Ep 31: How Your Calling Will Evolve Through Different Seasons of Your Life ft. Lakia Brandenburg

Today on the Mompreneur Huddle, I’m excited to welcome Lakia Brandenburg — a powerhouse event emcee and stage curator who helps entrepreneurs bring their live events to life with intention, energy and excellence. Starting her career in education, Lakia learned how to command a room, direct attention and guide an audience through an experience, and she now uses those same gifts to elevate stages nationwide.

In this episode, she shares:
• How her background in education shaped her confidence, presence and communication
• What truly makes an event transformational instead of just entertaining
• The mindset shift entrepreneurs need when planning conferences, retreats and live experiences
• How to curate a stage environment that aligns with your brand, message and audience

If you’re a mompreneur planning an event, dreaming of hosting one, or wanting to show up more powerfully on stage, this conversation is for you.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Welcome to another episode of the Mom Panor Huddle Podcast where motherhood and entrepreneurship meet and we talk about everything in between.

SPEAKER_00 0:11

Girl, you suppose mine. Girl, you the boss, my making everything worth it, girl. Yeah, I like that right there.

unknown 0:27

I like that right there.

SPEAKER_01 0:35

Today I have with me in the huddle the one, the only, the edutainment extraordinaire, the corporate and event MC, Miss Lakia Brandon Burger is in the bed. Intro? Yeah. But how did I do? Because you were if nothing, you know. That's pretty good. That's pretty good. Had to come with it. I had to come with it. Yes, how are you, Queen? All is well. It is the melody. Thank you, my dear. Thank you. Thank you for having me. I'm so excited. I can't wait for this combo. Listen, I gotta ask you this first and foremost. Edutainment extraordinaire. Sorry. No, it's fine. What you shopping for? It's motherhood. It's motherhood. It's fine. Phones ring. Wait a minute. I'm trying to think what the reminder is. It's probably my child. It's probably dance. Can I turn it on? Bring it to me. Absolutely. Bring it to me. Absolutely. It's the clock. It's reminding my child. Hold on one second. Lord, let me see. Let me see. What time is it? She started a new dance. This goes to show y'all motherhood never stops. Guess what? D and D. This is why this is the mom and her huddle. Oh my god. We mamas. First and foremost. But I gotta turn it on, black. Did he? All day, every day. All day, every day. Okay, what was the question, though? You got you asking me a question. About um, what was the question? No, the edutainment there. I like that title. Thank you. So edutainer. Yes. I am an educator by trade. Um spent five years teaching middle school language arts, went on to teaching married women how to become happy, fun, and irresistible wives. Okay. And today I yeah, yeah. Entertain. Because you got to think about it. In the classroom, I was entertaining. Yes. And educating at the same time. So I took that same like marriage and that same feel and brought it over to what I do as an MC. Nice. Nice. So the let's go back to the very, very, very beginning, right? So, yeah, you're entertaining and you're MC, you're doing all this in the classroom, but what made you want to like do it as a career? Like get on stage and do it like. It's funny, because I never thought I would do this. You want, you know, that little girl, like, I want to grow up and be an MC. Like, no, that wasn't. I was gonna be an educator forever. I was gonna go back. I went back and got my masters. Okay. I was gonna become a principal or um some type of leadership position education. I was building my career because I was gonna work my 30 years. Come on. I was gonna retire, get my good chick. You know what I mean? Like all of you. You were gonna do that. I was doing that. But there was another plan. And it's so funny because when we think we have an idea of what we want to do, and then God comes in and does his thing, like, oh, I ain't never thought that that was an actual career. So who knew what, 15 years ago, that when I was in the classroom, my kids were my audience? Yes. In the front of the classroom, I was on stage preparing for this moment. Never, never knew that would happen. So to know, right, to go from that to now helping women to, you know, become the type of wives that they want to be. I was working with wives for over 10 years. Okay. Really helping them to understand that you can change how you show up in your relationship. Are you like a life coach's? I'm a wife coach. A wife coach. You know, yeah, you know, kind of pivoted into full-time hosting. But yeah, I'm a wife coach because I believe that all married women aren't wives. I didn't know that part about you. I didn't care about the XMC question. Exactly. Look, we can go wherever you want to go. But that's where it started. So you think about educating kids, sit down educating wives. I was hosting workshops, hosting VIP days, hosting experiences. And so I was already in the process of becoming the MC that I am today. Wow. Wow, you are a superwoman. Oh. Because, no, really, you're helping. Well, I don't I don't do you do you MC for men and women. Men, women, corporate, yes. Because absolutely. I I've learned of you through the female events. Oh, because I'm into women empowerment. Yeah, I love the super women. Exactly. That's exactly where I started. Right. Yep. So to connect that, and then you help wives and you come from that. So that's all I like. You're superwoman. Like you really are a benefit to our community, especially being a black woman. I appreciate that. If you, if you I don't want to say had to choose, but what would you prefer to do? Do are you more of the MC or are you the coaching? I like that. I love being on stage. Okay. That is my happy place. Well, what does it do for you? Well, it's something about being able to impact and change the atmosphere. Yes. Like when I walk into a room, the energy shifts. It's something about having that. And that's not that I didn't have that when I was a wife coach, but it's something about having an audience and knowing, like, okay, these folks are coming in here to get something, to be educated on something, whether it's personal development, whether it's helping with their businesses, making more money, you know, all of that. And I have the position, the power to help them see themselves in another place. So it's it goes back to the classroom. See it and helping my kids to see themselves. Like you can do it. You can be whatever you want to be. Now I'm doing it to an audience, and I get to have fun doing it. So it's just a whole nother thing. And plus, it's like honestly, I work and then I'm done. Like I like that. I like being able to do an event. You ain't got to do no follow-up calls, no coaching, nothing. I ain't got no lessons. What you do is extremely important to the coaching space. I think you are like it, and for anybody that's watching out there, that's what that wants that wants to get into this business, not just as an MC, but as a coach, throwing events conference, like I'm I'm in the process of throwing my first big conference. Oh, yeah. But I've been through so many of them. It's like I've been to some without MCs, right? I've been through some with MCs and hosts. You know the difference. There's a difference. So here's the thing. I think what I'm really focused on in this season of my profession and my career is helping folks see the value in what we do. Hey, Montpreneurs, if you enjoy creating content, talking about products, and you want to make some money while doing it, listen up. I'm excited to share that we are in partnership with Pharmacy, a beauty brand and wellness brand that is global, that's innovative, and built for women like us. Here's why this opportunity is so powerful. You earn 50% commission from day one. Yes, day one. Your sales equals your success. The products are high performing and affordable, which makes them easy to promote and easy to use. You'll have access to trainings, support, and proven systems that makes growing simple. And you can build your business locally or globally. It's up to you. If you're ready to turn your influence into real income and impact, make sure you click the link below to understand how you can join my team of women, boss moms, mompreneurs who's adding those strings of income by joining pharmacy. I'll see you on the other side. A lot of times we're an afterthought. Yeah, they don't think they need it. They don't think they or it's hey, if you are an extrovert or if you have a bubbly personality, or if you know people like you, you can get on stage and MC. This is a skill. It is. This is an art. And being able to, I've had so many folks who are well versed in any events industry, and they would say, LB, you understand how the sales process works. And I'm like, well, that helped me with coaching. You know, that came from coaching and me having to sell myself as the wife coach and my programs and the things that are offered. So being able to do that with hundreds of people in the audience or thousands of people in the audience and getting them prime for what you're about to present them. Because at the end of the day, you want them to continue to work with you in some capacity. And so I'm very instrumental in from the beginning of how I start, I'm very, very instrumental and intentional about how I start my events. So the middle part, like after lunch, like how you know, and thinking, okay, this folks are gonna be so good. It's you can't just get on stage and say, okay, come to the stage. Come to the stage. That engage, that matters, right? Yeah. And then even as even if you have a bubbly personality as a coach or um a mentor, whatever it is you're doing, you don't want to be on stage 24-7. I want people to see other people, hear another voice, say it a different way. You know what I mean? Absolutely. That is key, that's vital to that. That's that's the difference between having an it was okay to I gotta be there next year. And I'm exactly I gotta be there next year. It's the difference. It's the difference between it's the energy too, because the energy is contagious. Yes, and so folks are excited. If you are excited and happy and your your endorphins are high, you're ready to buy. Yes. Did you catch that? You're ready to do whatever it is, like whatever your offer is, I want to be a part of it, whatever your invitation is, because now I feel good about myself. I've been dancing, I've been, you know, letting my hair down, I've been letting down the wall that I came in here with. Yes. Because a lot of times we go to these events. Think about how many times you've been to an event and you're like, I'm here by myself. I don't know anybody, or what is this all about? Is this a scam? Or whatever you may be thinking, those preconceived notions of the event, I come in there, shift your perspective in minutes because I have to do it quickly. And now you're like, oh, okay, well, maybe this I am in the right place. I am supposed to be here. Yeah. And it's all honest though. It's not shifting. Oh, absolutely to make you believe what we're not. We're we're trying to show you another side to that's that society will put a stereotype on these types of businesses. They will put us in this box as because it's a lot of it is a lot of people who are out here scamming. It's the truth, right? But there are a lot of people who add value and have real problems to solve, and that's willing to really help these women. So definitely creating the atmosphere is that that's my job. Um, at the end of the day, what you decide to do is on you. Yes. But you can definitely know that if you're gonna be at my event, and my event is your event, right? Like I am so, I'm a part of the event, like I'm an extension of the team. I buy into the event, like everything from your language to your offers to your audience, I become that extension. Yes, and I want them to know when they leave, oh, okay, I had a good time. Even if I didn't continue, or if I still have to think about it, that's on you. That was a good experience. That was a good experience, and I would definitely come again. How does LB begin to prepare for these things? Because you work with different people. I do. And I can imagine, um, just like as a coach, you encounter different personalities, different thoughts. Yeah. How do you prepare? Like I know you say you become a part of the business, but is it like acting where you gotta shut down and then shut back on? Or like like how do you prepare for different types of events? Yeah, I'm I'm thinking of my husband. He would say um poor preparation prevents poor performance. Or proper, excuse me, proper preparation. I got it right, baby. I gotta write. Proper preparation, I hear your voice, prevents poor performance. And so for me, the preparation starts with do I believe in or can I align with your vision? Okay. I love it. It's not just any event. I love it. Say, I'm I'm at a position now where I can say, mmm, that's not for LB. Yeah. Like it's just, and it's nothing wrong with it. Wait, go back, go back, go back. Sis said, I'm in a position now where I can say, let's not go over that. You know, you got to. And I think because I want, again, it's the value. Yes. I want people to see that. So once I have bought on to, and a lot of the clients that I have, they bring me back. So the first experience was such a great experience that they offered another invitation. LB. Yes. Next year, this this time, these are the dates. Are you available? And I, for example, one of my favorites, oh, a big shout out to my girl, Jasmine Wilmack. Oh, she's amazing. Isn't she amazing? So I'm going to make it to a summit. I am going to make it to a summit. You have to. I'm going to. It's transformational. And I'm not just saying that because that's my girl. Literally, we were educators together. Okay. And we used to run together. Black girls run. Big shout out to them. And uh to see her grow into who she is today and me being a part of it. Yeah. Like she's the one that gave me the title My Forever Host, My Forever MC. Okay. And it's something about, for example, with her, she helps those who are writing books, authors, experts, those expert individuals who want to write books and publish books, build a brand from it, build a business from it. And I could relate to that because I too am an author. And she helped me to brand myself as the wife coach, to brand myself as an MC. So I can not only align with the message, I'm living proof that it works. So when it's time for me to get with her, and she's been doing different things, she's been positioning herself and pivoting and things like that with different events. She does an amazing job with events. You gotta come. But I already know the language. Yes. That helps me. Yes. I know her audience. And what I do is I study her. So if my clients, of course, are posting, Dr. Erica Jordan Thomas, big shout out to her. They're posting constantly. I'm learning their language as they're posting. Yes. Aisha Watkins with Women of Project Management. The language she's using with these women, these black women and women of color, I become a part of it. Because if they're gonna bring me back, I want to be ahead of the game. Absolutely. So that's the preparation. The preparation is we've already had the event this year. Okay. Next year, they're already saying LB, you're coming back. I'm already preparing. And I love the fact that you speak your clients with confidence. Yes. And the way you speak about them says something to your character and it shows that connection that you have with them. Yes. That that's right there. It's vibrating. Thank you. It's vibrating. Thank you. And they're beautiful women. Yes. I mean, and it's just impactful. Yes. Like Dr. Erica Jordan, Thomas, that's my girl. She is a former uh classroom teacher and principal. Come on, come on with the education. Do you see what I'm saying? Do you see what I'm saying? So that right there resonates with me. One, because in that classroom, I never thought of wow, I can have a seven-figure business, uh, education consultant business. I never saw that. But to see somebody doing it and seeing hundreds of people every year coming to her sold-out event, Seven Figure Educator Live, it's a beautiful experience. And to be a part of it, it's just a beautiful thing. Seven Figure Educator Live. Yes, this October. I think it might be so. Oh, it's this year. Okay. I gotta look at the city. Absolutely. She's amazing. But yeah, it's just a beautiful thing to be a part and be able to help these events come to life. Yes. And uh helping the audiences to experience not just an event, but this is a life-changing, like this is the moment. This is a defining moment when I attended such and such event. And now I'm no longer the same. These moments are are these moments are when normally when people have that shift. Yes. They have that mindset shift. That's it. Because, like you said, there's so many, like in the classroom, you couldn't see it. You had to remove yourself from the classroom to get around the other people, to get around these women, to get in these rooms. And this is why it's so important that we have these rooms and we curate it correctly. Yes. We can't just be out here just doing whatever because we act, we honestly have people's futures in our hands. We do. That's what our purpose is. Absolutely to live through what we've experienced. You had to go through teaching, you had to go through education to get here. Absolutely. Now imagine all of the women that you're touching, right? Yeah, because my mindset was one way. It was you get a good government job. Come on, what was my I'm baby boomers. Okay, my mom. Get a good government job, you get a good government job, get your benefits, you know, go to college, all that stuff, start a family, retire, and then live your life. Retire and then live. And then live and then live. But I always felt that that wasn't in alignment. I didn't know what that next step was until I stepped out of the classroom. Right. And then the possibilities were there. Did people did people look at you crazy when they're gonna be able to do that? Oh, absolutely. How was that? How was that? Because I know that's what stopped a lot of people. That hear what people say and how they how they look at you, or what you're doing now, or this little bit that you know, that shady talk. Like, what did that do for you? Like, or how did you because you you seem like a very confident person. Well, look at that. Look at God. Thank you. It's working, it's working. I am a recovering people pleaser. That's it. So let's talk about this. Let's talk about that. Yeah, and that started from childhood. And I always, of course, therapy helps you to uncover a lot of things because the whole point of therapy for me is understanding why I show up the way that I do, why I think the way that I think. And a lot of it had to go back to growing up in Highestville, Maryland. Big shout out to my PDF. Okay, MD. Come on, Merlin. Get it out from Merlin. I had to say Merlin. Merlin. Um, but growing up, I had to see like, wow, I've always been placed on a pedestal. Like we were the, you know, the poster child, I guess, sort of, of our family. Okay. We're the first to go to college. We always had, you know, A's and B's and all that. Oh, so the pressure started as a child. So then I get older and I just want to be, I had that disease to please, as Oprah would say, right? And wanting to make sure that I did everything that people said to do. So I went to school, I went to college. But why would I leave a good stable job to step out into the unknown? Yeah. So it didn't make sense. And if you don't understand that, which I didn't understand either, but I did it. So I had to work through that. Did I did it bother me? Absolutely. Because it's we care too much about what other people think. Like literally care too much. And it's not that you shouldn't care in some cases. To a certain extent. To a certain extent. But if it stops you from your destiny or if it stops you from things that God has planned for you, that's an issue. And so I've literally over the years had to work through that. Okay. Um, being too loyal. I've had to work through that. To the wrong people. Absolutely. Because loyalty has an expiration day. Absolutely. But I was loyal to a fault to where it would hinder me and benefit the other person. It was a reciprocated. So who we're seeing now this is through years of work. Are you happy? I am so happy with her. I'm proud of myself. I'm proud of you too. I can see it. Thank you. Like it's it's just like it's something. And I can feel it, like the energy. And I know we did our screening call, and it was just like, oh, she's a vibe. But to be around the presence, I see why you do what you do. Thank you. I see why you like, and they bring you back. I mean, because it's just the energy. Like you so much. I can't explain it. Like I work on this. Yes. And that's part of the energy that I would teach my wives. Okay. Because I wanted them to understand, like, you literally can change the you're the you're the thermostat. You can change the energy in your marriage. Because yes, all married women aren't wives, but you can change from being that married woman, which is Mrs. Control and Mrs. Nagging, hubby. You know what I'm just saying? You ain't gotta say it today. Boss, Mrs. Lady, Mrs. Boss Lady, Mrs. Know It All. Listen, you're a boss, you're a leader, but turn it off at home. There you go. Turn it off at home. That part right there, right? Not understanding how to change that to Mrs. Patient, Mrs. Understanding, Mrs. Irresistible. All of the things that a wife is. But where do you think that comes from? From your expertise. Where do you think that comes from? Like I know when I was going through my series of therapy and life coaching, it was the fact that I felt like I couldn't depend on someone or I couldn't be somebody else. Because I was always the one having to do. There you go. Is that common? Absolutely. And the independence. So the independence worked for us, but then it also interferes with us trying to be interdependent, not codependent, interdependent with our spouses. So the independence allows us to have that attitude. Once I see that I can do it without you, what I need you for. Right. Once I see that, you know what I mean? I'm the education level. You know, I'm come on now. Like it's I'm showing you, I'm making more money. I'm doing, oh, absolutely. There's this power struggle now in the relationship. And it's like, well, if I'm not needed, this is him now. If I'm not needed, then maybe I need to go somewhere where I am needed. So absolutely. We've had to, I've had to change the way I show up because I can be Mrs. Mary. You choose either the married woman or the wife, who you want to show up as. And Mrs. Mary don't have nice qualities. She can be very bossy. She can be, she could be a trip. But but what men fail to realize is that they need both. They need both. They need Mrs. Bossy sometimes. Like we were put in the men's life. Yes, yes, yes, yes. We were put in the men's lives to organize certain things. And sometimes we gotta get bossy. But not bossy to him. Not bossy to him. Right. That's the thing. Right. What we're building, I gotta be. But not bossy to him. And I'm sure he respects that. I'm sure he wants, because my husband, he would always stay in the background. He said, I'm the bodyguard. Okay. Like, because they're like, You and your husband do work together. I'm like, I'm gonna be honest with you. He like, nah, that's my wife. She's doing her thing. I'm here to support. But it's also he allows me to shine. Yeah. And like you said, when your hubby's like, hey, I know you're a boss, but when you come home, turn it off. I got it. Turn it off, baby. Like this. If not, again, it's gonna be that power struggle. Who's who's in control? And then when I see when he starts backing off, because at the end of the day, they don't necessarily want to get into it like that. They like, you know what, you got it. And if he keeps saying you got it, you're gonna feel like you got it. And it's what I need you for. Mrs. Control and got this. And it's so important. It's so important because we don't, we don't, we're not taught how to be wise. We're not taught how to be in marriages. Like we we we see what we see on TV. We see, even when it comes to motherhood, like there's no instruction evil. We're going off a All of the trauma that we saw growing up. We're going over all of the mistakes that our our mamas made. And it's like we just figuring it out. So it's important. It's important to have that space. It's important to seek, you know, that help to help you become a better version of every happy. That's it. And I literally had somebody ask me, like, how did you know or what happened to you to make you become who you are, like as an MC and stuff? And I was like, honestly, it started with my relationship with myself. Yes. And the relationship that I share with my husband. Yes. Because I have a self-study course called Teach Me How to Be a Wife. Okay. Nobody taught me. Teach me how to be a wife. Teach me. Where's that at? You know, you can get DM me. Come on. I'll give you the she keep making me go back to the wife coach. I pivoted. Listen. I am I am an MC. Listen, she mentioned I'm an X. But listen, I'll show you. Just shoot me a DM if you want it. I got the link. But yeah, and so literally helping women to understand. Let's go back to the education of what a wife is. How does she show up? What does she look like? What qualities does she have? What do you need to divorce? What qualities do you have now that I've seen? Like, for example, my parents were married for 20 years before they divorced. But what I realized with my mom, and as I analyze their relationship, she put so much energy into her girls. Okay. Are you supposed to? Yes. But the order, but the order. So is that a it that doesn't give my father, for example, the reason to do what he did. Okay. But did that contribute to it? It's like us being accountable for what we did, how we showed up. Now, what people decide to do, that's on them. That's not your responsibility. But you got to be accountable for what you contributed or didn't, how you contributed or didn't contribute. The guilt of what went wrong makes you show up differently. But is that out uh is that intentional though? Like, do you think that's intentional? Sometimes you don't know what you don't know. Yeah, you know what I mean? And so if I'm thinking of I want a successful relationship, well, what does success look like? Let's define it, let's define what happiness and joy looks like. Oh, this is so. You see what I'm saying? Because at the end of the day, look, I love marriage. You know how much I love marriage, but you know how many times I got divorced in my head? Let's just be real. Every day. You see what I'm saying? So when that happens, what is this teaching me about me? About me, right? What is this giving me an opportunity to do? How am I being presented with an opportunity to grow? Right. Because I grew up DMV, you know what I mean? Smart mouth, you know what I mean? Talk back. All that. And I'm bringing that same energy into a relationship with a man who had his own life experiences. Because I would look down, I'm like, oh, that's what y'all did growing up. Because he's from South Carolina. Okay. Oh, that's a whole different country boy. Country boy. Whole different life. You see what I'm saying? Yes. So, but I had this air about myself that I was better and didn't realize I was projecting that until I started doing the work. That part, that part, and that's so necessary. That is so necessary, no matter how much we think or we feel that we got it together. Yes. Because of where we grew up, God's gonna humble you. God's gonna humble you because no, we're better because other people can make, especially your spouse. Yes. They make us, they they will make you better by that humbling. Absolutely. By that humbling. Like, no, like be quiet sometimes. You talk too much. Listen and not react sometimes. Okay. Take in what I'm saying. Or that compromise where I thought I was a compromiser. I thought I was the best at compromising until you realize you weren't. I realized I weren't. You always have something your way. Like, no, I don't. Listen, but we're gonna do it this way. And I'm like, wow, like I need to compromise more. You know what humbled means better. Well, my husband, you know what humbled me? Well, my husband said, You're not easy to talk to. Ooh. And here you are thinking, anybody could talk to me, anybody could come to me. First of all, I'm an English major. I'm a communication specialist. How dare you tell me? You know how humbling that was? I I bet humbling like a white rag. Oh white rag. But I had to think about it. All I kept hearing was that voice resonate in my mind, like, you're difficult to talk to. What does that mean? So then I had to start looking at when we had conversations, how I was like, I already had my mind made up of what the answer was gonna be or what I wanted to do. I had to start really owning my ish, and ish are my issues. Yes. I had to own it, and that's what I would teach my wives. Own your ish. Own your ish. Be okay with not being in control of everything and everybody else. It's so freeing. Girl, when you get there, I get there. It's like I can't control it. I can't change this. It's so freeing when you finally realize, like, you know what? This is his marriage too. This is his marriage too. It's not just about me. This is his life too. Yes. It's so freeing, but it took me a while to get. Y'all been married almost 16 years. Oh, congratulations. Thank you, baby. October. Come on, congratulations. Making it last forever. Love you, baby. Yes. If y'all listening on, if you're listening just at the audio, like her facial expression. Listen, you are hilarious. You are your kids probably think you are just what? Amazing. Like, no? Listen. You're not there. Because anytime I see a comedian, you're a comedian. I'm just gonna put that there. I have funny moments. That's a that's a whole nother skill set. Don't do it. Do not book me to host your event if you think I'm comedian. Absolutely not. What do how does Lakia show up as a mom? How's Lakia's a mom? One thing I love, my mom, God rest her soul, Ruth C. Arrington, she loved her girls. Okay. She loved us. And I mean, put us on pedestals to the point where she was just so proud. We were like her proudest accomplishments. And so for me, what I've taught, what I've taken from that is how to love my girls individually. So my sister and I are five years apart. Okay. My girls are nine years apart. Okay. Yeah, I got a 17-year-old. That's not bad. That's not too bad. 17, because we would thought we were one and done. I had a 17-year-old. She plays flag football. She's a rising senior. She's in her senior year. And then I have an eight-year-old. Wait, they have football at flag football. At senior years, uh-huh. Uh-huh. She's been playing for four years. Okay. Yes. So excited because she's like my Tomber girls, though. All girls. Okay. Okay. All girls. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But they do have some co-ed. I've learned that throughout, you know, my research. But she's been on all girl teams. So that's that's one. And she, I feel like she received the I don't know who I am yet, mom. And you just gonna have to ride with me until I figure it out. You see what I'm saying? Firstborn is normally doing it. Firstborn, the firstborn. And now I have an eight-year-old souvenir from Jamaica. Get the heel. The eight-year-old souvenir from Jamaica. What happens when you go to Jamaica? Tell me she's not a comedian. Like she's thinking of Jamaica. Listen, and you have one too many rum punches. Okay. So that one, she's a dancer, competitive dance, and I feel like she is benefiting from the growth of LB. Yes. The healing of LB. So that's that's how I'm parenting. I'm realizing that they're experiencing two different people. Never knew that until I started doing the work. Did your oldest ever say, Well, if I would have said that back in the day, mine, you would have done that. Absolutely. Oh, absolutely. Mom, you wouldn't be talking to me for three days if she if I did that. And I'm like, I know I was petty. Just forgive me, baby. Your mama don't know everything. You know, so I'm finding myself having to apologize for how I showed up. Yes. For her to extend grace, my oldest. Yes. I didn't know. And a lot of it I'm still working through. I still can be petty.

unknown 29:47

Absolutely. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01 29:48

Okay, especially when getting older, she started to smell herself a little bit. You know what I'm saying?

unknown 29:51

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 29:52

You understand? Help me mamas. But so I parent differently because they're experiencing two different moms. And um, I think it's just about extending ourselves grace, forgiving ourselves for the things we didn't get right, forgiving ourselves now for the things we won't get right. Yeah. Because there's no perfect motherhood. Um, I love my girls. I try to give them the best of me. And I also give them the real, like, I'm not happy today. Or, you know what, I had a therapy session, and you know, these are some of the things I talk about. You want to experience it. You don't want to sugarcoat everything. Like, you gotta give them a what's therapy? Therapy was taboo in our household. You know, I love the fact that you're aware of it, of how you show up now because you got it at whatever age you you you got it at, but now they're able to get it earlier. Very true, right? And that and that's the that's the point of our like our lineage. We want them to get it sooner. That financial freedom sooner. That's what I'm saying. The idea of starting your own business and go get it sooner. That's it. Like, so you're like a real live living example. Yes, thank you. So they are so blessed to even be around that. Thank you. You know what I mean? Yeah, and and I'm I'm literally following my dreams, and they're on the journey with me. Yes. So my youngest, or my oldest rather, she saw the classroom teacher, you know, version of LB to now stepping out on faith, writing my book, publishing my book, doing the wife coach for years, and then now the the professional event MC, and she's like, okay, I've seen these different stages of her life, and she's still going. I've seen the ups, I've seen the downs, I've seen the crying, I've seen the okay, I'm ready to quit. I need to get a nine to five. She's seen all of it. And now the youngest is like, wow, my mom's an MC. My mom's on stage. My mom's on stage, she's popular, all of that. She'll ask me, Mom, so how was the event? She's so mature, okay, and very emotionally attacked. It's it's kind of it's it's like, wait a minute. She's like, I'm disappointed today. And I'm like, No, I love that. Tell me about your disappointment. You know what I mean? It's just like, wait a minute, because you know, we grew up, I'm sad. I know we're mad. Right. Oh, but I love that. I love that. And I just, oh my gosh, they're gonna be superstars, they're gonna be rock stars. They're they are gonna be impact leaders, they're gonna be thought leaders because how how they're showing up now, how oh girl, you just got me excited. Just by just by describing her, it's like because the our the next generation, it's it's so important for us to breed these people because the world is crazy, it's so crazy out here, Lakia. I know, like the enemy is working overtime, like this is a spiritual warfare. It's it's just so crazy. Absolutely to to raise children. I saw a post on Instagram, um, and I don't know if it was recent or last month, but it was like a hundred, and was it Maryland, Virginia, the area. A hundred kids went missing. Oh my god. 13 to 17. I I I was like, why are we not hearing about this? We're not. Why are we not? And just to think that it's like so many people don't have these survival skills. They don't have this. I can't, they don't even know how to communicate or convey if they're feeling a certain way in school or in the classroom. That's it. But the fact that they can communicate with you and tell you how they're feeling, that small piece is major. Yeah, thank you. For them to come to you and express it, that is major. Yeah. Well, we we didn't have a voice growing up. Yeah, but it was it was you know, you are a child, stay in a child's place. Yeah. And so, again, thinking of what was I brought up in the type of environment I was brought up in. How do I want to change that? And it's not necessarily I'm giving you everything I didn't have. I I'm not that mama. Because I literally was having a conversation. Listen, we still buy all brand cereal when we need to. We literally just had that conversation last time with my sister growing up. I'm traumatized. No, it is gonna be naked brand cereal. No, it's the trauma. But I literally had this conversation about like my daughter, 17, the entitlement that comes with this generation. I'm like, girl, we live 0.3 miles from the school. It's okay if you walk. And they drive, we drive. Ooh. Do you see what I'm saying? It's okay. It's her senior year. It's her senior year, you know. So her schedule reminds me of the. And I'm like, they used to walk everywhere. What are you talking about? Who do you think we are? They don't Uber lift. But it, I will say, being in Georgia is different. Yeah. It's all normal. Like we walked to school. I was in a city, Philly. Yeah. We're walking through neighborhoods and a group of kids. We're walking together. Yeah. It's just all roll. It is. You gotta fight deers. Guess what? But guess what? We're 0.3, 0.4 miles away from the school. Ain't no streets and roads. Get on the sidewalk and walk to the skull. Get to school. You know what she'll say? It's hot. Do you see what I'm saying? Yeah. I'm still working on the city. They want to stop at Starbucks first. Told you. And then they got iPhones, they cost 15,000. It's a different generation. The way our parents raised us, and that's when I grew up, we were in a totally different world, y'all. It did not look like today. So I've had to stop saying that or thinking that. Because I would compare myself to my 17-year-old. I say that all the time. I have to stop. Yes. Because it was something how our parents, and our parents instilled fear. Fear. And we had the whoopings in the belts. This is why we need therapy now, though. That's why we need therapy. That's what I'm saying. I'm the person I am today. Because I am her. Thank you, no one. But but but my 17-year-old who hasn't experienced that, we're parenting them a totally different way. And I'm like, she doesn't understand how this builds character. I literally was telling her, walk into school, gonna build character. And she like, how? But it's hot. And she looking at me like, I don't care what mom, it's hot. Okay, whatever. So I ain't got it all figured out. We still working through this thing. But you know, my first time having a 17-year-old. I think it'll cycle itself again. As the world changed, like we're gonna have these, we're gonna have these kids that feel entitled, and then we're gonna have these dogs. Then we're gonna have these hustlers. I mean, it just it's just gonna cycle. But I I am a firm believer of the way we were raised is not always the right way. That's true. You know, is there a right way? Is there a right way? Is there you know what I mean? Like it, and I think depending on where you were, what what time on in the world, all of that matters because all of that impacts us, right? And I I think that's I have a better understanding of how life works. I haven't figured it out, but I have a better understanding. We will never figure it out. It's just a joy going through it. Do you see what I'm saying? And I think that's what it is. Understanding that this is a journey. A lot of us are trying to get to the destination. Enjoy embrace the journey, enjoy the mess ups, enjoy the hiccups. I get excited about figuring out the solution. Ooh. I get excited about okay, how are we gonna do this? Even when it comes to parenting, even it's it's stressful because like we want our kids to do certain things, to figure it out on their own. Just like it could be the simplest thing, walking up the steps and you see a sock on the step, like, why didn't you pick this sock up? Like, what how many times do I take in your room? You know what I mean? Like simple things like that, but but it's like okay, how can I get creative to help them learn it on their own? Because me thinking, well, all they're doing is regurgitation. What I'm saying, well, you said it, but you're not doing it, you're not acting on it. So, how how can we get creative to where you understand this communication now? What's your love language? Even as even as how do you receive, you know? And for one, it may be electronics, for the other one, it may be sports, gifts, money.

SPEAKER_02 37:11

All the time.

SPEAKER_01 37:12

Majority of the time it's money. Like, like he's so quick to say, okay, that we we shutting everything down. Then they'll they'll hear it, they'll get it, you know. So it's not that that fear that they had that we had, yeah, is not there. It's not because it's a whole different time. That's very true. So I also get like I said, I get excited about finding new ways to figure it out. And that that that's where entrepreneurship comes in at. Very true. 90% of the time we are trying to figure it out. Sales are slow, let's figure it out. Let's get creative. There's no magic pill, no magic. We're trying out systems, we're trying out marketing. You know what? Entrepreneurship, the word entrepreneur, I think was very new to me when I was leaving education. Because it was a business owner. Yeah. Like it wasn't, I never heard entrepreneurship. Under the business owner, yeah. I'm like business owner. Like, what's that? But now entrepreneurship has taught me, it has made me who I am. Like, I am so far out in the ocean, like there's no shore. And I don't see the shore behind me, and I don't see anything in front. I'm just out here. Let's see. You know what I mean? Just trusting unknown. The unknown can't see under your feet. Nothing. You can't when it's dark. Ooh, baby, when it's dark at night, you can't see in front of you sometimes. If this ain't a faith wall, a faith row, a faith. Look, we all we in there. Ooh. Absolutely. Ooh. It's a beautiful thing, though. Ooh. It's beautiful. I've learned to trust this process. That has been, we've been here before. We're gonna get, like you said, getting excited about the solutions. We've been here before. And now look, and my husband, one of the most valuable pieces of advice. I love to share this because even though he's not in front of the camera or you don't see him a lot, trust me here in the back running plays or telling me, you know what I'm saying? So he told me it takes 15 years to become an overnight success. I used to say 10 years. Yes. Yeah, my husband for five million. But people don't see that. I'm 13 years in. Come on. Do you see what I'm saying? Since leaving the classroom. Come on. So when I look at where I am, I'm like, okay. But when the world sees LB, that they're thinking of nice success. They're thinking that they ain't see the nights when I couldn't figure it out. They didn't see the nights where I'm like, okay, I gotta get a job. We for real, we gotta figure something out because this ain't working. They don't see the negative bank accounts. They don't still see the the depress, like all of it that comes with it. And we still in that in that ocean, in the boat. And you're breathing and you're you're afloat. You're not drowning. It may feel like it, but you're not. But you're not. You're not. And just when you think you are about to drown, that yacht comes. Oh now with the word, y'all won't pass collection plate on this one. Because the seed sow a seed to uh stepping what is it? No, seriously, absolutely, God sends that yacht. That's it. And on that yacht, you got the luxury, everything. On that every seed that you done sold everything. And on the yacht, waiting for the yacht. Everybody, girl. Yes, listen. Listen, but that's that faith walk. It is. Most people give up right before that yacht. It's not for everybody. It's not for this this journey, and it's crazy because my husband didn't marry an entrepreneur. I became one. My husband's been an entrepreneur. Let's talk about it. Oh, he's been okay. Oh, he's been. Okay, okay. Because he was 13. You see what I'm saying? He's a master barber. Okay. So he's literally, he's cut hair for over 25, almost 30 years. Yes. And he's unhe understood the ups and downs, the ebbs and flows. Okay. I'm a corporate girl. I go get my nine to five, got my check, my benefits, and he's looking at me like, you know, you're walking away from all that, right? The stability of what you're used to. You're about to walk away from all of that. And I didn't realize I was walking away from stability. And I keep doing this because that's what I thought was stable. Yes. And I was still living the same lifestyle. Still getting my hair done, still getting my nails done, still doing all this. And I'm just watching my little fish net of my safety net. Is it go down by this a little bit? Just dwindling. But ain't nothing coming in. I ain't wait a minute. Hold on now. Slow down. I told you it's gonna take you 15 years. So that was, I'm so happy I'm not there anymore. Yes. That's just grateful for the journey because I see now I've had to go through everything I've been through to be able to sit here with you and have this conversation. The confidence you see, it didn't happen overnight, especially as a people pleaser. It didn't happen overnight. I've had to release myself from relationships that weren't serving me. Do you know how hard that is when you're a people pleaser? I just, oh my god, we were in a car. I I just had a conversation with someone on the phone. Oh my goodness. Like he's a witness to it. I keep saying he, y'all. Y'all know who probably in the studio with me. He here. He here for real. But I literally I had that conversation on the phone. Yeah. And he, I didn't tell him, I didn't prepare him for that conversation, but I was just like, I need to make this call now. It's in my heart. And I had to, I love you, but I gotta remove myself. I can no longer be. And when I got off the call, he was like, Well, who is that? And and I told him, he's like, Wow. Yeah. I was like, I had to. I had to because it's it's not serving me in the way. I I can't have that energy feeding into me when I need this type. Yeah. So you made space for what needs to come in. And that's a bit most people can't do that. They won't. Most people won't do that. They won't do it. And most people are gonna think you're crazy for doing that because I see the life already before I even have it. And I gotta move in that direction. Oh, and I gotta move in that direction. And and and sometimes I know and be honest, it was it was hard for my my spouse to see the vision at first. You know, when you're coming from the corporate world, when you're coming from that stability, it's like okay, we gotta spend how much on what? Mm-hmm. We gotta put how much in what? Okay, we ain't got nothing to do. But it's coming, it is, it's coming, it is, and we keep working and and and we can't do it. And they see it, they see it. Absolutely. You know, we are delusional for living this life, but God said to build this thing because it's gonna help somebody. Yes, it's gonna help, it's gonna save marriages, yeah, it's gonna save lives. You're gonna help these corporate women who gotta make payroll to save people that work good. You see how we're all aligned. That's good. And if I don't play my part, if I don't play my part, that ain't gonna work. Something's gonna be hard. And this is why the world's falling down because we give up on people so fast. Aren't playing their parts. Yeah, absolutely. Play your parts. That's the message. That is the message. The message of the day. Yes. So what's going on? What what we got coming up for you in the next five years? Oh, I wanna know what do we see? She already says she ain't doing comedy, y'all. I don't know. At all. At all. I will do some. Improv. Which is good because it helps you to think on your feet. Yes. I will do that. You have the signature book, though. I do. Yes. Is that your only book? So, no, I have actually two books and a planner. Congratulations. Thank you. All around marriage, y'all. Send me a DM. I'll send you the link if you really want to. She's right here. I'm jumping the DMs too. Listen. Yes. So I I really am thinking about writing. I don't want to put this on record. Lord, I might just go and say I'm thinking about writing a book. Um, because life is a stage, and that is my business. Yes. And um I'm learning that no matter, regardless if you're a professional MC or if you're just a working, you know, individual, a mama, whatever, how are you showing up on the stage of your life? Yes. And so I've been toying with the idea. I don't know if I'm doing that or not, but I've been toying with the idea of possibly doing something there. I have been enjoying the lane I'm in though. Yeah. You're saying five years, I'm like, okay, I know we both have a plan. But I'm looking at like the next two to three. I've been doing this full-time for two and a half, three years now. Okay. As a professional MC. Okay. Putting myself out there, getting my clients, getting these events, and people knowing me as an event MC versus just the wife coach. Because I did that for 10 years. But do you do you see yourself putting in your own events now? Do you see that? Like, do you see Yes Ann? Only because I know the work, you know the work, yes, that it takes to put it on. I just posted something very recently that said, What if the biggest win this year is not you helping other people? I saw that post. I did, I saw that post. See, I'll be tapped in with y'all when I when they coming on, I'm not sure. Listen to me. I did the biggest win for you is not necessarily making your dream or building your dream, but joining forces with somebody else and helping them to build theirs. For me, I am a collaborator. I am a give me a dream team. I'm gonna work. Yes. It's something about being able to collaborate with folks and seeing the vision and saying, you know what? What I have to offer is going to contribute and make this thing. And you see them moving in a way where it's like, okay, should I just be starting by myself and be a CEO by myself just because? That's a superpower, Lakia. That is a superpower that people have not unlocked yet because collaboration over competition, for one, and for two, understanding the role that you play. Not everyone is meant to play that forefront person. There you go. Right? But everyone wants that that they're okay. How can I put this? Laura, give me the words. But everyone wants that superstar. Everyone wants to be that president. Yeah. They want that faith. They want to be the face card of what they're doing, take that full credit. But you can't do it alone. Yeah. Right? We need team players. It doesn't take your, you know what I'm saying, credibility or expertise away from you. Right. Because you're the expert in what you do, but your expert is going to help build this brand. Right. Absolutely. So the teams that you help, it doesn't have to be the Lakia, Lakia B's way. There you go. Um, but you're you're helping these, but because of you, they're able to. That's it. And it's still that's a superpower that a lot of people will never understand. And that's gonna hinder people from growing. Well, it's gonna hinder people from growing. Social media has conditioned us that you have to be a CEO. So folks are walking away, and in some cases, it's warranted. Yeah. They're nine to five, starting their own business, whatever the case may be. But it's a whole bunch of CEOs. And I'm like, well, we're your team. We're your team. We're your team. I don't I can be a CEO. I am a CEO. Okay, fine. Everybody who starts with LLT is a CEO. That's there you go. You want to be a CEO, start. But the solopreneur life ain't weird saying we're just to be honest with you. You know, and if I what is the African proverb? If you want to go go fast, if you want to go fast, go along. Go alone. If you want to go far, go, yeah. So I want to go further. In order for us to make the impact that we're talking about today, I need to join forces with a moving engine. And for them to welcome me in, they're like L. Say that to it, because we we don't say nothing. You live in African the proverb, we just said it. We need us to stop thinking that in order for us to be impactful, we got to be the CEO, we got to be the big idea, the visionary. Sometimes we need to join forces with someone to contribute, partner, and really help that vision to come to life because the role that I play, especially with the folks that I'm meeting, is powerful. Yes. And I'm getting to make more impact by being on these different stages instead of trying to do it myself. So for you to ask me if I want to do my own event, eh, that ain't really honestly. If you have an event, I'll make sure I bring my expertise to make sure it's successful. But I don't have to have my own event. No, I like helping others, especially when the vision is clear. Especially when you see the impact. I'm like, you know what? Let me show you what I can do to add this, to add some fire. How if someone comes to you and say, Lake here, I want to be an MC. Okay. I want to do what you do. How can I get started? Like, because there is an audience just for MC. So that's what I meant by your own event. Because it means that you are for their beautiful guy that for your. I know we're just talking about you know she's getting a coaching session right here. I wasn't sure if we were talking about the wife coach or LB the MC. So big shout out to Devon Brown. Okay. Right. So Devon Brown. Yes, he is the world's number one event MC. So he does events for huge audiences for like Aspire. Um, he's introduced some of the big names, Kevin Hardin, all of us, just a dope individual. Wait, can I just say one thing right here? Do you see how big the world is, right? And he's the number one MC. Yes. And I'm just learning of him. Yes. So what is that telling us as new entrepreneurs that we got to continue to promote our continue to because there's someone, I don't care how big you think you are or how big you are, someone does not know of you. So this is why you always have to speak your business, promote your business. And this is prime example. Like she's teaching me who Bob Brown is, and I'm gonna go look him up. Yes, right. Listen, but look, he saw me, okay? And I'll never forget the day. He saw me, he slid in my DM. Come on. It was all professional. And he was like, Look, I just want you to know I see what you're doing. Period. Keep doing your thing. Period. Later came back and was like, I'm working on something. I have you in mind. I'm gonna kick my shoes off, girl. No, because everything you're saying about the event for MCs, he literally just kicked off his first one the first week of August. Nice. I was there as one of his elite MCs. Big shout out to Devon Brown doing his thing. He had folks from the UK, folks that flew in to be a part of this experience. And what did he do? Put me in position, LB, get on the panel. LB, I did, LB, what how do you handle this? So it's already being done. Why am I gonna start just because I didn't CEO business? You think I'm I want to make sure I help. No, people have come to me and I'm like, you know what? Devon got this email directory. I need you to go sign up for his email directory. So for those of you all who want to know how to get started, Devon Brown TV on IG. You can follow me too. Yes. And I did not know that it was. I mean, I think what I'm talking about everything. Partnership. That's what I'm talking about. Like I'm seeing what he's doing, the impact he's making. He's a dope individual, super down to earth, right here in Atlanta. Okay. Why not part of the everybody in Atlanta? We here. Oh, we have to think either they're born here or they come here. Look, we we come here. We here. But that's what I'm saying. Shout out to Philly. Shout out to Philly though. You I gotta connect you with my homegirl Steph. Yeah, she's from 70s, y'all. Yeah. She's dope. But no, I mean, I saw what he was doing. Yes. I loved the idea. There was no reason for me to just go and start my own. Build onto that. I'm building onto that. And he that is the beautiful thing is he told me, LB, I will move my dates for you. Like he has another one coming up. And I wasn't available because I was I'm hosting an event. And he looked at me like, I will not book another. He said, matter of fact, asked me if I was available on the next available dates. He said, We're moving it to that date because I need you there. Now, what does that tell you about the value that you add? What does that tell you about the value that you add? And the fact that you're saying the number one MC notice you. Yes. And that's why I got excited. Because that comes when the work is put in. Yes. That comes when those long nights are put in. That's that yacht that you've been waiting for in that sea. Come on now. You got me? Come on now. You didn't have to build a yacht because he's already building it. Right? I love this lane I'm in, y'all. I love the idea of building with. Girl, I'm about to I'm coming to the MC Club. Come on, baby. Come on, baby. No, but seriously, like there is a lane. Yes. Like if you want to learn, right? Yes. If you want to learn, like even like the number one, um, the number one podcaster for us, David Shane. David Shane. Big shout out to David. David David Shane. So I actually before like when we were starting up, I got into his his podcast. Yes. Right? Like by by that time, like I heard I'm I'm so business minded, I already knew what I wanted to do, how I executed. So I had already had the studio space, everything was already set up. I said, let me just get in because I need to learn what I don't know. Right. And even if it's one piece, even if I don't need to learn light, I didn't need to learn the lighting. I'm hiring everything. I'm getting in studio. So I'm not doing it on my own. But it was pieces in there that was so helpful to me. Mm-hmm. Girl. David's the truth. I was on episode, I think it was 104. Okay. Of the social uh push podcast. And David and I go back, God, when I first started out as the wife coach. Really? So I've watched him from the Cheesecake Factory. I know his story. I know him. Big shout out to him. I'm so proud to see him grow. But that's what putting in the work and him working and collaborating over the years to be where he is today. So collaboration is really where it's at. It really is. How does it feel? How does it feel to see? And this is where it's going to be important for every Montpreneur that's in the beginning of their build-up stages. Okay. I always like to say, don't network up. It's okay to attend events, but you network across. Because just how you said you watch Jasmine Wom Woman. You watch David Shand. Yes. And just to see the growth as you all are in that sea together. Because you ain't in the C by yourself. You feel like you're by yourself, but you're not in the C by yourself. Yes. I'm struggling, they struggle over there. And then 10 years later, we're looking to see if y'all still in that same seat. That's how it is. Yeah. So you network across. How is it to really watch in real time the people that you saw years ago now, boom. And now you're on the stage. It's boom. It's a beautiful, it's beautiful. It's really when you trust the process and see like God is true to his word or to see that it is all worth it. Yes. You know what I mean? Like right now, I can't always see, but to look back and reflect, I do my flashback Friday. Sometimes I just go through my my own um pictures and my photo gallery, and I'm like, wow, the glow up is real. You know, like we have grown. Jasmine to see her, you know, raising her kids and starting her business, and I'm watching her, like from having workshops of 15, 20 people to then having a conference of 200 people. Like, look at God. Wow. And to see the work, like knowing these folks in real life. And know this ain't a scam. This ain't no, these are people putting in the work, and I I've watched them. Um, it's a beautiful thing, it's just a witness, it I guess a testament to the work will pay off. Like you literally are sewing right now. If you a few points, community, yes, community is important, right? Your faith. Yes, faith is important, absolutely, and understanding that it's never going to be perfect. It's we gotta let that go. We gotta let that go, right? Even your the book you're writing right now, whoever that's for, I don't know. 95%, is it ready? Put it out. Just put it out, you know what I mean? Like 95% of it is done. It's done. Just put it out. Just put it out. Um, we're always perfection will cripple us. I've let that go. I even let typos live, y'all. Like, let the typo live. You don't know. You know I don't have to talk. I gotta, she's triggering me now, yo. My very first book was was published in 2012. Okay. And what saved it was because uh this was back when I was in urban fiction. Oh I started the the um published company New Class Publications. Nice. I grew that to be 27 authors big. And that girl, that was the first time we was making some real money. 30k a month. Come on now, right? So, but my first book it was called Loyalty. Girl had so many typos. I just wrote the book because I I used to read all of the black ghetto books. Okay. I was a fan. I got you. So I wanted to write books, I wanted to live in these stories, and I put out the first book, and it was a good storyline. And all of the reviews say the same thing. Oh, this was an amazing story, but the typos, they need an editor, they need this. Right, right, right. I was young. That's so my coach. When I I did get a coach back then, well, we wasn't calling them coaches back then, right? I didn't understand the value of a coach. I got you. But these words always stuck to me. Right as if no one is going to see it. I mean, and just dump it all in into the screen, the paper, whatever. Yeah, yeah. But publish as if the world is gonna see it. That's it. Meaning you gotta bring in that professional team now. You need the editor, right? And if they're telling you to tweak something, tweak it because it's fluff. If it's not moving the story, if it's not meeting the story goal, if it's not adding, if it's not pushing up, don't just add sex scenes because you want the sex scenes. Right, right, right. It has to be everything has a meaning. What is your character goal? All of that, and it was like, oh, okay, well, it's it's a structure to write the book, right? So this is why like it's important, right? Typos don't, it's never gonna be perfect. Overlook it. But when you're putting it out there, that's it, perfect. That's when you try to get it perfected. That's when you get your team as close as possible. But you bring in the experts to do it. That's it. You don't do it on your own. Yeah, right? Yeah, well, I would talk about text messages. Oh, text messages. You know, you definitely don't want to put nobody's typos in no book. But hey, it happened. But look how that helped you. Yes, because you were young, you did something that many young folks tore me up. You needed that in that moment to build. I I had a publishing company too. I didn't tell you that part, huh? Did you know? Because I self-published my I self-published my own books because one, I didn't want somebody telling me that my story wasn't good enough or whatever. I didn't want to wait. I didn't want to wait. So I literally started my publishing company to publish my own book. Somebody saw that I did it. I even, you know, gave some some ideas or I'll say some advice to Jasmine because she didn't have a publishing company at the time. And uh yeah, started editing. Yes. Started doing all these things because folks wanted help. They're like, oh, well, you wrote a book, help me. Did that for a few years to help sustain. Yeah. But I was focused on the wife coach. So that was doing that in the background. Yes. So we're always doing something. Yes. And that's we were simulating. Listen, listen. Didn't even realize it. Didn't even realize it. I even went as far as um, I started teaching graphic design classes. Okay. I started teaching authors how to do their own book covers. And then um under new class, I had new class graphics. So I would do pre-made book covers. Yes, small, not the small Facebook was popping back then. I'm saying back then this was pre-COVID, pre- That's back then, y'all. Y'all know back then is last year at this point. Because the world is moving so fast. That part, that part. But yes, just the transition. But even with your publishing companies, like all of that is contributing to your makeup today. So you have to experience everything, you have to try everything. And don't be afraid, and this is for whoever, and this just came to my heart because I heard it a lot coming up. Tammy is always doing something different, she's always jumping in and out of stuff. She's if you don't try things, you'll never know what's for you or what works. Absolutely. Right? Stick with it. Stick with it. But you gotta discern and you gotta pray, you gotta understand when it's trying time to incorporate something or remove something, switch lanes, if something's not working, or if that you're gonna be introduced to a lot of things, but you gotta stick with it long enough to make sure it works. Yeah, never get off track, stay in. Yeah, but you may need to tweak things. There's power in the pivot. I've been pivoting since the classroom. Girl, I love the pivot. I'm just gonna be able to do that. I've been in it's you like you said, knowing when. I think that's the discernment. Knowing when is time. And for me, even with the wife coach, I had built my brand, like 10 years of being known as the wife coach. And I'm like, it's time to pivot. That was hard. Yeah, that was very challenging for me because it was like an identity crisis almost that I was going through. Like, I'm the wife coach, like I can't be anybody else because this is no, the wife coach has prepared you now to become LB, Lakia Brandenburg. And did you find yourself in the beginning of that pivot trying to incorporate the wife coach with the MC? Did you find yourself throwing that? Yes, Anne. So if I had time on stage, like there was time built in for me to talk, like, okay, LB, I would look for ways to bring in, okay. I know my ladies are in the audience. I may use that as an opportunity to teach something really quick about relationships. Yes, okay. So I did, and I may still, depending on. Okay, but I wanted to remove that identity. Like, I'm not just the wife coach, I'm Lakia Brandenburg first. Yes. And I've been the wife coach, I've been a publisher, I've been an editor, I've been an educator, you know, all of those things. That's this. Correct. Yes, I love that. I had to remove myself. I love where you are, I love what you've done, and I am excited to see what God has for you in the future. Thank you. I'm excited to see whatever this connection is, because this connection wasn't by chance either. Absolutely. Everything is divinely ordered, right? And I'm I'm I'm thanking you for just even being obedient and and answering the notion of coming here. Not just to my call, but you're here for a reason. Thank you. We met for a reason. And yeah, I'm here to support you, girl. Thank you, Sammy. I ain't running with you though. Listen, yes, you can. Come on now, one step at a time. We can get there. We gotta walk. Okay, we can walk on, you know. Right. Maybe no, but this was amazing. This is so amazing. And yes, listen, I I'm I'm excited. I want to know what we got to look for from you. How can they reach you? And then absolutely, what do you have for our audience today? What can you leave the audience with? Oh my god. Uplift, your favorite quote, your favorite song, whatever's on your heart, what you share with the audience. Well, first, again, thank you for having me. This has been some good girl talk. Um, I am on Instagram. That's my playground, but I'm also on LinkedIn because remember, corporate clients is the goal. So look here Brandenburg on both platforms. Uh, when it comes to a message, what really resonates right now for me um is something that ties into running. So there's a quote that I live by that's do the thing, and you'll get the energy to do the thing. As moms, as wives, whatever, as yourself, you don't always feel like doing it. That's gonna be a part of this process. Being an entrepreneur, getting out here, being a hustler, whatever it is, you're not gonna feel like it. But I want to encourage you, whether it's running, whether it's working out, whether it's cooking that food for your churn, whether it's starting that business, do the thing. Whatever that thing is, define it, and you'll get the energy to do the thing. So I know it looks like I love what I do. Of course I do, but I don't always feel like doing it. That's just real talk. So I really want to leave you with that. Do the thing, fill in the blank, and you will get the energy to do the thing. I love that. I love that. Do the thing. So I am going, I am going to do the thing. What's your thing? You get the end of it. See, fill in the blank. Name that thing that you want to do. So if if I want to, right now, my financial goal is to reach my million, hit my million dollars here. I gotta operate as if I'm already making that million dollars. I'm already so what is that? Removing distractions that's stopping me from doing it. It's really I don't feel like doing that's a lot of work. It is a lot of work. So, what give me one thing you can do? One thing. Because you're moving the needle forward. Moving the needle forward. Do the thing that I don't feel like doing it. And that could be going for that run we just talked about. Because let me tell you, running is my happy place. Okay. Running is how I clear my mind, it releases stress. It um, it's my me time. That's my time. I pour into my cup before I pour into anybody that's connected to me, and that's including them, churn. Okay, because I really believe that we are a glass of water. Yeah, and a lot of times our glass, as moms, y'all know it, we give everything to our children thinking that's a badge of honor, and it's not. We serve from a glass that's half empty or half full. But what I encourage you to do is to place a saucer at the bottom of that glass, pour into you until it overflows. You serve from the saucer. You remain, you remain home. So, what how are you pouring into yourself? Do the thing because you don't feel like it. You gotta take your kids somewhere or do so do the thing for yourself, and you'll get the energy, the push, the motivation, the discipline to do the thing. And that makes so much sense, especially when it comes to our external goals. Yeah. It starts within, right? We don't understand how just a small change of habit that's it, getting up, making your bed every day, getting up, getting dressed, putting your makeup on every day. I don't feel like doing this every single day, especially if I don't have to leave the house. Correct. But even on the days when I don't have to leave the house, get up and do that. Yes, right. Start start changing those habits, get into better habits, and it will give you. Energy to do now. I feel like doing this content today. Oh, because I create a space for it. Create a space for it. You create, I love that. Give it up for Lakia, yo. Give it up for Lakia. Thank you so much for this conversation. Thank you for the pouring. Thank you for the insight, your expertise. Um, again, I am excited to see where you are going. I'm excited for our connection. And for you all out there, if you want to get in contact with her for your events, you want to book her, if you need uh a wife coach, um, get with the edutainment extraordinaire, Miss Lakia B. You say LB, I was about to say LB in the keyboard, but get with her, though, seriously. Like, um, and if if you resonated with any part of this interview, this conversation, like let us know. Let us know, right? That that word um collaborate, right? That word um not being out there on your own or having that support system or that struggle word or feeling like you're struggling. All those words mean something to you right now. And we touched on every topic. So let us know how you're feeling in the comments. Let us know how you're feeling in a DM. And yeah, just that's that's what the Moprenore Huddle is all about. Um, thank you to our sponsor, Lee Che Capri. And as always, you can shop Lee Checker Capri, the designer bags for the designer mom, and get your 20% off by using the code word huddle, H-U-D-D-L-E, and you can shop there. Boom, boom, boom, get it black on. And y'all know I am the CEO of that too, right? Also, you can also talk with me if you want to become an infar uh I said an pharmacy influencer for um the beauty brand pharmacy, which is a new venture that I've taken on as well. But we have so many opportunities here at the Montpreneur Huddle. We can connect you with so many um honorary Montpreneurs. Just tap in with us. Make sure you hit that subscribe button. And as always, crowns on, chin up, and you rock the rest of your week. Have a good day, Queens.