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
320th Floor: Power of the Pivot
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When our daughter's 30th birthday plans got derailed, little did we know this twist would become a gateway to the enchanting realm of musical theater. Join us as we recount this experience and muse on how life's pivot points can lead to remarkable, history-making memories. We'll also reveal how Gen's roles as a speaker, coach, and trainer are weaving into the tapestry of her personal legacy, one that's filled with intention, service, and a good dash of humor.
Stories have the power to connect us, and in our latest chat, we embrace this truth by discussing the strength we find in sharing them. Gen gets candid about my voice change post-surgery, a physical alteration that became a surprising part of her identity and an emblem of resilience. We'll tackle the challenges of making oneself heard in today's society and stress the importance of preserving personal narratives for posterity. By the end of our exchange, you'll be inspired to reflect on the wisdom and knowledge you're passing down to the next generation—because, as we'll explore, these stories are the most valuable legacies we leave behind.
Look up, and let's elevate!
hey, it's jen the builder and cory and everyone. Welcome to take the Elevator.
Speaker 2Oh yeah.
Speaker 1It's so good to be here today. Just wanted to start it off with I love when we spend weekends with much needed time with family. Time with family and rest. Rest is so good, Isn't it though?
Speaker 2I'll say this, jen, I don't remember the last time, other than today and yesterday, when we had family time and just rested. It wasn't about getting anything done or making sure anything happened or carrying out some particular task or anything like that. It was just relaxing, peaceful and enjoying the family.
Speaker 1Yeah, and I'm glad that we did it, because I didn't share this with you, corey, in one of my journals, and right now I'm so proud of myself, I've dwindled it down to two, which is quite the feat for me, because I was working on six last year, oh my yeah and I was like okay I didn't even know that, yeah generally supposed to be relaxing anyhow.
Speaker 1So I did the five year and two years. So for my two year I want to be able to say that I balanced my time and spent a good amount of quality time with people who matter the most to me, right? So we got to do that. So, you know, our daughter turned 30 huge milestone birthday but things came up and we couldn't have her birthday celebration on her birthday.
Speaker 2So we did a month later a whole and it's quite all right. Yeah, it was fine, and just to be a little bit transparent about it, you know she came down with something and was off her feet and in bed and so it just what. It wouldn't have made sense to try to have anything before then, and it just made even more sense to wait till she was completely ready to enjoy herself, because we had a blast, if I must say yeah, we did.
Speaker 1We did. It was good, good conversation, very meaningful dialogue and just another level of connection with her and her husband. But I wanted to say this so you know that kind of way where something doesn't work out and you do a lot of planning around something and then you realize, oh, I can't get a refund on this, or what we planned isn't going to happen exactly the way, the way it is. So all I'm saying is I'm grateful because, cory, I don't think you and I would have made the Lion King the musical if it weren't for Kayla's birthday.
Speaker 2Yeah, that was the gift that kept on giving and I'm not mad about it. And you're right, I probably wouldn't have just signed up to go see Lion King just for the heck of it, but I'm glad I was signed up for it, though that was an amazing and when I say amazing words can't describe the production that they put on. I just sat there in awe the entire show and was so grateful and thankful, and it actually opened me up to wanting to see more plays and live action type performances. That was very entertaining.
Speaker 1Yeah, I'm happy to hear that because it's one of my favorite things to do was very yeah, I'm happy to hear that because it's one of my favorite things to do. Um, and you know, we're talking about who our favorite character was in the musical and I think we both agreed she was excellent yeah, they, they let, uh, um well, I won't say let.
Speaker 2I guess she did what she did for us, for everybody else as well. So she, she was the Rafiki they chose, which I think they made the best possible decision they could have.
Speaker 1Yeah, and on social media, since we're speaking a little bit about the arts right now, I've seen people who have gone to Chicago at the Pantages Theater in LA. I haven't seen it, I'm sure it's good, and then we missed out on the Michael Jackson one, so oh, it's gone. I don't know if it's gone, but I know it's not in LA, okay, so maybe it's in Orange County or a nearby place and I'll check it out.
Speaker 2Yeah.
Speaker 1And we're going to see if we can catch it.
Speaker 2Absolutely so, jen, to see if we can catch it. Absolutely so, jen, today. Um, I have a couple of questions for you and I hope you're prepared I hope you came ready for some intense probing. I really want to get my genius. I want to get deep down in there, scary yeah it's not scary, but it's going to be fun. I promise you that so true story.
Speaker 1Hold on everyone who's listening. Okay, I asked you, corey, so can you just give me some kind of high overview? Overview, like give me a hint so I can be semi prepared.
Speaker 2And I got nothing I honestly said I don't want to and I didn't, because I like the raw emotion that some questions uh, provoke or invoke or bring out of someone. You know that's the joy in being an interviewer, opposed to being the interviewee. A lot of times you're under the pressure under the microscope. So my first question well, let me just segue with this. You know I worked on the Ebony Black History Committee at work and so it's allowed me to dig into Black history. But there's so many other aspects of history outside of Black history, and this month was Women's History Month.
Speaker 2I'm of the school of thought that we are making history as we speak. What we do in our lives, our everyday lives, in our work, in our passions, have a lot to do. What's going to make a mark for next year, last year, the year before that? And so my first thing is are you okay with the power of the pivot? I really am, because I really want to pivot into what mark you're leaving in making history in this world and how it's being affected right now and effective as we speak. I'll go a little bit deeper, because I know that you're a speaker on many different levels. I know you coach, I know you train, but you've spoken in front of large audiences. That said, you had a massive impact.
Leaving a Memorable Mark in History
Speaker 2I've been a part of a few of those audiences and I think I'd have to say I agree with the impact, that you've been a part of a few of those audiences and I think I'd have to say I agree with the impact that you've made, and so you've been asked to speak currently, and so the thing that I really want to get from you and I'm setting the stage because I really want to give you a lot of room to breathe in this moment so, as these speaking engagements and these people are asking you to come and deliver a message, you know you're leaving your mark. Genevieve's mark is being left in history. Let's start with this one. How does that make you feel?
Speaker 1first and foremost, man, you want to talk about intentions right so when you say it that way, yeah, it actually gets me to be very thoughtful in this dialogue. Um, because I don't know what typically speakers think about as they're going on stage, or even let's not even do speakers, let's talk about teachers or people who impact other people's lives. Right, like, what mark am I leaving by the thing I'm saying or the thing I'm doing? That's deep.
Speaker 2Yeah, right.
Speaker 1So when I go high overview on this, of course I just think of my passion of being in service to people and adding humor and lightness to their day. I talk to quite a few people who are in the trenches doing face-to-face, personal patient care with those who are really sick and the under what's the word I don't want to say? They're just in a place where they're dealing with mental health. There's not really any time for them to focus on mental, spiritual health. They're more focused on financial, lack of health and physical right. So you're trying to bring holistic approaches to a person that's broken, and so when I think of spending time with people like that and they've asked me to speak to them I definitely the mark I want to leave, knowing that it's history. Once that speaking engagement is done, I've made history and I love that question what mark have I left? What impact have I left on them?
Speaker 1So I think that's where I go is just seeing them for the work that they do, and what do they need right now? What's going to lift them up? What's going to encourage them? What's going to give them another tool that maybe they didn't have, or maybe they have something, but it can be elevated right. So let's talk about that. So I go with. I want them to feel good about the work they do. I want them to know that they're seen and so valued and that this world would definitely be at a loss if it weren't for them right.
Speaker 1So just really making that the message, that's the main thing. And then I build around that um and I really go into okay, what, what's the theme for the whole event? And just aligning with that, because of course, um, I want to be in sync with what the other speakers are talking about. So it tells a a story, so it makes sense. Right, there's a flow. Yeah, exactly, flow is so important.
Speaker 2Yeah, I'm going to jump in real quick because something happened, and I know you were present when it happened, but I don't know if you were present in the way to remember it. I made a mental note of this particular thing that happened with us over the weekend. We went and visited a friend of mine and he's a friend of yours. He's actually been on the podcast. However, we're more friends because of me and when you walked into the place we were talking, you just called my name and he said oh, I know that voice. It just reminds me of the podcast, and so I would say that is a telltale sign.
Speaker 2When someone says that they know your voice, based on the podcast, based on hearing you speak out in public, that's a mark that you're going to be able to leave in history. Not because you did it on purpose. This is actually. It's a by chance thing that your voice sounds the way it does. Yeah, we've grown to love it. It's nothing we want to change or nothing. That because you used to have a much higher register voice.
Speaker 2How do you feel about that? How do you feel about the fact that? And so, before we go into that answer, I'm asking these questions because I want people to think about what it is that they're going to leave for history, what mark they're planning on leaving for this life and the afterlife when they're gone. A lot of people are literally forgotten five to six months after they passed away. It's up to us to to leave the mark on in history. We can do it if we want to, or we can opt out of it. You know, um, so I'm gonna move forward in that question. How does that make you feel, to know that your voice, you will be known as the voice.
Speaker 1It's so intense. I don't know if we've ever told this story on this podcast, and if we did, it was hundreds of episodes ago. I'm sure, because we're in our 300s, yeah, so yeah, I had a high register voice. In fact, I think you said that when you call my work number or is it my voicemail?
Speaker 2Your voicemail still has that higher pitch registered voice.
Speaker 1Yeah. So when you said it doesn't even sound like you, so I called it and played it back, I was like it really doesn't. So, interestingly enough, one of the things I love to do is make these weird connections, because it helps with the storyline and the flow. In the beginning of this episode, we were talking about how things happen unexpectedly and you just never know.
Speaker 1Yeah, the power of the pivot. Yes, thank you. So here was one of the biggest pivots of my life, right, my voice. Back then I thought was pretty critical. I did a lot of training then helping people onboard successfully and then just their continued journey right. And then you and I worked with youth and we were also in music together. Not only did we lead music in a church, but we also sang at weddings. One of our favorite things was singing in the car, you know, and I just love being able to sing with you. I was just tapping into harmonies and growing in the voice in the area of singing.
Speaker 1Well, unfortunately, I had to have a surgery and they removed a couple of really big goiters, like the doctor told me. He said one of them was the size of a softball, the other one was the size of a tennis ball and because of the angle in which they did the testing, they didn't see the severity of the size of the goiters. So anyways, long story short, I had to be intubated for a longer amount of time. The thing is is that we checked and my vocal cords were not damaged but very weakened. So, with that being said, after I'd healed up a bit, I did the normal MO that Jen and Corey do and I got on the keyboard and we were getting ready to start singing again and the voice I had heard in my head that I was very used to the higher register, um, really came out sounding in my head that I was very used to the higher register really came out sounding. If I can explain that moment, I felt like this is not me, what is happening, and what voice just came out.
Speaker 1It sounded like a dying frog.
Speaker 2No, yes, it did, yes, it did.
Speaker 1And so I was crushed. I I was crushed and I cleared my throat. I was like, okay, it's just probably for this moment. I haven't used it in a while. Let's try that again. And the realization that my register had completely changed and I had no range whatsoever totally shut me down and, of course, because of work and things I had to do, the speaking voice was okay. But, corey, I did calls with nurses on the phone and I'll never forget this. I'm given like advice and direction on one of my patients who is in the ER right and he needs for his documentation, who he spoke to and he said cool, sounds great, can I get your name? And I said, absolutely, I'm all genevieve. And he's like okay, thanks, steve that was great, I said steve, like you know.
Speaker 1Now I will say that through the years the voice has started to change a little bit right absolutely so. Then I started getting known for this voice like oh my god, I knew it was you. There's only one voice like yours. I love your voice like it's so great.
Speaker 1So again, the power in the pivot and you're just like I'm gonna roll with it. Um, I'm eventually gonna get back and sing and just get used to the other register, right? So to be known for this voice is something I didn't expect. And now I love my voice and I'm like, okay, I'm so open to change and should I get my old voice back? That is going to be another pivot, but inside I really don't want the old voice back. That is going to be another pivot, but inside I really don't want the old voice.
Speaker 1I think this is the one that's going to stay.
Speaker 2This is the one we're going to keep.
Speaker 1But, Corey, when it first, when my first, when it first came out like this, I didn't have for me the ability for expression because I couldn't even go up in tone or in pitch in the slightest way. I felt very mon. Imagine teaching and not being to express emotion, importance in your tone. That was a huge part. So then I realized, man, it is true, Nonverbal cues are so effective and I just learned to tap into what my nonverbal cues were saying right. Learned to tap into what my non-verbal cues were saying right.
Speaker 1Body language, facial expression, nodding of the head, the smile, the lift of the eyebrows right, the kind of tint of the when you tilt your face a certain way, and so now that I have a little bit more register, learning that and pivoting right, combining that together, I feel, has definitely made it more dynamic. Yep, right, and my insecurities, the things that I just could not stand about myself, have become the thing that people comment on a lot I love that story for a few reasons.
Speaker 2Um, let me throw out a few of them. Jump in whenever you want to. Yeah, this is a lot of the reason why people in history have become who they've become, because they've had situations that has come about that they had no control over, and they made lemonade out of the lemons that they got. And once that happens, we're forced to make a decision, we can give up, we can throw in the towel and say you know what? I'm good, I'm done, I don't want to do anything else. This is not what I expected, this is not what I paid for, and so either give me my money back or I'll just sit here and watch the show.
Speaker 2That was a metaphor. However, we have to take our lives in our hands and begin to make our history happen, and once we do this, we're leaving a mark. And me personally, jen, I'm a little bit tired of depending on the history that we've had because it's not reliable. As a matter of fact, there's a lot of deception in the history that we have. As a matter of fact, there's a lot of deception in the history that we have, and so, with all that deception that we have, it's important that the people of today focus on what we're leaving behind.
Speaker 1Yeah, because we can control that.
Speaker 2Yeah, we can control all that. How?
Speaker 1does that make you feel Excited? And I'm going to say here's another connection. I think this is why it's so important for journalers to document your story. Yeah, you know, even this podcast, right like years and years after we're gone. Hopefully this podcast, like people can still access it and it like is it tells a story oh, you're on to something yeah say more I, I hadn't thought about that before. Just what footprints are you leaving behind? Yeah what is your? What is your?
Speaker 2you're talking about prints, your blueprint look like right, so legacy yeah, absolutely so that that's a lot of where I was going with this in this conversation.
Speaker 2Because, again, as long as we have an internet, these stories, this podcast will last, and so it will forever exist inside the universe. As long as there's paper and books, my books, your writings, your journaling will last and people will find them, and this is nothing short of what scholars did back in the day when they left their mark. The great writers and when I say the great writers, the, the famous great writers that wrote pieces that we recite today and I'm all blank right now, so I can't recite anything, but we know what they are and then we even talk about something as powerful as the bible and and all those different writings that came from there, and and so again, I get excited myself because I know that we're both trying to move the needle. We're talking to lots of people that are attempting to move the needle in a good direction, opposed to rewriting it to fit our narrative. Yeah, so we have some good history to look forward to. I love that. Yeah, history to look our narrative. Yeah, so we have some good history to look forward to.
Speaker 1I love that. Yeah, History to look forward to Corey. I wanted to share something else because I don't want to miss this opportunity. That's the other thing too Okay. Right. So I think leaving your mark also means speaking of pivot. When you feel or you sense that, man, there's something I really need to share here or something I need to say, you know, go ahead and say it, right. So I didn't learn this till later on in life, but there are parts of our body that are highly affected when we carry things chronically.
Speaker 2Yes.
Finding Strength Through Shared Stories
Speaker 1And I'm not going gonna go way into it. What's interesting is is that your thyroid gland is one of those things are impacted when your voice has been silenced, and so that I don't have a thyroid it's actually been removed, and so when I had heard about this, I thought I thought that makes sense, because, for those who know my story, there are pieces of my childhood where my voice was silenced and when I tried to use it, it was silenced again and again and again Right.
Speaker 1So I think it's kind of cool in the pivot that I almost my voice had completely changed, and so what I felt was coming out at times was more noise. Especially after the surgery I was like god, it sounds like crappy noise, like I do not like my voice, you know. But that's the pivot too. Fact. That's part of the reason why our theme, or our logo, or however you want to call it, our mantra for Genco Sound Company is make some noise. Yes, indeed, celebrated in the month of March. They had to make noise because they were so marginalized or there was so much struggle there that their voices weren't heard, and I think it was their noise throughout their time in history that has kind of rung true or kept going right.
Speaker 1So when I think of our voice, when I think of the pivot, I think of not just struggle but achievement that's come from it. I think of strength and an unknown kind of strength. See, for me they're strong. And then there's the strong where you bend but you don't break right. There's the strong where you bend but you don't break right. There's the strong where you're kicked down and you get up right. You know what I'm saying.
Speaker 1So, I think that's the strength that the struggle brings forward, that's the strength that the power and the pivot brings up.
Speaker 2You know, jen, as I sit here and listen to what you're saying, you know, the fact of the matter is that women, men, children, we're all going to have to learn how to make some noise. The system will quiet you down, they will silence you, they will tell you what you have to say is not worth being said.
Speaker 1We don't want to hear it yeah, I mean, and they do it now, right? Yeah, social media, where you're in a land where you're supposed to have freedom of speech, um, and they cancel you, they remove your comments, they shut down your account in. We have a good friend that, during the time of COVID, like millions of lives impacted because of his truth sharing on TikTok, wiped out his account, wiped it out. So, yeah, making noise and finding ways to do that we were just talking about. As you said, as long as there's the internet, there's this podcast, and then I started thinking what do we have as backup to the recording? So we have our own access to it and we're not relying on the system to keep our stories alive to keep our noise going.
Speaker 1That's right, that's right.
Speaker 2Absolutely Well. In my opinion and this is always something this is always good food for thought. You know, and I'm glad you brought that up Making a recording to be on the internet is one thing, but making a recording for yourself is something totally different. I remember when I was a kid, there were records of comedians uh, richard pryor, red fox, uh, and other great comedians because that's what they put their work on On vinyl On vinyl, okay.
Speaker 2And so you know, there's nothing to stop us from doing whatever. We can put it on CD, we can put it on cassette, we can put it on vinyl, we can put it on a hard drive. Whatever we may feel that you know and this is for you listening as well Record your history, make your mark and put it somewhere so your children, or your children's children, or your nieces and nephews, or whatever it may be, can find your mark and find what you've left for them, so that they can allow that to carry on. You know a lot of people think leaving a legacy is about leaving someone, a house or a car or some money or something like that, yeah, like generational wealth, which is nice.
Speaker 2It's great if you could do that. You can leave me a little bit if you have some, but more important is leaving wisdom and knowledge, and that's what this is really about. That's what this conversation was supposed to be about in the first place, pivoting to the knowledge and wisdom that's right, because those two, wisdom and knowledge, bring enrichment to people yeah and that's so important.
Speaker 1It reminds me, cory, of when our kids were younger, um, and we raised him right to the best of our ability yep, darn good job too.
Speaker 1Pretty darn good job. And people ask me today like, how did you do that? You know they're not quite the kids, jen. We thought you were going to reproduce, right, because Jen's a little wild and my kids are not, our kids are not. And here's what I learned when you share your history and you share those experiences intuitively, at the right moment, it has huge impact. And here was my speaking of intention. So you talk about Jen when you speak. What are you hoping happens there?
Speaker 1I remember when I shared stories that were hard for me to bring forward and letting them know like man, mom did some stuff or you know, some heinous things happened there, and sharing that my intent was and my prayer. Let's be clear on that. My prayer was like Lord, I hope they don't have to experience this themselves. Let them be wise enough to where they can learn from my experience and other people's experiences to say, yeah, I don't need to have that firsthand. Your experience was enough for me to use wisdom applied Right. And I said, oh, so I think that's what a lot of it is. And sometimes we feel ashamed or that self-doubt when we think about our stories. But again, that story, that experience, the knowledge that you got from there, the emotions that you felt and how you pivoted, really, really enriches other people.
Speaker 2Well, I think you, as a we're talking about women, uh, women in history I think you, as a woman deciding to be honest, transparent and up front with with the kids, allow them to see I don't have to go through this and if she went through this, really not going to do it, yeah, and so I think those, those talking points and those learning steps that were shared, were the things that that it took to make them be who they became yeah, and and don't get me wrong it wasn't a scare tactic either, because I've seen parenting done that way yeah, no right, or they do that because I said so type thing, and and for me it was actually therapeutic to go into the areas that I had tried to hide or didn't really want to remember and, just pivoting to say there's more to this story than the brokenness.
Speaker 1Yeah, the part that I want to share is the healing process yes, let's talk about that.
Speaker 1When you you brought up earlier in the podcast, we got to rest it's. It's the rest that you find after you've learned what you need to from those moments. Yeah so, man cory, you are really great at bringing this forward and I realized one of my strengths in this with you is the pivot. With you, I've got to learn to pivot and it just shows that history is all also made by talking about those things and letting it be expressed and let go and released for it to do its thing.
Speaker 2I agree 100%, jen, and thank you for allowing me to shock and bring out the rawness of it, because that's what I love to do. I don't like to prepare the interviewee about. You know what we're going to talk about.
Speaker 1It's, it's and this is why we have no guests, because we don't prepare them. Just kidding, no, just kidding. I wanted to share this last thing. It brings me joy to sit here with you, cory, because I'm gonna let everyone in on a little something. Um, we were planning, or I was planning, I should say to sayonara take the elevator, and we were going to close off on the 330th episode.
Speaker 1So, um, oh no, 333rd, because I was thinking about the number three, and that was the plan. And I love when you have someone in your life that just lays out a very simple, powerful question and doesn't feel the need to elaborate on it. And let me tell you what I mean. You said to me, corey, you asked me like, are you sure about this? And, of course, knee jerk reaction. Well, yeah, I'm sure, like you know I. It's time to move on to other things. We're preparing for another podcast, like what does this look like? You know? And then I thought about it and then you start to imagine your day, your life without it and what it means to you. And you hear from people, right? I just heard from someone over the weekend who said she absolutely loved the 318th episode, and here's what I'm saying.
Speaker 2Somebody else, said I love to hear that voice, that that's the voice.
Speaker 1Yeah, that was another affirmation. So it's a trip right. Like your, decisions mean and weigh a lot, so it just I'm grateful to continue to be in this space. It's nice to say we're going to keep going and there's no plan for this big farewell on the 333rd episode. So, yeah, it's just good to be in this space with you.
Speaker 2And I'm grateful for that. And that brings me to an emotional point, because I wasn't ready to let it go. It means a lot to me as well, so thank you.
Speaker 1No, thank you. Anyways, y'all, we hope you have a good day and a good rest of the week and thanks for listening. And please share this episode with anyone that you think would benefit from it, because here at take the elevator, we say look up and let's elevate.
