Is it even possible to raise happy, confident kids and run a business (or three)? What do you do with the guilt that creeps in when you’re sending emails instead of playing with Montessori toys? And honestly… does it really matter who spends the most time with your kids, as long as someone’s giving them one-on-one attention?

In this week’s episode, Audrina and Sydney open up about their messy, guilt-ridden, yet incredibly rewarding experiences with balancing parenting and entrepreneurship. Sydney’s a mom of two toddlers, and Audrina’s a stepmom of two—and between answering work emails, trying to get their kids to eat, and feeling guilty about screen time, they’re wondering the same things you are:

“Am I messing this up?”
“Am I doing enough?”
“What even is enough?”

They get real about screen time struggles, wondering if it’s okay to hire lots of help (spoiler: it so is), and what they wish they could give their kids but can’t right now. And they also share some mindset shifts that help them drop the shame, zoom out, and remember: you don’t have to do it all to be doing it right.

In This Conversation:

• Why boredom is actually a blessing—and how letting your kids feel it can stir creativity (and give you a minute to breathe)
  
  
  
• A mindset shift that’ll help you stop comparing yourself to the “perfect moms” and trust your own methods and priorities
  
  
  
• What psychologists say about how involved you really need to be (hint: you’re probably doing more than enough)
  
  
  
• The big question: Can you outsource some of the parenting if their caretaker is really damn good at their job (and has a degree in children’s studies)?
  
  
  
• The difference between guiding your kids vs. fixing everything for them—and why the former builds resilience
  
  
  

Here’s the truth: You’re not failing. You’re building a life—for yourself and your family. Sometimes it looks messy. And you're doing great. 

So if you’ve ever cried over feeling like you’re not doing enough (or cried because the kids are fighting over who gets to scoop the dog poop), this one’s for you.

Connect with us:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swearingbyit/

LinkedIn:
Audrina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/audrinablackburn/
Sydney: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydneymsherman/ 

What if you automatically believed things would work out for you, instead of expecting things to blow up in your face?

In this week’s episode, Audrina and Sydney talk about reframing and shifting your mindset by believing that everything is going to fall into place. The more good vibes you put out there, the more you’ll see those things coming towards you. And they’ll just keep rollin’ in. (This topic was sparked by Audrina’s exciting news that she’s now got a house in Vegas!)

A key theme in this episode is gratitude. What are you grateful for right now? Sydney and Audrina discuss how they reground and reframe their mindsets to be more positive, especially when things feel rough. Audrina and Sydney also share what they’ve found out about themselves by going from having so much to so little… and why it’s the best thing that could have happened to them. Here’s the key takeaway: Dig into the root of what makes you truly happy, then chase more of that.

It’s not just about ‘thinking’ positively though, it’s about taking aligned actions to actually make those things happen. When things don’t work out as you expect (because that’s life!), respond with: ‘What do I need to learn in this moment?’. An error at The Hive led to Sydney crying into the ocean… then immediately picking herself up and working out how to fix it. (Her positive mindset helped her solve the problem so much faster than if she stayed stuck on the negatives.)

In This Conversation:

• Audrina and Sydney share how they’re embodying a more positive, grateful mindset by really celebrating small wins and focusing on the everyday moments that often get overlooked (from clients paying on time to treating yourself to a coffee). Be excited about the small things, don’t diminish them!
• Sydney reflects on why you have to keep moving when things get hard, because it’s preparing you for what’s to come. (It’s all part of your journey.) Shifting your mindset to start embracing things coming more easily isn’t easy, but if you take the action steps, the proof will unfold.
• Audrina explains why it’s so helpful to have constant reminders that pop up on your screen. (Listen in to find out what her daily mantras are!)
• Sydney and Audrina wrap up by exploring what their lives would look like if they were the luckiest girls in the world. (Hint: They don’t want the world, just for their worlds to feel easier, more settled, and more secure.)

For more unfiltered conversations about entrepreneurship, family life, and managing the daily demands of “doing it all”, click the Follow button so you don’t miss an episode! 

So, if you were the luckiest person in the world, what would your life look like in six months? Have a think and reflect on it, and if you feel comfortable, come and share your thoughts on Instagram or LinkedIn!

If anything we talked about resonated with you, we’d love to hear about it! Always feel free to reach out with questions, comments, or future topics you want to hear.

Connect with us:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swearingbyit/

LinkedIn:
Audrina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/audrinablackburn/
Sydney: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydneymsherman/ 

Resources We Mentioned:
Chloe Elise’s Deeper Than Money podcast

Do you find it easier to hire people or fire people? 

In today’s episode, Sydney and Audrina discuss the tricky topics of finding new employees and letting go of wrong-fit ones. Lots of pivots, changes, and rearranges have been happening at The Hive, so this topic is truly topical. Hiring might seem like the easier side, but it’s really not. You’re going to make mistakes, and that’s okay. It’s all part of the process: fail, learn, and then pivot.

Audrina and Sydney share their hiring processes and the key things you need to consider. Of course, you need to think about the scope of the role and what you want the person to achieve... but it’s also about being aligned with values and soft skills too. And it’s important to hire for diversity, not just in terms of gender or skin color, but in the way their brain works. What’s the point in having someone just like you who matches your skillset? Audrina’s tip is to look for people who fill the gaps.

Learning to trust your gut will save you so much heartache in the long run. If you sense someone isn’t the right fit, just let them go. You’re not just doing yourself a disservice by hiring them (wasting time, money, and resources), you’re actually holding them back from being 100% happy. At the end of the day, when you’ve got the right people, everything feels easier. Sydney downsized from 12 people to 5… and those were the happiest days they ever had in the company.

In This Conversation:

• Audrina talks about weighing up experience versus drive. If someone has the right attitude and they’re hungry to grow with your company, does it matter if they haven’t got the perfect resume? (Sydney agrees, but she didn’t before.)
• Sydney touches on why you shouldn’t hire people in your immediate network. (Just because you adore someone, it doesn’t mean they’re going to excel in the role you want them to fill...)
• Audrina and Sydney chat about how to know if you’ve got the right people or if it’s time to clean house and start again. Sydney’s advice is to document how everything’s going. If things feel clunky and you’re having to get too involved, that could be a tell-tale sign something’s not right. But if you do have the right people? Treat them like gold.
• On the flip side, Sydney and Audrina talk about what to do when someone calls upon you as a reference when they’re considering hiring someone. Real talk: Honesty is always the best policy.

For more unfiltered conversations about entrepreneurship, family life, and managing the daily demands of “doing it all”, click the Follow button so you don’t miss an episode! 

If anything we talked about resonated with you, we’d love to hear about it! Always feel free to reach out with questions, comments, or future topics you want to hear.

Connect with us:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swearingbyit/ 

LinkedIn:
Audrina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/audrinablackburn/
Sydney: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydneymsherman/

How do you switch back and forth between your different roles?

In today’s episode, Audrina and Sydney are flipping the switch from talking business with a sprinkle of life to talking about life with a sprinkle of business. From juggling step- and biological kids (and the unique challenges that come with that) to living in different places, moving across countries with kids and animals, AND running multiple businesses, life can be chaotic (that’s an understatement…). Mistakes are going to happen, but it’s all about learning from them.

With so many things happening in our lives, it can be hard to work out what to prioritize and where to put the most value. You’ve got to think about how to best take care of yourself, your partner, your kids, your dogs, your businesses… it’s not easy. There’s no one perfect solution, it’s about figuring it out along the way, accepting it’s a constant work in progress, and learning to put yourself first. (But if you *do* have the perfect solution, we’re all listening…)

This episode neatly summarizes the purpose of this podcast—it’s a safe space to share what’s really happening behind the scenes, so you know you’re not alone. It’s not about knowing all the answers, it’s about sharing experiences of what works (and what doesn’t) so you can take what’s helpful. We’re all human, and that sometimes means having stomach issues, arguing with your spouse, dealing with fertility struggles… then getting on a call to talk client strategy. But being happy in the chaos is so much better than being miserable in the calm.   

In This Conversation:

• Sydney touches on the mistake she made with her hostel and how she’d handle it differently. (Spoiler: It involved being too kind when firing everybody…)
• Audrina shares why it’s important to separate your ego so you can weigh up the benefits of your decisions when running a business. Is it better to do the difficult thing now and deal with the consequences, or put it off and face different issues down the line?
• Audrina and Sydney discuss what they’re doing for their relationships, including setting boundaries, hearing your partner out, and learning to balance different communication styles (under-communication versus over-communication).
• Audrina talks about the major changes happening in her life and how she and her partner, Zach, are navigating their new normal (starting with getting across the US border in a trailer with dogs…).

For more unfiltered conversations about entrepreneurship, family life, and managing the daily demands of “doing it all”, click the Follow button so you don’t miss an episode! 

If anything we talked about resonated with you, we’d love to hear about it! Always feel free to reach out with questions, comments, or future topics you want to hear. 

Connect with us:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swearingbyit/ 

LinkedIn:
Audrina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/audrinablackburn/
Sydney: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydneymsherman/

How would you handle working with your life partner as your business partner?

In this week’s episode, Sydney and Audrina dive into the ins and outs of managing relationships and navigating complex situations around working alongside family and friends—including juggling kids while running a business. They offer handy tips and tricks from everything they’ve figured out along the way, so you can make your personal and working life run so much smoother. (Hint: it’s all about communication.)

There are lots of simple tools you can use for good communication, like taking time to pause when things start getting stressful. Learning to pick your battles, deciding which hills to die on (and which ones aren’t a big deal), and taking the time to explain your vision and your reasons—instead of brushing your thoughts and feelings aside—makes such a difference. Another great tool is letting each other know what ‘number’ (energy level) you’re at so you can help each other out. It can be hard to bounce between work and life stuff, so literally call it out and label where you’re at: ‘Business partner hat is going on right now.’

Having a successful working relationship with your partner comes from the foundational relationship-building effort outside of work. You need to be able to truly listen to your partner and respect each other’s boundaries, otherwise unaddressed issues can bleed into work *and* regular life. It’s really important to have space for regular conversations and to discuss difficult things upfront because they won’t get better unless you change your approach.

In This Conversation:

• Audrina and Sydney talk about why you need to have your own roles (and even separate departments!) when working with your partner. Make sure you understand each other’s skills and strengths so you can decide what you’ll each focus on to avoid stepping on each other’s toes…
• Sydney reflects on the impact of making decisions together, no matter how small they seem. (This may or may not have come from nearly getting divorced over a decision about curtains…)
• Audrina and Sydney discuss managing their work and personal lives, including how they chat about work outside of work. Sydney’s parents decided work was an off-limits topic for date night, but Sydney and Audrina are the opposite. (It’s all about what’s best for you!)
• Audrina touches on managing the balance between knowing when to work things out yourself and when to get your partner’s input. It’s important to be self-aware—start with yourself, then go from there.

For more unfiltered conversations about entrepreneurship, family life, and managing the daily demands of “doing it all”, click the Follow button so you don’t miss an episode! 

If anything we talked about resonated with you, we’d love to hear about it! Always feel free to reach out with questions, comments, or future topics you want to hear.

Connect with us:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swearingbyitpod/ 

LinkedIn:
Audrina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/audrinablackburn/
Sydney: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydneymsherman/

What matters to you? What are you capable of right now?

In this week’s episode, Audrina and Sydney talk flipping the switch from a people-pleasing mentality to calling people out for falseness, and shifting from a lack mindset to receiving, thriving, and abundance. It’s important to go out of your way to show up with a positive energy so you can appreciate all the little things—that energy can be generated by who you spend time with and how you talk to yourself.

Sydney and Audrina discuss how self-serving won’t get you far in life. If you’re only seeing what other people can do for you (instead of what you can do for them), your world is going to get really small, really fast. Start looking for opportunities to help people succeed, build, and reach their goals. Think about what you’re sending out into the universe, what you’re attracting, and how you’re communicating—then the universe will respond to you.

Work-life balance? There is none. We only have one life, so if you don’t set expectations and boundaries and hold people to them, that’ll affect you in ALL areas. Inviting self-awareness into your life and getting clear on your expectations will make everything run smoother. Communicating in a way that feels natural and authentic might come with some trial and error… but it’s a continual learning process. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you’re hoping to receive. (And don’t be afraid to be playful!)

In This Conversation:

• Audrina dives deep into reciprocal relationships. They don’t always have to be a 50/50 split, but there should be an amount of give and take—no one’s here for one-sided relationships and partnerships.
• Sydney and Audrina discuss shifting towards an abundance mindset by focusing on the wins (no matter how small) and finding opportunities to celebrate as much as possible.
• Audrina talks about the importance of doing your homework before meeting with people, vetting them as much as they’re vetting you, and being authentic and genuine in *every* interaction. (Instead of glazing over or adding meaningless comments on posts…)
• Audrina and Sydney explore spending in alignment and being more intentional and conscious about money. The first step is understanding your finances, because awareness is everything. Shifting your mindset from ‘bills you have to pay’ to ‘luxuries you get to buy’ helps build so much gratitude. (Top tip: Set aside a fun fund!)

For more unfiltered conversations about entrepreneurship, family life, and managing the daily demands of “doing it all”, click the Follow button so you don’t miss an episode! 

If the universe could give you one gift, what would it be? What are you open to receiving right now? Have a think and reflect on it, and if you feel comfortable, come and share your thoughts on Instagram or LinkedIn!

If anything we talked about resonated with you, we’d love to hear about it! Always feel free to reach out with questions, comments, or future topics you want to hear.

Connect with us:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swearingbyit/ 

LinkedIn:
Audrina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/audrinablackburn/
Sydney: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydneymsherman/ 

Resources We Mentioned:
The Adventure Challenge: Couples Edition

How do you prioritize your spending? Have you set yourself up for the future? 

In today’s episode, Sydney and Audrina talk money management and the balancing act of paying off debt while setting yourself up for the future. From horrific financial situations to unprecedented global pandemics, entrepreneurship isn’t always a glamorous life seen through rose-tinted glasses. But if it lights you up and you’re intentional, you just have to do whatever it takes to keep going. And remember—you’re not alone.

Sydney gets raw and real about her experience setting up and opening a hostel in Guatemala, and how they couldn’t lose the opportunity because that was literally all they had. From selling her wedding ring to borrowing $25 for groceries, Sydney’s situation was dire. She went from raising over a million dollars for her company to working out what to do to avoid homelessness and starvation. But she pulled herself out.

Positive things can come from difficult times, like getting to know yourself better. You learn to let go of things that don’t serve you, including relationships. These situations make it really clear to see who you can count on—they can also show you what you truly need in life. Although Audrina’s previous life looked like ‘the ideal,’ she’s now much happier and fulfilled at her core after realizing how much she doesn’t need.

In This Conversation:

• Audrina and Sydney dive into the importance of letting go of your ego when you’re in a dire situation because you have to just do what you can to get through. When you need to ask for help, the worst that’s going to happen is they’ll say no… but the best is they’ll say yes.
• Sydney talks about how they poured everything into the hostel and saw it as their savings account—and lifeline. She spent many years working for someone else and wasn’t fulfilled, so she couldn’t give up (even though they were only sleeping four or five hours a night for months on end…).
• Audrina and Sydney touch on negative spending habits and how they can be so hard to break. A guilty mindset around spending isn’t helpful, but understanding and aligning with what you value and where you put your money is.
• Sydney opens up about how much debt she’s managed to pay off in the last five years (hint: it’s a lot) and one of the biggest things she learned about getting into that much debt.

For more unfiltered conversations about entrepreneurship, family life, and managing the daily demands of “doing it all”, click the Follow button so you don’t miss an episode! 

If anything we talked about resonated with you, we’d love to hear about it! Always feel free to reach out with questions, comments, or future topics you want to hear.

Connect with us:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swearingbyit/

LinkedIn:
Audrina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/audrinablackburn/
Sydney: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydneymsherman/

Resources We Mentioned:
Deeper Than Money By Chloe Elise

How would you handle a debt of a million dollars?

In this week’s episode, Sydney bravely dives deep into how she managed a million dollars in debt while building businesses, struggling with a difficult business partner, handling a rough pregnancy, and having a husband unable to work while he navigated applying for a green card... It was a lot. But she learned SO much.

Audrina and Sydney talk about the importance of relationships and why you shouldn’t burn bridges when you don’t have to. As Audrina neatly puts it, “Don’t set fire to the house you might want to come back to.” Relationships are a key foundation in business, not just with your employees and investors, but also your friends and family. Communicating when you can (almost to the point of overcommunicating) is so important.  

As business owners, whatever happens in your business goes into your personal life, and it can feel like there’s no real separation between. So, if you’re going through a similar situation to Sydney—such as navigating business debt or breaking up with a difficult business partner—the best advice is to really dig into self-care. Feeling stressed won’t make the outcome and results any better, so remember to look after yourself and give yourself grace.

In This Conversation:

• Sydney discusses what happened with her previous business partner who decided to close the business, leaving her with no cash and no business to run—just a literal landing page and almost a million dollars in debt.
• Audrina asks what business owners can do to protect their business name after Sydney came face to face with the issue. (Listen out for Sydney’s simple tips!)
• Sydney talks about her own personal values and how that meant paying the debt off was all on her… and how she actually did it.
• Audrina and Sydney discuss why you *shouldn’t* hire your spouse to work under you. (Hint: it’s just not worth it!)

For more unfiltered conversations about entrepreneurship, family life, and managing the daily demands of “doing it all”, click the Follow button so you don’t miss an episode! 

If anything we talked about resonated with you, we’d love to hear about it! Always feel free to reach out with questions, comments, or future topics you want to hear.

Connect with us:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swearingbyit/ 

LinkedIn:
Audrina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/audrinablackburn/
Sydney: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydneymsherman/

When you think about the pivots you’ve made in your life and business, how have you managed your mindset? And what have you learned?

In today’s episode, Audrina and Sydney give the inside scoop on the pivots at The Hive, with a rapid-fire overview of everything that happened in the last six months. They’re actively going through so many pivots right now and shifting the entire business following all the lessons they’ve learned—both good and bad. (Sometimes things blow up… but that’s how you truly learn.)

Being an entrepreneur is so rewarding, but it’s definitely not easy. You really don’t know what it takes until you’re doing it! There’s only so much you can be taught because a lot comes from getting your hands dirty and learning as you go. Tears and overwhelm will happen, but you’ve just got to get through it and keep going with an open heart, curiosity, and faith in the process. We have control over so little, but we do have control over our mindset.

A key theme in this episode is taking care of yourself so you can show up as the best version of you. What can you do right now for yourself? It could be a deep breath, having a glass of water, taking a call on a walk—do what you can to reset your brain and you’ll feel better for it.

In This Conversation:

• Sydney talks about the harsh reality of how you have to go through a lot of hard lessons, but it’s the best way to learn what does (and doesn’t) work for you and your business.
• Audrina discusses the idea of gaining perspective on what you’re doing, and not making everything out to be a “life or death” situation when it really isn’t. You can’t think clearly when you’re stressed, so give yourself space to accept what’s happening. We all make mistakes, but it’s about figuring out how to fix them to make things better for the future.
• Sydney digs into the details about the most recent changes at The Hive, including the biggest pivot: switching to a fully virtual model. (And becoming solely package-based.)
• Audrina and Sydney talk about the importance of keeping track of what’s going on in your business—from your operations to your margins, and of course, pivoting. You need to carve out time to have conversations (even if it’s just with yourself) and to go and experience other things. You’re not in a silo!

For more unfiltered conversations about entrepreneurship, family life, and managing the daily demands of “doing it all”, click the Follow button so you don’t miss an episode! 

If anything we talked about resonated with you, we’d love to hear about it! Always feel free to reach out with questions, comments, or future topics you want to hear.

Connect with us:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swearingbyit/ 

LinkedIn:
Audrina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/audrinablackburn/
Sydney: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydneymsherman/ 

Resources We Mentioned:

Insight Timer App

Much like Ross and Chandler trying to get a couch down a flight of stairs in Friends, are you embracing “pivoting”?

In today’s episode, Sydney and Audrina discuss the importance of evaluating what’s working (and what isn’t) in your life and business. Pivoting doesn’t have to be scary—see it as a chance to improve with every single opportunity. It’s not always about burning everything to the ground and starting again, it’s about asking the right questions and actually listening so you can implement ideas to make things smoother.

Taking the time to work out where the “clunky” areas are in your business gives you the opportunity to fix them. The best advice is to constantly revisit the different processes and get feedback. Are you a solopreneur without a huge team to ask? That’s okay! Talk to current clients, past clients, and even prospective clients who said no, because every piece of constructive criticism is valuable (even the hard feedback). Be really intentional and embrace constantly pivoting.

Audrina talks about her process in her business, Summit Chasers Network, and how vital it is to step back and look at the bigger picture. As a business owner, think about how much your clients are paying you, how much your outgoings are, and what your margins look like, but, more importantly, how does your business make you feel? We are our businesses, so they need to make us feel good.

In This Conversation:

• Audrina touches on how a pivot she made in a previous company helped her team go from sending 10-15 email campaigns a day to sending hundreds of campaigns every single day. (Hint: It started with working out what needed to happen and then making it a reality.)
• Sydney talks about why we need the mentality of staying curious, asking the right questions, and navigating changes. Let the panic moments happen, but keep moving—and try to have faith in the outcome.
• Audrina and Sydney discuss the importance of using your intuition with real-life examples. Take time to process and analyze the feedback (instead of constantly changing everything off the back of one opinion), and don’t be scared to make hard choices. The sooner you do a hard pivot, the better.
• Sydney explains why you need to focus on not getting too down when things don’t go as planned and learning to accept that your business will be better for it in the long run. (She can’t think of a single time that a pivot negatively impacted her business when she took it with curiosity and intent!)

For more unfiltered conversations about entrepreneurship, family life, and managing the daily demands of “doing it all”, click the Follow button so you don’t miss an episode! 

If anything we talked about resonated with you, we’d love to hear about it! Always feel free to reach out with questions, comments, or future topics you want to hear.

Connect with us:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swearingbyit/

LinkedIn:
Audrina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/audrinablackburn/
Sydney: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydneymsherman/

Do you feel your age? (Does anyone?)

In this week’s episode, Audrina and Sydney touch on their personal experiences with the interesting (and sometimes weird) process of aging. Even though we feel the same on the inside, we look different on the outside—and that’s something we all experience. Our bodies change as we age and go through life, from wrinkles starting to appear to allergies and food intolerances, through to the major physical undertaking that is pregnancy (and everything that comes with that). 

As women, the physical side of aging can be tricky to navigate because there’s so much weight wrapped up in what we look like and how we show up. We go through the strange experience of feeling “too young” and then “too old”… but really, it comes down to mindset. We need to shift from being hard on ourselves to being grateful for what we (and our bodies) have achieved. Getting older is a privilege—we won’t always look the same, but that’s a good thing. It means we’re continuing to evolve.

At the end of the day, age is just a number. It’s about how you feel on the inside and how you show up. We’re always adapting and growing, so it’s important to learn to fully accept and embrace ourselves as we are right now. We’re badass women who are constantly juggling so many things, so showing up and doing the best we can is all we can ask for.

In This Conversation:

• Audrina and Sydney discuss the importance of holding onto your playful, childlike side and how believing you’re still young makes you feel young. (Sydney even mentions a medical study that proves it!)
• Sydney gets real with her pregnancies and talks about the interesting dynamic of how drastically aging pregnancy can be at first, but then how the aging process sometimes seems to reverse…
• Audrina touches on the mental health impact that came with her allergic reaction, and appreciating how much strength it takes to continue to show up (even when you don’t look or feel your best) and not let anything hold you back from what you want—or need—to do.
• Sydney and Audrina discuss the slippery slope of “chasing perfection,” getting comfortable with your body’s changes, and the idea that: “Your body is a reflection of your lifestyle. If you’re happy with your lifestyle, you should be happy with your body.”    

For more unfiltered conversations about entrepreneurship, family life, and managing the daily demands of “doing it all”, click the Follow button so you don’t miss an episode! 

If anything we talked about resonated with you, we’d love to hear about it! Always feel free to reach out with questions, comments, or future topics you want to hear.

Connect with us:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swearingbyit/

LinkedIn:
Audrina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/audrinablackburn/
Sydney: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydneymsherman/

If you were watching a film of your life right now, what would you be screaming at the TV for the main character (aka you) to change, do, or stop ignoring?

In this week’s episode, Audrina and Sydney reflect on what they’d like to stop ignoring, change, and do in their businesses and personal lives. They both get real and raw, with relatable truths around taking yourself—and your work—way too seriously and the anxiety around finding out answers you might not want to hear.

You’ll be nodding along to this episode as Sydney and Audrina discuss being human and giving yourself grace (because we’re all just doing the best we can). They wrap up this honest episode by talking about what they’re afraid of and why it’s no longer going to hold them back.

As female entrepreneurs, we often struggle with making the ask and charging what we should be. Audrina and Sydney go behind the scenes into what’s changing at The Hive and dive into the mindset shifts we need to go through to help us recognize (and own) the value we bring.

In This Conversation:

• Sydney dives into what she’d be yelling at herself to stop ignoring (spoiler: it’s about feeling all the feelings). She’s going to put in the effort to not hide from the uncomfortable parts, because they all have something really important to say.
• Audrina discusses the journey she’s on with the way she talks to herself—it’s something we can definitely all relate to. We wouldn’t speak to our best friends like that, so why do we talk to ourselves like that? Audrina talks about calling yourself out and actually being proud (instead of the default: being brutal).
• Sydney and Audrina chat about the importance of stepping away from yourself and the impact of objectively looking through different perspectives (hello, meditation!). 

Audrina and Sydney are planning on revisiting these questions in a few months, so watch this space to see how their answers have changed!

For more unfiltered conversations about entrepreneurship, family life, and managing the daily demands of “doing it all”, click the Follow button so you don’t miss an episode!

So, if you were watching the film of your life right now, what would you be screaming at the main character to change, do, and stop ignoring? Have a think and reflect on it, and if you feel comfortable, come and share your thoughts on Instagram or LinkedIn!

If anything we talked about resonated with you, we’d love to hear about it! Always feel free to reach out with questions, comments, or future topics you want to hear.

Connect with us:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swearingbyit/

LinkedIn:
Audrina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/audrinablackburn/
Sydney: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydneymsherman/

What happens when life is moving at full speed and you’re expected to manage running a business amidst the chaos? 

In this week’s episode, Sydney and Audrina delve into the real challenges they’ve experienced while continuing to show up as the face of their business. From the small, daily struggles of crying children and very vocal dogs to large-scale, terrifying natural disasters, we go behind the scenes of what it takes to keep moving when clients are counting on you—and how to prioritize your own well-being in the process. 

Life actually happens! Any entrepreneur knows it’s a constant balancing act to be present in your business and in your personal life. There are times, though, when one side weighs more heavily. In these times, it’s essential to be aware of the support system you have—who can you delegate some tasks to, who can take over if you need some recovery time, and who can provide a shoulder to lean on?

As women, and especially as mothers, we often feel like we need to do everything all the time. It’s so important (and healthy!) for us to be able to ask for help. Building your business is consistent work, and one person can’t do it all. Creating schedules and systems might feel restrictive, but in actuality, it will help clear your mind because all the tasks in your head are now down on paper and organized. Trust us – it works! 

In This Conversation:

• The importance of a healthy mindset – techniques and tools we use to regain composure when sh*t hits the fan. 
• Setting yourself up for success by starting to practice these techniques before you need them. Breathing, eating well, and exercising are some of the most effective ways we manage our physical and mental health. 
• When you don’t want to do something, try these tools: The power of calling out the “feeling of after” and reminding yourself of the positive outcomes, and The Opposite Game to swap your mindset from negative to positive.  
• Creating systems within our business to schedule tasks, and allowing ourselves to ensure we have some time for self-care. When creating this schedule, take notice of how you feel at different times of the day. You can then acknowledge these feelings, determine when you need a boost, and build a routine of healthy habits that work for you.

For more unfiltered conversations about entrepreneurship, family life, and managing the daily demands of “doing it all”, click the Follow button so you don’t miss an episode! 

If anything we talked about resonated with you, we’d love to hear about it! Always feel free to reach out with questions, comments, or future topics you want to hear.

Connect with us:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swearingbyit/

LinkedIn: 

Audrina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/audrinablackburn/

Sydney: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydneymsherman/

Resources We Mentioned: 

Insight Timer App 

Minute Moments: Master of Time Blog Post

What does it really mean to be an entrepreneur? It’s not the lavish lifestyle you might think—Spoiler: it’s a whole lot messier. 

In this week’s episode, Audrina and Sydney dive into what their days as busy founders entail, without sugar-coating anything. Before becoming entrepreneurs, we all pictured the ideal lifestyle: relaxed mornings by the pool, afternoon pilates classes, and restful evenings – with a full night’s sleep! 

Now we know better! While we think it’s a great lifestyle to aspire to, we’ve learned that running your own business is A LOT of work. You need to prepare yourself to embrace the reality of entrepreneurship; it’s consistent outreach to build a community, practicing your pitch and gaining confidence in selling your services, and learning new skills you never thought you’d need. 

But we promise you it is still the best choice we’ve made—this life is 100% worth it for us.

Sydney and Audrina discuss their top tips for getting comfortable with sales and the importance of asking good questions, to yourself and your clients. We explore the length of time it really takes to get your business off the ground, and whether you start strong or have slow growth, don’t get discouraged—it usually takes more time than you’d think! This time period, though, has the ability to show how resilient and flexible we can be in both our business strategies and our mindset. 

What has surprised you the most about being an entrepreneur? 

Let us know in the comments!

In This Conversation:

• What is your sales style? How can you lean into what you’re good at to feel more confident on your sales calls? We also discuss our process for preparing for sales calls, how we structure the call, and how we maintain a lens of curiosity during them. 
• The financial complexities involved in owning your own business. Often, as a founder, you’re the one making the least money and doing the most work—we talk about what steps you can take to plan ahead and prepare yourself for these challenges.
• The amount of work that goes into building your business. You’ll be continuously connecting with potential clients, doing social media marketing, learning how to manage your finances, and more. All while maintaining your sanity! It’s a lot of work, but we know you’re capable! 

For more unfiltered conversations about entrepreneurship, family life, and managing the daily demands of “doing it all”, click the Follow button so you don’t miss an episode! 

If anything we talked about resonated with you, we’d love to hear about it! Always feel free to reach out with questions, comments, or future topics you want to hear.

Connect with us:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swearingbyit/

LinkedIn: 

Audrina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/audrinablackburn/

Sydney: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydneymsherman/

What made you start your own business, and what keeps you going? Is this whole thing even worth it? 

In today’s episode, Sydney and Audrina explore the circumstances that led them toward entrepreneurship—and what keeps them there. They discuss how their past has shaped their businesses, the rough patches behind the scenes, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. 

As entrepreneurs – and women – we often have different responsibilities and priorities to manage in addition to building and maintaining our business. It can be difficult at times to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but when we look back, we can see how far we’ve come and how much we’ve grown since beginning this journey. The ways we have changed (for the better!) can sometimes go undetected, but we encourage you to stop and think about this—you’ll be surprised to see how many skills you now have! 

Entrepreneurship allows us to dictate our future. It provides more flexibility, the ability to channel your passions into your work, and the opportunity to see other people interact with your creation. Your business reflects who you are and will show you just how strong you can be. You have one life to live—make the most of it and do what makes you happy!

In This Conversation:

• The conversations we need to have and the hard questions we need to ask, in order to lay the foundation. How do you communicate, receive feedback, or show appreciation? Discussing key mindsets and personal preferences up front can determine if this business or partnership is the right fit and if this is the direction you want to take. 
• The questions we should ask ourselves to decide whether this entrepreneurial path is for us. What would need to happen for you to give up your business? What are your limits – and how do you know when you’ve reached them?
• The risks we experienced throughout our business, how we navigated them, and the ones we didn’t see coming. Understanding that entrepreneurship ebbs and flows is important in order to keep going. 
• How do you create and foster the self-confidence, resilience, and growth you need to keep going when things get tough? We talk about our experiences using affirmations, investing in ourselves, connecting with peers, and listening to our intuition when making decisions. (Check out Episode 2 for more on intuition!)  

For more unfiltered conversations about entrepreneurship, family life, and managing the daily demands of “doing it all”, click the Follow button so you don’t miss an episode! 

If anything we talked about resonated with you, we’d love to hear about it! Always feel free to reach out with questions, comments, or future topics you want to hear.

Connect with us:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swearingbyit/

LinkedIn: 

Audrina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/audrinablackburn/

Sydney: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydneymsherman/

Resources We Mentioned:

The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer

Do you ever stop and think about how all your past decisions led you to where you are now?

In Part Two of this episode, Sydney and Audrina continue their discussion on how their choices have shaped their present careers, future career paths, and personal relationships. Being an entrepreneur is in Sydney’s blood! She was born into a family of entrepreneurs, as both her parents are business owners who made sure all their children grew up knowing what it takes to run a business. She explores how her life experiences have formed the ideas for multiple businesses, including The Etho and The Hive.

The path of entrepreneurship is not usually a linear journey, it ebbs and flows with each decision you make. We’ve discovered that the people we meet along the way have a huge impact on the success of our businesses. Hiring the right people makes all the difference! Sydney explains that her team is the reason The Hive was able to keep running while she was going through some life-changing events with her family. 

Being an entrepreneur gives us the ability to work for ourselves in a way that is true to our values, and more importantly, the ability to not work for a company making decisions we don’t agree with. From struggling to success – we’ve been through financial difficulties and broken relationships on the way to having the companies we have now. Don’t worry, we’ll go through the details of each (and how we made it out the other side!) in future episodes!

In This Conversation:

• Sydney shares her backstory––from starting a business in the midst of getting a college degree to managing a business with a partner she didn’t align with, entrepreneurship, and the independence it offers, has been a consistent driving force in her life. (Listen to Part 1 to hear Audrina’s story!) [link to episode]
• The ups and downs of running a business while managing the challenges of family relationships and raising children.
• The difficult situations and decisions that have to be made behind the scenes of building a business––Sydney takes us through the journey her businesses took during the pandemic and childbirth, and how she relied on her team and family to keep the companies afloat.

For more unfiltered conversations about entrepreneurship, family life, and managing the daily demands of “doing it all”, click the Follow button so you don’t miss an episode! 

If anything we talked about resonated with you, we’d love to hear about it! Always feel free to reach out with questions, comments, or future topics you want to hear.

Connect with us:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swearingbyit/

LinkedIn: 

Audrina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/audrinablackburn/

Sydney: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydneymsherman/

Do you ever stop and think about how all your past decisions led you to where you are now?

In this week’s episode, Sydney and Audrina discuss how their choices have shaped their present careers, future career paths, and personal relationships. Audrina dives into her experience being laid off from a company where she was an instrumental part of their growth and felt secure in her position. She explains how she felt blindsided by the decision, but can see now that it was the push she needed to get out of a company she didn’t align with.

This exit from the corporate world made Audrina realize she had become complacent in her career and forced her to refocus on options she hadn’t considered before––like entrepreneurship. Becoming complacent is often one of the worst things to happen in your job because it stops you from moving forward and reaching your full potential. The main tip here is to listen to your gut! 

Both Sydney and Audrina discuss how manifestation and vision boards play a large part in their future planning, enabling them to achieve their work and life goals. By thinking about the future as if you already possess the skills, finances, or position you’re envisioning, your brain activates differently, allowing you to move in that direction without even realizing it! 

In This Conversation:

• Audrina shares her backstory—how she went from a professional ballroom dancer to the Vice President of Business Operations, overcame an unexpected and emotional layoff, and started a new career in entrepreneurship. 
• The stigma surrounding being let go from a position, and how we often attach our self-worth and identities to our career title. 
• What happens when you feel yourself becoming complacent in your current position, how to move out of an industry you don’t enjoy, and trusting your gut to guide you on your career path. (Listen to Episode 2 to hear how we learned to listen to our intuition)  https://open.spotify.com/episode/1JMklG4G6hAZ6ALjTdY7pP?si=ViP6uc1cQeCQDfhv3j4ZMw

For more unfiltered conversations about entrepreneurship, family life, and managing the daily demands of “doing it all”, click the Follow button so you don’t miss an episode! 

If anything we talked about resonated with you, we’d love to hear about it! Always feel free to reach out with questions, comments, or future topics you want to hear.

Connect with us:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swearingbyit/

LinkedIn: 

Audrina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/audrinablackburn/

Sydney: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydneymsherman/

Resources We Mentioned: 

Saving for the future self: Neural measures of future self-continuity predict temporal discounting 

You can read more about this research and Hal Hershfield here. 

How much have you changed in the last decade? Would people from your past recognize the person you are today?

Change is the only constant and it seems inevitable that one person will go through so many variations of themselves in their lifetime. As Sydney and Audrina discuss their past, they uncover the pivotal moments that altered the course of their relationships, business, and life. 

In speaking about their past relationships, both hosts pinpoint the moment when they met their intuition. With similar experiences in learning to trust their intuition, they can both see how the feeling had been present for a while before they actually listened. (Hindsight is always 20/20!)

As women we play so many different roles, and are used to just swapping in and out based on who we’re interacting with. What we often forget though is that all our roles are connected. A positive or negative experience in one role will impact the rest. Audrina and Sydney explain how setting boundaries and trusting their intuition has helped them manage their businesses and allowed them to make tough decisions about relationships. 

In This Conversation:

• Audrina and Sydney explore their pasts, which events caused them to pivot, and how they have changed throughout the years. 
• Are you staying on this path out of complacency? How do you know when changing direction is the right choice – even when it might be the more challenging road? 
• When your intuition is trying to tell you something, use the techniques suggested by Sydney and Audrina to interpret the message. Once it shows up though, can you harness that feeling to use in future business and personal relationships?

For more unfiltered conversations about entrepreneurship, family life, and managing the daily demands of “doing it all”, click the Follow button so you don’t miss an episode! 

If anything we talked about resonated with you, we’d love to hear about it! Always feel free to reach out with questions, comments, or future topics you want to hear.

Connect with us:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swearingbyit/

LinkedIn: 

Audrina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/audrinablackburn/
Sydney: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydneymsherman/

Resources We Mentioned:

Swearing as a Response to Pain: Assessing Hypoalgesic Effects of Novel “Swear” Words

Deeper Than Money By Chloe Elise

We all have fears and anxieties that can hold us back, but true strength is found in your ability to work through those feelings and use them as a learning experience.

In the very first episode of Swearing By It, Audrina and Sydney delve into the doubts they had before committing to this podcast and explore the reasons why they chose to pursue this goal anyway. 

As women in the business world, it’s often challenging to allow ourselves to show our struggles and open up about our experiences. Through this podcast, Sydney and Audrina aim to change that way of thinking by creating a safe space for women to ask questions, share their stories, and build their business and confidence.

In this Conversation:

• The reasons Audrina and Sydney had for not starting this podcast, like the fear of public speaking, being judged by peers, comparing yourself to others, and tough task of giving yourself permission to be real 
• Learning how to navigate these fears so they propel you forward instead of hold you back
• The power that comes with not bypassing the hard parts, but exploring them, becoming vulnerable, and feeling motivated (not shamed!) by sharing your story

For more unfiltered conversations about entrepreneurship, family life, and managing the daily demands of “doing it all”, click the Follow button so you don’t miss an episode! 

If anything we talked about resonated with you, we’d love to hear about it! Always feel free to reach out with questions, comments, or future topics you want to hear. 

Connect with us:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swearingbyit/
LinkedIn: 
Audrina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/audrinablackburn/ 
Sydney: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydneymsherman/