This Is Us - Finding Joy & Laughter No Matter The Season

On this episode of She's Crafted to Thrive, I am super excited to have the one and only Maurice Williams on the show. He is the first man that's going to be on the show and probably the only one. Maybe. I can't say that for sure, but he is my husband and one of the reasons why I have so much joy in my life and in my business. We've gone through so many different seasons that has taught me the importance of finding joy and laughter no matter what those seasons may bring. And in this episode, we talk about those different things, how we've kind of grown together as a couple and how my business has kind of morphed into what it is today and how he has been a big, big part of that. And then towards the end, by my surprise, he flips the script and starts asking me questions all related to my business. So I can't wait for you guys to tune in and stay all the way to the end because it gets corny, it gets fun, it gets real. It's all of the things and everything in between. Stay tuned.

Welcome to She's Crafted to Thrive. I'm your host, Nikita Williams, and this show is for all the ladies who are making and creating things that they love. You will hear conversations about the real everyday struggles of juggling life and business while trying to maintain passion and harmony. As women, we have the skill of getting things done, but sometimes we get in our own way.

It's here where you'll see that you're not alone.

You'll discover that success does not mean perfection. Fear and negative thoughts Challenges are all a part of the journey.

And on this podcast, you'll find the inspiration and tools you need to have a life and business that thrives.

If you are feeling a little stressed and overwhelmed in your life and business and wish you could find more happiness and joy, please join me in my free masterclass, 5 Habits to Reduce Overwhelm in Your Life and Business. Go on over to she's crafted the to find more details and to save your seat. Okay, I'm so excited. For the first time in She's Crafted to Thrive history, I'm having a man on the show, ladies, and it is my husband Maurice.

Hey, howdy, hello. Not really sure what to say there.

So I mean, obviously recording a podcast by myself is always awkward in general when I do a solo cast, but people ask me all the time why I post things about hubby because they're always saying he's so cute. I mean, they're saying we're so cute. So I also just really appreciate your support in my life.

Of course.

So I felt like the ladies should get to know the other part of me.

Mmm, that's really sweet. Well, hi, I am the other part of Nikita Williams. You've got to know her quite a long time, but you haven't heard the other part of her, which is interesting. You'd think by all the pictures you would have seen it, but yeah, yeah, I think it's really really kind of cool. Like, I know a lot about podcasting and talking to people, but Nikita just has a way with people. It's always been that way, and reaching down and like— I'm not gonna say touching the soul, but just in a way of just getting to the core of people. And she just has an innate ability to do that. So this is a really nice medium, you know, that I think she has found, um, out of circumstance and desire and just that same spirit of not giving up, you know, and continuing to go forward. So it's really cool to see and hear, you know, each week, sometimes every day, the different challenges, the different experiences, the cool things that I never thought was possible, and connecting with people. It's a really cool, it's a really cool experience. And yeah, my wife is a unique one of a kind person.

Oh, stop it. He's just saying all that because he's on the mic.

I'm not saying all this because I'm on the mic. You know, I talk about this all the time.

This is true. This is very true. So obviously, we had planned on doing this like so many different times, and hubby is mic shy or something, which is interesting because in real life that's not true.

I don't know about mic shy. I mean, As I speak, it's really interesting. I hear what this might sound like if I listen to it, but I don't know. I think I'm a little old-fashioned, and maybe a little is not the right word. It's a lot.

My face just dropped.

Yeah, it is very old-fashioned, which is crazy because I don't do all things old-fashioned, but But anywho, yeah, I think back to the thought, it's, it is an interesting medium, and I think it's kind of cool. Like, actually, actually, as we're doing it, I think it's kind of cool.

So besides wanting to have you on so everybody gets to know you, right now it's actually perfect time to have you on the show because I think everybody's just taking a little bit more time to appreciate the people that are in their lives with everything that's going on with the coronavirus. Like, the whole world experiencing this. And I was telling you this earlier, and I didn't even think about talking about it until right now. And I was like, I know, and he's giving me the face like, please don't say something. No, but I was like, how many people are reevaluating who they would rather be stuck on an island with alone? Like, really, honestly? Yeah, I would say it's a really serious question because in reality, that's what's happening.

Yeah.

We're stuck together like, like glue.

Like glue.

And honestly, I can't say that there's anybody else that I want to be with.

Absolutely. We were just talking about this earlier when we had lunch, and, uh, I said the same thing. I thought about, you know, parents, I thought about close friends, I thought about— and I was like, there's no other person. I mean, Nikita Williams came to mind first, but I was like, let me do this justice. Let me actually think about it. And it's like, no, there's nobody else. Lots of people you love, but there's no person who replaces your spouse.

You're so sweet, y'all. You go make me cry.

Oh Lord.

Okay. Okay. So let's get into some of the questions I always get on my Instagram.

So interesting.

About you. Like anytime I post a picture, like when I say the engagement of us together on my Instagram, it always supersedes everything else. Like, it's number one, like, content. It's like really weird because first of all, I hate taking pictures together because I always feel really self-conscious with my laugh because it shows my double chin and my really cheeky cheeks.

I don't think I ever noticed a double chin.

Oh yeah, stop lying.

But anyway, for real, I have not noticed.

Okay, well, those are the things that I see when I see pictures. So anyway, when I post those things, people are like, oh my gosh, you guys are so cute. Is he always laughing? Is he really that sweet? Like, is he really supportive of you? So I'm like, of course he is. Yes, he is. He's always making me laugh. All these wonderful things. So I just figured out of the horse's mouth. So are you always laughing?

I try to. I really, I really try to. Am I always laughing? No, I'd have to have plastic surgery to you know, I'd have some kind of jaw malfunction or something. But I try to. It's a— I think it's a nice mix of my parents' personality. My dad is kind of a jokester a little bit, and my sister has it. And I don't know, I find that it's a great way to just make other people happy. And it's a— I don't know, it just brings a lot of joy when you can make people laugh.

So, and I kind of am drawn to entertaining people, maybe to a fault, but yeah, that's a whole nother episode like by itself, like not on my show. Yeah, but you know, you guys, you know I'm always talking about dealing with chronic illness and stuff like that, and from the beginning of our marriage, you know, if someone were to ask me if I wanted someone that's really funny as like that I'm looking for in a guy, I don't think that would have been the top of my list. But oh, am I so glad that it is the top of the list when I describe Marie's because dealing with chronic illness and stuff that you have to do or see or feel when you are married and going through some stuff that no one should really ever experience with their spouse, let's just say, if you haven't heard my episodes prior, Go back, you'll know what I'm talking about. But yeah, he's always there to make me laugh, always.

I am happy that you found my jokes funny.

Well, I mean, I think it's partly because like the wife funny part, like I think because I'm married.

Yeah, yeah, definitely.

Some things are funnier because I know you and it's just like, yeah. And you also get like the kind of funny, to an extent, of like what makes me laugh. It's really stupid dumb stuff. Like, makes no sense.

Truly, true, true, true. Yeah, I don't know, you know, I don't know what it is. Um, I hate— I've always hated awkward situations, and I've always hated people feeling bad. Like, I just don't like people to feel bad, you know? And so what can I do to not make someone feel bad? And I'm not going to say comedy because I'm not a comedian, but it's more so of just being able to kind of lighten the mood and focus things on a positive view and make somebody smile and laugh and kind of not forget the troubles because they're there, but just take the mind off of it and focus on something positive is, I don't know, it's a very powerful, um, thing. And it brings me a lot of joy too, to know that people appreciate what you're saying and that it can be a really encouraging just experience. So a lot of times when we're kind of going through our stuff and Nikita's going through her stuff, being able to laugh just lightens the mood. It brings joy. It helps to continue going forward. Keeps a balanced perspective on things and not going down the rabbit hole of negativity. And, um, and two, it's just, it just adds to our relationship, you know. And I've seen over time how, uh, he has gotten more silly, you know.

I had a—

I don't know if I had a plan, but in the back of my head I may have had a plan. I was always into these little animated, you know, movies, things like, um, you know, Shrek, or— I mean, it's not even a favorite movie, I'm just trying I think of an animated movie, but things like that. And he was always such a serious person, you know. And, um, but I was like, these things, they have great ability to make you laugh and just silly little things, you know. And over time she started to watch, you know, some of those movies and stop calling them cartoons and call them, you know, animated films, you know. And then you've got things like Toy Story and, you know, other things like that. And it's like It's not I'm sitting around loving these things, but it's just, it just brings a level of innocence, a level of just kind of the humanness that we all need to have, you know, in this world that's so crazy. And I'm glad that we've been able to grow together in that way. You know, it's been a really nice, and not even transition, just nice growth.

Yeah, I mean, if you ask people who knew me before Maurice, which has been a long time, it's like at least— I mean, like, not including— like, including our dating time, like 14, 15 years, right?

I would say, I would say 14. We're in, we're in, we've crossed 11, we're in the 12th year. I think we were, we knew each other 2 years before, so 13-ish, right?

Right. So I'm the person, like, way back when, where people be like, Nikita is not like— she's not a jokester, she's not funny, she's serious. She's the person you call at 1 o'clock in the night if you're drunk and you gotta call your parents to tell the parents what to do. Like, I'm that person. I'm the person everyone calls for their troubles. And that's just been kind of— and that's still the case, but now I feel like it's just we've gone through so much hard stuff that like we have to laugh. Like we have to laugh about it. Like when we go to the hospital, people are always like, y'all are too loud in here. Like they're like, y'all are laughing too much. I'm like, oh, sorry. And like this is post— like this is before, you know, dilated. Like yeah, we're laughing because that's the best way I feel like we know how to deal with this stuff. Like just going through the hard times, you could just focus on the hard stuff and be like, this is too hard, and woe is me, and why is this happening to me? Or think, what can I learn from this, and can we just get through it?

Yeah, I mean, you— at the end of the day, you still have to deal with whatever it is, but if in the moments in between you can have some kind of joy, it just makes the whole thing better.

Yeah, yeah.

And I think that's a big That's a big piece. And it still goes back to people or you feeling uncomfortable or awkward or in pain. It's like, what can I do? I always want to fix stuff. I have learned that one, my fixing methods don't work very well, but two, that I don't have the power to do that. But there are some things that I can do and I try to do those things. You know, and I'm fortunate that they have some success.

Well, I'm thankful for that. And even to this day, my mom cracks up about the things that I crack up about because she's like, I just don't understand why you think things are so funny. So I'm even different when my mom thinks about me when it comes to, like, jokester funny things or things that I even watch on TV or stuff. Like, even to this day, Maurice is like, we're starting to watch that show. The Andy Griffith Show.

Oh man.

Oh my gosh, it's a hilarious show, you guys. Like, it's hilarious. But anyway, I'm finding so much joy. Like, if you had asked me this 15 years ago, there's no way, one, I would watch it, two, would have found so much, so much funniness in it, like, ever. Yeah.

And I think it goes back to kind of the whole thought of just the innocence and the— I wouldn't even say innocence, but just I don't know, the world kind of pushes you into a mold of being a certain way and feeling a certain way. I think we was watching some show and it was talking about, yeah, it's just business, you know? And of course it's some Hallmark movie, so everything's about the heart. And he's like, no, it's not just business, it's personal. And it's like, but that idea that the people who are behind the business are people who have feelings, who are affected, by these things. But the world so often just says, you know, don't care about it, or it's just this unfeeling thing, just do it. But the fact is that we're connected to all the things that, you know, that we do. And the further we get away from the things that move us and shape us, then the less human, you know, you kind of become. You become something else. And so shows like, you know, The Andy Griffith Show, just something, you know, we're trying to find shows that's relatively clean, no cursing and all that kind of stuff. And they've got episodes, it's black and white, and he's sitting out there singing old country songs we've never heard in our life, but you feel something from the way that they, you know, interact with each other. Even though it's acted and scripted, you feel something. And it's that, just back to You're a real person. I'm a real person. We're experiencing this real thing right now, and we're not experiencing this real thing because we're experiencing this real thing. It's just what it is, and you kind of go through it and you live through it.

So I don't know if that answered any kind of question. I don't even know if there's a question. So anyway, so the next question, which was— oh, the first question was like, why are you funny? Like, are you always funny? Are you always laughing? And so you kind of answered, am I always funny? Because no, he's not always funny. Ladies, I know you think that when you see this, he makes me laugh a lot, but he's not always funny sometimes. Let's just be real, we are married.

So yeah, that's real stuff.

It's real stuff. So, um, second is, um, are you cute? Which, I mean, of course I'm gonna say you're cute because you are cute, but it's not really a question for you, I don't think. Like, you, you do feel like you are like mine, but I don't know if you feel like you're like that Rico Suave guy.

Not at all. Not, not at all. Um, yeah, I, I, yeah, Rico, more power to you. No, Rico, not, not a Rico. Um, not anything like that. No. Um, I think it's just about trying to do what you can and trying to, you know, keeping yourself, um, not over or extra or whatever for your spouse, but just, I mean, you just like, you know, when we dated, you know, you wanted to look good for each other and do things like that. So I think we take some pride in our appearance. Yeah, you know, things like that. But, um, but yeah, I don't really know what to say to that. Just, you know, it's flattering. Yeah, it's a cool thing, I guess, you know.

Okay, so a question you can answer is, what do you do?

What a question. That is, uh, what do I do? Oh my gosh, no, no, no, no, no, I want to really answer this one. I want to answer this one. What do I do?

This is real talk, you guys.

I, yeah, this is how I really do. Um, I can, I kind of emulate things and enhance. I've always thought of myself as that. Not necessarily the inventor of something from scratch, but a taker of things and an enhancer and a purpose fitter. Oh my God. So that's applied to IT. So like, thank you.

I'm like, because they're like, what the heck?

What in the world is that? Like, to something. I don't know. But yeah, so I do like cloud engineering, um, not, not building websites, but I guess I can say it like this. Started, my mom made me do a Cisco class in high school that set me up. Started, uh, did an internship doing some backup and recovery work for Georgia Pacific downtown in, in Atlanta. Worked in a data center, um, for about 7 years, and then went to do kind of all hands and feet to IT, you know, wiring up closets and doing the server work and firewalls and voiceover IP stuff. And then got into Linux administration for a cool company in Florida, Focus Software. If any of you guys are listening, shout out to you. You guys do great work.

Oh my gosh.

I know, right?

We're corny too. We are really corny.

Yeah, yeah, that's what it is. And now it's like cloud consulting work for a really cool company that helps other companies do automation of their IT systems. So things on Amazon AWS and Microsoft Azure is kind of where I am. And yeah, so that's my really long answer. You don't get that one on Instagram.

No, you don't. He's a technical— I always say he's a computer engineer guy that doesn't do websites. That's pretty much the answer.

Yeah.

And he's the worst technical guy, really. Like, I have to explain to him, like, apps and, like, different tools. So, like, he's not, like, building, like, that kind of stuff. Like, it's other, like, really technical stuff that we don't really see and deal with. But when it comes to, like, you know, everyday things, like, case in point, I know you've had Instagram on your phone occasionally. Yeah, but just a week ago, did you leave a comment on one of my posts? Yeah, I almost had like a heart attack. Heart attack. I almost flipped out.

Yeah, I saw, I saw. You were like in amazement, like you had seen like a shooting star or something.

It was, it was a shooting star.

I was like, whoa, 3 emojis.

Because it showed to me that one, you found like He found it. And then too, you read the whole thing.

Read the whole thing. Yeah, it was an inspiring post. I mean, you know, show how you feel and how do you feel about what's going on and sum it up. Like, you had to be thoughtful. I just happened to see that one. But, but yeah, it was, it was good. It did take me a little while to find it.

Well, what's really cool about like people always ask like because I've talked about having a photography business before and I always tell people like we have had it together and I also tell them how much you like, you love creative things, but half the time you steal them from me. And so this is kind of a thing. Like, so like, I'm just glad that this whole thing, like podcasting and Instagram and social media, is not anything that you even want to steal from me. So it's kind of cool. And it's not really stealing, but it's really kind of like, like if I have, like if I, if I, if we get a camera tomorrow, I have a 50 99% chance that that camera will no longer be mine. It will be yours, and we will do all these things, and then you'll be like, oh, we have a business, and I'm like, great.

No, I have zero desire to start another photography business, um, but I would love to shoot, you know.

I—

this—

there's so many things that are inspiring that I would love to look at and shoot. And I mean, if I could spend all day in, um, Photoshop and Well, actually, I don't even want to do that anymore. But there's something about creating things that inspire you. You know, I've been looking for like black and white photos for my office and just, just things you can kind of get lost in and think about. So that's something that's, you know, cool. But again, it goes back to your question. What do you do? What do I do? I see something that I like and I use it and enhance it. And currently my occupation is doing that in IT. So kind of to your thought stealing, but not really.

It's not even in the same thing. You don't even know, like, I literally have to teach you how to use the app.

What, Instagram? Yes.

Yeah, Pinterest.

Yeah, I, I could use it, I just don't, you know.

Facebook.

I'm you, I see people's pictures.

That's all there is on there. That's all that you can do.

No, there's groups in ads and stuff, but you taught me that.

Yeah. So, okay, so what do you think about me doing this whole thing? Like, obviously, and if you guys have listened to the show, you know, I kind of started it because of multiple reasons, but Maurice kind of gave me the idea in the first place. It's like, why don't you do podcasting? And I was like, what? And then someone else had to give me the idea, and then I was like, oh, that's a great idea. And he's like, I told you that like months ago. So, you know, that's how that usually goes. But What do you think about me doing the show?

I think at first I had a hard time. I can throw ideas out all the time. I'm not the best one to follow through with ideas. Understatement in face of the fact.

Understatement of the year.

Those are happening. But knowing thyself, right? Let's make progress, which I am working on that. Um, but I think that, uh, the idea, it was more about solving the problem that you had. What can you do with your time, um, where you, you just physically can't do the traditional type work that I've always been able to do? But what can work for you, you know, and what are your interests? And, you know, that was something that came up. Um, and I had a lot of focus, especially with, you know, my current job, very demanding and a lot of things to pay attention to. It would take a lot of my time and energy. So a lot of the times we would talk in the beginning stages about what you're doing and how's it going. Um, and it was kind of, I'm listening, you know, kind of at the high level, you know, not into the, into the detail. But then I, you know, what started to happen that I saw was there were so many cool connections. When I say cool, just again, back to people connecting with people. I mean, podcasts and all these things are just a tool, you know, to get to another person and to interact with them in some meaningful way. And what I continue to see was the work that Nikita did was inspiring and touching people, and the work that was being affected and how people were receiving it was, it was clarity. It was things that I've been benefiting from for my entire marriage, you know.

Oh, stop it.

I'm serious. I mean, really, it— you just— like I said, people have certain gifts. You have a way with people, and you care, and you're super observant about things. Things that I've even thought I've known, you'd be like, no, that is not how that works. He did not do it for that reason. Like, what have you been looking at? How have you known this? But so in the beginning, I didn't really have as much like hand to the ground. But as I started to see how these people were affected and how things were going, it's just really been inspiring for me to hear the journey that people made and kind of seeing some of the challenges you did when working with people in the beginning. And then seeing some of their frustrations and then going through the process that you had with them even as you refined it and then what they came out with in the end. And I continued to see that pattern over and over again. I'm like, this is a really awesome way to connect with people and something I only thought social media and these podcasts and things like this were for giving tips or training or something in the way that I've always thought about them. But seeing the different ways that, um, that it has come to has been really an encouraging, inspiring, you know, endpoint. So, endpoint.

Yeah, endpoint. I don't know what that means. Ending. Or I was like, is that a technical thing?

No, I say that, you know, my head, I'm going through like a timeline. So, you know, I'm just like, where were we before?

Where are we now?

Okay. All right, well, you said before we started this that you had a question for me, and I don't remember what it was.

It was an on-the-spot question. It was, um, along with the podcast— oh yeah, hold on, let me sit up straight and, you know, let me ask this official question.

Oh my gosh, stop it.

So Nikita Williams, uh-oh, this question is more so about what has been your surprising, inspiring moments coming down this journey of podcasting? Like anything, you know, you get started on something, you have an idea of where it can go. And, you know, we used to live in Florida, you'd have the hurricane maps, it can go in all these different directions, but you don't know the path until it takes the path. So what was the surprise here? You know, what has delighted you the most? Probably actually about 30 questions It was all the same question.

Yeah, it's the same, same question. I understand you. Yes, I'm a long talker and you're a long-winded talker, so we're both long-winded talkers, but you just don't get to the point quicker. Yeah, you take forever.

I literally practiced this the other day for hours and did not get to the point. I said, you know what, that's not what I'm working on, but go ahead.

So to answer your question What are the most surprising aspects of this particular journey, like with podcasting or like just the business of like what I do or the podcast?

The entire thing. I think I'm more so interested in what has inspired you the most from either the business or the podcast. I don't want to limit it to the tool or the function.

Gotcha. Because they're all tools.

They're all tools.

For me, it's the people. Like, it's always the people. Like, it's like it's never not been the people. Yeah. I mean, before Crafted to Thrive, before podcasting, I was networking. I did a lot of networking. That was one of the things that he actually was annoyed by because I would be at networking events often.

We would go together.

Sometimes we would.

Yeah.

In the beginning we weren't, and that's when you were mostly annoyed.

Mm-hmm.

But then you started getting into it because we were doing the photography and like I was doing my real estate too at the time and all that kind of stuff. So then you're like, oh, I get it. But you're not comfortable like crowds with people.

Yeah, I'm still really awkward.

He hates it most times, like even around our closest friends you feel awkward.

It's a weird thing for years, it's just a weird thing.

And so for me that's never been a thing, like I don't feel uncomfortable around people usually. I mean, there's been like a handful of times I can say where I've been like awkwardly weird around people that I don't know or even that I do know. But I can't even count how many times it's happened because it's probably like 2. So I mean, doing my business, I mean, I always knew I wanted to help people. I wanted to help women and I wanted to share, like put all the things that I have learned over all the time, like from being like in my senior year in high school, being in a co-op, working in a law office. In the real estate world to helping my grandparents run their, their janitorial business, to helping my mom with her podcast, her baking, pound cake, and like to like working in a corporate building to like all the things I've done, like all the things that I've done to working in a coworking space, which honestly the coworking space was like the thing that like lit my butt. Like, I was like, this is awesome. Even to this day, like, to this day, I can't— I have— I pass up a coworking space and it just— I just am happy. I'm like, oh, this is so awesome. I don't even have to go in. I could just look at it and it just brings back all of those memories. And most of it is because we were, we were doing photography. I was doing events and helping small creative entrepreneurs, like with their business and stuff. And helping other businesses and then helping a coworking space. So it was just like this thing. And I was in front of people and I was talking to people and I was doing all this stuff and I was like, this is so cool. And then, uh, yeah, endometriosis came and took over my life and I was just like, ah, like, what am I going to do? And so when figuring all that out and starting the business and trying to figure out how to put all these experiences into a business was really overwhelming and frustrating and didn't know what to do and then found something that worked. But then things changed. I just really started focusing on what gave me like the excitement, like the things that I felt closer to. And it's always been people. It's always been connecting to people. It's always been giving. That's always been a thing. Like always. And that's not just work, that's life. Like, I probably give a lot away for free. Probably most things. Like my friends, they ask me about stuff, business stuff, and I just will just— Maurice has been in the room and he's like, just ask Nikita. And then 30 minutes, 45 minutes later, you have a whole plan. It's like, what? That's just what I love to do. And so with the podcast specifically, it gave me the vehicle to do that. Like, I didn't realize it, but then it like, it was like, oh, this is so easy and so cool. It really was. So yeah, hope that answers your question.

It does to an extent.

Uh-oh, he's trying to get Oprah on us.

So I— no, no, no, Oprah wouldn't say that. She would be Actually, I don't know what she would say. I wouldn't imagine she'd say that, but she would rephrase it in a really, really cool way. I would say, so what have been— what, are there any specific experiences that really stand out to you? You don't necessarily have to mention names, but just experiences that really touched you in a way that you didn't think would occur?

Experiences that really—

yeah, what's, you know, if you think about how this, this journey and, you know, you feel—

I can think of this. Yeah, I got you. Okay, so there's 3 things. Well, it was probably more than 3, but you guys know I love 3. I don't know why. It's like a thing.

It's a human thing.

It's like a thing. Even in photography, it's a thing. But anyway, one, when I first started doing this, I had prayed a lot, and I was trying to figure out how do I bring all this together? And then I found Julie Stoian, like that lady online, remember? And that was the first time we were thinking about investing something into the business. And I was like, oh my gosh. I don't want to do that. Like, I was so afraid of doing that, but when I did it, and then after I did it, and then it was like all these pieces. It's like, I don't even know what it's like. I feel like there's an animated movie that would express this moment where it was like all the puzzles just came together and voilà. Like, it was just like, oh, I've been doing this all this time already. I just needed to figure out how to bring it together. Right. And so I was like, okay. And so I was like, great. Chug, chug, chug, chug, chug, chug. Oh no, I'm stuck again. And I was like, oh, like, this is not what I'm supposed to do. Like, why am I doing this? Then a friend reached out to me and was just like, hey, I'm going to help you. It wasn't even just because of work. It was because of what I was, I was sharing, like sharing my journey with endometriosis. And that was honestly the biggest thing I think that this business has done is given me a place to share that journey that really connects to people that I never thought it would. Like, I never thought the things I would say or how I would feel about my own journey would affect people or even be something that matter to anybody else besides me and you. Like, I never thought that. And so when people started being like, I'm so glad you shared that, I'm like, wait, what? You know, really? And so that honestly kind of like kept me— it still keeps me going. I get messages from people from even the podcast when I talk about it. People are like, I'm so glad you said that. I'm just surprised. I'm still surprised when people say that to me. I'm like, You care? Like this made a difference in your life just hearing my story. So there's that. And then I have to say, obviously, because, you know, she's been on the show and she's been a part of this journey for the last 2 years, Jasmine Star, like, just finding that or just reconnecting with that because we kind of knew about her with the photography stuff and then seeing what she was doing, it just made it so much easier for my process for work.. But then I started seeing those transformations for clients, like people I would talk to and work with. And they would be like, oh yeah, like I have one client. She was like, I'm afraid that I want to make $10K a month. And I was like, okay, write it down. Just write it down. Let's just make it real. And like in 2 weeks after working with her, she had a $10K month. Like what? Like stuff like that that's happened that I'm just like, I didn't know I could do that. Like, I didn't know I could help someone reach those kind of goals, even if it was just to figure out if they should be doing something or not, because it saved them time, right? It saved them stress. So I think that answers your question. Maybe.

I think to sum it up, if I'm hearing this correctly, is you learned the What you, you, you, you love to help people and you learn that you can be skillful in doing it and people benefit from it in a way that you didn't think before.

Yeah, so you should be my copywriter apparently.

If I get time, take some time. Um, I did actually enjoy writing for a bit.

You're a great writer. I've asked you to do this for me multiple times.

I know, I know. And it's the— you know what it is? It's the sitting down. If I don't feel inspired and want to write, then like it's going to come out super proper and mechanical and, you know, all the literary things. And I'm going to use an aside and, you know, there's going to be correct semicolons and things like that. So Yeah, I think I'm a little out of touch because of how I work. I shouldn't say that. That's my own. I kind of stay out of touch a little bit. Not on purpose, just how I do things. But yeah, I think I could do some writing. That would be an interesting journey. That would be interesting. Yeah, that would be really interesting. Well, I could proofread, like, I'm not gonna say like nobody, but I could do it.

You're a really good proofreader. I give you things to proofread all the time, and I'm a horrible writer, hence the podcast.

Not a horrible writer.

No, I'm horrible. I have to literally read my captions that I write for my podcast, like for the, for social media, out loud to myself.

Yeah.

And even still, you'll read what you're trying to say. I didn't mean to say it like that, or how did I skip over so many words? Because that's the other thing, my brain goes super fast and what I'm saying doesn't always end up on the page.

You might have to take a pen and go word, you know, your process to force yourself to read the words.

Yeah, that doesn't work.

Maybe. I don't know, it always has been a thing For me, I know. But I think that's the cool thing. Work with the strengths and video and talking, that's your strength.

Yes.

That's what it is. And that's a really cool thing.

Well, thank you for coming on.

Thank you for having me. I know we've talked about this for a little bit, so it's cooler than I thought, people.

Okay, so you have to do the Maurice like radio voice so that, you know, if anybody wants—

somebody wants some?

No, if anybody wants to hire you for voiceovers, they can.

Only because you're trying to draw me out, ain't you?

Only because you're really good at it. Like, you're really good.

Like, man, she buttering me up, people.

I'm just saying, he is. He's really good. And, you know, I know there's like all technical things you can go get technically done, but trained and all that. But you have a very cool radio, like, podcasting voice when you, like, put it on. Like, right now you're talking normal, but when you put it on, it's like, okay, hey, okay, yeah, yeah, you know.

I don't know. Um, I don't know. I'm trying to think of a scenario I need to talk about. You know, I need a framework. I need a framework.

Say you're introducing my show.

What is our theme? You see my framework? Oh my gosh, I need a friend.

So complicated.

Yeah, I need, I need an English.

It's a show featuring 3 women talking about their journey to success after the coronavirus. And silence.

No, no, no, processing. You know, you hit that button on your computer and it waits until it does the thing. Um, today, ladies and gentlemen, we have Nikita Williams. Nikita is the host of She's Crafted to Thrive, and today she has an inspiring story to bring to you about 3, 3 successful entrepreneurs who have endured, fought, and overcome the challenges associated with the worldwide pandemic of the coronavirus. Difficult circumstances, journeys to success, all of these and more are things that you will find on this episode of She's Crafted to Thrive. So tune in, you will be inspired, and yes, you too will be crafted to thrive.

Boom!

I don't know, Parcer was in and out, but you know, I love it.

Okay, so Yeah, I can't even end it better than that. And how do we end the show?

You gotta know how you got to end them show. You got to say your end catchphrase. Inspire the people, girl. Say it. You know me like to hear you say it.

Yes, that's still my husband talking.

For all the real Jamaicans, ma, so sorry. I'm doing a shameful thing. Right now, but go ahead.

So ladies, thank you for joining, joining us for this episode. This was actually truly one of a kind of the show. First guy and the best guy I could have on the show, my husband Maurice. But as always, guys and ladies and gentlemen and everyone who's listening, please know that yes, you are crafted to thrive.