Feb. 19, 2026

Gas on the Fire: Advocating for Respect and Connection in Construction with Mia McGlynn

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Season 3

Jesse hosts the Learnings and Missteps podcast and introduces guest Maya McGlynn, a Pennsylvania-based construction influencer, writer, photographer, and fractional support partner who focuses on “the people behind the work.” Jesse gives an LnM Family shout-out to Bryce Ager for reviewing one of Jesse’s construction trainings, and notes his business offers training, coaching, and consulting. Maya explains her passion for blue-collar stories comes from building relationships and bridging gaps between management and shop/field workers, emphasizing retention and the need for leaders to “give a shit,” not just attract more people into the industry. They discuss treating people well as foundational to solving construction’s workforce challenges, rising interest in more human-centered workplaces, and how companies that only rely on pay raises and ignore relationships will be left behind. Jesse shares his view that people should leave poor leaders to find better environments and describes how supportive leadership 

00:00 Attraction vs. Retention: If Leaders Treat People Like Crap, Nothing Changes

00:21 Meet Maya McGlynn: Showing Up for the People Behind the Work

02:08 LnM Family Shoutout + What Jesse Actually Does (Training/Coaching/Consulting)

04:45 What Fires Maya Up: The People, the Shop Floor, and Bridging the Office–Field Gap

07:32 “Put Some Gas on the Fire”: Caring, Connection, and Why Liaison Roles Matter

14:25 The Human-Centered Shift: Mental Health, Culture Change, and Companies That Will Be Left Behind

19:56 Quit for a Better Leader: Unlocking Talent by Changing Environments

22:47 Zumba to Construction: Maya’s Fitness Journey and Accidental Entrepreneurship

28:07 Entrepreneurship as Survival: Divorce, Single-Mom Resourcefulness, and Building Independence

33:26 Seeing the People Behind the Work: Validation, Imposter Syndrome, and the Power of Humility

37:58 Learning to Accept Compliments: “I Receive That” + Permission to Celebrate

40:21 From Admin to Marketing: Finding the Holes and Creating Value at Work

43:31 Photography to Published Author: Turning Jobsite Photos into a Children’s Book

46:47 Advice for the Windowless-Office Grind: Skill Up, Build Proof, Move On

48:46 Building Workforce Pipelines: Fixing Leadership Gaps & Creating an Internship Program

51:39 Crew Collaborative Explained: Mission, Ambassadors, and How to Get Involved

54:26 Why the Podcast Exists: COVID, Trades Advocacy, and Doing Something About It

58:17 Money vs Meaning: Choosing Purpose, Setting Boundaries, and Mission-Driven Work

01:08:35 The Closing Question: “What Is the Promise You’re Intended to Be?”

01:14:16 Final Takeaways + Free PDF Gift and Send-Off

Get the blueprint to Plan, Commit, and Execute your way into optimal performance: https://www.depthbuilder.com/time-management-webinar-sign-up-page

Download a PDF copy of Becoming the Promise You are Intended to Be
https://www.depthbuilder.com/books

00:00 - Meet Maya And The Human First Mission

03:20 - From Admin Desk To Shop Floor Liaison

09:00 - Gas On The Fire: Caring As Strategy

13:50 - Shout-Out, Training, And Purpose At Work

17:40 - A Tidal Wave Of Human-Centered Change

22:00 - Leave Bad Leaders, Find Better Ones

28:00 - Zumba, Confidence, And Side-Gig Grit

35:30 - Entrepreneurship Born From Hard Seasons

42:20 - Seeing People Behind The Work

50:28 - Compliments, Humility, And Growth

56:58 - From Marketing To Author: Bigger Diggers

01:04:38 - Find The Holes And Build Skills

01:11:58 - Crew Collaborative: Ambassadors And Impact

WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.480
I mean, from two perspectives, like, yes, we have an attraction problem in the industry, but I don't care about that.

00:00:06.639 --> 00:00:17.440
Because it doesn't matter how many people we bring into the industry, if the decision makers within the business treat people like crap, it don't freaking matter how many people we get here.

00:00:21.760 --> 00:00:24.879
What is going on, LM family?

00:00:25.120 --> 00:00:25.920
Back again.

00:00:26.079 --> 00:00:36.240
And this time, y'all already know I like taking advantage of the podcast to connect with super awesome people that I have no business even talking to.

00:00:36.479 --> 00:00:44.079
Except this one, we've been in several conversations on group calls and supporting each other on the LinkedIn.

00:00:44.320 --> 00:00:50.719
And she is an ultra-talented construction influencer.

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And when I say construction influencer, I'm not just talking about people that create content.

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I'm talking about somebody that is putting in some sweat and some damn effort to make this industry better.

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She is a writer, a photographer, a fractional support partner.

00:01:07.760 --> 00:01:18.719
And I also know that she has her hands into some major, we'll just say, efforts that are working to bring more people into the industry and highlight the industry.

00:01:18.959 --> 00:01:25.439
I got to like, you know, stalk her a little bit on LinkedIn and picked up on some pieces, which we're going to get into.

00:01:25.680 --> 00:01:42.079
But the one statement that I stole from her that I think just speaks directly to the type of person she is, she says she shows up for the people behind the work and she helps the world to see them too, which I think is magnificent.

00:01:42.159 --> 00:01:45.519
And yes, I can attest to that is exactly what she's doing.

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It is Miss Maya McGlynn, who, if you're not following her, you need to go follow her because she is ultra awesome.

00:01:52.799 --> 00:02:08.719
And if you can't tell, of course, I'm biased towards her because she is a supporter and advocate of the blue-collar construction organizations out there, which of course y'all already know, just because I'm beautiful doesn't mean that I didn't have my hands-on tools back in the day.

00:02:08.879 --> 00:02:11.599
And so we're gonna get to know Miss Maya, but first.

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If this is your first time here, this is the Learnins and Miss Steps podcast, where you get to hear directly from amazing human beings like you that are sharing their gifts and talents to leave this world better than they found it.

00:02:36.159 --> 00:02:42.000
My name is Jesse, your selfish servant, and we are about to get to know Miss Maya.

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Miss Maya, how are you today?

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Hey, I'm doing well.

00:02:45.599 --> 00:02:46.479
How are you?

00:02:46.800 --> 00:02:50.879
Oh, if you can't tell, I'm a little I'm a little jacked up, a little excited.

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I got my workout in, I got my coffee in, which is a deadly combination when it comes to energy.

00:02:55.599 --> 00:02:56.879
Oh, you got this too.

00:02:57.039 --> 00:02:57.680
Nice.

00:02:58.000 --> 00:03:01.039
So, what part of the country are you coming in from, Maya?

00:03:01.280 --> 00:03:04.080
Because I keep thinking California, but I don't know.

00:03:04.560 --> 00:03:08.719
I am on the whole opposite coast, I am over in Pennsylvania.

00:03:08.960 --> 00:03:11.759
Oh my god, how did I mess that up?

00:03:12.080 --> 00:03:18.080
Oh, I wish California probably has much better weather than I have currently.

00:03:18.240 --> 00:03:21.759
I probably would enjoy that a little more right now.

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So coming in from the East Coast, I got a super simple question to get us started.

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You ready?

00:03:28.479 --> 00:03:28.960
I'm ready.

00:03:29.039 --> 00:03:31.120
I think as ready as I can be.

00:03:31.439 --> 00:03:31.599
Okay.

00:03:32.719 --> 00:03:37.840
What fires you up about blue-collar stories?

00:03:38.879 --> 00:03:41.280
So that's pretty easy because it's the people.

00:03:41.520 --> 00:03:44.080
Yeah, it's it's literally that simple to me.

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I spent some time.

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I we we all get into the industry kind of in a way that is organic, right?

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It just it's not usually linear.

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You just kind of land there and you realize, oh, hey, wait, there's a place from here, and and this is actually something I enjoy.

00:04:00.479 --> 00:04:02.800
And for me, that that came about.

00:04:03.120 --> 00:04:06.560
I was in my early 30s.

00:04:06.879 --> 00:04:14.879
I mean, I obviously I had some interaction with construction prior to that, but in my early 30s, I was heading back into the workforce.

00:04:15.199 --> 00:04:22.240
Have a lot of administrative background, and I thought, okay, there's this ad in the paper, I'm gonna send my resume in.

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I had been working in fitness.

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Like I was completely not, and I applied for it anyway.

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And it was an office management position for a welder fabricator shop.

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Okay.

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And so I went to that interview and thought it's a start.

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I'm gonna go full time.

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And when I was there, it was like you have your interviews in a boardroom.

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You know what I mean?

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It's just a couple of people who are more in the managerial position.

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They don't spend their time out in the shop.

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So me, I'm like, but what do you do here?

00:04:55.439 --> 00:05:02.079
I realize I'm coming to have an administrative position and I'll be in an office all day, but like I'm interviewing for a job.

00:05:02.160 --> 00:05:03.600
I want to know what I'm working for.

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What am I supporting?

00:05:05.040 --> 00:05:12.240
So I asked them to take me out for a tour through their shop so I could see the people who make it happen and what was going on.

00:05:12.399 --> 00:05:15.279
And I think it was literally from that point forward.

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I did get that job and I worked with that company for five years through a bunch of things, and I loved it.

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Like I adored being able to work with that crew.

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And I found I got so much experience in the being the liaison between where management sits and field worker sits, where shop worker sits.

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And so I took a lot of that in.

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So I think that's where it began for me.

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That's where that fire started to burn was forming those relationships, being able to kind of bridge the gap between corporate and shop.

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And from there, I just got so much respect for the people who are out there doing the job.

00:06:01.199 --> 00:06:03.439
Okay, so that's beautiful.

00:06:03.680 --> 00:06:06.639
I'm gonna come back to the fitness Zumba thing, right?

00:06:06.720 --> 00:06:09.519
Because I think it was associated with Zumba, but not yet.

00:06:09.839 --> 00:06:30.240
You use the word liaison, yeah, which I think, I mean, in my observation, the time I've been in the industry, it's the people, it doesn't matter what department they're in, but the people that decide to be the translators or the connectors between the office and the field or different departments or whatever, those people are invaluable.

00:06:30.399 --> 00:06:32.879
And they're also a little twisted in the head, right?

00:06:32.959 --> 00:06:34.399
Because that's not the job.

00:06:34.639 --> 00:06:39.920
Because most people will just say, okay, what's my job description?

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What are my measurables?

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And just do that.

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You didn't.

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You said, I want to go see what you do, and then you took it upon yourself to be the translator connector between the shop and and the office.

00:06:53.600 --> 00:06:55.279
Why did you do that?

00:06:56.560 --> 00:07:00.720
Ultimately, it's just about the relationships for me.

00:07:00.959 --> 00:07:13.920
Like I recognized that there were men and women who were working in the shop, putting in long hours doing jobs that are often hazardous, that require a certain skill level.

00:07:14.240 --> 00:07:16.959
There's just there's so much that goes into that.

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And I could see that.

00:07:19.360 --> 00:07:28.160
And I thought, if you were in an office or a cubicle all day and completely removed, because you're human resources, let's say, something like that.

00:07:28.480 --> 00:07:30.160
Especially human resources, actually.

00:07:30.399 --> 00:07:41.519
You think about it, human resources, your job is to like kind of liaise supposed to be you, you're supposed to know the managerial level and keep the company running correctly and buy the book.

00:07:41.839 --> 00:07:46.160
But for me, I think of that and I go, Well, you should know the people.

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Like you should know them, you should make them feel it's about retention at the end of the day, right?

00:07:53.279 --> 00:07:56.480
Like you spend all your time at a place.

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I mean, we spend more time with our workers and co-workers often than we do with our family.

00:08:01.759 --> 00:08:02.399
Yes, ma'am.

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So I saw that and I was like, I'm certainly not gonna keep myself at arm's length from these people just because they're out in the shop.

00:08:10.079 --> 00:08:14.319
I want them to feel seen and supported because at the end of the day, I want them to keep showing up.

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Yeah.

00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:18.800
So it's just it's just the way my brain works.

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It's something that I've said, and excuse me, because I'm gonna say can I say a curse word?

00:08:23.120 --> 00:08:23.680
Absolutely.

00:08:24.160 --> 00:08:24.480
Okay.

00:08:24.800 --> 00:08:37.120
So a while ago I was like brainstorming and I thought I get so frustrated because I'm like, the thing that happens is there's this level of care that kind of it misses the mark when you have company and workers.

00:08:37.759 --> 00:08:39.200
And frustrated me.

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And I was thinking and ideating around that, and I thought we just need to put some gas on the fire.

00:08:46.639 --> 00:08:48.879
Gas on the fire makes the fire grow.

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Gas, give a shit.

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That's what I'm trying to say to you.

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Like, that's all it takes, right?

00:08:56.159 --> 00:08:59.679
But for some instances, that's just so hard to understand.

00:09:00.320 --> 00:09:03.519
Oh my god, I love the givea shit.

00:09:03.759 --> 00:09:08.559
I work with the group in Dallas, and that was their they're like, we just need some gas.

00:09:08.639 --> 00:09:11.279
I'm like, what I and I had I hadn't heard it before.

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Like, Gam, what do you some give a shit?

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I'm like, whoa, I know exactly what you're talking about.

00:09:16.720 --> 00:09:19.039
And I agree a thousand percent.

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I mean, from two perspectives, like, yes, we have an attraction problem in the industry, but I don't care about that.

00:09:26.000 --> 00:09:36.720
Because it doesn't matter how many people we bring into the industry, if the decision makers within the business treat people like crap, it don't freaking matter how many people we get here.

00:09:37.039 --> 00:09:37.919
Absolutely.

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The difference is the ones that demonstrate that they got gas, that they give a shit, right?

00:09:45.519 --> 00:09:59.519
And I know that's general, but I mean, really, it it doesn't sound like you were doing surveys and one-on-ones on a regularly scheduled frequency or any other pizza parties, you were just talking to the people.

00:09:59.679 --> 00:10:00.559
Am I wrong?

00:10:00.799 --> 00:10:02.639
No, that's right, right?

00:10:02.799 --> 00:10:04.720
Like it's really easy.

00:10:05.039 --> 00:10:11.679
Talk to people, get to know something about them, and then it'll grow and manifest from there.

00:10:11.840 --> 00:10:17.600
But there's just so many people that, and I feel like I understand why, right?

00:10:17.679 --> 00:10:27.200
Like our careers, our compensation are tied to performance, and there's a lot of pressure to do all the button pushing and do all the things, and that's but come on, man.

00:10:27.360 --> 00:10:33.279
Like, it's easy to go say, hey man, I seen you in the shop, I've been here for three months.

00:10:33.519 --> 00:10:34.960
My bad for not saying hi.

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I'm Jess.

00:10:36.320 --> 00:10:37.279
What's your name?

00:10:37.519 --> 00:10:38.960
Have you how long have you been here?

00:10:39.039 --> 00:10:40.080
Because I don't know nothing.

00:10:40.320 --> 00:10:42.159
What is it that you're doing over there?

00:10:42.399 --> 00:10:42.879
Awesome.

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Hey man, I'll connect with you later, but thanks for talking.

00:10:46.240 --> 00:10:47.600
And then go back to work.

00:10:47.759 --> 00:10:50.559
Is that does that sound too complicated?

00:10:50.799 --> 00:10:52.559
Well, not to me.

00:10:55.360 --> 00:11:02.399
Oh, I mean, obviously, it's gonna be a little easier when you have a smaller amount of employees and you have fewer people to get to know.

00:11:02.559 --> 00:11:05.360
But that's what I think like that term liaison when I think about it.

00:11:05.440 --> 00:11:11.679
I'm like, there should just if there's a bigger company, there should be maybe a handful of those types of people.

00:11:11.919 --> 00:11:16.639
So maybe there's not one person that just knows everybody because it can't be done.

00:11:16.879 --> 00:11:17.039
Right.

00:11:17.200 --> 00:11:21.039
But there should be somebody who makes groups of people feel seen.

00:11:21.200 --> 00:11:22.559
Otherwise, like, what are you there for?

00:11:22.639 --> 00:11:25.360
Do you want your employees to just be here to just take home a paycheck?

00:11:25.440 --> 00:11:27.679
Because at the end of the day, that's not what keeps them around.

00:11:28.320 --> 00:11:31.279
100% loyalty by the way you treat people.

00:11:33.600 --> 00:11:36.559
I want to do the LM family member shout-out.

00:11:36.720 --> 00:11:38.080
And this one goes to Mr.

00:11:38.240 --> 00:11:39.200
Bryce Adger.

00:11:39.600 --> 00:11:47.840
Took the time to sit through one of my torture, I mean, training sessions, and then went on to give me this super awesome review.

00:11:48.080 --> 00:11:55.039
Bryce says, It can be very difficult to open the minds of construction workers regarding change.

00:11:55.279 --> 00:12:01.919
Discussing kindergarten principles that provide value and provoke change is a challenge as well.

00:12:02.240 --> 00:12:06.480
Jesse knows how to do all of the above with conviction.

00:12:06.799 --> 00:12:09.360
Thoroughly enjoyed the training and exercises.

00:12:09.600 --> 00:12:13.279
Would recommend this training for any and everyone.

00:12:13.600 --> 00:12:15.120
Bryce, thank you, my brother.

00:12:15.279 --> 00:12:17.360
I appreciate you a bazillion times.

00:12:17.440 --> 00:12:21.600
And folks, if I promise I wasn't blackmailing him, I ain't got no dirt on him.

00:12:21.679 --> 00:12:23.039
He just left me that comment.

00:12:23.200 --> 00:12:25.360
He did sit through a full day of training.

00:12:25.440 --> 00:12:31.919
And I recently discovered that some people don't know that I actually have a business and I do training, coaching, and consulting.

00:12:32.000 --> 00:12:33.360
So here's your notice.

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That is what I do out there.

00:12:37.120 --> 00:12:45.120
And if you take the time, rather, when you take the time, to leave a comment, do a share, leave a review.

00:12:45.360 --> 00:12:52.720
I ultra, ultra appreciate it because it helps me know I'm not just screaming into the barren cavern.

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And it gives me an excuse to highlight you in a future episode.

00:12:56.799 --> 00:12:57.759
So thank you for doing it.

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Keep doing it, do it more.

00:13:02.879 --> 00:13:03.840
Oh my God.

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Okay.

00:13:04.799 --> 00:13:07.840
So you're going somewhere that's deeply important to me.

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And I've decided just to convert, commit as all of my damn energy to it.

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And it's around what you said, like the keeping of people.

00:13:17.440 --> 00:13:21.279
It's around this idea that we're talking about of connection and appreciation.

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I believe that's the fundamental thing that we're missing in the construction industry, right?

00:13:26.799 --> 00:13:35.440
The suicide rates and all those other things, mental wellness, substance abuse, all of which I've struggled with, except for, I mean, I've been impacted by suicide.

00:13:35.600 --> 00:13:42.799
I haven't dealt with that, like me, but drug abuse, substance abuse, poor mental health, all of that, 100%.

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I've dealt with it.

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And I believe it comes down to connection.

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And what I'm starting to see, and I'm curious, because I know you're out there playing in big ways.

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There was a time when I would go to do my training or coaching within a company, and I full even the companies that I worked for, like when I had a real job, and I had to get mentally re prepared.

00:14:10.080 --> 00:14:10.399
Right?

00:14:10.480 --> 00:14:16.639
Like I had to get mentally prepared for all the haters and for all the people that were in there just because they had to be there.

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They didn't care.

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And here recently, like in the last 90 days, we'll say, every room that I've been in, there's no haters.

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There are hungry, open-minded, interested people that want to learn.

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And what I bring to the table is 100% people focused, which is not the normal tone in our industry.

00:14:41.600 --> 00:14:55.759
And so what I'm taking that to be is a signal that we're about to have a tidal wave of change because people want to have a more human experience in their work, period.

00:14:56.080 --> 00:15:00.559
Am I imagining that or are you seeing signs of that too, Maya?

00:15:00.960 --> 00:15:08.480
I'm seeing it just in what I observe, even in interactions through the LinkedIn space, people that are willing to have those conversations.

00:15:08.559 --> 00:15:12.799
So I'm definitely seeing things, people wanting to make changes and stuff like that.

00:15:12.960 --> 00:15:15.919
I think we've got a lot of steps and a lot of work to do.

00:15:17.279 --> 00:15:21.519
It's like the fact that enough people are really starting to speak out and show up.

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And like what you do, the fact that you're getting in there with people, that people are welcoming you into that, that speaks volumes for these companies.

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If they're starting to mature in a way that understands, oh, it's about more than just our bottom line, and our bottom line is affected by these things.

00:15:40.320 --> 00:15:40.960
100%.

00:15:41.440 --> 00:15:54.240
Well, and so you point to something really critical is I'm fortunate, and then I get to work so with it work and support some really forward-thinking leading edge leaders out there in the industry, right?

00:15:54.399 --> 00:16:02.720
To bring me in, you got you also got to be a little crazy, but they really are making an investment in their people beyond the button pushing of their job, right?

00:16:02.799 --> 00:16:10.399
They're bringing me in saying, hey, whatever we want to do, we want it to impact them in their work and outside of work.

00:16:10.559 --> 00:16:11.200
What do you got?

00:16:11.360 --> 00:16:12.960
I'm like, ooh, I got some stuff, right?

00:16:13.120 --> 00:16:15.360
So don't worry, it's all baked into my messaging.

00:16:15.519 --> 00:16:18.399
But here's some things that are specifically designed for that.

00:16:18.639 --> 00:16:24.080
And so, yes, like I could see it on the we'll say the lead, like the innovators, right?

00:16:24.159 --> 00:16:28.320
The folks out there that are like, they want to do something different because they know we got a talent.

00:16:28.480 --> 00:16:29.840
They're making that decision.

00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:32.480
Now their people are like, Yeah, we want, we don't know.

00:16:32.559 --> 00:16:40.799
I think what it is is people want to have a different human, like a more a richer human experience in their work, on the job sites, in the work that they do.

00:16:41.039 --> 00:16:42.639
They just don't know how.

00:16:43.759 --> 00:16:48.399
And I'm here to help them, but it's a small number, right?

00:16:48.639 --> 00:16:49.919
I don't work every day.

00:16:50.159 --> 00:16:50.720
Yeah.

00:16:51.039 --> 00:16:57.840
But I think the people that are there now, like the ones that are showing up, like you just talked about, the folks on LinkedIn, etc.

00:16:59.759 --> 00:17:01.919
They're gonna leave everybody behind.

00:17:02.080 --> 00:17:18.480
They're gonna leave those business leaders that don't care to learn their people's name, that don't care to have a conversation, that their only answer is a raise, but in terms of dollars, those people are gonna be left in the dust.

00:17:18.559 --> 00:17:19.279
That's what I think.

00:17:19.519 --> 00:17:21.759
Am I talking smack or no?

00:17:21.839 --> 00:17:22.720
I would agree with you.

00:17:22.880 --> 00:17:25.839
I think there's going to be an escalation across the board.

00:17:25.920 --> 00:17:36.160
I mean, even we could talk construction, we could talk about anything really relatably speaking of what we live nowadays with the AI kind of overtaking and influencing everything.

00:17:36.319 --> 00:17:37.680
And I'm not knocking it.

00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:40.400
It's a tool that people should have in their toolbox.

00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:42.640
I 100% support that idea.

00:17:42.880 --> 00:17:54.000
But I do think that there is an increase and will continue to grow an increase on the value of being human, of bringing the humanness, the humanity to the table.

00:17:54.240 --> 00:17:54.880
You know what I mean?

00:17:55.039 --> 00:18:01.359
And I think the companies, like you're saying, like there's going to be companies left behind, like just because they tried to just deal simply in money.

00:18:01.519 --> 00:18:10.400
You're absolutely right, because it's proven statistically, if you look up surveys, the younger generations, even our generations, are starting to look at it and go, yeah, the money's not important.

00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:12.400
I want a good quality of life.

00:18:12.559 --> 00:18:14.559
I want some sense of balance.

00:18:14.799 --> 00:18:18.640
I want good relationships and I want to feel like I'm safe on the job site.

00:18:18.880 --> 00:18:20.960
Like they want their employer to care.

00:18:21.119 --> 00:18:21.839
So guess what?

00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:30.079
The employer that cares and takes care of their people, the people that are looking for that, they're gonna seek out those companies that are building that reputation.

00:18:30.319 --> 00:18:30.640
Yes.

00:18:30.880 --> 00:18:32.079
Oh, and you know what?

00:18:32.240 --> 00:18:36.240
I'm gonna be pouring a whole lot of my gas on that fire, right?

00:18:36.400 --> 00:18:44.720
Because we have access to so many people, and a lot of conversations I have are like, man, I'm working with this company and I I want to advance, but I'm kind of stuck.

00:18:44.880 --> 00:18:52.319
And but my leader does behaves this way, and I'm like, and their question is always like, how do I make it better?

00:18:52.640 --> 00:18:58.319
My first answer is freaking leave, find a better leader, period.

00:18:58.720 --> 00:19:04.319
Yeah, well, then I found out some of my friends that are those leader decisions, they're like, hey bro, you can't be saying that.

00:19:04.400 --> 00:19:05.440
I'm like, why not?

00:19:05.599 --> 00:19:07.440
Like, be a better leader then.

00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:08.720
Exactly.

00:19:08.880 --> 00:19:10.880
Be a freaking leader, like for real.

00:19:10.960 --> 00:19:41.279
If you're in a situation, I mean, I just have one friend recently go to an amazing organization, and I've known him for a long time, and I always saw tremendous, and I got a bunch of friends that are in this bucket, extremely talented people, extremely skilled people, and there is so much within them that they have to offer this industry, but they work with a company that is like just shut up and and do the job, just push the buttons.

00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:44.319
That's a cute idea, but that's not interesting.

00:19:44.480 --> 00:19:45.599
We're not gonna make that investment.

00:19:45.759 --> 00:19:56.079
You could do that on your job, but don't be bringing it up here to the office, which is saddening to me because I know how impactful they could be for the people around them.

00:19:56.400 --> 00:20:06.480
But also, if the day that they get in a situation where their leadership says, you know what, let's make that thing, let me help you bring that to life.

00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:09.920
They are going to explode in terms of growth and contribution.

00:20:10.079 --> 00:20:23.599
So I got a bunch of friends are like time bombs waiting to explode and really impact the industry in meaningful ways, but they're in a bad spot, they're in a bad situation right now.

00:20:24.720 --> 00:20:28.960
One of my friends recently went to another outfit, and I ain't kidding, sister.

00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:33.440
Within a week of him going, I know I'm like, oh, this is so big for him, this is big for them.

00:20:33.599 --> 00:20:39.519
And he was like, Wow, this is just I got so many ideas now, I got so much energy, I got better.

00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:55.839
Like, yeah, because you've had to suppress it and tamp it down for so long, you didn't know you just don't know how amazing it can be when you're in the right conditions to serve and share your gifts and talents.

00:20:56.079 --> 00:21:00.079
And so, anyways, that's my little I got I got too excited there.

00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:03.039
But the point being, I tell people to quit, right?

00:21:03.119 --> 00:21:07.440
If you don't have a leader that's pouring into you and developing you, find a better leader.

00:21:07.599 --> 00:21:12.240
If you're in a situation that you're kind of capped off and you're feeling stuck, find a better leader.

00:21:12.400 --> 00:21:14.640
Bottom line, that's the first step.

00:21:15.039 --> 00:21:24.240
It's scary as hell, but uh everyone I know that has done it has had a massive return and increase in quality of life.

00:21:24.480 --> 00:21:33.680
Now, I'm gonna go back and do some Zumba talk because if you didn't know this, my uh I'm a Zumba guy, or I was back in the day when it was I was there, man.

00:21:33.759 --> 00:21:35.119
I love because I love the dance.

00:21:35.200 --> 00:21:36.559
I absolutely love the dance.

00:21:36.720 --> 00:21:39.200
Choreography, the workout was awesome.

00:21:39.359 --> 00:21:45.519
I always like to go to the new hypey ones because they're their choreography was always like super comfy.

00:21:47.119 --> 00:21:48.720
Yeah, and I'm like, okay, I can learn this.

00:21:48.880 --> 00:21:51.279
I've got friends and they're like, oh, just this one's hard.

00:21:51.440 --> 00:21:52.000
You don't even listen.

00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:54.880
I'll I am going to learn the routine, I promise you.

00:21:55.039 --> 00:21:56.799
And I would get into man, how do you do this?

00:21:57.039 --> 00:21:59.680
Because I know how to count to eight, and I love the workouts.

00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:01.039
It's that easy.

00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:08.160
So I keep saying Zumba, you said you were a fitness before you went to work for that shop in the admin side of the business.

00:22:08.400 --> 00:22:09.839
What were you doing in fitness?

00:22:09.920 --> 00:22:13.920
How and how did you get there before you got to the shop?

00:22:14.160 --> 00:22:17.680
Well, I mean, my background was actually nothing to do with that.

00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:20.960
I I'm not athletic in any way, shape, or form.

00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:21.839
No.

00:22:22.559 --> 00:22:27.839
And actually, in being in front of people has always been like, ooh, so scary, right?

00:22:28.160 --> 00:22:28.799
Oh, really?

00:22:29.039 --> 00:22:29.359
I know.

00:22:29.440 --> 00:22:32.799
People don't assume that about me when they meet me now or they see online.

00:22:33.200 --> 00:22:35.599
I'm actually really kind of introverted.

00:22:35.839 --> 00:22:36.160
Yeah.

00:22:36.559 --> 00:22:42.880
So it's kind of weird that I put myself in so many situations that forced me to be out of my box.

00:22:43.119 --> 00:22:44.640
But I think that's important of life.

00:22:44.880 --> 00:22:53.759
And I think Zumba is something that brought that out for me, the ability to just go do the thing, like you say, go do the thing.

00:22:55.039 --> 00:23:02.000
It was a part-time gig that I had because I went to college for graphic design and I was just kind of doing some part-time work.

00:23:02.160 --> 00:23:07.680
And then I ended up taking a job in the billing department just to offset some things.

00:23:07.759 --> 00:23:11.839
Just like a little side job at a pretty big gym in the area.

00:23:12.079 --> 00:23:13.920
And I was in a little office.

00:23:14.079 --> 00:23:15.119
I had no windows.

00:23:15.279 --> 00:23:16.799
It was practically a closet, really.

00:23:16.880 --> 00:23:19.279
It was just this little space with a desk.

00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:23.440
And I was communicating with our clients who were delinquent on their bills.

00:23:23.599 --> 00:23:24.319
I was that person.

00:23:24.400 --> 00:23:28.559
I was like, we're gonna have to send you to collections if you don't start paying for your membership.

00:23:28.720 --> 00:23:33.519
But across the hall from me, there was this beautiful group fitness room.

00:23:33.759 --> 00:23:40.559
And so whenever they had classes, I could see them working out because it was a glass wall.

00:23:40.799 --> 00:23:41.119
Yeah, yeah.

00:23:48.720 --> 00:23:51.680
Because I've always loved music and rhythm and dancing.

00:23:51.839 --> 00:24:01.279
And I'm just like, oh, to be over there and not in this closet hole in the wall, typing for yeah.

00:24:01.599 --> 00:24:09.599
So after a while of watching that, I was talking to somebody and I said, I would love to consider because they would bring trainers in, they would have training days for Zumba.

00:24:09.759 --> 00:24:16.160
And I was like, I'd love to consider it, but I don't want to stand in front of a room full of my own peers and dance and lead them in a workout.

00:24:16.240 --> 00:24:16.880
That's crazy.

00:24:17.119 --> 00:24:18.720
But I love working with kids.

00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:24.799
And there's there was a very big focus on the obesity epidemic among kids at the time.

00:24:25.039 --> 00:24:29.039
And I was like, I would teach kids Zumba, I would do that all damn day.

00:24:29.119 --> 00:24:29.759
I would love that.

00:24:29.920 --> 00:24:33.599
And you couldn't do that unless you taught the basic first.

00:24:33.680 --> 00:24:34.799
You had to adults.

00:24:35.839 --> 00:24:36.240
Yeah.

00:24:37.039 --> 00:24:39.039
So I was like, well, I guess I'm gonna do this.

00:24:39.119 --> 00:24:48.079
And since I have to force myself to get into it, I might as well make a couple dollars back because I'm I'm like weird with hobbies.

00:24:48.240 --> 00:24:51.440
I have to make the money back that I invest in them.

00:24:52.400 --> 00:24:53.519
It's really weird.

00:24:53.680 --> 00:24:56.400
Like I'll be like, okay, I had to spend$500 to do this thing.

00:24:56.480 --> 00:24:59.200
That means I have to do X, Y, and Z to get that money back.

00:24:59.359 --> 00:25:01.279
So there's like a return on my investment.

00:25:01.519 --> 00:25:02.400
I think it's like that.

00:25:02.480 --> 00:25:04.960
I have an ADHD business mindset or something.

00:25:05.039 --> 00:25:05.440
I don't know.

00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:06.799
I I can't figure myself out.

00:25:06.880 --> 00:25:07.440
There's no hope.

00:25:07.599 --> 00:25:08.880
I'll just tell you that.

00:25:09.440 --> 00:25:14.799
So I did the training, I started teaching adults and realized like, hey, this isn't half bad.

00:25:14.960 --> 00:25:16.799
It's actually really a lot of fun.

00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:18.799
And so that became my thing.

00:25:18.960 --> 00:25:23.359
Like I started teaching kids, I taught seniors, I taught regular adult classes.

00:25:23.519 --> 00:25:31.039
So everything from teaching it in a seated in a chair to a senior home or a special needs home.

00:25:31.119 --> 00:25:33.359
Like I went into facilities and did that.

00:25:33.440 --> 00:25:39.279
Um, adapted, modified to do like just regular seniors, so it's not high impact, it's low impact.

00:25:39.440 --> 00:25:42.640
And then I did my regular high impact, and then I did the kids stuff.

00:25:42.720 --> 00:25:49.920
So I would teach a whole bunch of classes every week that became eventually I I made my way into just doing that as my job.

00:25:50.160 --> 00:25:55.839
So that's what I was doing as your job, but it sounds to me like you had your own Zumba business.

00:25:56.160 --> 00:25:58.400
Essentially, yeah, because I just contracted out.

00:25:58.480 --> 00:26:02.640
I would teach at gyms, I would teach at facilities, I would teach at old folks' homes.

00:26:02.799 --> 00:26:04.079
Yeah, it was a business.

00:26:04.240 --> 00:26:06.720
It was like, yeah, serial entrepreneurial.

00:26:07.039 --> 00:26:07.920
That's what I am.

00:26:08.559 --> 00:26:08.880
Okay.

00:26:09.599 --> 00:26:11.599
There's a couple points I want to.

00:26:12.480 --> 00:26:23.279
A theme I think I see about you like just getting a job, just a job, and unassuming I need a job, and then you it grows and turns into something magnificent.

00:26:23.599 --> 00:26:25.440
But I don't know.

00:26:25.519 --> 00:26:27.200
Maybe my employers would beg to differ.

00:26:27.279 --> 00:26:29.680
They'd be like, We wish you would just sit in a chair and shut up.

00:26:34.079 --> 00:26:36.480
Well, I have a thought on that too.

00:26:36.720 --> 00:26:44.400
Maybe I don't know if we'll have time to touch on to it, but you said obviously you have an entrepreneurial spirit mindset.

00:26:44.559 --> 00:26:56.400
When did you become aware that was the thing that you had this entrepreneurial energy about creating a business or maybe take some weight off of it, making your money back on your investment?

00:26:56.559 --> 00:26:59.920
Because I think that's also important for entrepreneurs.

00:27:01.680 --> 00:27:04.160
I mean, I think a lot of us are just built that way.

00:27:04.319 --> 00:27:11.039
I think it's just innate to us, but I think particularly for me, it was triggered as like a trauma response.

00:27:11.440 --> 00:27:12.880
Ah, okay.

00:27:13.200 --> 00:27:14.799
Some hard lessons coming up.

00:27:14.960 --> 00:27:15.599
Yeah, yeah.

00:27:16.079 --> 00:27:21.279
We talk about you talk about missteps and things, so we can dive into that briefly if you want to.

00:27:21.680 --> 00:27:22.000
Yes.

00:27:22.160 --> 00:27:22.799
I'm annoying.

00:27:24.079 --> 00:27:25.920
I am twice divorced.

00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:28.240
I'm remarried for my third marriage.

00:27:28.559 --> 00:27:54.480
But when you are a young female with basically full dependence on a partner starting your life, and things fall apart, and you have no income and you're supporting children and you're trying to make ends meet, that awakens a whole level of fear and weirdness that kind of makes you feel like, okay, how am I gonna scrape together a couple of dollars?

00:27:54.799 --> 00:27:55.119
Yeah.

00:27:55.359 --> 00:27:57.440
So it comes out of a necessity, you know.

00:27:57.599 --> 00:28:03.039
I my first divorce, and it was a long divorce, but I was in my early 20s and I had two kids under two.

00:28:03.200 --> 00:28:06.480
And so it wasn't like I could just send them to daycare.

00:28:06.640 --> 00:28:07.599
I didn't have the means.

00:28:07.759 --> 00:28:09.359
And I was a stay-at-home mom at the time.

00:28:10.480 --> 00:28:15.839
So I was going to college part-time and raising my kids and had to start over from scratch.

00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:17.920
I didn't even, I didn't have anything.

00:28:18.160 --> 00:28:25.599
I had a I had enough money in a bank account that I had separate that I was able to retain my lawyer to start my divorce proceedings, but that was it.

00:28:25.920 --> 00:28:27.759
So it was difficult.

00:28:28.240 --> 00:28:34.079
And I used to do things like I started, I taught myself to bake cakes and like decorate cakes.

00:28:34.319 --> 00:28:37.359
And so I could do that at home while the kids were little.

00:28:37.519 --> 00:28:41.519
And so I would take little orders just to make a couple of dollars doing that.

00:28:41.599 --> 00:28:45.359
So I made some pretty cool cakes back in the day before it was super trendly.

00:28:45.599 --> 00:28:54.880
And I think that was probably my first little taste, having a little side gig and the fact that I could make dollars by myself, you know, and not depend on somebody.

00:28:55.119 --> 00:29:03.759
So it was like by the time I got to that Zumba space, realizing, you know, it's almost like I'm in the process of writing like an actual book, right?

00:29:03.839 --> 00:29:06.319
And it's like based on some of my lived experiences.

00:29:06.559 --> 00:29:15.359
And one of those things that I bring up in it is like I would come home and be tallying up the attendance for the classes and the few dollars here and there.

00:29:15.519 --> 00:29:19.839
Like I would, and I dumped the money on my bed to kind of get everything figured out.

00:29:20.000 --> 00:29:22.000
And it's that realization hit me.

00:29:22.079 --> 00:29:23.920
Like I was doing this.

00:29:24.079 --> 00:29:26.960
It wasn't because someone was taking care of me.

00:29:27.119 --> 00:29:28.160
Yeah, you know what I mean?

00:29:28.319 --> 00:29:35.839
That was something that really hit home for me as as a female, honestly, because I just wanted to be a mom when I was young.

00:29:36.079 --> 00:29:42.799
And so I set out to build that family right away and thought that's what was gonna happen, and it didn't go that way.

00:29:43.119 --> 00:29:43.839
So yeah.

00:29:46.480 --> 00:29:50.799
I mean, there's a ton there, but first don't tell anybody.

00:29:51.200 --> 00:29:52.960
Can I let you in on a secret?

00:29:53.680 --> 00:29:54.160
No one will.

00:29:54.559 --> 00:30:02.319
So, like my dream of dreams, my crazy wild idea of plan, maybe not really a plan, but uh it's gonna happen.

00:30:03.119 --> 00:30:13.359
I want to create a situation where I can equip single mothers with the skills to make money doing what they love.

00:30:15.359 --> 00:30:16.559
That's what I want to do.

00:30:17.519 --> 00:30:23.359
How I'm gonna do it, I have no idea, but I got a lot of really smart friends, so it'll happen, right?

00:30:23.759 --> 00:30:35.839
Yes, well, I've never been a single mother, obviously, but my mom was a single mother, and very similarly, when her and dad split up, she had been a stay-at-home mom.

00:30:36.559 --> 00:30:40.079
It me and my brothers, we were in elementary school.

00:30:40.319 --> 00:30:47.039
I remember her like sewing, she would make our winter jackets, sew them out of our old jeans, old denim jeans.

00:30:47.119 --> 00:30:48.000
I thought they were the coolest.

00:30:48.319 --> 00:30:54.079
Yeah, once I got to that shit wasn't cool no more, but in elementary was the coolest.

00:30:54.640 --> 00:31:43.680
And I'm always in awe of single mothers and single dads, but mostly single mothers because of how resourceful they and they are, and there's no they nobody should have to be that resourceful, but just how resourceful, how much they have to sacrifice of themselves, their personal, their social ambitions, their personal ambitions to support and keep some kids alive, like it's the most amazing, inspiring thing I've ever witnessed is single mothers figuring it out, like independent, going from taking care of well and using that loosely, because that's usually not entirely being taken care of, at least from what I've been able to witness.

00:31:44.079 --> 00:31:52.480
But and then all of a sudden having to support everything and juggle everything and go to school and work and feed the kids and dress it, like all of that.

00:31:52.559 --> 00:31:57.200
It just I think it's heroic titanic shit.

00:31:57.359 --> 00:32:00.640
And I applaud you, Maya, for working through that.

00:32:01.200 --> 00:32:03.119
So that's my shout out to single moms.

00:32:03.200 --> 00:32:14.640
Sorry, I get it's I want to point something out though with that line of thought because as you're saying that and like calling that attention, like you see that need, you see the single moms, you see the processes.

00:32:14.880 --> 00:32:19.039
That's how I feel about like the construction and trades world.

00:32:19.279 --> 00:32:20.559
Oh, do you know what I mean?

00:32:20.720 --> 00:32:28.480
Because that's why I would say when I say I am a good supporter and I am a person who likes to see the people and make sure other people see the people.

00:32:28.640 --> 00:32:33.599
Yes, maybe it comes from that because I don't feel I need to be seen specifically, right?

00:32:33.680 --> 00:32:37.279
Like, regardless of what I've been through, what I know is things get hard.

00:32:37.440 --> 00:32:40.480
Things get real hard on so many different levels.

00:32:40.720 --> 00:32:50.480
And I think it's important that because there are individuals who just they're oblivious, you know, and it's not even by any fault of their own, it's just this is how their life has gone.

00:32:50.559 --> 00:32:59.359
So they don't you take things for granted, whether that's the single mom who's doing all the things, or that's the guy who makes your toilet flush and your water run.

00:32:59.519 --> 00:33:02.720
Like you are easily, it's very easy to take things for granted.

00:33:02.799 --> 00:33:08.559
And I love the ability for some of us to just be like, Do you see, do you freaking see that?

00:33:08.720 --> 00:33:09.039
Right.

00:33:09.200 --> 00:33:14.480
It's amazing, and then the blinders come off, and people are forced to be like, oh, hey, wait a second.

00:33:14.559 --> 00:33:17.680
There's people behind that, there's processes behind that.

00:33:18.000 --> 00:33:18.559
100%.

00:33:19.279 --> 00:33:20.480
And that's the thing, right?

00:33:20.640 --> 00:33:25.279
Is even to this date, I'm pretty high on myself, if you can't tell, Maya.

00:33:25.839 --> 00:33:32.480
But there are still like gifts and talents that I have that I'm blind to, that I don't see them.

00:33:33.279 --> 00:33:35.599
And I'm gonna go a little further.

00:33:35.680 --> 00:33:50.000
And if I get misty-eyed, please excuse me, but I have never been as good in my mind as I have been when I see myself in the eyes of others.

00:33:51.440 --> 00:33:52.160
Period.

00:33:52.640 --> 00:34:02.559
And what I mean by that is I've had amazing people in my life that reflect back to me a version of myself that I could never imagine.

00:34:02.720 --> 00:34:15.119
They tell me what they see, and it helps me aspire to be that, and it's part of what freed me from addiction and all the self-destructive behavior and all the other things.

00:34:15.760 --> 00:34:28.559
And so now it's my I see it as my responsibility, my duty to tell people what I see because it's very likely that no one else has.

00:34:28.800 --> 00:34:30.719
And I think that's what you do too.

00:34:31.039 --> 00:34:31.840
Am I wrong?

00:34:32.079 --> 00:34:33.119
No, you're right.

00:34:33.360 --> 00:34:35.760
I I have a little bit of a tough time.

00:34:35.920 --> 00:34:41.119
Like, someone can tell me something about myself, the way that they see me.

00:34:41.519 --> 00:34:48.159
I have a very weird internal imposter that does not, I'm not allowed to see it.

00:34:48.400 --> 00:34:48.719
Yeah.

00:34:48.960 --> 00:34:54.000
Like you could, I've gotten little awards, and I just come home and I'm like, yeah, that that's a thing.

00:34:54.079 --> 00:34:56.400
And I'm just like, this person over here is so much better.

00:34:56.559 --> 00:34:58.960
So it like doesn't register.

00:34:59.199 --> 00:35:03.519
Like I say all the time as a photographer, I'm like, I have no idea.

00:35:03.760 --> 00:35:05.920
I have no idea where I stand as a photographer.

00:35:06.159 --> 00:35:06.639
100%.

00:35:07.199 --> 00:35:08.159
No idea.

00:35:08.559 --> 00:35:12.480
I don't care how many people are like, yeah, I want a book with you or I love your work.

00:35:12.559 --> 00:35:17.039
It still to me feels like I just started this yesterday and I have no idea what I'm doing.

00:35:17.199 --> 00:35:18.079
I don't know.

00:35:18.400 --> 00:35:19.440
I'm broken.

00:35:19.760 --> 00:35:23.199
I'll I'll say damn damage, right?

00:35:23.280 --> 00:35:25.360
We all have some bruises, some bumps of bruises.

00:35:25.599 --> 00:35:26.719
We're all a little damaged.

00:35:26.800 --> 00:35:28.079
I wouldn't say broken.

00:35:28.320 --> 00:35:42.400
I think what I think is important, and I think it's a there's two things super, super valuable, like ultra valuable, especially for the people I want to surround myself with a measure of humility, right?

00:35:42.480 --> 00:35:46.400
And so part of what you described about yourself, I think is a measure of humility.

00:35:46.880 --> 00:35:53.280
You have a sense of how much there is to learn, and we'll just put that in the bucket of photography.

00:35:53.920 --> 00:35:57.199
How much can be done that you're not doing?

00:35:57.679 --> 00:36:02.400
And so your frame of reference is man, I'm just figuring this out, I'm just starting that.

00:36:02.639 --> 00:36:10.480
And I think that humility, I'm gonna say, is even closer to expertise because you know how much you don't know, or at least you have a sense of it.

00:36:10.719 --> 00:36:24.559
I think that's extremely valuable, extremely important, and largely absent from every damn industry because there's a bunch of damn clowns that'll read a book and watch a YouTube video and tell everybody that they're an expert, right?

00:36:26.079 --> 00:36:35.840
Those are not my people, and so I think there's value, or it's important, it's a value point for me in terms of who I want to associate myself with.

00:36:36.159 --> 00:36:38.639
Second thing, so I'm glad you're that way.

00:36:38.960 --> 00:36:51.519
The second thing, in terms of I'm very similar, you and I are very similar in that when I get when I would give award, like I'm psychotic, obsessive, and I'll focus on a thing, and then I'll accomplish it.

00:36:51.599 --> 00:36:52.960
And people are like, Man, that's amazing.

00:36:53.599 --> 00:36:56.239
I'm like, yeah, but I could have done better.

00:36:56.639 --> 00:37:04.320
Yeah, but right, yeah, but yeah, but and I've had so two things that I use, and maybe this something to consider, Maya.

00:37:04.480 --> 00:37:22.000
I'm not trying to give you advice, but Henry Nutt told me, Jesse, what you should start doing, just practice when people give you a compliment, and you because it gets I get all or I'll just do something really stupid and ridiculous to take that kind of attention off me.

00:37:22.079 --> 00:37:25.360
Because I can handle negative attention all day long.

00:37:25.440 --> 00:37:27.119
I that's my comfort zone.

00:37:27.360 --> 00:37:31.199
But positive attention, I get a little squirrely.

00:37:31.360 --> 00:37:38.000
So what he says, Jesse, from now on, when they give you that compliment, you already know that you're gonna have you're gonna be uncomfortable.

00:37:38.320 --> 00:37:40.800
Just say these words.

00:37:41.519 --> 00:37:43.440
I receive that.

00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:46.639
I like that, yeah.

00:37:46.960 --> 00:37:48.639
And I was like, Yeah, but I don't really mean it.

00:37:48.880 --> 00:37:52.239
It doesn't matter, you don't mean your dumb stuff either.

00:37:52.559 --> 00:37:58.400
Just reprogram some of those neurons in your brain, those connections, and say, I receive that.

00:37:58.480 --> 00:38:01.760
So I've started some, I don't always say it out loud, but I'll say it in my head, right?

00:38:01.920 --> 00:38:05.679
I receive that, and it feels different, like okay, right?

00:38:06.480 --> 00:38:10.559
And the other part, like the other sec, the second thing I do is you know what?

00:38:12.639 --> 00:38:18.000
Yeah, I get permission to celebrate this thing that I did.

00:38:18.320 --> 00:38:27.119
I'm maybe that doesn't mean I'm celebrating it, but I get permission, and so those another goofy for some folks out there like just own it, like you're the best.

00:38:27.679 --> 00:38:29.920
Yeah, that that doesn't compute here.

00:38:30.159 --> 00:38:33.519
I receive that and I give myself permission.

00:38:33.840 --> 00:38:38.320
When that'll actually happen, I don't know, but it's a step further than where I was before.

00:38:38.400 --> 00:38:39.519
What do you think about that?

00:38:39.760 --> 00:38:40.639
I totally agree.

00:38:40.719 --> 00:38:44.719
I love those ideas, and I'm 100% about retraining the brain.

00:38:44.880 --> 00:38:49.440
Like I've had to do stuff like that with like depression, anxiety, things like that.

00:38:49.519 --> 00:38:53.519
And I'm all about energy, so I think that you're on to something right there.

00:38:53.840 --> 00:38:58.480
It works for this crazy fool over here, so maybe it'll work for somebody else.

00:38:58.800 --> 00:39:04.880
Okay, so there was you there the I want to go back to the trend, and you just kind of broke the seal, right?

00:39:05.039 --> 00:39:13.199
We talked about you going in for an administrative job to at for a welding shop, and then you ended up becoming the liaison for everybody.

00:39:13.360 --> 00:39:18.960
You went into a gym for an administrative job, and then you end up being Ms.

00:39:19.119 --> 00:39:21.360
Zumba for the East Coast of the United States.

00:39:21.679 --> 00:39:22.000
Yeah.

00:39:23.760 --> 00:39:26.719
Well, and I know now you mentioned you're a photographer.

00:39:26.880 --> 00:39:29.280
I also know that you're a published author.

00:39:29.599 --> 00:39:32.159
How did those things happen?

00:39:34.320 --> 00:39:43.519
2026 is right around the corner, and I want to help you make this year the year you finally put yourself first.

00:39:44.079 --> 00:39:44.480
How?

00:39:44.719 --> 00:39:46.320
With the self-first framework.

00:39:46.400 --> 00:40:01.039
There's a full half-day webinar that's going to give you the tools and the tactics to plan effectively, to finally make room for yourself in your schedule and to execute daily so that you can dominate the day.

00:40:01.199 --> 00:40:02.960
I know four hours is a big commitment.

00:40:03.039 --> 00:40:06.159
So maybe you want a little more intel before you like go all in.

00:40:06.239 --> 00:40:10.639
And that's perfect because I got a sweet little webinar that you're invited to.

00:40:10.800 --> 00:40:12.480
There's a link down there in the show notes.

00:40:12.559 --> 00:40:17.760
Pick the date that works best for you, sign up for the webinar, and let's do the damn thing.

00:40:18.960 --> 00:40:21.760
Those two are actually kind of linked together, believe it or not.

00:40:22.639 --> 00:40:22.960
Yeah.

00:40:23.119 --> 00:40:25.440
So I mean, I've always been kind of a creative, right?

00:40:25.519 --> 00:40:32.079
I have to have a creative outlet to be content, has to offset my organizational administrative side, I guess.

00:40:32.320 --> 00:40:32.559
Yeah.

00:40:32.639 --> 00:40:34.719
Um, so it's like, yes, everything has to be in.

00:40:35.039 --> 00:40:35.840
I've always said this.

00:40:35.920 --> 00:40:41.199
I'm like, I'm an artist, but I'm not actually messy enough to call myself an artist.

00:40:41.360 --> 00:40:45.199
You're all because like artists, if you think about when you think about an artist, right?

00:40:45.280 --> 00:40:48.719
Like a parent, like they're usually messy, like scattered people, right?

00:40:48.800 --> 00:40:52.239
Like it's usually kind of chaotic, and you expect that.

00:40:52.400 --> 00:40:53.760
And I've never been that way.

00:40:54.000 --> 00:40:58.639
I have to have this, it's business over here, and it's creative over here.

00:40:58.960 --> 00:41:01.039
There's I have to balance the two out.

00:41:01.280 --> 00:41:06.159
But yeah, so I was working for in another job.

00:41:06.239 --> 00:41:08.559
I was working at a heavy equipment dealership.

00:41:08.880 --> 00:41:10.480
This is again how I do things.

00:41:10.559 --> 00:41:19.199
I started there, I was hired as the Bobcat like special, like support specialist.

00:41:19.360 --> 00:41:22.320
So essentially I was like the right hand to the sales person, right?

00:41:22.400 --> 00:41:24.079
Like I was the sales coordinator, essentially.

00:41:24.320 --> 00:41:24.559
Got it.

00:41:24.719 --> 00:41:29.119
So when they make a sale or they're doing a rental, it's logistics, it's administrative.

00:41:29.360 --> 00:41:31.440
Okay, another windowless office.

00:41:31.519 --> 00:41:33.360
I have a thing for windowless offices.

00:41:34.559 --> 00:41:45.039
And but I will say, like you spoke to how working for a leader who embraces the growth or potential growth that someone brings to the table.

00:41:45.199 --> 00:41:48.880
That was my experience at that dealership, was where I had that experience.

00:41:49.119 --> 00:41:56.159
It woke up something in me about being able to work for somebody who embraced, hey, you you bring these qualities to the table here.

00:41:56.239 --> 00:41:58.079
Yeah, try this thing, do this thing.

00:41:58.239 --> 00:42:05.199
So what ended up happening was I was kind of, I use my time very efficiently, okay?

00:42:05.440 --> 00:42:07.280
And I don't like to be bored.

00:42:07.599 --> 00:42:16.559
So if I'm stuck chained to a desk for eight hours, but I can't make my work last eight hours and I'm not going to slow down my processes and drag them out.

00:42:16.719 --> 00:42:18.239
I fill it with other things.

00:42:18.400 --> 00:42:19.920
I look for other things.

00:42:20.159 --> 00:42:24.480
So I was going on the company website and I was like, well, this could look better.

00:42:24.639 --> 00:42:25.840
This could be done here.

00:42:26.400 --> 00:42:27.599
I was going on the social media.

00:42:27.679 --> 00:42:33.119
I'm like, we should really be doing something here because people in industries undervalue their social media presence.

00:42:33.360 --> 00:42:34.480
Oh, yes, ma'am.

00:42:34.800 --> 00:42:36.559
I know, don't even get you started, right?

00:42:36.719 --> 00:42:41.199
But it was one of those things where I started looking at things and going, well, Ken, do you mind if I do this thing?

00:42:41.360 --> 00:42:42.400
And they were like, Yeah, sure.

00:42:44.559 --> 00:42:46.159
And so I did a whole bunch of stuff.

00:42:46.239 --> 00:42:52.880
So I basically worked my way out of my sales coordinator position and into the marketing position.

00:42:53.119 --> 00:42:53.599
Of course.

00:42:54.000 --> 00:42:55.119
By doing all that.

00:42:55.440 --> 00:43:04.719
In doing so, I would get to go visit job sites sometimes with some of the sales guys because I was like, Well, I'll take pictures and create content and whatever.

00:43:04.800 --> 00:43:10.800
And because I do photography as my side gig and they were aware, I was like, I'll happily take pictures for you.

00:43:11.039 --> 00:43:17.360
And so I got to go see, there were a Volvo construction equipment, was their flagship brand.

00:43:17.599 --> 00:43:23.679
I got to go to a job site when they were bringing the R100E rigid haul truck.

00:43:23.920 --> 00:43:27.119
So this is just ginormous, right?

00:43:27.199 --> 00:43:28.960
It was the biggest one at that time.

00:43:29.039 --> 00:43:30.800
I don't know if they've made bigger since.

00:43:30.960 --> 00:43:39.199
Um, and they were bringing it to one of the job sites, and I got to go be there and I got to ride in it, and I got to take its picture and the whole nine yards, right?

00:43:39.360 --> 00:43:39.760
Yeah, you're right.

00:43:40.159 --> 00:43:49.519
As I'm developing and I'm working on the pictures after the fact, too, I'm looking at the face of this machine, and I'm like, it's like there's a character here.

00:43:49.760 --> 00:43:53.280
I'm looking at it and I'm like, it looks like there should be a face on that thing.

00:43:53.440 --> 00:43:57.360
So I started fiddling around and I named him Harry Haller.

00:43:57.760 --> 00:43:59.760
And then I was like, there's a story behind.

00:44:00.239 --> 00:44:00.400
Miss.

00:44:00.800 --> 00:44:02.639
And I just kind of ran with it.

00:44:02.719 --> 00:44:05.920
I say sometimes when you're a writer, it's just a download.

00:44:06.079 --> 00:44:07.440
It kind of happens, right?

00:44:07.519 --> 00:44:08.719
Like you get downloads.

00:44:08.960 --> 00:44:10.800
And that's kind of how it happened for me.

00:44:10.880 --> 00:44:15.039
I just I had this story in my head because I found Harry Haller.

00:44:15.199 --> 00:44:17.679
And so I turned a photo into a character.

00:44:17.840 --> 00:44:20.400
And then I was like, well, now I need his other characters.

00:44:20.480 --> 00:44:26.079
So I gotta go to my other photos and figure out who the other characters are gonna be.

00:44:26.239 --> 00:44:31.360
And I did that, and I worked on just drawing them up based on all pictures I took.

00:44:31.920 --> 00:44:34.239
Nice, and that turned into a book.

00:44:34.480 --> 00:44:39.760
It did that that became the first book, and I self-publish right now, Bigger Diggers.

00:44:39.920 --> 00:44:41.280
That was the first one.

00:44:42.000 --> 00:44:42.559
Nice.

00:44:43.280 --> 00:44:49.679
So again, another two things I want to hit.

00:44:50.400 --> 00:44:59.760
Again, you got another job in an office with no windows, and then turn it into a whole new escapade, right?

00:44:59.840 --> 00:45:07.199
Like a whole new adventure that led down a path to writing your book and having all these ideas, etc.

00:45:07.440 --> 00:45:12.320
I love that you point out that, okay, I'm gonna get my job done.

00:45:12.400 --> 00:45:14.239
I'm not just gonna drag it out.

00:45:14.639 --> 00:45:24.159
And once I get done, I need other things to do, which you decided to say, well, let me look at what else I can do to help here, which I think is super valuable.

00:45:24.400 --> 00:45:32.400
I think, and you mentioned it, it's due to, or a big part of that is because you had a leader that was supportive and I think warranted, right?

00:45:32.480 --> 00:45:38.800
Like leaders like that, you get the what's the word, discretional effort of people, right?

00:45:38.960 --> 00:45:43.119
Like I've worked with people that were jerks and they were gonna get the minimum.

00:45:43.280 --> 00:45:46.239
I was gonna do whatever I needed to do, and that was it.

00:45:46.480 --> 00:45:46.719
Yep.

00:45:46.880 --> 00:45:51.519
I've also, luckily in my life, I've had a lot of leaders that were amazing.

00:45:51.599 --> 00:45:54.000
And so because they poured into me, guess what?

00:45:54.079 --> 00:45:55.679
They got everything I had to get.

00:45:55.840 --> 00:45:58.079
Well, maybe not everything, but most.

00:45:58.400 --> 00:45:58.719
Yeah.

00:45:59.039 --> 00:46:00.480
And I think that's a difference.

00:46:00.719 --> 00:46:10.880
So we already have three data points, and my money says there's a bunch more of where you went into a situation and then you turned it into something amazing.

00:46:11.199 --> 00:46:28.400
So for the listener out there, the LM family member out there, what and the one that's struggling, that's in that dark room with, or maybe not dark room, but that room with no windows, doing a job that's less than enthralling, what advice do you have for them?

00:47:17.079 --> 00:47:22.199
I mean, for me, it's like it's look for the holes, look for where you can help.

00:47:22.440 --> 00:47:26.920
Because there's always, I don't care, there's always somewhere that can use improvement.

00:47:27.079 --> 00:47:32.519
And if you're bored, what you gotta do something with your brain, exercise it.

00:47:33.480 --> 00:47:34.119
Simple.

00:47:35.480 --> 00:47:38.759
It really is because indifference just breeds contempt, really.

00:47:38.920 --> 00:47:45.880
Like you're just if you're completely detached from where you work, you're not gonna get attached to it by just like simply checking out.

00:47:46.039 --> 00:47:48.440
You have to kind of invest yourself in it a little bit.

00:47:48.839 --> 00:47:50.360
Yeah, no, I a hundred percent.

00:47:50.519 --> 00:47:54.279
What I love is if there's a whole go figure out and do something about it.

00:47:55.159 --> 00:48:01.239
Because now some people will, and I used to have this mindset like, I'm not gonna do that, they ain't paying me for that.

00:48:01.400 --> 00:48:03.319
Yeah, it's true, right?

00:48:03.480 --> 00:48:05.239
And I kind of get it.

00:48:06.360 --> 00:48:24.199
But another way to look at it, and I wish I would have done this because I had a lot of opportunities to do this, is look at it as getting a free education, not free, getting paid to learn to do something, you have no freaking idea what the hell you're doing.

00:48:24.440 --> 00:48:25.079
That's it.

00:48:25.239 --> 00:48:41.480
That is you are 100% nail on the head because ultimately, if you're working for an employer that like you know it's not going anywhere, and that windowless office feels like crap, and you decide to find the holes and work on things anyway, you can then move.

00:48:41.719 --> 00:48:48.920
Like you can then say, Hey, I did this thing, because you're gonna realize this one doesn't appreciate me, but somebody out here is going to know.

00:48:49.799 --> 00:48:51.239
Yep, yes, ma'am.

00:48:51.319 --> 00:48:56.920
And you got the skill, you've got proof to say I've done you've got reps, yeah, yeah, massive.

00:48:57.079 --> 00:49:15.880
And I think that's not I think I know that has been, I'll say, one of the my my fuels coming up is and similar to you, it comes from trauma, but I can cannot ignore weak leadership.

00:49:16.279 --> 00:49:43.000
I have never been, it's not maybe I have a problem with authority, possibly, but I just cannot tolerate, stand to see people that are in a role of influence, meaning they're a freaking manager that has direct reports, and if they don't do anything to support and grow their people, they got no respect for me.

00:49:43.319 --> 00:49:44.039
Number one.

00:49:44.199 --> 00:49:52.440
Now, if they actively demoralize their people, I cannot, I cannot tolerate it.

00:49:52.519 --> 00:49:56.839
So that's already the thing that I just wait a minute, like we got to do something about it.

00:49:57.000 --> 00:50:02.279
So back to seeing the holes, that was those are the holes that catch my attention.

00:50:02.440 --> 00:50:06.360
Back when I had a real job, it's like, wait a minute, we got like that's not okay.

00:50:06.440 --> 00:50:07.480
We got to do something about that.

00:50:07.559 --> 00:50:08.199
That's not okay.

00:50:08.279 --> 00:50:09.400
There, and I'm gonna do it.

00:50:09.480 --> 00:50:13.400
Nobody cared, like the whatever dummy, go do that, but make sure you do this.

00:50:13.559 --> 00:50:14.679
Okay, fine.

00:50:15.719 --> 00:50:29.239
Which led to me creating uh an internship program, the first in the company that um kids under 18 that were still in high school coming out to work on our jobs doing actual work.

00:50:29.559 --> 00:50:35.719
Love that because we I was in charge of recruiting and staffing all of our projects.

00:50:35.880 --> 00:50:40.920
I was involved in a lot of CTE programs sitting on their boards at the local high schools.

00:50:41.239 --> 00:50:46.440
The high schools were complaining, like, man, we can't place our kids in construction companies.

00:50:46.679 --> 00:50:50.440
Me and all my people, my competitors are complaining, we can't get enough people.

00:50:50.519 --> 00:50:52.440
And I was like, This is stupid.

00:50:52.679 --> 00:50:53.960
How do I connect this?

00:50:54.199 --> 00:51:01.480
Of course, I had to go into learn a little more than I wanted to about child labor laws and Texas Workforce Commission and everything.

00:51:01.799 --> 00:51:05.239
But I did, I put the thing together, I had a lot of help, right?

00:51:05.480 --> 00:51:08.679
Diana helped me, HR helped me, the risk department.

00:51:08.839 --> 00:51:13.639
I don't maybe they didn't help me, but they made sure I didn't screw things up.

00:51:13.799 --> 00:51:15.319
They let me do it.

00:51:15.639 --> 00:51:18.199
That's amazing, that's a huge feat.

00:51:18.519 --> 00:51:19.719
Do your job, right?

00:51:19.799 --> 00:51:24.519
I didn't know it at the time, but people have said, like, dude, you know how to develop workforce development programs?

00:51:24.920 --> 00:51:25.799
No, what are you talking about?

00:51:25.960 --> 00:51:27.079
They said, Well, that thing you did.

00:51:27.239 --> 00:51:32.119
Oh, yeah, I've done that because it was a hole that I couldn't ignore, right?

00:51:32.199 --> 00:51:37.719
It was I'm gonna be like trying to pull you in because you know where I'm at.

00:51:37.880 --> 00:51:40.039
Come on, Teddy, I need you.

00:51:40.759 --> 00:51:42.519
Where are you, Maya?

00:51:42.759 --> 00:51:47.319
Where are we talking about the was it cru something or collaborative?

00:51:47.480 --> 00:51:47.719
Yeah.

00:51:48.599 --> 00:51:49.719
What's that?

00:51:50.119 --> 00:51:59.239
So that is a nonprofit organization that started in 2020, actually at Con Expo, and they've been working ever since as all volunteer.

00:51:59.319 --> 00:52:03.079
I'm the only part-time employee that is working for them.

00:52:03.319 --> 00:52:07.239
Um they bring connection into classrooms.

00:52:07.400 --> 00:52:15.960
So we bring presenters who are out here working real jobs, have real career paths, who can answer questions and share with the students.

00:52:16.440 --> 00:52:19.880
So I'm working with them as their executive director.

00:52:19.960 --> 00:52:23.159
And I started with them as an ambassador in 2023.

00:52:23.239 --> 00:52:27.079
So I started in the volunteer area and I was in their marketing committee.

00:52:27.159 --> 00:52:33.639
And but just as soon as I saw Crew Collaborative starting to kind of make waves, I was like, I need to be a part of this.

00:52:33.960 --> 00:52:36.199
I was like, I don't know how, and I don't know where it makes sense.

00:52:36.279 --> 00:52:39.719
But I'm like, and then I saw them call for ambassadors and I'm like, sign me up.

00:52:40.119 --> 00:52:40.599
Sign me up.

00:52:40.679 --> 00:52:41.159
What can I do?

00:52:41.239 --> 00:52:41.880
How can I help?

00:52:41.960 --> 00:52:42.839
Because it's necessary.

00:52:43.000 --> 00:52:45.559
So now here we are a couple of years later.

00:52:45.880 --> 00:52:47.799
And you're the executive director.

00:52:47.960 --> 00:52:56.599
Okay, so I know we got some LM family members that are huge advocates for the industry and bringing more people into our industry.

00:52:57.000 --> 00:53:02.519
If they wanted to be an ambassador first, what in the world is an ambassador for Cru Collaborative?

00:53:02.759 --> 00:53:05.480
And second, how do we get them hooked up?

00:53:05.880 --> 00:53:13.559
So ambassadors are our volunteers who are willing to advocate for what we do to spread the word of the mission because it's nationwide, right?

00:53:13.799 --> 00:53:26.519
So we have people all over the country who will support our social media, who will share it, who will contribute to it and tag us, who will send outreach to schools, make connections.

00:53:26.839 --> 00:53:35.880
So an ambassador can be something as simple as, yeah, I'm gonna support following and driving the audience to the social media to help build awareness.

00:53:36.039 --> 00:53:49.799
But it can also be as involved as, okay, I have some time and I have some connections with school administrators or with companies who are really advocating for workforce development and want to see kids get the right information.

00:53:49.960 --> 00:53:55.719
So maybe I'm gonna help bring partnerships to the table because, like I said, it's a nonprofit and it's all volunteer.

00:53:55.799 --> 00:54:00.759
So the only way we can keep doing it is by partnering with companies and individuals.

00:54:01.000 --> 00:54:07.400
So yeah, it's just you kind of choose, you choose your level being an ambassador of what works for you.

00:54:07.559 --> 00:54:10.759
And then the easiest way to do that is just to reach out to us.

00:54:10.920 --> 00:54:18.599
Usually you'll get me and I'll schedule a call and we'll discuss what we do and how it works and see if it's a good fit for you and you want to jump in.

00:54:18.759 --> 00:54:19.400
Most people do.

00:54:19.559 --> 00:54:21.480
I mean, it's to me, it's a no-brainer.

00:54:21.719 --> 00:54:26.360
Oh, it's like, why wouldn't you want to be promoting and cheering this on?

00:54:26.679 --> 00:54:27.559
Yeah, 100%.

00:54:27.960 --> 00:54:28.519
And I love it.

00:54:28.599 --> 00:54:37.000
So we'll make sure we'll put the links in the show notes so people can look in the crew collaborative or connect with you and hopefully become ambassadors.

00:54:37.159 --> 00:54:49.719
I don't know if you know this, but the whole reason behind the podcast, like the the Learnings and Missteps podcast, has been going on for five years since COVID.

00:54:50.599 --> 00:54:57.639
Started like it started because when COVID happened, I had the I was traveling.

00:54:57.799 --> 00:55:02.199
My job was traveling, I was supporting business units in the central United States.

00:55:03.079 --> 00:55:07.960
So I was flying around all the time, and then my boss said, Hey, you gotta learn how to do your job from home.

00:55:08.039 --> 00:55:11.079
I'm like, Oh, okay, I'll figure it out.

00:55:12.119 --> 00:55:15.480
But within two weeks, I was like not a happy guy.

00:55:15.559 --> 00:55:18.440
I was miserable because I need a lot of social contact.

00:55:18.679 --> 00:55:22.440
I thrive on it, and so I was cooked up in my house.

00:55:22.599 --> 00:55:34.440
But what also happened, I was always in any opportunity I had to go speak at schools to talk to kids, parents, or educators about careers in the trades, I jumped on it.

00:55:34.679 --> 00:55:35.079
Yeah.

00:55:35.400 --> 00:55:38.440
And school was shut down, and so that was gone.

00:55:38.599 --> 00:55:42.519
And I'm like, man, like that was like my gas, right?

00:55:42.599 --> 00:55:44.839
To keep putting up with all the crap in the day job.

00:55:44.920 --> 00:55:45.960
Yeah, it was gone.

00:55:46.119 --> 00:55:50.519
And I'm like, man, like I'm not even doing anything for the trades at this time.

00:55:50.599 --> 00:55:51.639
I was a house cat, right?

00:55:51.719 --> 00:55:53.719
An office carpet dweller.

00:55:54.119 --> 00:56:05.960
So, but I still want to support the because the trades is had I not taken my first job, my summer job as a laborer, I would not be where I'm at today, right?

00:56:06.039 --> 00:56:07.480
I did my labor.

00:56:07.639 --> 00:56:18.119
I got a I worked with a super awesome foreman that said, hey man, fill out this paper and give it back to me, which was my apprenticeship registration for Texas.

00:56:18.360 --> 00:56:19.319
He sent it in.

00:56:19.400 --> 00:56:23.880
I got my apprentices card, I got a big raise, like a six-dollar raise.

00:56:23.960 --> 00:56:25.400
This was back in 1995.

00:56:25.639 --> 00:56:27.639
I'm like banking, right?

00:56:27.880 --> 00:56:33.159
And then I found myself an apprenticeship program, and then that was the that's what started all of this.

00:56:33.239 --> 00:56:39.079
And so I know how amazing a career in the industry can be, and I always wanted to advocate for it.

00:56:39.319 --> 00:56:46.519
It went away, and I was feeling sorry for myself, and I was watching a video, a documentary on Danny Trejo.

00:56:46.679 --> 00:56:54.920
I don't know if you know who Danny Trejo, he's he's he comes out in the movie Machete, he's always the big Mexican gangster with the big tattoo on his chest.

00:56:55.159 --> 00:57:00.119
Anyways, he's never been like the leading role, like the main character.

00:57:00.279 --> 00:57:05.079
He in like over 200 movies he's been in, and he's always like a backup role.

00:57:05.400 --> 00:57:11.639
And I remember the interviewer asked him, like, does it bother you that you've never been the leading man?

00:57:12.199 --> 00:57:14.920
And he said, No, I get paid.

00:57:16.039 --> 00:57:29.960
And then he said, I get paid, like that work enables me to go and do my ministry at prisons because he was he's a convicted felon and a former drug abuser suffered with addiction.

00:57:30.119 --> 00:57:35.000
He said, I get because I do this, I get to go serve and help people.

00:57:35.159 --> 00:57:36.119
That's what I'm doing.

00:57:36.199 --> 00:57:40.360
And I remember I said, What the hell am I crying?

00:57:40.440 --> 00:57:41.880
I got a job.

00:57:42.360 --> 00:57:44.839
I was just on a podcast four months ago.

00:57:45.000 --> 00:57:48.199
I'm gonna call that dude and say, Hey man, how do you I need to do this?

00:57:48.279 --> 00:57:49.239
Like, I need to.

00:57:49.400 --> 00:57:50.920
That was the whole point.

00:57:51.079 --> 00:57:52.759
It's shifted since then.

00:57:53.000 --> 00:58:03.639
Anyways, all that to say, my uh one, I applaud you for so many reasons, but also for your support of blue-collar trades in the construction industry, and it's ultra valuable.

00:58:03.799 --> 00:58:05.880
An LM family member out there.

00:58:06.119 --> 00:58:18.519
If you've ever complained about there not being enough people in the freaking industry, stop whining, hit up crew collaborative, become an ambassador, and do something about the damn thing.

00:58:18.679 --> 00:58:20.119
Is that too rough, Maya?

00:58:20.279 --> 00:58:21.000
I don't think so.

00:58:21.159 --> 00:58:25.079
I think it's important, it's important enough to be assertive about it.

00:58:25.960 --> 00:58:26.839
We gotta do it.

00:58:27.000 --> 00:58:27.319
Okay.

00:58:27.559 --> 00:58:32.039
I don't know from what you just said about the guy, the actor, and his ministry and stuff.

00:58:32.199 --> 00:58:38.679
It's really interesting that you would bring that up because I left my job to go full-time in my business.

00:58:38.839 --> 00:58:45.880
And you ever see those things where they say make a list of so many items of the priorities of what you want to try to accomplish or whatever?

00:58:46.039 --> 00:58:48.519
And it can be big and small, and I want to make a million dollars.

00:58:48.679 --> 00:58:57.239
And then you drill down on it and go, okay, circle the main one, and then say like why this would impact your life and like what big how would it impact your life?

00:58:57.400 --> 00:59:10.279
There were some things that I did some of those practices a couple of times back when I was working full time and then working full time and having the side gig that was practically full time and you know, trying to steer my ship and figure out what am I doing with my life.

00:59:10.519 --> 00:59:27.400
And one of those things like it came down to on my list was I want to be able to support myself enough, like to be able to cover my responsibilities enough to where I can say yes to pouring into something else with purpose, to showing up for people.

00:59:27.480 --> 00:59:30.759
And like what you said there just resonates with me because I'm still feeling that.

00:59:30.920 --> 00:59:41.239
And I think it's important to note because I see all the time in our society and in social media, you see people all the time, I make six figures as you know, this, that, or the other.

00:59:41.319 --> 00:59:43.319
And here's how I do it, and here's how you can do it too.

00:59:44.039 --> 00:59:45.079
Come to me, give me your money.

00:59:45.880 --> 00:59:47.400
I think it's very predatory.

00:59:47.799 --> 00:59:55.319
But the point I'm making to you is I sit back here and quietly go, could I be doing more as a photographer?

00:59:55.480 --> 00:59:57.719
Could I be charging more as a photographer?

00:59:58.039 --> 00:59:58.920
Absolutely.

00:59:59.239 --> 01:00:00.119
I won't.

01:00:00.360 --> 01:00:04.920
And I say no to things, and that's a learned process, being able to say no to things.

01:00:05.559 --> 01:00:10.839
I know you've spoken about that before, but it's I'm not making, I'm not making six figures.

01:00:11.159 --> 01:00:13.319
No, but you know what I'm doing?

01:00:13.480 --> 01:00:21.480
I'm doing things deliberately, I'm doing things with intention that feel aligned with like my soul.

01:00:21.639 --> 01:00:21.960
Yes.

01:00:22.360 --> 01:00:37.319
I think like we need to hear more of the reality check of you don't have to make six figures, you can make adequate money and also feel really fulfilled in finding purpose with the things you're choosing to pour into.

01:00:37.960 --> 01:00:39.559
A hundred percent, sister.

01:00:39.799 --> 01:00:40.839
A hundred percent.

01:00:41.079 --> 01:00:43.960
Yeah, I had to add to that, right?

01:00:44.119 --> 01:00:52.759
There was a point in my career I was six figures, I had the fancy title, the company vehicle, all the bullshit, and I was miserable.

01:00:54.599 --> 01:01:01.639
The primary reason I was so miserable was because I was doing zero service.

01:01:02.440 --> 01:01:06.759
I was doing nothing to contribute back into the world.

01:01:07.880 --> 01:01:27.400
Now, don't get me wrong, like I've been making six figures ever since then, but I'm a much freaking happier person now because, like you said, it's not just I mean, hell, my whole business just two years ago, after I started my business, you already know my like they'll let any damn fool start a business.

01:01:27.480 --> 01:01:28.440
They let me.

01:01:29.079 --> 01:01:31.079
But most people quit real quick.

01:01:31.319 --> 01:01:38.519
Yeah, it's scary, like it ain't easy, like it'll test you, and there's so much work to be done and so much to freaking learn.

01:01:38.920 --> 01:01:42.360
But I was setting myself revenue goals, right?

01:01:42.599 --> 01:01:45.400
Dollars, and I hit it the first year.

01:01:46.119 --> 01:01:47.239
Luckily, right?

01:01:47.319 --> 01:01:55.079
I mean, I'm everybody's either annoyed by me or thinks they like me because I'm so visible on social media, so that was extremely helpful.

01:01:55.400 --> 01:02:02.199
Second year, I said, okay, I'm gonna raise the price, like my annual goal to a really big number that's crazy, and I beat it again.

01:02:02.440 --> 01:02:05.079
And I'm like, okay, I'm an addict.

01:02:05.400 --> 01:02:10.199
And if I keep chasing money, yeah, I know what I'm gonna do.

01:02:10.279 --> 01:02:12.360
I've lived that life too many times.

01:02:12.599 --> 01:02:13.799
So I said, you know what?

01:02:13.960 --> 01:02:27.880
I'm gonna shift my focus, forget the revenue targets, and I want to have impact and I want to experience fulfillment from delivering life mind-shifting impact for people.

01:02:28.119 --> 01:02:36.599
Yes, I wanted to look at all of my services, and I said, okay, these I need to do less of, these I need to do more of.

01:02:39.960 --> 01:02:40.599
Yeah.

01:02:40.839 --> 01:02:41.480
Yeah.

01:02:42.360 --> 01:02:44.440
And so so let's talk about that.

01:02:44.599 --> 01:02:47.880
What does that fulfillment feel like, Maya?

01:02:48.759 --> 01:02:54.360
I found more and more that like I'm not actively booking weddings, right?

01:02:54.440 --> 01:02:58.119
And like you think, oh, if you're a photographer and you do weddings, that's your big ticket item.

01:02:58.199 --> 01:03:00.199
You should be doing as many as you can get your hands on.

01:03:00.839 --> 01:03:06.599
I'm not, because I realized in the last couple of years, it's just not where my heart is.

01:03:06.839 --> 01:03:11.719
And if it's not where my heart is, and it becomes, oh, this is a production item.

01:03:12.679 --> 01:03:16.199
Yeah, sometimes if you got to pay your bills, like you're gonna have to take a gig, right?

01:03:16.279 --> 01:03:18.360
Like, good on you, you got a skill, you can do it.

01:03:18.599 --> 01:03:27.159
But if you can discern, okay, I really feel fulfilled by this thing, but not this thing, and you can start pulling back on the things that don't fulfill you.

01:03:27.239 --> 01:03:28.759
So that's where I'm at right now.

01:03:28.920 --> 01:03:33.719
So I'm finding it's really fulfilling for me to work for nonprofits.

01:03:34.119 --> 01:03:35.639
I love that work.

01:03:35.799 --> 01:03:42.759
It's so strange because I've worked for other for companies, but when I'm working for a company, it's like, it's whatever.

01:03:43.000 --> 01:03:49.079
I like being productive and stuff, but I reach a point where I'm like, I don't know why I'm doing this.

01:03:49.719 --> 01:03:57.559
When you're working for an organization that has like a mission and the sole purpose for their existence is simply to do some good in the world.

01:03:57.799 --> 01:03:58.039
Yep.

01:03:58.199 --> 01:04:00.440
You're that's a whole nother ball game for me.

01:04:00.599 --> 01:04:04.039
Like that is next level for my crazy like ADHD.

01:04:04.199 --> 01:04:07.799
I curse myself at the same time because it never shuts off.

01:04:08.199 --> 01:04:19.559
So, like, I'm supposed to be doing one thing, and in the back of my head, it's oh, maybe we can do this to make the website a little better, or maybe we can do that so that the process is a little easier.

01:04:19.719 --> 01:04:23.079
Like it just never stops, but it's filling me up.

01:04:23.239 --> 01:04:23.559
Yes.

01:04:23.719 --> 01:04:25.159
So I I allow it.

01:04:25.400 --> 01:04:25.719
Yeah.

01:04:25.880 --> 01:04:26.119
Okay.

01:04:26.279 --> 01:04:28.519
So second follow-up question.

01:04:30.440 --> 01:04:40.039
What have you discovered about yourself swimming in these new conditions of fulfillment and working, being very mission-driven, mission focused?

01:04:40.199 --> 01:04:42.199
What have you discovered about Maya?

01:04:42.599 --> 01:04:44.279
I guess I'm still in that process.

01:04:44.440 --> 01:04:47.000
I'm definitely still there's a learning curve.

01:04:47.239 --> 01:04:49.799
Um, I think that's also coming with my age right now.

01:04:49.960 --> 01:04:55.719
I think that I'm 45 and I think there's like a lot of transitioning happening, and it's what is going on here?

01:04:55.880 --> 01:04:59.159
I see the world differently and I approach things differently.

01:04:59.400 --> 01:05:11.719
I'm learning how to like try to have bound, try to have boundaries, um allocate my time specifically because I've never been really good at that.

01:05:11.880 --> 01:05:13.480
I I tend to overcommit.

01:05:13.799 --> 01:05:14.119
Sure.

01:05:14.440 --> 01:05:17.559
I like to say like underpromise, overdeliver.

01:05:17.799 --> 01:05:23.480
So I'm learning how to make sure that I do that instead of over-promising and under-delivering.

01:05:23.639 --> 01:05:23.960
Sure.

01:05:24.119 --> 01:05:28.440
Um, and I and it's a constant thing where I don't think I think this is important.

01:05:29.559 --> 01:05:36.679
I don't think there's ever going to be a time in life where I just feel like, oh yeah, I know what I need to know, like all the way around.

01:05:36.759 --> 01:05:42.199
Like it's always going to be a seek and find and learn and figure it out.

01:05:42.440 --> 01:05:44.759
And I think I'm just accepting that.

01:05:45.000 --> 01:05:45.319
Yeah.

01:05:45.719 --> 01:05:51.079
Because yeah, I mean, I've done operations and admin career stuff my whole life.

01:05:51.319 --> 01:05:54.839
And then coming into this role, you know, it wasn't that I intended to be here.

01:05:55.000 --> 01:05:56.679
It just kind of happened that way.

01:05:56.839 --> 01:06:01.159
There was a need, and I was like, I already know what you're doing here.

01:06:01.319 --> 01:06:02.199
I already love it.

01:06:02.360 --> 01:06:03.880
I feel very passionate about it.

01:06:04.039 --> 01:06:06.599
If you need me, here's what I can do.

01:06:06.920 --> 01:06:08.759
Because I was just a volunteer.

01:06:08.920 --> 01:06:13.799
Nobody really knew what my skill set was down the line.

01:06:14.119 --> 01:06:25.319
And so it kind of opened up another path for me where I came into this realization that I'm like, oh, I actually still really love being that right hand to the operation set.

01:06:25.480 --> 01:06:27.400
Like it's what I'm a good cheerleader.

01:06:27.559 --> 01:06:29.960
I'm a good right hand and I'm a good cheerleader.

01:06:30.039 --> 01:06:31.480
Like I can make the things happen.

01:06:31.559 --> 01:06:34.360
You tell me what you want done, I will do that thing.

01:06:34.679 --> 01:06:35.319
Yeah.

01:06:35.639 --> 01:06:36.839
So I've learned that.

01:06:37.000 --> 01:06:38.599
That's what I'm yes.

01:06:38.759 --> 01:06:45.960
Well, and so a couple things I want to put one, I'm gonna give you a heads up because I've been there for a while now.

01:06:46.920 --> 01:06:50.119
An LM family member out there listening.

01:06:50.440 --> 01:07:00.759
Hopefully, if you haven't teased it out, Maya, myself, and a whole bunch of other people out there know that you can design the life you want.

01:07:01.559 --> 01:07:02.279
Period.

01:07:02.519 --> 01:07:06.599
If you're not getting fulfillment out of your day job, fine.

01:07:06.679 --> 01:07:07.480
You're getting paid.

01:07:07.559 --> 01:07:08.039
That's okay.

01:07:08.199 --> 01:07:13.319
You can find manufacture an experience where you can get fulfillment somewhere else.

01:07:13.400 --> 01:07:14.920
It's 100% possible.

01:07:15.079 --> 01:07:18.039
Maya, I think you and I are proof of that right now.

01:07:18.279 --> 01:07:28.920
Now, in terms of the self-discovery, when you're in that state of serving and fulfilling and business and like everything, all cylinders are firing.

01:07:30.279 --> 01:07:41.559
What I've seen over and over for me firsthand is I start discovering new gifts and talents that I did not even know were there.

01:07:42.679 --> 01:07:47.239
And I think part of it, partly I think it's because we've all been blessed with something.

01:07:47.319 --> 01:07:50.599
And it's just a matter if it were responsible and sharing it or not.

01:07:50.679 --> 01:07:53.239
And when I'm responsible and sharing it, I get more.

01:07:53.400 --> 01:08:03.480
I think the other part is because I'm in this state of amazingness, I have the bandwidth to learn, practice, and explore new things.

01:08:03.719 --> 01:08:08.360
And so the combination of those two things has introduced me to new levels of man.

01:08:08.759 --> 01:08:10.279
I can I do that?

01:08:10.679 --> 01:08:11.719
I can do that.

01:08:11.960 --> 01:08:13.239
How the hell am I gonna do it?

01:08:13.319 --> 01:08:13.880
Don't worry about it.

01:08:13.960 --> 01:08:14.599
Just do it.

01:08:14.679 --> 01:08:17.159
And then I go do whoa, like I could do that.

01:08:17.400 --> 01:08:19.720
Um so that's a little warning.

01:08:20.119 --> 01:08:22.119
Maybe it's a warning, maybe it's a heads up.

01:08:22.279 --> 01:08:34.199
Like the creativity, the ideas, the ways to contribute more of you into the world will start flowing, and then it's like a never-ending cycle if we stay on the path.

01:08:34.360 --> 01:08:37.319
Does that sound like a Disneyland ride?

01:08:37.960 --> 01:08:40.039
It sounds like one I would pick to go on.

01:08:40.119 --> 01:08:41.960
Yeah, I'm going that ride.

01:08:43.400 --> 01:08:45.480
Oh my goodness, I love it.

01:08:45.640 --> 01:08:46.039
All right.

01:08:46.119 --> 01:08:54.039
Well, you already know I could keep digging and digging, but I think it's time to ask the closing question.

01:08:54.199 --> 01:08:55.319
Are you ready?

01:08:55.640 --> 01:08:56.680
I guess so.

01:08:58.760 --> 01:09:00.039
I for sure am curious.

01:09:00.279 --> 01:09:02.520
Oh, it's I know it's gonna be phenomenal.

01:09:02.680 --> 01:09:10.440
So, first, folks out there, if you can't tell, Maya's pretty damn amazing, super, super talented.

01:09:10.600 --> 01:09:19.960
She's walked many paths and has made it through some very tough situations, and she's still thriving and growing and contributing.

01:09:20.120 --> 01:09:21.560
And so, check the links.

01:09:21.640 --> 01:09:24.360
She's on the LinkedIn, she's doing a lot of big things.

01:09:24.440 --> 01:09:29.560
So make sure you go to the show notes, connect with her, support her, so support Crew Collaborative.

01:09:29.800 --> 01:09:33.400
And if you want pictures or maybe advice, maybe I'm going too far.

01:09:33.480 --> 01:09:43.079
But or if you need somebody to look up to, Maya is exactly the kind of people you need to be looking up to her.

01:09:43.320 --> 01:09:47.000
So follow her and just soak in everything you can.

01:09:47.240 --> 01:09:58.520
Now, I'm super excited about your answer to this question is because I get a sense of the road you've been on, which we've talked a lot about the really awesome, beautiful, shiny things.

01:09:59.640 --> 01:10:04.520
But I know that you've been through some very dark times, some very heavy times.

01:10:05.320 --> 01:10:21.400
And to still come out of that and be a light in our industry and in this world just is for me just a huge indicator on how massive your answer is gonna be to this question.

01:10:22.360 --> 01:10:23.720
So here it is.

01:10:25.480 --> 01:10:30.039
What is the promise you are intended to be?

01:10:32.280 --> 01:10:32.920
Wow.

01:10:33.640 --> 01:10:34.280
Wow.

01:10:35.480 --> 01:10:37.160
That's a lot, Jesse.

01:10:40.280 --> 01:10:56.680
So like I said, I'm on a path that I'm still figuring out, and I pray to God every day we have conversations constantly to help align me with the purpose that is planned for me.

01:10:57.000 --> 01:11:00.840
Because I think in my humanness, sometimes I become blind to that.

01:11:01.400 --> 01:11:03.720
So I'm always looking for that redirect.

01:11:04.039 --> 01:11:10.039
My entire life, like the through line has always kind of been like lead by example.

01:11:10.520 --> 01:11:11.800
Be a light, like you said.

01:11:11.960 --> 01:11:13.079
Just try to be a light.

01:11:13.240 --> 01:11:20.200
Like if somebody has a need and somebody's going through a hard time, because people always are, they're always at different degrees of difficult.

01:11:20.680 --> 01:11:26.920
And you just never know when somebody's looking at something that you've experienced.

01:11:27.079 --> 01:11:36.039
And just by simply being there and being open, you are giving them like strength to get through, to know, hey, you know what?

01:11:36.280 --> 01:11:41.640
If this person can get through a thing, then you know, there's no reason that I can't.

01:11:42.039 --> 01:11:45.880
And I think that kind of is everything to me.

01:11:45.960 --> 01:11:47.560
That's what I'm looking for.

01:11:47.800 --> 01:11:57.320
I think that ultimately if I were to give you like maybe a five-year plan for myself, it it looks a little different than it does today.

01:11:57.560 --> 01:12:07.000
And that's largely because I want to find a way to share more of my story with people who need to hear it.

01:12:07.640 --> 01:12:10.120
And I think that that takes some growth for me.

01:12:10.280 --> 01:12:17.960
Obviously, like I need to learn how to convey that message to people in a way that they can relate and use it.

01:12:18.200 --> 01:12:22.680
I don't want to believe that anything that happens in life goes just to waste.

01:12:22.840 --> 01:12:24.840
I don't think that's why it happens.

01:12:25.079 --> 01:12:42.280
So, I mean, I think going through some dramatic divorces and trying to co-parent and then blending a family and then parenting a child through anorexia and then building a career through all of those things.

01:12:42.520 --> 01:12:45.720
It's a lot when I say it all in one breath like that.

01:12:46.520 --> 01:12:56.120
But if I broke all that, like how many people could be like, hey, I have some questions, and I'd be like, sure, ask away.

01:12:56.280 --> 01:12:57.880
Like, how can I help?

01:12:58.440 --> 01:12:59.400
That's what I want to do.

01:12:59.480 --> 01:13:00.760
Like, how can I help?

01:13:02.600 --> 01:13:03.320
Amazing.

01:13:03.480 --> 01:13:04.200
I knew it.

01:13:04.360 --> 01:13:05.720
I mean, I got chills.

01:13:05.800 --> 01:13:07.160
Like I said a little while ago.

01:13:07.320 --> 01:13:11.160
If you don't have somebody to look up to, Maya's the person.

01:13:11.400 --> 01:13:13.480
I mean, that's you're gonna make me cry.

01:13:13.640 --> 01:13:14.360
Stop.

01:13:16.039 --> 01:13:19.720
Girl, I'm telling you, you're amazing, whether you like it or not.

01:13:19.880 --> 01:13:20.840
I'm telling you.

01:13:21.079 --> 01:13:22.120
Thank you for that, Maya.

01:13:22.200 --> 01:13:24.840
And yes, right, I think an important point you made.

01:13:25.079 --> 01:13:33.160
I mean, obviously, you're living this life, and I think our listeners also can adopt is there's gonna be dark times.

01:13:34.120 --> 01:13:41.880
But the greatest, most beautiful lessons are always, for me, anyways, I've always found them in the dark times.

01:13:42.680 --> 01:13:55.160
Now, I can either let the dark times be shame and embarrassment, or I can leverage them in transform them into value for other human beings.

01:13:55.240 --> 01:13:57.000
And I think that's what you're talking about.

01:13:57.160 --> 01:14:06.039
It was tough, it wasn't great, but you're gonna make it something meaningful because other people need to know they're not alone and there is a way out.

01:14:06.280 --> 01:14:13.000
You are a beautiful example of the fact that there is a way out, and this is what it can look like.

01:14:13.240 --> 01:14:14.440
Did you have fun?

01:14:14.760 --> 01:14:16.920
I did have fun, I really did.

01:14:17.079 --> 01:14:24.520
I knew I would, though, because I know you, I've watched your stuff, I've been a part of some of your conversations, so I knew that I would have a fun time.

01:14:24.680 --> 01:14:27.079
So I'm glad I've got a chance to do this.

01:14:27.320 --> 01:14:30.039
Thank you for sticking it out all the way to the end.

01:14:30.200 --> 01:14:32.360
I know you got a whole lot of stuff going on.

01:14:32.520 --> 01:14:42.920
And in appreciation for the gift of time that you have given this episode, I want to offer you a free PDF of my book, Becoming the Promise You're Intended to Be.

01:14:43.079 --> 01:14:45.400
The link for that bad boy is down in the show notes.

01:14:45.560 --> 01:14:46.039
Hit it.

01:14:46.200 --> 01:14:48.039
You don't even have to give me your email address.

01:14:48.360 --> 01:14:49.160
There's a link in there.

01:14:49.240 --> 01:14:51.880
You just click that button, you can download the PDF.

01:14:52.200 --> 01:15:02.360
And if you share it with somebody that you know who might feel stuck or be caught up in self-destructive behaviors, that would be the ultimate.

01:15:02.600 --> 01:15:08.280
You sharing that increases the likelihood that it's going to help one more person.

01:15:08.920 --> 01:15:17.240
And if it does help one more person, then you're contributing to me becoming the promise I am intended to be.

01:15:17.640 --> 01:15:21.720
Be kind to yourself, be cool, and we'll talk at you next time.