Latest / Forget The Noise / 2. Pulling back the Curtains | Featuring Kasia Cappuccitti

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2. Pulling back the Curtains | Featuring Kasia Cappuccitti · Forget The Noise

• Speaker 2: They say motivation is something you want. Discipline is something you need. Obsession is something you have to have. I'm gonna show you what I wanted, how I got it, and how I was obsessed to get there. New episode of Forget the Noise Podcast. I am pumped about this one. We're recording this at like 10 a.m. 8:30 this morning. I got a text from our guest today, Cashia Cappuccini, that she's willing to be on the podcast. Like this is gonna be raw, unfiltered material. It works perfect because our last podcast, I just opened up to everyone. I became vulnerable about what I'm aiming for, what my goals are, how I'm gonna get there. And this is gonna give you like a pull behind or pull back the curtain kind of perspective on like my day-to-day. So like It's real authentic experiences from someone that's with me literally every single day at home, at work, with the kids, out on activities. Like I'm always with her. So she's gonna give me a real perspective on it. We're gonna dig into who she is as a person. Gonna have my tablet open here today. I'm gonna read my notes as much as I can. There's a lot I wanna get through. So just excuse that till I get the vibe going with the podcast. But we're gonna kick it right off the hop. So we have Cash Gap Chi here today. She's the owner of Casey Custom Interiors. In-house designer for AC Custom, mother, wife, two kids, three houses, and a partridge in a pear tree. So everyone knows me, everyone knows how I feel about the topics that are going to come up today. But today we're going to see from a better house perspective. I want entrepreneurs and high performers out there that are working together, that are running businesses together, to look at this episode and be able to like relate to it. I want them to be able to look at each other after watching the episode and say, hey, you what? Let's open up the floor and have a conversation. Let's make this work. Because a lot of people say working together doesn't work. It does work. We've been doing it for six years now, five years. And it does work. You just gotta be able to communicate with each other. Gotta be able to some days turn it off. Some days it doesn't turn off. There's no such thing as work-life balance to me, but we'll get into a little bit later. And after the episode I wanted to bring value to people. So let's get dive into it. ⁓ Speaker 1: Yeah. Speaker 2: From the outside, I think everyone thinks it's all rainbows and sunshines for two of us. Right. Like they look at us, say you guys are happy, you guys are working together, you guys are doing well, companies are doing good. But realistically, like there are struggles behind it. And with all those struggles, like, do you find anything in specific that from day one until now, there's been like a wedge in there? There's been that one item where it's kind of like, we just can't figure this out, we can't get through it, we can't. navigate it and it's just one of those things we kind of accept. It's like a bad knee or a bad hip. It's like, ⁓ it always hurts. So Speaker 1: Yeah, I think you kinda touched on it and that's not turning it off, you know. Like most people will go to work, they come home at five, they might tell their husbands about their day and move on. I feel like for us it's constant. We'll be watching a show and it eight o'clock in the evening and it's like, ⁓ yeah, by the way, I forgot to mention we need to order this for this client and you know, so I feel like we really don't turn it off and that's the hardest part. otherwise no. Speaker 2: So you as a person, individually as like just Casha. So I heard a quote the other day, and it's you are the author, not the book. And I feel like building out these companies together, we're writing a book. So let's figure out who Casha is as the author. Like take away the designer role, take away the mother role, take away the wife role. Like, who are you as a person? Like activities you like to do, hobbies you like to do. And I want to dive into this because we work so well together. I want people to see like we are different people. We can work together and not be the exact same person. People are like, hey, two couples that work together, they're both workaholics. It's not like that with us. No. And that's why I want to kind of figure out who the author is on the book of Casha and everything else you have going on. So like hobbies, activities you're like doing airtime. Speaker 1: I mean I feel like to compare us, let's say, I'm definitely more of a social person. So my friends are very important to me. I do spend a lot of time with them. we like to go out for dinner, we like to hang out, we like to drink wine, we like to read books, right? So my book club is very important to me. as far as The author of this business venture that we're in. I feel like I'm not the author, you're definitely the author. Speaker 2: And that's what I want to get at. It's like who is the author Cash Cap G outside of the book? So the author can have twenty titles. So you have the title of KC Custom Interiors, you have the title of being a mother, you have a title of being a wife. Like I want to know about the author. So like you like socializing with friends, you like being part of your book club. Speaker 1: I feel like I'm a mother first and foremost. Like that is more important to me than anything else. ⁓ I know it sounds cliche, but it's kind of true. I do love my job. I love working with you, but to me that's not this is me, you know. Like I feel like I have so many other things that are important, I guess. but yeah, I don't know. I mean I kind of feel like I touched upon most of it. Speaker 2: So going from that, ⁓ another quote because I believe that I'm the visionary. I think everyone out there knows I'm the visionary between the two of us, is tell me what this relates to you. Being married to a visionary means living in a house with a thousand windows, all looking towards tomorrow. It's rarely quiet, never boring, and always full of hope, but also risk. Speaker 1: One thousand percent, yes. Is that yeah. Yes. Speaker 2: They feel good. So what's one benefit of being very good visionary? And remember this whole episode, what we're trying to do is bring perspective to people out there. So that's why I want you to really be honest about it. And if it digs into me, it digs into me. There's gonna be a lot of episodes out there where I'm gonna get Speaker 1: I think we all know I don't mind doing that even on camera. Speaker 2: So like being married to a visionary, like what's one benefit of it? Like what do you love knowing that, hey, you know what, I know he'll think of something or he'll think outside the box? Like what is one thing you love about being married to somebody? Speaker 1: feel like in a lot of ways it's almost like having another child, you know, like you get to watch this baby grow. He grow no I mean in some ways, yes. ⁓ but no, I mean like as a visionary, like you plant these little seeds and it's not something I would ever think of or I would ever even be motivated to do. And like watching it grow from this idea to concept to now suddenly this business that just keeps growing every day. It's like watching a baby like come to life, you know, it's kind of exciting. Speaker 2: And now the flip side to that is one downside of being married to a visionary. Speaker 1: You never stop working. I mean, yeah, ⁓ I think the downside is the risk, right? Like with every decision, every goal that you have, there's risk. And I feel like, you know, over the time that we've been together, I trust that you're not gonna risk everything if you think you're gonna lose it all. But it's always there. You know, there's always this possibility, just like when we started the business. You had a good job, it paid the bills, we were happy, you know. All of a sudden it's like, ⁓ I think I'm gonna quit my job and start this. I was like, whoa, like hold on a second. I can't float this boat on my own. So we that was scary, right? Speaker 2: So over the years, like what created the I guess security that when I do work in a visionary role, that you're like, hey, you know what, I have confidence in this because he's thought it through. He has an idea. Is it like the receipts I've deposited over the years of constantly making it work or figuring it out? Like, was there one key factor where you actually turned around and just woke up one day and said, Holy shit, like this is working? Like, or I Speaker 1: No, I think I think it's partly it's progressed over time just knowing like even if things didn't work, you made them work. Do you know what I mean? So that just ⁓ added that faith in you and like, well, if it doesn't work, he'll figure out a way to make it work or we'll do something. but I feel like you've always been like that since I've met you, which is partly why I fell in love with you to be honest. But you know, like you just make things work. I I don't know how else to say that. Speaker 2: ⁓ okay, so let's dive into ⁓ I'm trying to go through my notes here, but there's a lot I want to get to. So he left a full-time job. ⁓ he jumped into the business. Let's start back at day one or even a few weeks beforehand. So what you expected to happen when you jumped into the business versus what actually happened, was it exactly what you envisioned? Like you had to play that visionary role at certain at a certain point. Like when I came to you and said, you know what, fuck it, quit your job, come work with us and help us out. You'll be able to bring a service in that we can't provide. There's a point in that moment where you had to become a visionary. Like you had no choice. Like because it's not like you just came to work underneath me and assist me in a certain way. You had your own role by doing the design work. So you had your own department. You had your own like systems and processes you had to figure out, your own process you had to figure out. So there was a point in that that you were became the visionary, but during the process of being the visionary to actually becoming the integrator in the business, like is it what you imagined it was going to be? Speaker 1: You know, I feel like anything in life, you know, for example, you meet someone and you think, ⁓ I just wanna have a house and have some babies and hope they're healthy and you know, you don't have y you're those are the big goals in your life. And then as you progress the houses get bigger, you have more children, you know, you do other things that grow. I feel like the business is kind of the same where I just wanted us to be able to pay our bills and love our job, you know, and that was the goal. And that I was happy just being there. I never envisioned having the shop, having the office, and like growing it to that extent. Yeah. Being on a podcast. To me, those are just things that naturally progress with being motivated and being driven and being, you know, that visionary. Speaker 2: So, what part of the process is jumping in to get confidence in? Because there's a lot of people out there where they're at that point where like they are bringing their spouses into their business. They want to work together. They want to build something together. Like, what are some things you had confidence in that people are listening to that they can relate to or help you get through? Where it's kind of like, okay, if I do this, this will be what this is the reason it'll be worth it. Because there's a reward behind any pain. There's a reward behind any wit risk. So what was your reward out of it? Was it like working together? Was it Speaker 1: I think being your boss in a lot of ways, like, yes, there's you know drawbacks of the stress of like I have to create my own paycheck. It's not guaranteed to me by the school board or by whoever's employed at me at the time. ⁓ I think the the bonus or you know, the things that I love is that I create my own schedule. You know, so I hated when the kids were little, for example. I could never walk them to school or pick them up from school because my hours at work didn't work that way. Now I can make my schedule work for that. I mean they're older, so they don't need me like that, but I still enjoy those little things. You know, if they had a field trip, I could be like, Sorry, I'm taking today off. I'm going on a field trip with my kids. I didn't have that luxury before. Speaker 2: So it's creating independence ultimately. Speaker 1: It's creating independence and then also, you know, being your own boss, you could say yes or no to whatever jobs you want. And I know that that sounds kinda like why would you turn down jobs? But sometimes you get a feeling like this isn't for me. We're not going to work. This isn't gonna be good. And I have that power of saying no, thank you, versus on my old job, it was like this is who you're working with and that's that. Speaker 2: And outside of the regular doubts of like, am I gonna be able to pay my bills, all that, were there any other doubts you had in yourself jumping into the business? Like am I gonna fit in the role that we're creating? Am I gonna get a lot what were some of that stuck what were some of the doubts that stuck out to you in the big scheme of things? Speaker 1: ⁓ a hundred percent. Am I gonna be good enough? You know, or people gonna see my vision and say, Wow, that's pretty awesome. and just yeah, make it successful that way, I guess. Speaker 2: Yeah, I love where you touch on that because I think the imposter syndrome is such a big thing for especially people jumping into a business or starting a new business is like, am I good enough? Like I go through that still five, six years in business where I actually look at myself going getting into podcasting, getting into personal branding. I'm like, am I good enough? And do you feel like jumping into the business, having me already be established somewhat in the business helped you alleviate that imposter syndrome? Do you think like support from your spouse? Speaker 1: Yeah. Speaker 2: Or do you think it's kind of one of those like you're just asking me I'm okay because it's polite to ask? You know, you when people ask the question and they're kind of like they're just doing it because they have to, like, hey, how's the day? No one gives a shit how your day is. They're just asking to be nice because it's what you ask. So having your spouse in the business already, do you feel like that I guess reassurance or that support is genuine? Or do you feel like it's just there because you're in the business and it's your spouse? Like, how do you Speaker 1: For me it's genuine. I feel like I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you starting your own business. As much as I love doing this as a hobby or in my own house or for my friends, I would have never taken that leap to do this if you hadn't done it with me. Speaker 2: And getting over the feeling of the imposter syndrome, like am I good enough or is this gonna work? But jumping into something somewhat already established and having me s try to support you as much as I could, like, did that help you get past that, like, am I good enough phase quicker than it helps like yeah, it helps? And then where you're at now compared to the day you made the commitment? Like, is it something you envision? Like you said when Speaker 1: Yeah. I mean for sure. Speaker 2: You were gonna leave leave your job versus actually leaving your job. The transition wasn't exactly what you thought it would be. Now looking back from day one, first day you opened a laptop and said, I'm gonna send my first email, ⁓ which was weird, like addressing you through email. That that was that honestly they that was really weird. Tasha is now like paint on the couch. Yeah. ⁓ but the fun part is that we're able to now draw the line, but From the day you ran you sent your first email or opened your laptop for the first time to where we are today, like was it something you actually envisioned? How has it changed? 'Cause I really want to dial into you before we get into us kind of thing. So like I wanna know like anyone making this leap, like how far off were you from what you envisioned? And there's always that like really big picture kind of idea I find. And maybe me just in my head, but there's a big picture idea in my head and then there's a realistic picture, right? Speaker 1: I think it's not far off aside from like having the physical space. That's the part that I never really thought we would or maybe d not not that I didn't think we would get it. I just didn't envision us being there. Do you know what I mean? I always thought we'd be working from home and just having this little business making it work. ⁓ But that's that's the only part that I would say is kinda like I never thought we'd be here. Speaker 2: Little. Speaker 1: Or just I didn't even think about it to be honest. Not that I didn't think we would be here. Speaker 2: Correlates with the saying of like you underestimate what you can do in five years and overestimate what can do in a year, right? Because ⁓ I think on one of my last podcasts I was actually saying, Remember those nights in that little office we had at home? Like literally there was nights where like remember you can vote for like I would say I'm pulling all nighter, you're like, What do you have to do? I'm like, I gotta work on something, I'll figure it out. I remember one night I actually wrote in my little like gold journal, like, we're gonna have an office space, we're gonna have multiple businesses and that was a five year plan and we're just rolling in. We just finished our five years and we have multiple business. We have the shop, we have the office, we have the space to do a podcast. Like you know what I mean? So it's kind of cool that like you didn't envision that. And now that we're here, does that change your perspective on what the next five years brings? Now that you've seen what five years where's your head now? Like how much do you move the that's what I'm trying to say is like you have goalposts that Speaker 1: For sure. Speaker 2: Yeah. I resonate as goals. And every time you get close to them, you find I find people that are motivated, want to build something, move those goalposts. And say they move them five feet the first time. When they realize they can move those five feet really quickly, next time they move ten feet and next time fit. So it's almost like you're moving for bigger goals. Now that you've seen this after five years, do you feel that your goal pulse has moved further now with your expectation? Speaker 1: For sure, yeah. I think when you going back to sitting in that little office in our house and you made those goals and it I didn't doubt that we'd get there. I just felt like, ⁓ well, that's not gonna happen in a year, two years, five years. Like I thought that was the far stretch, you know. And then we made it in less than that and s for some goals. So now I feel like for you especially, if you're making goals. I'm looking at it more like, yeah, we're gonna get there. Cause we did it the first time. So I don't doubt that we would do it the second time. Do you know what I mean? Speaker 2: Yeah, and I feel like it goes back to the consistent deposits or receipts deposited, where it's kind of like it's like a proof of concept. Yeah. Going through it. So that kind of touches on the next thing I wanted to talk about perfectly, where it's as a visionary, I've deposited the receipts. I have the proof of concept that I can make it work. But there's a lot of late nights thinking outside the box, coming up with ideas. Another quote I heard and this one like hit me like home. Like it it says, Behind every entrepreneur is a spouse who is tired of hearing about the pivot they made at two AM. Speaker 1: Or the phone calls. Speaker 2: Yeah, or the ph or the phone calls, yeah. How many times have we had that experience like between us where I come home and I'm like, Hey babe, I have an idea. There's a constant pivot, constant pivot, like we're gonna do this with the company. Speaker 1: Yeah. I think where you and I work with these goals is yes, you are the visionary and you have these high goals. And sometimes I have to be like the one to rein it in and go, Hey, you know, I'm all for everything, but this I feel like we need to take down a notch, you know? And I think what works between us is that you listen. But you know what I mean? Like there are times where you're like, Okay, you know what, maybe she's right, maybe this one needs to take a backseat for a second. And I think that's where it works. And I think that's where it helps me to trust you because I know that you're not just like, nope, this is what I'm seeing and like I don't care what anyone sell says, you know. That works for us. That helps me to trust you. And you know, yeah. I don't know. So Speaker 2: Touching on the open means of communication and being able to kinda like open the floor, you feel like that helps being married to a visionary. Now do you find do you believe from us you could have two visionaries or two integrators in a marriage? Speaker 1: Yeah. Yeah, I think so. I mean if their goals align, if they're kind of on the same page, yes. If they're like, you know, your vision is to start this business in Orangeville and grow it as much as you can and my vision is to move to the States and, you know, be a circus performer. I don't know. Obviously, no, that wouldn't work. Do you know what I mean? So I feel like yes, you can have two visionaries, but they kinda have to be relatively on the same. Speaker 2: Now with two visionary tends well with one visionary tend to come a lot of risk. Now do you think do you still think it would work because two visionaries adapt so much risk in the goals they make? Or do you think two integrators don't adapt enough risk, which piggybacks off of the low risk, low reward? Like do you think the end result between let's compare two visionaries, two integrators, and a visionary integrator? Who do you think will get to the finish line first? Speaker 1: Truthfully, I think it needs to be like a balance of a visionary and an integrator, or you know what I mean? Like you can't have too much of one thing 'cause then you're kind of tripping yourselves. Does that make sense? Speaker 2: So when we get to the point of me and being the visionary, like I know there's days where like I have ideas, I pivot, I change the company, or I'm like, we're gonna do this different. What goes through your head now versus what used to go through your head day while you're finding now you're very like shrug your shoulders, okay babe, from my perspective. Speaker 1: Like I think we touched on that, right? Like in the beginning, yes, I was the one that's like, Whoa, are you are we sure gonna this is gonna work? You know, like I had to be the voice of reason sometimes, which is what felt like for me. And then slowly as we like, you know, started the business and then grew the business, I trusted you more and now it's kind of like, Okay, babe, like yeah, you run with it, you know. Speaker 2: So with my day-to-day schedule, you it's pretty rigid. I try to fulfill every minute of every day. I try to have my downtime at night. But how do you absorb that as my wife? Not as my business partner, not as like I guess raising kids together. Like whatever it is, like as my wife, how do you accept and kind of because you do a great job. Like if I say you want to do something and I'm gonna add to my plate, you're like, if you can find time, fine. Or where you're gonna find the time. And then you make me think to myself, like, hey, like, she's right, like where am I gonna find the time? So I have to take something off my plate. Yeah. And unfortunately sometimes it's a sacrifice to something, but you're good at kind of delegating that and like balancing me out. But how do you handle knowing a husband's gonna be running a hundred miles an hour, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week? In comparison to like an outsider. Like you look at other couples and stop when you see us, it's kinda like, Well, we're all hanging out, my husband's trying to write a script for a podcast, like we're coming up with a content plan. Like Speaker 1: I feel like it's hard for me to answer that because you've always been like that. You know, like when I met you, you were working for yourself, but you never stopped. And then when you stopped working for yourself and worked for a company, it was the same thing. You were constantly taking overtime and I wanna do this and I wanna do that. So I I don't even know how to answer that because I feel like we've always been this way. I feel like it's just different because now it's our business versus you just working for somebody else or Do you know what I mean? Like Speaker 2: Everything we did before this point, move the needle forward. Now jumping into like a podcast, jumping into personal branding, jumping into like YouTube content, personal development, coaching, a lot of this has an investment of my time without a direct ROI. So before, like when I'd work hard, I'd do the overtime, I put the hours in, I put in the time, I get a paycheck, or I get paid for something. Now I'm taking the time away from us. Speaker 1: Yeah. Speaker 2: put time into something where there's not really an ROI. Unless you look in the bigger picture. But there's actually not. So how do you feel as my wife putting time in to stuff that you don't even that you can't even envision like a return from the best Speaker 1: Okay. Think what helps in our situation is that we do work together. So I feel like w you know, we're spending time right now. Even though this is for your podcast, I'm here with you. We're having a conversation, right? Speaker 2: Let me put it out there. If you like it, you can be a co-host all the time. Speaker 1: I'm good. This is a one and done for me. but so I feel like we make up seeing each other. We'll have lunch in the middle of the day, which we never could before. Do you know what I mean? So like when you come home and you're like, ⁓ I gotta do this and I'm writing a book and I'm doing that, I've already seen you. So I don't feel like, ⁓ great, I never get to see my husband. At the time you were writing it. And then like I said, I I have my friends, I have the kids. Like it's not like I'm sitting at home all lonely and like, ⁓ I'm so bored. So like I find the time to do things for myself. Speaker 2: So looking out at anyone that's listened to this right now. So imagine like a couple jumped on board with each other on that, what advice would you give to that? I don't want to say secondary spouse, but there's one that started a business and one that's jumping into it, one that has the support in that kind of crutch. Like what would you say to that spouse living in the day-to-day of like someone that is constantly on the go? Speaker 1: Yeah. Speaker 2: And I know I've always been like that, but take yourself away from that and imagine what it'd be like to be a spouse, married to someone like now that you've lived and seen what the realistic hours are and the time that's put in and I guess the distracted mindset, like what advice would you give people out there? Speaker 1: I think I think it needs to be like you have to be on board. This isn't something like I'll give you an example. For example, two people meet and one wants to have kids, the other one doesn't. And let's just say f for argument's sake, the woman's the one that wants to have kids and the man's like, no. And in her mind she might be like, Well, I'll change his mind later, you know, maybe he'll change his mind and as I know from experience with people I've known, that never works out. My advice to you is don't go in there marrying an entrepreneur or marrying someone who's a visionary thinking, you know, they'll snap out of this, because I don't think that they will. I think that is ingrained in these people like yourself. You just have to accept it, try to be supportive, but within reason. You know, if you think like, wow, we're gonna lose our house because of this, sometimes those people need to check in and say, Hey, I support you, but not like this. Like we gotta take it down a notch, you know. But I guess within reason, like I don't I don't even know. So hard to answer because people are so different. Speaker 2: So with the day-to-day operations then, how do you balance it? Like what is what take pre what takes precedence when you create your schedule? I know you said your mother first, so that's clearly Speaker 1: That takes it Speaker 2: The top list, but then like having the design company working with an AC custom as a designer, you also help out administrative around AC Custom, you mop the floors, which we've got in a big fight about today. like just support me as a like wife, and then on top of that being like my business partner, like how do you wake up in the morning saying this is what a priority is? Because if you look at the whole scale of it. Speaker 1: Squeaky wheel, you know. Speaker 2: Yeah, but if you look at the whole scale of it, like we're not much far apart. Like you have a lot going on. It's just like you're you're maintaining. I feel like you're maintaining and I'm still building. It's like you're juggling and I'm still trying to throw balls into my Speaker 1: Yeah. Speaker 2: Yeah, exactly. Right. Like Louie, you're catching up behind me. But like when you wake up in the morning, like how do you determine what take takes precedence that day? And is there ever an exchange on when something else doesn't take precedence? Like is there ever a time where it's like these two things are at par? I always do this one first, but today this one needs my attention. Speaker 1: I think I go back to the saying the squeaky wheel gets the oil, right? So there's days where my kids have doctor's appointments and they need to be here and there and everywhere else. But at work I don't have a lot going. They get my attention first and I squeeze in everything else after. And then it's the same thing for work. You know, there's jobs that are like, we're starting this bathroom, so we need tiles and faucets and this. That takes precedence because that's more important than an email I can attend to to tomorrow, or my kids who might not need me that day, or you know, whatever it is. Speaker 2: And while you're operating all this, being married to someone with a personality like mine, is it ever running in the back of your mind like, Okay, I'm juggling all this today, I've created like a priority list, I've created a schedule, and now I gotta worry about what he's gonna what what where he's gonna throw the dart at the dartboard. Like Speaker 1: Every day in my life. Every day in my life. Every single day. Speaker 2: So how do you how do you cope with new ideas though? ⁓ Are are they are you at the point where it's kinda like I know the way he is, if he says he's gonna do something, I got about forty-five minutes till he makes a decision or is it one of those like, okay, park it and I'll just backpack? Speaker 1: Like You know what again there's no answer. There's days where I'm just like, Okay, yeah, like I see what you're saying and I support you and have at it. There's days where I'm like, Mm, I'm gonna let this one slide because I feel like in two days he's gonna change his mind and it's not really gonna be a thing. Speaker 2: So it's good gotten all inputs. Speaker 1: Yeah. Exactly, right? Yeah. Yeah. And then there's days where I'm like, Okay, this is where I gotta say like cool it, you know? Like Speaker 2: hispiscus idea or whatever it was the other day to go to like Africa and go cemetery and then what's the best and worst parts about I guess wearing all those hats? Like do you generally enjoy it? Let's start there. Like do you generally enjoy wearing all those hats? Best and worst parts about it. Speaker 1: Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Life's never boring, that's a good part. I guess. ⁓ the worst parts, I mean I love. I love everything we do. I love where we're at, you know, like I'm happy, I I c I've not no complaints. the worst parts I don't even know. I guess it's just living with someone who's always on their phone and always thinking of new ideas. Speaker 2: You know that's a good point I never even thought about is like me on my phone. I am like glued to my phone. Like I don't go anywhere on my phone. I don't think I ever miss phone calls. I never miss a text. Like when we sit with like say friends, it's gonna be Percival now. So like we're sitting with friends, and I'm sitting there and I'm doing this all the time and I'm looking up at people, mid-conversation. Like Were you always okay with it, or did you I never really asked you? And that's a big thing for me, is like I look back at where a business is today and I look at the next like we talked about the next five years. Yeah. And my thing is like, what can I do better as I scale as a business owner, but also as a husband, to make this process a little bit less painful with less friction going forward. I never ever asked you about my phone because you've always been okay with it. But sitting with your friends, do you ever sit there and say, My husband's always the one on the phone? Speaker 1: Well, I'll be honest, like I find sometimes the harder part is my friends saying, like, is he always on his phone? Because to me I've just accepted that that's that comes with the job. Do you know what mean? In the beginning it was kinda like, Okay, maybe gotta learn to turn it off. Like we're out at dinner with with our friends, we're at a party, whatever the case may be. and it's just one of those that's chipped away at me and now it's just, yeah, that's how he is. You know, that he's doing what he's gotta do. For himself, for the business, for whatever it is that he's doing, you know what mean? And I and I don't feel as bad anymore, I guess. Speaker 2: I'm assuming that's because of the consistent receipts deposited that exactly we have a proof of concept that like if I'm on my phone and I'm doing something that except for one I'm talking to my AEI agent now, I you hate that. ⁓ Timothy is my financial advisor. ⁓ you think it goes so anyone listening out there, I'm trying to think how I'm gonna run around the park with this. So anyone listening out there Speaker 1: Yeah. ⁓ Speaker 2: you believe eventually as there's more proof of concept being that supporting factor as a spouse or whatever it is, the more proof of concept you that first spouse provides will allow the second spouse to support them a little bit more. Speaker 1: I can't speak for everyone, but yes, in my experience that's how it works. Speaker 2: That's really or going back to Kurt on you. Just kind of saying like I feel like I'm pretty high performing right now. I think I'm working at my peak. I think we've built something that's credible. We've built authority. We have multiple businesses. So I feel like I want your perspective on it because I feel like you've been through the ringer. Good, bad, and the ugly, right? And how do you feel with us multiple businesses? I know we had that one business venture that went in and tuition for university out the window. Just like gone out the window. Speaker 1: ⁓ That was that was hard to swallow, I'm not gonna lie. Speaker 2: Have you built calluses over future ventures with that? Speaker 1: I think if anything, it's just taught me or both of us, be careful who you get in business with, you know, make sure you do it the right way. ⁓ yes, shit could happen. Obviously things you don't predict, but if you protect yourself, hopefully, you know, you're lessening that effect on you when it does go sideways. Speaker 2: And what after that one went sideways, do you look at financial investment differently? A little bit more. Right. And now we've gone through, I guess, a business venture that failed. Yeah. It didn't fail, it just didn't go through. It just fell through the cracks. Well circumstantial, yeah. and that was like 35-40 grand out the window. Like just like that over Speaker 1: Circumstances. Just like yeah, the 40 grand hurt because that was our kid's tuition. That you know could have been our kids' tuition, I should say. But ⁓ the amount of time, you know, like how much time did we spend sending out those emails and creating those things and having those meetings and meeting those people, it sucks, right? And I think everyone would learn from that, right? Next time you might not be so like, okay. Speaker 2: But do you look at the investment differently now? So say when we first started a business, ⁓ like I said, a hundred dollar tool is a hundred dollar tool. But after having the loss of forty thousand dollars, do you look at it as like say a ten thousand dollar investment came around? Is ten thousand dollars in your head now a smaller number because you've lost forty? Speaker 1: No. Ten thousand is just Speaker 2: Like you're that. I find a lot of business owners begin to distinguish personal money from business money. And like five thousand dollars in business is like, you know, five hundred dollars personally. Like it hits numbers differently. Do you look at things differently where it's kinda like when we first started a business, a ten thousand dollar investment would scare us. Yeah. Now if an opportunity came around with ten thousand dollars, it's like fuck it, let's make it work. Yeah. ⁓ Speaker 1: I think more than the amount of money, it's how we're investing. Like, for example, with us, we are the only business owners. So you and I make all the decisions. You and I will make or break this company. You're right. Unfortunately with the other business that went sideways, we were a very small piece of that pie and we didn't have that much to say. And that's kind of where you know what I mean? So as it to answer your question as an investor, would I go back in and invest a small piece of a pie of something? I'm not sure. You know, I'd really have to see and feel it out. But that doesn't change the way I feel about us running a business where we are the only ones making decisions. We're gonna sink this or we're gonna float this. You know what I mean? Speaker 2: So getting to another investment then, would you say you have ⁓ like would you look at a different angle than when we first started business? Would you look at it Now that you've run a business, you've seen the way numbers work, you see the way PLs pop up. Yeah. Like, is your mindset different? Because I feel that first business, we jumped in, I was a little more dialed in on the business mindset. You're more dialed in on the opportunity mindset. You know. It fell through, lost our money, bite the bullet, ate shit on it. Now going to the next one, would you go in with a different point of view where it's like instead of like this is a good idea, this is like an opportunity, would you dive more into the business part of it, or would it still be a decision based on opportunity versus Speaker 1: I honestly think they go hand in hand. I would never invest in a business that I don't believe has potential to make it. And I think that's what hurt with the first one is it did have potential. I mean, I I felt like it did. I think you did, obviously. That's why we did it. ⁓ yeah, exactly right. I wouldn't do it if I didn't believe in whatever service or product you're selling. If I'm like, listen, this is stupid, I'm not gonna invest in it. I think most people are like that. ⁓ really Speaker 2: Certain opportunities have bigger stretch where it's kind of like, yeah, it could work, it's a long stretch, but I could see it working. Yeah. Versus this is a grand slam. Like, would you be more skeptical if business-wise, like looking at it from business and practicality-wise, now that you've been in business, we've won, we've lost, are you a little more lenient on the big picture on how businesses portray themselves? Like Speaker 1: I feel like when we first started, you were the gambler and I was not. You know what I mean? Like even with our investments. You wanted high risk and I wanted as low risk as possible. I find myself even now with those investments being a little more like, okay, I I can take a little more risk. You know what I mean? Yeah. and that would in turn then work the same with business, right? In the beginning I was like, Whoa, let's just take this one little baby step at a time. I feel like, yeah, now that we've had this success. I'm willing to, you know, go into a little more riskier decisions or l you know, the Hail Marys. Speaker 2: So adapting fear. again, another great quote is fear is a tax you pay on big dreams. Now, do you feel like you're okay paying a little more tax now that you've gone through wins and losses? I think that's pretty much pretty much summed it up, right? Yeah. ⁓ is your fear becoming, I guess, less relevant now? Like Speaker 1: I so yeah, that's pretty Speaker 2: I know we first started business, fear like a huge factor for you. It was like, ⁓ my God, what if this? What if that? Now you personally, like you say you put yourself in a perspective where it's just you getting into business by yourself, right? Is it still top of mind, like fear, like is this not gonna work? Or is it like how can this work? Because that's the way I looked at it from day one. I always looked at something as like, how can this work? This is how I'm gonna get there. But these are the friction points. And I find when we first started you had the well these are all the friction points. Yeah. But if we get to that, that's the point we're gonna get to. Speaker 1: I s I think that will never change. I think that's just the type of person I am. I'm always I'm not like you where it's like, we're just gonna make it work. I'm always like, okay, what's gonna stop it from working and can we get over those hurdles and actually make it work? That's just the type of person I am, and I don't think that'll ever change. You know what I mean? You go in with something like, I'm gonna do this, and you don't even think about the obstacles. The obstacles are the first thing that crosses my mind. I'm like, ⁓ boy, okay, what's it gonna change here and what's it gonna do to us there? And like what are the hurdles we have to get through and are we gonna be able to get through those? You don't even know what the hurdles are until you get to them. Speaker 2: And do think that personality w bleeds into the marriage and that's why marriage works? Speaker 1: Yeah, I think we're like a good yin and yang, you know. Speaker 2: Be more like home with like remove risk, remove anything like that, but like even raising kids or managing finances or like maintaining the household. Like, do you feel like we still play those roles? Again, we gotta keep thinking of like everyone listening out there. Like I wanna have a raw, unfiltered conversation, but I want people to get value out of this. So I want people to be able to relate to Like themselves. So it's kinda like, okay, well, that's how they do it in business. Like at home, how do we operate? You know what I mean? Because I feel like Speaker 1: I think it's the same thing at home, you know, like I'm bossy at work too. You work longer hours, so I pick up and making the dinner and doing the laundry and you know, going grocery shopping or whatever that may be. It's that yin and yang. You know, like I don't complain about you know, today it's a 70-30, tomorrow it might be fifty-fifty, and then the next day it might be a ninety-ten on the other side. Speaker 2: I think you've been maybe on a So the it's not thirty or thirty Speaker 1: Do you know what I mean? Like and I think that's where when people are like, Marriage is a fifty fifty it's never fifty fifty. And we've all heard the saying, sometimes it's seventy thirty, other days it's sixty forty. Sometimes you might be lucky it's fifty fifty, but Speaker 2: Is there ever resentment that it's not fifty fifty or it's seventy thirty? Speaker 1: Not for me, because I take the good with the bad. You know, the days where I have to do ninety percent and you do ten at home, I know that there's gonna be a day where it's the opposite and you're doing ninety and I'm doing ten. And it's not a yin, you know, it's not a tit for tat. It's not, Well, you owe me one 'cause I did this on Tuesday. I just think with us it just happens naturally that way. And I don't keep track of who does more what make it work and I'm happy Speaker 2: That freedom. We have that freedom where I just know it's just gonna get done. And if I'm home, for instance, you're not around and there's something asked it done. I don't even say like that's my job. It's just like this should have to be put away if they're there, yeah. Put them away. Exactly. Kind of thing. It's just we don't see it as tasks. But do you feel like the roles from work where we are today, do you think those bleed into our personal life? Yeah. Like how we manage a household. 'Cause I feel like at home you're more the visionary, I'm more the integrator. Yeah, no, but that's what I mean. Like you feel like at home those roles can change because I feel like a lot of couples out there can adapt to their home life. Yeah. But then how do you adapt those roles into your work life and play a different role? Like there are days for me to be hard there it is hard for me to be at home and not be the visionary. Yeah. Speaker 1: Yeah, and business were the opposite. Speaker 2: It's hard for me to adapt. But I know what I'm good at at home, so I just kinda take it on and kinda say, okay, you what, this is what I do. She's a visionary, she's looking at some big scale. So I'm just gonna shut up and listen. Kind of thing. Yeah. Right. But there are days where it's hard for me to adapt that because like realistic all day it's input for me. That's all it is. It's like input after input after input. And when I get home, it's like output, output, output. Yeah. So it's different to play that role. So like if someone's listening right now, like do you find it hard for you to switch that role back and forth between the two or Speaker 1: Because I feel like at home, we'll say I'm the boss. Yeah, no. Right? Like it's just when we got together, you were working a lot. I had to be the boss. I had to make decisions. I had to, you know, be with the kids more. So naturally, I just took on that role. And then in business, it's the opposite. I feel like you're definitely the boss. And it's that was hard in the beginning because I was like, whoa, that's not the role you play. You know what I mean? Like, what's happening? But over time it's worked, you know, and I goes back to that you've proven that you can be the boss and that I can trust you. Not that you can't at home, but you know what I mean? I just don't you just weren't there and like whatever. ⁓ so now it's yeah, like no issue at all. But it w it was a transformation for sure. Like I had to get used to that. Speaker 2: That's what I love about this episode is like so much of it is going back to like proof of concept, like consistency, doing the thing, I guess, depositing receipts, reaper rewards, like over and over doing it day in, day out, is like it's built a foundation between us. Like it I feel like it actually has built a foundation that allows us to do what we want, what we want, how we want, because you've done enough. where you created a proof of concept. I've done enough where I've created a proof of concept. And we can balance it between home and life. Like you know I mean like you know I always work. And if I'm on the couch I ask you something about work, it's one of those like, well, the last ten times you've asked me something, it's made us money or advanced the business. It's moved the adult. So I'm gonna answer this question. Where with you I feel like you consistently had the out-of-home life under control. Where if I do work a long hour, I'm like, you know what? I don't have to stress about it. So I get home, buckle in, haul ass because she's done enough. Because every single day I'm out, I've done enough. And I feel like out of this whole conversation, that proof of concept and consistency is like the key factor. And that's what I'm building like everything on, is like proof of concept and consistency consistency. Like take a leap, do it, but do it right and consistently do it. Yeah. Right. But with your business. with the design part of it, like that's what wanna touch on. Now that we've kind of pulled it back on who you are, how you portray everything, your perspective on everything. let's talk about like just your business. Like what do you love and hate about it? Speaker 1: But I mean I love Speaker 2: We hate not getting an email back from client. I hear about that all the time. They didn't get back to me. And I'm like, I know, like we won't do but like generally like what do you love and hate about Speaker 1: Like about the interior design business itself or being a business owner. Speaker 2: Business owner, interior design, it's like this is open floor for you now, so like Speaker 1: I mean, you know, kinda touched on it, but I love making my own hours. I love being my own boss. I love being able to take certain jobs and say no to others. ⁓ I love being creative. I love when I have clients who are like, you know what, let's do something different. I mean, you know, who wouldn't love that? ⁓ The drawbacks obviously are yeah, you are your own boss. So you gotta make sure that you're getting that paycheck and it's paying the bills. ⁓ you wanna make sure that your clients are happy and that they're seeing your vision or you're seeing their vision and come and bringing it to life. Do you know what I mean? With everything, yes, there's clients that take forever to make decisions and then sometimes it can be frustrating when the contractor is like, Hey, we're like, we need this. And I'm like, I'm trying, you know? But that's any job, right? ⁓ yeah. Speaker 2: From day one to do you feel like you've grown thicker skin. You didn't know at first when we first started working here, you were very emotional, you're very sentimental towards certain situations, stuff like that. And like I'm guilty for it too. When I first started my business, I looked at it and I did the like I'm never gonna be that guy. But now that I've got to that point and I feel like we've built a standard, core values, a reputation, and we like literally like surround our whole day, day to day around it, it's like we have certain standards. We operate at so am I sour some days? Am I rough and you know a little more cutthroat? Let's call it to clients or subcontractors. I am, but I know you've always been very like approach it a different perspective, approach it gently, address it. As your thick as your skin become thicker over the years, where it's kinda like, this is what I do, this is what you're paying me for. Yeah. Because you would adapt a lot before. I'm gonna be honest, you would. And yeah, I l I loved you for it and I did see it and it was a good result. But like, do you feel like you operate a little bit different now that you'd run a business? Speaker 1: Yeah. for sure. I agree with you. Like I I mean I'm a Scorpio, I take everything to heart, you know what I mean? And that was hard as a business owner. You have clients that walk away from jobs for whatever reason. I always took it personally. You know, I didn't look at it like they're just not seeing the vision on our end or we're not seeing eye to eye for whatever reason, whether it's pricing or whatnot. But I ha I've learned over time I guess that it's not personal. Do you know what I mean? Like so I've grown thicker skin that way. And but I also feel like, you know, sometimes yes, you have a rough day and you take it out on the trades or you're a bit rough with the homeowners. I feel like I kinda like the way I am because I can reign you in and be like, Hey man, I know you're upset, but you can't do that. You know what I mean? Like Speaker 2: ⁓ do you think that now that you've become a little more resistant, that bleeds into like your personal life? Like say like with a friend. Go back when you're working a full-time job, you're very soft, sentimental, like Speaker 1: Well Still like to believe that. Speaker 2: No, but you know what I mean though like and then now at work you've like you know your stand, you know your criteria, you know like your core values. So you're working with the client, like this is how I operate, you've hired me, this is how we're doing it. Do you feel like that goes into like the kids or friends? So say you have a friend and they're like, Hey, this is the situation I have, you're a little more blunt into the point because you're like, I'm not gonna dance around this. Speaker 1: I do I do feel like I am that way, although I I think it has nothing to do with me being a business owner, but rather getting older. You know, like I I remember being younger, seeing older people like, ⁓ my god, I can't believe they could say that out loud. Like they're just so blunt. And as I get older, I'm like, you know what, I'm starting to get there. Like I have less patience for stupidity, I have less patience for people in general. I would never say anything in my younger days. I'd just be like, ⁓ gosh, and just walk away. Now I'm just kinda like, you know what? No. That's not cool. Speaker 2: Key is get old. That is if you want to enjoy life and not care. Older, sorry, older No one's old here. Older. Older, yeah. and do you believe in work life balance? I don't. I think it's a crock of shit. I think anyone that says I work life balance is full of shit. I think people that are successful in business and say, ⁓ I work life balance. Let me spend time with my family. Like, well, you're not building your business, it's running itself. So you're not balancing the two. Speaker 1: Not old. Speaker 2: And anyone that's all into their business saying, ⁓ I still spend time with my family. If you're building a business, I don't believe you can have work-life balance. Like that's my opinion on it. Like just to be very blunt, put it out there. I really want everyone to feel like yeah, exact that's exactly why I wanted to ask. Speaker 1: I mean, you don't think you have work-life balance, but I know you do, because if you didn't, our kids would never see. But our kids would never see you. Like, I mean, we work hard, yes, especially you, I would say. But you also spend time with the kids. We vacation as a family, you know, we go camping in the summertime. That's the balance. You're doing it without even thinking it. Because you're not doing it consciously. Speaker 2: Yeah. Speaker 1: But it's it's you're balancing it all the same. Speaker 2: But there's times when like y s use camping as an example, right? We'd go camping and everyone'll be up having a coffee and I'm sitting by a picnic table on my laptop working while we're out camping. See they won't look Speaker 1: balance. You're still with your family. The kids are sleeping, so it's not like they're like, Daddy, come play with us, you know what I mean? Speaker 2: Even if we're out for dinner with the family or something, I'm plucking away on my phone. See, Pete, this is where I'm not understanding the work like that's because I'm like, I'm out with my family, I'm present. I've never had my kids call my name and maybe not address them. Speaker 1: Yes, there's times on our trips, let's say we're camping, where you do work. But those are usually the times where everyone is still asleep or people are busy doing other things. When it counts, when we're making dinner, when we're at the beach, when we're by the fire, you don't do that. That's the balance, you know? So no, you don't shut it off for the whole weekend, but you do choose wisely in when you're shutting it off throughout the weekend. Does that make sense? Speaker 2: Yeah, and I just had a conversation with another business owner and we were talking for a couple hours and work-life balance came up. And one thing I told him is like you gotta take something off your plate to put it on. And I decided, for instance, like taking sleep off my plate to put on time with you and Sophia when we go to the gym at 5 30 in the morning. Yeah. Now I don't believe I have work-life balance, but I make sacrifices based on trying to create work-life balance. Now that day I might not be home till like six o'clock at night or five thirty or whatever it is, but I got up the extra hour early and went to the gym with you guys. And that hour I lose at n at night, I'm spending in the morning. But people, I find a lot of people when they look at work-life balance, they're like, they compare it to a nine to five. Yeah. And they're very like, to have work-life balance, you work at nine, come home at five, and the rest of the time is just your time. And I strongly believe you can blend the two. And I think that's what makes a relationship good. And I'm hoping people that are listening are realizing like you're gonna need to do that to build success, build stability, but at the same time have sacrifice. It comes with both. It's a very blended, foggy kind of situation, I think. And I don't think it's ever perfect, but Speaker 1: I think this is one of those things there is no right answer. You know, this works for us and we're happy doing it because of the way that we are. There's no formula that works for every couple. You know, they could take the exact same advice and do it the exact same way we do, but their personalities are different, the way they perceive things are different, their fears are different, so it won't work. There's there's no Book to be written that solves everybody's problem. I think you it's more important that you find someone that's gonna work with you in the way you are and you have the same goals. ⁓ but if you have two couples that will never see eye to eye, this will never work, no matter what advice you give them, you know? So Speaker 2: And that's what I want to touch on. At the beginning the episode, like I said, I go, I want this episode to open conversations with couples. Yeah. Because we've been through like the ups and downs. Yeah. Like there's days where like I promised myself I'd become vulnerable on camera. And I'm gonna say, like, we're out for dinner as a family, and you're like, hey, let's all go for dinner. And I'm like, fuck, like, am I even gonna make payroll this week? And I gotta we gotta go for dinner now. And I didn't want to say no. Yeah. Because I want to create that lifestyle and that time with our family, because we don't do much as a family. We we vacation, but it's like camp six, seven times throughout the summer, right? And then maybe we'll go on a vacation, like stuff like that, where I'm like, I want to provide those situations with it. And I'm hoping people are having those conversations with each other where it's kind of like times are gonna get tough because I think we've gone through those times. Yeah, I mean, like we've gone through those weeks and where we've had to cut our payback, where we've had to like scale back and say, hey, that we can't do this right now. Like, yeah, and Speaker 1: I think that's any entrepreneur that's starting out, right? Speaker 2: But that's what I want this episode to be is that they can talk to their spouse about it. Yeah. There's been times where I've turned to you and I just like say, fuck, like it's not gonna work. Like I can't figure it out. And you give me the baby, you'll you always figure it out. ⁓ you'll do it. Or and it lights a fire in my ass, right? But there are those hard times where like, sure, we're sitting here with a bunch of cameras set up and a videographer and lights set on us. No, but it it's cool that we can hear this now, but like it's not rainbows. Speaker 1: We haven't always been here. Speaker 2: Yeah, it's not all rainbows and sunshines and truthfully like it all comes back to communication. Yeah. It all boils back to like us knowing each other, us adapting to each other, us kinda rolling like with the punches ultimately. Because I feel like we've had the shit kicked out of us multiple times. Even today, like to to the date. I'm like, is it are we gonna win finally? And I think that goes back to what you were saying about having bigger goals and like expecting more in the next five years is like Speaker 1: Yeah. Speaker 2: I don't see what winning is anymore. I feel like I'm blind by it and you come in and show me, like, hey, babe, like this is winning. And I'm like, ⁓ shit. Like I never thought about that. Like, yeah, good perspective. But I think because being the visionary, I feel like we're constantly getting beat up and knocked down and we're always behind, or we're never gonna be enough. Yeah. Because the goalposts are getting moved so quickly, so far ahead, which like puts little things in my mind where it's like. like topics I wanted to ask you about was like decision making. Like I actually think to myself, I'm like, Am I making the right decision? And you don't mean it, how many decisions do I make in today? A thousand? Speaker 1: thing about decision making is you never know if it's the right one until after you made it. Speaker 2: Yeah, right. Speaker 1: So it's that risk and yeah. But I always go back to, you know, you talk about success in a financial way. And I get that's the way that you operate. ⁓ to me, success isn't always financial. Like, yes, you need money to pay your bills, you need money to eat, you need money to go on fancy vacations or whatnot. To me, success is we have two kids that are s that are, you know, healthy and we dreamed for this one day. When we you and I men, this was our dream. And now we're living in it and it's like, I'm gonna get all emotional. So now we're living in it and it's like, ⁓ well I want bigger. You know, I think sometimes people need to take a break and say, Let's appreciate what we have for it 'cause this was our dream once upon it. Speaker 2: Time. Well, it's like we were talking about the other day with the good old days, right? Like when kids were small, like they're driving us crazy, they're loud, they're obnoxious. But it's like now we talk, and I'm like, ⁓ the good old days when the kids are small, right? Yeah. Right now we're living five years from now's good old days. And you're not embracing it. But I feel like because of my mindset, I'm constantly chasing what's next. Because truthfully, I know you want to appreciate what's here today, but I don't feel like we'd have what's here today if I didn't have the mindset of tomorrow. That's where it's at hard bound. Speaker 1: And I get that. And I'm to one day we're gonna be somewhere else going, Man, we dreamt of this. Yeah. I just think while you're dreaming it, you gotta stop and take those moments of like, let's take a moment to celebrate what we have here, you know, to appreciate where we've come, enjoy the moment just for a second, and then move on and you know, keep dreaming the big dream. Speaker 2: And I feel like I feel like that's where we balance each other really well because I feel like I'm always five years ahead, right? I feel like I was always like six months ahead or you know, three months ahead. And now that I see what five years can do, I'm like, now five years is like a minimum. Not even worried about tomorrow. I'm worried five years from now. Yeah. And I think that's where we're really good at balancing ourselves because like you're good at living in the moment. Yeah. I'm horrible at it. Yeah. I'm like head down, shutters on, and just move forward. Yeah. And you create that work life balance on the back end like we're talking about you do that 70 when I do the 30 at home that creates the right now moment. Even like cooking dinner and sitting at the table together or something like that. Like that's what makes it really cool that we have that balance. And I think having a spouse that can acknowledge that, because I can acknowledge that. Right. And I'm like I look at it as like I need to create the financial freedom to allow us have the family time, to have the vacation, to have stuff like that. But then when we're there, I'm looking at what's the next vacation, what's the next trip we can do. But then you look at that reward. Speaker 1: When you do it that way, you never get to take that moment of like, I got it. And then okay, let's keep going. Speaker 2: And that's where think you you come in really well. It's kind of like we're on that vacation. You're like, hey, babe, let's go and do this with the kids. I'm like, Yeah, you know what, let's do that, right? And sure, yeah, I might have my phone on me or whatever, but you do that 70%, which glues it all together, right? Like I'll bring the puzzle pieces, but like you literally glue that all together where it's like when we're in the moment, you really embrace the moment. So like when we're in moments like that and everything, like what's your perspective on like decision making? Like, when do you turn around and say, No, you know what? This is a in the moment kind of thing. I think I know big moment. One is like dinner for you, right? Yeah. And it's and we decide if we're all hull, we sit together, we have dinner, right? Like, are there certain points when we're in the hustle and bustle where like you sit there and think, like, okay, hold on, we need to think this through. And not with like me or anything like that, like with the kids. Like, do you ever have decision-making moment where it's like, you know, we haven't done anything with them in a while? Like, what are your benchmarks when you create Speaker 1: No, but I think it's a big one. ⁓ Speaker 2: that in the moment thing. Is it like a timeline? Like, hey, we haven't done anything with them like bigger in six months, or it's kind like every day you try to make a conscious decision of like, let's spend 15 minutes with our kids or half an hour with our kids or anything like that. Speaker 1: try to do it every day, but you know, some days are so busy and the kids are busy and we're busy and you know we don't line up. But I find as they're getting older, I feel this pressure of like, we really gotta spend that time because like they're gonna fly then out of the nest soon. You know what I mean? And this is what we've been training for and this is what we've been raising them to do and we want them to be successful and independent. But When they get to be those teenage years where it's like one's going off to university soon, you start to have these like, did I spend enough time with them? Did I do everything I wanted to do? You know, so then it's like this pressure of like, we should book another vacation and like have one last hurrah before they're off to school or whatever. Like Speaker 2: Yeah, it's like living life in the present but appreciated in the past, right? Exactly. ⁓ now with the kids. How much do you think our kids have taken from what we go through day to day and it's built their personality around it? Like how much of them are molded based on Speaker 1: I'll tell you that. So I love this story. ⁓ I was sitting down with Aiden because he's gonna be going to university in like a year and half and we're just talking about what he wants to do for a living. And what a thing he said, he's like, you know, mom, I've realized that I like the finer things in life, so I have to have a good job to have these things, right? Right. And I think that that is molded by who we are and providing for the family and like doing those things. I mean, we're not rich. It's not like we're eating caviar or anything like that. But our kids have nice clothes and, you know, they get what they want. And he's acknowledged that now we've created this little human who likes these things and wants to continue his life having those things. So now he's choosing his career wisely, ensuring that, you know, yes, he's gonna be happy, but also it's gonna put the same type of food or the same clothes on his back when he's independent and on his own. Speaker 2: In personal traits, do you think they've picked up anything with us where let's use an example, like I know we have a lot of friends where they're like, Get off your phone, get off your phone to their kids, right? I think we're pretty lax on it. And I don't think we do scroll very much though in front of our kids. We don't, right? So I feel like when our kids are on their phones, like they're pretty good at not being on the phones when we ask them not to be. No. Kind of thing. But do you think that's become a I guess a subconscious trait because like we're always on our phones, but when we're on our phones we're practical. We're doing something. We're working, we're doing this, we're doing that. It's not like they're asking us for food and we're just in there scrolling, yeah, yeah, we'll eat later. Like we we never do that. But do you feel like they're picking up traits and personality traits that kind of piggyback off the way we operate that way? I'm just using the phone as an example, but I'm saying like being punctual, being like respectful to people, being like Speaker 1: Me la tiende de ser. Speaker 2: I know lot of those are just like teach your kids not to be an asshole, but yeah, yeah. Like being business owners and having two business owners be parents, like what are key trades that you think our kids in our actual like real life situation have adapted by us being business owners? Like what are big things that you've noticed are like and not the like finer things in life or I want a job that can pay me that like decisions they make day to day, do you see anything in them that 'Cause I can think of a few but I want to see where you're gonna go with this. Speaker 1: I mean I do. I'd have to like think about it really. I th you know, teenagers are tricky 'cause they're teenagers at the end of the day. We've all been a teenager and like, God bless my mom, she survived. But I think it's one of those things you're really gonna see when they're on their own, you know? Like yes, there's examples that I can bring up that we see every day that, you know, they're hardworking and they try really hard at school and they care about their marks and those are the equivalent of us in our business. You know what I mean? Yeah. So we see that every day. But at the end of the day, like, are they always punctual? Well no, they're teenagers, you know? Like and I I know it's a poor excuse, but I was a teenager once and I wasn't always on time everywhere I went, or little things like that. But now as an adult, I am. And I'm so like to me that is so important. Because it was drilled into me when I was a kid. So I'm hoping that when the kids move out and they're on their own, we're really gonna see those traits come out. Do you not? Speaker 2: I find with our kids like I think it's the HRA because they're thinking about careers, right? And even talking to their friends, I find all their friends are very like and it's nothing wrong with it, but they're very employment based. Yeah. You know, I want to be a cop. I want to be a doctor. I want to be an astrophysicist. I want to be everything as an employable job, right? And both our kids have gone right on the left field. It wasn't even an option. It was straight out like, this is what I want to do. I'll work for someone, but how do I start my own business out again? And I don't know if you noticed that, but Lily, Aiden and Sophia were both that direction where they're like, I want to run my own business. Yeah. This is what I'll learn. This is the pain I'll go through to learn it. But at the end, the end result is to have my own business. And I think that's a direct, I guess, relation to the way we live our lives because they've seen running your own business what it can do. Right. And my biggest worry is like we hide a lot of the like shit kicking from them. Yeah. Which I'm hoping in the next few years now that they're older. I can start I guess showing them like it does suck. Yeah. Like literally out of three hundred and sixty five days, three hundred and sixty five Speaker 1: The thing is no one told us it sucks. No one told us the shit kicking we'd have to do. We learned it on our own. We don't think No, because I feel like then you're gonna make them either you're kinda persuading them not to do it, you know? And I maybe they won't have as much shit to kick as we did. I don't know, but ⁓ something I think they gotta figure out on their own. Because if you tell them like, ⁓ man, it's so hard, but the reward's great, you know, kids naturally think, ⁓ hard, never mind, I want the easy route. That's the generation that these kids are coming from. Everything is the easy, fastest way possible. And you tell them anything. Speaker 2: Isn't that the equivalent having a mentor that would turn to you and say, hey, this is gonna suck? Speaker 1: No, you let them start the business and when they're like, ⁓ man, I'm in a rut, okay, what can I do to help you? You know, or like I I wouldn't discourage them from starting it. I would help them once they're there and they're going through those hurdles and they need help. You know what I mean? 'Cause I think if someone came to us and said, Are you sure you want to start a business? This is all the stuff you're gonna have to hurdle through, I'll tell you right now, I'd probably be like, Forget it, never mind. Speaker 2: I see what you're saying, yeah. Speaker 1: You know, I'm here today because no one told me that. And yeah, like obviously we have common sense and we knew there would be issues, but if they told us all the crap that we had to go through, I don't think I'd be here. And I don't want to discourage them from doing that. Speaker 2: Yeah, there's I think it's the problems that we're facing right now where we're at a bigger scale business that I wouldn't expect to deal with these problems. Yeah, like because there's other problems now where I'm not worried about bringing home my paycheck. No. I'm worried about bringing home other people's paychecks. I'm worried about keeping a roof over the head, I'm worried about maintenance, I'm worried about safety. Like there's other things I'm worried about that I never thought I'd be worried about. The first pain s pain struggles in business I knew I'd deal with long hours, work hard, yeah, back field. Speaker 1: Sounds right. Speaker 2: Common sense, right? But the other problems that we're dealing with now is like the different problems, right? Which I didn't expect to do. But back to the kids. Give me one trait that you want them to get out of watching us grow and scale businesses, and one trait you don't want them to get. So I think that's gonna be the hard one. I really want people like I really want people out there that are having kids or already have kids that are running a business like to look at it and say like yeah you know what this is something I want to start drilling my kids or no you know what this is something I need to hide from my kids because they're right, I never thought of it like that. Speaker 1: I want them to both be proud of what they do, regardless of what, like, you know, whether it's your own business or if you are an employee for a big company or a small company, be proud of everything you do. You know, take pride in what you do. Be proud. Love your job. Like, I mean, I don't know. Work hard, I guess. They all go kind of hand in hand. I don't want them to be lazy. Speaker 2: No but no, what trait do you want them not to adapt from Speaker 1: ⁓ so I don't know. Speaker 2: I want our kids, I don't want them to adapt my very short fuse, fast paced patience. Like my patience is like I I like I'm at the point where I don't even care to ask someone how they are if I generally don't care how they're doing. Because that wastes time in my day. Like Speaker 1: Yeah. Yeah. Your social skills. Speaker 2: Yeah, no, but honestly, like that's one trait. Like I know it's got me too far by operating at that high capacity. But I'm generally at the point where like when I see someone, I you get a head nod and that's it, because I have so little time in a day where and I don't want them to adapt and become that yeah rigid. But in turn, but I'm like, I want them to be able to be that rigid, but not let it become Speaker 1: Don't want that for that. Speaker 2: that. Yeah. Like I feel like it's already become me. So there's like that's just the way I am. I'm trying to change. Well you know this here. Like I you how much time this is a reason this is happening. You you've turned to me and said you don't know how to have a conversation. No. You've literally turned to me and said, what is wrong with you? You can't converse with someone. So I'm like fuck it, let's start a podcast. No. I have to talk to someone at that point, right? So I don't want them to become that person where they're that rigid on their time or anything like that. But I do want them to be able to be like that for that when they're in that season of life they need to be. Yeah. They can be. Does that make sense? No. Speaker 1: I'm just excited to see what human beings they turn out like. Speaker 2: Okay, like there's days. There's days where I'm like, I don't know, like we knew the right like but ⁓ pretty good. Is there anything else you wanna touch on? Because I think that was a wicked episode. I think that calls for part number two. Yeah, I know I think this is part two should have fun be done so Speaker 1: Yeah. No. I'm good. Speaker 2: Okay, perfect. So another episode. ⁓ that one was really cool. I had a lot of fun with that. I really appreciate you coming on. Like that was really cool. I know, right? Basically custom interiors. yeah, so all in all, like I really wanted to become vulnerable. I want to bring on someone that knows me inside out. I wanted to open up to people, talk about the struggles, but most importantly, like you can make it work as a couple. Speaker 1: Excited to be your first guest. Speaker 2: You literally can like run a business together, have a good life, raise kids. There's days it fucking sucks. Like truthfully, there's days it sucks. There's days where you're like, ⁓ my God, I can't believe I didn't do this sooner. I generally believe if you're doing it now, now's the time to do it because what you've learned prior to this is what's molded you to be able to do this. But like open communication, we touched on that today. We touched about ⁓ knowing the other person. We touched about aligning goals, we touched about balancing each other. There's so much stuff in this episode. I hope someone gets something out of it. Besides that, forget the noise podcast. Another episode coming up soon. Can't wait.