Own Your Uniqueness

Come and listen to our Host, Tina Spoletini, as she chats with today's guest, Lisa Patel, for our “Unapologetically Unique” Podcast Series.

This mini-series serves to distill success into its truest form—standing firmly in your own identity. We are moving beyond the comparison game to help you lead with unapologetic confidence. By anchoring your habits in self-belief rather than outside expectations, you’ll shift from chasing temporary inspiration to becoming a changemaker with lasting, year-long momentum. 

Lisa Patel is an award-winning real estate leader, entrepreneur, and founder of Property Princess Group with 17 years of experience in real estate and over 20 years in the mortgage and real estate industry. Raised in a family of business owners, she developed an entrepreneurial mindset early and now leads a respected, client-focused team known for innovation and integrity. A former President of TRREB, she is a recognized industry leader, speaker, and advocate for growth, diversity, and professional advancement. Lisa is also deeply committed to mentorship, community impact, and empowering others through business, education, and meaningful connections.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisapatel01/

Instagram: lisapatelofficial

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisa.patel.92761

We talk with Lisa Patel about leading without apology and leaning into the traits that make us different, especially when the world feels loud and uncertain. We leave with grounded mindset tools, a clearer view of service-based leadership, and a reminder that community is not optional when we are building our next chapter.
• what it means to be unapologetically unique in work and life
• Lisa’s path through real estate leadership and serving as TREB president
• how market cycles and outside forces can shake confidence
• choosing purpose early and letting your path evolve
• staying values-led in a competitive industry and checking ego at the door
• navigating self-doubt with meditation, gratitude and daily mindset work
• journaling prompts to uncover beliefs and reframe the story
• why many women struggle to recognize their gifts and celebrate small wins
• simple ways to support other women through presence and listening
• building community and connection as a form of service
• practical steps for women who feel like they are shrinking
If that feels aligned with you, I’d love to invite you to reach out, connect, or simply start a conversation.

For more Divas That Care Network Episodes visit www.divasthatcare.com

Transcript

Divas That Care Welcome

SPEAKER_00 0:00

It's Divas That Care Radio. Stories, strategies, and ideas to inspire positive change. Welcome to Divas That Care, a network of women committed to making our world a better place for everyone. This is a global movement for women, by women engaged in a collaborative effort to create a better world for future generations. To find out more about the movement, visit divas that care.com after the show. Right now, though, stay tuned for another jolt of inspiration.

SPEAKER_01 0:31

Welcome back to Confidence in Bloom, where we have real conversations for women on the edge of reinvention, women who are ready to trust themselves, take us, take up space, and step into what's next with clarity and confidence. Today's episode is all about being unapologetically unique, owning who you are, how you lead, and the path you've chosen, even when it looks different from every for everyone else. And I couldn't think of a better guest to have with this conversation. Lisa Patel is an award-winning real estate leader, entrepreneur, and founder of Property Princess Group. With over two decades in the mortgage and real estate industry, she's built not only a highly respected client-focused business, but a reputation for innovation, integrity, and leadership. As a former president of TREB, T-R-R-E-B, Lisa's going to tell us what that means. Lisa has become a powerful voice in the industry, championing growth, diversity, and professional advancement. But what really stands out is how she's carved her own path, leading with authenticity, mentoring others, and staying deeply connected to purpose and community. Lisa, welcome to Confidence in Bloom. I'm so excited to have you here.

SPEAKER_02 1:54

Thank you. I'm excited to be here with you. And um, I've been waiting for this, and here we are.

SPEAKER_01 2:00

Yeah, here we are. It's funny how fast time goes, right?

SPEAKER_02 2:04

You said a mouthful.

What TREB Is And Why It Matters

SPEAKER_01 2:05

Just at the last six years alone, how quickly the time has gone, right? And we all know six years ago was, you know, the whole COVID lockdown. And yeah, now it's like, my God, it's been six years already, and it so much has happened, right? I do have a question for you. In your bio, I read that you're a former president of TREB. Can you clarify what TREB is?

SPEAKER_02 2:29

Sure. Um, so it's the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board. Um, so uh one of the many hats that I've worn is uh is being a president and um and for the association that I love and the largest association in the world as well as the largest association in Canada. Um so it's the real estate board, and um, it's been an honor and privilege uh to have served the industry and have spent 11 years serving the industry. Wow.

SPEAKER_01 2:57

Wow, good for you. Congratulations. That sounds like it's a huge market, right? Toronto, we all know Toronto's market is huge. So to be president of that whole community, that's that's a big, that's a big, big feat.

SPEAKER_02 3:08

And we've grown too. Um, you know, initially when I joined uh real estate um, you know, 17, 18 years ago, um it was, I think there was about 30,000 realtors. And today, you know, uh the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board, because we've uh expanded across the GTA, um, we are approximately 75,000 realtors and 100,000 in the province of Ontario. Wow.

SPEAKER_01 3:35

Wow, that's crazy. And I mean, we know that the Toronto real estate market alone is like it's crazy, right?

Market Cycles And Outside Forces

SPEAKER_02 3:44

And now when you broaden that even wider, wow, that's um, you know, there's been a lot of change, you know, especially the last couple of years in in terms of the marketplace, like since that pre pan uh pre-pandemic to that pandemic level. And um, of course, we've seen the numbers that have dropped because uh the markets have just shifted a lot in the last couple of years. But I always say to people, it's a teeter-totter, right? What what sways one way, the teeter-totter always moves the other way, right? Um, and it's always just being prepared for those opportunities.

SPEAKER_01 4:15

Of course. And then and then it also keeps you more aware of what the market's gonna do for the next time around, right? Because it goes in cycles.

SPEAKER_02 4:23

Kind of. There's two things that we can't control. Right, right. Number one is government intervention. Um, so that's what always makes a shift and change in the market. Uh, because the market itself will always, I always say that everybody tries to understand the real estate market, but the real estate market is a market of its own. And if people left it alone, it would do wonders. But the problem is then we sometimes get government intervention. And then we've had the unforeseen in the last couple of years. Um, I'm just gonna point over to our US neighbors. We love you, but um, you know, your president has made things a little challenging. And um, and of course, the unexpected also with the with the wars going on in the world, too. Right. Impact um on people emotionally and of course, uh economically.

SPEAKER_01 5:10

Of course, yeah, absolutely. And then while there's so many things that impact that, right? Like, I mean, we all know the world is suffering now with gas prices, like it's it's ridiculous how much we're paying, right, just to go to work. Yeah, right. Like it's it's crazy, right? And and that all has an effect, right? Because I mean, if I'm paying this much in gas, do can I afford a bigger mortgage than what I have? No, right? Do I need to downsize? Like, you know, it's because the prices, in my opinion, I don't see that. Why would they bring them down? Right? Our grocery prices went up, they never came back down, right? I see that.

SPEAKER_02 5:47

It's that all defining thing. Like, we see that with not only foods and but even like property taxes and all of those things. Um, it the problem is the cost to build, the cost uh to supply, the cost to um to live, right? And uh you said a mouthful when you said like why would they come down? And and it's the truth. Like like it would be wonderful if it could, or if there were incentives that helped during these times.

Choosing A Bigger Purpose Early

SPEAKER_01 6:16

Right. Yeah, absolutely. And of course, I mean, I didn't invite you here to discuss this, right? I mean, we would I don't I don't like to who doesn't love talking real estate? I know, right? Well, and I it's more the political part of it, right? Like I don't like to get too much into politics, I don't really follow politics, I have my opinions, right? But I don't know enough about how it works, so I don't really want to get too far into it. Um although I would love to have a discussion with you, but you know, we won't we'll leave that for another time. So, I mean, we talked about a little bit about your career already. Uh, I want to know, like, it sounds like it was incredible, like you've done many things. Was there a moment where you kind of realized that you needed to do things your own way instead of following any kind of a path that's sort of been set up for you?

SPEAKER_02 7:04

You know what? I feel like in some ways we have pre uh pre-notioned paths, right? That we're meant to discover in this world. Um, I'm a I'm a spiritualist, so I'm just gonna call it out. But also, um, I also believe that in our journey of life, we we come across many different paths. And um, mine was I'm very fortunate, came to me early. Um, mine came to me in my 20s, and where I knew I was here for a bigger purpose. Um, and I think I had even known before then, like I was told that I was an indigo child. Indigo children were born into the world uh to make it not to change the world, but to make it a better place. And when I think about my own path, like it's hard to believe, um, just like you said, all the things that I've done um in this life and and looking at it and saying, okay, now this makes sense. So my my note, when I walked into my 20s, I had already passed all that like fun phase because I had done it earlier. Um, so I guess I've an old soul that has grown, you know, beyond my time. And so by the time I got into my 20s, I was like, you know what, I'm here for a bigger purpose. And the reality is, what footprints am I leaving for not just like my nephews and the generations after me, but gener more generations to come. And I went into the world with that mentality is that I'm here to serve, I'm here to love, um, I'm here to grow, and I'm here to to make the world a better place for those generations to come and for yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 8:41

That that, you know, and I mean, in your 20s, you that's not normal, right? In our 20s, we don't think that way, right? In our 20s, it's all about me, right? Like it's all about what am I here for? Like, not necessarily what am I here for, but what can I do to enjoy this, right? Like, that's what the 20s is for. I love that.

SPEAKER_02 9:01

I'm gonna kill you here because um I ran in politics in my 20s. So it's actually actually 20 years ago that I ran.

SPEAKER_01 9:07

Wow, that's crazy. Like, yeah, like I mean, obviously an old soul, right? Like it's yeah, because in your 20s, you might think I'm gonna be president one day or I'm gonna be prime minister one day, right? But you don't actually like, I mean, you have to, I guess to some degree, you have to in, you know, sort of put yourself in there, but it's not I mean, it's more about having fun with it.

SPEAKER_02 9:32

You said a mouthful, yeah. You you you probably wouldn't be putting together a business plan and saying, okay, these are the things I'm gonna do to to get to XYZ, or okay, or every opportunity, or where can I plug myself into now that I can give back to this community or that community? And it was just an evolution of like one thing after the other after the other. And it was just like everything that came to me, or that I somehow put myself into, it led to another one.

SPEAKER_01 10:00

Right, right. I love that. That's I mean, you must have been one of those women that had so much energy and so much, like so feisty, like don't get in her way because she is on a roll, right? That's that's the that's the energy I'm feeling from you right now because I think I mean, I remember back when I was in my 20s. I mean, sure, yeah, I knew I wanted to get married and I wanted to have a family, but it wasn't like the only thing on my mind, whereas I feel like you were like, I'm here for a reason and I'm going to it.

SPEAKER_02 10:31

You you said, and I still have that mentality, and I I mean it's not as as like it in that way, but it's it's there where I'm like, if you think you're gonna mess with I'm about to do something wonderful and you better not mess with it.

SPEAKER_01 10:44

I love it, I love it. And and I'll be honest, I think we need more people like that in our lives to sort of pump up the flame in our own bodies, like in our own, you know, purpose, right? You know, in general. I mean, I can't speak for everyone, but I mean, sure, I think, you know, like people like you help motivate the people around you.

SPEAKER_02 11:05

Thank you. I love you for that. And and you know what, but I feel like that's that's part of our our role and our job is as we grow, right? That you know, it's about passing the torch and sharing the love. And and when we share the love, others share the love, and it's just more love going all around.

SPEAKER_01 11:21

Exactly, exactly. Right, exactly. And obviously with the right intention, right? Like if you're out there to burn bridges, then it's gonna bite you in the ass.

SPEAKER_02 11:31

I I agree. It's it's still like the notion of our world today, right? I mean, like, you know, there is a percentage of people that are are spreading love. Like, you know, I'm every day that I wake up in this world, I always say, Thank you for another day in this world. Uh, where would you have me go today? What would you have me do? What would you have me say to whom? Guide and light my path. And um, and of course, I send then I send love from my my heart to the universe, to the world, to everybody. Um, and and I feel like if more people did that, we'd have more love.

SPEAKER_01 12:02

Oh my gosh, yes. Honestly, and and we can see it. I see it like in every day, like when you go out of the house, you see it every day. People are not grateful for what they do have. And it doesn't matter what they have, right? Whether they have, you know, a ton of money and a big huge house and a beautiful car, or they have nothing. People are just not grateful for what they have. And the thing is, we work for it, like you're working for what you have, right? You should be grateful, right? You should be grateful for what you have.

SPEAKER_02 12:34

You know, I am grateful to be here right now with you in this moment.

Politics Lessons On Being Unapologetic

SPEAKER_01 12:38

Right, exactly, exactly. And the opportunity to to share our story, to share, you know, our views on things. Yes, thank you for that. Now, unapologetically unique is our theme right now in our season, and that can feel empowering, but it can also feel super scary. I'm wondering what did that look like for you in the early stages of your career? Because at 20 years old, running in politics, that's gotta be scary as well as empowering.

SPEAKER_02 13:11

Um, I guess, okay, so yes, you're absolutely right. So 20 years in my early 20s running in politics, um, it was a big step, but I was I was determined. I was like, you know what, I'm here for the community. I'm gonna do it. And you know, when I first went out knocking on doors, they weren't paying attention. I would knock and and then I I changed my script and I looked at them and I said, Let me guess. You think I'm 18 years old and have no idea what I'm talking about? Here are the issues. Bang, bang, bang. Now I need your vote. And I literally had to redefine it because I could see the writing on the wall through their face that they weren't listening and they weren't gonna support me. And I had to, and unfortunately or fortunately, I I have really good genes. Um, so I don't look my truth of my age, and um, and it's one of the reasons why I've had to wear makeup my entire life because just to give you that extra uh age, yeah, that age factor, yeah, and um just that factor so that they could look at it because the minute you start getting anybody that I've so I've ran three times for anyone that doesn't know. I ran in my early 20s, I ran 16 years after that. I ran against an incumbent that had been in power for 30 years, and it was not an easy battle, but I was like, you know what? Watch me, I'm gonna do it. And um, and of course, um, unfortunately, I didn't continue that battle. Not to say that that battle is over, it just wasn't my time, and my time is coming, and I'm looking forward to that next chapter. Um, but in the meantime, um, I think when you have a desire for something that's so big, not that's bigger than you, and that is that it comprises of the people around you or your community, or whether it's um even girlfriends or groups or associations, and you have a desire to do something so wonderful, every ounce of that uniqueness comes into it. And there's like a play of yourself, there's a play of a higher power um that comes into it. And just because of the coincidences that take place, the things that come along your path. Like I ask for signs all the time, and I get them. Whether it's a cardinal showing up at my um um in my backyard, um, but they're all there for us. And I think the key here is ourselves, is understanding ourselves. And when we come to know how much power we have within us, there's so many wonderful things we can do.

SPEAKER_01 15:43

Oh God, that is so true. You know, when when people say stand in your own power, right? That's what they're talking about, right? Your power doesn't necessarily have to be overpowering the rest of the world, right? It's like, what am I capable of? Right. And what can I do with this?

SPEAKER_02 16:01

Or even it could be even bringing sunshine to people every single day, like by saying smiling and saying hello. And I feel like the world forgets about that stuff and we're afraid to now because there's so much chaos around us, and we just forget, like, you know what? We are beautiful, bright, shining uh souls, and we have so much to give to this world, and um, and every day is a blessed day.

SPEAKER_01 16:25

Yeah, absolutely. And if that means again, right? Like giving a smile to someone, you know, walking down the street, that someone might have not seen that smile for who knows how long, and you just changed the rest of their life, right?

SPEAKER_02 16:40

100%. Yeah, that it's when remember that old saying, it's not what you do, it's how you made them feel.

SPEAKER_01 16:47

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 16:48

And I think, and when you go into the world with that level of understanding that this isn't about me, this is about something even bigger, and I'm gonna do or I'm gonna play the best version of myself every single day. And any little bit that I can give for myself to myself, right? So we always forget about ourselves, so we got to give to ourselves too, and and then give to the people around us, then you can do anything.

Values In A Competitive Industry

SPEAKER_01 17:12

Yeah, yeah. So true, right? Now, you're you, I mean, in real estate, it's competitive, right? It's a competitive industry, right? We don't have to explain that. But how do you stay true to your own values when there's so much pressure on you to conform to or play? I mean, you have to play it safe, right? But there's also a lot of games you have to play. How do you how do you manage that?

SPEAKER_02 17:36

So, number one, I listen, my industry, hands down, I love you guys. Um, but uh, you know, uh my ego gets checked at the door. There's no, you know, you need your ego for your confidence to believe in yourself and your abilities. Um, but my ego in terms of like going out, look at me, I don't care. Awards and stuff are are wonderful things. Thank you. Thank you for so very much. I appreciate them. Um, but what gets me is is the people that we get to serve, you know, um, and and that that level is a whole other. Or the, you know, there's so many relationships in real estate. So there's the relationship with another realtor um or realtor colleagues, and then there's the relationship with the people we get to serve, the clients or the customers, and even if it's a customer that did it didn't work out, if I could add something of value, then I've done my part.

SPEAKER_01 18:26

Oh, I love that. I love that answer because it's not always just about the final sale, right? It's not always about the dollar that's being exchanged. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 18:36

You know, I want to add something to that. Like what people don't know, and I'm okay, I'm about to share a lot. Um, so the average salary, everybody thinks like, oh, you're real estate, you make lots of money. And like the assumption or the um the stigmatation is out there. But the reality is our our salaries, our average salary of a realtor today is is like 25,000. Um, so you have to a year. Yeah, you have to work your business. Otherwise, if you're not gonna work your business, what you put in is what you get out. And and a lot of people don't realize that. They just think, oh, I'm gonna go into real estate. Now, uh, well, have you really asked and spoken to somebody? Have you sat down and really figured thought thought this out? And like, don't get me wrong, like I fell into real estate by mistake. Um, I was actually in the mortgage industry originally. That's why I've been 20 years ago. You should be able to originally I was in the mortgage industry and um I left a major bank and I opened a small brokerage with a with a partner, and I walked in one day, and the partner looked at me and she's like, you know, you'd be a better at real estate. Here's a check, go get your license. So I call that person was a conduit, part of my journey. And I had no desire of being in real estate, and that changed my life because when I got into real estate, um, I was thinking big things. Like I created, I mean, I have an avatar for those that don't know of the property princess. And but also I was thinking big things and creating big things. I was like, I want, I want to do something that's not out there. I want to go into all of these segments. And then I also was like, I want to get back to this industry. I was giving back to my office so much, and then I got exhausted from that. I was like, nope, it's time to do something bigger for the industry. And that's when I got involved with the board, and um, and which also was um a shift. You learn a lot, you you learn a lot more. Um, I call it organized real estate. So there's real estate and then there's organized real estate, it's like the governing board, and it's a whole other foundation that you would you see things that you would never ever imagine that goes on. And total eye-opener.

Mindset Tools For Self Doubt

SPEAKER_01 20:52

Yeah, I believe that. I believe that. I think nothing is ever the way it looks, right? Right. I mean, that's what I've learned in my you know years on this earth that it's never the way it really looks, and it's never the way you imagine it, right? Like you okay, like I know that there's gonna be other parts to this, but I can just imagine it's gonna be this, this, and this. And then you get there and you're like blown away because you're like, whoa, where did this come from? Right. So I could see what you mean by that. Now, in in all of this, I mean you've done, I mean, you've been in all corners of the real estate industry now. What would you like? Do you ever do you ever like think back and realize that you struggled maybe with self-doubt or imposter syndrome? And when you did, like, how did you manage it? How did you navigate through all of it?

SPEAKER_02 21:41

Um, so it was we see it through what's happening in our life. And and we have to be um we have to rely on our our own gifts. Like everybody in this world has gifts. If they don't know it, you need to spend time with yourself and discover what your gifts are. Because we all have some again. Gifts that were given to us that we were meant to share in this world. And I'm very intuitive. So I pay very attention to my body. I pay very attention to the messages that come to me or thoughts. Like I've had some crazy stories, which I'll have to tell you off the record of stuff that have happened. And the reality is I have seen it several times. You know, you could be going through wonderful years and all of a sudden you hit a snag and you're like, what was that? And whether it was, you know, my own mindset that shifted and maybe there was a moment where I didn't believe in myself. Like I will say, like, I'll be very honest and say the last four years of of my 20 years in this in this business have been have been hard, um, have been harder than the previous years. And and it was because we went through, you know, uncertainty to back to normal, and then to a market that went flat. Um, and then having to be sunshine to the world in those markets were not easy either. Um, I mean, I feel like Toronto's market is just about to pop and shift. So we're about to see that. But um, but it's been a slow go because we've been hit on every level with everything that's happened, um, whether it be around the world or economically or internally. Um, even every government shift um impacts the market. And um, and it's hard to keep our, we have to, number one, we have to take care of ourselves and make sure that we're we're in tune to what's going on. Um, and also I work on my mindset every single morning. Um, I don't leave the house until I've done my meditation. So those things are the things that keep me grounded. Um, I give gratitude every single day because gratitude shifts all of those imposter syndrome and everything else. And, you know, I've got, I've probably got journals of like questions of myself, you know, in those moments where where things aren't working and you're trying, and I'm like, okay, I'm I'm moving around furniture in my house because I'm shifting energy and wait a minute, it's still not working. Okay. Um, and I'm trying everything there is. I'm like, okay, let's put on some thieves oil and get rid of that negativity. And and it's still going, and you're like, okay, it's still not working. What is it? So, and that's when you get really deep and clear of what is it in either internally, like subconsciously or consciously that is sitting on me that I'm not thinking about or that I'm thinking thinking in a way that I'm not picking up on.

SPEAKER_01 24:45

I love that. And I and it all comes down to self-awareness, right? What am I feeling? What am I gonna do with this? Right? Where is it gonna bring me? Right?

SPEAKER_02 24:55

Yeah, 100%. And and it's and then it's like, okay, well, now I need to do the formula to understand um what's causing that thinking, right? To shift it and say, okay, but that isn't true. So what is really true?

SPEAKER_01 25:09

Right.

SPEAKER_02 25:10

And then have to reprogram yourself to believe all those things. Um, my brother was adorable when he was he was younger. So we were very much uh in similar businesses. So um he said, you know, he's at least every day before I leave the house. I look at the mirror and I say I'm the shit. And I go out. I'm like, okay.

SPEAKER_01 25:31

And a shit, and a shit. And when when that comes out of a man's mouth, right, it doesn't mean like I'm a shit, right? When a woman says I'm a shit, we mean we're garbage, right? When a man says that he's like the coolest thing in the world.

SPEAKER_02 25:43

You you said it, yes. And so we need to be like that, you know. Before we leave the house, we need to look at that mirror, look at that person and say, you know what, you gotta go. Exactly, exactly.

SPEAKER_01 25:53

Well, isn't it Mel Robbins that says she gives herself high fives every day? Right. And it's for that great book. Yes. If you can't, like if you can't pump yourself up, no one else is going to, right?

SPEAKER_02 26:05

You know, one of the things I tell myself every single day, I say it three times. Um, and it could be any time of the day that I that I remind myself, and it's, you know, thank you for the love that I have. I love myself, I love you. Um, whether it's universe, God, soul, or spirit, whatever you want to call it. Um, but I say that three times every single day.

SPEAKER_01 26:22

I love that. I love that. And I think like I think women it's okay for women to make that a habit, right? It's it's okay to say to yourself, you got this. Yes, right. You can do this, right? Because if you don't want rock yourself up and you always wait for someone else, you know, to validate what you're feeling, you're never gonna get to where you want to go.

SPEAKER_02 26:46

No, and and you know what the sad part is, and then that's when we start to see those other paths come in, and you're like, Well, what just happened here? Yeah, we allowed it. Because we're looking for validation versus looking at ourselves and saying, you already have it.

Why Women Struggle To Own Gifts

SPEAKER_01 27:01

Yeah, exactly, exactly, exactly. So, what do you see um women struggling with the most when it comes to owning their own uniqueness?

SPEAKER_02 27:12

Um, I think it's actually believing that they have a uniqueness, you know. The reality is a lot of us don't realize that we are all unique and that we all, like I said, have a gift or have something to give to this world. I think people don't realize that about themselves. I think that they um so there's a combo. There's people that do realize it, there's a combination that know it but haven't tested it to believe it enough. And then you have those that don't believe it. So um there's the 10, 10, 80 principle, 10% naysayers, 10% yaysayers, and the 80% of the population that have no clue what to do with themselves, right? Which way to decide. And um, I feel like that's part of every aspect of our lives. And I think that the reality is we don't give ourselves enough credit um or celebrate our little wins. Whether it was like I got everything done on my to-do list, yes, you know, I rocked it today, yes. Or you know what? I was a great auntie today, and I'm proud of myself. Um, you know, I don't need my nephews to tell me that. I need myself to tell me that.

SPEAKER_01 28:21

Yeah, and the thing is they won't tell you that, right? They're not gonna say, no, but you can tell when they leave you and they're happy, you know that you did what you had to do, right? Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 28:33

Um, and I think that's that's a part of all of that uniqueness process, is like, and even like even using my nephews, like I want them to remember that they're unique. And and we got to put those seeds in ourselves first, and and then we plant them around us and all of those aspects. But if we're not planting those seeds, we're not gonna see those special gifts, we're not gonna see all of the things that we do, whether it's be a great mom, be a great uh entrepreneur, great, whatever it is, own your own greatness, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 29:06

And and the whole self-awareness key is the key, right? Like, if you're self-aware, you will recognize your uniqueness.

SPEAKER_02 29:14

I agree. You will or you will discover it, you know. If you allow yourself to be open, and I even say, like, even putting it out into the universe, and then the magic just begins. If we stay open, like I'm just you know, if we we if you and I said to yourself, okay, you know what? We're open to seeing how unique we really are. It is crazy the things that are about to come into our world because we're I'm saying I'm open and I'm ready to receive all of my uniqueness. And guess what?

SPEAKER_01 29:46

Yeah, then it comes down like rain, right? It's like all of a sudden all these things are happening, and you're like, oh my gosh, oh my gosh, I don't know what to do with it all, right? Yeah, yeah. I love that. I love that. So, how do you help other women step into their voice and their confidence, especially when you know that they've been holding themselves back?

SPEAKER_02 30:06

You know what? I was at an event um a couple months back, and um, there was somebody that was there that I guess uh she's on one of my social media channels. We don't know each other. And uh I went up to her and I and I acknowledged her. I first, you know, is said who I am and introduced and vice versa. And um she had something on her, a little mark on her face or something. It was like it was like probably chocolate or something, I don't know. And I said, Do you mind if I touch your face for a second? And I grabbed a napkin and I dabbed it off. And she has never forgotten that moment. Um, so we all need to be a good sister to each other and uh support each other, whether it's something in your teeth or whatever, but but little steps make a big difference. Um, it make a huge impact. People try to forget it, or just by um being there, being a good listener. Um, so if you know, I check on certain women on a daily basis and vice versa, it's being that accountability person to each other, but also um the other thing is is just being available. Most people just need a voice to speak or a platform just to share their thoughts. Um, and being available, making that time and space for somebody makes the biggest difference. And if you're I don't I you know what I want people to be their true self. And um, I'm not gonna use the authentic, I'm just saying be your true self. You know, if you want to share love in this world, there's so many ways to share it. Yeah, and other women, there's so many ways we can do it. We can do it through circles of of different groups and associations and all of those things. We could do it in in business groups, um, but it's showing up, it's being present, it's being able to listen.

SPEAKER_01 31:59

Yeah, and not always having a plan, right? Like a game plan, right? It's I'm just gonna show up, whatever happens, happens, right? If you get a client, you get a client. If you make a friend, you make a friend. And if you walk away saying, I didn't really meet anybody different or anyone that I didn't really want to connect with, that's okay too.

SPEAKER_02 32:20

And guess what? And maybe that wasn't your people, and maybe there's another group of people, or maybe that was like just the first onset, and maybe you need to go back right on it, yeah, because you're working on you and them, right? You know what? Like I'm I believe I I've been a spiritualist my whole life and I grew up with all of that stuff. So I send pink light to people, right? Because pink softens things, you know, in a room with a lot of women, um, a lot of times most women are aren't comfortable, right? Like we're putting them in an uncomfortable situation, maybe whether in their and I see it because I get to play photographer a lot in these rooms, and you can see the ones that are like, okay, don't pick me, don't pick me. But it's like, oh, I want to pick you so bad now. Um, but you know, send some pink light from your heart to theirs, they'll soften everything. Send pink send pink light too when you get wherever you're going to meet these people, um so that it opens up and that it's spreading love.

Community And Connection As Service

SPEAKER_01 33:23

Yeah, I love that. So now I just from our conversation, I know that you community is a big deal for you, right? And obviously, connection. I mean, I think we all as humans need connection, uh, but I want to know like how the that like the community and the connection together sort of played in your own growth, like in who you are today, not just in your professional life, because I mean we all know that professionally we need that, but what about personally? Like, I want to know both. And how like what what how do you look at community and connection?

SPEAKER_02 33:59

So I'm I'm very fortunate. Um, I grew up with entrepreneur parents. Um, my parents owned and operated 18 different businesses in the province of Ontario. So um we did everything from hotels, motels, department stores, convenience stores, you name it. I my parents were also believers that um you're not gonna eat and play, you're gonna eat, work, and play. And so uh so growing up, we grew up with everything cleaning up motels, um, we're opening up the shop, you name it, um since I was a kid. The day that I was born, I literally went from the hospital to the shop. Um, so it's been ingrained. They also had another principle was that, you know, whatever you're gonna do, you're you're gonna go to school, you're gonna work in the business, and you're also gonna do community work. So it started from a young age. Um, so it was naturally inhibited to me. Um, so and that level of service came from my spiritual side because I grew up with a spiritual family too. Uh, so naturally everything connects to one another between the connection part and the community part, because to me it's all service. Um, everything that I do is more service versus anything else. Um and and that's how I that's how I look at it in in this world today is is it's service and how can I be of service. And so that's how I define both of those things. And you're absolutely like personally, I am so grateful for my um, I have a small core of women that I love and appreciate that are like my go-to every single day. And um, and then I have a bigger network of women that I love seeing, whether it's once a month or or um, you know, or once a year even. Like I have girlfriends that I've grew up with that I only see once a year, and you know what, and it feels like we've never missed a moment together.

SPEAKER_01 35:50

I love those, I love those meetings, right?

SPEAKER_02 35:53

Yeah. And and we need to keep those. And whether it's little check-ins and just like a little WhatsApp, like, hi, how are you? Okay, great, you know, or you know, inviting each other to something. And if it doesn't work now, maybe it will connect later. But all of those connections um are foundations, they're like a house, they're all and they they create growth, right?

SPEAKER_01 36:18

Like, you know, like you go through things together, even though you're not together at the same time, but you know that you know, I can I can be there for you, or she was there for me. And if it wouldn't have been for her listening ear, then I wouldn't have been able to get it off my chest, and you know, and then it just grows from there. So I love that. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 36:36

I have one more for you, too. Um, in 22, I ran my biggest election. I ran provincially. Um, I I won't be running party politics. So just gonna put that out there, but I did run party politics, and it was an eye-opener on a whole other level. You know, previously I had run municipally. Um, so this is, and I I had just finished my presidency with Trev. And I I was like, you know what? I think it's time. It's it's been a long time. I think it's time. And um, and it was in the pandemic, and it was hard. It was it was the probably the hardest moment of my life. And you know, and I've cycled through a lot of careers and and stuff, but this one was the hardest. Um, I was one of the last uh put in to the group of um people that were gonna be running uh part of the political party. And resources were so scarce because most people already had all of their resources. Um, whereas I was just walking in and you know, in in we had three months and and it was election, whereas most people were already a year in, um, so lots of time to plan and prepare. And um there were moments like where nobody sees your tears, nobody knows what you're feeling inside, and you're like, I just gotta keep going, and I gotta, I gotta make sure that I'm light for everybody around me too. And there was times where I didn't have any, like I would have had volunteers during the day and I would have had nobody at night. And I had one girlfriend, and I love her to this day that showed up for me. If I was out knocking, she just came and left a note and said, I was thinking about you today, and then stopped in. Or she would come and drop flowers, or if I had nobody to door knock with me, she's like, I'm not knocking, but I'll I'll go stand with you as you want knock, and was like my guy, my guardian or my protector. Well, um, because you never want to go alone, you always want to make sure um if you're going doors that you have somebody with you, or at least let somebody know where you're gonna be. And um she was that person.

SPEAKER_01 38:46

And that thank God you had that. Yeah, that's oh, I know there's some pretty, there's some pretty powerful women out there, right?

SPEAKER_02 38:55

And we need to find them, we need to or be them, and and and not only be them, but be the example so that others do the same.

Practical Steps To Embrace Uniqueness

SPEAKER_01 39:04

Exactly. Yeah, exactly, exactly. So tell me for the women that are listening today, um, maybe if she's feeling like she's shrinking herself or maybe second guessing her path, what would you want her to know about embracing her uniqueness right now?

SPEAKER_02 39:21

I would actually take tell her to really uh find a place, a quiet place, and really just take a couple of breaths, whether they be the deep belly breaths, um, where they really get deep within inside of yourself, and whether it's just closing your eyes or whether it's meditation or what it is, um, and really ask yourself who you are. Ask yourself what is it that you don't believe in? What is or uh ask yourself all of those questions. And if that's not gonna help you, then I would take out a piece of paper and um I would just write, just start writing what is it that I don't believe in myself? What don't I love about myself? And then write the opposite. What do I love about myself? And and see what comes out of that paper and don't think about it, just let the pen go wild. And there is incredible things that will come out of either A or B that you will see and you will discover, and then take it deeper. And if you're you know, if you're comfortable enough with somebody that you can share it with so that you can say, okay, I've discovered these things about myself. What could that possibly mean? And if you want, and because we're in an AI world, you could even plug it into Chat GBT and it will tell you also.

SPEAKER_01 40:49

That is so true. Yes, I've heard people doing that and it's it's ridiculous, but it's working, right?

SPEAKER_02 40:55

You know what? Actually, it's uh there was a conference I went to a year ago where they were said they were actually pushing like that more of senior level people, um older adults start using it as a mechanism to have somebody to talk to. Because one of the things that we lose a lot of as we get older is our friendships. And we um what a lot of people unfortunately leave this world from is loneliness. And so, so number one, maintain your relationships, but number two, um tools like this can also be a bonus.

SPEAKER_01 41:28

Yeah, absolutely. Well, this has been so awesome. I'm so grateful that you came and shared your story and your your leadership and your perspective with us today. I'm just like I love your story, like there's just so much to it.

SPEAKER_02 41:43

Uh, and there we didn't even touch the surface. I know.

SPEAKER_01 41:47

I mean, I know that we can talk a lot more, you know, and maybe that's an opportunity for you to come back, right? Because there is, I mean, what you shared with us today, there's wisdom that, you know, not every woman has, especially, I mean, you're young. To me, you're young, right? And so, you know, I think, wow, like I think it's just amazing. So I just want to say thank you, thank you, thank you.

SPEAKER_02 42:12

Um, well, I'm grateful for this opportunity. Thank you. And to all your listeners, um, we love you. Um, we're sending love to all of you. And um, I can't wait to see you again.

Coaching Invite And Closing

SPEAKER_01 42:24

Awesome, thank you. Oh, that was such a wonderful, powerful conversation and such an important reminder that our uniqueness isn't something to tone down, it's something to lean into. If you're listening and something in this conversation resonated, if you're feeling that you're pulled to trust yourself more, to quiet the overthinking, and to finally step into your next chapter with clarity and confidence, this is exactly the work I do inside my coaching program. It's a space designed for women, 45 plus, who are ready to move out of self-doubt and into self-trust without overcomplicating the process. If that feels aligned with you, I'd love to invite you to reach out, connect, or simply start a conversation. You don't have to figure it all out alone. Thank you for being here, for showing up for yourself, and for continuing to grow. Until next time, keep blooming into the most confident, unapologetically unique version of you.

SPEAKER_00 43:22

Thanks for listening. This show was brought to you by Divas That Care. Connect with us on Facebook, on Instagram, and of course on divas that care.com, where you can subscribe to our newsletter so you don't miss a thing.