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Wild Moos
Welcome to Wild Moos, the no-holds-barred podcast where the boardroom meets the playroom.
Hosted by Amy of Mooeys and Nicole from Wild Bird Marketing, this podcast dives into the messy, joyful, and often chaotic life of being a mother and a business owner.
Every episode is a candid exploration of the trials and triumphs that come with juggling spreadsheets and sippy cups.
From start-up stories that defy the "perfect mum" myth to scaling a business without sacrificing sanity, Amy and Nicole share it all.
Expect laughter, tears, and plenty of swear words as they peel back the curtain on what it really takes to thrive in the dual worlds of business and motherhood.
Wild Moos is a community, a confession booth, and your cheerleading squad all rolled into one.
Whether you're knee-deep in nappies, drafting business plans, or just dreaming about what could be, Wild Moos is the podcast for every mum who’s ever had to lock the bathroom door just to answer an email.
Tune in for your regular dose of inspiration, commiseration, and a reminder that you're not alone on this wild ride of entrepreneurship and motherhood.
Wild Moos
Wild Moos Podcast Episode 28: Finding Joy in Unexpected Places
This episode highlights the joy found in everyday moments amidst the chaos of life, especially during the holiday season. It explores themes of authenticity, community, and the challenges that come with adult responsibilities, while encouraging listeners to appreciate life’s simplicity and rediscover joy away from social pressures.
• Celebrating life in humdrum moments
• Embracing the joy of family adventures
• Discussing the guilt of adult responsibilities
• Navigating social media fatigue
• Finding authentic connections in a fast-paced world
• Redefining happiness beyond societal standards
• Candid reflections on personal growth
• Inviting listeners to focus on what truly brings joy
Nicole Bilham of WildBird Marketing Agency
https://wildbirdmarketing.co.uk/
Amy Lewis of The Mooeys Group
www.mooeys.co.uk | www.mooeysfranchise.co.uk | www.mooskin.co
Oh God, we are free of children.
Speaker 2:Yeah, when did yours go back? Monday, yesterday, mine went back today and actually I probably found this the most enjoyable holiday break I've had with them ever.
Speaker 1:Me too Is it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it was really nice. It was a little bit too long. Yesterday we all done each other's headings. It was just me and the girls, but this I really every year I want to go away on that Christmas, between Christmas and New Year, every year.
Speaker 1:And you did it.
Speaker 2:Oh fucking, it was brilliant, Such a nice place. Ho Seasons as well. Never been on a Ho Seasons, I don't think.
Speaker 1:I might need to steal the little linky, or did you send it?
Speaker 2:I don't know. It's in Shropshire, it was just called the Barnes, I think, and it was on the canal lots of long walks really suitable for dogs, and actually there was a run next door because they call it a lodge, but it's like a caravan with wooden cladding I think.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you know.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, but really beautifully done. Two bedroom, two bathroom. But they had this run next to the lodge, which I thought was fucking genius because it was penned in so when we were all in the hot tub outside, Ted could just be in the run. So he's not like scratching at the door or like because you can't leave them out unless you had a long lead.
Speaker 1:Yeah, or we used to put Wilson on a stake in the ground.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so he had a long lead, but he just had this run. It was really cool. It was just so beautifully done. The hot tub was amazing. Every morning there's someone there cleaning it, changing the filters. And what I noticed on the day that we left, because we actually asked if we could stay a few more days but they'd sold out and I was gutted. I should have just booked the week. Yeah, it wasn't long enough that four nights, because I worked on Chris on New Year's Day as well. It wasn't long enough. But on the day that we were leaving it was like I mean, I've worked at centre parks, I've worked at butlins, I've worked in hotels. I understand that turnover. You know the change over days. I've never seen it done so brilliantly and I know it was on a smaller scale, but obviously checkouts 10 right from eight o'clock.
Speaker 2:Little things just happened, right. So somebody dropped off all the new bedding, left a bag outside, somebody left a clean filter by the hot tub, somebody else was draining the hot tub and then somebody else came along was cleaning out all the fire pits yeah everybody had a job.
Speaker 2:Oh my god. And I turned around to Martin I was like this place is run so brilliantly because that changeover will happen really quick. But it wasn't stressful. It wasn't chaotic, which I felt like some places have been in the past, but it was no one was forced, no one's rushing us out. I went and emptied the bins and one of the cleaners went thanks so much for doing that and I went to her and I was like you are welcome. She went. No, I, honestly, I really appreciate it so at Eurocamp.
Speaker 1:I don't know if I told you this but you at the end you have to clean the cabin yourself. Oh, wow, and like for people that are quite relaxed, not neurotic, that's like a yeah, yeah, yeah, but I'm like all of that last day.
Speaker 2:Are you cleaning it like end of tenancy clean yeah. It's really stressful and Matt's getting stressed about it because we both don't, and then you've got like an eight hour drive or whatever it was.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but they, they, they drive by fear because no one checks it. You could leave it in an absolute shit state and somebody else takes out yeah, and no one knows, so that it's a real gamble that is a bit of a stress yeah, it's like a list behind on the toilet door of all the things that need doing, like you have to clean all the windows, you have to mop the floor. So what happens if you don't do it Exactly?
Speaker 2:Do you get reprimanded? Do you have to lose a deposit? I don't know. I just did it. You just get the judgment from the next people. Yeah, I don't know. I just did it scumbags yeah, oh wow, I've never known that before. Yeah, it's quite. It really ruined the last day in a way. Mate ho seasons, the barns in shropshire was the next level. It was so well done and so clean and new.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, kids loved it as well so good christmas yeah, in between twixmas, I mean I felt like I was drunk most of the time, did you? Yeah, I had some really big nights. None of it was actually that planned. So I think it was like the 22nd, I don't know what day. It was the friday before christmas, the last day of school. I went out that night, whatever, it was like mum's night out, but I was invited to a friend of mine's and her mum group. Nice, I know, but we all got absolutely hammered. I was home by 11 o'clock, pissed us off, and then Boxing Day was an impromptu let's make margaritas Lovely, eat whatever the contents of the fridges and drink margaritas, yeah. And then I was out on the 28th, anyway, yeah, and we met at half 12. And you know, when it's one of those, it's going to be a long one.
Speaker 2:Well, we met at half 12 and it all started lovely. And it started with Whisper and Angel like really fucking bougie. You know, fancy, my favourite wine. And my friend Liz bought us all the wine and they only had four bottles in stock and she bought all of them at £45 a pot and she said I don't have a Christmas party because I work on my own and you all come and have your hair done, so I'm just gonna buy all the wine and the waitress you know they're like quids in, they're like, oh yeah, we're selling the most expensive wine in here to that group and we've only got four bottles. We'll put them in the fridge for you.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it started like that. I, embarrassingly, pretty much rolled in at I don't know, actually about 12. I think, actually I think it was about 12, my friends, because you know it's always the next day, isn't it? You go, oh, my god, I'm a 44 year old woman behaving like that. I was on the dance floor, I was chirping with everybody Trace and Liz done and run. They always do. They just disappear, you know, and then send a message yeah, jamie had left a little bit earlier. It was just me and Katie Holmes. Also, katie, yeah, jamie had left a little bit earlier. It was just me and katie holmes.
Speaker 1:Also, katie, if you're listening.
Speaker 2:Happy business birthday yeah, bless her, and she wasn't in a great place and she started it at the very beginning of the night out, like the day I'm going through this. This is what's happening in my life and I'm struggling a little bit. I just want to let you know if I cry. I might you know I might cry, might get upset, and we all went, hey, let's hold space, that's what we do, that's what we do.
Speaker 1:I love the little disclaimer.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think it's gonna go good, or it's even gonna go yeah, it's gonna go really, really bad or I'm just gonna cry and it'll be over and done with. And I was like, yeah, or we could just drink loads of tequila shots and see what happens. And she was like I'm on that train with you and we were both just a bit naughty. You know, we're like winding each other up like hey, never, never, shut up like idiots. Awful, my sister came over and she was like your Christmas present will be that I will come and look after your children and bring you a maccies or make you a bacon sandwich. And actually I felt okay.
Speaker 2:But you know when you deteriorate, from the afternoon She'd left and then I was like, oh God, now I feel rough. And then it always gets you one way or the other, doesn't it? One way or the other. So that was the 28th and I just felt like that hangover stuck around for a long time. And the next day, you know when you get all that anxiety what did I say? What did I do? Did I upset anyone? Was I gobshite? Was I prat? Like what happened? And then I get to the next day and go I don't really give a shit. No one's reached out and told me I was a knob. Yeah, no one's asked for an apology. Yeah, whatever.
Speaker 1:I don't think, just think like I'm just such a talker and I'm. You do love chat like you love a deeper meaning for me, like really love it and I always do that.
Speaker 2:I love you, but that's like a common running theme. Everyone's like oh, ames is on the, I love you, but can't wait for mine. No, and I don't think I did. I don't know, I don't. I actually I don't really know, and that's what I mean. Embarrassingly like I'm in my 40s, I've got two kids and I sometimes go oh god, your behavior.
Speaker 1:I don't think that at all. I think that everyone needs a blowout like you need to be able to express yourself or whatever that fucking looks like, just to release some sort of pressure, like yeah, it's tough yeah, and it was great fun, though there's lots of proper belly laughs as well at the same time, and I haven't smoked for four months. Yeah.
Speaker 2:But I smoked that night. I was really disappointed in myself.
Speaker 1:I think it's always going to happen. You're in a bunch of yeah, but it's only.
Speaker 2:I was so annoyed Do you all smoke together.
Speaker 2:No, none of them smoke. Now Jamie does, oh, and she was like it's because there was some, these women. They were sat next to us, they were smoking. I was like, oh, can I bum one? And she was like yeah, and then they came and joined us and tracy was like don't do it, don't do it, don't do it. And I was like, man, now you've told me I'm not, I'm gonna do it, you know you. Just that's what. I was so disappointed in myself and I didn't like it and I didn't enjoy it. But me and Jamie went and bought a packet of fags and continued not enjoying it, continued doing it, and then she fucked off and then I don't really know how many. I've still got the packet in my bag, oh nice, I've not had one since. But Lovely.
Speaker 1:She's abstained, you've abstained. That's brilliant.
Speaker 2:Yeah, do you know what? I never actually thought? I'm not a heavy smoker, it's like two or three a day. Yeah, I never thought I would be able to be that person that could give up yeah, but you just did.
Speaker 1:You did it like that, without really telling anyone about it. You just that's because I don't like failing and I don't like.
Speaker 2:I don't like that pressure of other people going, but you said you're going to give up. And actually what was really nice was a conversation I had with Liz and Trace that they said but you're not giving up, you're choosing not to reframe it. Reframe, you know, because they're both ex-smokers themselves so like, and every person that I was out with an ex-smoker and I'm just the last one standing with Jamie, that's a social smoker and I just think, yeah, I never standing with Jamie, that's a social smoker and I just think, yeah, I never thought I would be that person. There was so much entangled in my identity like that's that rebellious streak, that naughty side of me. That's still a little bit cool, but not cool and smelly.
Speaker 2:You have to wear rubber gloves yeah, exactly, and it got to a point I was like what am I fucking holding on to this? For why am I doing this? And I had a really nasty cough and then I didn't smoke for two weeks because of the cough. And then I was like I'm just gonna see, I'm just gonna see if I can. And it was like a test to myself, but secret squirrel test. And then it carried on. I was like I'll get to a month. Oh, my god, I've made a month. Let me get to six weeks and let me get to eight weeks.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, I was really annoyed myself and I didn't even tell Martin until we was away. Yeah, and he was so cool. He just went because he hates it he's always hated it why I wear gloves when I smoke but and I always have to give him a kiss, that was like our rules. And then he just turned around to me and he went how do you feel about that? I was, I feel, a bit disappointed actually in myself, but I'm also a bit embarrassed to own up to it and tell you. And he went why, like it's happened once, it doesn't matter, don't worry about it and because he took that pressure off me that I'm putting on myself. It kind of made it all like, oh yeah, yeah, it was. Yeah, very much so, so fingers crossed, very much so, so fingers crossed, you got this.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it is a choice, but there's always that little devil inside of me. It goes just do it. Is that the ego talking? I don't fucking know. I can't differentiate between this, like we're both working on this 369 manifestation project, and I can't quite differentiate between ego and not ego. I don't fucking know, and sometimes I feel like I've read so much and done so much lately I'm a little bit discombobulated. So, yeah, it's probably ego telling me I can't do something, isn't it?
Speaker 2:Or what is that? Is it ego? Is it like subconscious? What is it? It's protecting me. Whatever it is, I mean you can't do that, don't worry. Carry on being naughty, carry on going against the rules, carry on, like you know, being a little bit of a rebel so what I'm learning from this project 369 thing is that I I will have thoughts that come and go out of my mind constantly and I am now making the conscious decision to choose what I hold on to and what I pick up and what I carry, what I attach emotion to and perception to and what I let go.
Speaker 2:Because it is just thoughts, not truth.
Speaker 1:Yeah, right, yeah, and I have been carrying around a whole load of crap.
Speaker 2:I think Along with your thousand years of rejection. Come on, that's stressful, isn't?
Speaker 1:it, isn't it Exhausting? It's interesting, though Now feel like I'm shedding a skin. Do you feel like that? No, okay.
Speaker 2:No, I don't feel like I'm shedding a skin. I am more excited about the opportunities that are in front of me and I think actually I've spent so many, so much time focusing on lack. I don't have enough, like mine is money, noise, money, stress. I really feel like I can do anything, I can achieve anything, but my issue is around money, like I don't have enough, and my communication about money, money. It stresses me out so much that I'm in such a place of lack that I'm not going to get to where I want to go. So I'm trying to do loads of work on that, yeah, and actually just have faith that it will happen. Yeah, trust and stop panicking and stressing, but I do feel like I go through this cycle quite often.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think that I worry and stress like, if I look at my week, for example, I have will have a certain portion of what needs to be delivered actual work, yeah. A certain portion of meetings, yeah. Some stuff for me which is this, yeah, and then the rest of the time, what the fuck am I doing?
Speaker 2:you're f fanny around a little bit.
Speaker 1:No, I'm not fannying, but I think that I've got myself in such a worry. Circle around if I'm not at my desk, then I'm not working, then I'm not generating revenue. If I'm not at my desk, then I'm not working, then I'm not generating revenue.
Speaker 2:It's that work ethic, oh gosh, yeah, I do have that, that guilt of. I'm just gonna go and like I can spend my time however I want yes, we can.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but saying it and believing it are two different things. Like I could say, you know, I had to double dumping. I can rationally say like that doesn't mean anything. I know that, though the people that I was working with are no longer here, they're no longer part of my life. I shouldn't have been working with them anyway, or you know whatever it is. But the rational side of me, or the ego, or how, whatever you want to call it, was attaching a thousand years of rejection onto that. So I find it quite hard to go right. I know what the right thing is to do, but I feel like this over here. But am I actually feeling like that, or is that my ego going? You need to feel like that so yeah it's deep in it, but it is crazy.
Speaker 2:I think a lot of business owners go through that, that process of if I'm not at my desk, I'm not earning, if I'm not physically and I'm not driving my business, yeah, but that time away, as you know, when you take that time out, you can still be coming up with new ideas.
Speaker 1:I had a lovely time over the Christmas, but I felt like I actually had a rest, did you? Yeah, I didn't really pick anything up, I didn't think about anything. I mean, we were ill for one which slowed us all down, which was good. I think that's what we needed as a family, and then sometimes it does just come like that, doesn't it?
Speaker 2:because you never just lay in bed all day unless you're ill, and I think sometimes it is the body's way of just going. Can you stop?
Speaker 1:yeah, yeah, yeah, which was good, but then I didn't really pick it back up again. I'd sorted out everything like the work stuff that I needed to do. So I just had this massive, like expansive space of not thinking about it, like it was so freeing not consciously thinking about it or consciously thinking that I need to come up with a solution to generate revenue to be able to live my fulfilled life.
Speaker 1:I feel like I've always been. I just need to do this, I just need to do this, I just need to do that, and I think this book and that session with Carly Capps has really like flipped the whole lot on his head wow that's really cool. But also in December I did stuff I would never normally do, ever like, like contacting people from my old life.
Speaker 2:I'm so excited about this for you and I'm so proud of you for putting on your big girl pants what the fuck. I know some people talk about it a little bit like why didn't you do it sooner?
Speaker 1:yeah, I'm happy to talk about it. So I picked the brains of someone who's now ceo of a media agency to ask what he thought of ex-colleague yeah yeah. Or to ask what he thought of the power of influence workshop and whether he thought it the Power of Influence workshop and whether he thought it would think in the media environment.
Speaker 2:So can we just recap on what the Power of Influence workshop is, because I find it fascinating and I think that you guys are on to something really special here.
Speaker 1:Oh, that's kind, I think, like if I was to rewind seven, eight, no ten years when I'd first become a manager and if this course workshop was offered, I would have been so grateful. Because you get from a sales perspective you get chucked in to negotiate when you've never had to negotiate before. You don't get get chucked in to present when you've never had to present before, and only when you get put in front of a crowd someone goes, oh, they're fucking shit.
Speaker 1:So you really think, oh, they need to go on a presentation course, like I don't know if that's the way of the world now, but that's how it was back then. So andy rivers and I have come together to create the power of influence workshop, and that is using his negotiator staircase, which he learned when he was a terrorist hostage crisis negotiator with my 13 years. No, oh God, we're nearly at 20 years 20 years experience negotiating multi-million pound deals. Yeah, so we've used the framework of the negotiator staircase, but then we've added in bits that we know work like research approach, and then you build up. So what we do is I don't know whether we should, no, fuck it, I'll just say it we go into corporate teams and we put them in a live hostage environment and they get put against the clock. They get chucked in at the deep end. We don't do any like hello, I'm andy and I'm nicole and this is who we are. This is what we do.
Speaker 1:We go in no fluff, no fluff, hard as nails. And we say you're in a live hostage environment. Here are your packs. You've got 20 minutes to prepare and then you'll be negotiating with the hostage taker. 20 minutes starts now and then they have to. They get given roles. There's quite a structured framework as to how they can negotiate and they negotiate with. Up until now it's been andy, but we might be bringing in someone else to. Who's the hostage taker?
Speaker 2:because you haven't got time. Like, role play always gives people the ick, doesn't it? Like public speaking, but they're not actually having time to panic about the fact that it's role play. They're just they've got to ask the questions, yeah. But also, what I find so fascinating about this is that when you reached out to your ex-colleague about it, his response has come back going. The problem is with the generation nowadays, is they? They're struggling to communicate, yeah, so I want to use this to help build their confidence in communicating. I was like that is so genius, yeah.
Speaker 1:But if you think about it's generation z, isn't it really? And younger. They have lived in a digital world where you've not needed to use those soft skills to be able to to talk to people. Yeah, and for the media industry specifically, they are dealing with self-serve platforms, so they might be booking onto facebook, amazon, meta linkedin, google and not actually speaking to an individual. Yeah, so when the time does come, when they have to speak to an individual, they're like Panicking, yeah. And as we know that leaks, doesn't it Like?
Speaker 2:whatever you're feeling inside, you're going to leak to whoever you're talking to, but any corporation with a sales and marketing team with a younger generation, I think, needs this. They need this help.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so we talk about like you learn, so you learn. You get chucked in at the deep end and you learn about the experience. Then we share the methodology and how it applies and we use real life examples. So andy will use examples about hostage situations, crisis situations that he's been part of, and I will use commercial business situations that I've been part of. So you really get a mix of how to apply this, but once you know it, you can fucking use it anywhere. Like it is such a versatile methodology. You could use it to negotiate barbecue. You could use it to negotiate car. Yeah, someone that was speaking to about it said I would like to do this and invest in their training so that they don't then ask me for a pay rise, and I was like that's great.
Speaker 1:The thing is, we're going to teach them how to negotiate, so they're going to you better hope in hell that they don't fucking use this, because you might end up paying double. But great good on them. So, yeah, I, I was talking to him about it just before Christmas and, like I say, I wanted to pick his brains and he wanted to book it there, and then, which was not, and that was not the intention, was it?
Speaker 2:you just wanted to pick someone's brains. That's like an expert that would potentially be your avatar, and he came back and was like I want in.
Speaker 1:I was literally just like what do you think of this, richard? Do you think it would work? Do you think media, industry, entrepreneurs yeah, so we have Andy and I've spoke about maybe, spoke spoken about it about maybe running one like in in the public domain rather than just for corporates.
Speaker 2:So many people could use it yeah, because a lot of people start up in their own business and there's like really have a fear of sales, isn't it?
Speaker 1:yeah and negotiating like this is not just like this, is just being able to have a conversation with someone, like understanding what active listening actually is, like how to tune into the fact that your brain is taking in all of these messages at once. You just got to listen to them. Like people give us cues all the fucking time, all the time.
Speaker 2:But because of his nlp background and yours now, like it just all merges together that it creates this perfect harmony of of experience, knowledge, education, nlp like it's just awesome so we've got we are in with two businesses in no three businesses in january delivering it.
Speaker 1:Are you? Yeah, yeah. And we've got some really cool conversations coming up in the next couple of weeks as well. So that's really really so. It's a half day exercise, isn't it? It can be half a day or it can be a full day. So the original company that we worked with on this booked us for a couple of it wasn't even half a day, it was a couple of hours and they've booked us again for a full day in march to kind of expand it out. So it's. I think it's really interesting, I think it's really unique, I think it's something that doesn't exist. I've never seen it anywhere else and I know that it works and I know that it's versatile and I know that everyone can use it. So that's really interesting. But behind all of this, like stuff that's happening, is like deep work on me. That is about letting go and not worrying about what everyone else thinks, yeah, and actually just asking those questions and speaking to people and being the kind human being that I am to try and serve.
Speaker 2:Yeah because that's how, that's your purpose, that's your value. Yeah, so you're in alignment. So those two that you that ditched, you, as you put it, you were dumped.
Speaker 1:Yeah, well, actually, all it's done is make way for the real shit, yeah, for the stuff that you should be doing yeah, I'm also hosting something really, really cool in january which is part of southwood social, so I'm hosting a workshop on that which is about clearing, connecting and creating. Yeah, so I'm going to do some guided visualizations, clear some of the space first, then do some about clearing, connecting and creating. Oh yeah, so I'm going to do some guided visualizations clear some of the space first, then do some guided visualizations, then talk through how you create a strategy off the back of that.
Speaker 2:I always feel like I've always felt like you're very in touch with emotions and energy and you've always been a spiritual being. Yeah, but I feel like it's catapulting you, but it's coming out more and more the more I speak to you. You're becoming very spiritual.
Speaker 1:I don't think I've been leaning into it.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:I think I am now. I guess probably because I know the power of the difference that it can make.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and you feel better.
Speaker 1:Do I feel?
Speaker 2:better.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that it can make. Yeah, and you feel better, do I feel better? Yeah, I feel less. Like I'm being held hostage to like or the project 369 calls it non-playable characters, which, when I explained to matt that I was reading it, I said to use that term and he was like my god, people use that term all the time, especially in gaming, because it's a really offensive thing to say what does that mean If? Someone's a non-playable character, it means that they've got no personality.
Speaker 2:They can't do anything. Oh God, right. So you feel like you've been playing as a non-playable character. No, I don't think it's been that bad, but I don't think that I've been playing Been playing your true self?
Speaker 2:No, at the minute has she. Yeah, she's interesting to watch at the minute. Yeah, I like her. Poddy the husband yeah, I'm really enjoying that, but also she. It's fascinating because she's made a lot of money but she's shifting a lot of stuff. That's made her a lot of money and she's like she wants. She's had a whole year of spirituality and she wants to now focus on what brings her joy. But Enfys, my friend that's got the sales training, has signed up for one-to-one with her for the next 12 months.
Speaker 1:She would have invested an absolute bomb she, I got served one of Lisa Johnson's ads. Uh, last night did you yeah, it must be her new because she's targeting corporate women. I don't know why I fall into this category. I don't know um corporate women that want to utilize their skill set, that they've learned corporate side, to create a life for themselves without risk.
Speaker 2:Yeah, was the big thing without risk, but she's doing Tony Robbins, she's going and speaking at Tony Robbins. She's really playing big now. She always has done, but I feel like it's big time If you're speaking at Tony Robbins.
Speaker 1:Where else is there to go?
Speaker 2:Yeah, exactly, and also I saw that Stephen Bartlett's doing Mindvalley.
Speaker 1:That's interesting.
Speaker 2:Because I really want to do Mindvalley, the two days expo type thing in Estonia, yeah. So, yeah, there's lots of stuff going on. Yeah, but yeah, lisa Johnson talks a lot about main character energy and it show up as the main character in everything you're doing. Yeah, I think I feel like I see you doing that. I see you doing that so much more than ever do you think so.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and it's lovely to watch. You are 100% like a driving force behind this really uh, yeah, because you're always in my fucking ear, like I don't hear from you. Where, where are you showing up? And I'm like here in this room, is that okay?
Speaker 2:I'm in my conservatory and I'm just where I'm going to stay. I do love seeing you on LinkedIn. I also love how you write. That's why I like it. I feel like I always learn a little bit.
Speaker 1:Oh, that's nice. So you've been making me write articles. Good, I've actually really enjoyed that, and I still need to publish the no BS Guide to.
Speaker 2:Outsourcing Good and it's a good creative outlet for you. But also I am really leaning into LinkedIn at the minute. I'm really enjoying it. I'm ditching a lot of social media. I'm struggling with social media at the minute.
Speaker 1:Me too. I don't want to be fucking sold to anymore.
Speaker 2:Is how I feel about it I feel I get really anxious isn't the right word. I just overwhelmed and that whole like I don't really want to. I don't want to see that you've moved to dubai and you're having the best life and it's costing you 10 grand a month. I don't want to see this shit anymore it's really fun.
Speaker 1:I feel like we've probably like tapped into this. I.
Speaker 2:This is inauthentic, like I yeah, it's all a big bravado, the big I am, you know, and I the thing is. It starts making me really angry. Like there's this woman popped up, someone I've never followed her before, don't know who. She is popped up and she's showing this millionaire lifestyle and it's like I have no interest in seeing this. It's all fake, it's all forced. I mean, it's like why am I being served this shit? I don't want to see this. I don't want to see the bullshit anymore. I don't. So I've I come off it.
Speaker 2:I've come off so much of it and actually, like I don't, I didn't even post, I didn't want to put pictures up of the family over the week over the Christmas, new Year time, and then I posted after New Year. I think, just let people know, like if you did, you like it. It was more like if you don't have your shit together, don't panic. Yeah, and just so you know I don't. I don't have a 2025 plan, I don't have all my goals written out, I don't have my shit together. I'm still wading through school holidays. Yeah, I'm still wading through chocolate and I'm still a bit pissed. So you know, like there's so much noise and I really just want to put my phone away in the beginning of new year because I hate all of this new year, new year bollocks.
Speaker 1:It makes me feel so stressed yeah, I feel you, totally feel you. I think we're just sniffing out, like I said, the inauthenticity of it all right now.
Speaker 2:It's desperate, that's what I feel like social media. You have to. You have to be an incredible creator, yeah, to cut through the shit, but there's so much desperation. Look at me, please look at me, please look at me, and I'm like why? Yeah, you are desperate for people to see your life and want your life. I don't want your fucking life, I want mine and I want to be comfortable with mine, and by wanting yours I'm not true to myself do you know?
Speaker 1:what worries me the most about everything that you've just shared is if we relate that back to having a marketing strategy, creating an avatar working on your target audience. We are being served this shit because someone in a room is going. I really want to target women that are 35 to 45, that they work for themselves. They do this a bit lonely, yeah, a bit sad.
Speaker 1:You know, maybe they spend more time on social media than they want to, out of pure procrastination or whatever, and we're going to hit them hard with this. Do you want six figures?
Speaker 2:this is what your life should be like, yeah, you need to sign up for this online coaching course, you need to join this networking group. I'm like what it's so much. There's so many people selling fucking brain is just going oh yeah, she's trying to get me into her funnel yeah, oh yeah, funnel attack.
Speaker 1:Here we go Right. Free lead generator. Because of what we know and all the infrastructure that goes on behind it, I just see it as oh, they're trying to draw me into their funnel. It seems so, so fucking obvious. But the bit that worries me the most is that we have the knowledge.
Speaker 2:I think so many people have the knowledge.
Speaker 1:I don't think they do. I think for every one of us, there are probably seven other women who are in our demographic that don't have a fucking clue and are looking at this shit and going not that they don't have a clue. I don't mean it like that. I mean that they think that that is what they want for their lives and if you rewind a year from when we were talking, we were manifesting that Omae's house, Like how close were we to that kind of? I think I want this lifestyle.
Speaker 2:We're not successful unless we've got this, and that's the problem. Yeah, and it's yeah. I look at it and I'm like I don't, I don't, I want, I don't want that.
Speaker 1:But that's because woo, woo coming out now yeah because we've had an awakening like we've. We've leveled up to another place where it's like, no, it's not fucking about that. This is about feeling connected to your life. It's about doing the things that make you feel so full of joy, yeah, and full of happiness and full of love, like you going away with the family in between christmas and the year that you've always wanted to do those things that make you feel so, so at peace with yourself.
Speaker 1:Yeah, not this, fuck it. That's why we're repelling that social media even more than we did before, because last year we had a similar chat, but this yeah, it does feel very different this year, but I I'm really starting to boycott social media.
Speaker 2:I'm not even using it much for the salons. And I've done loads of journaling, have you loads? Yeah, I've been writing loads of different things about, like, what brings me joy, what is it that makes me happy? Yeah, and I've got, I've got to tell this story because it was so funny.
Speaker 2:So when we were away, we went for a walk and we were going to try and do a chip tasting in every place we could find we made it to one got so full we didn't go any further. Yeah, but on the route we walked through the woods, like over the canal, through the woods, and then we came to this derelict car park. Basically, I think it's probably used as a dogging spot, martin reckons, so it's locked off, but also it's got loads of potholes and it's probably quite dangerous when it's cold Because, yeah, it's like going up a bit of a hill to get there and stuff. So we walked through this car park and, because of the potholes, they were all frozen. Well, the kids had so much fun popping the frozen puddles Of all the things and they were gutted that we had to go.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so martin surprised them the day after when we were leaving. We had to get out at 10. He goes, right, I need you to get your scarf and your hat on and all of this and get up warm. And they were like, yeah, we're gonna be sat in the car for three hours. And he was like I feel there's a surprise. Like so we drove back to the car park, climbed over the fence and we we were there for 45 minutes popping, fucking frozen puddles. It was so much fun. We got me and martin got involved. The dog was just running through the forest having the time of his life, but we it's like the nicest sound, like asmr, but the nicest feeling, the nicest sound. Oh, it was brilliant.
Speaker 2:I got a couple of videos and I've got like some of mine going yes we all had so much joy from popping frozen puddles and I was like I took some videos and I thought, actually I, this is the sort of stuff that I like posting.
Speaker 2:Yeah, like it doesn't matter what house we're going home to, what vehicle we're driving home in, because I don't give a fuck about any of that. Now, like I want our dream home, because I want the project of building it, but all that stuff, that joy and those memories that we created, was so much more important. They will be talking about that for the rest of their lives when they have their own children. If they have their own children, they're going to be like we need to go and find that car park and pop those puddles, the doggy car park with the frozen puddles. We did martin did find a used johnny and a rapper as well, so 100% doggy in carpet, but either way, he kind of stood over it and made the kids go round him with all the puddles yeah, yeah, would you stay away from this one, come on guys over this way.
Speaker 2:But yeah, it was. It was absolute pure bliss.
Speaker 1:Finding seeing the joy in the mundanity of life is one of the greatest gifts that you could possibly ever, ever, ever have, and I think Christmas for me was. Was that definitely?
Speaker 2:yeah, like just just hanging out, yeah, being a family or being together hanging out, and also that's when I come up with my best ideas. It's come up, it's when I come up with my best thinking. You know, like we were away, we didn't row once, we didn't even disagree. Yeah, I said I needed to work and he was like, cool, I'll look after, I'll sort it out. And he took the kids out. They went out for hours. I was just in, like pure bliss. Every night I was just writing or reading or journaling.
Speaker 1:I was like this is what I want to do, it's how I want to spend my time yeah, I feel as well like for me putting more energy into the things that I know are going to bring me joy. I'm having some really big conversations and picking up some old acquaintances or old friends that used to be part of my life. I really, really turn my back on media, really turn my back on it because I'm stubborn dickhead and I thought this is fucking this way.
Speaker 1:Nicole, fuck them all, let's go this way. And I've picked up a few conversations with people that I've not spoken to since, like 2018 and there is so much love there, like genuinely well, you work with them for years and I I can't like people yeah, fathomable. I miss you so much, Nicole. Like I read your content all the time. It's amazing to see you doing so well. Subtext if you listen to this, you know it's a fucking hellish journey.
Speaker 2:But it's perception, though, which is hilarious, isn't it? Yeah?
Speaker 1:like I think of you often, like you know, when you're like, shit me, I think I was an all right person. Back then. She made an impact. I had this conversation with Andy Rivers yesterday and he said you remember my quote. And I was like, oh, which one? Which one does he mean? And he means the Maya Angelou quote, which is people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's so true, and I couldn't agree more. And you do have a way of making people feel loved. Have you got a word for this year?
Speaker 1:Oh no, your word for last year was joy, Joy yeah, have you got one for this year.
Speaker 2:Love Nice. Yeah, I want to love what I do. I'm gonna love the people I'm around and if I don't, I'm not in for it yeah, see you later. Yeah, and as I'm getting older, I'm definitely getting a bit more brutal. Yeah, like if I don't want to do something, I'm not going to do it do you want to come see an office? No, no, I'm going to give that a swerve. I think my exact terminology was a hard no.
Speaker 1:I woke up to that message this morning. I think that's right. Like you have to do what brings you joy and if it's not, yeah, and there's no point.
Speaker 2:Also, it's wasting time. I don't like doing something you don't want to do or it doesn't bring you joy. Are?
Speaker 1:you struggling with anything at the minute?
Speaker 2:I'm struggling a little bit with the plan, future plan of Moorish, but it's not overwhelming me. It's just there's a lot of thought, there's going to be a lot of deep thinking.
Speaker 1:that's got to take place over the next few months. Can I ask you a question? Do you think it requires deep thought or do you think it requires chucking it all up and seeing what?
Speaker 2:happens? Yeah, a bit of that, Because what I really want to do is relinquish the control and just go with it, and you know, if you're getting a bit of debt, don't worry about it. I'm so. I worry all the time. It is a constant underline for me, worrying about money, personally, business, everything, and I just need to shake it off and go. If I just focus on what I love and what I want to do, the rest will follow.
Speaker 1:Do you genuinely believe that?
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, I do because I've seen it, I've been there before and I think, like when I first started Miriz, there was nothing.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You know, there was zero. I had enough money to pay my bills for six months and Martin, we were staying in this annex that Martin paid the rent for and it was 8.50 all in for this random annex in Farnham and this like like millionaire's house and it was. It used to drive me insane because I could hear them pissing because it was like it was built so bad and we were under their main bedroom and I'd wake up with them pissing and I could tell who was pissing. Like oh my god, that this, that house. I love the people and the people that live there, but being underneath someone's bedroom and ensuite with no soundproofing, like oh my god.
Speaker 2:And when you know that you're in someone else's home and there's this beautiful half an acre of gardens but you can't use it. Yeah, and it's on my back door, my back door opens to this garden, but I can't use it. I've got the shitty bit down the side and we were living in millionaire's row but we ain't use it. I've got the shitty bit down the side, you know, and we were living in millionaires row, but we ain't got a pot to piss in like oh, the irony yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2:However, it was our first home together. It was really affordable. I could cycle into the salon and it was so exciting and I had enough money to pay my bills for, yeah, five months. I didn't pay myself anything from that salon for six months and then when I did pay myself, it was a thousand pounds a month. I'd gone from earning the highest salary I'd ever earned, yeah, to paying myself a thousand pound a month just to cover my bills. But also I got a loan for my investment into Moors.
Speaker 1:I see, really so I was you double-staffed I was completely so.
Speaker 2:I had a business loan. I had a business loan, I had a personal loan. Yeah, I was never, I'd never, been more excited. I just knew I had absolute certainty and faith that it would work.
Speaker 2:And I think what I need to work on is getting back to that, because I'm in that position now where, yes, we've grown this business and we've grown it brilliantly. And I heard a statistic the other day. That was if you are, um, if you're, if your business is over 10 years old, you're in 5% of businesses. Yeah, that's it. And I was like, oh, oh, fucking, 11 years in.
Speaker 2:Well, done me, yeah, and it was new podcast I've started looking at and I love um, you know, like the owners of O Beach. Yeah, I've forgotten his name now, tony. Oh, what's his name? I'll think of it soon, but it was.
Speaker 2:It's a new podcast and it's these, this guy that's interviewing loads of different business owners yeah and the owner of O Beach in Ibiza, I think is an absolute genius, yeah, in what he's done, and I watched his podder yesterday. Yeah, and yeah, the highs and lows. I love those sort of podcasts, but it's like highs and lows of people's businesses and how, what decisions they've made, and it's always when you're on your knees that you make those decisions and then randomly it just makes it happen, but I'm so cautious, I don't let myself get there. Do you know what I mean? Like I don't let myself get to on my knees, but then I'm not making any brave and bold decisions either.
Speaker 2:I feel like I'm just coasting, yeah, and I don't want to coast anymore. I don't want to play safe, but there's just a higher risk isn't there? Because it's not just me now, it's other people's businesses. It's like the brand you know, like it's a lot more responsibility and we can't live like we did. We've now got children, we've got a bigger home. I can't live like we did when we first set up Mirrors.
Speaker 1:So all of those thoughts that you've just had there, every single one of those is something in you trying to protect you, yeah, which is lovely, but are you now saying thank you, but I let that go Because you've got to release it? I understand the worry and the risk, but the freedom to get back to that place of really going by your gut, going and letting it go is what's going to create what you want yeah, because martin is very much like that like I fucking I've been quizzing matt actually off the back of project 369 today do you just do whatever you want, like what comes into your head, you just go and do it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, pretty much yeah, martin does not have that money, noise or stress. He will and bless him, he'll go like, but I just have absolute faith that you'll make it happen and it'll be fine. And I'm like, oh great, okay, but why is it? Is it an age thing? Or is it just because I've been in business for 11 years now that now I'm a lot more cautious or a lot like worried a lot more? I'm not. I'm not as risk-taking as I was.
Speaker 1:I don't know, I don't know. I can only share what my own perspective is and that is somewhere at some point.
Speaker 1:I know that I like to fucking worry yeah like if I've got too much time on my hands and I only know this now because of reading this book if I've got too much time in my hands, I will create something to fucking worry about. I didn't know that I was doing it. Yeah, but that is definitely what is happening, and maybe it's because if I worry about something, that means that I don't do this and I won't get a thousand years of rejection, like if I focus on what's here right in front of me. I've got a problem and I need to solve it.
Speaker 1:I fucking love solving problems yeah, me too absolutely love it. I find so much joy in it. But not everything needs to be solved right here, right now. No, and I am only just learning that at 37 fucking years old, I'm only just learning that I think there's an element of safety net.
Speaker 2:Like I, I have zero safety net personally, I don't have any very rich friends or family, you know, like there is no safety net. If this goes, it's like it just doesn't. It falls on me and that's it, and I think it actually for me, it started when I nearly lost it all because of that 10 grand miscalculation. Yeah, that's when I became more nervous. There's responsibilities now and I don't have that safety net. And with all the business stories that I follow, all the business stories I've listened to, they've miraculously found somebody that has been able to save them out of a massive hole or fix it for them. And I think my biggest worry is I don't have that person. I don't have that.
Speaker 1:I don't think that every business story that I've heard is about someone, a savior, coming in no, but there's like.
Speaker 2:We managed to get finance, we managed to get an investor, we managed to get this. That saved it. I did that 10 grand. My business partner swooped in and saved the day, but she's not in that position anymore. Yeah, to do that, because it's all tied up in houses.
Speaker 1:But yeah, but I think there's other ways of saving a business. I think what one? I think that you can never not rule out finance like yeah that when you say you've got no safety net yeah, the problem is when you desperately need it.
Speaker 2:The banks won't give it to you normally, and I've learned that the hard way, like they would not give it to me before. Okay, so you need to preempt it yeah and plan, yeah, and always have that buffer.
Speaker 1:But cash flow is the killer of all businesses right stop yeah go back over your thought process just now those five things that you've just said yeah how much emotion and perception is attached to what you've massively okay.
Speaker 2:This is what we need to work on letting go yeah because, but this is what I mean about that money, noise and that panic and that worry. If I can work through that and get rid of it, I'm going to make some incredible decisions and this business is going to fucking fly. I know, know that.
Speaker 1:But this business is like we cannot rule out the success that you are having. How many people do you think are looking up to Amy Lewis going shit me, shit me, like I would do anything to be in that position.
Speaker 2:Because that woman in Farnham that was living in the annex look at how far you've got Like we don't do this.
Speaker 1:I feel like a boron about this all the fucking time. Boron, but we don't do it None of us, because we're all so driven and we all want to make it like we want to find the life that we want. We never go. Oh, fucking hell, nicole, six years ago, jesus Christ.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And look at what we're doing now. Yeah, I get that we never truly appreciate it.
Speaker 2:But do you know what, when I've been doing all the journaling and using the 369 book project, actually, you know, when you do the whole exercise of like, create your perfect life, or what is it you're looking for? What is your ultimate dream? Most of it I've already got, yeah, which were really shocking. You know like, I take for granted, like, uh, the freedom you know like, not just financial freedom, but freedom of like, do whatever I want when I want. It's me that's putting the pressure on to sit at my desk and make sure I'm working, nobody else what knobs are we?
Speaker 2:exactly, but that freedom to do whatever I want, I fucking have it. You know, I'm the one that feels guilty like if my team are working. The reason I said to my team don't work Christmas Eve is because every year I feel awful that I'm not working Christmas Eve and they are. So I was like, right, that's it. No, we're not opening Christmas Eve now, but you need to pick up a shift somewhere else. We're not losing the revenue and it was. I love it because it's a nice thing for them. I think Christmas Eve's really good for families, like everyone should be together, and as a parent now I see how important Christmas Eve is and actually I prefer it to the actual Christmas day. So if I feel like that, I want my team to feel like that and experience that joy but also that guilt. And so I work on a Sunday because I choose to and I would never expect my team to do that. But I do feel guilty if they're working on a Saturday and I'm there like laying in bed watching a TV program or something.
Speaker 2:I don't know why I still do.
Speaker 1:So a question Is that coming from a place of lack or is it coming from a place of love? What do you mean? So this is that's one of the questions, isn't it in Project 369 is are you coming from a? To want a better word negative space.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Or are you coming from a place of wanting to serve?
Speaker 2:Oh, I don't know, it's just I feel guilty, so maybe it's serve. I don't fucking know which camp that is. It's the same as the discombobulation I have with the ego, I don't know. Yeah, I just feel a little bit guilty.
Speaker 1:There is such joy for me in the Christmas period because I feel liberated, that everyone else is off Like I live you think about, and I don't know where that comes from. So if I, obviously I don't work Fridays because I'm supposed to be enjoying time with the children, but I feel constantly on like constantly. I'm like phones, double phones because other people are working yeah, yeah, because I feel guilty. So it I completely resonate with you, but I don't think it's right for us to feel like no, I don't think it's right either.
Speaker 1:I'd like to not feel like that.
Speaker 2:It's really tiring yeah, and actually I want to embrace the fact that the most of the things I want in my life I've got yeah, I have so much love around me, so much, and I will be comfortable if, if it was my deathbed and I know that I talk about that I'm so comfortable with where I am, what I've given, what I've done, how I've supported people, how I've shown up, how people have loved me, how people have taken care of me, like the relationships I've built. I'm so proud of that and that it's always come from a place of authenticity. It's always come from a place of love and kindness and genuinely wanting people to do well. And if I've made a decision, that decision has not been made lightly, like the closure of Hazel Mill, I think, will haunt me forever.
Speaker 2:Sadly, there was so much emotional tie to that, but it was the right decision. It was the right thing to do for all parties, but mainly the clients. You know there was so many things all wrapped up in that, but I will take that with me. But every decision I've made has always been the right decision by people and by me and my family, and I just yeah, it was fascinating to write down everything you want. I was like, wow, that's the most important stuff, isn't it not? The house, the car?
Speaker 2:look at me six figures look at how perfect my fucking life is, but it's all bullshit yeah, but it's.
Speaker 1:It's such a confusing world, though, isn't it like even the work that we're doing on this?
Speaker 2:on ourselves. It's, it's hard, it's confusing it is because I feel like you're wading against the grain, don't you?
Speaker 1:a little bit yeah, and there are still times. I had a conversation with someone before christmas and I 100 reacted in not my best self, really yeah, yeah, what was it? Oh, I had perceived rejection on the horizon right and I started to get my hackles up. Yeah, prickly yeah, defensive, definitely defensive, and I said to someone yesterday I have been called sensitive throughout my entire life, like it's always been a running theme, whether it's positive negative.
Speaker 2:That's a crab thing, though, like I've always been called sensitive as well. Like any job I've ever had, I've always been over sensitive yeah, yeah, yeah, defensive over sensitive, which is fine, like I think every boss I've had has said that yeah same pricks yeah, I can't, I didn't, I haven't taken it on at all 20 years fuck you a thousand years of rejection
Speaker 1:in the bin. But we're learning, aren't we? We're learning all the time and I guess my initial reaction was like oh no, I'm fucking fine, I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm fine, which is obviously my favourite thing to say when I'm not fucking fine. But I did have to come off the phone and sit with myself for a minute. I did try to talk to off the phone and sit with myself for a minute. I did try to talk to Matt about it and he looked at me as if to say are you being sensitive?
Speaker 1:yeah, and I was like I think it's a thousand years of rejection. And he was like, yeah, a little bit. So we're just learning, aren't we like we're never a finished product, and I think it like chucking that up to the wind and saying I am humble enough to realize my mistakes and understand and try to be a better person, because I'm still a fucking cunt as well.
Speaker 2:Sometimes yeah, but aren't we all Poppet, aren't we all?
Speaker 1:Is that where we're finishing it? No, I'm just saying, aren't we? All we're all cunts Goodbye.
Speaker 2:Until later. No, I think everyone can be be and I think it's all a journey. I don't like that word.
Speaker 1:I hate it. I think you, I think that should be your word for 20 no, not, not at all, not at all.
Speaker 2:Don't think any of us have it figured out, and I think we need to try and find a way of stopping this. Look at me, look how perfect I am and seeing that as reality because it ain't, and I wish I could wrap my arms around everybody I love and say don't ever look at these people and think that they've got it together and think that that's what you're missing out on, because I get that feeling and it's but everyone's got to do it on their like you'll never we can say it, but people have to experience that for themselves.
Speaker 1:It's, but everyone's got to do it on there like you'll never we can say it, but people have to experience that for themselves.
Speaker 2:It's taken me 37 years to realize do you think people will boycott social media over the years? I think it's going to happen. You know. I think we're all sick of being served the same shit. We're all sick of this feeling this like pit of yeah, but if you sadness like it's a horrible, it's not nice.
Speaker 1:No, generation z and younger they don't give a flying fuck that it is right. This is my life, this is the way I want to do it. They're very, very quick to do what's right for them the ones that can't talk to human beings so we probably need a bit of each generation yeah, we're not going to get it right. I think that generation will boycott socials definitely, and younger potentially yeah because all it's doing the algorithm is just putting you into a bubble of the same people, but it's just a bit robotic, isn't it?
Speaker 2:because now you have access to education, but it's education that people are saying is right. So everyone's doing the same shit. Propaganda. It is everyone's doing the same shit. Like you've got people teach in a certain way and then someone else is learning from them, yeah, and then teaching somebody else the same way, and I'm like, okay, but you're all just teaching the same thing. That's come from one person, that's one person's view. So why is that view best? And then what newness are we creating or talking about? Oh god, it's so much, isn't it?
Speaker 1:yeah, it is. I feel quite conflicted because as a brand, I know that you need elements of that to make it work, but I just got, there's got to be a better way I was want to do something different.
Speaker 2:It is coaches.
Speaker 1:yeah, it's the coaches that are really like grating on us.
Speaker 2:Yeah, because they're all doing a great thing. They're helping other people level up.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but it's. When you see the funnels, I feel like I just fucking see the funnels everywhere.
Speaker 2:I mean I'm banging involved in funnels, I think, for I this year, I really am passionate about coming from an educational standpoint, so I had a thought I was writing down like all the things that I love and all the things that I'm passionate about and all the things I'm really good at, and it came like what came up for me was projects and there is an element of education, but not like teaching treatments. That's not like a love for me. I love seeing other people succeed, which is why I love franchising so much. I love that guiding, you know that mentoring and coaching, but like problem solving, where someone phones me up on a Friday and says, oh, this staff member's causing me this. I'm like, right, what, what? Ask the questions and figure out a plan. Yeah, I think that's where I fit, which is why I love franchise so much.
Speaker 2:Right, but then I thought, well, how can I get that out there other than articles and LinkedIn? How can I get that out there on socials? Because I'm so sick of the same shit on socials, I'm so bored. I'm bored of creating it, I'm bored of seeing it. There's just nothing new and everyone's just looking at what everyone else is doing and then copying it. So then you, because I follow like 20, 25 million salons, you know that you look at it and everyone's got the same content and I'm like, from a client's perspective, it must be dull as dishwater as well. But I don't know, because not everybody's seeing it, but I'm just a bit over it, yeah. So I thought, well, she's building this up to some big fucking idea and I'm waiting for it to. Well, I managed to change the Mooers group Facebook.
Speaker 1:No, yeah, I managed to change the name.
Speaker 2:It's taken me three months Finally. Facebook was playing ball, so yesterday I managed to change it to the Mooers group. Well, done.
Speaker 2:Thank you. What I'm thinking is how about? I don't want to do like ask Amy, because it's really shit, but like a question time thing but if you think the most common questions whether it comes to running a salon, operating a salon, building a salon, having your own business, having your own salon business, like just ask a question, let me give an authentic answer, and I came up with 50 questions. Did you that? I know that people will have, that, people will be googling and I thought how easy is that video content? Put it on YouTube, stick it on Tiggity Talk and Instagram, whatever, but I could put it on LinkedIn as well. Literally, just how much money does a business owner earn in the beauty industry? Salon owner what do I go back registered? All these questions that I get on a daily basis, like all the time why don't I just answer them but put it onto a live like a video format? Nice?
Speaker 1:Do you reckon I like it yeah.
Speaker 2:Because it kind of goes against all the shit that I'm seeing. Yeah, and I just want it to be valuable. I want someone to look at it and go that's really valuable. I'm not selling anything. I'm not selling anything, not doing anything just like that's valuable content.
Speaker 1:So you create the content. It would take me no time to no more than five minutes per answer. I know that you're rocking up at this to serve, but what do you if we go like, put the end at the start, what does that look like? So you're creating this content? To what benefit? To just help yes and no.
Speaker 2:But also I think for the franchise element of our business and for, maybe, clients, I need to be seen as the expert. Yeah, I am the expert, I've done it for so long. So it's positioning as well, kind of. But I don't want positioning as in, like in a stage in a beauty exhibition because I'm, it's giving me the ick, the whole beauty expose and all of that. This is your content. Yeah, and like, it's not a popularity contest and I think that's what I don't like about certain parts of the beauty industry. It's a popularity contest and I always feel like that, the kid that never fit.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And I'm sure if there was a therapist they would unpick all of this.
Speaker 2:But I was always that kid that never fit, never had a group or whatever, and I feel like the beauty industry can sometimes be like that for me it can be and it's like you get the PR if you know somebody that knows somebody and if you're in certain coaching groups or if you're with that person and they recommend you. But also you get the stage gigs and it's kind of like it's just a little bit clicky and I thought I want to be seen as the expert by giving valuable content, informative content that's actually going to help people that are running their business or deciding what career they want, or you know, whatever it may be in the beauty space, how to create your own product range. I'm not selling you how to create it, I'm just going to tell you, if you want, ask the question what do you think? Do you think I really like it, do you? Yeah, because it kind of sings to my values, but fundamentally I want it to lead to franchise sales yeah.
Speaker 1:so my question as your marketing friend is this is going to draw more people into you. You have to guide them, so you're going to be serving up incredible valuable content. What do you want out of them?
Speaker 2:I want them to go to my salons, I want them to buy my products and I want them to invest in a franchise if they want their own business.
Speaker 1:Okay, what about any unexpected opportunities?
Speaker 2:I also want to do consultancy. I know I dropped that one, haven't I? Not right now, but I do want to do consultancy. I know I dropped that one, haven't I? Not right now, but I do want to do consultancy in the future, but not like I don't. I don't want to do group coaching, I don't want to do one-to-many, I don't want to. I don't want to go into that, that world.
Speaker 2:I've always wanted to do consultancy. I actually had a business before I started Muiz, called SPA Spa Professional Association. With a friend of mine we put all the framework together and then decided not to do it. And actually spas I love spas and I've got loads of experience in spas, but it's not really where my passion is. My passion is people and service and clients and experience. I'm not into the bougie-ness of what something looks like. I'm into the authenticity of how it feels and how people are treated and I would really like to do projects consultancy Like you've got a problem in your business, you've got a toxic culture, or you've got a theft problem, or you've got a sales problem or you've got a service problem, whatever it may be, let me come in and help. But I can then pick and choose around when my team needs me that I can work on.
Speaker 1:That love it beauty industry specific or no?
Speaker 2:to start with, but it could be franchise specific, going forward. Nice, yeah, I don't want to cast my net too wide, you know, I just want to niche down and just do the stuff that brings me joy how does it feel to say all of that out loud?
Speaker 1:it feels really good.
Speaker 2:It feels like I'm in complete control, like I think that's why I want to do it project-based, because I want it to fit around when it works. So for me, like, my salons don't need me in August. In fact, I'm a pain in the ass if I'm interfering because they all just need to be working and earning money. That's my perfect time to be working on other people's businesses. They can focus on their revenue. Their teams can focus on their revenue. I can focus on problems that they've got and see the pinch points or the issues. Nice, yeah, exactly Same as December. Actually, I just need to leave people alone in my own business. So that's the time that I could free up, bring a little bit more cash flow in personally, but also, if it's project work, I can say no, can't I? Of course you can, but I love that whole question and answer Because I am so impatient. I just have a question. I want someone to answer it for me.
Speaker 1:Why can't?
Speaker 2:it be? Ask Amy, I just think it sounds really wanky. Okay, ask Amy, I want something a bit fun. You know, like movies is fun. I don't want to be like ass-to-head wench. Do you know what I mean? Wench it, wench it. Yeah, there's got to be something punchy. I don't know when it'll happen, I don't know when I'll start it, but I have got these questions and I don't know if people would be interested. But I just think I want to try.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and if it comes from a good place and it helps, because also the questions that my franchise partners would ask or my salon managers would ask you know how to deal with sickness in a beauty therapy team, all this stuff, and I see it in all these groups. I see it. I'm in all these different Facebook groups and and actually I'm either on LinkedIn or these Facebook groups now because I feel like it's more community-led and more to serve. And I've got my own Facebook group called Waxing Professionals and I don't ever use it, but it's growing. And I've got it with another colleague within the industry who's a waxing expert and we put this together. It's got like 500 and something members and I never use it, I never go in, I don't sell in it.
Speaker 2:We have like a rule. There is nothing. It's just purely to help people when it comes to waxing, and yesterday there was loads of new members and loads of new inquiries and I just went in and just answered loads of questions. It's like this actually is what I love. I've done this, I've I've lived and breathed this industry for so long and I want the information that's helping people to be the right information, not all this curated shit from ChatGPT and from other people. Yeah, I love it. There's people that are calling themselves experts but haven't actually run a salon or run a team or been in that environment or worked in a spa, you know like, got that life experience running big teams or whatever. Yeah, there's so much I think that can help.
Speaker 1:I love it great show you think we'll find out won't we? No, I really like it. So yeah, stay tuned for next time. Show the fuck up.
Speaker 2:Show the fuck up sorry the fudge up yeah I like it show the fudge up tell me about what the flock?
Speaker 1:I don't. Yet I'm still on the back burner.
Speaker 2:What was the frame of it?
Speaker 1:I said I wanted to create I don't know like a community or where it's more for owner founders. I fucking love helping owner founders. Yeah, I genuinely love it, but nine times out of ten they cannot afford to invest in the services, or but they just need the help. They need the advice, yeah, so I want to try to create something to support them.
Speaker 2:I don't know what it looks like just yet so I think it just needs to be a facebook group to start with. Do you reckon yeah?
Speaker 1:I have got a. I want to do some research first, so I've got a questionnaire there ready to go. Just need to put it into a google form to ask owner founders within my LinkedIn network, within Salford Social, across all of the Wild Bird following, what owner founders need and want. So it's got some really nice curated questions on there and then I will use those results to scope out what what the flock looks like I think facebook group I really do she loves the solution, she's gone straight.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I do, because it the thing is with a facebook group is you create your own community on your terms, as you want, and then you can go in and give that advice. It doesn't take up much time, but the more advice you give, then when they can afford it can then buy into your service and they know you.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so I think I just want to ensure whatever it is is as close to what as a solution to what people need, rather than what I think Does that make sense.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Hence the research. So that will be going out this week, probably Cool. And then I hence the research, so that will be going out this week, probably cool. And then I'll scope what the flock off the back of it and what the flock because of birds, yeah, but also, how many times do you look at your business marketing? What the fuck yeah like obviously can't call it what it is a complete minefield, isn't it?
Speaker 2:when you're starting out? If you haven't got marketing background, it is it's just like where do you start?
Speaker 1:what do you do?
Speaker 2:like the overall and you have to get really creative and not a lot of money as well, yeah, which I think sometimes when all the best stuff happens yeah, totally agree, but that, like so many business owners, just think that social is the one and only way yeah, I don't want to dispel, but I also I'm gonna put it out there. Sweet statement.
Speaker 1:Go on generalisation. What is it here? It?
Speaker 2:comes, I think we're going to have to start thinking about alternatives. Everyone's relying on social media so much and I think we all need to start thinking of alternatives now, because I think in five years' time it's going to be so saturated and it's not going to be the same audience. It's not going to be the same audience, not the same people. Not going to be, it's not going to. Social media has had its day of marketing and people have made a shit ton of money out of it and it's helped businesses. But businesses were a lot successful as well without social media, but they had to be creative. Well, now everyone's just doing the same. If every, if people do start boycotting socials which they are doing and they're gonna do what are the options? Yeah, I think it's education. Personally, I think it's exciting. Community and education. That's where we need to be. That's my own perspective, but I'm calling it.
Speaker 1:I'll see in a few years time what happens so the thing that will always remain true is, if you get your perfect client, your, your audience, your target audience, your avatar, your persona, whatever the fuck you want to call them, if you can connect with them on an emotional level, you've done over half of the work.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:But connecting with them on an emotional level now is how do you do that on social? So for Wild Bird, for example, if I'm looking to connect with my perfect client, I'd be thinking about lumpy mail. I'd be thinking about sending something really cool that arrives at a key decision maker's desk in their office, at their home, wherever that completely takes them by surprise.
Speaker 2:Do you know, every time you say lumpy mail, do you know what visualisation I get? Do you get, you know, in America they the, the people you pay and they just show up singing with the noise they called. They're dressed up as a character. They start singing like the message elf is in the film. Yeah, yeah, they start singing like a telegram type thing, is it? I can't remember, but every time you say lumpy mail, I always imagine a cow walking up to a building and you need to hear about Moose.
Speaker 1:Maybe they should, but you know we're talking about Moose on tour and like taking that bus and going on a really. I know that's like next level vibes on investment, but it's those things that are outside of the box. Because, everyone is so used to being served and sold to in the same way.
Speaker 2:It's that connection.
Speaker 1:It's how do we do it creatively that's really going to align with the audience that we want. Like that's fucking exciting.
Speaker 2:How do you talk to someone that touch and feel that connection? Well, actually I had a meeting just before this. I haven't told you about it yet. Have you heard of Carfest? Yes, chris Evans' festival yes, I have. Yeah, well, I've not heard about it before, but Katie, our lovely Winchester franchisee, is an avid Carfest-y person.
Speaker 1:I know someone that does Carfest, if you want a connection.
Speaker 2:Well, katie was like these are our perfect clients. 88% of the attendees are ABC1.
Speaker 1:Oh nice.
Speaker 2:Yeah right, I've looked at the sales deck.
Speaker 2:The guy that Upmarket for those that aren't in the know, yeah but also 50 mile radius of Bays and Stoke is where they travel. That's every one of my salons, nice and I was like Katie came to me and she was like I think this would be really good for us to exhibit at or do something with, and I think this would be really good for us to exhibit at or do something with. And I was like I've been a bit burnt with exhibiting in places. I've spent a lot of money and I was like but I love a festival, I love Katie's company, I love the thought of talking to people about what we do and showcasing that, but also what I found out on my meeting today is that every penny profit is gifted to children's charities.
Speaker 2:I didn't know that. Every single penny last year 1.8 million, nice 10 of ticket sales guaranteed, yeah, but also every penny that's made and they've got all these different charities. One of the children's charities is a winchester-based one that katie is supported with her fashion show. Yeah, and as we were talking to this guy, ben, really, really nice guy and actually lives in hartley whitney where I used to live, so like there was automatic connection, really sound guy. And when he was talking about it I was like you know the, the people that that go to car fest are exactly the same audience as mine and I bet it's the women that are booking the tickets. I've got 19 000 people in my database and he's like pricked up and I said do you do any kind of support for your exhibitors or whatever? And he was like not really, because otherwise it becomes too salesy. And I was like there's got to be something we can work with here. It's like a real collaboration. So and then he was saying I was talking about like what can we do? There'll be something. There'll be a franchise element, there'll be, uh, nails or treatment element and a product element. There's something in this. This is really exciting. So we're going to try it, we're hashing it out tomorrow to find out how we can exhibit, and he showed us the different places and areas that we should be in and which one we can do.
Speaker 2:But also I was talking about like glitter and he goes. Oh god, it's the bane of my life. I get so many requests for glitter companies face glitter because they make so much profit. And I said, well, actually I know a girl called tony who owns glamavan and he went. I think she's contacted me and I was like that would be a really good duo and he goes. Well, actually, if you want to talk to her, there's this one place. There's no other competition. You could have a double stand if she's got a van and you can have that and we'll give you.
Speaker 2:I was like, oh, this is exciting because the way that they deal with it isn't money like, it's not massive, like corporate money making, it's very. Let's collaborate. How can we help? How can we support? We want you to succeed, so you come back every year. You want to make sure that you're getting the right thing, but also we're trying to serve our audience better as well. Like it was really magical. So do you want to come. I was going to ask do you want to come the whole bank holiday weekend in august?
Speaker 2:love an exhibition but it's car fest so matt can come with the kids and we can get tickets for everyone that would be camping let's do it but like, can I just if you want any help planning the exhibition, like any help, any help at all.
Speaker 1:I absolutely love events. I tell you what the. So I've done many an exhibition and you have got the team that are fully behind the brand. Yeah, when you have that, they will give and give and give to see this succeed.
Speaker 1:You cannot beat the energy of a live exhibition. Yeah, you can't, because you're all stood there. You've got the Moody's brand on. Yeah, you've had a really fucking cool brief. You know exactly what you're there to do, exactly there to achieve, exactly what you're there to do, exactly there to achieve, and you're all in it together.
Speaker 2:That shared experience that you so cool, isn't it? Will be next level yeah, and I feel like there's so much alignment here and I'm so grateful that she's bought this to our like hey jansen.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'm really chuffed that she's bought this and also, because she's a mua's client, that's gone into a mua's franchisee. But she goes here like it's just like a real marriage made in heaven. But actually when she was explaining to him, she goes. I think this is a really good news story because I've been coming to you for so long and I love it. I'm your biggest advocate, but also mua's is so hampshire surrey base, which is all of your audience, and now Moors is coming because I'm a she goes.
Speaker 1:It's just like such a great story, yeah this is your first taste of movies on tour. Yes, 100%. Yeah, like this is where that, like embryonic stage of what you're going to create.
Speaker 2:This is where it's but there's so many other festivals I've just never really been down for. I love festivals, I love going to them, but there's never been one that I thought, yes, this is where Moorish belongs. Apart from this, like, I really feel that this is our people, this is where we belong, and I want to do something that we can really make it purposeful, because if we're doing this, we're doing this for a purpose. Really make it purposeful, because if we're doing this, we're doing this for a purpose, and that's exposure, right, yeah, so let's, let's hash it out.
Speaker 2:I don't know what it's going to look like yet I'm 100%. Yeah, that'd be so cool, wouldn't it? Martin's like are we going? Yeah, because this is, this is every part of me. You know, my word is love, but every part of our values is to serve, but also joy, have fun, share it, experience it, oh my god, with all of our kids as well. Like it actually makes me feel a bit emotional that we could do something like that and bring it all together it's gonna be fucking brilliant yeah, it'd be cool, wouldn't it?
Speaker 1:please, let me be part of this. Yeah, yeah, yeah, please, please, please.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you are Definitely Anything that I can do to help, like I'm there. So, yeah, we're actually going to present it to the salons on Monday, are you? Yeah, next week, and there's owners and managers how?
Speaker 2:much time. Please can I come in the meeting and we're plan together, because they'd be silly not to participate. I don't think they'd be wanting to pay out for the stand, but contribute with staff. Yeah, I think it's really important, but then for them to be able to have their kids there as well I wouldn't like movers is such a family environment and embodies all of that like this is? Yeah, it's just really magical. I'm there, man. Yeah, I want willow on the stand doing moose skin. She bloody loves Moosekin. I know she's the best seller. She is, yeah, nine years old well, she'll be ten then standing there selling the Moosekin. It's so cool, isn't it.
Speaker 2:I'm there, man yeah, I just think it'll be really cool and I feel like this is the time that the people that love me, the people that want to support me, the people that see movies growing and excited about it, are going to be the ones going. Let me in, let me help, let me be part of this and let's all just have the absolute time of our lives and with our families and with our partners and with our teams, like oh god, like there's so much that I can help, like I feel like I can really contribute to this, let me I will do, don't worry.
Speaker 2:I'm really excited for this. Yes, me too. Well, are we going to stop it here? I think we've talked about enough, haven't we? Yeah?
Speaker 1:right. Love you all thanks love you.
