Being Boss with Emily + Kathleen

#123 - Evolving Your Business with Elizabeth Dehn

May 09, 2017 Emily Thompson and Kathleen Shannon
Being Boss with Emily + Kathleen
#123 - Evolving Your Business with Elizabeth Dehn
Show Notes Transcript

When it comes time to evolve and shift your business, how do you handle the transition gracefully without getting scattered and spread thin? Elizabeth Dehn of Beauty Bets joins us on the Being Boss Podcast to share her experience of building a successful beauty website and how she's working on expanding into podcasting and transitioning her content to focus on holistic healing and a little bit of woo. Sponsored by Freshbooks Cloud Accounting and Meet Edgar.

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Kathleen Shannon:

Hello, and welcome to being boss,

Emily Thompson:

a podcast for creative entrepreneurs. I'm Emily Thompson.

Kathleen Shannon:

And I'm Kathleen Shannon.

Elizabeth Dehn:

I'm Elizabeth Dean, and I'm being bought.

Kathleen Shannon:

Hey guys, we are talking to entrepreneur Elizabeth beam, about evolving your business, serving your creativity first and making transitions that don't often feel clear cut. As always, you can find all the tools, books and links we referenced on the show notes at WWW dot being bussed club.

Emily Thompson:

What if you could write a bucket of really witty Facebook posts sharing really great content that not only went out every Monday for the next two months, but then once it was done, it started all over again recycling your fab content to your people, allowing all your new followers to see it for the first time and giving your old followers the chance to get your insights again. Well, you can. And Edgar a social media scheduling tool is how you do it. never run out of things to post and have your scheduler automatically create a queue of your content for your social media platforms. Hello, working smarter not harder. Try Edgar for two weeks free no credit card required@www.ni edgar.com slash being boss.

Kathleen Shannon:

Born and raised in Minneapolis by surprisingly low maintenance parents Elizabeth Dean aka Betts spent her awkward years buying mood lipstick and whipping up DIY face masks before founding beauty bets in 2009 as a way to share candid product reviews and trusted beauty advice with discerning readers everywhere. Since then, beauty bets has evolved into an inspirational space where Elisabeth's obsession with finding the perfect red lipstick and banishing her sunspots, once and for all, is surpassed only by her collection of self help books and her commitment to helping others achieve self love and acceptance. So Elizabeth, we are so stoked to have you on the show you seem like a multi passionate, high vibing creative entrepreneurs. So let's start off by just telling our listeners who you are and what you're all about. Give us a little bit of your journey to becoming a creative.

Elizabeth Dehn:

Thank you so much for having me. Oh, my journey to becoming a creative. You know, I really pushed up against that journey early on. I thought I had to choose pads, am I creative? Or am I going to be a doctor, lawyer accountant, something in that very sort of what felt like a safe, stable realm. And so I've really found that blogging social media, this very virtual world we now live in, has made it possible for me to really live in my left and right brain and not feel like I have to choose. It's been really liberating. So I finally feel like I fit in after all these years. The process, the career trajectory, if you will, has been really a traditional corporate communication setting I worked for target I worked for Northwest Airlines. And and then I got burnt out and went back to my journalism roots and started writing for magazines. And in 2009 as a quote unquote creative outlet, I decided to start a blog because there were these things called blogs, and I didn't know what they were and everyone was doing them. So that was that was beauty bats, which is still in existence. And I kind of threw it up there hoping my mom and friends would read it. And, and, and it really took off quickly. And so I was able to go out on my own and it's been a wild ride ever since.

Kathleen Shannon:

So along with writing about beauty, you are blogging there, but you're also like, it seems like you're also like really into some self help. Tell us a little bit about that.

Elizabeth Dehn:

I am a self help junkie. And I fully admit that and I'm sure that has a tendency to sound also self absorbed. But really, it's been it started out as as work for me. I was interviewing healers, I was digging into these topics like acupuncture and and 10 years ago, people weren't talking about that, let alone doing that on Friday nights for happy hour. So it started off as a curiosity. And I loved it. It all rubbed off on me. I felt like I was with my people. When I was among these these healers and it really became so much a part of my life that I have kind of an unsafe ship and unsatiable insatiable appetite. tight. for, for, for why we're here and how to learn ourselves. That is the lifelong journey, in my opinion. So that's, that's become, I guess a part of my life and less really, I don't even think of it as work anymore. I think about it as, as one reason why I'm here. And I love bridging the gap with people who are new to all that woowoo curious about it kind of wigged out by it. And these healers who are notoriously terrible at promoting themselves because they think they're on this planet to take care of us. And God forbid they make any money. And God forbid that they talk about themselves. And I just want to grab everyone's hand and pull them together in some sort of like full moon goddess circle and get the word out.

Emily Thompson:

So okay, I need a couple dots connected to you because you were working at Target and Northwest Airlines, just starting a beauty blog to you know, helping self help people do their thing. So like, what are some key moments that shook you from like corporate to blog, and then blog to the things that you're doing now?

Elizabeth Dehn:

I hope my mother's listening, she's probably wondering the same thing.

Kathleen Shannon:

In other words, what is it that you do and how did you get there?

Elizabeth Dehn:

It all makes sense in hindsight to me, so Okay, biggies. I really liked being a corporate girl. I thought, I'm going to work and I'm going to be in the boardroom someday. I was a total academic overachiever. And I had great experiences at Target. I also had that sort of like, okay, you you really love to write, you like to tell stories. And I love beautiful things I love this is back in the day before there was Pinterest before we all just had access. And so when I had the opportunity to go work as a lifestyle editor, I jumped on it, I just got this is this is one of those, this is just a fun job that I get to go do here in Minneapolis, and really support all of these beautiful stores and spas and makers and, and so it was just fun. It was just so fun. And I don't think you can say that about every job. All my dog is with me now. Um, so so I built up this readership and was doing TV and radio and the beauty piece and the wellness piece. What were what really got me out of bed in the morning.

Emily Thompson:

And so were you doing the blog at the same time that you were doing this job? Or did the blog come later?

Unknown:

Or the blog was your job was like well, editor a job or your blog?

Elizabeth Dehn:

Yes, I yes to I was a lifestyle editor at a city magazine here in Minneapolis. Okay. And so I need to get my elevator, pitch down, I haven't interviewed for a job and so on. So, so I started a blog beauty bats while I was a magazine editor. And really to, I felt like as this communication professional, so I was what maybe 10 years into my career more than 10 years into my into my career, that I just needed to teach myself, social media and blogging to keep up as a communication professional. I just I did not know what these things meant yet, and that I could do them as as a profession. So I started this blog, and I when I meet with younger people who want to start a blog, I am the first to admit I had an edge because I had all the PR contacts. I already was getting product. I already had this platform on TV and radio and a magazine. And so it was it was fairly, it was pretty easy for me to just kind of get my blog out there early on. And I got a lot of support locally, and then that just sort of snowballed nationally. So where where are we going from here? So I blogged for a number of years as well as I continue to freelance for publications. And in both of those ventures, they all live together you know, they all really I felt like that print digital, it's all kind of like my calling card, all of those things are connected. And the wellness piece and the self help piece were have always been a part of the beauty blog and my writing. So I just was doing a lot of coverage of self help and wellness at the same time. And, and as I've evolved in my interests, I care far less about the latest eyeshadow color Then I do, you know, Gabrielle Bernstein's latest book. And my readers have really evolved with me or some of them have probably fallen off as a result. But there's plenty of awesome, you know, makeup swatches out there for you as well. So. So that's where we are,

Kathleen Shannon:

it's one thing that's really standing out to me is the overlap, like how things kind of more from one thing enough to another, not only in the in the job and in how you make money, but also in the content that you're sharing and how you're sharing it. And so one of the things that Emily and I are constantly trying to hammer into our listeners who are working a day job is to at least be working a day job that supports the skills that you want to learn. And it sounds like you really did that going from Target to then lifestyle editor to then forming your own blog as a way to practice. But then it became this thing, while at the same time your content is evolving and morphing right there alongside with you.

Elizabeth Dehn:

Absolutely. And it's so funny. When I talk to people who are in this creative space, or they want to make something and they want to have this, this platform. It's okay. But but they're you know, they're an engineer, or they work in marketing. And I say, okay, but are you writing? Who are you writing for fun? Are you writing as a volunteer? You don't have to wait to to have this this big platform and be famous already. But you got to be doing it as part of your day. And isn't that the ultimate test of how much you actually like doing it? I mean, yes. Oh,

Emily Thompson:

I love that so much. Because they think of like all the creatives who are afraid of taking the leap. Like there's that one moment where they go from one life to the next. And we really think about like that, that scary shit for sure. But if you do think about it as this like gradual phasing in and out from one thing that you're doing to the other, it's so much more manageable and easy to swallow.

Kathleen Shannon:

So you guys, can I share a secret?

Elizabeth Dehn:

Okay with the world?

Emily Thompson:

Yes, the world.

Kathleen Shannon:

I think I want to start personal blogging again. And I didn't think I would talk about this. But it's, you know, in hearing your story, Elizabeth, part of my path over the past few years has gone from blogging to building a branding studio to then starting being boss. And I miss blogging, and I'm kind of back to the point where I don't care if anybody reads it, not even my mother. I just feel like capturing and shaping and sharing who I am in the moment is what helps me live and create the life that I want to live in create. And I've got it covered on the business front. We're doing it here at being boss. And we're very candid about the businesses that we're building as we're building them. But the life stuff, I miss the life stuff. And so I guess my question for you is even in that vein of blogging, I'm not a newbie by any means. But it almost feels like I've been like a free version nicer, right?

Emily Thompson:

Would that be great if that word?

Unknown:

I don't think I want to be leverage tonight, right?

Emily Thompson:

Sure.

Kathleen Shannon:

I like it. But but so I guess my question for you is just thinking about blogging. You know, is that something that you continue to have energy around? Are you feeling the urge to go to different platforms? Or do you have roots now and blogging that you want to stick with you? What do you think about someone starting a blog for the first time and not necessarily mean with his personal blog, but blogging in general? And starting now? What

Elizabeth Dehn:

do you think? Well, first, I just want to commend you on doing something purely because you want to do it not because it has some sort of quantifiable, you know, productivity driven end game. I mean, that that's one of my biggest takeaways from from the last decade of self help is, is why are we spending our time on something? Is it really making us feel good? Or is it because we think it's something we're supposed to do? So just right, I mean, that in itself, the act of doing something that you enjoy for no other reason is the is a beautiful thing. It's why we're here so. So if you are excited about writing a blog, you or anyone listening, then start a blog, no matter what, you're not going to monetize it, you're not going to turn it into a business unless you just really effing want to write a blog. So I after what, eight nine years, am pretty burnt out on writing blogs, I have reinvented it so many times. It got it got good again for me when I started getting more personal. I thought I was being personal by sharing opinions about beauty products and treatments. But when I really started talking about myself Which was the last thing I really thought I wanted to do. That's when everyone just kind of like jumped on board again. Because people really want to feel close to you. It's it's an interesting thing. So now, that's all I think that I'll keep doing that. But I, I needed a reboot for myself and I was talking to it was interviewing all these people. And I felt like I couldn't capture the conversations in full without moving it into podcast. And so you know, now now you're I mean, this is something you're leading, and I'm new to it, we're just in season one of healers, and I am in heaven, being able to facilitate the conversation with people who are so inspiring to me, and not, you know, sit there and talk about myself and have to come up with new content, because it's just, it's just, it's we're just, they're just overflowing with with value added content for listeners. So So I think, you know, I'm still blogging, but this is a been a really wonderful supplement.

Kathleen Shannon:

Emily, and I talk a lot about the difference between writing and podcasting. And I feel like early in our podcasting days, we almost wanted to pit them against each other like, oh, man, podcasting is where it's at, because you get these real conversations and real connections. And our listeners can't see this. But we're actually Skyping with our podcast guests, because it really is like a real conversation. Yet with writing, we're able to say exactly what we want to say we're able to hit Delete on a sentence, we're able to massage a sentence for I don't know, three hours. Yeah, we're saying exactly what we want to say. And so there's this kind of candidness to podcast, but I think that both really do you support each other. So I'm really curious to see where your blog ends up going. And kind of what you learn from the podcast. I mean, if anything, I feel like podcasting has helped me find my voice in a new way whenever it comes to writing and I don't think that I'd want to blog again, if I hadn't been so candidly having these conversations with Emily and our guests on the podcast. Okay. So Elizabeth, you've got your podcast, which is called healers, correct? Correct. And then you've got your blog called beauty butts.

Unknown:

Yeah, correct.

Kathleen Shannon:

Yes. Okay. So here's really like, the branding professional in me is like, red alarms going off. Yeah, right. Or at least, you know, or even the creative in me that has lots of different interests. And we all know, Emily's like, chasing the shiny things.

Emily Thompson:

I love shiny things, guys don't play.

Kathleen Shannon:

But I think what we're both probably curious about at this point is how you blend those interests into, if not one cohesive brand, at least like how do you compartmentalize it or combine it in your brain to make sense of it all and to not feel scattered or spread then are overwhelmed by all the things

Elizabeth Dehn:

I feel scattered, spread thin and overwhelmed by all the things right now? And you're asking the million dollar question and, and honestly, that I've had this beauty brand for so long. And the podcast, which subject matter wise, isn't a huge departure because I like I said, I've been writing about these people, but just not putting it into this healing context. And so I decided to experiment with this podcast, do a season one, see how it felt, and then go from there with how to connect those dots or, you know, combine the two. And that was a that was an exercise in restraint for me. And in not trying to make everything perfect out of the gate, I just cut myself a little slack, for better or worse. I'm sure that's not how a branding consultant when necessary, telling me how to do it. But for this, my sanity, and to really focus on these interviews instead of on all the surround for once that felt like a luxury to me to make it about the content, and not about getting my you know, my suite of logos and setting up all new social media channels. And so, and that's, you know, I'm gonna have to cross that bridge at some point. But I have this built in, you know, readership, and followers and over 5 million Pinterest followers in particular. And so I don't want to just throw that all out and start over. So maybe this, maybe I'm due for a consult

Unknown:

with some eggs. Let's

Kathleen Shannon:

do that right now.

Unknown:

Yeah, well,

Emily Thompson:

but before we do that, I do want to mention that like, on the outside, people rarely see us looking as scattered as we feel on the inside. And that's something like whenever I'm consulting with people, and they're like, oh, but I have these multiple things. And I feel like everyone thinks I'm a hot mess because I have all of these things. Most people Thinking that hard about it. And so you know, you say that you feel scattered and, and spread thin. But you look like you're just doing work that you love doing. And I think I think there's something to be said about you really not looking as scattered and spread thin as you feel on the inside, just do the thing. Well,

Elizabeth Dehn:

thank you so much. Makes me feel better.

Kathleen Shannon:

Though I think that sometimes it shows up in our bottom line, if people are confused, or if our expertise is diffused, and people don't know how to hire you, or sponsor you or engage with you. I think that's where sometimes that scattered ness can show up. So don't freak out. Elizabeth, I'm not telling you that you're going to be broke because of this. But I I kind of ride both lines of this. So for example, I'm about to launch or relaunch my personal blog, and sing launches. That's pretty grandiose, because it's probably just going to quietly go live one day, and people will notice or they won't. But I kind of started to change my mind after reading Big Magic. Have you

Elizabeth Dehn:

guys read that book? No, but I want to,

Emily Thompson:

it's why I want to hold on to all the shiny things.

Kathleen Shannon:

What I really took away from that book is really serving your creativity first. And that's what you're talking about here, Elizabeth. But I also think that there's this aspect of Okay, if you can just lay a little bit of groundwork to connect dots. Before you it's probably like building a house, I come up with the worst metaphors, you guys but you're laying your foundation, maybe figure out where the bathrooms gonna go before you lay the foundation. So you can get the pipes in place rather than having to drill through the concrete and relay those pipes after you've done that, right. I mean, that's kind of how I feel sometimes whenever I'm thinking about what I'm going to do next, and how I'm going to blend it all together or keep it separate. You know, maybe I'm not building maybe I'm building a guest house out back.

Unknown:

Right, right,

Emily Thompson:

yet without a slab foundation.

Kathleen Shannon:

So I just think it's really important for our listeners to hear that, man, we don't always have it figured out how everything is going to work together to be this one perfect brand or niche or, you know, monetizable product,

Emily Thompson:

right? We just do it. But I do love how you Elizabeth did put in some did put in some thought in terms of, you know, you're going to launch this podcast, but you're not going to have all new social handles. Like there was some like strategic planning that went into it. Because I don't know, I love the idea of like, the minimal viable product and setting up all of the things for a podcast you were just starting would not have been as minimal as just using what you already have. So I love all of it.

Elizabeth Dehn:

No, but there's also you know, there's something energetically about not being all in. And oh, yeah. And I'm aware of that. And so I've got this, you know, beauty vehicle that does pay the bills, and I've folded the podcast under that umbrella. So there's a redirect and every all the content lives on beauty beds. And because that's those are my those are, that's my community, that's where they are. But now, there are new people in this healing community. And they are they don't even know who beauty beds is. And they don't know me in that capacity. And so I have to think about them. And I have to think about when who do I want calling me Do I want someone calling me to host a beauty event at Nordstrom, which I love you Nordstrom? Or do I want to be going to Psalm retreat on an island and talking about self care. And I've got, I'm gonna get the one that I that I put out there, like I'm gonna manifest this by how I present myself to the world. So I'm glad you're bringing it up. It's definitely like, you know, making my heart beat a little bit faster. But I still want to live this, this belief that I'm taking it one day at a time to one day at a time. This is what it's like to work with me and

Kathleen Shannon:

Emily's gonna make your heart beat a little faster. So you know, I want to talk a little bit more about this energy of being all in though, because this is something that trips me up all the time. And Emily, I'm curious to hear what you think as well, because you both have a couple of businesses. And it's really hard to figure out like where you're putting your energy and I see it two ways and both ways are totally opposite. One is whenever you're not all in so for example, with being boss, whenever we launched this podcast, we were not like 100% being boss. And I feel like in a lot of ways that took off the pressure to make it I don't know, profitable, for example, but then also to make it something larger than life which is what it became and so sometimes I credit not being all in to The ease that came with it becoming bigger than it is. Sometimes I think that whenever we're all in on something, we could be gripping it just a little too tight and not giving it room to breathe and become the thing that it's supposed to be. And then of course, on the flip side, there's the energy of not being all in and being fully committed to your goals. And if you're not fully committed to your goals, it's going to be harder for them to show up in your life. So I'm curious to hear what you guys think about that?

Elizabeth Dehn:

Well, two things. If I'm not all in on something new that I'm really excited about, it's probably because I'm feeling I don't feel completely confident. I'm like, Who am I to do this? What if it's not successful? Is it a good use of my family's time and resources, so there's that sort of like, if I'm all in, then I have all to lose, right. But the other piece that you're talking about that I'm working on, isn't is are those attachments and not getting so fixated on the outcome or the success or the timeline, because with that sort of impatience and fixation, we lose the space for the possibilities to come in, and for the creativity to flow. And so I think the two things you're talking about, we have to hold both of them at the same time.

Emily Thompson:

I agree. And I also think there's a lot to say between the difference of like creatively being all in on something. And the idea of being an entrepreneur and creating systemized double businesses that can run without you. So and that's sort of where I become more okay with not being all in is that when I, I can be all in on one thing and systemize it in a way that I can then take my attention and put it somewhere else. And do the same there. So that even though I'm not all in on the second one, because I still have the first one, it's taking a very minimal amount of my time and energy to make it do the thing. And so I guess that's that's my insight is I think there is a difference between creatively going all in on something, and entrepreneurially diversifying your income

Elizabeth Dehn:

and being smart. About your how you spend your time and energy. Yeah, for sure. Okay, topic,

Emily Thompson:

Kathleen.

Kathleen Shannon:

To go there. Um, so how do you make money? This is the question that Emily and I always want to ask, are we always

Emily Thompson:

you always fear that reaction will go on?

Elizabeth Dehn:

Yeah, no, we're, Aye. Aye. Aye. I moderated a panel yesterday of some really big people in the beauty industry. And one of them said, you know, thank you for introducing me as a celebrity makeup artist, but all I care about is being a working makeup artist. Because that, you know, at the end of the day, we want to make money and so, so I have made money over the years, by working 80 hours a week for you know, five or six years. And I've I've had a day job as an editorial director of a Content Agency for I just left in December. So I am very focused on, on making on making a living and having a life and there's a point at which I don't want to keep doing something unless it's being unless I unless it's bringing value to my family, too. So, um, so that's always in the back of my mind. I do a lot of Well, let me take that back. I do a nice mix of sponsored posts, with brands that I love. So you know, influencer campaigns, I have a really big Pinterest following. So I pin for some brands and do product collaborations. And that's, that would pay all the bills. But I also love to go to work and work with a team. And so I've been a magazine editor part as a freelancer and, excuse me worked for an agency for a number of years. So it's been monetized for quite a while. And I'm really grateful for that.

Kathleen Shannon:

You guys, the nature of work is changing. The internet has enabled more people to become self employed professionals and small business owners. Only five to 10 years ago working for yourself was almost considered looked down upon. It was almost thought as being you couldn't get a real job, but that is no longer true. Today, one in three Americans is self employed and the trend is growing. So if you are one of those people who is just now working for yourself or you've been working for yourself, sell for a while and you're looking to get more organized. The all new fresh books, that's fresh books, cloud accounting. is not only ridiculously easy to use is also packed full of powerful features. You can create and send professional looking invoices in less than 30 seconds, you can set up online payments with just a couple of clicks. And you can see when your client has seen your invoice and put an end to the guessing game freshbooks is offering a 30 day unrestricted free trial to our listeners to claim it. Just go to freshbooks comm slash being boss and enter being boss in the How did you hear about us section? All right back to the show. So how do you want to you just left your day job in December? So how do you want to continue to make money? Like if you could choose one thing right now? That is the thing that makes money? What would that be?

Elizabeth Dehn:

In the perfect world? My if I'm going to manifest something, I would have a healing space online where the podcast lives where I can support healers, where we can provide even more like supplemental content to what we're talking about. I teach people how to meditate, what are crystals? And how can you work with them, I'd love there to be an e commerce component so that I can make money while I sleep. Because that is sounds like just the way to go. And also fold in retreats and events with with this community.

Kathleen Shannon:

I love it. So I mean, for me just looking from the outside, it feels like you've been so successful with beauty bats that it feels like something that you could kind of replicate and then add to for this healer component.

Elizabeth Dehn:

That's what I'm hoping. Yeah, and I don't think that I think it would be sad to totally walk away from the beauty piece. But I also have contributors. And I think that beauty could be more we could flip this and beauty could be part of the healing versus beauty with a little healing sprinkled in. Does that sound good to you to your the pros here.

Kathleen Shannon:

I mean, I'm like a beauty nerd and a self help junkie just like you. And so I love the idea of beauty just being one lens through which self help happens. I think that with your background, and I really start to think very philosophically about beauty. What's the book that I was just reading, I think it was called face value anyway, talking about the science of beauty. And then I'm also reading a book right now called what God does to our brains. And so really blending how we think about ourselves through beauty. Like if I put on red lipstick, and I feel like a boss and I start behaving more like a boss that could literally change my bottom line. I don't know, I just think it's really fascinating.

Emily Thompson:

Can our red lipstick become write offs? That's what I want to know.

Kathleen Shannon:

That's what I'm going for?

Elizabeth Dehn:

Well, you can it can be if you just just throw a little beauty content in there now and again.

Emily Thompson:

Good to know,

Elizabeth Dehn:

No, I was just gonna say yeah, beauty is 100% about self care to me. I mean, there's the fun piece of it. But the fun piece is even, I mean, how you take care of yourself, it just, it just leads to so many more positive things in the rest of your life to

Emily Thompson:

I that's what I want to talk about. Next is how you went like, pretty specifically from Beauty into self help. So you talked about like meeting with a couple of people. And that really got you thinking about how healing or the healer space was something that you wanted to dive into. Tell me Tell us a little bit more about that transition from beauty to healers.

Unknown:

Well,

Elizabeth Dehn:

I think so there. So there's the more like practical piece of that which was being approached by podcast, one to do a podcast last year. And when I sat down to put together a proposal for them, I thought, okay, someone threw my name in the ring because of the beauty piece. But if I am going to start something new, and I feel like I'm in transition and heading more into the self care self help direction, I'm going to pitch them on the on the podcast that I really would want to do, it sky's the limit. And it didn't have anything to do with beauty. Now I can like I'm going to interview people in the beauty industry, but there are people who are, you know, working with essential oils or their it has more of a self care component. So, so that's what I did. And you know, you know, as you put together as you write something you find out really quickly like how much you believe in it and how much you want it and how much you want to live it. And so I pitched them on this healers concept and they loved it. And so that that's what happened and then the rest You know, will flow from there. But I also just found myself working in the beauty industry and realizing that I needed the self help personally, and have been, had been fairly depressed and anxious most of my life without even realizing it. I'm like I'm a functioning. I've been a functioning depressed person most of my life. And yeah, you I see you nodding your head, like you can get away with a lot that way and not realize

Kathleen Shannon:

I was, whenever I was most depressed is whenever I was at my highest functioning.

Elizabeth Dehn:

Absolutely. I started a business that way. I mean, it's, it's a big driver, and, and so I was on my own healing journey that whole time, too. And like I said, it just became a part of my life and also a desire to help other people feel better, because my life is so different than it used to be, because of all this work.

Emily Thompson:

So I want to hear it then about like, I guess the the personal transition in terms of like your outward facing persona, and that you were talking about lipstick and eyeshadow palettes and all the things and then you start talking about spirituality, which is something that a lot of people find themselves wanting to talk about, but struggle with because they've, you know, been putting out this one kind of content for so long. So

Kathleen Shannon:

you start like secretly hoarding crystals and pulling a tarot card a day, like, how do you because even Emily and I have had this on the podcast of like, Okay, how much of our freak flags we let fly.

Elizabeth Dehn:

So I and I'm curious to how this could be a whole other topic, but I cannot, I have a hard time separating work and life. I don't know if I quote unquote, should or can separate them. So because because the beauty piece was such a love for me. And I was so into it. And when I started getting into crystals and Tarot, that's just me, I don't know any other way to be, but myself. And so I, for better or worse, have not given thought to what does this mean for my business? Because I know, if I am doing what I love, and putting that energy out there, it's just good for business, even if the business model changes. So it was not conscious. It was just me being me. And that's what I preach anyway, I have to live it if that's what I'm telling people. Amen.

Emily Thompson:

I love that. Yeah, let you answer.

Elizabeth Dehn:

Let your freak flag fly as much as you want. That's fine. I mean, how else are you going to, you know, have a full life. To them. Love it.

Unknown:

Yeah.

Emily Thompson:

All right. So then, so then what's next for you? You are You, you have PD bets. And you have contributors? And I'm guessing you sort of see yourself like maybe systemising that and just letting it do its thing. Yep. And then you have healers, which is something you filled tons of energy for at the moment. What what are you doing next? Yeah, so

Elizabeth Dehn:

we've got a few more. We've got a few more episodes for you for season one. I'm working on a sort of like Handbook, like a healers handbook. So that people I've gotten a lot of feedback on Okay, I need more now what I loved listening to this podcast, but like, What can I do for myself now Besides, you know, book, that book, that Reiki session, or whatever it might be. And so I want to give, I want to give listeners just kind of more exercises and activities that they can do at home and sort of dabble in this work. Because so much of it, you can just do you know, cross legged or in your bed even. That's my favorite place. So, so I'm working on that, um, I got a lot of science from the universe to sign up for yoga teacher training, and I am no Yogi. But as just part of this, like surrendering on this journey for me, I'm just really paying attention to the things that get me really curious and that I want to learn more about. And so I'm going to go get my yoga on. And that's going to be that's going to take me almost a year. And I think it's just going to be a tool in my toolkit. And I'm getting married congrats Thank you

Kathleen Shannon:

sweet congrats on all the things I want to just say congrats on getting married but you know all the things that's a pretty major milestones a

Elizabeth Dehn:

big one I'm wearing I have a Citrine ring. That's how much the whoo has entered my life that I'm wearing my favorite. Yeah. So so I'm just really I am for the first time in my life. My number one goal is to stay present and to trust that if I'm doing things that I love, and that feel good that they will just build on each other.

Emily Thompson:

I love that you have me super inspired to maybe almost think ahead less, you know, this idea of just create the thing I mean, so often as like, my business brain, I think is sometimes bigger than my creative brain. I want to plan out and monetize and like have projections for the next 18 months and all of the things. And that certainly affects how and what I create in the moment. And so yeah, you've given me some inspiration to maybe close the spreadsheets, put down the like projection calendars, and just make the thing because I want to make the thing.

Kathleen Shannon:

So I'm curious to hear from you, Elizabeth, what kind of top line advice you would give to our listeners who are interested in maybe transitioning or evolving their own business or maybe perhaps blending more spirituality or who they are into the work they do? What is just kind of the top line advice that you would you really want our listeners to know today.

Elizabeth Dehn:

top line advice, well get really clear on on what you want to do, and why you want to do it and not for someone else, not because you think you should. And really, as as cheesy as it sounds, you got to get super quiet in the beginning, you have to get quiet about how these different activities make you feel what you want your life to look like. There's, I love Danielle Laporte and her desire map, because instead of thinking or assuming that if I have a successful blog, then I will feel this way, I will feel happy, I will feel successful, I will feel, you know, like I've arrived and my parents are proud of me, what is the feeling that you want out of all this and the feeling could be I want, I want financial security, I want to wake up and not worry about my bills. And so if that's the driver, you know that that's going to lead you down a certain path. If you want to just feel inspired, or you want to feel balanced, or you want to feel well rested, I have never given a lot of credit to feeling balanced and well rested. And I really do now, because that makes me happy. You kind of have to back into this thing. So I'm sorry if that's not the practical advice. But that's the foundation of any of any business any career.

Kathleen Shannon:

I love it, I mean, manifesting 101, we've we've got our chalkboard, we've got all the things, but really what it comes down to is generating the feelings that you want to have right now. And then the jobs or the behaviors will really start to follow suit, or the money, like whatever it is that you think that you want, create the feeling of having, and then those things will just find their way to you. 100%. It's so Whoo. But maybe not like maybe it really is truly practical on a cellular level.

Emily Thompson:

It is I think it's super practical. Yeah, I

Elizabeth Dehn:

mean, look around at your life. Look around at your career and the people in your life. You You created all that with the universe, you made those relationships happen or not happen. You made a career happen or not happen. And so every day you make those choices, and that's what you're going to bring in. It's it's really simple. It's hard. But it's simple.

Kathleen Shannon:

All right, finally, what makes you feel most boss?

Elizabeth Dehn:

What makes me feel most boss, ah, when I feel physically and spiritually and emotionally good. Every day, then whatever it is I'm doing, I'm doing something right.

Emily Thompson:

Agreed.

Kathleen Shannon:

Thanks so much for hanging out with us, Elizabeth. It's been so cool having you on the show. And I think that so many of our listeners are just going to resonate with kind of not a messy creative path, but just really serving the creativity first and blending who you are into the work that you do and just doing something every day that makes you feel a little bit better.

Elizabeth Dehn:

That's all there is to it. Thank you so much for having me. This was such a treat.

Kathleen Shannon:

where can our listeners find you Where do you want them to tune in?

Elizabeth Dehn:

You can visit healers wanted.com

Kathleen Shannon:

this episode of being boss was brought to you by fresh books cloud accounting and try it for free by going to freshbooks comm slash being boss and special shout out to Meet Edgar you can try them at Meet Edgar calm slash being boss. Thank you for listening to being boss. Find Articles show notes and downloads at WWW dot being boss club.

Emily Thompson:

If you're a creative entrepreneur, Freelancer or small business owner who is ready to take your goals to the next level, check out the being boss clubhouse. a two day online retreat followed by a year of community support, monthly masterclasses book club secret episodes and optional in person retreats. Find more at www dot being boss club slash clubhouse.

Kathleen Shannon:

Thank you so much to our team and sponsors who make being boss possible our sound engineer and web developer Corey winter. Our editorial director and content manager Caitlin brain, our community manager and social media director Sharon lukey. And are being countered David Austin's with support from braid creative and indicia biography.

Emily Thompson:

Do the work, be boss, and we'll see you next week.

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