Entrepreneurship Unfiltered

We trade the highlight reel for the real story of entrepreneurship, from unpredictable income to the mental tug-of-war that can flip from “we’re crushing it” to “I need a job” in the same day. We also get honest about what keeps us in it anyway: values, support, and the kind of growth that only happens when you stay in the gray. 
• social media highlights versus the gritty day-to-day work 
• the paycheck transition and why sales income shocks people 
• the roller coaster of confidence and starting over after success 
• long-term thinking and multiple revenue streams 
• business owner versus entrepreneur and living in the gray 
• integrity, boundaries, and walking away from the wrong money 
• pivoting, boredom, and testing new ideas without blowing up focus 
• hiring realities like payroll taxes, workers’ comp, and leadership load 
• mentorship, entrepreneur friends, and accountability as a shortcut 
• partner and family support for the highs and lows 
Make sure you follow, subscribe, and slide into our DMs with your own slightly salty stories. 
So let us know your thoughts on uh if you're an entrepreneur or thinking about becoming one. 

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Adrianne: https://www.instagram.com/adriannelynchaz

Leanna: https://www.facebook.com/ldebellevue/

Kerri Ann: https://www.facebook.com/kerri.carmodyvalenzuela

Want to send us a message? Contact us here:  

Adrianne: adrianne@lynchteamaz.com

Kerri Ann: info@allaboutyouplacement.com

Leanna: info@debellevueconsulting.com

Transcript

Welcome And Slightly Salty Setup

Voice Over 0:02

Welcome to the Group Tech Goes Live Slightly Salty Edition, where your three favorite troublemakers turn the chaos of the group text into a full-blown weekly show. We're talking real life, real opinions, and just enough SAS to keep things interesting. No filters, no perfection. Just three women with big personalities, bold stories, and a habit of saying the quiet parts out loud. So grab your drink, brace yourself, and join us. Because the group chat didn't just spill the tea, it went live.

Cinnamon Drinks And Warmup Banter

Leanna 0:34

And here's my scroll moment, because if I don't say it's gonna bother me. I don't think I like cinnamon in my drinks. Like it makes it gritty. That's weird. Well, because it's like cinnamon when it's hot. It sticks to the bottom.

Adrianne 0:43

Right? Because they're skinny hot latte. Skinny hot cinnamon vanilla latte. That's a good it is good. But the hot because it melts the cinnamon. I need to get skinny, I need to start ordering skinny stuff, but they're like, Do you want whole milk? Yes. Do you want extra sugar? Yes. Do you want whipped cream? Of course. Who doesn't? All right, ladies, we're gonna kick off another

Entrepreneurship Myth Vs Reality

Adrianne 1:03

episode. And I thought the topic today, let's talk about what do people what people think entrepreneurship is versus reality.

Leanna 1:12

Okay.

Adrianne 1:12

Hit it.

Leanna 1:14

Don't ask me. I'll wait a bit before I go. I think you're the queen of that. Yes. I see your reels and you're like, we're we we found this person a house that they haven't been able to find for six years, but I found it a little unicorn house and it's great. And then we've got this buyer, and then I sold this deal and that deal. And I'm like, oh my gosh, I want to do that. That sounds fun. And then you're like, I drove 400 miles today, I'm so tired, I just want to go home. And I'm like, but that's not what I see. What I see is, you know, just the highlights.

Adrianne 1:47

Yeah. I I think that yes. And I think on all of us, you know, we're watching people's reels and we think, oh, I want to go do that, or I want to do that career, but we don't show the nitty-gritty of it. And I will have clients call and be like, hey, I think I'm gonna get into real estate. We talked to me, and then when I'm done talking, they're like, Okay, I I don't want to do that. And I think the reality is that most people, if they have a job, they're used to that paycheck every two weeks. And when you start talking sales and the hours and the grit that it took and the years to get you where you are right now, that reality to them is like, oh, I don't want to do that. That doesn't sound fun at all.

Kerri Ann 2:29

Well, I think when you do what you love and you're good at it, and that that is the stuff that gets you through all the other stuff that other that people don't see. Yeah. I think when you are doing what you're doing and you kind of like it and you think it's a good opportunity, it shows itself because then those stressors show themselves. So, like with you with real estate, like you love it, you love the challenge, you love everything about it. It is not just something you do on the side, it's your career, it's your passion. So you show that, but the underlying part, I think, well, I know the underlying part of being an entrepreneur and owning your own business is a roller coaster ride beyond belief. And I agree, when people are used to getting a paycheck every two weeks, that's a really hard transition.

Leanna 3:24

Yeah.

Kerri Ann 3:25

It's really tough to be. I have not I I don't think I've gotten a paycheck in nine years, but I I don't I don't know any other way of living going on nine years now besides what I work for.

Leanna 3:43

Yeah.

Kerri Ann 3:44

And that has so many ups and downs and challenges that are involved. And I do think that, I mean, I know people out there that I've even looked and been like, oh, they make everything look really wonderful. And that's great and good for them. And when you talk to them, sometimes people will be honest about what's going on underneath. And it doesn't mean that owning your own business is a hot mess all the time.

unknown 4:10

No.

Kerri Ann 4:11

But it is definitely not for the faint of heart.

Leanna 4:13

Yeah.

Kerri Ann 4:14

It is definitely not.

Leanna 4:15

I think a lot of times when people are looking at those highlight reels, like how long have you been in real estate?

Adrianne 4:20

I mean, I've had my license for 25 years, but full time, 10 10 this year.

Leanna 4:24

Okay, so 10, and then you've had all about you for nine, right? I think people see those highlight reels, and it's not not that we're we're not sharing what it's like, but you have so much like experience behind you. So what would be difficult for someone just starting out, we've all had enough experience that yeah, it is easier, right? And there are roller coasters, and I think people don't talk about that enough because you don't want to seem like you don't have it together. Because to me, entrepreneurship is one day you're killing it, the next day you're like, what am I doing? Next day you're like, no, I got this, right? It's this constant updates.

Kerri Ann 5:09

Well, even with you, you sold a business and people would look and think, that was that's wonderful. But they didn't realize selling a business and going through everything you went through.

The Roller Coaster And Starting Over

Kerri Ann 5:20

Honestly, it was, I think, the most stressed I've seen you, even through the growth of the business that that you went through that was not like that was stressful. Yeah. I think there's so many different things that people just do not understand. They're like, oh, you sold a business, it's easy. No, that's like, do you know what it is to go through that process, then unwind everything, then all of it, all of it together.

Leanna 5:46

And then honestly, what I didn't think about was I have to start over in something, right? And I do, I have a lot of experience, I know the marketing aspect. Is it easier for me than if it were my first business? Absolutely, but still, you're starting from ground zero again. And some days that I'm like, why in the world did I give up a system that was working, a team that was phenomenal, clients that were just dream clients? Why did I give all that up? Right? And then I the time had come, right? The chapter, like that chapter of the book was done and I knew it. But in those moments of hard, I'm like, mm, I really could stand knowing X amount and recurring revenues coming in this month, right?

Kerri Ann 6:30

Or doing that all over again. I do think that if people are wanting, especially younger people, or anybody, because people, I mean, we've reinvented ourselves, we're reinventing ourselves with different things. I mean, Sandy and I bought seniors helping seniors, we're going on a year and a half. So, I mean, and I'm 56, going on 57. But I just think that if anybody is wanting to start their own business and that is going to be their income, I think it's so important to talk to other business owners in all different arenas, not just the one that you're in, but in all different arenas and just get an understanding of business in general. You can have a business plan, you can have the financing, you can have all the structural parts and pieces, but there's so much more to it.

Adrianne 7:25

Yeah, and I think entrepreneurship, like true entrepreneurship, is like you evolved adding another business. You know, Terry and I add our own type of like, are we doing properties or what are we doing next in the phase of real estate? You know, you sold and you're launching. I mean, true entrepreneurship, they don't keep one business their whole life. Yeah. Like an entrepreneur changes and gravitates and grows as they age and where they want to be in life. And I think for people that are thinking about getting into entrepreneurship, has to think long term. Like, what is your future? What is your multiple rev revenue streams? Because in life, you have to have multiple if you're an entrepreneur because the market, the world, everything goes different. And that part to me is that's a reality for people. Like if you get stressed thinking of one business, yeah, you you entrepreneurship may not be for you because you do ride.

Growth Thinking Multiple Revenue Streams

Adrianne 8:17

What does it look like?

Kerri Ann 8:17

Is it you by yourself? Are you gonna have any employees? Are you gonna have 1099s? Like, what does that look like outside of just running the business? Like, then then then it is being a leader and you know, mentor and the business structure and how are you training? Like, there's you add all of that on top of it, and that changes dramatically from when you start a business. Like, all that needs to be taken into account because I didn't expect to grow the way that I did. Like I did not plan it.

Leanna 8:51

And I think honestly, I think there's a difference between being a business owner and being an entrepreneur. Those feel like two completely different things. I agree, right? Like business ownership, I think it is a lot about the systems, and it maybe it might be one business. Then you've got, you know, you own a franchise and you've got employ, whatever, right? But entrepreneurship is to me, I feel like entrepreneurs are born because I think our brains just work differently, right? We see a problem, and to me, that's exciting to me. I'm like, oh something to solve, right? And I'm like, we could do this, and we could do this, and we could do this, and we could do that. And then I'm talking to someone who's not, and they're like, oh, it's a problem. Yeah, somebody fix it. And I'm like, what do you mean? So you're that somebody, like, and you can do this and that, you know.

Kerri Ann 9:36

You have to live in like my opinion, you have to live in the gray. Like, you like as a business owner and an entrepreneur, you understand the black and the white, but to truly live in that space without going that shit crazy, like you have to live in the gray. And the gray is where you dream, the gray is where you create, the gray is all the things that allow you to grow and figure out those. I mean, she's you're the queen of the pivot. I've seen you through all the years of ups and downs and pivoting and okay, this is happening now. Well, you that those are thinkers that have to think in the gray. The black and white thinkers are that's that's a a different kind of entrepreneur. It's a different kind of business owner.

Leanna 10:24

I think the only, in my mind, the only reason to ever have black and white moments is when you're talking about integrity. Yes, or like or more, like your moral compass is to me is black and white. Yeah, right. Anything outside of that is gray. Yeah. Because I could think one thing and then, you know, I I get a new perspective and switch and, you know. Yeah. But yeah, most of the times when people can't don't succeed in business, it is because they have that black and white thinking. Okay, well, I have to I have the perfect business plan, I have this, I have that, I

Business Owner Vs Entrepreneur Mindset

Leanna 10:56

have this. You have all of the things, right? All the boxes are checked of the things that you think you need to launch successfully, right? But you don't account for that gray, which I'd say 95% of it is that that gray area that you're trying to figure out. And people get lost and overwhelmed very quickly when they don't have an idea that everything is gray.

Kerri Ann 11:17

And emotional strength too. Because you bringing up the morals and values things is a really important part because I know, like in our industry, there is a lot. Well, I think in every industry, there's shenanigans that happen. And for us, it has been a rougher road because we have stuck by our best practices. We have stuck by what the morals and values of the company is and how we're going to move forward. And then we extended that to the second company. And sometimes that that doesn't bode well for business because it just you lose out on certain kinds of business, which we're completely fine with because I don't want that kind of business. Yeah. However, some people might not understand that. And, you know, if you are not strong in your values and your convictions and how you're gonna grow the business, you can get caught up in that because you'll get scared about, you know, we're not bringing in as much as I need to bring in. Yeah. And so that's that's like the fork in the road. Which way are you gonna go?

Adrianne 12:25

I think in, you know, the one on that I've always been very, even we, you know, have people on our team so strict about where our lines are, because a paycheck, that one paycheck could ruin your entire career in the current, you have no business. Yeah. But I also feel like as you're as you grow as a you know, in as a business, you learn your line of what you will put up with. Like it's not worth a paycheck for me for a client who doesn't have morals or they're gonna try to speak to me a certain way. Yeah. But you know, it took me a long time of some of those to say no to because you're worried about a paycheck. But the moment the line, I'm like, nope, that's not gonna work for me. And I don't, I wanna sleep at night and I want to make sure I did the right things. But but that is tough in entrepreneurship when you don't have money coming in. Yeah, and then you're like, oh, I can handle that client. And Terry, Terry will tell me all the time, he's like, the moment I'll be like, I don't think I want this client, and then I'll take a client, and then it'll be a nightmare. And then I have to fire them. And he's like, You knew it from the beginning in your gut. But I'm always like, No, I can help them. Yeah, and then yeah, but in entrepreneurship, learning those lines and your people, having your

Values Boundaries And Hard No’s

Adrianne 13:28

people learn those lines. Yes.

Kerri Ann 13:30

And you have to be adaptable, yeah. You have to just like with you with the art of the pivot. And I mean, we've done that where we've talked to each with each other about those growth points, and you have to be flexible within that. You have to, you have to be prepared to be uncomfortable a lot. And I also like for I'll just say me, you have to be prepared to lean in and learn constantly. I think that's everybody.

Adrianne 13:58

Constantly. Because something I mean, you can't predict what happens in the world and people and lives, and so you have to be able to predict. And honestly, my pivot a lot of times just because I'm a squirrel and I get bored, and then I'm like, I'm gonna add this on, I'm gonna add that on. And you know, I gotta be reeled back in that, you know, I don't need five different things going on. But I feel like I'm not challenging myself if I'm not pivoting. Like if I'm doing the same thing every day, and yes, it's working and you know, business is growing, but there's in my mind something else, then I will pivot and test it out, dip my toe, and then it's good or bad, or I don't like it. Yeah, or I followed someone and I'm like, man, I want to be like them, and then I'll get to know them and I'll be like, I really do like the freedom I have, and I don't want to work that many hours, but I'm okay making this money because I want to give up that freedom. Yeah, but yeah, but half my pivot is just because I get bored in my own brain.

Leanna 14:52

No, I think that in regards to like pivoting and figuring out that next thing, that's looking at what are other people around me doing? What is the marketplace doing, right? Like in your industry, you know, they've got contractors. You said, no, I'm gonna do things differently. We're gonna have employees, and here's why, right? Like there's reasons to do things differently, but you have to know kind of what all that entails. I hired people and didn't know about payroll taxes. I was like, I'm sorry, what, right? Or like, you know, now I've got to play pay workers' comp. And I was like, why they're at their house? Like, what are they gonna do? There's so many avenues that had I had a conversation with someone who is a couple of steps ahead of me, it probably would have saved me a lot of time, a lot of headache, a lot of, it probably would have made smarter decisions. So I think part of understanding what the reality is versus what the myth is or what the highlight reel is, is having a group of entrepreneur friends that you can run stuff by. You guys have saved me probably millions of dollars at this point over the years, but I'm like, I'm gonna do this, and you guys are like, wait, let's think about this, this, this, and that, or made me that kind of money by me saying, you know what, I don't think I'm gonna do this. I think I'm gonna stay small in my little comfort bubble, and you guys have pushed me out and said, like, no, this is the time, this is right for you to do those kind of things, right? But so often we think, oh, I can do this, and then we get ourselves in the muck, right?

Adrianne 16:26

Yeah, yeah.

Kerri Ann 16:27

And I another part too is you have to have a strong sense of who you are. Yeah. Because when you are out there and you are building, it there are others that may not want you to succeed. And and just having that sense of yourself, it's important as you go through to have that strong sense of yourself and to have that strong base of people that you trust because you can get caught in in that. You can get caught in in the I really want everybody to like me. And you know, not everybody is your customer, not everybody's your friend, not everybody is all the things, and that's okay because there's plenty out there for for everybody. It it is not again for the faint of heart, you you have to have a good sense of yourself.

Leanna 17:26

And not everybody clapping for you wants to see you succeed. And I think that is something that I it took me a really long time to learn because it's a hard truth that I don't think you want to believe. You want to believe that everyone that's in your corner and everyone that's clapping for you really does want the best for you. And when you realize that that's not always the case, right? And that actions speak louder than words, I'm always gonna watch your actions versus you can say all the right things, but what do your actions show?

Adrianne 17:56

I agree. And I think our the family support. I think if you don't have someone others that understand entrepreneurship, you know, I see so many online, you know, the wives upset because their husband's not supporting them in whatever business, when it's entrepreneur and their husband's going to a job or something. I feel like that's a big piece that allows us to succeed is, you know, those highs and lows. Like when I'm in a low, you know, and I love that when you're talking about that, because I can picture that when it's always post online, you're like, I'm doing good. No, I'm gonna fail. Oh, no, I need a job. No, I'm okay. No, I'm this, no, I'm not. And you know, sometimes that can all happen in one day. Yes. And I feel like when you have significant others that understand that world, when you're in the valley of like, oh no, I'm gonna go get a regular job. And he's like, Oh, I think you're fine. Like yesterday

Pivoting Hiring Surprises And Mentors

Adrianne 18:44

you did this, I think we're okay. But they live and are crazy, I'm gonna call it. That that makes a big difference too in succeeding versus the, you know, not having like if you're wanting to launch a business, you have to make sure your significant other supports it or understands it. Or I feel like that adds a whole nother level. I just feel bad for the women when I read it online that don't have the support.

Leanna 19:05

Yeah.

Adrianne 19:05

Because man, I live, I mean, I live real estate's wild. So you never know what's happening in a day. And uh yeah, Terry talks me off many ledges.

Leanna 19:15

Yeah. I had to prepare Jeff for the ups and downs because he would come home and I'm like, you know what? I'm gonna get a job. And he's like, wait, what are we doing? No, no, this is just a moment. Like, let me say it. It's not really gonna happen, but I need to say it. And he's like, Okay, right. Or like, I'm like, this is amazing. We did this and that and this and this. And then, like, yeah, something happens, and two hours later, I'm like, this is horrible. And he's like, What is happening right now? Like, I thought we were happy because this just happened. I'm like, we were, and now this happened, and that you know, so he's learned to ride an emotional roller coaster with me. But in the beginning, I think, as someone who was a nine to five Monday through Friday typeworker, had no idea what was happening. He was like, I don't know. What are we happy? You just you tell me how to react. And since he's left and you know, obviously in the business with me now and starting his own, it's a totally different comp now. He gets it. Now he'll be like, I don't think we can do this. I think I'm gonna go get a job. And then he's like, No, you know what I think. And I'm like, see, now you know. Right. You're like, we're not crazy. Yes.

Adrianne 20:20

Yeah. I sometimes will go and I'll have a horrible day, and then I'll be like on looking at jobs. I'm like, you know what? Maybe I just need a normal life. And then I'll look and be like, I don't know if I could get up at seven in the morning and be dressed somewhere. Someone told me I had to stay all day. No, that wouldn't work for me either. And when would I get my nails done? And then I'm like, just get your butt up and go make some phone calls. Yeah, true.

Leanna 20:47

Although Jeff did say when we after we stole and we're trying to figure out what's next, he's like, Adrienne makes real estate look fun. I was like, oh no, no. Because she's good at it. Yes, and that's why I told him I was like, Yeah, because you're looking at the reels. I get the text messages and have phone calls, right? And I can't deal with looky-loose. If I take you out to look at a house, I need you to decide today.

Kerri Ann 21:05

Yeah.

Leanna 21:05

We're not looking for weeks. We don't have to see. No, oh, that would stress me out. Like, I'm giving you my time. I need you to make because I make decisions fast, and I can't handle slow decision makers. So I would probably not succeed in real estate for very long. You got a lot of it's lots of patience. It's a lot of people. And for sure, not seniors. You see, I love to have even more patience. They do not listen. They do. You just have to talk to them differently.

Adrianne 21:35

They just don't listen to their children. Mm-hmm.

Kerri Ann 21:37

Yeah, and that's the extent. You just have you have to love what you are gonna do. Yeah. You have to be prepared for it to potentially not stay exactly the same. Like you it things change constantly, and with growth comes a lot more than many expectations. And you just you have to know who you are. You have to know who you are. And again, the I for me, Carrie Ann, the biggest thing is build learning, continual learning, being humble, being able to say when you're wrong and learn from it. You know, I it's been a rough few years for me with the businesses, you know,

Support Systems Partners And Accountability

Kerri Ann 22:27

not just with a lot of learning and a lot of changing and a lot, a lot of growth and a lot of that. And, you know, last week I sat with myself and I was like, with everything that's gone on, when I meet with my team, I they are such phenomenal humans. And I know they would kill for me and I would do the same for them. And those are the moments that I sit in and go, okay, we're even in spite of me and any mistakes I made, we are doing something right because we've poured into people that have poured back into us and we love what we do. But it so sometimes it's not about the financial growth as much as what you're building, and you have to be able to lean into those times too. Because all of that will come. You you have to be able to look at everything that's being built around you, and it's not necessarily always the bottom line.

Leanna 23:27

You've grown so much, and to watch you be uncomfortable is inspiring, honestly.

Kerri Ann 23:35

It sits all the time lately. It is good, but you're on such a time.

Leanna 23:41

If you're not growing, you're dying.

Kerri Ann 23:42

And I don't, you know. I the best thing for us, my opinion, was that year. Was that year that we all spent in that conference room where we all took a chance to grow. We were all in different places. We had all gone through some highs and lows with different things. But when we literally dug in and said, We're gonna invest in ourselves and we're gonna meet once a week and we're gonna hold each other accountable and we're gonna see where this goes, was life-changing for me in many ways.

Leanna 24:20

Yeah.

Kerri Ann 24:20

Like I learned so much from you guys. I learned a lot from myself because I had to hold myself accountable, which made me sit with myself a lot more than I wanted to.

Leanna 24:29

Yeah.

Kerri Ann 24:29

But that was so leaning into what you said is that yes, if you're gonna start any kind of business, looking at being an entrepreneur, you need to make sure you have a good support system around you of other people who have done it or held people that do it.

Adrianne 24:47

Yeah. And I think the difference too by that group or the three of us is that we're all in such different industries, but we're all entrepreneurs. And I feel like we give each other different perspectives in business and in life that that allows us that vulnerability because we're not in the same industries, but we've been, you've hired people, you've had the growth. Like those things happen so much that it just allows the growth in you to open up about it.

Leanna 25:16

And different industries, vastly different industries, but still the same like fundamental issues around growth or hiring or you know, PLs and all of the things, right? So even though they're different, there's enough similarities there that we do kind of leverage everyone else's journey, right? Because we'll get so much further if if I can, you know, kind of avoid the mistakes you've made, or you can avoid the stake and the mistakes I've made, or whatever that looks like, that just allows us to get to that next level.

Adrianne 25:50

Yeah, I agree.

Leanna 25:51

I feel sorry for anyone who's trying to do this journey alone. Agree.

Kerri Ann 25:55

And and it's not all bad. It is there's so many wonderful things that come with owning your own business and being an entrepreneur. You get to see the building of things, you get to empower people, you get to, you know, sit back and and look at what you've built and and the impact that you've made. And that is like you you can't buy that.

Adrianne 26:17

Yeah, you can't buy that. I think that's the best way to end on that note.

Listener Prompt And Signoff

Adrianne 26:22

Sweet. So let us know your thoughts on uh if you're an entrepreneur or thinking about becoming one. We'll see you next time.

Voice Over 26:28

Bye. And that's a wrap on today's episode of the Group Chat Goes Live, Slightly Salty Edition. If you laughed, cringed, nodded along, or mentally texted your bestie, good. That means we did our job. Make sure you follow, subscribe, and slide into our DMs with your own slightly salty stories. You know we love the chaos. Until next time, keep your group chat spicy and the real world slightly saltier.