๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐โ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐
So Iโm gong to let you know now that this is a looong post – get your coffee ready because here comes the tea.ย
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This was originally a 19 things I learned in 2019 list but as I reflected, I realized that the meta lessons came from a tapestry of experiences from 2009 to 2019 that I felt more valuable to me (and I hope valuable to you) as I wrote in my journal this morning.
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I could list every win and loss but I got more out of seeing how much has evolved since then. And holy moly have things really changed in 10 years!
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๐๐ช๐ข๐ข๐๐ง๐ฎ ๐๐ค๐ง ๐ฉ๐๐ค๐จ๐ ๐ค๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐ฌ๐๐ค ๐๐ค๐ฃโ๐ฉ ๐๐๐๐ก ๐ก๐๐ ๐ ๐ง๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐ค๐จ๐ฉ:
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๐. ๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ฆ๐ฒ ๐-๐๐ข๐ ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐๐ข๐ฅ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐๐ from the recession of 2008 and had to liquidate and let go of everything – houses, cars, assets, and most of all, my ego and pride. Moved into my grandmaโs (my heart, my greatest mentor) house, and then she died. Got divorced and became a single mom. And that happened all in 4 months.
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๐. ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐จ๐ซ๐๐ฑ๐ข๐, so much so my diet consisted of Newports and green tea for 6 months and had zero concept of the world around me for the first time ever in my life. Wasted away to about 98 lbs until my 12 year old daughter came outside to where I sat catatonic for those 6 months, on my grandmaโs porch, in the small town where I was bullied and didnโt belong to say: โMommy, youโre Jen Kem – itโs time to wake up now.โ
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๐. ๐๐จ๐ค๐ ๐ฎ๐ฉ. ๐๐จ๐ญ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฉ – a mix of psychotherapy, medication, sleep support. Asked my โstrong friendsโ how they were rising up and got turned on to a personal development experience that saved my life. Went all in on discovering who Jennifer Kem really is and what I really cared about (since the decade before I really focused on what everyone else cared about).
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๐. ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ค๐(๐ง) ๐ฒ๐๐ญ ๐๐ง๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ ๐๐, ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ, a brand consulting company and literally knocked on doors, just wanting a $5,000 contract to pay back a loan my mom gave me when I lost everything. I got so many โnosโ, โnot yetsโ and โweโll call yousโ – until my last employer who was thrilled I was available as a consultant said – โwait, youโre available?โ โฆ and gave me not just that first $5K contract, is now a multi-million dollar account for KemComm.
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๐. ๐๐ง๐ฏ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ฑ๐๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐จ๐๐๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ, as I knew that there was no fucking way I wanted to be back there again. My executive coach became my first client in what is now Master Brand Institute – which led to working with Steve Harvey, Oprah Winfrey Network, some of the biggest names in personal and business development you see online today, and hundreds of entrepreneurs. Last year, we crossed the 8-figure mark in our business, got featured on Forbes, Inc., Fast Company, etc and most of all, built the most values-driven team my heart could have dreamed of.
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๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฉ๐ญ๐๐ง๐๐. Married my perfect partner in life and business Nathan J. Francisco aka The Slay-At-Home Dad. Welcomed a new soul into this world, a baby boy whoโs made his Filipino mommyโs dreams I never knew I wanted come true. Proudly graduated my brilliant, beautiful and most of all, brave daughters, who are now young women themselves. Learned how to be a better mommy, wife, friend, daughter, sister and woman.
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๐. ๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ก ๐ซ๐จ๐จ๐ญ๐ฌ. In the past 2 years, weโve rented out our homes in Hawaii, moved to the SF Bay Area and absolutely love it here. I was born here, I went to college and post-grad here, and my soul feels at home here – what a privilege it is to be able to call both Hawaii and California home. Weโre committed to serving in a different yet what we feel is a more impactful way by Thinking Global and Acting Local. Weโve set up a company headquarters in Walnut Creek called The HerQ, a collective workspace and creative studio for not just our company and campus, but as a โthird placeโ for creative visionaries to grow and gather. We are fully invested in investing in other founders. #StrongerTogether
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๐๐ค๐ค๐ค๐ค๐ค…๐ฌ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ค๐ข๐ ๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ โ๐๐ค๐ฌ๐จโ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ ๐ค๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ก๐ก ๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ? ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ชโ๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ก๐ก ๐ง๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐, ๐๐ฉโ๐จ ๐ ๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐๐๐จ๐จ ๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ก โ๐ซ๐๐จ๐ค๐ฃ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐โ.
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When I visioncast I use something we call on our campus ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐-๐๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐ฑ (WN-WN stands for โWhatโs Now and Whatโs Next) and I look at the 4 major areas of my life that I care about:
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๐๐๐๐
/ ๐๐๐๐๐๐,
๐๐๐๐๐๐ / ๐๐๐๐๐๐,
๐
๐๐๐๐๐ / ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐
๐๐๐๐๐ / ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.
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๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ค๐ข๐ ๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ค๐จ๐ ๐ก๐๐จ๐จ๐ค๐ฃ๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐จ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ ๐ฅ๐๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ ๐ฅ๐๐จ๐ฉ ๐ฎ๐๐๐ง, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐โ๐ข ๐๐ค๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐ค ๐ฉ๐๐ 2020๐จ.
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******** ๐๐๐๐
/ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ********
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๐. ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ฌ-๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ง ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ค๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฒ – my values are the core determinant of what I say yes to and most importantly, what I say no to. Iโve learned that anything outside of my values are basically this: not worth my time, energy and money. Period. Results: Iโm happy and imperfect and itโs awesome to live with this as an everpresent guide. Nothing hurts more than indecision.
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๐. ๐๐ซ๐๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ #๐ ๐จ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฒ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ง๐ญ – yes Iโm a huge investor in myself, and unapologetically so. The #1 investment Iโve made is in THERAPY not coaching to release the trauma and stories that have held me back. Although coaching has been valuable (and I do recommend it), as a driven woman who wanted happiness so much, itโs in therapy that that happened the most for me, because it focuses on the root causes of my despair and blocks so that coaching can actually work. Key thing is – get a great therapist. Iโve had a lot. There are 2 that moved the needle for me the most – Dr. Suzanne Hammer and Voge Smith. ย Itโs so important to me that weโve baked that into our curriculum at Master Brand Institute as a pre-req to any coaching or consulting we do.
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๐. ๐๐จ๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐จ๐ฆ๐ง๐ข๐ฉ๐จ๐ญ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ฆ๐ง๐ข๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก ๐ฆ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ข๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ – When I got this, whew – the results showed up. Itโs so easy to live in the fantasy of what we want, but if weโre not taking daily action, how in the world can we expect our purpose to be fulfilled? God sees dreams, but delivers them when we take responsibility and have grace + patience along the way. It doesnโt work any other way, folks. If youโre in business for yourself like me – I enter the โentrepreneurial gymโ daily because itโs my job and responsibility to work on the muscles that make the mission real.
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๐. ๐๐๐๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ง๐ซ๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ – one of my biggest traumas I had to get real with was the stance I took that โno one really cares about me, so I have to do it all on my ownโ. Healing that single trauma was an act of Leadership of Self. Once I was committed to healing me, I could better enroll others in the journey, not by force or expectation, but by having shared values in common. Becoming a better leader of self is what success is really made of.
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๐. ๐๐๐ซ๐ซ๐ข๐จ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ง ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ง – there have been many many many fleeting thoughts and pain associated with aging to me – and this past decade, Iโve gotten clear that my warrior days are behind me โฆ and I LOVE that warrior woman with all my heart. I have zero shame of the hustle and grind and grit I put in to overcome whatโs happened, and I believe it was the necessary rite of passage for me to now do my greatest work – mentoring other women, especially my daughters, to fully embrace their whole and messy selves through demanding autonomy for their choices, bodies, lives. The Wise Woman is more me now, and Iโm learning how to be her.
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******** ๐๐๐๐๐๐ / ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ********
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๐. ๐๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ฌ – Honestly, I hadnโt treated my body the way she deserved the first half of the decade. I defaulted to thinking: โsheโll hang in there, youโre still young enoughโ and even more concerning โthatโs my last priority, I have to make ends meetโ. Basically, I was being violent to myself and didnโt even comprehend it. Yet, my body showed me so many signs. An overactive pituitary tumor diagnosed in my 20s scarily re-emerged, making me sick every month, chronic pain in all of my body – the final straw was when I started to feel my left side of my face droop (bellโs palsy) while working with a very toxic client (and some toxic team members) and realized that I was becoming my worst enemy, while my body took the hits. If your body is messaging you – listen. She knows.
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๐. ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ญ๐๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ญ – between living in my values and honoring my natural state of energy – which looks like this: Iโm introverted (surprising to some, but itโs true), and so I need TONS of quiet, alone time. I want to be invited of course, but showing up is hard for me. I have systems and people in my life that support me in staying in my lane, and I do not question the cost of any of it anymore as itโs what makes me show up as fully as I can. People Hygiene is a thing, and Iโm careful with whom I share my wildest dreams and goals with. Not everyone is for you. I learned that lesson HARD this decade.
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๐. ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ค๐๐ฌ ๐๐ ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐๐ก ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ข๐ง๐ – Instead of hard cardio or massive movement, my body enjoys gentle movement the most – stretching is one of the most important parts of recovery in not just your physical life, but your mental one too. And my Peloton is one of my favorite investments in my body and mind because itโs like getting a Life Coach and Fitness Coach all in one. Plus the BRAND IS FIRE.
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๐. ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ – Besides ignoring the signs my body was begging me to notice, my creativity was also crying out for help. One of the things Iโm known for is โI can smell the money in your businessโ and Iโm a badass at strategy and execution so my default is to only share and launch things I knew people needed (hello: brand futurist). But that also meant I was keeping some really cool things from people, and Iโm changing that in the next decade. Also: I love art and am welcoming all forms of it into my life moving forward.
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๐๐. ๐๐ก๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐ค๐ฌ – My gut health and my spiritual health are paramount now, because continuing my value of leadership and legacy require me to honor my body in more loving and scientific ways. Iโve done a full genetic / allergy / body systems panel – found out my areas of most concern are cardiovascular and that Iโm really lactose intolerant. Although I miss cheese SO FUCKING MUCH (can I just take a few seconds of silence for it?) it was jacking me up and making me foggy and ADDish and unfocused, and I was avoiding it until late this year when I started working with Dr. Stephanie Estima on my overall health and wellness. The geek in me loves her approach to womenโs health because itโs science-based and a protocol thatโs custom-built based on my genetic makeup.
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๐๐๐๐๐ / ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ********
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๐๐. ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐ง๐๐ > ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ – Life is a series of moments that can be either enjoyed and appreciated daily, or only on special occasions. This is an area Iโve been trying to do better at, and for me, itโs tied directly to my energetic capacity…so thatโs why Health / Energy matters so much (in fact โHealthyโ was my word for 2019). When asked how I โdo it allโ, especially in the realm of being with my loved ones, it comes down to making sure I schedule time and honor it with the people I love. And communicate – this one is key. Being courageous to communicate when I canโt be there but also what Iโm committed to in place of it. I am so blessed to have a life partner and spouse in Nathan who co-creates and co-navigates this with me, for 3 healthy children who help me remember who I am through their unique and loving selves, and for finally feeling like I belonged in my family rather than the radical outsider I had made myself believe.
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๐๐. ๐
๐ซ๐ฎ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ ๐
๐๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐
๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ๐ฌ – I have a long-standing story with my relationship to other women – the best way to get the low-down on all of that is to listen to my podcast Femmefluence Radio, which launched #1 last year (woo hoo) and Iโve taken a break from to prepare for the next season, which will feature women who model Femmefluence fully to me and whom I think we can all learn something from, regardless of our beliefs and values. And my most important investment in Femmefluence for me is the time Iโve spent with my S(QUAD), my 3 nearest and dearest sisterfriends (Jadah Sellner / Nikki Elledge Brown / Nicole Walters) who are moms, entrepreneurs and living their lives as imperfectly as I do. Through my friendship with these 3 women individually and as a collective, Iโve discovered not just how much we have in common, but also that we donโt have to have all the same ideas/beliefs/responses while still talking about it honestly and lovingly. ย TBH it was scary to be so invested in this way because Iโve lost friends in the last decade too. But theyโre worth finding and nurturing and there have been so many beautiful other friendships Iโve had the honor to be in this past decade as well, and I want to create more connection and support in this area moving in to the new year. #LetsBeFruitfulFriends.
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๐๐. ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ ๐
๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐
๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฒ – Itโs been almost 4 years since I lost my dad to cancer and his greatest gift to me besides playing a part in bringing me into this world was one of his last words to me which was โJenny, what are you waiting for?โ That was his response when I was painting a verbal illustration of my goals for my career and impact, but also inserted a lot of the excuses of why I hadnโt done them yet. My dad wasnโt perfect but he was mine and he was also the biggest supporter of my dreams. As a result of his transition, #WhatAreYouWaitingFor has been our mission in our company and in my life, and allowing myself to feel this loss, grieve it (still daily) and yet still rise and love and forgive has been one of the clearest gifts given to me this past decade.
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๐/๐ฎ๐/๐ค๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐จ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐๐ – Anyone like me and have a ton of things you tolerate? Every quarter I do a list called โWhat am I Tolerating?โ and am always surprised at what comes up on the page. Tolerations are a form of penalty against yourself and are basically a muzzle on your mission work. Iโve been guilty of listening to others tell me โwhy are you bringing up that social justice stuff – youโll isolate people in your audience?โ and also tolerated relationships with โinfluencersโ and โonline leadersโ for a hot second so I could be liked and invited. Iโve hired people whoโve stolen from me, did mediocre work that I paid for that they brought to competitors, and had people say one thing to me and then talk shit about me behind my back. Especially this past decade! With that came anxiety, comparitis, trauma triggering and lots of unnecessary mental gymnastics. Most of this came in the form of people who didnโt belong in my inner sanctuary. I even removed myself from a group where toxic behavior wasnโt just tolerated, it was encouraged, even though I had invested more than $30K in it. Letting Money dictate what I tolerate is no longer a thing. And remember People Hygiene? Itโs also a thing. The greatest gift from learning this lesson are the incredible people who have become dear friends, colleagues and trusted advisors.
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๐๐. ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฌ – Basically it all comes back to being values-driven and being a leader of yourself – because when you do, you can drink the nectar of your badassery through the loving boundaries youโre confident to communicate. Boundaries arenโt an edge; theyโre a softening, a way to teach you to move through conflict and emerge whole on the other side, especially with the ones you love. Iโm not saying itโs easy, and it can open wounds and cause defensiveness (I lost a close friendship this year over this very issue) but itโs worth it because youโre worth it and theyโre worth it.
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๐๐๐๐๐ / ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
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๐๐. ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ฌ๐ – in 2018 our company did 8-figures in revenue, which is my 2nd company to do that in the last 14 years since I jumped off the corporate cliff and designed a life that I set my mind to. In order to do all of it (and most of all, recover from the massive setbacks, disappointments, and losses) Iโve had to become a master of releasing. Iโve had help (see #2) but Iโm going to give myself a high five and say: โgirl, YOU did that shit.โ I had to make hard decisions, including releasing team members (in 2017 there was a major coupe in my business where 4 team members stole from and sabotaged our company and have continued to bad mouth us to people/former clients, etc) โฆ and yet in 2018 we had an 8-figure year after I cleanly let them go. Thatโs not to say we didnโt have some good times and great results together too, which is part of the duality of any relationship, business is no different. Itโs made me a better leader. Frankly – this decade and the online business space has created a real problem for entrepreneurial leaders – the entitlement, the out-of-bounds expectations, the FRAGILITY. OMG the fragility. Yo, a small business needs to run itself like a business and if your team doesnโt have a structure and responsibilities your leadership is an issue. Clients/Customers can also cause this problem and if they canโt handle your honesty, itโs probably not a fit.
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๐๐. ๐๐๐ฅ๐-๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ซ > ๐๐๐ฅ๐-๐๐๐๐ – No one is self made and I certainly am not. After the debacle in 2017 we tightened up our people, processes and products to align fully with our values; I fired myself from pretty much everything except for speaking, teaching, consulting and leading the company through vision and strategy (my areas of strength). We hire self-starters on our team who understand how they operate as part of the greater whole and appreciate the flexibility that comes from being an intrapreneur in an entrepreneurial company. Just because Iโm the founder doesnโt make me immune to the responsibilities we have as a company to not just be profitable (weโre feeding families here!) but to also show up daily in the business. Also, where thereโs been an opportunity to invest in someoneโs growth, I chose that instead of hired outsiders. Sarah Paikai and her extraordinary work ethic, high values and loving leadership has made this work more meaningful to me (ask her, when Iโve thought about quitting, sheโs my north star of whatโs possible when youโre willing to forgive and heal while being a badass Queen), This philosophy also shapes the way we train and consult leaders on our campus because the Self Starters in Us Honors the Self Starters in Them.
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๐๐. ๐๐๐๐ฉ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ฒ > ๐๐๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ฒ = ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐ก๐ฒ – If you asked me what was the biggest mistake I made in 2008-9 it comes down to 2 things: 1) I didnโt listen to the warning signs from my CFO and financial advisor who told me to hold my retail expansion because a recession was coming (lesson: you can be a rebel and focused on what you want, but when someone is more qualified than you, itโs a good idea to shut up your ego and listen) and 2) I waited too long because of #FilipinoShame to liquidate – not because of business, but because of what I thought my Mom would think of me. #truestory In the past decade, Iโve worked to remedy this leak inside of me – the story that โitโs never enoughโ paired with โI can rise like the Phoenix if I lose it all again.โ Sure I can, but do I want to lose it all again? Nope. So call me an Eagle not a Phoenix and be clear that my cash reserves are healthier than the past decade and our profit margins are above 60% because Iโm here for the long haul. Keeping and growing money is my main goal even though Iโm โbetterโ at making money. Except when it comes to shoes and crystals. I donโt limit myself there (and theyโre a write-off now because I use them when Iโm speaking soooooโฆ.still keeping my money). ๐
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๐๐. ๐๐ก๐จ๐จ๐ฌ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐ซ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐ฒ – The same financial advisor I had in 2009 is the same one I have now – because he was right and I had to get hit in the head, gut, heart and soul to listen. Point is, some mentors are worth always having, especially the ones who care enough to tell you the damn truth. In the past 2 years, Iโve limited the outside counsel I receive from anyone unqualified to give me advice – and this is a lesson for you because too many times we get advice and mentorship from people we donโt need in this season or ever. In order to โget thisโ, Iโve spent 100s of thousands in masterminds, retreats, coaching, consulting and of all of it I can honestly say there are only a handful that have been life-changing for me. But hereโs the rub: without this investment in time, energy and money Iโd never discover what ACTUALLY works for me. I regret nothing in these investments, whether theyโve produced fruit or not because Iโm better for it (and there have been relationships built in them that have been incredible). ย Iโm sure there are people who think working with me wasnโt what they expected either, and Iโve had to remember that their worldview is different from mine. Their values are different than mine. But for those whose values are aligned (the self-starters, the messengers, the โOthersโ) Iโm your huckleberry. Remember People Hygiene? Itโs a thing.
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๐๐. ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ฅ – You know what economic factor was the #1 contributor to the recession of the 2000s? Besides corporate greed (hello Enron and Worldcom and AIG), this factor preyed on the very heart of many peopleโs โfirst world dreamsโ: Home Ownership. The product that hurt people the most (and had a direct effect on small business owners like me)? Giving loans to people not qualified to get them. And now I see the same trend happening in the digital โownershipโ space. Basically: SOCIAL MEDIA IS THE NEW SUB-PRIME LOAN. That means everyone is qualified based on a perception and construct that is equivalent to the Emperorโs New Clothes story. Itโs causing mental illness and spiritual bypassing and so many other things. Thatโs why when asked how I fly above it (remember the Eagle?) itโs because from the very beginning of Master Brand Institute, weโve built a strong brand platform and business operations that integrate both digital and analog strategies so that can be as recession-proof as possible (and we teach our clients how to do the same). If youโre not doing both, and yet want to have a โlifestyle brandโ – I urge you to implement an aligned strategy in this next decade. But donโt take this as just philosophy or theory. Weโve created 10s of millions in revenue for ourselves and clients without being greedy assholes. So thereโs that part. #WhatAreYouWaitingFor
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๐๐๐ 2010๐จ ๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐ซ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ช๐ก๐ก๐ฃ๐๐จ๐จ ๐ค๐ ๐ก๐๐จ๐จ๐ค๐ฃ๐จ ๐ฌ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐๐ค๐ฉ๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ฎ ๐ฅ๐๐ฅ๐๐ง ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐จ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ฅ๐๐ง. ๐โ๐ซ๐ ๐ช๐ฃ๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ข ๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐ก ๐จ๐ค ๐ข๐ช๐๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ฉ๐๐ฉ๐ช๐๐, ๐ฉ๐ง๐ช๐ก๐ฎ. ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ง ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฉ ๐๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐จ๐ค ๐ ๐๐ค๐ช๐ก๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ง๐๐๐๐๐ฉ๐ ๐ข๐ฎ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐จ๐ค ๐ข๐ช๐๐ ๐ข๐ค๐ง๐. ๐๐ค๐จ๐ฉ ๐ค๐ ๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ข๐๐ก๐ฎ, ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฃ๐๐จ, ๐๐ก๐๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐จ, ๐๐ค๐ก๐ก๐๐๐๐ช๐๐จ ๐๐ค๐ง ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฉ ๐ง๐๐๐ก ๐ฌ๐๐ฉ๐ ๐ข๐. ๐ ๐ก๐ค๐ซ๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช.
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Finally:
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******** ๐๐ก๐ ๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐โ๐ฆ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฌ ********
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๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐.
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You know, the radical notion that Iโm whole and complete even if I have perforations, scars, human moments, and fuck up here, there and everywhere at times. Bringing wholeness (which includes some messiness) to my dreams, goals, relationships, self. TAKING UP ALL THE SPACE and inviting The Others to do the same. Creating more high-value things for as many people I can reach and help (instead of overthinking). Continuing to be unapologetic about my values: autonomy / justice / generosity / leadership / legacy. Be kinder to myself while being a stand for what I believe in. Investing in women, projects and for-benefit organizations I believe in. Bringing my full #Femmefluence to the world.
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โฅ Hey 2020s – #sheready. โฅ
Build your brand and your business, with all of
the fun and none of the fluff.