Take the Elevator
This podcast is purely about elevating people through individual life stories and experiences in the Elevator. In the Elevator, what's key is maybe changing your perspective; having self-actualization; embracing your purpose; and acting on it as we grow from one another. There is a whole different point of view when you look up to elevate.
Take the Elevator
302nd Floor - Breaking Chains: Tales of Risk, Gratitude and Connection
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Have you ever felt a flood of relief when a lost loved one was found? What about the fear that creeps in when you're about to take a leap of faith? These are raw, real-life emotions and experiences we all share. Our elevator crew - Gen, Koryy, Gloria, Vania, Trinity, Lee, Erin, and Brent - brings you personal tales ranging from the bustling streets of downtown LA to a grocery store in Belgium. We explore the essence of being lost and found, and the profound impact such moments have on us, shaping our perspectives and relationships.
Imagine yourself on a daily commute, a disappointing Vegas trip, or standing at the edge of a new path in life, shrouded in fear. We've all been there. These stories teach lessons about breaking free from the chains of fear and having the gumption to take the leap of faith. We're thrilled to have Brent back and filling as a co-host, a beacon of positivity who will leave you captivated with his easygoing nature and optimistic outlook on life.
Finally, we don our courage capes and journey into the realm of risk-taking and gut instincts. Hear our crew share their adrenaline-filled stories of bravery, endurance, and joys from daring to dream. We cheer you on as you contemplate that leap of faith, reminding you of the importance of chasing your dreams. This rollercoaster ride of emotions concludes with a deep dive into the language of love and gratitude. We unwrap the significance of family ties, connections, and the power of being present.
Look up, and let's elevate!
Hey, it's Jen, the Builder, and Corey and Gloria and Vonsha and Trinity and Lee and Aaron and Brent.
Speaker 2Yes, all of us are here and ready to do the episode.
Speaker 1We get into 300 episodes and then we're just a full pack table.
Speaker 2But Jen, I have a little surprise that I wanted to spend on you last minute here. I am going to be very much so a part of this episode, but I'm going to have a little help, a little more help than I normally do. So I'm going to invite Brent to have a seat in my seat and then we're going to move on from there. Let's see how that goes.
Speaker 1Wow, I said that I was ready for flexing and change and, corey, you were just putting it out there. First I'm going to say how much you must trust Brent, because there has not been another man in the seat next to me, I feel like, well, this is very different.
Speaker 3What pressure?
Speaker 1Brent. Welcome to Corey seat.
Speaker 4Thank you. It's nice and warm. It's a pleasure to be here. I'm glad he has that faith in me. We'll see how it goes.
Speaker 1He sure does. What I love is that when you first came here, the talk was Brent's probably just going to hang out, he's not going to really speak, and you're here co-hosting.
Speaker 4And now I'm going to be a co-host.
Speaker 1It's escalated quickly, that's right. So what we're going to do with everyone at this table is we're going to make it light, easy, fun. So we're going to do an episode as what we call table topics. So this is really going to. We haven't prepared for this. We didn't really prepare for the other ones either. So we're going to pick a card Topics going to come up and it's whatever comes to your mind, and not everyone has to share is if it's something that speaks to you, share on it. If it doesn't cool, we'll pick another table topic. Sound fair, since you are the man of the hour, there is a bunch of cards here in front of you. Well, corey picked one before he left.
Speaker 4Oh, he did Okay. So I'm going to, in honor of Corey, I'm going to pick that one. So this one says lost and found. And do you want me to read the whole thing that goes under it, if you'd?
Speaker 1like you can try to help us.
Speaker 4Prepare a story about loss and discovery. Keys down an elevator shaft or a kid at Ikea, misplaced objects, fading romance, sweet reunions, hidden paths, buried emotions, your sense of self there you are, wow.
Speaker 1So it's not just losing your keys Everywhere. So I have a story, if I may share. This is a story about me when I was about five years old in downtown LA and my grandmother, my dad's mom, lost me in downtown LA. And because this is what happened, I I'm very nosy and I used to stare at people that look different to me. So there was a person that I got stuck staring at and I was no longer walking by her side when I realized I was lost. Oh my God, I was so scared and she was scared and I heard her yelling and she was far away, like I couldn't even see her, and so I started yelling back and I'm just going to say I'm so glad that she she was the one who found me and not anyone else, cause I thought I was a pretty cute kid that anyone would have wanted. So, yeah, I was lost in downtown LA. Wow.
Speaker 4That's a big city to be lost in, yeah.
Speaker 2Glad you got found, thank you.
Speaker 4Thank you. Does anybody else have a topic they want to talk about?
Speaker 1Oh, Gloria's got one.
Speaker 7So I was. We were living in Belgium If you're familiar with that country, it's the cute little country next to Germany and France and my sister and I were with my mom and dad at this very large grocery store and my sister wondered off or wasn't paying attention. I can't remember, and I just remember the horror of knowing that we were there. Now, I didn't have this idea that you know in my mind. I thought we were European, because that's where I spent most of my life so far. So when we couldn't find my sister, we spoke German and English and we were beginning to speak Flemish. It's a mix of German and I mean French, and I don't know it's Danish. I don't know. It's very different and I only Flemish as in Flem Dutch Like that's the language in.
Speaker 1Where is my?
Speaker 7sister In Belgium right In Belgium, yeah, flemish, yeah, so it's mixed with. It's Dutch mixed and the only word I remember straight away, which means do the wall, do the wall. But that didn't really help me. I couldn't find my sister, but we finally found her in the frozen section. But I just remember that it was moments of not knowing where she was because my sister and I are 21 months apart, so she wasn't that much younger than me, but still just in that huge. I just remember that grocery store was huge to a little girl that we found her, thankfully.
Speaker 1Aw, I'm so good in the frozen section and and I don't know if this was this way for you, but I remember when things happened to my siblings and they were big things and you're like I'm never going to be mean to them again, I'm always going to be so nice, because there's that moment where you thought you could have lost them and literally two days, that promise is gone.
Speaker 4It doesn't take long with siblings.
Speaker 1No, no, not at all.
Speaker 4I wish my mom was here because I have a story, a couple of stories, of me being lost in like Mervins department store.
Speaker 1I remember Mervins.
Speaker 4One one that really sticks out to me was at Chuck E Cheese, and I must have been five or six. It was my brother's birthday party and I me being an explorer that I am went into a section where the video games were not on. They were off, but it was a racing game, and so I was over there racing on a blank screen, having the best time of my life, and my mom couldn't find me for 20, 25 minutes. Think somebody stole me or took me because I was a cute little kid who wouldn't want me, right yeah?
Speaker 1exactly.
Speaker 4Downtown LA, Chuck E Cheese is very similar and the police were called. They called the police and local security to come find me and I'm just sitting there as as happy as I could be and I don't know how they found me. I don't really remember this. I don't remember my mom telling me this, that I was just playing a blank screen, driving as best I could, and that's how they found me, so that that was a good lost and found one.
Speaker 1That is a really good lost and found.
Speaker 4I gave her heart attacks. Oh my God, oh poor, poor woman.
Speaker 1I love the imagination. I wonder what was going in your mind staring at a Well, that's what she said.
Speaker 4So what are you doing? I was having a great time. I was in my own head.
Speaker 1That's cool. So I think we're. Let's pass the cards over and let's have someone else pick one randomly.
Speaker 3Other way, oh, I see Okay, okay, okay, this one's popping out.
Speaker 1Oh my God, is that the one, the one that fell on the floor?
Speaker 3Winter, which is quite fitting because winter is on its way. Winter is coming. Prepare a story about the coldest months with the darkest days rosy cheeks and chapped lips, blizzards and blackouts, hibernation and coupling up snow days, snow angels or snowbirds, frozen stairs and icy receptions, fireside spats or cabin fever confessions. Has anyone seen?
Speaker 2my other glove Winter.
Speaker 3So the other side of this says tell us about a time you were on thin ice, a time you got cold feet, a time you froze, a time you made someone melt Like Olaf. Oh, that's a really random one. I see Vanya Go for it.
Speaker 5Yeah, so I do have a story that comes to mind. So, as I mentioned in the previous episode, I'm originally from Curacao, which is an island in the Caribbean, and Curacao belongs to the Dutch kingdom, so my nationality is Dutch and as a Dutch citizen, I was able to move to the Netherlands to study after finishing high school in Curacao. So when I was 19, I moved to the Netherlands. So it was my first time in a cold country. So, like Curacao is an island, so I grew up going going to the beach, swimming very often sun, sea, sand, so where a lot of people go on vacation. That's where I grew up, Like they often say that.
Speaker 5So when I moved to the Netherlands, I remember when I saw snow for the first time, I opened my window and I saw snow and it was so beautiful, like it was like. It was like something I had never seen before. And I remember calling my mom and it was 4 am in Curacao, but I had to tell her right away because otherwise you lose momentum. So I woke her up to tell her mom I saw snow and it's so pretty. So, yeah, so that's my first winter experience.
Speaker 4Because what's a winter in Curacao? Like 80 degrees.
Speaker 5Yeah, like, probably, like what is 25 Celsius? Yeah, yeah, but something like that, nice and sunny on the beach weather in December is what you used to you can go to the beach anytime of the year. Yeah, so so for me it was meaningful because it was the first time. So, yeah, and I couldn't wait.
Speaker 1That is cool. That reminds me of was it last winter when Southern California got some snow and I think we reacted probably the way you did. I was like there's snow and it's landing and it's staying.
Speaker 4And it's staying exactly.
Speaker 2It's sticking.
Speaker 1It was exciting. Oh my gosh, it was so much fun. I think it lasted here in Fontana what four hours maybe.
Speaker 4Well, any kind of weather we get in Southern California that isn't just wind and sun we're like, oh, this is great, exciting. We had a tropical storm the other couple of months ago and that was we. Aaron and I were just sitting outside like, oh, this is nice.
Speaker 8Right.
Speaker 3It's weather yeah Uh huh.
Speaker 1Very cool. So any other winter stories. I start thinking of songs, you know, and we're not going to do it here, ladies, I promise. But in our department Brian, just to let you in I think Lee knows this and Trinity ears, and inside we start singing like we're in a dang musical. So, like right now winter. What normally would be. Here are songs around winter and we don't shot off Seriously.
Speaker 4Like Christmas songs or just songs in general of winter.
Speaker 1Whatever, the other day we were doing sound of music.
Speaker 4Okay, well, that's a good one.
Speaker 1Yeah.
Speaker 6It was a lot of fun.
Speaker 1And a little.
Speaker 6Britney Spears.
Speaker 1Yes, finally, yeah, that sounds like my Pandora.
Speaker 4It goes from classical music to rap music to you know, Britney Spears yeah.
Speaker 5So, jen, you said that you love music. Like, is there a specific one that comes to mind?
Speaker 1For winter For winter yes. Whenever I think of winter, I was saying chestnuts roasting on an open fire, jack frost nipping at your nose. That one always brings me warmth. What about you, Gloria? Good question, by the way, You're going to make this a musical, aren't?
Speaker 7you, yeah, of course. So I like that one and I also like the weather is frightful.
Speaker 1Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful. Oh, that is nice, and how nice to go.
Speaker 5Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow yeah.
Speaker 1Uh-oh where we stop. Uh-oh, we might have a new singing group here. All right, Leigh, are we paying another card?
Commutes, Gambles, and Taking the Leap
Speaker 6Yes, we are ready for another card. Is the table ready Already? Ooh, transit Okay, prepare a story about planes, trains and automobiles the Boeing 747, the F train or the Cadillac, the attractive stranger on the plane, the time you soup spilled on the bus or you broke down in tears during a traffic jam. Regale us with tales of commutes, fastened seatbelts and left turns. Prepare for takeoff. Okay.
Speaker 6So a little snippet, a little about a time, a journey, a time a journey changed you, a time you wished you had just walked, or a time the destination wasn't worth the trip. Ooh, so there's a lot to pack here. I'll just kind of go for it. But, okay, I have to tell you guys a time the destination wasn't worth the trip. Let me tell you guys about my worst trip ever.
Speaker 6So fun story. I was five months pregnant with Leilani, my youngest child, and my cousin at the time said oh, my god, lee, you and your fiance or husband actually we were married should totally come with us to Vegas, right. So I'm like, okay, that's kind of weird, vegas five months pregnant, like what could I possibly do? But I'm like, okay, you know what, I could use a little bit of a break, right. And I'm like, okay, I'm gonna go to Vegas with my uncle and my aunt and my cousin and we get in the car and we're so excited this four hour destination right, because we're all nowhere four hours away just to never get to Vegas, we literally stopped and settled the entire weekend at the state line. Really, oh yeah.
Speaker 4And what is?
Speaker 6the. What are those three hotels? Guys remind me Off the state.
Speaker 4Got Prem Buffalo Buffalo Bells.
Speaker 6And then we stayed for weeks is where we stayed and I'm like, okay, so are we not going to Vegas? Oh, no, but like we're in Vegas, no, no, this is the state line. And so yeah, and we were bored out of our minds for three days. I could not wait to leave. And so then came Sunday Time to check out all the checkout, and for them to do an extension, because they were so excited to gamble that we didn't literally leave to like nine o'clock that Sunday night.
Speaker 1So sorry, worst trip ever.
Speaker 6Sorry because if you're listening, but hey, destination was being real, not worth the trip.
Speaker 4What down? Yeah. If you think Vegas is state line, you got some some learning to do, yeah.
Speaker 6I mean I wanted to go to the strip, you know right. But yeah, see a show.
Speaker 4I don't think they even have they have pools or anything there.
Speaker 6They had nothing, oh, and that roller coaster wasn't even operable at the time. So yeah, anyways, that was my two cent. What about you guys? Transit a time and journey chat changed, you Looks like Erin's, got her hand raised.
Speaker 3I do so. My my first big girl job had me living out in Orange County and if anybody listening or even at this table knows, the traffic in Orange County is atrocious, it's really bad. So I was living in Fullerton at the time and my job was in Irvine, and that's not very far away like miles wise, but it would be well over an hour of commute time. And at that point in my life I was probably your age Trinity is about 21, maybe 22 when I landed that job and I just could not fathom sitting in my car that long and I just got bored and I just really was like I can't, I can't do that. So I challenged myself at that time of my life to take the Metro link, and the Metro link it was perfect because my apartment was five minutes away from the Metro link. So I drove to the Metro link, I hopped on the train and I was on the train for 25 minutes, maybe all the way into Irvine, missed all the traffic, got to meet some pretty interesting people on the train and landed in Irvine and then, finally, my job where I was working at the time was walking distance from the train station to the office and there was a shuttle in case you needed to take a shuttle. So I was like this is perfect. In that timeframe I was there for about a year at that job and I was taking the Metro link pretty much all of that time.
Speaker 3In that time, what an amazing experience it was to take the Metro link, to trust myself, to follow directions, to refill my Metro link card. I really felt like an adult, like this was such a yeah, and it really was. It was different and it was different from what my family had experienced, which was so exciting to me because everyone in my family had the cars you know to drive right and that was the traditional route for commute. But I was different and I took pride in that and it was so exciting. So every weekend when I went home, I would tell my mom about people that I would meet. I think my mom was probably secretly scared to tell me what are you doing?
Speaker 3I was like having a ball meeting people, connecting with others, meeting people at the office who also had the same route, like learning about the environments and just different ways of commuting, and it just really I allowed it was growing so much at that young age and I guess my moral of the story is, if there's another way you could take your route, I encourage you to do so because it's really funny, you never know how much you're going to learn.
Speaker 1I love that. And then there's the of the question, erin and friends, what would you do if fear wasn't a factor? And I think about that question, just how fear holds us back. My mom would have freaked if I went on the metro. But yeah, just what are the things that we haven't done? What are the things that we would do today if it weren't for fear? That's deep, that is deep, and I'm going to go on one of those with me in 2024 and just do the darn thing, do the darn thing.
Speaker 1Yeah, you're going to Europe next year, right, yes, I'm going to see my. I'm not afraid, though.
Speaker 3She's like I'm not afraid of that.
Speaker 7I'm going to say I know you're not afraid oh but I was going to tell you, take the train while you're there.
Speaker 1Oh, yeah, oh yeah, and weets and stranger, I'm with Corey there.
Speaker 7I met three really interesting people on my train ride across through Germany and I was shocked at how much wine she could consume in a two hour setting. I didn't even attempt to pick up. I was just really impressed with the conversation and she ended up speaking. We spoke a mix of English, French, German all at once in our translation. Because you're drunk? No, she was. Oh that sounds like fun. You'll never know who you meet.
Speaker 4Yeah, there you go. We're excited. Take the train, you never know what's gonna happen.
Speaker 1Take the train.
Speaker 4It's like a box of chocolates.
Speaker 1That's right. I haven't seen Forrest Gump in so long Classic.
Speaker 4Yes, all right, we got another one coming up.
Speaker 8Okay, um, I'll just do this one, okay. So this one is a risk. It says prepare a story about uncertain situations, rolling the dice, leaping into the unknown, trying that gas station, gas station sushi, diy plumbing. Talking politics at Thanksgiving saying I love you for the first time For suicide.
Speaker 8And hearing thank you in response. Did you reap the rewards or feel the ouch? Nothing ventured, nothing gained, it says. Tell us about a time when possibility turned into peril, a time you took the plunge, a time when the risk wasn't worth the reward, or a time you gambled it all.
Speaker 4That's a good one. You have something to turn it in.
Speaker 8I feel like mine is pretty basic and like serious. I would say I feel like I'm living a risk right now. I feel like mom always says I'm good with like taking the leap, but I feel like yellow. You always bounce back from anything. But honestly, with my business, with doing lash extensions, you know anything. What clientele is always?
Speaker 8Yes, it's always up and down, and I decided to go full time with lashes and quit my job at European Wax Center as a receptionist back in February. So mom was scared. She was like are you sure? But me I was like, yeah, I think God's telling me to do this. So I find, and clearly you have to like look at your numbers and everything and know that you're ready.
Speaker 8But I did take the leap and then now I'm full time and it's shaky. It's been a like a lot of times where mom has seen me crying and I'm like girl, how am I going to pay this bill or whatever. And then it all God for me always comes through in the end. So it lets me know like okay, I took the right risk goes a leap. I feel like it's more of a leap of faith than necessarily just the risk. But so it's working out. It's still flowing. I have my days where I'm like clients where are y'all at? But I do feel like risk a lot of times could be good, especially in the business world. So, like I said, my little story was kind of serious yeah that's a good risk to take.
Speaker 4I'll put this out there to everybody. Do you feel because I know Trinity is the youngest one here do you feel you're more risk taking when you're younger and how that compares to when you get older? Because for me personally, I feel like when I'm older I have more to lose. I guess you could say, or the risk is too great and I and I kind of back off of that where when I was younger I was like YOLO, like let's do this, I don't have anything to lose right now.
Speaker 1I don't know what YOLO means.
Speaker 4Let's get you in here. Yolo means you only live once.
Speaker 1Thank you, that's a second time.
Speaker 4Thank you. Okay, carpe diem for us older ones. Yeah, God is the day. Yeah, does anybody have anything on that? How about Yvonne?
Speaker 5So I think I do agree with you like that it's easier to take certain risks when you're younger because you're risking less, right, like, like. Like if you, for example, in your case, if you're still living with your mom, like it's like a support If you would be living by yourself. You know, it's a little bit scarier. Like if I if I can speak for myself like I feel like I've taken a lot of risks when I was younger. I still take risk, but I need to evaluate the consequences more.
Speaker 5Like, for example, I also took a leap of faith like three years ago and went on my own as a freelancer and also my own coaching business, and it was super scary but I planned it Like I, my husband helped me process everything and then we had a plan and he was going to support me a little bit more financially throughout a certain period of time so I could transition. So you have to like discuss more serious consequences like health insurance. You know those are serious things Like like so I put all my concerns. I created like a risk assessment, like put all my concerns on one side and then I started creating my potential solutions when I felt like I was comfortable enough still scared, but comfortable enough. Sure, I decided to take the leap.
Speaker 5As I reflect, when I was a little bit younger like I totally enjoyed when I was a student I felt so free, like I traveled as much as I could. When I went to the Netherlands, for example, I was 19. That was in August. The first Christmas my sister and I were in Paris. Then the next year, in May, we were in Spain, and so traveling was like a way to take risk. It's not like a like huge consequences, but it was like a lifestyle for me and and I would do like I remember when I did an international exchange program in Brazil, like there were people who said, oh, it was dangerous, it was dangerous. I spoke with my parents I guess my dad is also a risk taker, he's super chill Like his reaction was like I said. I said I want to go to Brazil. What do you think? Oh, I think there are so many churches there that you could visit.
Speaker 5I'm like yes yes, there are so many churches, while other people would be like, oh, there's so much violence, there's this. That is also true. However, I feel like you can take risk and still look at the potential consequences and be mindful and just listen, like, like, listen to the locals, like, be cautious, but still enjoy. So, yeah, yeah, very nice.
Speaker 4Yeah, exactly I think. I think taking risk is always going to have a beneficial effect. Even if it doesn't go the way that you wanted to, you can always find a way to look at it in a positive way and say you know it was worth it. Yes. So if we can all take risks I'm not saying go jump off a cliff, but take more risk I think you're going to feel a little bit better as a person later on.
Speaker 6You learn so much about yourself too, right? I mean, it goes back to the statement that you made earlier, jen, about who would we be if fear was not in the way, right? And so if you remove fear out of that situation, where would you go? What would you do? What would you become? Right, because then that's when you kind of knock on the door of being your best self. You know, and even with, like, in regards to Trinity situation, she decided to be an entrepreneur and then even with real estate, like that's a form of risk, right? Right, because you got your real estate license and all of that, and so it's it. You're right, vanya, like there is something about having that support system, and I respect the fact that you do like a risk assessment because that's like a thing, like that's so important. But then is there a difference between risk and a leap of faith? Are they one of the same, right?
Speaker 6Because, yeah, we're getting, yeah, but.
Speaker 1I just perked up. I just perked up because I I don't know if you're, I'm going where you're going, but here's my thing. A leap of faith for me is that there is no comfort at all, there's no assessment. You could do one, and everything in that assessment says don't do this, but you do it anyways. And I don't know if you all have had a moment like that in life and I've had many like that and I will tell you that when in my younger years, that leap of faith was detrimental to me but it added to my experience. I'm going to be real.
Speaker 1There is something so big on my mind right now that just almost paralyzes me when I think about this leap of faith. But everything inside me says do it. Everything inside me says you've worked up to this point, it's your time and it's okay to say here's my worth, here's what I want, let's talk right, cause I've always been kind of timid to do that and people looking me think Jen timid. Oh yeah, jen's timid when it comes to what I really really want, what I really feel as part of my purpose in the big picture. So I don't know, I was very, I'm very open to today and I said whatever conversations are happening are meant to be.
Speaker 1And so when I write, across from me is Trinity and she takes this amazing risk, and I'm like I miss that. I miss being able to say this is where my intuition is saying to go, and I'm just gonna do it. And I do agree with you, vanya, there is safety in the fact that you're with mom and stuff like that. But I'll say this my safety is in someone bigger. So you have safety, cause your mom. And then I'm questioning myself I know who my safety is, and it's God, almighty the creator. And why wouldn't I feel safe in that? You know what I mean. So it's really getting me to think, and I love that we're bringing up risk versus a leap of faith, cause I think there is a difference. Mike drop, I'm done.
Speaker 1And you know what? To take the elevator? No, I'm just kidding, I'm done, oh yeah.
Speaker 5And Jen what I wanted to add the more responsibility you have, the bigger the leap. Yes, right Cause if you do have a lot of responsibility, then it's like you're gambling everything Like what's gonna happen. So you gotta trust whatever it is.
Speaker 1So true. And see, vanya, as you're saying that, and I look around me do I need all this? You know what's really think about it? Because I think we get so surrounded by the way we live and taking that leap of faith might require a different type of lifestyle, and so you've got to look at that. As there is two, am I willing to give this up so I can go for this Definitely? And I love, I love all this.
Speaker 3It's just later after later I thought I'm looking at Corey too, cause I feel like maybe he wants to say something.
Speaker 2I definitely want to say something I'm hearing about leaps of faith and taking chances and YOLO.
Speaker 1I love YOLO.
Speaker 2I don't know who at the table has been close to death, like on death's door, but I've been there a couple of times and it's not fun. Number one, number two it's so uncertain when you're there and you realize that that's where you were. So after that second time that I was at death's door not by choice, not by my own will I just decided at that point that I'm no longer relying on me because it was nothing that I could do to save me, help me or keep me alive. So responsibility is pretty much not mine. Pretty much not mine.
Speaker 2I don't have any. There's nothing we can do in this physical world to keep anything, hold on to anything or to save anything. So whatever you have now, once you leave this lifetime it's no longer yours, and so I live just like that. Chances are not chances. It's just making the next decision based on what the most high, what the creator has put in front of you. And if it's not in front of you, then it's probably not for you and you're searching for something that wasn't for you anyway. So I just want to throw that out there and see where it landed.
Speaker 4That's a great view on things, yeah.
Speaker 1It is. It's like we just had church for the first time.
Speaker 4Church for the soul. That's right.
Speaker 3Yes, I just wanted to say I really admire what you said there, corey, because it was completely opposite of what I was thinking. No, I love it.
Speaker 4I love the journey. Well, let's get the opposite going here, yeah.
Speaker 3I really love that because it challenged me to think of it in a new light and I really appreciate that. When Vanya brought up responsibility, I thought to myself that, when it comes to our dreams, when it comes to the things that we want in our lives, when it comes to us living our best life, whatever that looks like, whatever gifts we have to share with the world, it is our responsibility to take that leap. It's our responsibility to find the way to do what it is we are put on this earth to do. That is our responsibility. That's all I wanted to say. Yes.
Speaker 2I honestly believe that that coincides in what I was saying, though.
Taking Risks and Embracing Change
Speaker 1I think it does too.
Speaker 2When you're supposed to do something, you're just gonna do it and you're not gonna even second guess it. You felt like you needed to transition out of the department that you were in into the department. So now you know this is where I'm supposed to be, and so other people may look at that and say why would you take a chance like that? You are comfortable. You are where you were supposed to be, right? No, I wasn't where I was supposed to be. Now I'm getting where I need to be, and that's all I was trying to get across.
Speaker 1Yeah.
Speaker 8I appreciate that.
Speaker 1Can I say something about this department? Real quick Growth and development was a total risk. It was not anything heard of, it wasn't anything sampled off any other department. It was just a gut feeling on. This is what I wanna do. This is where I think we need to go, and had that conversation not happened, it wouldn't be here. Maybe someone else would have done it. Do you know what I mean? And I stood up there and thank goodness no one asked me well, what are your qualifications? They just kind of knew Nothing.
Speaker 1Like my reputation kind of just.
Speaker 4I'm Genevieve. I'm like what do you?
Speaker 1mean.
Speaker 8Here I am.
Speaker 1So yeah. And so then I think of people like Von Schen-Aaron, who came to the team, gloria, who put so many other things to the side on faith that this department was gonna be, not knowing if we were gonna get approved, because we, you know people will entertain the thought but to really move on it and approve it. I remember when we had that meeting with our CEO and it wasn't a yes right away, he said let me think about it, cause it was a whole shifting, a whole restructure. Two weeks later he said okay, I was like what Can I get that in writing please? Right, yeah, there's been many things in life, and so I just want to thank everyone here that's on the team for taking the risk of applying for a department that's like what is this? And my answer is I don't know what it is yet.
Speaker 7We're gonna figure it out. We're evolving.
Speaker 1Yeah, yeah, take more risks, can I just yes?
Speaker 6Can I just add to that too, Cause you guys kind of brought up a couple of things that really stood out to me, which is that the reward that comes from the risk right.
Speaker 6Rewards are not seen immediately. That's right. And oftentimes, when you are executing a vision Erin, you talked about this a few episodes ago you talked about when you have shared your vision with others, but the execution of it looks a little different, right, and sometimes the people around you don't necessarily see the reward and they may ask you, in the middle of you taking that leap of faith, what the heck are you thinking? This isn't working. It's been months now. What's going on?
Speaker 6I don't know if this is you know, maybe you should just jump off the train here and maybe go a different route and you're like no, it's something in me that's telling me to keep going, keep pushing, keep moving and soon you will receive your reward. And so I just encourage people out there who are taking that leap of faith, who are taking that risk don't give up on the first. Go. Allow yourself grace and patience to endure, because you will see the reward on the other side and it may be trickled in kind of increments, right, it may not be all at once, but you know you'll see the gold on the other side. So I just wanna encourage folks when they take that leap of faith keep going.
Speaker 1That's right. That's right. Good message, lee. There is a story I just read. I'll make it quick and I'm not gonna give years because I'm not that kind of historian type person. Just get the gist of it.
Speaker 1So a guy struck gold literally and said, oh my gosh, and so he's making all this money. He goes home to the East Coast, asks his family to fund this huge machinery that he needs to really get down in the earth to get it right. So they're getting all this gold, money, money, money. Then it just stops no more gold. And so what he does is he gathers his stuff, sells his equipment for cheap, gives it to someone else and goes back home. This guy, who he sold to, found experts on land who know land, geography and all that stuff. And do you know that, literally three feet more struck twice as much more gold. And I'm gonna share this story. So you all know this is true. But, lee, to your point, and you said gold, I'm like no way, just three feet. You don't know you could be three feet away from the thing. Don't give up.
Speaker 5Consistency.
Speaker 1Yeah, and he continued to be a businessman and that was his greatest mistake, his greatest learn, but he kept on oh, pick me, pick me.
Speaker 2I love that story I love that story as well, and it goes to show you that when you're looking for a reward to be right at the entrance of the door, sometimes you gotta get inside the house to get that reward. And even further than that. You know, a lot of times people are trying to salvage something that they feel has already ran a wreck or hit a rock or something like that. But sometimes that rock was that piece of gold that you needed to find in the first place, but we've abandoned it and now we're trying to salvage this situation because we're so afraid of what's next or what could happen. The body wants to live. I've heard stories of people falling from airplanes and bouncing off the ground and they lived. I've heard people almost getting their heads severed off, but somehow they lived. If we have that ability to thrive, I think it's worth a chance on taking a chance on yourself to go a little bit further.
Speaker 1Yeah, don't abandon the dream. No, yeah, I don't wanna pick another card. I feel like we're gonna lose this. I don't wanna pick another card, anyways, but would love for anyone else to share on what's coming to you. I think this is on purpose. This is meant to be. We're approaching the end of the year and to new things and everyone at this table, even though we might've just met, like Corey and I really want you to know like we partner with people and who you want to become your dreams and everything that's important to us and anything that we can do to partner. I mean just say I am a cheerleader, I'm a believer in people and what they can do, and I'm excited to see what y'all do and I'm just excited to be a part of it.
Speaker 2And Brent's gonna sit in more.
Speaker 4We'll see about that. Brent took a risk, was it a?
Speaker 1risk or a leap of faith.
Speaker 4Yeah, that was a risk Cause look what I have to sit in it's Corey that I'm taking. That's totally a risk.
Speaker 5Jen, that was a risky leap of faith.
Speaker 4Yeah, that's what it was Leap of faith by Corey, risk by me.
Speaker 5Another thing that I wanted to add. So, like we touched on the topic of never give up and so basically being consistent, especially when you're starting your new business and stuff like that. And one thing that I've learned also is to be comfortable with changes, because sometimes you have maybe like a business plan or like a concept, but it ends up transforming based on what you see and the need, and just being able to let go of what you originally thought would be success and keep redefining it. Let go and redefine, redefine Because you don't know where that journey is gonna take you.
Speaker 1That's right. That's right. Don't get stuck on the thing. Like, I mean, the thing's the thing and I'm gonna speak really weird right now, but it's just enjoying the process. Sometimes we get so stuck on defining what that destination point is, but when you let that go and you just are open to all, oh my God, oh my God. I would not meant, corey, that way. I would not be where I'm at today if I was stuck on the thing.
Speaker 4I also think people want to be comfortable, they want to be content, and so if they see change, they're like oh no, I can't do that, that's gonna change everything. I like the way I am. But if you're true to yourself and that's the main thing if you're true to yourself, whatever you do, it's gonna work out. One way or another it's gonna work out and you're gonna be around the people that are true friends and they're true friendships and true coworkers. If you're true to yourself, they're gonna be true back to you.
Speaker 1That's right, that is so true.
Speaker 4Exactly.
Speaker 5Yeah, no, it's true. No, it's not true.
Speaker 4No, it's not true. No, it's not true.
Speaker 1You know that's a lot of the universe they say that everything's gonna be okay, like, and you think back in your life yeah, everything did turn out okay, we're okay, yep.
Speaker 5And what?
Speaker 1a blessing. That is to be okay today.
Speaker 5Exactly.
Speaker 1All right, I am not, by the way. When I get excited and we're connected, it is hard for me to end a session.
Speaker 1So this is the struggle you're seeing, but I definitely, because this is such a special episode Gloria's sitting to my right three years ago, over three years ago, during the pandemic. This was a risk. It wasn't a leap of faith, but it was risky because we didn't know what was doing. I said I wanna start a podcast. Now is the time, and I just did a vision board and I asked some people that were close to me. You know, I just need your input and Gloria was one of the people that met with me on Zoom and gave me feedback Cory and I feedback and just was very encouraging. She did Facebook lives with me during COVID so we could stay connected to people, because we were just dying on the inside of not being able to connect, and so Gloria has always been that ride or die France. I definitely want to thank her and I just want to thank everybody for the new friendships. It is mind-blowing. Vonsha, I feel like I've known you forever.
Speaker 4I love how you call her Vonsha, though.
Speaker 1That always gets me. I know that you want to tell them the story. No, go ahead.
Speaker 5No, it's your story. No, but you'd say it more. I don't even know how I heard it. Anyways, vonsha, no, it was um Cory.
Speaker 1I think Cory heard my mom saying it. We had gone to, we had shared a meal with Vonsha's family. We ran into them at a pop-up stand and so like, let's do dinner one night. We did, and he heard them call her that and he told me, not just kind of stolen.
Speaker 4It's my mom.
Speaker 1It's like it's my mom. So yeah, and then Lee, the friendship. Our story is amazing. I've known Lee from work and this is what I love about surprises. I always thought, Lee, you were uptight and just um, just like really by the book, I didn't know how to interact, Like, what interaction was going to look like with you, and this is what I've learned. Here's my lesson learned with Lee is that stay open for connection and don't don't judge period. You think you know someone or you know, and you've been a surprise every day. I love sitting next to you. I bug your mom when she comes in. I'm like hey.
Speaker 2Lee, you know and you just kind of touch base.
Speaker 1And then of course Erin Erin, the the really quick story here is there was about how many people for her position.
Speaker 7Gloria, 47 people. Why? Cause we only interviewed way too many.
Speaker 1Yeah, there was yeah, over 40 people, and we interviewed about half, and Erin was our first interview, and every time Gloria and I interviewed we would just debrief on who and what, and Erin just kept coming up, and so that's how strong of an impression Erin made to be the first one and just to have stayed with us throughout that whole time. So I believe everything is on purpose and I'm looking at you all and I'm just happy and grateful for you, can I?
Speaker 6just add a little snippet story. So Erin and I had a really good, healthy relationship Throughout. Well, we still do it. We still do it.
Speaker 1She's all it's over. I'm gonna bring it up.
Speaker 6We know we still have it, but last year Erin and I had a lot of like impromptu conversations at work and I remember her sharing with me if it's okay with me sharing Erin that she's like I feel like there's change coming into my life and I don't know exactly what that looks like and where it is, but I feel it and we had a lot of like intimate moments of conversation and the interesting thing about it is that I shared with her similarities as well, like I can sense that as well. And here we are in the same area. Right Of learning and development came around the same time and it's just kind of fascinating to me because her and I had so many of those conversations in private for a very long time and when she joined growth and development, she I could see her face just light up. She was different. She was different just knowing who she was prior to.
Speaker 6And I can attest to the fact that you go where you are meant to be, because what's for you is for you. Your mail will never arrive at the different person's address. Your gift box will always show up at your doorstep. Oh, that's neat. God doesn't make mistakes, right? He knows where you live and he knows when your delivery is supposed to come, and so attest to that Shout out to Erin. But also just the fact that we're both in L&D, that's really really cool, even though I might be kind of gearing off to a different side, you know, but that's for another topic. But I just wanted to share that. So yeah, real cool stuff, very nice.
Speaker 1Yes, and then, last but not least, of course, trinity and Brent. Trinity, you are welcome to always come back, lee. You have raised a beautiful young woman and your relationship, without even saying anything, is clear, so good job to you. Mom, yeah, Raising children is no easy task, and then you know you're going through a divorce and just being all of that for your own good, and that's what our expectations are. So those are maybe some of the piano ideas that would go with yourCSA. Those can and would only do things that your dad and your family don't want it.
Speaker 2I'm saying these for theboundary Bomb.
Speaker 1Look, look at it. I can't wait. That's my SOHob, Novice. Keep it up my が-). You never used Rotating and with no string at all.
Speaker 3Person for the people Like he's just great for president.
Speaker 2That's right. That's my slogan. I got it.
Speaker 3It's just so easy to love and get along with, because that's just who he is. He's such an easygoing, great guy and I'm so impressed with him how he showed up today. I really am just, I'm in awe and I love you so much Thank you boo.
Speaker 4I had no expectations coming in and I'm trying to do that for life in general and just be in the moment and see what happens. It happened, yeah yeah, and I had a great time. It's awesome meeting new people, having new experiences and what can you, what could you want more than that?
Speaker 5Yeah, yolo, yeah, yolo.
Speaker 4YOLO. What did we start? What did we start?
Speaker 1YOLO. Well, it's been quite the love festin man. I hope that you received whatever it was that you needed to receive today and I hope that it's brought a smile to your face, loving your heart and just a place of peace for you, because that's what we want here at Take the Elevator. So, thank you all for partnering with us and you know us to take the elevator. We say look up and let's elevate. Dun, dun, dun, yeah, woo Woo Every day.
Speaker 4That was fun Elevate Blast Every day. We just always have to have eight people together, right.
