SPEAKER_06 0:00

I do that. When that happens, that's it. I mean, I think that um I'm not gonna let and I grew into this circumstances or any of these other things, you know, take away my joy or my vision and passion. So it was that, and it was from me that was conveyed in me when I started doing that recording and writing it down.

unknown 0:25

So I think that preparation prepared me for it.

SPEAKER_03 1:19

Or if it's your first time, please sit back and relax and enjoy the show. This is a podcast dedicated to entrepreneurial-minded women who are embracing their peace while pursuing their purpose. Speaking of which, today's guest, I am thoroughly excited. I'm not gonna even say so excited like I usually do, but one of my best friends in the world has joined me on this couch, and anybody who knows her knows that this is a special occasion, honey, because she is a visionary of visionaries, and this woman is on a mission to help other ladies achieve the lives of their life and lives of their dreams. Um, so as I introduce her, normally I am reading a teleprompter. I'm gonna tell you the truth. Normally I am reading cards and I have prepared something, but this time I want you all to hear my heart. I have asked my friend to join me on this couch because her pursuit of excellence is like none other. I have been journeying with her through life and business for almost 13 years. I can hardly believe it. It's been almost 13 years, and I have learned so many amazing lessons, not just about business and life, but even about myself, and it is truly all because of her, even sitting on this couch, and it is her tenacity, her grit, her commitment to what she knows is for her, and her pursuit of it is absolutely awe-inspiring. So, ladies, gentlemen, I am going to present the queen of the now unit and family pink Cadillac Driving Director of her own business for the past 22 years. Yes, she is the wife of Michael uh for 26 years and has son Monique, son Monique, son Michael and daughter Monique. But in addition to that, and let's just be clear, she's also the daughter of Mama Pat. Shout out to Mama Pat. You're gonna watch this for real, now my right. But my friend has not just been building a business, she has been building an empire, an army of women with non-negotiable grit and grace. So I am so excited to introduce and present to you all my friend, the unstoppable Nicole Childress. I know, I know, yeah that is true. That is we we have intro, we play songs, we read all this and everything, but I did not want to introduce you like you've ever heard yourself be introduced before. Because honestly, you are above everything else, you are one of not just the best friends that I've ever had, but one who's influenced me to do any and everything that I'm called to do without judgment. You never ever said. You now you may say, are you sure? But you but you've never said, I don't think you should do that unless it will cause me any harm or pain. And I know that you support not just me, you support my children, my husband. Well, the way we support my husband is asking him to do some stuff. We did right, that's neither here nor there. That is so true. And those of you who are watching this, we this is a glimpse into the Ruth and Nicole show because sometimes we may forget y'all here. I'm just gonna let you know. We have a lot of inside jokes. We have been literally on the road, um, on the road and traveling together and sleeping together and all that. We're gonna we're gonna get to some stories. These cards are here just for placement, but I hope I remember to share some of my most fond memories. Um I know, no, no, not that some of those things that we cannot lose our phones, but but no, I invited you and I wanted you to not just see what it is I'm doing, of course, um, but be part of it, especially the launch of it, because I know I've been called to this and I thought it was supposed to jump off later. So when I said I need to put some things down that directly affected you, you never made me feel like. Are you serious? Right now, this is not the time for you to be trying to be ham and on and play with something else, girl. Like, look, you've done that mess before. You wouldn't did retail, you were like, uh I'm gonna be straight honest. But through all those times, you were so upfront and real and honest with me. It did make me take a long hard look at myself and go, okay, for real, Ruth. When you do something, it can't be you're running scared, or you just need to have a win somewhere, as you explained it to me. You said you like to have a win, and you were right. You were so correct. So now I'm gonna let you talk something. Really? Really? Yeah, okay. She big sister by a little bit, just a little bit. I was in the middle of doing something. Am I interrupting you? I just wanted to make sure you stop and subscribe so that you won't miss another episode of Becoming Sorade. Everything that we're doing is for you and to help you learn to protect your peace while you pursue success. So hit that subscribe button and don't forget to also hit that bell so that you'll be notified when new episodes air. Alright, see you there. But Nicole, before we get to Oh my goodness, she's so cordial. She just a pageant princess. But little do they know. Girl, she's hard. She walked the streets of Harlem. She saw what before? Did we not go? We're not gonna even get to she saw Bear. Mm-hmm. Yeah, it's it's a lot y'all don't know about her. This is not that show where you all think it's about to be all about her pushing that cart on the airplane for 10 long years. I can tell her story. I've been listening to yes, but you know what I have not heard um is where did all of that come from? So let's go back to the young Nicole because you she's very, I won't say picky, but intentional about the people that she allows, not just in her space, but even in the space of those she leads and loves. So that's so important. But like, where did that come from as a child? How was your childhood that shaped and formed you?

SPEAKER_06 8:23

You know what? I don't know because the woman I am now, like, it it did stummy. It really came from, you know, my work in Mary Kay, but growing up, I was the only child. The only grandchild, if I say up to like 10 years ago. Um, but I was really to myself and enjoyed it. Like I my room growing up, I had a couch, like I had a clean, a bullshit, a couch in there, a TV, and I was just really cool. Um and all I did my major Are you okay with the test or I guess that was that way? Right. Sometimes organically I mean I really can't put my finger on it happen. It was very organic, and I saw what it was doing to me and it just turned and it wasn't about me. Because when you're an only child, it can't be about you.

SPEAKER_03 10:25

And that's what I know about you. Like, as much as we are together, it's never like, okay, move over. It's time for you to go home now. Sometimes back in the day, I'd be at your house and I'd be by myself. You'll be doing your own thing, and I find myself sitting on the couch and doing whatever. But I didn't feel ignored. I didn't feel like I didn't even feel unwanted. And I am around people who are only children that can make you feel like they like, all right, girls, spit real. Exactly. Here's your code. You never ever did that. And I always wondered, my goodness, like, she's not the typical only child. You don't have a you're not selfish, like, not to me. I don't know about to anybody else, but you aren't. So when it comes to pork chops, then you that okay, then that that's the only time it's both our favorite foods, but that's neither here nor there. Whatever, whatever, whatever. So, even in all of those things, like you said, the evolution of one of the things that I am also I'm gonna share with everyone that I'm still in this business because of you. Because when you joined and you said, Okay, I want to stay in this for the long haul, I want to get to the top of the game and do everything necessary. So now I need to go study and learn from the best in every area, and you would travel week after week, and you sit at the feet of those who you know could teach you in different areas because you didn't want to just let's just do it any kind of way and haphazardly and all that. All those things brought you to where you are. So, one of my questions that I'm eager to hear for real, and I did not give her any questions in advance, no matter how many times she asked, is out of all these years, 22 years, what are, let's just narrow down to three, the top three um let's start with people, mentors who change the trajectory of your life and business.

SPEAKER_06 12:33

One I would have to say by Patrick.

SPEAKER_03 12:36

Of course.

SPEAKER_06 12:37

That would have to her path. I was very proud of her passionary, yeah. She worked with Eric Kay, she's the one that American girl thought was both by Eric K. And when people even knew what she was and what back then, back in the day 20 years, um, people would say, international, and every time I would say, they would all go, like you know, and so you know, a lot of times you can make me cry already. But you know how you can't pick your parents.

SPEAKER_02 13:08

I'm just so that I was born in her national.

SPEAKER_06 13:15

Um that would be so many as far as I know, I know I would say if I asked the kids that million out of the outtay. Yes. Um I thought so much about it, but you know, to roll it. So all of all of my appolates are and a lot of people say a pillow time. And during that, a year before Stockman moved into unit clubs and and that peak cadillac, um, she was a pivotal for that. And so she's my strong rock. That's all I can say is that's what um now I ain't gonna even tell her. Right.

SPEAKER_03 14:12

But it would be hard. I've been waiting for it for years. I was like, she about to say it.

SPEAKER_06 14:18

And then, oh, it's so hard. I know. No, you are putting me on the see, that's why I need core. Right.

SPEAKER_03 14:27

What else? Nope, this is the real hard.

SPEAKER_06 14:31

Okay. I'm gonna go next with. Oh, yes.

SPEAKER_02 14:37

This is hilarious.

SPEAKER_03 14:41

I am like on the edge of my seat. I can't even imagine.

SPEAKER_06 14:45

National Katrina.

SPEAKER_03 14:47

Oh, yeah, okay. Yes, yes, yes, yes.

SPEAKER_06 14:50

I remember. And you know, sometimes people can affect you, it could be a short time. We worked together. She came to the car, and I worked with her and everything, which was fun the wild chicago.

SPEAKER_03 15:01

Yes, yes.

SPEAKER_06 15:01

But I remember, you know, you can remember one more time. Oh god, yes. We had might even get on, I don't think it was, and that was that one pivotal point, right? Right. And I only had a few. It takes a lot of perseverance. I only had oh total go and take three two years now. Pretty much the last one. And there was a pivotal moment, and we looked at it's kind of irrelevant, but I looked at it and I shared what I had, and I later found out we had some of the top three.

SPEAKER_03 15:33

I believe that, but we don't talk about it.

SPEAKER_06 15:35

And we both kind of went, well, okay. She didn't judge me, she didn't believe me, I didn't believe, she didn't make me blink, and it was just that we had so many people that believed. Oh god, yes, which is why I stay. So she was critical for that crossover and that kind of like, and it just I knew I believed what I believed, I knew what I needed, what our unit needed to do it, I remember that we hit it, but um, there was a strategic point in there that she was critical for that.

SPEAKER_03 16:04

Yes. So since we're already there, love that. Love that we got that out. Okay. But um, speaking of the pivotal points and crossing over, I've been a part of that. I was there crossing off numbers, and I was there when we didn't hit it. I was there when there were many times that we hit, okay, we have been half million on the flow in the lavender field. I tried to remember all of them in order. It may or may not. Uh was Crystal Next?

unknown 16:37

Uh after the lavender field, yes.

SPEAKER_03 16:38

After the lavender field, crystal clear and out in these streets, and now I see miracles. Miracles are very clear. Miracles are, oh yes. We have to. My goodness. So we've talked about, and I said it in the intro, how visionary you are. But there was a time where you were just who you are, and we didn't have a label for it. It was just like, okay, we but once again, we were preparing to travel, and this travel changed our lives and our relationship because we were driving through the forest in the dark and pitch black, and I'm like, I cannot believe how fast you're driving. We could hit anything, a tree, or anything. But anyway, we'll never go back there again. But that trip changed so much, definitely you and myself, where we did actually not just learn what our top strengths are, but we leaned into them. And it's again another reason that I'm here today. Just like you say, um, all the time when you're sharing with everyone that you can meet one person that changes the trajectory for the good or the bad, but changes your life forever. And that's what we say it all the time, but that's what you did for so many women. And it is your staying the course, it is your being a visionary, it is breathing belief into us where we don't see it and we've never possibly even had it. So many people, and I love to just sit back sometimes and look at all the women in our unit and our family and just say, I remember when they first came and they didn't have a clue of what's going on, but now they just what more can I do? How can I serve? And I'm gonna get to that um shortly too. But in all of those things, when you had to go and didn't hit it, and I know what kept you um, because again, I was there and and she had turned on a dime audience. Like you all don't understand when you are a couple of thousand dollars away from hitting a huge goal that we have been pushing for and going all year, and the clock turns over midnight. Nicole went, All right, we're gonna pick up tomorrow's stuff. And I was just like, I was expecting to pick up off the floor. Like all of us looked at each other, was like, this is it? And I'll sit and I am extremely close. We talk every day. I was just like, one day she's gonna call me. I can't, but I I can't believe it! Never, never, ever, ever. So, and all those things, how? Like, what is it that you determine that there's there's not time, but we go through the emotional cycle, we've been taught that, but how do you not crumble when you get so close to something?

SPEAKER_06 19:30

Um again, it came through Mary Kay. Yeah, a couple things. One, I believe in Romans 828. Period. I can write that, and I've written it now for years and years and years, and I do believe that everything is all over. When that happens, that's it. I mean, I believe I'm not gonna take away my joy. What am I doing? So it was that, and it was from me, that was instilled in me when I started doing it right now. So I think that preparation prepare me for it.

unknown 20:10

Um, and it was it wasn't always there.

SPEAKER_02 20:13

Like I wouldn't necessarily fall out, but the very beginning I wouldn't necessarily fall out.

SPEAKER_06 20:17

Um, and I was taught earlier in Mary K you can set a timer. Yeah, we do. And this was like before the phones and all of that. And so you would set if something disturbs you. And I remember one time I went to the store. Because I'm a good student.

SPEAKER_03 20:32

She is a rule follower. Oh my god.

SPEAKER_06 20:35

So they said, settle the line for 10 minutes. And so you go set the line for 10 minutes, you can have a pity party and all that, and then the next time you do it, you might set it and it only lasts five minutes. You will learn. And so I remember one time walking to my kitchen and laughing as I was going to set the timer. I was like, this is ridiculous. And so we learn about the emotional cycle. And the thing is to be able to get yourself to come back. And sometimes I can do a song. I've used different things with a timer, I can do songs, I can do different things to shift my energy. But then once it became a learning skill, I could almost just do it automatically in my mind. So just all those years of journaling right now, everything is working together for my good and all that. But I don't and you'll probably remember when I say this too. When we didn't, when we were so close, it was when I looked at the numbers. We didn't hit the numbers that we needed.

SPEAKER_03 21:26

Right, right. And that's you. And I said, okay, is we didn't hit the number of 100 we weren't. Right.

SPEAKER_06 21:33

Three weeks after the next year when we did, we hit it. Early. And so um it it grew from that alarm to that time. Um and I knew that that was something I had to learn to deal with because when I came into business, I only had four goals. You know, and everybody there can be a long, there was a long title, not overnight hurricane. It was a long goal, it wasn't long. But all the other ones, it took a while. And so if I didn't learn How to live through that. It was gonna be a difficult time for myself and most of that was it. And so I'm so grateful that I learned that skill in Mary Kay and instituted. It's all about, you know, once like you said, I went back to learning skills, and everything since then has been all of it here and here. Um most of it is in your mind a lot of people know that.

SPEAKER_03 22:23

Most definitely but dealing with things is one thing, but dealing with people is another. I have like I'm just like, girl, how do you do that?

SPEAKER_06 22:38

I think early on, and this was before Mary Kay, I I think a lot of people's heartache is trying to control the universe, the situation, right?

SPEAKER_03 22:47

Right.

SPEAKER_06 22:47

And I let people be there.

SPEAKER_03 22:49

You truly do. I let them be there. Yes, yes.

SPEAKER_06 22:52

I'm gonna be me. If somebody changes their mind, okay. Right. Right. Okay. Right. So that creates a lot of peace. Just let people be what they think, let them believe in what they believe in me. And I think that's how I'm able to do it, and accepting people.

SPEAKER_03 23:13

Oh yes.

SPEAKER_06 23:14

Letting them do it, but accepting people.

SPEAKER_03 23:16

That's the truth. And that is the truth. I I promise it. Nicole has never required anybody, like coming into this business, somebody could say, Oh my god, I love everything about this, and I want to be a national, and I'm gonna be a pink electrover. And her response is the same thing every time. Okay, like I sit back and I holler. Because I'm like, whether they do it or not, she's still gonna be like, okay, like your tone is the same, and it's amazing. And it's not part of your acting skills either. It's truly like you said, I let people be who they are. And wherever the chips fall, good. If it adds to us, fabulous. If it doesn't, oh well. That because you can't, you really can't control the outcome. All you can control is your are your efforts. So yeah, I've learned that with you and through you too. So speaking of, we you did talked about it. When did your miracle morning fascination and just everything begin?

SPEAKER_06 24:17

I think, and I used to know an exact day. I believe it was January 16th, 2017 or 2016. And it began at America Event. Um, I went to leadership in San Diego.

SPEAKER_03 24:30

Yep, another one I missed.

SPEAKER_06 24:32

National Leader Massa was on stage. And that was the year that I was like, we all know we become like the people we hang around with. That's right.

SPEAKER_03 24:39

Yes, yes, yes.

SPEAKER_06 24:41

And I was like, I'm being a completely different woman. Because you do know, like, becoming serious. You have to become transformed yourself into whatever it is that you want. You had to become the person. And so I was gonna become somebody else. I was moving to become a Pyson. And it was gonna be the beginning of that year, I said it's gonna be by the book, the beginning of our year of July. So it's gonna be the books that I read. So I was gonna be the books that we do, and then changer I get there, and she's on the day, so she talks about this book called Miracle Morning by L Rap.

SPEAKER_01 25:13

Yes.

SPEAKER_06 25:13

And so I believed in what she said about it, and it really resonated with me. And I said, I'm gonna start doing this practice right away. And I didn't even read the book until I was finished reading the book that I told because I was so adamant.

SPEAKER_03 25:26

That's how she is.

SPEAKER_06 25:27

That was a defining moment. I promise you. Yes. And everything connected to you.

SPEAKER_03 25:34

Please do, girl, yes.

SPEAKER_06 25:36

Okay, so if you don't know, Miracle Morning, um, by Hell El Right, he's an amazing story, but it's about the six things that you can do every morning to transform your life.

SPEAKER_03 25:45

Yes.

SPEAKER_06 25:45

And he came up with this acronym for it, but he had uh he was in like an accident and they thought he wouldn't walk again. And he said, and you know, I feel like I have that same trait. Okay, and he accepted it, but he was gonna fight for it. Right. He said, I do not walk.

SPEAKER_03 26:03

Right.

SPEAKER_06 26:03

I will be the happiest person.

SPEAKER_02 26:05

That's right.

SPEAKER_06 26:06

And so the history is like three weeks later, he walked. But more importantly, so later on down the line, he was getting his business together. He said, Okay, you know, everybody I know is successful, and find out the secret to success. Like, that's what everybody in the beginning liked. It was the secret to me. And everybody had different things. It was either their relationship with God, exercise, the affirmation, all these different things. And so he was like, you know what? I think I'm gonna do that. Right. I just want. And he started doing it like every every morning he was doing it. He put it together, and he was like, I feel like it's a miracle. And his wife said, It's like your miracle morning. And so once it made a difference in his life, he said, I'm gonna share this with the world. And so, how does it know me if he will one day? I promise. But um, I feel like I'm I'm here to help share that. That's right. So the acronym can help you remember. And a lot of people come up to me and they're like, Nicole, um I'm reading my miracle morning. It's not reading the practice is doing the practice. You do these six things every morning at least try for five. You will, it will shift your life. And so the six, the first the acronym is Savers, S-A-B-E-R. So S sense for your silence time. And I'll tweak different things, but like your your prayer time, um, whatever you do for that meditation, journaling, uh, like reading from a meditation journal or something like that. Your A sense for your affirmation.

SPEAKER_03 27:26

Most definitely.

SPEAKER_06 27:27

And you know, everybody knows that affirmation has been around. Um and a lot of people use and a lot of people have done these things, but they they'll stop.

SPEAKER_03 27:35

Right.

SPEAKER_06 27:35

And so everything I'm ready to probably done one of them, B Smo, and you could imagine for all of them. So your silence, your affirmation, B sense for your vision. That is her favorite. But that's um looking at it. Touching it, touching it, touching it, seeing it, you should smell like, look like, feel like. Um, because really it has already happened.

SPEAKER_03 27:58

That's right. That's right.

SPEAKER_06 27:59

And so it's looking at it, not just thinking about it. Okay, no. It's really feeling it. And then E stands for your exercise. And now that I've gotten older, now I had already been in exercise. Probably I got into that when I was a fight attendant. It's really important to me. It's even more important now as a ability and over that.

SPEAKER_03 28:21

Yes, yes.

SPEAKER_06 28:22

Um, so please exercise. Um, because you can't become a good give and serve other people.

SPEAKER_05 28:29

That's right.

SPEAKER_06 28:30

And then um the R stands for reading. And so I was already a proponent of that. Um a lot of people are the same because they haven't read the God, I can't imagine. And then the last S stands for scribing. Oh, so we had to come up with something. Yes, this is journaling, and um, it's writing down, so it could be write down. Uh if you don't know what to write down, write down what you're writing for. Um, some people like to journal, I don't. I'm gonna tell you why in a second. But I like to write down, I'll have like bullet points of my goals and like the Romans 828, I will write that out and different taglines and mantras that I have. Um, I'm not a journaler because I really feel like here we go.

SPEAKER_03 29:10

If I would write down my thoughts, here we go.

SPEAKER_06 29:13

If I wanted you to know, I'll just tell you. Yes, because one day introvert, because at the minute I went to day, everybody's gonna come to my house, give her all her journals.

SPEAKER_03 29:23

Right. Y'all gonna be. Who is everybody? Like, I'm not. I'm not trying to, I'm not trying to go.

SPEAKER_06 29:28

But if you could do those things, it gives you everything. It helps you look. It gives you everything. I love it because it's a blanket for I think everything that you need for six. So if you're an entrepreneur looking, make that shift, do that, those six things five days a week, and it gives you your health, your mind, your body, your soul, and your vision. It doesn't matter that you can forget what you really, really want in your heart.

SPEAKER_03 29:52

Most definitely. Every day.

SPEAKER_06 29:55

And I remember I was right down, I can't remember what the phrase was in. And how many people before it comes to pass. And so it teaches the person forget. And so um that has made a difference and it's given me and strengthened me in so many different ways by picking up that practice.

SPEAKER_03 30:19

Oh, yes.

SPEAKER_06 30:20

It's a practice.

SPEAKER_03 30:21

But in addition to this, I mean, listen, everyone, in addition to her doing it and practicing it and teaching it, like she yes, she like continues to pour it into. You have no idea. Every single time we are together in groups, individual neighborhoods. She's like, So, you're doing your miracle morning? Like, guests, people who come in her presence for the first time. She's like, So, you know what the miracle morning is? Yeah, that's why she says one day she and Hal are gonna have to have a conversation because I believe she probably pushes them more than he does at this point, but because it is life-changing, because you do not lie when you say that that's what you want women to achieve is to embrace and have and create the life of their dreams through this business. But one of the things that always intrigues me about you and this business is even some of the top echelon of our business and people who are amazing, they still dibble and dabble in other things. I've never seen you do that. Like, Nicole does not play at all. There's no, you know, and she gets it too. She still gets the same questions we all get. It's like, you still do Mary Kay. It's like, what? Like, do you see me? But when it comes to you, I'm like, are you kidding me? She lives and breathes, and it's not for a status thing, it's not for people to say, Oh, she's the queen of Mary K. No, it's just like she said, she stays the core, she is a rule follower, she knows exactly what she wants and is going to work until it's done. That's one of the things that I also learned about entrepreneur entrepreneurship with you and walking so closely with you. You're you don't you're not done until it's done. Till the goal is accomplished and we've reached where we're going. Especially since we have time limits on our things. Like you said, our fiscal year ends June 30th. Then it the reset button. That's why I said when I first said, I was like, Nicole, you're gonna sit down on the couch, girl. You're gonna be come to uh come to becoming serene and let me interview you. She was like, uh-huh. She said July. Like, I was like, what? I said, no, sooner than that. She's like, why would I do that? But I know her. I didn't take offense to her, I know exactly what that means. So again, in this business, you were um a flight attendant, you were an actress, and that I really, really want to know. Like, what how did that come about from the fashion design world? Like, how did you go, you know what? And let me tell you, before she tells that, baby, Nicole, because of her miracle morning and everything else, Nicole believes she could be absolutely anything that she wants to be. Baby, I get a phone call, and I mean, we both go into bed sometimes two o'clock in the morning. She's like, I've decided to be an astrophysicist, and I'm like, okay, you know I could do it if I want. I'm like, yes, yes, yes, you could. Poor Jay, Michael, they have to endure hearing the same things.

SPEAKER_06 33:29

No, I remember I I don't say I think I could, but as a well, I'm not sure. If you wanted to, because yeah. And maybe that's why I don't flip-flop. Because I, one, you have to develop certain skills to do or be anything. And once you have those, you could be or do anything. Yeah, true. And because I believe that I could do or or or be anything, I don't have to explore the different things.

SPEAKER_03 33:52

Oh, that's a deep.

SPEAKER_06 33:53

So I can gain president, this business allows me to still be, because it's not like the titles and the different things that define you. I I'm still living no matter what that level is, whether it or not, um, creating. The mission is to help me create like that. I want people to know that they can create that. But I really do believe that I can because I could focus. Everything pretty much is a learn skill.

SPEAKER_04 34:18

Yes.

SPEAKER_06 34:19

And especially now at this stage, and like I will I'll tease um my son, like he was like, you know, I could do it if I want to. Like we might be watching, what is it, the MBA or whatever? Yes, anything. And I'll just be like, I wonder if I well, y'all know I could if I really wanted to. Like, if I really, really wanted to. Um, but how did the acting come up? Okay, and it was the same thing, kind of like I've only really wanted to do really three things. So on the couch, remember I said, Oh, I think I made you in fashion design.

SPEAKER_04 34:50

Right.

SPEAKER_06 34:50

One time, I don't even remember what it was. I had already I was living here on it. I was watching some on TV. And I was just okay. I think I want to try acting. I don't even know what it was. I looked up some acting classes, went to acting on studios downtown, took some classes. That's how it came about. You never knew that?

SPEAKER_02 35:12

No.

SPEAKER_06 35:12

I took some classes and I fell in love with it, and I started, you know, creating a monologue. I got some agents, and I really started falling in love with that. It was just something to try. Um, I really did love it. If I hadn't tried that early on, I may have done something else. I might not have majored in that. I might have gone to New York or LA. But so that one thing leads to the next thing, to the next thing, and as I was taking um uh acting, so I really joined Mary Kay to be off for auditions. I started something like that. And um at one of my commercial acting classes, I met a Pink High like salesburg. I caught my computer and I went, and I fell in love with Mary Kay so much that I started doing that. So when um I I wanted to be off for auditions, and I said, Let me try this Mary Kay thing, and then I fell in love with that, um, and I haven't um and I still did some things on the side um for a while, but my love turned into Mary Kay. So I was just sitting on the couch watching something.

SPEAKER_03 36:16

Okay, and since you are here and I'm here because you're here, what about it? Like, seriously, I I feel a certain way about the business, and I say I'm not going anywhere either, but I say it's because I get to come in contact with women and listen to their stories and hear their stories. And now it's brought me to sharing their stories, but people even say, So are you still working your business? I'm like, forever. Like, because I enjoy meeting new people, I enjoy seeing their faces light up when they take some time for themselves and things like that. So, what particularly about the business just keeps you just so in awe and loving it so much?

SPEAKER_06 37:00

Because there's always something else.

SPEAKER_03 37:02

I love that.

SPEAKER_06 37:03

I like um to grow personally and to go through different levels, you have to do that. Um, and so it feeds that part of me. But the other thing is I am passionate, it's it just gives me a veil goal to show other women, whether they be married capable or something. That's the truth. I am really invested in women being able. Like I want to inspire people to be able to do that. Um I can do it in a different way if I wanted to. Right. I mean, I could, so I'm just choosing to do it to this last year, that's something that's a period of time. So I can use that platform. I'm open now, even once to some of the things that things that are coming up that I want to bring uh at the highest platform America to the Mary Kay Board. I would like to transfer some of these things I want in that America environment. I don't want to come on the other side of that. But it's fulfilling my mission in life and my purpose. So I I'm just gonna stay the course now, and uh it could change differently, but I don't see how how it will. You know, because most definitely, you know, to change your own mind. But um, I do stay the course.

SPEAKER_03 38:19

That is the truth. And one of the things that you all, you know, you won't know it um from this conversation anyway, for those who don't uh know Nicole personally, but she didn't wear makeup prior to prior to Mary Kay. Like she was not that girl, even though she was into fashion design. It wasn't that she wanted to be a model and pageant princess. A lot of times people look at us and go, oh, that's typical. You all look like you would be Mary Kay women and all that. But we did. We came into this and started to embrace the newness and the effect that it could have on us. Sometimes people don't embrace that, and it's like, oh, you're trying to change me. But just like once again, I've talked about this meme time and time again on here. The caterpillar looked at the butterfly and was like, you changed. And the butterfly was like, because we're supposed to. So it is, it is a wonderful place, as I like to refer to it as it's a safe place to fail forward. The times that I had goals and my family was all into them, and I'm telling the world, and I'm gonna do this, and I'm gonna have this, and I'm gonna do it. And the times I barely made it or even made it, and things changed. Going back to my Mary Kay family has every single time been just like home. It felt like home, no judgment, and it was like, girl, whatever it is that you gonna do, it's still gonna be amazing and excellent because we still see you as this person. And this is the other thing that I want to bring into this.

unknown 39:55

Uh-oh.

SPEAKER_03 39:56

No, it's not uh uh. It's funny, but it's funny. When I first joined, and um we now I'm gonna say it since you said uh when I first joined, I had already known Nicole for you know, in passing, our children started kindergarten together, Jay and Jay, Jacob and Michael J. But they started kindergarten together, and the whole year passed with us seeing one another, and at the end of the school year, Nicole was like, Would you like to have a Mary K Facial Party for me? And I didn't think anything of it then. I was just like, Oh my god, she must like me. A few days later, I joined. Um, she was on vacation. This is how this woman works. She has literally recruited and worked her business and laying on a beach on vacation, and on top of that, like in the middle of surgeries from fallen. We won't talk about our falls and how many times we've traveled, taking chairs, taking turns in a wheelchair. But she uh signed me up, came back from vacation, and then said, Hey, you want to go to headquarters with me for something? I'm like, sure. Y'all know me. I was like just between subbing and whatever, whatever, living my life as I love to do. And I got in that car with that woman, and she's driving and eating a banana and some yogurt, probably.

SPEAKER_04 41:17

Hopefully, the estate patrols aren't watching this for the case.

SPEAKER_03 41:20

It doesn't matter. Please don't follow a pink cadillac. Please don't. Baby, she put a training manual in my lap. She said, I could train you on the way to the headquarters. I said, Is somebody else driving? What do you mean you can draw? She put the book in my lap. It was a three-ring binder I'll never ever forget. And proceeded to turn the pages. I said, I can turn the pages. I'm sitting up here doing nothing. Nicole was like, and then page two is about your blah blah blah. And page three, and I'm looking like, is she gonna do this all the way to Hoffman Estates? And did I guess the thing? What?

SPEAKER_06 41:56

I know you can handle it.

SPEAKER_03 42:00

She always knows what to say.

unknown 42:04

I knew you could handle it, and I knew that's what you needed.

SPEAKER_03 42:07

Oh my god. That's the truth. Look at you. Oh my god. But that even before I knew that I was a passionate learner. I mean, everybody knows I was a passionate learner, but as far as my strengths, and I tell people that just like you, it's always something new and exciting. It is always, whether we like it or not, it's still new and exciting. So, real quickly, I stay because not just the interaction of the ladies, of course, I love that, but it's also because it's always something new to learn, and it feeds my learner, one of my top strengths. And I love to also share, so it gives me an opportunity to share what I've learned, and then on top of it, it is growth. You can become what you want to become without somebody else saying, You have permission now. You give yourself permission, and it starts from a decision. You teach and speak life and belief into everyone and share not just that they are enough, but they are worthy. So many women don't feel worthy. And like you said, there are some people who have been in our business that you probably didn't even meet face to face. But if you find out that they have a loss and they're hurting, you want to be there and respond to that need. You're like, where are they now? I've said, girl, you don't even know. Like, why are we checking on when the services are and you don't even know them? But you serve like none other, like servant leader is who you are. We joke and kid about all the afterlife type things, but for real, I cannot imagine having this journey. I thought last night, like, oh, my conversation with Nicole is tomorrow, I wonder where this is gonna lead. But I want you to know that. That if I had to do it all over again, I would choose you. I would absolutely positively choose you. There's nobody else, nobody else on this earth that I would rather be doing life and business with than you. Seriously. No, see. Always the actor. But seriously, and I thank you for that. I thank you for just loving me, like you said, for who I am, how I am, my idiosyncrasies, getting on my nerves. And we like have never fallen out like, oh, I can't stand you. Like whatever people may do or whatever. But there are things that you can do that I don't like, and things that I do. One of the things.

SPEAKER_06 44:47

Oh, you about to bring one up?

SPEAKER_03 44:49

Yes, because it was the truth, but it made me into who I was because I like a challenge. And I would say, Nico, I think we should do this in the meeting and do this. And she stood flat foot and looked me dead in the face and was like, okay, when you become a director, then you can do what you want to do. And I said, Well, dang, I was like, that was harsh, but it was the truth. It was like, ma'am, you yeah, if you want to be at the decision-making table, then you have to pull up your seat when you have done the work. And that made me have to do the work. Because other than that, maybe I'll be giving you suggestions all the time. You'll be like, okay, girl, you can stop now. But when I first came into the business, I came to a meeting, and you were ripping and running and dripping, and I was looking. I said, dang, this woman is doing everything. You introduced everybody, introduced yourself, ran in, played the music and all that. And you would still do it if we let you, which you can are fully capable to do. But then I was like, no, let me do that. I started, you know, packing up the car and starting doing this and doing that because I do, I do love to serve, but you create an atmosphere. You honestly do. That people started to look at me and go, ah, there goes Ruth again, always doing my teacher's fat and always running up behind the code, whatever. What can I do? But it created an atmosphere, but it's a loving one because they weren't saying it to make me feel bad. We joke about it all the time. But there are so many ladies that did not have the opportunity because, in serving, like Christ told the disciples, baby, be the first to serve. We have an atmosphere where ladies have not ever had the opportunity or didn't feel like, ooh, I can't do that good enough. Baby, we like hold that camera. Like, we'll teach you. And they've come up, they've come a long way. But seriously, there are so many ladies in our unit and in our family that their lives have changed, their children's lives have changed, their families' lives have changed. I know if they were here, they would like to say the same thing that I'm saying. Thank you so much, not just for your yes, but your continued yes, even when it is difficult, even when people walk away, even when they don't do what they say they're gonna do, even with if the goal is two by two by two for ten years, it doesn't matter. You stay the course, and that teaches us so much. I am not, those lessons are not going wasted with me. They're not. They are not. I am always gonna be your, I won't say biggest cheerleader because somebody will probably tackle me the next time they see me, but I'm gonna be on that stage with you when it's finished. I already know, and it is already finished. The manifestation of it is yet coming. But seriously, all of the good times, bad times, and everything that we're having are for a reason and for a great purpose. Speaking of that great purpose, friend, I want to know before we start to close things, if it wasn't Mary Kay, what would be a dream life for you? Like if you did. Anything else?

SPEAKER_06 48:02

Yeah, well, I love sports.

SPEAKER_03 48:05

Love sports is an understatement, but okay. Like what sports in particular?

SPEAKER_06 48:10

Well, the NBA and the NFL, but I could, you know, be on Sports Center, like I would love to do that.

SPEAKER_03 48:18

Um, or before, before the here she goes good Lord, somebody's gonna drop her on IMA and she's gonna be fine. Really? Not by yourself this time? Oh yeah, you did say that before. What about sports do you love so much though?

SPEAKER_06 48:34

Oh, well, I started in college, but I love watching action. I love, and I'm the one that watches it at the end. Like my husband, like his team doesn't win, like he talks about. I love it, I love everything about it. I love the practice, I love the interview, I love to see what they're thinking. How I mean I love champions, I love to hear the people to what they say, I love the competition of it. I just love everything about sports, and I like watching um going after their dreams.

SPEAKER_03 49:06

Right. That's what it is, and that's what they're doing.

SPEAKER_06 49:09

Because they do a lot of visualization on the oh, are you thinking when you hit that last shot? I I visualize it every day. Right, that's all I thought. And so I think I think like an athlete, and that's how I was.

SPEAKER_03 49:25

Wonderful. Okay, go to the Yo Pilates studio on the island.

SPEAKER_06 49:28

Yeah, I would like to do something like that. Quiet. I love um I do have to say that the other day. I'm really into the frequencies of the ocean and trees. Oh I got grounded before and stood outside for a long time and just sang and I would like to just meditate and look at nature all day, and maybe step inside and do some a lot to exercise.

SPEAKER_03 49:52

That's amazing. I love it. Mm-hmm. So believe it or not, with all of the push and the work and everything, she does know how to rest. I do like you do. Yeah.

SPEAKER_06 50:04

And people only see me that high energy then, but when when I'm at home, I do it in the morning with my mother.

SPEAKER_01 50:10

Oh, most definitely.

SPEAKER_06 50:11

Um, I can do it when I'm sitting in a crowd in myself because I can go with them. So I do get that. It is not 24-7, like some people may believe it.

SPEAKER_03 50:22

Mm-hmm. Okay, so the last things I want you to share with our audience for our first interview, because we'll be back when psh has achieved some other things that's uh already laid out that we're on the verge of. Um we talked about the top three mentors that have affected you positively. What are the top three lessons that you've learned?

SPEAKER_06 50:49

Just in life period.

SPEAKER_03 50:50

In life, period. Mm-hmm. In life.

SPEAKER_06 50:54

One, accept 100% responsibility for your life.

SPEAKER_03 50:58

Yes. Good, bad, ugly.

SPEAKER_06 51:00

Everybody can do that like right now, for everything that happens we have got we're the only ones that can change things. I love that. Um I kind of have this word out. So basically, you know, when you have a ball, this is what it is. Because I had to learn this to America. Your happiness is not defined by an individual. Like, I would be happy, like at the high school I'm happy to national still, but I'll be happy when I'll be happy when I live in California, I'll be happy when I get married, I'll be happy to do that. That's so true. Most people I see live their life that way. Wow. And then that's why you see so many unhappy millionaires. I'll be happy when I have money, I'll be happy when all this. Wow. When your happiness isn't tied to that. And so when you can learn how to find that now, that's the truth. You already like right now, I'm already living my mission to try to do that. So when people tell me I'm doing that, I don't have to wait until I become a national.

SPEAKER_01 52:17

That's the truth.

SPEAKER_06 52:18

And so that's a lesson that I gain. And then the third one would be um be yourself. Because, you know, when you're learning certain things, you know, you always might have a mentor or whatever, and a lot of people, because people say now I can't do it, but I can't do it. Right, always. I got to have a lot of people. Already. But you just have to be doing it. So learning how I'm just living myself. I'm gonna be myself, I'm gonna do it the way I see it. Oh yes. Um, and everybody else can learn it. So I got that lesson to just be myself.

SPEAKER_03 52:56

I love it. Oh yes, most definitely. I agree wholeheartedly. Did you enjoy this? Did it touch? Did you for real? Oh. Oh no, seriously. I do.

SPEAKER_06 53:10

I love watching you. I love living with you, and I love that you're pursuing your dreams.

SPEAKER_03 53:18

Thank you. That means the world to me. Seriously. For real, for real, for real. Yeah, we're gonna not gonna sit here and make this a cryfest, but ladies, gentlemen, all of you who are watching, just know that this show exists because of the people with whom I surround myself. And those are those who celebrate me and not tolerate me. And Nicole Childress is one of those people who not just celebrate me, but my children, like I said, my household, she is always the first to show up and the last to leave as if she didn't have a whole bunch of stuff going on already. So I thank you so much for being one of my greatest mentors in my life, but definitely my friend for life. Thank you. I love you. Join me next time. You never ever know who's gonna end up on this couch, but you definitely know that they will be someone who can help you embrace your journey of peace while pursuing your purpose as well. Thank you so much for watching Becoming Serene once again. Until next time, hit that subscribe button and share with somebody else who also is on their journey. Thanks. Bye bye. Say bye, Co.

unknown 54:38

Bye bye.

SPEAKER_03 54:39

Oh, yeah, she's gonna throw up the now square.