and but you got to learn new skills. Otherwise, sitting at home like me saying, hmm, what do I do now? Like, and you don't want to do that, right? So you got to learn new skills for sure.

I agree. Yep. Leadership books are— that's like next on my, like, theme that I'm reading for September is leadership books to kind of start letting the brain kind of work on what they call that theta waves of your brain. Like when you, you give it an idea and then like it kind of sits in the background and it does its thing. Is that right?

Yeah. I mean, yes. And, and it's leadership to me is, is very close to culture. Because culture is leadership if it's done right. Because, and here's the thing, what people don't realize, you cannot have a culture if you don't know who you are, you personally.

That's, I was gonna, that was gonna be my question. Well, okay, so if it comes back to culture and if you're in charge, if you're not like in a good place, then it would be very difficult.

That's right. So what do you think your company is going to do? Is it going to go up or down?

Yeah.

Down.

Yeah.

This is why I always put on the Instagram, building energy today, because I am literally— I practice exactly what I preach. So if I know that I've got to build energy, I know my team's got to build energy. Like Julia and I were just together, right? 17-hour days, like for 4 days straight, like 17 hours. No joke. Like there was no stopping. And I'm like, okay, we still gotta go to the gym. Let's freaking go. And Julia's popping caffeine. I don't do caffeine. And she's like, oh Lord, how did I get here? But like, that's part of the culture. Like, we don't stop. And so it, it all comes down to the leader. Mm-hmm. Is the leader doing the thing? If I didn't work out, if I was like, you know what, let's sleep in today and let's go not go talk to those people, whatever. What do you think my team's gonna do? They're gonna think it's okay to do that.

Of course.

Right? If I believe in God and God is not in my culture, then, then that's not a good thing if I'm just like kind of like, you know, sabotaging it or not speaking of that. Like, um, we have Jensen that's in Mastermind. She really has in her job descriptions, you must be, you know, you must believe in God. And people might be like, oh, how can you do that? And it's like, yeah, that's her culture. We need people that believe in God. Great. And and everything has to be centered around that because that's her belief, and that's what makes her culture her culture, right?

Yeah.

And so, like I think it really comes back to leadership and culture really comes back to the founder and knowing deeply who they are and how they want to impact the world and inspire people. And if you don't know who you are, um, I think it's hard then to lead because you're unsure of you. So the second someone is like. Hating on you from the internet, like, oh, she sucks, or, you know, give you a bad review or whatever, then you're like, oh yeah, I do, I believe that, I believe that, you know. And then you don't want to show who you are.

Sure. So even, even the mere fact that I am doing all the work I'm doing, because I, I keep wanting to think that like where the things that have happened to me, like they're happening for me, like that I, I feel very lucky that I get a A second chance, I guess, at life that I kind of get to sit back and say, all my feelings appointments, all the, all these things where I, I've never spent this much time trying to get healthy on so many fronts that, and I wonder too if that also set me up to be in a position to say yes to you and yes to, I, I'm agreeable to hiring somebody. Like, I, that's what I have to do.

I agree. I, yes. Because when I talked to you, you know, a year ago, I mean, your headspace was everywhere. I can tell. No, seriously, it was. And that's why we had time and we had to think about it and we processed. And that's why we took time to make decisions and all that, right?

Yes.

I can already sense you're in a— like you said at the very beginning, you're in a lot better headspace here. You're clearer, you have more direction. And you're right, when you're clear and your brain is like focused and you've done— you're doing the work, you're actually leading yourself. It's not reading a book that's going to tell you leadership. It's actually you are leading yourself by having feeling appointments, by being there for your kids, by handling the hard, the hard things they have to life with. All of that grows you into the leader, not reading it from a book. And then from all of that, you're gonna be like, damn, I want to integrate into my culture. For, for instance, you know what, every single day when a therapist walks in and they come to work, we're going to have a grading system and they're going to grade how they feel today. And then you start to see therapist number 1 over here having, you know, negative smiley faces at all times, then that means that you need to go up to her and have a conversation. Be like, how can I help you feel better? Because I don't like to see you feeling like crap all the time, right?

Yeah.

And you've learned all this because you've gone through it. So that makes you a better leader to then be able to coach someone that may be in the same position or maybe having an off day or an off week or whatever else. So you're actually gaining these skills along the journey, and I like how you said it's happening for me because I truly believe that that it's not happening you know against you. And those are the lessons that indirectly you don't know it yet, but they're going to make you an amazing leader.

I hope so.

They will, 100 percent they will. I can already tell you. Yeah.

Good.

So that's yeah. It's just. It's amazing. So let the lessons, guys, the lesson, anyone listening, the lessons, the lessons are the thing that teach you everything. And so many people want to avoid the lesson and avoid the failure, but the failure is the thing that teaches you all the lessons. Because if it was always positive, how can you learn? Everything's good. It's the negative that allows you to say, nope, don't go this way anymore. Mm-hmm. Go this way. And then you're like, damn, like, I didn't realize that, but I'm so glad I went through it because now I have skill sets and resilience and I know me better now, right? You probably have in this process have gotten to know you better.

Yes, very much so.

And that can only benefit you because when you know you, then you can lead better.

True, very true.

So it's all wins. It's all wins. Yeah, yeah. Okay, um, what else? Um, anything that you're excited about over the next year?

Recordings— you paused it, didn't you?

No, it's still— it's still recording. Yes, it's okay. Um, anything over the next year that you're excited about? We're gonna end because I know we're, you know, getting over time. But yeah, anything you're excited about or you want to tell anyone, you know, the audience here, of like What you're looking, you know, forward to, or what to be on the lookout for?

Um, I, I don't know. I just think I, I have some big goals, and I'm, like I said, I'm, I'm in such a different mental space. I'm healthier than I've probably been in a really long time. And so I just think I'm excited to see— I realize this could be egotistical, but like, what, like, what my heart can do. Like, what, what can I do to, to help other providers, but then also in turn help other, um, like other women in our community, which in turn impact their families? Yeah. And I, I say this to my, um, potential patients on the phone a lot. This, I consider this legacy work. That, so not only as a, as a therapist to a patient, if I can help change the way you view birth and your recovery, well then hopefully that kind of spreads to some of your, like your little community. But then also, as I hopefully get to do that with other therapists as I hire, I, I just hope that, that, that starts changing legacy work, whether it's the impact in the community or even, shoot, maybe there's other single mamas or, you know, other moms that want to have more time with their kids, or however that ends up playing out.

It's amazing. It's amazing what you're doing, Polly. Amazing. Okay, so where can they find you? Could you tell us? And we'll put in the show notes too, but where can they find you?

Sure. So my website is Beyond the V by Pauli, P-A-U-L-I. Instagram is the same thing. YouTube, I think it's Pauli Hannon Postpartum. And TikTok, I think it's still Beyond the V by Pauli.

Amazing. Well, you're doing amazing work. I personally can't wait to see you step into that leadership role and be able to hire and finally feel like all the struggle and all the hard work and everything that you've been working up to, you having the moment of like, damn, I did this, you know? And like, um, and continuing to impact, you know, no matter if it's in a different state or whatever. Like, I, I just— Yeah. I, I can feel it from you, and I'm just so happy that mentally it seems like you're stronger than ever. I agree with that. And that, I don't know, I'm excited to see, like, you know, what happens here. So I got a lot of just amazing, you know, thoughts and inspiration for you. So yeah, I'm excited for it. I can't wait. So thank you so much for coming on and sharing your tips and tricks with everyone. I know some single moms out there, some women out there, and some business owners are really going to have some good takeaways. So thank you again for coming on.

Of course.